bravenewworld | A Well Earned Celebration

[The battle was over and the god Reshiram defeated, driven away by the aid of Union and its allies. The city was safe, by and large, and as the news spread throughout the peoples of the tundra, they began streaming back into the settlement in droves. Dirty, ash-coated faces were filled with relief and gratitude when they saw that it wasn't just a rumor and that their home had indeed been spared. Not everyone was so lucky, but they'd weathered worse, of course. The people of Glacier endured, as they would always endure, and they were also a people that repaid their debts. And they most certainly all agreed that they owed their rescuers a debt.

So, as night fell after the battle, a great celebration was prepared in the center of Glacier. A wide square was cleared away in a matter of hours, and the people gathered what they could in a show of thanks. Tables of food, bonfires towering into the night sky to keep out the autumn chill, and throngs of cheering wellwishers lined the area. Warriors of glacier, men carrying swords and women all bearing axes offered enthusiastic handshakes and claps on the back. Music of all kinds was played, though tribal tunes full of horn and percussion, chanting and yodeling, and even some brass groups dominated the soundscape.

A platform for various elders was set up, and they offered speeches, of course...but those were somehow dwarfed by the presence of the divine beings that were waiting silently for the proceedings to end. Some of the gods that had come to the aid of the war parties had apparently decided to stay, though their reasons were as mysterious as they themselves. The humans would have their time, and the Servants would mingle freely throughout the evening.

Food, of course, is set out in piles. Meat, fish, arctic berries, and various pastries and the like line table after table. A smorgasbord of Glacier specialties, each with a new and unique flavor all their own, and some (such as the stew) possessing a smell that only a native could probably endure. Akutaq in particular seems to stand out among the worst offenders, but the Glacier natives seem rather fond of it, and offer it to their rescuers with great gusto.

And the rewards do not stop at simple meals. either. As the speeches begin to wind down, a woman some might find familiar walks up onto the stage carrying a singularly massive trunk and dropping it down onto the wood with a heavy thud.]

Southerners! You have done a great deed this day! We, the people of Glacier, would like to thank you and honor your sacrifice! Few would do as you have done, coming to the aide of strangers against the might of that dragon...and you have accomplished something we did not think possible. To that end, we would like to present you with the first of many gifts, a token of our gratitude and a promise that should you need it, we will come to your defense in a time of need!

[And then with a sharp kick, she cracks open the trunk and reveals a veritable treasure trove of three different stones to be distributed by her subordinates.]

Rest well, and enjoy the festivities! You are welcome here, for as long as you like! Eat, drink, and be merry within our halls!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It-It's okay, really! They're not even that bad now, since Miss Chansey's been stuffing me full of Softboiled eggs...

[To be honest, he's not minding her patting him down tonight. Much like the trip to Sanctuary, he's found that he's missed Honoka during his trip to Glacier. So, it's rather comforting to have her here by his side once again.]

I'd say that it's a shame that you missed the fighting, but considering who we had to fight in the last battle...

[She fusses, some, fixing his shirt and probably smoothing his hair, for what little good it does. Pausing, she frowns.]

Wait-- who were you fighting...?

This really angry white dragon God and his human followers.

[He states it so calmly, no different than if he had just told her that they just dealt with a stampeding horde of Bidoofs.]

[She stares at him. And honestly expects him to claim he's joking for a long few seconds.]

[When he doesn't she sits back on her haunches and looks stunned, shaking her head.]

Well, jeez!! You're lucky you're not more banged up than you are, then!!

[She's not scolding him for getting hurt; that's an improvement, in his book.]

Yeah, no kidding. It's a good thing that the other Gods came in to help us.

[She thought about it, but what's done is done, and she could have been along to help, so being that she wasn't she feels more responsible than in a mood to scold.]

Other Gods? Wow, I sure missed something big, didn't I.

Really big - and kinda scary, too.

[Right then smiles reassuringly.] We still won, though, and we saved the people here. I even got Lord Darkrai to show some positive emotion!

And...it's good to see you in person again, so there's that.

From my singular experience with Gods, trust me, I believe you.

[Blink.]

Lord Darkrai-- as in, a God? You bonded with a God?

um...kind of? He's not quite as scary as everyone says he is, even if he's still rather creepy by staying in those shadows over there.

[Right gestures to the very thick shadow around a clump of trees on the edge of the clearing.]

And he's not the only one who showed up. Lady Cresselia, this big thunder-bird god... A whole bunch of them came and helped us!

Yes but, "Lord" still designates that you consider him to potentially be a God, I don't think "God" has to mean "scary beyond reas-- wait, he's still over there??

[The whole of her kind of prickles, the wing-like attachments on her head flattening back against her hair.]

Yeah! In fact, all the Gods are still here, celebrating with us.

[He gestures to some of the other gods - most notably Suicine receiving tummy rubs from a horde of small kids.]

It's really awesome, isn't it?

Celebrating. With us.

[She opens her mouth and doesn't quite remember to close it.]

[...okay, Right does take notice of her slack-jaw reaction to that.]

Uh...you okay, Honoka?

[She bites her lip and smiles, really slowly, turning toward him.]

That's. So. Cool!

[And that just earns her a huge, beaming grin from Right in return.]

I know! Isn't it?! This is just like I've been dreaming about for years!

[She settles beside him, hunching her shoulders and still smiling.]

So what are they like...?

Well...

[Right pauses to think for a moment.]

Darkrai's still a little scary, but not quite as scary as people were claiming. He's at least happy about what we've been doing.

[Of course, he feels slightly guilty in not telling her as to who he meant by 'we'.]

[ She assumes he just means we as in the Enlightened and Earthkin, and doesn't even think twice about it. ]

Well that's-- good, I guess! I mean if he wasn't I guess he wouldn't be celebrating with us. You. It's like every time I leave you guys do something fancy.

Didn't mean to keep leaving you behind, though...

[And then his eyes light up with an Idea.] Hey...maybe next time I go off on an expedition, you can come with me. It might be a while since the next one, but I bet it'll be more fun if we go together.

[ She waves a hand dismissively at first, chuckling at him. It wasn't that she felt like they were leaving her behind, it was just poor timing. ]

[ And then he suggests that, and something about it just flusters her. She goes pink(er) in the face and fidgets. ]

I mean-- sure. Especially now that I've evolved, I should be able to help this time.

[Right lights up like a Salvation tree upon hearing that answer. For some reason, it's one of the best things he's heard all night. Of course, he's so thrilled about her agreement that he doesn't take much notice of her flustering.]

Great! I'll let you know when I'm 100% better, then, and we'll plan something together.

A Well Earned Celebration

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