They were out on the balcony like many nights before, reclining on a rounded sofa while gazing at the stars dancing across the night sky. Though the desert night is crisp they were not shivering. Their entwined pillows on the sofa, intertwined arms, and shared body heat was enough to keep them warm.
" Stay with me. "
That warmth was likely why Klonoa didn't pull away immediately. He did move, however, twisting in place until their eyes met. There, the requester could see sorrow. " We talked about this … "
Yet he was undeterred. " You are coming here so often, now. " He started, gently, and did not allow his tone to waver. " This is the second time this week. The eighth time this month. I know it's a long way to come for just a few hours. I thought that, maybe, you would enjoy actually staying here for a few days - "
He looked away briefly feeling a bit of heat on his cheeks. . " - or forever, if you wish. "
" But I can't. " Klonoa stressed, as if he was trying to convince himself more than anyone that he couldn't. " I'm needed on the mainland - and the Moon. Huepow needs me - "
" Huepow needs to forgive himself for not being strong enough to save Cress alone. " He interrupted, still looking out into the calm desert night. " He will come when he needs you. "
The younger boy stampered. " But Lolo - "
" Has come a long way from the person she used to be. She is stronger, mentally and physically, and does not need you to fight her battles for her anymore. " He added reassuringly.
" Still - "
" Guntz isn't the person he was. You already helped him get through that. " He sighed, and finally looked back to Klonoa. " Now, you have to help yourself. "
He explained. " Even before your power awakened you devoted yourself to helping others. You willingly threw yourself in harm's way to spare someone else pain. You burdened yourself to remove it from others. You aspired to be the type of person that everyone can depend on and lost yourself in the process. Never have I seen someone so selfless - or helpless in relieving themselves from the sorrow they feel from having sacrificed everything for everyone else. "
He could see the facade cracking. The realization in his eyes that brought on a fresh round of tears. " Klonoa, " He pressed. " - when was the last time you went to your Phantomile? "
Klonoa tried, and failed, to blink back the tears forming in his eyes. " I … It was the day before I went to Emperor Julius'. " Klonoa admitted, laying his head on his comforter's chest. " I thought that what I saw when I went to sleep was my Phantomile, but it was someone else's! "
" One day, I guess when no one needed me, I went home to my own. " His voice grew softer as he reminisced. " I hadn't been there since I was little, and it showed. There was nothing left. It felt empty. I didn't understand, but maybe - " Klonoa fumbled, trying to find the correct way to phrase his thoughts. " - that is because I hadn't dreamed any of my own dreams in a while? "
The other shook his head. " Your Phantomile is shaped by your thoughts and feelings. It was empty because you felt empty. You came here to see me because you felt an overwhelming sorrow. You thought it was because you failed your friends. In truth, you came because you felt helpless. You felt your sense of self slipping but were not sure what to do about it. "
Klonoa did not respond immediately. He was thinking. Hard.
It was true. The first time he came to the Kingdom of Sorrow it was because he felt like a failure. He messed up on a mission and his partner was seriously hurt. Klonoa took it hard. He went off on his own to train while he recovered. Eventually, he made his way to the emerging Kingdom across the Sea of Tears where conditions were harsh and work plentiful. Guntz wanted to take him there for some jobs after his leg healed, but Klonoa couldn't wait. It was calling him.
Not long after Klonoa stepped into the Kingdom did he attract the King's attention. The King of Sorrow, though benevolent, rarely left the confines of his palace due to the nature of his power. Yet the King was drawn to Klonoa. Specifically, the King was drawn to the overwhelming sorrow that clouded his mind and haunted his dreams. The King invited Klonoa into his home and used his power to leech the negative emotions from Klonoa. Soon the traveler's characteristic enthusiasm returned, and he returned to his homeland.
Klonoa didn't know was that the effects were temporary.
It did not take long for misfortune to bring Klonoa back to the Kingdom of Sorrow. A mission gone wrong. An enemy too powerful. An argument with a friend. The loss of a loved one. The weight of the world on his shoulders. The heaviness of a well-meaning heart that gave too much.
He came back whenever it became too much to bear and sought solace with a stranger. The King's home was always open to him. Then, for hours, the King was simply there for him. Some nights he cried until he fell asleep. On others he ranted until he exhausted himself.
Here, Klonoa showed a side of himself that he hid from those he knew on the mainland. Klonoa did not fear what others would think of him if he were honest. His facade was the result of resolving to be the strong one of whom everyone could depend on. Without his enthusiasm for life and optimism about the future what would become of them? Who would protect their dreams?
Klonoa sniffed, unaware that he'd been crying again until he did. " Say, " He raised his hand to wipe the tears from his eyes. " If I did stay here wouldn't that just be what you wanted? "
" I want you to get better. " The King replied. " The more I use my ability to suppress your sorrow, the more resistant you will become to its effects. Eventually, I will be unable to. Your dormant sorrow will then rapidly bubble up to the surface and corrupt you. You will ... turn into a Phantom Beast, and your friends would be forced to - "
" Didn't I have to do that to you, once? " Klonoa asked.
The King nodded. " Yes … my anger had gotten the best of me. You purified my dream and enabled me to be reborn much better than I was before. I do not want that to become your fate, my love, which is why I ask you to stay here. Not forever. I know you will not be able to. Just long enough to find yourself again. "
Klonoa listened with a mild blush forming on his cheeks. Sometime over the months of correspondence and late night visits he'd fallen in love with the stranger. Well, not a stranger anymore. A King who was just a boy himself who somehow managed to love him despite his (many) flaws. In ways, Klonoa found it amusing that someone who was quite literally the personification of sorrow could bring him so much happiness.
He decided. " I'll stay under one condition. "
" What would that be? "
" I want you to come with me. " Klonoa grinned. " To meet everyone. Grandpa. Lolo. I'm sure they'll like you once they get to know you. Even more once they know what you've done for me. "
The King hummed in consideration. He intentionally kept himself away from the affairs of the Four Kingdoms. Accepting of their sorrow or not, he knew that most preferred to see less of him and his influence. Likewise, he preferred to watch from a distance and work from the shadows. A part of him enjoyed being an enigma.
" Yes, I will go. "
Another, larger, part of him wanted to be there for Klonoa.