The Seven Adventures of a Puyo User
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EPISODE 1 ― SOS?! My Mysterious Imposter Family?
*Chirp chirp*…
Ringo: Haaah~ I sure slept well.
Huh? Wait, is this the school roof?
Wasn’t I still stuck on Pwurp Island, spending my days surrounded by cryptids?
Maybe that was all just a dream then… And I was really just sleeping up here the whole time…
… … All right! Only one thing to do…
At any rate, let’s go home!
Location: Ringo’s Home
Ringo: Ah, my house! It feels like it’s been eons![2] Hey, I’m home~!
Ecolon: Yeah, and you’re late!! Isn’t it way past your curfew, young lady?!
Ecolomi: You promised you’d play with me when you got home… Did you forget? …Hmph…
Ringo: Oh, I’m sorry! It must’ve slipped my mind!
So, let’s get right to it! What do you wanna play? Kendama? Enumerating this morning’s breakfast rolls? Or…
…hang on, WAIT, WHAT THE FACTOR?![3]
Ecolonosuke: Oh dear, what are you yelling about? You sound like you’ve lost your mind.
Ecolojii: I know! I know what she wants to say. She wants to remind you that the first thing you do when coming home is to have a snack!
Ringo: No, the first action in the sequence of returning home is hand-washing![4] Snack time is what follows after!!
…Wait, no, why am I even giving this stranger the time of the day? Making sense of this whole mess should be my focal point right now.[5]
Ecolomi: What do you mean “stranger”? We’re your family, remember?
Ringo: Oh boy, looks like someone went and retconned my backstory on me now.
…Wait, does this mean…?
I’m heading out for a bit!
Ecolojii: Take care, my child~!
*yawning silence*
Location: Suzuran Shopping District
Ringo: I can’t believe it! The Shopping District’s normally so high-energy[6] at this time of day, but it feels like I’m here after closing hours!
…Hmmm, this is so odd. I wonder how things are going on Maguro’s end.
*unsettling silence…*
Location: Maguro’s Home
Ringo: Huh? Maguro’s not here either. Then…
Statistically speaking,[7] the clubroom is where I’m most likely to find Ris this time of the day… I’d better head there!
*shocking silence…*
Location: Physics Club Room
Ringo: The unsound effects are getting more and more bizarre. And this room’s an empty set too…[8]
Location: Train Station
Ringo:Even the train station plaza is devoid of people… Taking all of these factors into account, the only rational explanation I can conceive of is…
This can’t be Suzuran! Not the Suzuran I know, at least! …That’s the logical conclusion, right?!
…Wait, what?!
…If this isn’t Suzuran, then where the locus am I?[9]
???: Hey, Ringo! …Ahem, I mean… Hey there, my Riiiiiingoooooo~!
Ringo: *gasp*… I’d know that tone of voice anywhere…!
???: Are you bored~? Then let’s play together!
Undark Arle: Ahaha, surprise~! *giggle giggle*
Ringo: Whoa?! Ecolo… Or, wait? Arle? Huh? Which one are you?
Because something about this “possessed Arle” seems to deviate from expected behavior…[10]
Undark Arle: So, hey… Ringo… Ahem! I mean… Hey~ there~ Riiiiingo~! You wanna know what’s up with this world, right, right?
Well, you’re in luck! ‘Cause I’m gonna tell you!
Ringo: Huh? Really? Very well, enlighten me!
Undark Arle: Okay, let’s see… Ahem! “Sooo~ if you wanna return your world back to normal~…”
“You need to seek out the 7 wonders of this world and win 7 Puyo battles with 7 different Puyo Users!” …is what I’m supposed to say now!
Ringo: I see, I see… This whole formula[1] sure seems familiar enough…
Necolo: Meow-colo, meow-colo!
Ringo: Why is there a cat here now?!
Undark Arle: Oh, this isn’t any ordinary cat! It’s…uhm…a super-cat!
This cat will lead you to all 7 wonders… I, uhm…think?
Ringo: That’s a quantum leap of a guess if I’ve ever seen one…[11]
…Oh well. Sounds like an adventure! I guess I’ll be going along with it!
Necolo: Meow-colo, meow~♪
EPISODE 2 ― EEEEK! My Kidnapped Friend!
Location: The Pyramids(?)
Ringo: Chugga-chugga-choo! The train(?) has arrived! Here we are at… Hang on, where are we anyway?
These pyramids look geometrically similar[12] to the ones I know, but something seems odd… Huh? Where has the cat hexa-gone?[13]
Undark Arle: Yeah, it was still here just a second ago… Maybe it went for a walk?
Ringo: Who’d go on a random walk in a hot place like this…?[14] Talk about a mercurial temper!
Oh well, let’s factor that out for now… So, is this the first of the 7 wonders?
Undark Arle: Yeah! This is the wonder of the “Uncanny Fish”!
Ringo: An uncanny fish? The name alone is already a mystery waiting to be solved!
Is it a barefoot fish…? Or a fish who moonlights as a merchant? Or perhaps a fabled merperson?[34]
Or maybe, it’s… Eheheheheh… The possibilities are incalculable![1]
Ecolojii: Ohhh… This heat’s downright sweltering. Could one of you youngsters please carry this poor old man?
Ecolomi: Hmph… She’s such a meanie, leaving us behind like that. She promised to play with me.
Ringo: Hey, why is my (retconned) family here too?!
Undark Arle: Uhm… They’re probably the Puyo Users you’re supposed to battle, Ringo! …I think!
Ecolojii: Ohh, it’s all comin’ back to me now. You came here to in order to find the uncanny fish, isn’t that right?
Ecolomi: If you can win a battle against us, we’ll give this “fish” back to you.
Maguro: Oh, Ringo~★ Heyo there~★
Ringo: HUH?! Maguro, YOU’RE the “Uncanny Fish”?!
Maguro: Well, tuna in chains instead of a can is “uncanny”, no?★ Anywho, Ringooo★ Please, help me★
Ringo: I mean, you look like you’re enjoying yourself, but okay. At any rate…?
Ecolomi: Let’s…
Ringo: PUYO BATTLE!
Ringo vs. Ecolomi and Ecolojii battle
Ringo:That was as easy as 2+2![1]
Ecolomi: Oh noooo… How sad….
Ecolojii: Oh dear, oh dear. I suppose we mucked that one up.
Maguro: Though, being tied up every now and then isn’t all that bad… I guess★
Ringo: You’re really enjoying this, huh, Maguro?
Undark Arle: Hey, Maguro, it’s about time we moved on to the…*whisper, whisper*
Maguro: Oh, right★ Alright, then we’ll…
Ringo: What’s up with you two today?
Maguro: N-n-n-n-noooothing!★
Necolo: Meow, meowcolo, meowcolocolo~
Maguro: Oh, would you look at that★ The cat’s telling us we’ve got somewhere else to be★ Let’s go, Ringo!
Ringo: You’re all acting really suspicious…
But I can’t help myself. This is all so irrational[15] that it’s just exciting! I’m amped up!
Only one mode of action remains![16] ONWARDS!!!!
EPISODE 3 ― Terrifying? My Love-maniac Upper Classmate
Location: Easter Island(?)
Ringo: There we are~♪
Here we are~♪
We~ have~ a~rriiiiiived~♪ *ascending note*
A-R-R-I-V-A-L!
Arrival~♪
…Oops, this isn’t the time to be singing.
Once again, the choo-choo train(?) has brought us here.
But where IS “here”? It looks nearly congruent[17] to Easter Island, but…something is odd…
Undark Arle: Ringo, this is the next of the 7 wonders!
Ringo: Arle? Oh, I guess you’re not possessed anymore, huh?
Undark Arle: What? …Ack!! I-I mean… Ahahahaha! But of course I’m possessed, Riiiiiiiiiiiingoooooooo! Haha-haha!
Ringo: That’s way too radical[18] of a character shift!!
…Huh? Wait, the cat vanished again…
Undark Arle: Alright, let’s go! This is the wonder of “Something that starts with an R and ends with an A”!
Ringo: Eheheh… Oho? Something that starts with an “R” and ends with an “A”, you say?
I can’t think of anything that matches those parameters![1] You got any ideas, Maguro?
Maguro: Noooope~★ Absolutely nothing on my end★
Ringo: Hm, it could be “Rumania”…or “ricotta”…or “regatta”…[19]
Maguro: Or “reptilia” or “razzia”★[20]
Undark Arle: Uhm, you guys? I actually thought you’d figure the answer out right away, ‘cause…y’know…
Ringo: Are you kidding, this is a real brain-teaser! I still have no idea what it could be…
I’m out of words that start with R and end with A… Wait, do 2-word phrases count? Because then it could be something like “romantic aura ”…[21]
Maguro: A “romantic aura” within a “ransom dilemma”… Eheh, just kidding★[22]
Ringo: “Rounding-up data” regarding the “recondite agenda” behind keeping the “romantic aura” within a “ransom dilemma”…[23]
Risukuma: ………
Well, you two seem to be having fun…
Ringo: Huh?! Hey, it’s Ris!
Maguro: Hmm… No, no, Ringo, “Ris” doesn’t end in an “A”, you see?
Risukuma: ….*growl*
Maguro: Hey, now, chillax, Risukuma!★
Ecolonosuke: It seems to me that the two of you are enjoying this a liiiii~ttle too much.
Ecolon: Really now… How much longer are they planning to prattle on like this? I’m starting to get real fidgety!
Hey, you two! If you want your friend back, you’ll have to go through me first!
Ringo: Looks like we’re at the next checkpoint battle of our scenario!
Let’s!
Ecolon: Puyo battle!
Ringo vs. Ecolon and Ecolonosuke battle
Ringo: That was easy as pi![1]
Ecolonosuke: Hm! Good work, my dear.
Ecolon: Hmph… Next time we won’t go so easy on you!
Risukuma: Oh my, you’ve saved me, Ringo. Just as I’d been starting to get used to the feeling of being tied up!
Hm, there is love in captivity… What a complicated emotion.
Ringo: Ris… Don’t tell me you enjoyed this too…?
Risukuma: *whisper, whisper* …By the way, how is our scheme unfolding?
Maguro: Everything’s going swimmingly★ If we can keep this up, there should be no problems★ *whisper whisper*
Ringo: Your “scheme”? “Swimmingly”? What are you guys mumbling about?
Necolo: You dummies! Stop rambli— Meow, meow!
Ringo: Huh? Wait… Did the cat just talk?!
Necolo: Meow! Meow-colo, meow-meowcolo-meow~♪
Ringo: I’VE GOT MY EYE ON YOU, CAT!
Necolo: Meow~colo! Meow~♪
Ringo: Oh, who gives a digit! Guess I’ll just trail it to the next point.[24]
Just what kind of chaotic scene awaits me next?! I can’t wait!
EPISODE 4 ― The Last Day of the World?!
Location: Area 51(?)
Ringo: And thus, following the lead of this very suspicious cat, we have once more taken the train(?) and arrived here!
But where are we? This nearly looks like a 1:1[25] replica of Area 51, but something doesn’t feel quite right…
And, just as before, that cat disappears the instant we arrive…
Undark Arle: Mwahahaha… Dope job, Ringo! At last, you have arrived at the last of our 7 wonders this time around!
Ringo: Uhmmmm… Arle? I can’t even tell what kind of character you’re going for anymore!
And did you say that this is our endpoint…?[26] How?! You mentioned 7 wonders!!
Undark Arle: Oh, don’tcha worry about the details! Lemme just tell you who your last opponent is gonna be, yo!
Ringo: M…my last opponent? *gulp* Who could it be…?!
Undark Arle: …………
Ringo: Hm? Arle, what’s wrong?
Undark Arle: Ahah! It seems my brilliant disguise has deceived you~!
Ringo: …W-wait, so… You’re not really Arle…?
Then just who are you?!
Undark Arle: …Ahem! Well, of course, I am…uhm…
Maguro: Okay, now comes the most important line!★ *whisper whisper*
Undark Arle: Uhm… Uh… What did you say?
Risukuma: *whisper, whisper*… It starts with “P” and ends with “N”…
Undark Arle: Like I can figure it out from that! The line’s way too long… Argh…!
Hey, Ringo, sorry! We gotta take a quick break here! Stay put for a moment, okay?
Ringo: Aaaand now they’ve all absconded…
…
………
………………………………….
Okay, remaining inert isn’t going to get me the reaction I need.[27] Time to go after them!
Ringo goes off-screen
Ringo:WH-WH-WHAT THE HECTOPASCAL IS THIS?![28]
This whole place is a set! Just a gigantic canvas hung on a huge, wooden frame…!
But if the backdrop here is just a set, what does that mean?!
…I wonder what’s on the flip side…[29]
Ecolo: Eheheh~♪ So, what should our next wonder be~?
Oh, let’s go for the Himalayas! That might be fun!♪ *scribble, scribble*
Undark Arle: …Ahem. “Ahahaha~! Fear me, for I have taken control of this world!” …Ah—!
Ringo: …Ecolo? Undark Arle? What are you doing here?
Ecolo: Hm? Oh, we’re just preparing the next wonder for Ringo~
…Wait, huh?
…Oh no. Are we busted?
Ringo: You should know that no mystery is safe from my boundless curiosity![30] …Wait, this is not the time to brag, what’s going on here?!
Ecolo: Well, looks like the jig is up, guys~ Guess it’s time to explain…
Ringo: I’ve got a mega-ton[31] of questions… Looking around, it seems like we’re still on Pwurp Island?
Okay, the most significant mystery first: Why did you send me on this wild goose chase for the 7 wonders, again?
Ecolo: Well… I thought you’d like it.
I mean, I heard you say, “Sometimes I really miss Suzuran. Wish I could go home,” the other day…
So I planned a trip through your memories for you! Y’know! As a birthday present!
Ringo: Huh?
Undark Arle: Sorry for the shock! But when I heard it was for your birthday, I really wanted to help! Same goes for the others.
Ecolo: But we all don’t really know that much about your home world when it comes down to it…
So we had to try and recreate the locations from our memories of when we first met you.
Ringo: I see. So you did all this to cheer me up…
Ecolo: Huh? Was it a bad idea?
Ringo: …No! Not at all! At any rate, this was perfect![32]
The show you guys put on was phenomenal! I had the time of my life!
Undark Arle: I really wasn’t sure if I could pull off the whole “Boss Enemy” thing, but if you had fun, I guess it must’ve been good enough!
Maguro: I mean, all Ris and I were told was, “Just follow the cat”…
Risukuma: …we had to ad-lib so much, I’m afraid we fell flat.
Ringo: Don’t worry, you guys got the "fun” part down pat![33] …Though incidentally, there’s just one single, teensy-tiny problem with your plan that I would like to point out.
Ecolo: What is it, Ringo~?
Ringo: TODAY IS NOT MY BIRTHDAY!!
Undark Arle: HUH?! It’s not?!
Maguro: I knew that★
Risukuma: I’m aware as well.
Undark Arle: Then why didn’t you say anything?
Maguro: No such thing as too many birthdays, right?★
Risukuma: And there can never be too many chances to make your loved ones happy.
Ringo: One last question, though. What was the point of the cat?
Necolo: *gulp*!
Ringo: And what about the people in my house who all kind of resembled you, Ecolo? Where did they come from…?
Ecolo: H-hey, Ringo~! Look, look! I cut the cake into 7 slices! Here’s your fill~!
Ringo: Why do I feel like you’re evading the question…?
Oh well! I’ll figure that mystery out sooner or later anyway!
Let’s dig in!
The 7 Adventures of a Puyo User
THE END
Ringo: There are mysteries everywhere for us to find!
Maguro: Let’s go on an adventure, if you don’t mind★
Risukuma: Je t'aime, oh universe, so wide and free…
Ecolo: Ahahaha~♪ This is all so funny to me~![33]
Undark Arle: (I’m glad it ended up being a fun commemoration event for them… I mean, that’s swanky, yo!)
Translation notes
- Self-explanatory math reference.
- Reference to geological eons.
- Reference to Nexus’ original Puyo 7 patch, which is partially what inspired our Ringlossary. Factor should be self-explanatory at this point.
- In mathematics, a sequence is an enumerated collection of objects in which repetitions are allowed and order matters.
- The focal point is the point at which light waves traveling parallel to the axis of the parabola meet after reflecting off its surface. Here we’re using it to mean focus.
- Of or relating to elementary particles with energies exceeding hundreds of thousands of electron volts.
- Referring to mathematical statistics
- In mathematics, the empty set is the unique set having no elements; its size or cardinality (count of elements in a set) is zero.
- In Mathematics, a locus is a curve or other shape made by all the points satisfying a particular equation of the relation between the coordinates, or by a point, line, or moving surface.
- In mathematics and statistics, deviation is a measure of difference between the observed value of a variable and some other value. “Expected behavior” is a shorthand term for “the behavior expected for an ideal gas” when talking about deviations from ideal behavior.
- A quantum leap is a discontinuous transition between quantum states. What this means is that an electron in one energy level in an atom jumps instantly into another energy level, emitting or absorbing energy as it does so. There is no in-between state, and it doesn’t take any time for the leap to occur.
- In Euclidean geometry, two objects are similar if they have the same shape, or one has the same shape as the mirror image of the other. More precisely, one can be obtained from the other by uniformly scaling, possibly with additional translation, rotation and reflection.
- Pun on hexagon.
- In mathematics, a random walk is a random process that describes a path that consists of a succession of random steps on some mathematical space.
- Reference to irrational numbers.
- A mode of action describes a functional or anatomical change, resulting from the exposure of a living organism to a substance. Here we’re using it to mean “one action” since that’s what it’ll sound like to the layperson.
- In geometry, two figures or objects are congruent if they have the same shape and size, or if one has the same shape and size as the mirror image of the other.
- An expression that uses a root, such as square root, cube root. See definition of root. In common usage: (especially of change or action) relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough.
- In Japanese, it is something that starts with ri and ends in i (due to -senpai being treated like it’s part of the name). This gives the Japanese much more flexibility in words compared to English, so we went with vegetables here as a nod to Ringo’s grocery store. Japanese version translates to “retry”, “cube”, and “interest”.
- Japanese translates to “meteor” and “amphibian”.
- Japanese translates to “ideal man”, which is alluding to Risukuma. This is technically a noun phrase rather than one word.
- Japanese chains together “ideal man” with “looting”, alluding to Risukuma’s state.
- Japanese chains together “ideal man”, “looting”, “rationale” and “understand”, basically making the incomplete sentence “Understanding the rationale behind looting the ideal man”…
- Reference to math digits and points on a graph.
- Reference to math proportions.
- An endpoint is any of the two furthest points on a line segment.
- An inert chemical substance is one that is not generally reactive. This is a synonym for “inactive” with respect to chemical reactions. We’re using this to mean that nothing will happen if Ringo doesn’t take action.
- Hectopascal is a 100x multiple of the Pascal which is the SI unit for pressure.
- A flip is a motion in geometry in which an object is turned over a straight line to form a mirror image.
- Play on mathematical upper and lower bounds, saying that she has neither, essentially meaning that her curiosity is infinite.
- A million tons.
- Besides her catchphrase, we are also referencing her win phrase in the Puyo Tetris games here, “That was perfect!”
- Maguro, Risukuma, and Ringo (and Ecolo in the epilogue) play shiritori with their sentences here, where the first sound of the first word of each sentence comes from the last sound of the last word of the previous sentence.
- In order, these are referencing: Suketoudara, Fufufu, and Serilly.
