Why no, I don't have a life.
Need to write up the script for volume 6 of King of Bandits Jing, the Fuzzy Navel arc, for role-playing purposes.
All rights to Kumakura, of course.
[black chapter divider of white text and a negative image of a game board of some kind]
Pips...
And chips...
Those little dots on dice
Are nothing more than mutterings
Of God on High, caught in between
The Dawn of Birth
And Death's cold sting
-- Prayer often chanted by gamblers in Aviation while playing Sugoroku
[five men are gathered around a Sugoroku board, with a pile of batteries in the middle in place of chips]
Big Old Man: Well, well... seems I'm the first to arrive. [pulls the batteries in the center to his own pile and blows a puff of cigarette smoke] So... best to quit while ahead, eh? Of course, I'll be taking me earnings with me...
Short Man: Just one gol-durned minute -- this here's a fake!!
Big Old Man: !
Short Man: [holds up the die] To roll a six every time -- even with a used die -- that ain't luck!! [turns to the other players] Well?! Are we gonna just lie down and let this old coot swindle us outta our hard-earned gold batteries?! C'mon -- the four of us could take 'im!
[next panel the short man is laid out on the floor in the shadows, stars spinning around his head]
Big Old Man: That's right... sleep it off. Now... anyone else want a piece of me?
Skinny Old Man: [slides all his batteries into the middle]
Big Old Man: [twists his fake eye -- it looks like a knob with a vertical bar like you'd see on a stereo -- as he peers at the pile] I gotta hand it to ya, old man... you've got guts. [the skinny old man starts shaking the die] But it's a shame they won't get you anywhere! Even if you roll a six, it still won't be enough!!
Skinny Old Man: [casts the die with both hands]
Big Old Man: Ahhh, victory. I hereby pledge the gold batteries I win tonight will go directly to my retirement fund... [eye widens as the die comes to a stop -- revealing a seventh dot, shaped like a spiral-eyed cat head, in the middle of a ring of six] SEVEN?!!! [the die starts spewing out smoke from four sides] !? What the--?!
Players: Uwah!!
Skinny Old Man: [strokes his beard as the others cough and fumble around in the blinding smoke]
Big Old Man: [groping in the smoke] ...Right... old man... come out and... [hits the overhead lampshade and sets it swinging]
Skinny Old Man: [is caught in a beam of light as the lamp swings -- and of course it's Jing, removing his mask]
Kir: [wearing a gas mask at the entrance to the room] Psst, Jing-- hurry up!!
Jing: [throws the remains of his costume on the players as he escapes]
Players: The lights... who turned out the lights? Anyone...?
And they make their escape.
Hey, Jing!!! That heist wasn't just about the gold batteries, was it?
Jing: [holds up the board] ...for a genuine map!!
Kir: M-m-map, you say?! Where to?
Jing: The very edge of mortality, of course... to Fuzzy Navel!! [points at the figure in the center of the board, an ogre with a giant club] See this? It's at the end of the Fuzzy Navel sky... just beyond the horizon... Oh, and it's the reputed residence of God Himself. Just like that old saying... between Life and Death... Heaven and Earth! [points at another figure with spiral arms and a spiked collar, holding a bird and a fish upside down in each hand -- a scroll underneath reads 'Let There Be Light'] And our lift-off point is... right here in Aviation! See the inscription? "Let there be Light!"
Kir: Light, huh? Well, if it's light you're after, there's loads of it here! Almost to the point of blinding you... [points at an old man wearing sunglasses and a hat covered in light bulbs]
Jing: [rolls up the map] Well, if we don't hurry up and leave, that shady fellow might go blind staring at our map.
Kir: What?! If it's so valuable, why don't you put it away?! This place could be crawling with cat burglars!
Jing: [going back to his drink] Hey, we're burglars too, y'know...
Black cat: [wanders past their table and then in front of a sign reading 'Electricity Killed The Cat!']
Remember our sacred mission: to serve God, not government... and to distribute the electricity the powers that be have denied the masses!
Cat girl: [perching on a chimney] Sister!! Sister Kirsche!! I've found him! The one who holds our map!
Stray Cats: AMEN!!!!!!
Kirsche: Where? Where is it?!
Cat girl: A temple... on the outskirts of town!! I saw him... holding the map... as plain as day!
Kirsche: Of course... the temple...
But the map said this was right below the location of the Dawn of Birth!
Kir: Of course what?! What?!!
Priest: I saw it! A flying fish!! [puts a hand to his head and looks ponderous] The scriptures foretold it, did they not? Under God, the Sky will be as one with the Ocean, and the Ocean will be as one with the Sky...
Kir: [winding up with a boxing glove on one hand] Forgive me.
Jing: [crooks a finger, looks excited] Kir!! Come here.
Kir: [waves a finger from next to the Priest, who still looks thoughtful] Hang on, Jing! I gotta instill the fear of God into this guy... this won't take a minute.
Priest: [whips around and points a finger, the light bulb on his head lighting up. Kir misses his punch and hits the wall] Zounds-- I've got it!!!!!!!
Jing: ? [looks confused and then up as the statue he's leaning against slides backwards] Oh my, my.
Priest: [lights up part of the organ keyboard] It wasn't a fish-- or a bird-- it was both!!!!
Kir: [sweatdropping] Hey. ...Hey, now no need to-- [suddenly wrapped up in a net] --jump to conclusions!!!
Jing: !! [whips around -- the Professor is still peering at the organ]
Kirsche: [standing with Kir slung in a net bag over her shoulder and a gun in her free paw] Right, then. I'll be taking that map, if you please. Unless... your comrade would prefer to return to God now.
Kir: [with heart eyes] Hey, babe. For you, I'll meet my maker anytime!!!
Kirsche: [facing off against Jing, who has the map rolled up under his arm] Game's over, son... you decide how it ends!!
Priest: [pops up between them, a seahorse statue in his hands, the light bulb on his head lighting up again; Kirsche and Jing sweatdrop] F-f-fish!!!! There was a fish! Could this be it?! One way to find out... [clicks the head on the seahorse forwards, the entire organ keyboard lights up brightly and shows 'PERFECT']
Jing: [eyes a giant hook on the table next to him, and then suddenly makes a break for the door]
Kir: J-J-J-Jing-- where're you going?! You're not leaving me behind, are ya?! [flailing around in the net]
Kirsche: [gaping as a loud noise starts sounding overhead and gets progressively louder]
Kir: [as Jing runs outside with the map and the hook] H-hey-- what's with the hook?! What about me, Jing... me?! HEEEEEEEEEEY!!!
Priest: [at the organ] Yes, yes!! It's all coming back to me now. It's coming... stupendous!!!
Kirsche: [runs outside after Jing]
Kir: Wait for meeeee!! [getting bounced around in the net] J-- J-- J-- Jiiinnng!!
Jing: [staring up at the sky]
Kir: [as Kirsche catches up] C-c'mon, Jing... You're not taking that priest's nonsense seriously, are you? You don't mean to tell me... you're gonna go fishing with that?!!
Kirsche: I will have that map... one way or another.
Priest: [playing the organ] That's it... right here... let there... be Light! And... yes... there is light here, indeed!!
[the clouds around the temple start to clear, and chunks of the domed roofs start falling off to the ground]
Kirsche: [dodging debris] Kyaah!!!
Kir: The spawn of Light splitttsss!!!
Jing: [watches as light starts shining through the smoke]
Priest: [still playing] Yes! It's coming now... the Fish is coming!! Guided by... seeking... the Light...!
Kir: [as the smoke starts clearing] Oh. So there was a light source in here...
Jing: The best kind, Kir. You see, this entire temple...
...is one big light bulb!!
Light!! Such splendid, splendid light!!
I had this dream. There was this eerie... mysterious... unusually big... fish. From the sky.
Kir: [from the back of the fish, which is sailing through the sky with a number of smaller mechanical fish 'swimming' along with it in a school] Wait... it wasn't a dream!!
Fish: A band of angels comin after me---
Kir: [pointing wildly from inside the net] H-hey-- Jing!! The fish-- it m-m-multiplied!! How'd all these things get here?
Jing: [looking at the map] Elementary, my dear albatross. The small fish are attracted to the unusually abundant electricity this big fish is emitting. Sort of like remora suckerfish, they attach via suction to sharks, whales, sea turtles, ships' hulls, etc.
Kir: Well, that's all right for them! Fish can school in the sky, not a care in the world... and I, a bird, am stuck in this! [points at himself and waves a wing] Where do these things come from, anyway? The sea? The sky?!
Jing: Both... and neither!! "The Celestial Sea"... an ocean overlooking the Earth! And Fuzzy Navel is the mysterious town built on its shore. [looking at a folded section of the map that looks like a path ringed with a circle of clouds] That's why we've cast the first die... and that's where we're headed!!
Kir: [smacks a fist into his other wing] I see... both sky and the sea, eh... Holy ground, huh... Then why are we even going there? If it's fishing you want, we can do that on the ground!! And what is a Celestial Sea, anyway?!
This plane won't even lift off with the little electricity we've been able to pirate!
Kirsche: [opens the back of the robot to reveal three gold batteries] You meant these, didn't you? [eyes tear up] Are you... giving these batteries... to me? [hugs the girl] Thank you!! You're an angel.
Shadow: Git yer grubby paws off my daughter!!! [steps forward, revealing a gun, then a middle-aged woman with a cap reading '101 Police'] I've heard of your little gang. The Stray Cats electricity stealin' gang... am I right? [keeps advancing] But stealing electricity wasn't enough for you this time, was it? Thought you'd try an' steal my only daughter too!
Girl: No, mama...
Sheriff: Don't matter. I'm puttin' you all under arrest... it is my job. [holds up her free hand] Although... I do know what y'all have been doin' for the poor folks of this town. Heck... my own daughter's a fan, it seems. So, in light of all that... [holsters her gun and holds up a giant electrical plug] ...I come bearin' specially made handcuffs!!
[after the cord is plugged into the plane]
Cat boy: We're in business! You can go after them now, sister! You can fly!!
Kirsche: Really...? Then I'd better hurry!
Sheriff: [smiling, puts a hand on her daughter's head]
[somewhere else in the city, the illuminated sign of '101 Police - We are very short of hands' flickers and goes out as the plane rises into the sky]
Sheriff: [watching the plane] Now... reckon we should put out a crime report for that robot?
[back on the fish...]
Kir: Navel, huh? I can't even see a belly!! [stretches to stomp on the fish's back] This fish thing... you sure it actually knows where it's going?!
Jing: [still looking at the map] Oh, it knows, all right. It'd follow the scent of its home anywhere... like a salmon swimming upstream!! In fact, we should catch sight of the gates any second... [lowers the map]
Kir: G-gates?! If that's the case, you wanna hurry up and point them out to me?! [swings a fist at Jing] 'Cause if you don't, I'll be knocking on the pearly ones soon enough!!
Jing: In that case... feast your eyes. [turns around so the net is facing forwards]
Kir: What?
But for now, the fish needs to return to its home -- Kir!!
Gyaah!
[the plane suddenly flies up among the school of smaller fish]
Kirsche: It... it's... the Fish!!! But what... what's it doing?! [flies closer to the big fish] Listen, kiddo! Can you hear me?! [shouting into a megaphone] Surrender the Fish or face God's wrath! I repeat...
Kir: [waving his wings] Ooh! A beautiful voice echoes from the heavens... A heavenly host has come to claim me... Jing!
Jing: [looking irritated] More like a preying cat. Can't she see I'm busy here?! [suddenly crouches as one of the guardians rises upwards]
Kirsche: [still shouting into the megaphone] This is your final warning!! Unless you want to reap God's unending... [looks behind her] ...ulp... [drops the megaphone as she sees one of the guardians right on eye level with the plane] ...anger!!
[the guardian blows and sends the plane spinning out of control] Kyaaa!! [notices that the plane is heading right for Jing]
! I wasn't planning on stopping the kid this way! [yanks hard on the controls and pulls up just in time. leans back and wipes her brow] Pheeeeeewww.
Jing: Forgive the intrusion... [standing on the back of the plane, holding onto the cockpit with one hand as he tosses away the hook he presumably used to get up there] ...but it looks like God's unending anger isn't too picky!
Kir: [still on the fish and chewing on the net ropes] I swear this fish's home is gonna be the afterlife when I get through with it!!
Jing: KIIIIIIRRRRR!
Kir: Nnnnn... [starts glowing, then throws his wings outwards, stretching the net] ...THERE!! [flies off to the plane and fuses to Jing's arm]
Jing: Now, Kir... would you join me in the pleasure of knocking?
Kir: [smirking] Pleasure's all mine!
Kirsche: W... wh... what are you doing?!
Jing: KIIIIIIIIIIR... [aims at the front part of the plane] ...ROYALE!!! [blasts the front end of the plane off, between the guardians, and into the gate, before jumping with Kirsche off of the smoking plane]
Kirsche: Wait-- what are you--?!!
[the explosion in the gate has revealed a bunch of wires and tubing crackling with smoke and electricity. The smaller fish start congregating towards it]
Kirsche: The other fish?!
[the guardians both turn to look at the gate]
Jing: [smirking] They do love their electricity... and we aim to please!!
[the fish keep swarming on the open blast, widening it and releasing more and more electricity until bolts of it are flying around and finally hit the power cords of the guardians -- who promptly overload and blow up, leaving Jing and co. on the fish]
Kirsche: ...sob... sob... [on her paws and knees] Everything's ruined... everything! I've failed them all... All the volunteers... that little girl's heart... sob...!
Kir: [puts a wing on her back] There, there, sweetie... you can cry on my shoulder anytime!
Jing: [looks at them; he's smiling] Everything's not ruined... [crouches down in front of Kirsche] I mean, you're still here, aren't you?
Kirsche: !
Jing: And you've been a great help to me. [holds out the robot to her, which is a little dirty but still in one piece] You see, thanks to you, I could open the gate...
...to the Corridor of Clouds!!!
Just a question of how long this umbilical cord to the navel is.
Kirsche: But the Celestial Sea supports both theories.
Jing: [leaning back with his arms folded behind his head] Those beliefs are supposed to reassure us... to tell us no matter how distant the sky... no matter how far beyond the horizon... there is always an end. There's always an answer. But those theories are uncertain for a reason.
Kir: And thanks to those theories, we get fishes swimming in the sky?! Downright misleading, if you ask me!! [stomping on the fish again]
Kirsche: [hugging the robot and looking sombre] Some call Fuzzy Navel heaven... some call it Limbo... but no matter what you call it, it is the mother of us all-- those who walk the earth... and those who travel the sea.
Kir: [dressed up like a professor with a bald head, gray hair, and spiral glasses] ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Kirsche: [looks at Jing] So you could say this corridor... is an umbilical cord.
[the fish suddenly stops dead]
Jing: W-we've stopped!!
Kirsche: [starting to rise] What?!!!
Kir: [still wearing the glasses] Ooh! Does that mean we're here? At last?! Mommy?!!
Jing: Nah... Just a traffic light. [looking up at the giant WALK/DON'T WALK light. Kirsche and Kir sweatdrop]
I'll be taken by the navel before we ever get to the Navel in this bucket of fishbolts!
Kirsche: As far as we're concerned, thunder is only the Voice of God, and lightning His almighty Gaze.
Kir: [looking skeptical as lightning rains down around them] HUH? Sometimes I really don't get you broads...
Jing: And the people of Fuzzy Navel currently have a monopoly on God's voice and gaze... is that it?
Kir: No, Jing-- not you, too!!
Jing: [wearing the spiral glasses Kir was wearing before, and has a pointer stick with a spiral-eyed cat head on the end] Easy, Doctor Kir... It's like this. [taps the pointer at a part of the map with lightning raining down from dark clouds on a crowd of fleeing people] See, lightning used to be this mysterious technique only a god could perform...
[image of a man holding what looks like a plasma ball between his hands]
...but one day, humans caught that lightning, harnessed it and called it electricity...
[image of a bunch of faceless people holding light bulbs]
...and soon after, lightning-- electricity-- became the property of every human being.
[image of the man from before using the ball of electricity to rain lightning down on a town]
But then, ironically enough, it was decided that the human who could control all electricity would reign over all the humans.
[back to the fish as lightning cracks around it]
And voilà-- a new god was born!
Kir: [hanging on as the fish starts to emerge from the thunderstorm] Are you saying... this fake God person is still in Fuzzy Navel?!
Kirsche: [head down, her face obscured] Electricity... lightning... should shine for everyone... [paws flex] And those guys... the Cahier Sect... [releases her claws] ...are greedily hoarding it all!! They won't even distribute sparks to the people!!!
Jing: A little louder, please? I don't think they can hear you down there. [points downwards]
Kirsche: ..........!!
Kir: !!?!!?
[the clouds below the fish clear...]
Fuzzy Navel is revealed.
And priest Arak awaits them.
Arak: Ahhh... fortunate ones. Welcome back to Fuzzy Navel... [Jing looks interested while Kirsche glares at the priest; Arak only smiles] I am Arak... your humble priest. I wonder... how was it getting here? Your long journey against the Stream of Life...
Kir: [dressed up as a fat professor with spectacles, slapping the map against Arak's chest] Hey, look, buddy-- it's not like you guys made it easy! Slamming the door on us... trapping us in lightning... and this is a terrible map!!
Arak: I see... yes... I don't suppose it would be very good. [rips it in half in front of them] A map like this could not have much meaning to many people. Only a very few lives have any predestined path. But... come! We shall relieve you of the fatigues of your journey. [two large, bald priests come up behind Jing and Kirsche] Our temple's bylaws state that males and females must lodge in separate rooms... my apologies.
Kir: [as Kirsche is grabbed by the arm and led away] Oh, uh... I'm a female! A girl! I lay eggs!! [looks up as one of the priests glowers down at him... then grabs him by the bandanna and starts dragging him away] Hey... I told you... I'm a lady! C'mon... can't you tell?!!
Arak: [as Kirsche looks back at the boys] Come now... this way for females. [leads her through some brightly lit hallways apparently comprised of twisting cables and electrical devices]
Ah... from the start, even we have been bewildered as to how our temple could have been blessed with so much Light. [Kirsche shades her eyes] I trust you shall grow accustomed to it... as have we. [gestures with a smile] Please... have a look.
Kirsche: [eyes wide] It... It's... [shows her looking out a large glassless window at a massive, shining sea] ...the... Celestial Sea!
Arak: Earlier, I had commented on how fortunate you were to have returned. I said it because, to all its visitors, the Celestial Sea... [pulls a switch] ...is their first home.
Kirsche: [enters the sliding door that opens]
Er... So, this must be the girls'...
As a courtesy, we have provided a special chair, handmade by the Cahier Sect... We hope it will help you feel closer to home.
Kir: [as the priests heft their vajra] An electric chair... figures! Argh!
Priests: [extend very sharp-looking retractable blades from the ends of their vajra and assume a fighting stance]
Jing: [does as well, fists at the ready; Kir is next to him holding a pair of nunchuks]
Priests: [hit a large switch]
Jing and Kir: [sweatdrop as the chair lights up and starts crackling with electricity]
Priests: Two powers dominate space: Light and Gravity. You, who have always been yoked to Gravity, shall finally be free... to commune with Mother Earth in a Light-filled Death! [one of them strikes] What a blissful end!!
Jing: [dodges to one side of the blade as Kir dodges to the other; he sweatdrops] Hey, Kir... y-you go ahead and sit down first!!
Kir: [waves his wings, wearing a tux and bowtie] Nooo, nooo, I'm sure you're more tired than I am. A perch is good enough for me.
Jing: [starts grappling with him, grinning fakely] That's okay-- what are friends for? C'mon, take a load off!!!
Kir: [doing the same] After you, Jing-- I insist!!
Jing: Nuooooo!
Kir: Gunuuuuuuh.
[and a dust cloud fight breaks out]
..........!!
What?!!!
Take this!
Why you--!
Priest 1: [looks amused] What put them in such a fluster?
Priest 2: Well, no threat to us. Although we really should return them to their seat...
Jing: [as the dust starts to settle] GOTCHA!
Kir: ACKK!!
Jing: [has a spiral-eyed Kir in a chokehold] Now, don't be bitter, Kir... we're friends, right? [they start to light up] Kir... [fires at the priests] ...ROYALE!!!
[the priests go down] BRAVO.
Kir: So, Jing-- these are the tactics of would-be gods?!
Jing: Yeah... looks like it. [frowns] And Kirsche was right... about the lightning... [looks at the electric chair] Seems they're finding plenty of creative uses for it!!
...in a town lit only during the day...
Pesca Luminosa... How may I serve thee?
(It's difficult to read Pesca Luminosa's text, so here are his speech bubbles from that page:
Ah, Arak... you came.
And the two heathens... did you conduct them... to their resting places?
But... what?! )
Arak: ...it seems to champion nothing more than the murder of common people... even as we unselfishly devote our lives to faith!! How could that be called--
Black-feathered attendant: [puts a hand to his mouth] Oh my.
Pesca Luminosa: Murder, you say...? That word... somewhat lacking in favor, don't you think? [Arak bows his head] Naturally, murder is not charity... but this is not common murder. We are helping these poor people return to their birthplace!
[panel of the two monks working on the sand hill] Those lower-earth inhabitants were finally set free from the Gravity that tethered them... while receiving the Heavenly Blessing of Lightning! We returned them to their home, don't you see? [the sand hill is shown to be part of a mandala of some sort] But such is our lot... even the Sun looks down on the Celestial Sea!!
[shows a zoom out of the city] Some pain is only to be expected with such a procedure... but pain is nothing compared to the favor of the Light!!
Arak: [raises his head] Still...
Pesca Luminosa: In spite of all this, one of the heathens has refused our charity... and is currently roaming our temple. Even if we cannot always conduct our charity as we wish... we should never doubt it!! [lights up blindingly]
Arak: [shields his eyes] Umph!
Pesca Luminosa: Now, find the rogue heathens at once!!
[elsewhere in the temple...]
Random priests: ...the rogue heathens...
Jing and Kir: [turn around, wearing sunglasses and grinning] BINGO!!
Kir: [as they run down a hallway, leaving two spiral-eyed priests behind them] So, are you going to smash that lightbulb or what? Waking up to it hurt my eyes. Speaking of which... why is there... [they pass a three-eyed statue -- wearing three-lens sunglasses] ...so much light here, anyway?
But don't you think it's a bad sign if I, who am night-blind, have to wear these things?!
Pesca Gigantessa... A huge cloud sculpture that could only have been built on the Celestial Sea.
Kir: Jing... A-are you saying... that's what we're gonna be stealing?!! [starts freaking out and lifts Jing's glasses so he can look him in the eye] You're not serious, are you, Jing?! This is just another one of those vague Fuzzy Navel legends... right?!!
Jing: [turns] Hey, Kir... isn't that Kirsche?
Kir: [still grumping] Oh, Kirsche, Kirsche... Who cares about silly old... [spins around with heart eyes] ...Kirsche?! [looks down at the circuit-board-like temple grounds] Where-- where?!!
Ponytailed Temple Girl: [walking with Kirsche and the other girls across the grounds] Ahhhh... Pesca Gigantessa. Every time I see it, it feels like the first time! [folds her hands together as she looks up at it] I know... I always feel like my heart is gonna light up and burst through my chest!
Kirsche: [looks up at it, thinking to herself] Amazing! Even if it's never finished... it'll take a huge amount of electricity to maintain... [extends the claws on one paw and looks at them thoughtfully]
Ponytailed Girl: Hey... don't you think so, sister Kirsche?
Kirsche: EH?! [hides her paw behind her back, sweatdropping] Oh, uh... yeah, you're right!! Do you think it'll be done soon?
Ponytailed Girl: Oh, yes... very soon indeed! And when it is, a number of people will be gathered together, and lots will be drawn...
Kirsche: Lots...? What do you mean, lots?
Ponytailed Girl: [giggles] Oh my, sister... you are joking, aren't you?!
Girls: For us, silly! You know... to decide who will be offered to the Gigantessa!
Kirsche: [gasps] Oh. [whirls] Are you saying your God... would actually command you... to die? [grabs the long-haired girl by the shoulders] You call it an offering... but I call it a human sacrifice! What kind of god would demand the life of a worshipper?!! [grabs the shoulders of the pigtailed girl] Think about it!!
[pulls her close] How could a young girl like you-- with her entire life ahead of her-- choose death over life so easily?!
Pigtailed Girl: Sister... [looks down as Kirsche lets go] ...I... well... I plan to die... so I can return to the place of my birth, as I was meant to.
Kir: HERE, KITTY KITTY KITTY!!! [comes tearing down with hearts in his eyes as the girls all look up] OH, KIIIRSSSCHE!
Kirsche: [as Kir stops in front of her] ?
Girls: Kyah!
Kyah!
A heathen!!!
It's a heathen!!!
Kir: [slings his wings around Kirsche's neck, cheek to cheek with her] Mmmm... yes, I've regrettably lost my lodgings in the boys' section... but if you can put me up at your place, but all means! [gives a thumbs up] By the way... is it okay if my henchman sleeps on the couch? [suddenly gets yanked upwards] KYAAAH!
You can't fight the Cloud Priest Soldier!! Leave that to the heathen.
Jing: [lands on the ground next to him] Yo.
Kir: [hides behind him] Jing!! The clouds... clouds, the clouds!!
Jing: [sweatdropping] Sheesh, what are you, a weather-bird?
Kir: [wailing as his clings to Jing's back] N-No... make that a storm!! A raging one!!!
Jing: [frowns and extends his hidden blade, dodging a punch from the soldier and slicing one of the spiral cords in half]
Kir: [in a ninja outfit] H-hey... it's dangerous out there, Jing! You're not gonna disappear... behind the clouds... are you?
Jing: [looks at him over his glasses] Don't worry, Kir... I forecast a zero percent chance of surrender!
[in another room in the temple...]
Pesca Luminosa: [speaking through a round video screen] Whichever of you is chosen... will be the happiest person on Earth... or in the Sky!
[the girls and Arak are standing around a round table filled with irregularly shaped blocks to look like a maze] As you know, one of you lucky ladies is shortly to become part of the Gigantessa... no, one with it.
Kirsche: [looks around at the girls, mutters] If I don't save everyone first!
Arak: [winding something up] To decide which of you will be appointed this honor, we shall now hold our ritual of lots... [holds it out -- it's a wind-up version of the Fish] The choice shall be left to God, and you obey His decree.
Pigtailed Girl: [hands folded] Please, God... pick me... pick me!
Long-haired Girl: God... from head to toenails... this body will be yours...!
Arak: [places the fish on the table]
Kirsche: [watching it intently] I will not let even one of these girls die... I swear it!
[and back to the battle]
Cloud Soldier: [has almost all of the spirals cut] Ahem!
Kir: It's not responding at all!! Hey!! [starts glowing] What say we bust it in the mouth with one shot... Eh, Jing?! I'm ready!!
Jing: [panting; the two of them suddenly split up in different directions]
Soldier: ? [aaaand it decides to go after Jing]
Kir: Quick, Jing! It's catching up!!!
Jing: [turns as the soldier looms above him]
Kir: C'monnnn, Jing... what about Kir Royale?!
Jing: [suddenly lands -- after having sliced the soldier's head clear off]
Soldier: [grabs his head, twists the bottom of it, and then screws it back onto his body]
Jing: [eyes wide] Sprouted another head pretty quickly, didn't it?! [starts running again as the soldier comes after him]
Kir: E-e-enough already!! I'm combining with you whether you like it or not!!
Jing: Patience, Kir... patience... [runs in front of a brightly-lit grate, the soldier right behind him] I can almost see it... a rift... a break in the clouds!!
[a shadow in the shape of a heart appears on the soldier's chest]
A forecast for clear skies!!!
Soldier: [suddenly stops and doubles over right on top of Jing]
The Coeur -- the Heart -- of the cloud sculpture.
Come... The final decision has been made.
Kir: [looking at the Gigantessa] You mean... the person supposedly achieves Nirvana... while still alive?!
Jing: [smiling at him over a peach] Yes! One lucky person... with a little help from the ultimate diet... gets to become a mummy while they're still alive.
Kir: I dunno... do you really think those girls need to diet?!! Their bodies are already so perfect!! [scratching his head]
Jing: [holds the heart-shaped peach up to the electric heart] Of course they need to. You see, these bodies... are to become the Gigantessa's nucleus. They're more than ordinary sacrifices... they're at the very heart of it!!!
Kir: No... I simply refuse to believe God would ever raise a hand to a female! [big angry face, flips over a table with tea and cigarettes on it, then zooms over to Jing and grabs the front of his coat] What about Kirsche, Jing?! You think the kitty might be a sacrifice, too?
Jing: Could be. Especially considering... [takes another bite of the peach] ...she's the most dangerous one. [Kir starts sweating] She is a heathen, after all.. and I suspect that any pagan who denies the Cahier Sect's teachings... tends to be crossed out of the picture.
Kir: All right, that's great, Jing... but what's your plan?
Jing: [tosses the peach skyward] C'mon, Kir. Let's go call a lights out!!!
Kir: L-lights out? You're not gonna sleep at a time like this...?! [rubs his chin]
[back in Pesca Luminosa's throne room]
Black-feathered attendant: [over a square container with Kirsche's clothes] She is asleep now?
Arak: Yes... and if we purify the ablutions of insulation tomorrow morning, we will be able to discharge the Coeur.
Attendant: Ho ho! [tittering behind his hand] Somehow I had expected a little more... resistance... from her and her pagan followers.
Arak: [grits his teeth] That girl may be a heathen... but she is as noble as they come! Even when she was selected...
Pesca Luminosa: ......
Arak: ...She received the Oracle by saying...
Overlay of Kirsche looking defiant: I can't save all of us... but at least I can save their lives with my own.
Arak: And so, she faced the girls... and told them... they would not have to die.
Pesca Luminosa: [eyes open wide and bloodshot] Die? Die, she said?! [blazes brightly, forcing Arak to cover his eyes] Arak, Arak, Arak. Still being seduced by such vulgar ideals? Perhaps it is you who does not understand... how brilliantly those who offer their flesh to God on high can burn!!! And what of the boy heathen, still at large?! Do you intend to lapse into slippery Gravity where you stand?! The Favor of Light, indeed... Wha...? [a light bulb suddenly goes out]
The north!! It's the Northern Electrical Mausoleum!!
[and the entire area goes up in a giant explosion, sending the robot flying]
Pesca Luminosa: [doubles over, his cables sparking and coming loose] Oooooh!!! God...!
Priests: [wandering around the temple with flashlights] Hush...
...Please, calm down.
Pesca Luminosa: The Light!!!! Oh, God!! Oh... ah... the Light... [as a large cable comes loose and a number of hands reach up to him] !? Who...?!
Priests: Fear not! All will soon be restored to normal!!
[cables swing through the air, showering sparks]
Pesca Luminosa: Who... who is that... over there...? [sunglasses gleam in the darkness] Arak? No! It isn't Arak... is it?!
Attendants: [readying some kind of vacuum-shaped device as priests start to light the area]
Jing: [backlit by sparks] Easy... easy now... Let there be light! [lifts his glasses and smiles] Looks like the children are scared, old man!
Kir: [flailing in a baby walker with a rattle] MAMAAAAA... NOOOOOO! Whaa! Whaa! Dooooon't turn off the liiiights, Mamaaaa... [turns with a flat expression and a pacifier in his mouth] Or something like that.
Attendants: [fire lightning at Jing with the weird devices -- but they only torch an empty coat, which flutters to the ground] He's... he's gone?! [stare as the smoke clears] And what... is that... on the back...?
[on the back is a smoking heist note:]
Mister Ruler of
Navel, Sir,
I'm going to take
clouds with
no place to go
from a sky where
there is no refuge
-- The King of Bandits
Pesca Luminosa: [looks furious] GUNUNUU--!!
Attendants: [clutch each other in fear]
Pesca Luminosa: ARAK...! GET ARAK HERE RIGHT NOW!
Arak: [running after Pesca Luminosa as he's carried through the temple by a cloud soldier] Pesca, sir-- you must not do it!! If you throw the Coeur into the Gigantessa without the ablutions of insulation...
Pesca Luminosa: [ignores him]
Arak: ...that girl will be instantly charred to a crisp!! Those clouds have six million volts in them! It would be nothing more than-- a common execution!!!
Soldier: [slams a door open]
In light of this, we have no choice but to complete the Pesca Gigantessa now... before further complications arise!
(And again, Pesca's balloons:
I understand, Arak... but this situation requires immediate action!!
Ah... came to see the show with your own eyes, did you?
There's been a little change of plans, girls. It seems we have a heathen loose on the premises... one who glorifies stealing over God!
In light of this, we have no choice but to complete the Pesca Gigantessa now... before further complications arise!
And it turns out this girl is another stray among our fold... one who similarly glorifies stealing... )
Pesca Luminosa: ...in fact, she is none other than the leader of the Stray Cats!!!
Long-haired girl: What?!!
Girl with her hair up: Never...!!
Pigtailed Girl: But... that can't be. Sister is a wonderful lady...!
Pesca Luminosa: [as Arak tries to rise] I see... it seems we have more heretics here than I thought. But if you insist on blaming me... at least it should be for the ceremony's proper completion!!!
Cloud Soldier: [still holding Kirsche, makes speakers out of both hands and aims them at the girls]
Girls: KYAAAAAAAAAAH!!!
Arak: [one wide eye is revealed through his broken visor as a loud crackling noise tears through the air]
Pesca Luminosa: [among the smoke] Now... do the inexperienced believers, who were not chosen by God, have anything else to say? Meditate quickly.
[leaves the room, leaving behind the smoking corpses of the girls] Because the ceremony is going to begin...
Never... I'd never ask them to interfere!
Whatever outrageous artifacts you may steal... In the end, you will answer to God... ME.
Pesca Luminosa: [ugly grin] For what I steal... is human life.
[black chapter divider with a negative image of fish and various objects]
swing low, sweet chariot
comin' for to carry me home
I looked over Jordan and what did I see
comin' for to carry me home
a band of angels comin' after me
comin' for to carry me home
oh, if you get there before I do
comin' for to carry me home
tell all my friends I'm comin' too
comin' for to carry me home
swing low, sweet chariot
comin' for to
carry me home
(An American Negro spiritual)
Pesca Luminosa: In God's name... I have the authority to steal people's emotions, behaviors, lifestyles... in short, their very lives!! Can you do that? Eh, King of Bandits?!!
Arak: [picks up the blowfish whistle and looks at it]
Pesca Luminosa: [lifted up by the cloud soldier] A bit much for a kid like you, wouldn't you say?! HA HA HA!
Arak: ....!! [stares at him through the crack in his visor]
[zoom in to the Gigantessa Coeur and Kirsche curled up inside it]
Voice: ...Kirsche...
Kirsche: [still sleeping]
Voice: Kirsche!!! Wake up!!
Kirsche: [opens her eyes and sits up, looking around]
Voice: Electricity really is going to kill the cat if you stay like this!!
[a hand waves from behind the edge of the lotus petals]
Voice: C'mon... a super-high-voltage electric current is swelling within the clouds even as we speak.
Kirsche: !
Quick -- cover yourself with this insulation robe!
Jing: [gestures silently to Kir by pointing upwards]
Kir: [flies up and hooks the cable onto the jagged wire running between the Coeur's terminals; the cable straightens and becomes taut before revealing that it's connected to a giant Chinese-style umbrella]
[panel of two hands clutching a bloodied vajra knife, an eye...]
Huff huff huff huff
[...and Pesca Luminosa sprawled on the floor in a puddle of his own blood]
Arak: [staring at the corpse as the cloud soldier runs off] Ugh...
[throws his head back] OOOOOH!! NOOOOO!!
[splashing water is seen, and then Arak, bald and without visor or headpiece, a gun in his free hand, riding on the back of a fish across the Sea]
[the Gigantessa is shown floating outside the boundary of the city. The umbrella and the Coeur break out of the bottom]
Arak: I won't forgive... I'll never forgive you!! [as the Coeur gently crashes into the water] Just you wait... King of Bandits... [and the umbrella settles as well, Arak rushing towards them] ...just you wait!!
Jing: [pulling the robe off his head] What's wrong, Kirsche?
Kirsche: Uhn? Oh... no... It feels like... [eyes him] ...I got an electric shock after all.
Jing: [BIG URK and ducks to look under the robe] What?! Was there a leak?! Where?! Your leg? Your arm?!
Kirsche: [blushing] No... nothing like that. [looks at him as he raises his head] It's more like... a strange burning sensation... inside.
Kir: [banging on the glass] Hey!! What're you two doing??! This is awfully suspicious... [plasters himself to the glass] Jing!!!!! Don't make me come in there!!!!
[something suddenly crashes into the Coeur -- a fish tail is seen] GYAAAH! [Kir lands in the water some distance away]
Jing: [exits the Coeur] Kir? WAH! [ducks as a beam zaps past his head]
Voice: Come on out, boy. It seems you're right... there is no refuge in the sky.
[a strange-looking, smoking gun is seen, with a skinny, curvy barrel and a perforated funnel-end that looks like a watering can spout]
And for me...
Arak: [steps up onto the Coeur holding the gun] ...no Hell to fall down to!!! [narrows his eyes as it starts raining, then fires several times at Jing]
Jing: [leaps to one side and lands, glaring at him from within the insulation robe]
Arak: [smirks] Indeed... I considered you might switch your bulletproof waistcoat for an insulation robe. A harsh reality of the everyday world... eh, King of Bandits? [raises the gun as it starts raining harder] If I, too, had remained in the everyday world... even if I had stolen everything I needed to live... my life still would have been stolen by a master swindler...
Jing: [takes a step forward]
Arak: ...A SWINDLER CALLED GOD!!! [lightning cracks down between them] Haha... Yes, climbing up here released me from my fear of death. [Jing looks to one side, frowning] But... after all those years since I cast off my earthly skin... the man before you now is further gone than a corpse.
Jing: [adjusts his footing... and suddenly whips off the robe]
Arak: [instantly levels his gun at him]
Jing: [extends his blade as he lets go of the robe]
[a bright flash of lightning...]
[and Jing is suddenly behind Arak, as the sliced-off barrel of his gun erupts in an explosion of light overhead]
Jing: [with his back to Arak] Careful, Father... you could have caught your death from electric shock!! [Arak's grip on the remains of the gun loosens] Seems even the old geezer above the clouds doesn't think much of your faith...
Arak: [drops the gun] ...I... I... ...I... already...
Jing: [looks grim, then turns to him with a smile] Do you ever wish you could be born again?
Arak: Born... again...? [suddenly tumbles over backwards] Uwah!
Kir: [slowly coming to in the water] Uhn... Kirsche, watch over Jing... for me...
Arak: [floating on his back in the Sea as the rain slowly stops]
Jing: After all... this Sea is everyone's birthplace... everyone's mother... right?
And the clouds clear.
Come on over, Kirsche... the wind feels great!!
Kirsche: [leans against Jing's shoulder] ...not even God Himself.
[and the Coeur sails away into the sunset... and elsewhere in the water, a little dot resolves itself to be the heart robot, floating in the Sea]
Robot: Pico! Pico! Pico!
All rights to Kumakura, of course.
[black chapter divider of white text and a negative image of a game board of some kind]
Pips...
And chips...
Those little dots on dice
Are nothing more than mutterings
Of God on High, caught in between
The Dawn of Birth
And Death's cold sting
-- Prayer often chanted by gamblers in Aviation while playing Sugoroku
[five men are gathered around a Sugoroku board, with a pile of batteries in the middle in place of chips]
Big Old Man: Well, well... seems I'm the first to arrive. [pulls the batteries in the center to his own pile and blows a puff of cigarette smoke] So... best to quit while ahead, eh? Of course, I'll be taking me earnings with me...
Short Man: Just one gol-durned minute -- this here's a fake!!
Big Old Man: !
Short Man: [holds up the die] To roll a six every time -- even with a used die -- that ain't luck!! [turns to the other players] Well?! Are we gonna just lie down and let this old coot swindle us outta our hard-earned gold batteries?! C'mon -- the four of us could take 'im!
[next panel the short man is laid out on the floor in the shadows, stars spinning around his head]
Big Old Man: That's right... sleep it off. Now... anyone else want a piece of me?
Skinny Old Man: [slides all his batteries into the middle]
Big Old Man: [twists his fake eye -- it looks like a knob with a vertical bar like you'd see on a stereo -- as he peers at the pile] I gotta hand it to ya, old man... you've got guts. [the skinny old man starts shaking the die] But it's a shame they won't get you anywhere! Even if you roll a six, it still won't be enough!!
Skinny Old Man: [casts the die with both hands]
Big Old Man: Ahhh, victory. I hereby pledge the gold batteries I win tonight will go directly to my retirement fund... [eye widens as the die comes to a stop -- revealing a seventh dot, shaped like a spiral-eyed cat head, in the middle of a ring of six] SEVEN?!!! [the die starts spewing out smoke from four sides] !? What the--?!
Players: Uwah!!
Skinny Old Man: [strokes his beard as the others cough and fumble around in the blinding smoke]
Big Old Man: [groping in the smoke] ...Right... old man... come out and... [hits the overhead lampshade and sets it swinging]
Skinny Old Man: [is caught in a beam of light as the lamp swings -- and of course it's Jing, removing his mask]
Kir: [wearing a gas mask at the entrance to the room] Psst, Jing-- hurry up!!
Jing: [throws the remains of his costume on the players as he escapes]
Players: The lights... who turned out the lights? Anyone...?
And they make their escape.
Hey, Jing!!! That heist wasn't just about the gold batteries, was it?
Jing: [holds up the board] ...for a genuine map!!
Kir: M-m-map, you say?! Where to?
Jing: The very edge of mortality, of course... to Fuzzy Navel!! [points at the figure in the center of the board, an ogre with a giant club] See this? It's at the end of the Fuzzy Navel sky... just beyond the horizon... Oh, and it's the reputed residence of God Himself. Just like that old saying... between Life and Death... Heaven and Earth! [points at another figure with spiral arms and a spiked collar, holding a bird and a fish upside down in each hand -- a scroll underneath reads 'Let There Be Light'] And our lift-off point is... right here in Aviation! See the inscription? "Let there be Light!"
Kir: Light, huh? Well, if it's light you're after, there's loads of it here! Almost to the point of blinding you... [points at an old man wearing sunglasses and a hat covered in light bulbs]
Jing: [rolls up the map] Well, if we don't hurry up and leave, that shady fellow might go blind staring at our map.
Kir: What?! If it's so valuable, why don't you put it away?! This place could be crawling with cat burglars!
Jing: [going back to his drink] Hey, we're burglars too, y'know...
Black cat: [wanders past their table and then in front of a sign reading 'Electricity Killed The Cat!']
Remember our sacred mission: to serve God, not government... and to distribute the electricity the powers that be have denied the masses!
Cat girl: [perching on a chimney] Sister!! Sister Kirsche!! I've found him! The one who holds our map!
Stray Cats: AMEN!!!!!!
Kirsche: Where? Where is it?!
Cat girl: A temple... on the outskirts of town!! I saw him... holding the map... as plain as day!
Kirsche: Of course... the temple...
But the map said this was right below the location of the Dawn of Birth!
Kir: Of course what?! What?!!
Priest: I saw it! A flying fish!! [puts a hand to his head and looks ponderous] The scriptures foretold it, did they not? Under God, the Sky will be as one with the Ocean, and the Ocean will be as one with the Sky...
Kir: [winding up with a boxing glove on one hand] Forgive me.
Jing: [crooks a finger, looks excited] Kir!! Come here.
Kir: [waves a finger from next to the Priest, who still looks thoughtful] Hang on, Jing! I gotta instill the fear of God into this guy... this won't take a minute.
Priest: [whips around and points a finger, the light bulb on his head lighting up. Kir misses his punch and hits the wall] Zounds-- I've got it!!!!!!!
Jing: ? [looks confused and then up as the statue he's leaning against slides backwards] Oh my, my.
Priest: [lights up part of the organ keyboard] It wasn't a fish-- or a bird-- it was both!!!!
Kir: [sweatdropping] Hey. ...Hey, now no need to-- [suddenly wrapped up in a net] --jump to conclusions!!!
Jing: !! [whips around -- the Professor is still peering at the organ]
Kirsche: [standing with Kir slung in a net bag over her shoulder and a gun in her free paw] Right, then. I'll be taking that map, if you please. Unless... your comrade would prefer to return to God now.
Kir: [with heart eyes] Hey, babe. For you, I'll meet my maker anytime!!!
Kirsche: [facing off against Jing, who has the map rolled up under his arm] Game's over, son... you decide how it ends!!
Priest: [pops up between them, a seahorse statue in his hands, the light bulb on his head lighting up again; Kirsche and Jing sweatdrop] F-f-fish!!!! There was a fish! Could this be it?! One way to find out... [clicks the head on the seahorse forwards, the entire organ keyboard lights up brightly and shows 'PERFECT']
Jing: [eyes a giant hook on the table next to him, and then suddenly makes a break for the door]
Kir: J-J-J-Jing-- where're you going?! You're not leaving me behind, are ya?! [flailing around in the net]
Kirsche: [gaping as a loud noise starts sounding overhead and gets progressively louder]
Kir: [as Jing runs outside with the map and the hook] H-hey-- what's with the hook?! What about me, Jing... me?! HEEEEEEEEEEY!!!
Priest: [at the organ] Yes, yes!! It's all coming back to me now. It's coming... stupendous!!!
Kirsche: [runs outside after Jing]
Kir: Wait for meeeee!! [getting bounced around in the net] J-- J-- J-- Jiiinnng!!
Jing: [staring up at the sky]
Kir: [as Kirsche catches up] C-c'mon, Jing... You're not taking that priest's nonsense seriously, are you? You don't mean to tell me... you're gonna go fishing with that?!!
Kirsche: I will have that map... one way or another.
Priest: [playing the organ] That's it... right here... let there... be Light! And... yes... there is light here, indeed!!
[the clouds around the temple start to clear, and chunks of the domed roofs start falling off to the ground]
Kirsche: [dodging debris] Kyaah!!!
Kir: The spawn of Light splitttsss!!!
Jing: [watches as light starts shining through the smoke]
Priest: [still playing] Yes! It's coming now... the Fish is coming!! Guided by... seeking... the Light...!
Kir: [as the smoke starts clearing] Oh. So there was a light source in here...
Jing: The best kind, Kir. You see, this entire temple...
...is one big light bulb!!
Light!! Such splendid, splendid light!!
I had this dream. There was this eerie... mysterious... unusually big... fish. From the sky.
Kir: [from the back of the fish, which is sailing through the sky with a number of smaller mechanical fish 'swimming' along with it in a school] Wait... it wasn't a dream!!
Fish: A band of angels comin after me---
Kir: [pointing wildly from inside the net] H-hey-- Jing!! The fish-- it m-m-multiplied!! How'd all these things get here?
Jing: [looking at the map] Elementary, my dear albatross. The small fish are attracted to the unusually abundant electricity this big fish is emitting. Sort of like remora suckerfish, they attach via suction to sharks, whales, sea turtles, ships' hulls, etc.
Kir: Well, that's all right for them! Fish can school in the sky, not a care in the world... and I, a bird, am stuck in this! [points at himself and waves a wing] Where do these things come from, anyway? The sea? The sky?!
Jing: Both... and neither!! "The Celestial Sea"... an ocean overlooking the Earth! And Fuzzy Navel is the mysterious town built on its shore. [looking at a folded section of the map that looks like a path ringed with a circle of clouds] That's why we've cast the first die... and that's where we're headed!!
Kir: [smacks a fist into his other wing] I see... both sky and the sea, eh... Holy ground, huh... Then why are we even going there? If it's fishing you want, we can do that on the ground!! And what is a Celestial Sea, anyway?!
This plane won't even lift off with the little electricity we've been able to pirate!
Kirsche: [opens the back of the robot to reveal three gold batteries] You meant these, didn't you? [eyes tear up] Are you... giving these batteries... to me? [hugs the girl] Thank you!! You're an angel.
Shadow: Git yer grubby paws off my daughter!!! [steps forward, revealing a gun, then a middle-aged woman with a cap reading '101 Police'] I've heard of your little gang. The Stray Cats electricity stealin' gang... am I right? [keeps advancing] But stealing electricity wasn't enough for you this time, was it? Thought you'd try an' steal my only daughter too!
Girl: No, mama...
Sheriff: Don't matter. I'm puttin' you all under arrest... it is my job. [holds up her free hand] Although... I do know what y'all have been doin' for the poor folks of this town. Heck... my own daughter's a fan, it seems. So, in light of all that... [holsters her gun and holds up a giant electrical plug] ...I come bearin' specially made handcuffs!!
[after the cord is plugged into the plane]
Cat boy: We're in business! You can go after them now, sister! You can fly!!
Kirsche: Really...? Then I'd better hurry!
Sheriff: [smiling, puts a hand on her daughter's head]
[somewhere else in the city, the illuminated sign of '101 Police - We are very short of hands' flickers and goes out as the plane rises into the sky]
Sheriff: [watching the plane] Now... reckon we should put out a crime report for that robot?
[back on the fish...]
Kir: Navel, huh? I can't even see a belly!! [stretches to stomp on the fish's back] This fish thing... you sure it actually knows where it's going?!
Jing: [still looking at the map] Oh, it knows, all right. It'd follow the scent of its home anywhere... like a salmon swimming upstream!! In fact, we should catch sight of the gates any second... [lowers the map]
Kir: G-gates?! If that's the case, you wanna hurry up and point them out to me?! [swings a fist at Jing] 'Cause if you don't, I'll be knocking on the pearly ones soon enough!!
Jing: In that case... feast your eyes. [turns around so the net is facing forwards]
Kir: What?
But for now, the fish needs to return to its home -- Kir!!
Gyaah!
[the plane suddenly flies up among the school of smaller fish]
Kirsche: It... it's... the Fish!!! But what... what's it doing?! [flies closer to the big fish] Listen, kiddo! Can you hear me?! [shouting into a megaphone] Surrender the Fish or face God's wrath! I repeat...
Kir: [waving his wings] Ooh! A beautiful voice echoes from the heavens... A heavenly host has come to claim me... Jing!
Jing: [looking irritated] More like a preying cat. Can't she see I'm busy here?! [suddenly crouches as one of the guardians rises upwards]
Kirsche: [still shouting into the megaphone] This is your final warning!! Unless you want to reap God's unending... [looks behind her] ...ulp... [drops the megaphone as she sees one of the guardians right on eye level with the plane] ...anger!!
[the guardian blows and sends the plane spinning out of control] Kyaaa!! [notices that the plane is heading right for Jing]
! I wasn't planning on stopping the kid this way! [yanks hard on the controls and pulls up just in time. leans back and wipes her brow] Pheeeeeewww.
Jing: Forgive the intrusion... [standing on the back of the plane, holding onto the cockpit with one hand as he tosses away the hook he presumably used to get up there] ...but it looks like God's unending anger isn't too picky!
Kir: [still on the fish and chewing on the net ropes] I swear this fish's home is gonna be the afterlife when I get through with it!!
Jing: KIIIIIIRRRRR!
Kir: Nnnnn... [starts glowing, then throws his wings outwards, stretching the net] ...THERE!! [flies off to the plane and fuses to Jing's arm]
Jing: Now, Kir... would you join me in the pleasure of knocking?
Kir: [smirking] Pleasure's all mine!
Kirsche: W... wh... what are you doing?!
Jing: KIIIIIIIIIIR... [aims at the front part of the plane] ...ROYALE!!! [blasts the front end of the plane off, between the guardians, and into the gate, before jumping with Kirsche off of the smoking plane]
Kirsche: Wait-- what are you--?!!
[the explosion in the gate has revealed a bunch of wires and tubing crackling with smoke and electricity. The smaller fish start congregating towards it]
Kirsche: The other fish?!
[the guardians both turn to look at the gate]
Jing: [smirking] They do love their electricity... and we aim to please!!
[the fish keep swarming on the open blast, widening it and releasing more and more electricity until bolts of it are flying around and finally hit the power cords of the guardians -- who promptly overload and blow up, leaving Jing and co. on the fish]
Kirsche: ...sob... sob... [on her paws and knees] Everything's ruined... everything! I've failed them all... All the volunteers... that little girl's heart... sob...!
Kir: [puts a wing on her back] There, there, sweetie... you can cry on my shoulder anytime!
Jing: [looks at them; he's smiling] Everything's not ruined... [crouches down in front of Kirsche] I mean, you're still here, aren't you?
Kirsche: !
Jing: And you've been a great help to me. [holds out the robot to her, which is a little dirty but still in one piece] You see, thanks to you, I could open the gate...
...to the Corridor of Clouds!!!
Just a question of how long this umbilical cord to the navel is.
Kirsche: But the Celestial Sea supports both theories.
Jing: [leaning back with his arms folded behind his head] Those beliefs are supposed to reassure us... to tell us no matter how distant the sky... no matter how far beyond the horizon... there is always an end. There's always an answer. But those theories are uncertain for a reason.
Kir: And thanks to those theories, we get fishes swimming in the sky?! Downright misleading, if you ask me!! [stomping on the fish again]
Kirsche: [hugging the robot and looking sombre] Some call Fuzzy Navel heaven... some call it Limbo... but no matter what you call it, it is the mother of us all-- those who walk the earth... and those who travel the sea.
Kir: [dressed up like a professor with a bald head, gray hair, and spiral glasses] ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Kirsche: [looks at Jing] So you could say this corridor... is an umbilical cord.
[the fish suddenly stops dead]
Jing: W-we've stopped!!
Kirsche: [starting to rise] What?!!!
Kir: [still wearing the glasses] Ooh! Does that mean we're here? At last?! Mommy?!!
Jing: Nah... Just a traffic light. [looking up at the giant WALK/DON'T WALK light. Kirsche and Kir sweatdrop]
I'll be taken by the navel before we ever get to the Navel in this bucket of fishbolts!
Kirsche: As far as we're concerned, thunder is only the Voice of God, and lightning His almighty Gaze.
Kir: [looking skeptical as lightning rains down around them] HUH? Sometimes I really don't get you broads...
Jing: And the people of Fuzzy Navel currently have a monopoly on God's voice and gaze... is that it?
Kir: No, Jing-- not you, too!!
Jing: [wearing the spiral glasses Kir was wearing before, and has a pointer stick with a spiral-eyed cat head on the end] Easy, Doctor Kir... It's like this. [taps the pointer at a part of the map with lightning raining down from dark clouds on a crowd of fleeing people] See, lightning used to be this mysterious technique only a god could perform...
[image of a man holding what looks like a plasma ball between his hands]
...but one day, humans caught that lightning, harnessed it and called it electricity...
[image of a bunch of faceless people holding light bulbs]
...and soon after, lightning-- electricity-- became the property of every human being.
[image of the man from before using the ball of electricity to rain lightning down on a town]
But then, ironically enough, it was decided that the human who could control all electricity would reign over all the humans.
[back to the fish as lightning cracks around it]
And voilà-- a new god was born!
Kir: [hanging on as the fish starts to emerge from the thunderstorm] Are you saying... this fake God person is still in Fuzzy Navel?!
Kirsche: [head down, her face obscured] Electricity... lightning... should shine for everyone... [paws flex] And those guys... the Cahier Sect... [releases her claws] ...are greedily hoarding it all!! They won't even distribute sparks to the people!!!
Jing: A little louder, please? I don't think they can hear you down there. [points downwards]
Kirsche: ..........!!
Kir: !!?!!?
[the clouds below the fish clear...]
Fuzzy Navel is revealed.
And priest Arak awaits them.
Arak: Ahhh... fortunate ones. Welcome back to Fuzzy Navel... [Jing looks interested while Kirsche glares at the priest; Arak only smiles] I am Arak... your humble priest. I wonder... how was it getting here? Your long journey against the Stream of Life...
Kir: [dressed up as a fat professor with spectacles, slapping the map against Arak's chest] Hey, look, buddy-- it's not like you guys made it easy! Slamming the door on us... trapping us in lightning... and this is a terrible map!!
Arak: I see... yes... I don't suppose it would be very good. [rips it in half in front of them] A map like this could not have much meaning to many people. Only a very few lives have any predestined path. But... come! We shall relieve you of the fatigues of your journey. [two large, bald priests come up behind Jing and Kirsche] Our temple's bylaws state that males and females must lodge in separate rooms... my apologies.
Kir: [as Kirsche is grabbed by the arm and led away] Oh, uh... I'm a female! A girl! I lay eggs!! [looks up as one of the priests glowers down at him... then grabs him by the bandanna and starts dragging him away] Hey... I told you... I'm a lady! C'mon... can't you tell?!!
Arak: [as Kirsche looks back at the boys] Come now... this way for females. [leads her through some brightly lit hallways apparently comprised of twisting cables and electrical devices]
Ah... from the start, even we have been bewildered as to how our temple could have been blessed with so much Light. [Kirsche shades her eyes] I trust you shall grow accustomed to it... as have we. [gestures with a smile] Please... have a look.
Kirsche: [eyes wide] It... It's... [shows her looking out a large glassless window at a massive, shining sea] ...the... Celestial Sea!
Arak: Earlier, I had commented on how fortunate you were to have returned. I said it because, to all its visitors, the Celestial Sea... [pulls a switch] ...is their first home.
Kirsche: [enters the sliding door that opens]
Er... So, this must be the girls'...
As a courtesy, we have provided a special chair, handmade by the Cahier Sect... We hope it will help you feel closer to home.
Kir: [as the priests heft their vajra] An electric chair... figures! Argh!
Priests: [extend very sharp-looking retractable blades from the ends of their vajra and assume a fighting stance]
Jing: [does as well, fists at the ready; Kir is next to him holding a pair of nunchuks]
Priests: [hit a large switch]
Jing and Kir: [sweatdrop as the chair lights up and starts crackling with electricity]
Priests: Two powers dominate space: Light and Gravity. You, who have always been yoked to Gravity, shall finally be free... to commune with Mother Earth in a Light-filled Death! [one of them strikes] What a blissful end!!
Jing: [dodges to one side of the blade as Kir dodges to the other; he sweatdrops] Hey, Kir... y-you go ahead and sit down first!!
Kir: [waves his wings, wearing a tux and bowtie] Nooo, nooo, I'm sure you're more tired than I am. A perch is good enough for me.
Jing: [starts grappling with him, grinning fakely] That's okay-- what are friends for? C'mon, take a load off!!!
Kir: [doing the same] After you, Jing-- I insist!!
Jing: Nuooooo!
Kir: Gunuuuuuuh.
[and a dust cloud fight breaks out]
..........!!
What?!!!
Take this!
Why you--!
Priest 1: [looks amused] What put them in such a fluster?
Priest 2: Well, no threat to us. Although we really should return them to their seat...
Jing: [as the dust starts to settle] GOTCHA!
Kir: ACKK!!
Jing: [has a spiral-eyed Kir in a chokehold] Now, don't be bitter, Kir... we're friends, right? [they start to light up] Kir... [fires at the priests] ...ROYALE!!!
[the priests go down] BRAVO.
Kir: So, Jing-- these are the tactics of would-be gods?!
Jing: Yeah... looks like it. [frowns] And Kirsche was right... about the lightning... [looks at the electric chair] Seems they're finding plenty of creative uses for it!!
...in a town lit only during the day...
Pesca Luminosa... How may I serve thee?
(It's difficult to read Pesca Luminosa's text, so here are his speech bubbles from that page:
Ah, Arak... you came.
And the two heathens... did you conduct them... to their resting places?
But... what?! )
Arak: ...it seems to champion nothing more than the murder of common people... even as we unselfishly devote our lives to faith!! How could that be called--
Black-feathered attendant: [puts a hand to his mouth] Oh my.
Pesca Luminosa: Murder, you say...? That word... somewhat lacking in favor, don't you think? [Arak bows his head] Naturally, murder is not charity... but this is not common murder. We are helping these poor people return to their birthplace!
[panel of the two monks working on the sand hill] Those lower-earth inhabitants were finally set free from the Gravity that tethered them... while receiving the Heavenly Blessing of Lightning! We returned them to their home, don't you see? [the sand hill is shown to be part of a mandala of some sort] But such is our lot... even the Sun looks down on the Celestial Sea!!
[shows a zoom out of the city] Some pain is only to be expected with such a procedure... but pain is nothing compared to the favor of the Light!!
Arak: [raises his head] Still...
Pesca Luminosa: In spite of all this, one of the heathens has refused our charity... and is currently roaming our temple. Even if we cannot always conduct our charity as we wish... we should never doubt it!! [lights up blindingly]
Arak: [shields his eyes] Umph!
Pesca Luminosa: Now, find the rogue heathens at once!!
[elsewhere in the temple...]
Random priests: ...the rogue heathens...
Jing and Kir: [turn around, wearing sunglasses and grinning] BINGO!!
Kir: [as they run down a hallway, leaving two spiral-eyed priests behind them] So, are you going to smash that lightbulb or what? Waking up to it hurt my eyes. Speaking of which... why is there... [they pass a three-eyed statue -- wearing three-lens sunglasses] ...so much light here, anyway?
But don't you think it's a bad sign if I, who am night-blind, have to wear these things?!
Pesca Gigantessa... A huge cloud sculpture that could only have been built on the Celestial Sea.
Kir: Jing... A-are you saying... that's what we're gonna be stealing?!! [starts freaking out and lifts Jing's glasses so he can look him in the eye] You're not serious, are you, Jing?! This is just another one of those vague Fuzzy Navel legends... right?!!
Jing: [turns] Hey, Kir... isn't that Kirsche?
Kir: [still grumping] Oh, Kirsche, Kirsche... Who cares about silly old... [spins around with heart eyes] ...Kirsche?! [looks down at the circuit-board-like temple grounds] Where-- where?!!
Ponytailed Temple Girl: [walking with Kirsche and the other girls across the grounds] Ahhhh... Pesca Gigantessa. Every time I see it, it feels like the first time! [folds her hands together as she looks up at it] I know... I always feel like my heart is gonna light up and burst through my chest!
Kirsche: [looks up at it, thinking to herself] Amazing! Even if it's never finished... it'll take a huge amount of electricity to maintain... [extends the claws on one paw and looks at them thoughtfully]
Ponytailed Girl: Hey... don't you think so, sister Kirsche?
Kirsche: EH?! [hides her paw behind her back, sweatdropping] Oh, uh... yeah, you're right!! Do you think it'll be done soon?
Ponytailed Girl: Oh, yes... very soon indeed! And when it is, a number of people will be gathered together, and lots will be drawn...
Kirsche: Lots...? What do you mean, lots?
Ponytailed Girl: [giggles] Oh my, sister... you are joking, aren't you?!
Girls: For us, silly! You know... to decide who will be offered to the Gigantessa!
Kirsche: [gasps] Oh. [whirls] Are you saying your God... would actually command you... to die? [grabs the long-haired girl by the shoulders] You call it an offering... but I call it a human sacrifice! What kind of god would demand the life of a worshipper?!! [grabs the shoulders of the pigtailed girl] Think about it!!
[pulls her close] How could a young girl like you-- with her entire life ahead of her-- choose death over life so easily?!
Pigtailed Girl: Sister... [looks down as Kirsche lets go] ...I... well... I plan to die... so I can return to the place of my birth, as I was meant to.
Kir: HERE, KITTY KITTY KITTY!!! [comes tearing down with hearts in his eyes as the girls all look up] OH, KIIIRSSSCHE!
Kirsche: [as Kir stops in front of her] ?
Girls: Kyah!
Kyah!
A heathen!!!
It's a heathen!!!
Kir: [slings his wings around Kirsche's neck, cheek to cheek with her] Mmmm... yes, I've regrettably lost my lodgings in the boys' section... but if you can put me up at your place, but all means! [gives a thumbs up] By the way... is it okay if my henchman sleeps on the couch? [suddenly gets yanked upwards] KYAAAH!
You can't fight the Cloud Priest Soldier!! Leave that to the heathen.
Jing: [lands on the ground next to him] Yo.
Kir: [hides behind him] Jing!! The clouds... clouds, the clouds!!
Jing: [sweatdropping] Sheesh, what are you, a weather-bird?
Kir: [wailing as his clings to Jing's back] N-No... make that a storm!! A raging one!!!
Jing: [frowns and extends his hidden blade, dodging a punch from the soldier and slicing one of the spiral cords in half]
Kir: [in a ninja outfit] H-hey... it's dangerous out there, Jing! You're not gonna disappear... behind the clouds... are you?
Jing: [looks at him over his glasses] Don't worry, Kir... I forecast a zero percent chance of surrender!
[in another room in the temple...]
Pesca Luminosa: [speaking through a round video screen] Whichever of you is chosen... will be the happiest person on Earth... or in the Sky!
[the girls and Arak are standing around a round table filled with irregularly shaped blocks to look like a maze] As you know, one of you lucky ladies is shortly to become part of the Gigantessa... no, one with it.
Kirsche: [looks around at the girls, mutters] If I don't save everyone first!
Arak: [winding something up] To decide which of you will be appointed this honor, we shall now hold our ritual of lots... [holds it out -- it's a wind-up version of the Fish] The choice shall be left to God, and you obey His decree.
Pigtailed Girl: [hands folded] Please, God... pick me... pick me!
Long-haired Girl: God... from head to toenails... this body will be yours...!
Arak: [places the fish on the table]
Kirsche: [watching it intently] I will not let even one of these girls die... I swear it!
[and back to the battle]
Cloud Soldier: [has almost all of the spirals cut] Ahem!
Kir: It's not responding at all!! Hey!! [starts glowing] What say we bust it in the mouth with one shot... Eh, Jing?! I'm ready!!
Jing: [panting; the two of them suddenly split up in different directions]
Soldier: ? [aaaand it decides to go after Jing]
Kir: Quick, Jing! It's catching up!!!
Jing: [turns as the soldier looms above him]
Kir: C'monnnn, Jing... what about Kir Royale?!
Jing: [suddenly lands -- after having sliced the soldier's head clear off]
Soldier: [grabs his head, twists the bottom of it, and then screws it back onto his body]
Jing: [eyes wide] Sprouted another head pretty quickly, didn't it?! [starts running again as the soldier comes after him]
Kir: E-e-enough already!! I'm combining with you whether you like it or not!!
Jing: Patience, Kir... patience... [runs in front of a brightly-lit grate, the soldier right behind him] I can almost see it... a rift... a break in the clouds!!
[a shadow in the shape of a heart appears on the soldier's chest]
A forecast for clear skies!!!
Soldier: [suddenly stops and doubles over right on top of Jing]
The Coeur -- the Heart -- of the cloud sculpture.
Come... The final decision has been made.
Kir: [looking at the Gigantessa] You mean... the person supposedly achieves Nirvana... while still alive?!
Jing: [smiling at him over a peach] Yes! One lucky person... with a little help from the ultimate diet... gets to become a mummy while they're still alive.
Kir: I dunno... do you really think those girls need to diet?!! Their bodies are already so perfect!! [scratching his head]
Jing: [holds the heart-shaped peach up to the electric heart] Of course they need to. You see, these bodies... are to become the Gigantessa's nucleus. They're more than ordinary sacrifices... they're at the very heart of it!!!
Kir: No... I simply refuse to believe God would ever raise a hand to a female! [big angry face, flips over a table with tea and cigarettes on it, then zooms over to Jing and grabs the front of his coat] What about Kirsche, Jing?! You think the kitty might be a sacrifice, too?
Jing: Could be. Especially considering... [takes another bite of the peach] ...she's the most dangerous one. [Kir starts sweating] She is a heathen, after all.. and I suspect that any pagan who denies the Cahier Sect's teachings... tends to be crossed out of the picture.
Kir: All right, that's great, Jing... but what's your plan?
Jing: [tosses the peach skyward] C'mon, Kir. Let's go call a lights out!!!
Kir: L-lights out? You're not gonna sleep at a time like this...?! [rubs his chin]
[back in Pesca Luminosa's throne room]
Black-feathered attendant: [over a square container with Kirsche's clothes] She is asleep now?
Arak: Yes... and if we purify the ablutions of insulation tomorrow morning, we will be able to discharge the Coeur.
Attendant: Ho ho! [tittering behind his hand] Somehow I had expected a little more... resistance... from her and her pagan followers.
Arak: [grits his teeth] That girl may be a heathen... but she is as noble as they come! Even when she was selected...
Pesca Luminosa: ......
Arak: ...She received the Oracle by saying...
Overlay of Kirsche looking defiant: I can't save all of us... but at least I can save their lives with my own.
Arak: And so, she faced the girls... and told them... they would not have to die.
Pesca Luminosa: [eyes open wide and bloodshot] Die? Die, she said?! [blazes brightly, forcing Arak to cover his eyes] Arak, Arak, Arak. Still being seduced by such vulgar ideals? Perhaps it is you who does not understand... how brilliantly those who offer their flesh to God on high can burn!!! And what of the boy heathen, still at large?! Do you intend to lapse into slippery Gravity where you stand?! The Favor of Light, indeed... Wha...? [a light bulb suddenly goes out]
The north!! It's the Northern Electrical Mausoleum!!
[and the entire area goes up in a giant explosion, sending the robot flying]
Pesca Luminosa: [doubles over, his cables sparking and coming loose] Oooooh!!! God...!
Priests: [wandering around the temple with flashlights] Hush...
...Please, calm down.
Pesca Luminosa: The Light!!!! Oh, God!! Oh... ah... the Light... [as a large cable comes loose and a number of hands reach up to him] !? Who...?!
Priests: Fear not! All will soon be restored to normal!!
[cables swing through the air, showering sparks]
Pesca Luminosa: Who... who is that... over there...? [sunglasses gleam in the darkness] Arak? No! It isn't Arak... is it?!
Attendants: [readying some kind of vacuum-shaped device as priests start to light the area]
Jing: [backlit by sparks] Easy... easy now... Let there be light! [lifts his glasses and smiles] Looks like the children are scared, old man!
Kir: [flailing in a baby walker with a rattle] MAMAAAAA... NOOOOOO! Whaa! Whaa! Dooooon't turn off the liiiights, Mamaaaa... [turns with a flat expression and a pacifier in his mouth] Or something like that.
Attendants: [fire lightning at Jing with the weird devices -- but they only torch an empty coat, which flutters to the ground] He's... he's gone?! [stare as the smoke clears] And what... is that... on the back...?
[on the back is a smoking heist note:]
Mister Ruler of
Navel, Sir,
I'm going to take
clouds with
no place to go
from a sky where
there is no refuge
-- The King of Bandits
Pesca Luminosa: [looks furious] GUNUNUU--!!
Attendants: [clutch each other in fear]
Pesca Luminosa: ARAK...! GET ARAK HERE RIGHT NOW!
Arak: [running after Pesca Luminosa as he's carried through the temple by a cloud soldier] Pesca, sir-- you must not do it!! If you throw the Coeur into the Gigantessa without the ablutions of insulation...
Pesca Luminosa: [ignores him]
Arak: ...that girl will be instantly charred to a crisp!! Those clouds have six million volts in them! It would be nothing more than-- a common execution!!!
Soldier: [slams a door open]
In light of this, we have no choice but to complete the Pesca Gigantessa now... before further complications arise!
(And again, Pesca's balloons:
I understand, Arak... but this situation requires immediate action!!
Ah... came to see the show with your own eyes, did you?
There's been a little change of plans, girls. It seems we have a heathen loose on the premises... one who glorifies stealing over God!
In light of this, we have no choice but to complete the Pesca Gigantessa now... before further complications arise!
And it turns out this girl is another stray among our fold... one who similarly glorifies stealing... )
Pesca Luminosa: ...in fact, she is none other than the leader of the Stray Cats!!!
Long-haired girl: What?!!
Girl with her hair up: Never...!!
Pigtailed Girl: But... that can't be. Sister is a wonderful lady...!
Pesca Luminosa: [as Arak tries to rise] I see... it seems we have more heretics here than I thought. But if you insist on blaming me... at least it should be for the ceremony's proper completion!!!
Cloud Soldier: [still holding Kirsche, makes speakers out of both hands and aims them at the girls]
Girls: KYAAAAAAAAAAH!!!
Arak: [one wide eye is revealed through his broken visor as a loud crackling noise tears through the air]
Pesca Luminosa: [among the smoke] Now... do the inexperienced believers, who were not chosen by God, have anything else to say? Meditate quickly.
[leaves the room, leaving behind the smoking corpses of the girls] Because the ceremony is going to begin...
Never... I'd never ask them to interfere!
Whatever outrageous artifacts you may steal... In the end, you will answer to God... ME.
Pesca Luminosa: [ugly grin] For what I steal... is human life.
[black chapter divider with a negative image of fish and various objects]
swing low, sweet chariot
comin' for to carry me home
I looked over Jordan and what did I see
comin' for to carry me home
a band of angels comin' after me
comin' for to carry me home
oh, if you get there before I do
comin' for to carry me home
tell all my friends I'm comin' too
comin' for to carry me home
swing low, sweet chariot
comin' for to
carry me home
(An American Negro spiritual)
Pesca Luminosa: In God's name... I have the authority to steal people's emotions, behaviors, lifestyles... in short, their very lives!! Can you do that? Eh, King of Bandits?!!
Arak: [picks up the blowfish whistle and looks at it]
Pesca Luminosa: [lifted up by the cloud soldier] A bit much for a kid like you, wouldn't you say?! HA HA HA!
Arak: ....!! [stares at him through the crack in his visor]
[zoom in to the Gigantessa Coeur and Kirsche curled up inside it]
Voice: ...Kirsche...
Kirsche: [still sleeping]
Voice: Kirsche!!! Wake up!!
Kirsche: [opens her eyes and sits up, looking around]
Voice: Electricity really is going to kill the cat if you stay like this!!
[a hand waves from behind the edge of the lotus petals]
Voice: C'mon... a super-high-voltage electric current is swelling within the clouds even as we speak.
Kirsche: !
Quick -- cover yourself with this insulation robe!
Jing: [gestures silently to Kir by pointing upwards]
Kir: [flies up and hooks the cable onto the jagged wire running between the Coeur's terminals; the cable straightens and becomes taut before revealing that it's connected to a giant Chinese-style umbrella]
[panel of two hands clutching a bloodied vajra knife, an eye...]
Huff huff huff huff
[...and Pesca Luminosa sprawled on the floor in a puddle of his own blood]
Arak: [staring at the corpse as the cloud soldier runs off] Ugh...
[throws his head back] OOOOOH!! NOOOOO!!
[splashing water is seen, and then Arak, bald and without visor or headpiece, a gun in his free hand, riding on the back of a fish across the Sea]
[the Gigantessa is shown floating outside the boundary of the city. The umbrella and the Coeur break out of the bottom]
Arak: I won't forgive... I'll never forgive you!! [as the Coeur gently crashes into the water] Just you wait... King of Bandits... [and the umbrella settles as well, Arak rushing towards them] ...just you wait!!
Jing: [pulling the robe off his head] What's wrong, Kirsche?
Kirsche: Uhn? Oh... no... It feels like... [eyes him] ...I got an electric shock after all.
Jing: [BIG URK and ducks to look under the robe] What?! Was there a leak?! Where?! Your leg? Your arm?!
Kirsche: [blushing] No... nothing like that. [looks at him as he raises his head] It's more like... a strange burning sensation... inside.
Kir: [banging on the glass] Hey!! What're you two doing??! This is awfully suspicious... [plasters himself to the glass] Jing!!!!! Don't make me come in there!!!!
[something suddenly crashes into the Coeur -- a fish tail is seen] GYAAAH! [Kir lands in the water some distance away]
Jing: [exits the Coeur] Kir? WAH! [ducks as a beam zaps past his head]
Voice: Come on out, boy. It seems you're right... there is no refuge in the sky.
[a strange-looking, smoking gun is seen, with a skinny, curvy barrel and a perforated funnel-end that looks like a watering can spout]
And for me...
Arak: [steps up onto the Coeur holding the gun] ...no Hell to fall down to!!! [narrows his eyes as it starts raining, then fires several times at Jing]
Jing: [leaps to one side and lands, glaring at him from within the insulation robe]
Arak: [smirks] Indeed... I considered you might switch your bulletproof waistcoat for an insulation robe. A harsh reality of the everyday world... eh, King of Bandits? [raises the gun as it starts raining harder] If I, too, had remained in the everyday world... even if I had stolen everything I needed to live... my life still would have been stolen by a master swindler...
Jing: [takes a step forward]
Arak: ...A SWINDLER CALLED GOD!!! [lightning cracks down between them] Haha... Yes, climbing up here released me from my fear of death. [Jing looks to one side, frowning] But... after all those years since I cast off my earthly skin... the man before you now is further gone than a corpse.
Jing: [adjusts his footing... and suddenly whips off the robe]
Arak: [instantly levels his gun at him]
Jing: [extends his blade as he lets go of the robe]
[a bright flash of lightning...]
[and Jing is suddenly behind Arak, as the sliced-off barrel of his gun erupts in an explosion of light overhead]
Jing: [with his back to Arak] Careful, Father... you could have caught your death from electric shock!! [Arak's grip on the remains of the gun loosens] Seems even the old geezer above the clouds doesn't think much of your faith...
Arak: [drops the gun] ...I... I... ...I... already...
Jing: [looks grim, then turns to him with a smile] Do you ever wish you could be born again?
Arak: Born... again...? [suddenly tumbles over backwards] Uwah!
Kir: [slowly coming to in the water] Uhn... Kirsche, watch over Jing... for me...
Arak: [floating on his back in the Sea as the rain slowly stops]
Jing: After all... this Sea is everyone's birthplace... everyone's mother... right?
And the clouds clear.
Come on over, Kirsche... the wind feels great!!
Kirsche: [leans against Jing's shoulder] ...not even God Himself.
[and the Coeur sails away into the sunset... and elsewhere in the water, a little dot resolves itself to be the heart robot, floating in the Sea]
Robot: Pico! Pico! Pico!