Scenario:Ami - Shameful Strength

Shameful Strength

While docked at a town to resupply, the crew runs into a lost child. Ami attempts to help her, but her intimidating presence makes the little girl cry. Though the child is quickly returned to her father, she runs away into a nearby monster-infested forest after being scolded. Ami runs off to save her, and the crew witnesses her exhibit terrifying strength to defend the girl from swarms of monsters. Upon realizing that she was seen, Ami fears that they won't want to be with her anymore but is relieved when the trio readily accepts her.

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A few days have passed since Ami decided to travel with the crew of the Grandcypher.

She has come to a certain town with (Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn to buy supplies.

Ami: I stayed in this town for a bit a while ago. I'll show you the way.

Ami: Next we need...

Little Girl: Waaah! Daddy!

The group turns to the source of the voice and sees a crying child walking down the street alone.

Ami: You lost?

Little Girl: Sob... Yeah. I can't find my daddy...

Ami: I see... Come on.

Ami takes the child's hand and starts to walk away.

Little Girl: H-huh? Where are we going? Hey, don't pull me—

Ami: Come on, let's go.

Little Girl: Eep! W-waaah! Help!

Ami: W-what? But why...

Letting go of the crying girl's hand, Ami looks at her in shock and confusion.

Vyrn: Whaddya mean "why?" Anyone other than us would think you're trying to kidnap her, so of course she's gonna cry...

Ami: Nuah! Th-that's not what I'm doing! I was just going to take her to the guard post...

Father: Huff... Huff... Found you! I can't believe you wandered off like that!

Little Girl: ...!
Daddy, help! There's a scary lady!

Ami: Narg... Scary lady...
No, being frightening is a good thing...

Vyrn: I really don't get why you keep telling yourself that...

Father: I'm sorry, but who are you?

Hiding his daughter behind him, the man looks at the crew with suspicion.

Lyria: Y-you see, we just saw that girl crying, so we wanted to help her.

Lyria: But then, I guess she got a little confused... Or rather, we confused her a little...

Father: Confused? So, these people didn't do anything to you, then?

The man tilts his head and looks at his daughter.

Little Girl: W-well, that scary lady tried to take me away, and... Sniff...

Ami: Nuah...

Upon hearing the girl's statement, Ami grimaces and lurches back as if she had been struck.

Vyrn: Um, in Ami's... In this lady's defense...

Vyrn: She went up to your daughter because she was worried about her.

Vyrn: Then she learned that she was lost, so she decided to take her to the guard post.

Father: Ah, I see. So that's what happened.

Father: Thank you so much for looking out for my daughter.

Seeing how Ami is frozen in shock, the man readily believes Vyrn's explanation.

Father: Come now, these people were trying to help you, so go up to them and say "thank you."

Little Girl: B-but... the lady's scary...

Ami: Narg...

Father: Oh, now she's gone and said something rude again. I'm so sorry...

Ami: ...
It's fine. Don't worry about it. More importantly, you shouldn't be losing track of her.

Father: Y-yes, I'll be more careful in the future. Well, if you'll excuse us.

The man thanks the crew and leaves with his daughter.

Ami: Scary... I mean, that's fine... That's what I want, nau...

Guard: Miss Ami? Is that you?

Ami: Hm? You're...

Vyrn: You know these guards, Ami?

Ami: Yeah. We worked together when I was staying here.

Ami: What brings you here, though?

Guard: A townsperson reported that a suspicious woman was making a child cry.

Ami: Nuah...

Guard: But it seems there was nothing to worry about.

Guard: I imagine you tried to help a child in trouble and they started crying. That kind of thing happened all the time back then.

Ami: ...
Sorry to cause trouble for you again.

Guard: Don't worry about it. Anyway, this is quite a nostalgic turn of events.

Guard: Back when you were here, we'd get reports like this every day.

Ami: Nuah! Stop that! Don't tell these guys about...

The guards tell (Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn all kinds of stories about Ami.

With each one her expression bounces between embarrassment and despair.

Guard: Well, we should head back to our post. Let us know if you need anything, Miss—

Father: Huff... Huff... Guards, I need help!

Father: My daughter has... My daughter's gone into the woods!

Ami: You mean the ones nearby? Haven't you all been told not to go there because of the monsters?

Father: You see... I was lecturing her about what just happened.

Father: Telling her that she shouldn't say rude things to people who are trying to help her... But then she started crying and ran into the woods...

Guard: Understood. We'll start organizing a search party, so as soon as we're ready—

Ami: I'll go. I'm partly to blame for this, after all.

Ami: Most importantly, I don't want to wake up tomorrow and remember that I let a kid get hurt.

Vyrn: We'll help too. If we all work together, we'll find her in—

Ami: No need. I'll do it by myself.

With that, Ami runs off toward the forest with tremendous speed.

Lyria: Ah! Ami, wait! It's dangerous!

Vyrn: We gotta go after her!

(Captain) and Lyria nod in agreement and run after Ami.

(Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn have followed Ami into the forest.

Lyria: I wonder which way Ami went... We need to find that little girl soon, otherwise she'll...

Suddenly, a monster goes flying right before their eyes.

Lyria: Eep! That scared me...
Did you see the arrow that was sticking out from it?

Vyrn: Yeah. It's from Ami's crossbow, right? She must've gone this way then!

The trio arrives at a clearing and finds Ami defending the unconscious girl from a horde of monsters.

Lyria: Oh no, she's surrounded! We've got to help her!

(Captain) nods and prepares for battle. But suddenly...

Ami: Enough, pests.

Ami fires a barrage of bolts from her crossbow in unbelievably rapid succession. Each one pierces cleanly through a monster's skull.

Lyria: W-wow... I knew she was powerful, but...

Vyrn: I can't believe she's takin' on that many of them... And look, she's knocking 'em out with one shot!

As the monsters fall one by one to Ami's assault, the trio can only stand there, stunned by the sight.

Ami: This is the end. Disappear...

Ami: Wait, (Captain)?

Ami: ...
I told you that I would do this alone. Why did you follow me?

For some reason, Ami appears to be afraid as she looks at (Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn.

Lyria: We were worried, so... What were you planning on doing if something happened to you, and nobody was there to help?

Ami: Huh? Oh, right... I'm sorry...

Ami: Wait, that's not the point. You saw me fighting, right? Didn't you think I was... scary?

Vyrn: Well, yeah, you were pretty scary. You had this look of ferocity to you.

Ami: I see... That's good, then.

Ami: I know it's a good thing, but... hearing that from you really hurts...

Ami: Well, what now? If you're scared of me... If you don't want to be with me...

Ami: If that's how you feel, then I'll...

Vyrn: Whoa, hold your horses! Yeah, you were scary, but we got used to that a while ago.

Lyria: Th-that's right! We know that you're really a very kind person, Ami!

Lyria: And we weren't so much scared as just surprised...

Ami: I see. That's how you three feel about it...

Ami: Even though I...

Ami: I'm always trying to put up a scary front. You won't be bothered by that?

1. Of course not!

Choose: Of course not!

Ami: Haha, I see... So you're willing to accept even someone like me.

Ami laughs as tears start to well up in her eyes.

Vyrn: Why do you always try to make people scared of you anyway? You obviously don't enjoy doing it.

Ami: Well... Nuah...

Lyria: If you don't want to talk about it, you don't have to, you know? We can wait until you're ready to.

Ami: Thanks. I'll tell you once I'm up to it.

Ami: Ahem. Anyway, let's get this kid back to her dad. I'm sure he's worried sick.

Nodding in agreement, (Captain) picks up the unconscious little girl, and the group heads back to town.