Mission 14 - Epilogue p2

Mission 14 Epilogue
(Fur real this time)
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Mission 14 - Epilogue p1	
 Meanwhile... Purity of Heart
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: What, NO! You, ice bear, DO something!
: Can’t.
: CAN’T?!?
: Can’t, he’s gone.
: No, he isn’t, he’s right there, I sense him-
: Oceanbear has taken him.
: T-this isn’t a joke!
:
: Well, I don’t “see” him, and if you fall in these waters, you are pretty dead.
: Actually, you’ll probably freeze before you drown; with the ice and mist, you’ll never find the boat back either way.
: B-But you are an Ice type, you can-
: I can’t do it- Please, you have to help him!
: Then we shall mourn the honorary bear. Bearis, some words?
: Stop it, we have to-
: He was but young in the beardom. His true life as a bear only bearly started and already he stood against the authorities.
: Yes, even so much he thought he could face Oceanbear.
: Please, I can’t s- you need to help him.
: We shall remember his sacrifice in the battle against order.
: (looking defeated) Please, no… You have to do somethin-
: B-BÁL?!
Cecil’s head whips around so fast that it could have given him whiplash. Despite the mist and the fact it moved through the water, a light brought forth from a flame could be seen speeding towards the small boat through the fog before going out as it dives beneath the surface. The inhabitants of the boat lean over the side and almost tip the boat over, had it not been for Iron Bear’s weight compensating the shift, watching with bated breath as the fiery light moves underwater.
The Typhlosion in question roams his eyes around in the thankfully somewhat-shallow waters until he spots a yellow glow: the Umbreon’s natural ability, fortunately activated in the dark. He had distanced himself quite a bit from the boat, foolishly drawn by the light from above, unknowingly trapping himself beneath the ice that covered large parts of the sea; from the way he was sinking, it appeared his muscles had already been starting to lock up from the cold. Bál quickly dives forward and reaches for the prince, and holding him close to his chest, he unleashes a torrent of blue flames, somehow igniting underwater and blasting a hole through the ice. He quickly follows its path and pulls himself and his charge onto the icy plain, coughing up salt water, breath hovering in puffs in front of him.
: BÁL!
: Stay in th’ boat! (He renews his numbing grip around Nicholas, his flames flaring hotly.) You can’t trust this ice, an’ I’d prefer to not deal wit’ two cases of hypothermia.
: But how are we to break the ice if we can’t trust it?
: After all, if you can’t trust the ice enough to break it, how can anything be broken?
: Fritlof, Bard, stop your foolishness. Take Cecil to shore, take ‘im to my home.
: Oh no, he’s doing that thing again!
: NOW!
: No, wait, how are you going to get bac-?
His words are cut off when he senses the approach of another, more… unique individual. Out of the fog runs what, at first, appears to be a gust of wind, propelled by an aurora stream of lights. But it slows to a stop beside Bál, and the four-legged creature looks upon the Typhlosion and the unnaturally-still Umbreon with gentleness and concern.
: I will see to that. I suspect you require a lift?
: Obviously, you took your time as is.
: Is… is that…???
: I was not sure if-
: Save it - get down, we have to hurry if we don’t want to lose ‘im.
: (lowering themselves onto their belly) Climb on then and hold on. You are a lot bigger than you used to be last we did this.
: I evolv’d.
: Yes, evolved and then put on an extra three stones. Now come, and be wary where you place your weight.
The Typhlosion swings himself over the back of the beast, and no sooner is he settled, holding the still-not-shivering prince close to his chest, than the legendary speeds over the water and ice as if it was nothing but solid ground. A wind sweeps after them as they race it to the beach, reaching the shore line in mere seconds. The wind also blows into the sails of the small boat, rocketing it forward to the great joy of both ursa in the boat.
: Land ahooooooooooy~
The boat suddenly hits a snag, a piece of ice no doubt, as Cecil has forgotten to steer in favour of holding on to the sides of the boat when it shot forward.
: Seems we’ve just hit the tip of the iceberg!
: No need to freeze up there, skipper blue dog, our hearts will go on!
:
: Yeh, yeh, I can’t believe you already switched sides to fireneck and big ol’ purplehair! We created you!
: We are - hurt!
:
: Oooooh, I like the sound of that~
: Alright! Now you’re talking!
: (holding his head in two hands, shaking) It- she? Really isn’t.
: Don’t worry, we’ll see it done!
(Meanwhile... Purity of Heart)
The first thing Nicholas hears is a steady thudding sound. For a moment, he thinks it’s his own heartbeat - but then it stops, so he really hopes it isn’t. He vaguely hears people talking, but he doesn’t yet recognize who or what they’re saying - and the thudding sound resumes. The crackling of a fire and a smouldering heat bleed into his senses, strong to a point he can’t believe it isn’t the first thing he noticed, and yet it still feels as if his insides are frozen. A heaviness lies upon him, and it isn’t just that of his body, refusing him any movement that restricts him. He realises he is huddled in a cocoon of blankets, next to a fire, but with whom or where he doesn’t know, and his eyelids still feel like lead.
The thudding sound ceases once more as footsteps draw near him; the fire is being prodded, something metal filled with sloshing water is grabbed, and the footsteps draw away again. Some small ruckus and the sound of pouring water as whoever it is continues working on whatever it is. The voices still sound drowned out: that sounds ironic to him, and it makes him want to chuckle, but the need of sleep wins out over humour.
And then he nearly shoots up when a door flies open, nearly off its hinges with a loud BANG, followed by something falling and a string of curses that puts Gawain to shame. The voice and the name soon connected to it, Bál, sound like they should be important to him, but he can’t place why.
 & : The party has arrived!!
: För fan i helvete…
: Oh-ho, what a greeting THAT was!
: Teach us your ways~
: I think I’d rath’r die.
: (taking a moment to recover from shock, before clearing their throat) Oh my, Bál, there is nothing pure about that! I certainly didn’t teach you this. Must I wash out your mouth again? I say, being off the island is not very good for you at all, perhaps you really should just stay.
: This discussion is ov’r. (He leans over to retrieve a kettle, most of its contents spilled on the floor.) Besides-
: Bál!
The Lucario bursts into the home, shoving past the bears and stumbling to a stop in front of Bál who blinks for a second at the way Cecil looks and gets up in his personal space. He finally turns nonchalantly towards the fire and hangs the kettle on a hook over it.
: Yes? Cecil, you bett’r get near th’ fire too, I’ll hear your report in a moment.
: I’m sorry.
: ‘Bout wha’?
: I’m sorry, the prince almost drowned, and I-
: Would’ve drown’d too if you had tried to go aft’r ‘im.
: We did say that would happen, just a reminder.
Bál places a claw on Cecil’s shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze.
: Let it go, an’ get near tha’ fire. You do know I don’t like repeatin’ myself.
: And don’t walk into it-
: We thought we’d mention fire burns-
: Ice freezes, water drowns - ya know, the obvious, just so you know.
The Lucario ignores the bears’ taunts and offers the Typhlosion a small smile and nods, heading towards the fire and plopping down on a cushion near its heat. As he walks by, the legendary stares at him shrewdly before nodding sagely to themselves and edging closer to Bál.
: Hmm, so this is Cecil. His soul is quite pure as well, though I hope he has not inherited your way of expressing… displeasure.
: Perhaps you do keep better company than I thought - but have I made you biased for the more canine of our kind?
: (sitting heavily at a desk) Don’t sound so pleas’d. An’ no, I would think rather th’ opposite... though it beats my current opini’n on snakes.
The word “snake” brings a frown to Nicholas' face: didn’t that have something to do with why he was here…?
: Keep your paws off’a my stuff.
Bál swats at one of the bears as they reach forward to claim whatever he was working on at the desk. When they move around to his other side and stick their faces into his work, he mushes his paw against their snoots and pushes them away before turning back to his work, the sounds of pouring, thudding and stirring continuing once more.
Suddenly, the door slams open again, causing Bál to nearly drop what he was working on yet again.
:
: Oh! We forgot to carry you!
: Traitor karma!
: Has nobody ev’r heard of knockin’?
:
Iron Bear hobbles towards the fire and sits down next to Cecil: without a word, but that’s the usual for her. Bál spares it a glance before returning to his work.
: As for you two, Fritlof, you at th’ very least could have saved the boy an’ prevent’d him this illness-
Nicholas’ frown deepens at this, and he wriggles in his cocoon of blankets, making a mad-yet-still-cute shuffling noise.
 & : Well…
: Wh- what’s wrong? Why do you look so…
: That?
: We channel immense bearerngy the likes of which you couldn’t comprehend as a not-bear.
: We normally unleash lots of it when we talk.
: Bál needs us to not do that though, so we try to keep “not-bear levels” when he needs us to.
: It’s beary difficult, but bears are unstoppable! Even our own bearness cannot over-bear us!
: (staring at Bál with his mouth agape) It- that works? You ju-
: I jus’ need ‘em to, yes. Now, as I was sayin’-
:
: Oh, bearhold! The boi wakens!
: He’s been ‘wake ‘nuff ev’r since you storm’d into my door like a batterin’ ram.
: Now, answ’r th’ question. Why didn’t you save th’ prince? Didn’t you know they glow in th’ dark?
: Does it really matter-?
: It does. I want to know why, ‘cause I expect’d bett’r of you.
: Save him - don’t save him - what’s the point? His daddy can ask the onion to mess with everything, anyway.
 & : Wait, the onion-?
: Dad!!!
: Nicholas, watch out!
Nicholas shoots up, bursting forth from the blanket cocoon and nearly into the flames, had it not been for Cecil’s quick reflexes. Bál nearly drops the bowl he’s holding again; in fact, he did, but one of the bears catches it just in time. The ursa smells the bowl for a second and seems to want to taste it - their tongue even slurps out towards the rim of the bowl - but Bál clearing his throat quickly has them changing their tune, and they are soon holding it up to him with a big smile. The badger eyes it for a moment before grabbing it with a grunt of thanks. He then approaches the Umbreon.
: Bál, you need to come back to Aether!
: (shoves the bowl towards Nicholas) Drink this, it’s a mixture of primarily herbs an’ rawst berries.
: Bál, my father!
: Drink it all, an’ then I’ll listen.
: But-
: Drink. Now.
: Fine…
Nicholas nearly drops the bowl, not calculating for the lack of grip in his fingers, Bál able to save its contents just in time - well, most of it, as some spills over the badger’s claw. He narrows his eyes at Nicholas’ inability to hold it, and the prince’s ears fold back over his head.
: I-I’m sorry...
: I’m not angry at you, kid, I’m worri’d. Can you feel your fingers at all?
: Yes, but I can’t move them well…
: That’s not too bad, then.
:
The small golem hobbles towards Bál and the prince and plops down next to them, holding their arms out to hold the bowl. The badger hesitates for a moment before sighing and giving the bowl to Iron Bear, who eagerly grabs it and begins to use the spoon to feed Nicholas (who, truthfully, is too exhausted to resist).
: (grunting) Don’t drop it.
: (laughing) Says you.
: (breathing through his nose, then turning to the bears) You two were sayin’ somethin’ ‘bout Alaric an’ an onion?
: Bál, don’t tell me you take whatever they say seriously? I can explain the reason why we are here while Nicho-
: Cecil. As I said, I will list’n to your report in a moment.
: But-
: I understand your behaviour due to th’ circumstances, howev’r, it will fail to change my mind.
: Besides, these two fools might speak in a tongue of foolishness, but wha’ they say isn’t always nearly as foolish as it might appear. (He shrugs.) Once you know wha’ they’re sayin’, tha’ is.
: As it is, I have an unfortunate inkling for what they mean... but please tell us about the “onion.”
: We had made plans to visit Aether, as we do every year.
: So I heard. You single-hand’dly ostraciz’d this entire nation in Alaric’s eyes.
The bears both give him a look that clearly says they couldn’t believe anyone would not want to come to their nation after meeting them unless-
: He must be an agent of order then!
: But that can’t be right - he messed with the time onion!
: Suicune, would tha’ be...?
: Yes, probably. I had feared that was who they meant.
: But how would Alaric have come in contact wit’ Celebi?
: Celebi?
: (ignoring Cecil) Celebi hasn’t been seen for decades - ev’n Oakdale hasn’t report’d any contact wit’ ‘er.
: Though I imagine that is true, I doubt their charming cavalier would have told you of her presence if she did make an appearance.
: (snorts) Tha’s true, tha’ tart veslingr. Bu’ th’ question remains: why did Celebi appear to Alaric?
: I think a more astute question than “why” would be “when.”
Bál is quiet for a moment, thinking (and ignoring the bears attempting to slurp from the bowl Iron Bear is holding as it continues to spoon feed Nicholas). Finally, he turns towards Cecil who has been squirming next to the fire for long enough.
: Cecil, report. Did Alaric send you here? When an’ why?
: He did, and he also didn’t: he was apparently desperate about seeing you. We left from Aether little more than week ago, then the Jarl - Læghelmine - directed us to the island.
: Which is how you end’d up wit’ th’ bears… You took th’ bear trials, didn’t you? Ol’ Leag would do anythin’ to keep ‘em busy for a bit; I expect a report of all th’ “tasks” they gave you.
: Ooh, we can give you the list - 47 trials!
: Wha’ a pain.
Cecil Serious.png|baseline|150px]]: (giving Bál a look between disappointment and betrayal) Nicholas as well as the other Aetherians took the trial, and Gawain, he-
: Oh, they would nev’r be allow’d to just come here.
: No, I would think not, but - (clears throat) - “Iron Bear” picked two sufficient ones. I would rather not meet with those uncleased or unpure.
: You’d rather meet wit’ nobody to begin wit’. An’ yet I might need you to: I’d rather see th’ prince recuperate at Læghelmine’s hall. An’ I rather it be swiftly done.
: No. We need to return to Aether, right away.
Bál gave the prince a look, who had quickly grabbed the bowl from the small golem, much to its disappointment, and downed the rest of its contents.
: I plan to, but I need to know some things first though. You said he did an’ didn’t send you? An’ why did he want to see me?
: I can answer that. My father is ill.
: (gesturing to Nicholas) I may know some things, but I’m no doctor, kid.
: It isn’t like that, it’s more of a... mental thing?
: Tha’s not much better, an’ I definitely cannot, an’ will not, assist in those matters.
: I don’t know, he suddenly started screaming in the middle of a meeting with Gaius and the queen. I heard them mention he said something about visions.
: We’d scream too if we had to be in a meeting with that bug.
: Quiet. Kid, explain. What kind of visions?
: I don’t know, I wasn’t there, and Gwen sedated him. But something about fire, Aether, and all of us burning and you dying-
A sharp inhale of breath is heard as Suicune’s face hardens, and they share a look with Bál.
: Sounds a bit like your old master, don’t it?
: For Celebi to interfere? I fear so.
: This cannot just be to save your life. Despite our history, she would not break her own method in kindness for me - she has not done so for anyone, not even Fortuna could sway her whim.
: I fear that if this premonition proves true... they shall return.
: But when…? (He sighs heavily.) I had wish’d to let you rest more, kid, but there’s no time. We depart for mainland immediately.
: You cannot get involved with this. If it sets you up to die-
: If th’ snake really DID take a trip through time, this already changes its course. Th’ exact future is now as unpredictable as it’s ever been: I might die, I might not, but need I remind you tha’ if they are indeed comin’ back, you will most certainly not be th’ most pleasant of company.
: I am well aware… I will see you to shore then, but until we know more, you know I cannot help you more than that. I dare not risk to be away from the island for too long-
: No, especially not now.
:
: Oh that’s right, we kind of promised the Aetherians some rewards. We had made our own, but Iron Bear suggested some holy purified water for some particular candidates?
: So could you walk over some water for us?
: That - is not actually a bad idea.
Bál stares at the legendary as if they’re crazy, but Suicune merely gives him a knowing look and walks out of the house, following the bears. Once the three of them are gone, the Typhlosion starts packing things from around the house into a sack, including Nicholas’ gear that had been drying near the fire, grumbling as he does so. Cecil peers first at Nicholas who is staring curiously at Iron Bear, attempting to get it to hold the bowl but failing, then turns towards Bál.
: So you believe these visions to be more than just an ailment or nightmare? But could it honestly involve... Celebi?
: You say tha’ as if you don’t believe they even exist, yet you’ve just shar’d a room wit’ Suicune?
: You may seem to fare easier with these things as you don’t see them like most people do… With Reilly and Klutz, it’s different, of course; I sometimes forget they are even part of that.
: Believe me, once you truly get to know these “gods,” you’ll find yourself more inclined to agree wit’ me. They are all like tha’ in one way or ‘nother, especially if they actually believe in their divinity, a real pain.
: I doubt that I could do that, as getting to a point like that would already acquire that attitude of yours. Most people would be accused of blasphemy at the slightest utterance of the type of things you say.
: I never understood how you got away with it but… I think I just found out why. I mean it fits in with what you told me, but I can’t believe they are your, well...
Cecil makes a gesture with his hand as he struggles to find the right word, and Bál shrugs as he continues tidying up the home and grabbing the items he needs. This continues for some time, before the brief lapse of silence is broken by Nicholas.
: Bál, do you think you can help my father?
: I don’t know, I’m more hopin’ he can help ME by givin’ me more information, an’ confirmation of th’ threat I fear is comin’.
The prince frowns, then squeezes the bowl in his paws, gripping it tighter.
: I was wondering… Who was Suicune’s “master” you expect to be this threat?
: (with a grimace) An old friend who will be as “happy” to see us as we ‘em. I hope for Avalon’s sake Alaric has return’d from th’ FAR future - an’ yet, tha’ would make it harder to restore any coherent thought... I’ll reach out to my contacts to find a specialist on th’ matter once I have surmised th’ situation.
: I don’t think I understand it all... I feel like I might still be sleeping.
: Tha’ might also be th’ fact tha’ you both nearly drown’d an’ froze to death at th’ same time.
: What?
: You didn’t ask, so I assum’d you remember’d as much. It’ll clear up once Læghelmine’s healers have a look at you.
The door abruptly opens again, and Suicune and the bears peer in.
: Which should be soon, as we are ready to leave.
: Good. (He points at each ‘mon as he gives out directions.) Suicune, douse th’ flame. Fritlof, carry your golem, we can’t afford to waste time waitin’ for it. Bard, you can, uh, carry this sack and the kid’s gear over there. Cecil, take a blanket an’ try to keep pace. If necessary, let Bard carry you, you look exhaust’d, an’ rest assur’d, they won’t drop you, or I’ll drop them.
The bears salute as everyone follows Bál’s orders. Bál himself makes his way towards Nicholas, wraps him up in some blankets, and scoops up the whole bundle. Nicholas considers protesting, but he is quite sure walking by himself would not work out quite yet, and is very sure Bál knows that too. They step out of the home as it falls into darkness, Suicune leaving last, and as they walk, Nicholas stretches his head as far as he can in the blanket-bundle to look at the bears parading behind Bál.
: How come you two listen to Bál? Isn’t he an “agent of order” or something?
: Not at all! How could you say that, and after even he wrestled Oceanbear’s might to save you!
: He too breaks the rules of natural order as well, just like bears.
: Bál does play both sides in most things he does, we just like the one side more than the other.
: The side not facing us preferably, much better to see what he does to others than to us. Even bears find him a bit frightening when angry.
: Oh please-
: But most importantly, Bál is a master of the “bear it” policy.
: Never have we ever seen one bear it so much, sometimes he even out-bears us, and we are actual bears!
: Perhaps a result of havin’ to bear you two.
: Exactly our point! Who bears bears better but bears? Not even bears bear bears as well as Bál bears bears - even to us bears, bearing bears can be bearly overbearing.
A chorus of groans and sighs comes from the party. Nicholas could have sworn even Iron Bear near made a sound, but then again he could bearly bear to stay awake.
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Mission 14 - Epilogue p1	
 Meanwhile... Purity of Heart
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