Closure and a Bizarre Ritual

Scarlet discovered that she was Rose through her memories and from her mother’s apparition. Her parents were both dead, but her brother, Blackwood, was still alive. She found out her aunt and cousin were not blood related at all. She was overwhelmed by this new information. Unable to accept the truth at first, she ran away to have some time for herself to think it over. Later, she became one with Rose. She still felt she was still missing some memories.

The Cosmocrats grew restless as they were still looking for the escaped convicts. They had entered the townspeople’s homes unannounced and patrolled around the city perimeters, hoping to spot them. This caused a stir in the public’s view of the Cosmocrats, some had grown to dislike them. In an effort to capture Scarlet and Blackwood, hand drawn photos of them were used for the wanted posters. The posters were plastered on the walls.

Blackwood tore one poster and frowned.

“Tsk, they should have drawn me on my right side, I look better that way.”

“Let me see…” Scarlet looked at it and said, “They really drew my eyes too big.” She laughed.

Pim came in and yawned wide.

Scarlet’s face lit up happily! She exclaimed, “Pim!” She lifted him up.

“Woo,” He nuzzled her cheek.

“Aww Pim can draw better wanted posters than the Cosmocrats.” She patted his head.

“Woo, woo!” Pim agreed.

Scarlet then remembered about Pim’s mom. She walked over to an open area vacant area free of strong smells.

“Pim, come over here!”

“Woooooo.” He was running to her with his hooves clomping.

Flen was watching in the distance. He was busy sharping his sword with a stone while making occasional glances at Scarlet.

Scarlet blushed a little after catching his gaze.

When Pim came over, she pulled out his mother’s clump of fur.

He was curious at first, rubbing his furry cheek on it. He was even using his hoof to play with it. As he was enjoying himself, he then caught a whiff of the familiar scent. He dug his nose deeper into the fur.

Sniff Sniff Sniff

He then ran around in a circle, looking to find something or someone.

“Pim…” She rubbed his soft fluffy cheeks. “That’s your mother’s fur.”

Pim peered over not as playful as before.

“Yes, your mother.”

Blackwood gently pat Scarlet on the shoulder.

“I can probably help translate a little bit.”

He locked his eyes with Pim.

“Hi Pim.” He patted Pim’s back.

“Woo, woo.”

“What Scarlet was trying to tell you, is that fur is from your mother.”

Pim perked his ears up, intrigued Blackwood could understand him. “Mm..mother?”

“Yes, she said she was sorry that she abandoned you and was happy you were able to live with people who cared about you.”

Pim leaped onto the fur with large teardrops free falling from his eyes.

“Mother is sorry… I forgive you.” Pim sniffled.

“Where is Mother..?” Pim asked.

Blackwood’s face saddened, he forgot to mention that part first.

I don’t want to break this little guy’s heart. He needs to know though.

“She’s no longer in this world.”

Wooa Wooooa Woooa Pim wailed, he wobbled his little hooves. Scarlet jumped toward him to hug him while stroking his back. She was crying, too.

Shhhhh Shhh “Everything will be okay,” Scarlet reassured him.

Pim cried himself to sleep.

Scarlet whispered, “I hope he’s okay.”

Flen placed his hand on her shoulder, “It’ll take some time.”

The group then heard some drumming sounds.

Booom Bum Bum… Booom Bum Bum… Booom Booom Boom Booom Booom Boom

Blackwood followed the noise first and he was watching activities down below the grassy hills. He waved Scarlet and the others over to come see this with him.

“What are they doing?” Blackwood asked.

Flen commented, “It appears to be some sort of ritual.”

Scarlet looked around, not sure what to make of it. She then pointed, “It’s Theo.”

Theo was in the center sitting on the throne. On the table next to him, there were so many glasses of half emptied green liquid. Some of the liquid spilled on the ground creating a green puddle.

He was unconscious with thorns wrapped around him. There was blood trickling from where the thorns were puncturing him.

The Cosmocrats surrounded him in a circle while chanting loudly.

HE IS THE ONE! HE IS THE ONE! HE IS THE ONE!

The drumbeats were insanely fast, the drummer Cosmocrat broke out a sweat.

Babababababa boomboomboomboom Babababababa boomboomboomboom

There was a purple haze accumulating from their chants and it was transferring over to him.

Valerius popped in from behind them. He said, “I've been researching about them through one of our spies. She's been pretending to be a goblin so she can access files for me.”

Scarlet figured it out.

So that's the goblin I saw who was with Valerius.

Valerius continued, “They are using him as a vessel. The Elder most likely wants to claim his body for his own. We must stop them before they complete the ritual.”

There were many more Cosmocrats coming to surround Theo.

“They most likely sensed us.” Grandmother Mimi peeked in.

“And to think you wanted to have all of the fun without me...” She smiled widely.

The drummer Cosmocrat was playing his heart out. With every beat, the leaves were shaking.

Booom Bum Bum… Booom Bum Bum… Booom Booom Boom Booom Booom Boom

Pim leaned onto Scarlet’s feet, he was awakened by the loud noises.

Valerius said, "I'll bring more help." Don't act out of haste."

Blackwood’s boar, Soka grunted and snorted as he rubbed its nose.

“Are you ready, my man?” Blackwood chuckled.

Soka nodded, pointing its tusk up and down, “Heck yes, let's go get them!”

The Cosmocrats noticed the rustling, Blackwood came down sliding while he was riding on his boar. Roin, the black bird, was debating if it wanted to participate or not. After some thought, he flapped his wings landing on Blackwood’s shoulder.

Blackwood saw Roin, “Nice!”

The Cosmocrat immediately stopped chanting and looked over at him.

“Hey, tough crowd, tough crowd.” He waved awkwardly.

“You locked me up for all of these years without any proof!”

He cracked his knuckles, “I need to show you, my gratitude.”

Flen saw Blackwood beginning a fight by himself and blurted out, "This Sir is an idiot!"

Didn’t he just hear Valerius, to not do anything rash!

Flen slid down the rough hill on the heel of his shoes. He pulled out his sword and raised it up, pointing to the Cosmocrats.

He shouted at Blackwood, “Sir, I’m not letting you die for no reason.”

Blackwood smirked, “Who said anything about dying? I can beat them!”

The Elder Cosmocrat moved farther from the others and his demeanor changed, "Flen! You traitor…. How dare you point your weapon at me?!"

When Valerius passed by Scarlet, he mentioned something to her, “The Cosmocrats absorb humans’ energies to become more powerful. Every single Memory Book existed will fuel their power to fight us, we need to destroy the source to weaken them.” 

He directed her to go to the Memory Bank.

Scarlet nodded, “Yes, let’s bring their reign to an end.”