Scenario:Meg - As Plain as Can Be
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As Plain as Can Be
Meg's eyes light up when she learns of their next destination: Marshal Island. It is home to Master Charlot, founder of the Lumiora combat style that Meg took a one-year correspondence course in. The crew notices the striking resemblance Charlot's story bears to Charlotta's and suspects he may be a sham.
Meg: Meg here! Just an ordinary girl you'd find anywhere!
Meg: I worked hard at the local cafe to save up for a trip to Auguste, the place of my dreams!
Meg: Swimming at the beach, munching on good food... My vacay started out well enough!
Meg: A lot happened in between, but I've since ended up in a skyfaring crew!
Meg: The distinctive personalities of my fellow crew members make plain ol' me want to hide in a corner sometimes...
Meg: But that's just the shy part of me talking! I've got to get pumped up if I'm gonna keep Auguste safe!
You can do it, Meg!
You can do it, Meg!
Vyrn: Huh? What were you going on about, Meg?
Meg: I-it's nothing!
Lyria: Just so you know, Meg, we're always here for you if you need someone to talk to!
Meg: Thanks...
Meg recounts the time she spent with (Captain) and company in Auguste, a smile spreading over her face.
Meg: So? Where are we headed? I heard we've already taken on the next assignment.
Meg: Given the kind of stuff this crew does, can I assume we'll be battling some really outrageous monsters like in Auguste?
Vyrn: C'mon now, you make it sound like we go around pickin' fights with kooky baddies...
Lyria: Ahaha... I guess it is true that we get caught up in a lot of major conflicts...
Lyria: But we should be okay this time! It's a simple clear-the-monsters mission!
The crew briefs Meg on the details of the mission.
Her eyes light up when she learns that their destination is Marshal Island.
Meg: Marshal Island! Are we really going there?
Meg: I can't believe it... I'll finally get to meet him!
Vyrn: Huh? What's gotten you so hyped up, Meg?
Meg: This could be my chance to meet Master Charlot in person! Ohmigosh, ohmigosh, what am I going to say!
Lyria: Um... Who's Master Charlot?
Meg: He's my savior and my teacher!
Meg: When I secluded myself in the mountains for that one-year correspondence course on martial arts...
Meg: I followed the principles set forth by Master Charlot, founder of the Lumiora style of combat.
Meg: I'm so much stronger today thanks to him! That's why I have nothing but respect for the man!
Ursula: Sharrrk...
Meg: Good point, Ursula. I probably never would've met you if I hadn't toughened up.
Vyrn: The founder, huh? He must be crazy strong!
Meg: He's gotta be! I mean, I've never met him, but his career tells me so much!
Meg: Charlot is regarded as the finest leader ever in the history of the Lumiora Brigade, the most elite special ops group in his home country!
Meg: But he wasn't strong from the outset. He went through an incredible amount of pain, sweat, blood, and tears to get to where he is today!
Meg: As if that weren't enough, wait till you hear his reason for retiring!
Meg: Charlot's extraordinary height made him an easy target for enemies, so he decided quitting would be the best way to keep his subordinates safe!
Meg: So he's strong, works hard, and cares about his friends. Is he the epitome of awesome or what? I can't wait to worship him in the flesh!
Vyrn & Lyria: ...
Meg: Hm? What's wrong?
Vyrn: Where have I heard something like that before...
Lyria: Maybe it's just me, but that sounded a lot like what Charlotta's been through...
Vyrn: You're right! Except the height thing is reversed!
Meg: Charlotta?
Vyrn: Why don't we ask Charlotta herself to be sure!
And so the crew goes off to look for Charlotta.
Charlotta, having just been briefed on the situation, answers with a perplexed look and arms folded.
Charlotta: So I see... Other than that bit about height, it does sound a lot like my own past.
Charlotta: There's also the resemblance in name... Hm, I sense some sort of malicious intent...
Meg: Then... You mean...
Meg: Master Charlot and his Lumiora style are all a scam?
Vyrn: Well, hey, it worked for you, didn't it? The similarities to Charlotta could just be a coincidence after all.
Lyria: Let's go meet this Master Charlot in person! Then everything will be as clear as day!
Vyrn: Yeah! Let's pay the guy a visit after our assignment's done!
Meg: Thank you! I hope you don't mind, (Captain).
Meg: Yeah, it's a head-scratcher. I really hope we get this all cleared up.
Choose: If it's a scam, he's gonna pay.
Charlotta: He certainly will. Whatever the case, cheating people out of their money is never the way!
Meg: R-right...
Continue 1
Having mixed feelings about this all, Meg is curious as to what she will find on Marshal Island.
As Plain as Can Be: Scene 2
The crew barges into Master Charlot's office only to find out he's a cheat who was profiting off of Charlotta's fame. Before passing out from a much-deserved thrashing, Charlot calls Meg a master. Pleased with the individuality that the title brings, Meg dubs her unique fighting style shark fu.
In a small office on the street corner of a Marshal Island town, two men are making merry with drink.
Master Charlot: Hahahah! We're rakin' it in big, innit!
Underling: Gyehehe, we sure are, Boss! Charlotta's name is pretty well known, but most people don't even know what the lady looks like!
Master Charlot: Folks who've only heard of Charlotta have gotta be the biggest suckers. Any time someone suspects us, we can shrug off the similarities as happenstance.
Underling: Whoo! You're a genius, Boss!
Master Charlot: Wahahaha! Drink up! We're diggin' this gold mine for all its—
Meg: Um... Excuse me! You must be Master Charlot?
As the two men drink a toast, the crew—with Meg leading the way—steps into the office.
Master Charlot: Hm? And you are?
Meg: There's a rumor about the Lumiora style being a scam, but I don't want to believe it! Please tell me the truth!
Master Charlot: Ah... You must be one of my students...
Master Charlot: It breaks my heart to know all my hard work's bein' called a scam. I've spent my entire life perfectin' the Lumiora style.
Master Charlot: Please don't tell me you're here because it didn't work for you. Some people just ain't cut out for it.
Meg: Oh, it most certainly did work. I've gotten so much stronger.
Master Charlot: Wha? (She serious?)
Meg: I heard you were trying to pull the wool over everyone's eyes by using the name of the Lumiel Order of Holy Knights and their captain...
Master Charlot: Now that's just bloody nonsense! Who's feedin' you that poppycock? I oughta report you for disruptin' my business!
Charlotta: Ugh! Give it up already!
Underling: Watch yourself, kiddo! Don't be butting in on the grown-ups' conversation!
Charlotta: I am Charlotta, captain of the Lumiel Order of Holy Knights! And you are going to listen to me good!
Underling: Pssh, you're Charlotta?
Master Charlot: Aw, gimme a break... You're just a little squirt!
Underling: Heh. I'm sure it's just a bluff, Boss! Leave it to me to scare 'em off!
Underling: The hell is your problem! Don't be draggin' us into your bullcrap! I'm gonna have to teach you a lesson!
Charlotta: Stay back, everyone! I'll handle—
Meg: Haah!
Underling: Urk!
Meg: Weak... How sad that you can't even dodge such a basic attack. So it's true after all...
Master Charlot: Cor blimey... Did my phony martial art really work a miracle on you?
Master Charlot: Nah, that's just a load of rubbish. I scribbled that thing in a single day with a bottle in my hand.
Meg: ...!
So you admit it after all!
So you admit it after all!
Meg: What about that pro tip you gave about repeatedly bashing a basilisk in the head with a rock until it dies?
Meg: I can't believe I actually followed your advice! You're awful!
Vyrn: Er... I'm pretty sure any monster'll go down if you bash it enough times...
Master Charlot: If you got this strong on my farce of a combat manual, then you've got a real gift, lady.
Master Charlot: As much as I'd love to send you off with a round of applause out of respect for your talent, I don't think that's in the cards today.
Meg: Fine by me. I wasn't planning on leaving yet anyway...
Meg: At least not until I smash your face in!
Master Charlot: Hahahah... My training manual might be a sham, but these fists of mine ain't. My time in the army was real.
Master Charlot: And you're gonna be sorry for knockin' out my assistant. Don't think you're gonna get aw—
Ursula: Sharrrk!
Meg: No holding back, Ursula.
Master Charlot: What in the name of Albacore is that? I don't remember puttin' anything like that down in the manual!
Meg: You messed with my pride big-time. And I'm gonna make sure you pay for that tenfold.
Master Charlot: Geez, gimme a break, lady... I was only tryin' to make myself some chump change... Can't we just let bygones be bygones—
Meg: Shut! Up!
Master Charlot: Aiieee!
More than eager to punish Master Charlot for his wrongdoing, Meg beats him senseless.
Master Charlot: Sniff... I'm so sorry... You're the master now...
Meg: Phew... I hope that teaches him not to scam anyone else going forward.
Ursula: Sharrrk! Sharrrk!
Meg: You did good today, Ursula.
Lyria: Hey, Meg? You're not hurt, are you?
Meg: I'm okay. Thanks for asking.
Meg: If anything, I'm still recovering from the shocking revelation that I spent an entire year in the mountains training in a fake martial art...
Meg: Sigh... That was really stupid... I took it so seriously too...
Lyria: Don't say that! You're an amazing person, Meg!
Lyria: I think you were able to become so strong because you believed in yourself and worked incredibly hard!
Lyria: The Lumiora style might have been fake, but your strength couldn't be more real, Meg!
Meg: Lyria...
Meg: I appreciate the kind words... I've definitely saved plenty of people with this newfound power of mine.
Meg: Master Charlot might be a con artist, but he seemed genuine enough when he said I have a gift. Hehe...
Vyrn: Hm? I thought you might need more time to recover; good to see you're feeling all right.
Meg: I mean... he called me the master at the very end. And a master of anything definitely isn't generic.
Vyrn: Yeah. I gotta hand it to you, Meg...
Meg: Haha. I'm probably the most generic person in the crew, so I'm stoked I got to spread my wings a little.
Vyrn & Lyria: ...
(Captain) and company scratch their heads and ponder over what it means to be generic.
Meg: Hey, Ursula? About our combat style when we merge to fight—what do you think of calling it shark fu?
Meg: I thought giving it a special name might make us seem more unique.
Ursula: Sharrrk!
Meg: Ahaha! I'm glad you like it too, Ursula!
Meg cracks a smile to match the toothy grin of her shark companion.
Having gained further individuality over the course of this trip to Marshal Island, Meg gains a significant boost to her self-confidence.