＄91-60-27-01-4-0

[soundStopAll]

[charaSet A 98001000 1 Mash]
[charaSet B 6027000 1 "Wu Zetian"]
[charaSet D 5022001 1 Sanzang]
[charaSet E 5012001 1 Nitocris]
[messageOff]

[charaTalk depthOff]
[charaDepth A 1]
[charaDepth B 1]
[charaDepth D 0]




[soundStopAll]

[fadein black 0.1]
[wait fade]
[effect bit_talk_07]
[se ad12]
[wt 4]

[fadeout white 1]
[wait fade]
[scene 10001]
[wt 1]

[scene 20110]

[charaTalk A]
[charaFace A 12]

[bgm BGM_EVENT_7 0.1]
[fadein white 1]
[wait fade]
[wt 1]



[charaFadein A 0.4 1]
[wt 0.4]

＠Mash
All right, we've Rayshifted to the time and location the letter specified...
[k]

[messageOff]
[charaFadeout A 0.1]
[charaTalk B]
[charaFace B 0]
[charaFadein B 0.1 1]
[wt 1]

？1：Wait. Does this make me an ambassador?
？2：I've read about trips like this in history books!
？！

[charaFace B 1]

＠Wu Zetian
Keh heh heh. That's right! Now that you are working for me, you are officially an ambassador!
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
I remember meeting with a group of ambassadors from Japan. They prostrated themselves to me on behalf of their country to request an audience.
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
Well, ambassadorial visits from Japan began with the Sui dynasty, and Taizong also held audiences with them...
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
At any rate, now do you finally understand how lucky you are to be working for an esteemed empress like myself? Hmm?
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
Go on, you needn't restrain yourself. If you cannot resist the urge to prostrate yourself before me and sing my praises...
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
...or feel overcome by the urge to serve as my chair,[sr]I give you permission to do so.
[k]


[messageOff]
[charaFadeout B 0.1]
[charaTalk D]
[charaFace D 0]
[charaFadein D 0.1 1]
[wt 1]

＠Sanzang
Oh hey, what should I call you, anyway?
[k]

＠Sanzang
Empress Wu? Wu Zhao? ...No, wait, that's your real name, right? Probably wouldn't be proper if I called you that.
[k]

？1：What about Zhaoie?
？2：What about Little Wu?
？！

[charaFadeout D 0.1]
[charaTalk B]
[charaFace B 3]
[charaFadein B 0.1 1]

＠Wu Zetian
Don't be insolent![sr]A noble's name is not to be trifled with!
[k]

[charaFace B 0]

＠Wu Zetian
Hmph... Wu Zetian is what I go by now,[sr]so that will suffice.
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
Of course, I also have many other excellent names, such as Dowager, Empress Dowager, Empress Regnant, Holy Empress Zetian...
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
...so you may use any of those[sr]as well if the mood takes you.
[k]

[charaFadeout B 0.1]
[charaTalk D]
[charaFace D 4]
[charaFadein D 0.1 0]
[charaFace B 0]
[charaFadein B 0.1 2]

＠Sanzang
That's...a lot to keep straight...
[k]

＠Sanzang
They say the name makes the person, so it seems like having too many variations may be a problem.
[k]

[charaFace B 0]

＠Wu Zetian
That is exactly the point. Once you get a better name, you become a better person.
[k]

[charaFace D 1]

＠Sanzang
Oh, yeah, good point![sr]That's a nice way to think about it!
[k]

[charaFace D 0]

＠Sanzang
Still, I think it'd be easier if I go with the same name everyone else is using, so I'll just go with Wu Zetian!
[k]

＠Sanzang
Otherwise, I might mess it up and call you by the name of one of the people I met on my journey to the west!
[k]

[charaFadeout B 0.1]
[charaFadeout D 0.1]
[charaTalk A]
[charaFace A 12]
[charaFadein A 0.1 1]

＠Mash
Um, I'm sorry to interrupt your conversation,[sr]but may I say something?
[k]

[charaFadeout A 0.1]
[charaTalk B]
[charaFace B 0]
[charaFadein B 0.1 1]

＠Wu Zetian
What is it?
[k]

[charaFadeout B 0.1]
[charaTalk A]
[charaFace A 12]
[charaFadein A 0.1 1]

＠Mash
Well, uh, I was wondering if you were doing okay, as we're going deeper and deeper into this cave where it looks like ghosts could pop out at any moment.
[k]


[charaFadeout A 0.1]
[charaTalk B]
[charaFace B 0]
[charaFadein B 0.1 1]

＠Wu Zetian
...
[k]

[charaFace B 5]
＠Wu Zetian
[messageShake 0.01 4 2 0.6]
Why did you say that, you fool!? I was making idle chitchat specifically to avoid thinking about that, and you go and bring it to my attention!?
[k]

[charaFadeout B 0.1]
[charaTalk A]
[charaFace A 14]
[charaFadein A 0.1 1]

＠Mash
Oh, gosh, you're right. I'm sorry!
[k]

[charaFadeout A 0.1]
[charaTalk B]
[charaFace B 4]
[charaFadein B 0.1 1]

＠Wu Zetian
(Sigh) Now you've got me worrying[sr]about ghosts all over again, Zǐcài...
[k]


＠Wu Zetian
Now that you mention it, it is rather cool and damp in here. It reminds me of a grave.
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
There is no telling when a ghost[sr]could show up unannounced...
[k]

[charaFadeout B 0.1]
[charaTalk E]
[charaFace E 0]
[charaFilter E silhouette 000000]
[charaFadein E 0.1 1]
[bgmStop BGM_EVENT_7 0.1]

＠???
Exactly! Exactly, Chinese Empress!
[k]


[bgm BGM_EVENT_3 0.1]
[charaFadeout E 0.1]
[charaTalk B]
[charaFace B 4]
[charaShake B 0.01 5 3 0.4]
[charaFadein B 0.1 1]


＠Wu Zetian
Aaah! There's one now!
[k]

？1：You...!?
？！


[charaFadeout B 0.1]
[charaFilter E normal FFFFFF]
[charaTalk E]
[charaFace E 2]
[charaFadein E 0.1 1]

＠Nitocris
...I am Pharaoh Nitocris, appearing before you in all my majesty as a goddess of the underworld!
[k]

[charaFadeout E 0.1]
[charaTalk A]
[charaFace A 6]
[charaFadein A 0.1 1]

＠Mash
Nitocris...?
[k]

[charaFadeout A 0.1]
[charaTalk B]
[charaFace B 5]
[charaFadein B 0.1 1]

＠Wu Zetian
Grrr! So YOU wrote that letter!
[k]

[charaFadeout B 0.1]
[charaTalk E]
[charaFace E 0]
[charaFadein E 0.1 1]

＠Nitocris
Just so we are clear up front: no, I did not.
[k]

[charaFadeout E 0.1]
[charaTalk A]
[charaFace A 0]
[charaFadein A 0.1 1]

＠Mash
Then...why are you here?
[k]

[charaFadeout A 0.1]
[charaTalk E]
[charaFace E 7]
[charaFadein E 0.1 1]
＠Nitocris
Well, to be honest, I was hired...because of reasons.
[k]

[charaFace E 9]

＠Nitocris
But don't think that makes me[sr]just another hired Servant!
[k]

＠Nitocris
I'm deadly serious about this, you know. That noble self-restraint... I was moved by their determination to grow in mind, if not in body...!
[k]

[charaFace E 8]

＠Nitocris
Oh, but right. I need to play my part[sr]as the queen of the dead right now.
[k]

[charaFadeout E 0.1]
[charaTalk A]
[charaFace A 12]
[charaFadein A 0.1 1]

＠Mash
...?
[k]

[charaFadeout A 0.1]
[charaTalk E]
[charaFace E 2]
[charaFadein E 0.1 1]

＠Nitocris
Ahem. Empress of the Far East, it is the will of mine own dead that has guided you here.
[k]

＠Nitocris
Be warned that my realm will suffer[sr]no cowards who fear ghosts to pass.
[k]

[charaFadeout E 0.1]
[charaTalk B]
[charaFace B 5]
[charaFadein B 0.1 1]
[charaShake B 0.01 4 2 0.25]

＠Wu Zetian
G-grrr. You know nothing about me![sr]I am not afraid! ...I am not!
[k]

？1：(Is it just me, or do I hear knees knocking?)
？2：(That'd be a lot more convincing if she wasn't literally shaking in her boots.)
？！

[charaFadeout B 0.1]
[charaTalk D]
[charaFace D 0]
[charaFadein D 0.1 1]

＠Sanzang
Yeah, there's nothing to be scared of.[sr]I'm right here, and so's the Buddha's protection!
[k]

[charaFadeout D 0.1]
[charaTalk E]
[charaFace E 9]
[charaFadein E 0.1 1]

＠Nitocris
Hm? And you are...
[k]

[charaFadeout E 0.1]
[charaTalk D]
[charaFace D 0]
[charaFadein D 0.1 1]

＠Sanzang
I'm her travel companion! You know, it's a nice change of pace, me accompanying someone else for once!
[k]

[charaFace D 4]

＠Sanzang
Oh, I should double check. Um...I don't think I can do much about that cute little Medjed...
[k]

＠Sanzang
...but it's okay for me to be[sr]harsh with the other kids, right?
[k]

[charaFadeout D 0.1]
[charaTalk E]
[charaFace E 8]
[charaFadein E 0.1 1]

＠Nitocris
Hm? So you still like to fight with your fists even though you're a Caster, huh?
[k]

[charaFace E 9]

＠Nitocris
Well, if you think you're up to it, you're welcome to try. Just don't expect me to make it easy for you.
[k]

＠Nitocris
If you try to “pet” my darling dead with your thousand-palm slap, I'll just call up another ten thousand spirits from my mirror of darkness.
[k]

？1：So you really are serious about trying to stop us!
？！

[charaFace E 9]

＠Nitocris
Yes, I am. To be frank, I think Xuanzang Sanzang will have a tough time fighting alone.
[k]

＠Nitocris
Hmm. If you want to get past me...I think the empress herself might just have to pitch in.
[k]

＠Nitocris
She may hate dead spirits, but she is possessed of a powerful will. Casting her fears aside and standing tall is the only path forward.
[k]

[charaFadeout E 0.1]
[charaTalk A]
[charaFace A 12]
[charaFadein A 0.1 1]

＠Mash
(Why did she suddenly start giving us tips...?)
[k]

[charaFadeout A 0.1]
[charaTalk B]
[charaFace B 4]
[charaFadein B 0.1 1]

＠Wu Zetian
I-I... I...
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
...
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
(...I can't help but be afraid of ghosts.)
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
(I am all too familiar with the pain of the dead lingering in the palace, their grievances so numerous they can't even begin to give them voice.)
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
(After all, I am the one responsible for[sr]their deaths in my ascent to the top.)
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
(It would be stranger for there not to be ghosts. Any grievance powerful enough to take form to kill the living is bound to not look kindly upon me...)
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
(And yet...and yet...)
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
...
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
(Why did I go to such lengths?)
[k]

[messageOff]
[wt 0.6]
[charaFace B 5]

＠Wu Zetian
(...Because I was right! Why else?)
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
(It was what I needed to do to create a truly just country under my command.)
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
(And...)
[k]

[messageOff]
[wipeout rectangleStripLeftToRight 0.2 1]
[wt 0.3]
[charaFadeout B 0.1]
[wt 0.2]
[charaTalk D]
[charaFace D 1]
[charaFadein D 0.1 1]
[wt 0.1]
[wipein rectangleStripRightToLeft 0.2 1]
[wt 1.2]
[wipeout rectangleStripRightToLeft 0.2 1]
[wt 0.3]
[charaFadeout D 0.1]
[wt 0.2]
[charaTalk B]
[charaFace B 0]
[charaFadein B 0.1 1]
[wt 0.1]
[wipein rectangleStripLeftToRight 0.2 1]
[wt 1.2]


＠Wu Zetian
(...one of my subjects is here as well.)
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
(Whether she realizes it or not, the fact that we were alive in the same time and place makes her my subject.)
[k]

[charaFace B 4]

＠Wu Zetian
(...Would a true empress let herself be seen cowering like a little girl in front of one of her subjects?)
[k]

[charaFace B 2]

＠Wu Zetian
(...No. Of course not!)
[k]

[charaShake B 0.01 8 4 0.65]

＠Wu Zetian
...V-v-v-very well! I-i-i-if it's a fight you want, it's a fight you shall get!
[k]

＠Wu Zetian
I will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am not afraid of ghosts! Come on! Bring as many as you like!
[k]

[charaFadeout B 0.1]
[charaTalk D]
[charaFace D 0]
[charaFadein D 0.1 1]

＠Sanzang
Wow, that's the spirit! Way to go!
[k]

[charaFadeout D 0.1]
[charaTalk E]
[charaFace E 0]
[charaFadein E 0.1 1]


＠Nitocris
...Hehehe. Then get ready, because here I come!
[k]

[charaFadeout E 0.1]
[charaTalk B]
[charaFace B 2]
[charaFadein B 0.1 1]

＠Wu Zetian
What is so funny!? H-h-here goes nothing! My Tortures will make any spirit pass on to the next world!
[k]

[charaFadeout B 0.1]
[charaTalk A]
[charaFace A 12]
[charaFadein A 0.1 1]

＠Mash
You know, when you take a step back, this conversation really seems kind of absurd... Anyway, I think we should help out too, Master!
[k]



[messageOff]
[bgmStop BGM_EVENT_3 0.5]
[fadeout black 0.5]
[wait fade]
[soundStopAll]
[end]