Scenario:Tien - Because You Promised to Stay

Because You Promised to Stay

One day, an orphaned boy arrives in Stardust Town and starts acting like he owns the place. However, instead of getting angry at the boy's disrespectful behavior, Tien gently reprimands him. She watches as the kids of Stardust Town welcome him into the fold in their own way. This is more proof that she and the children will continue to protect Stardust Town while looking to the future.

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A delivery request brings the crew back to Stardust Town. After unloading the cargo without a hitch, (Captain) and company decide to stay in town for a while longer.

A few of Tien's little sisters beg her to teach them how to embroider. (Captain) and Lyria join in to learn the basics.

Lyria: So I push the needle through here and pull like this!

Tien: Actually, Lyria, tugging with that much force will scrunch the fabric.

Lyria: Oh no!

Lyria: I didn't even notice I was pulling so hard...

Tien: That's very common for beginners. The first thing I advise you to do is relax.

Mature Mia: Darn, my seams are so uneven...

Tien: Cheer up. You've gotten much better than when you first started. I can tell you've been practicing.

Mature Mia: Yeah, but I've got a long road ahead of me before I can make an outfit good enough for you to wear.

Tien: Ah... Thank you. I can't wait to wear it with pride.

Lively Jill: Tien! Sorry to interrupt, but can I talk to you?

Tien: Sure. What is it?

Lively Jill: A boy got mixed in with the cargo that just arrived!

Lyria: Oh my gosh! Did he stow away in the packages we delivered?

Lively Jill: No, no! This was from a different merchant.

Tien: He must be a newcomer. All right, I should go greet him. What's your take?

Lively Jill: It's been a while since we had one this peppery.

Tien: Mm, got it.

Lyria: Peppery?

Although Lyria and (Captain) don't know what the girl is talking about, Tien leaves the room knowing full well what she's in for.

Fiery Lad: Heh, finally sent someone worth talking to.

Tien: I see you're new here. Welcome to Stardust Town, a home for orphans—

Fiery Lad: Hmph. I heard that kids here didn't have adults constantly looking over their shoulders. Guess the rumors were true.

Fiery Lad: Sounds like my kinda town! This is my lucky day.

Lively Jill: Yeah, yeah, that's nice and everything, but first you have to tell us what you can actually do.

Mature Mia: It's okay if you can't think of anything! Whether it's housework or running a store or whatever, we'll be glad to teach you!

Fiery Lad: Pft. Teach this.

Tien: Wait. You still haven't told us your name yet.

Sensing that the sneering boy is about to run off, Tien tries to grab him by the arm, but he pulls away from her.

Fiery Lad: Don't touch me!

Fiery Lad: I didn't come here to make friends. I just wanna bleed you guys dry!

Vyrn: The nerve of that kid! Tien was just tryin' to be nice.

Tien: Well, the children that find their way here have their own unique circumstances.

Tien: They have to show they can play nice otherwise we can't help them.

Judging from Tien's tone, the sight of the fleeing child is a scene she's quite familiar with.

Many of Stardust Town's current inhabitants behaved in a similar vein when they first arrived.

Lively Jill: Hey! Come back here!

Fiery Lad: Fat chance! It's your fault you got robbed in the first place!

Lyria: What happened?

Lively Jill: He stole an apple. Sigh... And I was gonna use it to bake a pie for Vyrn too...

Vyrn: What! M-my apple!

Vyrn: That rotten little! I'll drag that stinky thief back myself!

Lyria: Hold on, Vyrn! Wait!

Fiery Lad: Munch, munch. That was too easy. Never get too chummy with people, or you'll end up a lazy chump.

Fiery Lad: Ick, this apple's making my hands sticky. Ah, I know what I can use.

He wipes his hands clean on a towel that's been hung out to dry and hides in the shadows of an alley.

Mature Mia: Aaaah! Who soiled the laundry!

Fiery Lad: Pfft, you call that dirty?

Fiery Lad: Geez, you guys act like royalty around here.

He takes one last bite of the apple and is about to fling away the core when a hand gently catches his arm.

Tien: Trash goes into a receptacle.

Fiery Lad: Yikes!

Fiery Lad: Where did you come from!

Tien: I've been following you ever since you snatched that apple. I wanted to see what you would do next.

Fiery Lad: Fine, you caught me. What're you gonna do about it? Burn a thief mark into my skin? If you're gonna do it, then do it!

Tien: That won't be necessary. I used to think stealing was the only way to survive too.

Tien: But that's all right.

Fiery Lad: Huh? What're you trying to say!

Tien: In this town, you don't have to steal or lash out at anyone.

Tien: From what I've seen, that's not your intention anyway, am I right?

Fiery Lad: Yeah, well, what if you're wrong? A softy like you doesn't have the guts to punish me!

Tien: Being a softy is harder than you think. It's easy to be hurt and betrayed.

Tien: And when it keeps happening to you, eventually you realize it's better to be on the other side.

Fiery Lad: Don't you dare say you understand what I'm going through!

Tien: No, I won't do that, although I guess I kind of implied it.

Tien: So instead of saying "I understand," I'll just say "I've been there."

Fiery Lad: ...!

Tien: You don't have to fear reprisal anymore. Everyone in this town is your brother and sister.

Fiery Lad: I...

Tien: Go on.

Fiery Lad: I'm a thief! Siblings aren't supposed to steal from each other!

Fiery Lad: Why should anyone trust or forgive me!

Tien: But you still came to this town. You wouldn't have done so if you weren't hoping to find something.

Fiery Lad: ...!

Vyrn: There he is! Tien's got him!

Fiery Lad: Ack!

Lively Jill: I've got something to say to you!

Fiery Lad: ...

Lively Jill: What kind of thief gets caught red-handed! A crappy one that only knows how to yell, that's what!

Fiery Lad: Wh-what!

Lively Jill: Back in my pickpocketing days, I would've cleaned this place out without breaking a sweat!

Vyrn: Uh... Do you realize what you're sayin'?

Mature Mia: Ahaha... Everyone has their own story to tell before they came to Stardust Town, so...

Mature Mia: Ah! But don't do that anymore, Jill! I mean it! And the same goes for you too!

Fiery Lad: What's with you people?

Lively Jill: What's so hard to understand? I'm your big sister now! In fact, everyone in Stardust Town are your siblings.

Fiery Lad: You're pretty small for a big sister...

Lively Jill: That doesn't change anything! Quit hiding behind Tien and get over here!

Fiery Lad: Yagh!

The girl grabs the boy's arm and starts dragging him away.

Lively Jill: First off, you're getting a bath! Then you're scrubbing the tub to make up for the apple you stole.

Mature Mia: And when you're done with that, I want you to redo the laundry. Don't worry. I'll teach you how!

Fiery Lad: Let go of me, dang it!

Tien: Haha...

Vyrn: Sigh... In the end he was just actin' tough.

Vyrn and (Captain) admire the strength of the girls who are walking off with their charge.

Lyria: I sure hope he gets used to Stardust Town soon.

Tien: Mm, as do I. It's not always easy for someone to acclimate to a new environment.

Tien: But as past children have shown us, it's certainly not impossible. I'm sure he'll be fine.

She smiles as she watches her newest little brother struggle against his big sisters.

Tien: (I want to protect this place in order to give these kids—my family—the best chance to find happiness.)

Tien: (I have to do it for the older children who are doing their best to watch over the younger ones.)

Tien: (But most importantly, I do it because I want to. This town belongs to us.)

Tien: (If the calamity that cost the Ten-Wolf Gun everything threatens the Sky Realm again, I'll stop it!)

With no place of their own, children from many backgrounds pull together to make Stardust Town their home. It's a vulnerable existence in the grand scheme of the Sky Realm.

Nevertheless it serves as a shining beacon. Tien and her brothers and sisters will safeguard Stardust Town while always looking toward the future.