Stand-up Stump
Mimlemel becomes depressed because her beloved horn has gone missing. The stump she travels with, which has somehow gained sentience, vows to pull her out of her slump.
???: Uh-uh!
???: Stop! Stop it! I ain't fer touching!
???: Argh! What're ya doin' to me—no, no, no!
???: Nooo!
Mimlemel: Tootle-too!
Mimlemel: Tootle-tootle-too!
Mimlemel: Tweedle-deedle-doo.
Too-too-tootle!
Mimlemel: Nice.
???: I thought it was a joke at first. There are some truly awful things in the world, ya'know.
???: But now...
Mimlemel: Here. Spring water. It's tasty.
???: Unbelievable. Ya drew so much water just fer little ol' me.
???: That hits the spot. Before I was only waiting fer death, but ya gave me a reason to exist.
???: This is where I belong. That's to say wherever ya go, I go.
???: You've been traveling wit' these skyfarers for a long time now.
???: These people understand ya. It makes the gentle, breezy days feel even better.
???: But they can't see the big picture. Even I let my guard down.
Lyria: Oh, hello there! What are you doing in a place like this?
Mimlemel: Tootle-too!
Vyrn: Whoa, nice horn! And what a weird-lookin' stump.
Mimlemel: Toot-toot!
Vyrn: I don't know what's going on, but it's kinda dangerous for a kid like you to be out here.
Lyria: Yes. Why don't you head back home before it gets dark?
Mimlemel: Toot...
Vyrn: All right, be careful on your way back! See ya!
Mimlemel: ...
???: Back then ya encountered some peculiar guests in the forest.
???: I knew they were a good match for ya as soon as I saw 'em.
Vyrn: Don't look now, (Captain), but she followed us again.
Mimlemel: Tootle-too! Too-too-tootle!
Vyrn: Do we owe you something?
Vyrn: Maybe there's a tour guide fee that we gotta pay.
Mimlemel: Not really.
Lyria: Definitely not! I think she wants to come with us!
Mimlemel: Tootle-tootle-too!
Vyrn: Are you serious?
Mimlemel: Nice.
Lyria: Yay! Mimlemel's joining our crew!
Mimlemel: Tootle-too!
???: And that's how ya came to be travelin' wit' these skyfarers.
???: The winds are blowing gently these days. Ya merrily play yer horn every day, surrounded by wonderful companions.
???: But life has both ups and downs. Even I let my guard down.
Continue 1Mimlemel: Blah...
Vyrn: A-are you okay? What's wrong?
Mimlemel: Feels like death...
Lyria: Don't say that... I don't see any injuries on you. Where does it hurt?
Mimlemel: I'm doomed...
Vyrn: I give up. You've been under the weather a lot lately. You're not eating or drinking much either.
Lyria: I'm worried. I've never seen you like this. We have to do something to help you.
Mimlemel: Urgh...
Vyrn: Yeah, but do what exactly? Every time we ask her what's wrong, all she does is groan.
Lyria: Hmm... Her voice sounds a bit weak too.
Vyrn: This looks serious. She always talks to us through her horn, but I don't think she's in any shape to do that either.
Lyria: That reminds me... Where's the horn?
Mimlemel: Sigh...
Vyrn: Er... Huh... You know what, I haven't seen it at all lately.
Lyria: You're right! I haven't heard any music!
Vyrn: Do you think something happened to it?
Lyria: Yes, that must be why she's feeling so down. Do you know where it might be, Mimlemel?
Mimlemel: No...
Vyrn: You really have no idea? Maybe you forgot it somewhere, or maybe someone stole it.
Mimlemel: No! Nowhere!
Mimlemel: Sorry...
Lyria: Sigh. We're stuck. How are we going to look for it if Mimlemel doesn't know where it is either?
Vyrn: This is weird. A horn that big doesn't just disappear into thin air.
Vyrn: Let's go ask if anyone else has seen it. Rackam's been on the ship the whole time, so I'm gonna go talk to him first!
Lyria: Okay! I'll go ask Katalina. Can you wait for me here, Mimlemel?
Mimlemel: Blah... Sigh...
???: Tch... How could I let this happen?
Stumpeye: This is serious, but there's not much I can do as a stump.
Stumpeye: But that horn... Even she doesn't remember losing it, and no one else seems to have noticed...
Monster: Groaar!
Stumpeye: Oh, shut up. I'm busy.
Monster: Gurgh...
Mimlemel: Hm? Why did it fall down?
Mimlemel: ...
Mimlemel: Whatever.
Stumpeye: Humph. I ain't lettin' anyone hurt ya.
Stumpeye: Just you wait. This ol' stump's gonna find that horn and make ya happy again!
Despite its heaviness, the enigmatic, sentient stump lurches forward on its wheels.
Its words can't be heard by mortals, but the stump embarks on an adventure for Mimlemel's sake.
Hurry Up, Stump
Stumpeye sets out to find the horn while Mimlemel rides on top, moping. Stumpeye's right wheel gets stuck during the search, leaving the two vulnerable to monster attacks.
Lyria: Oh no! Now Mimlemel's gone!
Vyrn: You've got to be kidding me! Where could she have gone to?
Lyria: I don't know, but why would she leave all of a sudden? She was so depressed before...
Vyrn: Look, Lyria! There are tire tracks on the ground!
Lyria: Aha! So did she go that way?
Vyrn: I'm pretty sure she did! The question now is what's over there?
Stumpeye: Huff... Huff... Oof, the trail's gotten bumpy.
Stumpeye: But there ain't no mistakin' it. That horn's gotta be around here somewhere.
Mimlemel: Hm? Where am I?
Mimlemel: ...
Mimlemel: Whatever.
Stumpeye: She's losing more an' more of her will...
Stumpeye: Hey, horn! Where ya hidin'? Get out here! Now!
Stumpeye: Over there?
Stumpeye: Bwah?
Stumpeye: Why's my wheel stuck at a time like this?
Stumpeye: That ain't gonna stop me! Graaa!
Stumpeye: Argh, I really can't get out of this. I must be getting old...
Monster: Groaar!
Stumpeye: ...!
Monster: Gurgh...
Stumpeye: Didja think I was jus' some stump? Even I can take care of one scrawny little—
Monster: Groaaar!
Stumpeye: So that's how ya wanna play it. Ya got an axe on ya? 'Cause that's what yer gonna need if ya wanna stop me!
Stumpeye: I'll take ya all on! I won't let ya lay a finger on her!
Monster: Groaaar...
Lyria: Yikes! That was close! Are you okay, Mimlemel?
Mimlemel: Huh? You guys...
Vyrn: That can wait, Lyria! There are more monsters coming!
Lyria: Got it! Get ready, Mimlemel.
Mimlemel: Unh... Unh... I can't move...
Lyria: Ah! The right wheel is stuck... There we go!
Stumpeye: Much appreciated!
Hurry Up, Stump: Scene 2
Stumpeye finds Hornby, the horn, with help from the crew. However, much to Stumpeye's consternation, Hornby confesses it has lost its motivation.
Vyrn: Huff... Puff... Looks like we chased them away.
Mimlemel: You saved me.
Lyria: Thank goodness you're safe. Why are you here all by yourself?
Mimlemel: Why? You tell me.
Vyrn: You came here without knowing why? Don't tell me you have a history of sleepwalking.
Mimlemel: Quiet. If I don't know, then I don't know.
Lyria: Hmm... That's really strange. Hey, what's that over there?
Lyria: It's a horn! Can't you see it?
Mimlemel: ...!
Mimlemel: It's my horn!
Vyrn: Really? You know, I feel like we've been here before. Like for an assignment or something...
Lyria: Maybe that's when you dropped it? Anyway, I'm glad we found it!
Mimlemel: Yes. Good. But how come I didn't notice it drop...
Mimlemel: ...
Stumpeye: Aha, so that's what happened. Ya waited until everyone was distracted and then hitched a ride on a passing carriage.
Stumpeye: What were ya thinking?
Hornby: Mimlemel and I aren't meant for each other.
Stumpeye: That's fer her to decide. Ya shouldn't have gone off on yer own.
Hornby: But all I do is break down! I don't want to disappoint her anymore!
Stumpeye: I'll listen to yer whinin' later. C'mon, let's head back for now.
Hornby: No!
Lyria: Wah! It... it just fell down the cliff!
Vyrn: It fell again? Geez, are your hands covered in oil or something?
Mimlemel: Blah...
Lyria: Uh-oh! Now Mimlemel's down too!
Vyrn: Oh for crying out loud... Get that horn back on the double, (Captain)!
Hurry Up, Stump: Scene 3
Mimlemel's spirits are restored by the return of her horn. Stumpeye encourages Hornby, revitalizing its resolve, and the two of them promise to watch over Mimlemel with all their power.
Vyrn: Phew. We managed to get it back. I think we can close the book on this one!
Lyria: Yep! Now Mimlemel can go back to being happy again! I'm so relieved!
Mimlemel: Thanks for the help, everyone. I'm glad.
Vyrn: Oh, that's not something you hear everyday. You're actually being thoughtful for once!
Mimlemel: Quiet...
Vyrn: Haha, are you blushing? A little kid like you should be more—
Mimlemel: Don't call me a kid, lizard-baby.
Vyrn: Agh! I ain't no lizard-baby!
Lyria: Now, now... How about a song, Mimlemel? I haven't heard you play in a while.
Mimlemel: Sure. Just a sec.
Stumpeye: You ain't a stump like me!
Stumpeye: Even if yer getting' dragged around through the mud, ya gotta see yer duty as a horn to the end.
Hornby: Huh? You can't scold me like that!
Hornby: How could a stump possibly know what it's like to be an instrument that breaks down all the time?
Stumpeye: I get it, all right. Look at me. I can't even grow anymore.
Hornby: But she looks perfectly content sitting on you! I can't bear to see her sad face—
Mimlemel: Tootle-too!
Vyrn: Haha! There's that sound I know!
Lyria: Wow! It really is a beautiful sound!
Stumpeye: Since when was she ever disappointed? The only one who's dejected is you. Yer the only one holding yerself back from greatness!
Hornby: Y-you're wrong! It was all for her sake that—
Mimlemel: Toot-too!
Stumpeye: Don't ya get it? You were always by her side. You should understand her better than anyone else.
Hornby: Yes, and that's why I—
Mimlemel: Tootle-too!
Hornby: But the Astrals—
Mimlemel: Too-too-tootle!
Hornby: What in the sky realm—
Mimlemel: Tweedle-deedle-doo!
Vyrn: Haha! What a weird song!
Lyria: Teehee! But it makes me want to dance!
Mimlemel: It's a thank you song. For the crew, horn, and stump.
Hornby: She's thanking me?
Stumpeye: Hah hah hah! See, she doesn't resent ya.
Stumpeye: Look, Hornby. The only reason we're even aware of what we are is probably 'cause of her power.
Stumpeye: She's the only one in all the skies who has such an ability. Who knows what hardships she'll face from now on.
Stumpeye: So we're going to protect her. Are ya with me on this?
Hornby: Yes... you're right. I'm sorry, I understand now.
Mimlemel: Nice.
Stumpeye succeeds in pulling Mimlemel out of her depression.
Though the source of their consciousness remains shrouded in mystery, Hornby and Stumpeye will continue to watch after their ward.