CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH
The Comet Observatory flashed through the cosmos, its bright blue tail proudly heralding a message of freedom to all those who could see. As they tore past the Undead Planet's gravitational pull, the Chosen Undead watched in awe as the blue sky drew ever closer… then started to blacken and glisten with millions of brilliant lights. Interestingly, despite the sheer speed at which they were travelling, the things within the sphere which enclosed them were intact.
"Knightess… are these all… stars?"
I... uh… The knightess was herself stunned. She had only known a life in the blinding splendor of the sun and the vengeful shine of the moon. And all this… all this cosmos… was breathtaking. Astounding. Something none of the gods of Anor Londo could not dare equal. I assume so… it's all so beautiful…
He looked back and saw his home world, his cursed world, leave him, Lordran growing into a speck amidst many other specks of chaotic gray and black kingdoms. And for the first time, he saw the azure sea spreading out across the world like great blue carpet, lapping up against golden coastlines. He marveled at his world's splendour, and thought of just how much that splendour had been ruined - ruined by both Light and Dark.
And he turned, and now thought of the new life that beheld him - a life in a golden land free from the cycle, free from the Gods, and free from the Dark, too. All this thanks to the Lady of the Stars who fell out of the sky and delivered him from this cruel fate.
He beheld her, his saviour, as she continued channeling her energy to direct her home further into the cosmos at a breakneck pace. She looked so elegant… so delicate… and yet so powerful all at once.
Rosalina's face beheld a wide, shining grin as she watched the Observatory leave the accursed Undead planet for good, the happiness within her radiating brightly in her brilliant smile. She gaily floated over to her savior and deliverer, her knight in grimy armor, and wrapped her long, slender arms around him warmly. "Thank you… from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for saving my life! I am in your debt…"
"It was nothing, m'Lady" said the knight, smiling broadly back in the confines of his helm. "Though… aren't you concerned about getting cuts on my suit of armor? You've embraced me so many times without much regard to yourself!"
"Well, would you want to remove it so I can embrace you better?" she returned bashfully, a little coyly even. She let go, and there indeed were minute, yet intensely red scratches which stood out against the marble paleness of her skin.
"Th-that's not what I meant!" The knight said, suddenly embarrassed, remembering the burning shame of his naked body being exposed and derided - even just to his own sword, one of his closest confidants. "I've no clothes under my armor! And… and I just was worried about your body being cut up on my armor. And - I'm just not - "
"Oh, so that's the problem, huh…?" The Lady of the Stars stroked her chin thoughtfully. "Well, I'll see if I have any spare clothes for you, okay? I also think it would be time to take your armor off for the moment… It seems hot and stuffy in there!"
The knight glanced worriedly at his Elite Knight Armor, which had served him so beautifully both in battle and in peace… but, admittedly, the lady was right. It was exceedingly warm in his suit of armor, and he constantly perspired in it. Wearing a proper set of clothes would be a nice change.
But will she like looking at you without armor? I mean, you were pathetically small when I saw you there…
"Silence, Knightess!" the knight thought back angrily. Then he thought a bit, and replied "Alright… alright. I concede… but would you mind if I asked for a few minutes' time to change…? And… Wait, is that that sun?"
"Umm… yeah, why? What is the matter with it?"
"It holds the soul of a great friend of mine who gave his life to give light to our world… though, the cruel masters of the world seem to be usurping his light. I want to see if I can still speak with him. I have some things to ask him… though, don't worry, I'll make sure I won't take long." The knight said, broodingly.
"Alright, I can gladly do that, Sir!" Rosalina returned gaily, at once slightly intrigued by this new sun she had never encountered before, raising her wand and letting a glittering trail of stardust issue from it once more. The Observatory then gradually turned, until it was on a direct course towards the diminutive sun. "It'll take a few minutes to get there. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll go look for your clothes and change into a clean dress, alright? Oliver, come here, I'll get you cleaned up too!"
"Sure, mama!" The little starchild chirped, happy with their newfound freedom. He leapt from the Knight's shoulder onto his mother's and in waved at the knight. "Thank for saving us… Papa!"
Rosalina was shocked, horribly so, but decided to give in to her ensuing amusement and giggled heartily instead, while a deep red blush spread quickly across her cheeks. She was… altogether appalled and intrigued at the possibilities, and yet… desiring them all the same. She felt her blush intensify as a strange yet familiar, rabbity feeling began to kick rapidly within her chest.
She envisioned a time which was peaceful, without strife, and with all the Lumas chirping happily as she sat with him in the Library, reading to them stories of little Lumas who ventured out and became wonderful celestial beings and of their daring adventures together. She envisioned a happy time with him beside her, the threat of Subspace gone for good thanks to their efforts, talking with her hours upon hours on end about the wonder of the cosmos and of food and of fighting, cooking delicious dishes with him…
But all this would be lost forever if he was to be obliterated due to his power.
She had to see to it that he lived, that he would not be slain, and that he would not slay them. Because this knight, despite only having met her, was slowly becoming dear to her…
No! Her thoughts screamed at her. Keep your personal feelings out of the fate of our universe! Do you not already know what he could do to you if he got out of hand? He could betray you, kill you all!
Then again, did you not already know what Shulk could do and had done when Master Hand brought him in? He's killed gods, too, but he's a perfectly nice guy -
But that's because was when you took him in, and he still is until today! You don't know this guy just yet. He might just be a traitor looking for power. He'll be the end of you!
But he's saved your life! He hasn't killed you yet!
Even if I don't know him yet… I'll find out just what kind of a man he is!
"A-a-are you alright, Lady R-Rosalina?"
The knight's rough voice grabbed her perceptions and pulled them back out of the trance she was in. "Oh, uh, yeah, uh, of course! I - I'll be ready with those clothes now, bye!" She hastily left and floated lightly into the Bedroom, burrowing her lobster-red face into her hands in embarrassment as her innocent little boy chirped and waved happily at the knight, who waved back gaily..
"Why - Why, you naughty little child! Where did you learn to call him that!?" she blurted out as soon as they were out of earshot.
Oliver was saddened by this outburst. He had not expected that kind of reaction at all from his mama. "But mama, he's a really good friend of ours! He takes care of us, protects us… he's a really good guy and I want him to be my papa! He would take care of you as well!"
"But… ah, oh my God, what am I going to do with you? Maybe he doesn't want to be a papa yet…"
"I want a papa! We've had just you for so many years without a papa!" the little child shouted petulantly, sudden anger rising in him, tears in his eyes threatening to fall at any second soon. "I want a cool papa like him who'll carry me and play catch with me and teach me how to fight monsters and… and… and take care of us when you're sick or gone!" He finally broke down, sobbing, as his mother gently picked him up, the tears flowing freely into her shirt. "I need a papa, mama!"
Rosalina let her child weep softly, holding him close and patting him. "I see… I'm so sorry.. I'm… sorry… I'll try to convince him... then…" If anything, this was another problem brought about by her neglect… but alright.
She'd do much better this time as a parent. Possibly, even with the knight by her side…
He had to survive this, more than ever.
The knight, hearing the crying, started walking to the Bedroom. "What did I just do now?"
Nah, you didn't anything. Don't assume you did something yet. The knightess said softly, the knight hearing the smirk in her voice like usual. Though, do prepare yourself - we approach the sun you seek.
The knight had not noticed the bright glare of the small sun grow even brighter as they neared it. Its warmth began to spread across the diminutive spacecraft as it slowed to a stop in front of it, but strangely enough it did not burn them into a crisp. Must be some powerful enchantment this Lady of the Stars placed upon the observatory….
And suddenly, they heard a booming voice speak.
"Ah, it is you, my friend, Chosen Undead! How is it that you are here? It is pretty far from Lordran where I am and you - you come bearing down on me on that strange thing I saw yesterday!"
"Good to see you once more, Solaire of Astora" said the knight joyously, "and I came by the graces of the lady who lives in this strange… thing. Craft. Whatever you call this anyways."
"I see… You must be so blest to have been looked down upon so kindly by so powerful a being… But look! Look at me now! I am now glorious! Grossly incandescent! I have finally reached my dream, and thanks to you, good friend of mine! For that, I owe you my deepest gratitude!" The knight could hear Solaire's grin loud and clear, and smiled in return. His friend was still the same jolly, naive yet powerful fellow he had known and fought with despite his new splendour. "Though, why have you come?"
"Well, forgive my curiosity, but I would wish to ask you some things…" The knight began.
"Well, what is it?" The sun shimmered slightly, as if in anticipation.
"First… are you really Gwyn's firstborn?"
"Hah, no! Though I worship and obey his Warriors' Code, I am not a god! Did I look like one to you?" The sun laughed, and as it did it sent up a bright, jolly flare.
"But- but… But you were so strong, and it seemed to me that you were truly abandoned by those who were above you! Which were the gods - "
"I, uh… Where did you get this nonsense?!" the sun dimmed, disconcerted. "I'm just - I'm just a man from Astora! I'm just - just a man who dreamt of becoming grossly incandescent!"
"Well, this has certainly become much clearer - did you know…? Ornstein left his post to look for you- I mean, Gwyn's Firstborn son… Do you know anything about him by the least?"
"Well… I'm afraid I cannot help you there…" the Warrior that was Sunlight replied in his indomitable glory. "All I know is that he used to lead us Warriors of Sunlight. Ah, now I remember… He had the power of lightning because he was born to slay the dragons. That's about all I can remember."
"I see… Well, one last thing, friend."
"What is it?"
"What kind of power do you have over there? Can you move around and shoot fire into this void? Can you make night fall and day break at your will?"
"Oh, no. I'm just grossly incandescent, is all… Night falls and day breaks because our world revolves and my light shines on its different parts… Why?"
"I would have thought you'd be of greater help to my cause…" The knight finished, somewhat dismayed.
"What cause, you say?" The sun returned, intrigued. "Do you plan to overthrow the gods? Or slay their enemies?"
"No, my friend…" said the Chosen Undead, "I intend to leave both to rot. And to that I need allies to help me fight those who might oppose me."
"Oh, but you cannot just leave our cycle to rot, my friend." The Sun chuckled. "Lord Gwyn's First Flame shall always be born anew. I know not why, but flames shall always dance when the darkness takes hold… The cycle of disparity is too strong for anyone to knock out of order. Don't you wish to pick a side and strengthen it? It would be a worthy cause."
"Well, what else can I do?" the knight retorted. "Each side is unworthy, bringing nothing but ruin to all of us."
"But which one has brought more prosperity? The Light? The Dark? Or the unformed, barren world before that?" The knight grew silent as he pondered upon this.
Solaire, seeing he had struck a nerve, smiled. This knight had the sense to stop and think about the greater things in life - something he had been scorned for, as he wished and worked hard for his dream to become true Incandescence and not the mere illusion of light and prosperity Gwyndolin had provided.
"I shall leave you to ponder upon this, and what your true course of action shall be." He spoke gaily. "Despite how much you loathe them, the time shall come for you to pick a side, or be cut down… Such is our lot, we accursed with the curse - the curse of choice, I dare speak!"
"But it need not be a curse, old friend…" the knight thought. "It might as well be a blessing."
"A blessing that I have taken gratefully, and a blessing which led me here!"
"And a curse I now have to contend with… but a blessing it is indeed, all the same." The knight conceded. He glanced back at the bedroom, seeing if Rosalina was already done with her business, and saw only the blue starchild standing guard. "But, forgive me, I don't have much time… I have to leave. I have to get away from here."
"Oh, leave, flee as far as you may, but your curses will always cling to you." the sun chortled.
"I'll put that in my mind, Solaire," the knight returned. "But I'll see to it, then that this curse is turned into a blessing."
"That's a good start." the sun chuckled. "Anyways, I think it is time for you to be off. See, there stands your beautiful lady, ready to send you off! Now, now you've certainly struck gold with her, my friend! She's a beauty!"
The knight turned and saw her, the Lady of the Stars, this time dressed in a beautiful teal dress, similar to the first time they had met. Awestruck as he was, he noticed that Rosalina was calling out to him, yelling "Hey, sir, time's up! We have to go!"
"And it seems our time is short, friend… You have a long road ahead of you, wherever you shall be going in life… Be well… and don't keep your dear lady waiting." he finished. "I hope you can return often, my friend!"
"I'll do my best, Solaire!" The knight waved as the sun laughed stridently. The spacecraft suddenly began to rocket away once more, away from Solaire who twinkled at them wistfully as they drew further away into the cosmos.
"Did you find what you needed, sir knight?"
Rosalina watched as the knight approached her, and by the looks of it he wasn't that happy.
"Well yes, but it was definitely not what I expected", he said rather disappointedly.
"Oh, well, at least now you've got something to think about, right?" She asked enthusiastically, trying to cheer him up.
"Yup." was his curt answer. The knight still looked downcast, and for some reason a pang of worry rose within Rosalina..
"You seem like you didn't take it too well, sir. Tell me, is there something bothering you?" she asked worriedly.
"Nothing you should know."
In an instant she grew suspicious of the knight. He was hiding something from her, something which could be the down fall of them all. Was he planning to murder them all in cold blood? Was her trust in him misplaced?
She considered prying further, but he was right. In the end, though they had trusted each other, there was no need for him to reveal every part of himself - not even the darkest parts which she desired to know for her safety. She had to respect that. But still, she could not help growing wary.
"Alright then, sir, I'll leave it at that." She smiled warmly, nodding to let him know she understood. "By the way, sir, here are the clothes I promised you. I hope they fit you well… they're a bit too large for me, anyways, and they're unisex." She held out a faded shirt and jeans to the knight, who regarded the garments quizzically.
"What's unisex?" he asked after moments' hesitation.
"Oh, it means that both men and women can wear these clothes comfortably." She returned testily.
"Well, thanks a lot, m'lady Rosalina. I'll repay you as soon as I can - "
"No, it's alright, sir knight, this is the least I can do for you, anyways…" She returned hastily.
"What more can you do for me, then?" The knight returned gratefully. "You've clothed me, healed me, saved me from my damned undead fate - "
"But I may just be leading to you a worse one."
The knight's hackles rose in panic.
"In a few minutes' time we shall reach my home world. I shall have to warn you… I…" She faltered and shuddered once more, her mood quickly changing, wishing she had not blurted out the words she had just said. "I know I've explained to you why I've brought you home with me… but I am not entirely sure that I can keep you alive, if I am to be honest."
The knight grew as silent as a stone, taking this new information in as calmly as he could. Feelings of shock and anger coursed within him as he pondered the consequences.
"However, I shall do my best to ensure your survival… I promise you that."
"I'll hold you to your word, milady." The knight replied stiffly. "And I expect you to, woman of power that you are… but what if you fail? What shall become of me when I die? I haven't come all this way to get myself killed!"
"L-let's not think of that! I… I won't fail you, I promise you!" Rosalina's voice rose as the situation suddenly took a turn for the worse. "I can't… I can't lose you. You're too good a friend of mine." She sighed, the gravity of the situation starting to weigh down on her for what seemed like the millionth time this week. "But I'm not so sure what my superiors will think."
Seeing her sudden desperation and worry, and touched by what she thought of him, the knight relented. "Alright… I am in your hands then, milady. I'm sure your superiors could give an ear to one of their most trusted associates. Just call me when we shall disembark, alright? I'll prepare my things."
"Alright, sir knight. Take your time while I figure out how to keep you alive, okay?"
Rosalina watched sadly as her knight began to leave. She hoped she had managed to salvage what had remained of her friendship and respect with him, but by the looks of it, she'd destroyed it all. She sighed, turning towards the charts near the beacon, hoping she hadn't done that. "More of that later, Rosa, you still have to charts to guide, your courses to take."
The knight walked away awkwardly, the bundle of clothes on his hand.
Aww, she thinks you're a dear friend of hers! The knightess teased.
"But what if she gets me killed, knightess? What if she lied to me, or fails to keep me alive even if she wasn't lying?"
Well, that is all up to you, sir knight. Will you turn on her, or will you forgive her? That is not for me to decide. But if I were you, I'd do my best to understand her. She has been genuine, has she not been? Give her some time to work her magic, and I'm sure you'll come out safe and sound.
"You have a point, my friend… we shall see, then, what shall happen."
"Looks like those are our last bits of food."
Lena sighed, her tiny gut rumbling with hunger. She'd taken charge of rationing their food, but in the end it wasn't enough to last them this eternity of loss that they had gotten themselves into. She stared at the half-empty sack of Star Bits apprehensively, sighing in worry.
Bob groaned, hungry little Luma that he was, and sighed despondently as well. He'd never be able to turn into a galaxy at this rate.
Louise was beside herself , trying not to cry and failing, little sobs and tiny tears shaking her body. "I wanna go home!"
"There's nothing we can do anymore, Louise…" Scotty mumbled, giving into his desperation. "Mama's never gonna come and we don't know how to fly this thing or get out of here. We're going to die here anyways - "
"Don't you dare say that, Scotty."
Everyone turned to look at Lena, and they recoiled as they saw her face was a mask full of fury.
"You are not giving up on me. None of you are going to. I know that some way or another, Mama's going to come save us."
"Shut up!" Louise screamed, unable to hide her frustration any longer, the tears finally bursting forth from her eyes. "You… y-you keep telling us that… and… and she n-never comes! She never will! She- she might even be dead now! I say let's just… get out of this space ship and be done."
"But it's better than just giving up!" Lena yelled, her patience wearing thin. "And it's the only thing we can do! What if she comes here and we aren't here anymore? What use is all this then?"
"It's… it's no use, Lena! We were doomed the moment Zach got us trapped here!" screamed Bob. "We're not getting out of here anymore!"
As hopeful as Lena wanted to be, she did feel the gravity of the situation weighing down on her. She finally broke down and began to cry as well.
The others suddenly shut up, staring at her silently, a sudden jolt of shame spreading through them. They drew closer to her sheepishly. "Lena… are you okay? We're so sorry… please forgive us… we don't know what to do…"
"I'm so hungry, Lena…"
"Are we really gonna die, Lena? I don't wanna die!"
"That's… that's what's gonna happen… if you keep… giving up!" Lena muttered angrily through her tears. "So… I'm not giving up! I'm not just… not just going to… not just going to roll over and die!"
She shakily stood on her stubby little legs and declared, angrily, "I'm not rolling over and dying, and neither are any of you!"
The others hung their heads guiltily, but Lena floated to them all, comforting them despite her own pains and tears, easing their loneliness and desperation despite her own hopelessness threatening to overcome her. "Let's not give up hope, guys. We will survive. Mama's coming for us. I know it."
And with desperation heavy in the air, they continued their vigil. Hopefully, not for too long anymore.
Elsewhere in the glittering morass of space lay a dark insidious land which devoured all it touched; where naught but the strongest, vilest beings could exist, tearing and maiming at each other in a desperate bid for survival.
And yet in the chaos of this dark morass lay a keep. A keep shining bright with a glaring blue light, an insidious brightness which drove off the lesser creatures which dared approach it, their eyes unaccustomed to such scorching luminosity.
Within the bright keep floated a being, the lord of this morass called Subspace, his wounds nearly fully healed and his wings proudly spreading wide. He got up and stretched, life flowing into his body after a long dormant period of rest.
"Feeling much better, lord Tabuu?"
His closest advisor - a surviving R.O.B. from the first subspace incident - drew near, sensing that his master might need anything. He quicky regretted his decision as his master struck out with a knotted fist, barely missing as he had quickly backpedaled.
"What do you think, poltroon? I still have Grand Stars to pilfer, and if it weren't for that damned lady and her idiotic knight knight friend I would have already taken them and lain waste to three more galaxies!"
"You sure did a fine job there, master." The minister snickered balefully. "But of course you can try again."
"I know that, idiot! Do you think I am a gormless fool, you insolent cur?" Tabuu was shaking with wrath, but the minister kept calm. His eyes betrayed a smirk which beheld just how much enjoyment he was getting out of this.
"I truly meant no offense, milord! Are you just going to stand there raving while your opponents get away?"
As insolent his minister was to him, Tabuu knew that he needed the damn robot and his kind for their usefulness and their intellect. The advice this R.O.B. gave was invaluable, and the Subspace Bombs they produced even more so.
And now that the Isle Of Ancients had been forcibly ripped into his realm, he knew that they had no choice but to bend unto his will or be wiped off the face of existence.
"Be grateful that I spare you and your lowly kind every day, cur, but the time shall come when you shall pay for that insolent tongue of yours."
With no further delay, Tabuu decided that it was finally time. Time to exact his revenge on the blue-classed, prissy princess and her stupid armored guardian who had dared raise resistance upon him, who had denied him the Grand Stars that he had sought. She had to be heading back home with the knight in tow, and he knew just where and when to catch her by surprise again.
And this time, he would show them no mercy. Now that he had learned their strengths and weaknesses, he would not underestimate them this time.
He spread his prismatic, glittering wings wide and sped away.