Scenario:Mars - Scorching Bonds
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Scorching Bonds
Mars's interest in (Captain) grows when she sees the number of primals in the crew, and in no time she makes herself at home aboard the Grandcypher. As she updates the others on Trypokarydos's improving condition, she senses a familiar presence and chases after it, ultimately locating the foe she had only just started searching for—Athena.
Mars: Interesting... Looks like I'm not the first primal to join your crew.
Vyrn: Relax, will ya? Trust me, they're good eggs.
Having just invited Mars aboard, (Captain) and company give her a grand tour of the Grandcypher.
Mars: Incredible to see so many primals serving a single skydweller. Or maybe "serving" isn't the right word...
Mars glances in (Captain)'s direction, who looks back at her with a wholesome smile.
Mars: I'm sure they were just drawn to the magnificent flame that burns within you, just as I was.
Mars: Hehe... Ahaha!
Lyria: Did something happen, Mars? You look really happy!
Mars: Happy... I guess I am. It feels like the rush I get when I'm in the thick of combat.
Mars: The air's ablaze with the energy of skilled fighters. I'm itching to see how I stack up against them!
Vyrn: Wh-whoa there! Try not to brawl with the other crew members, all right, newbie?
Mars: But I'm most intrigued by how hot your fire can become, (Captain)...
Mars: I want nothing more than to feel the embrace of your warm flame once more...
Lyria: D-don't even think about it! We're friends now, and friends don't fight!
Vyrn: Besides, scrap with (Captain) and you can bet the rest of the crew will be on you in a second.
Mars: Hmm... A relationship of mutual trust.
Mars: "Wait with purpose and put faith in what you have." An army is only as strong as its leader.
Lyria: Is that a saying? What's it mean?
Mars: It's a military principle. If you are well-prepared, you will always be ready to face conflict with confidence.
Vyrn: Cool! Hey, (Captain), did ya know that one?
Caught off guard by the question, (Captain) shoots Vyrn a puzzled look, giving him an emphatic no.
Mars: All of the preparation without any of the expertise. I see there are many kinds of beasts in these skies.
Lyria: Our crew isn't here as just "preparation"! They're our friends and they're important to us! And now you're one of them, Mars!
Vyrn: You know an awful lot about military strategy, huh. Guess you weren't exaggerating when you said you were a general back in the day!
Mars: Of course not! I enjoyed joining the front lines as much as I did shaping the perfect battle plan.
Vyrn: All I'm hearin' is that you're always ready for a fight...
Mars: Ah right, I almost forgot to tell you! Tryppie's ember seems to be getting stronger!
Mars: Every now and then I feel her consciousness flicker. I think she might be close to waking up!
Lyria: That's great news! I can't wait to finally meet her!
Vyrn: I wonder if it's because you woke up, Mars? You two must be really close.
Mars: Close would be an understatement. She was born with a fragment of my core inside of her.
Vyrn: Whoa, that practically makes you siblings, right?
Mars: Siblings... To be honest, I don't know what it means to be siblings, but maybe it's something similar.
Choose: I hope Tryppie wakes up soon.
(Captain) smiles while offering words of encouragement, and Mars responds with an intense stare.
Mars: Hehe! There's not a trace of animosity on your face, is there!
Mars: I suppose that sincerity is just who you are. As they say, "a boat in troubled waters is best sailed together."
Lyria: What's that mean?
Mars: It means that companions sharing the same ship benefit from helping one another. And I think it suits you and your crew perfectly!
Vyrn: Whaddya mean "you and your crew"! You're one of us now, Mars!
Vyrn: By the way, you look different, like less bulky somehow... Oh wait, where's your helmet?
Mars: Ah, right. I felt it was safe enough to remove, so I did. As you said, I am one of you after all, aren't I?
Vyrn: Well yeah, but... You settle in real quick, don't you?
Lyria: Hehe! I'm just glad you feel comfortable around us!
In no time at all, Mars lets her guard down aboard the Grandcypher and shares a laugh with her new friends.
Mars: ...!
Mars: What... This feeling... There's no way!
Mars goes from calm to frantic in an instant, and she dashes off. Though taken aback by the sudden change, the crew chases after her.
Lyria: Mars, wait! What's going on?
Mars: I know this feeling! I told you, her face and her presence are burned into my memory!
Mars: There!
Led only by a feeling, Mars locates the target of her centuries-old ire.
Athena: It's you!
Mars: I've found you...
Mars: You wretched beast!
Scorching Bonds: Scene 2
(Captain) attempts to quell Mars's rage and is shocked to hear her accuse Athena of harming Trypokarydos. According to Mars, Athena interrupted her rampage and assaulted her in order to protect the innocent, endangering both Mars and Trypokarydos in the process. After a moment of hesitation, Athena asserts that Mars's recollections are wrong.
Mars: Stay out of this, (Captain)!
The sheer might of Mars's attack is enough to make (Captain)'s sword arm go numb, but the captain stands firm.
Mars: You want me to calm down? My rage can't be extinguished!
Choose: Someone pour water on her!
Vyrn: You think a little bit of water's gonna put out this fire?
Continue 1
Mars: It's her! The villain who hurt Tryppie!
Vyrn & Lyria: What!
Five centuries ago, during the height of the War...
Mars: Ahaha! The skydwellers and their paltry realm will perish in the searing blaze of my all-consuming inferno!
Mars: And when I'm done, not even ashes will remain.
Leading a brigade of primals, Mars tours an untold number of battlegrounds, leaving a trail of fiery ruin everywhere she goes.
However, as Mars tears through the skies, one primal rises to oppose her.
Athena: Your excessive rampage has gone on long enough.
Her name is Athena, the guardian primal beast of the aegis.
Hovering just above Mars, Athena descends to meet her gaze.
Mars: Excuse me? And who are you? Some nameless primal? Get out of my way before I make you!
Athena: I will not. Not as long as you wish to brandish your vulgar flames against the innocent.
Athena: As the primal of protection and preservation, I cannot turn a blind eye to your violent acts.
Mars: So you think my flames are "vulgar," huh? Hah! You should think before you judge.
Mars: We're in the middle of a war. You're a primal. You should know what that means.
Athena: I do not. Being stewards of such great power is exactly why we must wield our might with purpose.
Mars: Tch... Insufferable woman. Let me tell you something...
Mars: Hm?
Mars: You know what, you seem pretty strong. How about we have a match? Besides, standing in my way makes you fair game, doesn't it?
Athena: It does not. Engaging with you would only endanger the lives of those nearby. Perhaps we could have a dialogue in lieu of fighting?
Mars: I prefer to heat things up with a little action instead. Like this!
Athena: Hmph!
Mars: Well, aren't you a tough one. Hmm...
Mars: Hehe... You've got my attention!
Athena: Enough of this! I already told you, I do not wish to fight you.
Athena: Surely you're not some beast incapable of understanding words. There is a way for us to mediate this issue through dialogue.
Mars: Give it up already! Talk less and fight more!
Athena: Ngh! There must be something else more deserving of your burning passion than combat!
Mars: Shut up! You're getting on my last nerve! Finished talking yet?
Athena: Why... fight? Ngh! I already told you... there's another way!
Mars: Ahaha! You're not going to go down easy, are you?
Mars: All right then. Time to show you just how hot my fire can burn!
With a belligerent look in her eyes, Mars readies her spear. The bird on her shoulder assumes a similar stance, seemingly challenging Athena with its cries.
Trypokarydos: Kwee!
Athena's face contorts into an expression of anguish as her partner, Glafkos, glowers at Trypokarydos and Mars.
Glafkos: ...
Athena: Hm... I suppose you leave me no choice.
Mars: Yes! That's the spirit! Now...
Mars: Let's do this!
Gripping her spear, Mars looses a rallying cry and prepares to charge. But her assault is interrupted.
Mars's Voice: Ah! Where's this light coming from?
A blinding flash coming from Athena's direction covers the immediate area in a white light.
Trypokarydos: Kweee!
Mars: No! Tryppie!
Mars: Her attack sent me crashing to the ground, where I then slept for the next five centuries.
Mars: Tryppie tried to protect me and suffered an even worse fate. She plummeted and faded away right before my eyes...
Mars: This woman not only kept me from my duties as a general, she nearly killed Tryppie!
Hatred blazing across her face, Mars dons her helmet once more and levels her spear at Athena.
Athena: ...
Upon hearing Mars's side of the story, Athena hesitates, then shakes her head.
Athena: That's not what happened.
Scorching Bonds: Scene 3
Athena reveals that a different primal attacked Mars, and that she had cast a barrier around Trypokarydos and sealed the pair away to keep them safe while they recovered. Mars is skeptical, but when (Captain) vouches for Athena's character, she eventually accepts the story as truth and apologizes for her aggression. Soon after, Mars is reunited with Trypokarydos, now a chick, and enlists Athena in her mission to find the real culprit.
Athena: That's not what happened.
Mars: It is! I remember it like it was yesterday!
Mars: Look at what you did to her! Tryppie's nothing but an ember now, and it's all because of you!
Athena: Please, will you just listen!
Mars: I've heard enough from you!
Sensing there is more to the story than Mars is aware, (Captain) looks to Athena and urges her to tell her side.
Athena: (Captain)... Thank you. This is what actually happened...
Athena: Hm... I suppose you leave me no choice.
Mars: Yes! That's the spirit! Now...
Mars: Let's do this!
Athena: Gh! What is this light?
Glafkos: ...!
Athena: What! Where did that thing come from?
Athena turns and finds a colossal being she assumes to be a primal unleashing a beam of light at Mars.
Following the light, a stream of searing hot fire bursts straight out from the beast's maw.
Athena: !
Athena acts quickly and attempts to situate her shield in front of Mars to protect her from the oncoming blaze.
Trypokarydos: Kweee!
Mars: No! Tryppie!
Athena: It seems like she avoided getting hit directly... Oh no, but her bird! It's fading away!
Athena: Wait, there's still time!
The moment she sees Mars and Trypokarydos enter a free fall, Athena springs into action.
She raises her hand toward Trypokarydos and hastily casts a protection spell.
Athena: Pant, pant... What kind of barbarian would just attack unprovoked!
Angered, Athena looks back at the primal, only to see it spread its great wings and leave the scene.
Athena: Cowardly beast!
Glafkos: ...
Athena: Glafkos... Right. We should check on them.
Athena: And when we came down to see how you fared the fall, we found you with your core damaged, and a diminutive ball of light by your side.
Athena: I cast a spell on your bird and shrouded it in a protective barrier, which managed to keep its ember from burning out.
Lyria: (Ah!)
Athena: I knew many years would pass before the both of you made a full recovery—so I sealed you where you slept, and left.
After telling her side of the story, Athena lets out a soft sigh, then briefly looks at the egg in Mars's hands.
Athena: And from what I can tell, it appears your friend is still healing.
Mars: You... You're lying! Making it sound as if you were the one protecting us!
Mars: Do you honestly expect me to believe anything you just said?
Athena: As the primal of protection and preservation, I stand against unilateral acts of violence—no matter who the victim may be.
Mars: Ngh...
Lyria: W-wait! That's what I was sensing when we found Tryppie's egg!
Lyria: Mars's presence was just so overpowering I could hardly make it out, but now I know—the energy I was feeling was Athena's!
Mars: What? No, that... that can't be...
Vyrn: Lyria and Athena are as honest as the skies are blue.
Mars: I don't believe it...
Choose: Believe it—Athena's a friend!
Vyrn: Yeah, she's on our side! And hey, you should be thankin' her! You wouldn't be here if it weren't for Athena!
Vyrn: If she didn't seal you away, I bet your slumber wouldn't have been half as peaceful!
Lyria: Mars, Athena saved you. She isn't your enemy!
Mars: Sh-she isn't? Are you... sure I can trust her?
Flames of anger subsiding, Mars casts a tentative glance at Athena, who responds with a nod.
Mars: All right, I believe you. Sorry I got so aggressive out of nowhere.
Athena: It's fine. I was the one who pointed my spear at you all those years ago. Though given the circumstances, I'd argue I didn't have a choice.
Just as the pair call a truce, a gentle heat begins to rise from the egg in Mars's arms.
Mars: What... Tryppie? Her flame... It's gotten stronger!
Mars: Hey, Athena! If this is your barrier, that means you know how to lift it, right?
Mars: She's still too weak to penetrate it on her own! I need you to help her, please!
Athena: What? I'm not sure that's a good idea. She's still healing...
Mars: I'm begging you! We've been partners for as long as I can remember!
Mars: I need to hear her voice again! I want to see her take to the skies just as she always did! Do this for me, please!
Athena: I will help her, but you must make me a promise. You so relish combat, you willingly put yourself and others at risk to be the aggressor.
Athena: Your bird, Tryppie, is yet frail. Promise me that you will be responsible and protect her from any further harm.
Mars: Ngh... I promise!
Athena: All right...
Athena stretches her hand out, and as soon as she lifts the barrier, a red glow envelops the egg.
Trypokarydos: Chirp!
Mars: !
Lyria: O-oh my gosh, Mars! She's adorable!
Mars: How cu... Wait, what?
Vyrn: Is that all you got? That's no way to greet an old friend! C'mon, say something!
Mars: Um...
Athena: If memory serves, she looks a little... different than when we last met.
Mars: A little? More like a lot! But why?
Trypokarydos: Chirp? Chirp!
Lyria: She looks different? How so?
Mars: Well, she was much more thin, red, and gorgeous the last time I saw her. And she wasn't just a tiny chick.
Athena: The impact of that primal's attack seems to have depleted much more of her life force than I'd imagined.
Lyria: Poor thing...
Mars: Hmm... My crimson bird has been turned back into an ashen chick. Hehe. Oh well!
Mars: No doubt about it—this little chick is Tryppie! I'm sure she'll be back to her gorgeous self in no time! Won't you, girl?
Trypokarydos: Chirp!
Mars: Sigh, that's my Tryppie! How could I ever repay you, Athena!
Athena: Keeping your promise will be recompense enough.
Vyrn: By the way, I was wonderin'—if Athena wasn't the one who did it, doesn't that mean your attacker's still flying free?
Mars: Oh, right! Thanks for the reminder! Athena, tell me everything you know about that primal you saw!
Athena: Unfortunately, the flash of light kept me from identifying any particulars about your aggressor.
Athena: All I can recall is its presence. Should I face it again, I'm fairly certain I would recognize it.
Mars: I see. Well, then I guess we know what we have to do next!
Her clouded expression replaced with a bright grin, Mars wraps her arm around Athena's shoulders and pulls her in close.
Mars: Athena! Let's find the coward that interrupted our battle and punch it right in the face!
Athena: What? No, there will be no punching.
Mars: Why not! Don't you want to knock some sense into it?
Athena: And what would that accomplish! Assuming communication is possible, we should prioritize talking to determine why it attacked you!
Mars: No talking! Only punching!
Athena: I said no punching.
Mars: I said yes punching!
Vyrn: Yeesh, these two are like oil and water...
Lyria: What makes you say that? They seem to be getting along just fine!
Lyria: Don't you think so, (Captain)?
Though (Captain) agrees with Vyrn's assessment, they are both trusted allies nonetheless.
(Captain) responds to Lyria with a smile and a nod, imagining how many times the crew will need to intervene when Mars and Athena inevitably butt heads.