The Sorrowful Prince
~ VISION 2-2: Volkan fire never dies out ~
In the gray, small, and dirty alleyway of Volk City next to a dumpster and pipes connected to the back of the houses, Klonoa carefully takes off his military helmet and dropped it to the ground, as Popka does the same thing with one hand, as he was drinking from a small plastic bottle with the label 'Greengem'. Meanwhile as Klonoa then corrected his blue cap back into a comfortable position, they still could hear the faint sound of gunshots across the streets in the distance, the sound of an explosion, a soldier screaming out of agony, and then they even see three choppers briefly passing by from the skies above... Eventually Popka finished his drink and throws the plastic bottle of Greengem into the dumpster close to them.
Popka: Maaannn, does this city ever rest?
Klonoa: Doesn't seem like they will...
They turned a bit silent, as Klonoa and Popka just sigh and then turn back towards each other.
Popka: Y'know, funny thing...
Klonoa: Hm?
Popka: It may be kinda crazy to believe, but this city's been at peace for a while. Came here to steal sum food often... Till they suddenly started again for presumably no reason, and it just gotten worse. Nevermind the fact they seem like they at war with each other and just pick up strangers like us.
Klonoa: Really? Goodness, who are they to pick me up and shove me into an airplane like that, making me fight their own pointless war?
Popka: Right?! Geez, all're wearin' almost the same exact green! This whole thing's a mess!
Klonoa: Haha, tell me about it... It's best to just neutrally leave it be, as fighting for either side will probably not solve anything.
Klonoa then suddenly thought back to Lolo after finally catching up with himself, with the words of her echoing through his mind...
"It's okay! I knew this was coming... I'm fine, really."
As Klonoa snapped back to it, he quickly turned back towards Popka.
Klonoa: Oh, right... Popka! What happened since i left?
Popka: Since ya left? Well, a few things off the top of my head, that's what. The High Priestess adopted a baby, Leorina and that annoyin' cat been off doin' their own thing, and Lolo... well...
Klonoa: What about Lolo? Did something happen?!
Popka deeply breathed in, and sighed... Looking back at Klonoa with disappointment.
Popka: Alright, look... i dunno how to tell this, but... ya did a real number on her since you left.
Klonoa dropped silent, and couldn't believe that he had to hear this from Popka. He seemed really concerned.
Klonoa: Lolo's in pain... because of me?
Popka: Yeah, no joke... I mean... I don't really hold it against 'ya cuz, you know, dream traveler stuff, fate an' all. But she's really lookin' like she's been out of it for a while.
Klonoa then clenched his fist, and softly said towards Popka...
Klonoa: She is still alive though, right?
Popka: Hm? Y-Yes...? But...
Klonoa then kneeled down and directly looked into Popka's eyes with a more determined look as he put his hands onto Popka's shoulders.
Klonoa: ...That's more than enough for me. Tell me where she is!
Popka: W-whoa, hold on, when did ya get so determin-
Klonoa: I want to own up to the mistakes that were out of reach for me in the past... despite probably not ever being meant to. Please, tell me Popka! !
Popka then fiercely scratched his head as he tried to think for a moment, slowly talking back to Klonoa.
Popka: Uumm... Uuuuurrrghhhh... she's... prolly over at the Claire Moa Temple.
Klonoa: Thank you... I'll best be on my way now.
Klonoa then got back up and prepared to walk up towards the main street further up ahead of the alleyway, as Popka quickly stopped Klonoa by grabbing onto his leg.
Popka: Yo, slow down for a minute, fool!
Klonoa then turned back towards Popka with a more confused look.
Klonoa: Hm? What is it?
Popka: Look, sorry for bein' so rude an' all before... I'm just not really cut out for any of this, i get kinda tense. But i came out here to specifically help you get back to Lolo. So i'm stickin' along!
Klonoa: ...Oh. I see. Um... I didn't know you were willing to go that far.
Popka: I'm not doin' this for ya though, i'm doin' it for her. Just remember that! I ain't going on another shenanigans just for you!
Klonoa then chuckled a bit hearing that from Popka.
Klonoa: Right, right... Not that i would ever want to do that again either. Speaking of, why didn't you just jump into the Wind Ring before we jumped? You could do that, right?
Popka: C'mon, it's been years since i tried. I kinda forgot, ya know... Only Lolo knew that trick well.
Klonoa: Oh. I see...
Klonoa then took off the wooden rifle that he was carrying with him and tossed it towards Popka as he caught it. Popka was genuinely confused at this action from him.
Popka: H-Huh?!
Klonoa: In that case you can have this thing they gave me. You said you wanted a weapon to defend yourself, right?
Popka: But what about YOU?! You ain't got anyone to power your ring! ...Right?
Klonoa: No, i don't... But these shoot-things are really not my style. I will just have to do without anything for a while.
Popka then just shrugs and uses the strap attached to the wooden rifle to carry it on his back as Klonoa turns backwards towards him.
Klonoa: So... do you know the quickest way out of Volk City? I don't really remember my way around here all that well.
Popka: Well, the quickest way, and really the only way, is haulin' over to the train station up to the north center...
Klonoa: The only way?
Popka: Yeah, all borders of Volk're forcefully closed off since the war started. At least i think they were, i dunno. I stood the hell away from this craphole as soon as the news broke out.
Klonoa: I don't blame you for that. But thanks for the information. So my idea is that we will just quickly run all the way over to the train station up north, dodge everything thrown at us, and try to avoid as many casualties as possible.
Popka: Avoid casualties? I mean, what's the point of tryin' to just off all those standin' in our way?
Klonoa: Well... honestly i'm not sure, seeing as they are out to probably shoot us too... But it just doesn't sit right with me. Try to just knock them down or shoot them somewhere that doesn't kill them, okay?
Popka: Right, i got ya...
Klonoa then swiftly puts his feet into position, ready to run, as Popka properly loads the magazine of eight bullets that was already attached to the gun into his rifle and turns it around, carrying the rifle on his back.
Klonoa: So... are you ready to escape from Volk with me?
Popka then smirked and pulled on the strap once more to make sure it's tight enough, turning his head back towards Klonoa above him.
Popka: Yep, ready to hotfoot the hell outta here!
Klonoa then smiled, looking back down at Popka, as they both turned right for the other end of the alleyway that lead to the main street, running back onto the main street together...
Meanwhile within one of the vacant homes on the corner of a crossing along the main streets, there was one Volkan soldier with a sniper rifle kneeling down from a window, scoping out two Volkan soldiers on the main street from the back, as they was in a gunfight with three others, taking cover behind a small wall of sandbag barricades...
Volkan Sniper: Should've taken more awareness of your surroundings...
The Volkan sniper then aims at the head of the soldier on the left and pulls the trigger, as the bullet shoots through the soldier and he immediately drops dead. The other Volkan soldier on the right notices his partner got shot.
Volkan Soldier: Geoff, no! ! Where did that even-
The soldier then quickly tried to see where the shot came from... But the volkan sniper, without any hesitation, aims right for the other soldier and shoots him through the head too, as he put down the sniper for a second... But then he heard more gunshots from across the street, as he then looks out the window with the scope of the sniper rifle to see Klonoa and Popka jumping over to the sandbag barricades and then running on further ahead. The sniper just seemed confused, staring at the two running away for a bit.
Volkan Sniper: Tourists from outside the kingdom? What the hell are they doing out here...?
Then as the Volkan sniper put down his sniper rifle, he heard someone kicking through the door of the room he found himself in, as it was another Volkan soldier with a pistol, aiming it right at the sniper...
Volkan Sniper: Ah sh-
Then they both aim their weapons right at each other, as two loud gunshots echoed out of the window from the building... Meanwhile as Klonoa and Popka were running up further north from the main street, Klonoa turned his head around towards where the noise came from.
Klonoa: What was that?!
Popka: N-No matter! Sound's far enough from us to care! Just keep runnin'! !
Klonoa: All these loud noises really throw off my senses...
They kept on running as they were getting shot at from multiple directions across the southern main street, by swiftly zigzagging a bit and taking cover behind a few sandbagged barricades. After running for a bit, they spotted a bridge up ahead that crosses over a waterway that had an artillery cannon mounted just before the end of the road that lead to the bridge, with three people hanging around the cannon only focussing on what was up ahead... as well as a monoplane quickly flying by. Further up ahead across the bridge they also saw the town hall of Volk City and its giant brick clocktower.
Klonoa: Oh hey, i remember that building!
Popka: Thank goodness, we're gettin' closer to the center! Let's bypass dat air cannon and-
Then as the monoplane got closer to the bridge, it dropped a bomb attached under the aircraft as it falls down onto the bridge, causing a giant explosion and the bridge to collapse into dozens of pieces and all into the waterway, as well as sending one of the soldiers who stood too close to the bridge from the artillery cannon flying and dropping into the waterway, with its corpse floating down the stream. Meanwhile Klonoa and Popka just see this happening in the distance... Popka clenched his teeth a bit.
Klonoa: W-What the...?!
Popka: Damn, are they just playin' with us?!
Then one of the two remaining soldiers aims down at the monoplane in the distance using the cannon and directly shoots at it, with the giant bullet breaking down one wing and sending the monoplane crashing off into a few of the houses in the distance. As this was happening, Klonoa then noticed another alleyway to the left behind them, as well as four soldiers arriving on the scene from the right of the road next to the waterway.
Klonoa: Uh-oh, no time to stand around... Let's take an alternate route! !
Popka: Rite, i ain't gonna be brown bread!
Klonoa and Popka then began to run for the alleyway as a lone Volkan soldier arose from it holding up a large machine gun with a belt of bullets... Klonoa seemed concerned, but then Popka just quickly pulls out his own rifle and aims at the soldier, shooting him in the chest before he had the chance to aim, as he quickly falls down and dies.
Klonoa: W...What did you do that for?!
Popka: What do ya mean?! I shot 'em, just like ya said!
Klonoa: I said shoot them somewhere that doesn't kill them! Like in the leg or something!
Popka: Couldn't ya have just said that earlier?
Then they heard and quickly saw the four soldiers from the waterway shoot down the two soldiers who were controlling the artillery cannon.
Klonoa: Nevermind, no time to argue about that now!
Popka: OW! Hey what are ya-
Klonoa just grabs Popka by the ear and runs down the alleyway dragging him along before they got spotted by the four soldiers who now took control of the artillery cannon...
Then at the other end of the alleyway, there was a volkan soldier who was standing around keeping guard over two open military cargo trucks carrying soldiers and supplies passing by on the main street while smoking a cigar, heading further up north. Eventually he heard some noises coming from the alleyway behind him.
Volkan Soldier: The hell's that noise?
But as he turned around, Klonoa appeared from the alleyway, runs up to the soldier and kicks the soldier in the neck, knocking him out and making him fall over onto the ground, as Popka caught up to him and the two of them ran onto the middle of the street, before they see a large military transport aircraft higher up in the sky passing by with its cargo ramp open and multiple soldiers jumping out, parachuting downwards towards them all around.
Klonoa: ...More soldiers...
Popka: So what now?! Once they land it'll prolly be over for us!
Then a third military cargo truck followed after the two on the route, as Klonoa and Popka notice it getting close to them and just barely passed them by... Klonoa just smiled.
Klonoa: That's our way out of here. Let's sneak on board and follow them!
Klonoa and Popka then began running after the back of the military cargo truck as hard as they could, and then grabbed onto the back, barely hanging on. As they then slightly got up on the back, they saw a group of six Volkan soldiers with rifles relaxing, just barely out of their sight, as they whispered to each other.
Popka: What should we do? They're too much ta handle even for me...
Klonoa: No worries. I will deal with it alone. Just stay out of sight until it's over.
Popka: H-hey, hol up-
Then as Klonoa quickly got up from hanging onto the back and stood up, one of the soldiers quickly notices this and tries to aim at Klonoa with his rifle.
Volkan Soldier: What in the hell are you-
Klonoa then grabs a hold of the soldier's rifle and forcefully takes it from him, using the rifle as a melee weapon to slam the soldier in the head with it and knock him off of the truck as he screamed. Then all the other ones quickly got up themselves as they all noticed Klonoa and the soldier who just knocked off.
Volkan Soldier: How dare you knock off Teri?!
Klonoa: Sorry folks, i have no other choice!
Then as one of the Volkan soldiers came running up to them, Klonoa just kicks him in the widely open stomach, knocking him into another Volkan soldier who then falls of the truck too. Then as Klonoa walked up to the knocked down and unconscious Volkan soldier still on the truck, another one grabs his rifle and aims it at the back of the head.
Volkan Soldier: YOU DAMN HIJACKER!
Meanwhile inside the military truck during the fight in the back, the Volkan soldier who was driving just kept his eyes on the road enjoying the music, as the car radio was playing hard/roots rock music.
Singer on the radio: Ain't us, ain't uuuuusss maaaaannnn... We ain't the lucky ones...
Then the driver faintly heard the commotion that was happening in the back, but the noise blended a bit too much with the muffled quality of the radio. He scratched his head a bit.
Driver: Hm? I don't remember the song having those weird war noises... Must be a new broadcast version, i guess...
Klonoa then uses the rifle he still was carrying in one hand to knock the approaching Volkan soldier's rifle to the side just before he fired, accidentally shooting into the side of a building as Klonoa then uses his free hand to punch the Volkan soldier off of the truck with a fist. Meanwhile Popka just stared in awe until he suddenly snapped back to it.
Popka: Oh damn. He's got some moves for a fool though, i ain't gonna lie.
Klonoa then lightly nudges the unconscious Volkan soldier with his feet until he slowly falls off the truck. Klonoa turned back to the two Volkan soldiers who were now nervously sitting still on the truck, just awkwardly staring at Klonoa, as he turned his head back to them.
Klonoa: I am so sorry, but... can you two please leave?
Then the two Volkan soldiers just silently nodded as they casually leaped off of the truck. Klonoa then deeply sighed, dropped the rifle off of the truck and began to sit down onto the back of the truck as it still kept driving. Eventually Popka climbed onto the back himself, while he seemed astounded at him.
Popka: Yoooo... What were those karate moves?
Klonoa: 'Karate'? E-either way, nothing special.
Popka: Mate, ya definitely weren't like that before. Then again i ain't seen ya really fight without that ring.
Klonoa: I never really gave it a try myself until recently, so...
Popka: Wonder why you ain't been doin' it before, fool. Those were crazy kicks n' shit!
Klonoa then chuckles a bit at Popka's comments.
Klonoa: Yeah, true. I was astounded about it myself the first time. Just a lot of work from running around, i suppose...
As the two of them ride off further off into the distance onto the back of the military truck, they began to quickly bypass the the multiple parachuting Volkan soldiers landing onto the ground and the rooftops before they could even see them riding on the back. One of the Volkan soldiers tries to shoot their truck from afar, but the shot only hits the back of the truck bit because of the distance between them. Klonoa and Popka seem surprised for a moment, and dropped silent.
Popka: ...Maybe we shoulda brought those helmets with us, ain't we?
Klonoa: Yeah, you're right...
The truck then rode off further into the distance bypassing the western side of Volk City's town hall, and heading right for the north.
After driving for a while onto the main streets further up across the northern side of Volk City on the back of the military truck while looking off into multiple directions past the fighting soldiers to see where the train station could be, Klonoa eventually spotted the large railroad supports from the ground that held up the tracks above them, as they saw the track going in a large turn up to the west from where they were. Klonoa quickly pointed at it as Popka also looked.
Klonoa: Ah, there it is!
Popka: Finally thank goddess! Now we gotta follow the track and-
Then suddenly a large explosion happened further up front, as one of the military trucks began flying in the air with the burning truck then about to crash onto the truck where Klonoa and Popka were sitting on, as Klonoa quickly yelled...
Klonoa: W-WATCH OUT! !
Klonoa and Popka then both quickly jumped off and back onto the main street away from the truck they sat on, as the burning flying military truck crashes onto the military truck they just were riding, as it all began going up in flames. Immediately, Klonoa stood on edge, as the second truck then quickly tries to drive off further up to the west at the multiple-directioned crossing they found themselves in.
Klonoa: Magya... What was that?! Another one of those giant Volkan Guard Bots?!
Popka: Nah mate, they've been all turnt to scrap! It's somethin' else, but what in the-
Then suddenly the second truck is sent flying in a burning explosion as well, crashing into a building southwest of the crossing, as there appeared to be an armored tank further up in the distance... A white tanktop wearing, overweight light-brown and dark-brown furred wolf-like looking creature with black eyes and small round ears eventually comes out of the hatch of the tank as the machine stopped, watching over the explosion with a rude and disgusting smile, saying to himself...
Overweight Wolf: Bahh, y'all are easy prey. No match for mah machine.
Then eventually the overweight wolf creature spots Klonoa and Popka in the distance, as he just starts to devilishly smirk. Meanwhile Klonoa just glares over him.
Klonoa: A wolf...? Wait... No, that's not a wolf... Is it...?
Overweight Wolf: ...'Specially innocent prey like you.
Popka: D...Damn bastard! !
Then the tank starts to drive forward towards them with its cannon turning around to point at the two of them, as Popka quickly tries to grab his rifle from the back... but Klonoa suddenly notices the cannon, immediately grabs Popka by the head and starts to sprint as hard as he could backwards south without even saying a word.
Popka: K-Klonoa?! What're ya-
Then Klonoa runs down an alleyway that leads up west out of the overweight wolf creature's sight, just a mere second before the cannon of the tank fired at Klonoa and Popka's direction... The cannon fired and hits the side of the building with a large explosion, as the corner of the house collapses and the rubble falls down, blocking off the entrance of the alleyway they went into. It went almost completely silent across the crossing aside from the sound of the burning fire, faint sounds of gunfire and the sound of a chopper passing by. The overweight wolf creature eventually just spits on the ground as he looked a bit disappointed.
Overweight Wolf: Tch... Damn cowards. No matter, i got enuff to focus my eyes on.
The overweight wolf creature then turns the tank back around and starts to drive off further up northeast of the crossing to give chase to the chopper while slowly aiming its cannon at it...
Meanwhile back over in the blocked off alleyway, Klonoa heavily caught up with his breath almost kneeling down to the ground, as Popka just almost completely froze while looking back at the blocked off entrange of the alleyway.
Popka: T-That weapon was gonna hit us 'wit intent?!
Klonoa: S...Seems like it...
Popka then wiped the sweat off his head, and deeply breathed out.
Popka: Man, that's freaky... My butt would've been toast if it weren't for 'ya...!
Klonoa: No need to thank me for it just yet... We still have to make the final stretch...
Klonoa then looks back upwards to the sky as he saw the railroad tracks and the supports holding it up further in the distance, as he pointed at it.
Klonoa: We should follow those rails on foot until we find the station.
Popka: Gotcha.
Popka then put the rifle onto his back again as Klonoa and Popka began to run further up ahead at a steady pace, making their way further up to the northwest towards the train tracks in the distance...
After running for a while close to the support beams of the train tracks, Klonoa and Popka eventually notice a brick building that connects to the train tracks further up, as well as a staircase from the main street close by that leads up to the building.
Popka: That's the one! Oh thank goodness we almost outta here!
Klonoa: Hold up, that building looks really familiar... Isn't that where one of those dangerous generators used to reside?
Popka: Generator?
As Popka thought for a moment, he suddenly snapped back to it as he pointed up to the large chemical tower even further up to the north in the distance.
Popka: Ohhhh right, that generator! Well, it ain't there anymore. Moved it up a while to that plant, and turnt this to a public station since 'ya left!
Klonoa: Really? Well, that's good at least.
Popka: Sure makes the city a heck lotta safer than before, heh. Nearly forgot everythin' almost burnt...
Then as Klonoa and Popka arrive onto the stairs they quickly climbed the u-shaped stairs upwards. Then on the last two remaining steps in front of them, they saw that a locomotive train with multiple passenger carts began riding up to the station from the southern railtracks.
Popka: We gotta get on that one soon, i just wanna get outta here!
Then suddenly, with only one set of stairs remaining to climb, two Volkan soldiers arrive... one from the top of the train station near Klonoa and Popka on the stairs, and one from below. They both raised their rifles and pointed it at the two of them. Klonoa and Popka held up their guard a bit, as Popka frustratingly clenched his teeth.
Volkan Soldier: Halt! !
Popka: Oh c'mon, more trouble?! Just get outta our way! I wanna go home! !
Volkan Soldier 2: It's shoot on sight, mutt. Everyone here knows that. Your fault for stepping into our territory.
Klonoa then leaned down close to Popka and quietly started to whisper to him.
Klonoa: Okay, here's what we do... you attack the one below, i attack the one above. On my sign, we both immediately take action and take them down, okay? You'll ready your weapon and shoot him, i'll knock the other one down.
Popka: A-Awright...
Klonoa then slowly leaned back forward after talking with Popka while still holding up his guard, staring each other down for a while... Then as the one on top of the stairs slowly attempts to pull the trigger, Klonoa immediately yells at Popka, saying...
Klonoa: NOW! RUPURUDU! ! !
Popka swiftly grabs a hold of his rifle in less than a second before the Volkan soldier downstairs shoots and then quickly aims at the Volkan soldier and shoots him in the leg, causing him to drop down to the ground and grumble and yell from the pain.
Volkan Soldier 2: AAAHHH, DAMN MUTT...! !
Then as the other Volkan soldier upstairs was a bit distracted from this action, Klonoa runs upstairs, to which the Volkan soldier quickly snaps back to it and tries to shoot Klonoa at point-blank range. But Klonoa swiftly ducks to dodge the shot as it completely misses, to which Klonoa quickly counters back with a harsh fist to the face, as it hits him in the teeth and accidentally breaks one of them. He was completely thrown off-guard from this.
Volkan Soldier 1: W...Why you...
Klonoa then with a roundhouse kick sends the Volkan soldier falling off the railing next to them and onto the set of staircases just below them, knocking him completely unconscious... Klonoa and Popka just stare back at each other and then back at the train just waiting across the other side of the train station in front of them, with multiple other residents at the railway platform in the distance getting on and off the train... Meanwhile, both Klonoa and Popka looked back at each other as they slowly started to laugh a bit. More and more, they just naively began to laugh while closing their eyes, as Popka just dropped his rifle to the ground.
Klonoa: H...Haha... Hahaha...
Popka: Hehehe!
They started to walk towards the train... Other residents seem a bit confused on the two, but Klonoa and Popka don't even pay attention to it. Eventually while laughing, Klonoa and Popka give each other a high-five and brightly smiled.
Klonoa: Hahaha! Now that's good teamwork right there, Popka!
Popka: Heh, thanks bud! 'Ya ain't bad yerself either!
The two then just casually stepped onto one of the train's passenger carts, as Klonoa opened the door inside the cart and walked in, while Popka turned back around to all the people at the station and yelled out of excitement.
Popka: Goodbye, Volk! I ain't gonna miss ya freaks!
Klonoa then quickly dragged Popka inside and closed the cart's door. The locomotive train's whistle began to loudly blow as the train slowly took off and began to ride off into the distance on the train tracks of Volk, speeding up bit by bit, with the train riding off to the east towards the borders of Volk City...