Scenario:A Thousand Reasons - Ending
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A Thousand Reasons - Ending
With the malfunctioning device removed, Al-Khalid reveals that he was driven to these lengths by a lifetime spent trying to live up to his martial artist hero and being constantly thwarted by his size. Aliza and the others find it hard to condemn him, although they all feel it was wrong of him to cheat. Sierokarte says that (Captain)'s strength comes from bonds of friendship and the motivation to fight for someone else's sake.
Al-Khalid: Urgh...
Sierokarte: (Captain)! Make sure you detach that device from his neck!
Sierokarte: Otherwise...
Feather: Daaah!
Randall: Hyaaah!
Al-Khalid: Gyargh!
Randall and Feather's perfectly coordinated combination attack deals the final blow to the device.
The tiny machine flies from Al-Khalid's neck and explodes in a hail of sparks. The Harvin collapses to the ground.
Lyria: Wah! Feather and Randall!
Vyrn: Where did you guys come from?
Feather: A huge racket woke us up, so we came running!
Randall: I don't really get what's going on, but you wanted that device smashed, right?
Vyrn: Shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, but... that was quite the performance from two guys who just rolled outta bed and didn't know which way was up.
Lyria: You're an amazing duo! Like two hearts beating as one!
Feather: Hahaha! Right? Right? Me and Randall are—
Randall: Stop right there!
(Captain): ...
Feather: Hm? (Captain), you ditched your mask?
Aliza: Huh? You mean you knew the Masked Cypher was (Captain)?
Feather: Not at first, but it was obvious once I'd seen the Masked Cypher in action a few times!
Feather: I'd recognize that aura anywhere!
Aliza: Well, I... I totally noticed... something...
Vyrn: What're you mumbling about, Aliza?
Aliza: Nothing! Anyway, what about Al-Khalid?
Al-Khalid: ...
Sierokarte: Looks like he's just passed out. He should come around soon.
Lyria: Oh, thank goodness.
Vyrn: Hey, Siero. Just what was that little doohickey?
Sierokarte: If I had to guess, I'd say it was sending signals along his spine to amplify his physical abilities. Something like that.
Vyrn: So then, what we saw wasn't his true strength.
Sierokarte: Seems that way.
Al-Khalid: Uugh... Mf...
Lyria: He's waking up!
(Captain) and the others peer down at Al-Khalid as his eyes slowly open.
Lyria: Are you all right?
Al-Khalid: Yes.
Sierokarte: Do you know where you are?
Al-Khalid: I do.
Al-Khalid nods listlessly and begins to push himself upright.
Al-Khalid: ...
His eyes light on the ruined device and a dispirited sigh leaves his lips.
Vyrn: Hey... The tournament rules said no weapons or tools, right? Why would you use that thing?
Al-Khalid: From its inception, this tournament was merely a stage for me to become a hero of the martial arts world.
Vyrn: Not much of a hero if you cheat... And then lose your marbles and go berserk to boot.
Al-Khalid: I simply... cherished that dream for so long...
Aliza: Then shouldn't you have put that passion into your training? You know, really made the effort?
Al-Khalid: You don't think I did?
Aliza: !
Al-Khalid: You'll never understand... How far I pushed this body, how many times I stood on the brink of despair... Only to be unable to give up...
Al-Khalid: So don't talk like you know what I've been through!
(Captain) and the others don't know how to respond to this first glimpse of Al-Khalid's true feelings.
Al-Khalid: There's not a single great Harvin martial artist. Not one.
Al-Khalid: The captain of the Lumiel Order of Holy Knights was perhaps the first to make a name for herself as a fighter... And there were others.
Al-Khalid: But all of them did so using technique or magic to overcome the restrictions imposed by our size.
Al-Khalid: On a purely physical level, we simply can't compete. Take Ghandagoza, for example. I am barely the size of one of his arms.
Al-Khalid: Even when all I want in the world is to become stronger, stronger than anyone else... This body won't get me where I want to be.
Al-Khalid: I eventually realized that I could never follow in the footsteps of my childhood hero.
Al-Khalid: But I shut my eyes to that cruel reality. Perhaps clinging to that dream was the worst kind of self-indulgence...
Al-Khalid's voice is calm and almost troublingly detached.
Lyria: You made (Captain) look like a villain.
Lyria: Whatever your reasons were, I can't forgive you for that.
Vyrn: Lyria...
Lyria: But I don't think you're all bad... And I don't hate you.
Lyria: I don't really know what we should do.
Aliza: I know where you're coming from, Lyria.
Aliza: Telling right from wrong is really complicated.
Lyria: Aliza...
Aliza: I never spent much time thinking about that.
Aliza: But I feel like I've learned something during this tournament, from the people I've met and the fights I've watched.
Aliza: Everyone is fighting for their own reasons, their own goals, their own dreams...
Aliza: It's not that simple to decide which are right and which are wrong.
Aliza: So if you've got a dream you can't let go of, you have to fight to protect it! That's what I decided, so I'm gonna keep on training!
Vyrn: Haha! That's you all over!
Aliza: But I definitely don't approve of cheating, so I think what Al-Khalid did was wrong.
Aliza: That's my opinion anyhow.
Feather: I don't see any problem if you use it outside of a tournament though! I'd still like the chance to trade punches with you!
Feather: I don't care if you're using that gadget or not!
Randall: Feather, you're just confusing the issue. Shut it.
Sierokarte: I'd like to see that device, if you don't mind.
Sierokarte retrieves the charred device and peers at it.
Sierokarte: I think if you lowered the output, a device like this could be a great help to the elderly, or people dealing with injuries.
Al-Khalid: I should hope so. It was under that guise that the device was first presented to me by an empire researcher, as I had gravely injured myself.
Al-Khalid: In truth all they wanted was to exploit my finances and explore the technology's military applications...
Al-Khalid: But I've been researching the broader applications myself.
Sierokarte: I thought you might be.
Sierokarte: If you're successful, you'll be a hero to quite a few people.
Al-Khalid: ...
Al-Khalid: Even so... I don't think I can give up on becoming the man I wish to be...
Sierokarte: I see... Well, I won't say anything more about that.
Sierokarte: Only... that I apologize for implying your goal was childish.
Al-Khalid: I see.
Al-Khalid excuses himself to tend to matters of cleanup.
Aliza: I almost forgot! Did (Captain) win the final round? What about the prize money?
Lyria: Oh yeah... I wonder.
Choose: I wasn't in it for the money.
Vyrn: Yeah, (Captain) only entered this tournament to find Siero anyway.
Vyrn: The money would sure be useful on our travels, but we did sorta help wreck this place...
Vyrn: It'd be a little awkward to go asking for cash now.
Continue 1
Sierokarte: In the end, I didn't get the chance to contribute to the event, so I can't help you out as an organizer...
Sierokarte: But I can treat you all to a good meal as thanks for helping me out!
Lyria: Ooh! Really?
Sierokarte: Of course! Pick anything you like and get as much as you want!
Lyria: Yay! Yay! Free food!
Vyrn: Apples for me!
As Lyria and Vyrn start to plan the evening's menu, (Captain) catches Sierokarte's eye.
Choose: Could I ask you a favor?
Sierokarte: What can I do you for?
(Captain) hesitantly asks if they can invite all the friends who cheered the captain on during the final match.
Sierokarte: Of course we can! The more the merrier!
Sierokarte: You never walk alone, and you never act for yourself...
Sierokarte: That's the secret of your strength, (Captain).
(Captain)'s quizzical look is met by Sierokarte's usual, bright smile.
Sierokarte: Hehe. Don't worry your pretty head over it.
Sierokarte: I'll go put preparations for that feast in motion, so you go collect our guests!
Lyria: (Captain)! Let's gooo!
Vyrn: Yeah, some of those guys are pretty slippery! If we don't catch 'em quick, they'll be off who knows where before you can say "Knicknack Shack"!
Lyria and Vyrn each grab one of (Captain)'s arms, and the trio hurries off to catch their friends.
The End