Tanngrisnir (narrating): I'm from Yggdrasil, the Paradise of Divergence propped up by the World Tree. The world's faith causes us to have a multiverse of parallels, so somewhere out there is a version of me that DIDN'T get this leg scar. Anyways I used to pull Thor's chariot with Tanngnjostr, and he could pass as my twin except he doesn't have a leg scar either. I had to retire from battle because of it. If an unscarred version of me is running around, which of us is real? Who's the real star?
Some time later
White: I don't think we can figure that out at this point since Tokyo has only one world state going at a time. We're Proper Human History and every other possibility is a Lostbelt. Kind of presumptuous to put it that way as the winners of fate, huh?
Tanngrisnir: ...I've heard how your friend gave his role to make sure you all lived on. I think we may have made the right choice, but I wonder what the right choice is for others?
Tanngrisnir (narrating): So then Ded said...
Present
Tanngrisnir: Hey MC, still up?
MC: I was waiting for you. How's the investigation?
Tanngrisnir: Enigma and I just finished and came back.
MC: So, can I talk to you?
Tanngrisnir: Hmm, this sounds serious. I hope I can help!
One explanation later
Tanngrisnir: So you regret what you said to Kumano Gongen?
MC: Yeah...he's still being unfairly bitchy though!
Tanngrisnir: Ah, this reminds me of my old self. Or of Tanngnjostr.
MC: what?
Tanngrisnir: Oh yes, we had our fights. Harsh, but warm.
MC: I wish I could've seen you then.
Tanngrisnir: Oh...! Well thank you. Special advice: never look back on your life, go full steam ahead!
MC: Okay! / How is that special!? / (wait)
Tanngrisnir: We can't go back in time. Or if we did, it wouldn't be us who made the choice we did. So live as happily as you can since that's all you can do.
MC: But what if I'm talking to someone who thinks it could be better? / (wait)
Tanngrisnir: Well if someone else thinks there's some other choice, that's not something you can do alone. So everyone should just choose what they think is best.
MC: what?
Tanngrisnir: Hmm. Well I'm sure you'll figure it out. I'll support you when the time comes.
MC: (thank him) / (bow in true Japanese fashion) / (hug)
(AB) Tanngrisnir: You're welcome!
(C) Tanngrisnir: UHHHH, student/teacher relationships are frowned upon! If you graduate first, then...ahem.
Elsewhere
Dramatic thunder!
Zao: (stares)
Kumano Gongen: Can't sleep?
Zao: ...I can't hear it.
Kumano: wait what
Zao: I can't hear Mt. Hakone.
A first for the Mountain Whisperer!
Zao: Something is up.
Kumano: (frown)
Kumano: Can I talk to you about that?
BOOM
Zao and Kumano: !!
Something just happened!
Back to MC's position
MC: hmm, bad feelings. What just happened?
Bigfoot: MC! Tanngrisnir! Captain calling!
Party regrouping!
Himavat: So we have an emergency rescue request now.
MC: It's near here?
Zao: At least one of the callers has a bad leg injury.
Tanngrisnir: !!
Durga: W-wait, could it be my friends!?
Himavat: We leave at sunrise. Get ready to go by then.
MC: Oh no it's too dark at night to go!
Durga: WHAT!? Why don't we just go now and--
Himavat: Don't underestimate the mountains.
Durga: !?
Himavat: Executive decision. I'm not repeating myself.
Damn, super mountain aura pressure.
Himavat: I'm sure you'll see why in time.
Sunrise
Zao and Himavat: !!
Time to roll out now that the paths are barely visible!
MC: wait, the path splits into seven roads!?
Seven parallel roads!
Q'ursha: ...this is Zeskneli and Kveskneli, the seven mountains that divide my homeworld.
Q'ursha's temp joining the party for the rescue thing. Also, the seven mountains he's talking about are said to only let heroes who go through a spiritual transformation and get help from magic animals to pass through to the home of the gods or home of snakes.
MC: Another singularity stratum?
Q'ursha: Heads up, which path is real is a toss up and the wrong ones are hellish. Also I used my power to ask the Missionaries for help.
Azazel: Hello, I am help. I'll use my power to figure out which paths to ignore.
Zao: And I can use my power to keep the number of paths from going up. But it's temporary and I can't make them go lower.
Tanngrisnir: We should hurry before long term effects kick in. We don't even know how many people we're looking for and we can't check everything as a group, so I suggest we each pick what we feel is right.
MC: Whoa, bringing up your advice already?
Tanngrisnir: Since we can't discern the right answer, we should figure out how to get everyone there. So, we should split up and search. Whoever finds the SOS comes back.
Chernobog: So we're deliberately running into whatever pitfalls are in the other paths?
Tanngrisnir: Yes, but we're going in teams still. If we can't work something out together as opposed to individually there was never a point to teaming up to begin with.
Chernobog: Hmm, indeed.
Later
For teamwork considerations, MC is put with Tanngrisnir and Enigma.
Tanngrisnir: Oh, we're working together Enigma?
Enigma: Everyone is too worked up over this. I will be working the backline comm link to the rest of the party.
Kumano Gongen: ...so we're on different teams, MC.
Kumano seems to want to say something but can't get it out.
MC: (get mad about before) / (talk later) / (stare)
Kumano: ...I'd never have been here in Tokyo if I could talk things out. So all I know how to do is work things out by hand, so I'll check everything on my route...I actually did want to team up with you.
Later
Tanngrisnir: (panting)
MC: Tanngrisnir are you okay? / wheeze
Tanngrisnir: Oh I'm fine, I have your support on my side with the bad leg.
Tanngrisnir doesn't have enough Santa Power on his own, but right now he has some of it back.
Tanngrisnir: It's like I have Tanngnjostr again! I'm glad I picked this!
Flashback!
White: Try having everyone pick what's right for them. I believe that's how we can get to the true path forward.
Present
Subteam MC has found some kids!
Kids: WAAAAH
MC: Welp, we found them. / We're here to help! / (remember what Senpai said)
Flashback!
Himavat: If you find the SOS party, calm them down and check for injuries. Give first aid if needed, then bring them to the Missionaries campground.
Kengo: Yeah, Ryouta can probably fix whatever!
Orgus: Sol might be able to help too.
Present
Subteam MC decides to bring the SOS party down.
Tanngrisnir: We can use my flying sleigh to transport them.
MC: I'll pull with you!
And so Subteam MC heads off while paying attention to the weather.
Tanngrisnir: The rain's slowed down, let's go!
Smooth riding. Until...
Tanngrisnir: We're almost th--wait MC, stop!
Wyverns incoming!
MC: WHAT
Tanngrisnir: Okay we can't stop in time. Hang on, evasive maneuvers!
MC slips and gets hurt! Also!
MC: Oh no, the sleigh!
Tanngrisnir: Not if I have anything to say about it!
Tanngrisnir takes hold of the sleigh! Kid A hangs on for dear life and seems to be dissociating for a bit.
Kid A: wooow a reindeer. when I grow up I wanna be Santa
Tanngrisnir: (frowns)
Tanngrisnir: It's okay, I'm Tanngrisnir. Relax, maybe have some stew, and get some sleep.
Kid A smiles and passes out as Tanngrisnir puts him back in the sleigh.
MC: wait what's happening again
Tanngrisnir: We just put a future Santa in the sleigh.
Now that Tanngrisnir is running with a partner towards one path like he originally would, his leg injury is no problem!
Tanngrisnir (narrating): I'm at this point because of the losses and path I've taken, and I have things I'll fight to keep despite it all.
Tanngrisnir: I'm honestly glad I came down this path in life and found a partner in you. Now, to the skies!
MC: Okay! ...wAIT
Fly reindeers, fly!
Tanngrisnir: No roads shall restrict us. To the finish line! Thank you MC. Will you pull the sleigh with me all the way?
MC: Okay! / OMG a proposal!?
---
(C) Tanngrisnir: !!
Tanngrisnir: Actually, yes!
---
Tanngrisnir: I eagerly await your graduation. For the day we can be together as reindeer and partners!
MC: Wyverns? Wait, something's up with them.
Tanngrisnir: The job's not done until we deliver what we set out to deliver. Let's go!
BATTLE START (more happens after)
Later
Kid A: um, where am I?
Sol: Oh, you woke up? It's okay, Lord Ryouta and I--
Kid A: Oh the Christmas priest! I met a reindeer! He was cool and had stew like mommy! I wanna be a reindeer like him!
Tanngrisnir: (quietly watches)
MC: Nice work! / (high five) / (jump into him)
Tanngrisnir: Yep. But I pushed too hard and now my leg is acting up. But I still feel good though.
MC: What WERE all those wyverns?
Elsewhere
Zao: I always figured it was fine for me to climb mountains alone, so I never really thought about what being club captain meant.
Zao (narrating): Climbing alone was fine. Climbing with a team was great. So I need to decide before I graduate.
Zao: What do I do for my kouhais? And why won't you talk to me, mountains?
And so Zao stares at what he's looking at.
End of Episode
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