[i][b]AUTHOR'S NOTE[/b]: Due to a rebound in readership, I decided to include the epilogue in this installment. My next planned project is a non-kinderguardian story, but another installment of the adventures of Mr. Oddish and his adorable horde may be on the horizon.[/i] LINK TO PART 1: https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/226018693?sort=0&page=0 ODDISH: "Sigmund." SIGMUND: "Yes?" ODDISH: "I need you to do something." [b]IRON TEMPLE - Next Morning[/b] The sun has risen as Oddish makes his way out of the sleeping quarters and into the social space proper, his shiny new sword secured proudly to his back. A few Guardians are circulating around. Lord Saladin is at his usual spot, but he's sitting instead of standing, and he has Growler lounging at his feet. A closer look verifies that Petra (awake, still in fuzzy blanket sleepers, hair hanging around her head like a haystack) has seated herself in his lap. As Oddish approaches, he hears that Saladin is telling her the story of the Iron Lords' last battle against SIVA. SALADIN: "And I tried to run in and stop her, but I was too late. The door closed right in front of me, and then I saw her push the button, and I saw the flash. And I knew that it was over. The last of the Iron Lords had died for the last time." PETRA: "I'm sorry. I'll bet you were real sad." She hugs him. Mr. Oddish allows the tender moment to end before clearing his throat. SALADIN (embarassed): "Oh... good morning, Mr. Oddish. How's the newest Iron Lord?" ODDISH: "A bit tired, truth be told. Petra, how about you go on inside and get dressed? We'll be leaving soon. And thank Mr. Saladin for the story." PETRA: "Thanks, Mr. Saladin." She scampers off. Growler pads along behind her. ODDISH: "She's not going to be happy about having to leave her furry friend behind." SALADIN: "No, she's not. And neither will he. Many of the wolves have Guardians they like, but he's never been like that with anyone. Not even me." (a beat) "So, are you going to remind me about what I said yesterday?" ODDISH: "I don't have to, do I?" Soon enough, Marshall emerges from quarters. Seeing Mr. Oddish, he approaches his teacher. MARSHALL: "Are we going now?" ODDISH: "Soon, kiddo. But first, you and I are going to go up that mountain." (Marshall starts to say something, Oddish talks over him) "I'm not going to help you. I'll tell you where to jump and show you how, but you're going to do it. All yourself, all the way." MARSHALL: "You mean it?" ODDISH: "Yup. Let's do this." He scrambles up the first part of the mountain, them leaps from crag to crag with Marshall hopping along in his wake. Slowly, arduously, they continue the ascent as the sun slowly rises higher. Soon, they come to the difficult jump that sent the boy plummeting every time. ODDISH: "Stand out on the edge, the very edge. It'll hold you. Then when you jump, aim at that pointy spot. Aim anywhere else, you'll get knocked off. I'll go first, then it'll be your turn." He makes the jump, then moves onto the next. Gingerly, Marshall makes his way out onto the ledge, then leaps. He almost loses his balance, but recovers quickly. Higher and higher they go, climb by climb, jump by jump. Oddish has a close call or two, Marshall has half a dozen, but neither falls and no actual help is given. And at length, they are standing on the pinnacle of Felwinter Peak, staring out at the magnificent view. MARSHALL: "We did it." ODDISH: "You did it. I just showed you the way, which is kind of what a teacher is supposed to do." MARSHALL (looks around): "So, what do we do now?" ODDISH: "Breakfast sounds good." SIGMUND: "Allow me." A hot box transmats into existence on the peak next to the SIVA cluster. Both Guardians scan it, then open the box and go to work on the steaming hot breakfast burritos inside it, while enjoying the view together. It's a wonderful male bonding moment. When they return to the bottom, life is back to normal in the Iron Temple. Efrideet and Tyra are back at their posts. Guardians are gathering for the next day of the Iron Banner. Gloria's awake and back in her armor, and has her Clever Dragon slung like a pro. She seems a little older now, having braved the Crucible. Oddish knows that he still has much to teach her in the next few months, but the day is fast approaching when he must give her up and entrust her to BraveCole for the next part of her education. It never gets any easier for him, and perhaps it never should. ODDISH: "All right. Sigmund, bring the [i]Ticktock [/i] down. It's time for us to head back." SIGMUND: "Understood. [i]Ticktock Inquisitor [/i]will be ready for transmat in two mnutes." ODDISH: "You were right, Sigmund. I like being able to call you by name. It makes me feel like I'm not merely your Guardian, but we're friends as well." SIGMUND: "See what you've been missing out on for the last 246 years?" ODDISH: "Better late than never." SIGMUND: "That wasn't easy for you to admit, was it?" ODDISH: "No, it wasn't." (sighs) "Well, I guess I can't put this off any longer. Petra? Sweetie, it's time to say bye to Growler. He's got to stay here, to help Mr. Saladin." PETRA: "Can't we take him with us?" ODDISH: "No, Petra. Not even Iron Lords get to run off with Mr. Saladin's wolves. So say bye to him. Maybe we can come back and visit sometimes." He is braced for one of Petra's trademark hissy-fits, but it doesn't come. Tears filling her eyes and streaming down her cheeks, Petra gives her furry friend a fierce good-bye hug. Growler whimpers, sensing the sadness of the moment, returns the embrace with a forepaw. Then, Petra stands and the three kinderguardians dematerialize. And Growler unleashes a blood-chilling howl of sorrow. No one says anything. Sometimes, there are no words. Even the ever-tough Mr. Oddish has to wipe a "particle of flying ice" from the corner of his eyes. And then, Saladin quietly addresses Oddish's Ghost. SALADIN: "Sigmund, transmat Growler to the [i]Ticktock Inquisitor."[/i] Sigmund turns his electronic eye to Mr. Oddish. The latter sighs, but doesn't even think about objecting. Petra's had him wrapped around her stubby little finger since her pre-guardian days, and he knows it. He confirms the instruction with a nod. The wolf, still howling inconsolably, vanishes. Oddish dryly addresses Lord Saladin. ODDISH: "Well, this is going to make my job [i]waaay [/i]more interesting." Saladin comes over and puts both hands on his shoulders, then thumps him a couple of times. It's a classic "I'd hug you but we're both macho men and macho men don't do that crap" gesture. SALADIN: "You're an Iron Lord now. You can handle anything." Oddish smiles, then nods to Sigmund a second time and transmats to the ship. Growler and Petra are on the floor, delirious with happiness. Marshall is in the jumpseat, still basking in his success at climbing the mountain. Gloria is waiting in the passenger spot. ODDISH: "Gloria, scooch over." (Gloria looks disbelievingly at him) "You flew this crate to Venus and back. I think you can get it to the City, don't you?" GLORIA: "OK, teacher." She moves over and takes the controls, with Mr. Oddish watching her carefully. And the ship rises out of the atmosphere, maybe a bit bumpily, and heads off into the sunrise. Back in the Temple, Renfrew and Tyra watch it vanish in the blue. The former, as a disgraced ex-Iron Lord, was encouraged to be far away from Felwinter for the previous evening's celebration. RENFREW: "When I got back in this morning, it was barely light, but Mr. Oddish was already awake. He was climbing up the mountain, then he fell to the ground and died, and climbed up it again. And again." TYRA: "Yes. He started as soon as there was enough light to see by. And, he fell to his death a total of forty-seven times before he figured out the correct path up to the peak, and not all of his deaths were quick or painless." RENFREW: "But why did he do it? I got the impression that he thought the whole thing was stupid and pointless." TYRA: "He did." RENFREW: "Then why? Why put himself through that ordeal?" TYRA: "When you understand why he did what he did, when you really understand... you'll be ready to hang up that smelly old shovel and pick up your rifle again. And maybe finally become the Guardian you were meant to be." She walks away from him, leaving him to think about that. [b] THE END - Scroll down for the Epilogue[/b]