The Aurora had given Riki hope. Hope, and the Aurora, were gone. They were replaced by the worst storm Riki had ever experienced in his forty years of life. Burning winds of ice and sleet now shredded across the tundra. Blades of Titan’s Breath sheared and scored at every accessible crevice on Riki’s round form. The endless measures of chaotic melodies produced by the crashing gales about the rock formations had long since eroded the bedrock of Riki’s optimism. The Nopon plodded along the terrain, each bounce another half metre further entrenched him in this lowest circle of hell called Valak Mountain.
“Riki! Keep up! It's easy to get lost in this storm.” Sharla yelled across the way.
“Riki too tired. Riki need nap.” The Heropon answered. He was lagging behind the rest of the party. Being short in stature and short in perseverance was slowing him down tremendously.
“Don't even think about it! We need to keep moving.” The medic knelt down to give the struggling Nopon a pat on the shoulder. Her comforting touch stung his irritated hide, but at least it offered some protection from the bitter cold.
“But Sharla, Riki f-f-freezinating! Riki hate this!” The irked warrior stomped on the frigid precipitation. It did not snow in Makna Forest. Frontier Village never froze. All Riki could think about was taking a long, restful nap at the summit of the tree and basking in the glade as drops of sunlight filtered through the branches of his home tree. His darling Wifeypon Oka would be right there with him too.
“Can it, fuzzball! We're all cold. Don't see why you're complaining, you're the one with a full coat of fur.”
The Nopon scoffed. “Reyn have thick head! Shouldn't feel chill too!” Riki teased back. The reaction was immediate to the tall soldier as he brandished a fist Riki’s way in retaliation.
“Oy! What you say, furball!? Get over here!” Riki dashed away with his wings flapping as the tall Hom sprinted after. Ice crunched underfoot as the two chased each other across the snowy plain.
“Cut it out, both of you! You're both just going to wear yourselves out more!” Sharla shouted after the two boys.
“Calm now, Sharla. Perhaps this will warm them up some.” The warrior Dunban, Hero of the Homs, came to Sharla’s side to watch the two members of the group duke it out in the snow.
“But Dunban…”
“Regardless, we’ll need to find shelter quickly. This blizzard isn't letting up anytime soon. Melia, have any ideas?” Shulk, Wielder of the Monado, asked the last member of the heroic band of warriors of Bionis.
The High Entia princess looked out over the mountain. The little visibility they had was blocked by the whirling white flakes. Her wings had grown numb long ago and only her sheer willpower kept her discomfort hidden. She maintained her composure even as her party further descended into disarray. Beside her, Alvis’ mask rivaled her own. Nothing of her allies’ antics brought the slightest emotion to his visage.
“If I, perhaps, may offer a suggestion to our next course of action?” Alvis offered. Riki had been caught by Reyn and was currently being hoisted aloft by his wings. All eyes turned towards the odd Hom. “There is a location I know of that would afford us shelter. It is a ruin of a great tower. My family, the Seers, have long journeyed there to receive the gift of Sight. It may present our best course considering our current predicament.”
“We lack suitable alternatives at present, I concur with Alvis. We shall head to the tower and wait out the weather. Once there, we’ll be able to warm up and devise a plan.” The princess of the High Entia said.
“Hooray!” Riki shouted. The embers of hope ignited his soul. That, and his romp with Reyn, reinvigorated his limbs almost back to full function. The Nopon wiggled his way out of Reyn's grasp before charging forward into the blizzard. “Sidekicks, follow Riki!!”
“Riki, wait! You don’t know the way!” Sharla yelled after the fleeing Nopon.
“Oy, furball!”
The cries of his friends didn't register to the Nopon as he sprinted ahead.
Shulk smiled to himself. “Well, he certainly seems to be in-” He stopped mid sentence. Every other eye turned his way and recognized the blank stare in his eyes. Each one of them knew what that looks meant. The general anxiety of the group ramped up as they gathered around him.
“Shulk, was that a vision?” Dunban interjected when lucidity returned to Shulk’s eyes.
“Riki! He's in danger!” Shulk responded frantically while racing off after the Nopon. The group quickly followed.
Riki remained totally unaware of encroaching danger. Recklessly charging through the wilderness suddenly became appealing now that he had a destination in mind. Fantasies of warmth and shelter filled him with a morale that beat back the weather. He found himself daydreaming about Oka again as he ran.
Riki wondered what she was doing right at that moment. Was she missing him too? Did she want him back home? Was she managing the Littlepon fine on her own? Riki had no doubt that she was overworking herself. Oka was not a Nopon that could easily relax. Now that they were separated, Riki was feeling much the same.
Journeying with Shulk and the others was quickly exhausting the Heropon. Between traveling to Eryth Sea, journeying through the Royal Tomb, and fighting Mechon on Prison Island, Riki was already feeling worn down. The Heropon could feel in his wings and arms that his resolve was waning. Struggle after endless struggle continued to pull his mood lower and lower. Every step forward was a step further away from his Wifeypon. Every new location was another leg further from home. Every day without her was yet another prick of pain in his heart.
It was in his forlorn musings that he found himself colliding with something cold, dense, and many times more massive than him.
“Meh meh!!!” He cursed as he stood back up, furiously brushing off the snow that clung to his fur. “Stupid Reyn! Riki say follow Riki.” The Nopon turned his eyes upward, already thinking about the verbal tirade he was to unleash on the foolish Hom.
The sudden roar petrified him. It blasted louder than the storm, quaking even the Bionis that they were standing on. Reason flew from him faster than pollen orbs from the storehouse on half price day. The small Nopon stood frigid, but not just from the cold. Whatever he had run into was not Reyn, and worse than that, it wasn’t friendly.
The beast stood a grand ten times his height. Riki read something, some emotion beyond anger and malice in its eyes. This monster despised Riki solely for existing in proximity to it. The paralyzed Nopon fought to look away from those eyes. The longer he stared, the greater his desire for sanctuary became. The limb he had collided with was wider than his wingspan. Two vicious tusks dropped sharply from its maw, razor icicles dangling from them like rose thorns. Its entire body tensed as its miles of muscle fiber stitched across and zinged taut.
Some of the Deinos back in Makna Forest were larger than whatever this creature was, but no self-respecting Nopon ever confronted a Deinos head on. No Nopon dared confront any predator head on. In that moment, Riki felt the most basic feeling any creature could feel, fear.
He needed to move, to run, but his blood had turned to ice. The little remaining spirit and will he possessed were fading from him fast as the winds robbed him blind. The creature raised a fist. A colossal size that at the moment seemed to even rival the very Titans that made up the world. Bound to the ground, Riki could only wait for the inevitable. A mere sliver of its strength was enough to dispatch Riki, but this beast was not one to perform half measures. All its destructive potential was about to be cannoned at Riki. Knowing all that, he still could not flee. At that moment, he could only think of his dearest Oka.
The world went quiet as the blow sailed forth, charting a course through the buffeting winds and flurrious snow. Riki closed his eyes.
“Oy!! Fuzzball!” Cracking dense metal rang out its discordant harmony. The surge of pain Riki had been expecting was noticeably absent. Another deafening roar from the monster reached Riki’s ears.
“Riki!” A strained grunt called out to him. “Look alive! We need to fight!”
Finally, the Nopon chanced a look. To his surprise, he saw someone he hadn't expected. Reyn stood between him and the monster, his Driver braced against the boulder sized fist. In that moment, Riki couldn’t tell which of the two of them was larger.
“Reyn?” The Heropon asked, perplexed by the sudden arrival of his ally.
“No time! Move!” The creature pulled back its hand. The beast’s torso twisted as it chambered its second strike. The taller Homs strafed right to move crosswise and force the blow to travel farther. His heavy, bladed weapon stood at the ready to strike when given an opportunity. Riki still felt afraid. Fear still coiled around Riki’s lungs and limbs, and yet Reyn still stood against the threat. The Homs had selflessly placed himself in danger to save him. Riki refused to stand around while his ally fought on Riki’s behalf.
The Heropon’s limbs reawoke with a start. Riki shot forward. Practiced motions guided him as he ripped his own weapon, the club-like Biter, from its sling on his back. Its weight felt dangerous in his hand as Riki charged. In a single adrenaline enhanced and fear induced frenzy, the Heropon readied a strike of his own.
Its upper limbs were massive, yet paradoxically its lower ones were much thinner. They pierced into the snow as tonnes of weight collapsed the soft flakes down. In Riki’s mind however, they were the nearest place he could reach. With moments left before another ferocious punch would launch their way, Riki swung with all the force he had.
His Biter bludgeoned into the monster’s knee. A numbing ripple traveled down Riki’s limb and into his body with such a fury that his blow almost knocked the heavy club from his grasp. The Heropon tripled down on his assault with two additional bashes with as much vigor as he could muster. A painful outburst shouted from above and Riki knew his strikes were true. The top heavy beast, with all its weight resting on a compromised joint, stumbled as it tried to fling its own attack back on the duo. Riki darted between its legs as it fell forward. He yelled as he scurried.
“Reyn, monster broken! Go! Go! Go!”
“I’m on it! Wild Down!” A second crash of metal on tough hide clanged out. Riki watched the beast fall to the side as its last bit of support was destroyed from his ally’s blow. The ground rumbled as the massive thing collapsed. The stream of air knocked snow into Riki’s eyes and momentarily blinded him.
“Take this too, you ugly freak! Shield Bash!” When Riki could see again, the monster was stunned. It grasped about at the snow, attempting to find the appropriate friction to regain its footing. The large wiggling creature looked quite comical to the Nopon. Where before it stood as a pillar of strength and invincibility, it now crawled about like a bug. The twitchting of its limbs brought a devilish smile to his face.
The small victory could not alieve all of Riki’s fear. He continued to shake and shiver from the sheer terror of their foe despite its compromised state. Both of his wings held firm to his weapon as Reyn ran around the side of it and towards Riki. “Hey! Look alive, Riki! Let’s get out of here!” The tall Hom jerked the Nopon from his stupor. “We’ve got to find the others quick!”
“No have to tell Riki twice!” The Heropon responded as he finally could move his limbs. They scampered off away from the thrashing monster. Another headlong charge into the unknown bore down on Riki who could hardly remember the joy of seeking the Tower earlier. The mystery of what else the curtains of snow could obscure weighed down Riki’s limbs as he ran. Every few seconds he jerked to look right and see if Reyn was still there. His form was shrouded but the presence of a familiar form reminded Riki he wasn’t alone and lost in this frozen hell. A tiny sliver of hope cracked its way through the despair that plagued the Nopon since entering Valak Mountain.
A loud roar dashed it away once more. It came from behind where they left the creature. Both Reyn and Riki rushed faster, but their breakneck dash through the snow was sapping their strength. Riki was tired before charging off away from the group, the aches in his arms and legs were only getting louder, the snow was clumping itself in his fur more and more.
“Wahhhh!” Riki shouted, feeling panic once more.
“Keep it together and just keep running!” Reyn’s words barely registered to the Nopon. He could tell Reyn was trying his hardest to not panic. But then from out of the haze, a third voice shouted.
“Reyn! Riki! Stop!” Turning while charging forward, a third figure came forth from the blizzard. Another ally in their quest, Melia Antiqua, princess of the High Entia.
“Melly! Riki so happy!”
“No time, we need to move!”
“Listen to me, there is a cliff ahead. We must turn back.”
“But Melia-!” Reyn started to explain. The thumping footfalls of their pursuing foe said all that was needed. The trio spun towards the oncoming monster. Its outline loomed like a mountain barrelling towards them. Riki’s flight instincts rivaled the roars of the wind that still whipped across the plain. But the cliff behind may as well have been a fortress wall. Their retreat blocked, their foe ahead, and options scarce, Riki’s sense of dread grew as the dark shadow continued its headlong rush towards them. The Nopon never felt so out of his element as right now.
Blistering cold and blustering gales, ogres many times his size, the never-ending trek through waist high snow, no Nopon would ever choose to slog through such dangers and discomforts. Riki wanted to simply give up. Stamina gone, hope fleeting, and resolve at an all time low, just lying down and awaiting an inevitable end sounded so enticing.
’Sweet Oka…’ His Wifeypon came to mind once more. The soft pastel pink of her smooth fur, the quick sharp wit of her words, the way she made him feel all-powerful. Those reminders trailed off into dark despair. What would she say if she saw him now?
“If Riki no shape up, Oka leave Riki!” She would waggle a finger right in the Heropon’s face and scold him in front of everyone. She’d mean it too. Riki knew that she was worth so much more. Constant failure and staggering debt kept Riki from providing the life that Oka and their Littlepon deserved. The all-encompassing desire to provide everything he could for his family was what led Riki on this journey. The Village Elder promised that if RIki joined Shulk and the others on their quest to defeat the Mechon then Riki’s debt would be eliminated. Only, he was about to be eliminated instead.
’And Riki no provide if Riki dead.’
“WAAHHH!!!!!! HEROPON RUN FROM NOTHING!!!” The roar scared even him.
The Nopon’s spirit soared, his small chest beat with the drums his ancestors would play. Their war songs sounded in his soul. He offered them a silent prayer as he brandished his Biter. Before he had another chance to lose his confidence, he charged forward. He screamed as he sprinted forth, holding his head and weapon high. He’d survive this battle. He’d care for his children. He would see Oka again!
The orge burst out from the blizzard. Its rage filled eyes immediately locking onto Riki. Riki’s courage held firm as he continued charging. At that moment, Riki felt his most powerful. He embodied a bravery never before felt in his life. The thing readied a quick strike with its gigantic fist. Riki still felt no fear.
An explosive bolt of fire exploded upon its face, a precise shot of Melia’s charged ether magic. Lingering cinders and flames danced about its face as it wildly shook in pain. It provided enough time for Riki to close the gap in his reach to strike the foe directly. He aimed higher than he had before. In the one critical weak spot he believed every creature had.
“CRUSH POW!”
Riki’s desperate attack struck home right in the orge’s crotch. The weighted end of his club beat hard into the soft flesh it found there. The pitiful choking squeal it made sounded far less intimidating than any other noise Riki had heard from it yet.
The ogre crumpled forward on to its knees. Its mouth agape with a mixture of shock and eyes wide in disbelief. The same emotions were mirrored in the Nopon as he looked upon the wild beast. He hadn’t planned for what to do next should his rush succeed.
“Yeah, nice one, furball!!” Reyn encouraged from beyond the way.
“Oh, honestly…” Melia scoffed and shook her head, secretly praising how effective the maneuver had been.
“Riki did it?” The Heropon questioned. The other two charged forward as the beast even more slowly tried to regain its footing.
“Oy, don’t check out now, gramps. This thing’s not dead yet.” Reyn warned as the three squared off against the now incapacitated foe.
“Together now!” Melia commanded whilst summoning forth her trusty electric elemental.
The fighting spirit of his friends again brought Riki back to his senses. He looked from one to the other as he noticed the expressions on their faces. Their eyes burned with a sense of hope and determination as they stood poised and ready to fight what had once appeared to be an insurmountable foe. It may have been the adrenaline, or the aura of static tingling through his fur from Melia’s elemental, but Riki felt doubly pumped standing beside them in that moment. Shedding the fear of falling here in this realm of ice and cold Riki hoisted his weapon up too. A powerful sense of camaraderie gripped his heart. Riki remembered that wasn’t fighting alone, he had his friends.
The fight pressed on and on. With three agile targets surrounding and disorienting the uncoordinated oaf, its swings went wild. Riki, Reyn, and Melia deftly moved in and around its wide telegraphed swings. Finding its weak spots weren’t an issue with Reyn holding its attention most of the time. Melia’s expertise at range allowed her to barrage it from safety. Meanwhile, Riki did what he did best and became the biggest nuisance he could. His personal brand of secret Nopon special moves designed to whittle down enemies and support allies harmonized perfectly with the others.
What was once a seemingly insurmountable wall of muscle was quickly routed under their combined assault. At last, the orge screamed out its death throes as it tumbled to the snowy ground and ceased moving entirely. The corpse quickly faded into its elementary ether particles that would eventually be reabsorbed by the Bionis.
Despite the victory, the three heroes had been worn down. Riki eyed his friends as they panted and huffed. Streams of heat fogged from their breathes as they knelt in the snow. The endorphins streaming about their bodies brought smiles to their faces as they regarded one another. Finally it was Riki to break the silence.
“Everyone do good!”
“Ha! What’re you celebrating for? You're the fuzzball that got us into this mess in the first place.” Reyn said, tossing a handful of snow at the celebrating Nopon.
“Meh! Meh! Reyn like wet blanket, smelly like wet Volf too!”
“How about I sock you in the… Know what? I'm just going to forget about it.”
“Oh my, Reyn. Finally showing a little maturity?” Melia teased him, with a little giggle of her own.
“Ha! Just too tired to care right now.” The buff Homs responded. That response sobered Melia right up.
“We must not lose focus. We need to meet up with the others and get to shelter expediently. There could be disastrous consequences if we don't soon exit this storm.”
“Ahhh, come on. Just a minute.”
“No, Reyn. This is quite serious.” The princess rose from the snow as gracefully as ever. Riki regarded her tenacity and strength with awe as he tried to stand as well. He had forgotten about the chill in his bones but it was soon made clear that he too was nearing his limit. No, rather he had flung himself wildly past his limits. The reverie of their victory was quickly fading as this new problem, or rather their old problem, presented itself once more.
“Riki follow Melly. Reyn get moving!” The Nopon barked aloud as he shakily stood up.
“Don’t you spout off like you can give me orders!” He rose nonetheless. “So where do we go?”
“To the tower. We should be able to meet up with everyone there.”
“Then let’s put a hustle to the muscle!” He rolled a shoulder and strolled off into the storm. As he turned, Riki felt an odd twist in his gut. Some piece of him felt wrong. An odd sense of dread he couldn’t place chilled him more than the cold and it only got worse as Reyn trudged through snow further away. It clicked a second too late.
“Reyn! The cliff!!” The Nopon scampered after his friend. Falling flakes peppered his face as he flung forward. Reyn’s feet slipped out from under him as snow gave way under his boot falls. Riki leaped. Wings extended far as they would allow.
He looped around Reyn’s waist to halt him from falling further. Loose powder scraped around them as their limbs floundered. Rolling snow drifts dragged them deeper. Try as he might, Riki knew they were slipping closer to the ledge. No amount of frantic yanking on the heavy Hom stopped them completely.
“Riki, let me go. Otherwise we’ll both go over.” Reyn said.
“Heropon Riki refuse!”
“No time to be stubborn, old man!”
“Riki will save Reyn!” The Nopon resolved as he doubled his effort again.
“Reyn, Riki, grab hold!” Above he looked at Melia. She had anchored her spear in at the top of the slope and held her arm outstretched for the two of them. With Riki’s wings wrapped around Reyn, he had no way to reach for her.
“Reyn, jump!” He did. And Riki tossed him up the slope. It wasn’t far, but it was enough. His friends clasped hands. The Nopon smiled. Even as he slid down the slope away from them. He hadn’t the strength to hold anymore, but knowing that Reyn made it was enough.
“Riki!”
“Oy, furball!”
Suddenly, Riki was falling through the frozen air.
-----
Riki woke to chirping birds. Sleepily, he blinked open his eyes. Effervescent light trails were flowing down from between the fronds above him. The glittering dust particles swirled about the beams in chaotic patterns and vortices. Bugs buzzed in the hollow recesses of the wood and bark about him. Another bird chattered as it flew past him. It settled on a branch with its flock. As he breathed in and out, familiar odors of dirt and earth stirred memories in him. He knew this place, Frontier Village. This was his home.
He stood up from resting and became aware of how light his limbs felt. The chills and aches of his journey had vanished. Left in their place was the gentle warmth of a Makna Forest afternoon. This was Apex Lake, he realized. A popular napping spot of his at the top of the great tree that housed all Nopon.
A Rainbow Bug skittered across around his legs with vibrance and plenty of life. Riki tried to recall the last time he had seen one and realized that it was not since leaving on his journey with his friends. The frazzled Nopon reached out a limb towards it. The insect zipped off towards the lake and out of sight.
Riki looked at his hand. He certainly felt like this was his hand. It looked the same. It moved the same. Despite waving it across his eyes, however, he still didn't believe that this was real. Nothing he recognized felt real. He couldn't believe he was home when his last memory was plummeting through frigid air.
“Riki no understand.” He said aloud with suspicion.
“What Riki not understand?!” An irked voice from behind him called out. The sudden intrusion to the otherwise solitary moment shocked the already shaken Heropon. He spun on his heels and came face to face with his Wifeypon, Oka, and she looked cross. “Riki bring Oka here! Then Riki ignore! Oka is one who not understand!”
“What! Why Oka here?!” He asked, even further confused about his situation.
“Hmmph. Oka wonders same thing. What Oka sees in Riki is unknown.” Her voice carried an odd sense of scorn. She turned away from him. The Heropon felt his heart ache as she dismissed him. They were only just united and she was already angry. He’d rather brave an entire army of angry Mechon than deal with his Wifeypon’s temper tantrums. He ran after her before she got too far away.
He collided with her back and wrapped his wings about her. She felt heavenly to hold. The way her fur tickled his face stopped him from saying anything yet. She seemed stunned by the sudden gesture, but didn’t try to pull away. Oka felt so real as he embraced her. Real enough to make him question again what his memory told him. Riki was a few more reassurances away from dismissing everything from his journey as a nightmare.
“Sweety Oka, please no leave. Riki need Oka.”
She was silent for another moment longer. Riki hoped she had heard him for those were some of the truest words he’s ever spoken. He didn’t know if he could muster any more strength from his heart to say them again. She was the only other being here to abate his loneliness. And while he was questioning his memory and his whereabouts, Oka had to be the one real thing Riki could rely on.
She turned in his arms. The friction of her skin across his melted Riki. She looked less angry as they met each other’s eyes once again, but the storm of her fury hadn’t completely abated. Still, she hadn’t tried to leave again so Riki counted himself blessed.
“Oka not stay cause Riki ask. Oka stay cause Oka want to.” Her defiance almost caused him to swoon. He tried to take her strength as his own, even if it was directed to him in irritation.
“Riki so happy…” He sighed. The breath he was holding passed beyond his lips. He could have flown with how weightless he felt had he been willing to let go of her.
“Hmmph. Oka glad Riki is. Oka still angry.”
“Sweetypon, why Oka angry? Riki smack-chop anyone mean to Oka!” Riki’s protective instincts reawakened within him.
“Is Riki stupid? Oka angry at Riki!”
“Meh meh!!” The admission pierced his core. All the tingly feelings of holding her faded. “Wha- wha- wha- wha -what!!!?” He pulled away from her enough to look her square on. “Riki no understand! Why Oka mad at Riki?”
“Well, why Riki think?” Her response was curt. Oka’s biting tone ripped through him and down to his core. The myriad of potential reasons clanged about his head. He hadn’t forgotten anything. It wasn’t their anniversary. She hadn’t asked him to bring something, had she? The doubts of whether this was all real or not stirred within him again. He defaulted to his customary answer whenever Oka was mad at him.
“Darling, sweet Oka. Riki so very, very sorry. Whatever Riki did, Riki no want to hurt Oka! Please forgive Riki!” Her angry yet beautiful face became obscured with tears. The green and pink blurs warped before his eyes as he tried not to cry.
Her contempt never sat well with him. Riki never tried to make her upset and yet despite all of his efforts, he screwed up again and again. Usually though he knew exactly what he did, or didn’t, do. As long as held her near, he believed that he could make it right. He wasn’t willing to let her go until she was no longer mad at him. Nothing was going to get in between them and their reunion now. Whatever happened, she was here and he was here. Riki would never leave her again.
’Again…’ The Heropon thought as an odd memory came back to the surface of his mind. The war against the Mechon threat and the brave heroes attempting to save the Bionis. His comrades, all of them with their quirks and habits. Their dreams and pasts. The sum of what made them unique. He had been with them. Riki had left Frontier Village to go with them. He had already left Oka once.
He finally realized that must be why Oka was mad. Leaving her must have hurt her as much as it hurt him, if not more. Riki’s realization calmed him down some, but that would be enough to fix things. He wasn’t quite sure he could.
Riki blinked away his tears before turning up to face her. The dancing temper still waltzed in her eyes. To Riki, however, Oka simply looked sad. Their first meeting in months and it was devoid of any sweetness. She felt bitter and he felt guilty. Riki so desperately wanted to pull her close to him once more and whisper in her ears all the things he missed about her, to promise that he’d do better. Riki started to but could feel the icy aura once more. She didn’t want to be close to him right now. She wanted to know why Riki thought she was angry.
“Riki know Riki left Oka,” He started, trying to understand her feelings. “Riki know Riki left Littlpons. Riki thought ‘bout Oka and Littlepons every day. Riki wanted to fly home and see Oka very badly.”
“Then why Riki not?” Riki could feel the depth of her pain in her words. “Riki leave Oka and Littlepons! Riki really thinks Riki is forgiven easily?”
“No, Riki knows Oka angry. But Riki needed to leave. Riki thought Oka understood. Oka told Riki Oka would be fine.”
“Well, Oka wasn't!” She knocked his wings from her as she danced in frustration. She marched a couple steps away. Riki didn't follow after her.
She held herself. The trailing shadows of branches far above wove up and down her body. Her soft coral pink fur looked muted beneath the shade. A far cry from the vibrant glow she usually held. Finally, he took the time to observe her fully. She looked like she had lost some weight. Her beautiful mane and locks, which were usually kempt, looked matted and frayed. Signs of her own struggles and battles while Riki had been away. Even now, Riki believed she was the most beautiful Nopon in the whole of Bionis.
“Riki sorry, Oka.” Was all he could say. “Riki knows how strong Oka is. Oka is strongest Nopon, stronger even than Heropon Riki! Riki knows this!” His voice was quivering. He wanted her to ease her burden if just a little.
“But Riki knows it not easy. Riki knows it not okay. If Oka needs Riki, Heropon will rush over!”
He smiled at her as she turned to look at her over her shoulder. This display, as heartfelt as it was, would not have been enough to cure all the hurt in her heart. But it was a start as for the first time her eyes held a longing for him in return
“Sweety Oka. Riki no smart, but Riki surely-sure that Riki lovey-dovey Oka. Riki do anything for Oka! Oka only have to ask.”
He paced towards her slowly. Her mood remained hard to identify fully but she at least seemed open to him approaching. Her eyes never left his. The unbearable distance between the two of them eroded slowly over a minute as Riki steadily moved forward. Soon, he was within reach of her. They sat just a few centri away from one another. Riki held his arms out wide for her in invitation. His heart told him to lurch forward and grab her, but his head knew to be patient. Oka still was mad at him after all.
“Riki still dummy-dumb.” She huffed, but the insult was devoid of anger. It was far from the first time Oka had called him such for years. Hopefully, she will call him that for years to come.
The magnetic pull of their love finally brought them together. The moment her weight finally pressed into him was the most perfect instant in his life. Finally, his wings gripped around her. Finally, he could hold her close. Riki felt the slow settling as tension seeped from her. Her fur tickled his own as they mingled in close proximity. Riki nuzzled his Wifeypon as he relished in finally returning to Oka.
The minutes passed. The passage of time only counted out in what he missed most about Oka. The Heropon couldn't settle on one thing. The more he contemplated the more he recalled. Ultimately, it was simply Oka he wanted. And she was here.
’Riki’ll never leave Oka again!’ He vowed to himself.
“Riki seriously do anything for Oka?” Her voice was soft. A whisper that hoped to not break the reverence of the moment.
“Very serious!” He responded intensely at the same volume.
“Then Riki promise Oka Riki’ll come home soon.” Her request took him back. The oddity stretched the silence from intimate to awkward. He stuttered as he finally responded.
“What's Oka mean? Riki right here now.”
“No. Riki not here. Not really.” She said. Sorrow stuck to her words like bitter honey. He pulled her tighter once more and tried to shut out any doubts he had about the truth of her words.
“N-n-no. Riki really-truly here! Oka very, very mean to Riki!” She snorted. The desperation in his plea felt pathetic even to Riki.
“Riki is Heropon.” She said. “Heropon on journey to save everyone. That’s why Riki left.”
“Oka…” He sighed into her neck. Riki didn’t want to hear his Wifeypon say that. His doubt on whether this was real was quickly becoming a certainty, but that certainty didn’t bring any comfort to Riki’s heart. He just wanted to hold her, yet she was completely right. Just as she often was.
The oddities he had noticed before returned to his awareness. There was still not a single other Nopon in sight. Not even their Littlepon were there when Oka would have never left them alone for this long. This Apex Lake only seemed like home. Its recreation was a paltry and stale facsimile of what his home truly was. It didn’t stand up to scrutiny and now that Riki was aware of the inconsistencies, he couldn’t unsee them.
And even as he held Not Oka before him, he knew that even she wasn’t real. This Not Oka had only been a wonderful distraction. She had almost convinced him to forget his mission.
“Oka knows Riki miss Oka…” She said. Her voice quivered with emotion. “But Oka knows Riki has important job to do.”
“But Riki just want to be with Oka.”
“And Riki will.” She finally turned to face him once again. The sparkling gems of tears shone in her eyes. “But doesn’t Riki have somewhere else to be right now?” She cupped his cheek with a kind and gentle touch. The Heropon leaned further into the gentle touch.
“Riki miss Oka…” He still complained, not ready to let go of this fantasy.
“Oka could give Riki stern talking to? Maybe knock sense into Riki once and for all.” She laughed at her jest. Riki couldn’t stop his cheeks from twisting up into a smirk.
“Maybe Riki needs a talking to.” He followed up. Her suggestion sounded like a great excuse to stay with her for a while longer. The way he figured it was that if Oka started yelling, she would never stop. Just like the real Oka, however, this one was too smart for that.
“No, Oka know exactly what Riki need.” Her words were snide as she gave Riki a knowing look.
“What Riki need?” He asked back. She inched her face closer to his, the hand about his cheek pulled him down to meet her. Riki let himself be dragged to her. Her lovely eyes never left his. As the mated pair of Nopons leaned closer, their lips found the other’s. Riki kissed his Wifeypon. His wings cupped around the back of her head, trying to hold onto the moment for everything it was worth. The two locked together for just a moment longer, and when Oka pulled away, Riki let her go. She backed away from his arms. Riki held his arms out towards her knowing that she wasn’t coming back.
But then again, Oka had never been here. This Oka was simply a beautiful and gorgeous illusion and nothing more. The real Oka was somewhere else. His Oka was somewhere else waiting for him to return.
Riki could only watch her take step after step backwards. A sad smile on her face and a painful longing in her eyes, yet she was still the most beautiful Nopon he ever laid his eyes on. Real or not, that would never change. Riki finally accepted that he couldn’t stay here any longer. Somewhere was a world that needed saving. And somewhere in that world was Oka. He pulled in a deep breath as he settled his nerves. This dream had been wonderful, but he was needed elsewhere. He readied himself to face the world again.
He spun in a circle before posing, pointing the thumb of his wings back his way. He shot Oka one last smile, one full of his brimming, characteristic confidence.
“Leave everything to Riki! Riki’ll save the world and see Oka very soon!” She giggled, it fulfilled every need he had.
“Oh, Riki… Oka already know that.” Her smile faded. The world faded. The green of Makna Forest shimmered into inky blackness. Only the light of the sun above remained overhead as the illusion dropped away into the abyss. Riki found himself floating in the ether, unsure of what to do or where to go. He turned back to the pinprick of light that drew him to look above.
He reached a wing towards it. A pleasant warmth dropped down from it. It felt positively heavenly. And as he reached for it more and more it began feeling better and better. He wanted nothing more than to surrender himself to it and lose himself in that light forever. Until someone called to him through the darkness.
“What is Riki doing sleeping!? Wake up!”
-----
Riki’s shot open. The searing cold of snow ripped straight through his fur. The sudden and immediate discomfort of being surrounded by the frozen flakes made the Nopon so horridly angry. He flailed all of his limbs about. Sweeping motions pushed the mounds of powder away as the Heropon hoisted himself to his feet. The toss up with the snow reignited the weariness in limbs. The aches of fighting and hiking through this hellish landscape reignited in force. The Nopon kicked another mound of snow to vent his anger.
“Riki!”
“Oy! Furball! You alright?” The voice of familiar faces pulled him out of his slump. Reyn and Melia were calling to him from above. As he looked skyward, the last of his anger melted away. Ethereal lights danced across the sky. The green and purple winds raced each other in the atmosphere. The storm’s eye provided an uninterrupted view of the sky. The Aurora he had loved had returned. They had never left he realized as the clouds had only obscured them.
“Hey, Old timer! Can hear us!” Reyn called again. Riki looked up the cliff he fell from. The bank had only been about five metres tall. The faces of his party members looked down at him. He waved at them.
“Riki A-OK!” He shouted. Melia noticeably sighed in relief. Reyn just shook his head.
“Don't scare us like that, Riki!” He started.
“Meh!” Riki just scoffed and looked out across the way. The reflective snow was blinding as it mirrored the dancing swirls of colors that danced in the skies overhead. He shielded his eyes as he walked forward. The light breeze still sapped his warmth, but at least the scenery was more interesting to look at.
This mountain really was beautiful when he could see it in its entire majesty. The fresh, fallen snow smoothed the world of its cracks and ridges. There was a cleanliness and freedom to the world as it rested before the second half of the storm arrived. If it was always like this, Riki might have thought it was the most peaceful place they have traveled yet. But he couldn’t forget about the snow, that dreadfully chilly snow. Riki would never find peace where it snowed.
Far off at the horizon he spied something. A tall structure that rose from the banks of white. It was gray. A completely alien color in this world of white. An oddity even to Riki.
“Riki see something out there!” He shouted up to his companions as he pointed and hopped with excitement.
“I believe that might be the tower that Alvis mentioned.” Melia yelled.
“For real! We're so close. We can get there before the storm comes back!”
“What about the others?” Melia asked, worried about the state of their friends.
“Unlike our resident volleyball here, they're not going to fall down a hill.” Riki stomped in frustration from Reyn’s insult.
“Meh! Riki should’ve let Reyn fall!”
“Heads up, furball. I'm coming down.” The large Homs stood up and gauged the drop.
It wasn't far, and the soft snow would be enough to cushion his impact. Even Riki survived without serious injury and Reyn knew he was far tougher than the Nopon. The warrior figured that he’d be fine, until Melia grasped his arm.
“Reyn, perhaps we could just walk down.” She pointed off to the right where the incline was far shallower. A far easier trek than base jumping in her mind.
“Ah. Melia. You're no fun.”
“This isn't supposed to be fun.”
The three started off towards Ose Tower. They spotted some footsteps in the fallen snow. A quick count showed that they were likely the rest of their party. They hiked on. Reyn spent the whole time stroking his own ego on how handily he took out the ogre. Reminiscing on the battle they all were a part of. Riki remained silent. His thoughts were on home once more. He wondered what Oka was doing right at that moment. He wondered whether she was thinking about him as well.
He still wanted to see her again. Thinking of her persuaded him to turn and look back up the mountain in the direction of home. Somewhere past all those snow drifts was the path back to Makna Forest but not just that, the rest of the Bionis. There was an entire Titan of people: Homs, Nopon, and High Entia. Just the three of them here now represented each of the races that called the Bionis their home. Suddenly, he felt very small. A shiver ran down his body and limbs but he suspected that it wasn’t just from the cold and ice.
“Riki! Is everything alright?” Melia’s voice shouted across the way. The call pulled Riki from his meditation and back to the present where his two companions stood ahead waiting for him. The trio made good distance towards the tower and were even close enough to see the remainder of the party. Their small shapes appeared to be heading towards where the three of them were.
The Heropon smiled as he spied them. Everyone made it through the storm unharmed, it seemed. Riki couldn’t quantify the relief he felt knowing that his friends and allies were alright. Time and time again the others have proved to be quite reliable in a pinch, level-headed and strong. They were all very unlike Riki, himself.
“What’s wrong, Riki? We should make our way to the tower before we stop to rest. ” Melia had walked up to him as he sat mulling.
“Riki want to save Bionis.” He said. Reyn and Melia must have noticed the uncharacteristically serious tone of his voice. The two looked at one another before starting to laugh aloud. Riki joined in a moment later as the absurdity of what he said dawned on him.
“Man, what a joker. What's a fuzzball like you gonna do? You should work on not needing to be saved before worrying about saving anyone else.” The Hom walked up and rustled Riki’s mane. The rough hands dragged Riki around a couple of seconds before Riki could disengage.
“Riki will show Reyn! Riki will be greatest Heropon of all time!” He said with a shout. They both laughed at him some more as he jumped up and down in frustration.
Melia smiled sweetly as she stood once more. “Well, mighty Heropon Riki, I shall continue to observe you on your journey with great interest. But may I suggest that our journey continue lest we are once more caught up in the storm.”
“Meh! Meh! Riki hate the cold more than smelly Reyn! Sidekicks follow Riki!” The Heropon shouted as he charged off once more in the direction of Ose Tower and the rest of their party.
“Hey, you old man! Get back here and say that to my face!”
“Oh, Reyn. You shouldn’t allow him to get you so worked up!” Melia ran off after her companions.
’Riki not alone.’ He remembered as he sprinted towards the rest of his friends. The wind surely started picking back up. The brief reprieve from the storm was coming to a close and soon the blizzard would return in full force. The Heropon shivered away the chill that came with the breeze and redoubled his efforts to seek shelter before the storm returned.
Riki’s reunion with the party consisted of equal relief and admonishment. The Heropon apologized for the worry he caused the party by sprinting off on his own. The seven of them all piled into the Tower as quickly as they could with the storm just on their heels. Riki lagged behind just a moment to look skyward. The Aurora flashed its brilliant show still in defiance with the coming clouds and weather. With the one last memory burned into his mind he ducked into the structure along with his friends.
Riki quickly settled into a ball in the corner. Surprising no one, he was beat and wanted to drift off to sleep as soon as possible. Sharla graciously came to give him a glance over to confirm that his aches and pains were nothing serious, though she also took the time to give him an earful about wandering off on his own. Trying to stay awake for the full tirade proved to be much too hard of a task for Riki and Sharla soon realized that it wasn’t worth the breath. She did wish him sweet dreams as she left however, a gesture that Riki hadn’t expected but was grateful for nonetheless.
Of course, the sweetest dream he could think of at that moment was again about his darling Wifeypon, Oka. And how he would describe the dancing sky lights that were almost as beautiful as she is.
