A Memory of Bygone Days

Huuuh... Can I not get a minute's rest without Ilulu dashing off somewhere?

Well at least this time she won't be off snatching souls. I'm pretty sure she learned her lesson.

Al-pal! Hi-ho, hello!

Aaaand she's none the wiser...

Oh Elementals, she seems to have become even dafter.

A delightful display, wouldn't you say? This one at the front is Bobby, then we've got Betty, Billy, Brandon and Brenda.

Giving them, uh, adorable names doesn't make this any more acceptable!

We agreed that your days of treating souls as playthings are over. Put them back!

That was me just getting caught up in the warmies of the moment. I'll return 'em tomorrow, okay?

Not okay. How could you forget everything we spoke about.

Uh, did you hear someone speak?

Oh fug no, that must be Purrgory.

Oh boy...feels like something super powerful is on the way.

Ilulu, do you know what this is?

Umumumumumum...

......

Hmm? Nothing came of it in the end huh? Except this scythe-wielding, oh...

This is disgracemeow behavior, Ilulu. You've brought shame on the Purgatorian profession!

Ilulu is very-wery sorry, boss.

Boss?

I know you really think I'm just a sourpuss, but I AM your superior, so you meowst listen to me!

Oh I can't help it y'know. I just love them soulzies so much.

That does meowt excuse you. Return them at once!

Ooooooooohhh, okay.

Job done boss. I've done said my farewells to Bobby the Brave, Betbill and Branda.

I've reached the end of my tether with you, Ilulu; this is one mess too far. I don't know how you manage to stay sane with her around. Got any advice for me?

......

What? Do you really find a talking cat all that surprising?

Hm, perhaps I shouldn't. I don't know.

Are you insinuating that the notion of a cat talking is nonsensical?

O-Okay!

That's not Limil, right?

Nya! That's not my name! You got the wrong guy... I mean, the wrong cat!

O-oh. Okay. Sorry, my mistake.

Damn straight. Anyway, Ilulu, it's about time I dealt with you.

Quit pestering me Purrgory. I may never get my mitts on a soul of Bobby's brilliance and bravery ever again. I hope you're happy!

Your punishmeownt has not even begun. I'm giving you a real big reaping job to do!

Why don't you do it, since you're so high and meowty?

You know full meow why. My scythe won't do the trick, it's gotta be yours.

Maybe the scythe that Ilulu's Boss has can't cut that?

Meow right. You're smart for human.

Al, you know everything♪

No, I was just there when Zeviro was explaining things.

Wha? Zevy said something like that?

For now, let's leave that for ameowther time.

How do you swing that thing anyway?

Oh, Purrgory's got his ways. Anyhow, you know there are special soulzies only his scythe can reap? Same for mine.

I'd never have guessed.

Couldn't you just swap scythes, or is that against the rules?

The scythe chooses its Purgatorian. You can't go swapping them around willy-nilly.

If I tried to use Purrgory's, it'd probably hiss at me, and mine would explode into a bundle of flowers if anyone else swung it, I bet.

Right, so unless you want to shower your boss with flowers, you'll have to do it.

That's right. You're one smart cat.

Yep, everyone knows that by now.

Pay attention meow Ilulu! The soul you're going to reap is wandering the Charol Plains at the present meowment.

That's too far Purrgory. Make it nearer.

Are you going to go of your own volition, or do I need to start hissing? Anymeow, I'll be coming with you to supervise.

The Charol Plains, huh... Where was that again...

If we take Mr. Synth Hydra, we'll be there sooner than you can say "Purrgory's a sourpuss."

I'm not sure where that is.

It's many meows away, to the east.

That's not much help Purrgory. Give us better directions please.

Or how about you use that noggin of yours for once? I can't be holding your paw all the time.

I'm not familiar with the eastern lands in this era, but in the present there was a big desert landmass out that way. It makes sense to return to my era and gather intel in the eastern region.

We'll hitch a ride on the Synth Hydra. Let's go!

Meow it's time for you to get to work, Ilulu. Go and reap that soulzie.

What? Really Purrgory...

What's wrong?

It's so feeble. You can't send off a soulzie when it's all shrunken like this. It'll just go "puff," Al-pal. It won't be able to make the journey.

So it wouldn't be able to go on to another life?

I guess... It's probably too late for this li'l fella now. So Purrgory, what do I do? I don't think I can send it off.

This one's down to you, Ilulu. To swing or meowt to swing, that is a question you meowst answer for yourself.

Oh...

This is the kinda time I'd ask myself: What Would Al Do?

I would...

Meow you wouldn't do anything! Don't go thinking you're the top cat just because you're taller than me! I give the orders meowround these parts.

Eh, fair point.

Yeah, I think it'd be good for you to think about this one for yourself Ilulu.

D'oh, my noggin has never had a dilemma this big to unravel before.

...Hmmm, weeell... I guess I'd kinda prefer it to be reborned.

Meow this is an interesting turn of events.

Well I mean, I never cared before, y'know?

But Al-pal wouldn't stop talking about life being important, and all that jazz, so I'm thinking yeah, he's kinda got a point.

You may not look much like a cat, but you've sure got a cat's good sense.

(I guess the whole me being a cat thing explains why I'm so smart.)

Still, the clock is ticking for this lil' soulzie.

We'll worry about the send-off later. Just gotta focus on making sure it survives for now. I'll be a host for this soulzie for now. That way my purgyenergy oughta boost its spirits a lil'.

Do what you've got to do, Ilulu. I trust your judgement.

If Al-pal trusts me, I'll trust me too.

Yo li'l soulzie, cold out there aren'tcha? Come and share some of my warmies.

In they go...and all their feelings and stuff with them. But hardly any memories? The soulzie doesn't remember who they were.

Doesn't have any self-awareness huh? Unlike the soul we met in Acteul.

It's way, way weaker than that one was. Maybe because it's a little kid's soulzie?

They died young huh...

Sadly... Even if I poured all of my purgy power into them, they'd still be too feeble to withstand a swipe of my scythe. We've gotta toughen 'em up somehow.

Psssssssh. There's meowt a chance in Purgatory I'm helping you out this time.

Okay noggin, let's fire up the engines: how do I make a soulzie stronger?

It's hard to be strong when you don't even know who you are. Can we try and bring back their memories somehow?

D'aww, didn't get much of a chance to use my noggin... But yeah, good thinking.

So yeah, how about...we go to a place that's memorable for them? That might do something.

I reckon that might just do the trick.

Purrgory, you're good with me giving Ilulu a hand here and there, at least?

I don't meownd one bit, as long as you leave the big decisions to Ilulu.

Cool. Now let's get on the memory trail.

Okay... She would have lived nearby probably. Do you know a village near here?

Yeah, Sarupa Village, this way.

Woah, what is this feeling? It's super nicey.

It's like... warm fuzzies, but cool!

Any sign the soul remembers this place?

They sure do. That's what these...cool fuzzies are telling me anyhow.

It feels like...they enjoyed lots of happy catnaps in this spot.

Wouldn't mind one of those myself.

You like taking naps too Al-palkins? Well that makes three of us. I especially liked ones on the river bank, listening to the water's flow while rolling to-and-fro.

The look on your face is like you're really there. Which river bank was this? One in Purgatory?

My inner Ilulu was there. She's back now though.

Not sure where it was... Not Purgatory, I think.

I wonder where it was then. It couldn't have been a memory from before you were born in Purgatory, right?

No, I don't think so, no. The warmies and the coolies musta combined to give me a weird hallucination or something.

......

How's the kid's soul holding up? Did it get any stronger?

It's still pretty feeble. Gotta show it some more memories.

You're it!

Awww, but I don't like being it. I'mma get you back for this!

A good ol' game of tag huh.

Seems the soulzie inside has some sympathy for the girl that got tagged just now.

Hey, you two wanna play?

Uh, I'll pass thanks. How about you Ilulu?

No choice! My insides are getting all sparkly and hyped up.

Sorry, Al, but gotta go play!

Four's company! Now let's have a super game of tag! Starting with...

You being it!

Scatter!

Not a great start, huh. Do you even know the rules?

Sure do! Just gotta chase after the kids and tackle them to the ground, right?

Fee-fi-fo-fum! You better run, because here I come!

You really got us good huh. It's gotta be against the rules to be that fast!

Tag is way more fun with four.

We should invite Clara next time then.

Ah yeah, Clara. She was uncatchable when we last played. If we're gonna play seriously we've got to have her along.

Gotta find her first though. Seems like she's been hiding recently.

......

Thanks for playing with us, horns girl!

Heehee, no probs! Bye-bye, friendies!

Oh man, that was the most fun I've had in a looooooooooooooong time!

It looked like the other kids liked playing with you.

They were too slow for me, even with my scythe weighing me down!

The soulzie inside of me was sharing the fun times too. Such a happy, lil' soulzie right now, ain't'cha?

I guess they liked playing tag too? I think we know who it is now: it must have been the Clara the kids mentioned.

So the name of the soulzie inside me is Clara... I can see more memories coming back now.

She seems fun. I'd have liked to have played tag with her too. Almost kinda sad we didn't all get the chance to be friendies before, y'know?

The Ilulu smell detector has detected a smell! A really good one!

Hi-ho, youngsters. What might have brought you to my humble home?

The smell! There's some good cooking going on here, I can tell.

You're not wrong. They don't call me the Sarupaian Superchef for nothing.

If smell is a good indicator then that title is definitely deserved.

Nice of you to say so! Would you like a try?

Don't mind if I do! *nom* *nom*

... *nomming intensifies*

That's me full! Boy oh boy that was delicious! Food that good is like warmies for your belly.

......

You okay ma'am? You look like you've seen a ghost.

Mmm... That's not quite it. I was just reminded of something from long, long ago.

I might have helped myself to a bit too much there. Please forgive me, Miss Marsupial Soupchef.

Aren't you silly.

...My cooking always went down a treat with little Clara, too. She'd even watch me from the window while I made food.

Clara you said? (Same girl again...)

Such an unfortunate girl. She was left parentless at a young age, with no relatives to take care of her.

......

I've heard no one has seen her in days. She often goes to the Zol Plains to play, so maybe she's there...

...Oh dear, I'm sorry for bringing such a gloomy subject up.

It's okay, the tasties overpower the gloomies by far.

No doubt about it! Pop by any time you're feeling hungry and I'll whip you up something.

Sure will!

Wait just a moment.

What's up, supersoup lady?

......

No... Sorry, don't mind me.

...?

I guess that's as many memories as we're going to get.

Is it strong enough to be sent off now?

Um... Oh?

'Sup Soulzie? You seem super keen to tell me something.

Maybe do it like before and give them a body?

You read my mind, Al-palpops! One soulzie body, coming right up!

Oh wow! Am I...? Am I alive again? I can see and feel my body...

I'm sorry Clara. It's just an illusion made from purgy energy. It's easier to talk now, right?

"Clara"... I remember.

Have you got your memory back?

I think so... Thanks to Ilulu.

I remember my parents dying, and then always being hungry, and then... Oh, that's right. I died.

It's only your soul that's left now, Clara.

But don't worry! Soon you'll have a whole new life! Just leave it to this here reaper! Then you can have another chance to be happy!

At least I got to have one last fun day. Thanks for the memories, Ilulu.

Taking naps in the cool spots, playing tag with my pals, spying on the superchef's secret recipes... It was the best...

...I really wanted to live and... Do lots more things...

Clara!

I'm sorry I've gotta leave you, Ilulu. It was just one day, but it was fun.

Why?! Don't go!

One sparkle and she's gone. That was the end for Clara.

You expect me to go along with this, Purrgory?

Is it really so much to ask?! She just wanted to take naps and play tag! I said I'd give her another chance to be happy! If she goes now, my promise will become a lie...

And Ilulu ain't no Iluliar! I've gotta stay true to my word, and that means granting her wish!

Ilulu...

We're going to Purgatory, Aldo. There's only one thing we can do: we've gotta go ask the purgy spirits if we can have Clara back. And say pretty please.

......

Do you really think that's going to work?

Umm...it might not. D'oh.

Can't give up though! Right?

No, don't ever give up. Not until the fat cat starts singing, that's what my old man always used to say. To Purgatory then!

Soulkeepers! Purgie bosses! Spirits! Anyone, please!

Do you know me? I'm Ilulu, one of the Purgies...or Purgatorians if ya wanna be fancy.

Fug! Oh fug, from far and wide! Fug up high, and fug down low! Fug, fug, wherever you may be, I'm begging you: listen to me!

There's a soul, a soul of an innocent girl, who really wants to live...we've gotta save her! Pretty please!

With icing and strawberries on top!

Purrgory, I reckon you know more than you're letting on.

Nothing escapes you, does it. All right, it's time for meow to make some revelations.

Purrgory! What do we have to do to save Clara's soul? Don't hold back any longer! I'll give you the strawberries, okay?

Hmmmmm... I can tell you that Ilulu, but you've got to tell meow something first. Do you really think it's fair bringing back the soul of just this one girl, when so meowny more fall helplessly into the void? If you insist on dragging her back from the brink of the abyss, you meowst be prepared to take responsibility.

Quit confuggling me, Purrgory! All this stuff about voids and abysses is way too gloomy-woomy for me...

But there is one thing I'm not confuggled about! That little soulzie... I could really feel her wish to live. And if there's someone that can grant that wish, then they should!

Meowry well, Ilulu. I hope you're up for a catfight.

...!

Boss?!

What's it doing?!

You'll see! My scythe has got plenty of that conviction thing in its swing!

I'm a reaper who'll do anything for my friends! I'll go to the ends of the earth, and take down whatever gloomies stand in my way! That includes you!

I'm right behind you. Let's do this!

Remeowkable.

Now Clara will come back from the void's edge, won't she? She'll be reborned and everything?

As I said, she will be your responsibility. Clara won't be reborn as a human or another animeow.

......

Clara is going to be a Purgatorian. And you're going to be her boss.

Clara's boss!

Clara shall make a meowst excellent Purgie. Her mind is unsodden by the sinfulness of the mortal realm, and her heart remains untainted, undistorted.

Could ya calm it down with the confusing words please? Me no understandies.

In other words, she has the two essential ingredients: purity of mind, and purity of heart.

So that's how it works.

Yes, it's a purrfect arrangement. The only problem is that children's souls are as feeble as furballs in the beginning.

That's why they have to toughened up to make them into proper Purgatorians. We submit them to various trials, until one day they're ready to take the big one you just passed.

Trials? Just seemed like fun and games to me.

Well the games are over meow, from today on you're a pro. By claiming your very own underling from the mortal realm, and undergoing the rite of revival... You did what was needed to join the ranks of fully-fledged Purgies.

This wasn't in the Reaper Manual!

Did you even read the Reaper Meownual? Meowst people just give it to the sage so they can upgrade their class... Anyhow, meow you're a true Purgatorian, you can know the truth. You're also fully liberated from the life-death cycle.

Never forget: the thing necessary for sustaining logic-defying audacity is a will of steel.

And what a will of steel you've got there, Ilulu. You won't hear meow say this often, but my paws are prickling with pride right meow.

Feels good, I guess♪ To be a proper Purgatorian!

It's a time like this that makes meow look back to that day I reaped you up in Sarupa.

(I wonder what the circumstances behind Ilulu's death were...)

Oh yeah...I thought I felt some extra weird warm fuzzies when we were hanging out there earlier.

Anyhows, looking ahead... When's Clara gonna arrive?! I can't wait to show her around Purgatory's flower fields!

I can't bring her back with a click of my fingers, since they're non-opposable. It'll take some time.

It's kind of silly me being anybody's boss though. Not that I don't like teaching people things. I think we'll be more like buddies than boss and underling.

What sort of things are you going to teach her?

Oh, all the Al-pal specials! About life! And how important it is.

That's good to hear.

Not to detract from Ilulu's achievemeownt, but I'm meowt sure she could have done it without you. It was lucky she had a pure-souled person like you for support. Frankly...I'd quite like to have a better look at your soul up close.

Please...no!

Can't do it with this scythe though! It only works on felinekind.

(Uh... I should try and look relieved)

If only you were a cat, eh? I'd have you out of that body in an instant.

Sorry for not being a cat. Maybe in my next life, eh?

On second thought, meowbe it'd be worth testing out the whole "certain scythes for certain souls" theory...

I've already had Ilulu scything me up, could you give a guy a break!

Oh don't exaggerate, a blow from a Purgatorian's scythe is like a tickle from a feather.

......

Be nice to Al-pal, Purrgory! Or I'll make you have a bath.

Aren't we going to be just the coolest, Al-palkins? Me 'n' Clara. Travellin' the lands and reapin' up them soulzies as a flowery duo♪

We can't meet right away... So! Let's at least go back to the memoryful spot and do some reminiscerizing!

Uh, the Charol Plains right? Meet you there then!

Her impatience really gets on my whiskers! She's gotten more mature since meeting that Al-pal. Even so, she needs to lay off the catnip!

La-di-day, now we've just gotta wait♪

I'm glad you're so excited.

How do we know that this is where she'll return though? As a Purgatorian.

That's what the warmies are tellin' me, Al-palkins. This is the best spot, so this is where it's gotta be.

Do you think this was the napping spot you had memories of? You mentioned flowing water.

Nice spot, isn't it.

Weird that I had just those handful of fuggy memories, but I forgot loads of the important stuff.

Well the key thing is you're you. I reckon your personality hasn't changed from when you were alive.

And what kind of personality is that?

Crazy and reckless and adorable, I guess.

Nice of you to say so, Aaaal-paaal.

Lully, it's really you isn't it!

Uh, "Lully"?

Lully? Cute name! If I got to pick mine, maybe I'd go with that. Ilulu is me.

Oh... Oh.

That's... I see. I'm sorry, you just really remind me of a girl I knew called Lully.

But how could that be?! I'm Ilulu, the one and only♪

Sorry, I got carried away. Lully was one of my friends when I was young.

It's been decades now...

Wait! Is your mother called Lully, by any chance?

Noooooooooope, don't think so.

Oh... You do so remind me of her. This was her favorite place, actually. She'd roll around amongst the flowers on sunny days.

......

She was ever-so thin, and diminutive. I'd share some bread with her from time to time, and she'd eat it up like it was Crowning Glory Cake.

I don't know what got into me, thinking you might be her. It's just so uncanny how similar you are.

Sorry, Miss Soupchef. I'll get my name changed to Lully if it makes ya happy! Orrrrr....maybe not.

Heh. Sorry, I hope this hasn't upset you. Lully isn't with us any more sadly. The last time I saw her was on the day I moved to Ratle. When I came back here...

I was told that she had been...long gone.

Hey, no frownzies! You've gotta turn that upside downzies.

Wait, what?!

Lully wouldn't want you to be sad because of her, would she? So you've gotta be cheery♪

See? Betcha she'd be as smiley as me! And cheerful as can be♪