Scenario:Mikaboshi - The Story of a Beast

The Story of a Beast

Mikaboshi, Shitori, and Irotis return to Nalhegrande. Finding that people who have come into contact with artifacts of Mikaboshi's legacy have gone violently insane, they hunker down at an orphanage near ground zero to protect its residents and solicit (Captain) for help. After expending a great amount of power, Mikaboshi returns to her childlike form.

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Mikaboshi: What defines a monster?

Mikaboshi: At the very least, it isn't something that's born from a happy place.

Mikaboshi: This Astral was one of many born with power granted to them for the sole purpose of combat.

Mikaboshi: The Astral God had bequeathed her the power to imbue her body with the spirit of any beast that called the stars its home.

Mikaboshi: But to the other Astrals, any fighting style that relied on the aid of lesser creatures was deserving of their contempt.

Mikaboshi: So, she pursued her own power—even at the cost of modifying her own body.

Mikaboshi: After a long, long time, she finally paid her brethren their dues, and crushed them.

Mikaboshi: Yet the abuse she suffered for her roots—something she could never hope to change—still weighed heavy in her memory, and broke her.

Mikaboshi: Thus, a monster was born. A single lonely monster who couldn't see eye to eye with Astrals or skydwellers.

Mikaboshi: That monster lived consumed by madness and hatred. But one day, she found a skydweller infant.

Mikaboshi: Though she'd never come to a mutual understanding with anyone before, for some reason, she saw herself in that abandoned baby...

After the commotion surrounding the Blue Knight's investiture ceremony, a mother and her daughters reunite.

Together, Mikaboshi, Shitori, and Irotis make an orphanage in the Nalhegrande Skydom their new home.

Irotis: Mother, I've brought the laundry in. I'll wash the other dirty clothing later.

Mikaboshi: Okay. That'd be wonderful.

Young Boy: Hehehe. You guys seem busy so maybe I'll just help myself to some snacks from the kitchen...

Shitori: Hey! No sticky fingers! If you're bored, I'll play with you. Come over here.

Mikaboshi: Hehe. Thank you for helping with so many things, Shitori, Irotis.

Mikaboshi: It's been a really long time since we last lived together like this, but I see you two are still such good girls.

Shitori: Hehehe... You really think so?

Irotis: ...

Mikaboshi: What's the matter, Irotis?

Irotis: It's nothing... I know it's a bit silly to get awkward about it now, but I was just wondering if I really should be treated like a kid...

Irotis: I'm far too old to be called a "good girl" at this age...

Shitori: Now that you mention it, "hundreds of years old" might be a little on the wrinkly side.

Mikaboshi: That's nothing you need to worry your little head about. Are you feeling too old because you went through so much compared to Shitori?

Irotis: Urgh...

Mikaboshi: Come here, sweetie. You'll always be my precious baby girl.

Irotis: Ngh... Mother!

Young Boy: Hey! Irotis got a hug from Mikaboshi! I want one too!

Young Girl: Me too! Give me a hug too!

Mikaboshi: All right, all right. Everyone be patient, okay? You'll get a hug when it's your turn.

A tranquil peace flows through the orphanage with Mikaboshi at its center. But it doesn't last for long.

Mikaboshi: ...!

Shitori: Mother?

Mikaboshi: Shitori, Irotis. You two stay here with the children.

Irotis: Are you going out alone, Mother? I don't...

Mikaboshi: Listen to Mother. Okay?

Mikaboshi: ...

After leaving the orphanage, Mikaboshi hurries through the nearby woods.

Soon, the sounds of wet crunching, like a beast tearing through raw flesh, come to her ears.

???: Ooough... Aahhgh... I'm so hungry... I need... more...

Mikaboshi: That's too bad. I'm not letting you feast on me or any of my children.

???: Ghgh...

Deranged Warrior: Graaaooooogh!

The warrior, entirely consumed by madness, unleashes a barrage of attacks at inhuman speed.

Mikaboshi coolly dodges each and every one as she studies the enemy when something catches her eye.

Mikaboshi: (I knew it. He's got something I'd never forget.)

Mikaboshi: (I was the one who made it in this skydom ages ago, after all... A prototype of the Great Wall's reactor!)

Mikaboshi: Haah!

Mikaboshi: (First things first, I'll take him out. This is basically why I'm at the orphanage, after all!)

Mikaboshi: (If only I'd ended things with my attack just now. That would've been best.)

Mikaboshi: (But since I have the tri-realm bracelet to keep me here, I can't use my full powers.)

The Astral husk that had been used to revive Mikaboshi keeps her alive, but its power is unstable and will eventually fade away.

The tri-realm bracelet she wears serves to stabilize the husk's power, preventing it from total collapse, but at the same time restricts it.

Expending the husk's power in combat is tantamount to whittling down the time she has remaining in the Sky Realm.

Mikaboshi: (Considering the prototype's design, it's no wonder he can take some hits.)

Mikaboshi: (There's only one enemy. With time I should be able to take him out...)

But as she plans how she'll defeat the warrior, her enemy suddenly turns away.

Following his line of sight, her eyes are blown wide in surprise.

Mikaboshi: Shitori! Why did you...

Mikaboshi instantly realizes the severity of the situation when she sees the children standing near Shitori.

But in the very same moment, the maddened warrior instinctively makes for the weaker prey.

Deranged Warrior: Groooar!

Mikaboshi: Grh!

Mikaboshi: Don't you dare!

Deranged Warrior: Grooo—

Mikaboshi: Huff, huff... Ngh...

Shitori: Mother! Are you okay?

Mikaboshi: I'm fine... What about you guys?

Shitori: Don't worry, none of us are hurt. Sorry... it looks like these kids got lost in the woods.

Shitori: But still, you were too reckless! You know what'll happen if you use up all your power at once!

Mikaboshi: You're right. I lost my cool. But...

Mikaboshi: ...

Shitori: Mother? Are you all right? Mother!

A while later...

Lyria: Shitori! Irotis!

Shitori: (Captain)! Lyria and Vyrn too! Thank goodness you've arrived!

Irotis: We asked so many people to contact you for us. By the looks of things, you got the message, huh?

Vyrn: Yeah. We were surprised to hear you guys askin' for us as soon as we got to Nalhegrande.

Shitori: We really need your help with Mother...

Shitori: Unfortunately, she spent too much power and fainted.

Lyria: Mika fainted? Is she okay?

Vyrn: She'll disappear if she uses up all her power, right?

Irotis: Yeah, from what we understand.

Irotis: Anyway, come inside. We'll tell you the rest after.

Led by Irotis and Shitori, (Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn enter the orphanage.

Vyrn: I know you're worried about Mikaboshi and all, but what about you two? Are you guys doin' okay?

Lyria: You guys finally got to see her again, so it'd break my heart if you had to say goodbye already...

Keeping their voices low as they step through the orphanage, they finally come to the back of the facility where they hear the thumping of children's footsteps.

Young Girl: Hehehe! Just you wait! I'm super fast!

Mikaboshi: Eeek! Somebody save meee, or I'll be caught!

Vyrn: ...

Lyria: ...

Vyrn: She's gone all tiny again!

Vyrn's squeak mingles with the joyful voices of the children at play as they ring through the orphanage.