ARPG MEMORY: Make A Wish

Migration season doesn’t get any easier; the first time was hard, the second time is almost harder. It’s hard because Baby hasn’t really had enough time to prepare to do it all over again, and it doesn’t help that this time, he has two wishing weeds to send off into the world. Tiny once again, and going with them, is Button. The little spore weed is finally big enough to go out into the unknown, be it with Tiny or even by themselves, Baby doesn’t know. It’s not up to him.

This year, he carries not one teacup, but two. One in each hand. Tiny is looking eagerly at the road ahead as Baby walks up the familiar dirt path to Green Acres, but Button has their little eyes fixated on the arborling holding them. Baby tries to keep a straight face, wanting to be strong for Button and not wanting them to be nervous or scared, but it’s hard to keep his lip from trembling as he keeps having to deliberately plant one foot in front of the other, over and over.

“It’ll be okay, you’ll see!” He says to Button, though it’s probably more so stated for his own benefit than anything else. “You’ll be able to go out into Midveil, and even beyond if you want to! There’s so much stuff out there to do and see. You’ll get to see rivers and streams, mountains and hills, flowers and trees and meadows and so many pretty things. You’ll get to watch the sunrises and sunsets, like we do sometimes. Just make sure you find somewhere warm to sleep at night; you don’t want to catch a cold, now. And.. and make sure you always eat plenty of food whenever you find it; eating is important, of course. And don’t drink any dirty water; only Lumpybutt does that. And..” He looks down at Button, who is still staring up at him with big, attentive eyes, and it takes everything within the arborling to not have a complete emotional breakdown right then and there.

“Of course, you know what not to eat and drink,” He continues on, feeling his voice feather gently in his throat, “You’re smart, you know those things. You’ll have a fun time, I know you will. And then.. and then when you feel like you’re all done, when you want to come home, you can. You’ll know where home is; you’ll feel it deep down inside. And you can always come home to me, and everyone else. We’ll be waiting for you, okay? I promise. I’ll keep your cup cleaned, with a tissue in the bottom just the way you like it. And we’ll watch our favourite cooking shows together and we.. we’ll have a good time. But only when you’re ready, okay?”

Baby stops walking, taking a moment to look down at Button. “Even though we’ll be far apart, all you have to do is think about me, and I’ll be right there with you, on the inside. You won’t ever be alone as long as you remember me, remember Tiny and everyone else. We’re your family. And when you want to come home.. we’ll be here to welcome you home. That’s a promise.”

Button blinks as if they understand, giving Baby a few soft puffs in response. It’s good enough. He’ll take it.

Green Acres is crowded again, just like it was last year. This time, Baby doesn’t hesitate to find a little spot to get himself situated in, just on the edge of the massive field of fluff that is just about every domesticated wishing weed in the area, and gently tilts the two teacups to the earth, letting his two companions hop themselves out. Tiny looks up at Baby, blinks once as if to say “Thanks for the ride!”, and then they hop away, joining the sea of fluffy wishing weeds.

Button doesn’t seem to want to leave. Baby doesn’t want them to, but he picks them up, giving them a gentle kiss on their cap, and placing them back down. “Go on, now,” he says, trying to be encouraging, “The whole world is out there just waiting for you.”

The wishing weed takes one hop forward, turns back to look at Baby one last time, and after an encouraging nod and smile from the arborling, they, too, join the crowd of fluff, eager to start their own little adventure, and make memories of their own.

And Baby couldn’t ask for anything else.