Scenario:Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 2: Tropical Paradise - Episode 2

Conquest of the Dark Singularity - Chapter 2: Tropical Paradise - Episode 2

On the beach, the crew holds a barbecue party to welcome Tunaro. Although Tunaro had no intention of enjoying the party, he ends up helping Ilsa and Sig with the skewers and is surprised to receive words of encouragement from Vikala and Ragazzo as well. He begins to relax, enjoying the delicious chicken skewers. On the side, Hekate talks with Varuna and Neptune about the ongoing situation.

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Up on the beach, the smell of a delicious barbecue wafts through the air.

Percival: Zerreissen!

Ragazzo: Fiamma di Cannone!

Percival: The bell pepper on the top right corner of the grill... It's almost ready!

Ragazzo: I'll handle it! Think I can entrust the chicken to you, Percy?

Percival: Don't fail us, Ragazzo! Controlling the level of heat for vegetables is no easy feat.

Ragazzo: Right back at ya. We don't want any uncooked chicken or burnt bits now.

The Two: Heh...

Vyrn: Whoa! It's crazy how in sync Sir Burnsalot and Ragazzo are!

Lyria: Nom, nom... Everything is perfectly cooked. It's delicious!

Kumbhira: Oh wow, it smells so good! Why don't we go help them, Vikala?

Cupitan: Kumbhira! Vikala! How're you feeling...

Vikala: I'm fine... Sorry for the trouble.

Cupitan: Glu-glub!

Vyrn: What're you putting those things on for?

Kumbhira: Ahaha... We were thinking it might be easier for Vikala to get used to our surroundings this way.

Vikala: I'm sorry... I thought maybe this could replace my rat ears...

Vyrn: Can they?

Meanwhile, Tunaro is lying on the ground close to the barbecue grill, exhausted.

Ilsa: Good work prepping the hundred skewers.

Tunaro: Huff... Puff... Why am I being worked so hard when the welcome party's supposed to be for me, cor!

Sig: Hm? I don't remember telling you to get to work.

A short while back, the crew had arrived at the barbecue venue and were getting ready.

Sig: Hey, Tunaro. Can you help us with prepping the skewers?

Tunaro: Prepping?

Sig: You have to put the ingredients on the sticks and grill them before you eat.

Ilsa: I'd assume he wouldn't know what happens at a barbecue, since he's from the sea—

Tunaro: Hah! But I do know, having witnessed the culture of skydwellers from high up!

Tunaro: And I've pulled a Thunnus on barbecue venues on the beach plenty of times!

Sig: I see... I was surprised you knew so much, actually. I guess your hatred for skydwellers made you learn a lot about us too.

Tunaro: ...

Tunaro: I'm not prepping the skewers! Who said skydwellers can just boss me around...

Ilsa: ...

Tunaro: Eek!

Sig: Let him go, Ilsa. Don't intimidate him too much.

Sig: It's too bad though—I was hoping it'd be an easy task for you, with your extensive experience in slamming into things and all.

Sig: But if it's too hard for you, then no need to force yourself.

Tunaro: Wha...

Tunaro: I never said it was too hard! There's nothing skydwellers can do that I can't!

Sig: Oh yeah? We'll leave it to you then! No worries, Ilsa and I'll pitch in too.

Tunaro: Urgh! I mean, I did say that...

Tunaro: What do you think of my skewer prepping skills though!

Ilsa: Heh... Pretty decent. You worked long and hard.

Sig and Ilsa exchange looks and smile.

Ragazzo: Yo, Tunaro! Sig! Ilsa!

Vikala: These skewers are ready to eat!

Sig: Ooh, here they come! My stomach's growling with hunger.

Ragazzo: We've got a bunch of different sauces. I'd go for the tomato one.

Vikala: U-um, Tunaro... Here you go.

Tunaro: ...!

Tunaro stares at the skewer offered to him.

Ragazzo: Don't sweat it, buddy. I'm pretty new here too—we can get used to this together.

Vikala: Yes, d-don't worry... I'm not even new, and I still haven't gotten completely used to everything.

Tunaro: Hmph... I'm n-never gonna be friends with skydwellers...

Ilsa: Stubborn little chicken fish.
Here, lemme take that.

Ilsa takes the skewer from Vikala and puts it near Tunaro's mouth.

Ilsa: Open up. I'm rather used to forcing food down people's throats when they're being picky. You want to experience it for yourself?

Sig: You're hungry, aren't you? It's nothing to be so hardheaded about.

Tunaro: ...

Under the crew's watchful gaze, Tunaro hesitates for a moment before taking a bite of the chicken skewer.

Sig: How is it?

Tunaro: ...!
Amazi—I mean... not bad, cor.

Ilsa: No need to hold back—eat as much as you want. You can't enjoy a vacation on an empty stomach.

Tunaro: Right... Yeah. I'm only restoring my energy. Sigh, skydweller bodies are such a bother!

Sig: Haha... Don't forget to chew, all right?

Tunaro begins eating heartily, and the crew continue their scrumptious barbecue on the beach.

A slight ways away, Varuna and Neptune are on a terrace watching the commotion with great interest.

Varuna: A barbecue in the middle of this emergency? They're way too used to this.

Neptune: Nom, nom... I heard from Big Bro Poz that they always become friends with new primal beasts really quickly!

Varuna: Hey, how'd you get that chicken skewer! That's not fair...

Varuna: I've been working hard, you know! It's thanks to me that the ocean's still salty!

Neptune: If only you turned it sweet—I'd drink it up like a Blue Auguste in no time!

Varuna: You stupid, silly squid! Don't go drinking up Leviathan's body!

Hekate: Goodness... Would you look at these two primal fools.

Varuna: Oh! You're that seductive supernatural being!

With a sigh, Hekate seats herself beside Varuna and Neptune.

Hekate: So how much do you know about the circumstances at hand?

Varuna: We don't have any reason to tell you!

Hekate: If you do not wish your *** be *** by a *** and have your *** shamelessly exposed within my dreams, then speak now.

Varuna: Waaah! That's so obscene!

Neptune: But still, the body-swapping situation... It's like if I went up to them over there and asked for a skewer with no meat, fish, or vegetables.

Hekate: I'm sorry?

Varuna: She mean's she's got nothing.

Hekate watches Neptune gulp down several more skewers before clearing her throat.

Hekate: I don't believe for a second that you don't know anything. This is happening within your realm, after all.

Hekate: For example, tell me—what kind of place is the Dragon Palace (Captain) is at right now?

Varuna: ...

Varuna: It's a mystery.

Hekate: A mystery?

Varuna: It's concealed by a barrier that prevents any sort of interference. A regular sea creature wouldn't be able to recognize that the space is there at all.

Varuna: Honestly, the two of us don't know anything other than the fact that there's an incredible barrier set up around the place.

Hekate: Wh-what! Then you don't actually know whether (Captain) is safe—

Neptune: Oh, no need to worry about that. I can tell if something is alive in the ocean or not.

Neptune: Besides, I do know that there's plenty of unique creatures in the palace. It's an interesting place, that's for sure.

Varuna: It's a gathering place for all the wacky creatures we've been seeing—that's where they come from.

Hekate: So it's a paradise in the ocean... and (Captain) is there getting to know the creatures living there?

Tracing a finger across her lips, Hekate looks over at Tunaro, who is reveling in the barbecue with the others in the captain's body.

Thoughts swirl within Hekate's mind as she gazes out toward the shore.

Hekate: (I wonder if there's a chance that (Captain) will awaken to some new... interests?)