AND FINALLY, THE LAST CHAPTER: THE EPILOGUE
I'm seriously going to miss this fic ;-;

The first sentence in, and I'm already hooked on the throwbacks: I love how you compare Ness's hotel stays in Earthbound with Lucas's (implied) nights camping out in Mother 3, because while you can "rest" in certain places in Mother 3 (i.e. The couch in Empire Pork Tower, Lucas's bed in Flint's cabin, Ionia's bed, etc.), Lucas doesn't check into hotels during his game. So I actually like to headcanon that Lucas and co. camped out and slept out in the open (i.e. maybe with each character taking shifts?) because hotels/motels weren't as readily available, and because Lucas is (understandably) wary of modernization. Also during-the-Mother 3-adventure, Lucas is arguably just as outdoorsy - if not more so - than Ness is, especially since Lucas grew up with Flint as a shepherd. HEY, and I caught the reference of Lucas speaking with sparrows in M3- they never really gave me useful advice tbh, but at least they tried to be helpful haha! Hopefully Claus heals from his trauma (I didn't even think about the sparrow chirps possibly triggering his PTSD, but OOF that one hurt). AND BONEY AAAAA Ness and Lucas bonding over lazy old King made me really happy :DDD HA, King slobbered all over Lucas's face XD

ALSO NESS'S MOM GASPING AND HUGGING NESS
WITH LUCAS SMIRKING
AND NESS GETTING SECOND HAND EMBARRASSMENT
I LIVE FOR THIS
heh poor Ness, can't retaliate in kind because he'd *look* like an ass for calling out a boy with a dead mom - and Lucas knows this all too well. Lucas you sneaky, sneaky boi
Really random, but I really like the way you write transitions in dialogue when [Character A] first talks to [Character B], then to [Character C]. Like, "blablablah," [To Tracy], "bleblebleh" *jots down more notes*
And you're right, how did Lucas survive in snowy weather in T-shirt and shorts? HOW DID *NESS*?! These boyes, I'm telling you

To no one's surprise, I enjoyed the heck out of the Ness-Tracy sibling moment. I know I've said this thousands of times, but my goD, I FRICKIN LOVE SIBLING MOMENTS
Also Tracy, you have the sass of Paula LMFAO
""All right, Mr. Hero man," Tracy said, turning back to her video game."
HELP US ALL SHES TOO PRO
Another aside, but I also like how comfortable Lucas seems in his own skin (i.e. even admitting that he's open to dating Ness). Despite Lucas's trauma (and his more "conservative" views on sexuality compared to Paula's, from what you've told me), his self-confidence makes sense in your AU because from the beginning, right after ALL the character growth from M3, Lucas ALSO becomes the leader of the Rebel Base. Maybe it's also because I'm so used to writing Lucas from Through Thick and Thin, but either way, I love your Lucas. His character is so refreshing!
ALSO NESS DAMMIT I KNOW YOURE TIRED, BUT I HOPE YOU AT LEAST TOOK OFF YOUR SHOES BEFORE CRASHING INTO BED
please tell me he did ;-;

And we get to the last section of the story! In passing, I laughed when Sen clarified himself like, "oh yeah ness, sooo im not actually your nightmare anymore. I just look like this to make you comfortable"
iM DEDD
For some reason, I can vividly imagine the sleeping forms of Lucas/Ness/Paula just drifting on the Sea of Eden before waking up on land. I don't know how else to describe this. I just really, really liked it.
Even with Jeff passing, this chapter ends the story on a much happier note, with all of Giygas's "vessels" (i.e. Lucas, Paula, Ness, etc) able to communicate in Magicant thanks to Giygas's power, with Ness meeting Jeff again aHh the feels :') And Paula commenting on Ness's bedhead LOL

I loved all the major characters in your story. Porky. Claus. Lucas. Ness. Paula. Jeff. Poo. Tracy. Ness's mom. GOD. You really did the main cast justice, especially the Chosen 4. I can't emphasize how much I love your depiction of Ness/Paula/Jeff's relationship, of Lucas/Ness/Flint playing baseball, of Ness "sandwiched-between-Lucas-and-Paula's-POVs-on-identity-and-other-opinions-like-utopias", of Ness's relationship with Paula and their combined character development, of Ness's suicide notes and how realistic Ness's feelings were after breaking up with Paula (i.e. how selfish he felt for "causing" the people around him pain, which is unfortunately a common sentiment for many suicidal people). You also depicted a relationship that didn't work out, but where neither party was at fault, as opposed to the cliche "ONE PERSON WAS ABUUUSIVE AND EVILL SO THEY BROKE UP" BS reason prevalent in pop culture (to be fair, I don't condone abusive relationships, and abusive relationships can be interesting to write about, but many writers merely shove it in as an excuse to break two people up, and come on, that's just *lazy* writing ;-;). In another universe, I have no doubt Ness and Paula would've worked out well as a couple; Paula was so genuinely sweet that it broke my heart, and Ness was just as sweet, going as far as to persuade Mr. Polestar into co-signing a place for Paula to stay in.
On the other hand, I enjoyed of how delightfully twisted Porky was, and how you wrote his demise. aaaa the irrational part of me is craving a sequel even though it wouldn't make sense because asjhlfjkagfd I love this so much, I wish I could fave it twice.

Thank you for the experience. I'm going to miss this story. :')
*...runs off to reread it again*

SECOND TO LAST CHAPTER
Ayy PK PlaneWalk makes a return! Also the trio (Ness, Paula, Lucas) forced to leave Jeff behind is just... AGH. From the very beginning of this story, I thought they could save him. This hurts worse than if they found him dead ;-; And we have confirmation that once again, Sen is Ness's PSI (along with the fact that Giygas himself is technically "PSI"). I liked the closing sentences of your first paragraph here, where Ness still realizes his nightmare will stay, but gains closure that it's okay, that he can't get rid of all nightmares. I actually liked the closing sentences of ALL your paragraphs in this chapter, but I'll get to each one with each paragraph.

The second paragraph ties up the plot with Porky. As much as I avoid character death (unless necessary), it makes sense in this fic, where Porky is too dangerous to be kept alive, lest the characters want to enable his behavior and continue his cycle of abuse. We've seen how Porky had tried (and failed) to infect and kill everyone with a virus, on top of everything he did in Mother 3 and Earthbound - much less cloning Ness's mom (and Hinawa) just to make Ness suffer. In this fic, Porky is a narcissistic character who only cares about finally "winning" without any consideration given to others. In this way, Paula's points are justified, Ness (also justified) declines to take revenge because it wasn't his revenge to seek, and Claus had just broken free of Porky's control (and was obviously not in the headspace to inflict more violence, also justified). Porky had many victims, and of those, he took away almost everything from Lucas's life. In a way, it's pretty fitting (and strangely cathartic) that he meets his end by Lucas's hand - also another solid ending sentence to the paragraph. We don't need the details; just that at long last, the tables have turned, and that Porky has found himself at the mercy of someone who had once been his victim. Though vengeance isn't always the solution (i.e. Ness's POV), you conveyed such a powerful message with this scene alone, where all of Porky's consequences have finally stacked up, and justice is served. Genius. You wrote an incredibly satisfying end to the villain of your story, which is just as important (if not more) than the characterization of the villain himself; when a villain so cruel and horrible and powerful *has* to meet their end, a hasty fix can easily be the dealbreaker of any story, because it deprives the reader of that catharsis/satisfaction after all those chapters of buildup. Seriously, writing a fitting demise for an antagonist (if a demise is needed) isn't easy, but you've nailed it here. *jots down notes*

Though Kumatora is actually my least favorite character in this fic (despite understanding her motives), I enjoyed reading how each character parts afterwards, one by one. It's bittersweet. Claus returning to his dimension (and hopefully making HIS Lucas happy about his return!), Dr. Andonuts returning home (without his son, who's dead wHYYY THIS HURTS MY HEART), Kumatora agreeing to explain what she's done back in the Nowhere Islands, Poo dropping Claus off before resuming whatever gig he's decided to do next, and Paula staying behind to heal her heart and understand herself better. I caught small details about Lucas being uncomfortable with hugs and biting his nails whenever he gets nervous, which I thought was NEAT (since they added subtle depth to his character!). But the parting scenes, oh man, Ness and Paula parting HURT. THIS IS SO BITTERSWEET AAA

But I'm glad that Paula seems to be adjusting well to the freedom she has in this world (shown with her hair dyed blue), and (and pleasantly surprised!) that Lucas has decided to follow Ness to Onett to learn how different societies function, since Tazmily's a wreck - or at least from what he's shared with Ness and Paula when they first arrived (i.e. the whole Paula vs Lucas debate on a bantering system and the pros/cons of technology). Now there's one more chapter to review - and I'm really sad haha. I really wish I could unread this fic, and read it all over again.

See you later!

I've said this before, but I love moments where Ness's mom and Ness can talk about sensitive topics together, because it highlights how close they are (although the suicide notes in previous chapters also reflect their close blond). Although Imma admit, Ness got guts asking if his mom's ex was good in bed LMFAO
But it's definitely a heartwarming scene where Ness's mom (luckily) shares similar experiences and views on her previous relationships (as an aromantic person), and tries to help Ness figure things out because he's one confused boi ;-;

AND HA I CALLED IT
SEN WAS NESS'S NIGHTMARE

But I didn't expect that twist you pulled with Giygas. It took me by surprise - but in a really good way. I think this is the best interpretation of Giygas I've read by far. You explained the interpretation really well in this fic too, how Giygas is not exactly just a physical entity, but is personified as PSI itself. And that's no easy feat, to describe an abstract concept without confusing readers. One of my favorite parts of "To the Future" was in this chapter: it was how you described Giygas's flashbacks as seen through Ness's eyes. Your use of imagery was especially vivid, because I could actually visualize the scene in the same way you imagined it (also the world blinking three times - I smell a reference!). Another powerful scene: Ness, Paula, and Lucas "becoming" Giygas. I'd describe how powerful it is if I could, but I really can't. I don't think words do it justice. It's an impactful scene, and also (vaguely) makes me reminisce about the MOTHER series as a whole - a team of friends banding together to defeat a greater "evil," except that the "greater evil" isn't exactly all evil (i.e. the world isn't all black or white).

In terms of humor, this chapter's on the money. Paula's such a wise crack, especially when they all gain freaky red Giygas eyes haha
"You do have the dark hair for it," Paula said. "But hey. I think that both of you would make sexy vampires. You know how the chicks love a hot paranormal romance."
NEVER CHANGE PAULA :')

This review is so short (compared to the reviews I normally leave behind), but this chapter really robbed me of words. It's now my new favorite of the entire story (maybe even of the all stories you've written by far) - but I think the next two chapters also vie for that 1st place spot, because each had different scenes that I really really enjoyed. Seriously, if I could fave this story twice, you'd bet I would. See you in the next review! :D

Wow is all i can say, i really fell in love with this fic, its already on my top of favs of all time, and i've been reading for years, huh?, i don't say this often, i'm looking for your next works

I don't care if I've already read this chapter
THIS WAS A CRUEL CLIFFHANGER
IN the flashback, I really like where this is headed. MOM ADVICE FOR THE WINNN
Any reference to Ness being a momma's boy is so sweet and wholesome, especially when you mentioned the bit where Ness finds her body weight comforting. :')

AND THE ALL CAPS ARE BACK BAYBEE
Giygas speaking with all caps is once again, a nice touch. There's not much you can do to change up the font within the chapter on FF, but the all caps really make Giygas's voice sound inhuman. I might have to do that for the Starmen (*jots down notes*).
Also this phrase: "Giygas, his form unknowable." A concise sentence, yet full of volume. EXCELLENT

I think you do the action scene justice here, even though my fave is still the chapter with Ness and Lucas's duel. ;) I also like how this time, Ness tries to "pray" for help, but the world has forsaken him. It seems to be a popular cliche in many fics across fandoms, where the "good guy" is "betrayed by the world" and then "turns evil just because" (which don't get me wrong, can become an amazing AU if thought out properly), but I'm glad that your fics dive in deeper - which is expected, knowing you. :) I don't know if this is unintentional, but I guess this part could "technically" be an undertale reference, but even without that, I love how this puts an AU spin on canon, where we're left to wonder "WHAT IF" in Earthbound, Paula's prayers go unanswered like Ness's do here. The team probably would've lost (and died!).

AND LUCAS HEALS NESS :DDD
My prayers have been answered - they fight together in this chapter HUZZAH! Although they're technically fighting Paula too, which I DONT like ;-; nooooo
And then Ness is given a hard choice between killing Paula, or trying to save her (not a guarantee). While Lucas is pragmatic about the situation and knows it's not easy for Ness to do, he's adamant about Ness offing Paula before Paula can off them and the rest of the world (a characterization of Lucas which I can definitely see, especially with your depiction of his in this AU). AND LUCAS IS RESISTANT TO PAIN YES I HEADCANON THIS SO HARDD TOOO
LMFAO he's like
"tis only a flesh wound" XD

Then everything goes wrong. Giygas/Paula turns the tide, PETRIFICUS TOTALUSes Lucas... AND THEN STABS NESS IN THE WORST CLIFFHANGER TO DATE OF ANY OF YOUR AUs
HOW COULD YOU
first you stab Lucas in Ceres, and now I guess it's Ness's turn. ;-; Everything sounds bleak at this point, but with Jeff gone, I can't help but hope. GOD this cliffhanger is sO cruel
please save all three of them BLEASE
See you next chapter :D

Thank You! With Lov

Back to the rest of the suicide notes! Tracy was a pretty independent, sensible character in Earthbound, especially for her age, and I like how you emphasize this in Ness's letter to her. Once again, TRACY AS A BUSINESS WOMAN IS NOW ONE OF MY FAVE HEADCANONS :D It's ridiculously fitting based on her previous work experience at Escargo and based on what little we know of her personality alone. Have I mentioned how much I love these letters? I'm going to say it again: they're incredible.
And these lines in Ness's final letter to his mom: "I wanted to grow up and be a thoughtful, strong boy, just like you wanted. I failed. I tried and tried to be strong but it's just too hard. How do you do it, mom?"
Jesus conna don't kill my heart so soon it'S NOT EVEN THE CLIMAX YET AND IM IN PAIN

ALSO
JEFF IS DEDD
I CANT BELIEVE YOU OFFED HIM ;-; I was holding onto the hope that he was alive, since despite all the stuff Porky said, it seemed like he escaped to counter the virus. This to me, was the bigger "WTF AAA" realization moment than Ness having to fight Paula. Because we all knew, from the very beginning, how much Paula cared for Ness, how much she loved Ness, and how far she'd go to protect him. Rather than a "sudden realization" cliffhanger moment, you built a growing sense of dread throughout this chapter where we all knew what was going to happen, but didn't want it to be true ;-; whyyy

And no story of yours is complete without the PSI worldbuilding. I don't think I've read any other fic where Giygas is essentially PSI. On the other hand, this only makes me curious: how did Jeff "die"? We know that he "worked" under Porky's nose for a while before Ness and Paula showed up, but how did he manage to transfer his soul into his JeffBot without Porky realizing? These questions aren't that important to the story, but I do marvel at Jeff's sneaking skills XD
I also think you capture Ness's growing anticipation and horror at facing Giygas a second time well, and how alone he feels in contrast to when he fought in a team as a kid in Earthbound. And Ness, I agree - the landscape for the final boss is pure creepypasta. Like, what even were those intestine-looking things by the Devil's Machine? ? Giygas be freaky bruh

BUT I CANT BELIEVE YOU PUT 4 CLIFFHANGERS IN A ROW
Now I have to see what happens next. I know Jeff is ded (which I'm still not over), but please let Paula and Ness and Poo survive ;-;

Having never played any of the Fire Emblem games, I can't tell if you've stolen any lines from Three Houses. So you're safe there ;)

Paula's revenge on Porky seems fitting in this AU, especially when you think about how Porky handed her over to the Blue Blue Blue cultists in Earthbound. But before we get into that, I wanna talk about the suicide letters.

Paula's letter is the only one shown in this chapter, but I really want to mention how well-written all three letters are (including the two in the next chapter). I... don't really know what to say to be honest. Each letter gets more poignant, and the fact that you ended the letters with the one addressed to Ness's mom leaves a powerful impact on the reader. Really though, hands down, the letters are arguably one of my favorite parts of this fic. I'll mention the other two letters in the next chapter again, but in this chapter, when Ness asks Paula to let him go, we can finally see the full extent of the mental toll this all had on Ness. Depression is a real pain, and I think you do a wonderful (and painfully accurate) portrayal of someone whose depression finally tips them over the edge. We can tell that Ness feels like he's "dragging" Paula down, and that by offing himself, he thinks that he's doing the world, his family, and his friends a service. Poor Ness.

I also enjoyed Paula and Ness's talk of morality, and how they outline the difference between a victim of circumstance and a reprehensible character beyond forgiveness. In a way, I think that Porky Minch is a tragic villain who is really both, and this complication makes the Mother Series that much more fun to write about. Although to be quite fair, even without looking at Porky's track record, what he does to Claus (and to Ness and Hinawa)in this chapter is unforgivable, and I am really glad that the party took him down.
also porky's a jerk hrmph

Although I read the next chapter already, I'm just gonna pretend I haven't for a sec to say this: AFTER ALL THESE CHAPTERS, NESS AND PAULA ARE FINALLY GONNA REUNITE WITH JEFF! I hope Jeff is alive ;-; Also loving the references (and Ness following the hooker into the hotel room in Threed... LMFAO that will never get old). And a minor detail, but I love how Paula's like, "nOPE, 3 feet away buster" when she realized Lucas tried to off Ness in the last chapter. I can never get over Paula's protective streak over Ness :')

Looks like the story's finally wrapping up! I'm excited to see how this all ends :D Please leave the Chosen Four intact and happy ;-;

ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER
HOW COULD YOU

The flashback in this chapter brings more questions than answers: though we know why Ness lost his PSI, we don't know how. WAIT IS THE PERSON WHO SEALED OFF NESS'S POWERS HIS OWN NIGHTMARE? I think it is! This person (Sen...s lol) is supposed to be Ness's greatest fear, which to him right now is himself. And after the warning Hinawa imparted to Ness in the previous chapters... THIS MAKES SO MUCH SENSEEE
If that's the case, I tip my hat for thee. This is such a refreshing Earthbound reference that clicks in so well with the story :D Now we'll have to see how Ness's nightmare relates to the rest of the plot, and if it holds any relevance with the other major antagonists of the story (like Porky and Giygas).

Then we have the battle itself. I really enjoy reading about swordwork and fencing in stories, and I like how Lucas and Ness decide to fight their "final" battle without PSI. It's honorable, especially when Lucas mentions that he will hold Ness in his arms, should Ness fall much like Claus did in Mother 3. Despite their obvious intent to duel to the death, the fighting scene reminds me of friendly sparring, and it only makes me more upset that they aren't getting along ;-; On the other hand, I'm relieved (and very glad) to see that Hinawa interfered, that you held onto your promise, and that Ness isn't ded in this chapter *wipes brow* Dayum though, I knew Ness had experience wielding a bat in battle, but who knew he was one heck of a deadly swordsman too
WHERE DID YOU LEARN YOUR SKILLS NESS? DID POO TEACH YOU
AND HOW DID LUCAS LEARN TO ATTACK AND PARRY SO WELL
IM JEALOUS OF THEIR SKILL

But Hinawa dies. Again. Painfully too. Dammit why do you do this to my heart ;-; I rarely see Hinawa curse in fics, but here, I can understand why and how her frustration boiled over - years of imprisonment/human-experimentation would probably do the trick haha
Her last action alive was to let Claus remember again ;-; And she saw Claus take revenge on the mecha drago because of what the Mecha Drago had done to her. That must be painful for any parent, to not only know that their child "died", but to know how the death happened. ;-; The fact that Ness was unable to heal Hinawa - all because his PSI hadn't returned yet - only adds to the sting. I sense dat incoming wave of second-hand guilt. AND DUDE you might've given me flack for my last chapter, but you literally wrote Lucas breaking down in this chapter of yours T-T STOP LUCAS CRUELTY 2019
bruh can we talk about Paula though? Paula's carrying the team. She basically saved Claus's life like it was nothing GO PAULA :D
I wonder if it bothers Ness that two of his teammates (Paula and Lucas so far, total may add up) are hollering bloody murder on Porky, but (1) Porky does want Ness ded (2) Porky wants to destroy the world and (3) we'll have to see what Porky has in store for next chapter.

Speaking of which, IT'S PORKY
THE ONE AND ONLY MASTER PORKY MINCH
IM SCREAMING CONNA WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER AND WHERE DA HECC IS JEFF WHEN YOU NEED HIM
please don't let him hurt the gud boyes and gurl ;-;

NO LUCAS
DO NOT STABBY STAB THE NESS
protecc ness at all costs ;-;

But first, the flashback: we now know why Ness lost his powers. I liked how you built everything up to this momentous reveal and how all the memories neatly slotted together like a puzzle. Despite all the flashbacks all pointing to Ness's worsening depression, the end result still came as a sad surprise. ;-; It's brutal, witnessing Ness's downfall from an unhappy person in a relationship that he never wanted to start (but did due to media/peer pressure), to a completely depressed person whose guilt for eventually BECOMING the reason of the break-up eats him up. Though the number of people he addresses his final letters to (Tracy, Paula, and his mom) are few, it does the job, emphasizing who Ness is most comfortable around. Poor Ness ;-; I'm surprised that Jeff wasn't on the list of receivers (Poo might've been too far away for postal service LOL), but the last flashback Ness gets before his suicide attempt (Posing with the rest of the Chosen 4 for the camera man ("FUZZY PICKLES")) really hits home for me. why must you hurt this good boye so ;-;

I've said this before, but can I just... *applauds furiously for your Paula*. Your Paula maturely handled Ness's confession, and oh my goodness, she's too sweet ;-;
Also more Ness and Lucas bonding time as friends :) Nothing like talking about the perks of an ideal world to build on a friendship amirite :D
As I mentioned in a previous review, I'm surprised that Lucas's hometown accepted him pretty easily (though Lucas admits that Tazmily isn't a "small rural town" after awakening the Dark Dragon, and mentions Alec&Flint's views on masculinity as possible hurdles for coming out).

AND MORE TIME PARADOX STUFF HUZZAH
Though the consequences of whatever the characters do in this timeline won't affect Lucas's time, which simplifies things, I'm curious to see what you'll do with Giygas. I actually enjoyed how creepy you made Giygas seem in Ceres, but I look forward to what Giygas has planned in this fic, and how Porky ties into it! :D
Onto the Siege of Empire Pork Building itself: Poo's as sassy as ever (interesting characterization of him, don't think I've ever read about a sassy verbose Poo before XD), Poo has his SWORD OF JUSTICE, Paula covers everyone like a Tank, and Kumatora tells Lucas the truth about Hinawa. Now, Lucas plans to stabby-stab Ness T-T LUCAS IF YOU BELIEVE THAT HUMAN CORRUPTION EXISTS, WHY WOULD YOU FALL VICTIM TO IT YOURSELF AND TURN ON YOUR FREN DAMMIT ;-; ness didnt ask for this, he didnt ask to be stuck in the same fate of Ceres ;-; Okay, I fixed your quote so we have a happy ending:
"Lucas, I know this is personal but-"
"But what, Ness? But whaT?"
"-killing me is kinda personal, buddy."
"...oh. You're right. I guess I wont stabby-stab you."
"Good! Now let's go get burgers and play baseball :D"
I REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT WENT DOWN ANY OTHER WAY

jk, but if you off Ness next chapter, I will not be a happy soul ;-; Since this fic kinda focuses on Ness's coming of age story, it'd probably be counter-intuitive to off him... but you've gone Game of the Thrones on your characters before, so I'm gonna reserve my judgement. See you next chapter! :DDD

"It started the night the night after we broke up..."
...
"-AND THEN, THE FIRE NATION ATTACKED."
Haha sorry serious review, serious review. I've said this before, but I enjoy the flashbacks and the steady progression of Ness/Paula's relationship over the course of the fic. Despite this fic being an obvious "Coming of Age" story for Ness, I thought we'd only be lucky enough to get a small glimpse into Ness's previous romantic relationship with Paula - maybe restricting it to like, short scenes where they reminisce over the "good old days" (kinda like in the end of this chapter), or scenes where they show random quirks alluding to their former relationship in passing. So I was pleasantly surprised when you made the Ness/Paula romantic relationship a focal point of Ness's character development. It sounds like an obvious choice in hindsight, but I didn't wanna dare to dream hahaha

Speaking of the flashback progression, this chapter's flashback really emphasizes the breaking point of the relationship, where Ness and Paula's romance crumbles. ;-; More importantly, it's the first flashback - that the readers see - where Paula voices the problem out loud (again, with the insinuation that this isn't the first time Paula has noticed that something is off with Ness). Moreover, it's the flashback where the two finally break up. No overblown drama. Just two people who realized that they were simply incompatible for each other... and Paula loving Ness so much that she decides to let him go. T-T
Though many teenage relationships are arguably broken off due to an immaturity fitting for their age group, I do like how you imply that both Ness and Paula are more mature than their fellow peers. They've been through so much together in Earthbound, and suffered trauma and near-death experiences together. So yeah, this was a wonderful (though not-so happy ;-;) flashback to read! :D
Also: Paula cooking Ness eggs because she worries over him not eating. What a wholesome bean. ;-; Despite what you've said about "the struggles of relationship writing," I really do think that your Ness/Paula is well done. Wait, I meant medium rare. Either way, I want moreee ;-;

As an aside, I didn't even realize that Poo's initials would be King P. Poor Lucas is probably getting bad Vietnam war flashbacks hahaha! Also your Lucas is such a dork. He's always been one in canon, but he's especially a dork in this fic compared to your other fics. GO, DORK LUCAS
I'm always interested in how you tie PSI into each story; it seems like most fics (like mine LOL) love to take on the Fantasy angle, where magic is magic, and energy is energy -no questions asked. But you try to explain how PSI works, and mold it into the story in a way that it doesn't violate certain laws of nature. And talk about what is theoretically possible/impossible to do with time travel. And touch upon about the history of gender. Imo, Worldbuilding is definitely one of your strengths in writing.

BUT YES FINALLY
ONE MYSTERY'S ABOUT TO BE SOLVED: how Ness lost his PSI. Oh boy. *grabs popcorn* This next chapter's gonna make me sad, isn't it? AJSDKHJSDF WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO MEE IM SO TORN
please make the boyes and girls happy ;-;
...See you in the next chapter! :D

This was a wholesome chapter :) Despite the depressing end of the flashback, your Ness/Paula was written so naturally. I really liked how you snuck in all the Paula kisses. She's so affectionate, and it's obvious that she loves Ness so much. My favorite cute aside I really enjoyed was when Ness accidentally crashed into Paula during PK Teleport, and then Paula kisses him and says, "Ah. Need to stop getting distracted by how much I love you." This is so wholesome ;-; MY HEART IS MELTING GIB ME MORE CONTENT LIKE THIS

Your brought up a really interesting point I didn't think about - about how Ness DID kinda take for granted that everyone in the Chosen Four would get along pretty well. If your Ness had to fight Giygas with Lucas and Paula and the power of their passive-aggressive sides... poor Ness. At least becoming a mediator between the two would train him to find Giygas less challenging. XD

The body of the chapter is just as wholesome as the start. I love the baseball arc- it's simply, fun, and wholesome. I love reading scenes where character interactions take the foreground, because it lets us fall in love with the characters involved. It's also interesting that Lucas brings up how he felt more comfy coming out in a small town; despite the common stereotype, smaller rural towns (typically a Gemeinschaft society) tend to be closer in social solidarity, but suffer from increased chance of prejudice. Basically, if someone doesn't fit into the "normal" mold, they aren't likely to be accepted into the in-group. ;-; Anyways, I love the bromance Lucas and Ness share in this fic, and their convos (their ideas of an ideal society in this chapter's case).
also FLINT'S CAMEO YES
HE STILL WEARS HIS HAT
"and don't call me kid" BAHAHA NESS
Never thought I'd say this, but I'm glad to see that young Flint's not balding...yet ;)

Again, I like the little details you add (like the baseball glove being loved and well-worn). And hey, I'm glad you like my Porky from TTAT, but I'd argue that yours fits the setting of your story. :) The creepy factor is def there *shudders*
Speaking of the Chosen Four... POO IS HERE! HUZZAH WE'VE COMPLETED THE QUARTET
My review seems shorter this chapter, but this is arguably my favorite chapter of the fic. Catch you next time! :D

Thank you for blessing us with yet another double upload youre the best

Two more chapters in a row?
HOW
Your writing productivity is amazing. Hopefully it'll rub off on me like good luck :D

As is tradation, Imma start with the flashback. Obvious fact is obvious, but immediately Mr Polestar strikes me as an unpleasant man-jerk. :c Secondly, the way Ness handled the co-signing issue and talking to Mr Polestar was maturely done, especially for his age. Ness is a good bean :) I didn't even think about the possibility of co-signing being an issue until it popped up in my face in this story. D'oh! But really, the way Ness spoke with Mr. Polestar and (somewhat) tried to get into his good graces to make sure Paula doesn't have to do it in his stead is sweet. Everyone should have a Ness in their life :D On the other hand, Ness feels oddly comfortable about Paula moving out, and though he "rhetorically" wonders why, it seems like he already knows the answer. He's still in self-denial, and although Paula's no doubt a sweet character, their relationship probably isn't doing him any favors. Poor kid.

Onto the main body: IT'S FINALLY PORKY MINCH YES! I think you also mentioned in an earlier chapter that you were worried about writing Porky's character in this story, but I enjoy your portrayal of him :) With the messed-up timeline and the "calamity of the world" looming ahead, his character fits. Your portrayal here is one of the more unsettling ones I've read on this site, and I think it's because Porky's already made up his mind to kill Ness, and right after that declaration, Porky LETS THE PROTAGONIST GO. Usually in any other story, any variation of this is the derp-up that leads to the antagonist's ultimate demise, but even with that knowledge in the back of my mind, Porky's confidence is eerily convincing (doesn't hurt to know that no characters are safe from death in any of your fics amirite ;D). Also in the case of any fanfic AU, the characters we all write are OoC to a degree - which is imo the fun part! Seeing how a writer's mind ticks is my favorite part of reading :D

Aha, Paula's sass in this AU makes me laugh! :D Sometimes it's understandably bitter (because exes, and y'know, the whole "she's not over Ness yet" feels), but her sass provides unexpected (but not unwelcome!) humor in serious times. Not sure if I pointed this out already, but in an earlier chapter where Lucas was all dramatic like
"Kumatora is here. Her magic smells of roses."
And Paula's response was like, "or well y'know, there could just be roses."
I died. Holy bananas hahaha
In this chapter, I like how Lucas asks if they brought anything precious with them into this world, and Paula is like, "our clothes." Oh Paula, you are the sass lord of the story. Also, when Paula says she doesn't want this day to end, despite all the shenanigans the trio have been through so far, all because she enjoys fighting for the same cause together with Ness? This was such a powerful statement. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: I really like your Paula. She's not perfect by any means, but she's truly warm-hearted and honest under her sass. YOo it really makes me sad that there aren't many gud Ness/Paula fics out here ;-;

Following this train of thought, I'll summarize the last section of this chapter:
Lucas: "NeSs aRE YoU GaY?"
Ness: surprised pikachu face
Roll credits.

Jkjk! Gee Ness, I wonder what gave THAT away. Definitely not the *cough* awkward elevator ride down *cough**cough* last chapter
All jokes aside, I like how you gradually build up Ness and Lucas's friendship, and how Lucas invites Ness to a casual game of baseball. Even heroes need a break. :) For some reason, it reminds me of this scene in Harry Potter, where Ron asks Harry if he wants to play Quidditch, Hermione's like "nO! are you serious, RON? You're so insensitive Harry's been through a lot just now-" and then Harry's more than happy to play, to which Hermione scoffs, "Boys." LOL

For this exact reason, I don't mind you not turning this fic into a Romance story. :) To be honest, even if you considered the structure of your plot, with the way things are progressing, any romance would be rushed and risk sounding forced (Unless Ness and Paula's romantic relationship was previously established AND carried over into into the plot - which isn't the case here. *cries*). Additionally, I appreciate how you don't lump Ness and Lucas into a relationship just because they're both not straight (?) in this AU; I know Lucas's identity is yet to be confirmed, but I'm assuming this from your AN. :) I'd actually be more interested to read fics where Ness and Lucas are close friends (and maybe have romantic relationships with other people during the plot...? If romance had to exist), and your fic is particularly refreshing for this reason. Now I want more Ness/Paula fics... and more Ness&Lucas best buddies fics ;-;

Looking forward to the next chapters :D

HUZZAH MY PREVIOUS SUSPICION IS RIGHT
In this chapter's flashforward, we can see that Ness is slowly crumbling in his relationship with Paula. SLOWLY. *rubs hands evilly* YES DRAG OUT HIS DEMISE MUAHAHAHA
But seriously, Ness and Paula both deserve better. ;-;

Also, I can't believe you. First sentence in, Paula compares Kumatora to a TROLL DOLL. Oh GOD I can't unsee it now. HELP, MY EYES, THEY BURNN
Nothing new, but I always appreciate how how you write female characters like normal characters. You avoid stereotypical depictions and overblown Marvel "badass is my entire personality" female leads. You're not afraid to develop Paula and add grisly parts of her character in this AU (i.e. the flashforward from last chapter), which is something I struggle with in my writing. At the same time, you can tell Paula really does care for Ness, and her tenderness towards him resonates in your writing, especially as she's healing Ness in the fight scene. For some reason, I like to imagine Healing as an intimate magic, so I enjoyed this detail. Moving onto the actual fight scene - I can't exactly pinpoint why, but I enjoyed the action and the escape scene here. It flows. The little dramatic flairs (i.e. Masked Man's entrance) don't hurt either ;) But the way you described the Masked Man with a "person's body" with motions "too sleek and human to be human" was brilliant. And I can't forget the part where Lucas's and Claus's orange beam swords bounce against each other in sparks. Talk about strong imagery :D

The Masked Man's entrance DOES make me wonder - if Hinawa died in this universe, and Lucas never existed in this sci-fi timeline... Wouldn't Claus also not exist? I could've accidentally mixed up the timelines (Ness's world, then this timeline, then Lucas's world) - and if I did - whoops my bad! I just wanted to double check with you :D A second curiosity: Does the Porky of this timeline know Lucas? Hmm... It seems like Porky obviously recognizes Lucas as an important part of the resistance (via fingerprint scanner), but the extent of his recognition is to be seen. Time to read the next chapter(s) and find out ;)

And of course, Lucas jinxed it. OF COURSE HE DOES. THANKS FOR JINXING EVERYTHING, LUCAS YOU CRYBABY
jkjk sorry Lucas you're good
Also the awkward elevator scene slayed me asdjhlsfd I feel most sorry for Lucas in this particular scene, because he's feeling the collateral damage of tension he didn't even purposely cause LOL. I actually loved this scene so much, because aside from providing comedic humor after a stressful situation, the banter was especially well-written and served as a throw-back to Ness's adventure in Earthbound. :D Also thanks for the references you provide in each chapter. It's been a while since I played Earthbound, and my save file (with the Sword of Kings rip) got corrupted after I finished my first playthrough, so the author's note makes it easier for me to recall parts of the plot :)

So now, we end this chapter with Hinawa teleporting to safety, Kumatora running away to Troll Doll land, more questions arising about how Ness lost his PSI, and most importantly, PORKY MINCH SHOWING UP HECK YES
Porky Minch is arguably one of my favorite characters to read about in Earthbound fanfics, because every writer's take on him is different, ranging from sympathy for a "victim of circumstance" to FULLBLOWN Mother3Villain. Personally, I'm weak for both interpretations, but I can't wait to see what you have in store for Porky here. I'M SO EXCITED
See you next chapter :D