01x11 - Final Resting Place

[bunniefuu]

Someone's coming.

Really? That's unusual. But they need
to wait a bit longer for the festival.

Well, well! If it isn't Master Pompora!

It's been quite a while, Moshamosha IV.

It's wonderful to see you, sir.

There's truly no need to be so formal.

I'm just like any other old man, you know?

Master Pompora, I couldn't disrespect you
so! Moshamosha III will spin in his grave!

I suppose he always was a bit too bossy.

Despite acting up quite a lot himself, he
had a double standard for his apprentices.

Wait, Master Pompora?!

Elder Pompora?!

Who's that?

You don't know the
eldest of elders: Elder Pompora?

You don't know the greatest magic
user of all time: Master Pompora?

W-Well...

That being said, I haven't seen him
here since I first became an apprentice.

I was a kitten and heard he was at the
festival, so that's when I saw him.

So he's a friend of Boss, I guess?

It's more that he was a friend
of Boss's boss: Moshamosha III.

They are growing rather well this year.

Indeed they are.

Unfortunately, the foxtails
are still not quite ready, though.

Huh? Right...

So the festival is coming up soon, eh?

That reminds me of the day
I found out what foxtails are.

There is a nearby pompora tree that's
ripe for the picking! We should go see it!

Oh, that's exciting.

If I remember correctly,
you were born in the city, right?

I'm surprised you know that.

Moshamosha III told me, of course.

He did, did he?

He was such a chatterbox, wasn't he?

I bet he filled your head
with all sorts of nonsense.

Not at all!

He taught me not only about you,
but also about many other things.

Many things, hmm?

Yes, many, many things.

In my youth, I was content
never leaving the royal capital.

The forest didn't
particularly interest me.

The foxtail festival?

Yes! Let's go together!

There's a square in the forest with
foxtails as far as the eye can see.

Oh?

What do you mean, "Oh?"

Sorry, don't mind me.
All right, let's go see.

I bet you're glad we came now, huh?

Hey, maybe don't
get carried away...

H-Hey, Pompora! You have to control
your magic! You can't let it out here!

The hell do you think you're doing?!

You're releasing magic recklessly! Don't
you know this is the Moshamosha Square?!

Um, sorry, he doesn't
know the rules here, so—

- What was that for?!
Fine, bring it on, chump!

- Um...

My first day seeing foxtails
was the day I met Moshamosha III.

Only after meeting him
did I start to visit the forest.

Oh, these are quite good!

I'm glad!

I really looked up to you as a kitten.

When I heard tales about you and Boss,

I'd get so excited! Like that one where
you both fought that huge magical beast!

Looking back now, we were
just reckless and immature.

It wasn't praiseworthy;
it was just misbehaving.

Winged Uncle did call you and Boss
troublemakers, now that I think on it.

I was infamous for that
both here and in the city, in fact.

I thought I might go
to the city today, actually.

I only meant to stop by here,
so I'm glad I got to talk to you.

The pleasure was all mine! The festival's
almost here, so come back soon.

Thank you kindly.

Please take care!

Well, hello! Would you like a ride?

I would like that very much.

I suppose I shall
take you up on it, then.

Last stop's the East Gate.
Is that okay?

Of course.

Oh, the market's about to open, isn't it?

I'm surprised you knew that.

Yes, I'm on my way to get
some seedlings at the market,

though I left the bargaining
to my son, who's already there.

Your son must be reliable, for you to
trust him with the seedling purchase.

Well, he can't improve unless
I give him the chance to learn...

though he's old enough now
to have a wife and child of his own.

Well, in the eyes of a parent,
a child's a child even when they're grown.

Could it be that we're
about the same age?

There are even more houses
outside the city walls now.

The royal capital never stops growing, eh?

Wait—could he be older than me?

Thank you.

You sure this is okay?

Yes.

I think the cat I'm looking for
is right around here.

Give your son my regards.

Thanks. Take care of yourself!

Wow, he disappeared!

Oh! If it isn't my master!
What could have brought you here?!

You've gotten sloppy. How could you
not realize a cat was approaching you?

I have no excuse for that.

In any case, Haibuchi,
I'm glad you look to be doing well.

I'm getting by.

But still, it's been such a long time,
Master! You're looking well!

Come now, I can still keep up
with the best of them!

So, how's it been? Found any
interesting humans lately?

Yes, as a matter of fact...

The farmer who owns this very carriage

has been studying how
to make liquor from potatoes,

and he finally found the perfect potatoes!

He's actually on his way
to buy them as we speak!

My word! That
is indeed quite a development!

Who has the distillery rights?
What's the liquor tax for potato alcohol?

If he's successful, officials are
surely going to try to—

Yes, I knew you'd understand, Master!

- Hey, wait up!

- Let's go!

The farmer making potato alcohol...
I wish I could have met him.

You still can!

I'll pick you up the very day
they make preparations!

You can't miss the officials
coming to observe the distillery!

That's true.

Master, have you eaten?

Not yet.

Then, let us go find something delicious.

Oh, it's the National Botanical Garden!
I haven't been here in so long!

I heard it was your territory
when you were a rapscallion.

Oh!

Is it really you, Mr. Fruit Thief?

It's been a while,
Prince—or should I say King?

Go get everyone.

Mr. Troublemaker is here!

That sure was fun.

Look at the time. Do you have a place
to stay tonight? Shall I find you one?

Don't be ridiculous.
I'm going back to the forest.

Wait, right this second?

Indeed.

There are some pompora berries
that should be ripe by morning.

I must guard them from the other beasts!

What a glutton you are... Fine,
I'll walk you back to the forest, then.

No need.

Are you truly sure?

Don't be absurd.

Do I really seem so feeble to you?

Besides, I'll be coming back soon
to hear all about the potato liquor.

So keep an eye on it, okay?

You know I will!

Until then.

Master, sir! Please take care!

These are the best grapes I've ever had!

The National Botanical Garden was
great. I should take that guy sometime.

Isn't the moon beautiful?

On nights like these,
I get a sudden craving for fruit.

How'd you know I was here?

Because those smell delicious!

Of course, the grapes! Everything was
invisible, and I masked my scent, but...

Damn it, I was careless.

Wha—

Hey, you! What gives?!

I taught you the flaw
in your little magic trick.

Humans would call it
"the cost of your education."

What an utterly insufferable female!

And yet...

the moon that night truly was beautiful.

Hold on! Just hang in there
until we reach the winged Uncle!

Keep it together...
for the other kittens' sake.

That female cat again...

She must be a dr*fter!

They have no territory of their own,

and they're always
cleaning up other cats' messes.

Is this your territory?

Be careful. A mother bear
and her cubs have a new den nearby.

Oh, um... No...

Almost there. You hanging in there?

Actually, I'm a city cat!
From the royal capital!

Hey, are you listening to me?!

Who's that? Hmm? Who is she?

Who this, who that...
What are you, an owl?

Mm-hmm.

What did I tell you? See how
well you did by taking my advice?

All right already. You win.

Yum... It's so good!

This is amazing. There's so
many I haven't had before!

Right?

Still, no matter how many I try,
pompora berries are the tastiest of all.

No wonder you're called Pompora.

Isn't it good? These are pompora berries.

Mama!

They can eat a lot on their own now.

Must be time to wean them.

Hey!

I'm so glad I found you, Gekkou.

Can you give me a hand?

I'm really sorry.
I have to look after my kittens.

It's okay. Go on and help.

I'll watch the little ones.

All right, I can do this!

I feel like... maybe I was meant to master
magic so I could raise these kittens.

If you ever see these guys, run. Got it?

Okay, Dada!

Dada!

Dada, hungies.

Hold on, almost there!

I raised little ones...

I went on adventures...

Then I raised some more little ones...

We even finally had a proper
territory of our own in the forest.

Grandpa, Grandma, bye-bye!

Okay!

Bye-bye.

Our grandkids sure are cute, but
playing with them sure is exhausting.

Isn't that the truth.

Still...

I had so much fun.

The sunrise this morning,
and the moon right now...

They're all the same as usual, and yet,

it's like I'm seeing them
through someone else's eyes.

It's utterly nostalgic,
and yet also utterly new...

That's how I knew.

Grandpa?!

Grandpa?

Great-Grandpa!

Oh...

the winged Uncle
has figured it out already.

Elder Pompora!

We never see you out at this
time. It's been so long, Grandpa!

It has been a while, hasn't it?

I see, a nighttime hunting practice, eh?

That's right!

Be careful not to get injured.

If you get in a bind,
use the spell to float.

Like we could!

Pompora, these little ones can't
use such difficult magic just yet.

Well, they're my great-grandkids.
I bet they're more able than you think.

Now then, listen well to
winged Uncle, all right?

Don't go pulling too many pranks.

- 'Kay!

- 'Too many'? You mean, don't pull any!

Being related to me means they're
bound to pull a prank or two.

Jeez!

Your great-grandfather was the
biggest troublemaker in the royal capital.

Troublemaker?

So, where might you be off to?

To my old territory.

I decided to take a little walk.

I see.

Please do be careful
on your way, and... take care.

I will.

Winged Uncle, please look
after these little ones.

See you later, Great-Grandpa!

Bye-bye!

Oh, pompora berries...
I can't eat them anymore.

Hm?

It's daybreak.

I wonder if that old myth is true.

They say when a cat dies,
it goes to the field of golden foxtails...

What's all this? I get to be surrounded
by my wife, kids, and grandkids?

And I get to go to the field
of foxtails my friend tended, too?

I couldn't ask for more!

This is the pompora tree I use
as a marker whenever I hunt by this lake.

Its berries are usually
very sweet and tasty.

But every now and then, there's
one so utterly sour you can't stand it.

Yuck! So sour!

That troublemaker.

Sweet! I need a sweet one!