I sincerely hope no one expects me to have any recognition of time. If so, I'm sorry. I'm sure anyone who's been actually trying to read this is fed up with ridiculously long time gaps, and I'm sorry. I still post this just in case some newcomer starts to read from the beginning, or someone is still waiting. Please don't hate me. My schedule will always be messed up.
Phase 53
A Short Diversion
(1:30 PM. Five and a half hours before Celis and Jonas enter Harsofol Palace, Wes finally re-emerges from the Warp Pipe he took when leaving The Pipes. Just as Wario said, Wes climbs out in E.Gadd’s house-in the library, where he had a mini-adventure four days ago. Just like that time before, the place is pitch-black.)
Wes: Why’s it so dark?!? It’s the middle of the day…
(It’s an easier journey through the library, since there aren’t bookshelves falling down everywhere. Wes is almost near the door, when some invisible force pushes him back.)
Wes: What the-?!
Boo: I wouldn’t step there, if I were you, great one!
Wes: You?!?
Boo: The old man’s dead. This place is mine now.
Wes: …He is?
Boo: Heh, just yesterday. He finished his project, though.
Wes: His project…you don’t mean-?!?
Boo: Some kind of transport device, I think.
Wes: The Time Machine…
Boo: Heh heh, like I care. Anyway, you can stay here for a little bit great one. If you came from The Pipes, you’ll want some rest.
Wes: Uh…thanks. …How do you know where the pipe leads?
Boo: Some fat weirdo visited a few weeks ago. Apparently a friend of the professors. Won’t he have a surprise!
Wes: … (Must be talking about Wario)…
Boo: Anyway, I suggest you walk around that spot. I dumped the professor there. He was stinking up the main room.
Wes: That’s disgusting! Why didn’t you bury him?
Boo: Skeletons add great atmosphere to haunted houses!
Wes: That’s sick…
Boo: Hee hee!
(Wes dodges around the unseen body, and enters the main room. Right in the center is the Time Machine…a mechanical chair.)
Wes: Hmm…I didn’t think it would just look like a chair…
Boo: Hee…me neither!
Wes: ! Are you going to follow me everywhere?
Boo: Only while you’re in the house.
(Wes sighs, and then looks at the Time Machine.)
Boo: I don’t mind.
Wes: If it’s about the Time Machine, I wasn’t going to ask! It’s E. Gadd’s…
(Wes starts to walk towards it.)
Boo: And if I was listening correctly…wasn’t it built for the princess?
Wes: …
Boo: Have fun! Don’t screw up the current world, or anything!
Wes: I’m not going that far back…
(Wes sits on the chair.)
Wes: Hmm…? …Ah!
(Wes finds a keyboard sticking out of the side. It’s on a rotating holder, so he pulls it to the front.)
Wes: Year...29 AMA…Month…September…Day…19th…Time…5:16 PM…
Boo: 8 years ago? Hee hee…that could mess stuff up…
Wes: Shut up. Location…Nasidius…
Boo: Never heard of that place! Must be a hick village!
Wes: Quiet.
(Wes pulls the lever on the left side. With a flash of light, Wes and the chair disappears. Half a second later, he reappears, and falls to his knees.)
Wes: [darn]…it…
Boo: Hmm…? Mess something up? I don’t feel different!
Wes: No…I didn’t mess anything up. Nothing changed. Nothing.
Boo: Hee…that’s good, isn’t it?
Wes: I’m leaving.
Boo: Oh…?
Wes: I have to get back to Mushroom Castle…tell Penter that Celis has everything under control…
Boo: Don’t you want anything to eat?
Wes: …I’m not very hungry anymore.
Boo: Hee hee. Come back anytime you want. It’s a little lonely around here…
Wes: Goodbye.
(Wes leaves without another word. Tomorrow morning, Wes will arrive at a ruin called Toad Town.)
TO BE CONTINUED…