The King and the Knight

Our King is still in there...

We should go and tell the grown-ups!

What happened here?

Ah, it's you! The envoys of our King!

Please save our King... They came... A lot of baddies came to our place...

Baddies?

They must be the wicked companions of the Red Monster...

All of them wore masks ... and they suddenly charged into our place. We escaped using our secret trail, but ... but our King is still inside.

Masked baddies? Could it be the Bonekrushers? And why didn't your King escape with you?

He took the scepter and ran for the palace... And all the baddies followed him... That's why all of us got to escape...

Please, good envoys! Go and save our King!

All this damage... Sure looks like the Bonekrushers' doing...

This is really bad, Endmin! The "King" might be in danger!

Comm device? That's a good idea!

Kids, take this. You know the place really well, so we're counting on you for help.

Okay. I want to save our "King" too...

Let's go, Endmin. We've got a rescue to run!

Wow ... this is...

It's our secret base! The Kingdom of Brickyland!

We built this place together with the things we found!

That cable car there looks busted...

Oh no... How are we supposed to get back in now?

Wait... There's another way. The "Trail of the Brave"...

Is it next to the cable car...?

Oh yes. Legends say the very first King of Brickyland took this trail and discovered our secret base.

But the trail is really dangerous. No one dares to use it anymore...

The trail it is. We gotta give it a shot.

What is this? A turn table for mining carts?

It's NOT a turn table! It's our very own "swiftbeast carousel"!

I don't see the difference.

Ugh! Because a turn table is a ... a table that turns! And our "swiftbeast carousel" is a ... a romantic ride!

Let's skip the details. I don't think it has any power.

The "Swiftbeast" ride is often out of power... You need to flip the power switches in the correct sequence to make it turn.

Looks like we gotta follow their instructions to get through this place. The hint for rotating the "swiftbeast carousel" should be on a nearby wall.

And we drew out the correct sequence already! Psst ... What's the sequence again...?

Erm... It's a rhyme. A grown-up rhyme, I think...

"A long-ear hungers for a juicy slug, but the tuskbeast's right behind the long-ear's butt!"

Wow — The whole thing is turning!

Endmin!

Ah...

I, uh, I'm just, you know... telling you we have to get on so we can ... quickly get through this place!

But it's the truth! That's really what I'm trying to say!

Come on, let's hop on it!

Whoa ... so many cargo containers! It's like a maze in here.

A maze? Oh, are you talking about our Vault?

You have entered the Great Vault of our Kingdom! It's where we store the most valuable treasures of the King and the royal subjects! And also the Secret Treasure of the First King!

Never expected the children to come up with so many fun things.

Really...? Playing seriously...? I never had that experience before.

I cannot afford to spend time on playing...

Members of the Pack must remember their duty. And my duty right now ... is to save the "King".

Speaking of which, how are we supposed to get through here?

You might find a path that we usually take... But you are probably ... too tall for it...

Let's find it first.

This place is huge! What are those crates for?

Huh? Oh! The Crate troops! That's the Bricky Legion — Brickyland's proud soldiers!

The Bricky Legion guards the Kingdom Palace. To pass through the palace gates, you must defeat the army and find the key from the defending general.

Okay... How do we do that? I'm seeing more than one general.

There are three generals in total. Only one of them has the elevator key to the palace. But ... I don't remember where he is...

Not again... There are so many crates here...

Alright. Time to find the key to the "Palace"!

O-o-o-of course not! I'm just worried about the "King's" safety!

Let's defeat these crates and find the key!

Don't worry. Generals are different from ordinary soldiers. They are red, you know. And the key is in one of them.

Fine. We'll look through all the generals.

Are you at the entrance? Keep moving and you'll reach the Kingdom Palace!

The Palace is also where all our Dukes and Kings assume their official positions!

Everyone usually gathers there to play games. I hope nothing bad happened to our palace.

Find them all ... and kill them...

Phooo... Hrrggghh...

This palace ... isn't quite like what you just described.

Do you see our King there?

The Bonekrushers are also looking for him, so I believe he's still safe.

Alright... Ready for a real hunt, Endmin? You're to witness the Pack's kind of fun.

Let me smell your freshly spilled blood...

It's red... The Red Monster! AAAH! HELP!!

"Red Monster"? That's so rude, boy. Look closely. It's us!

The red you saw? That's just my cape! And fighting makes its color even brighter.

T-those baddies suddenly broke into our place. I-I was so scared...

You lured them here so that the others could escape, right? That was brave.

I ... my legs can't stop shaking. I think they were after the Red Diamond, so I...

Alright, boy, just breathe. You okay to stand?

I ... I'll try...

Don't be afraid. If the baddies come again, the Endmin and I will teach them a real lesson.

There's ... a path nearby, but...

So what are we waiting for? Let's head there together.

But the ... the path is super dark... No one dares to take that path.

You are a brave child, and brave people are not afraid of the dark.

I'm not brave at all...

How about letting me and the Endmin take your hand? Will you still be afraid with us around you?

Okay... I'll try...

Al-alright then, I'll go with you... Just don't leave me behind...

No problem. Let's go together.

It's okay, just some falling rocks. Don't be scared.

It's up ahead... The Red Monster must be the one who broke the rocks...

Then ... then it must be the baddies! They're here again!

If the baddies come, we'll just knock them down!

No... The baddies will take me away ... and feed me to the Red Monster...

Hmmm...

Endmin... The boy refuses to move.

Encouragement...

Courage... Aha!

How about we rest a little? You like stories?

During my first hunt training, Nonno Rozzan told me a story about a wolf cub.

So, Your Majesty, once we finish the story, we shall keep traveling.

This is a very old story told in the Pack.

Once upon a time, a wolf cub grew up alone in the forest. It ruled the woods. The little critters were all its prey. The river was all there for it to drink. It lived a carefree life.

Many years passed ... and the wolf cub felt that no forest beast was its equal.

A fiercer beast...

Oh yes. But the wolf cub growled back, "I'm the strongest here!"

So the wolf cub followed the long-ear to a cave...

I don't believe it. There are no beasts like that...

Then a long-ear entered the forest and fell into the wolf cub's jaws. But right before it was eaten, the long-ear blurted out that it had seen an even fiercer beast.

The long-ear said, "Its shape and voice are terrifying. Its form can hide the sun, and its roar can shake the lands."

Oh, you can stand now. Good. I'll continue the wolf cub's tale.

Please go on!

AAHHH... No! I don't want to go this way no more!

There's no Red Monster here. Only Red Rossi.

Ah, it's finally done. Is everyone alright?

Miss Red Cape is so incredible! She turned into a red flash and took out all the baddies!

Red flash... Wait. Is the Red Monster actually...?

No! She is our hero!

Yeah! A hero...! She saved us!

Here... This Red Diamond now belongs to you.

Please take it.

That won't do. We promised to trade two treasures for it.

Here you are. The Holy Sword and the Strong Shield of the Kingdom.

Wow! They really brought the treasures back!

We just couldn't bring them back. Many Kings and Queens tried, but all of them failed...

Wonderful! I now have two treasures! We can once again name the Dukes of this Kingdom!

Oh, so this is the reason why — you sent us to retrieve the two treasures.

Heheh... I'm not very brave, but I also want to get the treasures back for everyone...

Ahem! These two heroes have completed the Brickyland trials, and retrieved our treasures. As the twenty-seventh King of Brickyland —

Twenty-ninth.

Ah-Anyways... We hereby name you Grandmasters of the Order of Brickyland! Rise! Red Knight! Rise! Black Knight!

Hail the Grandmasters!

Hehe. Thank you for your generous boons, Your Majesty.

I hereby name this day ... a new Brickyland Memorial Day! Time to play, everyone!

YAY!!!

Then we should ask if the King wishes to grant us a treasure.

Ahem. If everyone agrees...

Wha? But... but my reign isn't over yet!

Ehm ... maybe we should form a queue for that... But Endmin ... I'll let you queue in front of me.

Monster! It has appeared! The Red Monster!!

The wolf cub had never been belittled like this. It unleashed an angry howl. Awooo —

But then, fearsome howling responded from all sides of the cave. It seemed more than one great monster lived in this cave.

Scared, the wolf cub fled the cave in panic.

The little critters learned to scare the wolf cub with the cave monster. Whenever it remembered the howling shadow, it would lose the courage to hunt.

What happened next...?

Well, the wolf cub was starving. Its steps grew unsteady, swaying as it moved. Soon, it found itself walking back to that cave.

The wolf cub saw it again, that great, moving shadow. It poised like it was ready to hunt.

Heh, our little king's shaking just like that wolf cub.

But ... aren't you scared...?

Not at all. If a monster comes out, I'll bite its head off!

Really...?

Really. So, feeling better already? Shall we continue the story?

Yes, please...

Anger filled the wolf cub's heart. It would rather die fighting than die of hunger!

Casting all thoughts aside, it pounced at the shadow in fury.

To its surprise, its body tore right through the "wall" and made a huge hole in it.

After all, the "monster" was just a piece of white cloth... The howls? Nothing but cave echoes.

Wait ... what?

Yeah. If you look back right now, the beast the wolf cub feared for so long — it never existed.

The trail has ended... I see holes on the ground jetting out gas.

Ah! You must have found our Super Lava Trampolines!

Lava...? I don't see any lava here.

There are boxes on the ground, yes? So everything else outside the boxes is lava. The rule is simple. Reach the highest place without touching the lava!

Follow the correct sequence of boxes to jump and reach higher places.

No wonder they call it "Trail of the Brave".

Quickly! The "King" might be in danger! We must move, Endmin!

How was that? The monster wasn't scary at all, right?

Right... You and the Endmin are both so cool!

Ah, all credit goes to the Endmin! I-I still have so much to learn!

The exit is up ahead! Can we use this cable car?

Yeah. This is "Courageous", our royal vehicle!

Alright, Your Courageous Majesty! Please lead us away from this place.

All these entrances look exactly the same... So what now? Do we just try them all?

That will take too much time...

Entrances that look the same? You're trapped by our True and False Treasure Chamber!

I remember the correct path being... Erm, what's the correct path again?

Jumped out? Is it a yellow long-ear? That's our Little Golden Count. It loves playing around the cooking pots.

It's a good friend to everybody. Maybe it can help you.

Endmin, you choose the direction. I'll follow your lead.

Wait. Something jumped out of a pot!

A yellow long-ear... Are you the Little Golden Count the children mentioned?

It's so cute, Endmin... Can we pet it?

Ah! It ran away! Let's go after it, Endmin.

Hmm... I don't see a way up.

*Sniff*... There should be another path. I can feel the air moving...

*Sniff*... *Sniff, sniff*...

Here! Over here, Endmin!

How's that? I got a keen smell, just so you know!

Hmm… This tube's a bit cramped. I don't think you can get through, Endmin.

Don't worry. Leave it to me! I'll look for other paths.

*Gasp* That wicked long-ear took our key!!

It must be the Ruby Rogue! That cheeky one loves stealing our stuff!

Quick, Endmin! Don't let it escape.

Aha! Endmin, the key's right here!

Sample retrieved. It took us a really long time.

Hmmph. Make-believe kingdom. So childish! I'm way beyond that!

But...

It was pretty fun...

Umm... Endmin...

I want to ... stay for a while longer. Can I do that...?

J-just for a short while. I am worried about the kids. There might be other dangers.

I really meant that... I...

Thank you... Then, we'll meet later, Black Knight.

No! It's not like that...!

Really? But we still need to return the sample. Heehee, Endmin. I'll wait for you here!