CFB: I got bored. So I uploaded the next chapter.
This time: Time to look around Dreamland! Hamorette, though heartbroken, plans a special feast for the ham-hams! Will Screech return? Plus, some ham-hams wander into a curious shop and meet some new friends who may or may not have more significance than it seems. Then, seeds of heroism are planted in Hamtaro's heart once again! So, we plod through some more plot development! (I'm trying to get through it fast, because the action is coming in chapter #11!)
Disclaimer: I do not own Hamtaro or any of its' characters. I own all characters and concepts not related to the original Hamtaro franchise. (I suppose I can't really OWN Dreamland, though...just my version of it...)
Enjoy!
Chapter 8: Chance of Heroes
"My lady, are you sure you are alright?"
Joy's eyes glowed with concern as Hamorette lightly dabbed at her reddened eyes with a handkerchief. After finding the distraught princess down in the gardens, Joy had ushered her inside before a commotion could start, and the pair now sat on a couch in Hamorette's quarters, with Sprint, re-armored and on guard, standing outside the closed door. Screech had yet to return to the castle, but no one was quite sure if they wanted him to return at this point.
Hamorette hiccuped. "Yes, Joy. Unrequited love does not mean the end of the world..." The tears still leaking from the corners of her eyes begged to differ.
Joy smiled faintly. "It is a truly sad thing to see you cry, my lady."
Hamorette shrugged her pink-clad shoulders. Right now, she didn't much care how others were feeling. She had been the one rejected; tossed aside like year-old, moldy sunflower seeds. And she was still having some difficulty figuring out how all of this had happened, and how exactly her world had spiraled down into so much confusion and pain.
"Did...did you know of this secret romance between Fury and Screech, Joy?"
Joy went rigid, and her amber eyes shone apologetically, which was enough of an answer for Hamorette. She nodded understandingly, but looked away, toward her mirror. Catching a glimpse of her disheveled appearance, the princess hastily set to making herself look presentable again. Of course Joy had known....she and Fury were hamigos. Joy would keep a secret for Fury, no matter the cost and risk involved. Of course, that left Hamorette completely out in the cold. Sprint, being Screech's hamigo, surely knew of this as well. She had been the only one in the dark.
Joy looked hesitant, and squirmed uncomfortably. "Are you blash-T with me, your majesty?" She questioned softly, her amber eyes quivering apologetically.
Hamorette sighed and shook her head. "I'm mostly blash-T with myself right now, Joy. How could I not have seen that this would happen? All this time, Screech has been blind to my smoochie because he has been with Fury."
A silence fell. Joy wanted very much to ask what was to become of matters now - would Screech and Fury be condemned from seeing one another once Fury was rescued, would this have any effect on their campaign against Steel, would there be any demotions, etc. - but she denied her burning tongue and asked a more generic question instead, "Is there anything I can do for you, Princess?" After recent events, Joy would do just about anything.
Hamorette sighed. "I have much to plan, Joy. To honor the heros who have come to help us, I've decided to throw a grand banquet tonight, out in the rear courtyard. If you don't mind...I think I would like to be alone to make the preparations. Please tell Sprint he has the rest of the afternoon off as well, to do as he pleases..." Hopefully, planning the event would distract her thoughts.
"If you need anything I - "
"I'll be fine." The royals' voice was firmer this time.
Joy, reluctantly, turned and walked for the door, not wanting to displease the princess. She felt the need to apologize, but once again held her tongue once she saw Hamorette dab at her moist eyes with a tissue. One meager apology wasn't going to solve anything, or take any harsh words back. With a small sigh, Joy pulled the door open, shutting it quietly behind her, and told Sprint, who had been waiting patiently outside, the news.
"Cats, this place is eight times as big as Oak Tree Park!" Cappy marveled as he, Panda, Pashmina, Penelope, Oxnard, Howdy, and Dexter trailed in wonder through the sparkling streets of Dreamland. Joy had sent them off to sightsee, and they weren't about to let the beautiful day go to waste! There were still a few hours of daylight left, and they had several hours worth of sightseeing to fit in.
Pashmina smiled warmly. "And at least eight times as pretty, too!" She delighted in feeling the warm sunbeams on her face. Now that they were traipsing about among the clouds, the sun felt even more divine on their fur; like it was exactly the perfect distance away.
"Of course, it isn't as beautiful as you, Pashmina!" Dexter chimed in, sneaking up to walk beside the golden-furred hamgirl. "You're radiance glows far brighter than even these glimmering streets, and your fur is of the same quality as these glorious sunbeams!"
Pashmina smiled at him, a little unsurely. "Thank-Q, Dexter..." She wasn't certain how to take the compliment, so she instead shifted her attention. "Panda, are any stores catching your eye?" She turned to the carpenter ham curiously, Dexter sinking back, dejected, to Howdy's amusement.
Panda (A/N: I know this is random, but when I typed "Panda" I accidentally typed "Pando" the first time. Hahaha....Pando. Anyway...) looked around with interested eyes, but there was still a distant gleam in them, like he was both present and far-away. "Yoo-hoo!" Pashmina waved a paw in his face. "Earth to Panda! Or should I say, Dreamland to Panda!"
Panda was too busy drifting off into a daydream, or perhaps a day-nightmare, judging by his clouded face, and the other hams were so absorbed in the sightseeing, so neither Panda nor Pashmina, nor any of the other ham-hams, noticed that they were dangerously close to running into something...or, rather, someham, while their heads were occupied up in the clouds.
"Woah, there! You young'uns better watch where you're walking, eh?"
Startled by the gruff, yet friendly voice, the ham-hams stopped dead in their tracks and found themselves staring into the smiling face and sparkling blue eyes of a tan, middle-aged hamster, his fur shaggy and spiky, a dark brown moustache making his bright pink nose twitch mysteriously. A dark blue cap perched lazily on his head had the words 'Uncle C' embroidered on it in cerulean stitching. Seeing the ham-hams mildly bewildered expressions, the kindly hamster laughed, a deep, husky belly-laugh, and spread his arms out wide, as if he were about to gather the whole lot of them into some enormous bearhug.
"I haven't seen you young hams around Dreamland yet...If I'm not mistaken, then you all must be the brave heroes Princess Hamorette sent for! If that's the case, welcome to Dreamland! We've been looking forward to your arrival!" He laughed again, and the ham-hams warmed up to him instantly. He was like Santa Paws, with his deep chuckle and the twinkle in his eyes.
"Thank you so much!" Pashmina smiled brightly at him, while Penelope turned away shyly, hiding behind her best friend. "We're sorry we almost ran into you. This place is so amazing, we just got lost in the scenery!"
The middle-aged ham waved a dismissive paw at them and winked. "Don't worry yourself over it, sweetheart. Happens all the time! I take it you're enjoying your stay in Dreamland so far, then, right?" He asked curiously, adjusting his hat with one weathered paw. "Not too many hams from the regular world get to see it, after all."
"Oh, yes!" Dexter nodded, stepping forward. "It really does seem as if this place is right out of a dream!"
"We don't know where ter look first!" Howdy supplied.
"Every store looks like so much fun!" Oxnard marveled, though he was currently searching for a place to snack, not shop.
The hamster's bright eyes gleamed. "I may be able to assist you there, young'uns!" Pointing to a wooden sign just over his head, which the ham-hams immediately turned their eyes to, the kind hamster introduced himself with a debonair bow, "My name is Cumulonimbus, but everyone calls me Uncle C! And this here is Uncle C's Hats for Hams! The best store in all of Dreamland, and the coziest to boot!"
"Oh, C, must you be so eccentric?"
As soon as his little advertising pitch was finished, a female hamster, around the same age as Uncle C, stepped out of the finely carved doors of the store and into the sunlight, paws on her hips. She had warm, motherly green eyes and pure white fur, groomed down to the last strand. A ruffled, cobalt blue apron was around her waist. Smiling at the ham-hams, she said, "You must excuse my husband. He can't resist trying to attract new customers to our shop. My name is Skyla, and I'm co-manager of this little establishment. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Pashmina waved her paw cheerfully at the kindly couple, and introduced herself as well. "My name's Pashmina, and this here's Penelope, Panda, Howdy, Dexter, and Oxnard. The rest of our friends are off looking around elsewhere!" As she pointed to each hamster, they nodded and smiled. "Glad to meet you, Uncle C and Skyla!" The ham-hams chorused politely, bowing their heads.
"And we're glad to meet you too, young'uns!" Uncle C replied honestly, reaching forward to shake everyone's paw with surprising enthusiasm. "My wife and I may not be known as heroes, like yourselves, but we do craft world-class hats here, and I've been a master hatmaker for the past several years! No hamster head goes cold with us around!"
"Wait a minute, you sell hats?!" Cappy, not needing to hear any advertising so long as hats were involved, bounded up to stand at the front of the group, staring up at Uncle C with imploring, eager eyes, jumping up and down with excitement, tail twitching back and forth. "I wanna see your hats, of that's okay! Is it okay? Please let it be okay! Pleeeeeeease!?"
"Woah, woah!" Uncle C took a step back, chortling. "Eager little fella, aren't you? You remind me of a certain ham..."
Panda placed a paw on Cappy's shoulder to calm him down. "If it is okay with you, Uncle C, it wouldn't hurt for us to take a look around your shop for a little..." He craned his neck to look in the sleek, glossy window. "As a matter of fact, that carpenter hat on that shelf there looks pretty cool..." Pashmina, Dexter, Penelope, and Howdy nodded in agreement, though Oxnard still looked as if he'd rather locate the nearest snack-bar.
Skyla grinned, and a loud ding could be heard from inside the shop. "Sounds like my next batch of acorn cookies are ready...you ham-hams must try some while you're here" She hustled into the store, picking up the apron so she wouldn't trip.
"Wait are you hams waiting for?! Let's go!" Oxnard, at the mention of 'cookies,' bolted into the store after Skyla without waiting for the rest of the ham-hams, gone so fast he kicked up a dust cloud and made his friends cough.
After he let out another chuckle, Uncle C led the remainder of the group into the cozy little store, smiling proudly. "Feel free to look around at your leisure!" Uncle C told them, motioning forward with one paw, essentially giving them free-reign of his domain.
Eyes wide, the ham-hams gazed around at shelf upon shelf of hats, of every color of the rainbow and of every kind of design. Cappy was in seventh heaven; his little feet couldn't patter enough as he traveled from row to row, discarding his swim cap and trying on hat after hat. First he tried a beret, and next a pirate's hat...pretty soon, the rest of the ham-hams were involved, Pashmina admiring a pink feathered cap with delight, Panda modeling a carpenter's hat in the mirror, Dexter and Howdy fighting over a small red cap that matched both Howdy's apron and Dexter's bowtie, and Penelope jumping up and down in a bright yellow baseball cap. Cappy moved like a whirlwind, trying on every hat he could get his paws on. After helping Skyla in the kitchen, Oxnard found a grey visor with a spotted pattern, much like his fur, only a darker shade.
"Uncle C, this place is amazing!" Pashmina marveled, twirling around in the feathered cap. "I've never seen such stylish hats! This one matches my scarf perfectly!"
"Ookwee! Ookwee!"
"This is the best selection of hats ever!" Cappy bobbed his head with excitement, trying to fit three hats on his head all at once. "World-class! This is like ham-heaven for me!"
Uncle C sighed and placed a paw over his heart, smiling warmly. "Well, bless my soul!" He raised the other paw to wipe a tear from his glittering blue eyes. Intrigued by his sudden shift in moods, the ham-hams gathered around the shaggy-furred, older ham with concern, but soon realized his tears were joyful, not sad. "It's been a long time since any ham has appreciated my work like that!" He concluded, looking to all of the ham-hams with a look of gratitude. "Thank-Q. As a token of my appreciation, and to welcome you to Dreamland, you may each have a free hat from my collection."
"And, you're free to join C and I in the back room for some milk and cookies once you're finished shopping, dearies!" Skyla, equally as glad as her husband to have such friendly company, called from the kitchens.
Panda gasped. "Uncle C, you don't have to be so generous."
Cappy, however, didn't need telling twice. Instead, he began to fret over which hat to pick; how he wished he could have the entire store! Uncle C refused to let the other ham-hams reject his offer, and, excited, they all selected a hat to take home as a gift. Pashmina took her feathered one, Oxnard his visor, Dexter a red top-hat, Howdy a red straw-hat, Penelope her gold baseball cap, and Panda his carpenter's cap. After agonizingly poring over every selection, Cappy eventually selected a green, plaid newsboy cap, and, though it pained him to leave the other hats behind, he was pleased with his choice.
"Thank-Q, Uncle C!" The ham-hams cheered once they were seated around the large, family table set up in the room right across from where the hats were on display; Uncle C was seated so he could still see customers come in, if any decided to drop by.
"Don't mention it, ham-hams! It was an honor to have you in my shop!" The jovial older hamster winked once more, nibbling on one of his wife's cookies.
After one savory bite of the crunchy morsel, Oxnard grinned blissfully and remarked, "So good. My tastebuds are crying tears of joy right now!" While Pashmina took a dainty nibble, her expression lighting up as she said, "Delicious! I would love to have a copy of the recipe so I can make these at the Clubhouse sometime!"
Skyla winked. "Of course!"
"Ookwee! Ookwee!" Penelope crowed, ecstatic.
Oxnard began to shovel in the scrumptious morsels, breathing only in between huge mouthfuls, while Dexter ate his more carefully. "I agree wholeheartedly; this cookie is divine, Skyla!" He complimented. "A perfect end to our hat-shopping expedition, if I must say."
"Yeah, it really tops it off! Get it? Tops?" Howdy pointed to the top-hat perched on Dexter's head, and couldn't resist laughing at his own corny joke. "Har-har! I really crack myself up!"
Dexter was about to berate him for his sub-par humor, when, to everyone's surprise, Uncle C began to roar with laugher, rocking back on his wooden stool until he was almost falling off. Even Howdy seemed startled that someone else had found one of his jokes worth a chuckle, as all eyes turned, alarmed, to the mustached ham. Clutching his sides, Uncle C choked out between sniggers, "Well, I'll be a rat's uncle! That was a good one there, Howdy! Tops! Ahahaha!"
He continued to chortle, while Dexter shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe it...someone actually thinks Howdy is funny. I certainly never thought I'd see the day!"
Howdy smirked smugly. "Told y'all I was funny."
Deviating from the topic of jokes, Pashmina nibbled on a cookie and glanced around the cozy sitting room. Seven pictures hung on the walls...one of Uncle C, one of Skyla, four of what seemed to be the same, shaggy-tan hamster, greatly resembling Watcher Cumulus, in different poses, and wearing different blue and white hats (one wore a hat with an 'N,' embroidered on it, as well as a matching satchel, the next an 'S,' then two 'C's') and the fifth of a tiny hamster, similar looking to the other four pictured, though he was smaller and his hat was green, more like a Santa-cap. Her eyes then flickered over to the counter, where several more plates of cookies lay.
"I don't know if all of us can eat so many cookies!" She commented, pointing to the mass of plates ready to be served. "They're delicious, but you baked so many!"
Skyla smiled wanly. She glanced up at a clock, and replied, voice glowing with pride over something the other ham-hams didn't know, "Well, we're actually expecting some more company right about - oh, it looks like they're coming now!"
As if on cue, the bell in the front of the store rang, signaling the arrival of more customers. Skyla and Uncle C did not move from their seats, however, but merely exchanged a knowing look that the rest of the ham-hams didn't understand. "Dad! Mom!" Four nearly identical voices hollered simultaneously, catching the ham-hams off guard. "We're home! And we smell mom's famous acorn cookies!"
"We're in the back room, boys!" Uncle C called back, and then he leaned over the table and told the ham-hams with sparkling blue eyes, "Time for you brave heroes to meet the pride and joy of our family! They may not be hat-makers like their old ham, but they sure do a good job makin' me proud!"
"Hamha!"
To the ham-hams surprise, four identical hamsters filed into the room, one after another, in perfect step. All four were male; tall, with shaggy tan fur and white stomachs, their whiskers twitching and cerulean eyes agleam. Pashmina was stunned; she had thought the pictures on the wall had been of the same hamster, but now it was clear that they were separate! One's attire was marked with an 'N,' one with an 'S' and two with 'C's' the only thing that differed between them. They recognized only one of them; Watcher Cumulus, the one who had guided them into Dreamland, and who now waved brightly at them each in turn.
"We see you have company!" The 'N' marked hamster remarked cheerfully, and then, a look of recognition passed over his face, joined by a brilliant smile. "Wait, you are the hamsters from Hamwall! I thought you looked familiar! I was the one who told Hamorette about you!"
The ham-hams were somewhat embarrassed. He was the Watcher Hamorette had spoken of...the one who had seen their triumph at Hamwall...
"We met earlier!" Cumulus winked. "But it's time for a proper introduction!"
"Boys, meet Pashmina, Panda, Howdy, Dexter, Cappy, Penelope, and Oxnard, the brave heroes Princess Hamorette sent for!" Skyla gestured to each ham as she spoke their name, before she then introduced her sons. "And ham-hams, I would like you to meet our sons, Nimbus, Stratus, Cirrus, and Cumulus. They're the Watchers of Dreamland! If you can't tell them apart, just look at the letters!"
"Pleased to meet you!" The four identical Watchers bowed in unison.
"Good to meet you too!" The ham-hams returned politely.
"We watch over Dreamland night and day, making sure the citizens are safe from harm. The four towers, at each corner of Dreamland, are our guideposts," Stratus explained, his tone matter-of-fact, not quite as inviting as the others. His cerulean eyes were chillier as well - a bit less welcoming. "We also scope out the outside world with our doves for informational purposes."
"But, every now and then we stop at home for a little snack!" Cumulus grinned, hiff-hiffing the cookies with a hungry glimmer in his eyes while tossing a wink to his mother.
"Glad to have you with us, brave heroes!" Nimbus cheered, and his three brothers nodded in agreement. "We know that Dreamland is in safe paws with you all here!"
The ham-hams exchanged small smiles and a few winks. They only hoped that they could live up to the expectations of the Dreamlanders, and deliver the victory against Steel that was so desperately needed.
The Watchers took four vacant chairs beside Uncle C, while Skyla busily piled cookies onto the plates in front of them. Still struck by the complete symmetry between the brothers, the ham-hams continued to stare, inciting Uncle C to remark, "I know they look exactly alike, but they're very different, like a lot of twins, triplets, or quadruplets are. So much so, we don't even need them to be wearing their hats to tell them apart anymore!"
Pashmina and the others, thinking of Sandy and Stan, realized the truth of that statement instantly.
"We are really different!" Cirrus confirmed jovially, a hyper energy exuding from him as he bounced gently in his chair. "We have a little saying for it...uh...it goes...oh, how did it go again?" He looked like he was having trouble remembering said saying, his eyes clouded as he pounded his fists softly against his temples.
"Nimbus is the normal one," Nimbus chimed in, chewing on a tasty cookie.
"Stratus is always serious," Stratus continued, sounding almost bored, a gloomy sort of look in his eyes, distant and cold.
"Cirrus has a cluttered head!" The absent-minded Cirrus finally recalled with a brilliant smile.
"And Cumulus is chivalrous!" Cumulus finished with a wink. And, as the ham-hams at the table looked around, it was already getting easier to identify them, even if they couldn't read the letter on their hats and bags - their personalities were quite distinct, and each were welcoming in their own way.
"And Niko - oh, wait...never mind..." Cirrus had been about to continue on with the little chant, but stopped suddenly, and slumped down in his seat, excited bounce gone. As if they had been sharing thoughts, the other three brothers, as well as Uncle C and Skyla, seemed to deflate emotionally as well, and sink down lower on their stools.
The change in their demeanor visibly alarmed the ham-hams. "Is something wrong?" Panda asked, concerned. He and the other ham-hams exchanged a look. Where had the happiness in the room gone? It was as if a giant vacuum had come in, sucking out the joy and cheer.
A silence brewed for a moment, until Uncle C cleared his throat and, casting a wistful glance at the picture of the littlest hamster on the wall, replied, "Our....youngest son left home a few months ago. In pursuit of some...misguided dreams..." Tears welled up in Skyla's eyes, and the somber Stratus and comforting Cumulus put warm paws on her trembling shoulders, also upset.
"Misguided?" Cappy asked in a small voice. Everyone - Oxnard included - stopped eating their cookies.
Uncle C nodded soberly. "Yes. Our littlest son had a lot of pressure on him when he was born....four older brothers, all Watchers. It's a heavy burden for a little ham-ham to bear, trying to live up to a legacy like that. He was too little to make hats, and too little to be a Watcher...He tried so very hard to be like his brothers. Maybe...maybe I pushed him a little too far. Eventually, he listened to the wrong ham. Steel..." In a burst of rage, Uncle C pounded a fist on the table, his face twisted with sorrow and anger. "Poisoned our little son's head with his ideas of power and strength. Our littlest had to listen...Steel promised him what he wanted, so he followed that horrible ham."
"We were so hard on him..." Nimbus admitted. "We thought we were just teasing, but he took it to heart."
"It's only natural he was driven away," Even stoic Stratus seemed a tad morose.
"We'd be the best big brothers ever, if only he'd come back!" Cirrus promised with conviction.
"Yeah! What they said!" Cumulus bobbed his head in agreement.
Suddenly, with pleading blue eyes, Skyla looked to each of the ham-hams and spoke as earnestly as her warm voice would allow. "We are so glad you ham-hams are here now, to rid the world of Steel's horrid nightmares. And if you don't mind, we have just one request for you. One wish, with all our hearts. Please...when you go to face Steel..."
Her tears spilled over. The last of her request came out in a choked sob, pulling on the hamstrings of the ham-hams, the rest of her grieving family emulating what she felt. Immediately, the ham-hams decided that no matter what the request was, they would fulfill it for this kind, loving family.
"Bring our little Nikolai back home!"
After his confusing confrontation with Bijou, Hamtaro had decided to go and adventure around Dreamland alone. He had looked so forward to his excursion...but that was before he had somehow made Bijou cry. Now, his head was clouded with confusion, and, whenever he tried to think of the fun he wanted to have, the image of Bijou's silently streaming tears filled his mind. As he walked, shoulders slumped and ears drooping, through the streets, the glittering blue pavement seemed lackluster, the sky had somehow dulled, and the vibrant colors of the shops, cafes, gardens, and homes lost their shine.
"Oh, cats....so much for my dream vacation! We have an evil hamster to fight, the princess is upset, Screech left the castle, and Bijou's mad at me for some reason!" Hopeless, the orange and cream-furred hamster cast his solemn brown eyes to the sky, throwing his paws up in the air, as if the signal that he had given up. Normally, he was one to look on the positive side. If he couldn't see the brightness in this situation, then there likely wasn't any.
"And I can deal with most of that..." He clenched his eyes shut. "But I really wish I knew what I did to make Bijou so upset..."
After a moment of wallowing, he started to plod along again, not even noticing that the streets were growing sparser as he trod. Soon, there were no other hams around; the hustle and bustle faded away to nothing but a distant hum, leaving an eery silence in it's wake. Not even aware of his surroundings, Hamtaro nearly tripped on a golden step - the first of many, on a lavish staircase, leading up to one of the most impressive buildings Hamtaro had ever seen.
It was dome-shaped, reminding Hamtaro of the moon-decorated and sun-decorated buildings he had seen one the descent into Dreamland, but this one was more extravagant than the other two combined; they hadn't seen it from the balloon basket or the Guardian's back because it was hidden behind the castle, lurking almost completely in shadow. Fit for a king, it had been painted richly, in blues of all hues - detailed in gold and silver, one half of the dome with a large moon painted on one side, the other with a blazing sun. As the actual sun radiated off of it, the brightness of the dome almost blinded Hamtaro, and the steps began to gleam like bricks from heaven.
"Ahhh..." Hamtaro admired, his woes vanishing for a second, a wide smile stretching across his face. "It's so shiny!"
As if compelled by a force within him, Hamtaro began to venture up the steps. He didn't mind that he was alone, or that no other hamsters dared come close to this building. He could feel a presence at this place...something beckoning him beyond the dark doorway he could see drawing nearer. There was something here, calling him in a small, almost inaudible voice, only heard within the murky depths of his own thundering heart.
Hamtaro stopped once he reached the doorway. Ears pricking forward, he poked his head in the door, then sniffed. There was dust in there, but he couldn't smell anything else. So why were his senses going haywire? And what was this feeling, gnawing at him like a forgotten itch...why did he feel like he had gone through this before?
Never one to deny an investigation, Hamtaro walked slowly into the building, the cool marble floor chilling his feet. As soon as he entered, the lights turned on - blinding him momentarily, before his surprised brown eyes adjusted. Now, the room was bathed in soft golden light, and Hamtaro found himself amongst heroes.
In awe, the orange-furred hamster stood in the center of the chamber, turning slowly to absorb the wonder of the room. Depicted in brilliant paintings, all across the rounded walls and ceiling, were hamsters. He saw several of them dressed in armor, flying on the backs of valiant, pure white doves. Others held what looked to be a replica of the Staff of Dreams, and what must have been the Staff of Nightmares, in their clenched paws. Stars and moons also decorated the smooth surface. Everywhere Hamtaro turned, there were faces of defiance, bravery, courage, and unmatched resolve. These were the faces of Dreamland's finest, enshrined forever in memory. And, all around the room, there were also statues of pure gold, all of them of crowned hamsters. At the very back, the tallest statue had been erected, as if the hamster it represented had some kind of authority over the others.
Drawn by the mystique surrounding this dusty, seemingly ancient statue, Hamtaro stepped forward to examine it further. It looked to be of a king - and, as Hamtaro looked to the statue's feet, he saw a plaque had been placed there, with the wispy words King Hamenon, first King of Dreamland. Hamtaro noticed that his bearded face was solemn, and his paws were outstretched, as if he had been holding something. In the presence of this statue, Hamtaro felt as if he were gazing upon greatness, and yet, felt like he belonged here. But something was missing still...something that made this magical place seem like a tomb, rather than a place to honor the past. Those paws looked so...empty.
"I see you found the Chamber of Peaceful Rest."
Joy's voice echoed in the chamber, startling Hamtaro, and he whirled to see her standing in the entranceway. The goldenrod-furred Protector of Slumber ambled in, glancing swiftly at the paintings and statues - but she had seen them all before. "Is that was this place is?" Hamtaro asked her quietly, looking around some more in wonderment.
Joy nodded. "It's where the memories of past heroes are engraved and kept for posterity. Each statue represents a king or queen of Dreamland, and each painting a hero from the past. But this chamber has one main function..." She pointed the tip of her Staff of Dreams toward the empty, outstretched paws of King Hamenon. "...and that is to house the Stone of Slumber. At least...it was."
The pieces fell into place in Hamtaro's head, slowly, one by one. Casting his chocolate eyes to the floor, he remarked, "So this is where Steel came to steal it then, right? This is where he took his power...." his blood began to boil slightly with dislike for this iron-furred villain. They had yet to meet across a battlefield, and Hamtaro was already raring to save the world again.
Joy nodded. Neither of them smiled, and the air was thick with silence.
Hamtaro looked around at the depictions of heroism, spread all across the chamber. He soaked in the feeling of wonder, the astoundment, with a heavy sigh. All of these heroes...had they known that they would one day be remembered, here in this sacred place? And what about the fallen heroes that no one ever knew? They did not have a place on these walls, but Hamtaro could feel their influence, encircling him like a warm cloud. What had driven them to want this place, their own mark in history? And, if they were forgotten, what had made them try to prove themselves? They all had their reasons...what were his for even stepping paw in here?
Joy glanced at Hamtaro briefly, intrigued by the stern, but rapt expression on his face. She had never seen anyham look quite so determined before, just by standing in this old, dusty chamber that typical Dreamlanders tended to avoid because of the creepy, mysterious air that came from it. Not even the bravest knights of Dreamland wore such an expression on their faces, one that made heroism shine and spark from every strand of fur.
"I didn't think anyone would be up here."
Hamtaro wasn't startled this time around, but Joy jumped at the sound of Screech's voice. The ex-knight wandered in, also not as deeply affected by the scriptures or carvings as Hamtaro currently was. "Screech!" Joy exclaimed, rushing over to him, both worried and a little bit angry. "Where have you been? You don't really mean to quit, do you? You can't give up being a Dreamland Knight! You..."
She trailed off, seeing that his attention was elsewhere, so she too diverted her gaze. Peering keenly at the focused Hamtaro, Screech approached slowly, bemused by the fire burning in the orange-furred ham's eyes. It was a fire the likes of which he had never seen, not even in his own eyes. He had come to this place to find peace of mind, but, seeing the look Hamtaro wore, Screech realized that there would be more to the visit...much more.
"Hamtaro? Are you alright?" He had never seen a soul so affected by the power of this chamber before. Even he found it a little too cold and dusty to linger in for very long.
The ham-ham didn't respond. As the glory of the chamber washed over him, all sound seemed to die, and, for a moment, he closed his eyes. He could picture the ham-hams...each one of them, clear as day, waving cheerfully at him. And then, they were wiped away by a burst of flame, and in their place stood the vicious were-ham from the dream, Steel perched haughtily on it's back with his gleaming scepter. That deep, piercing laugh resonated in Hamtaro's ears, and, he could suddenly hear cries for help. Within the din, he recognized his friend's voices, helpless and scared, calling his name. And one clear, beautiful voice, louder than the rest, so very near and dear to his heart, pleading for him to save her from Steel's terrible clutches...
The very same feeling he had felt before the climactic battle against Spyke at Hamwall began to circulate throughout Hamtaro's body. He came out of his near-trance like state, and cast his burning brown eyes to a startled Screech, who had never seen such a look in a hamster's eyes before. The closest he had seen...were on the paintings decorating the walls, of those numerous heroes too courageous to describe. Hamtaro's naivete had faded for the time being, replaced with an unwavering dedication, unmatched and powerful.
"Screech..."Hamtaro began in a soft, but firm voice, only a trace of his usual, happy-go-lucky demeanor remaining. "What is it you fight for?" He sounded like he was seeking some kind of confirmation.
Taken aback, Screech hesitated. After a moment of pondering, he replied honestly, "Well...I fight for what's important to me. Dreamland, Fury....why do you ask?"
Hamtaro was silent for a moment, before he stared directly into the glossy, dust-kissed eyes of King Hamenon and responded, in a voice full of wisdom from deep within the crevices of his soul, "Because heroes aren't born heroes. They have to have a reason to fight...a reason for why they put themselves at risk..." He lowered his gaze, staring instead at the marble ground, both Screech and Joy entranced by his wise, compelling words.
"..I wasn't so sure about fighting Steel until just now. Because before, I didn't really understand why I had to fight; I guessed that I just had to. The princess asked us to, so we would. But...there was never a why. I hadn't seen a reason for it yet..." Finally glancing up at Steel with fiery brown orbs, Hamtaro finished. "My friends, the ham-hams, are the most important thing in the entire world. And if fighting Steel will help them...all of them...and make the hamster-world safe again..." Despite his words, a single voice, clear and loud, filled his ears, making his heart thunder.
"...Then I have to do it. For them."
His words, though soft-spoken, resonated in the chamber. Joy and Screech exchanged a wide-eyed glance. Both had heard countless hamsters, valiant and heroic, pledging to fight with honor, only to have their vows fall on deafened ears. All of those speeches, of supposed heroism and vigilance, were exactly the same; hollow and without any purpose other than self-glory. Not even Screech could deny the selfishness of his own intentions. But Hamtaro's words had a different effect; they were so deeply genuine and sincere it gave both of the Dreamlanders chills, and each had the excited feeling that this one brave hero in particular was going to do them a world of good in the pending battle with Steel. This new hero was different from all the others, in a way that mattered most, and it was both baffling, and awe-inspiring. Like every hero painted on the walls had combined their wisdom, and made Hamtaro their living, breathing mouthpiece...
This Hamtaro...was something special. And the battle to come would show them exactly how special he would turn out to be.
The silence that had settled over the chamber was unsettling, and made the fur on Screech and Joy's necks stand at attention. To break the tension, Joy announced, stuttering a little as she struggled to overcome how overwhelmed she had been by Hamtaro's conviction, "Well, Hamtaro, I have some good news for you. The princess has informed me that she's going to hold a banquet to honor you and your brave friends, tonight, in the courtyard!"
As if he had merely removed a more-serious mask, Hamtaro's face lit up brightly, overjoyed. "A banquet? That's a big party, right?" As Joy nodded, he clapped his paws together. "All right! That sounds hamtast! Are there gonna be games and stuff?"
"Uh..." Joy wasn't so sure about that.
"Do the other ham-hams know?" He asked Joy eagerly, tail twitching back and forth.
Screech and Joy exchanged another look. Hamtaro had been so solemnly resolute only moments before...but now he seemed to have morphed right back into the old, chipper Hamtaro, complete with naivete and warm, innocent brown eyes. Where had his impressive, almost chilling inner-hero gone? It was like he had two personalities, split on extreme lines, so black and white...or, in his case, orange and white.
"I haven't had a chance to tell them yet, no..."
Hamtaro jumped up, pumping a fist. "Hamtaro's on the job, then! Don't worry Joy, this job is in very capable paws!" He winked at the Protector of Slumber, beaming. "I'll let all the ham-hams know about the banquet! Bye-Q!"
Waving a paw at both a startled Screech and bewildered Joy, the orange-furred ham-ham sprinted across the marble floor of the chamber and out into the sunlight, barreling down the stairs faster than what was likely safe. Soon, he was gone from sight, but a motionless Screech and Joy could still hear him, singing a song he had made up on the spot that went a little something like, "Going to a banquet, yeah! Gonna play some games, yeah! Gotta tell the ham-hams, hip-hip-Hamha!" And then it repeated, until, at last, his piercingly cheerful voice also faded away.
What a transformation..." Joy murmured, looking to Screech with a look of awe in her amber eyes once the only trace of Hamtaro left was his lingering presence in the air, mingling with the dust. "That Hamtaro truly is a one-of-a-breed ham-ham! That heroic gleam in his eye...it practically made my fur stand on end!"
Screech nodded somberly. Seeing how dedicated Hamtaro was to his friends, those friendly ham-hams who had sacrificed so much to come and help them, had truly touched him, and inspired him. Perhaps, after his talk with Hamorette, he had flown of the handle a little too severely. Perhaps, if he had been a little bit more like this hero-persona of Hamtaro's, he wouldn't be in this mess...but it was never to late to start amending things. It was never too late to seek forgiveness, as a true hero would. And Screech, recalling the somber dedication of Hamtaro's expression, realized he had a long way to go on the road to heroism. Screech's journey would begin with an apology, whereas Hamtaro's had already begun.
Maybe Hamtaro would turn out to be the real-deal hero that Dreamland so desperately needed, in these bleak times...
"Joy, you're right. I can't quit being a Dreamland Knight now. It's not what Fury would want, and not what a true hero would do, in these times of need," Determined now to earn a fire like Hamtaro's in his eyes, Screech marched out the door of the chamber. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a princess to say oopsie to..."
Joy grinned, and was about to turn and leave herself, but found herself staring wide-eyed into the dusted expression of the King Hamenon statue. She saw nothing there but faded gold and empty, dulled eyes, but, recalling Hamtaro's fierce dedication, the fur on her neck stood straight up. He had seen something more beyond that hollow stare. "Whatever you did for that ham..." She whispered lowly to the statue, smiling faintly.
"...Thank-Q."
Humming his new tune, Hamtaro traipsed down the clouded boulevards of Dreamland with a purposeful stride. Though his demeanor had returned to it's normal state, his heart had undergone some changes; he could feel new things stirring about, new fires being stoked in the confines of his soul. A new desire, mingling with his old, more naive wishes. How would this change - this transformation of his heart - affect him in the days to come? Especially when they faced Steel and his ghoulish nightmares...the change made him feel warmer inside. And he was eager to explore these changes.
"But first, I gotta find the ham-hams! And then, I should apologize to Bijou!"
CFB: Hamtaro's revved up to be heroic again! We'll have to see how that plays out in later chapters...
Next time: Hamtaro goes in search of his friends to tell them about the banquet! Plus, Sandy tries to have fun in Dreamland with Maxwell...but will he be more interested in learning than sightseeing? Plus, Laura runs into some unexpected company. (Steel makes his comeback in Chapter 10....in style! And yes, by style I mean he's going to do something evil.)
