Author's Note: I imagine that narratively speaking, it would be easy for the main party to do all of the quests in Erythia Sea and the City (such as Lanz's Side Story and Gray's Ascension Quest) that were available in Chapter 5, prior to going to prison...but what about the Chapter 5 quests that occurred elsewhere, like Zeon's Ascension Quest, or Eunie's Side Story, or the various Tau/Iota/Colony 4/Lambda quests that only become available then?
Let's not even forget how much becomes available during Chapter 6. When would you realistically be able to do them all within the narrow confines of the plot?
This is my attempt at answering that question.
xxxx
/Time: Chapter 6, after Cammuravi's Hero Quest, but before reaching the Cloudkeep/
/Camp Spot, The City, Underneath Cadensia Region/
Time, mused Noah, still seemed so short.
Even with the reality of Mio's life being extended — thanks to the gracious gift that M had given her — the nature of their mission seemed to always conflict with everyone's sense of responsibility. Case in point: after detouring from their journey to the Cloudkeep to ensure that Miyabi, Cammuravi, Mwamba, Hackt, and all the others resurrected by Moebius Y got promptly settled in the City (which dovetailed into the whole thing with Ethel reawakening, and that was an entirely different bunch of Bunnits to deal with), their Irises had been flooded with messages regarding affairs at the Colonies they had liberated...not to mention all of the idle rumors and information they had heard going through the City.
Hence why they were at the open campsite outside the Lost Numbers' dormitory, idly sipping from Manana's Battle Soup, mulling over what to do next. "...I don't regret helping so many people," Noah said, out of the blue.
"But it feels like their needs are never-ending, eh?" correctly guessed Lanz, elbows resting on the table. "I hear you."
"...is that wrong for us to admit?" wondered Sena, resting her head on the table. "I mean, I want to help them, but I also wanna help Mimi..."
Mio, thus far, had been silent.
"Mio-love, don't pull a Gray on us," remarked Eunie. (Elsewhere, a gruff sixty-year-old's nose twitched.) "You gotta speak your mind."
"...right. Sorry." Sighing, Mio downed the rest of her soup before saying, "Our time constraint...it isn't as bad as it once was. But we can't tarry, either; even if I'm not subject to the ten term limit...the same can't be said for you, or for our friends and allies in the Colonies."
"Plus, we can't just assume that Moebius will simply sit back and let us do as we please," muttered Taion, a strange yet complicated frown on his face. "We need to awaken the true Queens in order to take back the world...yet we need to ensure our allies are at their best before we take the fight to Z."
"Agreed," said Noah, thinking back to the memories he had witnessed of N's futile endeavors against Moebius's enigmatic leader. "We can't afford to step forward with anything less than our best."
Lanz huffed. "But how the spark are we supposed to get to all these places? 'Cause I don't think the City will just let us borrow a Levnis to just take us everywhere."
"Much as I hate to admit it, Lanz has a point," muttered Eunie, drawing an irritate 'oh come ON, really?!' glare from Lanz. "And a Levnis can't exactly move lickety-split; Aionios is so snuffin' big, it'd take days just to get from one end to the other." Glancing at Mio, she remarked, "Do you have any fancy Moebius tricks you can pull off? Like the whole blorp thing they do?"
("What kind of sound effect is 'blorp'?" wondered Riku under his breath.)
Mio shook her head, looking somewhat ashamed at how her Moebius body's inherent abilities seemed beyond her reach. "I'm afraid not..."
It took us two months just to make it to Agnus Castle the first time around. Aionios was a truly immense world, with so much to do and see; how were they supposed to accomplish everything they had to? "Indeed...the travel time is our biggest obstacle..." murmured Noah.
"Aye, it'd be a right pain, wouldn't it? With all the walkin' ye'd have to do, you'd be on peg legs 'fore long."
As one, Ouroboros (plus Riku and Manana) turned towards the newcomer's voice. "...Triton?!" exclaimed Sena.
"When the spark did you get here?!" demanded Lanz.
Triton, sipping from a bowl of Manana's soup, had a confused expression on his face. "A bunch of my crew live in the City, now. Surely it ain't a crime to wander, and see the sights, eh?"
"...not technically," admitted Taion, gazing warily at the trio of Lost Numbers keeping a watchful eye on them from sniping positions. "But you are a Moebius, in a place where everyone has been opposed to Moebius for countless years. Even if the City's government knows you're an ally, a little bit of circumspection on your part wouldn't be unwarranted."
Triton chuckled, downing the rest of his soup, much to Manana's joy. "Ah laddie, you're a bit too serious for yer own good. Anyhow, there's somewhere I be wantin' to go to."
Taion seemed somewhat bewildered and irritated by the sudden segue. "...I am not 'laddie', and I'm under no obligation whatsoever to listen to you."
"Actually, there's a bunch o' places I need to pay a visit to," he said, as though he hadn't heard a thing Taion said; but, before Taion could retort, Triton added, "But it sounds like you lot do as well!"
"...wait, are you suggesting...?" said Eunie, eyes widening with surprise.
"Ah, but I ain't doin' it for free!" retorted Triton, placing his hands on his hips. "...just plum forgot what was on my mind, but it had something to do with that soup I just had...ah, I'm sure poundin' my fist into a strong monster or two will get the ol' noggin going!" His cheeks wrinkled even more from the strength of his grin. "How about it? Ye kids get to do what ye have to do, and maybe I'll remember what it was I had to do...another grand adventure, it'll be!"
Riku narrowed his eyes. "Triton not forget how to teleport?"
In the blink of an eye, Triton was looming over Riku from behind. "Ha!" he exclaimed, enjoying the Nopon's startled expression. "I may have forgotten how to transform, but that's 'cause it ain't sportin' in a fight. This though? As easy as breathing...though, to be fair, the journey's part of the fun! S'why I like taking a Ferronis everywhere."
"Yeah, that wouldn't really help us," grumbled Lanz.
"Still...it would solve a lot of our issues. The problem is the Cloudkeep." They had to get there, eventually. Looking over at his partner, Noah asked, "Mio? What do you think?"
The short-haired woman closed her eyes, pondering deeply; unlike before, she was the picture of serenity in contemplation. (The wonders of having more time, when your death wasn't staring you in the face.) Finally, she remarked, "So long as I possess the key...the Cloudkeep will remain hidden. Her Majesty will still be safe, until we go to awaken her." Opening her eyes, Mio spoke firmly. "If we're going to help our allies...now is the best time."
"...then that settles it, it seems." Raising his eyes toward the forgetful Moebius, Noah asked, "You're sure about this?"
The elderly brawler huffed. "Wouldn't be offerin' if I didn't mean it, laddie." Without warning, he suddenly put an arm around Lanz, getting him into a headlock. "Besides! I've seen your kids sporting me colors; it's flatterin' and all, but ye gotta fight some real tough customers to become a powerhouse like me!"
Lanz struggled futilely to release himself. "Don't remind us, you clod, now let me go-!"
"...what an odd world this is," muttered Taion looking over at Eunie. "For a Consul to be our personal mode of transport."
"Eh...seems kind of nifty, though, doesn't it?" she replied.
Sena pumped her fists with excitement. "I've always wondered what it was like to do a Consul's teleporting thing!"
"I suppose the question is...where to first?" wondered Noah. "There are some requests from Colony 9 and Iota..."
"...Isurd also sent a request," admitted Taion.
"Shouldn't we also check in with Juniper's Colony?" asked Eunie. "I know we helped them a bit before making our way to Keves Castle, but they were still on pretty shaky feet..."
"Oh, and I think Colony Gamma has more teaching requests for us!" exclaimed Sena.
"...I feel like we know way too many people," grumbled Lanz. "...eh, guess it comes with the job."
Mio smiled softly. "Yes. It does indeed."
The work of Ouroboros was never done.
xxxx
Moments after they teleported to their first destination, Eunie looked with wide eyes towards Triton. "...that felt creepy."
"And now ye know why I so enjoy the view from a Ferronis!" he guffawed.
xxxx
The next few weeks were intensely busy for Ouroboros.
Amongst the many missions and tasks they undertook to help their allies — as well as their fights against numerous unique monsters — were some events of particular note:
-Thanks to Isurd's request, they discovered the threat to Nimue's former Colony; through quick action, they were able to defeat Consul V, and thus keep its existence hidden. That Taion had managed to reconnect with a reborn Nimue was no small bonus.
-Through a request from Bolearis, they discovered the fate of Colony 5, and the true meaning behind the Colony Ranks from none other than Moebius X; although the little witch lived to fight another day, Consul L was vanquished.
-Through a surprisingly involved agricultural endeavor, a strong friendship was forged between Colonies 9 and Tau. Ouroboros had also checked in with Garvel, Hoope, and Layla, who had been transferred from Colony 4 to Colony 9.
-Alexandria's distance from her subordinates as a result of her past was fully resolved, thanks to the tech summit at Colony 30, and the subsequent defeat of Consul Q. All in all, it made for a rather great present for her birthday.
-Speaking of Colony 30, work on Dorrick continued, even as Valdi tried to handle the sudden reality of his Lieutenant collapsing from overwork.
-Yet another Consul, U, was defeated, thus freeing Juniper and Tau from her machinations for good.
-After helping with more teaching requests at Gamma, Commander Teach had them partake in a war game on Everblight Plain...only for his past as a man named Oleg to become unveiled, courtesy of a Kevesi soldier out for revenge.
-And last but not least...Triton remembered his old friend, and his legendary miso.
All in all...they got a lot done.
xxxx
/Colony Omega, Captocorn Peak, Upper Aetia Region/
"...so. We're finally on our way to the Cloudkeep," murmured Mio, ears twitching with eagerness; after having been deposited by Triton on the outskirts of Colony Omega's empty Ferronis, they were finally back on track to their main objective.
"Yes," said Noah, his boots crunching in the snow as they neared Gava Junction. We helped so many people, he thought, feeling a measure of pride in what they'd accomplished; however, he had sensed Mio's growing impatience over the past few days. "To be fair, we did keep company with Triton for a surprisingly long time."
"Too much for one lifetime," groused Eunie, rubbing her knuckles where she had slugged the Moebius real well.
Taion, who had mellowed out considerably ever since their brief journey to Nimue's Colony, remarked, "I'm only glad Triton maintained enough semblance of sanity to remain distant whenever we fought with his fellow Moebius."
"Yeah," agreed Lanz. "Even if he's downright barmy, no point in putting him into a spot where he has to choose between Moebius or us."
Mio gravely nodded. "The fact he's helped us as much as he has is enough of a miracle as is. Let's count our blessings."
"Yeah, what Mimi said!" exclaimed Sena, her side ponytail bobbing. "Anyhow, let's...wait." Narrowing her eyes, Sena gazed to the left pathway of Gava Junction, which led down to an open tunnel. Right by its opening were familiar clouds of red motes. "...there are dead soldiers, there," she murmured with a sad frown; a patrol of hostile Agnian soldiers were approaching as well, just out of sight.
The off-seers impulsively shared a look. "...one more detour won't hurt," Mio said, impulsively reaching for where her flute was stored.
Noah smiled warmly at her. "Then let's go. Let's wait for those soldiers to pass before we head on."
(Of course, it wouldn't be that simple.)
Naturally, it would be right after they sent off the deceased Kevesi squad that a trio of bipedal Levnises dropped their invisibility cloaks, ambushing them without warning.
"What's this now?!" exclaimed Noah, even as the back of his mind sputtered at the fact they were being delayed once more.
Lanz snarled. "Seriously? More of those mudders, come to ruin our day again?!"
There was no more time to complain, as the trio of mysterious raiders leapt into battle.
xxxx
You know what happens next.
Naturally, when it came to getting their strange assailant to Dr. Hollis...they knew who to call.
xxxx
Triton laughed as he stepped foot into the cave, looking at the unconscious little girl — held gently in Sena's arms — that had been pulled out of the unusual Levnis. "Boy, not fifteen minutes after we part ways, and ye already got yerselves in a pickle!"
"Just teleport us to the City, already!" sniped Eunie.
xxxx
Needless to say, their journey to the Cloudkeep was delayed for just a bit longer, as everything related to the then-unnamed Segiri and Colony 0 came to light...and there were additional concerns by people in the City, what with the Lost Numbers' new assignments at Agnus Castle, and Colony 15's difficulties with acclimating to their way of life, so why not help out there as well...
The Queen of Agnus would surely understand if they took a bit longer, right?
xxxx
Author's Note: I figure that stuff like Isurd's Ascension Quest, Fiona's Ascension Quest, and Sena's Side Story, and the stuff with Ino's battle against the Nopon Eater can be dealt with in Chapter 7, during the hunt for the Origin Shards with Nia, since they're all going to be in that particular part of Erythia Sea anyhow when bringing Nia back to Agnus Castle.
But there are only so many spots you can fit all these quests; that gap between taking Cammuravi and the others to the City and getting to the Cloudkeep is one such time.
Seriously though: Triton unintentionally offers so many ways to support the game from a plot standpoint that it's not even funny. Since Mio's ability to teleport got handwaved away as having her Moebius powers locked away, Triton's pretty much the only one left who can provide the party an actual Fast Travel mechanic that makes sense narratively.