.hack//POKEMON: SIGN
Episode 3: Folklore

Disclaimer: I do not own  .hack//SIGN, Pokemon, or any of the characters from either 
show.   I DO however own Tsukasha (Soo-kash-uh), Maymiru(may-mee-roo), 
Mistaru(Miss-tar-oo), Ginkoak(Gink-ohk), Bearock(Bear-ock), Mahawth(mah-hahth), the 
swinys(swine-ees),  Tsukasha’s Guardian, Sorax(Sor-acks), Garim (Gare-im) and 
Aurachu(Ah-ruh-choo)	

	In the city with rivers running through it, the young axe man is again on the boat 
with the same Rocket Knight that was defeated by Tsukasha’s guardian.
	“I apologize for worrying you. I am embarrassed as system moderator for having 
such a thing happen.” says the Knight.
	“The Rocket Knight’s true purpose is not that of system moderators.” reminded 
Mistaru.
	“I thought they were, under the name of the Rocket Knights, despite hatred most 
players have towards them.
	“Ginkoak!  We are players as well. We are merely playing these roles. Don’t 
forget that.”
	“Then Mistaru-sama, is the true role of the Knights as Garim stated…” Only to be 
cut off by Mistaru.
	“I do not care what he thinks.”
	“Is that why he had to leave the Knights?”
	“No. I must meet someone. We will continue this conversation at a later time.

	The sorceress and the warrior are back in the common area.
	“Am I really to believe this story?” she asks.
	“You do not have to, but what I just told you is really what happened to him 
yesterday.”
	“How is this possible when the system does not allow that?”
	“Tsukasha somehow rose above the system and this troubles him.”
	“Bearock, what do you think of that rumor?”
	“Which rumor?”
	“There is a certain item called the twilight key that is rumored to exist.”
	“It is just that-a rumor.”
	“I agree, but what if Tsukasha has such an item that allows him to alter ‘The 
World’.” I suggest you meet Tsukasha in real life.”
	“I think that would be a great idea.”
	“An offline gathering would be good.”
	“But if he really can’t log out, than what is he doing in real life?”
	“If he really exists in the real world; He may not even really be a player.
	“Maybe we should, but how?”
	“I do not know”

	In a snow-covered field, Sorax sits high atop a building as Mistaru walks closer, 
Sorax jumps down to meet her.
	“I’m surprised you showed up.”
	“What did you want to discuss with me?” she says with no hesitation at all.
	He simply says “Key of the twilight.”
	“That does not exist. Goodbye.” she says as she walks away.
	Sorax follows her and says “Please stay and listen to what I have to say.”
	“No” she replied.
	Sorax forces her to stop by taking out his weapon on her. “I said please.”

	Maymiru is sitting alone in the area she first met up with Tsukasha, as Bearock 
walks in asking “Have you had any luck reaching Tsukasha?”
	“I have messaged him many times, but have gotten no replies.”
	“Do you know where Tsukasha is accessing from?”
	“No, I don’t, and I haven’t talked with him about it either.”
	“He probably wouldn’t tell you anyway.”
	Maymiru, tired of the whole thing, says “I’m going to stop. I’m tired of being 
pulled around by a guy like him.” As she gets up to leave, she says “Damn it, I wonder 
what he is doing? He should at least contact me. That idiot!”

	Tsukasha, back in the surreal place with the little pikachu, reaches out to touch its 
red cheeks. When he does, he goes into a flashback in the real world about a young child 
feeding a sick skitty with an eyedropper. An adult comes along and takes away the sick 
skitty, and the child is abandoned in the street with a carton of milk and an eyedropper. 
Tsukasha returns to focus beside the little mouse.
	“It’s okay.” says the voice. “Shade her in your color.”
	“I don’t understand.”
	“Do what you want. I will protect you. Do not fear anything, do as you wish.”
	As Tsukasha stands there confused, his guardian appears.

	Maymiru, alone in a desert region, is battling a lizard monster. “I have to become 
stronger… Much stronger.” she says to herself.

	Back in the city, Mistaru appears at a warp gate, followed by Sorax. Ginkoak is 
there too.
	“It’s okay. Sorax will be a guest of the Knighst for a short time due to certain 
circumstances. You may leave now, Sorax, the Knights and I have matters to attend to.” 
says Mistaru.
	“I would appreciate an explanation.” says Ginkoak.
	“Do you recall what I told you the other day about Oruka?”
	“Yes, I do.”
	“Something is going to happen in this gaming world, ‘The World’. If Sorax is part 
of that something, the Key of the Twilight…” she is interrupted.
	“Do you believe him?”
	“I am unsure, but I want to keep Sorax around just in case. He told me that 
Tsukasha may be the center of everything.”

	The young sorcerer is “training” his guardian in an open field and says “We can 
go anywhere together now.”

	Maymiru is hunched over looking at a swiny. Before long it sticks out an 
enormous tongue and licks her. As she falls over, she sees Bearock standing over her.
	“What’s up? You e-mailed me needing some help.” he asks.
	“I heard back from Tsukasha, and he would like to meet me again. I’m afraid if I 
don’t meet him, things could go very wrong like last time. Will you please go in my 
place?”
	“Are you sure I’m good enough to meet him in your place?”
	“You can’t be a replacement, but you were with me when Tsukasha’s Guardian 
attacked.” After both recalling the moment, Bearock asks, “Where do I have to go?”

	Bearock appears at a burnt tower surrounded by mists. There is a low roar, one 
similar to Tsukasha’s guardian. Bear opens the door to find Tsukasha.
	“I am Maymiru’s official substitute.” says Bearock.
	“Why isn’t she here?”
	“She doesn’t want to get involved in a fight with you.”
	“She doesn’t like me?”
	“No, in fact, she may feel the same of you.”
	“There is no problem now.”
	“You mean that you can log out now?”
	“No. See?” He summons his guardian.
	Bearock is confused. “What do you mean by ‘See’?”
	“My guardian is tame now, and will not attack you.”
	“I’m surprised you contacted Maymiru in the first place.”
	Tsukasha is happy with this fact.
	“You didn’t accomplish anything.” stated Bearock as Tsukasha warped away. As 
Bearock is leaving the tower, Maymiru meets him at the entrance and tells him “I was 
worried, so I came.”
	“I failed to get the needed information, so we may have to contact the Rocket 
Knights.

	The sorceress is alone, sitting in the grassy plain Tsukasha was in episode one. 
Sorax appears out of nowhere behind her.
	“So we meet again?” says Sorax.
	“Don’t you dare be friendly with me.”
	“I thought you called me here?” said a confused Sorax.
	“I thought you contacted me.”
	Mistaru and Ginkoak walked up to them. Ginkoak takes an offensive stance, as 
they hear Maymiru call out from afar. “Hey! Over here!” Ginkoak, Mistaru, Sorax, and 
JT join Maymiru and Bearock.
	“I need information on a player, and I think you have access to this information.” 
says warrior to the axe man.
	“I’m sorry, but I cannot do this. That personal is top secret and the administrator 
will not give it out, even if I ask.”
	“Can you find out where Tsukasha is accessing--”
	“If we could do that, we would have already.” interrupted Ginkoak.
	“Are you the warrior that was defeated by Tsukasha?” asks JT.
	“It was not him, but an unknown monster.” replied the Knight.
	Maymiru speaks up. “What he has done is horrible, but maybe he is a victim in all 
of this.”
	“You are wrong.” says Ginkoak.
	“No, I agree with Maymiru.” said Bearock. “The ‘monster’ attacked us without 
Tsukasha ordering it to.
	<Flashback>
	Right before the sharp end of the guardian’s attack hit Bearock, he is thrown back, 
and the guardian is stopped. Standing at the point is Mahawth, who stops the attack, and 
moves toward the guardian and disappears, followed by the guardian.
	<End Flashback>
	“Cat?” asks the surprised axe man.
	“I don’t know who it was either, but it definitely was not Tsukasha.” says 
Bearock.
	Ginkoak says, “I am aware of this cat, and how it all started, we were 
investigating the cat character. Tsukasha is the only person with information on it.”
	Subaru says, “I will see about the information on Tsukasha.”
	“Please hurry, although this an unreasonable favor, for there may be a second or 
third victim if you do not act soon.” hurries Bearock.
	“The worst case scenario, we can probably restrict his access.”
	“Check the logs, for you can do that at least.
	“I agree”
	“See it with your own eyes. And contact us if you find out anything.” Bearock 
gives Mistaru his member address. Sorax stands up “I want your member address too. 
And yours too, Maymiru!”
	“No way!” yells the heavyblade.
	“Please?”
	“I said no!”
	“Does a lot of information come to the Rocket Knights?” asks JT.
	Mistaru replies, “Not as much as you may think.”
	“Do have any information on a hidden item?”
	“No. We have not been any recent requests for hidden items.”
	“Playing dumb? What is it called again?
	Sorax chimes in “Key of the Twilight. Mistaru gets a disgruntled face, and the 
sorceress says “So that’s what it’s called. The Key of the Twilight. It has to have some 
meaning.”

	In a wasteland type area, Tsukasha stands atop an old archway in ruins, his 
guardian floating in front of him. His guardian floats near to him, as the stare into the 
sunset.
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