Scenario:Lunalu - Popol Saga Side Story
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Popol Saga Side Story
Lunalu and Vane start reading a story inside Lunalu's notebook about a mysterious fencer who possesses an evil eye. The fencer saves Prince Popol from a group of pursuers, and the two end up traveling together after the rescue. Vane excitedly expresses his adoration of the fencer's cool personality, which both embarrasses and pleases Lunalu. At Vane's insistence, they continue reading the story.
Popol Saga Side Story
The Stalwart Fencer with the Evil Eye
The Stalwart Fencer with the Evil Eye
Popol: Pant... Wheeze... Gasp...
Bandit 1: Gyahahaha! What're you runnin' for, pip-squeak?
Bandit 2: No point tryin' ta book it! Just sit tight and give up!
Having left the Castile Empire behind to go on a journey through the skies, Prince Popol now finds himself fleeing from pursuers in a pitch-black forest.
Popol: Gasp... Wheeze... The land works against me...
Popol: They'll catch me eventually if I keep running blindly ahead...
Popol: Ah!
Bandit 1: Gyahahaha! Too bad, so sad! That's a cliff with a long fall to the bottom!
Bandit 2: You got two choices now: jump for it and off yourself, or have some fun with us and die... What'll it be?
Popol: Ugh... This is it then. Well, I choose...
Popol: To defeat you all and live!
Popol: Haaaaah!
Fighting as best as he can alone, Popol manages to defeat several of his pursuers before he is eventually overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
Bandit 1: Gasp... Pant... You little punk... You should really learn how to respect your elders.
Bandit 2: Hehe... Good try! Since you decided to mess with us, let's make your death nice and slow, eh?
Popol: Argh... Not like this...
Bandit 1: Cry and scream as much as you want! No one's comin' to save you!
Bandit 2: Hahahaha! That's right! Let's start with chopping off his legs. That way he can't run home crying for mommy.
Bandit 1: Good call! Hey, pip-squeak, I hope you're ready to say your last words.
Popol: No... There's still... so much of this world I have yet to see... I refuse to die here!
Moonlight glints ominously off the raised blade of the bandit.
???: Good grief...
???: How is anyone supposed to enjoy a bottle of sake under the night sky with all this commotion going on?
Bandit 1: Huh? Wh-where'd you come from!
Bandit 2: Who the heck're you!
???: What, you want to know my name?
???: There's no point telling it to fools who are going to die in the next three seconds.
Peeling back an eyepatch, Lunalu's exposed eye begins to glow.
???: Awaken... Evil Eye!
???: Eins...
???: Zwei...
???: Drei...
Lunalu's small form dashes through the group of bandits.
Bandits: Cough...
Gasp...
Gasp...
The power of the evil eye pierces through their vital points, robbing them of life in a flash.
Popol: They're all dead...
???: Yeah, I cleaned up the trash.
Popol: Thank you for saving me.
Popol: But... With how strong you are, did you have to kill them?
???: Hm? What do you mean?
Popol: You could've knocked them out... Incapacitated them.
???: You're a strange one. Aren't you glad to be alive?
Popol: Of course I am.
???: Then don't waste your concern on these lowlives. They'd just end up hurting others down the line if I spared them.
Popol: I suppose you're right...
???: More pressingly, the stench of all this blood is going to attract every monster in the forest.
???: Come with me if you don't want to waste your freshly spared life.
Popol: Please... Wait a moment!
???: What is it?
Popol: Would you tell me your name?
Lunalu: If you must know... It's Lunalu.
Popol: Lunalu...
Popol: Well, Lunalu, I'm Popol!
Popol: Popol Castile, prince of the Castile Empire.
Lunalu: Uh-huh. Maybe in the future, don't tell that to a stranger you just met.
Lunalu: Unless you enjoy inviting trouble into your life.
Popol: G-good point! I'll be more careful from now on!
Lunalu: Let's go then, and don't lag behind.
Popol: Wait for me!
Starstruck by Lunalu's impressive show of power, Prince Popol follows after.
This is how the stalwart fencer with the evil eye and the prince of Castile begin their travels together.
Vane: Wow... A mysterious fencer that appears in the nick of time and defeats all the bad guys in one go! That's so cool! Like, beyond cool!
Lunalu: Hehehe... You really think so?
Vane: Heck yeah! I wish I could have an evil eye like fencer Lunalu!
Lunalu: Shhh! I'd appreciate it if you didn't shout that for everyone to hear...
Vane: Ah... Sorry! It'd be awful if someone stole the idea, right?
Lunalu: Er... Yeah... That. That's why we should keep it to ourselves.
Lunalu: (And not because it's totally embarrassing or anything.)
Vane: Got it! Can we keep reading? I'm really curious about what happens next!
Lunalu: Sure!
Eager for more, Vane flips to the next page of the notebook.
Popol Saga Side Story: Scene 2
Inside the story's world, the fencer named Lunalu journeys through the skies with Prince Popol and becomes his teacher for swordplay. One day, Prince Popol accidentally discovers Lunalu is a woman and not a man like he originally thought. Back in the real world, Vane also expresses his surprise at the fencer's true gender, and Lunalu explains that she wanted to make the character easier for herself to relate with. With Vane completely engrossed in the story, the two continue reading on.
Popol: Haaaaah!
Lunalu: Exhale...
Popol: Rah! Yah! Hraaahh!
Lunalu: Hah...
Popol: Raaaagh!
Lunalu: Hngh!
Popol: Gasp... I can't... I surrender!
Lunalu: Your swordsmanship is getting better.
Popol: Truly?
Popol: Still, I'm not yet good enough to beat you...
Lunalu: Heh, it is far too soon for that.
Lunalu: For starters, you should try controlling your mana better.
Popol: My... mana?
Lunalu: Your movements and swordplay were sluggish because your mana ran wild.
Lunalu: The better you can control it, the better you'll be able to fight.
Popol: I see!
Lunalu: And once you've mastered control... You'll be able to hide your presence and sneak up on your foes like me.
The mana enveloping Lunalu's body begins to rarefy, its presence fading quickly and quietly.
Popol: Incredible, I can't sense your mana at all now!
Lunalu: All right, that's enough training for today.
Popol: Okay, thank you very much!
Prince Popol has continued to travel with Lunalu after the fencer rescued him from a sticky situation.
With their daily training out of the way, Popol and Lunalu sit down by the fire to chat.
Lunalu: Your skills are gradually improving, but one hit from a demon will be enough to end you.
Popol: A... demon? What's that?
Lunalu: The worst kind of evil existence to ever stain these skies.
Popol: I almost can't believe there's something out there that even you find threatening...
Popol: But with the Black Thunder Blade—one of the Dark Heaven weapons—in our grasp and your evil eye, I'm confident we can beat this foe!
Popol refers to a unique weapon capable of fending off evil creatures, one which they acquired after much effort.
Lunalu: I can put up a fight against a demon when the time comes, but you should run so you don't get in the way.
Popol: Right, I understand!
Lunalu: About time for us to turn in. We've got an early start tomorrow.
Popol: Yawn... Good night.
Lunalu: Good night.
They put the fire out and prepare for bed.
When Popol wakes in the middle of the night, Lunalu is nowhere to be seen. He shakes the sleep out of his eyes and gets up to search.
Popol: Nngh... I think I sense something this way.
Concealing his presence, he approaches the lake as stealthily as possible.
Popol: Ah...
Lunalu: ...
What the prince comes upon is a naked Lunalu, bathing in the lake's clear water.
Popol: Wha... Huh? Lunalu is... a woman?
His gaze is immediately drawn to the strange marks stretching across her body.
Popol: Are those... curse marks?
Lunalu: What is it, Popol? If you need something, hurry up and spit it out.
Popol: Ah! N-no, um... I wasn't... I'm sorry!
Lunalu: How troublesome...
Lunalu: Did I interrupt a midnight bathroom trip?
This is how Popol discovers Lunalu's true identity, under the gentle light of the moon.
Vane: No way! The gallant fencer Lunalu is actually a woman!
Lunalu: Ah, curious about that part? I could've made her a man, considering the setting is my own imagination.
Lunalu: Actually, it would've made more sense to have her be male, since most of the characters in Popol Saga are men.
Lunalu: A part of me is bothered by the inconsistency with the canon, but...
Lunalu: My own personal preference won out in the end.
Vane: There's a lot to consider in the creative process, huh?
Vane: If you ask me, putting in what you feel like is great for all sorts of crazy developments!
Vane: I can't wait to see what happens next! Can I flip to the next page?
Lunalu: Go for it! I'm starting to think it wasn't such a bad idea to keep this notebook around...
Unable to stop now, the two read forward.
Popol Saga Side Story: Scene 3
At the climax of the story, the fencer faces off against a demon, but is pushed to her limits. Prince Popol awakens the special weapon in his possession just when things seem bleak, and the two defeat the demon in a display of clever teamwork. Vane, completely moved by the amazing conclusion to the tale, asks to assist Lunalu in her future creative endeavors—an offer she happily accepts. For her part, Lunalu feels fired up to go back to creating after hearing Vane's enthusiastic feedback on her work.
Lunalu & Demon: Raaaaaaghh!
Demon: Gahaha! How long has it been since we last met, Lunalu?
Demon: Five hundred years? A thousand? Your swordplay is as sharp as ever!
Lunalu: Shut it. You talk too much, just like always.
Lunalu: (Stay calm... You'll only have one chance to catch him off guard.)
Demon: Hah... Cold as ice. Typical.
Demon: What's with the kid?
Popol: Eep...
Demon: Never took you for a mortal babysitter. He your new follower?
Lunalu: None of your business.
Lunalu: Popol, get out of here. This will be over fast.
Popol: O-okay!
Demon: Huh... Isn't that something. The cruel, terrifying, and mighty fencer with the evil eye has changed.
Demon: Don't tell me you actually care about the kid. How about I take care of him first?
Lunalu: Shut it. Take another step towards him, and I'll kill you.
Demon: Heh... I'd like to see you try.
Lunalu: Awaken... Evil Eye!
Demon: Awaken... Demon Eye!
Demon: You half-awake or what? Your time manipulation skills won't work on me!
Lunalu: Grah!
Demon: Hmph!
Popol: A real-life demon... His mana is astonishing.
Lunalu: I can put up a fight against a demon when the time comes, but you should run so you don't get in the way.
Popol: I probably won't be any help here... It's time to run.
Faced by the sheer difference in power between himself and the other two, Popol chooses to scramble away.
Lunalu: No more holding back.
Demon: You trying to say you were going easy on me? Hilarious.
Lunalu: Haaaaaah!
Demon: Gahahaha!
The fight between Lunalu and the demon rages on.
Lunalu: Pant...
Demon: Out of breath already? If that's all you've got, we may as well end this farce.
Lunalu: Fine by me... Let's end it.
Lunalu: Awaken... Evil Eye!
Demon: Awaken... Demon Eye!
Demon: Must we go over this again? I told you that won't work on me.
Lunalu & Demon: Hraaaah!
Haaaah!
Haaaah!
Lunalu: Argh!
Demon: Out of mana, hm?
Lunalu falls to her knees, exhausted from overusing her evil eye.
Demon: You really believed you could defeat me when your mana reserves are so pitiful.
Lunalu: Gasp... Wheeze...
Demon: Hmph!
Lunalu: Gah!
The brutal hit connects with Lunalu's body and sends her flying.
Demon: How disappointing. I thought you'd provide at least a little more entertainment.
Demon: Not enough mana for another evil eye, I assume.
Lunalu: Urgh...
Grabbing Lunalu by the neck and dangling her in the air, the demon draws his weapon.
The tip of his blade shines under the moonlight as it descends...
Popol: Stooop!
Lunalu: Po... pol... Why have you come...
Demon: Hahaha... Is this some kind of joke? Your life was spared, and now you've come to throw it away!
Popol: Lunalu saved this life of mine long before this!
Popol: It would only be right to use it to save her!
Lunalu: Idiot... Run... Get out of here!
Demon: How touching... Am I supposed to tear up now?
Popol: Shut up and get away from her!
Demon: I was going to start with Lunalu...
Demon: But I've changed my mind. Let's end your miserable life first, kid.
Lunalu: Stop! Leave him alone!
Demon: Be a good loser and behave.
Lunalu: Guh...
Demon: Hraaah!
The demon binds the weakened Lunalu with magic.
Demon: Relax. We'll watch the kid take his last breaths before I kill you.
Lunalu: Damn you...
Popol: When I defeat you, you'll let her go.
Demon: Sure, sure, pinky swear. Give me everything you've got.
Demon: Come on, I won't even use my demon eye. It'd be boring to finish the fun too early.
The fighting begins anew—this time between demon and prince.
Popol: Rahhh!
Demon: Hah...
Popol: Hrah! Yah! Raaah!
Demon: Haaaah!
Popol: Argh!
Demon: Not so tough now, are we?
Popol: Gah... I'm not done yet!
Demon: Wahahahaha!
The monster gleefully toys with Popol, relishing in the strength difference between them.
Demon: This is all you're capable of? Maybe I expected too much of you.
Lunalu: Enough...
Demon: Oh, shut your mouth. Now that the kid's starting to bore me, it's time to end this.
Popol: Gasp... Wheeze...
Popol: (Curses... What a pathetic showing. If I perish here, who will save Lunalu?)
Demon: So long, farewell. I'll send your precious fencer after you very soon.
Demon: Hraaaah!
Lunalu: Nooo!
Just as the demon swings to cleave the prince in two, something in Popol's grasp rises to deflect the blow.
Demon: What?
Popol: The Black Thunder Blade... Is it resonating with me?
Lunalu: Damn it... The Dark Heaven weapon was supposed to be our trump card, but we didn't awaken it in time.
Lunalu: Popol, you hold onto it.
Popol: But what about you?
Lunalu: Don't worry about me. I have my evil eye.
Lunalu: If worse comes to worst and I'm incapacitated, you take that and run—no hesitation.
Popol: But that's...
Lunalu: The Black Thunder Blade is one of our only hopes against demons. As long as somebody has it, there will come another chance at victory.
Popol: All right, I understand...
Demon: Impossible... How did you get your hands on a Dark Heaven weapon?
Popol: The Black Thunder Blade moved on its own...
Lunalu: It couldn't be... Or could it?
Lunalu: The blade has chosen Popol as its master...
Demon: Tch... Blade or no blade, I'll still kill you!
Popol: Haaaah!
Demon: Argh!
Popol: Rah! Yah! Taah!
Demon: Guh!
Demon: Such speed... Don't tell me that surge in mana also increased your physical prowess!
Popol: Pant... I can feel power welling up inside me!
Demon: (Fine, I didn't see this coming. But the kid hasn't fully utilized the Dark Heaven weapon yet.)
Demon: (I can finish this before he completely awakens the blade!)
Demon: Awaken... Demon Eye!
Popol: ...
Demon: Gahahaha! That'll teach you!
Demon: If only you had drawn out a little more power, things would've been different!
Lunalu: ...
Demon: Lunalu can't even muster the energy to use her evil eye.
Demon: Let's serve the stupid kid on a platter first then.
Demon: Diiiieee!
Demon: Haha... hahahaha!
Popol: ...
Demon: Victory is mine! And now...
Demon: Gah... Wh-what is this! I can't move...
Demon: Argh...
Popol: Pant... I can feel power welling up inside me!
Demon: (Fine, I didn't see this coming. But the kid hasn't fully utilized the Dark Heaven weapon yet.)
Demon: (I can finish this before he completely awakens the blade!)
Lunalu: Awaken... Evil Eye!
Demon: ...
A few moments before the demon had used his demon eye, Lunalu had secretly used her evil eye to conjure an illusion.
Popol: Raaaah!
Demon: Guh...
Demon: Lunalu, you bastard... You were hiding your reserves of mana...
Lunalu: Your fault for thinking I'm the same as I was the last time we met.
Demon: I hate you, I hate you, I hate youuu!
Black lightning surges through the blade piercing his body, burning him from the inside out.
Demon: ...
In the following silence, the wind gently blows his ashes away.
Popol: Is it truly finished?
Lunalu: Yeah... All traces of his mana are gone.
Popol: Ah! Are you okay, Lunalu?
Lunalu: Pant... Injuries of this degree... are nothing but flesh wounds...
Lunalu: I never thought the day would come where you'd be the one saving me...
Popol: Hehe! I still have a ways to go before I've repaid you for everything I owe!
Lunalu: Heh, I suppose...
Lunalu: Ugh... Argh... Gaaaah!
Popol: Wh-what's wrong?
Lunalu: Guh... Ahh... The consequence of overusing my evil eye...
Popol: Lunalu!
Lunalu: Stay away from me... Gah... My very being was cursed and tainted by demons long ago.
Lunalu: Inside me... is a demon.
Lunalu: No matter how long I've lived, I've never fully become that demon. No matter how many times I've tried to die, I still cling onto my humanity. I have lived in limbo...
Lunalu: Keep staying with me, Popol... And you'll only find misery.
Popol: I don't care!
Popol: Whatever you are... You're still the teacher who's saved and guided me!
The prince wraps Lunalu's injured body in a tight hug.
Lunalu: Popol...
Droplets of water begin to fall down Lunalu's cheeks.
Popol: It started raining, huh?
Lunalu: Yeah... I despise the rain.
Popol: Me too.
Popol: Take my hand. I'll help you walk.
Lunalu: Thanks, Popol.
Popol: Let's go, Lunalu.
Lunalu: Okay.
With Popol to guide her, Lunalu slowly walks forward.
A bond has formed between these two souls who have overcome a great trial.
But what about Lunalu's past? What of other demons and Dark Heaven weapons? And this newfound power within Popol?
Many puzzles remain to be solved as the tale of the prince and the fencer continues on.
Vane: Oh... Ohhh... I'm so glad they're both okay by the end...
Lunalu: Y-yeah...
Lunalu: (I didn't know I could feel this embarrassed and happy at the same time...)
Vane: You know, I... I think all the skies should read this story!
Lunalu: What... Huh?
Vane: Lunalu, if it's not a bother, would you let me be your assistant?
Lunalu: I'm not sure where this is coming from, but... I guess I don't have a reason to say no. Actually, I appreciate the offer.
Vane: Really? Wahoo! Yes!
Vane: I'll only be able to help when I'm off duty, but if you need any tea made, food cooked, shopping done, or places cleaned, just say the word!
Lunalu: Oh my gosh... That's more than enough! I've been blessed by an actual gift from the heavens!
Lunalu: It's such a relief to have someone I can lean on... Especially since my life always turns into a mess right before deadlines.
Lunalu: But... more than that, it's amazing to have someone tell me what they really think of my work.
Vane: I'm honored to be able to do so! I may just be a novice too, but I would love to help whenever you need a second opinion!
Lunalu: Hehe... Appreciate it. Thanks to you, Vane, I'm feeling fired up to create!
Lunalu: All right! Maybe I should try my hand at continuing the story where we left off!
Vane: Sweet! I'll get us some tea then!
By chance, Lunalu has not only found a stout ally in Vane, but also another candidate to join CtK4Life.
With the aid of her many friends, Lunalu's creative career will surely continue to flourish.