Once Fishy had entered deep into the forest, where even the little moonlighting couldn't reach, with the Elder's Body, the short but memorable funeral service came to an end.
The city walked away with tear-filled eyes, retreating to their homes where they would continue the same terrible days the Long Night had forced them through since the start.
Deep in the forest, stood Clara and Fishy. The two of them were burying The Elder's body, digging a spot for him to rest, directly underneath a large strong oak tree that had stood for as many years as he did.
The two moved in silence, unable to come up with what to say to each other, but that silence was quickly broken when the three celestials, who stayed for the ceremony, walked up.
"It was a beautiful parting." Beauty said as she stepped through the forest with her long curled hair that just dropped off the muddy floor. Her usual dark pink clothes wrapped around her body, exposing her arms and legs, almost as if it was armour that was easy for the joints to move in.
"Us celestials," Beauty continued, "We never expect this kind of thing when we die."
Clara looked up at her as she approached. Both of them had red eyes from where they had been crying, but neither of them mentioned it.
"Hey, you." The deep-voiced, long blond-haired man next to Beauty said as he pushed his way past those and walked up to Fishy, easily towering him by almost double his height.
"Yes?" Fishy said as he almost broke his neck looking up into his sharp eyes that radiated his power. "Is there a problem?"
"I'm Leo." He stuck his hand out to shake Fishy's, almost tearing it off with his large paw-like hands.
"I'm Buzz, if anyone cares." The small teenage girl wrapped in a yellow raincoat said. Fishy looked past Leo to get a look at Buzz, noticing that she slightly levitated off the ground, as thin tiny wings flapped off her back, but he didn't mention it as he thought it would be rude.
"Clara," Beauty said, "I know this is a lot to ask, but can we bury your grandfather in the druid's forest, beneath the pink trees. He will be cared for by my assistant and protected for all eternity."
"I… I don't…" Clara was flustered. She had only just lost him, and suddenly a stranger to her showed up, asking to take away the only thing she had of him.
She deserved to be angry, but she was unable to conjure any anger towards anyone around her. Not Fishy, not herself, or even Vogef. Her entire mind was shrouded in a hazy mist that lost
"This is all too much for me." She said, "He's only just left us."
"I understand, it is rude of me to ask." Beauty lowered her head, she was aware of her ridiculous request, but sorrow filled her face that she hid by her fallen head.
"I think it'll be fine." Fishy interrupted. "As much as I wish Beauty would tell me the truth, I know she'll look after him."
"Fishy is right." Beauty hurried through her words as she was uncharacteristically flustered at his kindness. "He was like a father to me. I was young at the time of joining, and he told me everything about the celestials and the world. He is someone I'll never do wrong."
"..." Clara didn't speak as she thought to herself. Her words floating around her head but unable to construct in a way she wishes.
"I understand... " She said, "Please take care of him."
"Of course," Beauty responded as she held her back up high. "I can promise you."
"Thank you…"
Clara looked at her grandfather's body one last time before it was taken away by Beauty. She bit her bottom lip tightly to stop it from shaking, but she couldn't do the same with her tears, as even if she tried to hide the image by closing them, the tears escaped.
"Goodbye…" She said as she placed her warm hand against his cold, lifeless, smiling face.
She pulled it away, and stood back up, moving next to Fishy, attempting to hold herself high.
She watched as Beauty took the body away, and vanished deep into the dark forest that led back to her woods.
She left as quickly as she arrived.
"Fishy…" Clara spoke through her rough voice.
"Yeah?"
"Will you take me to the forest one day."
"Sure."