The Return to Phantomile
~ VISION 1-5: The Watertight Palace ~
As Klonoa and Kio were traversing across the rocky road against the side of the mountain, upwards to the kingdom of Jugpot, while it was now early in the afternoon... the Wind Ring lighted up a bit, as Huepow's voice rose up from it.
Huepow: Hey Klonoa?!
Klonoa: Hm?
As Klonoa noticed Huepow's call, he held up the Wind Ring closer to him.
Klonoa: What's the matter?
Huepow then jumped out of the Wind Ring, having transformed back into his ring spirit form... meaning he was now in the shape of a light blue sphere with floating white gloves, a halo beneath his body keeping him afloat and a yellow star above his head. Although Klonoa didn't seem surprised, Kio almost jumped as high as possible from the shock and harshly landed on the ground.
Kio: A GHOST? ! ? !
Klonoa, as he started to grin a bit from hearing this, also confusingly looked back at Kio, as did Huepow.
Klonoa: What do you mean? This is just Huepow as I always remembered him.
Huepow: It is my ring spirit form to be precise. I alternate between the two from time to time.
Kio: Oh... i see... my bad.
Kio slowly got up, as Klonoa chuckled a bit, while Huepow just scratched his head and checked his own body in the ring spirit form and seemed a bit concerned about himself.
Huepow: Are you that scared of ghosts, or do I just really look that bad if I were to be one?
Kio: N-not at all. Just the concept of the undead in general frightens me, you know? I'm a bit of a wuss.
Klonoa then started to chuckle a bit.
Kio: What are you laughing about?!
Klonoa: Oh no, no... it's just that... you remind me so much of Lolo right now. She is also really afraid of ghosts.
Klonoa then stopped laughing, and turned his head back to Huepow.
Klonoa: But now that I think of it... How come you still stay into your ring spirit form, Huepow? You only needed it to fit for those manipulated memories, right? Wouldn't it be tiring to stay like this?
Huepow: Oh no, quite the contrary. This form actually saves up on energy and recovers better than in my true form. My true form actually puts the entire body at strain when using energy, whereas in this, it only takes the spiritual energy within me.
Klonoa: Ohh, okay...
Huepow: But that's beside the point. I wanted to ask you something important...
Huepow then quickly entered the Wind Ring again, and came back out with a yellow and green striped board in his right hand that had three regular green crystals on the front, and a green crystal engine attached to the rear end. As Klonoa saw the thing, he immediately stared in shock, without even having to remember what it was...
Huepow: What is this, exactly? I found it while sitting inside the Wind Ring, just floating around.
Klonoa shook his head a bit as he seemed dumbfounded and baffled.
Klonoa: Oh no... Popka... you... you forgot to bring that thing back to the rental and left it in there...!
Kio: Hm?
Huepow: Popka? Who is that?
Klonoa then snapped back to it, and just deeply sighed.
Klonoa: ...Nevermind, you wouldn't know who he is. That is an air board from Joilant.
Kio: Joilant? Wait, what's a regular board even?
Klonoa: Hm? You don't know?
Klonoa then looks back at Huepow who also shrugged a bit.
Klonoa: Oh... I guess it makes sense you all wouldn't know what a regular board is either. Well...
Klonoa thought a bit through about it.
Klonoa: A board is like... a rideable surface to go down over any specific terrain. Like a snowboard, meant to go over snowy hills. Or a surfboard, meant to cross the waters. In this case the air board is meant for all sorts of terrain.
Huepow: Cross over the waters with a board like that? As in... how a fish would cross it?
Klonoa: Something like that. Although no real animal is involved, and this one hovers.
Kio seemed absolutely stunned.
Kio: Hovers?! What kind of blasphemy is this?!
Huepow: I see... That is really advanced. You said it came from Joilant?
Klonoa: Mm. It's a kingdom within Lunatea. One of several.
Huepow: Joilant, huh? Now i'm curious to see that with my own eyes...
Klonoa: Either way, let's not get too distracted from any of this.
Huepow: Right. We need to speak with the king as quickly as possible for clues. He's on the top of the mountain.
Huepow then re-entered the Wind Ring, as both Klonoa and Kio began to walk up on further, as Kio kind of quietly talks to himself while he still seemed stunned.
Kio: It just casually hovers... it hovers...
Finally when almost reaching the top of the mountain, they start to notice a few houses within the side of the mountain at they were walking up further, close to the top as a couple of regular Jugpot residents were going their way of life... Most of them looked a bit human-ish like Huepow, but they are pretty short, have claws for hands varying of color, and small spiky tails on their. One was dusting off the window right outside, as another was walking further up the rocky path in the direction they were gonna go.
Klonoa: We finally made it to the kingdom... Although i don't really remember it all too well.
Kio: Oh wow, I didn't expect them to actually have built a few homes into the mountain itself though. This kingdom looks completely different from afar, but now it all makes sense!
Then further up, they finally cross a stone bridge next to the waterfall at the top. Klonoa stops for a moment to look up towards the waterfall, where the clear water just goes down. Huepow got out of the Wind Ring and looked right at the waterfall as well, as did Kio.
Klonoa: Hmm...
Huepow: Seems like the waterfall is still flowing normally. That's good.
Kio: What do you mean? Did it not used to?
Huepow: Well... when we two went on a journey, we used to-
As the two started to talk to each other, Klonoa then suddenly got another flash into his mind...
The young Klonoa looked right at the same exact waterfall, except the water was flowing upwards. The young Klonoa was in a bit of an awe.
Young Klonoa: The... The waterfall...!
The young Huepow then got out of the Wind Ring out of confusion.
Young Huepow: Huh?
As the young Huepow then looked at the reverse waterfall as well, he jumped a bit out of surprise.
Young Huepow: Whoa! !
Young Klonoa: It's flowing backwards...
Young Huepow: I see. So that's why the water to Forlock has stopped.
Young Klonoa: And how the forest's trees have withered.
Young Huepow: But how did this happen? Let's go to the palace!
The young Klonoa looks back at Huepow and nodded his head a bit, as he said...
Young Klonoa: Right.
The memories start to fade, as Klonoa snaps back to reality...
Huepow was still talking to Kio, as Klonoa smoothly snapped back to it in the present.
Huepow: ...the forest was dying, and we had to speak to Granny. It may sound ridiculous, but it was true. Right, Klonoa?
Klonoa then nodded his head a bit as he looked back at Huepow.
Klonoa: Mm... I can still remember it. Good to see things are at least somewhat normal here.
Kio: It kinda sounds like a made-up story... Who has ever seen water flow upwards?
Huepow: If it really is that unbelieveable, then the Dream Traveler might as well not even be with you right now. Either way, let's move.
Klonoa: Right. If I remember correctly, we should be almost there.
Huepow: Correct. Let's cross the bridge up to the top!
Klonoa, Huepow now floating by his side as the ring spirit and Kio crossed the stone bridge and enter a passageway from the end of the bridge that leads to the inside of the mountain caves behind the waterfall...
With a few rocks sticking out from above, the faint light from outside shined from beyond the waterfall. Kio stops for a moment to watch the water falling from the inside and was a bit mesmerised as Klonoa and Huepow walked on further.
Kio: Whoa... this is like nothing i've seen before...
As Huepow notices it, he quickly turned around, and grabs Kio by the cheek and pulled him as hard as he could back to Klonoa further up.
Huepow: We know, we know. Just don't get too distracted.
Then they got back outside, and saw the giant pool of water that was on the top of the mountain... Meanwhile in the center, they saw the palace. A giant, blue and white shell with a red waterwheel. As well as a few regular stone houses following multiple bricked roads at the edge of the mountain and near the water around them.
Kio: Goodness, they built an entire civilization up on the waters too?
Huepow: There were only a couple of houses like this before in the past, but they seem to have really expanded around the entire mountain this time.
Klonoa: Yeah... it's amazing. Did they really do this in a few years?
Although then Huepow and Klonoa noticed something seemed different... They spotted that the bricked road to the nearby giant vase from here was completely closed off... Huepow and Klonoa looked around out of confusion, while they also notice the townsfolk around them not really minding it. Aside from one wearing a purple and yellow hat and a white and purple uniform... indicating that he is a Jugpot soldier. This soldier was staring at the palace of the king from a distance.
Klonoa: They closed off the road that leads to the palace though...
Huepow: Strange. Something doesn't seem right. Even that soldier over there seems a bit suspicious...
Huepow, Klonoa and eventually Kio step up towards the Jugpot soldier that also seemed to be watching over at the palace in the distance. Klonoa tried to pull the attention to the soldier and spoke up a bit.
Klonoa: Good afternoon, sir.
The jugpot soldier turned around, and timidly spoke up.
Jugpot Soldier: H...Hello. What brings you to the center of our kingdom?
Klonoa: We're looking for some answers regarding something important. We believe that your king is within that palace.
The Jugpot Soldier turned a bit awkwardly quiet.
Huepow: The road is closed off for some reason. Why is that?
Jugpot Soldier: L-look, i'm not sure myself. Something happened seven years ago that caused King Seadoph to become way too precautious.
Klonoa: Precautious...?
Klonoa thought it a bit through, as his mind suddenly got another flash into his mind...
As the young Klonoa and Huepow were following behind the King Seadoph within the large shell palace's center, Seadoph stopped and looked down upon the water below them.
Seadoph: I see... So I was manipulated under a spell, cast by that fellow henchman of Ghadius. I have a feeling he's planning something against the Moon Kingdom.
Seadoph then turned back towards the two young kids behind him.
Seadoph: In that case, Forlock is in grave danger as Chieftess Granny knows a lot about ancient legends... She should know something about the Moon Kingdom too.
Young Klonoa: So that's why the waterfalls were made to flow backwards...
Young Huepow: They attempted to kill off the forest!
Seadoph: What an evil, ruthless monster. I don't want to imagine what damage he could've caused with me further...
The memories start to fade again, as Klonoa snaps back to reality...
As Klonoa snapped back to it, it all seemed pretty clear to him at this point. Meanwhile, the Jugpot Soldier sighed as they were still talking.
Jugpot Soldier: The king has completely blocked any paths that lead to the palace for everyone... sigh. I just want to know myself why they won't allow me in there either.
Huepow: You are from here though, right? Why exactly won't they allow you? You can swim to there, right?
Jugpot Soldier: Hm? You mean you three can't?
Kio: W-well... I may be able to swim a bit, buuuttt...
Klonoa: I can't swim at all.
Kio: Oh, so there are some things you fear. Why would somebody like you fear water though?
Klonoa: Same could be said to you. You could've learnt to swim really well in those years you had. I never got the chance. But Huepow could certainly make it though, right?
As the two turned to him, he seemed a bit embarrassed, as he twiddled his hair around.
Huepow: ...I can levitate myself in the water well enough for a while, but not enough to make it over there.
Klonoa: Wait, really?
Kio: Oh goody...
Huepow: Quiet you two! Go and live in a castle in the sky for years and see if you can somehow manage to surface yourself easily!
Jugpot Soldier: Umm... regardless, the entrance through the shell itself is closed. It seems like regular soldiers and outsiders are not allowed... I overheard someone mention that the king only allows the rulers of other kingdoms and the most trusted high-ranked soldiers within here.
Huepow seemed pretty disappointed to hear that.
Huepow: The rulers only...
Kio: Wait, rulers of other kingdoms? Would that mean they allow other royalty from the kingdoms too?
Jugpot Soldier: I don't think they do... Strictly the rulers. The list of people that would be allowed is really small.
Kio: Oh... i see...
Huepow just deeply sighed.
Jugpot Soldier: T-that's all I know though. Do not tell the other soldiers I said that.
Kio: You got our word, don't worry. Have a nice day.
Klonoa, Huepow and Kio then walked up further across the residental area of Jugpot around the top of the mountain.
Huepow: If only I was the king... We wouldn't have to go through all of this.
Klonoa softly smiled up at Huepow.
Klonoa: Hey... don't worry. We just have to find one of the high-ranking Jugpot soldiers, that's all.
Huepow: ...Yeah, you're right. I shouldn't let myself get down because of such a small thing.
Kio: But how are we going to just find a high-ranking soldier who would be willing to help us out?
Klonoa: Well... we could split up to search for answers.
Huepow: Oh yeah, you're right... we can sneak around and eavesdrop on the folk, just like how we snuck up on that Jugpot Soldier back in Forlock years back.
Kio: Just sneak around for information?! People would get suspicious of us!
Huepow: Hey, if it means that it'll able to save the world, then it doesn't matter what needs to be pulled off to make it possible. We need to find a high-ranking soldier so we can speak with Seadoph.
Klonoa then patted Huepow on the back.
Klonoa: That's the Huepow i remember. Let's split up!
Huepow: Right. Klonoa, you go up north. Kio, you stay here up east and hide at the stone houses and the alleyways. And i'll go to the west and south. We'll meet up back here in an hour!
Kio: Wh-
Klonoa: Right!
Klonoa then turned around and began to run up the northern road on the top of the mountain and Huepow goes up the southern road, while Kio just stands still and tried to reach out to the two.
Kio: H-hey! Hey... Umm...
Kio then awkwardly waddled on over to the two stone houses next to him sidewards, and began sidling through the narrow gap between the two houses.
Kio: Guess i'll just... try to awkwardly listen in from behind then...
Half an hour passes, as Huepow is still in his ring spirit form, crouching down from one of the resident's houses as he spots two regular jugpot soldiers forming a conversation near the fruit stand at the market up south... He tried to carefully listen in on the two, and finally noticed an interesting conversation that got his interest.
Jugpot Soldier 1: It's starting this night! Besides, do you have the money?!
Jugpot Soldier 2: Well... who cares? I want to prove that i'm the best one in Jugpot! Even if it means to borrow some money from my family! I'll just take it from them a few minutes prior, make my way over to the arena, and then sign in last minute!
Jugpot Soldier 1: You moron, you clearly don't stand a chance against him. You must be out of your mind to try and win the Annual Champ Tournament and steal from your family like that!
Huepow: A tournament...?
Jugpot Soldier 2: Well, i have much better luck to win this year, than for you to find this mysterious 'Jugkettle' place that you've been trying to hunt down constantly. Like i can ever believe that place exists...
Jugpot Soldier 1: Hey, i may believe in that mysterious island that may or may not exist, but i'm not a maniac who tries to get himself killed.
Jugpot Soldier 2: You're just jealous that you cannot join this year due to the high entrance fee. And you know it! Now stop trying to save up so much money for a raft to find that damn non-existent island!
Jugpot Soldier 1: ...Why are we still friends after all these years...?
Huepow: Hmm... the Annual Champ Tournament, huh... But who is this 'him' they're mentioning?
Huepow then decides to head back up east, trying to regroup with Kio.
Over at Klonoa's side, ten minutes later... Klonoa had hidden himself behind some crates in an alleyway between the houses up north in the residental area, as he sticks out his ear a bit to listen in on a conversation between three regular jugpot soldiers just around the corner of the house. Although it was a bit hard to listen in because of the noise coming from the busy street
Jugpot Soldier 1: So who do you think is going to win this year?
Jugpot Soldier 3: I think it's obviously going to be the Water Warrior again. No question. He's won like three times in a row up to now. Fourth time's going to be an obvious result.
Jugpot Soldier 1: I'm personally holding out for the Puffy Fluff this time. I love her unique style of fighting compared to the usual barbaric sword, or axe, or bow...
Jugpot Soldier 3: The Puffy Fluff?! Don't make me laugh! If she'll be up against ANY water opponent, not even counting the legendary Water Warrior, she's done for!
Jugpot Soldier 2: Wait, hold on... Who is the Water Warrior?
Jugpot Soldier 3: You don't know?!
Jugpot Soldier 1: Well... he's only been a soldier here for a few weeks, so it's understandable.
Jugpot Soldier 3: Okay, so... the Water Warrior's backstory is shrouded in mystery. His identity's never been revealed... All we know is that one day, a high-ranked Jugpot Soldier who wields the legendary Water Sword just showed up in the kingdom... and then vanished. Only ever showing himself during the Annual Champ Tournament.
Klonoa: Bingo!
Klonoa then sneaks out, and tries to make his way back up to the east to regroup with Kio and Huepow.
Jugpot Soldier 2: I see... Personally, I always rooted for Borim. So i hope he will stand a chance this year.
Jugpot Soldier 1: The Javelin Thrower? Really...?
Jugpot Soldier 3: One miss, and it's all over for him.
Jugpot Soldier 2: I know, okay?! I just... i have hope!
Kio was sitting against the wall from the backside of a stone house, as Huepow and Klonoa both walked up to him. Kio immediately stood up, and dusted off his overalls.
Kio: S-so, you guys found anything? Because i sure haven't...
Klonoa and Huepow both tried to open their mouth and speak, but then both stopped.
Klonoa: ...You go first, Huepow.
Huepow: Okay... So, i discovered they're soon holding a tournament that they call the 'Annual Champ Tournament', which will begin later this night. Supposedly, the Jugpot Soldiers are almost all looking forward to it, and even try to join the fight themselves. But they look up to a certain somebody... and i'm not sure who.
Klonoa grinned a bit as Huepow said that.
Klonoa: And i know who. Somebody we're specifically looking for.
Huepow: Somebody we're looking for? Who could that be?
Klonoa: Now... i don't know the true identity of him, but rumor has it that Jugpot has a high-ranked soldier called the Water-something, who only ever has shown himself in the tournament.
Huepow: I see... so, if we are to join the tournament...
Klonoa: We can find the fighter of Water!
Kio: W-wait hold on, we're going to join a tournament?!
Huepow: You don't need to join... You can just spectate if you want. We're the ones who are going to look for the water fighter, after all.
Kio: Whew... That sounds much better...
Klonoa: Well... where is the tournament being held anyway?
Huepow: Hmmm... Strange... I haven't picked that up. I heard it was held in an arena, but i don't know where...
Kio: Oh... you mean the Dream Arena? I actually overheard a few strangers talking about 'going southeast to see them fights'... So i'm assuming it's there?
Huepow: Ohh, i see...
Klonoa smiled a bit at Kio.
Klonoa: Hey, thank you for the info, Kio.
Kio blushed a little bit after hearing that.
Kio: H-hehe... it's no biggie...
Klonoa, Huepow and Kio then went back out in the street, went further down southeast past the residental area, and then looked on over from the edge of the mountain... they spotted a giant colosseum made out of bricks on the road inbetween Jugpot, and Forlock.
Klonoa: Is that the one?
Kio: Probably. It looks exactly like it was described.
Huepow: Strange... I don't remember that building being there before.
Klonoa: Me neither.
Kio: Must've been built in the last seven years then. Either way, all of this is a first for me.
Huepow: Regardless of that fact, we should make it down the mountain and over to the arena before the sun goes down.
Klonoa: Right. Let's go!
Huepow then entered Klonoa's Wind Ring, as he and Kio started to quickly follow the rocky path on the side of the mountain towards the southeast on foot as fast as they could, as the sun slowly started to set a bit.
Following the rocky path downwards, they eventually made it down to the plains inbetween Jugpot and Forlock, following the dirt path that connected the two kingdoms. It was now sunset, and they kept on running. Klonoa kept his proper pace, but Kio put his entire body at it just to keep up with Klonoa.
Kio: Huff... Huff... S-slow down, stamina boy! My lungs are collapsing!
Klonoa then stopped in his tracks by sliding his feet on the dirt, and turned around to Kio. Klonoa seemed a bit confused.
Kio: Huff... Whooo...!
Klonoa: Hm? What's the problem? I thought you always exercised early in the morning. A jog like this shouldn't be too much.
Kio: N-no, a jog shouldn't... But... Huff... this is not a jog... it's a whole odyssey over the land! How come you can just do it no problem?!
Klonoa then caught himself in his thoughts, thinking about how he used to live in Breezegale before and also used to often be physically active when he was still a child... As well as how Kio never even ventured that far out of his village. Then it snapped to him, as he grinned while slowly walking on ahead. With Kio following after him.
Klonoa: Oh! I think i know what makes the difference... You never really loved to explore the outside world.
Kio: W-what?! Okay, i may be scared of going to these new locations and the unknown, but that can't possibly be it!
Klonoa then casually crosses his arms behind his head as he laughed a bit.
Klonoa: Perhaps not, but... That's my closest guess.
Eventually, the two arrived at the giant brick colosseum to the left of the path to Forlock... with the giant stone steps to the entrance being right in front of them, as they already could hear the loud audience noises coming from the inside. Huepow exited the Wind Ring in his ring spirit form, as the three of them all looked up to the building.
Klonoa: Whoa...
Kio: Took the words right out of my mouth.
Huepow: Just look at that... It's almost big enough to be a kingdom itself!
Klonoa: W-well... we should head in.
Huepow: No need to worry, Klonoa... I'm confident that we can pull through. Even though we don't know what to expect, i'll be there to protect you when necessary.
Klonoa: ...Thanks, Huepow.
Klonoa, with a bit of a smile on his face, starts to walk up to the entrance of the colosseum, step by step onto the stairs as Huepow followed him. Meanwhile, Kio very slowly starts to head up the stairs alone.
Klonoa and Huepow entered the colosseum and found themselves at the reception... they noticed that there was a waiting line of only four people. An upright-eared, brown/white furred foreign cabbit who was currently filling out the form while having a doll on his shoulder and carrying an iron sword on his back with a golden hilt, a Coronian priest, a foreign and senior looking wolf, and as last, a regular Jugpot soldier.
Klonoa: Hey, Huepow... what is this?
Huepow: That's a waiting line. Usually you see it in front of shops, or activities. Since this is considered an activity, we need to join the line.
Huepow then noticed that there was an iron armored cabbit coming through the entrance behind them.
Huepow: Quick, join the line before he cuts you off!
Klonoa: R-right.
Klonoa then began to stand behind the regular Jugpot soldier in the line, as the armored cabbit joined followed.
Huepow: Just on time... Either way, now we wait until it's our turn.
The foreign cabbit was done with signing the form, and then headed off to the left hallway that lead downstairs. The Coronian Priest then stepped forward to the reception. Meanwhile, Kio finally walked into the reception and began to sit down at one of the waiting benches. The two looked a bit at Kio before looking back at the hallways around them while still waiting in line.
Huepow: Hmm... so we probably need to head into one of those hallways then...
Waiting for a couple of seconds, the Coronian Priest seemed to be getting into an argument with the unseen receptionist, to which the Coronian Priest deeply sighed and went back for the exit of the colosseum.
Coronian Priest: ...Not enough money he says... I did not come from the skies above for this...
Klonoa: Money?
Huepow: Hmm... i think i'd heard something about that before. But let's not worry about it until it's our turn.
Then the senior wolf stepped up, put down a pouch of coins, quickly signed a form, and then went to the right hallway that went downstairs. Klonoa and Huepow could then finally see the receptionist in front of them... he seemed like a rather tall Breezegalian Cabbit with a giant beard and a bandana, carrying an large steel axe on his own back.
Receptionist: Next in line, c'mon.
Huepow: O-oh, that's our cue.
Klonoa then walked on up to the tall cabbit...
Receptionist: So... you're prepared to get yer head severed, aren'tcha?
Klonoa: W-what?!
The receptionist laughed a bit.
Woux: Nah, just kiddin'. We don't really do that kinda stuff here... I'm Woux, retired fighter, ready to grow a new generation. So what ya doin' here, kiddo? Come to see the event for yourself?
Klonoa: I would like to join the Annual Champ Tournament.
Woux: Wh- ...Didn't expect a kid today, but if ya got the entry fee, then anyone can join the brawl.
Klonoa: So... how much is it?
Woux: 750 gold to enter.
Huepow: 750?! You must be insane! That's almost a quarter of a house!
Meanwhile as Kio overheard Huepow's yelling, he pondered a bit to himself from his statement.
Kio: Wait... you can buy houses? Is that not a thing in Breezegale?
Klonoa: 750? Hold on, how much is that exactly?
Woux: Enough for 'ya to know this ain't a playground. Rare treasure's to be won here, where the strongest fighters from the whole world are tryin' to win. So... i'd suggest you two go run back home to ya'-
As Woux was going on to Klonoa about the tournament, Klonoa was trying to reach for his right front pocket, and grabbed a pouch, slamming it down onto the desk. It contained hundreds of Dream Stones in it that Klonoa had collected over both Phantomile and Lunatea years ago, as he glares a bit over at Woux.
Woux: Parents...
Klonoa: I know this tournament is serious, and i am definitely not settled on losing! Now... can you sort out how much this will make up for in gold? I want to join the tournament, pretty please.
Woux: S...Sure thing, kid... Umm, lemme just grab the sufficient amount of stones from here.
Woux carefully began to grab 75 dream stones from the pouch. Meanwhile, Huepow quietly touched Klonoa on the shoulder and pointed on over to Kio, to which Klonoa looks at for a brief moment, and then back to Woux.
Klonoa: Oh, and uh... how much is it for spectator's seats?
Woux: Two gold per person... for three hours.
Klonoa: Can you maybe make that for the whole tournament? I have one friend willing to watch the entire thing.
Woux: ...Right... I'll just... take one dream stone for that then... Weird kid...
Woux took one more Dream Stone, adding up to a total of 76 that Klonoa paid. Woux then handed over and unlimited spectator seat's ticket to Klonoa, as Klonoa throws the ticket over to Kio while he clumsily tries to catch it... barely succeeding. After that, Klonoa sticked out his thumb, as did Kio back to him. Woux in the meantime, slided over a paper form with a pen over to Klonoa across the desk.
Woux: Now if you're just willing to fill in the necessary information, you will be assigned to one of the brackets as a participant.
Klonoa leaned a bit forward, as he carefully grabbed the pen, and glanced over the paper. The first rule of the form said "Sign your preferred nickname"
Klonoa: Nickname? Hmmm... Uhhh... The Dream Traveler?
Huepow: But that will surely give away your true identity to everyone... Which is not what we want! We want to blend in with the rest of the participants.
Klonoa: Oh yeah, right... How about... umm...
Klonoa then suddenly thought back to the echoing words in his head from the past...
"My great... child of the wind..."
Klonoa: ...That's it... That's it!
As Klonoa seemed pretty excited, Huepow seemed a bit confused.
Huepow: Hm?
Klonoa: The Child of the Wind... Why didn't i think of that before?! It's brilliant!
Huepow: Oh hey, great job coming up with that! It sounds eerily familiar though... But i don't know from where.
Klonoa then began to write "The Child of the Wind" in the first rule of the form, and looked down upon the next. The second rule of the form said "Sign your national origin"
Klonoa: Origin? Well... I don't know myself...
Huepow: Don't worry, just fill in that your origin is unknown.
Klonoa then wrote down "Unknown" on the second rule of the form, and looked down upon the last rule, the third. The third rule of the form said "Sign your age range"
Klonoa: ...Age? How am i supposed to know that?!
Huepow: This is just my guess, but... it always felt like you were only two or one years behind my own age. I'm 16 currently, so i'm assuming you're about 14 years old.
Klonoa: Am i really that young compared to you though? What if i'm actually older?
Huepow: Wellll... Okay, most likely 15. But that's my guess. Just fill in that you're a teen.
Klonoa: I see...
Klonoa then wrote down "Teen" on the last rule of the form, put down the pen, and slided the pen and the form back on over to Woux.
Woux: Welcome to the tournament, kiddo. You're contestant number five of bracket number four. Your room can be found in section four, located deeper down the left hallway. Here's your keys. Further instructions will be held once you reach your room.
Woux then handed over the key of a door to Klonoa which had "4-5" on the label attached to it, as Klonoa took the key and checked the label.
Klonoa: Thank you, sir.
Klonoa and Huepow then slowly and with a more serious look, began to walk on over to the left hallway, as Kio stepped up one more time to Klonoa and Huepow before they were about to head down the stairs... to which Kio then slowly raised his fist and stuck it out to Klonoa, as he smiled a bit.
Kio: ...Good luck, Klonoa.
Klonoa smiled back, and gave Kio a fist bump.
Klonoa: Thank you, Kio.
Klonoa then turned back around, as did Huepow, and they went downstairs... the light from the reception began to fade away, as the dim underground lighting began to show... What could await the two further?