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“Honorable Questing Blade, I seek your counsel, perhaps for the final time,” Dale Lee said, holding his nunchucks aloft.
“Is this our last skirmish together?” The Questing Blade asked, slightly disappointed.
“I think it needs to be. The person I’ve been fighting to see in the land of the living is fighting just as hard to join me here. And I can't let her give up the life she has on earth for me.”
“I understand. You are making a tremendous sacrifice.”
“No,” Dale said sadly, “I'm afraid that Sofia is the one who has to make the sacrifice. I'll be here, waiting for her. It will be much harder for her…”
Dale was quiet for a moment, gripping the questing blade as if it was nearly as hard letting go of the weapon as it was letting go of the life he wanted to lead with his amazing wife.
“I don't know. I feel selfish for even holding onto you for so long, when you could be doing good for the people of New York.”
“You are a citizen of New York, first and foremost, as is Sofia. If I could help you in matters of the heart, then I would call that doing good for the people of New York.”
“You're an excellent weapon, and I will miss your wisdom and your friendship. But there are a lot of people in New York who need you. Wherever you go next, just… Look out for Sofia, alright?”
“Of course.”
“I mean, she can totally look after herself, she can do anything, but I wouldn't mind knowing you were out there fighting on her side.”
“As long as she fights for the people of New York, I will fight for her.”
“I know you'll probably go back to Ricky, anyway, and I know how close they are.”
If the Questing Blade was capable of grimacing, it would have, but instead it made some awkward, noncommittal noises.
“You don't want to return to Ricky?” Dale asked in surprise.
“That's a loaded question,” the Questing Blade admitted.
“You can tell me, you've given me counsel so many times. Let me return the favor.”
“Let me leave it at this. You have given me a hero's goodbye. Ricky did not give me such an honor; Ricky just handed me off without a second thought.”
“Oh. Yeah, that's hard.”
“I will likely choose another champion, but know that I will keep my word. As long as I exist, I will protect New York, and that absolutely includes Sofia.”
“Thank you,” Dale said, “I really will miss you.”
“I will miss you, too, Dale. Now, let's get to work. We have one more fight ahead of us.”