Journey to South Nova
Chapter. 2: By the End of This
The next day, all eight were standing in front of Bate’s home. The sun was starting to rise, and Bate motioned the five around him. He kneeled down and gave his speech before they took off. Gordon and Ramset stood behind and listened.
“This is going to test everything that I’ve taught you in my class.” He started, “And by the end of this journey, you might even gain yet another skill in your arsenal of flight. But…something like this can’t be mastered over night. Snow, blizzards, freezing temperatures…..every single one of these things are your wings greatest weakness."
Bate stood up and gripped his cane with uneasiness. He looked up and focused on the clear skies above.
“When we fly, there’s going to be a moment where you sense the weather changing. You may not understand now, but once you feel it, you’ll know we’re in South Nova. The journey will be long and difficult if you don’t pace and reserve your energy. If any of you feel numbness or discomfort during our flight, tell me.”
The group nodded, and Bate continued,
“It usually takes me less than a day to get there, but since I have to consider your speed rate and endurance in colder climates, we will take periodic breaks often so you can warm up. During that time, you will eat, rest and stay by my side- no wandering off. All together, it’ll be around a 2 day journey.”
Ramset and Gordon gave a nod of approval and motioned him to finish,
“Stick close to me. Follow and do everything I have instructed, okay?”
“Yes, Teacher Bate.” The group responded
“Good. You have five minutes until we leave. I want you four to stretch your wings and prepare. If you’re not warmed up before this take off, your wings are going to cramp.”
Bate watched for a minute or so to see if they were following his orders. They did, so the elder focused his attention to Gordon and Ramset.
“You look nervous,” Ramset pointed out.
“I…feel nervous.” He stated, but slightly relaxed when Gordon placed a supportive hand on his shoulder.
“You’re the best of the best, Bate. Calm down and try not to get too stressed over it. We’ve talked to them, and they’ve all agreed to listen to everything you say."
“So there's nothing to worry! Nova knows they know not to cross you.” Ramset playfully nudged his side, giving him a supportive smile as well.
"Let's hope." Bate softly sighed, and walked up to the group to halt their exercise, “We’ll be heading off now, say your goodbyes to Gordon and Ramset.”
The five nodded and gave their respective mentor a hug.
“Be safe,” Ramset said, “And please listen to Bate."
“We will,” Dragato and Falspar said as they hugged him goodbye.
“Stay warm, alright?” Gordon tapped Nonsurat on the head. “We wouldn’t want to head back to Central for another operation.”
Nonsurat giggled a bit and hugged the Gordo, “Don’t worry, I have Teacher Bate looking out for me.”
“I know,” He smiled, “You’ll be well protected.”
Arthur and Meta watched as everyone said goodbye. Meta looked up at his teacher and tugged on his wing. The elder looked down and raised a brow.
Both Puffs slightly looked at each other before giving Bate a hug,
“Thank you for taking us.” They said.
The weariness and unbearable tenseness that’s been accumulating since Bate agreed to take them slowly dispersed, and the elder's eyes softened as he hugged the two back. “You're welcome. It’ll….be nice to show you where I grew up, and I’m sure Atka would love to see you five again.”
Once everyone said their goodbyes, Bate stretched his wings and took a moment to ready himself. He closed his eyes and let the warm Kalmari winds relax and ease his mind.
‘It’ll be okay, Bate,' He said to himself, 'Everything is going to be fine…..'
After a few moments of personal silence to himself, the elder open his eyes and called out for Nonsurat. The little Puff walked forward, and Bate kneeled down to let him get on his back.
“Are you good?” Bate asked once he felt him between the base of his wings.
“I am!” He cheeped with happiness that he gets the chance to fly again. Although he was a bit nervous, visiting another world of Nova was kind of exciting to him. He made sure he tightly held the strap of Bate’s mask and waited as he instructed the others.
“For today, we’ll be flying to the edge of West Nova. This should be fairly easy, so don’t push yourself and fly at your own pace, okay?"
When he saw all four nod, he gave one last glance at Gordon and Ramset before flapping his wings and taking off into the sky. The four eagerly followed and waved goodbye to their mentors before flying behind Bate.
The elder, who relatively flies at a blinding speed, slowed his pace greatly to not tire them out. It….was strange that it’ll take a few days to travel to see Atka. He hoped she’d understand why he was going to be a bit late for their birthday. He figured her seeing the five again will be more than enough to make up for it.
“This is going to test everything that I’ve taught you in my class.” He started, “And by the end of this journey, you might even gain yet another skill in your arsenal of flight. But…something like this can’t be mastered over night. Snow, blizzards, freezing temperatures…..every single one of these things are your wings greatest weakness."
Bate stood up and gripped his cane with uneasiness. He looked up and focused on the clear skies above.
“When we fly, there’s going to be a moment where you sense the weather changing. You may not understand now, but once you feel it, you’ll know we’re in South Nova. The journey will be long and difficult if you don’t pace and reserve your energy. If any of you feel numbness or discomfort during our flight, tell me.”
The group nodded, and Bate continued,
“It usually takes me less than a day to get there, but since I have to consider your speed rate and endurance in colder climates, we will take periodic breaks often so you can warm up. During that time, you will eat, rest and stay by my side- no wandering off. All together, it’ll be around a 2 day journey.”
Ramset and Gordon gave a nod of approval and motioned him to finish,
“Stick close to me. Follow and do everything I have instructed, okay?”
“Yes, Teacher Bate.” The group responded
“Good. You have five minutes until we leave. I want you four to stretch your wings and prepare. If you’re not warmed up before this take off, your wings are going to cramp.”
Bate watched for a minute or so to see if they were following his orders. They did, so the elder focused his attention to Gordon and Ramset.
“You look nervous,” Ramset pointed out.
“I…feel nervous.” He stated, but slightly relaxed when Gordon placed a supportive hand on his shoulder.
“You’re the best of the best, Bate. Calm down and try not to get too stressed over it. We’ve talked to them, and they’ve all agreed to listen to everything you say."
“So there's nothing to worry! Nova knows they know not to cross you.” Ramset playfully nudged his side, giving him a supportive smile as well.
"Let's hope." Bate softly sighed, and walked up to the group to halt their exercise, “We’ll be heading off now, say your goodbyes to Gordon and Ramset.”
The five nodded and gave their respective mentor a hug.
“Be safe,” Ramset said, “And please listen to Bate."
“We will,” Dragato and Falspar said as they hugged him goodbye.
“Stay warm, alright?” Gordon tapped Nonsurat on the head. “We wouldn’t want to head back to Central for another operation.”
Nonsurat giggled a bit and hugged the Gordo, “Don’t worry, I have Teacher Bate looking out for me.”
“I know,” He smiled, “You’ll be well protected.”
Arthur and Meta watched as everyone said goodbye. Meta looked up at his teacher and tugged on his wing. The elder looked down and raised a brow.
Both Puffs slightly looked at each other before giving Bate a hug,
“Thank you for taking us.” They said.
The weariness and unbearable tenseness that’s been accumulating since Bate agreed to take them slowly dispersed, and the elder's eyes softened as he hugged the two back. “You're welcome. It’ll….be nice to show you where I grew up, and I’m sure Atka would love to see you five again.”
Once everyone said their goodbyes, Bate stretched his wings and took a moment to ready himself. He closed his eyes and let the warm Kalmari winds relax and ease his mind.
‘It’ll be okay, Bate,' He said to himself, 'Everything is going to be fine…..'
After a few moments of personal silence to himself, the elder open his eyes and called out for Nonsurat. The little Puff walked forward, and Bate kneeled down to let him get on his back.
“Are you good?” Bate asked once he felt him between the base of his wings.
“I am!” He cheeped with happiness that he gets the chance to fly again. Although he was a bit nervous, visiting another world of Nova was kind of exciting to him. He made sure he tightly held the strap of Bate’s mask and waited as he instructed the others.
“For today, we’ll be flying to the edge of West Nova. This should be fairly easy, so don’t push yourself and fly at your own pace, okay?"
When he saw all four nod, he gave one last glance at Gordon and Ramset before flapping his wings and taking off into the sky. The four eagerly followed and waved goodbye to their mentors before flying behind Bate.
The elder, who relatively flies at a blinding speed, slowed his pace greatly to not tire them out. It….was strange that it’ll take a few days to travel to see Atka. He hoped she’d understand why he was going to be a bit late for their birthday. He figured her seeing the five again will be more than enough to make up for it.
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Artist Comment:
Date: February 21, 2016
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The five warriors say goodbye as they finally head to South Nova!
It should be a simple trip....right?
Date: February 21, 2016
-----------------
The five warriors say goodbye as they finally head to South Nova!
It should be a simple trip....right?
Species © Nintendo/ HAL Laboratory
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem
Interpreted characters created from said species © Rhylem