Mm.
Hmm.
[ZANKA] You're still here?
[RUDO] What the hell?
I mean, shouldn't you be in bed right now?
If I could stand being cooped up all day, maybe.
Besides, it's awkward when someone
just conks out next to you.
[RUDO] What?
[ZANKA] Thinking of how to help Remlin?
Yeah, kind of.
I want to, sure.
Probably shouldn't be me, though.
I'd just screw it up.
[ZANKA] Do I have to remind you of what your whole deal is?
Cause Amo's still out there.
[gentle music]
To be blunt, I don't care about where she is or what happened.
Still, though, even I saw how you two
connected back at the tower.
And you wouldn't have gone off on that Raider guy
if you didn't care about her.
But what are you going to do after she's safe?
I'm not saying that you gotta go find her right this second.
Far from it.
You're still figuring out how to use your hands to help.
So why are you not down there?
You can't learn by worrying about screwing up.
You gotta man up and just do the damn thing.
You've seen a million examples by now,
so you should at least know where to start.
Look, I know tracking down Amo isn't a one-man job.
So when you're ready, I'll be there.
But before anything, go talk to Remlin.
Keep doing that with enough people,
and maybe you'll be able to have fun with your team
like you wanted.
[footsteps]
[RUDO] I will.
Thanks, Zanka.
[gentle music]
[ZANKA] Boy's thanking me like I didn't talk his ear off.
It ain't my business what he does
or doesn't do with his life, revenge or otherwise.
But then.
♪ ♪
Focusing on his revenge is all he knows how to do right now.
And that's a waste.
[heavy breathing]
Listen up.
I can't draw to save my damn life.
And so, yeah, I get that you're upset.
But I don't understand why, or how to help at all.
So instead, I thought--
I'm not asking you to teach me to draw,
but I at least want to be able to do something
that won't make me want to set myself on fire
if somebody sees it.
I also never got to see your art in Canvas Town,
so I was hoping you'd show me the next time
we got some downtime, but only if you want to.
[laughs]
Dude, that was so many words at once.
[laughs]
[RUDO] I really hope this means at least some of them worked.
[upbeat music]
[squawking]
♪ ♪
[CORVUS] Right then, I'm sending you all on a mission.
Head over to Canvas Town.
You're going on a field trip.
[theme music]
♪ ♪
[squawking]
Dibs.
It's mine.
Hey, no fair.
[GUITA] Ha ha.
Bet you can't snag more feathers than me
before we get to Canvas Town.
Ugh.
The hell are we doing here?
[relaxing music]
♪ ♪
Lookie here.
Ain't y'all just adorable.
[REMLIN] Yeah, well, Rudo wanted to cheer me up,
so he asked me to give him some drawing tips.
And I was like, let's get everyone
together for an art party.
And he was like, sure.
[RUDO] Don't tell him.
So, what you been working on?
Check this out.
[RUDO] That's not finished.
[dings]
Wow, Rudo, I--
I see you.
Well, I guess recycling isn't the same as making things.
[GUITA] Hey, it's Remlin, right?
What's that you're drawing?
[REMLIN] Uh, my mark on history.
The time has finally come for me to make an addition
to the spellcaster's mural.
The what now?
Oh, yes, of course.
Silly me.
That's the big mural in Canvas Town every spellcaster tags
as a record of themselves and their beliefs.
[REMLIN] And right in the center,
we all throw up an image that represents our generation.
It's the biggest job of all the biggest jobs ever.
Thing is, it's in a spot that absolutely
sucks to work in by yourself.
Well, I'll be around to help if you need me to lend a hand.
But this is your project.
All of the crew and materials, that's all going to be you.
So don't forget to buy ink.
And such is the burden of the creator.
[GUITA] Wait, that's his beard?
So shaggy.
He's not supposed to look shaggy.
[GUITA] Whoa, Dear, that's so good.
[RUDO] Dude, you're not wrong.
That's sick. [CORVUS] Right, then.
[TEAM] Hmm?
I'm giving you all a new mission.
Head over to Canvas Town.
You're going on a field trip.
We're what?
A field trip, you say?
You mean on foot?
It's going to be OK.
The four of them can handle it easily.
Hell no.
Three out of those four were just
attacked by the damn Raiders.
Even with an adult, it's a bad idea.
Don't worry.
These guys don't need an adult to be strong.
They got Rudo.
And as the eldest, he'll be the one to watch
out for the others, right?
My man.
Now remember, a field trip isn't all fun and games.
It's an important part of your growth.
Don't rush it.
Just take it as it comes.
[GUITA] Two feathers, three feathers, and that's four.
I couldn't even get one.
As the oldest member of this team,
I'll protect them all with my life.
Anyone comes at us, I'm not holding back.
So this is where you go for the good ink, huh?
[ENJIN] Aw.
Look at them being all responsible.
Hey, are we sure the kids are going to be OK on their own?
[ENJIN] I should damn well hope so, else we suck at our jobs.
They did more in that huge trash beast than we did.
Hmm.
Arkha Corvus, who is he?
What is the boss thinking, sending
them out at a time like this?
If I didn't know better, I'd think he was using Rudo as bait
to lure out the Raiders.
You'd have to be a special kind of idiot
to go after bait that's basically wearing
a giant "Take me" sign.
And that level of stupid doesn't make for a very long
career as a bandit, you know.
Huh?
Nah.
[SEMIU] Uh, who you cleaning up for?
Expecting someone today?
Or what?
[CORVUS] Hmm?
I have a feeling the answer to that question
will be ringing our doorbell soon.
Mm.
[screaming]
What in the hell?
[SHIKAGE] Really bad.
[SEMIU] OK, take a breath, then talk.
What's the really bad thing?
[SHIKAGE] They're here, standing
right outside our front door.
The people who are as obsessed with people as the Cleaners
are with Trash Beasts.
The guardians of order, fighting the ground's
unending tide of chaos.
Punishers of criminals and ne'er-do-wells.
They must have gotten word that we've been
harboring a living spirit.
What are we going to do, Semiu?
[whimpering]
[ENJIN] And there's our special idiot.
[tapping]
Now it makes sense.
He sent the kids away because he knew they'd be coming.
Well, really, he sent Rudo away so the Hell Guard
wouldn't snatch him up.
Interesting weather we've been having recently,
don't you agree?
It's been, what, six years or so since
we were last hit by a trash storm?
There are truly no clear days here on the ground.
But then, I don't think anyone likes to see waste
barreling through the air.
Seems all we humans can do is deal with it as best as we can.
Imagine if this was all the will of a higher being.
It'd be as if we're not allowed to even struggle against it.
[slamming sound]
I couldn't agree with you more.
Though I'm not sure you've been doing the best you can.
Not when there are giant Trash Beasts
running around causing havoc.
Ironically, the storm did little in the way of damage.
Most of the recent destruction and injury
was because of parts falling off the flying Trash Beast.
I shouldn't have to remind you that you're
to report to us immediately should
any third party be injured by a Trash Beast you're cleaning.
You have neglected your duties.
And it would seem as though the Hell Guard should become more
involved with your operations.
Unless you have a good reason as to why you broke the rules.
I do not.
Ordinary people were harmed, and I take
full responsibility for that.
Though I'm not sure why I'm telling you.
The Hell Guard, who, before today, never so much as slapped
our wrist even if our reports were a week late,
is at our door four days after an unprecedented event.
I sincerely doubt I'd be hosting you over something
as trivial as that.
So let's drop the pretense and get down to brass tacks.
Hell Guard first squad captain Kyouka Nijiku,
why are you here?
[KYOUKA] We've come to take the Spherite.
It's called Hole Town?
Yep.
And it's the spot to go for ink.
It's the most famous thing about the place.
There's like a special oil that shows
up in the holes around here.
They process it and make it into an ink
that lasts a super long time.
But coming here can be dangerous.
There's always something here trying to grab your attention,
so watch out.
Any kid who comes here without an adult
is asking to get kidnapped.
[laughs]
That's not going to happen.
Not on my watch.
Ooh, look, they got ice cream.
Oh, hell yeah.
How much is it?
[VENDOR] 70 each.
[RUDO] Shut up and take my money.
[FU] Those are the kids from the Cleaners.
And that one's the Spherite, Rudo,
the one Zodyl is interested in.
I should probably let him know he's here.
That will make him happy.
Wait, no.
I can't.
I completely forgot he abandoned
me and left me to die.
I can't be the first one to reach out.
It'd be way too awkward.
Darn it, I need orders.
Someone please tell me what to do.
[HII] Quit whining, you spineless,
turd-brained parasite.
You got lucky and found your next host.
Now buck up and go talk to them before it's too late.
Oh, right.
Thanks, Master Hii.
[HII] Jeez, it's disgusting how helpless you are without me.
Yes, I know, Master Hii.
I can't do anything unless someone directly orders me
to do it.
I'm trash.
Unless I can get that Enjin guy from the Cleaners
to be the boss of me.
[laughs]
[sneezes]
Bro.
[HII] Then get off your ass and go make contact with those
kids already.
Hmm?
Huh?
Where'd they go?
[GUITA] Calm down.
No.
Bad Rudo.
You've had enough sugar today.
Dear, get his legs.
Snap out of it, Rudo.
Who goes feral after a little ice cream?
[GUITA] I told you no more sweets.
We don't have any more money.
And I think you may have a problem.
[grunting]
[maniacal laughing]
[growls]
[maniacal laughing]
What are they?
Monsters?
That's no reason to back out now, idiot.
It's no different than the Raiders.
Oh, yeah.
I'll just tell myself they're like Jabber.
Huh?
Who's that guy?
Hey there, children.
Were you wanting to have a little candy?
[HII] Hey, yo, that's a kidnapper.
Oh, what luck.
I've got a whole lot of candy back home.
Come with me and we'll go get it.
[HII] Guy's not even trying to hide it.
OK, let's go.
[HII] He did not just agree to go with that guy.
What?
I don't want that.
How will I get my next host?
Should I try and save him?
[RUDO] Wrong.
Hmm?
[RUDO] You smell wrong.
Huh?
[crunching kick]
You don't smell like sweets at all.
How dare you use sugar to try and get one over on me?
You lying, you cheating, no-sugar-having, dirty
old bastard.
[explodes]
[REMLIN] Hey, way to go, Rudo.
That creep was a classic kidnapper.
This guy had some serious balls to try and kidnap us.
He deserved to have them smashed to bits.
Hey, come on, Dear, leave him alone.
That's only making him feel better.
[HII] On second thought, let's make
contact at their destination.
[adventure music]
This is my second time visiting Canvas Town.
That's a lot of new art.
You people are freaks.
It's 60 kilometers from here to Hole Town,
and we walked the whole way.
How the hell can you still be standing right now?
'Cause us Cleaners gotta walk around
the trash all day, every day.
[REMLIN] It's 'cause you're monster freaks.
[GNOUMULAS] You best get used to this sort of thing.
Gob used to walk everywhere he went all by himself.
Regardless, you all made it.
Good job, everyone.
You well-rested old hypocrite.
You drove back here, admit it.
I'm not the one who needs to build
stamina so they can make art.
So, hey, where's this big spellcaster's
mural supposed to be?
Hey, no need to be so hasty about it.
It's going to be dark pretty soon.
You can stay the night here and get started tomorrow.
I'll cover food and lodging, so don't worry about it.
[GUITA] Huzzah!
Just make sure Rudo doesn't have any sweets.
[REMLIN] Rudo.
[GUITA] They make him super annoying.
[REMLIN] What comes to mind when you hear the word "mural"?
I don't know.
A giant picture on a wall or something.
Why?
Hmm.
Because.
[lights switching on]
Whoa.
No way.
That is an appropriate reaction.
For you see, that is the historic Spellmaster's Mural.
Everyone hears "mural" and assumes it's on a wall.
But when they actually see it, they
all say the exact same thing.
No way.
Sick, right?
The first Spellcaster, Macaca Ikol,
loved seeing people's faces the moment they first
looked up and saw the mural.
Yeah, cool.
But a mural is a wall thing.
So isn't calling it that just a dumb lie to prank people?
Huh?
It is not a lie. Look, see?
The art comes down the wall, so it's still a wall thing.
Damn.
It's a lot easier to see all lit up like this.
You drove here, too, didn't you?
[BRO] Huh?
What?
No.
We've been watching over you guys since you first left HQ.
So, I'm guessing the furthest one back is Gob's?
[REMLIN] That's correct.
[GNOUMULAS] Each of these pictures
isn't just a reflection of the Spellcasters who made them,
but also the times in which they lived.
This is our history, abstract though it may be.
And I'm going to put mine right up there,
just past Gob's.
Which means, if we look all the way back to the other end,
you can see what the one and only Macaca Icol left for us.
[groaning]
I'm going to lie down before something snaps.
I'm getting a lot of "this means something"
vibes from this.
[REMLIN] And it's five generations old.
Huh.
[gasps]
[ominous music]
[RUDO] Hang on.
That's the mark on my gloves.
It's from the Watchmen series.
What in the hell is it doing on the mural?
[KYOUKA] We've come to take the Spherite.
We know precious little about the Sphere,
but he can change all that in an instant.
The boy's history, his race, even his very DNA.
Just think of the volumes of information we could extract.
For us on the ground, our ancestors, for our comrades,
it's imperative we understand our relationship to the Sphere.
Do you truly not wish to be the generation
that fills in the blank years, Arkha Corvus?
I can't give you what you want.
Rudo is now a member of the Cleaners.
In fact, he's actively working for us right now.
More importantly, he's yet to commit
any crimes on the ground.
Taking him in now seems a tad close to an abuse of power,
doesn't it?
You've come here to pressure innocent people
and judge them solely by race.
You, a first generation Hell Guard who
stands as our guiding light.
I had hoped for better.
[REMLIN] Hold up.
Your gloves have the mark of the old Undertaker on them.
Wow, that's so crazy.
Are you, like, a fan or something?
Sorry, Undertaker?
You don't know about him?
Well, guess I'll fix that.
You see those symbols at the bottom?
They're all logos of Macaca Icol's friends.
Some of the names got lost over time,
but we do know who that belongs to,
one of Macaca Icol's best friends, the Undertaker,
Canis Surebrec.
[RUDO] What?
But that's my name.
I'm Rudo Surebrec.
[closing theme]
♪ ♪
[footsteps]
[groans]
[AMO] Rudo?
Heh.