Flashback!
Oscar: So, how's acting treating you? The audience thinks you're great!
Macroich: Yeah I seem to be getting more cheers, thanks to the Entertainers' help!
Oscar: Think you'll find your answer here?
Macroich is a little hesitant. Oscar smiles at this.
Oscar: Take as long as you want. I'll set up the scripts. Play two lives, play a thousand lives, they're all fiction anyway! I still hope it helps your acting grow.
Macroich: I think they're great. Aren't they still something that came from you?
Oscar: But it's not eternal!
Macroich: Wow you're talking a lot today. I'm glad I got to see more of your true feelings!
Oscar makes a weird face.
Macroich: I know your scripts come to an end eventually, but that's why I came to Tokyo. There are things that come after the ending, and there are people who'll show me that dream.
Oscar: Are you talking about before or now? Didn't you used to throw parties all the time to make yourself feel less lonely?
Macroich: Ouch. But I'm sure I still had friends and loves who thought so back then.
Oscar thinks Macroich is thinking of other people when making references to old acquaintances.
Macroich: I believe you'll find someone like that someday.
Oscar: Pffft, maybe the day after never. This mask is staying ON.
Macroich: Maybe, maybe not. We are in Youth™ as long as we keep puzzling things through.
Oscar: Welp, go chase unreachable dreams on stage for me too for when it doesn't happen!
Present
Invasion of the Shadow Cipactlis!
Hecate: WHAT
Cipactli: Why do they look like me!? What's happening here!?
They came out of nowhere! There's at least 100 already, and now they're blocking the only exit!
Leib: Well somebody's trying to cause problems today.
Boogeyman: ...we have to get rid of them all by ourselves?
Turing: Unfortunately. Or else, we're stuck down here.
Elsewhere
Oscar is watching the chaos he caused with opera glasses.
Oscar: This is an original Urban Legend based on Cipactli, so they're guaranteed strong! It was hard getting this done since people don't usually think there'd be hundreds of gators living in Yurakucho's sewers, and I had to BS that all by myself! Which is why I brought in specialist help to make it happen.
Sphinx: I wouldn't have helped if I knew you were gonna do this!
Reiteration that the Shadow Cipactlis are made by a combo of Oscar and Sphinx's powers.
Oscar: Wanna join our troupe? There's records you've got a big flashy mask too. And you want people to keep playing with you forever, right? Wouldn't we have won if we were partnered up for the buddy off earlier?
Sphinx: I hate lies because they'll make games fall apart if they're included.
Oscar ...aww! This sucks.
Sphinx: Whatever. You can't expect me to hear the Urban Legend is attacking MC and the others and not--
Oscar points his artifact at Sphinx. Two Shadow Cipactlis grab him!
Oscar: So, how are they gonna handle this? None of the Creators were really combatants to start with. The Hakkenshi and golem maker are tough, but they can just be rushed down with numbers. Cipactli's strong, but he doesn't really want to use Monstrous Strength in public so...oh wait, here comes the heroic cavalry!
Back with everyone else
Macroich and MC run in!
MC: WHAT / I'd like a Cipactli to go please
---
(C) Leib: Stop fucking around and help!
---
Macroich: Okay so this is kinda bad. Watch my back? We better get in there before the people bad at fighting get hurt.
MC: Okay! / Yes Captain! / Like we're on stage?
Macroich: Okay, let me show you why Fergus Mac Roich can equal 700 men!
Macroich and MC start cutting in!
MC: ...is there actually less of them? / There's too many! / Macroich, at this rate...
The two of them keep fighting but things are still deadlocked! Also the Shadow Cipactlis are starting to mob MC.
MC: HELP THERE'S ONLY ONE OF ME
Oscar: Hmm! I guess the original is influencing this Urban Legend a lot. We're in Act 2 now, right? No wonder the Thunder of Tir na Nog captivated so many with his strength! They're still gonna go down if nothing changes though.
Macroich: Next! Come at me, weaklings! MC, can you keep going? Let's jump in deeper!
MC: Are you ENJOYING this!? / Yeah! / You're so reliable!
Macroich: So this might not be the best time, but I get the feeling that I'm shining! It's like I'm fighting next to the hero I admire!
He seems happy.
Boogeyman: Hmph. Guess I can't fall behind here. Who's next, whooo~?
Hecate: I can't let the musical we all worked hard on fall apart!
Cipactli watches Macroich and MC fight back to back.
Leib: Cipactli, we are under attack here!
Cipactli: Oh! Sorry I...never mind.
Cipactli was having a flashback of Tezcatlipoca and Quetzalcoatl fighting against himself. He was jealous of how they fought evenly. They invited him when they realized, but Cipactli always refused, afraid of his own strength.
Leib: If you're worried about hurting your friends, I can take care of that.
Cipactli: But I thought you hated using your power.
Leib: I call it my payback for everything I put onto MC and everyone. And since I'm using it for someone in the same boat as me, I'm not gonna complain.
Leib smiles. Cipactli smiles back.
Cipactli: Okay then, can you support me? I'll be a kaiju to protect my stage.
Leib: You're Cipactli to us, whatever you were back then.
Cipactli nods.
Leib: Go off then. MC and I will stop things if it gets hairy.
Cipactli runs towards Macroich and MC!
Cipactli: Let me join in!
Macroich: Cipactli! We were waiting for you!
MC: Thanks! / Let's fight together! / You are late, UGH
Cipactli: Destroy them all!
BATTLE START (more happens after)
Cipactli: Behold my true power!
SMASH
Macroich: Awesome! Wanna see who can defeat more faster?
Cipactli: Impressive courage. I'll show you that I have El Dorado's passion too!
Macroich and Cipactli: HAHAHAHA
MC: Wow they're having fun / I'm here too you know! / I'm not gonna lose!
Vapula: Itzamna, does the vapassion of El Dorado run in your veins too?
Itzamna: Haha, yes way back when--kidding. I never really went battle mad. I think he's a moderate or a reactionary...no, he's probably just happy to not have to hide his power anymore.
Cipactli is stomping like so many Urban Legends right now. Now their side is on the ropes.
Cipactli: What? I'm not that weak. I guess they're making up the difference with numbers!
Hecate: Couldn't you have done this earlier if you were so strong!?
Boogeyman: Ha ha, I see how rumors got out of hand with you now.
Cipactli: Oh, sorry...I always worried about how high my kaiju output should be...
Leib: What? Still? Just go all out already.
Macroich: Yeah, it's cool even on stage! I can handle it!
MC: You looked awesome! / I think you'll blow up even more / You're cool fighting too
Cipactli: ...oh, well if you think so MC.
Leib: Speaking of, the fake Cipactlis are oddly focused on MC for some reason.
Cipactli: YOU WILL NOT SHAME ME OVER WHAT THEY DO
The party laughs. Oscar's still watching.
Oscar: ...Cipactli took off his own mask and has been accepted by those around him. And the lonely Macroich has found a place to belong to. That's like something those of us who always wear masks can never do. Oh well, that's enough character development, time to stop the Urban Legend.
Oscar waves his artifact. The Shadow Cipactlis disappear!
FLASH
Weird glowing words float around Oscar!
Sphinx: Dammit you better stop this shit! My job was to help spread that Urban Legend, and now that that's done you can't complain about what I'll do next!
Oscar doesn't seem surprised about Sphinx sealing him in a barrier.
Oscar: Woe is me! I just thought Cipactli was better off keeping his Imix persona! What if the audience scars him so bad he never steps foot on stage again? I did it all for him!
Sphinx: What third rate soap opera are you quoting? I'm not falling for that! But I did kinda think Cipactli might quit the Entertainers if he gave up that mask. Were you afraid of losing him?
Oscar is smiling for some surprising reason.
Oscar: Oh I thought that, for sure.
Sphinx: Whatever you really think, you're staying there. I'm not letting you mess up their musical. And actually, you better give up. You can't get out of there until you answer what Tokyo's Mothman's true identity is anyw--
Oscar: Mothman is [REDACTED].
Barrier break!
Sphinx: WHAT
Oscar: Too bad for you, you never give impossible riddles. You could have actually sealed me if you did. And I'd probably be stuck if you didn't pick my specialty Urban Legends for a riddle topic.
Sphinx writes in his book to create another barrier!
Sphinx: Whew, I'm glad I prepared that riddle I meant for Masanori and Turing. This one's a mystery! A locked room murder mystery about that creepy student prosecutor and his friend! Take that!
Oscar doesn't seem bothered at all.
Oscar: Welp, I give up! How about we spend some quality time together?
Sphinx: What? At least pretend to think about it some more!
Oscar: Nah, you didn't even need to pull this one on me. I wasn't going to cause any more problems on purpose for them. I just wanted to give Cipactli a little push to get on stage!
Sphinx: ...then why were you pretending to stop the musical?
Oscar: To make all this over here happen! You normally put in an escape button to your barriers, but did you make one for this one?
Oscar starts creeping on Sphinx. Sphinx steps back.
Sphinx: STAY BACK
Oscar: That's a funny thing to say to someone you sealed in with yourself. I've been wanting to write something themed around you. How about I just call it "Sphinx"? Or "The Unpuzzled Sphinx"? So many things to ask, so many things to know! Care to show me~?
Sphinx: I NEED AN ADULT
But no one can hear Sphinx through his barrier...
Back with everyone else
Itzamna: Well, since we all seem to be okay and no more of those fake Cipactlis are appearing, how about we all go home now?
Arachne: Hey where'd Sphinx go? He was here earlier.
Turing: Oh he's whimsical like a cat too. I'm sure he'll be fine.
Masanori: What do you mean by "too"!? I am nyot...I mean, not a cat!
The Creators are getting ready to leave.
Vapula: Okay, time to go. Looking forward to the big vaperformance!
Leanan Sidhe: Break a leg!
The party's all that's left, so they decide to finish up things.
Cipactli: ...let's rehearse from the next scene!
Boogeyman: I'm worried I'll forget my lines, so I bet I'll be more nervous on the big day.
Hecate: I-i-it'll be okay! We practiced so much already!
Leib: Yeah, sure. Take a deep breath, Shaky.
Hecate: How can you not be nervous, Leib!?
Leib: How would it help?
Hecate and Boogeyman look at each other in surprise.
Hecate: Oh my god, Boogeyman! A real "Whatever" type from the rumors!
Boogeyman: A legendary being who slacks off most of the time but can pull off anything when the chips are down!
Leib: Are you guys really nervous if you have the time to treat me like some weird animal?
Hecate: It's different! Oh no I'm getting palpations again.
Cipactli: Stop the comedy act, we have to focus.
Macroich: Yeah! Full steam ahead on the rehearsal!
MC: Hey Macroich? You never did answer that question from earlier.
Macroich puts a finger on MC's mouth to shush them.
Macroich: You know what? How about I tell you after it's all over? If I tell you now, I'm worried you'll keep thinking about it during practice.
MC: ...alright then.
Macroich: It's a promise! Now let's keep at it a little more!
Cipactli: Stop whispering so close to each other! If you have that much energy to spare, I can go all out on you in the fight scene like you wanted Macroich.
Macroich: Awesome!
Home stretch! And wow time flies fast, Judgment Day cometh.
End of Episode
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