act20side

Stitch, you're here!

Want to try out the slide with the downstream speed set to max? It wears the equipment out, so we don't usually get to do it.

I just tried it a couple times with Elysium. It was amazingly fast!

It does hurt a little when you hit the water, though. Still, wanna try?

No, thanks. I'm not one bit interested in fun and games like...

Whooo! Bombs away!

Catch, my brother! This impact force is on another level! Did you see how high that splash went?!

Maybe we should try something different. Say... see which of us can land with the tiniest splash?

Keep the splashes small? Good idea! Sounds like it won't hurt nearly as bad.

My sand castle...

(Hey, uh, Catch, did we perhaps... screw up?)

(Uh, even though this is Stitch we're talking about, he can't possibly be mad over a sand castle, right?)

(He seems rather angry to me, though.)

(In that case, we should probably...)

Hey, where are you two going? You're just going to run? Get back here!

Yep, you did very well getting everyone going.

I have your video tapes to thank. That's where I picked it up.

Next, we can hold a series of contests to keep the enthusiasm that goes with this 'championship' contest going, then we'll use Catch and Stitch's design contest in a few months to pump everyone up to the max.

We could print some paper slips for the audience to use to show their support for one side, with prizes given to those who pick the right side.

We call those lottery tickets. You're really good at picking things up. Up on the surface, there are merchants who line their pockets by selling them.

We Durins don't much care for money in that way... Let's have the losing side pay for the winners' drinks for a month!

Hm, we could make it two months to make things more exciting, too. We'll have to decide with a referendum.

Later on, perhaps we could issue some more lottery tickets covering how many months' worth of alcohol are owed in the end.

I'm starting to worry about the Zeruertzans' future.

Hm, I'm not used to feeling unhelpful.

What's wrong? Do you have to beat something up to satisfy yourself?

Not really.

Still, if this goes well, Acahualla will get its hands on some Durin. Would've been a totally pointless trip otherwise.

Gavial may have left home a long time ago, but she actually really cares about Acahualla!

Yeah, I've been to so many different places, but the rainforest is the one place where I feel most at home.

Are you going to come back, then?

Not planning on it. Not yet, at least. I still have lots of patients to take care of back at Rhodes Island.

There are plenty of Tiacauh who want you to go back. You could think about becoming their lord ameer, even.

Yeah, and they want bananas to sprout straight out of the soil, too. Can't always get what you want.

Gavial, you would be the most fitting lord ameer for Acahualla. You are the only one who can rein in each and every Tiacauh.

Everyone is awaiting your return.

And if you simply cannot do it, then it's ultimately likely... that a lord ameer from the Court of Sargon will come to govern Acahualla instead.

And when that happens, Acahualla will no longer be the free land you knew.

But don't we already have you for our Great Chief?

There are some things I can't do anything about.

I can come up with ideas to help get us in better shape, but I'm not the one who can really bring the Tiacauh together.

It's not like I'm running away from responsibility here, Inam.

It's just... I haven't thought through how to actually do it.

You know how to think? Color me surprised.

Hey, Zumama, you picking a fight?!

What I'm saying is, you usually do stuff without thinking.

And that's fine when it's just me, but this is about all those Tiacauh...

All good things must come to an end. Isn't that right? So this giant slide will be torn down for something new.

I actually didn't catch much of what you were talking about. All I want to say is, my friends, let me get a picture of all of you together while it's still standing.

Haha, alright, let's toss all this complicated stuff aside for now.

Right now, we gotta have fun!

Tomimi, you gimme a smile, too!

Looks like you've mastered the Durin philosophy.

Well, it's not often we get a vacation. As if I'm gonna waste it!

Well said! Here's to you! How about some berry tomato wine? It's on me.

Nah, I'll have to pass on that.

The demolition explosives have already been set, and the assistant robots have made all the preparations.

Soon, the big water slide that has brought everyone so much joy will be gone without a trace.

But summer must come to an end, and there will no doubt be greater fun in the future.

That's what all the Zeruertzans believe.

Five, four, three, two, one.

The explosion isn't nearly as loud as anyone expects. The slide simply slowly disintegrates.

Or perhaps, a little more poetically, it melts into the water.

My, what a graceful way to disappear.

Here I thought you would pass out from all that drink and miss the demolition.

Haha, I know how to have a good time.

Though, at times like these, I generally keep myself clearheaded.

That's the most basic respect I have for things as they fade away.

Whoa, were you actually a secret genius? That would be such a cheap cliche, even in the Zeruertzan library.

Oh, you little rascal!

Stitch.

Catch...

It's time we got serious. Let's both do our best, fair and square.

Shake hands if you agree?

Alright... Out of the most basic respect for another Zeruertzan.

Say, you two actually get along pretty well, don't you?

What, are you blind?! Where'd you get that idea?

Now, things are going to get real from here on out!

Has Croque been drinking...?

The warm-up of warm-ups, the prelude to preludes! The first season of the Zeruertza Competition Series!

*Drumroll*—Ta-dah! A swimming contest!

How about it?

Without further ado, let's begin the first joint Zeruertza-Acahualla-Rhodes Island swimming competition!

I'm Croque Diamondface, Zeruertza's business representative. This broadcast is brought to you by Deculture Silvermint's newest high-definition camera.

First, let's take a look at the course.

The race will take place on an underground lake that stretches from here, all the way to the tunnel.

Here are the rules:

Anything goes, and whoever gets to the other side of the lake first is the winner!

The winner will get an unlimited supply of my special craft ale for one month!

The Rhodes Island representative is—

The Wind of Iberia, Rhodes Island's sexiest man, Elysium!

What's up, Durins?

Was that introduction why he pulled Croque to the side to talk to her?

The Acahualla representative is—

Gavial!

Go for it, Gavial!

Hey everybody!

And we have a surprise for the Zeruertza representative—

Master Edge, our environment and climate representative!

How did a tunnel survey turn into a swimming competition?