As a standard summoning ticket, this time the summoning didn't produce any special effects either.
It still only released a gentle white glow that wasn't dazzling, before turning into specks of light and scattering into the air.
"Was I summoned by you in the same way back then, meow?"
Haibara Meow looked at the summoning ticket that had just dissolved into light, tugged on Sherwin pants, and asked.
"Yes. After the ticket disappeared, it started pouring on the island we were on at the time, and then you crawled out from the bushes," Sherwin answered.
Taking advantage of this rare chance, he finally asked about Haibara Meow situation.
"When you were summoned, what state were you in? Among all the Felynes, your condition back then was the worst."
Haibara Meow pressed her lips together, her ears drooping, and spoke in a low, heavy tone:
"Our village was attacked during the Rampage and at the same time hit by a rare heavy rain. Under the control of an Almudron, the flood destroyed the village defenses. Everyone scattered in panic. Many Felynes and Hunters… died."
Sherwin heart ached as he pulled the little kitten into his arms. Haibara Meow clutched tightly at his clothes and continued in a faint murmur:
"A Zinogre drove me away from the main group. I fled in a panic, only to run into several Jaggi that had come to scavenge. Just when they were about to catch me, I vaguely heard a voice telling me it could help me escape. When I came to my senses again, I saw you all, meow."
So even Haibara Meow inherited such a tragic backstory…
"It over now, it over. You have me and everyone else here. We won't let you face that kind of danger again."
Sherwin gently patted Haibara Meow back. He knew the truth behind her story was probably more complicated, but he had no intention of pressing further. In fact, he almost regretted bringing it up.
"Don't worry, Big Sister Ai, meow! Klee Meow will protect you from now on, meow!"
"I feel the same. Protecting one companions is the duty of a samurai, meow!"
"Little Sister Ai, whatever you want to eat in the future, just say it, meow! Even if I have to kick that idiot Sherwin to death, I'll make sure he gets the ingredients for you, meow!"
Hua Mei Meow didn't say anything, but leapt onto Sherwin and gently began grooming Haibara Meow fur.
"Thank you, everyone, meow~" Haibara Meow said in an uncharacteristically soft and gentle tone. Then she lifted her head and exchanged a glance with Sherwin…
"Hmph!"
Sherwin: "..."
Come on, wasn't I the first one to comfort you?! Tsundere little kitten is really hard to please!Although he was secretly grumbling about Haibara Meow in his heart, Sherwin hand stroking her fur didn't stop.
Soon, the little kitten forgot her earlier sadness, narrowed her eyes, lifted her chin, and purred with deep, contented rumbling sounds.
"By the way, Admiral, where our new companion? Why haven't they shown up yet, meow?" Seeing Haibara Meow mood improve, Hua Mei Meow stopped grooming her and turned to ask.
"Oh, right… where the newly summoned cat, meow?"
Sherwin quickly activated Observation Haki and looked around, but found nothing. After a moment of thought, he suddenly lifted his head toward the sky.
The other cats also raised their little heads. Up in the clear, cloudless sky, a small black dot could faintly be seen… rapidly—no, slowly—growing larger.
"This entrance looks a lot like Klee back then, meow…" Sanji Meow muttered as he placed a paw above his eyes, staring at the black dot in the sky. "Only this time, it seems to be flying even higher, meow…"
"This is way more than just a little, isn't it…" Sherwin mimicked Sanji Meow gesture, tilting his head back to watch for a long while until his neck began to feel sore.
"With the time we spent chatting just now, it already been a while, but that black dot in the sky still hasn't gotten any bigger. And maybe it just me, but… why do I feel like it keeps getting larger and smaller?"
"It not your imagination," Hua Mei Meow, perched on Sherwin shoulder, said. Her pupils had already shrunk into needle-thin slits.
"The new companion should be using something like a parachute to constantly slow their descent."
Huh?Sherwin instincts were triggered.
That repeated action of opening and closing a parachute—or rather, a glider—for a safe landing… he knew it well!
And with such an exaggerated altitude, as if they had jumped down from Skypiea itself…
The first thought that popped into Sherwin head was from a year before he crossed over: a game that had taken the world by storm—The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom!
So, could this time it actually be Link Meow?!
Just thinking about that strange arm of Link with all its mysterious abilities made Sherwin heart race. Even the Breath of the Wild version of Link had the Sheikah Slate, a divine artifact!
But then again… the Calm Belt didn't really have much to do with Link, did it?Could it be that summoning Hua Mei Meow near Cocoyasi Village back then was only a coincidence?
Finding no clear answer, Sherwin didn't dwell on it. Either way, he was quite satisfied with summoning Link Meow.
It just that…
Sanji Meow was probably going to be very disappointed.
Sherwin cast a sympathetic yet gloating look at the little yellow cat who was still full of hopeful anticipation.
Poor Sanji Meow, however, didn't notice Sherwin gaze at all—his entire attention was locked on the "big sister" in the sky.
"She looks like a yellow Felyne too!" Sanji Meow exclaimed excitedly. "This big sister must be really beautiful! I'm sure we'll have so much in common, meow!"
Well… Link cross-dressing was indeed quite pretty.
But as the figure in the sky drew closer and closer, Sanji Meow—who had been thrilled a moment ago—gradually fell silent…
"Eh? Big brother Sanji turned white again, meow!"
∑(=ΦДΦ=)Klee Meow, who was getting tired of craning her neck, tilted her little head, and then saw that Sanji Meow had turned pale as ash.
"Don't worry about him. It just because this summoned cat happens to be a boy again. He'll recover after a while."
Sherwin curled his lips. By now, he could already make out the appearance of that Link Meow descending from the sky…
Golden and black fur—though it didn't look like a tabby or a big orange—most likely… a leopard cat? That actually fit pretty well with Link agile movements.
On his body he wore a short-sleeved blue tunic, paired with leather bracers and a single shoulder guard. Clearly, this was the new Champion Tunic from Tears of the Kingdom.
Sherwin felt a bit regretful that it wasn't one of those outfits with special abilities, but since the Champion Tunic was basically the official "default skin," it still made perfect sense.
On Link Meow back, though, the load was rather heavy… the full set of sword, shield, and bow.
The old rascal of Hyrule had his gear complete, and judging by the glider he occasionally spread open, when folded it seemed to be strapped to his back as well.
As Link Meow descended further, Sherwin could even make out the pattern on the glider… it wasn't the default fabric at all, but one that matched his Champion Tunic design.
Of course, the pattern on the glider wasn't the real issue. The real problem was—
Link Meow right hand seemed to be his original one…
Don't panic. Even without the Ultrahand, the Sheikah Slate was still amazing!
Sherwin focused his eyes on Link Meow waist. He was so serious about it that even his Observation Haki sharpened slightly.
However…
Forget the Sheikah Slate—Sherwin didn't even see a Purah Pad! Not even the Zonai batteries that looked like a string of firecrackers!
"Meow! Big brother Sherwin turned white too, meow!"
∑(=ΦДΦ=)