Child of Blessing

Child of Blessing (祝福の子供, Shukufuku no Kodomo) is the fifth episode of the Trigun Stampede anime.

Synopsis
The Vash' journey has suddenly become more lively with the addition of Wolfwood. The group continues to follow the Knives and stops at a remote village called "Windmill Village" in the red desert. The windmill is not blowing and serves no purpose. The village seems to be in ruins, but suddenly, a huge, murderous spirit attacks Vash...

Summary
In a village, a woman and a child listen to a man saying a prayer on the radio. The child then prays for a wind to come.

Vash's group is also listening to the same radio station. Meryl changes the station, but wonders what was that prayer and Roberto explains its a newly established sect, church of plant worshippers. Meryl complains that its hot and Roberto decides to tell her a story. They are in a red desert, but originally it had a normal color. However, one day something appeared and all who laid eyes on it were massacred, and their blood painted the desert deep crimson. Roberto then asks Meryl if that was chilling enough for her, but she complains he just startled her. Meryl then hits the brakes, dodging a large dead insect. As they look at it, Wolfwood explains it was killed in a single blow. Meryl wonders if Knives did it, but Wolfwood states that even if he did it, its been dead for a while and Knives would be long gone. Vash then sees a village with a large windmill and heads towards it.

The child from the village, Rollo, asks his mother why God eats the sacrificed children and she explains that it's to bring blessings. Vash and his group reach the village, but see that there is no one and that the village doesn't have a plant either. Meryl wonders if it was stolen, but Roberto guesses that they used the large windmill to produce power. Wolfwood wonders what happens if there is no wind and hearing that it means there won't be power, he finds the system stupid.

Vash looks around, but is then suddenly attacked by gunfire. A large man then shows up with gatling guns over his hands and shouting Vash's name, and he continues to fire at him. Vash tells the rest to hide as the man chases only Vash. Wolfwood fires at the man's back, but it has little effect and the man continues to chase Vash, who eventually ends up in a dead end.

Rollo returns home and overhears his mother and others talking and how the others tell his mother that Rollo is chosen as the sacrifice. Hearing that, Rollo runs away.

Vash manages to cause part of a house to collapse and fall upon the man. He then checks if the man is alive and is glad to see that he is, but as the man stands and prepares to shoot at Vash again, Wolfwood comes and shoots at the man and helps Vash escape. The man then injects himself with serum and heals his bullet wounds.

After they escaped the man, Wolfwood figured that Vash knows this village and asks him what happened. Vash states he doesn't know what happened, however he explains that Rollo's mother asked him to find Rollo and he eventually found him running in the desert. Rollo realizes that Vash is Vash the Stampede. He also tells him that he is sick and will die before he grows up, and God won't save him as he doesn't believe in him. Vash brings Rollo to his mother and promises to help him if he needs help and that he will save him if God won't. However, by the time Vash got medicine and returned, Rollo was gone. The large man then finds Vash and Wolfwood.

At night, Rollo goes into the large windmill. He finds William, Elendira and several Eye of Michael members inside of it. He wonders if they are God, but William tells him, "The man you praise as God is not here right now." The Eye of Michael members then sedate Rollo, which causes him to drop his lamp and start a fire. Rollo wonders if Elendira is a sacrifice too, but she laughs at the idea and states she is an "angel". Rollo is taken by William, who injects him with a drug to rebuild and strengthen his body. He claims that if Rollo adapts to it, it will cure his illness. As Rollo starts transforming, he yells for Vash to help him. Rollo turns into the large man and William puts an implant in his brain to heighten his emotions, particularly anger, and leading to accelerated development of athletic abilities. He's the first subject to survive in five years and William is happy. Rollo later returns home to his mother, but she considers him a monster, which causes him to go wild.

Meryl and Roberto finds Rollo's home, but seeing the ruined state of it, Roberto guesses its been like this for twenty years. Looking around, Meryl finds a photo of Vash with a young Rollo.

As Rollo fights Vash and Wolfwood, he knocks out Wolfwood and Vash realizes he is Rollo. While Vash runs and fights Rollo, he tries to make him listen and remember who he is. Rollo captures Vash, who apologizes for being late, but he is here to keep his word. Wolfwood returns and fatally shoots Rollo in the head, shattering his helm and revealing his face. Rollo then falls down from the building.

Vash and the rest gather at Rollo's body, where Vash begs Rollo to wake up, but Wolfwood tells him he is already dead. Vash gets angry and asks Wolfwood why he shot Rollo, and Wolfwood explains it was mercy, as there is no way he would return his humanity. Vash states that wasn't Wolfwood's decision, but Wolfwood counters by telling Vash that he is a hypocrite who makes promises that he can't keep.

Zazie tells William that Rollo is dead. Elendira finds it convenient as it saves him the trouble of getting rid of a failure. Zazie also explains that Rollo was killed by another creation by William. Elendira realizes it's Nicholas, but William corrects her stating it's the Punisher. Meanwhile, Vash's group leaves the village and wind starts blowing and moving the windmill. Power then comes back and the village lights turn on.

Appearances

 * Rollo
 * Meryl Stryfe
 * Roberto De Niro
 * Vash the Stampede
 * Nicholas D. Wolfwood
 * William Conrad
 * Elendira the Crimsonnail
 * Zazie the Beast