Nagi's Hometown

Welcome back. Just like you asked, I've found out a little more about that "Thing From The Abyss."

What?!

Aldo, did you?!

I thought she might be able to find something out about your home and asked her to look into it for me.

I've not come across anything tangible yet, but come talk to me if you're in the area again.

Thank you.

I've finally found you!

A messenger, from the Dragon Palace?

*pant* The *pant* palace *pant* the palace is under attack, by unknown creatures!

What?!

You have to come help us, please!

Got it! We'll head there right now!

Aldo, is that...

Are those the Things From The Abyss? They look just like the thing we summoned earlier!

Let's hope not, that thing was tough! A bunch of them is real trouble. We gotta save them.

Get back! We'll handle these things!

Berosudreuuudanu!

Gygyorubaaaaaa!

As soon as they saw us they just ran away. Maybe one of them was the same one that we battled before?

Is everyone unhurt? I came rushing to this time period as soon as I heard the commotion. It seems you already know about those abominations. Please, tell me all you know. May I talk with you at the Central Keep?

Got it. You okay with this, Aldo?

Count me in. Let's tell them about that creature we summoned.

I see. That's quite a tale.

What happened here?

I honestly don't know. Just as I thought we had restored peace, those monsters came out of nowhere.

Sounds pretty scary.

It seems as if that was not the entirety of those abominations. I currently have people out looking for where they may have come from.

That's the real problem, we just have no idea where they came from.

I would like your help in their extermination once we discover where that is. Might I be able to rely on your services?

Okay, I'll do what I can to help.

Me too.

Hey, Nagi? Once this is all over, do you think you might come back to live at the Dragon Palace like before?

"Like before"?

You know, everyone from the Squid Squad are real lonely without you. I'm still not used to this Dragon Palace and it would really help having a friendly face around.

I'll have to think about it.

What's the matter? You're not your normal lively self.

Do you... Am I one of those monsters?

Wh-What are you even saying?! That's crazy, of course not!

But... We... Those things and I. We look the same. Something that looked like me attacked the palace. I...

Nagi...

Intruder within the palace walls. Requesting all military staff to immediately report to the Outer Wall. I repeat. Intruder in the Dragon Palace. Report immediately to the Outer Wall.

Another attack?!

Aldo, let's go.

Yes, it would...

I can buy you that time.

Leave it to us! Bring it on!

At this rate we'll be able to begin a full counterattack.

Nagi! Watch out!

No, please! Not again!

We've got your back!

Just in time!

Huraaaaaah!

Are you two okay?

We're fine. Not even a scratch.

I'm glad the Squid Squad showed up when they did.

Thanks to everyone's help we managed to protect the palace.

Do you finally get it now? You're Nagi from Dragon Palace. It doesn't matter where you came from, you're one of us now.

Thank you.

Looks like you've all done the Dragon Palace a great service again. The reconnaissance unit has tracked down the location of where these monstrosities have been appearing from.

Where?

It was, in fact, right under our shells the whole time. But a brief swim from the Dragon Palace. Are you aware of the ocean ravine just west of here? There is a small opening in that area.

As close as that?! We better go right away before the next wave comes!

But how are we supposed to reach the seabed?

We could ask the Sea Turtle to take us there. Let's hurry to Plum!

Sea Turtle! There's somewhere we want you to take us.

I 'eard all 'bout it yer situation from the guv. I can take yer right down to the bott'm of the sea with my magic.

We would appreciate it.

Say no more!

Okay, let's hurry. We don't know when the next attack will come.

Is that the same portal as the one that appeared when we used the summoning spell?

Yeah. It matches what the minister told us.

But why would there be one...

Look, down there!

There's so much White Blossom Coral! But nothing should happen just having the coral there. I thought there needed to be a heat source too?

Now you mention it, the bottom of the sea really shouldn't be this hot!

What do you mean?

I remember hearing about this from the minister when I was a kid. A long, long time ago there used to be a volcano around here. It's eruption once even broke through the palace's barrier! Although everyone has said that it's no longer active for as long as I can remember. But if it has become active again, the heat from the lava would explain what's happening now.

Lava? Just like when we summoned that thing!

It's a coincidence but that's everything needed to complete the spell.

GUUAAAAAAVAAAAAA!

Well, we know how they got here. Now we just need to get rid of them.

Bring it on!

......

Hm? Why aren't they attacking?

......

Are...are they looking at me?

Namuramafhomura. Gururirarura? Gururu? Rumuuuuuun!

Whoa! They changed shape!

They look just like me!

They can talk?!

Conquest? Mimic? Just what are you people? What do you want?

I'm a...monster that devours worlds?

Is that really what I am?

I knew I never really fitted in with anyone here.

Nagi...

I don't think so!

I kept quiet until now, but what you're saying is just wrong.

Nagi isn't a monster, not even close! Even if she wasn't born on this world, it's where she calls home now!

Aldo, you...

He's not stupid at all. He has accepted the truth. Aldo, knows that what's really important isn't where you're from, it's who you are. And I now know that too!

Beyond that portal is the world that I was born in.

But I don't want to go there anymore. This is the world I choose. This is my home.

My name is Nagi and my home's the Dragon Palace. And if you want to devour this world then you're going to have to go through me first!

I don't care! This world is part of me. I love it!

......

The portal closed up.

Seems like the underwater volcano went back to being dormant. We know how they got here now. I'll get some palace soldiers to take all of the White Blossom Coral somewhere safe. But for now, let's go home, Nagi. Our home.

...Okay.

...Oh.

What's wrong? Come on let's go.

...Okay.

Oh you made it back! I was beginning to fear that something untoward had happened to you. By the looks on your wonderful faces, I would hazard the extermination went swimmingly?

I have heard the rest from Sheila. I will get some speedy squids to round up that coral posthaste.

Sheila, can I talk with you a moment?

Sure, what is it?

I found this on the seafloor after the fight.

Hm? What is that? It's so small and kind of shiny.

I think it might be an egg from one of those things.

Wait, what?!

What are you going to do with it?

I...

I want to raise it. That's why I want to come back and live in Dragon Palace.

I wasn't sure if I would ever truly have a place here, but...

But now I am sure. I want to live here once more and raise these things here too. I want these little ones to be able to call the Dragon Palace their home. I never want them to experience being alone like I did.

Sounds good to me. It's not like all of those things started off bad or anything either. We have you, don't we?

And if they have you looking after them, I know they'll turn out all right.

I do my best. Looks like I'm going to be a mom. I'll make sure that these children know that I will always be here for them and so will the Dragon Palace.

And even if they are, we are just mimicking the people around us. I know that they too will feel just as accepted as I do here. I will make sure that I never regret this day. Never. I'll show them how wrong they were.

Right...

You better raise them into real good kids, you hear?

I will. As soon as they're born, I'll make sure there isn't a single day where they aren't full of tasty food.