ladyabaxa ◾ ◾ Beyond the Beyond: Update 56: Good Neighbors

Beyond the Beyond: Update 56: Good Neighbors (a recounting)

When last we saw the kids they were in Isla Village with Sonya. Several days later they consider their options.

That means the kids have to tell Sonya what's on their minds.

So you're really leaving again?
Yeah. We really should check up on Zalagoon and make sure Bandore isn't up to anything over there.
I understand. It was nice having you around but I knew it wouldn't last.
Mom don't say stuff like that! I'll be back.
You'd better get going.
Don't worry Miss Sonya! The great Tont's on the case!
Well someone's a bit full of themselves!
It's not bragging if you really are great.

It is amusing to find that the monsters roaming Marion Kingdom haven't changed one bit.

More slimes? Where do these things come from?
Hell if I know.

Finn and company have changed quite a bit though as Finn's critical hit attests to. A 68 damage blow is nothing to laugh at.

Well I know where they're going!
RAWR!
Was that really necessary?
Probably not but I just don't like those damn things.

Back once more at the border the kids stop by the Border Church. It's practically routine at this point.

The man who was present before is gone but the priest is back.

Oh hello there children. Is there something I can do for you?
I thought you were arrested by Bandore?
I was but when Bandore retreated they left most of their prisoners behind.
What was it like, being a prisoner?
Most... unpleasant. I don't want to repeat it if possible.
Did you see Lord Kevins while you were there?
Lord Kevins? No, I'm afraid not. Why do you ask?
No reason. I was just curious.
I heard that he was taken by Bandore. Is that true?
Yup!
How dreadful! I don't even want to think about what they'll do to him. Does this mean the war will go on?
Maybe?
If Edward has his way it will.
I suppose it is to be expected.
I hope Edward knows what he's doing.

Continuing their trek to Zalagoon the kids must cross the bridge. In the gatehouse on Marion's side two Marion soldiers are on watch.

(either) This bridge is the center of all trade. Don't try anything funny.
But what if we try something hilarious? Is that allowed?
(1) You know what I mean!
Has there been trouble or something with this bridge?
(2) Well no but you never know...
Yeah Zalagoon might get up to its tradition of pranks once again!
(2) ...what?
Don't mind my friend here. He's just being his usual silly self.
I'm having a really hard time picturing Sir Bison planning a prank let alone pulling it off. He just doesn't seem the type.
Praaa! That's what he wants you to think!

On the other side of the bridge Zalagoon soldiers are on watch.

(either) From here on is Zalagoon territory. No one from Bandore is allowed to pass. It doesn't look like any of you are from Bandore. You may pass.
How can you be sure we're not from Bandore?
(2) Well for one Bandore doesn't have any baby dragons in its forces.
They've got you there, Steiner.
You never know! They could be hiding them in the homeland.
Sure they are.
(1) I heard there was some sort of trouble with a big dragon in Marion. What was that about?
Considering this is the first we've heard of it we have no idea.
We don't even know when this dragon stuff happened. Where did you hear about it?
(1) Some Marion troops were cleaning out their side of the bridge. We went over to make sure everything was legit, ended up spending half the night over there drinking and talking.
(2) Considering the hangover you had the next day you might have just misheard someone.
Huh. Well I guess we can always ask Sir Galahad about it.
The dragon, if there ever was one, is long gone now so I guess it doesn't matter.

Exiting on Zalagoon's side of the border the kids can only wonder just how much stuff they missed in Marion while they were gone.

Dragons, Vicious Ones, rebellions, man Marion has it all!
Is that a tinge of jealousy I hear, human?
It is!
You mean Marion had it all. Those things are all gone now.
The Vicious Ones weren't even all that vicious when it came down to it. Ramue was mean and petty, Shutat was just creepy, and we never even met the other two.
They were boldly leading Bandore into full retreat!
Hey I'm not complaining.
Don't worry though, Finn. We're sure to run into them if we go to Bandore.
At this point that would actually be a relief.
Oh?
Hey if there are going to be vicious whatevers running around I'd like to know who they actually are instead of just having a bunch of vague rumors to go on.
Yeah if we're going to be hunted by a group from the underworld they could at least have the courtesy to introduce themselves first.

Before long the kids are back in Zalagoon. They've tread the route enough times that they no longer need a guide or a map to show the way.

Nothing seems to be on fire. Then again Edward's not here so I guess that's to be expected.
As if you need help starting fires.
I only set things on fire that need to be on fire.

Hi kids! This is the free kingdom of Zalagoon, where everyone can live happily!
Prrayr. You certainly seem happy, human.
I am! It's a good day!
I take it things have been pretty good around here lately.
Yeah. The soldiers have come home and the war is over. All that worry and anxiety are gone.

The town of Zalagoon is alive as much as Zalagoon can ever be said to be alive.

You're seriously going to wander around town? We already know nothing's wrong.
Well we made the trip. Might as well make use of it, right?
Finn just doesn't want to go back to Marion so soon. That would mean having to make a decision he's putting off.
Am not!
Hi there kids. I heard Bandore retreated from Marion. They were no match for us after all.
They really didn't expect Zalagoon to get involved didn't they?
It does seem that they were betting on that.
I heard they turned tail, got on their ships, and ran back to Bandore the moment they saw Zalagoon was serious about fighting them.
Sounds about right. They'll be back eventually though.
Not anytime soon! They know they're no match for us.
If I had a ship, I would travel to so many places. But then again, I always get seasick.
What are you talking about?
Well Bandore left by ship and that got me thinking...
You know, I don't need you to finish that sentence.
We shouldn't be too proud of our victory. We must think of all the lives that were lost.
Not again! That's it. I'm going back on patrol.
There weren't a whole lot of lives lost in Zalagoon.
If only we could say the same for Marion.
And if Edward has his way it will likely be a lot more.
Oh no. Don't tell me that boy is thinking of starting more trouble with Bandore. There's nothing to be gained by doing that.
He is of a very different opinion and I'm afraid he feels quite strongly that it is the right opinion.
You must try to talk some sense into him.
We can't promise anything but if we see him again we'll talk to him.

Below the city streets the barflies were busy doing what they did best.

No matter what happens this place always keeps itself busy.
(bar) Hey there kids. We can't serve anyone as young as you.
We're not customers.
We're tourists!
(bar) Tourists? Already? And where are you from?
I'm from Simone. These other people are from Marion.
(bar) Marion, eh? Things must be getting back to normal over there pretty quickly.
Huh? The war ended? Yippee! Let's celebrate! <hick>!
Yes we've already told you four times now that the war is over. When is it going to get through that thick skull of yours?
(bar) Don't waste your breath. When he wakes up tomorrow today will be just a hole in his memory.
Now that Marion is being restored, and Zalagoon's troops are back, the kingdom can get back to normal.
Well as normal as it can get without Glade I presume.
Yeah he was here for a long time wasn't he? What will normal be like without him?
Just a second.
I'll handle this one. For those of us not in the royal family we'll go back to what we were doing before Glade started trying to take over and sell us out to Bandore.
It's all over now though.
Here's to a free Marion and Zalagoon!
I'll lift a glass to that my friend!
Everyone's all chipper now.
(bar) Business is way up with all the soldiers celebrating.
Wait haven't you kids been here before?
Uh, yes?
Did you go all the way to Marion and then come back or what?
We aren't happy unless we're traveling.
Oh. You're kind of young for that aren't you?
We can take care of ourselves.
It's not like there's anything really scary out in the countryside.

In the back the team finds the man obsessed with securing the ale curious if he's still hard at work doing just that.

Hi kids. Work is finally back to normal. I best make sure our stocks are full. [sic]
Wait you actually work here?
Yes. Why? What did you think I was doing here?
Well you were always kind of skeevy...
The obsession with the safety of the alcohol will do that.
That's not a very nice thing to say!
Prrarr. I wasn't aware we were here to be nice.
You know what? We'll just see ourselves out.

On their way out of the bar the kids pause for a brief assessment.

That could have gone better.
Hmm, what would Edward do in this situation?
He'd mutter some rehearsed apologies and then we'd leave. Why do you ask?
I was wondering because I'm the team magician now.
Before you say it no you won't make it as team diplomat.
What are you talking about? I diplomacy the heck out of everything we run across.
Setting animals on fire is not diplomacy.
Diplomacy is the subtle art of solving problems. Do you see those animals here bothering us? No, you don't because I took care of them. That's solving a problem.
Diplomacy is the subtle art of solving problems without violence.
So then it's the subtle art of keeping us away from whatever the problem is?
Exactly.

Topside once again the kids find more people milling about.

Hi there kids. I heard you defeated Bandore! Now Marion and Zalagoon are safe at last.
Defeating Bandore might be a bit of an exaggeration.
We barely even got to say hello to the Vicious Ones.
They were kind of busy running away from the army bearing down on them.
Bandore defeated? Really?
Yeah, really. Where the hell have you been?
I've been stuck patrolling the town. I wish I could have been with the troops at the moment of victory.
Queen Scarlet must be ecstatic. Her native home is free again!
When we see her we'll find out.
Too bad Edward's not here. She'd probably give him a medal or something.
I'm pretty sure that if she wants to do that she could just go to Marion.
Besides if she did you'd just become more jealous then you already are.
I am not jealous of Edward. Honestly, Steiner, I don't know where you get these wild ideas.

Hey I just...
...call 'em like you see 'em. Well you need to have your vision checked.

It seems that no matter what's going on in Zalagoon the church is always busy.

(2) The war has ended! Arawn bless Zalagoon!
Has she been like this since word got back?
Her daughter's in the service so it's understandable.
(1) In a couple of weeks she'll be back to nagging her to get married already.
(2) I do not nag!
(1) You do too!
*awkward laugh* Ah, so Annie how long until your mother starts up with those questions?
I figure I've got four or five years.
Prraar! Annie'll have to run away before that happens.
That'll be great! If your mom starts hassling you we'll go become pirates.
Honestly though it'll probably be my dad who will start up with that stuff. He'll start mentioning all these nice, sweet young men he works with and off he'll go.
Whatever! I'm flexible.
So is this part of your evil villain plan?
What, you don't think I could build an awesome lair in Luna?
(1) Luna? You've been there?
A couple times.
(1) So you've been to Luna! My son lives there working for a merchant who sells vases.
If your son happens to start talking about a certain vase that may or may not be connected to Arawn let him know it's kind of already been ruined.
Now I remember what we were forgetting! We should have swept up those shards to give them to that guy!
I'm pretty sure he wanted the vase intact.
Meh. Breaking things is one of the hazards of treasure hunting. He could just glue them back together.

As they walk across town towards the item shop Steiner suddenly remembers something.

Prrar. Didn't that human want the vase so he could obtain eternal life or something?
Yeah, so?
So where's our eternal life?
Arawn didn't smite us on the spot for robbing his various houses. I think we should be grateful just for that.
Besides which he sent us off into grave danger. It wouldn't be interesting for him if we were immortal.
Aaand Tont has to take this conversation in a completely morbid direction.
You have to admit there's something strange with the whole setup. There's a legend that anyone who climbs the tower will get immortality. What the tower actually had was a bunch of monsters.
If you define "immortal" as never leaving the tower then it makes total sense.
So what you're saying is that Arawn's kind of a jerk?
Hey he is a bit creepy and old and definitely manipulative with all those elaborate steps to see him when he could just stop by and explain things clearly so I think he's earned a little suspicion.

Hey there kids. Talking about more of your adventures?
Always! We never sit still for long so there's always something to talk about.
With Bandore defeated, what else could go wrong?
Eh, lots of things, but it might be a bit premature to speculate on them.
I hope things calm down. I still have this vague sense of apprehension... Eh, probably just my imagination getting away from me.
You need to get out more. Then you wouldn't have these ridiculous misgivings.
I'm a soldier. I can't just up and leave my post.
And that's why Finn's glad he's not a soldier. You don't have to worry about abandoning a post if you don't have one to begin with.
That is... one way of looking at it I suppose.
I bet you kids have already seen much of the world. Isn't the view of the border gorgeous?
It depends on which part of the border we're talking about.
I really have to get back on the road soon. Now that the Bandore troops are gone, I can look out knowing Marion is free.
And it's going to stay that way.