What is the mun doing...

[the_magikarp_link]

Hey! Don't be sad that you finished the main story, okay? We'll meet again, I know that. Even if I'll probably have to rebuild my Links with Magikarp and Gyarados, it's not a problem, as long as they are by my side. As Father would say, "as long as my Pokémon choose me, I will continue to stand against the tide".

Speaking of Father and choosing, I am very much honored that you kept choosing me over him as your Water-type warrior as you played through the story. Though the thing is, I don't really understand why! He's so much stronger than me and Gyarados.

Ah, it doesn't matter! I really have to thank you for all these opportunities to experience what it's like to be a true warrior making history in Ransei. I found Magikarp and Gyarados, met so many interesting people and learned to work well with everyone. Even Yoshihiro-dono... even though, ah, I have never felt very comfortable around him... for some reason...

... Mm? Never mind! You just heard nothing. Again, thank you so much for choosing me as one of your favorite warriors, and don't be sad! You'll meet me again, I swear!

- Nobuchika

Comments

[master_of_water]

[He smiled at the young man. What potential could he have?]

[the_magikarp_link]

[The... potential to die at a very young age, sadly.]

Lord Mitsuhide!

[Customary bow.]

[master_of_water]

[He smiled at the bow.]

Nobuchika.

[behisstrength]

The strength of your conviction against the odds... the echo of your own growth and that of your pokémon. Both are possibilities.

Do not waver in your promise.

... ! ♥

[the_magikarp_link]

... Father!

I don't waver a whole lot by now, or so I like to think, anyway. You taught me well, Father.

Thank you for believing in me.

♥!

[behisstrength]

Always, my son.

Come. Tell me of your adventures.

[the_magikarp_link]

Ah, alright! A premise - a lot of this will sound like bragging, but I'm guessing you don't have a problem with that. Do you, Father?

Once I was working on building my Link with Magikarp, when suddenly, three rampaging Gyarados appeared in our kingdom! As you can imagine, that's not anybody's idea of a good time - except mine, I guess! I had always wanted to meet a Gyarados. I went to stop them with Brother Morichika and someone else, and we Linked with them while we were at it.

So that's how Gyarados and I came to be together! We've been inseparable ever since. Though I still take care of Magikarp, too. I have faith that it will evolve soon.

Now for the part that really sounds like bragging - do the names Ieyasu and Tadakatsu ring any bells for you, Father?

[behisstrength]

Hah. [Cheeky. But Motochika has always been fond of -- and indeed encouraged -- spirit.] We should take pride in our accomplishments.

Both will go down in history as legends of our age. So you stood against them and swept them away, did you?

[His interest in that is obvious in his tone.]

[the_magikarp_link]

To be fair, the "standing against" part was the doing of the ruler of Aurora. Someone with the courage and resolve to rebel against Nobunaga deserves all the help we can give, don't you think, Father?

As far as "sweeping" goes - that's exactly what Gyarados and I did. All on our own! I won't bother you with the details, but the fact that the two of them and their Pokémon always stuck close together ended up playing against them - Gyarados' Aqua Tail could strike them both at once that way, provided I directed him well, which I think I did pretty nicely.

And so it was that your son defeated two of the most fearsome warriors in Ransei! With your permission, I'll stop bragging now.

[wavesoakedlegs]

...I must admit, you do not sound much like Lord Motochika at all.

[Mitsuhide can't help himself; he laughs softly.]

Possessing actual modesty, as you seem to.

[the_magikarp_link]

Lord Mitsuhide. [A bow.]

As regards my modesty, or lack thereof... I may surprise you yet!

[wavesoakedlegs]

You know the meaning of humble words, at least. I daresay it has been many, many years since I heard them from Lord Motochika's mouth. If at all.

[A moment of thoughtfulness... no, not even Himewakako was modest!]

You are from the 'pokemon' world. What is that like?

[the_magikarp_link]

Ah... That's right! You've known Father for a really long time, haven't you?

Meaning... your world has no Pokémon in it? I see...

[For a moment, he tries to imagine a world where wars are fought without Pokémon...

...

.... And he doesn't like it. Doesn't like it one bit. Still! That doesn't qualify as a reason to give up smiling.]

Well, Pokémon help us a lot. They connect to the world and Nature in ways that we can't even imagine. They share our feelings. They protect us and fight for us - and to us, it's a blessing, because they are so much sturdier than humans. No matter what happens to them during a battle, their full recovery never takes longer than a month.

Even so, we wish the fighting stopped altogether and we could all live safely in our homes.

[wavesoakedlegs]

Since childhood. One of my earliest memories is of meeting him when his mother visited Lord Saitou's castle; he pushed me into a pond because I was hesitating to step in. Odd, how a strong bond can begin.

[Mitsuhide smiles, distant for a moment as he thinks of the past, but after a moment he shakes his head...]

No, It doesn't.

[..and listens quietly. When he speaks next he sounds genuine and thoughtful.]

I see...

My current home of Vatheon gifted a Pokémon to me; a Lapras whom I named Miyuki. My Lady Mundane says she was encouraged by your world to ensure this happened, just as Lord Motochika's Lady Mundane ensured he was gifted an Oshawott. Time with both of them gives me a little insight into what you speak of, but I still wish that I might one day experience it in full for myself.

[the_magikarp_link]

"Saitou", as in... huh. I see. Well, that's Father for you! [... Nobuchika, why are you not surprised] Even though you had to be really small back then...

[He really doesn't need to ask, to know that many more people die because of wars in Mitsuhide's world than they do in his.]

... I'm very sorry, Lord Mitsuhide.

In my world, your Lapras is quite famous, Lord Mitsuhide. Not only do you understand each other perfectly, like Gyarados and I do, but you're also a force to be reckoned with. Your friendship can only continue growing over time, I think, and the two of you will grow stronger as a result.

So you live with Father, huh? Then, can I ask you to stay with him as much as you can? Because, when he's alone, I worry a bit. You know him better than I do, so I think you know what I mean, maybe?

[wavesoakedlegs]

In truth, I cannot remember my exact age during that meeting. I was but a young boy, however, and he still called Little Princess, much to his displeasure. It took many years for his body and face to change enough that he could put that name to rest.

[For a moment, Mitsuhide's expression is entirely amused and his smile almost wicked, which is an unusual look for him. At that apology, however, he changes to something a bit more sad.]

[Oh, the issues he has there. 8'D]

Do not apologise. It is not your doing, my friend. But I am glad to hear about my other self's bond with their Lapras. Perhaps myself and Miyuki really will connect in that manner, over time. Right now she remains a child... and a stubborn one, at times.

[He laughs quietly, and shakes his head a little. His life is basically FULL of stubborn sorts. 8|]

Ah, yes... for two years now.

[Oh hey, Mitsuhide now looks awkward! He rubs the back of his head.]

You will be glad to know you do not need to make such a request of me. Your father considers himself my protector, the source of much of my strength. We are together most of the the time. [He bows his head; yeah, he totally knows what you mean, Nobuchika. 8') Motochika is oh so very... well, Motochika.] He does not like to think that he needs to be watched over himself, but I do it nonetheless.

[the_magikarp_link]

[He returns that mischievous smile a bit.]

Mm... Lord Mitsuhide? Are you purposefully telling me things that Father would not want me to hear about?

Oh! I'm glad to hear that you're such close friends! 'Your protector', huh? And the source of your strength... That's deep! So there's no Lord Nobunaga where you live now, Lord Mitsuhide? Ah, it doesn't matter! I'm happy as long as I know someone is with Father.

[warlord_of_aurora]

You look well.

[the_magikarp_link]

Lord Enzan. [Bow.]

Thank you. You look well, too!

... This is a really odd question to ask, I'm aware, but. Am I in your army?

[warlord_of_aurora]

It's not an odd question at all. Yes, you are in my army.

[the_magikarp_link]

Alright, then... How may I best serve you today, Lord Enzan?

Aaah. I missed this guy so much!

[warlord_of_aurora]

Can I not come say "hello" to someone I know?

[That, and mun got really excited when she saw this.]

I miss him too!

[the_magikarp_link]

As my Lord and employer, you can ask of me whatever you like. Even something as simple as this!

Hello to you, too, Lord Enzan. Like my Father Lord Motochika, I will be pleased and honored to assist you in your rebellion against the black wave.

[warlord_of_aurora]

I'm happy to hear that, Nobuchika.

[Here, have a smile in return!]

[the_magikarp_link]

So, out of curiosity. How many Kingdoms have you conquered so far?

[warlord_of_aurora]

Mun decided to take me from the point where I choose to fight Lord Kenshin or Lord Shingen.

So I have seven kingdoms at the moment.

[the_magikarp_link]

Still a long way to go, huh? Even if you've come this far.

Father and I believe in you! You have the strength to stop the black wave, if that is what you desire. And I want to do my part, too! Gyarados and I are really strong, like my mundane keeps saying. You can count on us!

[warlord_of_aurora]

I'm honored.

you are a champion

[ghoststories]

"To stand against the tide"... such inspirational words! Surely, no matter how many times a Link is reset, the feelings you share will never change!

;; you too!

[the_magikarp_link]

Not my words, unfortunately! They're Father's. I'm not about to take credit for the indeed truly inspiring images he comes up with all the time. I don't really have his gift when it comes to rallying people's spirits, but hey, I try my best.

Also, thank you! I like to believe that is the case with me and my Pokémon. I believe in the strength of our resolve... haha, I'm talking like Father again! Say, you live with Pokémon, too?

[will_be_god]

...You speak of warriors as though the concept holds fondness for you.

Yet warfare...suffering, strife...those things carry in them the ruin of the world.

You have convinced yourself of a lie.

[the_magikarp_link]

Hm? I just don't want to lose my home to the black wave. I'm afraid that's a very real danger, not a lie.

[will_be_god]

A fight out of desperation ought yield no such fondness.

[the_magikarp_link]

Fondness? I think you're mistaken, sir - no one in their right mind really likes war. Not even Nobunaga himself! We all have our dreams of bringing peace to Ransei someday soon, which is why we keep fighting to unite it.

And it's why I keep smiling - if young people like myself aren't full of hope for the future, then there's no point in fighting at all.

[will_be_god]

Yet you speak to your summoner as though you are friends. You speak of those around you the same.

Such illusions.

[the_magikarp_link]

I'm... not sure what you mean, sir. A man only has so many years under the sun - life is short, that is -, and having friends is important.

[will_be_god]

Is it. That time must be spent to force the world to change. Else we have lived for nothing. Are you content to live, die, and be forgotten? Or will you live forever in your deeds?

[the_magikarp_link]

Ah-ha! This I'm sure of - history will not forget how we live fighting and risking everything for the sake of our dreams of finally knowing peace.

[will_be_god]

You are part of a whole. What will they know of you?

[the_magikarp_link]

Well, as long as I do not hesitate to do what I think is right, I don't think I should concern myself with that!

I have two concerns about the moment I'll have to go, however - one is, I hope that my Pokémon aren't sad without me. And two - I hope I get a cool final resting place. Oh, what's that, mundane? I did? Well, there you have it! One less thing to worry about.

[will_be_god]

[[what is that alcohol how disrespectful. He will ignore that]]

How fascinating. You have knowledge of the circumstances of your death and forge ahead regardless.

Perhaps you are not lost. Yet you have...wandered.

[the_magikarp_link]

Hm? I don't know about the circumstances of my death, but I know I'm going to die eventually, like everybody does.

Father says we should rebel against the black wave, and I agree with him. I don't think I'm lost - I have purpose and resolve and people and Pokémon who believe in me.

[will_be_god]

And what instills their belief in you?

[the_magikarp_link]

Ha. I guess I am blessed.

[will_be_god]

That answers nothing.