TRIGUN STAMPEDE

All right, auntie. This is it.

Stay healthy! Be careful with the water.

Never let a rotten tooth fester.

Wash your hair at least once every three days.

Don't forget to say grace before you eat!

I know, I know!

Hey!

Good luck! Good luck!

This is your home. Come back anytime, Nicholas.

Come back anytime, Nico!

We'll welcome you just like this when you return!

I'm off.

The town of Red Valley Bottom...

We suspect it was attacked by the Ark several weeks to months ago

and robbed of its plant.

The Ark continues around the world,

striking towns and taking their plants.

With all our satellites down,

we have no means of long-range communication.

The intermittent flow of information further instills fear,

sowing panic far and wide.

The goal of Millions Knives

is to liberate the plants from their oppression under humans,

grant them freedom, and create a paradise for plants.

The world of humans is quietly drying up.

Is there nothing we can do but wait for our salvation, the immigrant fleet?

June 25th of the year 113. Journalist Meryl Stryfe.

I wonder if the boss is doing okay.

Granted, we don't even know if the Bernardelli News Agency is still around.

Speaking of, our salaries...

No one's receiving my reports either.

But Milly, remember that we're journalists.

Let's keep documenting!

The future ahead needs to know what happened.

We'll do the legwork ourselves, and record everything we see and hear!

You got it, Meryl!

There's no need to photograph me.

But we're recording everything, right?

Hey, wait...

Okay, pose!

I'm impressed you've been able to withstand

the crushing force of Legato's power for so long.

Still don't feel like joining me, Vash?

This is nothing compared to the pain I've endured over the last 150 years.

Indeed, it's been 150 years.

Far too long.

Thanks to you, we've wasted so much time.

Many more of our brethren were squeezed dry, devoured.

You wouldn't know about that.

I've seen my share of dead plants.

All gone black.

The black represents fatigue.

Because they pushed their powers to the limit.

The same will happen to us, sooner or later.

So you knew.

But what else can humans do to survive on this desert planet?

Their only recourse is to rely on us plants.

And plants can't survive without tending by humans.

We'd live much longer out from under their thumb.

Don't forget, Nai!

The people on this planet are forced to live a parched life of struggle.

Our kind are put in a situation where we must push ourselves to fatigue.

And why is that? It all started with the Big Fall!

Nai...

Do you really think people are incapable of change?

It takes time, and they can move backward too,

but surely they can move forward.

At least, Rem was like that!

The time it takes is exactly the problem.

All the while, our brethren are being abused, bled dry, and disposed of.

Then that's the part we need to fix!

Nobody pays heed to the words of cattle.

Listen, Vash.

Have you forgotten Tesla?

I haven't forgotten. Not for a moment.

That was the day that drove us all mad!

That's the thing, though!

The true nature of violence can only be named by those who have felt it!

Only those who've experienced pain can truly speak the words to stop conflict!

Tesla... Tesla's death...

Do you want to make that just another part of the cycle of hatred and strife?

Or will you make it the foundation you build your conviction upon?

That's the real struggle!

Don't you turn away, Nai!

I see. You're completely right, Vash.

The pain was unbearable.

Yet through it, I learned the truth.

You're so right!

And they too must learn. Then we'll finally be even!

Nai...

I told you before. This is the battle to bring everything back to even, Vash!

Don't repeat the same mistake!

The end of the world of humans...

The birth of paradise for our brethren...

Bear witness from there.

Wait, Nai!

Also, forget about Rem already.

That memory will only hurt you.

Meryl, I'm thirsty.

Talking only makes it worse.

"Oh, I should have listened to my senior coworker"

"and used my water more conservatively!"

Please don't narrate my thoughts.

We've been together nearly a year.

I can read your mind to the letter.

So be it. I'll share my water—

Oh, I'm out.

You drank all of yours, too!

Of course I did. It's so hot out.

Ugh, water!

If only we had some Worms.

I'd squeeze their bodily fluids out for a drink!

I would not!

If only there were some Worms around, my big sister could come find me.

What nonsense are you talking now?

Oh, Meryl, look!

Enough about Worms.

No, not that!

Meryl! Milly!

I'm glad you're both safe!

Thanks for coming to pick us up. How did you find us?

You got close enough for us to catch your tracker signal.

So, how about Vash?

I see. I hope he's okay.

I'm sure he is.

Yeah.

Thank you for the water! Is everyone back at Home doing well?

You bet! Everyone's good.

You two came back at just the right time.

We did?

This is "do," and this is "mi."

So which note is this?

It's "so"! No, it's "re"! Oh, I don't know.

Nice guess. This one's "ti."

All right, let's all start with "do" and review in order.

One, two...

Do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do!

Hey, do a puppet show!

Mr. Emilio the Puppetmaster!

You always complain no matter the I show I put on, so no!

Come on, do it!

Come on!

Fine. This is a special exception.

Yay!

Mwahaha! I am the king who rules the world!

Bow before me, foolish peasants!

Do something else.

That's not fun.