Chapter 56: The Tale of Rolf's Past

"First of all, come over here." Rolf said, gesturing for them to approach.

Double D and Vivian looked at each other and slowly approached Rolf.

"Good, now Sock-head-edd-boy. Remove the sock resting on that cranium of yours."

"Rolf, is it truly necessary?" Double D asked, holding onto his hat's rims.

"In order to fully explain this story, we must use your Eye of Wisdom." Rolf explained.

"How did you-"

"Rolf's reasons are his own. Now remove it." Rolf demanded.

Double D gulped and took off his hat. The Eye of Wisdom glimmered in the moonlight.

"Ah…" Rolf said in awe.

He reached slowly to Double D's head and touched it. Double D watched as Rolf look at him.

"Edd-boy, Rolf needs you to try to think with Rolf. Try to enter his mind." Rolf said.

"How can I?"

"It's an ability of thy sacred eye. Now open it up. Look into Rolf's mind." Rolf said.

Vivian held onto Double D's shoulder, then nodded.

"Now behold Rolf's past." Rolf said.

Double D closed his eyes. Rolf did as well, as held his right palm on Double D's Eye of Wisdom.

There was a sudden glowing underneath Rolf's hand. Vivian stared in awe. She watched as a symbol of the Eye appeared on Rolf's forehead, as if he had it as well. Vivian felt a sudden strange feeling where it would be, so she assumed it must of appeared on her as well. Everything was fading to a white…


They all opened their eyes to find themselves surrounded by light. They were all floating in the air.

"Where are we?" Double D asked as he looked around.

"Rolf's memories of the past." Rolf said.

They suddenly realized they were flying, arms held out like wings and all. Symbols started flying past them: one of the Crown of Strength, then the next one of the Medallion of life.

A third symbol appeared before them, coming closer, one of the Eye of Wisdom.

They passed through the symbol, and suddenly felt some wind. The light started fading, as more scenery started forming around them. They saw mountains below them, large, enormous mountains with snow peaked tops. As they continued flying, more started forming.

A village at the base of a tall mountain, and a temple at the peak. It looked like a simple place, a farm and agricultural society.

"Rolf?" Vivian asked. "Where is this? Is this from your own world?"

"Indeed." Rolf sounded angry again. "Observe."

They suddenly began descending. They got closer and closer to the ground, passing through clouds, into a warmer climate. They finally landed on the solid ground.

"Rolf… this is your old country." Double D realized, looking around. "Isn't it?"

"It has been a while." Rolf said. "Follow Rolf."

He took a few steps forward, then waited for the other two to follow him.

Double D observed carefully as they walked: the houses were made of wood and straw, the dirty ground started dusting around as they walked. There was a well in the center of the village, and the buildings and houses surrounding it.

'I suppose our recreation of Rolf's home back at Peach Creek was surprisingly accurate.' Double D thought, seeing it as he did a while back when he and the other eds tried to scam him into believing he had returned home.

"Indeed, Double D - Edd boy." Rolf's voice sounded.

Double D looked at Rolf. His mouth hadn't moved.

"Rolf?" Double D asked into his thoughts.

'Indeed, Edd-boy. Remember you are in my memory, Rolf's past. You and Vivian are within his own thoughts and thus you share Rolf's thoughts.'

Double D was shocked.

"Where are we going?" Vivian asked.

Their question was answered as a little boy ran past them. Double D gasped.

The boy must have been 8 or so, with long blue hair, wearing dirty white overalls and a hat. Double D knew the face, it was unmistakable. It was Rolf in his past.

"Years ago, Rolf lived in this village you see." Rolf narrated.

The boy was clearly happy about something. He rushed towards one particular house. The threesome followed behind Young Rolf and walked into the house.

"Aren't we trespassing?" Double D thought.

"We cannot interact with the past. Now, observe."

They walked into the house. The fragrance of a farm welcomed them as they entered. Young Rolf shouted in his native language, but Double D and Vivian, being interlocked with Rolf's mind were able to decipher. A little girl ran into the room.

She looked to be Young Rolf's age. Her hair was the same blue, but long to where it reached her waist. Her eyes were a sparkling blue, and she wore a long white dress that extended down to her feet.

"Brother Rolf!" The little girl cried in mirth.

"Sister Reina!" Young Rolf said back.

"You have a sister?" Double D asked in shock.

"Has Rolf not mentioned Rolf was the first born of my family?" Rolf asked.

"Rolf has been eager to see you!"

"Reina has been as well to see you!" The girl said. "Would Rolf like to play?"

"Yes, Reina." Young Rolf said.

"Not right now, Rolf." An elderly voice said.

The two siblings looked up to see two elders, a male and female. The Male in overalls like Rolf, but with a larger hat with three feathers. The female in a large cloth that covered most of her body, except for her face.

"Nano! Nana!" They exclaimed.

Both bowed towards their elders. Double D and Vivian understood in their language that it meant 'Grandfather and Grandmother.'

"This was the day Rolf's Life changed forever." Rolf continued to narrate.

"Rolf, it is time to become accepted into manhood." Nano stated. "This being Rolf's 8th birthday, he must embark on the journey to the Temple of 7 stars. He must bring Nana along with him for this endurance test up the trial mountain of no mercy."

"Manhood at 8 years of age? And the mountain of no mercy? Very harsh culture."

"It made us strong, enduring, and brave." Rolf said.

"Yes, Nano." Young Rolf said respectively.

He and his sister got up.

"I wish good luck upon your journey, Rolf." Reina said to Rolf, holding his hand.

"Reina sees Rolf as a boy, but Rolf shall return to our village a man." Rolf said before they exchanged a quick hug.

"Rolf?" Nana asked.

She held out an arm for Rolf. Rolf reached out and held it. They both began to walk towards the door.

"Nano is most proud of Rolf." Nano said with a smile.

"Rolf's journey started then. For time, Rolf shall move further in time…"

Double D's Eye of Wisdom glowed again, as did the symbols that had appeared on Rolf's and Vivian's heads. In the next second, they were surrounded by light, flying again. This time, when the light faded again, they were at the top of a mountain. It was at the base of the temple they saw earlier.

However, this time, instead of landing on the ground, the remained floating in the air a foot off the ground. Double D observed the temple nearby. It looked like the Parthenon in some ways, except for the fact that it was even larger. In the front were seven columns and engraved at each base appeared to be stars.

'What is this place?' Double D thought in shock. 'It looks like those are the seven Crystal Stars!'

Rolf this time said nor thought nothing.

"Double D, I'm a little scared." Vivian whispered.

"You should be you witch." Rolf muttered.

They were interrupted as Young Rolf and Nana appeared walking over towards the doors of the temple. Young Rolf looked beat up. His garb ripped at some parts, his hair messed up, and a few scratches on himself. He was panting, looking tired.

Nana, however, looked perfectly fine. She was completely calm, without as much as a single sweat drop.

"Rolf's journey is almost complete. Now, Rolf must enter the temple." Nana said.

"Yes, Nana." Young Rolf said.

He reached for the temple and tugged at its handle until it opened. Inside was a very large hall, like the size of a cathedral. Stained glass windows of Punnies on the walls. In the front, a large stained-glass portrait of the Emerald Star was clearly visible.

There where men and women standing in the back of the temple, all in black robes that covered almost every part of their bodies, except their eyes. Everything else was unseen. As Young Rolf and Nana walked in, Rolf, Double D and Vivian floated in without their control. It was like seeing a movie.

Nana awaited at the doors as Young Rolf proceeded down the walkway. The black cloaked men said nothing, not even a reaction as he walked to the end of the hallway. Rolf and the others watched him from the doorways as well.

Young Rolf reached the end of the pathway, to a large curtain underneath the stained-glass emerald star.

"Pull thy Curtain, Rolf. DO it and embrace manhood." Nana said.

Rolf reached for the curtain and pulled on it. It ripped off the wall and fell to the floor.

Behind it was a large door. Young Rolf sighed, then pushed it open.

"Now!" Rolf shouted and they flew down the hallway to race through the door before it closed.

"Now what?" Double D asked.

The next chamber caught himself and Vivian both by surprise.

It was a stone room, and on the foremost wall were carvings. Ones of the seven stars, and the three ancient relics.

"What?" Double D asked. "This? How could anyone on Earth have known about this?"

Young Rolf reached the wall. He reached down and picked up a feather on the ground.

Double D observed the ritual that began. Young Rolf began to trace around the seven crystal stars with the feather. After doing so, he started tracing the Crown of Strength first, then the Eye of Wisdom, and finished with the medallion of life carving.

Young Rolf bowed, then placed the feather into the side of his hat. "I am now a man." Young Rolf proclaimed.

But before anything else happened, the medallion of life symbol on the wall began to glow.

"What?" The younger Rolf asked. "This should not be!"

But it was. A hand reached out from the symbol. The little boy looked terrified. The threesome watched a head emerge from the symbol and gasped.

"Sister!" Vivian shouted.

It looked exactly like Beldam. She emerged from the carving and landed on the floor beside the shaking boy. But suddenly, the crown of strength symbol started glowing as well, and out emerged the large Marilynn. But the most shocking came out of the newly glowing eye: Vivian.

"WHAT?" Vivian sounded shocked. "That can't be me. I don't remember this!"

The three shadow sirens appeared before Young Rolf.

"This must be the place." Beldam said. "Now talk, boy. Where is the Eye of Wisdom?"

"Rolf has not an idea as to where? Who are you?"

"Our names are of no importance. You will tell us, you little lair, or we shall wreak havoc upon your world." Beldam ordered.

"Rolf does know!"

"Then you shall give us no other option. Say goodbye to everything you love." Beldam said.

The Rolf with Double D and Vivian shuddered and yelled.

Suddenly, they were surrounded by light again.

They found themselves flying over something warm. When they could see, they all screamed.

It was Rolf's Village. The clouds were shadowy purple. Lightning crashed, hitting random spots in town. Surprisingly, there was also an immense amount of ice and snowfall hitting as well.

The people below them screaming, desperate to escape. They could see Young Rolf and Nana standing on the outskirts of the village, watching the mayhem in order. It was like the end of the world.

But then, balls of fire started raining down.

Suddenly, the young Rolf screamed and ran towards a house.

They saw Reina in a window, screaming. "Rolf! Rolf! Please, run away!"

"No, sister. Rolf shall save Reina!"

Rolf, the real one, sighed and looked away. But Double D and Vivian watched in horror.

"ROLF! RUN!" Reina sounded even more desperate.

Young Rolf was almost there.

But then a huge ball of fire fell from the skies.

"NANO! REINA!" Young Rolf cried out. "NOO!"

The flaming ball hit the house. Young Rolf stopped, with the fire reflecting into his eyes. "NO!"

"Oh…" Vivian cringed and buried her face into her hands.

They were surrounded by light yet again and they were flying farther now. Finally, it cleared, and they were now standing on a beach. There was dense fog around them. A boat awaited on the side of the beach.

Young Rolf stood in it with Nana. The other villagers were on the shores nearby.

"Must Rolf really leave?" One asked to young Rolf.

"Yes, we must." Young Rolf said with a stoic look on his face. "As the first born, and only remaining child of the Shepard, It is Rolf's duty to bring the great Nano's urn to the new land. Rolf only wishes he could bear the urn of his sister. But nothing remains of Reina."

"We wish you and your Nana a safe journey."

"Rolf is a man now. He shall be fine." Young Rolf said. "Rolf must also escort Nana away from this village, as it is no longer safe."

"We accept. Just promise that Rolf shall never speak of this." The same villager said.

"Rolf accepts." Young Rolf jumped off the boat and pushed it into the ocean.

He waited until the waves pushed him far enough, then reached for an oar.

"We shall not forget you, son of a Shepard." The villager said.

Suddenly, they were surrounded by light again.


When it faded, they had all returned to Rougeport Docks. They opened their eyes. Rolf let go of Double D's Eye of Wisdom. With that, the symbols vanished from Rolf's and Vivian's head.

"Rolf… why didn't you tell us about this devastating past of yours?" Double D asked.

"Rolf was under oath. But her!" Rolf pointed to Vivian. "She is evil! She and her evil witch sisters ruined Rolf's family!"

"I do not remember any of that at all." Vivian gasped. "But if what you showed me is true, then I have done more the horrible things. Nothing I can ever do will rightfully apologize for that."

"So, no matter what witch-girl does, she will never be redeemed in my life. Now we must go back and get some sleep. We all now have a journey to complete!"

Rolf ran away from them.

"Double D. You have to believe me. I would never do that. I can't remember that at all."

"I believe you. I trust you, Vivian. You are a good person, all the way to your soul. But whatever your sisters did traumatized Rolf at his age." Double D said.

"I have to do something for him. He deserves better." Vivian said.

"Well, I guess we can only now respect his wishes and return to sleep. He's right about one thing, we are going to have another adventure tomorrow. Let's rest." Double D said. "Oh… things are worse. We must end this madness now."

Double D reached for his laptop and closed it.

'So many new questions.' Double D thought as he and Vivian watched Rolf running farther away. 'How did the Shadow Sirens get to Rolf's old country, let alone Earth? And why can't Vivian remember it at all? I don't have any doubts that she is a nice person who would never do that, but then what did Rolf truly see that day?

'What are Rolf's connections to this world? And what now lies in store for us?'