Queen's Island

19. Farewell.

"So... Do you actually have a plan?" Tefi asked Dreamer. They were basking in the warm evening sunshine with their legs dangling above the river.
"Uh.. No." Dreamer said.
"The why did you say you did?"
"I was caught in the moment. Adrenaline rush, y'know."
"Oh, that helps, definitely." Tefi shrugged sarcastically.
"Yea.. I have no idea what we're going to do. I don't even want to be King." Dreamer splashed his legs in the water.
"But you have the power to, so I don't see why you aren't taking action already."
Tefi waited for a response. Dreamer stayed silent. Tiny flies flew around their heads, and the air was light and dusty with pollen.

"Tefi..." Dreamer began. He fiddled with his thumbs, "..Do you want to be the next Ruler if we get rid of Zoro?"
Tefi turned to Dreamer in surprise. "Uh.. do I, do I have to? I mean," she mumbled, "It seems like a tough job..."
"No, you don't have to. I was just asking." Dreamer smiled.

"I'm back!"
Dreamer and Tefi turned around to see Pon skipping towards them.
"Oh, hey, cannibal." Tefi snickered.
"You don't have to rub it in. Anyway, what're we talking about?"
"Oh, nothing much, just turned down a life-changing offer." Tefi shrugged. She took her legs out of the river, stood up, and fastened her cape of feathers back on.
Pon glanced around the area. "Huh? I don't see any businessmen around here."
"No, you dimwit!" She smacked them on the back of the head. "Dreamer just offered me something which I didn't want. Now come inside, don't you want dinner?"
"Owch... O-oh boy do I!" Pon rubbed their hands together. "What're we having?"
"Um... some bread."
"And?"
"Just bread. Well, dig in!"

As they sat in a circle, on the ground in their tent, they watched the last little bits of sunshine filter through the leaves of the palm trees, and heard the noisy crickets start their nightly chirp. The air was humid and silent until they heard the screech of lightning crackling in the distance.
"That's been happening a lot more often now, it's always in the same place too." Tefi pointed out as she munched on a slice.
"That's weird. On a clear night aswell." Dreamer agreed.
"I bet you it's those Scientists I saw! I always hear them talking about electricity, and things like that," Pon said and took and bite of bread, through a muffled eye-mouth, they mumbled, "Personally, I think it's really cool."
"Do you want to be a Scientist?" Dreamer asked.
"Well- I heard you somewhere you can't be a Scientist if you can't fly, basically if you're not an angel with back wings, but they said they have willing demon volunteers to help! They never specified what they help with, though, and I don't think you can sign up anywhere. Well, not that I know of."

"That sounds suspicious. I don't like the idea of this whole 'catching lightning' business." Dreamer said.
"How do they even catch it? With, what, nets? Hah, imagine-", Tefi swung her hands down like she was swinging a net to catch something. Pon muffled a laugh, their mouth-eye filled with bread.
"Okay, enough of that." Dreamer cracked a smile, "Pon, listen to me. Do you think I would be a good king?"
Pon scratched their chin. "...No, but Tefi would!"
"No, I wouldn't!" Tefi huffed, "What Dreamer is asking is if you would want to be the new Ruler instead of him, if we get rid of Zoro."
"WHAT?" Pon jumped, "I- oh.. It would be an honour..."
"So you'd do it?" Dreamer asked.
"Well- if I got the chance- yea, I would."
"And if I was there to help, of course."
"I would prefer if I did it my way, though."

"Let's not get too caught up in it right now." Tefi reminded them.
Dreamer nodded and swatted a moth away from his face. "Yea, we don't even know if we'll get that far."
"Yes we will! We just have to get into the Palace, give Zoro a piece of our minds, and off he'll go!" Pon jumped up and ran outside to look at the glistening moons.
"I don't think it works like that, Pon." Dreamer chuckled, "But I would like to see what those Scientists are up to. I can ask Ave to let us in from the back, although, there would be a risk.."

"I'm not going." Tefi said sharply. Dreamer and Pon turned to look at her.
"I'm staying here."
"Why?" Pon questioned.
"I don't have a reason to go. I want to a peaceful life here instead. You can go off without me."
"If, uh, if you want to, then..." Dreamer said.

"Here. I won't need this anymore, you can have it." Tefi said, and handed her dagger over to Pon.
"Are... are you sure?" Pon gasped. Tefi nodded.
"Sorry for trying to stab you with it."
Pon simply replied, "No worries." They stood in silence for a few moments.
"So... I guess this is goodbye?" Dreamer sniffed.
"Yes, for the second time." Tefi smiled. The humid night breeze softly blew her hair to the side and ruffled Dreamer's wings.
"Is it goodbye for good?" Pon held Dreamer's hand in one hand and Tefi's dagger in the other.
"Well, until next time." Tefi replied. Then, she pulled Dreamer and Pon into a hug. Time felt slower, the wind chimes sung a melody in time with the crickets chirp, and the moonlight shone down on the three for what seemed to be an eternity.
As they pulled away, Tefi mumbled.

"Be safe, okay?"
"We will." Dreamer reassured her, and rubbed the top of her head and smiled underneath his mask. "Let's go then, Pon."
Dreamer and Pon turned and climbed down the cliff of the Waterfall, and as they made their way across the bridge, they waved goodbye to Tefi until she was out of sight.