Script of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - Champion of the Nopon

The following is the script of dialogue used in Ino's quest Champion of the Nopon.

Caravan Under Assault

The party is casually walking across the Dannagh Desert. Suddenly Mio's ears react to a sound.

♫

Remorse

The party see not too far a Nopon Caravan being defended by a robotical girl from some Arachnos.

Taion

A Nopon Caravan.
It's under attack from a pack of monsters?

Lanz

I coulda told you that!
C'mon, Noah!

He rushes in to save the Nopon wielding his Blade.

Noah

Yeah!

♫

A Formidable Enemy

Everyone starts giving support. The robotic girl goes "Huh?".

Meeting Ino

The Arachnos have been defeated.

♫

Everyday Life

Sunny

Gracious goods, that was close one! If not for Ino-Ino, caravan would be bittersweet memory by now...

Ino

No trouble! Ino just happy everypon still fine! Please to take good care on the ongoing!

Cheerio

Only if Ino-Ino drop by caravan of Cheerio soon! Will offer special bacon-saver's discount, promise.

Ino nods and the Nopons leave, she turns around to face the party.

Ino

Um, excuse Ino... Ino just wanted to ask, if, if, if-if, if it not too much bother...
Was it perhaps that it was friends that, that helped Ino help those Nopon...?

Noah

Right, we happened to be passing by and saw you all in trouble, so...

Ino
(a little too happy, scaring the party)

Ohohoho! Ino KNEW it!!!
Courage to thwack wicked monsters!
To offer aid to total strangerpon!
Humans like friends are very reason for inventing word "Heropon"! ...Er, or whatever is human equivalent.
Ino moved beyond limits of expression! Cannot possibly give voice to such violent, overpowering emotion as Ino feeling!!!

Lanz

Uh, that seems a little dramatic. All we did was help you out in a scrap.

Noah

Well, all it means is that we did well to give her assistance.

Mio

By the way... Your outfit looks quite unusual.
Which side are you affiliated with?

Ino

Erm... What is meaning of "affiliated", please?

Taion

...Let's try a different tack. Are those Nopon from before your friends?
Judging by their manner of speech, I would surmise that they were already previously familiar with you.

Ino

Affirmatory! All Nopon who live wild and free...Ino count each and every one as friend!
And with good reason: Ino gain doublename by fight for universal Nopon love and peace! Ino is Champon of all Noponkind!

Eunie

Well, sparks. That sounds, uh... brill? Yeah, let's go with brill.

Mio

So what you're saying is, the reason you helped those Nopon from earlier is because you see yourself as their champion...?

Ino

Correct! Forsooth, indeedy-doodle!
That is why Ino must restore self to previous strength, so Ino can accomplish duty which Grandmasterpon gave to-

Ino

*gasp* ...Oh, snapcrackers!

Noah

What's the matter?

Ino

Ino was just on verge of forgetting!
Ino came here in search of High Ether!

Sena

High Ether? What's that?

Ino

Well, i-it-it... Basically, Ino on hunt for scavengables! Must therefore hurry up and get on with search and retrieval!

Mio

You're going to search this place? All alone?

Noah

This area's teeming with dangerous monsters. Any chance we can offer you a hand?

Ino

Mmmmeh? Sorry, did Ino hear right? Friend propose to help Ino for second time?

Noah

Huh? Yes, I suppose I did.

Ino
(screaming out loud)

Nononono-no way!
This completely unprecedented! Friends concern selves with well-being of not only Nopon, but even Ino?!
Flabber of Ino utterly gasted! Gob thoroughly smacked! Ino lack capability to show deserved amount of proper respect!

Eunie

I'm already over her shtick...

Noah

Well then, pleased to be working with you. Shall we just call you Ino? Is that all right?

Ino

Shock! But...Ino not even introduce self yet! How friend know name of Ino?!

Noah

... Er...

Sena

This girl's got a lot going on, huh. On the outside...and in, as well...

Ino has temporarily joined the party.

Noah

Can you pinpoint where the High Ether is, Ino?

Ino

Ino getting readings from hereabouts! Must be somewhere nearby for defenitive!

The Ether Sphere

There's a floating big sphere sorrounded by little monsters.

Eunie

It "Ether Sphere".
And High Ether that Ino searching for contained with-in-side!

Sena

Hmm... Well, we can't get near it like this.

Mio

We'll have to take care of the monsters round here first.

Noah

Well, Ino? Are you ready?

Ino

Ino was created ready!

Lanz

Right on. Let's make it quick then, yeah?

The HD Ether Cylinder+

With the monsters defeated, the party approaches the Ether Sphere.

Taion

It's ether, all right, exposed to the surface... Looks similar to a regular ether channel, but the energy density is off the charts.

Mio

I suppose we could harvest the energy... Rather, this "High Ether", into an ether cylinder as normal?

Eunie

Maybe. Want me to take a stab?

Eunie approaches the Ether Sphere with the Ether Cylinder.

Ino

No! Cease and desist!

Noah

What's wrong, Ino?

Ino

Cannot harvest High Ether with baseline cylinder, are friends kidding?!
Would easily overflow capacity and cause vessel to rupture with extreme explosivity!

Eunie

Whoa! Are you serious?! Close call...

Lanz

What, you're not actually in a hurry to get your wings blown off, then?

Taion

Lanz, I beg of you... Occupational safety is no joking matter.

Noah

Is there something else we could use, then?

Ino

Ino have just the ticket! Can use this

Ino shows an upgraded Ether Cylinder.

Ino

For to harvest High Ether safely, can use this here "HD Ether Cylinder+"! Incidentally, HD stand for "Handy-Dandy".

Noah

Handy-dandy... Uhm, okay.

Mio

I guess it does suggest some improvement on the classic ether cylinder design.

Taion

Indeed, and its simplicity belies a high degree of efficacy bestowed by the added refinements.

Ino

Well then, no time like present! Friend can go ahead and collect High Ether now!

Noah

Huh? You want me to do it?

Ino

Is very rare chance for opportunity! Ino do not mind letting Noah do honors! Please, be guest of Ino!

Noah

...It's definitely not going to explode, is it?

Ino

Everything fine! HD Ether Cylinder+ come with Ino-approved seal of quality, so please to place trust in!

Noah thinks about it for a while.

Noah

...All right then, you only live once. Let's give this a go!

Ino

Procedure same as usual! Go on, *shwoop* it all up!

Noah

...I'm putting a lot of faith in you here.

Powering functions of Ino

Noah

...Right, that seems to have done it. Will this do?

Ino

It perfect! Ten out of five stars, no notes!
Time to deposit High Ether without further delay!

Noah

Huh? Ah, please, go ahead.

Noah hands the High Ether to Ino and she starts drinking it.

Ino

Aaaaaahhhh-...

Noah

What the-?!

Ino
(satisfied)

Mwahhhhh... That hit all the right spots...

Sena

Did...did she just... *drink* the cylinder...?

Eunie

Please tell me I hallucinated that...

Noah

Ino, what did you just do...?

Ino

...Oh! Meh! Did Ino forget to explain? Ino feeling mortified!
High Ether energy source for powering functions of Ino!

Sena

So, uh, is that good?

Ino

Easier to show than explain, so please allow Ino to demonstrate!

Ino's Driver

Ino

Look, snippedy-snap and...
Ta-dah, capabilities of Ino power up greatly!

Lanz

Ohh... That *is* pretty impressive...
...No, hold your Ponios!
That's impossible!

Taion

This is all highly irregular.
What in the world are you, really?

Ino

(chuckle)
Friend finally ask right question!
Ino is creation of Nopon, legendary Grandmasterpon Oosoo...
Final, bestest and most strongest...
of all Artificial Blade!

Sena goes with a "huh"?

Sena

Wait, "Blade"? You mean like our Blades? The ones we fight with?

Lanz

You wot? This is making less sense by the minute.

Taion

You're saying...you're an anthropomorphic Blade...?

Mio

Is that it...?
So she's actually a human Blade?

Sena

Hmmmmm... That's fishy.
Reaaa-aaalllll fishy...

The party judges Ino with the look, Noah emits a "Hmm". Ino not okay, Ino sad.

Ino

No, please to please hang fire!
Ino not have fishy bone in entire body!
Grandmasterpon Oosoo say self! And he giga-renowned craftsgenius!
Ino created for purpose of bring about peace and harmony for all Nopon throughout world!
Ino artificial Blade! Meh!
...Well... In truth...

♫

Lost Days of Warmth

Ino

He also say Ino must not get involved in affairs of humans...
Ah...although!
Ino have no intention of hurting friends! Would not wish teensiest toestub on!

Noah
(friendlier than before)

Of course.

Ino

Huh?

Noah

I mean...
I still don't really understand it... This "artificial Blade" business.
Still, one thing's abundantly clear.
Earlier...well before we ever turned up... you were protecting the Nopon caravan.
You fought for them...and you did it all by yourself.
That takes real courage.
Seeing that...convinced me.

Ino's heart gets touched, she takes a happiness breath.

Noah

I believe what you said, Ino.

Ino takes an even depper happiness breath. The rest of the party is like "This man has no salvation...". Suddenly, Noah recieves an alert from his Iris.

Noah

Mm?

He checks his Iris and sees the icon of a sword on top of Ino's head.

Noah

What's this...?

He clicks on the icon and his clothes turn into Ino's, he also gets her Blade.

Eunie

Uh, wow...
Nice getup...

Ino

(gasp) ...Now Ino understand.

Noah, not entirely understanding what she says, makes a sound like "Whuh?". Ino runs towards Noah.

Ino

Friend Noah...
You are destined Driver of Ino!

Noah
(confused)

Your..."Driver"...?

You're one of us, Ino

♫

Everyday Life

Ino

Same clothes as Ino! And same weapon too!
This proof! Cannot be mistaking! Friend is Driver of Ino!

Noah

Wait, wait, slow down. Can you explain what you mean when you say "Driver"?

Ino

Ino more than happy to! Definition of Driver is...
...humanperson who fight by side of Ino!

There's a long silence between them.

Sena

That... That's it?

Ino

Oh, but that very vitally crucial!
Only Driver can draw out bestest, truest power of Blade!
Ino want to get stronger and stronger! For Nopon peace and happiness!

Noah

OK, let's all take a deep breath now. Ino, that's not really what this means.
It's actually... Well... Oh, how should I explain this...? There's a little more to it than what you're thinking...

Ino

A-actually, if Ino may... Ino always thought, if Ino get Driver, Ino decided in deepest corner of heart...
Ino would ask to call Driver... "Masterpon"!
Th-th-th-therefore, Ino would love nothing more than to be permitted to address friend as Ma-Ma-Mmmasterponnn...!

Lanz

Uh, Noah, if you were gonna say something, you should probably say it now, or else the ship'll sail, know what I'm sayin'?

Noah

Well, yeah, but...

Mio

You said you trusted her, didn't you? Seems like an open and shut case to me.

Noah

...Are we all fine with this?

Everyone look away, except Sena, she nods excitedly.

Noah

Ino, this "Driver" of yours, is that like a partner of sorts?

Ino

That right! According to Grandmasterpon, Drivers and Blades were originally one in body and soul!

Noah

...Got it. Well, look, I'm not sure if I can be all of that to you, and meet all your expectations...
But if you'll have me, I'll be your Driver.

Ino

Squeeeeeeeeee!!! Tru-tru-tru-tru-truly?! Really-very-truly?!

Noah

Yeah, truly. You're one of us now, Ino.

Ino
(incredibly happy)

Eek! Y-yes, Masterpon!
For all Nopon that inhabit world!

Ino and friends will fight good fight!

Taion

...I feel like I should say, just for the record, our objective is not strictly to go around getting random Nopon out of trouble.

Ino
(underwhelmed)

...
Meh? Is not?

Eunie

Come to think of it, we never did introduce ourselves, did we?

Mio

...We might not have.

Noah

...Right, then I guess maybe we should get started on that...