Breaking Barriers
Mercury succeeded in defending Saint Lotier, but at terrible personal cost. Though not fatal, the damage she suffered would require an extended period of convalescence by the sea to recover.
Humanoid Mercury: How lovely the glittering tides are. I'm tempted to slip back into my old form and go for a nice, long dive.
Humanoid Mercury: But... I'll resist for now. I'm under doctor's orders to stay in human form to speed my recovery along.
Humanoid Mercury: I can't very well ignore Simurgh's advice after she came all this way to treat me.
???: Indeed. Rest yourself, Waterwyrm. That is your duty now.
Midgardsormr: I heard of what transpired in Saint Lotier. Have you no sense at all? Surely you knew what would befall you by acting so rashly.
Midgardsormr: I am aware of your fondness for the city. Even so, I cannot endorse any behavior that would cause our master grief.
Humanoid Mercury: Windwyrm... It is as you say. I make no excuses for my selfishly unleashing that power.
Midgardsormr: As long as you understand. Still, what moved you to such lengths?
Midgardsormr: Depending on your answer, I may need to deliver quite the lecture. Well?
Humanoid Mercury: I... I was...
???: Now wait just a gosh darned minute! What are you thinking, barking at her like that while she's still on the mend?
Siren: Less yelling, more get-well-ing. Here, Mercury, this is for you!
Humanoid Mercury: Goodness, even Siren is here! What's all this you've brought?
Siren: A whole bunch of get-well-soon gifts! ☆ Everyone back at the Halidom sent me off with them to help cheer you up.
Humanoid Mercury: There's so much here. Flowers, letters, an embroidered handkerchief... And is this a new line of cosmetics?
Humanoid Mercury: Could these all be from the people I started getting to know recently?
Siren: Ding ding ding! They're all worried sick for their new bestie.
Midgardsormr: To think you would adopt human form and grow close enough to be called a friend... Is this related to your present plight, then?
Humanoid Mercury: Yes. As I mingled among them, they taught me to see mankind not as a race, but as individuals, each of them unique.
Humanoid Mercury: Though they may be frail of body, I learned that man is a courageous animal, every bit capable of standing up to stronger foes.
Humanoid Mercury: That we dragons needn't foist our one-sided protection upon them. I felt like...a mother watching her chicks fly from the nest.
Humanoid Mercury: But even so, I could not stop myself from acting to aid them. To keep them safe.
Midgardsormr: I see. And so, caught in that contradiction, your urge to protect them took precedence over all else, and this was the result.
Humanoid Mercury: Yes. Exactly that. ...Tell me something, Windwyrm.
Humanoid Mercury: Am I wrong as a mighty dragon to harbor protectiveness for these fragile humans?
Midgardsormr: That is—
Siren: Um. UM. UH-OH!
Siren: SUPER sorry to interrupt what sounds like a serious conversation, but we've got a problem!
Midgardsormr: What is it, Siren?
Siren: The fishies just told me the imperial forces are back at it, in the city!
Humanoid Mercury: They've returned to Saint Lotier?! No... I must go.
Midgardsormr: Waterwyrm, wait! You've not yet healed.
Siren: You think she's gonna listen? Her home's under attack! We've gotta go after her, Midgardsormr!
Imperial Commander: Go! March on Saint Lotier and show these fools what becomes of any who defy the Empire!
Imperial Soldier: Yes, sir!
Humanoid Mercury: Not once, but twice you insist on this foolishness. You will rue this day. Face judgment at the hands of my true form!
Imperial Commander: The dragons are here! Concentrate your fire, men! Pin them down!
Siren: Not happening, pal! Take this! ☆
Midgardsormr: I shall lend a hand. Hrah!
Mercury: And I will finish this! Water, heed—ngah?!
Siren: MERCURY! Talk to me, girl!
Mercury: Ngh... I just moved too quickly. I seem to have reopened my wound...
Imperial Soldier: Look there! The guardian dragon's still weak from before!
Imperial Soldier: Ignore the other beasts! All units, fire on the water dragon! Finish her off!
Midgardsormr: No! Waterwyrm, fall back behind us!
Both Dragons: Rgh!
Mercury: Windwyrm! Siren!
Imperial Soldier: Good. Those two can't fight back while carrying that much dead weight. Convene on them now! All units, forward!
Mercury: No, they're coming this way! We need to— Hnngh! Argh...!
Mercury: (My body won't listen! I'm trying to move, but something cold and frightful grips my heart. Is this...fear?)
Imperial Soldier: This ends here and now!
Mercury: Do humans all march into battle with this sensation in their breast? It's crushing...
Mercury: Yet those men stood before me as my shield that day. Their courage is nothing short of heroic.
Mercury: Brave humans, you are anything but weak. How could I overlook such strength all this time?
Imperial Soldier: DIE, DRAGON!
Euden: Not today!
Euden: Mercury, are you all right?!
Mercury: My lord! Why are you here?!
Euden: Midgardsormr informed me of what was happening here. Come, we'll drive them back together.
Euden: Have no fear. You're not alone. Look at all the people who've come running to assist you!
Saint Lotier Soldiers: Guardian dragon! This time, allow us to fight by your side!
Mercury: Brave heroes... Yes. I understand. Let us defend our city together—man and dragon, hand in hand!
Everyone: YEAAAH!
Siren: Whew, that's the last of 'em cleaned up! I tried to make it hurt JUST enough to make them think twice about coming back.
Midgardsormr: I question their capacity to learn, but at the very least they now know they cannot hope to take the city easily.
Midgardsormr: Not now that they've seen the strength of a city defended by..."man and dragon, hand in hand," was it?
Humanoid Mercury: Indeed. I feel I've only just now come to understand what it really means to coexist.
Humanoid Mercury: To acknowledge each other's strengths and weaknesses both, to bolster the former and complement the latter. As we did today.
Midgardsormr: I see. Incidentally, Waterwyrm...
Midgardsormr: Before the battle, you posed me a query. You asked whether it was wrong to feel protective of humans, as a mightier being.
Humanoid Mercury: I did.
Midgardsormr: I suspect you've already surmised my answer, but I will tender it just the same: absolutely not.
Midgardsormr: It is simple fact that dragons are stronger than men. That the strong ought to protect the weak is a part of the natural order.
Midgardsormr: But the wounds you bear are the result of a different emotion. You wished to defend them not as a dragon, but as an individual.
Humanoid Mercury: I...suppose you're right. For that, I am truly—
Midgardsormr: And that is not a mistake, either. Whatever your emotions at the time, you sought to keep the people of this city safe.
Humanoid Mercury: —sorry...? Er. Wait. You would not condemn me?
Midgardsormr: The people of Saint Lotier love you, their guardian dragon. I think that is answer enough to all your questions.
Siren: Agreed! Dragon's duty or personal feelings, they're both the same warm desire to keep your peeps safe. They're both right!
Siren: Ooh, but I still think you're really amazing for asking the tough questions about your own motivations, though! Mad respect!
Humanoid Mercury: You truly think so?
Siren: I truly do! Most dragons would never even think of that stuff, honestly. I never have, at least!
Siren: Having that doubt is proof you're thinking about humans from their own perspective after really getting to know them.
Humanoid Mercury: Because I finally cast away my preconceptions and decided to actually learn about them, you mean?
Humanoid Mercury: Ha ha... Then perhaps I really have grown somewhat from this experience.
Midgardsormr: A noble pursuit. And a fine result, what's more.
Humanoid Mercury: I have the people of the Halidom, who opened their hearts and lives to me, to thank for it all.
Humanoid Mercury: Now, I need to recover as quickly as I'm able...so that I can go and thank them properly in person.
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