A few days later
Boulderer village
Linn, Tomo, and Yuzu had reached Boulderer village.
''So this is Boulderer village?'' Linn said. Linn took in the appearance of the village. It was a small village with boulder-shaped houses, rocks of various shapes laid out everywhere, a clock tower in the middle, and a river could be seen on the left side of the village.
''How aptly named…'' Linn said sweat dropping.
''I'll say…'' Tomodachi said, also sweat dropping.
''Boulderer is one of the few unique villages in Seren,'' Yuzu explained. ''They mostly keep to themselves, and they love rocks, as you can see.''
''I see'' Linn nodded.
''I have a question,'' Tomo said. Linn and Yuzu turn towards Tomo.
''What is it, boy?'' Linn replied.
''Assuming Kaila and Erica aren't here, where do we go next? There doesn't seem to be any villages near here.''
''That's simple'' Yuzu smiled. Yuzu pointed to the river. ''We find a boat and sail up the river, that should lead us to a forest area. After that, we should be two miles away from the next village.''
''I just hope Kaila and Erica are here so we don't have to go through that,'' Linn said, somewhat down.
''What's wrong, master?'' Tomo asked, worried.
''It's just we've been in this world for a while, and still no sign of the girls. I can't help but worry,'' Linn said, saddened.
Tomo patted his master's shoulder. ''it's alright, master, we will find the girls soon.''
Linn looked at Tomo and smiled. ''Yeah, I can't give up yet; I have to keep believing-
''KYAHH!'' Yuzu screamed all of a sudden. Linn and Tomo facefaults.
''Yuzu?! What's wrong?!'' Linn asked worriedly as Tomodachi tried to get the ringing out of his ears.
''T-t-that!'' Yuzu panicked as she pointed to what seemed to be a bulletin board in front of the village. Linn and Tomo stare at the bulletin board.
''Uh…'' Linn sweatdropped.
''Are you afraid of bulletin boards or something?'' Tomo deadpanned.
Yuzu scoffs ''No, dummy! What's on the bulletin board!''
Linn and Tomodachi examined the bulletin board. They found a poorly drawn picture of Linn on a wanted poster.
Linn sweatdropped again. "Is that supposed to be me?"
"You think with all the 'power and resources' the empire has, they would find a better artist," Tomo said.
Linn took the poster off the bulletin board and looked closer. "People aren't going to believe that's me," Linn stated.
" I don't know, master," Tomo smirked. "Now that I get a closer look at it, it's a splitting image of you," Tomodachi teased.
"Very funny, Tomo," Linn deadpanned.
''You guys! This is serious!'' Yuzu said, panicking. ''The empire has issued a wanted poster for you that means they'll be coming after you!'' Yuzu begins pacing back and forth. ''And not just the empire, bounty hunters, mercenaries, bandits, even civilians might come after you! You'll never have time to rest, eat, or sleep; you'll always be on the run! What are we going to do?!''
''You know if you're scared, you can always leave,'' Tomo deadpanned.
Yuzu pinched Tomo's cheeks. ''Stop trying to get rid of me, would you?!'' She said with an angry tick mark on her head. Linn sweatdropped at the scene.
''Hey now its fine'' Linn reassured ''I'll handle whatever they throw at me.''
''But…'' Yuzu said, concerned. Tomo patted Yuzu's head.
''It's ok, have more faith in the master,'' Tomo smiled. Yuzu smiled back.
''Ok, I will!'' Yuzu said. Linn smiled.
''Ok then, let's head into the village.''
Yuzu and Tomo nodded as the three entered the village. Once they are in the town, they notice something strange.
''Where is everyone?'' Linn said, noticing the lack of people.
''I don't know,'' Yuzu said.
''It's like a ghost town,'' Linn said. ''Are you sure this place isn't abandoned?''
''I'm sure people were living here before,'' Yuzu explained.
Tomo sniffed the area ''I'm picking up some scents.''
''Did you find anything, boy?'' Linn asked.
''It seems that there were people here until recently. I'm also sensing fear and anxiety through all the houses.''
''That means…'' Linn said. Tomo nodded.
''There are people here; they are hiding in the houses.''
''Why'' Yuzu asked.
''I don't know, but I do know that they are afraid of something,'' Tomo replied.
''Hmm,'' Linn and the gang pondered this; a voice could be heard just then.
''Hey, what are you guys doing?! It's dangerous out there! get in here!'' Somebody shouted.
The gang turned to the sound of the voice to find a middle-aged man waving them to come here.
''Somebody's here!'' Yuzu gasped.
''He seems to be beckoning us to go over there. what shall we do, master?'' Tomodachi asked.
''I guess we'll see what he wants,'' Linn said. The trio head to the direction of the man. Once they reached their destination, the man grabbed all three of them and hauled them inside.
000
Random House
The trio collapses in a heap on the ground as the man begins locking the door.
''Ow! What the heck, mister?!'' Linn said, rubbing his head. The man glared at the trio.
''I should be asking you that''! The man said sternly, ''Didn't the mayor tell you that it's dangerous to be outside right now?!''
The gang simply stared and blinked, feeling confused. Suddenly, a woman in a green gown appeared.
''Honey, who are you yelling at?'' The woman said. the man turned towards the woman and pointed at the gang.
''These guys! They are disobeying the outside rules!'' the man said
The women got a good look at the gang. She sighed and turned to the man.
''Honey, do these children look like they're from our village?''
The man blinked. ''Aren't they?''
The woman sighed again. ''You know everybody in the village. Do these children look familiar to you?''
The man put a hand to his chin and looked at the group.'' hmm, now that you mention it…'' he continued to look. He then gasped and pointed at the group. ''Wait a second! I don't know you! Who are you people?!''
The group sweatdropped.
000
The man, the trio, and the woman were seated at a table. The woman served tea to everyone before taking a seat next to the man.
''I must apologize to you all,'' the woman said. ''My husband tends to act before he thinks.'' she glared at the man. The man whistles innocently.
''It's ok,'' Yuzu said, sipping her tea. ''I know the feeling, trust me,'' Linn sweatdropped.
'Why do I get the feeling she's referring to me?' Linn thought.
''Anyway, what exactly is going on in this town?'' Tomo asked ''I sense high fear and anxiety from all of you.''
The woman sighed. ''It's as you see, we have all been ordered to stay inside our homes.''
''But why?'' Linn asked.
''We are being attacked and threatened by an evil individual that has taken this village hostage,'' the woman said.
''WHAT?!'' The three said simultaneously.
''Yea,'' the man said. ''Worst of all, he has been taking all the children of our village too.''
''N-no way…''Yuzu said, shocked.
''Are you serious?!'' Linn questioned, angrily.
''Yes,'' the woman said. ''our own daughter has recently gone missing. We assume that she has been kidnapped.''
''What does he want with these children?'' Yuzu asked.
''And why are you guys just standing in your houses doing nothing?'' Tomo added.
''You think we haven't been trying?!'' The man snarled. ''We tried to fight back, but we all got taken down individually. He was too strong. We eventually decided to stay inside and let him do what he wanted with this village.''
''So you're just going to give up?! And let this jerk keep running your lives?!'' Linn yells angrily.
''What choice do we have?!'' The man argued back ''we don't know where he is or where he came from. He has our children held hostage; there's nothing we can do!''
''Linn! Calm down!'' Yuzu urged.
''You too dear.'' The woman said.
Both of them calmed down. After a while, Linn stood up.
''Well, whoever this guy is, I won't sit here and let him do what he wants with this village. I'll find him and take him down!'' Linn said, determined.
The man scoffed. ''oh please, he has taken out grown men; what can a little boy do?''
''At least I'm doing something; as a hero, I can't let this guy get away with this!'' Linn tried to head to the door.
''Hold on, master. I understand you're angry, but we can't rush out without a plan,'' Tomodachi said.
''He's right, Linn,'' Yuzu agreed. ''We don't know where he is or what he looks like yet.''
''Good point…'' Linn said. He went back to the group.
''So then miss um… Yuzu said, addressing the woman.
The woman smiled. ''My name is Delilah, and this is my husband Darren.'' The man named Darren waved.
''Right Delilah-San,'' Yuzu said. ''Do you know where we can find this man or any info about him?''
''All that I know is that he comes when the clock rings and a child is present,'' Delilah said.
''How precise…'' Linn sweatdropped.
Tomo was thinking, ''We can use that to our advantage.''
''What do you mean, boy?'' Linn said, puzzled.
''We get him to come to this village, kidnap a child, and have him lead us to where he's keeping the children, then we surprise attack him and rescue the kids.''
''I'm not sure I like that plan…'' Linn said, worried.
''Not to mention, our daughter was the last child in our village we don't have anymore,'' Delilah said.''
''Don't worry, '' Tomo said ''leave everything to me"
''Ok…'' Linn said, still worried.
Tomo turns to the couple. ''When does the clock ring?''
Delilah looked out the window and checked the clock tower.
''Five minutes…'' Delilah said.
''Already?!'' Linn said, surprised.
''Perfect. We don't have to wait then,'' Tomo said.
Yuzu turned to Tomo and put her hands on her hips ''Tomo-chan, you heard Delilah-San, no children are left. Where are we going to find a child at this time?''
Everybody stared at Yuzu.
'' …What?'' Yuzu cocked her head.
000
Yuzu stands in front of the clock tower with an annoyed look. Linn, Tomo, Delilah, and Darren are all hiding on the side of the house.
''OK, Yuzu'' Tomo called out ''stand there and look pretty! you're doing great!''
'Tomo, if I make it out of this unharmed, you are so grounded,' Yuzu thought with an angry tick mark on her forehead.
Linn looked on nervously ''I'm still not sure about this, Tomo.''
''It's fine, master. If what these guys have told us is true, I don't see how this could fail,'' Tomo assured. ''Is the clock ready to go off yet?''
''Yes'' Delilah replied ''in a few seconds.''
''Don't say we didn't warn you,'' Darren said.
A few seconds later, the clock rings, and Yuzu nervously grips the hem of her hoodie while everybody else stands alert, waiting to see what happens. Just then, thunderous footsteps can be heard at the entrance. They get louder as the thing gets closer. At last, the thing appears in front of Yuzu. Yuzu stares in shock at the thing that is now standing in front of her. It was a tan-skinned man over 7 feet tall, with spiky hair that stood upright. He only wears black pants and dress shoes and no shirt showing off his six-pack abs and huge muscles.
Linn and Tomo stare in shock at the massive man.
''Wow, he's huge!'' Linn said in awe.
Tomo was speechless, his jaw hitting the floor. He turned to Delilah and pointed at the man.
''YOU DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT HIM BEING A GIANT!!'' Tomo shouted.
''Oh dear, did I forget to mention that part?'' She said, cocking her head innocently.
Tomo sighed, exasperated, while Linn looked at Tomo with worry.
'What's wrong, Tomo?'' Linn asked.
''It's nothing, master,'' Tomo replied.'' Granted, he wasn't what I was expecting, but this might still work if Yuzu plays her part.''
Speaking of Yuzu, she gazes up at the giant with a mix of awe and fear, while the giant looks back and forth.
Yuzu just stands there, unsure of what to do next. She looks towards the group. Tomo gestures for her to introduce herself. Yuzu nods.
''Um, hi there,'' Yuzu said to the giant. The giant didn't respond.
''Excuse me?'' Yuzu said more forcefully. The giant said nothing. Yuzu had an angry tick mark on her head.
''HEY!'' Yuzu screamed.
The giant looked back and forth for the sound of the voice.
"DOWN HERE!" Yuzu shouted.
The giant looked down at Yuzu and raised his eyebrows.
"Who are you?" The giant said.
"Who me? I'm just an innocent child just standing here, hahaha…'' Yuzu said nervously.
The giant stared at Yuzu, then sighed and walked away, leaving Yuzu, Linn, and Tomo shocked.
"Wait, what's going on?'' Linn questioned.
"Shouldn't he be kidnapping her by now?" Tomo asked.
"Oh dear, this is new to me," Delilah said.
''Me too," Darren added.
"Wait!" Yuzu called out.
"What?" The giant said, annoyed.
"Uh, look at me. I'm a cute and innocent child. I hope I don't get kidnapped." Yuzu smiled weakly, doing a cute pose. The giant just stared, confused.
"Look, kid, I don't know what you heard about me, but let's get one thing straight. I'm not into kids, especially a little boy like you."
Yuzu froze in place.
"B-b-b-boy…?!"Yuzu said, eyes twitching.
"Uh oh, I don't like the look in her eyes'' Linn said, scared.
"Darn it, Yuzu, whatever you do, don't…" Tomo begins to say.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A BOY?!?!"
"…Snap," Tomo sighed.
The giant was taken aback by the shout, "What's wrong with you?"
Yuzu took her scolding stance ''WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?! WHAT WRONG WITH YOU?! WHAT PART OF ME LOOKS LIKE A BOY TO YOU?!''
''Wow, Yuzu's really upset about being mistaken for a boy,'' Linn said, eyes widening.
''To be honest, master, I also kinda thought she was a boy at first, too,'' Tomo said.
''Wait, she's a girl??'' Darren said. Delilah facepalmed.
Yuzu continued her rant ''AND ANOTHER THING: HOW COULD YOU KIDNAP CHILDREN AND THREATENED THIS VILLAGE AND ITS VILLAGERS?! DON'T YOU HAVE ANY SHAME?! AND BLAH BLAH BLAH….
Yuzu nagged on and on, and the giant got angrier and angrier. Tomo's ears perked up.
''Master! I'm sensing hostility from the giant,'' Tomo said.
''What?!'' Linn said ''that means Yuzu's in trouble.'' Linn rushed out of the hiding spot. The giant raised his massive hand in a karate chop motion.
''SHUT UP ALREADY!'' The giant yelled as he was bringing it down to strike Yuzu.
''Huh?'' Yuzu stopped to see the hand coming closer. Just then, Linn grabbed Yuzu and dodged out of the way of the chop.
''Linn!'' Yuzu called out, surprised.
''You ok?'' Linn asked. Yuzu nodded as Linn put her down. Tomodachi approached the two.
''Well, there goes that plan; good job, Yuzu,'' Tomo said sarcastically. Yuzu replied by bonking him with her ladle.
''Don't blame me, mister; this was a stupid plan anyway,'' Yuzu said.
Linn chuckled ''she got you there, boy; we should have just confronted him from the beginning.''
''Well sorrry for making our lives easier'' Tomo said, rubbing his head and rolling his eyes. The giant stood in front of the gang.
''Who are you brats, and what do you want with me?'' The giant said.
''I'm Linn Tsukiyomi, the hero,'' Linn proclaimed, ''And we want you to stop terrorizing this village and return the children you kidnapped.''
The giant sneered ''Look, kid, I don't have time to play with you. I need to talk to the mayor of this village. And you guys are in my way.''
''We are not moving until you return those children,'' Linn said, determined.
''Fine, then I'll just move you by force,'' the giant said, getting into a battle stance.
''Fine by me'' Linn said, getting into a battle stance. Yuzu stands next to Linn, ladle in hand in a battle stance.
''Yuzu?'' Linn turned to her confused.
''I'm fighting too'' Yuzu stated ''I can't let him get away with kidnapping children and terrorizing this village.''
''I see'' Linn smiled.
''Plus…'' Yuzu said.
''Plus?'' Linn questioned.
Yuzu growled ''he had the nerve to call me a boy. A BOY! A thousand spankings would not be enough of a punishment for that!'' Yuzu had a fiery aura around her and fire in her eyes. Linn and Tomodachi sweatdropped
''Master, are we sure about this? We have never faced an opponent like this,'' Tomo said.
''We won't know until we try,'' Linn said.
''But…'' Tomo hesitated.
''If you're scared you can always leave'' Yuzu smirked.
''Ha ha very funny'' Tomodachi deadpanned. He then took a battle stance ''I'm in too let's just hope we don't regret this''
Linn and Yuzu smiled at Tomo and then glared at the giant. The three charged at the giant as the giant prepared himself. Linn threw a punch at the giant stomach while Yuzu swung her ladle diagonally down aiming for his leg. Tomodachi opened his mouth to take a bite of the giant's other leg. All three attacks connected as the giant grunted in pain. The giant delivers a karate chop to Linn as Linn dodges out of the way.
He does the same to Yuzu and Tomo both dodge out of the way as well. Yuzu jumps to the giant level and swings her ladle downward but the giant grabs the ladle with Yuzu still hanging on and tosses her to one side. Tomo tried to claw at the giant but the giant was faster and delivered a punch to Tomo's sternum. Linn does a jumping shoulder block to the giant but the giant simply puts his shoulder out. Linn collides with the shoulder and lands painfully on the ground.
The giant then tries to stomp on Linn's chest but Linn grabs his feet but it is in vain as the giant merely powers out of Linn's grip and stomps on Linn's chest. He stomps Linn repeatedly; his heavy boot collides with Linn's small chest causing Linn to cough up blood.
'My vision fading' Linn thought 'Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.'
The giant continued as Linn began to fade in and out of concussion. Just then Yuzu appears and jumps onto the giant's back.
"Leave my baby alone!!" Yuzu yells as she climbs on top of the giant and puts him in a headlock.
"Yuzu!" Linn said surprised. The giant struggled to breathe as Yuzu firmly gripped his neck. He then grabbed Yuzu off of him and threw her as hard as he could. Yuzu was sent flying into the window of Delilah and Darren's house.
"YUZU!!" Linn cried out. He stood up and glared at the giant. He charged at him, seeing red, as he delivered a flurry of punches and kicks, overwhelming the giant. The giant powered out of the barrage and attacked Linn with a big boot, knocking Linn to the floor. Before he could capitalize he felt a sudden pain in his nether region as Tomo had just kicked him there.
The giant kneels down in pain holding his nether region. Linn, seeing his chance, got up and picked up the giant over his shoulder in a fire-man carry position. He then tosses the giant over his shoulder. The giant lands with a thud but Linn is not done yet he then flips the giant over, lies on the giant's back, and locks his arms around the giant's head.
''Come on…'' Linn tried to lock his legs with the giant leg but the size difference was too great he couldn't reach the giant legs. Meanwhile, the giant is trying to power out of the move. He tries to get up but he is brought down as Tomo bites down on one of his legs. The giant, undaunted, tries once again to power out of the hold but he is stopped again this time by the reappearance of Yuzu, who is applying an ankle lock on the giant's other leg.
Yuzu and Tomo continue to hold the giant down as Linn chokes the life out of the giant. The giant tries to scramble and fight out of it. After a few minutes in the hold, the giant finally passes out.
The gang got off the giant and sighed in relief.
''We did it!'' Yuzu said, cheering.
''It wasn't easy but we are victorious'' Tomo said, also cheering.
Linn dusted himself off and looked at his two companions.
"Are you two ok? Linn asked worried.
"I'm fine, " Yuzu said, "just a little bruised."
"Same here," Tomo said.
Linn nodded then looked towards the unconscious giant.
"So what do we do with him?"
As the gang pondered this, Delilah and Darren approached them.
''Way to go you three'' Delilah smiled. Darren walked to Linn and slapped his back repeatedly.
''You did it! I can't believe you brought down the giant! It's amazing! you're amazing!'' Darren said excitedly.
''T-thank you sir but you're hurting me…'' Linn said with a strained tone. Darren ignored it and continued.
''Seriously, it was super cool. Where did you learn to fight like that? Can you teach me that and…?'' Darren slapped Linn on the back so hard he knocked him over. Linn's face planted the ground.
''Linn! Master!'' Yuzu and Tomo called out.
''Are you ok, Linn?'' Yuzu asked, worried.
'I'm ok!'' Linn said with swirly eyes as Tomo picked him off the ground.
''I'm so sorry about that!'' Delilah bowed ''My husband's sorry too, RIGHT DEAR?!'' she said angrily pinching his cheek.
''Ow ow yup so swrry won't happen again!'' Darren cried out.
Delilah sighed and let go of his cheeks ''anyway everyone here is grateful for what you guys did.''
''Your welcome'' Linn said ''Wait everyone?''
Linn looked around and noticed all of the villagers had gathered. The villagers stare in awe at the gang. The mayor of the village walked in front of the group. He is an average-looking man with a boulder-shaped head.
''I must thank you for taking care of the giant for us it was a fine battle.''
''Uh you're welcome sir'' Linn said. 'What's wrong with his head?' Linn commented in his head.
The mayor nodded and turned to the villagers. ''We'll take it from here'' Mayer snapped his fingers and all the villagers pulled out all sorts of weapons and objects. They all charged towards the unconscious giant jumping on him, starting a dust cloud fight, pummeling the defenseless giant. The gang sweatdropped.
"Oh sure, attack him now when we did all the work…" Tomo said sarcastically with an angry tick mark.
"Now now…'' Linn said, trying to calm Tomo down.
The villagers tied up the giant and the mayor used smelling salt to wake up the giant.
The giant woke up "What's going on?" The giant said.
The mayor glared "What's going on is that we have beaten you and have taken you hostage. Now we are going to force you to take us to where you have hidden the children of this village.
"Are you the mayor of this village? "The giant asked.
The mayor raised an eyebrow "Yes that's right."
The giant surveyed the villagers and then glanced at the group that had defeated him. He let out a sigh.
"Ok I'll take you to them," the giant said.
"Good," the mayor said "Lead the way"
000
Everybody walked down the path, with the still tied up giant leading the way. The gang followed, just in case the giant did something. The giant led the villagers and the gang to a small hut.
"They're in there" The giant nodded to the hut. The villagers looked at the mayor and the mayor nodded. The villagers run to the hut and bust the hut door down.
"Arnold, are you there?'' a male villager called out.
"Cindy, are you ok? '' a female villager called out.
Everybody was searching for the children when the lights suddenly turned on, and everyone witnessed an interesting sight.
It was all of the village children and there were… having a party?
Two boys played rock-paper-scissors while a girl lounged on a chair, and the rest danced to the music from the band, stunning everyone.
''Uhh, what going on?'' Linn asked. Yuzu and Tomo just looked at each other, not knowing what to say. The male villager approached one of the boys playing Rock Paper Scissors.
"Arnold, what are you doing?'' the male villager said.
"Oh hey pops what are you doing here?" Arnold asked as he threw out rock while the other kid put out paper.
" I win!" the other kid cheered.
"Darn it pops, look what you did, you messed me up!" Arnold growled.
"Oh, I'm sorry?" He apologized, confused. The female villager walked up to the little girl lounging in the beach chair.
"Cindy hon what are you doing?" The female villager asked.
"Oh hello Mother I am just working on my tan," Cindy said.
"I see," said the confused female villager. The kids were still dancing and partying, while the adults looked bewildered. Delilah and Darren made their way through the partying children and spotted their daughter.
"Isabella!" Delilah called out. Isabella turned to the sound of her name, saw her parents, and rushed to them.
"Mommy! Daddy! What are you doing here?" Isabella asked.
"I should be asking you, what are you doing?''' Delilah asked.
"Partying!" Isabella said, smiling.
"Are you having fun?" Darren asked, dumbly. Delilah smacked him in the back of
the head.
"I can see that dear, why are you partying?" Delilah asked.
"Oh hmm" Isabella crossed her arms in a thinking pose.
"I don't know!" She answered cheerfully. The parents' faces faulted. Isabella looked past her parents and spotted the giant.
"HEY EVERYBODY! THE GIANT'S BACK!" Isabella yelled. All of the kids stopped what they were doing and headed for the giant.
"Hey did you get my ball? "Arnold asked.
"And my tanning lotion?" Cindy asked.
"And my dolly!" Isabella asked.
All the children were asking for different things as everyone else just stared in confusion.
The mayor turned to the giant "What exactly is going on here?"
The giant sighed "What do you think is going on?"
The mayor raised an eyebrow "Are you not holding these children hostage?"
"These kids?" The giant looked down at the kids' smiling faces. He turned to everyone.
"I'm their hostage."
A tumbleweed passed through the hut.
"…..EH?!?!" Everyone gasped in shock.
The giant went on to explain that he found this hut during his travels as he was setting up to use it as a travel base. A kid came to the hut and started pestering the giant. The giant, not wanting to deal with it, decided to bring the child back to the village. The giant came to Boulderer village holding the child. The child was making a fuss about not wanting to go back. The giant was trying to calm the child down. Some villagers spotted the giant with the kid and thought the giant had kidnapped them. Before the giant had a chance to explain, they attacked him, the giant having no choice, fought back and ran.
The giant made it back to the hut and was relieved the child was gone. As he was thinking about what to do next, he heard someone say wow, he turned to not only find the child he returned, but They brought friends. This begins the cycle of the giant trying to return the kids, the kids making a fuss alerting the adults, the adults assuming the giant is kidnapping the child, attacking him, and the giant defending himself and returning to the hut only to find more kids following him.
The giant finished his explanation and everybody was left astounded.
''I see'' Linn said.
"So that's what happened," Tomo said.
"It was all a misunderstanding," Yuzu said.
"Yes well," the mayor said, clearing his throat. "this has been an interesting experience, to say the least, but all well that ends well, am I right?" The mayor and the villagers laugh. The gang glared at them, and the mayor and the villagers whistled innocently.
''Hey it's fine" the giant said "They can have the hut, I'll leave but please do one thing for me."
''Yes, what is it ''the mayor said.
"Can you please get these kids to leave me alone?" He said in a strained tone as the kids were still pestering him for things. Everyone sweatdropped.
OOO
Boulderer village
The gang was on a boat in the river as the mayor, Delilah, Darren, and the rest of the village were bidding farewell.
"I must thank you for helping us with our giant problem." The mayor said sincerely.
''Your welcome'' Linn said.
"Although you should probably get your facts straight before assuming the worst" Tomo deadpanned.
Mayor laughed "Yes well what happened, happened, I'm not going to dwell on it."
The gang sweatdropped 'You should feel a little guilty' they all thought.
Delilah and Darren walked up to the gang "I fixed up some of your wounds. Are you sure you don't need more medical attention?"
"We'll be fine" Yuzu reassured "We really need to go so I'll take care of the rest on the way"
"All right if you're sure," Delilah said. Darren turned to Linn.
"Hey I know we got off on the wrong foot but I do appreciate you helping us even though I was acting like a jackass," Darren said.
''It's no problem" Linn reassured ''I want to be a hero and heroes help people no matter what.''
Darren smiled and put his hand out ''well good luck with whatever you're doing.''
''Thank you'' Linn smiled and grabbed Darren's outstretched hand and shook it.
''By the way,'' Darren asked, still gripping Linn's hand.
''Yea?'' Linn questioned, confused.
''The way you fought the giant was amazing. How did you do those moves? They were so cool you were awesome and-.''
Darren bombarded Linn with questions and praise, enthusiastically shaking Linn's hand and pulling them so hard that Linn fell off the boat.
''Master!/Linn!'' Tomo and Yuzu said. Tomo pulled Linn out of the water and into the boat.
''Are you ok, Linn?'' Yuzu asked, worried.
''I-I'm fine wet but fine'' Linn said.
''I'm so sorry!'' Delilah bowed ''my husband's also sorry, isn't that right, dear?!'' she glared at Darren, pinching his cheek.
''Yup, yup, so sorry!'' Darren cried out in pain. The mayor laughed.
The mayor made his way to Linn ''by the way Linn?'' the mayor asked.
''Yes sir?'' Linn replied.
''I couldn't help but notice that you look remarkably like the wanted poster on the bulletin board.'' the mayor whispered.
Linn began sweating. ''N-no, that's totally a different person,'' Linn said.
''Relax,'' the mayor chuckled as he took out the wanted poster. ''Normally, as the mayor, I should report you to the empire, but oops,'' he rips the wanted poster. ''The wanted poster suddenly ripped, so now I can't tell if you're the same person. Woe is me. ''
''T-thank you sir!'' Linn beamed.
The mayor winks ''no problem, but you should get out of here and lay low. You never know when the empire will show up.''
''I will'' Linn said.
The mayor, the couple, and the villagers wave goodbye as the gang rows through the river, leaving the village and continuing their journey.
''Isn't this great, Linn?'' Yuzu said, paddling ''we managed to help the village, and they didn't report you to the empire, and now we are just here sailing towards our next adventure. Isn't life great?'' Yuzu sighed happily. Linn sweatdropped.
''That's great Yuzu but…'' Linn said, nervously.
''Hmm, what's wrong, Linn?'' Yuzu asked.
''Well, it's just uh,'' Linn said nervously, looking to his right.
''Hmm?'' Yuzu said.
''Why is he with us?'' Tomodachi asked, pointing to a figure on the boat. Said figure is the giant still tied up.
''That's what I want to know,'' the giant said, just as confused.
''All will be answered once we make it to shore,'' Yuzu giggled.
The boys glanced at each other, pondering what was going through the little girl's mind.