The Shimmering Marsh

## Introduction

**Shulk:** This place is... beautiful.

**Dunban:** Some call it the Shimmering Marsh.

**Shulk:** I can see why! Had you ever been here before?

**Dunban:** No. And I'm suitably amazed. How can a place light up so much at night? I've never seen anything like it.

**Shulk:** I have. Once, when I was very young.

## Gain (+8)

**Dunban: *[Really? Interesting.]***

**Shulk:** It was at the ruins where me and the Monado were found. The same thing happens there. At night, glowing ether fills the air.

**Dunban:** So that’s where you saw it.

**Shulk:** I don’t remember much about the ruins. I found my way in and then I lost consciousness. That's about all I can remember from back then, except the light.

**Dunban:** If it was as beautiful as this, no wonder you remember it. Ether is an incredible thing.

**Shulk:** It really is.

**Dunban: *[Will it ever run out?]***

**Shulk:** Great question, Dunban! I’ve always wondered that.

**Dunban:** Great minds think alike. And your thoughts?

**Shulk:** I can’t draw any firm conclusions or anything. All I know is, ether isn’t unlimited. So I guess it won’t last forever.

**Dunban:** I don’t suppose we have anything to worry about in our lifetime.

**Shulk:** Maybe not. But we should still try and find another energy source. We can’t just rely on it always being there.

**Dunban:** Energy aside, it will be a shame when this natural beauty is gone.

**Shulk:** Yes... Whether that’s a hundred years from now or a thousand.

## Net 0 (+4, -4)

**Dunban: *[Really? Interesting.]***

**Shulk:** It was at the ruins where me and the Monado were found. The same thing happens there. At night, glowing ether fills the air.

**Dunban:** So that’s where you saw it.

**Shulk:** I don’t remember much about the ruins. I found my way in and then I lost consciousness. That’s about all I can remember from back then, except the light.

**Dunban:** If it was as beautiful as this, no wonder you remember it. Ether is an incredible thing.

**Shulk:** It really is.

**Dunban: *[It can’t be good for us.]***

**Shulk:** Why do you think that? There's no evidence to support it.

**Dunban:** It's just a feeling. Nothing more.

**Shulk:** Actually, we haven't made any big leaps in researching this field. So it’s still possible.

**Dunban:**It was just a passing thought. Don’t take it so seriously, Shulk.

**Shulk:** But you're right, Dunban. It has to be worth spending more resources to study this.

**Dunban:** Hey, where are you going?

**Shulk:** I’m gonna fetch my notes!

**Dunban:** But we were enjoying this strange phenomenon! You can take the boy out of the lab, but not the lab out of the boy!

## Net 0 (-4, +4)

**Dunban: *[Maybe it was a dream?]***

**Shulk:** It wasn't a dream. I know it! But... I do remember being asleep for most of it.

**Dunban:** Then it must have been a dream, surely.

**Shulk:** No. It was at the ruins where me and the Monado were found. The same thing happens there. At night, glowing ether fills the air.

**Dunban:** All right, I’m convinced.

**Shulk:** It's OK. My memory of it’s a little hazy anyway. I assume the effect is caused by high ether content in the ground.

**Dunban:** Ether content?

**Shulk:** Surely you must know something about ether content. How it's higher in some regions of Bionis than in others?

**Dunban: *[Especially the upper regions.]*** Right? The upper regions of Bionis are known for their high ether content.

**Shulk:** Correct! You always know the right answer, Dunban.

**Dunban:** Well, everyone knows that one.

**Shulk:** Anyway, the ruins are quite high up on the Bionis.

**Dunban:** Do you remember much about that time?

**Shulk:** I found my way into those ruins but then I lost consciousness. That’s about all I can remember from back then. But for some reason I can just about recall that ether glow.

**Dunban:** I suppose you’d never forget a sight like that.

## Loss (-8)

**Dunban: *[Maybe it was a dream?]***

**Shulk:** It wasn't a dream. I know it! But... I do remember being asleep for most of it.

**Dunban:** Then it must have been a dream, surely.

**Shulk:** No. It was at the ruins where me and the Monado were found. The same thing happens there. At night, glowing ether fills the air.

**Dunban:** All right, I’m convinced.

**Shulk:** It’s OK. My memory of it’s a little hazy anyway. I assume the effect is caused by high ether content in the ground.

**Dunban:** Ether content?

**Shulk:** Surely you must know something about ether content. How it’s higher in some regions of Bionis than in others?

**Dunban: *[Especially the lower regions.]***

**Shulk:** What? No! It’s the upper regions that have higher ether content!

**Dunban:** Oh. Er... I see.

**Shulk:** Way down where we live, the ether levels are at their lowest. That's why there aren’t as many rich ether mines.

**Dunban:** Well done, Shulk! You passed my test.

**Shulk:** So you're saying you were just pretending not to know? Hmm...

**Dunban:** I'm so glad to see this wondrous sight. Aren't you? I'd just love to spend some more time exploring it... in silence...

**Shulk:** Whatever you say, Dunban.