The Return to Phantomile
~ VISION 1-12: A Dream Traveler's Wish ~
Halfway on scaling the side of the mountain, the sun has already gone completely down. Both Klonoa and Clawford seemed worn down, which made Kio confused. Eventually they stopped walking around one of the more spacious corners of the mountain close to the stairs further upwards.
Klonoa: Hooo...
Clawford: Whooo...!
Kio: Hm? What, are you guys already tired?
Klonoa: Y...Yeah... can we please just... stop here? My body feels worn.
Kio: Well... alright. I understand since you two have fought all the way through a tournament non-stop. Let's set up camp here for the night.
Kio then put down his large backpack and grabbed four matresses, as Klonoa picked up a few sticks and a box of matches from Kio's backpack to make a fire himself... He then piled up the sticks in a near-teepee layout, carefully lit a match, and threw it onto the pile of sticks. The pile of sticks turned into a campfire. Kio then arranged the matresses to be circling around the campfire.
Klonoa: Perfect.
Meanwhile, as Kio then made up all four beds, Clawford just casually sat down in front of the campfire, while Klonoa and Kio began to comfortably lean backwards. Huepow then exited the Wind Ring in his true form to sit onto his own bed as well.
Kio: Ahh, that feels good... that backpack is so bad for my posture after wearing it too long.
Kio then also began to lean a bit forward, sitting in front of the campfire.
Kio: I dunno about you guys, but i'm hungry beyond belief! How about we get some of the food i prepared?
Clawford: ...I haven't eaten much in days, so...
Klonoa: Yeah, i could have another round. My stomach's growling...
Huepow seemed a bit shocked to hear that from Klonoa.
Huepow: Again?! You ate like less than a few hours ago! !
Kio: Alright, lemme just... grab everything out of the backpack that i got with me...
Kio then walked on over to his backpack as he tried to reach out deep inside. Meanwhile, Clawford twiddled with his thumbs a little bit.
Clawford: Um... Prince Huepow, Klonoa...
The two of them turned to Clawford as he seemed to try and speak up a bit.
Clawford: ...I still really want to apologise for not really trusting you at all. It feels like... i just need to open myself out a little bit.
Klonoa: Open out?
Clawford: Well... about the truth of me. About my past.
Huepow: About your past?
Clawford: See...
Clawford then deeply sighed.
Clawford: I was born as an only-child... my mother was another resident of Jugpot, and my father was unknown. I only heard of him as if he was a myth. I didn't know why he ever showed himself.
Huepow: Is it because your father left you that you became so untrustful?
Clawford: Well... not really. When i was seven, the Jugpot army barged into our homes and forcefully took me to the army... I never saw my mother again after that either.
Klonoa: You were taken away?
Clawford then pulled out the Water Sword and carefully held it up.
Clawford: It turned out, this sword was of my father. My father came from a long bloodline of Jugpot soldiers who were always forced to be put in duty by their family name. He had died in an ambush of those wretched nightmare monsters the day before i was taken away.
Clawford then held his head a bit down before speaking up again.
Clawford: But... i never knew any of this, until much later. I was just kidnapped by the army, and forced to train in the arts of my father's Water Sword to protect Jugpot. And now i am here in the present. I was scared... frightened... I feared for my life. But... i just kept surviving...
As Kio overheard their talk, he said to himself...
Kio: Whoa. That's legitimately kind of scary.
Clawford slowly started to tear up, as he looked back to both Huepow and Klonoa.
Clawford: And i was left to fend all on my own... People betrayed me. They wanted my sword, my powers, and tried to personally get to me for these things. Multiple times.
Huepow: Oh...
Klonoa: That's horrible...
Clawford: I just couldn't take it anymore...! I've lived with hate and fear for ten whole years since that day i was kidnapped!
Klonoa then put his arm around Clawford as it seemed like he was about to burst into tears.
Klonoa: There, there... I know how you feel...
Clawford: Y-You do...?
Klonoa: Yeah... Forcefully taken away from the people you love. And... never want to leave...
Klonoa mid-sentence began to get a bit more quiet, and then blankly stared a bit in awe as a familiar girl's voice began to echo through his head, saying...
"So... this is goodbye then...?"
As Klonoa then snapped back, he shook his head a bit.
Clawford: Klonoa...?
Klonoa: S-sorry... Maybe i'm a bit too tired. But i still stand by it.
Clawford then seemed to think a bit to himself, as he faintly smiled again.
Clawford: Thank you, Klonoa.
As Klonoa began to sit back on over his own bed after comforting Clawford, Kio then smirked a bit, and put the containers of food down that he grabbed from his bags.
Kio: What was it about a person you 'loved'?
Klonoa: H-huh?! Oh, crud...!
Kio: You clearly said you 'loved' a person... are you talking about Lo-
Klonoa: M-Me?! N-Never!
Klonoa then stuttered a bit before seeing that Huepow himself seemed a little bit nervous... quickly pointing at him instead.
Klonoa: Huepow's probably thinking of someone though! I think i overheard him two times talking to himself about it! !
When hearing this, Huepow's face turned completely red from embarrassment.
Huepow: W-what?! How did you hear that, Klonoa?! You were in the bathroom both times!
Klonoa: A-HA! So there IS someone you love! !
Huepow: Why are you going after me for this?!
Klonoa: Sorry Huepow, i am just trying to save my own skin!
Kio seemed to be getting a bit more interested in Huepow's talk now. Clawford seemed genuinely confused about all of this as he turned his head to Klonoa while he sighed out of relief.
Clawford: Umm... what is going on here?
Klonoa: Kio just kind loves to tease people about this. I dunno why either...
Clawford: Oh... i see.
Kio then devilishly grinned a bit and looks directly at Huepow, as he kept crawling a bit closer towards him.
Kio: Your face is all red, heehee... Go ahead Prince Huepow! Tell us! We'd love to hear it!
Clawford: I'm curious, but... i'd never force anyone upon something like that.
Klonoa: Me neither. Even though i brought this upon him...
Huepow: W-what? I don't know if i can-
Kio: Tell uuuusss! !
Huepow then backed off a bit from the yelling Kio.
Huepow: Alright, alright! I'll do it...
Huepow then sighed a bit, brushed his dark brown hair that stuck out, and then softly smiled.
Huepow: ...It's Lephise, the diva.
Klonoa seemed utterly surprised, as was Kio. While Clawford scratched his head a bit.
Klonoa: L-Lephise?!
Kio: That one who made the famous song of rebirth?
Clawford: Wait... who exactly?
Klonoa then grinned a bit, while Kio just seemed speechless this time.
Klonoa: Oh man, oh man... I can't believe you actually have a thing for her! But what of Balue? Wouldn't he come to hunt you down if he found out?
Huepow: Balue? Don't worry, i'm sure he wouldn't care anymore.
Klonoa: Hm? How come?
Huepow: Well... see, it's like this. Balue has become more of a lack of better term... 'indecent'. The same day that i got to know Lephise better. It all started four years ago, i went on a stroll through Breezegale for old time's sake...
Huepow looked up to the sky and thought back on the past, as a memory passed by...
The 12 year old Huepow was taking a stroll throughout Breezegale rather early in the morning... the grass was beautifully green and the sky was sunny, but Huepow didnt even really look upwards that much. Mostly a bit towards the ground...
Huepow (Thinking): It's been way too quiet ever since Nahatomb was stopped... Have I gone too quiet, or am I just missing him that much...?
He was just deeply thinking with himself. Then he stopped, looking around.
Huepow: Wait... where am I exactly?
Huepow then noticed the stone wall next to him that looked a bit familiar... then noticed it went really, really far up. It appeared to be a a giant tower.
Huepow: This is Balue's Tower... Did he manage to actually finish it?
Balue then shouted all the way from the top, as his silhouette appeared to be dropping down.
Balue: Wait a little bit more for me, my love! !
Balue then harshly dropped to the ground, shocking Huepow from the impact a bit.
Balue: Ooomph! ! !
Huepow: H-hey... What happened?
Balue then aggressively looked back at Huepow and started to yell.
Balue: DONT TALK BACK TO ME LIKE THAT! A brat like you who has been eyeing on my darling Lephise... You're a dirty, conniving traitor!
Huepow: Wha-what? Wait just a minute... I don't even know if I-
Balue: Don't think you're special just because you rescued Lephise! She was saved, because of my intense love for her.
Huepow: R...Right...
Balue: But i'm willing to make a deal... I'll gladly hand over the title of Phantomile's Hero to you. But in exchange, Lephise is all mine!
Huepow: ...Umm... What? That is not how you-
Balue: But Lephise is already up on my tower anyway, so... at this point it's just a matter of going for it. Hehehehehe...
Huepow seemed a bit uncomfortable with what Balue was even saying at this point. As Balue noticed this, he quickly cut himself off from laughing and cleared his throat.
Balue: E-ahem! So, kid... Go back home up above and take a nap, 'kay? This tower is off limits to you. So long!
Balue then jumped back upwards, as Huepow tried to reach out for him. But it was already too late.
Huepow: Hey, wait just a sec...ond...
Huepow then sighed, and looks towards the front door close to him of Balue's Tower.
Huepow: Well then... it seems like it's up to me to try and warn her about this weird scheme of his, before it's too late. I've got to get going!
And so, Huepow steps inside and climbs the tower all the way, using his levitation powers to get across the floating platforms inside the tower, the lava, and much more... All the way until he finally reached the top in just a few minutes, as he tried to catch up with his breath.
Huepow: I made it... So where are Balue and Lephise...?
Huepow slowly climbed up towards the edge of the top where Balue and Lephise were residing... Balue was waiting for her response, as Lephise turned back around towards Balue and slowly spoke up.
Lephise: I have something to confess too, Balue. I... I love you too. But... more like a big brother.
Balue was just in shock... and then lost his consciousness, falling on over on his back.
Huepow: Balue?!
Huepow saw this as he stepped up onto the top of the tower, and then sighed a bit.
Huepow: ...Seems like I didnt have to rush on over here after all... He may be too old, but he's at least young at heart.
Huepow then slowly began to step up to Lephise.
Huepow: Umm... Lephise? I guess it's pointless to ask if you're all right, but...
Lephise: No, not at all. Thank you for that, Huepow. I'm sorry you had to come all the way up here though.
Huepow blushed a tiny bit as he scratched his head.
Huepow: It's all right... Sorry I couldn't be more helpful.
Upon noticing it turned a bit quiet, Lephise began to feel a little bit embarrassed now too, with just the two of them around.
Lephise: ...O-Oh, I'm sorry I caused you so much trouble today.
Huepow: Balue should have known a bit better than that though.
Lephise: But I'll have to admit, Balue has been really kind. He actually gave me this.
Lephise then grabbed a gramophone from the table next to the outdoor lounging chair and walked up to Huepow to show it.
Huepow: What is this? A machine?
Lephise: Balue said he made it specifically for me. It's a rather mysterious, strange box that plays music... Specifically of the Song of Rebirth.
Lephise then put down the gramophone onto the ground and began to kneel down, as Huepow did too.
Huepow: Really? I'd love to hear it!
Lephise: Okay... All you do is press this button here...
Lephise turned the gramophone on and put the headshell carefully on the record, as a recorded version of the Song of Rebirth, specifically from Lephise herself started to play... Huepow seemed amazed, as Lephise slowly smiled up.
Then memories slowly began to fade out, as the two kept listening on top of the roof...
When it cuts back to the past, Huepow just leaned with his hand against his face and smiled a bit, looking at the stars in the further distance.
Huepow: ...It was such a magical time for the both of us. But... we only really became good friends since. And i'm not sure if she actually wants more than that either.
Kio: Oooohhh...
Clawford: That was surprisingly sweet. Especially since you two are still friends too.
Huepow then sighed a bit.
Huepow: I know. But... i want to take it a step further, and i'm afraid to cross the line. What if it doesn't work out? What if she doesn't really feel anything for me either?
Klonoa then smiled up a bit towards Huepow, as he looked right at him.
Klonoa: Hey, you two have known each other for a few years. If you want to go for it... go for it.
Huepow: Go for it...?
Klonoa: You at least can, Huepow... i don't even have the option.
Klonoa then deeply sighed.
Klonoa: And i probably never will.
Kio: Whoa, hold up, are you actually serious? You actually love Lolo?
Klonoa: W-when did i ever admit that?! Look... i just want to make sure she's okay. She's one of my best friends after all.
Kio: Suuureeee...
Kio then sarcastically used finger quotes twice while saying the following:
Kio: "Best" "friends".
Clawford: Wait, who is Lolo?
Huepow: One of Klonoa's companions when he traveled through Lunatea from what we gathered. Supposedly a female priestess.
Kio: Klonoa claims that he just wants to make sure she's alright, but i beg to differ.
Klonoa's eyebrow twitched a bit out of frustration and he seemed embarrassed, as Kio just laughed.
Klonoa: S-shut up, Kio...!
Clawford: Hold on a second... from Lunatea?! That place actually exists?
Klonoa: ...Yeah...
Klonoa then calmly turned his head back around to Clawford.
Klonoa: And i'm trying to get back to that world.
Clawford: How though? Like, that place is only heard of in legends here.
Klonoa then pulled his dark blue and shiny triangular crystal from his pocket, and shows it to Clawford up close.
Klonoa: The answer must lie in this crystal... And it probably was what pulled me back here.
Clawford: Wow... that crystal looks like nothing else i've ever seen.
Klonoa then pulled back the triangular crystal and puts it in his pockets again.
Klonoa: We want to ask King Seadoph if he perhaps knows something about it.
Clawford: Ah, i see... So that's what you needed me for then. Since the castle is closed off to anyone except high-ranking soldiers.
Huepow: Right.
Clawford: Of course... I owe you guys for trying to help me. I'd gladly lend you my support.
Klonoa and Huepow then smiled up, as Kio then handed a sealed box of food to each.
Kio: Almost forgot about our food for a minute there, hehe... Well, let's dig in!
Huepow opened his, as it's revealed to be a cup of tomato soup mixed with cream, leaves of basil.
Huepow: Wow...!
Clawford then carefully opened his, revealing it to be a box of spaghetti, mixed with marinara sauce and a few meatballs. There was also a fork in it, as Clawford confusingly picked it up.
Clawford: Umm... What is this metal object?
Huepow and Kio seemed a bit surprised, while Klonoa seemed indifferent to it all.
Huepow: T-that's just a fork... you use it to pick up the strings of food.
Kio: How do you not know that though?
Clawford: Ohhh, so... it's like chopsticks, but thicker, and you pick it up with only one?
Huepow: Hm?
Kio: ...What are chopsticks?
Clawford: You know... how we pick up our food like this.
Huepow scratched his head a bit.
Huepow: Different cultures, i guess. Now what about you, Klonoa?
Klonoa: Oh, right...
Klonoa then looked back to his own box, and carefully opened it, revealing it to be...
Klonoa: ...?!
A box of carrot stew. Klonoa sighed, and looked a bit disappointed at his box.
Klonoa: Carrot stew again...?
As Huepow heard this, he raised an eyebrow and looks over at Klonoa out of bewilderment.
Huepow: What?! What do you mean, Klonoa?
Klonoa: I don't know. Just... i honestly don't think carrots are my thing. I ate a bit of it back over at Kio's house.
Huepow: That's ridiculous. Carrots always taste decent! At... At least when cooked well... Here, take my box. I want to try some of that stew myself...
Huepow then quickly switched out boxes with Klonoa, as he was handed the carrot stew while Klonoa took the tomato soup. Huepow grabbed the spoon in the box and easily took a bite.
Huepow: ...
Then a few seconds later while still trying to swallow, Huepow seemed to be a bit disgusted... and then immediately stood up, ran a few meters away from the camp, and forcefully spit it all out from disgust. During this time, Kio just casually had opened his own box of mashed potatoes and mushrooms while eating with his fork. After Huepow recovered a bit from that, he ran back and directly pointed at Kio. Kio seemed genuinely confused as he slowly put his food down.
Huepow: ...What the hell was that?!
Kio: What?
Huepow: That wasn't cooked stew. That wasn't cooked stew at all! That was... raw... dried out, carrots with damp water! !
Kio: Oh come on, it's not that bad!
Huepow then turned back to Klonoa.
Huepow: I am so sorry for doubting you on this, Klonoa... that is legitimately the worst meal i have ever had.
Klonoa: I...It's okay...
Huepow then looks back at Kio as Klonoa casually kept drinking his tomato soup while Clawford was carefully eating his spaghetti.
Huepow: Seriously Kio, if you ever are to use carrots in a meal, cook them to the fullest! What you did was a disgrace!
Klonoa: Mmm... Dish ish much better thou...
Kio decides to just ignore it, and goes back to his own box of mashed potatoes and mushrooms.
Huepow: I think i'd rather skip out on food for this evening. I can do without it.
Kio: Hmph. Fine... I'll just let it slide for now.
Huepow puts down his box of food and decides to lay down onto his bed... before nearly dozing off.
Huepow: I... I think i've had enough for today... I'm gonna... nap...
Huepow then fell asleep on his own bed... Meanwhile, as Clawford then finished his meal, he dropped his own box and tucked himself in.
Clawford: Tomorrow will be another day. Better to rest up as much as i can.
Klonoa: Good night, Clawford.
Kio: Good-night.
In the meantime as Clawford tried to sleep, Kio then finished his own box and put it onto the ground, before lying down as well.
Kio: Man, my back could use this rest... It's way too comfortable after hauling that tower of a backpack for nearly a full day.
Klonoa: Hey, uh... what should i do with mine?
Kio: Oh, just drop it on the floor. It doesn't matter if the bowl gets dirty. I'll wash it all when needed.
Klonoa: I see...
Kio then stretched his own arms, and then tucked himself in, as he quickly fell asleep too... Klonoa was now the only one awake, and looked at the three asleep, as he softly smiled up a bit... but then almost afterwards, seemed pretty sad. When Klonoa finally finished his tomato soup, he just put down the box with the bowl, and went over to the cliffside of the wall, sitting down on the edge and looking over the full moon.
Klonoa: Lolo... I...
Klonoa then stopped himself in his sentence, and deeply sighed.
Klonoa: What is the point to even think about it...? Everything is as they say it should be...
Klonoa gets back up, and quickly tucks himself in... Lying down into his own bed, until he finally fell asleep... Although when he did, he seemed to slowly start to grunt a bit out of uncomfort while asleep...
In a streak of blue lights, Klonoa slowly opens his eyes, and found himself on a few mysterious and rather weakly grassy plains with dark clouds above him, and a few mountains in the distance. Klonoa slowly began to sit right up and looked all around him. Nobody that he remembered from Phantomile was there. After looking for a while, Klonoa began to shout.
Klonoa: Kio! Clawford! ! Huepow?! Where are you guys?!
Klonoa couldn't find anyone, anywhere though... then as he looked down upon himself, he saw he was wearing his blue shirt with a large zipper pin, dark blue shorts and red/white shoes just like he did when visiting Lunatea. Despite there being no color in this world.
Klonoa: How did i get these back on? Unless...
Klonoa then immediately stood up and began to run across the grassy fields.
Klonoa: LOLO! ! HIGH PRIESTESS! ! ANYONE? ! ?
He started to run for what felt like hours as fast as he could... until he eventually stopped and tried to catch up with his own breath.
Klonoa: Huff... huff... Where even am i...? Is this really Lunatea...? Everything seems so... dead...
Klonoa then looked up a bit after having caught up with his breath, and saw a cliff in the farther distance with a lone tree... And a girl was standing there, wearing a pink hat, short-sleeved dress, black leggings, golden bracelets and brown shoes. She still had long ginger hair. Klonoa's face lighted a bit up and he began to run towards the tree where the girl was...
As he arrived, he stopped behind her back, and slowly touched her on the shoulder... She turned around.
Klonoa: Lolo...?
It turns out, it was indeed Lolo! However... Something seemed off. She seemed bitter and more pale comapared to the last time he ever saw her. She had a rather depressing skull on both her brooch and her hat. And the worst of all, her green feather was gone, too. However, Klonoa didn't even pay attention to it though, and seemed so relieved to finally see her.
Klonoa: Lolo! I can't believe it... You are actually here! I am so glad to see you again!
Lolo just stared back at him... and slowly spoke up, as she just smirked a bit at him. Uncomfortably.
Lolo: ...Ugh. Look who came crawling back at me, at the worst possible time.
Klonoa: Huh...? Lolo, what do you mean?
Lolo then stepped up a bit closer up to him, as the smirk disappeared from her face. She seemed absolutely displeased.
Lolo: You know what i mean... You know exactly what you did.
Klonoa: Wait... do you mean that i had to leave you behind...? But...
Lolo: But what...? You didn't want to hurt me? Too late on that, bud. Because of you, i've been completely suffering for the past few years.
Klonoa: But... I tried to come back as quickly as i could. I really wanted to see you again... Lolo, i just have too much to tell you. I am so sorry! Listen to me... Please! !
Lolo: I couldn't care if you brought me the best present you could ever get... I will never, ever forgive you for abandoning me. Don't bring me your excuses.
Lolo then got even closer to Klonoa in an aggressive way. The whole area started to turn colorless as the skies began to move even quicker, while the grass with the wind began to flow harder. Klonoa seemed a bit worried and scared, as he tried to back off from her.
Klonoa: W-what is going on with you...? This isn't like you, Lolo... This isn't like you at all! You don't even look like yourself! Snap out of it! !
Lolo: But i have. This illusion that anyone would ever properly love me. Either as a friend, or romantically... I snapped out of it all. I hate you all. You are all so pathetic. Every single person on the planet... But especially you.
Klonoa: W-what...?! Lolo... i never meant to hurt you like that... I never did!
Lolo: Oh really now?! You just ditched me, and now you expect me to forgive you for that?! Do you know how many years i've wasted on this stupid priestesshood? ! ?
Klonoa then tripped to his own surprise, as Lolo looks right at Klonoa from above while she still seemed absolutely mad.
Lolo: I never want to ever see you again in my lifetime... Whether dead or just gone, i don't care about you!
Klonoa seemed shocked to hear it... the thought ran through his head multiple times in a row...
"I don't care about you!"
Klonoa: N-no... it can't be...
Lolo then easily grabs the mentally defeated Klonoa by the head, and drags him over to the edge of the cliff... forcefully throwing him off of it, into the water below. Then as he hit the water, the entire world around him gets destroyed, causing him to fall through a tunnel full of familiar and darker memories from his past, as the tears of Klonoa began to flow right through his eyes along with him.
Klonoa: ...Is this all my fault...?
"I never liked you just fine... I was just lying to myself, trying to be sweet."
Klonoa: B...But what for? ! ?
"I always knew i would never see you again. And it pained me so much... I grew to despise you, and everyone."
Klonoa: Why because of me? ! ? I never meant anything wrong to you... In fact, you were a great friend to me! !
"I could not care anymore about you, or Lunatea. You are the reason my happiness is forever gone."
Klonoa: But... But why? Just tell me why! Lolo! !
"You can just die, along with everyone else... I hate you! !"
Klonoa: But i don't... Lolo... I don't hate you... I don't despise you! I don't want you dead! I just don't get it... I don't want this... I didn't want to cause you any of this suffering because of myself... I DON'T WANT ANY OF THIS! ! ! ! !
Klonoa began to tear up even harder and started scream at the top of his lungs as he started to fall even quicker... Everything then got sucked up into the end of the tunnel as it all turned into a blur...
Klonoa: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Klonoa was still screaming and tearing up, as he woke back up in Phantomile at the camp, filled with tears in his eyes. It was now in the middle of the morning, with the campfire having died down and Kio preparing to pack the boxes, while Clawford and Huepow still were lying down on their bed, albeit they were awake before him. The three of them were shocked from what Klonoa was doing and all turned right towards him when he was screaming, as they seemed worried and concerned. After a few seconds, Klonoa stopped screaming after letting it out, and heavily tried to catch up his own breath, and himself as Klonoa then turned absolutely silent, as he he just looked at them all... Klonoa just couldn't catch up with himself from that. Huepow then faintly talked to Klonoa.
Kio: Whoa...
Huepow: ...Klonoa...?
Clawford: Are you okay, long-ears?
Klonoa clenched his teeth and then faintly said to himself while breaking down...
Klonoa: I can't do this anymore... I don't want this...
More tears began to flow from Klonoa's eyes, as he closed his eyes and yelled his frustration out.
Klonoa: I don't want to be a Dream Traveler anymore! ! !
Kio seemed speechless. Clawford just dropped silent, as Huepow kept staring in awe.
Klonoa: Deep down... Deep down i knew i always wanted to be free. I tried to hold myself in, convince myself i live better off like this... But i can't do it anymore. I have ruined the bonds of the people who i care about the most. You, Huepow... and Lolo... I just... I just want to be broken free from these chains! !
Klonoa began to almost sob, as Huepow then quickly grabs a hold of Klonoa and tightly hugs him, to Klonoa's own surprise... Klonoa's eyes widened, while Huepow closed his own eyes, and comforted Klonoa by gently stroking him by his hair.
Huepow: I told you, Klonoa... We'll always be together.
Klonoa: ...!
Huepow: I may be the prince of Cress, but... I will go with you until the end... I will help my best friend to break free of his chains and to do what he wants, if he desires to be.
Klonoa: Huepow...
Huepow then smiled up a bit as he kept holding onto him with his hug.
Huepow: You are one of the brightest dreams that has ever shined upon our land, Klonoa. You deserve a better future. Period.
Klonoa: Thank you... Huepow...!
Klonoa began to shed a few more tears... As he then tightly held onto Huepow, and hugged him as well. Very slowly, Klonoa began to smile up a bit again, while a few tears still rolled down his face. Kio and Clawford stared a bit in awe.
Kio: Umm... should we break up camp in the meantime?
Clawford then grinned a bit while looking a bit laid-back.
Clawford: I think it's best to just leave them be for a while.
Kio: ...Well, i'm just gonna pick up everything that i can in the meantime.
Klonoa and Huepow held onto their hug... Meanwhile, Kio in the distance started to pick up the mattresses that weren't occupied and stuff them back into his packpack.