Section 6: Showdown on Lake Michigan

...He's late. Just how far off did he wander, anyway?

Lord Plesiosaurus's territory extends across all the Great Lakes. Even Niagara Falls!

I'm sure he'll come right back as soon as he's slept off the nutritious meals he's been having.

I hope you're right...

Oh, hey, there he is now.

Ugh, it's about time you got here! You really had me worried, you know!?

Skrrrrrr...

Guh! Oh no... Wh-what happened to you, baby? You smell terrible.

What in the world were you doing out there? You're all muddy and filthy.

Is something wrong? Come here and let me get a good look at you.

Wait, Boss! Something's not right...!

Not right? How so?

Kshhh... Kshhh...

...You've been hanging out in some unsavory parts of the Lakes, haven't you? Where were you? Gehenna? Detroit?

Now go on, let me get a look at you, just like always.

Skrrrrrr...

Boss Anning!

Thaaat's it. There's a good boy... (Pet, pet)

...Boss, your clothes are going to stain. I believe Lord Plesiosaurus is covered in the Holy Grail's refuse...

That is to say, stagnated magical energy which has become a cursed poison. It can't be good for you, either.

I know. I can tell this stuff is poison. So?

My baby here must've eaten so, sooo much of it, even though it must've been so terribly bitter...

And he did it all to get stronger. For me.

Ain't that right, baby?

Skrrrrrr...

Skraaaaaaw!

Oh man, oh man...!

My baby can't possibly lose this time!

And when he wins...Iwe'll finally be queen and emperor, in both name and actual fact.

We're gonna carve our names right into the big old rock of history.

...Isn't that right, Plesio?

Skraaaaaaw!

I've confirmed that the Takarabune is anchored in Lake Michigan, near Chicago. We've finally caught up to it.

Senpai?

You seem a little tired... Did you not sleep well last night?

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Okay, if you're sure. If you do need to rest though, please don't hesitate to let me know.

...

What's a matter, girlie? Scared or somethin'? I can call the shots instead if ya want.

No freaking way. Just shut up, okay, Mike? I'm the leader here.

Then own it. Chin up. You and me're one mind and body, so I don't want ya tarnishin' my good name.

Gross. Could you please not say that kinda stuff? Especially right into my ear?

Okay, everyone, it's finally time to settle this. Make sure you all stay sharp out there!

Right!

Oh, and Fujimaru?

Could I talk to you in private for a moment?

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...

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Fujimaru...you ARE one of my employés, right?

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Ahaha, I guess that was kind of a silly question. ...So, can I trust you then?

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Oh, sure, I'm not worried about that. I'm only concerned about one thing:

Getting started filming our last movie.

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...You remember how you promised you'd perform in it with me, right?

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I'm glad you remember...

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Don't worry. You don't have to memorize any lines. All you have to do is be yourself.

A lot will happen soon, but all you need to do is face it the same way you always do.

I'm sure that's all we'll need to make this movie a masterpiece!

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That's all I wanted to say. Come on. It's almost time to start rolling.

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...You don't need to know that.

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We do? What's that?

Well, I am everyone's leader. I have a role to play and responsibilities to fulfill...

But Lancer was always on her own. She had no choice but to toughen up because she never had anyone she could really count on.

I'm nothing like her. Everyone loves me, and I have lots of employés...

What are you talking about!? Lancer and I are nothing alike! She's all alone, and I'm super popular!

I couldn't possibly have anything in common with someone so grumpy and annoying...

...though you might be onto something with the needy part.

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All right, let's table this discussion for later!

Right now...it's time to make some movie magic!

Lancer! I know you're there!

As the leader of my delightful companions, I've come to accept your challenge!

Today, we find out which of us will make the better leader of this world, once and for all!

Now, show yourself!

The weather just shifted dramatically! Wait, it looks like there's something in the lak

You just can't get it through your thick skull, can you? Fine, I'll explain it to you again.

My name's Anning. Mary Anning. I'm a famous, real-life historical figure. I'm nothing like you.

You come from tall tales! From folklore and silly gossip! Stories about forests, rivers, trees, and country life. There's not a single shred of information about a REAL you.

Isn't that right, Bunyi? Or should I say, Paul Bunyan?

You're made-up! You have a name, sure, but you have no essence, no being of your own!

That's why you've shrunk to normal human size and devote all your energy to gaining popularity!

No matter how much you miss your old glory days, no matter how many golden statues of yourself you put up, you'll never be what you used to.

Times have changed. Giants didn't die outthey just straight up disappeared. They never really existed in the first place.

You're a fraud! A good-for-nothing hero. You could only ever survive in stories too absurd to believe.

It's over, Paul Bunyan. Your age is dead and gone.

But I'm still here...along with all my many employés.

That's just a motley crew you scraped together with false charm and charisma. They'll leave you as soon as they get bored.

Oh yeah? Who have you got on your side? Anyone?

You bet. And I'll show you right now...

Come on out, Giga Plesiosaurus Ω!

Skraaaaaaw!

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Wha

Mon dieu! Formidable!

Skraaaaaaw!

Magnifique! Merveilleux!

Huh?

Uh, I mean... I'm just a little taken aback. You really put a lot of love into your Plesiosaurus, didn't you, Lancer!?

My name is Anning. Mary Anning. I'm the woman who loved the Jurassic Period more than anything, and the Jurassic loved me back.

I brought my baby here back to life from that lost period of history myself.

Unlike you, he actually existed in this world. That makes him perfect for finally putting an end to your tall tale.

Fine, then. I accept your challenge.

Stay out of this one, Fujimaru. I'm gonna handle this alone.

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I'm the leader here. Please, just do what I say.

If your baby is a créature revived from the distant past...

...then he's the perfect opponent to defeat in a new myth for a new world!

Ugh...!

Bahahahaha! Is that all you've got!? This'll be even easier than I thought!

Senpai! Bunyan's in trouble!

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Well, Bunyi, what do you think? I made him nice and strong, just like you wanted.

...!

That map you had Assassin bring me was reeeal useful. Just look how strong my Plesio is now.

Map? I don't know anything about a map.

Huh? You don't? Then, Assassin just brought the thing without orders? Why?

...Does this mean Assassin has a huge crush on me or something?

Now that you mention it, I haven't seen Assassin around lately...

Oh, Assassin always hides during battle☆ Whoops. I'll have to edit this part out later.

Ah, well, it doesn't matter now. I'll have plenty of chances to figure that out later. For the time being...

Go on, Plesio! Finish her off!

Skraaaaaaw!

Go on, Plesio! Finish her off!

Skraaaaaaw!

...!

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Right!

Didn't I tell you to stay out of this!?

Neither Master, nor I can honor such a request!

Fujimaru! I'm the one who gives orders around he

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...E-even so! We have a goal we're trying to

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Fujimaru...!

Skrrrrrr...!

Plesiooo!

Ah... Dammit... Dammit! Please, God! Please, don't let my baby die!

That was great, Supervisor. We've got a masterpiece for sure.

Oh, no... I... I didn't mean to...

It's fine! Even if it's not the story you planned, it all worked out in the end!

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W-well, uh...

Come on, Boss Bunyan. You too, Big Boss. I'll show you the way.

Welcome to the Takarabune!

Welcome to our Takarabune, Big Boss.

This is the Takarabune? It looks more like

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It's an archive of movies from all around the world! I made it with my Noble Phantasm, Théâtre Du Plaisir☆

It might not be very big, but now that we have this theater back, we can summon all the actors we want.

I didn't know you were using movies as summoning catalysts...

Hup, hup, hup.

Skrrrrrr...

Be careful with him! Now, where's your medicine? You've gotta have something around here, right?

We have plenty of rice balls, if that helps.

It does NOT!

Skrrrrrr...

Oh no... Does it hurt, baby? There, there. You don't have to worry. I'll take good care of...of...

Bunyi! I mean, Brother Bunyan! Or Sister, or whatever!

You win, okay!? I admit defeat! I'm sorry about everything! So, please... Please, save Plesio.

You want me to save him? But, I don't know how I can...

C'mon, don't be like that. Besides, this is all 'cause you wanted to make a movie, remember?

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It took a lot of reshoots to get it right, but this third battle made it a true masterpiece☆

The whole reason I changed the Mississippi River into the Jurassic Period and raised Plesio in the first place was for the movie you wanted to make!

But that's all over now. It's finished. You finally got the big, heroic monster-killer movie you wanted.

So come on. Just set Plesio free already.

As you said, we don't need a big scary monster character anymore. Congratulations on a job well done! Whatever you do now is your business☆

So you're just gonna abandon him!?

Lancer...

Mary Anning! My name is...!

...My name is Mary Anning. Not that anybody ever paid any attention to it.

But now, I'm a Servant. I've got a place on the Throne of Heroes and everything. How do you like them apples?

But, even after I was summoned, I was still just a big joke. Just a disposable stagehand for a B movie in this piddling minute Singularity.

I couldn't stand the idea of just toiling behind the scenes in the corner of a fading Singularity...

...stuck doing thankless grunt work until I disappeared once more without anyone knowing my name.

So, with my options being obscurity and notoriety, I chose the latter. If I could create a permanent Jurassic ecosystem on the Mississippi River...

...that'd leave an indelible mark on human history. Everyone would know my name: Mary Anning, Queen of the Jurassic Period.

But, I failed. I'm sorry, Plesio. (Pat, pat)

Skrrrrrr...

You poor thing. Just look at what's become of you...

I wanted you to be strong. I wanted you to defeat the hero and carve our names into history, once and for all.

I even let you eat poison that turned you into a freak of nature.

The map said plain as day that those areas were dangerous. I should've kept you away from them.

But...somewhere, deep down, I wanted this to happen. And being a smart fellow, you knew that...

I wanted you to be the emperor of the Jurassic Period, and me its queen. It was a stupid dream...one there's no coming back from.

Listen, Plesio. You're all I've got. I don't need anyone else.

So please, Bunyan! Please, save my Plesio. He's my only

It was a failure.

...Huh?

The movie. It was a failure. I wasn't supposed to win.

Huh? What're you talking about? I already admitted my defea

Get out of my way!

Wha...!?

Bunyan just knocked Anning over...

...and headed for the middle of the Théâtre Du Plaisir! What is she trying to do?

Rider! I need you to summon someone right now!

You got it, Supervisor☆ Who'll it be?

Me!