Past is Passed [Sackboy: A Big Adventure]

1 - Rumor

Trees bloomed and birds sang

Throughout Loom, bells rang

Felt green grasses in the hills

Soon impeded by the Uproar's chills

Knitted Knights and roaring rebels

In half a year, foes will revel

Hope you're ready to be swayed

In some days soon, history was made

It was a fine day on the outskirts of Loom, sunlight spreading warmth, wind flowing to and fro. I was relaxed listening to the commotion of the Sackfolk that lived there, enjoying their lives and creating as they pleased. I didn't often spend my time within the village itself, but after meeting my student and friend Sackboy, I wound up finding a hill just beyond the borders that was the perfect place to rest, meditate, and watch the goings-on where so many other Sacklings call home. I lived a little ways away, near the Soaring Summit where I had much more peace and quiet, though that didn't mean I spent all my time there. Being cooped up in an isolated cottage simply wasn't how I wanted to live. So instead, Loom was often where I found myself. Meditating, or watching, or sleeping. That is, until Sackboy would wander off from his other pals and come spend some time with me, sometimes relaying news from in town, sometimes asking to go explore somewhere new, sometimes just there to be there. Today he jumped up onto (and nearly knocked the wind out of) me to show me a doodle of a place called Winterbloom, which had namesake evergreen trees that would grow frosty flowers during the winter. Gently picking him up and placing him by my side, I sat up, hand on my belly where he'd landed.

"Well, it's a bit late for that bud," I chuckled. "It's spring! The Winterbloom flowers are probably all gone by now."

He held his journal to his chest and stared into my eye, his own eyes glimmering with the sorrow of a begging dog. Normally I would be unfazed by puppy dog eyes, but when Sackboy begged like this, it made me feel incredibly sympathetic. Sighing, I got on my feet, using my walking stick to keep me upright. Sometimes I didn't need a cane, but I mean, I was getting a little old (not by that much though) and I'd just been jumped on by a smaller, more rambunctious Sackling. He hopped up and down excitedly as I stood, more than ready for our next big adventure.

"Next time you want to ask me to go somewhere with you, try not to jump directly onto my belly, please," I groaned. "It almost feels like I've been stomped on by an angry sheep."

His smile disappeared and he gave me a gentle hug, trying to avoid hurting me again in the process. I returned the gesture, accepting his apology, before we were off. Loom was surrounded mostly by forests, each named for the general vibe they had. The route to Winterbloom was a peaceful woodland known as the Tranquil Treetops. It made for a lovely nature walk and an even lovelier adventure, as ironic as it sounds. Just because the area itself is relaxing doesn't mean you can't get up to all sorts of fun there. Sackboy insisted on taking the scenic route, climbing up every climbable surface he could get a grip on and picking up random things along the way. Thankfully, it seemed the Imagisphere knew that even the kindest of places can lose you a life or two if you're fragile, easily distracted, or both. There was a checkpoint there to bring either of us back if anything were to happen.

(For some reason videos aren't working so have a link. https://youtube.com/watch?v=NQy4tG-lYXI)

"You want to know something, Sackboy?" I called as he leaped over a gap and climbed up a rock to find an acorn.

He turned towards me and nodded enthusiastically, tossing the seed down before hopping down himself.

I was quick to catch it and chuck it into the nearby flower pot. "Like you, I used to die all the time. I didn't even really care about it hurting as long as there was a checkpoint to keep me from an early Imagisphere visit... 'till the day I lost my eye. Some wounds, walking up to a checkpoint won't heal, so don't get reckless with those four or five lives."