Chapter Text
The white blossoms of the Everdoor came into view for what Buck hoped, selfishly, would be the last time.
A scattering of petals drifted past, floating gently in the breeze. One dipped lower than the others, grazing his back, and his feathers bristled. It was funny, really. He’d been so calm when he faced his death. Confused, but not upset, upon realizing he couldn’t move on a second time. The Everdoor shouldn’t phase him so much. And yet, like every other spirit felt before their time came, he was afraid of the pale, quiet sky ahead of him, and whatever lay beyond.
The boat’s engine whirred beneath him as it slowed to a stop, right behind the border where the dark teal sea changed to bloodred. It didn’t take long for Stella to emerge from her cabin, reaching Buck’s door at the top of the scaffolding houses with ease. Daffodil followed behind her, choosing not to use his Everlight in favor of taking a more careful path.
The captain was hardly out of breath as she sat down beside her final passenger. “Nice view from up here.”
“Yeah.”
Usually, Buck would have launched into a lengthy rant, drawing on his excess of campaign knowledge to spin some elaborate, only mildly relevant tale. But Stella’s final moments were hardly an appropriate time for that. Or maybe they were; maybe a fantastical story might ease her in the face of her second death, the way it had helped Buck through his first. Either way, he couldn’t think of much to say.
Daffodil finally reached the platform, making a beeline for Stella. She smiled as he twined around her, the tip of his fluffy tail brushing her nose, and ran a hand through his fur in return. “Buck… Are you okay?”
The basilisk blinked in surprise. “You’re about to leave this world for good, and you’re worried about me?” he asked, incredulous.
But, of course she was. That was classic Stella. Buck hadn’t known her for all that long, in the grand scheme of things, but he at least knew that.
Daffodil, content with Stella’s returned affection, trotted over to Buck. The basilisk wiggled his tail, grinning for just a moment when Daffodil pounced on it, his whiskers tickling its scales.
Stella sighed. “It feels wrong, just leaving you here. I mean, it’s not like you can drive the ship yourself. Are you sure you don’t want me to drop you off at Hummingberg?”
Buck nodded. “I’m staying with you.” Then, after a moment’s hesitation: “After all this time accompanying spirits to the Door, I feel obligated to return the favor.”
“What are you planning to do once I’m gone? If you can’t leave on the boat, I mean.”
He blinked, shuffling his wings. “I… didn’t think that far ahead. I guess I assumed I’d… I dunno, magically vanish along with you? Get teleported somewhere to live out the rest of my days in one of those scratchy-looking hoods? You know, the ones that makes all the spirits seem like NPCs from a video game that didn’t feel like adding too much detail?” He smiled when that got a laugh out of her. “I mean, the logic of this world doesn’t seem to have much reason to it, so who knows how this’ll work? I’m not worried, though. Worst comes to worst, Francis will eventually wander by, and I can hitch a ride on his giant sack of junk.”
Stella hummed, nodding to herself. “I can’t argue with the logic part.” Her gaze saddened, focusing on the distant Everdoor. “Maybe this is all some big hallucination in my head, and once I go through… I’ll wake up, I guess. Or I’ll die for real. It doesn’t matter much either way. I’m ready to go, so… Whatever that means, I’ll be ready.”
“That goes for both of us.”
Daffodil looked up from Buck’s tail to meow. Stella giggled, leaning forward to scritch him behind the ear. “And for Daffodil, too, yes.”
His spirits somewhat lifted, Buck hopped to his feet, striking a poor attempt at a dramatic pose. “Three courageous adventurers,” he yelled, “Having traveled across two distant worlds, lighting the flames of Tandor, now ready to brave the great unknown together! May Hallor and the Seven Graces of Immalda bless our journey! HUZZAH!” He winced as his voice cracked horribly on the last word.
Stella grinned, standing up beside him. “Huzzah!” she echoed, raising an imaginary glass. Daffodil joined them, letting out a strangled mewl, which sent the both of them into much-needed laughter.
“So,” Buck said once they’d all calmed down. “Do you feel ready to go? Don’t let my presence slow you down.”
Stella hesitated, then nodded. “I’m ready.”
“Then let us embark! ONWARD!” Buck flapped his wings, raising into the air before swooping towards the captain’s cabin. He threw his head back to yell, “I’ll race you to the wheel!”
He heard a faint, “Oh no you don’t!” followed by the hum of the Everlight as Stella grabbed onto the hem of her giant hat, gliding after him.