-Failure-
(Bate / Falspar)
“O-oh…Falspar. Good morning. I…didn’t expect to see you here this early.” Bate spoke as he stepped away from the shrine after paying respects to his fallen comrade and friend. He decided to visit at the break of dawn since he knew his students would probably spend the remaining day up here. To his surprise, however, one of the two appeared to have been quietly waiting while he was finishing up.
“I hope you haven’t been waiting on me for too long….” He apologized since he assumed he'd arrive in the late afternoon.
“It’s fine, Teacher Bate.” Falspar’s voice didn’t contain his usual pep, and quietly made his way to the shrine as well to place something for his teacher. Bate watched as he set down a small bouquet of flowers, and a box of their favorite cereal before getting up to head next to him. “Actually….I sorta knew you’d be here around this time.” He shyly rubbed his head.
“Oh?” Bate shifted his gaze to the warrior.
“Do…ummm…you think we can take a walk?” He spoke and tried to motion him away from the shrine.
Bate silently nodded and tediously made his way down the long flighty of steps, while Falspar kept a close eye on the warrior to make sure he didn’t fall. When the pair finally reached the dirt road that lead to Kalmari forest, Falspar eventually started to speak.
“I was planning on bringing Tula up there. She’s never seen the shrine before, and she’s been quite interested in Teacher Ramset once she saw one of his bombs.”
Bate kept quiet, and listed on to what he had to say.
“Actually, Tula’s been very interested in everyone after the little welcome party we had.” He said, referring to the gathering he and Pyrell held a few days ago to introduce their daughter to everyone. “I was maybe hoping you’d come by later in the afternoon and tell her some stories about him. She can still be a bit shy, so I wanted to her to get to know you and Dragato first….if that’s okay.
“Of course.” Bate nodded, “I’d also like to know a bit more about Tula. Since everyone was introducing themselves that night, a formal, quiet meeting would be nice.”
Falspar slightly smiled when he agreed, and thanked the warrior. “Thank you, Teacher Bate.”
“It’s my pleasure, though….” Bate glanced at the Puff when he knew there was something else on his mind. “I’m assuming that wasn’t all….? Getting up, especially at this time, seems quite troublesome for you, doesn’t it? I’m sure visiting me as a suitable hour would’ve sufficed.”
“I, uhhhh…..” The younger Puff started to stammer when the elder knew. “Y-yeah…I mean, there was something else, but….”
Falspar gave a small sigh and started to lower his voice. “Pyrell and I never told anyone, but the reason why we held the gathering was because Tula ended up hurting herself several days prior.”
Of course, Bate’s attention was caught, and he looked at the Puff in concern. “What do you mean by that? From what?”
“I….well….f-from me, I guess…...” He hung his shoulders in disappointment and told him the story of how they went to the store to pick up ice cream toppings, and asked Tula to wait alone outside. He informed the warrior about how Tula injured herself trying to get to them, and later found out she thought they had abandoned her.
“That’s…troubling to hear. I would have never guessed…..” The elder sadly casted his eyes to his former student. “How is she doing now? I know we haven’t had much of an interaction since the gathering so….”
“She’s still quite very clingy towards the two of us. Even with Alto, Tula prefers having one of us by her side. Even something as simple as eating or sleeping, Tula will worry if one of us isn’t with her.”
“Regarding all she’s been through, I could understand. I’m sure it’ll take a lot of time to get past the old scars.”
“Y-yeah. Though, t-to be perfectly honest, Teacher Bate…..” He paused for a moment and tiredly closed his eyes, when he recalled him seeing her on the floor covered in blood. “Sometimes I think I’m not as suitable or prepared like all the others. Everyone sees me as just some idiot or goof. What if they’re right? What if I mess up again? What if Pyrell and I fail as her parents? She's been through so much already, and someone like me isn’t…..”
Falspar stopped when Bate held out his cane in front of his face to silence him. He tensed up when the stick almost hit him, and didn’t speak a word when Bate lowered it and stood right in front of him. He slightly cowered when Bate firmly placed both hands on his shoulder, though lightened up when he spoke.
“When Ramset took you and Dragato under his wing, he was thinking the exact same thing. I remember him knocking on my door late at night, and telling me he was afraid of taking the two of you in. 2,000 years younger than Gordon and I, he was terrified of failing. He didn’t think he was up for the task of raising the two of you, but…..I think he did an excellent job, don’t you agree?"
Falspar started to tear up from his statement, and reached up to wipe his tears. Bate released his grip from the warrior, and continued to walk.
“And you will do the same. There will be many mistakes and bumps along the way, but if you truly love Tula, they will get better each day. You will learn new things about her little by little, and vice versa. Falspar, you're just starting your journey though parenthood, don’t be too hard on yourself. Nova knows I’ve made mistakes in the past....
From his side, Bate noticed the warrior still sniffling, so he lowered one his talon wings to pat him on the back. “You’ll do fine. You’re Ramset’s student, after all. Just because he was foolish at times, doesn’t mean he didn’t contain the same protective, parental instincts Gordon and I have. We all have it, and you’re no exception.”
Eventually, Falspar’s sniffles die down, and he gave the old warrior a small, confident smile. “Thank you, Teacher Bate. T-thank you for looking out for not only me, but my daughter.”
“I may not have been your primary caretaker, but I will continue to watch over and protect my family."
“I hope you haven’t been waiting on me for too long….” He apologized since he assumed he'd arrive in the late afternoon.
“It’s fine, Teacher Bate.” Falspar’s voice didn’t contain his usual pep, and quietly made his way to the shrine as well to place something for his teacher. Bate watched as he set down a small bouquet of flowers, and a box of their favorite cereal before getting up to head next to him. “Actually….I sorta knew you’d be here around this time.” He shyly rubbed his head.
“Oh?” Bate shifted his gaze to the warrior.
“Do…ummm…you think we can take a walk?” He spoke and tried to motion him away from the shrine.
Bate silently nodded and tediously made his way down the long flighty of steps, while Falspar kept a close eye on the warrior to make sure he didn’t fall. When the pair finally reached the dirt road that lead to Kalmari forest, Falspar eventually started to speak.
“I was planning on bringing Tula up there. She’s never seen the shrine before, and she’s been quite interested in Teacher Ramset once she saw one of his bombs.”
Bate kept quiet, and listed on to what he had to say.
“Actually, Tula’s been very interested in everyone after the little welcome party we had.” He said, referring to the gathering he and Pyrell held a few days ago to introduce their daughter to everyone. “I was maybe hoping you’d come by later in the afternoon and tell her some stories about him. She can still be a bit shy, so I wanted to her to get to know you and Dragato first….if that’s okay.
“Of course.” Bate nodded, “I’d also like to know a bit more about Tula. Since everyone was introducing themselves that night, a formal, quiet meeting would be nice.”
Falspar slightly smiled when he agreed, and thanked the warrior. “Thank you, Teacher Bate.”
“It’s my pleasure, though….” Bate glanced at the Puff when he knew there was something else on his mind. “I’m assuming that wasn’t all….? Getting up, especially at this time, seems quite troublesome for you, doesn’t it? I’m sure visiting me as a suitable hour would’ve sufficed.”
“I, uhhhh…..” The younger Puff started to stammer when the elder knew. “Y-yeah…I mean, there was something else, but….”
Falspar gave a small sigh and started to lower his voice. “Pyrell and I never told anyone, but the reason why we held the gathering was because Tula ended up hurting herself several days prior.”
Of course, Bate’s attention was caught, and he looked at the Puff in concern. “What do you mean by that? From what?”
“I….well….f-from me, I guess…...” He hung his shoulders in disappointment and told him the story of how they went to the store to pick up ice cream toppings, and asked Tula to wait alone outside. He informed the warrior about how Tula injured herself trying to get to them, and later found out she thought they had abandoned her.
“That’s…troubling to hear. I would have never guessed…..” The elder sadly casted his eyes to his former student. “How is she doing now? I know we haven’t had much of an interaction since the gathering so….”
“She’s still quite very clingy towards the two of us. Even with Alto, Tula prefers having one of us by her side. Even something as simple as eating or sleeping, Tula will worry if one of us isn’t with her.”
“Regarding all she’s been through, I could understand. I’m sure it’ll take a lot of time to get past the old scars.”
“Y-yeah. Though, t-to be perfectly honest, Teacher Bate…..” He paused for a moment and tiredly closed his eyes, when he recalled him seeing her on the floor covered in blood. “Sometimes I think I’m not as suitable or prepared like all the others. Everyone sees me as just some idiot or goof. What if they’re right? What if I mess up again? What if Pyrell and I fail as her parents? She's been through so much already, and someone like me isn’t…..”
Falspar stopped when Bate held out his cane in front of his face to silence him. He tensed up when the stick almost hit him, and didn’t speak a word when Bate lowered it and stood right in front of him. He slightly cowered when Bate firmly placed both hands on his shoulder, though lightened up when he spoke.
“When Ramset took you and Dragato under his wing, he was thinking the exact same thing. I remember him knocking on my door late at night, and telling me he was afraid of taking the two of you in. 2,000 years younger than Gordon and I, he was terrified of failing. He didn’t think he was up for the task of raising the two of you, but…..I think he did an excellent job, don’t you agree?"
Falspar started to tear up from his statement, and reached up to wipe his tears. Bate released his grip from the warrior, and continued to walk.
“And you will do the same. There will be many mistakes and bumps along the way, but if you truly love Tula, they will get better each day. You will learn new things about her little by little, and vice versa. Falspar, you're just starting your journey though parenthood, don’t be too hard on yourself. Nova knows I’ve made mistakes in the past....
From his side, Bate noticed the warrior still sniffling, so he lowered one his talon wings to pat him on the back. “You’ll do fine. You’re Ramset’s student, after all. Just because he was foolish at times, doesn’t mean he didn’t contain the same protective, parental instincts Gordon and I have. We all have it, and you’re no exception.”
Eventually, Falspar’s sniffles die down, and he gave the old warrior a small, confident smile. “Thank you, Teacher Bate. T-thank you for looking out for not only me, but my daughter.”
“I may not have been your primary caretaker, but I will continue to watch over and protect my family."
-End Drabble-
Artist Comment:
Date: N/A
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Date: N/A
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Species © Nintendo/ HAL Laboratory
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem