Mission 14

Having Pawper Koalafications
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Mission 14 - Ending	
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The skies are gray with the threat of snow overhead as the Aetherian party trudges through the rough landscape. Those who had the foresight to bring hooded cloaks pull them closer around themselves, huddling in the protection it provides against the unforgiving winds that picked up as soon as they drew nearer to the northern coastline of Veethrfölnir. All try their best to keep pace and don’t lose sight of the Lucario leading them, which is especially tasking for the smaller ‘mons and those weak to the cold.
: Aah- (His paws slip over the icy ground, and he waves his arms to keep himself balanced.) Slippery terrain her- WAH-!!
His paw slides too far and he falls onto his back. Cecil continues on his path, as sure-footed as ever, but Gawain stops for the prince.
: Urgh, hold up a second th’re, Cecil-
: OI! Breedbate, I’m talkin’ to ya! Stop movin’, ya cox-comb!
If the Lucario’s eyes were ever opened, he would probably be rolling them at the dragon’s shouting, but he obeys and stops walking, waiting patiently with his back to his companions as they gain their bearings.
: (He snorts and then turns to Nicholas.) Ya doin’ alright, Nic?
: Yeh I’m fine- (pushing himself to his feet again) I just slipped, but the snow broke my fall, let’s keep going.
Nicholas continues walking, sticking closer to snow-covered ground. With the prince moving again, Cecil continues on this previous path. Gawain snorts, motions for everyone else to follow, and moves up so he’s keeping pace with Nicholas.
: Stay close to me so ya can keep warm. Don’t care how excessively fluffy ya are, I ain’t risking anythin’.
: Gaaaaaaawain, I’m fiiine! (He huffs, and then frowns.) I know my father’s condition is worrying, but you don’t need to smother me.
: (rolling his eyes) I get it, rebellious phase. Real cute. So let’s get some things straight.
: Listen kid, yer th’ prince, an’ wha’ do ya think it would do to Alaric if somethin’ happened to ya, especially now?
: …
: Ya might have had fun sneakin’ ‘round an’ joinin’ our little trips ‘round Avalon, but yer on my watch now, an’ yer goin’ to stay where I can see ya so I can make sure nothin’ happens to ya every step of th’ bloody way, got it?
: Yeah, I get it.
: Good.
: I’m worried about my dad too, you know.
: Then maybe make decisions tha’ reflect tha’-
: What?
: I said, “I know ya are.” Never thought oth’rwise.
: Hoo-hoo, quite the abydocomist you are, ey captain?
Gawain startles, causing Nicholas to jump back in surprise and land knee-deep in a snowbank. Cecil sighs loudly, dramatically - the kind of sigh that says, “I super wish you all weren’t here right now.”
: Who said tha’?!
: The mouse in your pocket, Ma-
: Excuse me, wha’?
On cue, a pair of black ears stick themselves out of Gawain’s coat pocket, and are followed soon after by an orange head. The Dedenne twists his entire body around so that he lay comfortably on his back in Gawain’s pocket and stares up at the dragon with a lazy smirk.
: Heya, captain. Don’t suppose you keep any food on you?
The dragon stares down at the tiny mouse in bewilderment for a few seconds before looking at Cecil, wide-eyed, mouth partially open, and brows knit together in a face that said, “You slimy bastard, you knew.” Despite the fact that his eyes are closed, the Lucario can read the bafflement and animosity off of the Charizard’s aura just fine, and shrugs.
: I thought you were aware. Why else would he be here? I certainly didn’t ask for him.
: But you’re glad I’m here, aren’t you, Cess-cess?
The Lucario dips his head to one side, slow and melodramatic, and does nothing to hide the growing lopsided frown on his face. The mouse shrugs lazily at the dog and smiles.
: So you can speak Veethrfölnirish then?
Cecil doesn’t respond and instead turns around and continues to walk, fully of the mindset that they’ve wasted too much time here. Matu chuckles victoriously to himself before he spins back onto his belly, and leaps out of Gawain’s pocket. He lands in the snow and disappears - just completely vanishes, there is a Dedenne-shaped hole in the snow and that is it. He’s been reclaimed by nature, he’s gone.
...
Oh no, wait, there he is. He’s right behind Nicholas - Nicholas did not expect him to be there and jumps in surprise. He lands in the snow, for the third time. The mouse takes the prince’s closer proximity to the ground to climb up his cape and rest himself on the Umbreon’s shoulder.
: Buck up, your hiney. Word in the Berry Gourmet’s Club is that ol’ Guinevere has Alaric on that GOOD juice. Daddy’ll be back to his old self in no time.
: Uggh- (shuttering) Don’t say tha’.
: What’s wrong? (tilting his head) Don’t like me referring to the king as “daddy?”
: I hate it, actually, thanks for askin’. Could not detest it more, in fact.
: Father then!
: Do not-
: Papa.
: We’re leavin’ now, an’ this conversation is left behind when we go.
The dragon grips Nicholas by one arm, heaves him onto his feet, pulling the Umbreon with him as he walks after the Lucario, ushering everyone to move faster. Nicholas flails his legs and slaps at Gawain with his free arm.
: I can walk by myself, Gawain.
: Fine. (dropping Nicholas, and rolling his eyes as the prince lands) Yer so stubborn.
There is a moment of silence between them before Gawain laughs quietly to himself.
: What?
: That’s where yer most like yer father - yer both stubborn an’ not satisfied if ya don’t get yer way. Yer father is worse than ya - an’ he used to be much worse when he was young’r...
: (makes a tnk noise) Even still, I can’t believe I let myself get talked into lettin’ ya come.
: It makes sense, though! Cecil did say that the Jarl would likely be more likely to help us with a royal on the team-
: Uh-huh, just not sure wha’ he will think of an impulsive kid tha’ got caught sneakin’ out of town an’ directly disobeyin’ orders for like, wha’, how many times does tha’ make it now?
: You wouldn’t have let me come; you don’t see the logic in these sorts of decisions.
: Excuse me?
: I, uh… (swallowing nervously) I mean that people like Cecil know how to talk and convince leaders. He knew that me coming along would help, and you knew that he was needed for us to succeed in this mission.
: I need Cecil here ‘cause he knows th’ way, an’ has th’ magical-sense-hogwash-an’-fadoodle to find Bál as quickly as possible, not ‘cause I want to talk to anyone.
: An’ why are ya so sure tha’ he would have let ya come? Ya friends now? I ain’t ev’r seen ya talk to him before- Ugh, this ain’t like wha’ happened in Sazanami with tha’ frog, is it?... Or do ya just have somethin’ for blue ‘mons?
: No, I don’t have a thing for blue ‘mons.
: If he had a thing for blue ‘mons, rest assured that I would turn him down swifty.
: I said I don’t have a thing for blue ‘mons!
: I thought it wise that Nicholas came with us because, through him, Aether could establish contacts with the Jarl. Bál did mention that he wished for such a contact between Aether and Veethrfölnir for quite some time now.
: An’ there’s th’ hidden agenda I’ve been waiting for. Wha’ a surprise tha’ Bál’s favourite furry lacky is th’ one to bring it up!
: I’m not the only one here w-
: Save it, ya aceasecomic cuckold! Just PLEASE tell me we’re close to whatev’r frozen misery-fest Bál went to.
: Yes, we’re close.
: The Jarl takes regular strolls outside of the village. I’m searching for their aura as we speak.
: I hope he’s not th’ wanderin’ type, ‘cause I want us to leave as soon as possible.
After a score or so more of minutes spent traveling through the snow, a large half-dome shaped homestead peeking over a wall of ten meter wooden logs comes into sight. Approaching the village doesn’t grant anymore scenery, as the entirety of it is encircled by the wooden wall, and the only visible entrance to the village is a large gate, currently closed and guarded by two tribes members.
Cecil signals for the group to halt; unfortunately, he does so by raising his paw in a sun-glare-filled snowfield, so no one actually saw and the person behind him walked into him; and the person behind them walk into them, which caused them to bump against Cecil again; and the person behind them walked into the them, causing them to bump into them, against them to bump into Cecil for a third time; and the bumps start coming and they don’t stop coming and they don’t stop coming and they don’t stop coming and they don’t stop coming and they don’t stop coming-
: STOP WALKING!
Everyone stopped walking.
Cecil takes a couple of deep breaths, and walks forward towards the guards at the gate - one of which is bent over laughing and the other is leaned up against the gate coughing from the amount of laughter they had experienced. Cecil approaches the two guards, addresses them as they recover from their laughter, and, when one of them opens the gate and runs inside, motions for everyone else to approach.
By the time the group had reached the gate, conga-like style to avoid any more bumping incidents, much to Cecil’s immense chagrin, the gate is opened from the inside and the guard from before is waiting with a group of six or so others. The guard still posted outside motions for everyone to enter, and the group is escorted through the village towards the large homestead that they had seen.
The interior of the homestead made it look bigger on the inside than the outside: a large hearth decorated with a silver brazier engraved with bestial-esque Pokémon occupied the center of the homestead, and supported a fire that burnt high and wide enough to heat the interior; long tables, each accommodating twelve chairs on either side, plus one at the head, stretched across either side of the hearth; thick support beams carved with motifs of birds of prey held aloft both the roof overheld, as well a large mounted scones; and every wall was decorated with plagues containing the heads of mounted beasts - a few of which were labeled, the closest to entrance reading “Aunt Liselott.”
In the back of the homestead, on a raised section of flooring that held a wooden throne carved with twisting vine patterns, sat an Altaria. Adorned in a silver circlet with several deep blue gems and a keystone, a silver torque, a green tunic-like garment with a fur lining, a leather cloak over it with a clasp for a strange stone, and leather leg guards, they were the picture of authority. Cecil approaches the throne and signals for Gawain and Nicholas, and, by extension the mouse on his shoulder, to approach as well. The Lucario nods his head at the Altaria, and the bird returns the gesture.
: Læghelmine.
: Cecil, it’s nice to see- Ah... It’s always a pleasure to have you in my hall.
: However, I don’t know you to be the social type, I only ever see you with Bál.
: I have actually come looking for him, my companions require his aid.
: Ah yes, the prince of Aether as I’ve been told, and his own private army? Quite the crowd, but Cecil would not bring you here if you wished Bál harm... Do you really think so many are needed to sway his mind to aid you?
: Yes-
: No. I apologize we didn’t mean any offense, we have never been to your nation before. It was simply a precaution against bandits or other hazards along the road, as we didn’t know what to expect.
: It’s quite alright, young one. I wish I could tell you it is unnecessary, but not all of the houses and tribes in this nation are as civil to visitors as others.
: Læghelmine, has Bál been here, and perhaps shared his next destination with you?
: Bál doesn’t share a lot of things, but I know where he is headed... but I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you where exactly.
: I was afraid of that…
: Lord La- Lag- Laygay- (coughs awkwardly), Jarl, please we really need to find him, my father-
: Nicholas.
: It’s alright, captain, Læghelmine can be trusted.
: We’ll see. So far, yer lead has not led us to Bál.
: Tell me, strangers… How far are you willing to go to reach Bál? It is… well, not a simple task, to reach where he has gone.
: I’m willing to do anything - and I can do anything, if it means that I can get to him!
: Bravely said, young one, but you know not the actual… challenges you need to face to find Bál-
: Then tell us! (clears his throat and smiles sheepishly) Please?
:...
: If you wish to reach Bál, then you require aid from... the bears.
: “The bears?” What-
: Wait-
: Oh- OH!
: Oh, them!! Ni-
: You’re not... serious, are you?
: Unfortunately for you, I am.
: Bál is… strange to say the least -
: Oh yeah, you got that right.
: (under their breath) ...glad someone agrees with me.
: (clearing their throat) Well, Bál is strange, and whenever he does come here to visit, he spends most of his time on a small island to the northeast.
: We don’t actually know what he does there, or even how he GETS there - the island is covered in perpetual mists, making the waters nigh-impossible to navigate - and we’ve sent people to follow him before, but they’ve all ended up either tromping back to the village soaked to the bone, or lost to the waves entirely.
: But, there are two ‘mons who can follow Bál with ease, and have followed him to the island before-
: The bears.
: Yep.
: (They lean in close.) If I’m completely honest with you, I would say literally anything to get ‘mons to take these bears away from me for even an hour of my wasted life, but I am being completely honest with you right now.
: These bears - they’re not normal.
: We gathered as much, yeah.
: No, you don’t understand, they’re not normal!
: It’s been like this for over a century! They just come in and cause chaos, and no one can stop them!
: A century?!
: (their feathers ruffle) YOU HEARD ME!
: YOU’RE A DRAGON, YOU KNOW HOW LONG WE LIVE, SO YOU PROBABLY KNOW THAT THE YEARS TEND TO BLEND TOGETHER FOR US, YEAH? WE LOSE TRACK OF TIME, YEAH? NOT ME, I’VE SPENT THE ENTIRETY OF EVERY WAKING MOMENT FOR CENTURIES HYPER-AWARE OF EVERY LAST SECOND OF MY LIFE BECAUSE THOSE BEARS ARE ALWAYS DOING SOMETHING!!
: (ears turning down nervously) Chief Leeeyge- Jarl, please calm down-
: I CAN’T CALM DOWN BECAUSE I DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT IS ANYMORE - I HAVEN’T KNOW CALM FOR YEARS!
From his spot on Nicholas’ shoulder, Matu leaps through the air and lands on one of the rest-arms of the Jarl’s throne. The entire hall held their breaths at the mouse’s movements, curious as to whether he planned to attack, or if the Jarl would take offense and order his own forces to attack.
: Nu måste vi lugna ner oss och inte fortsätta att tala om hur allvarlig krisen är.
: Åh… (taken aback), ja?
: Ja, låt oss ta björnar: jag försäkrar att vi kommer att behandla ifrågasättande så snabbt som möjligt.
: Aah- är du säker?
: (smirking confidently) Ja, jajamän!
The bird coos, delighted with the mouse’s words, and cranes their neck lower so that they could converse with the mouse more privately. The onlookers, though no longer tense from any threat of conflict, watch and strain their ears to listen with piqued interest - well, those that could speak the language, anyway.
In the category of those who could not, Nicholas leans close to Cecil and begins to whisper to the Lucario -
: You wouldn’t happen to know what they’re saying, would you?
: Not much of it, I’m afraid. Bál speaks Veethrfölnirish, and most of my previous trips to Veethrfölnir have been with him, so any needed translation I left for him to handle.
: Well, “not much” is still some! What bits do you understand?
Cecil is silent for a long moment. A really long moment. A moment so that, paired with the fact that he never opens his eyes, Nicholas could have thought him asleep on his feet if it weren’t for the twitching of his ears. Finally, Cecil spoke again.
: I know they both said “yes” a few times.
: Ah…
 : Weewhooweewhoooooo… (Aggressive whooping and dooting noises grow rapidly closer)
Læghelmine stops talking immediately, and all of their warriors go rigid. The feathers on the bird’s neck ruffle, and their eyes go wide.
: Oh no... they’re here…
: Wah-
 : The bird has them! Don’t worry, we’ll free you!
The sounds of a brawl can be heard from outside of the homestead. Grunting, screams, the sound of bodies hitting wood, and the clang of weapons sounded loudly, and grow ever closer.
: You cannot hold me, MAKE WAY FOR BEAR!!
There was a loud THUD as a guard was kicked into the doors to the homestead, causing them to fly open wide, and came to land a few meters into the hall. Not seconds later, two figures clad in thick furs and pink capes marched into the hall, axes held aloft and heavy paws causing the floorboards to creak.
: Leaggy!!! You have been defeated by the bears!!! We have taken the hall!!!
: Pssssst! Leaggy! Leaaaaaaaggyyyyyyyyy! Can we have the people back now?
: Oh no, they’re in the hall, they’re already in the hall, why-
: Wellllll… we were on our way to Aether, but we got updated on the plot!
: You made us lose lots of “time”. “travelling”. “back”.
: ...Wha’ are they sayin’? (looking around) Why isn’t anyone else fightin’ ‘em?!
: Too late.
: Wh- WHERE DID YA GET THA’?!
: They don’t lose, that’s the issue. Just… go with it.
: Heeeeey dragon!! You were supposed to be there, and now you’re here, and we were there, but now we’re here. What we want to know is where is the disturber?
: B-but - (looks around confused) - we need to be here!
: I don’t think it was them.
: They don’t think it was them, at least. So who do they think it was?
: (waving his arms to get their attention) Please, we need your help! My father, he isn’t-
: Ooooooooh, so the noodle did it!! He better not have let Onion erase good content again!
: … Are they talking about food?
: I am all for that!
: Well, we can run the show from here, I suppose. It’s not tradition, but we can improvise!
: No! Uh, I mean, actually they need you to get to Bál. He’s on the island again, haha, you know Bál, silly ol’ Bál, always with that island!
: Oh! We know how to get to the island!
: So we’ve heard. Can ya take us to him?
: Ooooooh, you mean now now. As in will we do it now? Then no, can’t do that.
: Why not? My father’s-
: Because he’s a nonbearliever, and we’ve lost enough time already because of him!
: Besides, one does not simply go to the island! One is not allowed to! If you’re not worthy, then you can’t make it, the purple-haired-bear will get angry with you and send you back! Or you drown, depends on how well you can swim.
: How do we become worthy enough to be allowed on the island?!
The bears look at each other and smile.
 : They want to become honorary bears...
 : Bear trials! Bear trials! Bear trials! Bear trials!
: Oh please no-
: Emergency bear meeting, GO!
The bears huddle together and whisper - it’s not quiet whispering, it’s just the bears going “bsssp bsssp bsssp bsssp” to each other and occasionally stealing glances at the Aetherians. At one point, they stop fake-whispering, actually share a few hushed words, and leave their huddle with a nod.
: Getting worthy is no easy task, and it’s not a secret that us, Bál, or purple-hair don’t want to be known to many, so you’ll need to prove yourselves to us to convince us to share the secret to you!
: You’re going to do so by taking place in our Bear Trials! After you managed to bear the bear trial’s trial of bears to be worthy to do the bear trials, THEN you can do the bear trial to determine if you can bear it!
: Ya spleeny, totterin’ miscreants can’t possibly-
: Who’s going to judge us to know if we’re worthy? You? That hardly seems fair-
: IRON BEAR!
: Ah- i… iron bear?
: (whispering to Nicholas) It’s their “friend,” a metal “golem” they made. They insist it’s a bear soul trapped in metal, but it's really just an empty husk they pretend talks to them.
: Oh, I see…
: Are there no quicker ways to the island? Alternative paths we could take?
: Taking you to the island IS the easy way!
: But, again, purple-hair doesn’t want the unworthy going there! If they see you and find out you’re unworthy - and they can tell - they’ll kick you off!... But that’s assuming that you knew the way there in the first place, which you don’t, which is just another reason why you need our bear trials!
: What are the bear trials exactly? And the, uh, bear trial’s trial of bears?
: In the bear trial’s trial of bears you just have to prove you bear potential koalafications!
: The bear trial’s you just have to bear it!
: Can’t ya just order ‘em to take us, aren’t ya th’ jarl?!
: (bursting into broken, slightly hysterical, laughter) They can’t be controlled! Not by you, or me, or anyone on Avalon! They will occasionally listen to Bál, or other bears, well enough, but now that’s your problem, now isn’t it?
: Right, th’ crazy seems to go ‘round, perfect. (begins walking)
: G-Gawain, where are you going?
: I am goin’ to find a boat.
: Why?
: To get to th’ island, or die tryin’. Either way, it’s better than bein’ here.
: You can’t reach the island without their help, I’ve already said that, and they’ve said it as well. No one reaches it without their help, even Bál’s required their assistance a few times!
: Look, if you manage to keep them out of here for a while, I’ll take another look at becoming allies with Aether like Bál wants me to. I assume that’s why you got roped into this, Cecil?
: You know me well.
: You're not so unpredictable, always loyal to that badger’s will - loyal to a fault, really.
: Now please, you bears, take your new playthings and go do… whatever your bear trials are.
: “Play-things?”
: I hate this immensely.
 & : THE BEAR TRIALS ARE A GO!
: Poor not-bears, Bál’s gone and left you alone so he could have fun on the island without you! You don’t know the way to the island, and, even if you did, mean ol’ Purple-Hair would kick you off of it because you’re not worthy to be on it! Fear not, for us bears are here to assist you! We’ll have you pawsitively worthy in no time!... You just have to prove that you can bear it first. Compete in the bear trials to prove you’re able to become worthy of visiting the island!
- - The bear trials may sound intimidating for you non-bears, but don’t sweat, they’re beary simple! All you need to do is prove yourself! Once you’ve proven that you’re able to bear it furreal, we’ll take you to get worthy of visiting the island!
- - It may take a few tries to be declared worthy… in fact, it probably will! No one is declared worthy after their first attempt at the bear trials, so don’t be discouraged if it takes you two, three, or even forty-seven tries!
- - Iron Bear will be judging your bear trials, and will be the one to declare when you have proven yourself able to bear it. Don’t worry, Iron Bear will tell us when you’re worthy - they talk to us all the time… but don’t try to pretend that you were already declared worthy without Iron Bear’s approval, or pretend to be Iron Bear! We’ve had both happen before, and we know how to tell the difference between who’s koalified and who isn’t!
- - Clawesome for all of you non-bears: we have made the bear trials simpler for you! Usually we have those taking the bear trials do beary specific and dangerous tasks and let only those who show the greatest amount of pandamonium pass, but, since the noodle king has gone REEEEAL far into the chaos and we need to pull him out, we’ll let any pawtastic display of bearness count towards the trials!
- -
- -
- -
- - What? You need more instructions? They’re aren’t more instructions to give, silly non-bears, you just gotta prove you can bear it!
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- - Oooooooh! You wanted SUGGESTIONS! Okay, we can do that!
- - While we have beary generously allowed any pawesome display of your bearness to count towards the bear trials, some suggested things you could do for your bear trial are:
 
 Letting Ocean Bear take you by the paw
 Throwing a rock twice your size
 Throwing another ‘mon twice your size
 Cronching a rock twice your size
 Singing us the Bear Anthem
 Giving local children That Good Juice
 Telling local children stories about adultery
 Surrounding yourself with forty-seven different herbs and spices and being able to smell oil among them
 Painting bears around the villages
 Slapping guards on the back with a paint-cover paw
 Deserving this giant tobearone
 Finding true love
 Destroying someone else’s true love
 Reinventing the wheel
 Singing your own theme-music everywhere you go for at least forty-seven hours
 Only walking in one direction for a day (and that direction is GO)
 Sending Mindaugas stick figures made out of circles
 Gaining all of the properties of a leaf
 Building a bear shrine on top of another shrine
 Creating your own holiday where you can only travel by belly-flopping
 Becoming an entrepreneur for a ferry company using only uncooked vegetables
 Redesigning the map of Avalon
 Dancing on a pile of splintered wood
 Winning an arm wrestling match but without using your arms
 Eating a weed
 Steal something from the Jarl’s hall
 Leaving something in the Jarl’s hall that wasn’t there before
 Licking water in the air
 Growing an entire tree inside of the Jarl’s hall
 Setting fire to fire
 Stealing candy from a baby and eating it in front of them
 Waking everyone up in the morning like a rooster would but with any sound of your choosing
 Destroying the one ring
 Getting your groove back
 Bringing us some of the Jarl’s feathers and cloud fluff
 Finding the hidden forty-seven bats in the area and bringing them to us
 Bringing a dead relative back to life without losing your brother, your arm, and your leg
 Getting Matu (who has already achieve the title of Honorary Bear) into the Jarl’s Kitchen
 Sending Aetius a single lump of coal because he’s been a bad bird
 Sending a jar of dirt to the Malik of Badiya with a letter that says “this is cold sand”
 Sending some yellow glitter to Tullius in Gailamir
 Sending a fancy love letter to the Shah of Gunjyhn and signing it with “Love -P”
 Sending white pebbles to the Artiphronian royal palace
 Sending Waluigi letters that are actually just full of bear puns
 Sending Alaric onions with a note that says “With loves - the bears”
 Not letting Gawain escape
 Actually becoming a bear
:- - Remember non-bears, these are suggestions, but we’re letting any clawesome display of bearness be judged, so go for it during your bear trials!
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Category:Arc 2
Category:Veethfölnir
Category:Bears