Confidential

By: Team Maki

Difficulty: ***

Salutations, my fellow explorers.

I would prefer not to disturb your schedules, but this is a mission Kina and I cannot complete alone.

We'll be near the bridge to the Ant Palace, for those willing to hear us out.

Best regards, Maki.

.

To help Maki's team, Team Snakemouth must travel to a secluded part of the Far Grasslands.

Hopefully, they won't keep him waiting for long!

.

The mission's complete, and Yin's an adult now!

Even so, it seems Maki wishes to spar? He'll be waiting near the Ant Palace's bridge...

Ant Palace, Bridge

[Spy before talking]

Kabbu: Sir Maki, Kina and Yin!

Leif: Yup. Let's see what's up.

Maki: Team Snakemouth. I was hoping you would be the ones to take my request.

Vi: What's up with Yin?

Leif: She's become a pupa?

Kina: Ugh, yeah. After the ceremony she just...woke up like this.

Kabbu: She should mature soon, then!

Maki: I doubt it. You see, I've been researching Yin…

Maki: In the first place, she shouldn't have been a caterpillar for so long.

Leif: Are you worried she'll get stuck as a pupa?

(minibubble) Kina: I wish.

Maki: Yeah. But I've got a theory.

Maki: After you enter the Far Grasslands, head west and then keep walking north.

Maki: I'll explain everything there.

Vi: Gotcha. We'll meet up there!

Kina: *Sigh* Don't keep us waiting, okay?

Far Grasslands, Clearing

[Overworld Spy]

Kabbu: Sir Maki's here. Let us help Yin out however we can!

Kina: Hurry up... I want to get out of here...

Maki: Thanks for meeting me here. I'll explain when you're ready...are you?

Textbox: Yes

No

[No]

Maki: I understand. Come back when you are ready.

[Yes]

Kina: So what's the big plan?

Maki: Yin brought me here once. I believe it's where she was born.

Maki: She may have been waiting to come back to mature…

Leif: Is there any basis for that?

Maki: ...Well, no. But trust me on this one.

Kabbu: That we will. But why did you require our assistance?

Vi: Yeah. You made it here all by your- Aw crud!

Maki: For I suspected this might happen!

Vi: You could've told us before!

Kina: Maki, explaining his plans? Please…

Maki: Not now, Kina!

Leif: They were probably attracted by the energy Yin's giving off.

Maki: Don't let them get near Yin! We must protect her until she pupates!

Kabbu: Team, let us stop them!

[post-battle]

Kabbu: Oof. Seems we managed to ward them off.

Yin: …

Yin: ...Ma...M-Maki...!

Maki: Yin, you know my name?

Kina: Oh, great. She can talk now…

Yin: N...Nice to me...meet you!

Kabbu: A-Aww! Nice to meet you too!

Maki: Thank you, Team Snakemouth. You helped me keep her safe.

Vi: Yin's our friend too! It's fine!

Leif: She's got quite potent magic...wonder what'll come of it.

Yin: Ma...magic!

Kina: ...Well...back to the castle with us. Right, brother?

Maki: Not yet. First, let me reward you for everything you've done.

Kabbu: S-Sir Maki! These items are…

Maki: About the least I could give you, don't worry.

Leif: We'll make good use of them.

Maki: Is that so? Well, we've been looking for sparring partners.

Vi: Huh? Like...fight you for real?

Kina: Yeah. Brother needs some real challengers!

Maki: If you're interested...you know where to find us.

Leif: Uh, not really. You're always moving around…

Maki: ...The Ant Palace's bridge.

Kabbu: W-We'll think about it!

Yin: By...by-bye!

[Overworld Spy, post-quest]

Leif: We'd always felt some magic here, but…

Vi: Didn't expect it to be cuz of Yin, right?

(minibubble) Leif: Mhm.

Kabbu: I do wonder where Yin's parents went, though...?

Ant Palace, Bridge

Yin: Go...Good morning! Thanks...for h-help!

[Spy Yin]

Kabbu: Yin's such a good girl! ...Must we fight her?

Vi: She's gotta learn somewhere!

Leif: She radiates magic, too. She won't be a pushover.

Kabbu: Even though she's so young...?

Kina: Yin's not that annoying when you can understand her…

Kina: D-Don't tell her I said that!!!

[Spy Kina]

Leif: Seems Kina and Maki finally stopped splitting up.

Vi: And she doesn't make the scary faces anymore!

Kabbu: I'm still relieved nothing happened to Maki in the Far Grasslands…

Kabbu: The massive guilt aside, Kina would've...*Gulp*

[Spy Maki]

Kabbu: Getting to fight Sir Maki is the greatest of honors!

Vi: Heheh. Especially after that test of his!

Leif: We missed that test. What was it?

Kabbu: Sir Maki took both Vi and I on his own, without breaking a sweat!

Vi: ...And then he just said "you pass". Grr!

Leif: Hm. It's payback time, then. We'll support you.

[first talk]

Maki: Ah, you came. Let me thank you for your help once more.

Leif: You've helped us plenty. Let's say we're even.

Kabbu: You mentioned sparring back in the Far Grasslands…

(minibubble) Vi :...

Maki: One must face worthy opponents, or become rusty.

Maki: It'd be an honor to face Team Snakemouth's might.

Vi: Heh. You sure you wanna fight!? We took down the Wasp King, y'know!?

(minibubble) Kina: So what!?

Maki: It's true that I wasn't lucky enough to hold a Flame Brooch.

Leif: Hmph. Did she hurt your ego?

Kabbu: E-Everyone, this is a friendly sparring match…

Maki: ...Yes. A "friendly sparring match". Let me know when you're prepared for it.

(minibubble) Kabbu: Gulp...

[subsequent talks]

Maki: Would you like to spar? Be careful, though. We won't hold back.

Textbox: Yes

No

[if you beat Kina then Yin]

Kina: W-WHAT!? You're powering up 'cuz YIN went down!?

Kina: WHAT ABOUT ME!? GRRRRRR...!

Maki: I-It's not like that, Kina... Yin's barely an adult!

[before their dual attack]

Maki: Kina! With me!

[lose]

Maki: A fair effort, Team Snakemouth.

Leif: Unbelievable…

Maki: You can challenge us again...when you feel you're up to par.

[win, first time]

Maki: Incredible...I must admit it, you're all incredibly strong.

Kina: Bleh...I couldn't impress Maki…

Yin: You di...did good, K-Kina!

(minibubble) Kina: ...

Vi: Y-You're strong too, wow!

Leif: It was our honor.

Kabbu: I...I feel like we're truly equal explorers now!

Maki: That's one way to look at it.

Maki: You probably spent a lot of items in that battle...use this to replenish your inventory.

Maki: If you ever want to spar again, let us know. We've learned quite a bit.

Vi: You got it!

[win again]

Maki: Tch. We were so close…

Kabbu: It will be an honor to let you try again, Sir Maki!

Leif: Heh, Kabbu can be savage without noticing…

Maki: ...Here, this is for all the items you've spent.