With a Bear and a Battle Axe
The crew meets Abby, a small woodcutter with a big axe, and Bobo, her bear buddy. They're quite the duo despite being on different wavelengths. (Captain) and company welcome the odd couple to their crew.
Abby: Hey! You need to eat up, Bobo! You'll never get all big and strong being picky like that!
Vyrn: What is that?
There's a whole lotta noise coming from over there.
Is someone around?
Lyria: Someone might be in trouble!
We better go check it out, (Captain)!
Bobo: Bobo! Bo! Bo! (Come on! Cut it out! Give me a break for a change!)
Abby: Nummy nummy num!
You know you love how much this bug's squirming!
Just eat it already!
Bobo: Bobo!
(I told you! I'm a vegetarian!)
Vyrn: Well this looks bad... I guess. Is that girl being attacked by a bear or what?
Lyria: It doesn't really look like it. It actually looks like the bear's the one that's about to cry.
Abby: Hey! Who are you? And how long have you been watching us?
Vyrn: Long enough. We came over 'cause we thought someone was in trouble.
Vyrn: What's with making all this noise all the way out here?
Abby: Not that I owe you any answers, but the name's Abby.
And this here's my help Bobo.
Bobo: Bobo!
(Who're you calling help?)
Abby: We were about to have some nice lunch, but Bobo here's one picky son of a gun...
Vyrn: Seriously?
You some kinda gourmet or what?
Pretty fancy for a bear.
Bobo: Bobo! (Who're you calling a bear? The name's Bobo, lizard!)
Abby: I gathered up a bunch of Bobo's favorite bugs, the liveliest ones I could find, but the stinker doesn't wanna eat 'em.
Abby: You feeling sick or something, Bobo?
I'm worried about you...
Bobo: Bobo... (When are you gonna get a clue? There's just no way I can eat bugs.)
Lyria: You know... I might be way off course on this...
Lyria: But maybe Bobo just doesn't like bugs.
Vyrn: He doesn't? I guess that would explain why the big guy's freaking out!
Abby: Wow!
You can speak Bobo, too?
Vyrn: Fluently! No... Eloquently! Right, bear? You'd never eat nasty creepy crawlies, would you?
Bobo: Bo... (You're a saint among lizards...)
Vyrn: Yep... I hear you, buddy.
You're more of a snail type!
You just needed someone to listen to what you've been gruntin'!
Abby: What? Bobo would never eat anything like that!
He'd never give up crunchy exoskeletons for stony shells!
Vyrn: Really? Sounds like he's saying snails to me.
What do you think, (Captain)?
- You're right.
- I'm with Abby on this one.
Choose: You're right.Vyrn: As sharp as ever, captain! You hear that, Abby?
Abby: Really? Oh, Bobo...
Choose: I'm with Abby on this one.Abby: Yeah!
There's nothing Bobo likes more than a fat, juicy bug!
Vyrn: And I say there's nothing he's more disgusted by! Right, big guy?
Continue 1Bobo: Bobobobo!
(You're the worst! Both of you!)
Abby: But that's pretty amazing!
You must be some kinda genius to pick up on what ol' Bobo is saying, (Captain)!
Abby: So... You guys are travelers? How'd you like me and this big bug eater to come with you?
Lyria: Huh? But you should know that the Empire and all kinds of monsters are after us. It's not exactly a walk in the park...
Abby: But it sure sounds like fun!
Abby: And besides, no one can stand up to my axe or Bobo's punch. Fuzzy or not, we pack a wallop!
Bobo: Bobo! (We got this! We'll give 'em the old one-two!)
Vyrn: You definitely got style! I say come on! A spunky axe wielder and bear could definitely bring something new to the party! Right, (Captain)?
Abby: Oh wow! Thanks! Me and Bobo are glad to be part of the team!
Bobo: Bobo!
(Just make sure you have lots of fresh veggies!)
Lyria: Um... I think maybe Bobo's a vegetarian. Or am I just hearing things?
The addition of a girl packing a giant axe and accompanied by an even bigger bear certainly makes (Captain)'s journey more interesting.
Bobo's Favorite Food
The crew is arguing over Bobo's favorite food as usual. Just as Lyria is about to figure it out, monsters attack. Abby joyfully confronts them, intent on chopping them in two.
Abby: Come on, Bobo! These bugs were quick, but I caught 'em just for you! Eat up!
Vyrn: Get rid of those things! We both know Bobo likes snails! Isn't that right, big guy? Now eat up! And don't miss a single one of these beauties!
Bobo: Bobo... Bobo... (No... Please... Just stop...)
Lyria: Um... Excuse me!
Abby: Hm? What's the matter, Lyria?
Lyria: I actually think Bobo would prefer something else entirely...
Abby: Something else? Like what exactly?
Lyria: I'm thinking it's something even we'd consider more edible...
Abby: Bear meat?
Bobo: Bobo? (I don't eat bugs, but I taste terrible! I swear!)
Abby: Just kiddin', Bobo! You're way too furry to eat anyway, so take it easy!
Lyria: Um... Abby? You can be scarier than a feral bear sometimes...
Abby: What? Don't be silly! I'll have you know that I only cut down the ones who deserve it!
Abby: Which means that anyone who messes with me or Bobo is gonna get split like a log!
Lyria: (Just terrifying!)
Vyrn: Hold it... There seem to be monsters around here. Why don't you show us how good you are with that axe, Abby?
Abby: No problemo! I'll split these monsters or whatever in two!
Bobo's Favorite Food: Scene 2
Abby: Just one more to go, and... all done!
Lyria: Wow... I feel bad for the trees you target, Abby.
Lyria: How can you even lift that axe let alone swing it?
Abby: It's easy really. My arms are pumped up with a special kind of magic!
Abby: But I guess always eatin' plenty and not bein' too picky is more important.
Abby: If you don't eat food packed with wood splittin' power, you sure won't be able to cut anything in two!
Vyrn: So you eat just to maintain peak performance in battle? You're way more hardcore than I thought!
Abby: I'm not sure I'd say that... Splitting things just happens to be something I'm good at.
Abby: And I figure that, if I'm gonna spend my days cuttin' things down, I might as well have fun doing it.
Abby: Still, I'm definitely careful about what I eat, and... You know, I just had a great idea!
Bobo: Bobo! (I sure hope it's not as great as the last one you had...)
Abby: Look at that! I couldn't have asked for more perfect timing! More monsters!
Abby: All right! Watch me split 'em in half! I'll chop 'em into itty bitty bite-sized bits!
Abby: Or maybe it'd be better to leave something to really sink your teeth into? Whatever! Choppin' time!
Bobo's Favorite Food: Scene 3
As expected, Abby tries feeding monsters to Bobo. Lyria comes close to figuring out Bobo's favorite food but gives up on her idea. Bobo's cries of pain echo under the blue sky.
Abby: Here you go, Bobo! Made by yours truly! Eat up!
Bobo: Bobo... (This is even more disgusting than bugs...)
Vyrn: I gotta hand it to you, Abby... I never would have guessed his favorite food is monsters!
Abby: But it makes sense that a big ol' bear like Bobo would be into nutritious food!
Abby: And monsters have way more meat on 'em than bugs or snails! Too bad they look so gross!
Bobo: Bobo! (If they're gross, what's with the giant grin?)
Lyria: So that's what it was... I thought you liked vegetables, but I guess I was wrong. Oh well!
Bobo: Bo! Bo! (Wait! Don't just stop there!)
Abby: Come on, Bobo! Got a whole pile of monster parts here, so eat up!
Vyrn: That's right! Don't let a single nasty bit go to waste! Right, (Captain)?
Vyrn: All right! Seems like we have one more reason to fight monsters now! Let's do it for Bobo!
Abby: Come on, Bobo! You're a little too big to be babied, but... Open your mouth and say ah.
Bobo: Bobo! (If you like monster meat so much, you eat it!)
Lyria: Aww, the big guy's being shy. That's so cute.
Bobo: Bobo! (Somebody... help!)
The giant bear's cries of pain echo under the blue sky.
It looks like it'll take a while yet for (Captain) and the crew to finally figure out Bobo's favorite food.
Bobo!
Abby and Bobo find themselves relentlessly hunted by assassins, and Will soon discovers that Bobo has been mistaken for a dangerous, rare bear. He hunts down the bear, simultaneously helping his friends and satisfying his craving to meet new monsters.
It's late at night, and all that can be heard throughout the Grandcypher is the sound of quiet footsteps.
Men who have stolen onto the ship smile gleefully down at the sleeping faces of Abby and Bobo.
Assassin 1: Heh... They're sleepin' like babies.
Assassin 2: Heh-heh... Yep. Looks like it's time to get paid... Take this!
Assassin 2: What in the?
Will: Well, well, what do we have here? Attacking people in their sleep, huh? Talk about unsightly filth.
Assassin 1: Damn... You'll pay for gettin' in our way! You're ours now!
Will: Yeah, yeah... It seems that you two need to be taught a lesson. Abby! Bobo!
Abby and Bobo spring out of bed, looking so ready for action that it's almost like they were waiting for the call.
Abby: Choppin' time! Let's split 'em in two!
Bobo: Bobo! (You've got a lot of nerve waking me up at this hour! And I get cranky when I'm tired!)
Will: You losers seriously think you can fight me?
Assassin 1: Ugh!
Assassin 2: Oof!
Suspicious men like these two assassins have recently been attacking Abby and Bobo day and night.
Will, who's sure there's a reason for the attacks, glares at the defeated intruders.
Will: You two will talk, won't you? You know, about why you're after Abby and her friend here. Well?
The two assassins, who sense an unspeakable sort of insanity behind Will's benign smile, quiver as they beg for their lives.
Assassin 1: P-please! Have mercy on us!
Will: Hee-hee. Well, that depends on you two, doesn't it?
Assassin 1: The truth is... Huh?
The moment the assassin begins to speak, he sees the criminal list, which is under Will's arm.
Assassin 1: Ha! So you're an assassin too!
Assassin 2: Ha-ha! Pretendin' to be their friends so you can catch 'em off guard, huh?
Will: What exactly do you mean by that?
Assassin 1: Gotcha!
Will: Oof!
Assassin 2: Not so high-and-mighty now!
After taking advantage of Will's moment of weakness to send him flying, the assassins turn around and flee from the Grandcypher.
Will: Phew... I really should pay more attention. But what were they on about?
Will's face clouds over as he considers the implications of the assassins taking notice of his criminal list.
Will: All right, you guys... Do you have any idea why people are after you?
Abby: Hmm... Nope. Any clue, Bobo?
Bobo: Bobo... (I have no idea either.)
Abby: Bobo says it doesn't matter, 'cause he can beat down any assassin with his blazin' punches inferno-style!
Bobo: Bobo! (I said nothing like that!)
Will: What? You can summon fire from your paws? Hold it. I thought you were a bear, but are you actually some new species of monster?
Bobo: Bobo... (I'm not sure that I like that serious gleam in his eyes. There's something off about this guy.)
Convinced that there's a clue hidden in his criminal list, Will heads out to investigate, and he returns the next day with some new information.
Will: Hee-hee! I found out why assassins have been attacking you guys!
He shows them not his list of criminals but a list of pests.
The list warns that a big bad bear is prowling the area and includes a ferocious-looking drawing of the beast.
Abby: Check it out, Bobo! They made you look crazy wicked!
Will: Yeah, and the list also says that the big bad bear's glossy fur is likely worth a small fortune.
Bobo: Bobo, Bo... (Maybe, but my fur doesn't look like that, so they must have the wrong bear. Besides, I've done nothing wrong...)
Bobo suddenly remembers something that happened the other day.
Bobo: Bobo... Bo! (Oh! That must be what this is about!)
Abby: Oh, Bobo. What do you mean you want to give whoever drew that your autograph? You already think you're a celebrity?
Bobo: Bobo! (I never said that!)
Abby: Oh! Now I remember! Though I can't really be sure...
Will: Huh? Did you think of something?
On a sunny day off, Abby and Bobo are strolling through the forest as usual.
Suddenly a beehive falls from a tree and bops Bobo on the head.
Bobo: Bobo! Bobo! (Ouch! That smarts!)
Abby: Ha-ha! Your head's a sticky mess! And the honey in your fur's all sparkly!
Bobo: Bobo... (Quit guffawing and wipe me off already.)
The ominous sound of buzzing bees behind Bobo sends a shiver down his spine, and he timidly turns to look.
Bobo: Bobo? Bobo! (Huh? No way! You can't be serious!)
Abby: Bobo! Run for it!
Bobo: Bobo! (Let's get outta here!)
Village Soldier: Wha? The big bad bear's at it again! Hey! Get down, kid!
The soldier, who assumes that the bear is attacking Abby, aims his gun at Bobo.
Bobo: Bobo! Bobo! (H-hold it! Can't we talk about this?)
Bobo somehow manages to dodge the sudden enemy fire and flees into the forest.
Bobo: Bobo... Bobo? (That could have been it for me. And I'm still all sticky.)
Bobo wipes off some of the honey running down his head with his paw and gives it a curious taste.
Bobo: Bobo... Bobo! (Say, this honey's great! But wait. Now's no time for that! Get it together, Bobo!)
Bobo cautiously looks back in the direction of his attacker and sees the soldier guarding Abby.
Village Soldier: Damn... I guess the bear got away. Little girl, are you okay? You were being chased just now, right?
Abby: Huh? Oh, I sure was! That's why I ran here!
Village Soldier: I see... That must have been scary. The big bad bear has taken out a bunch of people from this village.
Village Soldier: There won't be anyone left at this rate... No! I have to deal with the bear before that happens!
The soldier weeps as he thinks of the damage done by the bear, but a villager runs up and interrupts him.
Villager: Um... I managed to draw a picture of the big bad bear. You think you could use it to help keep the villagers on guard?
Village Soldier: Oh, this is wonderful! You even captured the glossiness of his fur. I'll make sure everyone in the nearby villages sees this!
Will: I see... So the honey was why the bear's fur seemed so glossy.
Will: Hmm... You know, it's probably nothing more than a rumor, but I've heard of a rare bear with sparkling fur.
Will: It seems that people are thinking that's actually the big bad bear that's been causing trouble around here, and poor Bobo's been framed.
Will: Just let me take care of this, guys. If you wander around with Bobo, it'll probably just cause more problems.
Bobo: Bobo. (He's kinda weird, but he seems like a good enough guy.)
Several hours pass after Will leaves the airship.
He finally comes back to Abby and Bobo, wearing a cheerful expression on his face.
Will: Ha-ha. Everything's fine now. I hunted down the big bad bear and cleared Bobo's name.
Bobo: Bobo. (I see. Thank you so much. Now I can finally get a good night's sleep.)
Abby: Bobo says he was looking forward to beating down more assassins and that you should mind your own business.
Bobo: Bobo! (Hey, you should really thank the man for his hard work!)
Abby: Say, why'd you care enough about Bobo to help him anyway?
Bobo: Bobo! (Praise the skies! She actually asked a question I wanted to!)
Will: Hee-hee... You think I need a reason to help a friend?
Will gallantly returns to his room without another word.
Bobo's heart flutters at the heroic sight of the man walking off.
Bobo: Bobo! (S-so awesome!)
Will: I thank you, my lord. I still can't believe today's little adventure led me to such a rare creature.
Will: Hee-hee... And its fur really was so glossy that it sparkled. This is why I just can't get enough of traveling!
Will smiles as he recalls the rare bear and hums as he gets his monster journal out of his desk.