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Monoco: It is a beautiful evening. The colours in the sky. The shining of the stars. Tonight is a night full of promise.
Verso: Is it?
Monoco: We shall bring Noco back.
Verso: I thought you wanted to wait, until things calmed down?
Monoco: Who knows how much time tomorrow will allow. No. Let us give Noco the gift of today. It’s a simple journey to the Sacred River. We’re not far, it’s close to the Station.
Verso: Golga won’t be happy that you’re jumping the queue again.
Monoco: I’ll deal with Golga later. You helped me bring Noco back once before, will you help us again, my friend?
Verso: Always.
Verso promised Monoco that they would bring Noco back. The Sacred River is not far from Monoco’s station, to the north.
Verso: Haven’t been here in a while.
Monoco: The Sacred River. Let’s make haste, I don’t want her to…
Golgra: MONOCO! You’re trying to skip the queue again, you old… uh… old… lazy… retired warrior!
Monoco: How did you even know I was here?
Golgra: You’re carrying dozens of feet around. I can smell them from the other side of the continent.
Monoco: Fair point.
Golgra: We’ve been over this before. See all these Gestrals? They’re waiting in the queue like everyone else!
Monoco: It’s a stupid rule, we should just bring them all back now.
Golgra: You know that would be CHAOS. There aren’t enough adult Gestrals to shepherd all the newborns. Plus I hate all the noise. Can you imagine a forest full of baby Gestrals?
Monoco: You leave me no choice then.
Verso: Oh no… Think twice, Monoco.
Monoco: I have already thought about it thrice. Golgra! I demand a trial by combat.
Golgra: Humpf, I was hoping you’d say that.
Verso: Do I have to participate?
Monoco: Please, help me.
Verso: For Noco then.
Golgra: May you both survive this.
Golgra: Ah, it’s almost time for my squat session, it’s leg day. Sorry, I can’t finish this fight.
Monoco: Oh, come on! You’re just afraid of losing.
Verso: Monoco, please, shut up.
Golgra: You did entertain me, so… I’ll let it slide this time, Monoco. Go ahead, bring him back.
Monoco: I won’t say thank you. Thank you.
Noco: Mo- Monoco?
Monoco: Ah. It’s good to hear your voice.
Verso: Hey, Noco. How’s my favourite merchant?
Noco: … Golgra?
Golgra: …
Monoco: Golgra? Are you crying?
Golgra: I’m not.
Noco: Can we go home?
Monoco: Not yet, I’m afraid. We have a mission. Do you remember our Expeditioner friends?
Noco: No?
Monoco: They’ll be happy to see you. They were very worried. Come, let’s go back to camp. We found many treasures for you to trade!
Noco: ……….
Golgra: Let me take Noco to the Village. It’s always disorientating for the newly returned. Noco needs time to adjust. Noco, would you like to go back to the village?
Noco: …
Monoco: But I’m Noco’s guardian!
Verso: I know you want to keep Noco by your side. But it’s safer there. You’ll see Noco when we get back to the Village.
Monoco: …
Noco: …
Monoco: Wait for me. I’ll be back as soon as I can.
Golgra: Off we go then.
Verso: He’ll be fine. Better than with you, that’s for sure.
Monoco: That he will be. Thanks for helping. I never understood how Golgra got so freakishly strong.
Verso: I could take Golgra by myself.
Monoco: I will never show you weakness ever again.
Verso: Come on, let’s get back to camp.
At camp, Monoco sits by himself, thinking. Verso knows his old friend wants to talk, even if he is too proud to admit it. Verso approaches Monoco.
Monoco: …
Verso: You ok?
Monoco: …
Verso: At least, Noco is safe, and can begin readjusting.
Monoco: Every time he returns, he is slightly changed. I mourn the loss of who he was before. But he’s still there, my old mentor. Thank you, my friend.
Monoco seems about to cry. They’ve always been best friends, but Verso and Monoco’s bond grows even stronger from their adventure. They spend a bit more time together, as Verso cheers Monoco up. They return to the others.
Verso approaches Monoco. He knows exactly what Monoco is thinking.
Monoco: …
Verso: Noco always said that he didn’t mind waiting in the queue. Why were you so adamant about bringing him back sooner?
Monoco: There was never supposed to be a queue. Verso—Verso wanted us to experience the excitement of new beginnings. He gave us the gift of the river. Why shouldn’t we use it?
Verso: …
Monoco: Noco found me after the Fracture. Noco raised me, taught me, protected me. It’s my turn to protect him, that’s how it works. He took care of me, now I take care of him. Except I can’t.
Verso: Because of me.
Monoco: I know why you’re doing this. And I know how it might end. I’m not gambling on tomorrow.
Verso: Monoco—
Monoco: (tired exhale)
Verso: Why help me then? If—
Monoco: For Verso. And for you.
Verso: My friend.
Monoco: Verso gave us many new beginnings. He would have wanted a new beginning for you too. You deserve a new beginning, if you want one. Every one of us does.
Verso: …
Monoco: Now come over here and let’s snuggle.
Verso: Little spoon?
Monoco: Obviously.
Monoco and Verso understand each other more than ever. The bond they share is unbreakable. Their heartfelt conversation reminded Monoco that actually, there is another skill he had forgotten. They spend more time together being weird and sentimental, before returning to the others.