Scenario:Danua - Catharsis

Catharsis

The crew finds a doll couple in the puppeteer workshop under Danua's old home and reads through a memo describing the forbidden magic used to channel souls into dolls. While reading, the room suddenly fills with mist.

---

(Captain) and company visit the home where Danua grew up only to find it in ruins.

After finding their way underground, they discover a puppeteer's workshop and two curious dolls.

Vyrn: Hey, Lyria... Those two dolls are Danua's mom and dad, right?

Lyria: Yeah... Right, (Captain)?

At that moment, the doll couple makes its way over to greet the crew.

The two dolls bow again and again in front of the crew to show their appreciation.

Papa: ...

Vyrn: Hey... What are they saying?

Gretel: They're really grateful you've all helped look out for Danua!

Mama: ...

The dolls use gestures to express their gratitude to (Captain) and company.

Lyria: It's no problem. Danua has been helping us out a lot, actually!

Danua: (Captain)...

Hansel: Uh huh... Uh huh... Danua says she's only made it this far because of you.

Papa and Mama: ...

The parents begin waving and jumping excitedly to express their thanks.

Gretel: Ha ha ha! I think they got your point!

Danua's parents and the crew finally get a chance to have their meet-and-greet.

One question remains. What's this workshop? The crew poses the question to the dolls.

Papa and Mama: ...!

Gretel: Hm? You need to calm down if we're going to understand what you're saying!

The dolls frantically attempt to explain, but it's no use. So they spread open a book on the table.

Gretel: We get it! You want us to read this thing!

Hansel: Allow me.

Hansel begins reading what appears to be notes related to an experiment.

Hansel: Forbidden magic exists with the power to channel human souls into dolls...

Hansel: Those who have already crossed the gate to the underworld can be brought back to the world of the living.

Hansel: However, to permanently fuse the soul and the doll requires a certain power...

As Hansel reads the book, a strange smoke begins to fill the underground room.

Papa and Mama: ...

Danua: Smoke...

Hansel: Uh huh... Uh huh... She says that this smoke is suspicious... Danua, try holding your breath.

Gretel: Hey! Quit your dilly-dallying and let's get out of here!

Everyone hurries toward the door to escape...

But a giant golem blocks their path.

Golem: Groooar!

Vyrn: T-this isn't good, guys!

Lyria: Yeah... My legs feel so... heavy...

Gretel: Tch... Fleshy humans sure are a handful.

Danua: Ngh...

Hansel: We don't have time for this! Let's go, Gretel.

Gretel: I gotcha! Let's hit 'em hard and fast!

Catharsis: Scene 2

Sleeping gas puts the crew to sleep, and when they come to, the man who killed Danua's family stands before their eyes. He tries to unleash the forbidden magic sealed within Danua's left arm, however, her dolls suddenly jump back to life to protect her.

---

After getting a whiff of the mysterious smoke, everyone in the crew begins to fall asleep.

And when they come to, they find themselves imprisoned.

Vyrn: What happened? How did we... When did we...

Danua: Agh...

Lyria: What happened? Danua, are you okay?

Danua: Lyri...

Danua's been imprisoned with the rest of the crew, and looks understandably worried.

???: I see... If you lose consciousness, you lose your connection to the doll...

Vyrn: Who was that just now?

A man with an eerie smile appears before them.

???: Hmmm? Didn't you come here looking for me?

Danua: Who...

???: Don't you remember? I'm the man who purged your parents and brother.

Danua: ...!

Vyrn: You've got some nerve showing up around here! Who are you?

Rogue Puppeteer: Me? I'm a rogue puppeteer. I have no name.

Rogue Puppeteer: Allow me to ask the same of you. Not that it matters. You'll be dead soon enough.

Rogue Puppeteer: Shall we have a little chat before you meet your ends?

The rogue puppeteer begins to tell a story.

Rogue Puppeteer: I heard rumors of a way to infuse human spirits into dolls, and paid a visit to a certain pupeteer.

Rogue Puppeteer: But he refused to see me. Said the magic was too risky to use.

Rogue Puppeteer: He was so happy. Ignorant in his familial bliss.

Rogue Puppeteer: That's why I had to show him. Show him how it feels to lose your loved ones.

Rogue Puppeteer: If I did that... then he'd finally understand how desperate I was!

Vyrn: That's why you killed Danua's family? What's wrong with you?

Rogue Puppeteer: That's right. Is what I did truly so terrible? People are driven by selfish desires!

Rogue Puppeteer: Unfortunately... the forbidden magic I was looking for was nowhere to be found down here.

Rogue Puppeteer: It was sealed within your arm all along, Danua.

The man grabs Danua by her left arm.

Danua: Ow...

Rogue Puppeteer: I will use the spectral threads sealed within this arm to channel souls into the dolls...

Lyria: Please stop! You're hurting her!

Rogue Puppeteer: Bwahaha... And I've obtained such a bounty of new materials to work with, too.

Rogue Puppeteer: You will all serve as the perfect catalyst for the forbidden spell!

The rogue puppeteer binds (Captain) and Danua to a pedestal imprinted with a summoning circle.

With a firm hold on Danua's arm, he begins muttering the incantation.

Rogue Puppeteer: It is time. Gate to the underworld... Open!

When the puppeteer invokes the seals, a dark mist begins seeping from Danua's arm.

A vortex of darkness quickly envelops them, from which a gate to another dimension appears.

Danua: Stop...

Rogue Puppeteer: Heh... Hahaha... Soon. Soon the forbidden spell will be mine!

Danua: Stop...

The spectral threads are released from Danua's left arm.

Danua: Stooooop!

At that very instant, the dolls connected to Danua's spectral threads come back to life.

Hansel: Sorry we're late, Danua.

Papa: ...

The dolls destroy the bonds that restrained the crew.

Mama: ...

Gretel: Now, Danua! Let's turn this guy into doll stuffing!

Danua: I won't let you... have control anymore!

Rogue Puppeteer: You've outlived your usefulness! Now it's time for you to meet your maker!

Golem: Groaaar...

Danua: Papa... Mama... Here it comes.

Papa and Mama: Danua...

Danua: Please... Lend me a hand... Hansel... Gretel...

Hansel: Of course we will!

Gretel: Let's do it!

Danua: I'll... save... everyone!

Catharsis: Scene 3

Danua believes the rogue puppeteer is defeated for good, only for him to open a gateway to darkness. After Danua's family sacrifices itself to protect her, she finds herself able to speak again, but temporarily loses herself in sadness. Ultimately, she gains a renewed sense of determination.

---

Rogue Puppeteer: Not yet... I can still fight!

Despite being soundly defeated by (Captain) and company, the puppeteer grows ever more hostile and resistant.

Grudge: Groooar...

Just then, a swarm of vengeful spirits appears at the gate to the underworld.

Rogue Puppeteer: What? T-this cannot be!

The spirits of those who had once been wronged by the puppeteer appear and begin dragging him into the gate.

Rogue Puppeteer: No! Let go... Let go of me!

As the light glowing from Danua's left arm begins to dim, the ominous gate begins to close as well.

And thus, (Captain) and company make it through this string-pulling crisis unharmed.

Danua: Everyone...

Vyrn: Huff... Looks like... everyone's okay...

Danua: I'm so glad.

Lyria: Right! Wait... Huh? Danua, did you speak just now?

Danua: I... did?

The dolls gather around Danua.

Papa and Mama: Danu... a...

Danua: Sob... Papa... Mama...

Danua: Can you pat me on the head?

The parents hold Danua tight, gently stroking her hair as she sobs.

Hansel: Good for you, Danua.

Gretel: She's really outgrown them, wouldn't you say!

Vyrn: Hehe! Well that settles that!

Lyria: Yeah! I'm so happy she found her parents!

(Captain) and company look on at the touching family reunion.

But just then, the dark gate to the underworld suddenly reopens.

Rogue Puppeteer: Ahahaha... As if I'd let you get away!

After using the last of his power to reopen the gate, the puppeteer grabs Danua and drags her toward the vortex.

Danua: Ahhh!

Papa and Mama: Danua!

Her parents desperately try to pull Danua away from the puppeteer.

But despite their best efforts, Danua is only drawn deeper and deeper into the dark beyond.

Vyrn: We've gotta rescue 'em!

Lyria: Let's give them a hand, (Captain)!

But (Captain) and company can't get any closer to Danua.

Danua: Papa! Mama!

Gretel: Hmph! What a sore loser! And a jerk, too! Let's get 'em, Hansel!

Hansel: Understood, Gretel.

Hansel and Gretel, along with Danua's parents, stand before the puppeteer.

Danua: Hansel! Gretel!

Hansel: Danua, you'll be just fine.

Danua: Hansel?

Gretel: Don't look so sad, Danua! You're not alone anymore!

Danua: Gretel!

Rogue Puppeteer: Enough of this, you useless dolls!

Papa and Mama: Goodbye, Danua... We... love... you...

Gretel: Haha! It was a short reunion, but it was fun. We're off!

Hansel: This is goodbye, Danua. (Captain)... Everyone... Take good care of her.

Danua: Papa! Mama! Hansel! Gretel!

Danua: No... No... There's so much I want to tell you!

Danua: I wanted us to live together... as a family!

But her plea ends in vain, as the dolls begin to disappear with the puppeteer beyond the gate.

The gate to the underworld closes once again, and a silence fills the room.

Lyria: How could... This is... the most horrible thing I've ever seen...

Vyrn: No way! We couldn't do anything!

Danua: Sob... Sniff... How could this happen...

Danua's family comes together to protect her once more.

Danua has lost her family and dolls, but gains something else in return: her voice.

She sobs loudly as (Captain) and company guide her back to the airship.

It takes several days for her heart to mend from the loss.

Vyrn: Hey, Danua. Are you all right?

Lyria: Sob... I'm so sorry, Danua. I couldn't do anything...

Danua's concerned companions gather around her.

Danua: Sniff... Thank you, everyone...

Danua smiles gently, fighting back her tears.

Time had stopped for her ever since that fateful day... but now things are slowly starting to move once more.

Danua: (I need to be strong... for my family.)

Danua: (Papa... Mama... Hansel... Gretel...)

Danua: (Thank you for loving me.)

Danua, her face still wet with tears, looks out at the sky unfolding before her.

What majestic sights await her?

No matter what the future brings, she'll face it alongside her friends.

Fate will no doubt shine upon them, like the brilliant blue sky above.