Scenario:Forte - Dragon Daycare

Dragon Daycare

(Captain) and Forte are sparring when a woman's scream pierces the air. The crew hurry to the source of the scream, where they find a woman under attack from monsters.

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Forte: Come, (Captain)! Swing your sword with all your might!

The clash of sword and spear sounds throughout a breezy field.

The two combatants are using their day off to spar.

Forte: Excellent! You're stronger than ever, (Captain)!

Forte laughs cheerfully as she parries (Captain)'s attacks with her two spears.

Vyrn: She sure loves to fight! Is it just me, or is (Captain) having fun too?

Vyrn lets out a bemused sigh.

Suddenly, a monster's roar cuts through the air.

???: Help me! Somebody!

Forte: Let's move, (Captain).

(Captain) nods and they race toward the source of the screams.

Monster: Grooarr!

An injured woman lies on the ground next to a ferocious monster.

Forte: I hate those that prey on the weak.

Forte: If you think you're so tough, then we shall be your opponents! Charge!

Dragon Daycare: Scene 2

The crew travels to the hospital with the injured woman, who reveals that she cares for orphans. (Captain) and the others decide to fill in for her, but discover that babysitting is tougher than expected.

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After defeating the monster, the crew takes the injured woman to a nearby hospital.

Kind Woman: Ungh... Where am I?

Lyria: Thank goodness you're awake! Does it hurt anywhere?

Kind Woman: Hurt? Oh that's right. I was attacked by a monster...

Doctor: There's no telling what could've happened if these people hadn't brought you here. You're very lucky.

Kind Woman: Thank you so much for—Oh no! I can't stay here! I have to get back!

The woman tries frantically to stand up but the doctor firmly restrains her.

Doctor: Don't move or else your wounds will reopen! You still need to take it easy for a few more days.

Kind Woman: A few days? Oh dear, but what about the children?

Forte: Did you say children?

The woman explains that she is the only caretaker at an orphanage.

Kind Woman: If I'm bedridden for a few days then the children will surely go hungry. Oh, what should I do?

Lyria: Can't we help her out, (Captain)?

Forte: You people are such bleeding hearts. Well, whatever, I don't mind.

Kind Woman: Really? Do you think you can help?

Forte: That's the plan. I trust there are no objections, right (Captain)?

(Captain) nods.

Forte: Problem is, I don't know anything about babysitting.

Lyria: Don't worry about that! We'll all pitch in and do our best!

Forte: Precisely. We are in control now. I command you to rest and heal.

Kind Woman: I'm sorry for troubling you. I can never thank you enough. Please take good care of the children.

The crew bid farewell and make their way to the orphanage.

Impish Boy: Mom! I'm home! Huh?

The crew greets the surprised children and explains the situation.

Meek Girl: I can't believe she... Sniffle. Is she okay?

Lonely Girl: Hic... When's she coming back? Today? She's not coming today, is she?

Forte: Calm down. Your mother is fine but she needs to rest in the hospital. She'll be gone for a few days.

Meek Girl: No! I want to see her right now! Waaaaah!

Forte: Enough of your pigheadedness! And stop that blubbering!

Meek Girl: Waaaugh!

Lyria: You're scaring them, Forte!

Forte: T-that's not what I intended... Look, I'm sorry, okay? Stop crying!

Forte: Agh. What should I do... Shall we battle, child?

Meek Girl: Aaaah!

Forte: Sorry, sorry! So what now?

Meek Girl: Sniff... I want a snack...

Forte: A snack?

Meek Girl: One like Mommy makes...

Forte: Oh yeah? Well if it's a snack you want, it's a snack you'll get!

Vyrn: Hehe. It's kinda refreshing to see her all flustered like that.

Lyria: Don't just stand around watching, Vyrn, we should help out too!

Vyrn: You're probably right. It'd be a disaster if she was the only one in charge!

Meek Girl: These aren't like the ones Mommy makes... but they're good!

Forte: I seem to be in the clear.

The crew finally begin their babysitting duties.

Impish Boy: Come on lizzie, let's play!

Vyrn: Okay, okay! Stop pulling my tail!

Impish Boy: Yay! Come play with us too, Forte!

Forte: Not now. I'm in the middle of training. When I'm done.

Impish Boy: Aw...

Forte: Don't look at me with those eyes. Argh, fine, just for a little while!

Meek Girl: Forte, read me a story!

Forte: A story? Can't you read by yourself?

Meek Girl: Oh, I guess so. Sorry...

Forte: No, that's not what I... Oh, never mind, I'll read it to you! Come here!

Lonely Girl: Lyria, pick me up!

Lyria: Me? I don't think I'm strong enough.

Lonely Girl: Then how about Forte?

Forte: Huh? Carry you? So... like this?

Lonely Girl: Owie...

Forte: Whoops! Are you okay? There, how's that?

The crew and Forte suffer through many hardships taking care of the children.

Night finally falls and the crew successfully put the kids to bed.

Forte: Phew, what a day. Babysitting is a monumental task.

Vyrn: You got that right. I'm sorry we couldn't help more!

Forte: No, it's fine. Now I know why they say mothers are strong.

Forte smirks just as a monster's howl echoes outside the house.

Forte: Ugh, what a time to start howling! It's going to wake up the children!

Forte grabs her weapons and rushes to silence the wail.

Vyrn: Hm, mothers are strong... Then someone as strong as Forte might as well be a mother!

Vyrn: Whoops, now's not the time for that. We need to hurry, (Captain)!

Dragon Daycare: Scene 3

The children ask Forte how to get stronger, and she replies that there are no shortcuts. That night, the children slip out of the house to train against monsters anyway. After a quick search, the crew spots the children surrounded by monsters.

---

Morning arrives and the children are no longer shy around Forte and the crew.

Impish Boy: Hey hey! Let's all go play outside!

Forte: All right, but don't wander off. Stay where I can see you, understand?

Kids: Okay!

Forte: Hehe, that's what I like to hear.

Vyrn: You had me worried for a bit, but you're quite the mom now!

Forte: Tch, not by choice. The little squirts won't leave me alone!

Vyrn: You can't fool me! Admit it—you really do enjoy looking after children.

Forte: Enough.

Forte glares at Vyrn and, in the blink of an eye, gently bats his head.

Vyrn: Ouch! Ouch? I feel dizzy...

Vyrn spirals down to the ground.

Forte: Don't forget, I'm a warrior who controls dragons. I know a dragon's weak spot, so don't get carried away.

Meek Girl: Wow! You're so strong, Forte!

Forte: It's nothing. Like I'd lose to that guy.

Impish Boy: Hey, Forte! How can I be big and strong like you?

Forte: Simple. Eat well, sleep well, and never forget to train.

Impish Boy: So that'll make me strong right away?

Forte: Well, it won't happen overnight. What's the rush?

Impish Boy: I was thinking. I want to be tough like you. Then I can save Mom from the monsters.

Impish Boy: What do you think? Pretty cool, huh?

Meek Girl: Get strong to save Mom? Yeah, I want to be strong too!

Lonely Girl: M-me too!

Impish Boy: C'mon, tell us how! We just need to beat up lots of monsters like skyfarers do, right?

Forte: That would only work if you were already strong enough to take on monsters.

Forte: At your age, the only way to get stronger is to practice, practice, practice. No rushing. Understood?

Kids: Okay...

The children answer disappointedly.

Night falls once again. The children have all vanished from the house under cover of darkness.

Lyria: I can't find them anywhere in the house! They're not in the room, and one of the windows is open!

Forte: They pretended to sleep, and then sneaked out the window? What are they thinking?

Vyrn: You don't think they went looking for monsters, do you?

Forte: Argh! I told them that's not how you get stronger!

Forte: Tch. I should've been more forceful. Bah, this is no time for should'ves!

Forte bolts into the night and whistles with her fingers.

A dragon comes tearing through the clouds and Forte hops on.

Forte: You guys get on too! Little whelp, fly with all your might! We're searching from the sky!

The crew climbs on and searches together with Forte.

Thanks to the dragon's incredible speed, they quickly locate the children.

Monster: Grrrrr...

The situation is dire as the children are already surrounded by monsters.

Forte: Get away from those kids, you fiends!

Monster: Grrr...

Lyria: Is everyone okay?

Meek Girl: Sob... I'm sorry...

Forte: Apologize later. All that matters is your safety. For now, stay by my side!

Monster: Grooar!

Vyrn: Here it comes! Stay sharp!

Dragon Daycare: Scene 4

Forte rescues the children just in the nick of time, and later lectures them about the virtues of patience. After a few days pass, the young woman returns and the crew say their final good-byes. The children promise to grow stronger as Forte looks on with a heartfelt smile.

---

Having dispatched the monsters, Forte turns toward the weeping children.

Forte: I'm glad you're safe, but that was too reckless.

Impish Boy: Sob... I'm sorry... I'm sorry...

Forte: Now do you see why you shouldn't rush into things?

Forte: If anything happened to you, it would've broken your mother's heart.

Forte: Is that what you want?

Meek Girl: No... Waaah...

Forte: Then don't do anything that foolish again. If you want to keep your mother safe, then be strong. As strong as they come.

Forte: Once you're powerful enough, you can protect yourself and anyone else.

Forte: Take it slow and steady and you're sure to get strong.

Impish Boy: But what if we keep practicing and don't get any better?

Forte: You will get better. Because today, you learned your limits.

Lonely Girl: Limits?

Forte: When you stood in front of those monsters, you felt those limits, didn't you? Fear. Helplessness. All you could do was cry bitter tears.

Forte: Never forget what it felt like. Burn that moment into your memory.

Forte: Keep working so that you never have to feel that shame again. You're sure to become truly powerful then.

Forte: You said from the bottom of your hearts that you want to protect your mother. I know you will succeed.

Impish Boy: Sniff... Forte...

Forte: Come here.

Forte beckons to the children and they come over to her. She pats their heads gently, one by one.

Forte: In any case, I'm glad that you're all safe.

Meek Girl: Sorry for making you worried, Forte...

Lonely Girl: Lyria, and Vyrn, and everybody. We're so sorry.

Vyrn: You've learned your lesson, right? We're not mad or anything. Just don't do it again, okay?

Meek Girl: Mm-hmm. Never ever.

Forte: Great. Don't forget!

Forte: Well then, it's way past your bedtimes. Gotta sleep well if you want to get big and strong!

With a gentle smile, Forte leads the children back to the orphanage.

A few days later, the woman leaves the hospital and returns to the orphanage. She expresses her gratitude to the crew.

Kind Woman: I'm so grateful for everything you've done for us. I don't know how to thank you.

Forte: I don't need any thanks. If anything, maybe I should be thanking the little ones.

Kind Woman: Huh?

Forte: These past few days were very.... educational.

Lonely Girl: Sob... Forte, everyone... Thank you. Will you come see us again?

Forte: Of course. We'll be back before you know it to see how much you've grown.

Forte: However! You're going to get a talking to if you're not stronger by the time I get back.

Impish Boy: Hehehe. We'll be fine! After all, you told us how to become stronger!

Vyrn: Haha! It looks like our work here is done then!

Lyria: I guess it's about time for us to head out.

The crew wave goodbye one final time before turning their backs and returning to the main road.

They don't get far before they hear the pitter-patter of footsteps behind them.

Impish Boy: Forte, watch me get big and strong!

Lonely Girl: I'll be strong enough to beat anyone! And to protect Mother, too!

Meek Girl: I'm going to be as strong as you, Forte!

Forte: Hahaha. Those little kids...

Forte turns back toward the children, smiles, and waves.

Forte: Take care of yourselves. Let's cross swords the next time we meet!

The warrior grins like never before.

It seems that Forte's soft side has thoroughly charmed the crew.