No Longer Lonely

So, this is it, huh? This is the place you've been wanting to visit, Oggy? Baruoki village...

Hah! I get it now! It's really got this... It's got a special kind of something, doesn't it? Real nice ambiance, and all. Even the people! Just being here makes you feel all warm and fuzzy. I wouldn't mind settling down here, actually. I get why you wanted to make this the last stop on our journey.

...You "get" nothing. We haven't come here seeking a peaceful life in the countryside, girl. There is work to be done.

Yeah, yeah, of course, work. Definitely. But AFTER that, what's the harm in the two of us settling... In and enjoying our well-deserved retirement in a peaceful little place like this? I'll bet a few years of the good life and some friendly neighbors would do wonders for a person's personality. Even one as bad as yours, Oggy!

...Listen here, little girl...

Flammelapis, sorry to keep you waiting all that time. Took me longer than I thought to get my sword sharpened...

Hah, don't worry! You were barely gone a moment!

Erm. I was gone almost an hour.

Nah, you definitely just left. Right, Oggy?

Bah! How am I to know? Your flimsy human concepts of time are more than meaningless!

Heh, yeah, I can see that! S'pretty hard to really "get" people. Sometimes it's like they're not even looking at the same world! 'Specially if they're from far away. Or...far a...when? I mean, look at me. People say I talk too much! And I totally don't talk "too much"! I talk the perfect amount! People who talk too much tend to just go on and on and on about the same thing for hours on end. And like, you sit there listening to them, and you're all, "can I get a summary?" But you don't wanna be rude, right? So you sit there and listen and listen and just when you think they're done... Nope! They just keep going and you wonder when this is all gonna end, or what you're gonna do for dinner... Anyway, I digress. What were we talking about, again?

Actually, I wanted to ask you about your sword...

Oh yeah! Oggy! Funny thing about that. We have the same sword.

There's two Ogre Rancorems...?

I mean, I know there were two after the battle with Zennon... But I'm positive the Thunder King took the other one back to the past where it belongs...

Though, I suppose there IS a lot of past in the past... So I guess it could have come from another time altogether?

...It would have to, right? Right? Either that, or there really are just... A bunch of Ogre Rancorems kicking around, and man, I really do not want to contemplate that possibility...

Pretty sure it's just the one! At least, it was definitely just the one back when I come from...

...When...you come from?

She had the honor of being my wielder several generations ago, as you would reckon things.

Oh heeey! It's Future Oggy! Hi, Oggy! Long time no see! Did you miss me? Awwww, you definitely missed me! I would miss you too!

Ogg...y? You...he... "OGGY"?!

You can't possibly mean... Ogre Rancorem?

Sure do! S'a pretty cute nickname, huh? I mean, Ogre Rancorem's nice and all, real dignified, but... It's definitely a mouthful, and besides, who wants to be that formal all the time with their friends? Oggy works WAY better. Right, Oggy?

......

Oh! Speaking of friends, you should call me Flamme! What with you wielding Oggy, too, it's like we're practically bosom buddies already! Oggy's my friend... And you're Future Oggy's friend, which means you're my friend's friend, which makes us...friends!

Erm...it's...not really like that, between Ogre Rancorem and me. Wouldn't exactly call this a friendship, more like... Hm. A hostage situation? Look, it's complicated, okay?

Really? I could've sworn you guys were just as buddy-buddy as Oggy'n me are...

Now you listen here, girl. I have no such recollection of being "buddy- buddy" with anyone. And I would certainly remember if I'd ever answered to the name "Oggy"...!

Whaaaat? S'no way you could've rejected a name as awesome as Oggy! ...Hm?

What is it?

I think I felt something pull on my energy net...

Energy net? Isn't that the sense ability titan warriors are supposed to have? I thought they'd never shared that with a single outsider. So, how come you can use it, Flamme?

Oh, well, because I'm a titan, of course! Well half of me is...

You're a titan...? That makes sense. You have kind of the same feel.

Similar...to who?

You're actually not the only titan I know, Flamme. I'll have to introduce you guys sometime, if we get the chance.

Oh! I'll have to take you up on that, I'm looking forward to meeting them!

Energy net? Isn't that the sense ability titan warriors are supposed to have? I thought they'd never shared that with a single outsider. So, how come you can use it, Flamme?

Oh, well, because I'm a titan, of course! Well half of me is...

But wait, don't most of the titans spend their lives secreted away, living deep within the Pador grove? I never thought I'd meet another titan who chose to walk the outside world like Garam did.

So...what exactly is an energy net?

Huh! I guess it makes sense you don't know, 'cause you're not a titan yourself.

Lessee... Okay! So, energy nets are a kind of battle technique that titan warriors are able to use. I can do it too, since Dad's a titan and all. Well. Mom's human, though, so I don't have it down perfect or anything.

Did you grow up with the titans, then? Who exactly are they?

We titans are an ancient, proud people, descended from the gods themselves! S'what they say, anyways. They ALSO say our ancestors stood as tall as the ancient trees of the grove! Which sounds pretty great, honestly. Or, hm, maybe I wouldn't want to be QUITE that tall. Can you even imagine having to build a house that big?

N-No kidding! Are you sure they were as tall as those trees?! Though, I guess there's all kinds of people in the world, so I probably shouldn't go ruling anything out...

So...what exactly is an energy net?

Huh! I guess it makes sense you don't know, 'cause you're not a titan yourself.

Lessee... Okay! So, energy nets are a kind of battle technique that titan warriors are able to use. I can do it too, since Dad's a titan and all. Well. Mom's human, though, so I don't have it down perfect or anything.

But wait, don't most of the titans spend their lives secreted away, living deep within the Pador grove? I never thought I'd meet another titan who chose to walk the outside world like Garam did.

...Ah HA! Whatever it is, the pull's getting stronger. I can tell where it is now! Alright, Aldo, s'time for me to go on ahead! Meet up with me later in the Karek Swamplands if you like! Bye!

Wh...Flamme!

Give it up. That little fool's impossible to stop once she's gone charging off. Always has been.

...Well, then we shouldn't let her go charging anywhere alone!

...S-stay back! Don't come any closer!

Eeek!

Heeey! You! The, really smooth monster! Smoothie! If you don't back away real quick, I'm gonna have to hit you! S'not nice to go around attacking people if they don't want you to! I mean, I guess people don't usually want you to... But if you guys were sparring or something... That would be totally cool with me, might even ask if I could join in! Doesn't look like you are, though, so, um. Right! Back away! I'm not gonna let you keep bullying people!

Hey, you alright?

...I'm fine, thanks to you. I really appreciate the help.

Eh, don't worry about it, it was nothing!

That Smoothie guy actually seemed pretty alright. Why'd he attack you like that?

I think I accidentally intruded on his territory while I was out foraging for herbs...

Yeah, even the nicest people'd probably get the wrong idea if a stranger suddenly stormed in..

...Flamme!

Oh, hey, Aldo! Over here! I just finished helping this lady out a bit.

Glad you were able to help, then.

Hm? You've got horns...!

...Oh! Er...well, you see...

What's wrong with her horns? They're so curly, it's adorable!

Adora...they're beast horns! You don't think it's a little weird for a human to have horns?!

I mean, I guess it's kinda rare? But humans marry pretty much all kinds of people so it's not THAT weird.

......

Um. Wait, do humans and beasts not get along in this time?

Yeah, there...there's a little bit of a...war situation happening right now.

War? I had no idea! Everyone got along like a house on fire, where I'm from.

A place where humans and beasts could live together in peace...sounds nice. Even before the war started, around here...well, things weren't as bad as they are now, but...they weren't good.

Well, it's not like everyone was buddy-buddy back home, they just knew to keep off each other's toes. S'like, when you get down to it, we're all basically a little tribal, right? No one wants intruders in their territory.

Territory... So, what if someone was between two groups, then? Would they just choose between one or the other, or would they have to find a totally new place to live?

Well, I lived near a village, myself, but you wouldn't have to... You could go out on a journey and see the world, carve out a nice little place all your own to live in!

...So, you're not normal, either?

I'm incredibly normal! I'm half normal human, and half normal titan, so I'm definitely all the way normal. S'just...sometimes the people around me don't see it that way, you know? Even when I was a kid, I was pretty alone.

...Oh.

But! Now that I'm all grown, I've got a whole bunch of really great friends! My life's pretty happy now, so I don't get to caught up in worrying about the stuff that happened before.

You're stronger than I am, I think. I wouldn't have to get caught up in stuff like this to get by, otherwise.

Yeah, what were you doing, barging into Smoothie's territory all alone, anyway? Not to be mean or anything but you don't look like you'd be all that tough if things got down to a fight...

I make my living by selling herbs, and the ones I needed only grow in danger- ous places like this. Monster territory.

I'd rather work in the town, but I can't find anyone at all willing to hire me... ...I've got to get back, I need to hand over what I've picked today in Unigan.

Wait, at least let us walk you back? It's still dangerous, and you might get attacked again.

...Thank you so much, if you're sure it's alright.

Sorry I'm late, here's what I've got for today...

Didn't you say you'd be back by the afternoon? What were you even doing?!

I was foraging...I went out to the Karek Swamplands, and while I was there, I... There were...

She was attacked by a monster. Luckily, my friend noticed what was happening and came to help. I don't want to think how it'd've turned out if she hadn't made it there in time.

Attacked by a monster? What's the problem, couldn't she just fight it off?

I'm...just because I'm part beast doesn't mean I know how to fight! I'm not even a full beast, anyways.

Heh, yeah, your old man was human, right? Everyone knows about that old lush. Has a daughter like you and then crawls into a bottle to escape his own shame!

Hey! Where do you get off talking to her like that?! You've got no right...!

Hey, now, everyone in town knows it's true! Her father was trash, no need to shoot the messenger.

I don't care about what you or anyone in this town thinks they know, we're telling you to shut up about it.

And who do you think you are anyway?! So you saved the little girl from a monster, so what? Why are you still here, shoving your nose into MY business? I can talk to her however I like. Tch. And don't think you're getting off lightly, bringing these hoodlums around me!

I, er... S-Sorry...

Don't apologize to him! He's awful! You're the one who should be getting mad, not this slimy jerk!

He's...not great, but... I'll still be in trouble if he gets mad enough to fire me...

What are you saying? I'm not going to ask you to forage again after this, you're clearly not up to it.

R-Right... I understand...I'll just... Thanks for everything...

H-Hey...

What is WRONG with you?! Why would you do something so cruel?

What are you people even so mad about?!

Yeah... You're really bad at talking to people, you know that?

Flamme...?

We'll go find her, you sit there and think about what you've done!

Come on, Aldo!

...Hm. Pretty sure she ran off in this direction. You think she went out again? She could be going to the shore. I know I like to look at the sea when I'm feeling out of sorts. It's nice and calming.

Well, if she did go down that way, we can't waste any time. You might not have heard yet, Flamme, but the... Selena Coast is a pretty dangerous place to be. The beasts and monsters there can get pretty...combative.

Seriously? Is the coast really that much of a dangerous place in this time? We really don't have any time to lose, then, we've got to go find her!

...Well, did you find her?

No luck, there's not a trace! If she was feeling strong emotion I might be able to find her with my energy net. But...it hasn't been working. Do you have any ideas, Oggy?

The fool girl's probably dead already. She didn't look like much of a fighter.

...Oggy!

All I can sense are miasma and similar negative emotions. I know as little as you, otherwise. ...There is always the possibility that she hasn't left Unigan, however.

We have to hope that's true, but... what if it isn't...?

I'm...I'm just gonna go search along the coast one more time!

Alright, I'll do the sa, Flamme! Watch out, in front of you!

Oww...!

Sorry about that! I wasn't paying much attention to where I was going...

No worries. I'm made of fairly stern stuff. You're not hurt, are you?

Are both of you okay?

I'm fine!

I'm glad you weren't injured.

...Wait, Lokido?!

Oh, Aldo. You two seemed to be in a hurry, has something happened?

Are both of you okay?

I'm fine!

I'm glad you weren't injured.

The beastfolk around here are usually a pretty aggressive bunch, but you seem nice enough!

...You're a bit of an odd one, it seems. I don't think someone I've just met has ever called me "nice" before. I'm Lokido. I guard these feral coasts to ensure the beasts therein don't turn their evil on the townsfolk. ...But really, weren't you two in a hurry about something? It seemed like there was some kind of trouble...

We're looking for someone. Have you seen a young woman in a cloak?

No, I've seen no one...

Oh, have you seen any beasts then? She's human but she's a beast, too!

Human and beast... Either way, I've seen no one, but let me join you. I think I can be of great assistance in this.

What do you mean?

My nose is very sensitive. If you're looking for someone who smells somewhere between a human and a beast, I can certainly help.

*sniff sniff*

...I can smell a scent that matches that combination, down by the shore. It is not a scent I encounter often.

The shore. Right, we're gonna go check and see, then!

Thanks for telling us, you're a real lifesaver.

Someone born between the worlds of human and beast... It's not easy growing up, caught between those grinding gears. If I might wish it, I hope she finds herself a guiding light...

Eeeeek...!

Hm? I thought you were human, but those horns...

(...He stopped?)

(He's looking at my horns. Is he... going to let me go because I'm part beast?) (So far humans have been pretty awful to me, but maybe...just maybe beasts won't feel the same way...?)

Um...!

Can't believe I'd run into something like you here. You're a stain on the whole fellowship of beasts!

A...a stain?

Who'd betray their kind to go make something like you, with a filthy human? The very idea disgusts me...

I won't stand for it! I won't allow a drop of our proud blood to mix with their poison! It must be extirpated!

...That's not happening!

You're...!

We're here to help!

Tch, MORE humans... You feeble things do tend to show up in your little swarms, don't you? If you want to interfere you can die right alongside this little stain.

D-Don't think I'll soon forget this!

...Should you not finish things?

...Nah. It's like the Priestess was always saying, we're all children of the Mother Goddess. You should only kill someone if there's really no other choice...

Plus, think of the way you'd be affected by the hatred released if I really HAD killed him, Oggy!

Hmph...Fine, then. Although, it was a nice looking bit of hatred. Just enough to fill the stomach.

Sorry we cut things so close! You're not hurt, are you? If you are I can probably help, especially since you've got those herbs handy.

No, that's alright... I only grazed myself a little...

Really? Are you sure? You're not hurting anywhere?

...Everything hurts. It hurts so much I can hardly stand it.

This is my home! This is where I want to be. But beast or human, no one wants an in-between thing like me around. I... If I promise I won't be a burden, can I come with you? I hope you don't think that's too selfish, but, please!

Why would we ever think it was selfish? You're only asking for all the same basic stuff that everyone else wants. It's nothing big, so don't worry!

It is big, though!

...Warm food. A safe place to live. Family who love and protect you. A community that treats you with respect. I could never hope to have any of that! I don't know why everyone hates me so much, just for being born. I don't know why I'm going to have to spend my whole life being rejected by everyone I meet!

Excellent... those lamentations... give me more of that sweet despair...

Oggy, shush.

......

It's going to be alright, okay? You haven't done anything wrong. You've just had an awful lot of bad fortune.

Bad...fortune?

Yeah, people don't really get a say in the kind of fate they get dealt, but fortune doesn't have to stay the same! There's lots of ways things can get better! I mean, you've got a lot more ways than most people do... Seeing as how your life is so awful right now and all. So that's good right? I think. ...Anyway! All I'm saying is you just need to get through this! Your fortune will turn, and even the worst stuff ends. ...And since you know it's going to end, you can find a way to keep going until that happens, right?

You really are a strong person. But, I...

...You don't see a future for yourself? Well, then I've got a good luck charm I've been saving. I'll cast it on you!

A good luck charm?

Despite appearances, I'm actually a priestess, so I'm all kinds of expert when it comes to fortune! It'll probably take people a long, long time to move past all the fear and hatred in their hearts. But, I still want you to hold onto hope, okay?

Everything will be alright. You're not alone, and I know you'll be able to find the things you're searching for!

...It's warm.

Want to know something? Different peoples, beasts and humans and titans, all that stuff is just different looks. We're all people, and our hearts and minds are pretty much the same, no matter the race or gender or age. I mean minds don't even HAVE a shape! Brains kind of do, but those mostly have the same shape, so the point stands. You and me, and everyone in the world, we've all got different shapes, diff- erent hearts, and different minds. In that way, everyone in the world is all alone.

......

It's hopeless, then, right? I should just give up? If loneliness is just inevitable, then...

Not at all! I'm saying it's not about whether you're a beast or a human or in-between.

You can find people you connect with, whether it's someone you love, or a friend, or your family. And once you do that, you won't be alone, anymore! With me, I wasn't so lonely anymore, after I met Oggy...

Plus, I think you might actually find somewhere you belong, closer than you think!

I don't really think that's possible, but I really appreciate you trying to cheer me up, anyway. It means a lot. For right now, at least, I think I should just go back to Unigan. That's where my house is, if nothing else.

...Um!

Do you...need something?

I was...worried when I heard you'd run out of town...

...And I... I've been horrible to you. I'm sorry for the way I've spoken.

Is this that guy's non-evil twin?

I'm pretty sure it's the same guy? I could tell he was worried about her, even before.

Worried? He has the worst way of showing it then! He was nothing but cruel to her the whole time!

I wasn't! I mean, I was, but...I had to find some way to make her quit! She can't keep going out to... Forage in dangerous places like that! she's going to get herself killed, if she keeps it up.

Did it ever occur to you to...tell her that? Directly? With words?

I-I think I made myself plenty clear! It was obvious what I was doing!

I mean, how else does it make sense to fire my best supplier, otherwise? Obviously I had a good reason!

...And to do that, you thought you needed to tell me my father was trash who died of shame because of my birth?

He was trash! You've been suffering this whole time, and what did he ever do for you? Nothing! He couldn't be bothered to tear himself away from the bar long enough to protect his daughter! Then he let it kill him and left you completely alone. I can't ever forgive him for that.

...But, I...I understand that he was your father, even if I don't think much of the man. I shouldn't have said all the things I did about him.

...See? He's got pretty much the most awful people skills I've ever seen, but he was genuinely worried about her!

I...guess.

A-Anyway! I have another job I wanted to offer you. Instead of foraging, why not take over preparing medicines from the herbs and flowers? You'd...be able to stay in town. If...you still want to work for me, that is. I understand if you d...

, Alright. I'll take you up on that.

Wanna head out, then?

Yeah. We should probably get going...

Seriously, though, how did you know how that guy really felt, Flamme? He was...REALLY bad at communicating.

Oh, hmm...well, if he'd really been as full of hatred as he was letting, on, then Oggy'd've definitely chimed in! You know what I mean, right? Whenever we you find a really awful person Oggy gets all cheerful and excited, right? It's kind of cute, he's like a kitty with a mouse to play with!

...Not really. I've not known my Ogre Rancorem to ever act like a kitten of any kind, as amazing as that image is.

Really? So even Oggy's personality is different? Is it because he's older? My Oggy's 2300 years old, but your Oggy is 3300 so they've got a little bit of an age difference.

I'm not sure if I'd call a whole millennium "a little bit" of anything...

Wait, so does that mean you're from 1000 years in the past, Flamme?!

Sure does! Didn't I tell you? Oggy and I've been on a journey for a while now, but even I didn't expect to wind up 1000 years into the future...

I'm pretty lucky huh? And I should know. S'like I said, I'm all kinds of expert when it comes to fortune! I've gotten to meet all kinds of people I probably never would've met otherwise, like Future Oggy, and you... I wonder if I'll get a chance to run into Future Me? I really hope so... What do you think she's like?

She's dead, girl. You titans may be long lived, indeed, but you're hardly immortal. Not to mention...

Yeah, I know, I'm half human, right? I wouldn't be surprised if I don't live quite as long as titans usually do.

......

Well, if I'm long dead in this time, then it's been a long time since you've met me, right Future Oggy? And running into an old friend is the kind of thing you have to celebrate! Who's up for finding some good food?

Foolishness. You simply want an excuse to eat.

Ahaha, was I that obvious?

Hey, Aldo, what's the local specialty around here? C'mon, show me the best places to eat!

Sure, in that case...

I'd hoped we'd never meet again, girl. To find each other again after crossing time like this, you...