The Return to Phantomile
~ VISION 1-13: The Rampant Lango ~
It was now really early in the afternoon, as Klonoa, Huepow, Kio and Clawford were walking upwards on the side of the mountain to the top of Jugpot with a few streams of water falling down from the top over to down below. It seemed to be a bit more cloudy than yesterday. Suddenly Klonoa thought back to that voice of Lolo in his dream, while she said...
"You can just die, along with everyone else..."
Klonoa rubbed his head in a bit of an annoyed way and deeply sighing as he looked down a bit, as Kio then turned his head towards him.
Kio: Hey, uh... you sure you'll be alright?
Klonoa: Yeah... I'm fine. I'm just trying to set myself up for the worst.
Kio: Aww man, come on. There's no need to go that far.
Clawford: Yeah... no matter what may happen, i'll remember you fondly. At least... from what i've seen so far, long-ears.
Klonoa then looked back up, and smiled up a bit when hearing that from the others.
Klonoa: Thanks, guys. I'll try to hang on.
Huepow: Look!
As Huepow then pointed straight ahead, Klonoa, Kio and Clawford both looked to where Huepow pointed... It seemed like they found themselves back on the top of Jugpot from the north, away from the residental area further up south, with the back of the shell palace in front of them from a farther distance. There was almost nobody here, aside from two other Jugpot residents wandering around quite far away as well. Huepow seemed stunned, but then slowly started to scratch his head.
Huepow: We've already made it back to... the top... How though...?
Klonoa: Wow, that was much quicker than getting all the other times we've done it.
Clawford: Apparently we took the more obscure route up the mountain. Ever since the residental area got built up south, the route that was attached to the southern top got a lot more popular. Mostly because there's nothing here to find yet.
Kio: Ohh, that explains why it's more rocky and steep as well.
Clawford: Either way... you guys wanted me to help you just get into there, right?
Huepow: Yes. King Seadoph knows the two of us, but we don't have any official break to get in there. So we were hoping you would be able to somehow get us in.
Clawford: No problem. All i got to do is knock the shell door, and let the door do the rest.
Clawford then swiftly dived into the giant pool of water and turns back to the three as he surfaced upwards from the dive.
Kio: Wait, it's just that easy?
Clawford: Right. The king trusts me enough as a high-ranking soldier, that anyone guarding the place would surely open it. However, i want to ask you guys to get ready in positions yourself. The gate will not stay open for very long.
Huepow: Hold on, get ready for-
Clawford: See you soon!
Clawford then began to swim at a regular pace towards the giant shell, as it seemed like he disappeared from how vast the water was. Kio then began to sit down onto the ground as Klonoa and Huepow kept standing up.
Kio: Welp... i guess we can relax a bit in the time that Clawford tries to open the gate.
Huepow: Don't be fooling around, Kio. We should stay on our guard and do what Clawford asks of us next.
Klonoa: Right.
Two minutes pass, as the clouds are slowly making their way on over to Jugpot. Kio was leaning back while sitting down.
Kio: Sooo... any chance he'll come back?
Klonoa: Of course he will. Although... it's taking a bit longer than expected...
Then five minutes passed, as Kio was now lying down with his large backpack onto the stone ground, while Klonoa and Huepow sat down themselves, staring at the shell palace while seeming bored. Then a raindrop fell onto Klonoa's face, as he carefully wiped it off and then looked back at the sky.
Klonoa: Even the weather has started to change... Although now that i think about it, something seems a bit off about the rain in general...
Huepow: Goodness gracious. King Seadoph really let that moment get to his head, didn't he?
Klonoa: I can't even blame him... being manipulated from the mind isn't a pleasing thing at all.
Voice: HEEEEEEYYYY! ! !
Somebody then had yelled at them while he came racing from the water back to them at a very rapid pace... out of bewilderment, Klonoa and Huepow immediately stood up, as Kio carefully got up. Then they realised it was Clawford!
Kio: He's finally back?!
Clawford then stopped right in front of the three, panting rather heavily.
Clawford: I... I got it open... Quickly, it's gonna close within another minute! We have to go! !
Klonoa: Wait, really?!
Huepow: How can you bring us all there?!
Clawford: I... I can only swim fast enough while carrying one person...
Huepow seemed a bit in a pinch, and then grabbed Kio by the shoulder and forcefully dragged him along.
Kio: W-wait, what are you-
Huepow then threw Kio into the Wind Ring, and jumped into it himself.
Huepow (Wind Ring): Now! Go! !
Klonoa: Oh... Right, the Wind Ring can do that...
Klonoa then nervously looked at the water, and then back at Clawford.
Klonoa: Please hold on to me as good as possible, Clawford... I can't swim...
Clawford: Aye-aye, long-ears. Heard your request.
Klonoa: Ngh... Alright then, let's go!
Klonoa then mustered up his courage and jumps into the water, as Clawford immmediately grabbed a hold of him with both arms and started to swim over to the shell palace as soon as possible. Swimming right for the entrance of the shell next to the red wooden waterwheel, Clawford and Klonoa then went deep into the water as they entered it. With Klonoa trying to hold his own breath, they eventually arrived at the end of the tunnel in the shell and ascended upwards to the tunnel...
When they finally made it out, they found themselves inside of the shell palace, finding themselves between two stone platforms and a throne shaped like a fish opening his mouth to the north of the circular platform... Klonoa and Clawford climbed the right platform, as Klonoa immediately caught up with his breath... Then Huepow and Kio jumped out of the Wind Ring, as Kio just tried to comprehend his own mind.
Kio: W-what was that?! I am definitely never doing that again! !
Huepow: Shh...
Klonoa, Huepow, Clawford and then Kio eventually looked to the northern center and at the throne... there was a man who seemed like a person from Jugpot sitting in it with a blue eyes, a slightly-greyed blonde beard and pink claw hands. He wore a messy red cloak, a purple and white medieval suit, black shoes, and a sea-shell crown that had two tiny horns attached to it on his head. The man leaned in a bit forward, and glared over them all.
Man: So... you finally dared to show yourself around here again...
The man then stood up, walked down the stairs, and then up close to Clawford. He himself seemed to be getting a bit nervous.
Clawford: K...King sir...
The man then checked up close to Clawford from all angles, before finally smiling up with grace and tightly hugging him beyonf Clawford's comfort. But he tried to still be polite.
Seadoph: Oh, Clawford! It's so good to see you here, boy!
Clawford: Oof-! H-Haha... same here, sir...
Seadoph: And what brings you here after having disappeared for months?
Clawford: Well... these two gentlemen requested to specifically see you, sir.
When hearing that, Seadoph immediately released Clawford from their hug.
Seadoph: See me? What for?!
Clawford then pointed at Klonoa and Huepow... Kio stood among them as well, and awkwardly waved before backing off. Seadoph then slowly walked up to the two as he seemed to be a bit more on edge... But when he gets close, he sees both their faces. First is Huepow's to the left, as Huepow smiled a bit.
Seadoph: The prince of cress...? And...
And then to the right, as he saw Klonoa. Seadoph gasped and nearly dropped to the ground.
Seadoph: No... You! You are actually back...?!
Klonoa grinned a bit as he put his hands behind his back.
Klonoa: Hehe... I guess i am.
Seadoph: Oh, i don't know what to make of this...
Seadoph then carefully touches Klonoa in the cheeks and then gently squished his own face. Seadoph seemed completely amazed.
Seadoph: I can't believe it. You are actually back! I'm so glad you two are going to protect our land again...! Why didn't you two come earlier to me?
Klonoa: We couldn't. We really tried, but we weren't let in!
Huepow: Your palace only let in high-ranking soldiers and the rulers of the kingdoms. So Klonoa couldn't get us in.
Seadoph: But aren't you the ruler of Cress these days? That surely would've worked.
Huepow: No... My mother is. I'm still just a prince.
Seadoph turned silent as Huepow said that, and then seemed a bit embarrassed.
Seadoph: Oh... I am so sorry for that. I feel so awful about this all, having had to hold you two up just because of my own nonsensical worries... Hold on, i'll make this a lot more easier for you two next time.
Seadoph then walked back on over to the throne and grabbed a pen and a letter, starting to write down something. Meanwhile Huepow tried to speak up to Seadoph.
Huepow: Hey, uh... if it's okay to ask, what exactly happened that caused you to lock yourself in?
Seadoph: Oh... Well, you two witnessed the moment yourself. That fellow henchman possessed me years ago, and took advantage of my powers to make Forlock die. Ever since i've been free from his clutches after that, i slowly started to lock myself up in here more and more... just to be safe.
Klonoa: So my hunch was right...
Seadoph then finished writing the letter, and handed it over to Huepow and Klonoa. The two of them read it...
"Under the orders of King Seadoph himself, be it the Prince of Cress or the Dream Traveler, ye shall be allowed to enter the Shell Palace. -King Seadoph"
As Klonoa then hid the letter in his own pocket, the two seemed a bit confused at Seadoph.
Klonoa: Well... thank you for helping us with that, but... why not just get out once in a while? Your palace used to be so inviting and sweet.
Seadoph: Believe me, at this age i would probably drop dead of a heart attack, if i just left the gates open. And that aside, you two having returned to here means that something worrisome is happening out there.
Huepow: Well... you weren't wrong. We are trying to figure out exactly why Klonoa has returned in the first place. Klonoa?
Klonoa: R-right...
Klonoa then reached for his pocket and grabbed the dark blue and shiny triangular crystal, carefully showing it to Seadoph. Seadoph then carefully grabbed it from Klonoa's hand and looked at it up close from multiple angles.
Seadoph: Hmmmm... I... I see... Hmmmmm...
Then after a minute or so of analysing it up close, Seadoph just shrugged.
Seadoph: Sorry, i have no idea where it's even from...
Kio: Then why did you-
Clawford immediately shushed Kio.
Clawford: Shhh...
Seadoph: But... I know of someone who once mentioned a specific stone shaped like this.
Klonoa seemed absolutely in shock to finally hear some news about this mysterious stone.
Klonoa: Y-you do?!
Seadoph then handed it back to Klonoa.
Seadoph: Of course. She also knows about all kinds of ancient legends. If there's anyone who knows about it, it is the Chieftess.
Huepow: Chieftess?
Klonoa: Wait... the chief...tess...?
Klonoa was thinking hard about it, and then suddenly got another flash in his mind when he realised who Seadoph was talking about...
The young Klonoa stood on top of a wooden platform next to a totem pole in the highest point from the forest of Forlock, as the young Huepow was floating next to him. In front of them stood a long red-haired old lady carrying a wooden stick that had a skull on top of it. She also wore a green and pink dress made from what seemed like grass, as well as a golden bracelet and a necklace of teeth.
Young Klonoa: By the way, Granny... Grandpa asked about the Moon Pendant.
Granny: Yes, I know, say no more. Dark spirit returns... Moon Pendant, Diva Lephise, and the dream that creates this world... It all according to legend.
Young Klonoa: To the legend?
Young Huepow: The dream?
Granny: Legend says... Moon Pendant, key to Moon Kingdom. Place offering on Temple of Sun's pedestals, then path opens.
Young Klonoa: The Temple of the Sun?
Young Huepow: I've heard of it. There's a floating temple in the sky!
Young Klonoa: A temple in the sky...
As the young Klonoa pondered to himself while looking at the bright blue sky, the memories begin to fade, with Klonoa smoothly snapping back to reality...
As Klonoa snapped back to it, he saw that Kio seemed to be scratching his head, as was Clawford, while Huepow was explaining to the two of them.
Huepow: The cases i've heard of her foretelling a legend, she was never wrong. Especially what happened back seven years ago.
Clawford: Really? Wow... that is, um... the first time i ever heard of her, really.
Kio: I think i heard Klonoa mentioned her once... Right, Klonoa? But... didn't you call her 'Granny'?
As Kio then turns for Klonoa, he still seemed a bit quiet, before softly speaking up to them.
Klonoa: Yeah... that's definitely Granny. The one who knows everything that lives in Forlock... I have no idea why i only thought of it until just now.
Klonoa then smiled up a bit out of excitement.
Klonoa: But... we finally have it! We got a lead for the truth!
Kio then seemed to be pretty happy as well. Same with Huepow. Then Clawford faintly began to smile as well. Klonoa carefully shook hands with Seadoph, as was Huepow with the other.
Huepow: Thank you so much, King Seadoph. You have been of great help!
Seadoph: N...No problem, you two... If i heard correctly, Forlock also seems to be getting more on guard as of lately. Remember to tell them that King Seadoph sent you, and they will probably let you pass.
Klonoa: Got it!
Seadoph: Also, since i'm helping you two that well, could i ask you two to do me a favor and help me clean the water mill next to-
Then as they were still shaking hands, suddenly everything inside of the shell palace began to rumble, as all five of them nearly fell down from the shock of the rumbling.
Seadoph: -my palace?!
Klonoa, Huepow, Kio, Clawford and Seadoph carefully got back up. Seadoph still seemed a bit shaken up, as was Kio.
Seadoph: W...What was that...? ! ?
Huepow: Oh no...
Clawford: That doesn't seem good...
Then another rumbling happens, with Seadoph fully falling over onto the stone floor as the others try to stand their ground. Klonoa seemed a bit more concerned, as were Huepow and Clawford.
Seadoph: N...Nevermind what i just asked, just... please go and get rid of whatever is causing that! !
Clawford: At your command, sir.
Klonoa: Ngh... We should go and check out the ruckus!
Huepow: Right!
Huepow then forcefully drags Kio with him again towards Klonoa.
Kio: W-wait, i don't want to go and-
Huepow then pulls Kio into the Wind Ring, before immediately jumping in himself. Clawford then began to run off the stone platform and into the water inside the palace, as did Klonoa follow to jump onto Clawford's back.
Clawford: Ow... that kinda hurt my back, if i'm allowed to point that out.
Klonoa: O-oops... sorry Clawford. I don't know why, but it seemed to just be out of reflex. I don't know why.
Clawford: Strange... Like, with whoever could you just jump on their back? I'm not a fish.
Clawford then started to dive down into the water, with Klonoa taking a deep breath before they went in... then the two of them went back from the way they entered.
Meanwhile, as Seadoph was still trembling a bit while the rumbling was happening, he held onto his throne... while just below the waters of the throne, there was a larger than average fish with a yellow body, dark red eyes, a blue pearl above his head, blue fins, and purple scales. The fish was watching Klonoa and Clawford take off as he seemed to be a bit pondering. The fish then faintly said to himself...
Fish: Hmm... That scent of the boy seemed... familiar. But where...?
When Klonoa and Clawford surfaced out of the shell and got back onto the surface of the water in the mountain, they noticed how the dark clouds are now nearly covering the entire area of Jugpot. Another rumbling then happened, as the water over the entire lake began shake.
Klonoa: What is causing this...?!
Clawford stopped for a moment, analysed the direction the rumbling is coming from, and then pointed towards the southeast direction while swimming for the edge of the mountain.
Clawford: I think it's coming from that way!
Klonoa: But there's nothing there! !
Then as Klonoa and Clawford made it to the edge of the mountain next to the residental area, they climbed out of the water and onto the surface... when getting up, they saw that almost all of the Jugpot residents were screaming in terror and running up north either from the west side, or the east side. This was also happening just a few meters in front of them... Klonoa and Clawford stared out of confusion, as were Kio and Huepow.
Jugpot Resident 1: ITS THE END! !
Jugpot Resident 2: We are going to die ! ! !
Jugpot Resident 3: This kingdom is done for...!
However, there were still some Jugpot residents left. Either scared to move, or just watching over what happening down below southeast. Huepow and Kio got out of the Wind Ring and they seemed just as confused, when they noticed even some other Jugpot soldiers were fleeing.
Jugpot Soldier 1: Are you a chicken?! We were trained to protect our land! !
Jugpot Soldier 2: Nah man, i got a wife and children to live for. I'm haulin' my tail outta here for them!
As the second Jugpot Soldier began to run away, the first one began to yell towards the other one.
Jugpot Soldier: YOU ABSOLUTE COWARD! DONT EVEN BOTHER COMING BACK! !
The Jugpot soldier afterwards deeply sighed and then turned towards the four of them.
Jugpot Soldier: It's not safe out here, travelers. You should get out of the kingdom while you can.
The Jugpot soldier then starts to walk off into the western direction of the mountain. Huepow just scratches his head as they spot a Jugpot resident sitting on the edge to the west of them, looking off down below.
Huepow: Just what is going on here?
Kio: Yeah, something tells me we shouldn't be here either...
Jugpot Resident: This is wild... Too wild...
Then another rumbling happened, as a few of the people trying to run away tripped and fell over, but immediately tried to get back up. However, the rumbling from this spot was even harsher, almost as strong as an earthquake. The Jugpot resident to the west of them then accidentally tripped and fell off the mountain from the edge. Klonoa and the others tried to hold their ground.
Jugpot Resident: Oh goddess! !
Klonoa: M-Magya! !
Huepow: Whoa! !
Clawford: Ngh-?!
Kio: Argh-! W-what is going on with-
Kio then mid-sentence began to loudly scream, as he looked down below from the mountain towards the south-east direction.
Kio: ohhhhhh... whoaaaa... WhooaaaaAAAAAAAAA...! ! ! !
Klonoa, Huepow and Clawford all being confused as they had just recovered from the rumbling, also looked down to where Kio was looking... their eyes all widened. From both shock, fear, and terror.
Klonoa: No...
Clawford: Oh... Now i see...
Huepow: What... what is that...? ! ?
It was a bit hard to make out, but it seemed like a giant monster... Next to that, it had strange, nightmare energy flowing all around it from afar. Then it took another very slow step for the mountain of Jugpot, as the entire area began to rumble again due to the nightmare energy surrounding the step. This time, they tried to stand their ground even harder. The monster still seemed really far away from even reaching the bottom of the mountain, which made them even more concerned.
Kio: W-WHAT IS THAT DISASTROUS BEAST? ! ? !
Huepow: Nrrrghhh...! So... that is the monster that has been causing this...?!
Klonoa: Holy moly... It's still so far away, but that thing is already more dangerous than a Volkan Guard Bot.
Clawford: A whats-it-now?
Klonoa: ...Just Lunatean things. Regardless, i cannot let that monster climb up here and hurt the innocent people. Huepow! Let's go! ! !
Huepow: Right! !
Clawford: This is exactly what i've been trained for... i will not let it go to waste.
Klonoa detached the Wind Ring from his belt and held it up, as Huepow immediately jumped into the ring. Klonoa then began to carefully slide down the mountain towards where the monster was, with Clawford following shortly after. Kio just trembled, and fell down to his knees.
Kio: W-what?! You guys are really just going to... I... I can't fight a monster like that...! I can't... I can't! !
Meanwhile as Klonoa and Clawford were quickly sliding down the mountain right for the plains of Phantomile below and nearly made it to the bottom, the monster in question started to be a bit more visible. It was a nightmare monster with a sharp beak and two legs, as well as a long tail that rolled out and supported as a third leg. Next to that, its entire body was incredibly dark purple, had sharp spikes on the back, big teeth and flashing red eyes. It seemed to almost be around 13 to 16 meters tall, judging from their distance to it. The wind also began to blow quite hard, the rain seemed to be strong. A drop of sweat began to fall from Klonoa's face...
Klonoa: Something seems familiar about that monster. But... i don't ever remember facing a creature this menacing and tall...
Huepow (Wind Ring): Me neither. It must've slipped my mind...
Then as he looked to Clawford, a few drops of sweat seemed to be rolling from his face as well.
Klonoa: Are you nervous too?
Clawford: M...Maybe, but...
Then the monster took another step, with Klonoa and Clawford jumping as high as they could to avoid the rumbling of the ground. When they landed back on the ground, then they landed on the tallgrassy plains, they started to run right up to the monster a few hundreds of meters in front of them. With Clawford drawing his Water Sword from his scabbard as smoothly as he could.
Clawford: I will not let Jugpot fall in vain... not even over my body! !
Klonoa then activated the Wind Sword's form in the Wind Ring, as he smiled up to Clawford while they were still running.
Klonoa: Great! Now, all we got to do is close in on him and hit him in the weak spot!
Then the monster took another step, as they jumped to avoid the rumbling. Clawford then spoke up towards Klonoa while in mid-air.
Clawford: Where may that be?!
Klonoa: ...I don't know! But we'll be able to figure it out together! Rupurudu! !
When they landed back on the ground, Klonoa and Clawford then began to rush on over to the monster, with Klonoa holding his arms out behind him while carrying the Wind Ring in his right arm, as Clawford held the steel katana close to him while also running faster.
Clawford: So what is the plan?!
Klonoa: We attack him from the side first! Umm... You go left, i'll go right!
Clawford: Understood!
When Klonoa and Clawford arrived right in front of the giant monster, they stopped... The monster then directly stared at them with its red, shining eyes... Klonoa and Clawford kept up their guard, as a bolt of lightning struck in the far distance on the plains.
Klonoa: Hold it...
The monster then directly looked at them with its red, shining eyes, as it then pulled back its head upwards and loudly growled in a demonic way, with the impact of the growl sending the two of them nearly sliding backwards with the wind... As this happened, the two seemed a bit more nervous. Then as the monster was nearly done, Klonoa then looks more serious over to the monster and loudly shouted...
Klonoa: NOW! !
Klonoa immediately began to run to the right of the monster, as was Clawford to the left, while the monster seemed to just try and take another step forward to Jugpot in the distance. Then before it could take another large, heavy step forward, The two jumped right for the monster's side as high as they could, and attempted to stab it... As they both landed a hit, it didn't seem to scrape the monster. The monster meanwhile didn't even pay it any mind, and took a step as the ground under him loudly banged, and completely went into dust like an explosion. Klonoa nervously looked below them,as their swords seemed to be stuck in the monster's side. Clawford was trying to pull out as hard as he could.
Klonoa: It didn't work! !
Clawford: I can't... get it out...!
Then as the monster realises what Klonoa and Clawford did, his eyes flashed brightly red, and he then starts to lift his both fron arms, only supporting himself on his tail. Klonoa and Clawford were dragged upwards by this due to their swords still being stuck in the side of its body.
Klonoa: W-whoaaaa?!
Clawford: Oh no don't you dare...!
Clawford then tried to rest his two feet on the side of its body to put more pressure on pulling the sword out.
Clawford: I... I can't make it out on time...! Wait...
Clawford slowly began to breathe, while Klonoa just only uses his arm strength to pull it out with no luck. Klonoa seemed to be a bit annoyed.
Klonoa: Nrgh...! Huepow! Switch between forms! Or get out of the ring! !
Huepow (Wind Ring): I'm trying, but i can't! I think since the Wind Sword is stuck in a surface, i can't change out of it!
Klonoa: What?!
Clawford began to breathe in and concentrate, as the monster was preparing himself to spin around in circles while balancing on its tail... Then as he started to spin around, Klonoa tried to hold onto the Wind Ring with only one arm as he was started to get pretty confused.
Huepow (Wind Ring): Just hold on! !
Klonoa: N-ngh... Hold on?!
The giant monster spinned in a full circle, and then quickly went into another circle... Meanwhile, Clawford's Water Sword began to glow, as a stream of water surrounded it...
Clawford: Vertical... WATER SPIN! !
Clawford vertically slashes through the monster's skin with the stream of water in a vertical manner, and the sword finally getting pulled out... Clawford then got sent back onto the grassy plains as he slides a couple of meters away from the monster, watching it spin around as he finally recovered, as Klonoa was still stuck. Then it kept spinning... and spinning... it was going really fast.
Klonoa: Because i'm known to be pretty good at holding on, aren't i?!
Huepow (Wind Ring): If that was meant to be a jab at that portal thing, i was the one who slipped! Don't take that one out on yourself! !
Then the monster raised its body upwards when spinning, as the impact got the Wind Sword unstuck, and flung Klonoa into the air hundreds of meters... Klonoa loudly screamed, as his voice disappeared into the skies above.
Klonoa: Whoa- MAGYAAAAAAAAA! ! ! ! !
Then the monster slammed both its feet back onto the ground, and began to take another step forward to Jugpot. When Clawford saw all of this happening in the distance, his eyes widened from shock.
Clawford: No...!
Clawford then snapped back to it and rapidly shook his head, when he saw it making a huge leap to get closer to Jugpot by a few meters.
Clawford: Ngh...! No time to let this sink in... Jugpot is still in danger! !
Clawford then began to run on over to the monster, and jumped upwards as he saw it taking another step that shook the plains.
Meanwhile in the skies above, as Klonoa reopened his eyes and looked down below during his fall, he realised that he was hundreds of meters even above the the highest point in Jugpot. Klonoa seemed to be trembling a bit.
Klonoa: Ah-?! N-no, no! I can't survive a fall like this! !
Huepow (Wind Ring): You always fluttered to save yourself. Just do it again!
Klonoa: But never from a fall this high!
Huepow (Wind Ring): G...Good point... just, please! Try something to save your fall!
Klonoa then looked on over down below, as he saw that the monster was now only two hundred meters or so away from the bottom of the mountain. Klonoa seemed a bit more determined, and less fearful.
Klonoa: ...I need to live through this. I need to! !
Klonoa then did a flip in the air to put his body verically while falling, as opposed to just on his legs, and awaited his fall... Then as he was only less than 30 meters from hitting the ground, Klonoa raised his own ears, and yelled...
Klonoa: NOW! ! !
Klonoa then flapped his own ears downwards as hard as he could... which to his own surprise and also Clawford's surprise in the distance, sends him ascending a few extra meters back upwards, as the impact of his ears caused the grass below to move with the strong gust of wind coming from the ears. Then Klonoa began to fall down to the ground those remaining 30 meters at a regular pace, and then safely lands back onto the grassy plains. Klonoa deeply sighed in relief.
Klonoa: Whewww...
Huepow (Wind Ring): Wait, you can actually fly now with your ears? Since when?!
Klonoa: F-fly?! Hold on, i just did what i always did from a fall like that. You said it was 'fluttering'?
Huepow (Wind Ring): That definitely wasn't the fluttering from back then... This was much stronger than that. You actually ascended yourself! Granted it was by a bit, but it saved the entire fall.
Klonoa then blushed a little bit to hear that compliment from Huepow.
Klonoa: Y-you think it was stronger than back then...?
Huepow (Wind Ring): Yes. That was amazing, Klonoa! Your big ears definitely aren't for show anymore! !
Then as the two were still talking, Klonoa and Huepow noticed the loud rumbling in the distance. It seemed like the monster made another leap! Not even being a hundred meters away from the bottom of the mountain.
Huepow (Wind Ring): Oh no, that isn't a good sign... Hurry Klonoa!
Klonoa: R-right!
Klonoa began to run right for the monster in the distance... As he arrived, it seemed like Clawford had managed to climb onto its back, and then stood ready in his sword stance... Then he breaks one of the spikes on the back by forcefully slashing through it after multiple attempts of slashing it. Although this still didn't seem to phase the monster, and Clawford seemed to be getting a bit annoyed.
Clawford: Still nothing...?!
Then Clawford saw Klonoa running right for the monster in the distance behind it, and started to shout at him.
Clawford: Oh thank goodness you're still alive, long-ears! I just tried to hit its spikes, but nothing! What now?! We're getting awfully close! !
Klonoa: Try its head! I'll be there soon enough! Just try to make it to the head! !
Clawford: The head...?
Clawford then carefully tried to carefully pass the large spikes on its back, and make it to the head of the monster... When he did, he kneeled down on top of it and saw Klonoa starting to run in front of it... Then before it was going to make the next step, Klonoa yelled back.
Klonoa: Okay Clawford! Get ready and time your slash with me! !
Clawford: From here? But how?! You can't climb the monster all the way from there!
Klonoa: You're right, i can't... but i can at least fling myself up there...
Clawford: Huh?
Klonoa: Ready?!
Then as the monster starts to take its next step, Klonoa yelled out...
Klonoa: GO ! !
Klonoa then flaps his ears downwards as hard as he could to fling himself in the air a couple of meters... Clawford's saw as Klonoa soared through the sky for a moment, completely mermerised before snapping back, and then immediately holding up his sword in a position to chop the monster in the head.
Clawford: R-ready! !
Klonoa: Alright...! Let's... GO FOR IT! ! !
Then as Klonoa came falling down, he aims for a downward strike right against the head... then as he's about to land the blow, Clawford swings right with the timing that Klonoa's landing... They fiercely cleaved the skull, but the monster only stopped for a second before then preparing to just leap forwards a couple of meters again with no problem.
Klonoa: What?!
Clawford: How? ! ?
Klonoa and Clawford immediately jumped off. It appeared the monster was less than 30 meters away from the bottom of the mountain. They both heavily tried to catch up with their breath as they seemed to have nearly put all their energy into fighting this monster. They just watched as the monster took another step towards the mountain, from the back.
Klonoa: W...What is it with that thing...?
Clawford: You tell me... That thing's indestructible.
Clawford deeply sighed, before looking back at Klonoa.
Clawford: Any other ideas...? The monster should've been dead, but it's not...
Klonoa seemed to be getting more concerned and worried for himself.
Klonoa: I... I don't know... i just... i don't know...!
Then as Klonoa started to look at the tail of the monster from behind, something of the way it's rolled out made Klonoa think deeply through.
Klonoa: W...Wait... That tail...
Then Klonoa's head started to feel a bit fuzzy again, as something clicked and a lot of memories just flashed by Klonoa...
The young Klonoa and young Huepow were on top of Bell Hill hiding near the stone, as they saw a jester-like creature on top who then said to them...
Joka: Come out, come out my liiiiitle micey! !
Young Huepow: I guess we have to choice...
Young Klonoa: Yeah.
The two of them then jumped up, and faced right towards Joka as the young Klonoa raised his fists.
Joka: Tsk, tsk. I see that we have two little puny mice here. Well, i'll have to deal with you both.
Young Klonoa: Who are you?!
Joka: Oh my... Kid's these days don't have manners. Too bad, i'm going to have to punish you now.
Joka jumped up on top of the bell tower, picked up a crystal from his own pocket that stored a tiny monster in it, and then broke it open... making a giant monster on two legs and a rolled up tail pop out. The monster began to grow as it landed onto the ground.
Joka: It's showtime!
Then the monster leaped over Klonoa, with its back turned towards him. Joka just shrugged.
Joka: Oh, my dear Rongo Lango, watch your back!
The memories begin to fade, as Klonoa slowly snapped back to reality...
Klonoa was staring with a blank look, right as the Lango monster attempts to try and slowly climb the mountain of Jugpot a couple of meters away from them...
Clawford: ...Klonoa?!
Then Klonoa suddenly snapped back to it, and looks right at the Lango monster's back, and then back to Clawford, with a more serious look on his face.
Klonoa: The back! Hit the back with that fatal ice move! !
Clawford seemed confused and a bit hesitant at Klonoa's words.
Clawford: The... back?! But that's just the tail! The tail is insignificant to-
Klonoa: Please! Just do it! ! !
Clawford: Ngh... a-alright then...!
Clawford and Klonoa began to run right for the mountain where the Lango monster was climbing together, as Clawford readied his Ice Shard attack...
Clawford: All or nothing... Ice SHARD! ! !
Clawford then threw the large ice shards right into the Lango monster's back, as it finally did get a painful reaction out of the Lango monster. It roared loudly, as it then lost grip on one leg with climbing the mountain... only holding onto it with one arm.
Then suddenly, the Wind Ring lighted up, as Klonoa felt something in his heart... He stared right at the Lango monster above, closed his eyes, and then prepared himself.
Klonoa: Tornado...
Klonoa then swung the Wind Ring around, right for the tail of the Lango monster...
Klonoa: ATTACK! ! ! !
As Klonoa hits the Lango monster with a tornado, it sends the monstercrashing down back onto the plains below onto its back, with the tail sticking out to the front. Klonoa and Clawford just watched, as the Lango monster slowly and desperately tried to get himself up, but couldn't... Then they looked back at each other, and prepared their swords, running right for the Lango monster.
Klonoa: HuaaaAAAAARGGH! ! ! !
Clawford: FOR JUGPOOOOTTT! ! ! ! !
They then used both their Wind Sword and Water Sword to cut through the Lango monster's tail from both sides together, dismembering the tail from its body as black blood came pouring out, while the monster let out a loud roar in pain that got more wimpy as it went on. It then slowly dropped dead, as its body lighted up... When Klonoa saw this while attaching the Wind Ring back onto his belt, he immediately deactivated the Wind Sword, pulled away Clawford and began to run off away from the Lango monster, as it then stopped lighting up, and exploded in the distance with the entire area going up in smoke.
The two of them just watched the explosion happening next to the mountain, and began to sat down onto the grass, catching up with their breath. Huepow then exited the Wind Ring and watched the explosion from the distance too.
Clawford: Whew... whew...
Huepow then suddenly realised something and turned towards Klonoa.
Huepow: Wait, that weakness... was that a Lango?!
Klonoa: Yeah... I wish i could've known that sooner though.
Huepow: Goodness gracious, that thing sure got a lot scarier than last time. I didn't even recognise it until you found its weakness!
Klonoa: Same... Like... that was too close for comfort.
Clawford: You can say that again, long-ears... By the way, how did you suddenly realise the tail weakness?
Klonoa: Just from memory.
Then Kio came very carefully sliding down from the mountain, as he saw Huepow, Klonoa and Clawford sitting down. He still seemed really nervous.
Kio: Is... Is it dead?
Klonoa then stuck his thumb out towards Kio, as he stopped trembling, and deeply sighed in relief.
Kio: M...My, my... that frightened me to no end...
Huepow: That thing frightened you? We were the ones who took that thing head-on!
Klonoa: What was there to worry about, Kio? You have that flaming axe, right?
Kio: L-look, it's just not as simple as that! I just... i don't have the courage...
Then they heard a voice coming from the distance.
"You brats truly did it this time... Bra-vo, bra-vo."
Klonoa and Clawford stood up and looked all around the plains, seeing nobody... then in the middle of the air, the jester-like creature appeared out of thin-air, and was floating in front of them, clapping with his two hands while saying the the following in a sarcastic manner.
Jester: You actually beat my giant Rampant Lango. Something to suuuuureee be proud of yourself for. Beating one of my toys.
Clawford: A Rampant Lango?
Kio: A toy?!
The jester just shrugged at Kio in a nonchalanting way.
Jester: It might as well be one, to me.
Klonoa and Huepow stared in shock right at the jester... as Kio and Clawford seemed confused. Klonoa then when he came back to it, glared on over to the jester and clenched his teeth in frustration.
Klonoa: I knew it should've been you... Joka.
Joka then turned his head for Klonoa and devilishly smirked a bit.
Joka: Hm? Oh, would you look at that. The little brat remembers. Well isn't this a surprise.
Klonoa: How dare you come back to this land, you monster?!
Joka: Me? I could say the same to you...
Joka then seemed to drop the smirk, and also glare with a more serious look over to Klonoa.
Joka: You never should've come back yourself, brat. Because now, you are my number one on the list to be hunted down. After i take care of this reeking dream world!
Huepow: How did YOU come back though?! You died! !
Joka: Oh yeahh, right... Pfff... funny story about that, yeah... Apparently there's this ultimate ruler of the nightmares who just so happened, to have ties with Ghadius that i won't specify! Despite Ghadius having betrayed me, and dying in the hands of you two...
Klonoa: That one served you right. You murdered by grandfather...
Joka: Shut up brat! You would never understand how humiliating and heartbreaking it was for me to be betrayed by him, and left to die! Lord Ghadius was all i really cared about! !
Klonoa: You don't understand?! I lost my only ever parental figure that day in an explosion! Because of YOU! !
Kio then gasped, as he thought back on the wreckage that Klonoa was looking back on in Breezegale, and it all just clicked.
Kio: No... this jester was the cause of all that ruckus to our peaceful town...?!
Joka then cleared his throat and tried to keep his cool again by laughing it off, while Klonoa still seemed a bit annoyed.
Joka: Ho... ho, ho... anyway, that's in the past... So, this ultimate ruler that i won't specify, then discovers about me and pulled me out of the eternal purgatory i've been stuck in ever since my death, to help me with his own goals. And now i work for him back in the world of the living... a new lord, but under my own, personal goals.
Joka then fiercely glared over both Klonoa and Huepow and raised one finger in the air. The two of them seemed pretty annoyed at him.
Joka: Starting with conquering all of Phantomile, one by one... And then personally coming back for you.
Klonoa: Ngh...!
Huepow: That's enough nonsense out of you, Joka! !
Huepow then summoned forth his energy rapier jumped right for Joka in the air and tries to stab him, but he swiftly snaps his finger and disappears into this air before Huepow could hit him, as his voice echoed over the plains to them one last time.
"I'm sure we'll meet again. Prepare yourselves for the end... especially you, brat."
Huepow then landed back onto the grass... Klonoa deeply sighed thinking about what Joka, as Huepow turned back towards him.
Huepow: Klonoa, ignore that stupid clown for now. We've got something much more important at hand here.
Klonoa then picked up his mysterious triangular crystal from his pocket and stared at it for a moment, before looking a bit more focussed and determined, as he puts the crystal back.
Klonoa: ...Right. We've got no time to lose.
Huepow then pointed at the southeast direction where the forest of Forlock could be seen in the farther distance.
Huepow: If we keep a steady pace, we can make it to Forlock before anything problematic goes down... We have to! !
Clawford: Understood!
Kio: If... If you say so...!
Huepow then immediately jumped into Klonoa's Wind Ring, as Klonoa prepared himself into position...
Klonoa: Let's go, guys! Rupurudu! !
Klonoa then started sprinting ahead, with Clawford following soon after and Kio clumsily trying his best to keep up, as they all headed southeast for the forest of Forlock in the distance...