Rover takes a seat on a log beside Encore, before asking her about the story
Rover: “What happened?”
Encore: “Mom told me that once the applause starts at the final show of our tour, she'd take me onto the stage to make a wish. But she collapsed before the play ended. I was so scared. I tried to come up with ways to make her feel better. I even kept a daily to-do list.”
Rover empathized with Encore’s story and patiently listened to the little girl
Encore: “At the time, I thought that if I stayed a good girl like the characters in the stories, Mom would get better and better… But her illness got worse. She didn't get better, and the Gateway of Wishes never appeared. Encore didn't know what to do anymore. Mom just asked me to sit by her bed and tell her stories. So I told her about Warrior Cosmos, Fairy Cloudy, and many other things. She always smiled each time.”
Cosmos and Cloudy appeared before Encore, floating towards her to comfort her
Encore: “It was right around that time when Cosmos and Cloudy appeared from the stories. Mom told me they're a part of life, and these stories will always be with me. After she left, Encore had to become the Wooly Warrior, going on adventures on her own. With these stories, Mom will know what kind of adventures Encore had, and all the friends Encore made.”
Encore gave Rover a warm smile which they returned in kind
Encore: “Later on, Encore wanted to continue writing the Wooly Warrior's story. But this time, it's a bit different from before. Now she has her own friends. Friends that she can adventure together to find the Gateway of Wishes. Because finding that gateway… Is the only way she can tell all her stories to her mom so she knows how well she did. That's why…”
Rover: “That's why when you met Ying…” / “You wanted to go on an adventure with Ying.”
Encore: “Yeah. She said she had a lot to say to her mother. Just like me. There's so much Encore wants to say and so many stories that Encore wants Mom to hear. Our time with Ying reminded me of all of that. Even though Wooly Warrior's story has no true ending… Will Ying's be any different? Will she be able to make her wish come true? In the end, Ying said the adventure is over, and it's just a story… She said she was happy and satisfied with that, but Encore saw that look on her face. She looked really, really sad. Encore knows how it feels. Just like how it used to be. No matter what Encore did, Mom wouldn't get any better. My stories were the only things that could make her feel happy…”
Encore hugged Cosmos and Cloudy as she continued
Encore: “It was Mom who made me understand the power of stories. That's why after I went on this journey alone, Cosmos and Cloudy came out of the land of imagination. And it's why Encore told Ying that our adventure should not end like this. This story deserves a better ending.”
Rover: “Not just Ying's story…” / “Also Encore's story.”
Encore: “Rover…”
Rover: “We should finish the story. Together.”
Encore: “Agreed! The story must have an ending! But what should we do? There's no way we can bring Ying's mother back. I mean, the Gateway of Wishes doesn't actually exist in real life…”
Rover: “Then let's go find it in the story.”
Encore: “In the story?”
Rover: “I remember Cloudy said that if you ever find yourself in a pickle in real life, you can always go back to the Wooly Kingdom to search for clues. You also mentioned that's where the Gateway of Wishes is hidden, right? And you've always wanted to finish writing the story of the Wooly Warrior. This means the final stage of the story should be set inside the Wooly Kingdom.”
Encore: “Encore sees what you mean! Encore can invite you and Ying into the Wooly Kingdom, and go on a real adventure with me—the Wooly Warrior! But... the Kingdom isn't someplace you can go willy-nilly.”
Rover: “We need Ying to believe the Wooly Kingdom really exists.”
Encore: “Only those who believe in the Kingdom can visit…”
—-
[Different Dialogue Option]
Rover: “We need Ying to realize that we're her friends.”
Encore: “That's for sure! We're a team together! We should make a wreath for her and let her know that our adventure's not over yet! Encore remembers it went something like this, the wreath is A crown of flowers that can reflect a person's thoughts. Never withers, forever blossoming. How are we gonna make it?”
Rover: “I know just the person.”
Encore: “You mean... Verina! That's right! Verina loves flowers, she's a flower's best friend! Let's see if she has any ideas.”
With a new goal set in mind, Rover and Encore make their way to Shade Ridge near Jinzhou to look for an old friend