The Sorrowful Prince
~ VISION 2-5: The Shinigami Gang ~
The sun was starting to set, as the late evening sky had a dark-orange tone to it. Meanwhile Klonoa, Lolo and Popka were walking along the long brick road that lied inbetween the Claire Moa Temple and the large bell tower made out of stone, known as the Bell of Tranquility. Klonoa eventually turned his head towards Lolo.
Klonoa: Now that we got some time to talk, i've been wanting to ask something... How have you been, Lolo? You seem okay, but... judging from the story the High Priestess told, you were gone for five months. Was something up?
Lolo just innocently smiled.
Lolo: No worries about all that. I have been doing rather well... The reason i was away for months was because i was trying to reach the rank of a priestess on my own. You still remember, right?
Klonoa: Ohhh, right... i can remember that you said something about that. So... did you manage to do it? I said i had faith, but... did you really pull on through by yourself since that day?
Lolo then stuck out her right hand as she began to form a small, lightblue ball of energy, while she closed her eyes and softly smiled.
Lolo: Better than expected, hehe...
Klonoa then began to smile a bit himself from hearing and seeing that.
Klonoa: Whew... That's good... That's good.
Lolo then made the ball of energy dissolve and looks back at Klonoa.
Lolo: But... how about you? I am curious to hear your tale leading up to this... I mean...
Lolo began to flush a bit while twiddling her thumbs a little bit.
Lolo: Did you really want to get back to Lunatea that much? J...Just for me...?
Klonoa's face then turned red as well as he stuck out his hands out of embarrassment.
Klonoa: W-what?! No! I mean... Yes? I-I just... Don't phrase it like that. You're confusing me!
Lolo: Sorry, i... i just cannot help but think about it!
Klonoa: Soon i'll be the one thrown for a loop here! Ugh, that Kio... I blame him, and his constant teasing...
Popka snorted a tiny bit, trying to hold in his laughter from overhearing their conversation. Meanwhile Lolo seemed a bit confused from hearing what Klonoa said.
Lolo: Kio? Who is that? And what do you mean with 'his teasing'...?
Klonoa then shook his head rapidly and turned back towards Lolo while still a bit flustered.
Klonoa: Just a friend from my travels... A-Anyway, nevermind all of that. I will tell you about my story later down the road. But just know, i'm here now to help out with Sorrow and then i'll return back to where i came from... And you're just that much of a good friend to me, you know? I had to come back and check on you. Just... keep that in mind.
Lolo: O...Okay...
Popka chuckled a little bit as Klonoa and Lolo both still seemed a bit flustered while Lolo just pinches Popka in the head after hearing him chuckle. Meanwhile in the distance close to the Claire Moa Temple, there were three female La-Lakooshan priestesses with feathers on their head hiding behind a rock, watching the three walk off and staring at Lolo in the distance... The first was a tall and thin one with a string of gray hair sticking out and who had black eyes as she wore a green outfit. The second was a fat and short one with messy brown hair who had purple eyes and wore a dark pink outfit. And then the last one was of average height and weight with black pigtails, who had green and baggy eyes as she wore a gray outfit. The third priestess turned back towards the first priestess.
Priestess 3: Wait... is that her...? What do we do, Shun...?
Shun, seemingly annoyed, then sighs and yells back at the third priestess.
Shun: Don't ask me, Celles. Ask Glab! She's the one with the plans!
Glab: I barely even recognised her after all these years... Tch. Just looking at her full priestess robes pisses me off.
Glab then turns her head towards both Shun and Celles as she seemed furious.
Glab: I'd say, we teach that loser from the past a lesson. She is still nothing but a failure! We wait for her back over at the plaza, and as soon as she arrives, we shove her down to the ground in a surprise attack! Maybe this time with a leg sweep, as that clumsy bozo trips over everything.
Shun then began to smirk, as Celles just quietly nodded her head.
Shun: Make her trip again, huh? I like your style Glab.
Celles: But... isn't she a full priestess now...? Wouldn't that mean she outranks all three of us? What if we were to be caught?
Glab: Shut it Celles! Once a failure, always a failure. Just because she moved on up with her annoying cute face, doesn't mean she will be any match for us three! Even if we're still regular priestesses!
Celles: ...Yeah... you're right.
Shun: We'll definitely teach that failure what it means to cross US!
Shun and Glab began to devilishly chuckle, as Celles just kept quiet and the three of them began to sneak back towards the Claire Moa Temple.
After a while, Klonoa, Lolo and Popka arrived near the giant stone tower, known as the Bell of Tranquility, as the last remaining piece of sun was barely shining from beyond the mountains of Mira-Mira further to the horizon. Just as they got close to the tower, Klonoa heard a faint sound... The sound resembled a gun being reloaded all the way from atop of the tower, to which Klonoa immediately pulled back Lolo and Popka, jumping back... then a large gunshot went off from above, as Klonoa was hit in the right leg. His leg started to bleed, but Klonoa still stood his ground despite the sudden attack. Lolo was shocked, as was Popka.
Klonoa: Nrrghhh...!
Lolo: Klonoa! !
Popka: The hell was all that?!
Klonoa: Magya... I knew heard something...
Popka: Hm? What're ya talkin' about? Even with my ears i didn't sense nuthin'!
Lolo then tried to get closer to Klonoa and kneel down to his leg.
Lolo: I... I should try to heal that as soon as i-
Suddenly, a voice arose from a above, yelling right back at Lolo.
"Don't you even dare to move a muscle, woman! I can end your life from here in a second!"
Lolo then pulled back and away from Klonoa... Klonoa then turned his head back upwards towards the Bell of Tranquility from where the voice arose, and began to yell towards that direction himself.
Klonoa: W...Who are you?! Get out there and show yourself! !
A few seconds later, a figure arose from above... A wolf-like creature with yellowgrey fur and brown eyes, wearing a dark brown leather jacket and gray denim pants. He had what seemed like a tail of a fox sticking out of his pants, and a cigarette in his mouth while wielding two red and blue pistols. Then he started to slide down from the tower to the bottom while keeping his aim, until he landed back on the ground, standing a few meters away from him... All while keeping his aim right for Klonoa's head. The three just stared fiercely, as the wolf creature began to speak.
Wolf: You must be him... Boss told me to look out for a big-eared freak like you.
The wolf creature just briefly looked up and down at Klonoa, noticing how Klonoa's trembling a bit with his injured leg, as he just seemed disappointed.
Wolf: Tch... Frankly, you don't even seem like a real threat to me, Dream Traveler.
Klonoa: How do you know me?!
Popka: Real threat? Look at yo'self! Wieldin' two bang-bangers like that. What's scary 'bout that?!
Wolf: Doesn't matter, kid. Also... Two bang-bangers? I want you to know, mutt... your dream friend here's got two .30 carbine cartridges pointed at him, in a semi-automatic. Able to carry 24 bullets. From where i stand...
The wolf creature then swiftly points right at Klonoa's left leg and shoots him within less than half of a second, as his left leg began to bleed as well.
Klonoa: AAARGHH! !
The wolf creature just smirked a bit, watching Klonoa suffer from the pain while he tried to hold himself together. Meanwhile Lolo seemed concerned and even a little bit pissed off.
Wolf: You all are too close to me to not get hit, and too far to be able to disarm me. I also have twenty-two bullets left as of now. Seeing as i already fired a shot before... You may want to mind your tone against me, because i am easy to anger. And two bullets did your precious traveling friend in, just like that.
Lolo: Why, you... dirty cheater!
Popka: You're buggin' me so much, ya know that?
Pistoro: Tch... whatever. Given the terrible wounds down in your friend's open legs, i'll have to wrap this up as soon as possible anyway.
Klonoa: W...Who even are you?!
The wolf creature smirked a little bit hearing Klonoa ask that, as he began to speak up while saying...
Pistoro: Pistoro... I was tasked to stop you on your travels by any means necessary. So i awaited you here, hoping you would just show up some day. I never expected to be more than enough to handle you annoying kids though...
Pistoro then points both his pistols right back at Klonoa's head again.
Pistoro: But seeing as you're just hopeless at this point, i am willing to give you a choice... Run away from Lunatea and never come back, or die. Which will it be, Dream Traveler? The clock is ticking!
Popka: Nrrrghh... Ya wanna go?! Ya wanna take us on?!
Lolo: Popka...!
Popka tried to make a run for it, as Lolo then quickly grabbed a hold of him to stop him from making any reckless movements.
Klonoa turned silent... as a few passed, to which he tried to stand his ground and set his injured right foot forward towards Pistoro and the Bell of Tranquility, as both legs were still trembling. Popka then snapped out of his fit of rage and seemed shocked at Klonoa's response, as was Lolo a bit.
Klonoa: I... I didn't come here for nothing... I am here to get that element from the bell, no matter what...!
Pistoro then raised an eyebrow... and began to smirk, as did Klonoa.
Pistoro: Hmph... A moronic fool to the end. How you managed to survive is beyond me.
Klonoa: I... ask that myself every day.
Klonoa then slowly was starting to take another step forward while Pistoro slowly began to put both his hands on the triggers of the pistols. Lolo then quickly reached her arm for Klonoa as he was doing this...
Lolo: Klonoa, no! !
Then just as Pistoro got close to shooting, Klonoa held up his arms to try and protect himself... to which a loud but brief explosion from what seemed like a gunshot went off... the area where both Klonoa and Pistoro stood in went up in smoke. As Klonoa slowly came to his sense, he realised that Pistoro was coughing in the smoke, and immediately jumps back with his injured legs. Lolo and Popka immediately followed by stepping back, with the three confusingly looking around next to each other.
Klonoa: What just happened?
Popka: Orre?! L-Look!
Popka then pointed off in the distance towards the east, as they saw something close to them, hovering off in the distance at the eastern side of the Bell of Tranquility. There was a young adult and dark-skinned la-lakooshan girl with a dark nose and dark red hair while wearing a golden abstract tiara, a dark purple suit with a purple belt on the waist which also carried a red jacket on the bottom, white and blue gloves with golden armbands, white thighlong boots with golden thighlets, black sunglasses covering her eyes and a red scarf flapping behind her. She was holding onto a ladder from the side of what seemed to be a red and black airplane with a cracked windshield and hoverjets to keep supporting itself in the air, while she was holding up a wooden-metal flintlock, blowing off the steam from the gun after having fired inbetween where Klonoa and Pistoro stood. Then as Klonoa and Lolo saw who she was, they both just stared in awe, with Lolo finally smiling, as did Klonoa a bit.
Lolo: Leo! You're back! !
The la-lakooshan girl jumps off of the hovering plane and right in front of Klonoa to face off towards Pistoro, turning her head back towards Lolo while keeping her more serious face.
Leorina: Please don't call me that. It's Leorina.
Then as Leorina noticed the smoke started to clear up, she quickly turned back around towards Pistoro as she held up her flintlock. Pistoro seemed rather annoyed at this interruption from Leorina and the smoke.
Pistoro: Tch! I dunno who the hell you think you are, but you've ruined my plans! How dare you?!
Then as Pistoro quickly tries to take an aim at Leorina with his own two pistols, she immediately pulls the trigger and within a swift and explosive shot and hits Pistoro in the right shoulder as the force of the shot sends him spinning around a bit while his cigarette dropped out of his mouth. When Pistoro finally realised what just happened and noticed the blood pouring out of his shoulder, he fiercely began to angrily scream at Leorina.
Pistoro: KEAAARGHH...! W-Why you... goddamn bitch! ! !
Leorina within a swift moment reloaded her flintlock by putting in an iron ball and spraying some gunpowder from her wrist, as she then swiftly aims it at Pistoro's left hand, immediately firing her own weapon again... shooting off two fingers off of Pistoro's left hand and making his pistol drop down to the cliff below, as blood began pouring out of his hand. Pistoro then fell down to his knees before Klonoa even did, screaming even louder out of anguish. Meanwhile Klonoa, Lolo and Popka just started in silence.
Popka: Wow... She sure's givin' him hell.
Klonoa: N-No kidding...
As a few tears began to roll out of Pistoro's face from the pain, he just looks up towards Leorina while she just spit onto the ground, while he started heavily panting.
Pistoro: J...Just who do you think you are?
Leorina: Pfft, please. Once trained in a flintlock, i can outbeat any simple-minded trigger finger. You're nothing but bandit scum to me.
Pistoro: Simple minded-?!
Leorina then took off her sunglasses, revealing her lightpurple eyes. She then turned her head right down towards Pistoro, reloading her flintlock using an iron ball and gunpowder from her wrist and aiming it right at the top of Pistoro's head.
Leorina: Listen here Pistoro, i'll only ask you this once. Get away from this bell now, and never come back. If you don't, i'll put a damn bullet full of gunpowder in your head!
Pistoro, while still bleeding, slowly stood up and turned his head back towards Klonoa as he pointed at him with his index finger on his left hand while his hand was still bleeding.
Pistoro: J...Just remember this, Dream Traveler... Leader Butz will have your head over this! We'll come back for you! Mark... Mark my words! !
Pistoro then jumps off of the bath and into the forest below to the west of them, as Leorina just sighed.
Leorina: Tch... Next time he'll cross me, he won't see what will pierce him through the head. Didn't his furred momma learn him some manners?
Leorina then put her flintlock back into the holster on her hip, as she turned around towards Klonoa, Lolo and Popka, before looking down on Klonoa's injured legs and turning back towards him specifically.
Leorina: I believe you may want to do something about that.
As Lolo noticed the bullet wounds in Klonoa's legs, she turned right for Klonoa too.
Lolo: Oh, right!
Lolo then began to kneel down near Klonoa, as he seemed a bit concerned.
Klonoa: H-Hey wait, Lolo! Why now? Can't we wait until later?! I don't want to go through the agony of restoring a wound!
Lolo: Huh...? What do you mean the 'agony'?
Meanwhile Lolo carefully placed both hands on the open gunshot wounds, as her fingertips began to glow lightblue... Slowly, the two bullets are pulled out and fall down onto the ground, as Klonoa confusingly looked down to the bullets and then back at Lolo.
Klonoa: W...Wait, what...?
Lolo: You mean you didn't know? The magical healing work of priestess is rather soothing. Always has been.
Lolo then began to put her fingertips on Klonoa's legs again, as the open wound slowly dissolved and closes in on itself... Klonoa just stared in awe, until the wounds were fully closed and the pain disappeared. Lolo then gets back up, dusted her hands off and smiled a bit at Klonoa, as he was almost left speechless.
Lolo: Well? How was that?
Klonoa: It... it felt great... Certainly better and easier than getting a bone pushed back in. Thank you, Lolo.
Lolo then closed her eyes while smiling, as the two turned back around towards Leorina.
Klonoa: But wow... you sure haven't changed a bit, Leorina.
Leorina seemed a bit confused from hearing that statement.
Leorina: Is... Is that a good thing, or a bad thing? I thought the days of racing for the power of the gods and all those other ridiculous things was beyond me.
Klonoa just smiled.
Klonoa: Oh no, i just meant your attitude is still as rough as ever. It really saved us back there!
Leorina: I... I see.
Lolo: But... What are you doing here? How did you know this guy's name?
Leorina: I came here to warn you, Dream Traveler. As well as you two, who are most presumably here for him on his journey.
Popka: Tch... against my will, that is.
Klonoa: Hm? Warn me? About what?
Leorina then pulled out four pictures from the pocket of her red jacket, and hands them right over to Klonoa.
Leorina: Pistoro, that guy who was just here to kill you... He's been known to be a part of the Shinigami Gang.
Klonoa: The Shinigami Gang?
Popka: Who're these 'Shinigami' fellas?
Leorina: An infamous group of wolven outcasts from far over the mountains... Outlaws in arms, all criminals with their own huge record. They're specialised in firearms, and used to be a part of the world of crime. Hunting bounties, robbing banks, assassination jobs, and other such things. But two months ago, they suddenly arose across the main land of Lunatea with their primary goal to track down the Dream Traveler, and kill him.
Lolo: Kill the Dream Traveler?!
Klonoa: Wait... kill me?
Leorina: At least that was what they keep claiming... And now that you're back, i have seen it for myself that they were not bluffing. I have the feeling that it has to do with whatever is going down within Hyuponia as of lately. Somebody must've hired these goons to try and stop you from making it over there.
Klonoa: Somebody was already aware of our plan to gather the elements?
Leorina: Yeah. And maybe it's an odd suspicion... but i'm assuming it's all the fault of that Sorrow fellow. That kid still owes me a favor for rebuilding his entire kingdom and i couldn't reach out to him at all...
Lolo: Huh?
Leorina just casually shrugged after that.
Leorina: Nevermind. I just want you guys to know that since i built the kingdom, i want to have a hard word with the prince myself about this recent mysterious takeover myself. So since our goals align, i figured it'd be great to help you out.
Klonoa: Help out?
Lolo: That's so sweet, Leo. I never thought i'd see that from you!
Leorina seemed a bit flustered and yells back at Lolo.
Leorina: I told you before, it's Leorina!
Leorina then turned her head back towards Klonoa as she was still a bit flustered.
Leorina: Just... Take a close look at the pictures, and i'll inform you what i have scoped out.
Meanwhile Klonoa closely looked at the pictures... The first picture was of Pistoro from a distance, walking down through the busy plaza of Joilant while ready to pull out a pistol on someone close by in the plaza. As Klonoa seemed to raise an eyebrow, Leorina then turned her head back towards him.
Leorina: I believe Pistoro speaks for himself, since you just interacted with him. He wields two pistols with a quick trigger finger. Best to be on your guard and ready for a fight next time he arrives. He's generally seen as the weakest of the group, only to be harmful from a close range. So my tip is to fight him from a distance.
Klonoa: I see...
Klonoa then looked at the second picture... which appeared to be a somewhat cleared image of a man wearing a black trenchcoat with cargo pants and leather shoes, as well as a black fedora, during nighttime on the plains of Lunatea while driving an old darkgreen convertible. While it was hard to make out exactly how this person looked, bits of grey and black fur stuck out of his hand behind the wheel while his mouth just seemed nearly emotionless.
Leorina: That right there, is Tommey.
Klonoa: Tommey?
Leorina: He's a man of a few words. I've never seen this person's real face up close, but... rumor has it you only ever see him when he's going to shoot you on sight. Not even watching his surroundings whenever he has his eyes set on you, he just wildly fires everywhere he can. Be careful around busy areas within the cities, as that's where he's likely ran into.
Klonoa: Right... I'll try to stay on guard.
Then Klonoa looked on over to the third picture... A very blurry closeup image of what seemed like a overweight light-brown and dark-brown furred wolf-like looking creature with black eyes and small round ears, wearing a white tank top, as he held up the hatch of an armored tank while sticking out of it, with the overweight wolf just devilishly smirking. Klonoa directly stared at the picture for a while, as Popka eventually saw it too... with the two of them suddenly snapping back to it.
Popka: Oh hey, that looks familiar.
Klonoa: Same here... Does he by any chance ride and fire an armored tank in Volk?
Leorina: Correct. That guy in the armored tank is known as Tanku. He's one with his machine, and only wreaks havoc and destruction. He's at least got hundreds of thousands of victims on his list just from his presence in Volk City alone.
Klonoa: Wow, really? He didn't even seem much like a wolf when we were up close to him... or that he was trying to kill us for a personal reason.
Leorina: Makes sense as to why he didn't... He's half bear. The guy is a psychopath, and presumably hired for the specific reason to just blow up everything in Volk since the city's already been at war, hoping you would be a target.
Klonoa: So he is not really a direct threat to me, but rather towards the entirety of the kingdom itself?
Leorina: Precisely... But to be honest, even if he's taken out of the picture, Volk is almost beyond any saving anyway... Unless...
Leorina then just shrugged. Meanwhile Lolo thought back on what Klonoa and Popka said as she gasped out of shock and concern and turned her head back towards the two.
Lolo: Wait just a moment... you two encountered this wolf-bear hybrid in a tank?!
Klonoa: It's a long story... I'll tell you all about it later.
Leorina: Oh right. My tip for this insane bearwolf... if he spots you, get as close to him as soon as you can so he can't take an aim at you. And don't try to run away from him. Unless you can quickly hide somewhere.
Klonoa: Get as close to him as i can... Okay, got it.
And then finally the fourth picture... As Klonoa looked at it, he found out it was a clear picture from behind what seemed like a orange and black furstriped wolf with two silver earrings on his right ear, wearing a closed darkgreen parka coat and black pants with a long thin striped tail sticking out of his pants while carrying a rocket launcher on its back. He was riding on what seemed like a blue quad bike across the snowy mountains of Mira-Mira further up north onto the hill. Meanwhile Leorina just crossed her arms.
Leorina: And that is Bakzookat... The wild one of the group who specialises in rocket-propelled grenades. Always fires from distances with his rocket launcher and never lets anyone close. Sometimes he even tempts to just shoot a down a mountain for fun without thinking of the consequenses, whenever he feels like it.
Klonoa: Shoot down mountains?
Leorina: Yeah... That bastard almost killed me in an avalanche because of that...
Klonoa: So they're all posing a threat against me, huh? Well... aside from maybe Tanku, if we try to avoid as much of Volk as possible...
Klonoa then handed the pictures back towards Leorina, as she held out her hands towards him.
Leorina: You can keep the pictures. It may help you recognise the outlaws from a distance.
Klonoa: I see...
Klonoa then put the four pictures into one of his backpockets of his shorts, turning his head back around towards Leorina after he was done.
Leorina: The other two remaining members i've heard of is one by the name of Sunai, and lastly their leader, Butz. Although i could not manage to track these two down and dig up any real information about them or their whereabouts.
Lolo nodded, as did Klonoa. Meanwhile Popka was scratching his head with his long nails. Leorina then turned her back right for her airplane that was still hovering in the air, as she then turned her head back towards the three of them.
Leorina: I want you to stay alert, Klonoa. This group of outlaws are beyond reasoning. If you knock them down, they will just come back for you soon after. Just like you heard from Pistoro himself. Don't go soft on them or anything like that, because they might as well be just as terrifying as nightmare creatures.
Klonoa: G...Gotcha.
Leorina then jumped for the ladder of her hovering airplane and grabbed a hold of it, turning her head back for the three one more time.
Leorina: I still have some personal work left to do, but i'll join up with you three as soon as possible to help out.
Lolo: Wow, really?! That would be great!
Klonoa: We always appreciate the support.
Leorina just smirked a bit hearing that from the two of them.
Leorina: Well... It's the least i can do, seeing as i don't feel right about what is yet to come either. Just try to collect as many of the elements as you can in the meantime.
Then as Leorina is about to turn back around and climb the ladder, Popka seemed really confused for some reason and began to yell.
Popka: Oy! Where did that damn cat go though?!
Leorina: Hm? You mean where Tat has disappeared off to...?
Popka: Yeah! We ain't wanna go thru any trouble again with her!
Leorina just casually shrugged after hearing that question.
Leorina: I don't know, sorry. She went out a couple of months ago, claiming she needed a huge break from it all. My guess would be she is all the way over at La Venture.
Klonoa: La Venture? Where is that?
Leorina: Just a gambler and rich man's paradise that lies beyond the far-west canyons of Volk City. I don't think you have to worry about her getting in the way any time soon...
Klonoa: Oh, really? I'm sorry to hear that...
Leorina: Eh, she just does that sometimes. Although i still have a feeling she's trying to put something behind her from the past and just can't... She wasn't like this before what happened between us back then.
Lolo: Because of something that happened during our rivalry?
Leorina: Yeah... But for me it's all fine now. We're cool. Just kinda hope she can get over whatever's bothering her too.
Popka: Tch... Same here. If she ain't, we oughta never get along...
Leorina: Well... take care now, you three. Good luck on your journey!
Leorina then stuck out her hand at the three of them as she smirked again, before climbing back up into the cockpit and then taking off, with the airplane flying further up towards the falling northern sun in the distance... As Klonoa, Lolo and Popka were looking off towards the distance, seeing Leorina in her airplane disappear. Klonoa softly said to himself...
Klonoa: The Shinigami Gang, huh...
Klonoa then just deeply sighed afterwards.
Klonoa: Even here i got great enemies who want me dead...
Lolo then turned her head back over towards Klonoa and seemed rather determined.
Lolo: Don't stop here, Klonoa. No matter what those nasty wolves try to pull off on us, i won't let them hurt you!
Then Lolo stopped for a second, blankly staring... until her face suddenly turned red.
Lolo: I-I don't mean it like that! I just-
Then a drop of sweat fell from Klonoa's face as he just awkwardly smiled while Lolo seemed to try and harshly shake her head from embarrassment.
Klonoa: No, no i get it...
Lolo then snapped back to it from her embarrassment, and seemed a bit curious.
Lolo: Oh, right... Klonoa, do you still have that ring?
Klonoa then looks back to the side of his belt and detached the Wind Ring, as he held the ring up.
Klonoa: Yeah, i still have.
Lolo: Perfect! Alright... I've got to see if i can still pull it off...
Lolo then deeply breathed in and out, as she began to use her energy to levitate and closed her eyes... Before slowly hovering towards the Wind Ring and spiritually entered the Wind Ring, as the green crystal within the ring lighted up. Meanwhile Klonoa held up the Wind Ring, as the Wind Sword form immediately activated...
Klonoa: So the Wind Sword still works, even by another power source...
Klonoa then looks up towards the blade a bit closer, noticing that the blade's color was lightblue this time.
Klonoa: A blue blade...? Oh right, probably because Huepow's energy is a bit different from Lolo's...
Meanwhile as Lolo was within the Wind Ring, she began to yell from the shock. Popka seemed confused while Klonoa raised an eyebrow.
Popka: Hm? What's going on in there?
Lolo then quickly jumped out of the Wind Ring, holding up the yellow and green striped air board in one hand, while looking at Popka out of concern.
Lolo: First up, what is this Popka?
Popka: Huh?
Klonoa scratched the back of his head a bit as he awkwardly looked back at Lolo.
Klonoa: I tried to tell him earlier about the board, but i couldn't pull it out...
Klonoa then turned his head towards Popka as well. Popka seemed a bit shocked.
Klonoa: I knew as soon as i found that in there though, that the topic had to come back at some point.
Popka: Wait... So that's what you were trynna tell me about before? W-wait a darn moment, what even is that?!
Lolo then held up the board closer towards Popka as she seemed a bit more annoyed.
Lolo: Popka... tell me, what is this?
Popka: I... I dunno! I don't even remember! What're you talkin' about dude?!
Lolo: Should i remind you? Do you don't remember that you stole an air board from an amusement park?
Popka: What do you mean i stole an air boar-
Then suddenly Popka snapped back to it, as he turned eerily quiet.
Popka: Ohhhh, riiiight... Yeah i guess i did to that, huh... Been a while since...
Lolo: So if you could still remember, why didn't you even bother to return it all those years ago?!
Popka: I-I'm sorry okay?! I just forgot! By the time i remembered, that fool already left! !
Lolo then deeply sighed out of disappointment as she crossed her arms.
Lolo: Hmph... Well, this board has to be brought back as soon as possible. So our next destination conveniently laid out for us, after your little mistake. You're going to have to make up for this to the owner Popka! It's your fault after all!
Popka just kept his head down, as he just seemed disappointed.
Popka: Aww mannn...
Klonoa: Fully agreed... It's time to return the board to where it belongs.
Lolo then turned back around towards Klonoa with a more neutral confused look.
Lolo: And secondly, i wanted to ask you...
Lolo jumps back into the Wind Ring as the Wind Sword form activated again as she confusingly began to yell for a bit.
Lolo (Wind Ring): What is this?! Is this a blade? Why am i able to form a blade?!
Klonoa just scratched his head and slightly chuckled... Eventually he turned back towards the Wind Ring.
Klonoa: No worries Lolo. I just accidentally left it on the Wind Ring's second form.
Lolo (Wind Ring): A second form? Wait... So there's multiple forms?
Klonoa: Probably, yeah. But so far, all i have is the Wind Sword, and the classic Wind Bullet.
Lolo (Wind Ring): I... I see... Sorry for overreacting to all of this, Klonoa.
Klonoa then innocently smiled a bit after hearing Lolo.
Klonoa: That's okay. I'm able to change the form of the ring on the fly though, so... do not feel alarmed if the sudden switch between these forms surprise you.
Lolo (Wind Ring): No worries, i won't let it shock me. I am just astounded to discover any of this, that's all...
Klonoa: That's good...
Klonoa then swiftly switched the from the Wind Sword form of the Wind Ring, to the Wind Bullet, and aims it right for the golden bell symbol hanging above the door of the bell tower. Eventually Klonoa began to smile, while saying...
Klonoa: It's good to have you back though, Lolo.
Klonoa then fired the lightblue-colored Wind Bullet right at the golden bell symbol, and hits it. The Wind Bullet returns back to the Wind Ring, as the Bell of Tranquility loudly began to ring across nearly all of La-Lakoosha, to which a small object came falling from above and fell into Klonoa's left hand. Lolo then exited the Wind Ring as the three just stared at the left hand where Klonoa caught the falling item and opened it, to reveal the object in question being a shining green-colored orb... The three just stared at it in awe for a while, as Klonoa puts back the Wind Ring onto his belt with his right hand while he kept staring at the orb.
Klonoa: This must be the element... right?
Lolo: Right... This is Tranquility. Even seeing it up close, i can sense the peaceful aura radiating from it.
Popka: Yeah, real vibin'.
Klonoa: Still as shiny as i remember...
Klonoa then shook his head a tiny bit to not get lost into his thoughts and began to put the Tranquility element in his back pocket. Meanwhile Lolo turned back around, as she turned her head back for both Klonoa and Popka as she just smiled.
Lolo: Well? Shall we get going? We still have three elements left to go, and there's still time left to make more progress.
Klonoa smiled and walked forward, with Popka following soon after.
Klonoa: Right.
The three then started to walk back towards the Claire Moa Temple up south, as the early night stars slowly started to appear...
A while later, Klonoa, Lolo and Popka made it over to the plaza in front of the Claire Moa Temple as they were walking and talking as they headed on over to the entrance that lead into to the cave of the mountains, where the path towards the south of La-Lakoosha resided. Meanwhile it was so quiet, only the sound of crickets could be heard from here.
Lolo: Thinking it through while calculating our current pace... Maybe we won't make it up to Joilant with the time left, but at least we could make it to the plains. We'll see what to do next from there.
Popka harshly groaned after hearing that.
Popka: Ugh... Stop mentionin' that place. Ownin' up to my mistakes is gonna hurt me more than gettin' hit by a truck... I'd rather not think 'bout it.
Klonoa: It was your own fault for making this happen though...
Popka: Why's it botherin' ya two anyways? Even back then 'ya called me out on that crap! 'Specially you, Lolo!
Klonoa: Look, maybe i agreed to just use the board to our advantage, but i never condoned any actions like stealing an expensive rental piece. That is just stooping really low.
Then suddenly, Glab appeared from the corner of the wall next to Lolo and sweeped her leg, as she harshly and clumsily fell down to the ground with her face to the concrete. Klonoa and Popka gasped and checked up on her while kneeling down, with Glab finally showing herself, as well as Shun and Celles walking up to the three of them. They all just devilishly laughed as Klonoa quickly turned around towards the three.
Celles: Always a surprise, isn't it...?
Shun: Never guessed you would've run into us again, haven't you? Thought you would have moved on up without us?
Glab: Despite that, you are still as easy as ever to knock down... like the pathetic worm you are.
Shun: Nuh-uh... Not a worm. Even worms are too good for you. Like the pathetic little FAILURE you are!
Klonoa then turned back towards Lolo, as she was still lying down onto the ground.
Klonoa: D...Do you know these girls?
Lolo then slowly nodded her head without even saying a word... to which Klonoa turned back around towards Shun, Glab and Celles as he got back up on his feet and just shot an angry and cold glare at them. Their sadistic and devilish laughter was cut short when they were confronted by him... and took a bit of a step back, while Lolo slowly was getting back up on her knees.
Klonoa: How could you?! Aren't you three priestesses yourself?!
Glab: Ngh... who are you to talk directly at us, little furball?!
Klonoa: That doesn't concern you. Get out of here... you jerks!
Shun: Us? Jerks? Why, don't accuse of such behaviour with no evidence! We are PRIESTESSES after all!
Glab then sarcastically laughed, as did Celles. Klonoa seemed to get more visbily furious.
Klonoa: Nrgh... I just cannot forgive the likes of people like you who would-
Then as Klonoa tried to furiously take a step forward to the three priestesses, Lolo suddenly grabbed a hold of Klonoa's arm to stop him, as he confusingly turned around. Lolo then looks up towards Klonoa while she was on her knees, as she slowly got back up on her feet before dusting off her own face.
Lolo: No... I can handle this myself, Klonoa. Leave it to me.
Klonoa: Huh...?
Lolo then stepped up closer towards Shun, Glab and Celles while staring right at the three of them, as Klonoa calmed down a bit and could only watch... just like Popka did.
Lolo: Ever since i got here, i have been called all sorts of names by the three of you, all while others watched. But in that time, you always labeled me as a 'failure'… And i must ask, why is that?
Glab: Well, why not?! Ask yourself that!
Lolo: Okay... Is it because i have shown a lack of skill in the past? Is it because i may have been oversensitive to such harsh words when i was younger? Well, yeah… but more than anything, i took those words of yours to heart.
Celles: ...Like you should have.
Lolo: Little did i realise, this all started because of the fact that the three of you are afraid of being outclassed by someone who you see as inferior.
Suddenly Shun, Glab and Celles dropped silent and seemed more on edge after hearing that statement from her.
Lolo: You three bully the weaker fellows that are still in training to try and discourage them from joining priestesshood altogether… and even now you come back at a full priestess, who you never thought would make it further up than you, and try to kick the person you used to look down upon in a futile attempt. It's so pathetic to see.
Shun: ...Pathetic...?!
Lolo then turned her back at Shun, Glab and Celles as she just kept talking at them.
Lolo: Becoming a true priestess is all about helping those in need. Something you never understood, and never will...
And finally, Lolo finally looks back at Shun, Glab and Celles one more time, while saying...
Lolo: If anything, that makes all of you a failure.
After that, she nonchalantly turned her head back around and began walking off towards the entrance to the cave... Shun, Glab and Celles were left at a loss for words from Lolo's speech and just stood still. Klonoa and Popka eventually just scratched their heads, while Klonoa just faintly said towards Popka...
Klonoa: Did... Did she ever have that in her?
Popka then just casually shrugged, as the two began to run a little bit to catch up to Lolo. Then as the three of them left, Shun, Glab and Celles remained all alone in the empty plaza in front of the Claire Moa Temple... and they started to burst into tears and broke down while crying really harshly.
Glab: H...How could she...? ! ?
Shun: I-I never wanted to admit it... But... she was right... SHE WAS RIGHT! ! !
Glab: S-Shut up Shun! ! The truth hurts! Just SHUT UP! ! !
Celles: No wonder my... parents left me... We never have really amounted to... anything all these years, have we...?
Shun: OF COURSE WE HAVEN'T! ! !
Glab: Dammit! ! Why did i ruin all my chances for a proper friendship?! WHY ? ! ? !
They then clumily tried to hug it out in a group hug while they dramatically crumbled to the cold floor together...