Ness stood outside of the Polestar Preschool in Twoson. The smell of freshly finished rain was in the air. He breathed it in, happily awaiting his girlfriend Paula Polestar to exit her home. No doubt she was still getting ready.
He stepped out into the road, hands in his pockets, looking up and down the street. In one direction he could see Burglin Park, a popular place for Swap Meet stands and outdoor picnics. In the other direction was the Mach Pizza Parlor, where they served the best pie in Eagleland County.
The door to Paula's home creaked open, prompting Ness to turn around with an eager smile. Had it already been four Valentine's Days since they met on their journey to defeat Giygas with the help of his best friend Jeff Andonuts and the heroic prince Poo of Dalaam? So many trials and obstacles for their relationship to begin and blossom, and Ness counted each and every one of them as worth it.
When the door opened all the way, all Ness could see inside was a swirling abyss. A myriad of violets and reds, spinning and cascading within the small home preschool. His heart began racing as he ran up the walkway, clenching his fists in panic and confusion.
He stepped close to the door, and was violently pulled in. He tumbled and fell through empty space, memories rushing through his mind, materializing around him. The first day he and Paula had met in Peaceful Rest Valley. Rescuing her from danger in the Fourside Department Store. Their joyful journey home after their adventures had finished, looking through the photo scrapbook of their pilgrimage with Ness' mother and sister.
The weekends they spent together, venturing back and forth between Paula's hometown of Twoson and Ness' home in Onett. The summers they spent whizzing through Eagleland County on a two-seater bike. Camping in snow-covered Winters together.
Four years worth of memories of he and Paula's relationship, spinning around him all at once, when suddenly his descent slowed. He floated easily to stand on a solid platform that wasn't there. Standing on nothingness within the abyss. Where was this place? Where was Paula?
No sooner had he asked himself these questions when she appeared before him. Fading into existance from thin air, she offered him a faint smile, and her clasped together hands.
"Ness... I've missed you." She spoke gently. Sadly.
"Paula...?" Ness began, "...What's going on?"
"Sweetheart, our time is short. I wanted to wish you a happy Valentine's Day. It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
Ness nodded, sighing a bit. "It sure has... we've been through a lot together... and I wouldn't trade a second of it for anything. I..." Ness hesitated, "...I love you."
"I know," Paula giggled, "and I love you too. I have something for you." With that, Paula extended her hands in front of her, separating and opening them to reveal a silver bracelet. Upon it was engraved the words 'Ness and Paula: A Love Unbreakable.'
Ness took the bracelet, gripping it tightly in his hands, a tear rolling down his cheek. "This... none of this is real, is it?"
Paula simply shook her head, rushing into Ness to embrace him tightly. He wrapped his arms around her, smelling her fragrant hair, feeling her warmth in his arms. His tears would be caught by the everpresent pink bow clip in her hair, and her's upon the strap of his trusty yellow backpack.
And then silence.
Paula flickered from existance, leaving nothingness in Ness' arms. The very abyss itself rumbled and tore, the colors swirling upwards and downwards. Back was forward, up was down. Reality itself bent when Ness became alone in the void.
And then the darkness. Pitch black, and the only thing left were the words "I will hold you again, one day." Paula's voice echoed in Ness' mind, even after there was nothing left. Ness couldn't see. He couldn't hear. He could barely feel.
It was midnight when Ness shot up in the pilot's chair of the Star Runner. He frantically looked around. He was still in RhyDin, in his ship docked at the Spaceport.
Being back home was only a dream. Tears rolled down his face as he leaned back in the chair...
Only a dream... except for the bracelet, clenched in his hand.
He stepped out into the road, hands in his pockets, looking up and down the street. In one direction he could see Burglin Park, a popular place for Swap Meet stands and outdoor picnics. In the other direction was the Mach Pizza Parlor, where they served the best pie in Eagleland County.
The door to Paula's home creaked open, prompting Ness to turn around with an eager smile. Had it already been four Valentine's Days since they met on their journey to defeat Giygas with the help of his best friend Jeff Andonuts and the heroic prince Poo of Dalaam? So many trials and obstacles for their relationship to begin and blossom, and Ness counted each and every one of them as worth it.
When the door opened all the way, all Ness could see inside was a swirling abyss. A myriad of violets and reds, spinning and cascading within the small home preschool. His heart began racing as he ran up the walkway, clenching his fists in panic and confusion.
He stepped close to the door, and was violently pulled in. He tumbled and fell through empty space, memories rushing through his mind, materializing around him. The first day he and Paula had met in Peaceful Rest Valley. Rescuing her from danger in the Fourside Department Store. Their joyful journey home after their adventures had finished, looking through the photo scrapbook of their pilgrimage with Ness' mother and sister.
The weekends they spent together, venturing back and forth between Paula's hometown of Twoson and Ness' home in Onett. The summers they spent whizzing through Eagleland County on a two-seater bike. Camping in snow-covered Winters together.
Four years worth of memories of he and Paula's relationship, spinning around him all at once, when suddenly his descent slowed. He floated easily to stand on a solid platform that wasn't there. Standing on nothingness within the abyss. Where was this place? Where was Paula?
No sooner had he asked himself these questions when she appeared before him. Fading into existance from thin air, she offered him a faint smile, and her clasped together hands.
"Ness... I've missed you." She spoke gently. Sadly.
"Paula...?" Ness began, "...What's going on?"
"Sweetheart, our time is short. I wanted to wish you a happy Valentine's Day. It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
Ness nodded, sighing a bit. "It sure has... we've been through a lot together... and I wouldn't trade a second of it for anything. I..." Ness hesitated, "...I love you."
"I know," Paula giggled, "and I love you too. I have something for you." With that, Paula extended her hands in front of her, separating and opening them to reveal a silver bracelet. Upon it was engraved the words 'Ness and Paula: A Love Unbreakable.'
Ness took the bracelet, gripping it tightly in his hands, a tear rolling down his cheek. "This... none of this is real, is it?"
Paula simply shook her head, rushing into Ness to embrace him tightly. He wrapped his arms around her, smelling her fragrant hair, feeling her warmth in his arms. His tears would be caught by the everpresent pink bow clip in her hair, and her's upon the strap of his trusty yellow backpack.
And then silence.
Paula flickered from existance, leaving nothingness in Ness' arms. The very abyss itself rumbled and tore, the colors swirling upwards and downwards. Back was forward, up was down. Reality itself bent when Ness became alone in the void.
And then the darkness. Pitch black, and the only thing left were the words "I will hold you again, one day." Paula's voice echoed in Ness' mind, even after there was nothing left. Ness couldn't see. He couldn't hear. He could barely feel.
It was midnight when Ness shot up in the pilot's chair of the Star Runner. He frantically looked around. He was still in RhyDin, in his ship docked at the Spaceport.
Being back home was only a dream. Tears rolled down his face as he leaned back in the chair...
Only a dream... except for the bracelet, clenched in his hand.