The Sorrowful Prince
~ VISION 2-7: Doing the Favor ~
It was still early in the afternoon. On the edge of Joilant's northern gate surrounded by the brick borders, there was a train platform that was close to a parking lot and the entrance gate of the kingdom. Meanwhile on the train platform, there stood a lot of jolly puppet-like creatures with long arms and football-shaped heads, wearing suits that almost covered their entire body aside from their face. The locomotive carrying the passenger carts then tried to roughly brake, as it let out a big amount of steam after finally having come to a halt. The doors went open as multiple other passengers got out, with the puppet-like creatures gleefully stepping into the train. Meanwhile, Klonoa jumped down from the top of the train cart and onto the train platform while carrying his Air Board as he stretched his arms and yawned a bit, as Lolo followed soon.
Klonoa: Finally, we made it to Joilant... I don't think i can get used to this train system if they're going to make me jump through so many hoops just to take a ride.
Lolo: No kidding... I did not think they would be that picky.
Popka also jumped down to follow. Then after they all came down from the cart, Popka started to grin as he looked up to the gate, rubbing his hands together in excitement.
Popka: Aw man, i'm gettin' excited just to find out whats new since my last visit!
As Popka then tried to run on ahead, Lolo grabbed Popka by the ear with just two fingers before he could run, as she seemed a bit more serious.
Popka: Aiye?!
Lolo: We didn't come here for a day trip! Remember?
Lolo points back at the Air Board that Klonoa was carrying in his hand, as Popka then just annoyingly sighed back at her.
Popka: Riiiight, i gotcha, mom...
Afterwards, Lolo finally let go of Popka as he brushed his ear with his hand. Lolo then started to head over to the gate while talking back to Popka.
Lolo: Good. Then let's go.
With Klonoa following soon after, Popka stood still for a bit as he grumbled to himself, trying to follow after the two.
Popka: Such a party pooper...
As they were starting to walk towards the gate, Klonoa looks off towards the parking lot and realised that among the huge number of cars, he spotted three old green convertibles in the distance... Klonoa then stopped for a moment as he thought to himself.
Klonoa: Abandoned green cars...? Wait... wouldn't that mean...
Klonoa seemed to be getting a bit more concerned when he realised something.
Klonoa: ...No... that couldn't be...!
During this, Popka stared back at him as Klonoa eventually snapped back to it, and continued walking on forward as well with them. Popka softly said to himself...
Popka: The heck was that about?
To which he confusingly scratched his head a bit, before walking onwards too.
Later in the afternoon, there was a female puppet-like cat creature with a white and dark-blue half colored body walking across the streets leading up to the main plaza of Joilant. She only had her left yellow-colored eye open on the white side, and her other on the dark-blue side closed. Aside from that, she also had two lightblue buttons on her chest, yellow star-shaped palms on both hands and a green magic ring floating below her body to keep her afloat. Meanwhile all across the avenue were other La-Lakooshans with all various kinds of stands and tourists passing them by, just like her. There was food, games, souvenir shops. The cat just stared at one with a rifle minigame as she saw the excitement in the owner's eyes attracting people around.
Rifle Stand Owner: Step right up! Take ten shots for just two gold! If you hit six targets you win a prize!
A Volkan citizen then slams down two golden coins onto the counter and takes the rifle, as the others gasped in anticipation. Meanwhile she deeply sighed to herself and kept her head down.
Cat: Purr... Such a waste... Even having won all the money in the world by cheating back over at gambler's paradise, i am just... bored. Even here, nya... What's the point of any of it? Leorina would hate to see me like this...
The cat looks further up to the center of Joilant, as she spotted Popka and Lolo walking towards the center of the plaza where the Bell Tower resided, raising one of her eyebrows for a moment.
Cat: What are they doing here?
Then she also saw Klonoa catching up to the two of them within the crowd, panting for a bit. Meanwhile upon vaguely seeing him, the cat gasped out of pure shock, as she quietly said to herself...
Cat: ...The pesky boy...?
Klonoa just turned his head back at the confused Popka, as he was holding up the four pictures of the known Shinigami Gang members in his hand.
Popka: Umm... if 'ya don't mind me askin', why're ya suddenly takin' your sweet ass time on this trip ever since we got in? 'Ya even slower than i am mate!
Klonoa: Well... Leorina said these Shinigami folk could appear anywhere, and i'm staying alert because i don't want to run into that Tommey guy in a crowded area like this.
Lolo: Hm? What made you suddenly suspect that he may be here?
Klonoa then grabs forth Tommey's picture and points at the darkgreen convertible in the picture, showing it to Lolo as he began speaking up.
Klonoa: I think i saw a few similar cars to the one on this picture, back over at the parking lot before the entrance. But... i'm not sure if it's the exact same.
Popka: Well duh, everyone can buy a green car dummy! Why do ya even care 'bout it?
Lolo then turned towards Popka with an even more confused look.
Lolo: What do you mean 'why does he care'? Innocent people's lives could be at risk if that's true!
Klonoa: Exactly. None of them are aware of the Shinigami hunting me down, and they could get seriously hurt if he may be out here. We need to stay on guard.
Popka then scratched his head and just shrugged.
Popka: Alright, if ya say so... Let's just get that element from here and floor it.
Lolo: And return the Air Board with sincere apologies. Don't forget that, Popka!
Popka: Yeah yeah yeah, whatevs...
The cat was holding her hand on her chest for a moment during their conversation, before she quickly shook her head out of annoyance and realised she lost focus of them within the crowd due to the shock.
Cat: That can't be... no way that nuisance is here. Let me check to be sure...
The cat then quickly makes way bypassing the people walking down the street and going into an alleyway to sneak up onto the rooftops... She then starts to quickly float her way over as close to the plaza as she could from the nearest rooftop, to keep watch over the entire area.
Eventually Klonoa, Lolo and Popka arrive at the paint-splattered bell tower, and before the golden bell symbol in front of it the tower. Lolo then jumps into the Wind Ring, as Klonoa detaches it from his belt and holds the Wind Ring up with one hand, taking his stance, as he said to himself...
Klonoa: Please don't let this pull too much attention.
Afterwards he fired the lightblue colored Wind Bullet right at the golden bell symbol, causing the Bell of Joy to start ringing loudly across the entire kingdom. Most around the kingdom look up to the ringing bell in the tower, to which a small shining yellow-colored orb came falling down as Klonoa caught it in his hand. Lolo then jumped back out of the Wind Ring as she, Popka and Klonoa all stared down at it while passerby's also briefly looked for a moment before continuing to go on their merry way.
Klonoa: This must be... Joy, right?
Lolo then smiled a bit as she nodded at Klonoa.
Lolo: I can sense such a naive and sweet energy coming from there...
Klonoa slowly and briefly smiled himself for a moment as he puts the Joy element into his back pocket together with the Tranquility element. Klonoa thenturned his head back around towards where they came from, looking all across the plaza in a confusing manner.
Klonoa: Umm... so... where exactly do we need to go next?
Meanwhile Popka noticed the giant billboard map on the opposite site of the plaza, as he started to closely examine it, with Klonoa and Lolo following him soon after. The cat just seemed in complete awe watching them from the rooftops, using her binoculars.
Cat: N-Nrgh... That pesky brat... I feel repulsed just looking at him, but...
Popka looked to the top right corner of the billboard where the jungle section resided with a few tall mountains surrounding it... then he looks away from the billboard and up to the sky until he noticed the mountains he was looking for, far to the northeast within the park from where they stood while he began pointing over to them.
Popka: Well, obvs we gotta go there if we wanna go to the jungle section for the board an' all...
The cat kept staring at Klonoa while the three of them then began to walk down the eastern avenue towards the jungle section further to the northeast, as she stopped looking through the binoculars and seemed to be half-blushing, half annoyed.
Cat: I... I can't just let go of him, no matter what! !
The cat then quickly put away her binoculars and quickly floats off towards the eastern direction to outbeat them, dropping down into a dark and dirty alleyway from the south connected towards the eastern avenue. When she comes down and hides behind a dumpster, she keeps watch over the exit of the alleyway that leads back into the eastern avenue.
Cat: I'm going to do something. I dunno what it is, but... something from my heart tells me, i need to! ...I mean half of it says i don't, but... whatever, i need to know deep down what i really think! !
Then the cat saw Klonoa, Lolo and Popka finally making their way towards the east, almost bypassing the alleyway. The cat just kept her eyes on Klonoa, as she deeply breathed in once, saying to herself...
Cat: Tat... don't get two-faced now. You can do this.
The three walked close enough for Tat, as she then breathed out and quickly got out of hiding, sprinting as hard as she could to purposefully crash into Klonoa, making it look as if she did it on accident.
Klonoa: M-Magya! !
Tat: Nya? ! ?
Both Klonoa and Tat fell over onto the hard ground, as Lolo and Popka seemed shocked from the sudden event in question.
Popka: 'Da heck was that?
Lolo: Klonoa! Are you okay?!
Klonoa slowly got back up onto his feet, as he turned his head towards Lolo.
Klonoa: Ngh... I'm not sure what happened, but... I'm okay, no need to worry about me.
Klonoa then turned back around as he noticing Tat, as Lolo and Popka confusingly watched. Tat was lying down on the ground, as Klonoa walked up to her and kneeled down while holding his hand out towards Tat.
Tat: Nyaaa...
Klonoa: I am so sorry for that. I didn't mean to be in the way.
Tat: Purr... I know, i know, i mean i'm the one who-
As Tat turned her head towards Klonoa, as she looked up to him... Within an instant she dropped quiet. Everything seemed to be going into a haze for her. As if rosepetals surrounded him and flew with the wind, in a sweet, calming and beautiful void where only the two of them were standing in. She just stared in awe, as her entire face began to blush. Meanwhile, Klonoa just seemed genuinely confused.
Klonoa: Hey, uh... are you okay?
During the haze, she just thought to herself as she monologues within her inner thoughts:
"...I knew it... Maybe i just had a hard time to admit, but... my feelings were true. I finally got what i want right here, in front of me. I am not going to let this opportunity sliiiide..."
Klonoa then tilted his head a bit sideways out of confusion and looked closer at her.
Klonoa: Wait... is that you, Tat?
Then everything snapped back to reality for her, as she jumps right at Klonoa's chest and hugs onto him as happy as she could be, making him fall over onto the ground with his back to his own surprise.
Tat: Nyaaaa~! !
Klonoa: Whoa, what the-?!
Tat: I knew you'd be back someday you pesky hunk!
Klonoa: W-Wait, what?
Tat: I hate to admit it, but... you're way beyond cool. That attitude of yours i despise so deeply, but... i love it too.
Klonoa: Whoa, whoa, time out for a second! I don't know what you-
Tat: And now you're back here, like the typical knight in armor. I don't wanna play the princess here, but i can't pass the opportunity up to have a man like you carry me! Ooooohhh the thought~
Tat just covered her face with one of her hands as she acted all flustered. Meanwhile Lolo seemed to ominously watch the two go at it, with a more serious face... meanwhile Popka just scratched his head.
Popka: The heck's her problem?
Klonoa: Huh?! But i didn't ever think of doing that! What are you-
Tat: It's such a bold thing of you to come back for me, just to do this... I love it~!
Klonoa then tried to break loose, but had trouble with having Tat let go of him, as he quickly turned his head back towards Lolo who was still ominously glaring over to them.
Klonoa: Umm... Lolo, please, help me! !
Tat: You know... deep down i always knew you were both the worst type, but also JUST the perfect type~ I... I think... I am in...
Then as Tat started to lean her head and lips closer for Klonoa's despite him not being comfortable with it, Lolo raises her palm and shoots an energy blast at Tat, as it sends her flying back a few meters... Almost everybody in the street thatthey found themselves in stopped, and turned quiet. All attention got focussed towards the moment between Klonoa, Lolo and Tat by the Joilant residents and even a few tourists. Meanwhile Tat tried to recover from being launched by trying to catch her momentum in the air with her hovering, as she then turned her head back towards them. Lolo began to stand in front of Klonoa who was still lying down on his back, while she just glares directly over at Tat. Klonoa in the meantime deeply sighed out of relief and looks back at Lolo, as he said...
Klonoa: Whew... Thank you so much, Lolo.
Tat then frustratingly took a step forward at Lolo as she yelled at her, while Lolo just calmly stared her down in a serious manner.
Tat: Nrrrghh... What the hell did you do that for?!
Lolo: Do you even understand what you did? Leave him alone.
Tat: What?! And who are you, trying to take my hands off of my-
Before Tat could even finish his sentence, Lolo cut her short as she kept staring Tat down.
Lolo: Didn't you see you were bothering Klonoa? What i saw was an invasion of his private space, to his own consent.
Lolo then turned her head back towards Klonoa as she seemed confused.
Lolo: Umm... Did Tat make you feel uncomfortable? I don't normally mean to assume things, but... she seemed like was really making you feel uneasy..
Klonoa just briefly nodded back at Lolo after her question.
Klonoa: Yeah... whatever she tried to pull off, it just didn't feel right.
Lolo: R-Right...
Lolo then quickly turned her head back at Tat and points at the gathered crowd around them, who were watching the drama between herself and Tat unfold, while still directly looking at Tat.
Lolo: Furthermore, the inconsiderate act of causing a public disturbance in a main kingdom at broad daylight, and the aftermath of interrupting people's daily lives with such commotion. It is such childish behaviour and is worthy of being called out upon.
Popka just crossed his arms behind his back and closed his eyes with a big smirk.
Popka: Hate ta say it but... she's right 'ya know...
Tat then began to frustratingly grit her teeth before yelling back at Lolo.
Tat: Well, who are YOU to know what he thinks?! Maybe he does ACTUALLY find it amusing and all! Ever thought about that, nya?!
Lolo just kept staring at Tat with a serious and calm look, as she eventually spoke up while saying the following...
Lolo: ...Because i know him better than you. I could see he was uncomfortable with it. Yet you did not.
Tat eyes widened as she gasped and dropped silent, with Lolo starting to harshly glare over at Tat.
Lolo: You're causing a commotion for everyone around you, just for a petty stunt. Leave him alone, please.
Tat slowly started to clench her teeth from rage as she kept her head down, turning around while crossing her arms with her back turned and in a defeated tone mumbling the following.
Tat: Tch... I didn't want to love him anyway, stupid Dream Traveler... Such an irksome, loudmouthed pest of a Dream Traveler...!
She then briefly turned back around one last time at Klonoa and Lolo, as she seemed rather conflicted inbetween sadness and anger. Tat started yelling at them in a broken enraged tone.
Tat: You too, priestess pest! You're also pesky! PESKY! ! THE BOTH OF YOU! ! !
Afterwards, Tat hastily jumps upon the roof to the south close by and disappeared from the street. Lolo put her arms down before quickly turning back towards Klonoa, and getting really flustered as she saw how Klonoa was just staring in amazement at her. She then started to panick a bit and quickly bowed down in an apologetic manner.
Lolo: I, uh... I-I'm so sorry for that, Klonoa! I didn't mean to make it look like i-
Klonoa then innocently laughed a bit while Lolo was panicking.
Klonoa: Ehehe... It's okay, it's okay. You totally saved me from whatever it is that Tat wanted.
Lolo then deeply breathed in and out of relief.
Lolo: Oh, is that so... Whew... I'm glad i helped then...
As everything went quiet for a second, all the Joilant residents and tourists gathered around them then began to loudly cheer, as Lolo's face turned even more red from how sudden this happened. Klonoa just looked around out of confusion and then back at Lolo, while Popka wiped his face using his own hand.
Lolo: W-Wait, all these people were watching us the entire time?!
Popka: Well, duh... It's Joilant. Anythin's entertainment for 'em.
Lolo then began to crouch down and put her priestess hat over her head from embarrassment.
Lolo: Oh goddess, i did not mean to pull so much attention on us...!
Klonoa slowly stood back up, and started to run as quickly as he could... immediately grabbing a hold of Lolo's hand to her own surprise.
Lolo: H-Huh...?
Klonoa then began to run with Lolo following behind him, as he just smiled back at her.
Klonoa: With the Shinigami Gang possibly lurking about, i don't want any of this attention either. Let's get out of here!
Lolo just stared in awe looking back at Klonoa, as she then began to smile while nodding her head once.
Lolo: R...Right!
The two continued on running and bypassed the crowd surrounding them, heading further up towards the mountainous jungle section to the east... Popka still looking around the crowd then realised Klonoa and Lolo were heading further up to the east, as he seemed a bit concerned.
Popka: H-HEY! Don't leave me here with these freaks! !
Popka then began to run as well and jumped on a Joilant resident's head without a care, as he began to use his long arms to try and fly after them. The Joilant resident just confusingly looked back at Popka while gently rubbing his own head from the pain.
Joilant Resident: A flying dog...?
As it was now late in the afternoon, Klonoa Lolo and Popka were walking up to the top of a mountain within the jungle area resting on the northeastern side of Joilant's kingdom, following the rocky ascend on old wooden steps. It was quiet, with only around two to three Joilant residents having been passed by on the mountain. While making their way upward, Klonoa turned his head towards Lolo while he seemed a bit confused.
Klonoa: Umm... Lolo, if you don't mind me asking...
Lolo: Hm?
Klonoa: After what happened between Tat and us earlier, I just can't help but think back to when i had to leave Lunatea three years ago. The last thing you did.
Lolo: Wait, the last thing...? W-What are you talking about?
Klonoa: You know... That moment that you didn't want me to leave. You almost jumped into my arms.
Klonoa then briefly scratched his head a bit, while Lolo seemed to be getting really flustered after realizing what Klonoa was talking about.
Klonoa: Was that meant to be too close as well, or...?
Lolo's face turned red as she waved her hands in denial.
Lolo: H-Huh?! No, of course not! I just didn't want a good friend to go. And i was just going through an emotionally rough time, that's all...
Klonoa: I... I see...
Then after climbing up the mountain for a while longer, they finally reached what seemed like a wooden hut residing within the mountain, with a giant sign on front of it that says 'Viones' Jungle Slider' and a modeled head of a yellow-skinned Joilantian with blue eyes wearing a cowboy hat and a red scarf. The three of them stopped walking and looked up to the sign, as Lolo then turned her head towards Popka. Popka briefly looks back at her, breathed in and deeply sighed before swiftly took the Air Board out of Klonoa's hands with his left hand, while sticking out his right hand back towards Lolo before she could even say a word at him.
Popka: Yeah i got it, i got it. I've rented the board before. I can bring it back on my own 'ya know...
As Popka headed into the wooden hut, Klonoa and Lolo began slowly following behind him. When they stepped inside, they saw a gap between the wooden floor in the center that directly connected to a flowing water slide, with the slide leading back outside and around the mountain. Meanwhile nobody was there within the hut, aside from a male Joilantian at the counter to the left end of the hut with the exact same look as the modeled head back outside. He was also wearing a leather jacket and denim pants. Meanwhile the three were just looking around as they only heard the sound of the waterstream flowing through the slide.
Klonoa: It's a lot quieter here than i remember...
Lolo: Now that you mention it, we almost ran into nobody else on the way up the mountain either. Strange for an amusement ride such as this...
Popka just casually shrugged with a grin.
Popka: Eh, makes it easier for us. Last time we got here it took too long!
Lolo: I... I would say it was just a few minutes of waiting time, but given we were in a hurry to chase after a thief, i agree that it felt like forever.
Klonoa chuckled a bit hearing that from both of them, as the three then walked on over to the snoring Joilantian at the counter. They noticed he was asleep... heavily snoring and leaning on his counter, with a bubble of snot growing and shrinking from his nose. Popka just stared for a while looking back at Lolo and Klonoa.
Klonoa: Umm... should we wait, orr...?
Popka: Tch... ain't no way i'm waitin' on that crap.
Popka then jumped up on the counter and poked the snot bubble with his claw, as the bubble loudly popped and the Joilantian woke up with a shock, almost turning in a full circle and quickly.
Joilantian: W-wuh! What?! Y'all here to take my radio too?!
The Joilantian kept looking back behind him at the storage shelves, as Klonoa seemed confused and tried to wave at the Joilantian from behind.
Klonoa: Umm... Hello...?
Joilantian: Who is there?!
Popka then snapped his fingers to pull the Joilantian's attention while he raised his voice a bit.
Popka: Over here ya moron! Behind ya! !
Joilantian: Huh?
The Joilantian then confusingly turned around to the front as he suddenly realised Klonoa, Lolo and Popka standing there, as he just seemed shocked. Then he started to grin.
Joilantian: Oh... Customers? I didn't see y'all there. Howdy!
Klonoa: But we were standing right in front of you...
Viones: Yeah sorry mate. Anyways, welcome to the world's famous Jungle Slider. Built by the one and only Viones, open all day and night, full service. How may i help you fine folk?
Popka then slammed the Air Board onto the counter to Viones' surprise, as his face turned a bit red and he softly said...
Popka: I'm... returnin' this thing.
Viones: Ummmm, i'm sorry partner, whaddya mean with 'return'?
Popka then seemed to get a bit frustrated while his face turned more red, and started to yell at Viones.
Popka: O-Obviously what i'm sayin' ya dummy! Just accept it and-
Lolo then cut off Popka by grabbing him by the head and covering his mouth to make him stop talking, while attempting to lift him whole as he struggled to break loose and made muffled sounds. Lolo just smiled back at Viones during all of this.
Lolo: What Popka's trying to say is that he's sorry.
Popka: Mmgh... I... I wash gettin' to that...!
Klonoa: We rented this Air Board three years ago but forgot to bring it back... and Popka here didn't take it out on time, leaving the board with me on accident.
Popka then managed to break loose as he landed back onto the ground and deeply sighed. Viones began to speak up again as he carefully picked up the board from the desk and closely examined it.
Viones: So you say ya left the board on accident? But why didn't ya bring it back since, kid?
Klonoa: Well... I was traveling through another world, so... It was hard to do.
Viones: Another world...?
Viones then seemed caught up in his thoughts, until he turned his head closer to Klonoa, looking at him right in his eyes for a while... Then something struck him, as he leaned back from surprise while accidentally dropping the Air Board out of his hands and onto the ground as he faintly said...
Viones: No... It can't be...?!
Viones fell over his chair behind the counter due to not paying attention to his surroundings and being caught up in his mind, as he clumsily and quickly got back up and kept staring at Klonoa by surprise.
Viones: Y-You are him... but... i thought you were never seen again! !
Klonoa just tilted his head a bit in confusion from what Viones said.
Klonoa: I'm sorry, uh... what are you talking about exactly?
Viones then tried to reach for the stack of newspapers within the storage behind him and quickly started scrolling. After a few seconds he gave up and quickly turned back around to Klonoa while he seemed to still be in shock.
Viones: I... I can't find my news source in this pile, but... they said you were the daredevil who actually surfed on the dried up ocean all those years ago! You have the same description and everything! Those ears, that hat...
Klonoa: Oh yeah... somehow i forgot i did that...
Viones just deeply breathed in and out for a while, as Klonoa scratched his head a bit while looking at him in confusion.
Klonoa: I'm... i'm sorry to ask, but... was that a bad thing? I didn't mean to cause any-
Viones eventually grabbed Klonoa by the arm and gave a strong handshake, slightly kneeling down. Klonoa seemed surprised.
Klonoa: Whoa?!
Viones: No... it's an honor to know that you used my board, of all people!
Klonoa: Oh... um... no problem...?
Viones then began to smile up as a few tears dropped down his eyes.
Viones: The fact that i'm finally talking to the daredevil himself... it's like a dream come true...!
Klonoa: That's... not what i'm really known for...
Viones finally let go of their handshake and picked the Air Board back up from the ground of his desk, holding it right up to Klonoa as it's almost shoved back into his arms.
Viones: Regardless, forget all about this board being a rental... Keep it. It's yours!
Klonoa seemed completely shocked from this, as were Popka and Lolo.
Klonoa: Huh?!
Lolo: W-What?!
Viones: It's the least i can do after all. For a legend as yourself, giving this away to you is the greatest thing a man like me could ever do.
Klonoa's face lighted up as he smiles back at Viones.
Klonoa: Whoa, thank you!
Popka then smirks while rolling his eyes at Lolo, while she just grumbled a bit. Popka then said...
Popka: So... what we learnt today? Stealin' pays off, heh.
Lolo: That is not what this is about! Stealing is a sin in the eyes of the Goddess, remember?
Popka casually shrugged at her.
Popka: Eh, never said i'd follow practices.
Viones then scratched the back of his head as he turned back towards Klonoa.
Viones: So... anythin' else you need, lad? Or is that it?
Klonoa: Hm? Are there other things?
Viones: Well... yeah of course, you can customize the board in any way possible. Provided the parts are available. Aerodynamic tweaks, boosters, paint overhauls...
Klonoa: Wait, boosters? As in... those things that make the board go faster by itself?
Viones: Yes, yes. But a set of boosters also means an engine replacement is in order. I'm assuming your Air Board hasn't been touched up ever since the rental, right?
Klonoa: It hasn't.
Viones: Yeah, i figured as much.
Klonoa: Could i maybe have one of those then? I'm even willing to pay for it.
Klonoa then slammed down his pouch of Dream Stones onto the counter, as he turned a bit quiet.
Klonoa: ...Umm... Assuming that these stones work for payment. Please tell me it does.
Viones picked up seven Dream Stones out of the pouch and carefully looked closely at each one of them, until he casually shrugged with a smile.
Viones: Works for me. You didn't have to pay, but... if you insist, i'll accept it.
Klonoa then picked up his pouch and put it back in his pockets, as Viones puts the stones in his cash register behind the desk and took the Air Board from Klonoa's hands. He then went over to the workbench to the corner of the room behind the counter, placing it down, and began to open up the Air Board with a screwdriver that was hanging from the wall along with many other tools close to him. Meanwhile Lolo was looking a bit around the ride until she turned back towards Viones.
Lolo: Umm... If you don't mind me asking sir... But why is it so quiet at the Jungle Slider?
Viones raised an eyebrow as he briefly looked back at Lolo.
Viones: What do you mean 'why so quiet'?
Lolo: Well... you know... last time we were here, it was fully packed with people. There was a line. There were multiple people riding down the Jungle Slider. Now it just seems... nearly abandoned.
Popka: Yeah! Wazzup with 'dat?!
Viones just looked back towards his desk and deeply sighed, as he took off the exterior of the Air Board on his workbench.
Viones: ...I didn't think anybody would actually care to ask me that.
Popka: Orre? Whaddya mean?
Viones then began to carefully take out the old engine from the board, as he spoke up.
Viones: Almost ten years ago, Me and my pal Ruddie came up with the idea of a water surfing ride... That's how the Jungle Slider came to be. I designed the general concept and the course, he created the Air Board. The invention of the board was merely meant for entertainment purposes. It worked in the end, and our attraction became really popular.
Viones finally took out the old engine, stood up and walked to the storage shelves as he grabbed an engine, a chip, and two small exhaust pipes. Meanwhile Popka just scratched his head.
Popka: 'Kay... But... the heck does that have 'ta do with anythin' regarding the silence?
Viones: Well... i'm just getting to that.
Viones then walked back to the workbench, sat down again, and carefully started to wire the chip and attach it with the new engine.
Viones: You see... three years ago, all the kingdoms started to open up to each other. Which was great for us. We got more attention on our attraction for a while. Volkans, La-Lakooshans like yourself, Mira-Miran's, other creatures outside of the kingdoms i forgot the names of... But during all of this, Ruddie started to get a different goal.
Klonoa: A different goal?
Viones finally attached the chip with the engine as he carefully starts to place the new engine within the Air Board.
Viones: One day, about two years ago, he came up to me and said... "I just got the most insane but amazing idea... What if we buy a factory in Volk, and begin to easily produce our Air Boards that way? We could change the world! People would probably love to ride these anywhere they go!"
Viones then carefully placed the new engine into the board, as he then stopped for a second and deeply sighed, before speaking again. During this he began to carefully fit the new exhaust pipes into the board.
Viones: I thought his idea was insane. These boards were meant for special occasions like this amusement ride. Even with you, daredevil. The reason i hand this one over to you for free is because you're a part of the special occasions now. We had a long argument and even fought over our different mindsets of the Air Board.
Popka: Wait... 'ya guys fought over such a thing?
Lolo: And then what happened?
As Viones finally fit the new exhaust pipes, he then slams the exterior back together while looking down to the board, as he softly and in a depressing tone said...
Viones: ...He left Joilant completely to set up his own mass producing Air Board factory, all for commercial purposes. He made huge profit. My Jungle Slider began to fall into obscurity. At the end of the day, he won.
Klonoa and Lolo gasped on hearing that from Viones, as Popka just irked. Meanwhile Viones put back the Air Board's exterior into one piece using his screwdriver.
Klonoa: No...
Popka: Yikes! That's one heck of a friend 'ya got there!
Viones: Sometimes friendships break apart once they get their mind set on different things... And so do my dreams.
Viones then got back up from his workbench and walked over to the counter where Klonoa, Lolo and Popka were, as he handed back the newly upgraded Air Board to Klonoa while he said...
Viones: I've come to accept it.
Klonoa then grabbed a hold of the Air Board as he softly said to himself while looking away for a moment...
Klonoa: No...
Viones seemed confused from his response, as Klonoa then raised his head again with a determined and serious look, staring right at Viones in the face.
Klonoa: You may have come to terms with your dream dying, but i won't!
Viones: Huh...?
Klonoa: This ride was a blast! I loved the atmosphere, the intensity, and the course it follows! Sure i came here originally to get back a stolen item, but if i come back in the future... i would love to ride the Jungle Slider once more! !
Viones just stared as everything went quiet for a moment... until he finally began to laugh with a smile on his face.
Viones: Hahaha, ha... Thanks, daredevil... i really needed to hear that.
Klonoa then softly began to smile at Viones too, as were Lolo and Popka.
Klonoa: Don't forget my words, Viones. I will come back here one day. Just remember that.
Then as Klonoa, Lolo and Popka began to turn back for the exit, Klonoa stopped in his tracks and turned back at Viones behind the counter once more while holding up his pouch of Dream Stones.
Klonoa: Umm, one more thing, since i'm already here... How do i exchange these stones for gold? It seems most people here don't really like to accept them as money.
Viones: Oh yeah, i almost forgot... a lot of places in Lunatea don't really do that. Well, if i remember correctly, once you made it down the stairs from here, you just walk straight ahead towards the avenue, take the first right, and then take a left on the third. If my memory serves correct, there should be an exchange machine halfway across the avenue there.
Klonoa: I see. Thank you for the help!
Klonoa then waved at Viones, as he tried to catch up with Lolo and Popka. Viones then began to sit down in his chair and slowly fell asleep again. Meanwhile as they began to walk back downstairs, Popka turned his head towards Klonoa.
Popka: 'Ya really meant all that 'bout the ride? I mean i always found it borin'.
Klonoa: Hm? Of course i meant what i said. If i can, at least...
A while later in the early evening, Tat was on the rooftops across the busy avenues of Joilant as the sun was slowly starting to set while tinkering something together as frustrated as she could. Meanwhile a tear dropped from her eye.
Tat: Grr... Messing with a lovesick like me... I'll show him! !
Tat then suddenly stopped, revealing to have finally assembled what seemed to be a remote controlled helicopter with a magnet hanging from it. Tat stared in awe for a while, until she started to slowly and devilishly smirk.
Tat: Heh... Try to see this coming, you pest...