Epic

Somebody told me once...

that if you stand still in the forest long enough...

you'll see signs of a hidden struggle.

Raging between forces of life and decay.

That the survival of the forest itself depends on the outcome.

And that the good guys need all the help they can get.

And that if you don't believe it, take a close look.

And if you still don't, look closer.

Oh! Oh!

Mmm-hmm.

Ah! Oh, oh, oh!

Whoa! I...

Oh!

Whoa!

Need a lift?

I don't need your help!

You're running out of branch there, buddy.

Still don't need your help.

Whoa! Oh!

Why aren't you with your group?

What? I fly faster alone!

How do you not get this?

You're not the only one on this team, you know.

So yell at one of them for a change.

You hear that? What am I supposed to do with this kid?

Ah, you're right.

You've got your own problems.

You're a Leaf man. You know how important today is.

You know what? I'm thinking maybe I'm just not cut out for this.

That's the problem. You are cut out for it.

But I'm tired of waiting for you to prove it.

Get a bird and get back to Moonhaven, or you're done.

What, you're not going to help me now?

I just did.

That's cool!

I could probably just jump from here!

Just follow that last guy down!

Whoa! Incoming.

Bet they didn't have bugs like that in the city.

Yeah. I miss it already.

She talks!

Something on your mind, kid?

What do you say to a total stranger?

Stranger? You and I go back twenty minutes.

Not you... Larry.

I mean the person I'm visiting.

I'm leaving you out here with someone you don't know?

It's okay, Lar. We weren't always strangers.

Maybe now things will be different.

That's not a house, that's termites holding hands. No offense.

Don't worry, Lar. I'll be...

Call if you need a quick getaway, kid!

..Fine.

Hello?

Anyone home?

Hello?

Okay. No, actually, you know what? I should check this bee.

No, that's right there. Uh...

Do we have... I had it we... Oh, no, it's over here.

Okay. Yeah. Uh, let's see.

Uh...

Made of... Oh, gosh!

I don't know, polished acorn shell

and thin leather? Perhaps mouse hide.

Pardon me, excuse me, sorry.

- Not mouse hide. - Shrew, perhaps.

Or, you know what, actually, it could be vole.

Hi, Dad. Oh!

Mary Katherine!

Yeah.

You're here! Mmm!

Yeah.

I didn't realize today was today.

It always is.

Hey, let me look at you! Oh...

You look just like your mother. Like she did.

You would, if you know what I mean... Dad.

Do you want to talk about it, if that's...

Thanks, but I've been reading up on the five stages of grief.

I'm working through them myself.

I'm good like that.

There actually are a few things

I would like to talk about.

Oh, oh, oh! Ozzy!

Look who's back!

Ozzy? He's still alive?

Well, you know, most of him.

He may be down to three legs, but he'll make a break for it...

the first chance he gets.

Ozzy, go say hi.

Here, boy!

Ah, there he goes.

His depth perception's a little off...

and he has a tendency to run in circles.

Hey, but that was closer than usual, you know?

He remembers you!

So, I have a little surprise for you up here.

Just follow me, take a look.

Ozzy! No. No kisses.

Well, here we are.

Welcome home.

It's like I never left.

All your things are here, you got your dolls and...

your pictures, your turtle.

Oh, dear.

Well, it's good to have you back, Mary Katherine.

Actually, I go by MK now.

Oh! MK.

I like that. It's more... grown-up.

Oh! Um... Hmm.

Do you have to get that?

Oh, no. No. That was just one of my sensors.

I got a lot going on right now.

Today is actually a highly unusual day.

There is both a full moon tonight and the summer solstice...

which only coincide every hundred years or so.

You can imagine, it's just crazy over here.

Hey! Uh...

You probably want some time to settle in.

I'm just going to let you make yourself at home, Mary Kather...

Oh! No, who's Mary Katherine? MK, I mean.

Okay, Mom, I'm trying.

That was the deal.

Oh, my.

Oh!

Come on, Mom, you're going to miss them.

Hey, Leaf men!

Huh? What?

Queen Tara, we need to discuss today's ceremony.

The Boggans have crossed our border again.

You're not getting enough sunshine.

Yes, it's Ronin.

Well, I think he looks silly kneeling, too,

but I can't get him to stop doing it.

I think the Boggans are scouting our defenses.

You know they'd do anything to stop you from choosing an heir.

But don't worry, I've got a plan.

When we were kids he wasn't so serious.

Would you like to hear my plan?

And he had the sweetest smile.

Look, instead of a public ceremony,

I go in with a small platoon...

pretend we're stopping for a drink.

We grab a pod, bring it back to you.

It blooms, the life of the forest continues. We're in, we're out.

It doesn't work that way.

I can't choose unless I'm there.

It's about the feeling.

I get it from the pods...

I get it from the forest...

I get it from all of us.

There we are.

Don't you have feelings, Ronin?

Yes, I feel this is a bad idea.

The Boggans have never been this aggressive.

I'm not completely helpless, you know.

I am aware.

But you're the life of the forest.

Looking after you is my duty.

Is that the only reason you do it?

Isn't that reason enough?

If that's the only reason there is.

Your Majesty.

Yes?

I'm not ticklish. Oh!

You used to be!

Very well. I understand your concern...

but this is the one day in a hundred years I can choose an heir.

If I don't do this today...

there won't be a future to protect.

I don't think I saw a salute, Boggan!

We had a little skirmish with some Leaf men this morning.

A rat got caught in the crossfire...

so I got a new coat.

It's, uh, just like yours!

Did you find the location of their ceremony?

Uh...

Yes, sir!

It's way outside of our borders.

You mean their borders?

The Leaf men think they can keep us contained...

surround our beautiful island of rot...

with their hideous green forest.

So arrogant!

All in the name of balance. I'm sick of balance.

No matter how much of the forest we destroy...

the queen regrows it with one wave of her hand.

She needs to be cut down! At the root!

Exactly.

Today we'll show them you just can't stop the rot.

If the queen dies without an heir...

the Leaf men can't regrow anything.

The balance swings in our favor forever.

Leaving you and me...

rulers of a desperate, desiccated kingdom.

I won't let you down...

Dad.

I know you won't.

You look good in rat.

It's slimming.