CHAPTER 3: Responsibilities
"Would you like anything to drink, my boy? I find that herbal tea helps me relax."
Bagoo was pouring himself a cup of lemon tea in his chambers. Although his kindness towards the Prince was a ruse, it was indeed true that tea helped the Minister relax. It made it easier for him to concentrate on his magic, which he would need if he was to achieve his goals.
"N-no thanks sir." Huepow responded. He was still wary and suspicious of Bagoo's ulterior motives, but didn't want to make his distrust for him blatant. For all he knew, the tea could've been laced with poison, and he was not in a mood to gamble.
Bagoo took a sip of tea and sat back down across from Huepow. The two were sitting on a large carpet in the centre of the room, with Bagoo's crystal eye in-between them.
"Alright." Bagoo began, "In order for this to work, I will need you to close your eyes and concentrate. Concentrate on your friend. If this goes well, you'll be able to intercept his dream and be able to directly contact him. I don't know how long you'll have though, so try not to beat around the bush."
"Right." Huepow understood. Despite his suspicions, internally he was hopeful that he would be able to see his old friend again. He was nervous, but excited. Mostly nervous though. The nightmare he had was still fresh in his mind. He was worried that even after all of this, Klonoa would still hate him. But he did his best to put those feelings aside.
He knew that he had to do this. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he passed on this opportunity.
"I'm ready sir."
"Very well." Bagoo replied. "Let us begin"
With that, he closed his eyes and opened his palms, as if he was meditating. Huepow did the same, focusing his mind on seeing Klonoa again. Despite his eyes being shut, Huepow could see that the room was getting brighter and brighter. The room started shaking as Bagoo's crystal ball slowly started lifting off the ground, emitting a bright green glow with bits of electric shooting out from it, before the whole room was enveloped in a blinding light.
When the light started to fade and things went quiet, Huepow opened his eyes. He didn't know what to expect to see, but considering he wasn't in pitch black darkness, it was already better than the last nightmare he had. Huepow looked around and noticed he was in some sort of forest. Blue skies, tall trees, flowers scattered around. It was beautiful. A large butterfly fluttered past Huepow. Considering he had no idea where to go and the butterfly was the only source of life he could see, Huepow chose to follow the butterfly to wherever it was headed in the hopes of finding his way a bit more. Upon closer inspection, Huepow realised that he had seen this species of butterfly before. It was the same ones that lived in Phantomile. That was when it all clicked for him. He wasn't just in any old forest, it was the forest. The forest that was located on the outskirts of Breezegale.
The forest where he first encountered Klonoa.
Eventually the butterfly landed on a nearby flower. Huepow, lagging behind a bit since he was reminiscing of better days, saw that the flower was located near an old, fallen tree trunk. As he drew closer, he noticed that he wasn't alone. Sitting on the trunk, as if it was a bench, was a young man with long ears, a blue cap with an instantly recognisable symbol on it, and a blue shirt and shorts.
"Klonoa…"
The cabbit didn't respond. Huepow wasn't sure if it was because he was ignoring him, or that he genuinely couldn't hear him. He got a little bit closer, making sure not to overstep his boundaries, and called again.
"Klonoa? Is it really you?"
Klonoa moved his head towards Huepow's direction, but didn't look at him, nor did he smile or change expression. He was averting his eyes, yet acknowledging that he saw Huepow. Klonoa inched a bit to the left of the tree trunk. Without saying anything, Huepow decided to sit next to him. Klonoa did not object. It was clear that his wounds were still fresh on his mind. Both sat there for about a minute in silence, watching the grass move in the wind's direction. Despite this all being a dream, everything felt so real to Huepow. Too real.
"Klonoa…" Huepow broke the silence. "I don't know if you'd want to hear this or not, but I think you should know why I did what I did. You don't have to talk to me right now, but I'm done with leaving you in the dark. No more secrets. You deserve to know everything."
Klonoa didn't respond.
Despite the cabbit's cold attitude intimidating him, Huepow took a deep breath and continued.
"When my mother and I summoned you to Phantomile to aid us in vanquishing Ghadius and the nightmares he brought with him, we had no idea what to expect from you. We didn't know who you were, what you looked like, what you acted like. We didn't know if you would be willing to trust us enough to help us. My mother wanted to ensure that you would be reliable. She enlisted me to gain your trust, fast. I wasn't sure what to do, so I did what I thought was a good idea back then."
Huepow was about to explain how he implanted false memories into Klonoa's head to ensure his loyalty, but one look at Klonoa's bitter and distant expression told Huepow that he didn't need to reiterate that part to him.
"T-the point was," Huepow paused before continuing, running what he wanted to say in his head so that he didn't mess up his words. "The point was that I didn't realise what I did would've hurt you so badly, and th-"
"I am not mad at you for that" Klonoa finally spoke, interrupting Huepow and taking him aback. "But what you did was reckless, you didn't consider how it would've impacted not only me, but yourself and the people around you"
"Klonoa…I-"
"You got an old man killed, Huepow! He may not have actually been my grandpa, but he was still an innocent civilian. But because you needed to maintain the illusion, you made him a part of a war he should never have been involved with."
Although Klonoa was clearly angry and upset at Huepow, he made sure not to shout or let his frustrations get the better of him. He knew that nothing good would've come out of doing that.
"As for yourself, I can't even begin to imagine the turmoil this has put you through. The fact that you had to intercept my own dreams just to speak with me shows how much this has been eating away at you."
He eventually stood up and faced Huepow. "This is your own fault Huepow, and I'm sorry if that isn't what you want to hear. Even though your mother was the one who gave you the idea, you didn't object and instead went along with it. And what you did not only hurt me, but also yourself."
"You think I'm not aware of that?" Huepow eventually spoke up, "This has been eating away at me for years. For years I lied in bed, believing that you hated me. The nightmares made me think you wished I was dead, and eventually I started believing you."
As Huepow opened up, his eyes started watering and a lump started forming in his throat, but he continued forward. He knew that he would most likely never get another chance at this.
"I knew that I had to reach out to you so that I could explain what I couldn't on the day you left. I'm done trying to forget what I did. I know how irresponsible I was. I got good people hurt, even killed, and I need to accept that and acknowledge that I was wrong. For you, for my people, for myself, I need to be a better person. I need to be responsible."
He stood up and looked at Klonoa, tears flowing down his face and dropping to the ground.
"If you can't forgive me for what I did, I completely understand. I'm not looking for forgiveness. All I ask of you is understanding. Understanding of why I did what I did, and how sorry I truly am for hurting you and Grandpa. And how I needed to reach out to you so that you knew that I..I.."
Before Huepow could say another word, Klonoa grabbed him and pulled him into a hug. Huepow couldn't hold his tears back anymore and cried loudly in his arms, hugging him back. He did it. He managed to reach out to his former best friend and tell him everything. Even if he didn't forgive him, Huepow knew that he could now move on and be better, as both a Prince and a future King.
"Huepow…" Klonoa said softly, still holding Huepow tight, "I…I cannot forgive you for what you did to me. Not because I hate you, but because I don't feel like I even know you anymore."
Huepow knew that despite what Klonoa said being painful for him to hear, it was the truth.
"I can't remember, nor comprehend what was real and what was false. Were we best friends or not? Was it all a lie, or was there truth behind our bond? Who are you, Huepow?"
Huepow eventually regained his composure.
"I don't know, Klonoa. I really don't know anymore." Huepow could feel himself starting to cry again, but took deep breaths to make sure he stayed strong. He wasn't looking for pity
"Neither do I. But I do know that acknowledging your faults and errors is the first step to being more responsible" Klonoa said to Huepow as he looked into his eyes and wiped his tears away. "You are stronger than you think Huepow."
Klonoa eventually broke from the hug and took a step back to give Huepow a bit of space.
"I don't know where to go from here, Klonoa." Huepow responded in an unsure and worried tone. "I don't know how to rebuild what we had, especially considering that I may never see you again after this."
"How about we start right here?" Klonoa answered in a more upbeat tone. "Hi there, I'm Klonoa! I'm a Dream Traveller, I travel across worlds to help people with their problems and go on adventures"
As Klonoa held his hand out in a friendly gesture,Huepow couldn't help but chuckle at Klonoa's 'reintroduction'. Klonoa was always able to keep a positive attitude, even when the stakes were overwhelmingly high.
"Very nice to meet you Klonoa" Huepow responded, playing along. "My name is Huepow, the Prince of the legendary Moon Kingdom, Cress. It is an honour to meet you"
As the two shaked hands in a formal manner, both of them started laughing at what they were doing. Despite everything that happened and everything they went through, Klonoa and Huepow were friends. Maybe not best friends, but that didn't matter to Huepow. He was just happy to be given a second chance.
"Thank you Klonoa" Huepow eventually said as he hugged Klonoa again. Klonoa warmly reciprocated the hug
"Of course, Huepow. I'm happy to help!"
"MANYA?"
However, their reconciliation was cut short by a rumbling in the ground. The trees shook and the duo struggled to maintain their balance. As a loud, monstrous roar caused them to cover their ears, Huepow realised what was happening.
"Oh no! Not again?" Huepow said to himself.
"Huepow, what's going on?" Klonoa cried out, confused.
"I don't know Klonoa, but stay behind me. I'll protect you!" Huepow stood with his back to Klonoa, ready to take on the beast that haunted his nightmare. However, Klonoa put his hand on Huepow's shoulder and stood next to him.
"No. We're doing this together." He proclaimed, picking up his Wind Ring.
Huepow smiled with a determined gleam in his eyes.
"Right!"
As the monstrous deity loomed above the duo, its shadow enveloping the forest in darkness, Huepow retreated into Klonoa's ring in order to give it power. Klonoa got into a battle stance and prepared himself as the beast charged towards the two, slicing the trees in half with its enormous wings. But this time, Huepow was ready. He was ready to defeat his nightmare once and for all.
"Huepow! Rupurudu!"
"Klonoa!"
Huepow quickly opened his eyes and shot up. As he looked around, he realised that he was back in the Empire. Back in his cell. And Bagoo was nowhere to be seen. He felt like he should feel upset that he's back behind bars, and yet his face was that of a warm, content smile. Even if he was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Emperor, Huepow knew that he could rest easy knowing that he did it. He finally reached out to Klonoa. He finally made amends. He could finally move on.
"Rise and Shine Dreamer!"
Huepow was startled by one of the guards knocking on the cell bars with their spear. As Huepow got out of bed and stretched, the guard opened the door to his cell and motioned the Prince to follow them.
"Look alive! You gotta come with us. Emperor's orders"
Huepow agreed to follow the guard as the two exited the dungeon. He assumed that it was time for his sentence.
"Mother. No matter what happens to me, I pray for your safety. I love you."
Although Huepow had accepted his fate as a permanent prisoner of Jillius, he was still nervous. Despite everything that has happened to him, Huepow was still a child. A scared, confused child, thrust into a world he didn't know and declared guilty of a crime he didn't realise he committed.
However, as Huepow followed the guard, he noticed that they completely passed the Emperor's throne room.
"If I may ask," Huepow interjected, "Where exactly are you taking me? I assumed my sentence would be carried out in the throne room."
The guard turned his head towards him to a degree where he could still see where he was going, but Huepow knew that he was talking to him.
"It's your lucky day kid. The Emperor has decided to give you a chance to atone for your crime."
Huepow's curiosity peaked. "A chance to atone? Am I being set free? What's the catch?"
Before he could think of any more questions to ask himself, the guard continued.
"You will accompany a fellow criminal in travelling across the many kingdoms of the Empire. They are currently being overrun by monsters, so take care of the monster problem and you both go free. At least that's what the Emperor said when we brought the other guy to him."
"I see." Huepow responded, puzzled.
"A fellow dreamer. So I'm not the only one. And If they're being tasked with stopping powerful monsters then they must be somebody strong."
The two stopped at the front gates of the castle.
"You will wait here to meet your partner once they are escorted out of the palace, then you two will be left to go and complete your mission. I must return to my duties now. Best of luck kid." The guard stated as he turned around to leave.
"Wait!" Huepow exclaimed. The guard stopped and turned his head around.
"By chance, did you catch their name?" Huepow asked.
"According to the Minister, he goes by the name, Klonoa."
THE END
