Scenario:Gayne - Back in Step
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Back in Step
Gayne and crew arrive at the river. They meet with the man from the village nearby, but soon find that he is embarrassed about the loach dance he has to perform. When he finally shows the dance to the crew, the Lord of the River suddenly appears.
Gayne and crew come down from the mountain and make their way toward the river.
They go to the riverside village, where the young man chosen from a draw to be a representative awaits his lesson with Gayne.
Riverside Villager: Sigh... This stinks... What am I gonna do?
Gayne: Hm? What seems to be the problem? You look so worried...
Riverside Villager: Crud, I just can't do it! That fish dance is way too embarrassing.
Vyrn: Huh? What are you talkin' about?
Riverside Villager: Ya see, we're fishermen so the only dance we know is the fish dance... Well, more like the loach dance.
Lyria: Loaches? You mean those smooth things in the water?
Riverside Villager: More like slimy things! And that loach dance... I've gotta slide and squiggle all over the place! Like this!
Riverside Villager: Hey, why'd you make me show you! I told you it was embarrassing to do!
Vyrn: You started shaking your keister all by yourself!
Lyria: Hehe, but it sure looked fun!
Gayne: I see. That dance is meant to help you catch loaches, correct?
Riverside Villager: Well, actually... It's not loaches that come when you do that dance.
Vyrn: Wait, what? Whaddya mean, not loaches?
Lyria: Umm... Then what does come?
Riverside Villager: The thing is, if you don't do it just right, it won't come at all.
Riverside Villager: It only appears if you can do the dance well enough for it to feel your plead for help.
Vyrn: Uh... I have a bad feeling about this. Are you talking about the—
Riverside Villager: Yes! The Lord of the River!
Back in Step: Scene 2
When the young man shows embarrassment about his village's loach dance, Gayne teaches him how to stop worrying and instead focus. After overcoming his embarrassment, the man dances magnificently, catching the eye of something dangerous nearby.
Riverside Villager: Huh? I wonder what caught its attention?
Riverside Villager: I mean, I know my dancing is crap, so I wasn't exactly expecting the Lord of the River to come out.
Riverside Villager: Only pros with years of experience can even do that dance right.
Though it remains unclear who or what the Lord was responding to, the crew has warded it off valiantly.
With the danger eliminated, Gayne goes back to teaching the young man how to dance.
Riverside Villager: Like I've been sayin', that dance is just too embarrassing. I don't wanna do it!
The man goes on whining like a child. Seeing his reaction, Gayne tries addressing him in a gentler tone.
Gayne: What does it matter if it's embarrassing?
Riverside Villager: What? It matter plenty... You just don't get how embarrassing it is, do ya?
Gayne: Come now, it's not so bad. Here, watch me do it.
With that, Gayne breaks into a beautiful dance, showing off her majestic form.
Gayne: To be honest... I don't usually... like these moves... or the way... they make me look.
Gayne: But when I'm dancing, I don't have time to worry about things like that.
Gayne: So, if you're bothered by such things when you perform, it could be that you're not focusing enough on your art.
Riverside Villager: ...
Gayne: Hm? Are you listening?
Riverside Villager: ...
Gayne: Stop staring at me like that! It's creepy!
Vyrn: Hehe... I think now he's focusing hard.
Riverside Villager: Oh, sorry. Ahaha... Now I see what you mean about concentration.
Riverside Villager: You know, you're right. That dance is the pride of my village. I shouldn't worry about being embarrassed by it.
Riverside Villager: All right then! Time for you to watch me. I'm gonna give it a shot!
Riverside Villager: Ahahaha! How's this? Watch me squiggle here, and squiggle there, and slide left and right, and every which way!
Vyrn: Wow, now you're slithering like a champ! That's way better than last time.
Lyria: Hehe, that looks like fun! You really look like a loach, too!
Riverside Villager: Yeah, and I wasn't embarrassed or nothin'! It's actually kinda nice, like I'm in touch with my true feelings.
Gayne: In touch... with your true feelings?
The man's earnest words suddenly resound throughout Gayne's heart, taking her by surprise.
However, those same words are soon drowned out by screams.
Riverside Villager: Ahh! Oh dang, it's back! Why does this keep happening?
Monster: Groarr!
Vyrn: I've got it! We're not connecting with the Lord of the River on some spiritual level!
Vyrn: With those dance moves, it just thinks you're a giant, tasty loach!
Back in Step: Scene 3
The day of the dance-off arrives, but the two men are outdone by a young man named Helnar. Long ago, Gayne threw Helnar out because of his womanizing ways, but after reflecting on his mistakes, Helnar asks for her forgiveness. Moved by his words and actions, Gayne forgives Helnar, and the two perform a beautiful sword dance that enchants all who behold it.
The day of the dance-off finally arrives.
Using what they learned from Gayne, the two men from the villages compete fairly, each putting their best foot forward.
But as it turns out, neither of them wins. Another man bursts onto the scene and takes the competition by storm.
???: Haha! How do you like these moves? And check out this bod!
???: I suppose this proves I'm the right man to be your partner, Gayne.
The man dances beautifully, as if the whole sky were his stage. Seeing his graceful moves, Gayne is caught off guard.
Gayne: Helnar... Why are you...
Any version of Helnar is a crew member
Vyrn: Haha, you're late, buddy!
Lyria: Hehe, yeah. Vyrn's right! We've been waiting for a while now.
Gayne: What? What do you mean? Was all of this a trick you conspired against me together?
Helnar: Hold on, now. They didn't do anything wrong. I asked them to help me.
Gayne: I... I don't understand. I already told you we were through. But I suppose after all this, I will listen to what you have to say.
Helnar: ...
Lyria: Helnar, you can do it!
Though seldom nervous, Helnar finds himself tensing up. He takes a deep breath, then walks up to Gayne, looking deep into her eyes.
No version of Helnar in crew
Vyrn: What the—! How did she know his name? She said Helnar, right?
Lyria: Yeah, it sounded like it! Maybe that means he used to be her partner way back when, right?
Though seldom nervous, Helnar finds himself tensing up. He takes a deep breath, then walks up to Gayne, looking deep into her eyes.
Helnar: I'm sorry, Gayne. There's something I've always wanted to tell you, but I've just never had the courage.
Helnar: I treated you so wrong. And now, I would give anything for another chance to be your sword dance partner.
Gayne's expression eases for a moment. But then, a grim look begins to spread across her face.
Helnar sees the look in her eyes, and without a moment's hesitation, he begins to speak again.
Helnar: It's okay. You don't have to say anything. I already know your answer.
Gayne: Well, that's good to hear. It saves me the trouble of having to reject you.
As she begins to turn away, he says something rather unexpected.
Helnar: The mountain man's potato dance... The riversider's fish dance... And you, the sweet little egg, to top it all off.
Gayne: What? Potato? Fish? Egg? I have no idea what you're talking...
In that moment, Gayne suddenly recalls something very important.
Gayne: My favorite salad...
Helnar: Hehe. So you do remember! I used to make that salad for you all the time. It always had your favorite things: potatoes, fish, and eggs.
Gayne: Wait a second. Why am I the egg? What's that suppose to mea—
It all comes as a surprise to Gayne.
To quell the confusion in her mind, Helnar gives Gayne a delicate kiss upon her forehead.
Gayne: H-hey! What do you think you're doing?
Helnar takes a long, loving look at Gayne, who becomes more and more flustered. He then whispers sweetly into her ear.
Helnar: Gayne, you have always been my sweet little egg.
Gayne: What are you saying! You can't just start saying things like that! Who do you think you are!
Helnar: Hehe. Just like your forehead, your dancing is always perfect, without even the tiniest flaw.
Helnar: But I'm not. When I'm reminded of that, I worry. I've always thought I wasn't good enough for you.
As the words disappear into the air, Gayne finally realizes how Helnar feels for the first time.
Gayne: And since you thought you were never good enough for me, you went looking for other women of your level? Is that it?
Helnar: ...
Gayne: What am I going to do with you? All right, this is the first and last time, but I can forgive you...
Helnar: Umm... So... you mean that...
Gayne: I have my flaws, too, you know.
Gayne: I have always been deeply enchanted by the freedom in your dance. To think I didn't realize the pressure I was putting on you...
Gayne: Helnar, now that I finally understand, I apologize too.
Looking into each other's eyes, the two grow closer, and in an instant, they begin to move together in beautiful harmony.
As if fulfilling a long awaited destiny, their two majestic sword dances flow together to become one.
Gayne: Helnar...
Helnar: Gayne...
The audience can only stare in awe at the beauty of their dance. It is as if their moves are swathed in magic.
Seeing their sword dance, the chiefs of the two warring villages smile and come to an agreement.
Mountain Chief: River chief. Beginning this year, let us set aside the competition.
River Chief: Yes, yes. I agree, mountain chief. Let us take turns using the land between us.
The ultimate sword dance stirs not only the hearts of Gayne and Helnar, but all who behold its mysterious power.
And so it was that Gayne found her true partner. May they dance the rest of their days as one.