Episode 08: Soaring towards the Mountain Peak.

-Valley of the Wind-

Morning came as Ori stirred in his sleep as he rose from the Spirit Well. He rubbed his eyes before looking at Wisp that's sleeping in his arms.

Ori wanted to let Sein continue sleeping, but decided it would be best to wake her up since they have to get the Sunstone, which will allow them to enter Mount Horu, where the final element is.

Ori: Sein, it's time to wake up…

The Wisp stirred as she heard Ori's voice.

Sein: Ori… is it morning now?

Ori: Yes, we should go now.

Sein flew out of Ori's arms and the young Spirit Guardian got out of the Spirit Well as he followed the Wisp, feeling the warm winds that went up the mountain.

Ori: You said that we must ride the wind if we want to reach the top, right?

Sein: Yes, Sorrow Pass will be difficult to climb and will take a long time. Use Kuro's Feather to ride the winds so we can reach the peak where the Sunstone is.

Ori nodded as he brought out Kuro's Feather. He then jumped and let the wind carry him as now they began their ascend towards the mountain pass.

-Sorrow Pass-

Ori noticed that he and Sein reached Sorrow Pass as he looked at the change in his surroundings. Like Sein said he saw it would be long and difficult to climb without riding the winds.

Sein: Look out!

Ori dodged just in time from the attack of a Spitter. He saw there were many more on the ledges, but he was able to maneuver and dodge all of them as he safely landed on a wooden platform. Ori then noticed Sein looking around.

Ori: What's wrong, Sein?

Sein: I sense another Ancestral Tree nearby.

Ori: Really? Where?

Sein: Follow me!

Ori followed Sein as they started heading to where the Ancestral Tree is, having difficulty getting there since Ori had to dodge the attacks of Slimes as well as ones that tried to fall on him. They then reached their destination, only to be blocked by a Spirit Gate.

Ori: We have to find Keystones, right?

Sein: Four of them, yes.

Both the Spirit and the Wisp had to go back to where they came from, where the Slimes are waiting for them… as well as more obstacles on the way.

They nearly got by more Slimes as they flew to get a keystone fragment.

They nearly got hit by a hot energy beam that came on one of the spiked grounds.

Ori hit his head on a ceiling when the wind pushed him too high.

The Spirit Guardian crawled to the last Keystone that was hidden too well.

Ori and Sein were panting after finding all four Keystones.

Ori: This place really is difficult, Sein.

Sein: Yeah, at least we can now open the gate to where the Ancestral Tree is.

Ori put the Keystones on the wall and they opened… to reveal a room filled with spikes everywhere.

Sein: As soon as we cross all these spikes.

Ori fainted after this.

Ori then fell on the ground, where a windy sound was heard beneath it. He just had to move a rock in order to safely pass the place filled with lots of hot laser beams. Right now, Ori was exhausted.

Ori: Are we there, Sein?

Sein: Sorry, Ori. The Spirit in the Ancestral Tree leads to the closest and safest route possible, I didn't expect the safest route was that long.

Ori: That route was safe?

Ori was not amused when hearing that, right now he wants to rest. He had a few scratches on his body he received on the way.

Ori: Okay, so now what?

Sein: Do you hear the sound beneath you? There's a draft of wind down there but is blocked. Use Ilo's power to break the ground.

Ori tried that as he jumped and stomped hard on the ground, breaking it as the wind is now coursing further up so Ori used Kuro's Feather to fly further up. He reached above a place… with more spikes as far as the eye can see. Ori's ears fell at the sight of the place.

A Spirit Gate then opened and it showed an exhausted Ori that suffered even more scratches on his body.

Ori: Are we there yet?

Ori's question was answered as the floor caved beneath him and he fell with a yell. He quickly took out Kuro's Feather and glided safely, until he noticed he was descending beneath more spikes. But then he noticed a hanging glowing plant and he used to bash himself to safety.

Exhausted, he crashed face first into a room and when he looked up he saw the Ancestral Tree they've been looking for so hard.

Ori: We found it, Sein.

Sein: This Spirit, another sacrifice for Nibel. Nir flew through the air, she soared through the sky. Her world knew no bounds until the forest turned blind.

Ori slowly crawled towards the Ancestral Tree until he was raised into the air as he felt Nir's light entered inside him. Once it's done, Ori landed on the ground as his energy restored a little after that.

Ori: What 's Nir power, Sein?

Sein: She has the power to charge her jumps so it will be like she's flying in the air. This ability will come in handy when climbing Sorrow Pass.

Ori wasn't very amused by that.

Ori: I wish we had it before going here.

The Wisp sweatdropped as she agreed with the young Spirit Guardian.

Sein: Yeah… we should.

Ori: We should keep going, right?

Sein: Yes. Try using Nir's power above you.

Ori looked up at the ceiling and concentrated. He could feel power coursing on his legs and with one jump he broke through the ceiling and grabbed hold of the wall nearby with Tatsu's power. With renewed vigor, Ori began jumping at the walls, even breaking through them as he ascended even further towards the top of the mountain.

Ori: I can do this all day!

Ori: Let's rest for a bit.

Ori and Sein found a Spirit Well and were soaking in the magical water as all the exhaustion and scratches in the young Spirit body vanished.

After finishing regaining all his strength, Ori and Sein continued as they looked down a ledge as they heard a windy sound being blocked just like last time. There were a few hot lasers down there that sometimes appear but this time it doesn't bother Ori now that he has all his energy back. He jumped and fell down as he safely passed the hot laser beams.

Sein waited for him as she heard something breaking down and then the wind started blowing upwards, which Ori riding it using Kuro's Feather as Sein followed him.

After a while of riding the wind, Ori and Sein had reached the peak, and the young Spirit Guardian was in awe at the sight before him as he landed. Everywhere he can see the infinite blue sky, and he can also see the sea of clouds that are above Nibel. Despite the sight of Mount Horu looking ominous as it looks like it's about to erupt, the view was very beautiful.

Ori: It's beautiful.

Sein: Yeah. It has been a long time since the last time I was here. I didn't have enough free time.

The Wisp then flew up ahead as Ori followed her. They then reach a tall orange stone pillar with something shining in its center. Despite the intensity of the light, Ori can see it very well without the light hurting his eyes.

Sein: I wondered why Kuro avoided this place… The Sunstone still radiates the light that she fears.

The stone pillar started shaking until it separated into a few pieces as it released the Sunstone from its hold. The light lessened and now Ori can see that it was a glowing orange rune, which Sein immediately absorbed into herself to hold it. But then she started to glow so much that Ori's eyes couldn't stand it as he had to cover his eyes from the blinding light.

-Swallow's Nest-

At Ori's old home, the place became more empty and lifeless as time passed by. However, inside the cave was Gumo as he looked over at the fallen body of an Ursa, which is the one that Ori had as her son and raised him.

Gumo: So this is Ori's mother? Okay, let 's begin.

He then put his hand on her body as he raised the Light Vessel and started chanting something. The Light Vessel started to glow brightly as it spread around the room until it burst. Gumo maid way to see if it works and to his happiness, Naru's eyes opened once more into the world.

The Ursa sat back up as she looked around before noticing the Gumon in front of her.

"His journey inspired even he who had doubt"

Naru: Who… who are you?

Gumo: My name is Gumo. Can you stand up?

Naru slowly got up as she looked back at the Gumon.

Naru: What just happened to me back then?

Gumo: I'll explain it on the way. Come on.

The Gumon grabbed the Ursa's hand as he led her outside.

The Gumon went to the edge of the cliff where Ori climbed down some time ago. He looked at Mount Horu as he pointed it for Naru to see.

"Gumon had found a place to belong"

Gumo: Over there! The last Element is inside that mountain, so Ori must be heading his way there now.

Naru, having learned everything from Gumo about Ori's actions, became worried once she saw the mountain.

Naru: Mount Horu? But that place is dangerous! And it looks even more dangerous than it was before!

Gumo climbed down as he looked at Naru.

Gumo: If we head there we may be able to cross paths with Ori.

The Ursa carefully climbed down as she thought the dangers her adopted son was doing. She knew he was doing this to restore Nibel but she still can't help but worry.

Naru: (Don't worry, Ori. I'm coming back to you.)

-Sorrow Pass-

The light receded so it allowed Ori to uncover his eyes. Once he's able to see his eyes widened in surprise at what he saw.

She has changed into another form, in place of a Wisp stood a Spirit with light blue pupils. While her fur is white like all the Spirits, her body is surrounded by a bluish aura. Her ears and tail were long. In other words, she looked very beautiful

Ori: Sein?

The Spirit looked at Ori as she gave a gentle smile.

Sein: It's me, Ori. While the Sunstone only temporarily restores a part of my strength, I can now turn into my Spirit form.

Ori remained speechless as he watched at Sein's physical form, which the Wisp found amusing.

Sein: (Giggles… Ori, as much as I like you staring at me, we must go back to the task at hand.

This snapped Ori out of his stupor as he blushed a little for looking at her for too long.

Sein: With the Sunstone, we can now pass through Mount Horu's gates.

Just then, Ori and Sein felt a rumble on the ground.

Ori: What 's that?

Sein: It 's Mount Horu! It's close to spitting fire! There's no time to lose, Ori!

Ori and Sein started heading back to where they came from, especially since it'll be easy for them now.

Sein: Let's use the Spirit Well there. That way we can…

Sein suddenly stopped talking as she looked on ahead. Ori was confused at why Sein stopped suddenly.

Ori: Sein? Is something wrong?

Sein: It's the Spirit Tree. He's communicating with me.

Ori was surprised to hear as he didn't know Sein could speak to the Spirit Tree from a far distance.

Sein: What is it? What is the reason for you to communicate with me?

-Spirit Tree-

While no one was around, the Spirit Tree was talking as he communicated with Sein.

Spirit Tree: You must bring Ori to the Black Root Burrow. I learned that there are two Spirits there that have been lost for a long time. Also

Sein: (Also)?

Sein was confused as to what else the Spirit Tree is about to say.

Spirit Tree: Ori will learn about Naru's past if he goes there.

-Sorrow Pass-

Sein was completely surprised to hear that she didn't have much to say.

Sein: What?