Wild Arms 5 Epilogue Part 3

Wild Arms 5: Epilogue Part 3


At last it was about time to meet up with Dean. Getting to the memorial sanctuary didn't proof much of an ordeal again. He was all set up in the room, the memory player was. That's where Rebecca and party went for first.
“Hello Dean, you here?”
Even though he had to be able to hear her shouting, he didn't react.
“I brought Chuck and Avril as well.”
When she named Avril, his ears twitched.
“Come on numb skull. I know you heard me. Won't you greet us.”
Finally he stood up and closed in to them.
“Hi Rebecca. You brought Avril and Chuck too. What gives? I can take care of myself.”
His voice sounded dim.
“Hey, is that a way to greet your old friends.”
Rebecca was Puffing and sounded somewhat hurt. It was of course just show and Dean saw through her but he didn't care.
“Your talking like we haven't met in years. Don't give me that crap.”
She was irritated it by his harsh tone.
“What gives? What gives? Look who's talking. You barely came out the past months. Your all cheese skinned already.”
Dean was all pent up.
“I still have a healthy color... Argh, why go I along with this? So tell me, what idea brought you here.”
She was still pretty agitated.
“Is a nice greeting, how it's usual under friends too much to ask for?”
Now Dean was a bit battered.
“I'm sorry. I guess I shouldn't act like this. It isn't very friendly to do so. I should be a bit nicer. After all, I wasn't very social lately. Heh, heh...”
The weak laugh at the end was clear. He rubbed his head. Obviously spiritual drained he tried fighting it over-aggressive. Then he left Rebecca standing and went for Chuck and Avril.
“Chuck? You here too. This is a bit surprising. I could think Rebecca starts searching for me but you?”
“Well, I sort of run into her in Capo Bronco. Originally I just wanted to visit the lot of you, while I'm in the region. So hows swinging? Found anything you looked for?”
“Oh, I see.”
He didn't answer the questions and head for Avril.
“I see you came along as well. How are you feeling?”
“I'm as fine as always. Thanks for the concern.”
There was no emotion in their words. For Dean, this Avril isn't Avril, not  without her consciousness, he grew to learn and love during their journey through Filgaia, saving Humanity and Veruni.
“So, anything come back yet.”
“I fear not Dean. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't find it.”
“I see. But if you never give up, you'll eventually succeed in getting it back.”
Now warmth was in any of their words. And he himself didn't sound confident in what he said either. Trying to talk casually did nothing to break the ice between them. It became a depressing situation fast. Rebecca who noticed this interfered.
“Dean, you know what day is today?”
“Let me think...”
“Come on, how could you forgot. It been a year since we broke the wall, eh not exactly, missing a few days but who cares.”
“Right. I should be happy about it...”
It's not like he sounded as if.
“You could be a bit more excited about it. Don't you think. Lately we didn't spend much time together and it's been month since we saw everyone. So I though we go celebrate our victory in Laila Bell. Greg will join later and we should meet Carol there too.”
“How do you know. Isn't she researching all over Filgaia?”
“I have a trustworthy source telling me this.”
She tried her hardest to put spirit in her words and it at least made it sound so to Dean.
“You do. Who?”
Then Chuck spoke.
“It be me, mind you. I should know. The city is my main working place after all.”
A smile hushes over Deans face.
“I'm not sure about this. But as a friend, I trust you.”
“Why did you sound so distrusting?”
“Nothing, glad to see you again.”
Dean forced himself to cheer up.
“I just need to clean up a bit before I can leave.”
Avril came to his site, with some hesitation.
“Let me help you, your doing this for me too.”
“Thank you.”
After that Rebecca and Chuck as well came.
“Let's all help. It will go faster this way.”
As Rebecca predicted it really went by smooth.
“Your messy as ever Dean. Can't you learn cleaning up after you. Your supposed to be humanities representative. Be a bit more of a figurehead.”
Rebecca didn't go easy on him, like always. It was at least less tense.
“Could you stop talking me down for once. I cover a lot of work. It isn't that easy.”
“If you were less messy to begin with, you probably had an easier time.”
Avril came to his aid.
“I think your too hard on him. He does it for me after all. (Even though I can't seem to understand why.)”
Rebeccas momentum faded that point. That being as it was she took her bag.
“Well, since everything's tidy now, we should start walking.”
So they did.

Rebecca's Diary:
And again this time I didn't quiet get along with Dean. Even worse was seeing the awkwardness between us three directly once more. I should be happy that Dean and Avril started to avert each other, even while talking. Truthfully though, I wasn't. It felt like our friendship was at a breaking point. Somehow I felt guilty causing this. I always step on Dean when we're together. Avril on the other side, if it was during our journey or after it ended, always took Deans side. If I really cared for him, I should support him. But maybe, it was just my delusion that I care when in truth, I always wanted to change him to be more to my liking. Our Avril loved him, for who he was...

Grouped together Dean and Chuck walked next to each other. Avril stayed in the back while Rebecca mimicked the spearhead. Chuck and Dean started to talk about the time after the Team disbanded.
“So Chuck. What did you do lately. Have you climbed the ranks of the Guild?”
“I sure did. I even made Nightburn my direct mentor, sort of anyway.”
Dean smiled with a twink.
“You know he declared me as his successor.”
Chuck lifts his shoulders.
“So what. He's still years more experienced than you. He took on training up and coming Golem hunters, though we're more of a monster dispatching unit by now. There really are a lot of around.”
“That is true but they are part of Filgaia as we are. Good that now there is an organization protecting those who can't fight as well as we.”
Barely speaking of monsters, a big one jumped out of the shadows. The group could barely dodge but before they came attacking, a sword sliced through all of them. Followed by a shock wave they were done for. Confused they look around for more attackers but all they found was Volsung standing atop a near elevation. In sync they all said the same.
“Volsung?!”
“Don't get too caught up in talking while out in the wilderness. But I'm sure you knew that.”
Dean spoke first.
“Volsung? To meet you out here. Certainly surprising.”
“I just was passing by and I saw you lower your guard. You shouldn't act that reckless out here.”
“I'll remember. So have you found your new place?”
He lifted his sword towards the sun and slashed the air.
“My life is a battle. Nothing more. Through battling monsters, I found may place in protecting the future of Veruni and Filgaia.”
Then he vanished in the shadows without giving any chance of further dialogue. The others also were caught off-guard by Volsungs appearance. Especially Rebecca.
“To think we would run into Volsung here so casually.”
Chuck not so much.
“Well, I met him a few times as we slayed the one or other big howl together. Although, he didn't need much help beating the prey. Guess putting him in danger all the time, preventing merciless beasts from attacking civility, is his way of atoning. Rebecca paused breathing as she heard this from Chuck.
“Woah, didn't think you had such a site to you.”
Dean agreed on Chucks thoughts.
“Volsung certainly is that kind of guy. This is also a way of living. I... don't give up and he won't stop fighting for everyone's sake, is way way (or at least was it always)”
Their journey continues.

Rebecca's Diary:
I must confess, I never expected to run in Volsung on our way to Laila Belle. Seems like he is doing fine and he found a new way for him too. What surprised me the most was how Chuck and Dean acted. At least Dean would have been all excited to see Volsung again. But he calmly stood there with Chuck and both had a full understanding of Volsungs new choice. I don't know if I should like it it be concerned that they didn't act like I had expected.

As they closed near the city, a landslide broke the group apart. On one site there are Chuck and Dean, on the other site where Rebecca and Avril. Just as the dust settled, Dean shouted out.
“Damn. A landslide.”
Simultaneous Chuck questioned about the girls welfare.
“You two are alright?”
“Is any of you hurt.”
Rebecca caught dirt an reacted first.
“Just a load of dust. How are you Avril?”
The cloud dispersed and Avril was leaning against an old tree.
“I'm fine too. Thanks for you concern.”
Dean quickly grasped the situation.
“Looks like we're separated for a while.”
“Can't Asgard shovel the girls free?”
“There wouldn't be a point in trying. It's all earth and dirt. Asgard would only be helpful if it was hard and strong rock. He still would need hours or even days to get rid of all of it.”
Chuck understood fast.
“Looks so. From this point on, we're traveling separate routes then.”
Dean nodded then Chuck sent word to the girls.
“Are you alright so Rebecca. I'm kinda concerned about you having to go the way.”
“I appreciate your worry but we're good. This should be the shorter and safer route to begin with. Avril and I can still fend for ourselves you know.”
“Sorry. We'll meet up closer to Laila Bell. Come back in one piece, the both of you. As the situations is right now, I can't do anything for you.”
Rebecca shouted back.
“Same goes for you. See you later.”
Dean also went to speak up his mind.
“You too be careful Avril. I'd hate it to loose you too.”
“I may not remember our precious time so much but I still know how to fight. I'll come through. (I really want to be the Avril you all told me I am. But I don't feel like I ever could be...)”
“Thank you. We join you back before Laile Belle.”
Thus their path spread for the time being.

Rebecca's Diary:
Frankly, I wasn't mad at Dean to seemingly not care much for me again. If I had mentioned it, at least the old Dean had just told me he knew that I'll be fine. Old Dean... to say it like that. I guess we both changed much lately. For me to think so... But Chuck really seemed concerned about me. It wasn't the first time he acted like this since he came back to Capo Bronco, a short while ago. I'm starting to grow fond of him...

As the group split and followed two different directions, Rebecca and Avril had to go through a tree seemed valley while Dean and Chuck had to take a climb.
“Avril, when the mud covered our path, you and Dean sounded like I'm used to. I'm clad that you aren't that different.”
While Rebecca sounded lighter, for Avril it was just more of a confirmation.
“... (Even Rebecca thinks I'm not the Avril she's used to be. However, she still treats me kindly. At least as kindly as everyone but not as a special friend that she told me I am. For Dean, he was very nice but in his words were also weaker than at the first months after I met him, with a letter in hand. He did seem experience the same pain. Pain when you talk to someone you treasured but just see a stranger at this moment.)“
That Avril gave her no response stole her attention so she had to artfully dodge sudden appearing twigs and bushes.
“Helloooo! Avril. You look like daydreaming or something.”
“Oh right. Sorry about that Rebecca. I just had to think. So that is when he's concerned about... me. (It must be nice when there actually is a connection in such a situation.)”
Somewhat fired up Rebecca urged Avril to speed up.
“You sound strange Avril. Let's continue on now. The men ... (I guess they are now) can't outrun us, if our way is the easier one nonetheless. Can't have that happening, can we.”
However, both of their smiles were untrue. It was straining on both to talk these few sentences. Their friendship was just too clouded from mental problems. It was as hard on Rebecca as it was on Avril. Rebecca feared the entire loss of heir friendship and Avril fought with her missing identity. Being together couldn't help either of em to ease up.

Rebecca's Diary:
I don't know. I may have given up on piquing Deans love, for Avril to have freedom to do so, but the problem is, this Avril just feels too different from the Avril I competed over Dean with. We come along and we have our own share off nice memories through the year we had, but it's more like having a friendship with a new person all along. The bad part on it, we're missing the emotional connection we established through going through hardships together. Her being so different when she shouldn't and all... It is so weird.

Meanwhile Chuck and Dean reached top. It was a very exhausting action. They took this occasion to take a break under an Acorn tree. Dean sits on the ground and Chuck has hie Arms crossed behind his head. His right leg was bend upwards with his foot on the tree.

“So Dean, what's up with you and Avril. You barely interacted the whole way. You broke up or something.”
Deans smile had a hidden pain in it.
“Broke up doesn't fit here. It's complicated...”
Chuck turned towards Dean.
“Complicated you say. How is it complicated, if I may ask?”
“You see, when I look at Avril I see an Avril. But, it's like she is missing a vital part of Avril as I know her. Those I just don't feel the same way about her as I did before.”
“This sounds like a serious relationship problem and I'm not a hook up doctor.”
Then Dean stood up.
“Anyway, nice try cheering me but we should get moving. They might be waiting by now.”
Dean took the lead.
“So I guess that's why your secluding yourself so much lately. You desperately try to find that 'missing piece' of Avril.”
Chuck hit the right words here. Dean stopped as if he was hitting a wall.
“So I'm right. You know, Rebecca is pretty worried about that. Even though you have no romantic interest in her, you should at least consider that.”
“...”
“I hate it seeing her all down spirited and miserable due your inconsideration.”
“I can't believe your telling me this. Maybe Greg would have but you?!”
He acted as if it were nothing.
“Times are changing. As do persons and my changed started when meeting all of your guys.”
A smile of embarrassment came to Deans face.
“Now you've done it. You make me feels miserable for mulling and sulking over the lack of progress.”
“Did I? After all, you never give up. Aren't these your favorite words, besides 'wall'?”
Chuck started laughing and Dean is carried along.
“Thanks Chuck. Your a great friend.”
“Of course I am. I'm the amazing Chuck you know.”
The laughing got louder.
“Yeah, sure. Let's speed up a bit. Wouldn't want to ruin the celebrating with my sour face.”
Dean was indeed pumped up by Chuck but his heart still ached. His friends may bring temporary relief of worries but only Avril would get him upbeat as ever.