Ori and the decayed land

Chapter 22: The family reunion

The four spirits entered the Sunken glades. Orin and Lora took in their surroundings "So this is Sunken glades." Orin spoke as he looked around "Yep. This is also where I found Sein during a terrible event that we call: The blindness. It was similar to what happened in Niwen, but Sein didn't shatter she was just removed from the Spirit tree." Ori explained to them even though Orin already knew about it.

Lora knew that the light wasn't on the mantle of the Spirit tree and decided to ask about it "But the light isn't in the mantle though. How is life flourishing?" she asked "Its thanks to an ability that the Spirit tree can do called: Spirit link. It can link the spirit light from one spirit to another spirit or in this case, from Sein to the Spirit tree." Ori explained to Lora as Sein nodded, confirming Ori's explanation as they soon reached Swallow's nest.

They entered Swallow's nest as they approached Ori's old home.

Both Orin and Lora took in their surroundings as they looked around and saw all the fruit trees with fruit on the branches "So much fruit just for one area..." Lora spoke with awe at the amount of fruit she saw "Yeah. It's amazing that most of the fruit trees are here..." Orin agreed as they were led to their destination by Ori and Sein.

The four reached the cave Ori once called home and saw two beings outside of the entrance looking up at two other beings that were on a balcony. The two on the ground looked like a spirit and a purple furred creature while the other two was a purple feathered owlet and a being with a round body and long limbs. Ori, Sein and Orin knew who they were while Lora looked at them confused.

The four spirits saw Ku leap from the balcony and flap her wings with something attached to her bad wing with the feather that Ori provided Gumo before he and Sein left for Niwen. Ku was starting to gain height before the feather came loose and flew off her wing and Ku began to fall.

Ori acted quickly as he used launch and shot towards Ku before catching her and softening her fall as the feather glided to the ground.

Everyone saw what happened as Ori was on his back breathing heavily. "I wasn't expecting to start the family reunion like this." he said as he sat up and put Ku on the ground.

Solas looked on with overwhelming happiness as she saw her parents before she ran to Ori and Sein "Mum! Dad! You're back!" she said happily as she embraced Ori since he was still on the ground. "That's right, we're back. We've missed you just as much as you have missed us." Ori said to Solas as he returned her embrace while Sein approached them and hugged both Ori and Solas creating a group hug.

Everyone watched with smiles as Ori, Sein and Solas were reunited. "She missed you two a lot while both of you were away. She would be with that light vessel most of the time." Naru told Ori and Sein "I'm aware. The Spirit tree told me while we were in Niwen." Ori replied, still in the group hug.

Orin was in thought while he saw the group hug between Ori, Sein and Solas "I'm happy that Ori got to reunite with his daughter thanks to what I did." he thought, still having a smile on his face as the group hug was broken as Ori and Sein let go of Solas.

Gumo walked over to the purple feather that was still on the ground and picked it up "The feather came loose. Maybe I should've fastened it a little tighter." He said to himself "It should prevent the feather from coming loose again." Sein said to Gumo, who only just noticed Orin and Lora.

Ori and Sein noticed that Gumo saw Orin and Lora "we noticed you saw Orin and Lora." Ori spoke "Orin and Lora? They don't sound familiar to me, but they're welcome nonetheless." Naru said as she looked over to them before seeing how similar Orin looks to Ori. "Ori your friend looks almost exactly like you. But just without your golden fur." she spoke, which made Ori think on how to tell them.

Ori was brought out of his thoughts as he heard Gumo ask about Niwen "How was Niwen? It must've been bad for both of you to be gone for a few days." He said which got a nod from Ori, Sein and Orin. "It was bad, very bad. Seir, the light of Niwen shattered because the Spirit willow, the only protection for Niwen died from old age. So, we had to piece Seir back together. But I didn't know that spirits had to... merge with the light to hold it. If it wasn't for Orin, I wouldn't be here right now and for what he did I'll forever be grateful." Ori explained as he looked to Orin.

Everyone was shocked except for Ori, Sein and Orin and also Ku, who was confused. "Oh my... That's a lot to take in. And Orin here was from Niwen?" Naru asked. Orin nodded "Yeah, I was. Same for Lora. I was reborn here after I became the next tree for Niwen." Orin explained to Naru and Gumo.

Ori decided it was time to tell them about the information he learnt about himself "There's one more thing that we learnt other than how Niwen lost its light." He spoke, which caught the attention of Ori's adopted family, Solas and Lora "What else did you learn?" Gumo asked. Ori took a deep breath "Well, while we were in Niwen, the Spirit willow managed to speak to me with the last bit of strength and light she had left and revealed that... I wasn't originally from Nibel, but rather I was once Orin before being reborn here." Ori told them, which shocked them even more. The only one's that weren't shocked was Sein and Orin and Ku, who again was confused.

The air was filled with silence as Ori's family and Lora tried processed what Ori had just told them.

The silence was then broken by Naru "So your name is Orin then?" she asked Ori, who shook his head "No, it's still Ori. Thanks to the Spirit tree's light, I unconsciously separated us mentally before giving him a physical body, which is how he was able to merge with Seir before the Spirit tree brought him back again. And with his memories, too." Ori explained.

Everything went silent again as the only thingcould be heard was the rustling of the leaves as the wind blew through the trees.Ori, Sein and Orin decided to give them some time to process what they justheard as they went to a nearby tree with Ori getting some of the fruit from thetree and one to Sein and Orin "Thank you, Ori" Sein thanked him as Orin alreadybegan to eat the fruit "You're welcome. I didn't realise how fast time flieswhen you're having a family reunion." Ori joked getting a laugh from Sein before both Ori and Sein began eating the fruit.