Gurren Lagann : Mecha Emperor

What was supposed to be a short stay in Littner Village turned into several weeks.

He quickly became a part of daily life in the village, helping with repairs, strategizing defenses, and sharing stories around the fire at night. The villagers, in turn, opened up to him, treating him like one of their own.

Enki, Viral's old gunmen, had been salvaged and rebuilt by Ron

"Look at this beauty!" Ron had exclaimed, patting Enki's newly polished frame. "With a few tweaks, this baby will be a force for humanity."

Goro was impressed by Ron's work. Viral, on the other hand, clearly unhappy with the repurposing of his beloved Enki. 

"It's a disgrace," he grumbled 

"No one asked for your opinion, Viral," Yoko shot back, earning a few chuckles from the nearby villagers.

During his time in the village, Goro had taken it upon himself to train Yoko in piloting a gunman. 

"You're sure about this, Goro?" she asked, glancing over at him.

Goro nodded confidently. "Absolutely. You've earned it. Enki's a tough machine, and you're the perfect person to handle it."

Behind them, Viral was restrained and glaring at the scene

"Enki is not some toy for a human to play with! It's my gunman!"

Yoko smirked "Guess you should've held onto it better, huh?"

Ron stepped forward, practically bouncing with excitement. "I've tuned it to perfection! Yoko, you'll find Enki's systems are responsive and much more stable now."

"Thanks, Ron. I'll make sure to put it to good use."

The villagers gathered as Yoko climbed into the cockpit of Enki for the first time. The interior was just as advanced as she imagined, with glowing panels and streamlined controls. As she settled into the seat, she felt a strange sense of connection with the machine, as though it was waiting for her.

"Alright, let's see what you've got,"

Enki powered up while its eyes glowing fiercely. The ground trembled slightly as it took its first step under Yoko's command. 

"How does it feel?" Goro asked over the comms.

"Like it was made for me," Yoko replied

Nearby, Viral struggled against his restraints. "You think piloting Enki will make you a warrior? That gunman was forged for battle, and you know nothing of its legacy!"

Yoko turned Enki to face him, her golden eyes narrowing. "Legacy or not, it's in my hands now. And I'm going to use it to protect this village and everyone in it."

Goro stepped in front of Viral "You had your chance to use Enki for your cause, Viral. Now, it's part of something bigger. Something better."

Viral growled but fell silent, realizing he had no choice but to watch as Yoko mastered what was once his.

What started as basic lessons quickly evolved into intensive training sessions, with Goro pushing her to master advanced maneuvers and tactics.

She spent days perfecting her skills, her natural talent and Goro's guidance turning her into an expert pilot. 

By the end of the third week, she could hold her own in mock battles, even impressing Goro with her quick thinking and precision.

"I think you're ready," 

Yoko grinned, wiping the sweat from her brow.

—

As Goro stood near Lagann, preparing for the journey back to the capital, the villagers gathered to see him off. Cheers and warm farewells filled the air

Dayakka extended his hand, his expression of gratitude. "Goro, you've done more for this village than we could ever repay. Littner won't forget you."

"I didn't do it alone. You all fought just as hard."

The villagers began to disperse, leaving Goro and Yoko alone in the square. 

"So, this is it," Yoko said, "You're heading back to the capital."

"Yeah, Duty calls, I guess. But… Yoko, before I go, I need to tell you something."

Yoko's golden eyes flickered with curiosity as she tilted her head. "What is it?"

"I can't imagine leaving here without you."

Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn't interrupt.

"I'm serious, Yoko, I don't just want you to come with me to the capital because you're a great fighter. I want you there because… because I care about you. A lot."

For a moment, Yoko was silent, her golden eyes searching his face. Then, slowly, a genuine smile broke across her lips

"You have no idea how long I've waited to hear that from you"

 "So… does that mean you'll come with me?"

Instead of answering right away, Yoko let out a laugh, her joy spilling over as she jumped forward, wrapping her arms around him in an impulsive hug. Goro stumbled back slightly but caught her

"Of course, you big idiot," she said, her face pressed against his chest. She looked up at him.

"You think I'd let you leave without me?"

"Guess I didn't need to worry so much, huh?"

"You really didn't. I've been waiting for you to ask."

"Well, then let's head to the capital together."

"Together," Yoko echoed

"Aww, isn't this sweet? But if you two lovebirds are heading to the capital, I'm coming too!"

They turned to see Ron standing nearby, hands on his hips and a mischievous grin on his face.

"I can't pass up a chance to see the tech in the capital," Ron added, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Who knows what kind of advanced mecha and systems they have there? Besides, someone's got to keep you two from getting too sappy."

Goro laughed, releasing Yoko but keeping an arm around her. "Of course you can come, Ron. And honestly we need more talents like you in the capital."

Yoko rolled her eyes but smiled. "Fine, but don't expect us to slow down if you get distracted by every piece of tech we pass."

Ron rushed off. "Let me pack my tools, and we're off!"

—

If Goro had been traveling alone in Lagann, the journey back to the capital would have taken only a day or two. But with Yoko, Ron, and Viral accompanying him, things were different. Enki, unlike Lagann, wasn't capable of flight, forcing the group to travel on foot.

Fields gave way to rocky hills, and the occasional cluster of trees offered brief moments of shade from the midday sun.

Lagann was kept at the front by Goro. Occasionally, he caught himself looking back to see how the others were doing. Ron's transport was being carried behind Enki, piloted by Yoko. Viral walked at the back, his keen eyes scanning everything.

Yoko occasionally experimented with Enki's systems, testing its agility and responsiveness and Ron would periodically lean out of his vehicle to watch Enki in action.

By the time the sun began to set, the group had covered a fair stretch of land. 

"This spot will do for the night," 

Yoko guided Enki to a smooth halt beside Lagann. She hopped out of Enki with ease. It was clear she had mastered the machine.

"Not bad for another day," Yoko said, brushing her crimson hair back.

"I knew you'd get the hang of it, but you've gone way beyond what I expected. It's like you were meant to pilot it."

Yoko felt a surge of pride welling inside her. " I wouldn't have figured it all out without you pushing me."

Ron's transport rolled to a halt nearby

"Alright, let's get a fire going!" he said, hopping out and already digging through supplies. 

"We've got food, stars, and tech talk, I call that a good night."

Meanwhile, Viral leaned against a nearby rock with a relaxed posture but there was no mistaking the scorn in his look. He was staring at Enki again.

Goro noticed Viral's expression and let out a sigh, shaking his head

 "You know, if you keep glaring at Enki like that, it's not going to magically fix itself," 

Viral scoffed. "That machine doesn't belong in human hands. It's a disgrace to see it being handled like this." 

Yoko stopped what she was doing and glanced at Viral.

"If it wasn't for Goro, it wouldn't be here at all. And if it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be alive right now. So maybe show a little gratitude." 

Viral gritted his teeth in frustration but held back a response.

Goro stood up and dusted his hands off. "We get it, Viral. You're not thrilled about the situation, but here's the reality, you lost. Humanity's turning the tables, and Enki's part of that now." 

The Beastman's predatory eyes briefly met Goro's. It was clear he still held on to the belief that beastmen are more superior to humans. Goro couldn't blame him entirely. Viral had spent his entire existence fighting for the Beastmen's cause, only to have everything he believed in turned upside down.

"clinging to the past doesn't help anyone. You can stay mad, or you can try to make something out of the hand you've been dealt."

"And what exactly do you think I'm supposed to make out of this? A Beastman working with humans? It's laughable."

Yoko, who had been listening in, countered him. "What's laughable is how you keep whining about it instead of doing something useful. If you're so against humans, maybe you should prove you're better instead of sulking like a kid who lost his toy."

That earned her a sharp glare from Viral

Ron, walking past with a bundle of supplies, gave Viral a casual pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry, big guy. You'll get used to us humans eventually. We're not so bad once you give us a chance," 

Yoko smirked at that, clearly enjoying Viral being put in his place. "Exactly." 

Viral let out a low growl but didn't argue further. Instead, he muttered something under his breath and walked a few paces away, his back turned to the group. 

Goro exchanged a glance with Yoko and shrugged. "Let him stew. He'll come around eventually." 

Yoko rolled her eyes. "Or he won't. Either way, it doesn't change a thing."