Echoes of the Past Pt. 6

"What?" Celeste asked in shock. "Why would my brother fake his own death and take on another identity? I don't understand what you're suggesting, Ramger..."

"I'm suggesting that Hubert isn't who he says he is. Even if he isn't Aspen, it's obvious he might know more about Anniera." Ramger took a bite of his pancakes he was stabbing with his fork. "He might have information."

"Still..." Clef glanced over his shoulder to make sure Hubert wasn't there. "It's a big claim to think he's Aspen... Wasn't there a week long mourning period after the burial? You would have seen them lowered into the ground."

Ramger shook his head. "I didn't see everyone, just the High Queen. I was not a part of the burial, only the public relations until Lady Celeste returned. The rest was handled by a trusted hired party from the Hollows... But I know for a fact some that were in that party were from Skree."

"You think... Aspen might have escaped with some Skreens?" Clef asked. "Skree did have a trade deal with Anniera."

"Anything is possible if it's Aspen; He's always been a peculiar Wingfeather." Ramger replied as he continued to eat his breakfast.

"Wow, handsome. I didn't realize Dr. Hubert was actually Song Master of Anneria." Rita giggled with intrigue. "I didn't even know he played music to begin with."

The other three turned their eyes to Rita curiously.

"Rita... How did you say you found Hubert again? And when was this?" Ramger inquired, braving her flirting in an effort to uncover Hubert's true identity.

"Oh, as I said... He was nearly starving when I found him. On the street just off the shore, he was." Rita nodded. "That was only... I'd say it was nearly a year ago? Perhaps less. It feels longer." She shrugged. "I don't know what this Song Master of yours looked like but I have my doubts about it being Hubert."

"That would have been enough time to grow a beard... But..." Celeste looked at Ramger. "Didn't you say I was the only Wingfeather that wasn't home when the Castle was raided the first time?"

"That's what I thought." Ramger replied with a perplexed look on his face. "I was certain Aspen was there... But then again... I was caught up in my day to day works before the tragedy hit. If Aspen wasn't home, I don't know where he would have been... Besides, we did lower four caskets... One had to be him."

"Unless those forementioned loyalists rescued Aspen." Clef pointed out with intrigue. "They might have pretended he were dead in an effort to save him."

Celeste was overwhelmed with all this talk of her family's passing and quickly stood up from her seat. "I'll just go talk to him... If this is where he's been for these past several months, I want to know."

"I can come with you." Clef volunteered as he rose from his kneeled position at her side.

"Thank you, Clef, but... I think I want to do this on my own." Celeste let a subtle smile through her concerned demeanor. "I'll tell you what he tells me later, okay?"

Clef was surprised but still nodded out of respect for her decision. "Alright." He chuckled. Maybe I could go see what Nibble and Zarabean are doing. They haven't come downstairs for breakfast yet."

"Good plan." She replied with a nod. "I'll meet back with you in a little bit."

"Yes, ma'am." Clef nodded in reply, watching Celeste leave the kitchen to go find Hubert.

With many thoughts and questions in Celeste's mind, she began to search the house for any sign of this Hubert.

"He was just in the kitchen... How far could he be?" She wondered as she rounded a corner, carefully stepping over any squeeblins that might be scurrying along.

"Aha!" Hubert was heard shouting from his room. "So it was YOU who has been eating my secret stach of cherries!"

"Oh, no... I hope Seb wasn't sneaking a second breakfast..." Celeste mumbled, nearing the dilapidated door that was the entrance to Hubert's room.

Without warning, Hubert burst through his own door and gently tossed an uniquely dressed thwap out of his room. "James! You sneaky thwap! I should have fixed the holes in the ceiling while I had the-!" He stopped when he saw Celeste standing there.

Celeste stood there with a stunned expression on her face, quite surprised that Hubert had nearly hit her with a thwap when he carelessly threw it out of his room.

"Um... Sorry." Hubert cleared his throat. "I didn't mean to nearly take off your head with a rabid RODENT Rita considers her baby!"

"He IS my baby!" Rita hollered back from the kitchen.

King James the thwap proceeded to hiss at Huburt before he scampered back to his owner.

Hubert shook his head with disappointment. "Anyways, how can I help you, Lore Wain?"

"Um... I have an odd question." Celeste twiddled her thumbs, starting to second guess what she was going to ask. "But I'm not sure how you will take it."

The Lore Wain's odd behavior made Hubert uneasy, causing him to shuffle his feet back and forth.

"... What did you need to know?" He asked.

"Well... I don't know how much you've heard but Anniera has fallen... And since you knew Annieran songs, I was wondering... Do you happen... to know what happened to my brother, Song Master Aspen?"

Hubert was taken back by such a question as he laughed nervously. "Song... Master?" His hands began shaking. "... As... pen?"

Celeste furrowed her eyebrows with confusion. "Yes? Aspen Wingfeather?"

"AH!" Hubert suddenly screamed before covering his mouth with his trembling hands.

The sudden shout startled Celeste to the point she nearly fell over. She quickly regained her balance and just looked at Hubert strangely, wondering why he just screamed like that.

He stared at her with wide eyes before quickly stepping back into his room and slamming the door shut in her face.

"... That could have gone better." Celeste mumbled, knocking on Hubert's door. "Hubert! What's wrong?"

"Hubert isn't home!" Hubert replied through the door despite Celeste having just seen him go inside.

"What in Aerwiar? Hubert! Please! I need to know if my brother's still alive or if he perished with my family! Please!" Celeste continued knocking, now genuinely thinking Hubert was hiding something due to his suspicious response to her simple question.

Hubert grew strangely quiet and did not reply.

"Hubert? Hubert!" Celeste called. "Please, just answer my question and I'll leave you alone!"

The commotion began to gain attention as other members of Celeste's crew were stirring up in their rooms with all the yelling.

Zarabean was seen from the second floor railing, looking down in confusion. "Celeste? What's the matter?"

Celeste looked up at Zarabean and then back at the door in the verge od tears. "... I just want answers, Hubert... I won't hold anything against you... Just... Please, open the door..."

Before anyone else could get involved, Hubert slowly cracked his door open just enough that he could look at Celeste with one of his eyes.

Understandably, Celeste was very relieved to see the door had opened and she began to ask her question again, "Hubert, do you know where Aspen Wingfeather is?-" He question cut short when she really looked into Hubert's peeking eye and within an instant, she recognized him.