The power of belief

Ash explained the battle plan a few more times to Tribby, and, eventually, Tribby understood and followed through.  She and Manbearpig took off towards Roe, and, once at the clearing, cast message upon THACO, Tribby's falcon, and had it fly towards Shibou.

"Shibou!  Shibou!  Come to Tribby!" Yelled Tribby into her spell, which carried her voice to the bird.

Shibou's ears perked up.  It was her friend, Tribby!

"COME TO TRIBBY!"

She was close!  Close by!  But... Shibou was tied down.  Much like she had been for the majority of her life. And, through experience, she knew, that escape was impossible from the man made harnesses and chains.

"COME ON SHIBOU!"

Why... why would Tribby call her so?  Why would she torment her, knowing that Shibou could not possibly comply?  The ropes had never failed to hold her since she was...

"YOU CAN DO IT SHIBOU!  COME TO TRIBBY!"

Since... she... was... young...

"COME TO TRIBBY!"

Shibou paused, and a moment of reflection was upon her.  When she was but a baby, she'd been tied down with chains... clinking... metal chains...  And she'd tried.  She'd really tried to break them, but she'd been...

"YOU CAN DO IT SHIBOU!"

She'd been... too... small... to break... the... chains...

"COME TO TRIBBY!"

Too small...

Shibou looked down at the Ogres, and remembered when she'd been so small that she'd looked up to the humans.  Too small...

"SHIBOU, YOU CAN COME!"

Shibou looked down at the flimsy chains which the Ogres had strung across her huge neck.  She looked at the Ogres, once, so powerful and intimidating in stature, now diminuative in comparison to Shibou's girth.

"SHIBOU, YOU CAN DO!"

Shibou lurched forward and ran towards the sound of Tribby.  The Ogres grabbed hold of the chains and began to slow her progression.  Shibou panicked  NO!  What had she been thinking!?  She couldn't overpower the masters!  The chains were always too strong!  What was she thinking!?

"COME SHIBOU!  COME!"

Shibou realized that it wasn't the Ogres holding her back.

"COME!"

It... was... her.

"COME!"

Shibou was holding back Shibou.  Shibou was always the one who'd been holding herself back.  She... was...

"COME!"

Shibou ran to the forest at full speed, dragging the Ogres alongside her.  Tribby cheered "GO!  GO SHIBOU!" and launched a magic missile at one of the Ogres to slacken its grip.  "RUN SHIBOU!  RUN TO THE PATH!" She yelled, having the Ogre take off South, allowing Tribby and Manbearpig to engage the six Ogres.

"GO SHIBOU!"

Shibou ran.  Perhaps for the first time, Shibou truly ran free.


: How could you best encourage a blogger to blog?