Disclaimer: I do not own Earthbound/Mother 2. Nintendo does.

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Rating: T

Genre: Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi, Romance

Summary: She's sarcastic. She's indifferent. She'd rather play baseball that do school work. Her name's Ness, and she's the classic teenaged punk. Who'd have thought she'd save the world?

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EarthBound

Diary of a Female Punk

Be Cyberweasel89

Prologue: Falling Skies

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"...Ness."

"...Ness!"

"...Ness!"

When words wouldn't wake the teenaged girl, the teacher promptly threw the apple from her desk at her. The red fruit struck her right in the head, sending her falling backwards in her chair.

Groggily getting up and adjusting her baseball cap, she turned to glare at the teacher. "What do you want, you old hag?"

"Ness. You should not be sleeping during class. And how many times do I have to tell you that hats are not allowed in school?"

The girl got back into her chair, yawning. "First off, that's a stupid rule, and rules were meant to be broken. Second, it's the last day of school. Tomorrow is summer vacation. So lay off me, you old hag."

"Someone should teach you to watch your tone, young lady!" the teacher huffed. "Now... Turn to page 108 of your English books. Complete this assignment before the bell rings and I'll let you leave early."

Ness turned to look out the window. It was getting really warm out... Summer was just around the corner. And that meant baseball season.

Looking at her, you could hardly guess Ness was a girl. She sure dressed like a boy. Blue jean shorts, a yellow and blue striped T-shirt, sneakers, red baseball cap. If it weren't for her long, curly hair and notably well-developed chest, most would overlook her as just another punk kid. Which, technically, she was. So what if she preferred playing baseball to doing schoolwork? So what if she liked to hang out with the boys in the tree house in the woods? So what if she talked back to adults and seemed to treat everything with the same sarcastic indifference? No big deal. She was just happy to ride the wave of mediocrity into an easy life. No one had any expectations of you when you only got Ds and Cs and didn't join any school activities. Just relaxing and playing baseball, that was her dream.

The bell ringing announced that school was over for the summer. Ness was the first to jump from her desk and run out into the halls, pushing her way through the crowds and out the door into the summer sun. She was soon met by a group of four boys who came to walk alongside her, one wearing a gray fedora, one wearing a red batting helmet, one wearing a black bowler, and one with shaggy black hair.

"Ready to head for the tree house?" one asked.

"You bet! You bring the smokes?" Ness asked, walking with her arms wrapped behind her head and her chest thrust out. Always turned guys' heads when she did that.

"Got 'em right here. Mom buys so many packs, she'll never notice one missing. The booze is a different story. I got caught last night by my dad."

"Damn. Ah well, smokes will have to do for today."

"Hey, Ness, show us that thing you can do."

"Dude, I need more room and a baseball bat to hit a Ness Home Run."

"No, that... lifty thing!"

Oh. Sighing, Ness brought her friends behind a tree where no one could see them. "Got something for me?"

"Uhhh... Pencil." One boy offered, pulling the item from his pocket.

"Pencil? That ain't any fun. Ah well. Have to do."

Ness stared at the item in her friend's hand. She concentrated as hard as she could. It wiggled a little on its own, and just as the sweat began to bead on her forehead, it floated into the air, doing a few slow horizontal figure eights.

"Dude, that's awesome!"

Breathing a sigh of relief, the pencil fell to the ground. It was always hard to keep that going... And she was always so tired after doing it.

"How come you can do that, Ness?" One of her friends asked.

Beginning to walk again, the teenaged girl shrugged. "Beats me. Not even sure if there's a good use for it."

"Couldn't you grab something from across the room?"

"Nah, most things worth grabbing like that are too heavy for me to lift, and too far away to maintain."

"Maybe if you practice a little, or something..."

"What? I ain't no side show. Now let's get to the tree house already."

"Sure thing, boss."

To be honest, the only reason Ness wasn't in the Sharks, the local gang of ruffians, was because she refused to wear those stupid uniforms and goggles. She wasn't the gang type, anyway. These four were just friends of hers. Anyway, it was summer now, so time to relax and play baseball. Woohoo!

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That night, Ness had unusual dreams. She'd been having a lot of unusual dreams lately. Dreams of flying saucers raining beams down on towns. Dreams of an incredibly evil power that she and three others would face and defeat. Dreams of walking through various locations with these three people, seeing rare sights and going to the ends of the Earth.

Her dreams were disrupted by a loud bang that shook the ground and made the teenaged girl fall out of her bed. Not that it was hard to knock Ness out of her bed. She'd been sprawled out and hanging off the edge of the mattress when the ground shook and the loud bang sounded, so it was just the little push that sent her tumbling.

Standing up, the girl scratched her bare ass, yawning and shuffling to the door.

She flipped the lights in the hallway, groggily looking about. The door to her younger sister Tracy's room was cracked open, the girl staring out at her.

Tracy was Ness's baby sister, and she strived to be just like her big sis. Naturally, Ness wanted a future for her. So she made sure to set a good example for Tracy while she was home. It was why she went to loiter or hang out in town so much. She couldn't be herself at home. Had to act good for Tracy's sake.

"Hey, sis. The sound wake you up too? Were you freaked out?" Tracy asked, still mostly hidden behind her door.

"Yeah. I'll go investigate. You go back to bed, Tracy."

"Take this, sis." The small girl reached to the side and held a baseball bat out. Ness gently took it.

The bat was Ness's favorite bat from her childhood, lent to Tracy for safe keeping. It was cracked and on its last leg, and Ness had been using the bats at the baseball field ever since she retired Ol' Excalibat a year ago.

"Uh... Thanks, Tracy."

"You better get dressed, sis. Mom doesn't like it when you walk around the house naked..."

Sigh... Tracy had a point. So, sighing, she turned and returned to her room to get dressed. Nothing too fancy. Just some boyshorts, a cami, and some flip-flops for now. Oh, and her trademark red baseball cap. Couldn't be seen without it, after all. She had a reputation to uphold.

Walking downstairs, Ness found her mom sitting at the table, looking worried.

"What was that noise?" she wondered. "Ness, you don't seem scared. Are you nuts?"

"Whatever. I'm going to go check it out, Mom. Stay here."

"Oh... Okay..." Her mom sighed. "You'll sneak out of you room, anyway, even if I asked you not to."

Dammit, Ness's mom sure knew her well. "I'll be home as soon as I can, mom. Just watch the house."

She turned to where a big white dog slept curled up on the couch.

"You too, King!"

The dog lifted his head and barked. Only Ness heard what he said.

("Dogs and humans all sleep at night. Why aren't you asleep?")

Aside from... making things float... Ness could do something else. She could talk to animals. Well, sort of. It was more like... She could hear their thoughts. And they could hear her thoughts. Unlike the floating thing, which she only discovered a few months ago, she'd been able to do this since she was little. Not even her friends or family knew, though. After all, who would believe her?

("I'm going to go check out that noise, King. You be a good boy and guard mom and Tracy for me, okay?") she told him with her mind.

With her father always away on business, King was technically the man of the house. They weren't sure what breed of dog he was. He was clearly a mutt of some sort, her father figured, when he showed up on their doorstep during a rainstorm as a puppy. But he'd been a faithful companion to Ness ever since, though he was getting old. Knowing his duty, the dog merely yawned and curled back to sleep on the couch. But Ness knew he understood. He would fight if he had to.

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Naturally, the road to town was closed off. It was Onett's claim to fame. Any time something happened, the police closed off the roads. Didn't matter who couldn't go where. And it lasted a while, too. Oh, and that's pronounced like 'on it', which few out-of-towners could get right.

She talked to various police officers along the way up the mountain, finding out a meteorite fell at the peak. Along the way, she stopped by her sort-of-neighbor's house, Lier X. Agerate. Mr. Agerate lived higher up the mountain in a small house. Supposedly, he was a sign and billboard maker, but fancied himself a treasure hunter. You'd think Ness could get some booze or smokes from the guy, but this guy was all about working out and eating garlic to stay healthy.

Ness found her neighbor Porky near the top of the mountain, bothering some police officers. One ran up to her the second she showed up.

"Nice timing, Ness. Will you do something about Porky? He's driving me nuts. Are you two friends?"

Ness glanced over at the fat tub of lard annoying a nearby officer with incessant questions.

"No." was the teenaged girl's flat answer.

"Oh. But aren't you neighbors? C'mon, help me out here!"

Sighing, Ness stamped up to the fat bastard she had for a neighbor and tapped him on the shoulder, recoiling when she felt how wet with sweat he was. He turned around, surprised to see her. And delighted to see her wearing a low-cut cami, the perv.

"Hey, Ness. Don't be rubberneckin'. You're gettin' in the cops, oops... I mean officer's way! You can go home now. Tomorrow I, Porky, will tell you more about the strange meteorite. I'm fine here, but you're bugging the officers!"

Sighing, Ness turned around and walked away. The police officer made pleading motions with his hands, but Ness shook her head and continued on her way. She needed more goddamn sleep...

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Ness was awoken several hours later in the night by a knock on the door. Or, rather, knocking. It was really annoying knocking. It had no discernible rhythm, and the second you got used to it, it would change. Throwing on her boyshorts and cami, Ness shuffled downstairs to find her mother sitting at the table again.

"My land! Who could be knocking at the door at this time of night? Would you answer it, please?"

Sighing, Ness walked up to answer the door, only for it to burst open just as she reached for the doorknob, Porky stumbling in and panting.

"Hey! L-L-Listen to what I've got to say! When I took Picky to the place where the meteorite landed- Oh! Good evening ma'am. You're looking lovely as usual." The fat lard greeted her mom, then snickered at the end. "Anyway, as I was saying, the police that were guarding the meteorite landing left suddenly to deal with the Sharks. You know the Sharks, they're the local ruffians, and they were really going wild. Suddenly, I noticed that Picky was gone. I blame the cops... It certainly wasn't my fault at all. When my dad gets back, I know I'm gonna get whipped... You're my bestest friend. Won't you help me find Picky?"

Ness sighed, rubbing her head in irritation. "Okay, first off, duh I know who the Sharks are. I live in this freakin' town! Second, I'm not your bestest friend. We're not even regular friends. And third, if it'll get you out of my house so I can sleep, then yes, I'll help you find the only member of your entire household family that I actually enjoy the company of."

"Okay, good buddy! Let's blow this popsicle stand... Before we go, why don't you say goodbye to your mom?" He turned to her mom. "Don't you agree, ma'am?"

Pfft. Like hell she'd do that. Grumbling to herself, Ness went back upstairs to grab her baseball bat. When she came back, wearing flip-flops this time, her mother approached her.

"I know that the dog is unreliable, but you should take King along. No matter what anyone says, you're a courageous, strong girl. You're my very own natural born fighter... You'll go far... Remember to go for it!"

Ness sighed. "Thanks, mom." Ugh... Her mom was so lame.

She turned when she felt a small tap on her back, finding Tracy standing there. "Um... I'll do whatever I can to help. You might get hungry along the way, so here's a cookie." The girl handed Ness a chocolate chip cookie, which she accepted and put in her yellow backpack, along with a bread roll from dinner earlier that night.

Walking up, she found Porky lounging on the coach, the lard, and he had kicked King off of it to do it. The dog walked up to her, wagging his tail. She knelt down to give him a good rub behind the ears.

"You might have to do some walking, old guy. Think you can handle it?" Ness asked her pet.

("I've got fleas sucking me dry, but I'll do my best to keep up with you.") the dog joked with her.

Porky hopped off the couch, ready to go. "All right! You go out in front, and I'll follow at a safe distance. Lets get going!"

Just then, the phone starting ringing. "The phone is ringing! Answer it!" Porky pointed out. "At my house, my dad gets bent if I don't get the phone..." Uh-huh... "...within the first three rings!" What.

Sighing, Ness walked up to answer the phone. "What is it? You picked a bad time to call." She complained.

"Hello, it's your dad."

"Daddy?" Ness questioned, in disbelief.

Unlike like her mother, who was lame but tended to let Ness do what she wanted, she was very close to her father. He was always away on business, though, but frequently wired her allowance to a private account made just for her. He'd taken a large hand in raising her until he became the new CEO of his company and needed to travel a lot. Ness was always overjoyed to hear from him.

"Work to exhaustion when you're young... Have you ever heard of a weird saying like that?" Ness smiled. "Just remember, I'm always behind you one-hundred percent. Don't be afraid. I know that you're brave. You can do it!"

"All right. Thanks, daddy."

Regardless of her tough punk persona, Ness became a little girl again whenever she talked to her father. His words always meant so much to her...

"Oh, I almost forgot the reason I called." Her father continued. "I'm still in Yumland discussing the possible merge with our rival company, but I've got a lot of time between meetings if you want to talk about how things are going. So don't be afraid to call me periodically. Oh, and I deposited thirty dollars into your back account. Do you have your ATM card?"

"Always have it on me, daddy." Ness assured him.

"Great! Feel free to spend however much you need. I'll deposit more if it looks a little low, and you still get your allowance. Good luck, m'girl! I feel like such a hero! Well, the father of a hero, at least. Wa ha ha!"

"Bye, daddy."

He hung up, but that conversation was all Ness needed to strengthen her already steeled resolve. Adjusting her baseball cap and giving her bat a test swing, she turned and walked out the front door, Porky and King a few steps behind her.

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Second they turned down the road, they were jumped by a coil snake. They were native to the Onett area, but luckily weren't poisonous. It jumped at Ness, but she beat it away with her baseball bat, and it crawled away back into the brush. Another also attacked, but a quick lunge and bite from King tore its head off. Porky, of course, didn't do anything except shy away from any fights and hide behind his 'best buddy.' Fat lard... When Porky tried to hide from a stray dog inside a bush, he disturbed a crow, which began spitefully pecking at his head.

"Ah! Get it off! Get it off! Get it off!" Porky cried.

Sighing, Ness brought her baseball bat up in a swinging pose. "Get down, Porky."

Rather than waiting for Porky to actually duck, Ness swung her bat, sending the crow flying.

"The animals seem really aggressive tonight." Porky noted, pulling feathers out of his hair.

"Maybe you're just pissing them off." Ness bitterly noted. The bitterness was, of course, lost on Porky.

"Could be they smell food on us, or something. We do tend to eat food on occasion."

Sighing, Ness ignored his idiocy and trudged further up the mountain. From then on, the crows seemed intent on trying to steal from her backpack, while the stray dogs seemed more interested in howling loudly.

They passed by Mr. Agerate's house, and he was outside sitting on his porch, so Ness ran up and asked if he had seen Picky.

"Well, don't know if it was Picky, since I was too busy to investigate, but I heard a child's voice on the hilltop."

"Cool. Thanks, Mr. Agerate."

"I'm a busy man, but when I do a job, I do it well. I'm a man's man."

Sighing, Ness continued up the mountain, fighting off one more crow and stray dog before climbing the last hill to the peak.

There was the meteorite. It looked pretty hot, still, so Ness didn't touch it, and advised King not to sniff it. Porky she didn't care about, but he was too busy hiding behind her to think about the meteorite.

King barked and ran ahead, going behind a tree. They heard Picky cry in surprise, and Ness ran after her dog to see King licking the boy on the face.

"Gah! Good to see you too, King." Picky laughed, rubbing the dog's ears.

"Hey, Picky."

Picky looked up to see Ness. "Oh. Hey, Ness." Then he leaned to look behind her. "Porky! I've been looking all over for you..." he turned back to Ness. "You see, Porky got scared and ran away... Well, I'm glad that you're okay at least... Let's go home now. I bet mom and dad are worried sick about us. Geez! Sometimes I wonder which one of us is the real big brother."

Getting up, Picky and Ness knocked fists for a sec, their way of greeting each other, and turned to leave, but Picky stopped.

"Ness! Do you hear a buzzing that sounds like a bee flying around?"

Ness listened intently for a moment. "Come to think of it, I do."

"Yes! You can hear it!"

"I can't hear it..." Porky complained.

"Whatever, Porky." Ness dismissed. "Where's it coming from?"

The buzzing got loader, then all four turned to see a bright light shining forth from the meteorite. Porky immediately ran to hide behind a nearby bush, while Picky brought his fists up, and Ness readied her baseball bat. What emerged from the light was some kind of... bee thing. It was too big to be a regular bee, and when it flew up to Ness's face, she could see it was clearly robotic-looking, with a set of clear arms and legs and a waist, but the face and antennae of a bee. But Ness got the sense that this seemingly robotic bee was alive...

"A bee I am... not." It announced, flying circles around Ness's head. "I'm from ten years in the future. And, in the future, all is devastation... Giygas, the universal cosmic destroyer, sent all to the horror of eternal darkness..." The bee-thing paused. "However, you must listen! Where I am from, there is a well-known legend that has been handed down from ancient times. It says, 'when the chosen girl reaches the point, she will find the light. The passing of time will shatter the nightmare rock and will reveal the path of light.' You see, it is my opinion that you are that girl, Ness. This I believe..." The bee-thing paused again. "Giygas' monstrous plan must have been set in motion somewhere on Earth... If you start to confront the enemy immediately, you may have time to counter the evil intentions of Giygas. Three things are of the utmost importance... Wisdom, courage, and friendship... The legends from the ancient times tell of two boys and two girls who defeat Giygas... I will tell you more later. Go now! And do not be anxious about the future. You have much work to do, Ness."

What. No, really, just what. Some robo-bee comes out of a pillar of light from a fallen meteorite and tells her that she's the chosen hero destined to save the ruined future of ten years from now? What.

"Whoa, dude. Bee... dude. You've gotta be mistaken. I'm not the hero type."

"How so?"

"If a hero was starving and found a plate of potato skins in a food-deprived village, he'd share it with the townsfolk. I'd want the entire plate to myself, so I'm clearly a rebel."

"Hm. You are as exceptional as I expected you to be. But you will see. You are the chosen hero, Ness. Not to worry. I shall guide you on your quest. I am Buzz Buzz."

"Uh... I'm Ness. But I guess you already knew tha- Wait, how do you know my name?"

"You are quite famous where I come from, Ness. And... I'm telepathic."

"What?"

"Psychic."

"Seriously?"

"Yes. So are you."

"You mean that floaty thing is-"

"Telekinesis."

"And my hearing animals' thoughts is-"

"Telepathy."

"...You gotta be shittin' me."

"Ness!" Porky spoke up. "It looks like you're really in a lot of trouble this time... Two boys, he said? Uhhh... I'm not one of those two, am I?... 'Cause... I'm not into this kind of thing at all..."

"Am I one of those heroes, Buzz Buzz?" Picky asked.

"What is your name, child?"

"Picky."

"Ah, Picky. Fear not, for you will have your own role to play in Ness's story. Just remember to take risks when you can."

"Sweet!"

"Now, we should get you home so you can prepare for your journey. You are dressed far too casually for what is ahead."

Yeah... boyshorts, a cami, and some flip-flops weren't exactly good fighting clothes. But she needed to head back to bed, and hopefully ditch this Buzz Buzz guy. It was summer vacation. She had a lot of loafing around to do.

Ness, Porky, Picky, King, and Buzz Buzz made their way down the mountain, not encountering a single hostile animal like they had on the way up. They passed by Mr. Agerate's house, and he waved Ness over.

"Ness, buddy... I have something to tell you, and only you. Can you come visit me later, alone?"

"Uh... Sure thing, Mr. Agerate."

"Great! Now you scoot on back home."

Ness and friends did just that. But as the dirt path forked between Ness and Porky's house, there was a flash of light, following by a pillar of light falling down in front of them, some sort of... large white man standing there when the light subsided. It had two arms and two legs, a torso, and a clear head, but... Its feet didn't have toes, and it had no hands. Only a visor was on its face, like some kind of readout screen, and some odd insignia on its left breast. Could it have been some sort of super-advanced robot, or something?

"It's been a long time, Buzz Buzz." It said, its voice clearly robotic. "You've been successful at foiling Master Giygas' plans. But... Buzz Buzz, you must now surrender. You're no longer a hero, but just a useless insect. I'll stomp you hard!"

"Rah!"

Picky lunged forward, swinging his fists at the odd robot.

"Picky! What are you doing?!" Porky called from the sidelines.

"I'm taking risks, like the bee-dude said!" he announced, finding scoring a punch on the thing's chest. It stumbled back a little, then rubbed its chest with its tentacle-like arm. Picky swallowed hard at his punch barely doing anything... The robot brought its tentacle-like arms to its temples, Ness clearly feeling some sort of... energy building.

"Picky! Get out of the way!"

Ness dove forward, pushing Picky out of the way as fire began to gather around the strange robot's arms and head. "PK Fire Beta!"

"...Shit."

Ness braced herself for being burned... but opened her eyes when she didn't feel anything. Was she dead? She looked up to see Buzz Buzz standing between her and the robot, some sort of violet barrier erected in front of him.

"PK Shield Sigma!" Buzz Buzz announced.

When the fire subsided, Buzz Buzz dropped the shield, his limbs drooping like he was tired.

"Buzz Buzz... You saved my life..." Ness said in shock.

"Forget that! Ness, dude, you saved my life!" Picky announced as he got up from the side of the road.

"Stay calm, everyone!" Buzz Buzz announced. "I must renew the shield!"

A growling alerted everyone to King's presence, who lunged forward and bit onto the robot's arm. It shook its arm to try and shake the canine off, but King had a powerful lock on him.

"Hiyaaa!"

Buzz Buzz flew forward with surprising speed, his leg outstretched as he kicked the robot in the head, cracking its visor. Was Buzz Buzz that strong?

"Ness! Hit it with your Ness Home Run!" Picky yelled from the sidelines.

Ness readied her baseball bat, getting ready for a swing. She dashed forward, just as the robot threw King into a nearby tree and readied for another psychic flamethrower attack.

"Ness... Home... Run!" Ness yelled, swinging her bat just as the robot shot another blast of fire.

The bat hit it right in the visor, breaking it and making smoke pore forth from it. The robot twitched for a bit before falling limp like a ragdoll, curling up and exploding.

The explosion sent Ness flying back and into Picky, both tumbling across the grass. Ugh... That hurt. Groaning, Ness stood, looking at herself for any damage. Her clothes were a little singed... But that was nothing compared to her baseball bat. It had completely broken along the crack line. Feeling her head, she found her hat was heavily burned too, but at least she was fine. Then she realized.

"King!"

Ness crawled over to where King lay on his side against a tree, whimpering.

"King! Say something, boy!"

("Owwwww... I think I broke a rib...") the dog whined.

"Don't worry, boy, we'll get you to a vet!"

"Wait." Buzz Buzz flew up. "You can help him."

"I can? How?"

"Ask your mind for the answer."

"My mind?"

"Yes. You are a powerful psychic, Ness. You just have yet to realize your full potential. Think about your wish, and focus your mind. You will find the answer."

Her wish? Well... she wanted to heal King. So... Placing both hands on King's chest, she searched her mind for something, anything. Then... she felt a warmth. It was getting closer.

"Lifeup Alpha." Ness announced, her hands glowing a blue light as they pressed against where King's wound was. Ness could feel her energy being drained... But it wasn't her stamina. It was some kind of... mind energy. After several moments, King lifted his head, getting up and wagging his tail.

("Thank you, master.") he said, his tongue sticking out as he panted happily.

"King! You're okay!" Ness cried, wrapping the big dog in her arms.

("Yes. You healed me. That was incredible, master!") King told her.

"Well done."

Buzz Buzz flew up to Ness, hovering next to her head. "I'm sorry about your bat and hat... But I'm impressed you realized your power to heal your injured canine. I know this is a touching moment, but we should be going."

There was a rustling in a nearby bush, and out jumped Porky, throwing his arms up in the air and cheering.

"Yes! We won!"

Ness and Picky just glared at him.

"What?"

"What do you mean, we? You didn't do anything!" Ness pointed out.

"Yes, I did! I was totally watching your backs from that bush when that thing attacked."

"Oh, yeah. Buzz Buzz! What was that thing?" Ness questioned, standing up, but one hand still rubbing King on the head.

"A Starman. Specifically, a Starman Junior. A highly advanced psychic robot."

"Junior? You mean there are stronger versions out there?" Porky exclaimed.

"Yes. We were lucky. I was taking a big chance there. He came from ten years in the future to kill me, so we can't relax yet! From now on, you'll be fighting enemies sent by Giygas, as well as humans who have evil thoughts. They'll definitely make trouble during your quest. Animals are also becoming violent due to Giygas' influence over their minds."

"Seriously?" Ness asked.

"It is the truth, so listen!"

Ness stood, throwing the burned remains of her hat onto the grass, and the broken handle of her baseball bat with it. She'd have to pick up another one at the drug store.

"C'mon, we need to get these two home."

"Of course." Buzz Buzz agreed.

They got up and began walking, but Ness stopped.

"Buzz Buzz? What did that guy mean when he said you were no longer a great hero?"

Buzz Buzz paused for a long time before he spoke. "It doesn't matter. I'll tell you someday."

Ness nodded, having to accept that. After all, they had a whole adventure ahead of them. It was only the start, and Buzz Buzz already saved her life. And Ness always repaid her debts.

XXXXXXXXXX

They walked into the Minch househould to find Mrs. Minch pacing around, and her husband lounging on the couch.

"Where in sam hill have you boys been?" their mother demanded. "Your father will have to punish you!"

Their father got up from the couch, walking up to ness. "I'm really sorry that my kids troubled you so much..." He turned to Porky and Picky. "Both of you are really going to get it now!"

He pointed to the stairs, both boys looking down at the ground and trudging upstairs. He followed them up, and Ness clearly heard the sounds of them being beaten, though Ness wasn't sure what with and didn't think she wanted to know...

Porky and Picky's father returned, walking up to her and rubbing his arm, likely tired from the whipping he just gave his boys. "By the way, I would be happy if you left sometime soon. I'm tired of your family living next door. We've loaned your father a lot of money. It may have been a hundred thousand dollars or more... Well, I guess it really could have been less, but because of the loan, my family and I now live in poverty!"

Ness sighed, rubbing her temple. "Dude... You loaned my father twenty bucks for some shares of his company. The only reason you refuse to let him pay you back is because you like to use it as ammo for badmouthing him. The shares you have are worth a lot of money now, and I know for a fact you're all doing quite well for yourselves because Picky said you just got back from an expensive restaurant you visit in the next town over every Friday."

She could clearly tell Mr. Minch wanted to smack her right then and there... but restrained himself. He walked over and plopped down on the couch, picking up the remote and flipping through channels on the TV.

Mrs. Minch walked up, and boy was she ugly. All that plastic surgery... "My husband is much too lenient with the children. Oh well, nice guys finish last. That's the story of our life..."

Now Ness was tempted to punch her in her fat, collagen-infused mouth, but instead just sighed and rubbed her temples.

"Ayaaaeee!"

Ness looked up when she heard Porky and Picky's mother scream. "I think it's a dung beetle! I'll smash your guts out!"

Ness tried to stop her, but it all happened so fast. Within seconds, Buzz Buzz was on the ground, small sparks coming from his damaged robotic body. Ness knelt down and scooped him up, holding him up to her face. Buzz Buzz wasn't buzzing anymore...

"Augh!" the psychic bee bot gasped. "I was... Much weaker than I thought..."

"Buzz Buzz! Stay with me! You're gonna be okay!" Ness pleaded, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Do not cry, Ness. For you must now begin your adventure... without me. But, please, listen to my final words..."

Ness merely nodded, the tears already beginning to run down her cheeks.

"To defeat Giygas, your own power must unite with the Earth's... The Earth will then channel your power and multiply it... There are eight points that you must visit. Make these places your own... Each of these locations is 'Your Sanctuary.' One of them is near Onett. It is called 'Giant Step.' Go there first..."

"Buzz Buzz, c'mon! It can't be the end for you! I still owe you for saving my life!"

"No... You are a very intelligent young woman... and... Oh, the pain... Everything is getting dark..." the robot bee groaned in pain before gasping. "Before I pass on, I want to give you something... Originally, I was intended to go with you and record the melodies of each Your Sanctuary location. But you will have to do it yourself. Take the memory core from inside my chest. It is called the Sound Stone. It will automatically record the melodies of each Your Sanctuary location as long as you carry it with you. To hear them, touch it to your forehead and gather your thoughts..."

"Buzz Buzz... Don't go!" Ness pleaded.

"No... I'm almost gone... It's already dawn outside... But it doesn't matter to me. I'm fading fast... Farewell... Ness..."
Buzz Buzz let out one last spark, groan, and gasp before his tiny limbs fell limp, the lights from his body fading to darkness.

Ness just sat there and cried. Cried for possibly the first time in her life. She'd always had to stay strong... But this time, she would let herself cry. Cry for the friend she had only just met, and hadn't had a chance to repay for his protection...

XXXXXXXXXX

Ness buried Buzz Buzz in her back yard, in a small grave that she decorated with a bouquet of dandelions, lined with flat stones, and even tied two sticks together to make a marker. On the horizontal stick, she carved the psychic warrior's name with a steak knife. Finding the remains of her hat and bat once more, she placed both on the grave with the dandelions, and rose to stand. Grabbing her long curly locks, Ness brought the steak knife to them and sheared them off. She placed the strands of her prized hair on the grave as well. They would likely blow away with the wind, but the act would honor her fallen friend for all time. Turning to look into the rising sun with renewed resolve, Ness made her way back inside her house. She had some explaining to do to her mother and sister... She'd be gone for a while, after all.

XXXXXXXXXX

Author's Notes:

1. I got Onett's pronunciation from an official source.

2. I'm using PK instead of PSI, as was originally intended by Nintendo and used in Super Smash Brothers.

3. I'm also using Porky instead of Pokey, as this is the proper translation and is used as such in Super Smash Brothers. It also fits with his brother's naming theme.