Disclaimer: None of the Klonoa characters belong to me, they belong to Klonoa Works/Namco.

Kero Guardian: Finally to the quote that started it all!

Chapter Seven: Avec Tout Ton Cœur

Janga slid down the ladder and stretched a red claw to his co-worker, while still hanging onto the rim, "Ah, you have the book Legend of Moon and Dreams?" After taking the ancient book and tossing it up to the cockpit of the seventh rocket. His varicolored pupils examined the young priestess that was behind Joka. "Kikiki…is that the girl? She is lovely, is she not?"

Lolo stepped backwards as one of the metal claws stroked her cheek, but not long before Joka had swatted it away with a swift hand. "Janga-chan! Remember that our target is to remain completely unharmed, it is Garlen-san's absolute condition!" He did not miss the gleam in the feline's eyes, nor did the fiend's homicidal glare slip Janga's observation.

"…" Janga threw one last look to the trembling Lunatean before climbing the ladder once more, "Shit, Joka, you take your job too seriously. It was just a joke, I really wasn't planning on doing anything. Just a joke, a joke..."

BGM: Noir - Lullaby

After making sure that Janga was out of range of hearing, the servant of Ghadius circulated back to stare doubtfully at Lolo. "Is everything you said before true, my sweetheart?" She swallowed nervously, then looked down at him, nodding firmly. Joka felt an emotion swell within him, much like the time they first met, and he covered his eyes, choking a sob. "My…my sweetheart…I'm sorry."

Lolo pressed a hand to her mouth, to ensure that she would not raise her voice too loudly, "It isn't too late to stop, Joka!" When he simply quivered with his weeping and the shaking of his rounded form, she fell in front of him, hugging him tightly. "You will-"

"Die? You seem sure that your prince will save you…" Joka chortled sourly, "Whatever lies ahead will be decided accordingly, such is the paths all of us have chosen to take…maybe a dead end is here for me…but I can only walk onward, for I have pushed too far, my sweetheart." He cautiously raised his hands and cupped it into one of her now inflamed cheeks, feeling cold from the tears that soaked the glove.

"Aren't you my friend, Joka?" Lolo stumbled on the words, as tears welled up above his fingers. "But you've always made fun of me, by calling me your sweetheart…"

Joka wiped a drop from her eye, "How? I do wish you to be my sweetheart." This was it, the final words he wanted to truly express for such a long time. His mind was made up and even if Ghadius disapproved of this action, it would be the only decision made from his own free will, "Truly, I have always loved you. Ever since you showed me kindness at the Beach Tournament, I have never known what it was like to not be lonely…" He allowed his mind to bring back memories before proceeding to laugh with a bittersweet tone, "Nohoho…And when I saw you with that oaf, Klonoa…I could not stop myself from shouting at him, but it is he, whom you have given your heart to…"

Lolo felt a pang of guilt, she didn't have the slightest idea that he felt that way about her and she felt even worse when she knew everything he had spoken was true.

"Joka…" She paused when he started to wipe his face, free of tears. Unknown to her, he was actually getting ready for an upcoming event.

"Countdown of Seventh Rocket launching." The computerized voice sounded from the control room, followed by the clanking of Janga's approaching steps.

"Look there!" Klonoa exclaimed, with Pango, and now a reunited ally, Guntz.

Pango's eyes widened, "Joka with Miss Lolo! And…"

Guntz, whipped out his gun and rushed ahead of them, "Janga!"

The priestess yelped when he suddenly pushed her away. "Ah, your hero comes from the south, my sweetheart…" He glanced behind him, at the three approaching figures, and then to his co-worker that was at the top of the ladder. "I wanted to protect you from Janga-chan, but now it looks like I will have to face your lover after all…Be careful, my sweetheart." With that whispered, he stood, once more masking his face with a senseless grin.

BGM: Beyond the Clouds - Kaisen

"Klonoa!" Lolo stood up and tried to run forward to stop the three, but Joka grabbed her wrist and tossed her into the arms of Janga. "Eek?"

"You cannot escape." Joka grinned in false humor.

Janga did not notice the lost expression that Lolo cast to the clown, as he closed his arms around her small form. "What do we do? When they get here, it'll be too much trouble to fight them all off! And by then we will miss the take off!" His voice hissed with irritation, which made Lolo turn from him fearfully.

"Well…I will play with them." Joka snickered, "I trust you with the girl, Janga-chan."

This couldn't have been any better for Janga of poison claws, he was going to get paid for simply delivering her to Garlen, though it did disappoint him that he wouldn't have the satisfaction of killing anyone. "…" His eyes lowered to the struggling girl within his arms and his mood brightened a bit, 'perhaps I can find some fun elsewhere…'

"Okay. Kikikiki…"

"The sub-engine of the Seventh Rocket has been ignited." The computer's voice sounded like doom music to the three advancing exemplars, "Moo!" And to complicate things further a herd of Heart Moos, hired by Joka, flooded in front of them.

"They've bred suddenly!" Pango exclaimed in fascination, "But leave it to us, Klonoa!"

Guntz too agreed, "It cannot be helped! Klonoa, go on ahead, and do what you must!"

"Right! Lolo!" The sole hero dashed past the Heart Moos that were preoccupied with his partners and swished his sword in front of him, completely ignoring the comment that Janga tossed out, as the purple cat dragged Lolo forcefully up the ladder. "Wait! Wait! Lolo!"

The boy yelped when suddenly pushed back by Joka, teleporting in front of him. "I am sorry, but you cannot pass." He pounded at Klonoa each time he drew near. "It is a beautiful climax! But spectators always favor the tragedy!" Not understood to the Dream Traveler, Joka was actually speaking for the both of them.

"Move! Move aside!"

"Shout, cry! It only builds up to the climax!" Joka wasn't even sure of what he was saying anymore, knowing that this would be the final chance to see his beloved.

"Get out of my way!"

The stoic voice of the computer rose to their ears once more, "Ten seconds till the launch…Nine, eight..."

"Wadooo!" Klonoa hollered loudly in frustration, but could not get past his obstacle. And in this Joka wondered if he was taking pleasure in tormenting the Wind Child. "Seven, six…"

"Klonoa!" Pango's panicked voice did little to calm the screaming child, nor did Guntz's angered curse, "Shit!"

"I admit defeat. Please go, prince." Joka finally parted way, but now it was Pango's turn to halt the rash boy. Klonoa kicked and fought, but could not pry the grip of the older armadillo's shell protected arms. "Get your hands off me! Set me free, Pango!"

His ability to remain calm only enhanced his reasoning and he would not allow Klonoa to be burnt to a crisp by the impact of the ignition, "No! It's too late to try to abort the rocket! You'll be caught up in the flames of the launching!"

"Three, two…one." Klonoa released one more regretful cry, as Lolo's scream was heard echoing from the window, her arm reached out in a hopeless attempt toward him, "Aaaaaaahhhhhh!"

All he could do was watch as the rocket lifted beyond his reach, taking away one of his closest friends who was left in the arms of an insane murderer. "LOOLOOOOO!"

"Lolo…" Klonoa dropped his arms in exhaustion and broken spirit, as Pango finally released him. "…." Guntz was the only one who seemed more enraged than discouraged, "Damn you!" He yelled to the remaining villain.

BGM: Klonoa Heroes - Tension II

Although Joka heard the pup's hateful snarl, he did not take his eyes from the rocket until it was completely out of sight. "Thus, this is the true tragedy…farewell, my sweetheart…" He did not bother to hide the nickname from the trio, feeling as downcast as the Dream Traveler, but he smirked again for the upcoming and last task in his life.

"Damn you! How dare you…" Guntz continued, followed by Klonoa's angry words, "Joka! …I'll never…I will never forgive you!"

"Yes, that anger! That hatred! Good situation! Good situation!"

Pango's glared in wonder, '…Has he gone mad? Spouting such nonsense, or is he merely trying to jumble Klonoa's emotions into a knot, so that he would be easier to defeat?' Without understanding, the father-like figure decided to take no chances.

"Stop it Klonoa, never let provocations get to you…we should be looking for another rocket and go to the moon quickly." He knew it was pointless to try to calm the bounty hunter, for Guntz was always short-fused. "Do not try to fight alone, let us three pitch in together and beat this joking clown!"

Joka cocked his body a tiny bit to the side, "Well…all right, I shall clean up tightly and pleasantly return to the moon!"

"No kidding…" Guntz drew his pistols, "You must repent for your actions…"

Pango laughed generously, "Guntz is willing, so we have strengthened, right? We will beat you and…"

Klonoa intervened, "Go to the moon!"

Kero Guardian: The quote that started my whole idea on this fanfic is "Farewell, my sweetheart." Of course I have no idea what Joka actually meant by it, but that was my inspiration.

Popka: You are so weird!

Tat: The story's almost over though, right? Only a couple more chapters!

Kero Guardian: Maybe just one more.