The Joy of Creating

Thanks for letting me rest in here.

It is alright. I am aware that periods of inactivity are vital for human beings. Here, I have made you a sandwich. I hope it will help you restore your HP and MP.

HP and MP? Are you saying I have "horrible posture" and "mood problems"?

Health points and mana points. All humans need them. I read it in the "Reincarnated as a Lumberjack" comics.

Comics... Aren't those the picture books of this era? I'm surprised they interest you...

It is all so that I might better understand the humans' culture. Such is a necessary step in the direction of Helena's vision.

I'm not sure comics are the most...reputable source, but...

What was that?!

I'm on my way! Hang on!

Helena! How bad is it?!

...Can zis interview be done now, s'il vous plaît...

Just a little more! I swear, I almost have my next idea solidified! Keep going about your adventure through time and space!

I heard there was trouble, but this is...what exactly is this?

Ooh, Aldo! It IS you! I didn't think the Hero Beyond Time and Space would end up being one of my friendos! I'm here today on official MarshMeloMochi business, so thank you in advance for your cooperation!

Ohoho! You must be the famous Hero Beyond Time and Space, Aldo!

My name is Melody, AKA the esteemed, yet super, unbelievably humble comic book artist and writer, MarshMeloMochi!

I hopped onto this super cool battleship looking for inspiration for my next comic, but never expected a goldmine of stories!

Next up for today's interviews, you...

(At last... I have run countless simulations to prepare a perfect answer for every possible line of questioning... Ask me anything!)

...Will not be forgotten, but I want to hear from the Hero first!

Whoaaa, gyah!

What now?!

As the young lady coldly brushed off this gentleman battleship, my emotional circuits were fried by the manly tears they wept...

Now ya done it. He was waitin' so patiently for his turn 'til ya passed him off like some schmuck. Now he's short-circuitin'!

That's causing this? Seriously?!

That's what ya get for makin' big bro sad! Better buckle up, geniuses, it's about to get bumpy!

This is...

WHOA!!! Everything is all...prehistoricy! This is a sign! My inspiration is waiting for me out there and I've gotta find it!

W-Wait! Melody!

Ah, at last...some peace and quiet...

She couldn't have made it too far... I have to find her.

Wow, the view alone is getting my creative juices flowing... I need to sketch this, quick!

Come on, sensors, what else you got!

Melody!

You shouldn't just wander off like that. This area is particularly dangerous.

But you still came out here to follow me? Let me get this straight...

You save nations, help even your enemies, and still look out for individuals like me?! Your protagonist aura... I-It's too strong!

This isn't the place to be joking around... Come on, let's head back.

Thank you for saving me, Aldo, or should I call you "hero of heroes"? Oooh, maybe "time-travelling saint"?

Anyhoo, I refuse the rescue!

...Okay.

W-Wait! Was that rude?! I meant it to be cute. ...Social interactions are hard, but you do get bonus points for respecting consent! I meant to say I want to stay...and you to also stay. Please don't ditch me! I promise to go back once I have enough notes!

Notes? What kind of notes?

Ideas, sketches...anything that inspires me to write my next comic! I want my stories to send waves of healing happiness into the hearts of my readers! That's the true dream that drives my pen!

AHHH!

Aldo! There!

You said you can beat a dinosaur, didn't you? Well, go on then! Show us!

I-I will! My dad won against a dinosaur by himself! A-And if he can do it, then so can I!

D-Dad...

S-S-Somebody...

Back away, beast!

Hey buddy, you okay?

I-I...

I knew it! You needed grown-ups to save you!

Sh-Shut up!

Why's he mad at me? He's the one who lied and said he could beat one like his dad did.

It was obviously a lie, dummy. There's no way he could fight something that scary.

I think...

We made that little boy cry...

I really thought it was just some random, wild encounter, but after what the other kids said... I think that was his test of bravery, and we just swooped in...

...And ruined it! Gahhh! How could I have missed such an obvious trope of heroism?!

But it's not like we could just leave a bunch of kids in a dangerous situation like that either.

Yes, yes. Perhaps we prevented them from being horribly massacred, BUT...if his spirit is broken now, was it really worth it? From this point onward, whenever that kid needs courage to do something, all he will remember is losing and running away today.

Left trembling, with only fear in his heart, he could die from a heart attack! In which case, us saving him...might've just killed him!!!

Looks like we're left with no choice! We'll flip the script, and deliver a happy ending straight to his doorstep!

The problem is coming up with a scenario to cheer him up, if one even exists.

Muahahahahahaha... *ahem* Did you forget that I'm THE MarshMeloMochi?! I can spin a fanfic in any direction imaginable! Every kind of AU, fix-it, aged-up, modern, and don't even get me started on my talent for turning the haters' NOTPs into OTPs!

AU...automatic umbrellas? OTP and NOTP could be organic and non-organic toilet paper... What's with all the acronyms today?!

The point is that if it's a happy ending we need, I can brute force one faster than you can say "Gee Melody, you're the coolest!" Watch and learn!

Okay, it was about this size...mmm, the color was a bit darker...something like this? Ahem, I don't hear you saying your line...

No matter! It's finished!

Whoa! Wait, you drew the dinosaur from memory? The attention to detail...it looks just like it! That's amazing, Melody.

Heehee... Oh, Aldo, flattery will get you everywhere, please continue. Oh, and I'll of course include you, so please tell me... Who's your bias? Are you into any scenarios in particular? Roleplay? Cosplay? Do you have any kinks I should know about?!

I try not to have biased opinions and I do have a small kink in my neck... How does knowing any of that help?

Sorry! After you showered me with glorious compliments, my wheels started turning for all the smutty fanfic possibilities...

Let's take a step back. We have a picture of a dinosaur... How exactly do we turn that into a happy ending?

Hah! You thought you could trick the great MarshMeloMochi into leaking spoilers of her own masterpiece?! That's a no-go, Aldo. Take it slow. Readers' ideas will flow, theories will grow, and then once they know, their minds I will blow! OH!

...Maybe I should leave you to do your thing and go find that kid now...

W-Wait! Okay, okay, I'm sorry. A little bit of slam poetry slipped out...

Nerds like me are tragic creatures, who don't know how to react when people give us compliments or are nice to us... So instead we dial our quirkiness up to two- hundred percent as a defense mechanism, which usually makes people run away...

That sounds hard... Now I'm the one who's sorry.

No need. I know that when my MeloMochi persona takes over, I can become pretty annoying... But I actually was about to ask if you could handle finding the kid for us, so your timing wasn't off!

So...you really do think a happy ending is possible?

Of course! You handle retrieval, then sit back and watch a master of nerdcraft work her magic!

...Why did I run? I'm such a loser! I just wanted to be like, forget it. I'll never be like my dad...

So this is where you like to hang out, huh?

......

I'm sorry we got in your way back there.

It's whatever...

Err...listen, I'm a little lost out here, and it seems dangerous. Could you help me get back to the village?

...Fine.

Here they come... Time to raise the stakes with a little bit of illusory magic!

Holographic Stylus, do your thing!

What's real? What's fake? Who knows! Reality and fiction are woven into one as we behold, the Fantasy Fandom Phantasm!

AHH!

Where did it, I didn't sense anything...

The hook is set! Hearts race as the stage is revealed! At the height of adrenaline, a star's cameo shocks the audience!

Oh, nooo! I'm a helpless damsel in distress! Look at all the distress I'm in! Is there no one brave around who can save me?!

(...Her acting is too obvious!)

...Wasn't she with you before? Don't tell me...it's getting revenge on her because she saved me?!

...You're really buy, I MEAN, yes... That is exactly what's happening!

Then why are you just standing there?! If you're not gonna save her, then I will!

H-Hey! B-Big ugly thing! Wh-Why don't you p-pick on someone...smaller!

Y-Yeah... Th-That's right! I-I'm not afraid of you! I-I'm g-going...to beat you...

...Huh?

Wowww, oh my goshhh! Your aura was like so braaave and stronggg that the big dino got scared and ran away! Wowww!

...Why are you talking like that?

Oh, I'm just...overwhelmed with fear! My emotions are shocked! I can't think straight!

If that thing killed me to death, I would be dead! Thank you for saving me, my herooo!

For saving you? But I didn't even kill it. It just ran away...

...Err, I don't think "killing" is the only way to save someone. You stood in front of me to protect me against something a gazillion times your size. Overcoming your own weakness and fear to fight against something strong... That's the definition of courage. Ergo, you're my hero!

Hmm... If that's true... That means I really was like my dad!!! I'M A HERO!!! I'm gonna go tell everybody!

...I'll have to dock some marks for not safely escorting the damsel back to the village... But still a solid A minus!

...Got anything to add, Aldo? Why are you staring at the ground?

Y-Your acting... If I didn't tense all of my muscles and look away, I would've...I-I would've...

...BAHAHAHA!

H-Hey! I put my all into that performance!

I know, I know. Actually, it really showed the lengths you're willing to go for others. You have a kind heart, Melody.

Heh, I know. And I know you know I know, but you know that too. Even if it's at me, I'm glad to be the source of laughter.

By the way, Aldo, I give your initial reaction a solid nine out of ten! You stayed out of the protagonist's spotlight perfectly!

If heroing doesn't work out, add a few facial expressions and you could really make it in this industry as a background extra!

I wasn't acting at first though. How would you react to a dinosaur that big coming out of nowhere?! Not to mention how scarily lifelike your art is... Is there such a thing as too-realism? Tech from the future's gotten so advanced... All that was missing was sound and smell, but maybe you could suggest that they add those in future models!

...How exactly would I draw smell? Never mind. You were right about the technology though.

It was all just a little piece of imagination brought to life with my trusty Holographic Stylus, a short story, written just for him.

I thought you were going to have the little boy defeat the dinosaur. Is there a reason you didn't go for that ending?

Imagine him really thinking he can beat dinosaurs, so he heads off to find more to challenge... Slightly problematic!

But more than that...I think I wanted him to experience that first win for real when he's older, knowing it was with his own strength.

Wow, so not just a happy now... You really did write him a happy ending. This feels surprisingly satisfying.

Of course! Who can resist the warm, fuzzy feelings of a good "happily ever after"?

Not my followers, that's for sure! This story'll be perfect for my next submission! I have to draw it all while it's still fresh in my mind!

Don't worry, I'll take proper measures to protect your privacy. Things like your name and face will be altered before release!

You're going to include me in it? I'm...actually pretty excited to see how it turns out.

First, I'll start with a simple gender swap...

...Say what now?

A half-up ponytail for your hair... Add a little bit of moisture and sparkle to your eyes... Then for your name, how about...

Aldonna!

It's perfect! I've gotta go show this to Helly and Rifty!

Th-This?! As in, this overly sparkly, rose-in- mouth, super embarrassing girl version of me?!

Oh, come on! Imagine the belly laugh, or belly-of-the-ship laugh, they'll have when they see exaggerations made for contrast! You should feel proud to bring others joy and laughter from the content you create, like I did earlier, with my acting!

...I said I was sorry for laughing! A-At least make my eyes less moist!