Mother X: Father

by Tatsurou

Regrets

Moondancer clung tightly to Ness, not wanting to let anyone here see her cry. She would definitely need a good cry before she was ready to adventure. She just hoped they could leave soon-

"Out!" Mr. Minch shouted suddenly, his voice somewhere between angry and panicked. "I want you all out of my house! I don't want to see you cross my threshold ever again! And you!" He shook his finger at Ness. "You can expect me to bring this up with your Mother when we talk later about how much your family owes-"

Moondancer's PSI seized the notebook that she'd sensed Mr. Minch's thoughts on. "I don't know money," Moondancer stated flatly as she floated it over, feeling the dread that took hold of Mr. Minch's heart. "But you do. The original loan amount is recorded...along with the illegal interest rates charged so that Ness's father wasn't able to pay it off right away. As are the payments taken from Ness's mother from the funds his father sent the family to live one. Along with the notations that each parent wasn't told the other parent was also paying. You counted on his father's work being too important for his mother to want to worry him, and his guilt - for whatever he feels guilty for - to lead him into not bringing it up. All of that is apparently written in here." She turned to glare at Mr. Minch. "I'll be giving this to Ness's Mom. I'm sure you'll have lots to talk about when next you go to 'collect a payment'."

"You...you can't..." Mr. Minch began desperately. "You can't just...walk in here and steal my personal property-"

"You invited us in with your sons," Buzz Buzz spoke up plainly. "No breaking and entering. You're really going to hold a petty theft against extortion?"

"...did that bug just talk?" Mrs. Minch gasped in shock, having apparently regained her bearings after Moondancer's attack since she wasn't actually harmed.

"Buzz Buzz is my friend," Moondancer stated flatly. "And you tried to kill him. Be glad I leave this place in one piece."

Ness quickly ushered Moondancer out of the house. The group was startled to find the sun had already risen. "But..." Ness began in a whimper. "But I didn't get to sleep..."

"I'm sure your Mom will let you," Buzz Buzz spoke up calmly. "Besides, she needs to see that notebook."

The trio made their way over to Ness's house. As they reached the gate in the fence, Moondancer could have sworn she felt someone watching, but the sensation rapidly faded.

Once they were inside, Ness's Mom took one look at the group and rushed forward. "You three look worn to the bone. Have some spaghetti all three of you, and then scoot off and sleep till tomorrow."

"N...notebook," Moondancer managed to say, holding it up.

"I'll look at that while you're sleeping," she responded firmly as she grabbed it before rushing the trio to the table.

To their surprise, she even set out a bug sized plate for Buzz Buzz, complete with bug sized noodles and utensils. While Buzz Buzz was grateful, Ness was stunned. "Uh...Mom? You do realize there are...aliens at the table, right?"

"Of course there are, Ness," she responded airily. "Your generation thinks you invented everything. I was dealing with aliens when I was your age." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Well...one for sure, anyway..." Her face turned thoughtful and sad briefly, but she quickly smiled again. "Now eat up. I'll go set up some extra cots in your room for your guests."

With her nudging, it didn't take long for the trio to finish eating and be tucked in. Buzz Buzz was given a bed in two bowls set edge to edge, very similar to his old shell but easy to leave. Moondancer had an extra thick piece of carpet that was almost like sleeping in grass but without bugs. All three slept long and deeply until the following morning.

As Moondancer awoke, she saw Ness was looking conflicted. "What's wrong?" she asked curiously.

"...I need to apologize to Pokey," he began softly. "I didn't treat him well last night. That was uncalled for. Just because I was tired and cranky was no reason to take it out on him. But I don't know how I can apologize when I'm banned from the Minch house."

"You will figure something out," Buzz Buzz observed softly. "For now, I need to give you this." He placed a small stone in Ness's grip. "This is the Sound Stone. Scattered around the world are points of power, known as Your Sanctuary. When you visit them, this Sound Stone will collect their melody. When the melody is complete, drawing from all eight, it will infuse you with the power of Earth...if you are ready for it. When you have the power of Earth, then you will be ready to face Giygas."

Moondancer thoughtfully glanced at her Empty Stone. Would it gather the melodies as well? Would that help her deal with the madness?

Another thought occured to her. "Here," she spoke up, floating one of the Star Charms in her possession over to Ness. "Wear this. It'll protect you."

Smiling, Ness put it on. "Thank you. It's good to know you'll both be helping me."

"Not too much," Buzz Buzz spoke up. "My power is limited, and I need to conserve it. And if you rely too much on Moondancer's power, your own won't grow. She'll be there if you get in over your head, but you need to focus on developing your own power. Only once you're as strong as her can she help you out full time."

"Until then, I can help you carry things," Moondancer offered. "Your pack doesn't hold that much, but I use a pocket dimension maintained by PSI for my storage needs. That should make things easier."

Ness chuckled. "I get the feeling that's going to be more than enough help." Pushing his covers aside, he leapt to his feet. "Come on, let's go."

Smiling, the trio made their way out of the house to the gate...at which point odd upbeat music heralded a man in a top hat and suit with a blonde beard descended from out of the sky. "Pictures taken instantaneously!" he proclaimed eagerly. "I'm a photographic genius, if I do say so myself!" In an instant, he had a camera and tripod setup. "Now look at the camera and say...Fuzzy Pickles!"

Buzz Buzz hovered uncertainly. The suddenness told him this was a threat...and yet neither Ness nor Moondancer reacted with fear or hostility. They were completely relaxed, as though this person were...familiar. Ness took a pose with his hand out in a victory sign as Moondancer tried to pose next to him, looking more silly than dramatic. "Fuzzy Pickles!" they said together.

The man snapped the picture. "What a wonderful photograph," he mused warmly. "It will always bring back the fondest of memories..." He then spun, flying back up into the sky.

"...what was that about?" Buzz Buzz demanded.

"Not sure," Ness admitted, "but I think it's the start of a great adventure!"

"I wonder what memories he wants to bring back?" Moondancer mused thoughtfully as they headed south towards Onett proper.

Comments

[alfonso_rd_33]

Integrated story saving point

Also

As are the payments taken from Ness's mother from the funds his father sent the family to live one.

Shouldn't it be

As are the payments taken from Ness's mother from the funds his father sent the family to live on.

?

[Hiirome]

To their surprise, she even set out a bug sized plate for Buzz Buzz, complete with bug sized noodles and utensils. While Buzz Buzz was grateful, Ness was stunned. "Uh...Mom? You do realize there are...aliens at the table, right?"

"Of course there are, Ness," she responded airily. "Your generation thinks you invented everything. I was dealing with aliens when I was your age." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Well...one for sure, anyway..." Her face turned thoughtful and sad briefly, but she quickly smiled again. "Now eat up. I'll go set up some extra cots in your room for your guests."

Ninten and Ana : Ness' parents ?

[Chrome Masquerade]

Once they were inside, Ness's Mom took one look at the group and rushed forward. "You three look worn to the bone. Have some spaghetti all three of you, and then scoot off and sleep till tomorrow."

Your favourite, i take it?

[Tatsurou]

8373453
The only default one that Moondancer would eat without question.

[Chrome Masquerade]

"I wonder what memories he wants to bring back?"

That's... a good question.

[F14m3rz]

"You invited us in with your sons," Buzz Buzz spoke up plainly.

Not really, it's more like you asserted yourselves into the room since there was no indication as to how you got in. But eh, semantics.
Overall, I don't know how to feel about this. It just doesn't really add up in the long run. Yeah, Ness' family is in debt to the Minches', but the dialogue and the overall tone of the game makes it pretty clear that they're just blowing it out of proportion. This coupled with the fact that Ness' dad could easily pay off the loan in one swift payment makes it that much more confusing (plus if they were forced to pay off such a ludicrous amount of money with such overwhelming interest, then Ness wouldn't be able to get anything in his ATM card after beating up ants and such), as this whole thing just seems like a justification to hate the Minches' more, as if the audience needs justification to hate child beaters. It's like a guy saying "Yeah, Hitler is a pretty bad guy, but did you know that he masturbated to his dog, too?!" Of course, Hitler is of the most detestable figures in history, but making things up about him in order to gain artificial antipathy towards him is nothing short of crass.

"Buzz Buzz is my friend," Moondancer stated flatly. "And you tried to kill him. Be glad I leave this place in one piece."

Eh, it's not like it'd be long before Giegue discovers your location from your 'outburst', and then do everything in his power to bring you to reckoning. Thus making it more difficult for you and your companions as the all-consuming madness has an actual target to pursue, which leads to your downfall as you become possessed by your inner darkness and start "Sullied Grace"-ing the entire universe. Because you know, actions have consequences.

The trio made their way over to Ness's house. As they reached the gate in the fence, Moondancer could have sworn she felt someone watching, but the sensation rapidly faded.

... Fuzzy pickle and cheese sandwiches.

"...I need to apologize to Pokey," he began softly. "I didn't treat him well last night. That was uncalled for. Just because I was tired and cranky was no reason to take it out on him. But I don't know how I can apologize when I'm banned from the Minch house."

Eh, getting banned isn't gonna stop you from doing as you please. It's not the type of house that can only be interacted with, after all, so you can pretty much do whatever as long as the plot demands it. Plus, we need more Picky.
ssl-forum-files.fobby.net/forum_attachments/0021/8302/Earthbound378.jpg

"You will figure something out," Buzz Buzz observed softly. "For now, I need to give you this." He placed a small stone in Ness's grip. "This is the Sound Stone. Scattered around the world are points of power, known as Your Sanctuary. When you visit them, this Sound Stone will collect their melody. When the melody is complete, drawing from all eight, it will infuse you with the power of Earth...if you are ready for it. When you have the power of Earth, then you will be ready to face Giygas."

{Buzz Buzz: Do you understand?
Yes |> No
Buzz Buzz: This is the Sound Stone. Scattered around the worl-
Ness: Dang it, I hit the wrong button!!
Moondancer: I'm so confused...}

"Not too much," Buzz Buzz spoke up. "My power is limited, and I need to conserve it. And if you rely too much on Moondancer's power, your own won't grow. She'll be there if you get in over your head, but you need to focus on developing your own power. Only once you're as strong as her can she help you out full time."

Something tells me they can't just grind for Criminal Caterpillars.

Smiling, the trio made their way out of the house to the gate...at which point odd upbeat music heralded a man in a top hat and suit with a blonde beard descended from out of the sky.

Fuzzy cheese pickles sandwich!!
Anyways, see you later.

[Chrome Masquerade]

8373456 What about Pie, Cake and Eggs?

[Tatsurou]

8373708
Moondancer would judge the first two as unhealthy, and she wouldn't like the smell of the third (she was raised on a space station where the only food she encountered was the vegetable matter Giegue brought to feed her, after all).

[Jakomi of the Rose]

Smiling, the trio made their way out of the house to the gate...at which point odd upbeat music heralded a man in a top hat and suit with a blonde beard descended from out of the sky. "Pictures taken instantaneously!" he proclaimed eagerly. "I'm a photographic genius, if I do say so myself!" In an instant, he had a camera and tripod setup. "Now look at the camera and say...Fuzzy Pickles!"

Hahaha! Ahaha! Aha-ha! Haaa... ha... *Sigh* I HATED that man, honestly. I wanted to strangle him.

[Chrome Masquerade]

8373914 that makes sense, i suppose. Pasta it is.

[ShogunWriter106]

The man in the top hat... What is he up to?

[Daemon Wolf 22]

Buzz Buzz hovered uncertainly. The suddenness told him this was a threat...and yet neither Ness nor Moondancer reacted with fear or hostility. They were completely relaxed, as though this person were...familiar. Ness took a pose with his hand out in a victory sign as Moondancer tried to pose next to him, looking more silly than dramatic. "Fuzzy Pickles!" they said together.

For some reason, every time I read this part, I picture Moondancer standing up on her hind legs, leaning against Ness with one forehoof on her glasses (pushing them up) and the other supporting her knee/"elbow".

I'mma do a SFM pic of that tomorrow.

[Daemon Wolf 22]

images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/792eb266-6d72-4f82-bb86-03482fc0c96a/dfld088-4086f8af-4b50-46d1-a2cf-bb09ce45d164.png/v1/fill/w_1192,h_670,q_70,strp/ness_and_moondancer_set_out_by_skyium_dfld088-pre.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9NzIwIiwicGF0aCI6IlwvZlwvNzkyZWIyNjYtNmQ3Mi00ZjgyLWJiODYtMDM0ODJmYzBjOTZhXC9kZmxkMDg4LTQwODZmOGFmLTRiNTAtNDZkMS1hMmNmLWJiMDljZTQ1ZDE2NC5wbmciLCJ3aWR0aCI6Ijw9MTI4MCJ9XV0sImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2VydmljZTppbWFnZS5vcGVyYXRpb25zIl19.oFH1Puc2APxgueqLdb2VrczJu6h4o6S1kaov0CBH0MQ
Annnnd... we're done! Sorry for the lack of Buzz Buzz/Zarbol...

...Wowza, I actually did a thing I said I was going to do when (roughly) I said I was going to do it!

[Tatsurou]

11462507
Wow, that looks great! Well done!

[Daemon Wolf 22]

11462509
Thanks! I'm glad it turned out well.