To You of Days Long Past

Ah, this is nice.

Nothing beats relaxing at home.

Oh, look at you. You just like being lazy, that's all.

Let him be, Feinne. Better to be lazy at home than on a battlefield.

Ho ho ho!

Hehe, fair point.

Huh?

Something wrong?

Didn't you hear that strange noise?

I guess I did hear something coming from upstairs.

Yes. No one should be there right now. Aldo, do you mind going to check? It's rather worrying.

Sure, no problem.

Aha! There you are. I knew you'd come if I waited here.

Who are you?!

What's going on, Aldo?

Oh, we have a guest? When did you get in here?

Come on, Feinne. Guests don't sneak into people's houses!

And now that Feinne is here too, the stage is set.

Varuo's acting really anxious...

What do you want from us? Why did you come here?

Haha... I've come for your precious Varuo.

You've come for our cat?!

That's right. It's the only way to prevent a terrible event happening in the future.

You're coming with me, Varuo!

I'm out of breath... You're quick, I give you that. Was all that prancing around just to tire me out? This isn't going well... If what it says in the book is correct, this is my only chance to capture Varuo...

Hold on. What exactly did Varuo do? I can't imagine him being guilty of anything.

I don't know what book you're talking about but what did Varuo do for you to get your pants in a twist like this?

I told you. If I don't capture him now, something terrible will happen.

Like what? You're being really vague.

Rats... I'm running out of time.

But taking on both of you at once may be too much even for me.

Hah, tricked you!

Ugh... It's no use after all.

That's enough. You're making a mess of our home.

And Varuo's upset, too. Stop it already.

Gr... Fine, I'll try another approach.

Let's see... Oh, okay.

Oh no! Even if I prevent the disaster, it's all pointless as long as I don't stop Langelo!

I can't waste any more time here. I've got to go and find Langelo as soon as possible!

What was all that about? Who was that boy? Do you have any ideas, Feinne?

Beats me...

But he mentioned Langelo. Did he mean Langelo the calico cat?

That's the one who had a scuffle with Varuo over his female feline friend?

Her name was Coco.

Oh yeah, I remember now.

Aldo, that boy is after Langelo now!

We've got to do something! Let's find Langelo first!

Yeah!

Langelo usually hangs out behind the tavern, right?

Yup. Let's go there!

There he is!

Phew, he's all right!

Where's Langelo?

There he is! Phew, he's all right!

Aww, he's with Coco. Hello, you two!

Why so sulky, Varuo? Be nice to your kitty friend, she came to say hello to you. Don't give her this attitude.

He's feeling shy and trying to hide it. Can't act normal in front of the girl he likes, heh.

Those two would make a good couple, though. Don't you think?

Are you okay with this, Varuo? Langelo's going to steal Coco for himself at this rate.

Cut it out!

Hey!

I'm not gonna let you wheedle Coco into hanging out with the likes of you, you mangy mongrel! You two are as different as night and day. Keep your paws off her!

Meeeow!

This is harder than I thought. Can't find an opening!

Meooow.

Aww, what a cutie. Coco is so adorable!

She's the loveliest kitty in this village, no, in the entire world!

*sniff sniff*

*sniff sniff*

Meow?

Aww! Too cute!

I'd play with you, Coco, but I have something very important to do first. I'll give you plenty of chin rubs next time, okay?

What's that book you've been carrying around all this time?

Are you messing with Varuo and Langelo because of something that's written in there?

Told you, I don't have time! We can talk about it later.

No, you better explain what you're doing or we're not letting you off the hook. Can't risk you trying to do something nasty to Varuo again.

Oh man, you don't trust me one bit, huh? Fine, I'll tell you. If that's the only way to get you off my back.

The book belongs to my grandpa. But it's not just a story book, it's a written prophecy!

It tells you how to prevent all sorts of horrible things from happening to the world.

Seriously?

Yeah! So what I'm trying to do here is follow the advice in the book and stop those bad things from happening. It's super important stuff, so don't get in my way, okay?

What do I need to do next... Ah, it says here that Marilyn will appear in the Nuaru Uplands soon. Oh no...

That's no good! I've got to go!

Later, Coco!

Now he's off to Nuaru Uplands, huh.

Is Marilyn another cat, maybe?

No idea. Can't remember if I've heard that name or not.

Look! Varuo's trying to tell us something.

He seems to recognize the name. Maybe this Marilyn is his friend.

He seems really concerned...

We better do something. Let's go to Nuaru Uplands and see what that boy's up to this time.

Hmm... Doesn't look like he's here.

Where could that boy have gone?

Wait a second. Where's Varuo?

Huh? Come to think of it, I haven't seen him for a while.

Oh, there he is!

He's got another lady friend? Is that why he wasn't interested in Coco anymore?

That fickle tomcat!

Don't follow his example, Aldo! I'm so disappointed in Varuo right now.

Umm... Of course I wouldn't...

There he goes again!

Always chasing a new lady! It's because you're like this that horrible things will happen!

Get away from her! Shoo!

Varuo fled to Moonlight Forest!

What if he gets attacked by a monster...

I did it! I prevented a terrible future! Woohoo!

Why were you so mean to Varuo?

I wasn't mean. It had to be done! Varuo and Marilyn had to be separated for the sake of the future!

It's all written here in this book.

I simply took steps to make sure that the prophecy could not come true and everything ended well.

You say all that, but you're just acting like a bully!

And what "terrible event" did you mean anyway?

Umm, well...

Mroooooow!

What was that?!

It sounded like Marilyn! She may be hurt!

Let's go and check on her!

Okay!

Whatever. What do I care. I did what I had to.

Tha...

That's Marilyn! It was her crying before. The poor thing.

We've got to help her!

You're not going anywhere.

Let us through!

Forget about it. If you helped her now, all my hard work would amount to nothing.

This is getting ridiculous!

Just what exactly is the event you're trying to prevent at all costs?

You want to know it so bad, huh?

It's Varuo and Marilyn getting married!

You've got to be kidding me. Why would that be a problem for anyone?

You just don't get it. You have no idea how much unhappiness that would cause!

And that's why you lured those monsters here?

No, that was nothing to do with me! But in any case, I can't let you interfere.

She had it coming! Stealing tasty nibbles, always munching on something. Lazing around all day long. Getting so heavy she couldn't chase a mouse if her life depended on it!

She does only what she wants and doesn't care what I say! Then she comes to me wanting cuddles, and if she doesn't get them, that's when the claws come out!

Hold on, are you by any chance... Marylin's owner?

Owner? Hah, she'd scratch your eyes out if she heard that.

I mean, she can be nice sometimes. Surprising me with a gift. Following me around, coming with me on little adventures...

I hate to break it to you, kid, but your kitty's going to die if we don't do anything!

Don't you care what happens to her?

I'm not a monster! I wouldn't let her die.

She's going to be fine... There was nothing in the book about her dying, so I'm sure she's going to be all right.

Ugh... On second thought... This is looking really bad!

What should I do... Ugh...

There's a lot about her that really drives me nuts... But lots that I like about her too.

I guess I can't stand around and watch her being attacked by monsters.

Listen, kid. I get it that preventing some event or other matters a great deal to you...

But think about the cost. Is it worth having poor Marilyn die just for that?!

It's...it's not like that!

Argh... I don't know anymore!

Just...do what you want!

That I'll do!

All safe now. What am I doing, though? I won't get another chance like this again. I blew it...

Why are you so desperate to stop Varuo and Marilyn getting together?

Ugh... Do you really need to know?

Anyway! Why'd you care so much? That marriage isn't going to happen!

H-Huh? Varuo?

But I saw him run off into the forest just a short while ago, Aldo!

Meow?

I don't know what's going on but...

Be quiet!

It's not safe here. There could be more monsters around. Let's head back to Baruoki.

And then you can explain everything.

All right. I want some answers. Having a prophecy book is one thing, but you can also transform into a cat?

And not just any cat, but one that looks exactly like Varuo. What's the meaning of this?

It's pretty simple. I'm Varuo from the future.

What?!

I'm really a cat.

This is a lot to take in...

But your eye color? Besides, Varuo can't shapeshift. How come you can do that?

Err... To be honest, I don't know that myself. All I remember is that I had this book and gramps was chasing me. I managed to get away from him and look inside the book. It told you how to change the past, so here we are now.

So you really are Varuo from the future.

But why would you return to the past to prevent your own marriage?

Even in this form, I couldn't forget Coco. It made me so mad to see her with that scoundrel Langelo. If I only hadn't married Marilyn! It's been my greatest regret all my life.

But in the end, you wanted us to help her when she was in danger. You're saying you're so fed up with her, but when it comes down to it, you do care about her.

Don't say I love her just because I didn't want her to die! Coco is the girl for me. I should have married her. Marilyn was a mistake.

Anyway, whatever. I achieved what I wanted. That marriage won't happen now, and all will be well.

I hope so, at least. Varuo of the past won't get all lovey dovey with her again, will he?

That would undo all my hard work! I better keep an eye on him for a while.

Whoa, Varuo. It's not right to meddle with history for selfish reasons. Averting a future you don't like just because you learned from a book that it's possible is an abuse of power.

Oh, shut up! I know it's wrong, okay?

But it's not such a big deal.

Meow?!

What's wrong?

Where am I? What was I doing?

My memory's been strangely hazy since I picked up this book. Why do I have this dreadful feeling that I've done something I really, really shouldn't have...

Huh? What happened to the attitude from before?

Oh, if it isn't Aldo and Feinne! I missed you guys.

Looks like Varuo's recovered his senses.

Yeah. It was as if he was possessed by that book earlier.

I was possessed? Um...you lost me.

That had to be it. It's like you were in a trance! Now you're more like the Varuo we know.

He sure is!

But, Varuo, you really should've known better than to steal that book.

Promise to return it to its owner, okay?

I didn't steal it! I was just borrowing it...

Stop it with the excuses!

Okay, okay! I'll give it back. Without reading any more.

I'm going back to my timeline. Can't risk changing history too much by hanging out in the past. I probably won't see you again. Goodbye, Aldo and Feinne!

Goodbye, my old self!

At least it ended well.

Who'd have thought Varuo had his dark secrets, though. Two-timing Coco and Marilyn...

Heh, look at him acting all innocent!