The party got a map from the TV staff and are moving along! Then Ganran stops to look around.
Ganran: Map says it's about here. Guess we should look around.
Rexer: Yeah, whatever it is.
Ryusei: I'm good at searching! Yeeeah, I feel good today!
Hitomi: And there's Ryusei's body check for the day! Let's do our best, everyone!
Splitting up to search! Five seconds later...
Ryusei: You guys there's something shining here!
Hitomi: It's buried, but yeah I do see something like that!
Rexer: Looks like the rock cacao's shine! Ganran, what do you think?
Ganran: Looks legit to me!
MC: Alright, time to dig it up!
Ganran: (hands out pickaxes) Here Hitomi, this one's yours!
Hitomi: Thanks! B-but what if I break it...?
Ganran: Smithy ground rules! Trust your friends!
Hitomi: O-okay then! Annnd swing!
Bam! Ground's cracked, pickaxe looks fine.
Hitomi: Wow! Thanks, Ganran!
Ganran: Making things is my job!
Rexer: Whoa, digging will be so much easier now. Thanks Ganran, Hitomi! I'll go next and show off my axe training!
Ding!
Ryusei: Alright, me too!
Rexer: Co-op time!
Ryusei: So I'm Player 2? Cool, I'll dig on this side!
Digging that thing up~
Ganran: Right! I think we can pull it out after we get rid of that big rock in the way!
Rexer: Got it!
Bam! Rock cacao discovered!
Hitomi: Wow, so pretty!
Rexer: Yeah, hard to believe this is edible...
Hitomi: I just want to take it home. Seems like a waste to eat it!
Hitomi picks up the rock cacao when...
Hitomi: Ah, earthquake! ...oh no, the cacao!
Thump.
Ganran: Okay damn, this quake is long!
Rexer: Everyone, get down!
Ryusei: MC, grab my arm!
MC's too busy looking around because they sense EEEEVILLLL!
MC: Wait, this is like Mt. Fuji all over again!
Hitomi: O-okay finally it's over. That was a surprise.
Ganran: Hadn't had one like that in a long while. Good thing everyone's okay.
Rexer: We dropped our stuff, but we can just pick that back up. Ryusei, MC, can you help with that? ...what's up, MC?
Ryusei: MC, do you need to sit down for a bit?
MC: I'm fine. But never mind that, I got news!
EEEEVILLLL
Hitomi: Oh no, the rock cacao! Wait, Monsters!?
Ryusei: Wow, robo copies?
Ganran: What will the TV people think of next?
Rexer: Whoa, they look so real!
MC: They ARE real!
Click! MC transforms the surprised party!
MC: Get ready to fight!
Ganran: W-what!? Hitomi, get away from them!
Hitomi: O-okay! But why are they here!?
Rexer: Think later! MC, your orders!
The party gets into formation! ...but then the Monsters slip away.
Ryusei: What!? MC, do you still sense them?
Hitomi: They might be hiding around!
MC: Uh, lemme see!
MC pauses the camera drone and closes their eyes to concentrate. But then...
Ryusei: Ah, careful everyone!
Rexer: Another earthquake? Is this normal for Garundera!?
Ganran: No, they don't come this often... last time they came this much was the day Barte disappeared.
Flashback!
Ganran: Earthquake! Monsters are popping up in the village! Barte, get outta there while I go fight!
Barte: Alright. Master, you--
Later
Barte: I'm getting sucked in!
Ganran: Grab my hand!
Barte: Something's caught me! ...Ganran, I can't...! Help!
Monster: SCREEEE
Ganran: ...BARTEEEE!
Present
Ganran: Just like...last time...
Rexer: Ganran...
MC: I can't find them. They don't seem to be nearby.
Ryusei: ...you said last time this happened, Monsters appeared in town?
Ganran: Y-yeah. Big quake, then Paths and Monsters popping up all around there.
Emergency phone alert!
MC: oh no
Click. It's Obsidius!
Obsidius: You guys! Monsters just appeared in town! You guys okay over there!?
Hitomi: Yes! But Monsters are popping up around here too!
Obsidius: Dammit. But it should only be you and the TV crew up there. Some of the staff over here are helping, but we're stretched thin! We need you all to come back!
Rexer: Got it! Ganran, what's the fastest way back? ...wait, what!?
BIG quake and explosion noise! Rocks fall from a nearby cliff!
Ganran: Oh no! Get in that cave!
Ryusei: R-right! MC, this way!
Cave
MC: Thanks, guys! I'm glad nobody seems hurt.
Hitomi: Oof, that was scary! I don't think I could've kept standing if I weren't in hero form...
Rexer: Yeah... Obsidius, you okay on your end?
Rexer looks towards Obsidius's phone projection and sees the Chocolate Volcano is red!
Obsidius: An eruption!? Dammit, I need you guys to keep cool! Monsters might start spawning in!
Villager A: Oh no! The volcano's been dormant all this time! If it blows, it'll destroy the village!
Blue: Everyone, please keep calm and come this way!
Green: P-please don't push! We'll protect you all!
Obsidius: MC! You probably saw, but the volcano is gonna erupt! You gotta get away! ...MC?
MC looks further into the cave.
MC: I'm getting the willies...
???: REEEE
MC: Boss Monster inside the volcano!
Surprised party!
Rexer: ...right, you knew those other Monsters we saw were real right away.
Ryusei: I've heard some Observers are especially sensitive to Monsters, but are you okay MC? You don't look good.
Obsidius: Right, Monsters feed on cognition, so I guess them going for the Chocolate Volcano tracks. And there are cases of Big Monsters hunkering down elsewhere while smaller ones attack towns.
Ganran: ...this cave leads into the volcano. I've never gone that far though, so I dunno how dangerous it'll be.
Ryusei: MC, you said there's a much stronger Monster in the volcano, right? So if it came down to the village...
Hitomi: Yeah, they'd be in danger...
Rexer: That Boss Monster must be causing the eruption, so we can't just leave it.
Ganran: The village might get erased if this goes badly...and here Barte and I finally thought we found peace. (looks down and tightens grip on pickaxe) Why does this always happen to us?
MC: Ganran...
Rexer: I sorta know how you feel, Ganran. My dad got eaten by Monsters. Nobody remembered him...which is why I do hero work now. I wanna take down Monsters too.
Ryusei looks at Ganran.
Ryusei: I had a Monster attack when I was a student. I was slow and weak, so I thought I was done for. But then a hero saved me. I changed thanks to them, but... I hate it when everything we build up just falls apart in a second. So now it's my turn. Paying back the love, right Hitomi?
Hitomi: ...right! We still owe the villagers!
Ryusei: Right, them too. It's my turn to inspire people!
Ryusei and Rexer extend their hands to Ganran.
Rexer: ...I once had a time where I kept rushing forward, desperate to prove myself and make people remember my dad. But I've learned and changed. Let's go together, Ganran.
Ganran looks at Rexer's hand, then at Rexer. Then he laughs.
Ganran: Ha! Damn, I must've really looked dumb to worry you guys! But yeah, you're right! If Monsters are around, then we heroes just have to kick their ass!
Rexer: Yeah, thanks Ganran! MC, you're sure the Monster's further in?
MC nods.
Hitomi: But what about all the Monster attacks in town?
Ryusei: Yeah, MC did say they sensed it...
The party nods at each other and turns to MC.
MC: We gotta check it out / Please believe me
Ganran: Smithy ground rules: trust your friends!
Obsidius: ...alright, you guys would go even if I tried to stop you. We'll handle the village. Smash the big one to bits! But don't be surprised the volcano really blows. Be careful, and we'll call if we got things covered... don't get hurt, MC.
MC nods and ends the call.
Ryusei: Welp, let's go!
Hitomi: And be careful! It's dark and it might quake again!
Rexer: Ganran, can you lead us as far in as you can?
Ganran: Follow me!
And so the party packs up and goes.
Later
Rexer: Okay wow it's hot
Ryusei: Yeah let's make this quick. MC, I'm amazed you sensed the Monster in here.
Hitomi: I'm glad you're here since we can't sense it!
MC: It was probably sleeping since those don't ping.
Ganran: So are the quakes from it waking up? Wait, Earth has volcanos too though. Are Monster waking up quakes different from volcano quakes?
MC: I've been through this before with Mt. Fuji.
Ryusei: Oh yeah, wasn't that when Orient City got locked down?
Rexer: I heard about it all the way in America. I didn't know you were involved, MC.
Hitomi: Is the Monster causing quakes making the volcano act up? That might lead to an eruption.
Ganran: Maybe. Not that I've been in here before but this heat seems weirdly hot. Let's move faster!
Hot steam rising from the magma.
Ryusei: Hey MC, can I suggest something? What if we turned our TV show camera back on for this?
MC: Wait what? Really!?
Ryusei: It's an emergency, so we need people to keep calm. They'll see!
Hitomi: Oh, right!
Rexer: ...I agree. Better to stream to more channels, and it'll bring in more VP if need be.
Ryusei: Yeah, and maybe it'll help the villagers feel better too!
MC: Welp, I'm convinced!
Ryusei: Thanks MC! But focus on your safety first if things get dicey.
EEEEVILLLL
MC: Monster alert!
Monsters: REEEE
Ryusei: Hm, these look different from the ones from earlier!
Rexer: Ugh, they seem fine in this heat. Well, better clean them up quick!
Hitomi: Right. MC, your orders!
Ganran: Full power smash time!
MC: Don't fall into the lava! Now, Wave Battle, ride on!
BATTLE START (more happens after)
Ryusei: Rexer, buffing you! Beauty of Health "Pose of Rebirth"!
Ryusei poses and shines light from his Parallel Weapon to buff the party!
Rexer: Thanks! And smash!
Ganran: It's working! But careful of the extra mobs! Forging "Schmieden Schatz-axt"!
Ganran smashes some other Monsters!
Hitomi: MC, send me some VP too so I can buff Rexer!
MC: Got it!
Hitomi sings!
Rexer: Thanks, Hitomi! But still...
Rexer looks at some Monsters near the lava.
Rexer: They're out of range! I mean, I could also blow up the area around them too but...
MC: Yeah, too dangerous if the lava splashes or a wall breaks!
Ganran: Yeah, if we mess things up badly we might trigger an eruption! If only we can hit only the Monsters...
Rexer: What do you expect me to do with an axe/sword morph weapon!? Ugh, too many magma spaces...
Rexer runs around looking for alternative ideas! The Monsters start flinging rocks!
Rexer: Alright, tennis time! Overtaker "Oversynchro Execution"!
Bam!
Monster: LOVELYYYY (poof)
MC: Nice, Rexer! Good work, everyone!
Rexer: Whew, we made it...
Ganran: You okay? You're sweating like crazy.
Ryusei: I know we're in a hurry, but we should take a break. MC, got any drinks for Rexer?
MC hands Rexer a drink and the party finds a sort of safe spot to sit down.
Rexer: Thanks. It's tough, but I'm still okay. Not going as planned though. Sorry, I'll try not to burn out as much next time.
Rexer takes a drink.
Rexer: ...how would Dad have handled this? Wait, I have to do better than him. But I don't know any other way of doing things.
MC: No need to rush. You did great just now!
Hitomi: Heh, you must love your dad a lot, Rexer.
Rexer: ...yeah! And I gotta surpass him too!
Hitomi: I love my father too, so I get it.
Hitomi looks off into space.
Hitomi: I've always loved idols since I was little. The feelings grew, and I decided I wanted to audition.
Ryusei: Cool! Did your parents cheer you on?
Hitomi: (shakes head) Not at first. They wanted me to focus on school since not everyone can become an idol.
Ganran: They were worried about you.
Hitomi: Yeah, same when I first awakened as a hero. But they told me to go all in on whatever I did! (turns to Rexer) So I decided I wanted to see me working hard as an idol. Them being against it at first made me think about it so I can say I did think hard about becoming an idol!
MC: So that's where you diverged. I'm sure they're happy for you!
Ryusei: You definitely are working hard, so they'll understand!
Ganran: Yeah, especially with the work you've done on this show!
Hitomi: Aww, thanks guys. I believe I'm here now because I spent a lot of time thinking and worrying about things when I decided I wanted to be an idol! Maybe no one else thinks much of it, but I do!
Rexer: Hitomi...
Rexer nods at Hitomi, slowly stands up, and looks further ahead into the cave.
Rexer: ...right, thanks Hitomi. I'll think about it some more until I come up with my own answer. Like MC told me.
MC: We're in it together! You'll think of something!
Rexer: (turns back to the party) Thanks. Okay, I'm ready to go again!
Ryusei: Right, we should hurry!
Hitomi: Yeah, before the heat gets us!
The party wipes off sweat as they start going again.
Ryusei: ...?
Ganran: What?
Ryusei: I was thinking about what Hitomi said and wondered if I ever took time to think about stuff.
Ganran: ...everyone does. Like me, when I started looking after Barte, and after Barte disappeared. Regrets happen, but I keep going believing there's hope. Heh, you oughta be fine since you beefed up to change your life.
Ryusei: ...heh, right. Thanks Ganran!
Ganran: Sure! Let's all do our best!
Ryusei: I'll try to be someone I'm proud of!
Ganran and Ryusei fist bump and smile. The party moves further in.
Title Card: I'm Doing Alright
End of Episode
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