Scenario:Halloween Party: Lost Jack and the Mystic Pyre - Where Jack Belongs

Halloween Party: Lost Jack and the Mystic Pyre - Where Jack Belongs

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Danua: See...

Hansel: Uh-huh.... Mmm-hmm...
Danua says she wants to see Beatrix again.

Gretel: Hahaha! Danua must really be into this outfit she picked out for her.

As Danua prances about playfully, she spots Ferry near the bonfire. The silver-haired girl seems to be surrounded by pumpkinheads.

Pumpkinheads: Coo! Coo!

Ferry: H-hey! One at a time, one at a time!

Ferry: Hehehe! Stop it! That tickles!

Danua: Okay?

Ferry: Oh, Danua.

Hansel: Danua asks if you're okay. Being surrounded by pumpkins and all.

Ferry: No, no, I'm fine. This might not be what Halloween's all about, but...

Ferry: They all want to play with me, so I can't just ignore them, can I?

Danua: Pum... kin...

Hansel: Danua says the pumpkins look like they're having fun.

Gretel: Say! How about you play with Danua too? Enjoy the festival with her and whatnot!

Ferry: Of course. What shall we do first, Danua? If you like to play with dolls—

Ferry is interrupted by a sudden roar of the bonfire. The red of the flames seems to seep into the night.

The once docile pumpkinheads start to take on a strange glow and begin to jump and somersault in the air.

Danua: Weird...

Hansel: Danua says it's strange how they suddenly seem agitated.

Gretel: What in the... Is this 'cause the bonfire's burning all strong-like?

Ferry: The fire does seem... strange... Strangely hard to look away...

???: Interesting. The fire seems to have an effect on you as well.

Ferry and Danua are surprised to find Cagliostro standing right behind them.

Danua: Startle...

Hansel: Danua says you startled her coming out from nowhere like that.

Gretel: Hahaha! Nice job breaking the tension!

Cagliostro: Looks like everyone's enjoying the festival, eh?

Cagliostro: Which leads me to my question... Have any of you seen Lost Jack tonight?

Ferry: Hm? No, now that you mention it.

Danua: Where...

Hansel: Danua wonders where he is. He's the reason we're holding this festival, after all.

Cagliostro: I knew it. This can mean only one thing.

Ferry: Huh?

Danua: What...

Hansel: Danua asks what you mean.

Gretel: Hey, if you know something, then spit it out already!

Cagliostro: Now, now, no need to get ahead of ourselves. I understand the cause, but I've yet to deduce the reason...

???: Stop! Stop, I say!

An elderly man jumps between Cagliostro and the fire.

Cagliostro: ...

???: Hohoho. Careful now, young ones. This fire is not to be trifled with.

???: Here. Have some candy and be on your merry way.

???: ...
Go on! What're you waiting for!

Ferry: Um... No, sir, we're not here for candy; we're—

???: What? Who doesn't like candy? Ahh, you want more, do you? Here you are.

Danua: Scary...

Hansel: Danua says your forcing of candy on us is making her uneasy.

Gretel: Hey, gramps... You hidin' something? I don't trust people with shifty, bloodshot eyes.

Elder: Hohoho. Have no fear. How could a village elder like me mean you harm?

Elder: I simply wish to protect this fire from any mischief is all.

Elder: Look! Here's even more candy! Now go play someplace else.

Cagliostro squints a suspicious eye at the elderly man.

Cagliostro: That's not going to work on me! My mommy told me never to take candy from strangers! Teehee!

Cagliostro: Not to mention you're doin' an awful job at playing dumb. Now tell me...

Cagliostro: Why are you trying to keep us away from that bonfire?

Elder: ...

The old man, an affected smile plastered on his face, stares at Cagliostro. Several moments pass until he finally answers in a hushed voice.

Elder: Do as I've told. Or else...

Elder: I'll have to give you girls a scare with my costume. Hohoho...

Cagliostro: Hah! Go right ahead. I could do with a laugh.

Elder: Ohh... You'll regret that.

Elder: Grrrooar!

The man retrieves a crystal of dark essence from his pocket and uses it to transform himself.

Elder: Wahahaha! Tremble in fear of my costume!

Cagliostro: Humph. I could laugh, but I don't think it's even worth it. Ever heard the phrase the bigger they are, the harder they fall?

Elder: Gaah!

Having taken the form of a giant beast, the old man gives a booming roar.

Elder: Come to me... Come to me...

He repeats the phrase as if reciting a mantra.

Ferry: ...!
Is... Is he calling the spirits to him?

Danua: Summon...

Hansel: Danua says she's heard of children telling each other stories of this.

Hansel: That one can summon spirits by lighting a candle and repeating the phrase "come to me."

Gretel: I bet that big, fat bonfire packs a heck of a lot more power than a tiny candle.

Cagliostro: Whatever the reason, it looks like we found our culprit.

Cagliostro: This man's the meanie who's been trying to ruin Halloween!

Halloween Party: Lost Jack and the Mystic Pyre - Where Jack Belongs: Scene 2

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Elder: Graaah...

Elder: Pant... Pant...

Now in his original form, the old man runs away and escapes.

Ferry: Ah! The old man's gone...

Cagliostro: We won't let him get away. He's got a whole lot of explaining to do.

Cagliostro: But before that...

Cagliostro: Ouroboros!

With a thunderous blast, Cagliostro uses her alchemy to extinguish the bonfire.

Just as soon as the flames fade, the sky clears and the moon once again lights the night.

Danua: Pretty...

Hansel: Danua says the moonlight is pretty.

Gretel: All right! Now let's get back to enjoying Halloween!

Elder: Pant... Pant... If only it weren't for those meddling kids...

???: Heh heh! Thought you could get away, did you?

Elder: Eep!

Eustace: Why did you do it? Talk.

Elder: ...

Eustace: Or would you prefer if my gun did the questioning?

Eustace points Falling Thunder right in the man's face.

Elder: I-I get it! I'll talk!

The elderly man explains how he did it all to summon the spirit of the beloved wife he lost just a year ago.

Beatrix: I understand how you feel, but making a huge bonfire like that...

Beatrix: And does saying a simple phrase like that even work? I'd be surprised if I could summon spirits that way.

Eustace: It probably doesn't. Not by itself.

Eustace: You need to open the doors to the other side. Without the power to do that, it's impossible.

Beatrix: So that's why he needed the dark essence.

Eustace: I'm assuming attracting all those monsters wasn't in the plan though.

Elder: Forgive me... Truly I am sorry... Truly...

When the man bows in apology, the cracked dark essence crystal drops from his pocket to the ground.

Eustace: ...

Eustace picks it up and stares at it, feeling an odd knot forming in his chest as he does.

Mimlemel: Toota-too!

Mimlemel appears before Cagliostro and the others as they look for the elderly man.

Cagliostro looks around and coyly cocks her head to the side.

Cagliostro: You. Have you seen an old man hobbling around here?

Mimlemel: Beatrix and her friend took him.

Danua: Bea...

Hansel: Danua says she wishes she was around to catch Beatrix.

Ferry: Anyhow, it looks like there aren't as many pumpkinheads around anymore, and we didn't run into any monsters on the way either.

Ferry: I guess that's good enough, right? What do you say we call this case closed?

Mimlemel: Tootle-too!

Ferry: Hehe. Right you are.

???: Everyone!

???: Have you managed to solve the monster problem?

Ange and Charlotta come running in from the distance.

Charlotta: Apologies for not being able to join you earlier! The other monsters really kept us busy!

Cagliostro: Pay it no mind. We didn't need help anyway.

Cagliostro: But now we can finally play with Lost Jack. Let's get to it!

The gang waits patiently for Lost Jack to appear.

Before long, a form coalesces in the darkness.

Lost Jack: ...

Mimlemel: Thumbs up.

Cagliostro: Sigh. You know today's your big day, don't you? What were you waiting for?

Cagliostro: Can't start without you, after all!

Ange: That's right! You're the king of Halloween! The king! A prince like me has to challenge you!

Lost Jack: ...

Ferry: No need to worry anymore. What was calling all the monsters here is gone now.

Ferry: You're not lost anymore. You're the one everyone's been waiting for.

Cagliostro: Hear that? Your place is here. And don't let anyone tell you different.

Charlotta: It's not Halloween if all we do is fight monsters! Not without you!

Danua: Play...

Hansel: Danua says let's play till the festival's over.

Gretel: And I even got some candy if you want!

Cagliostro: Heh heh. Quite the welcoming party, don't you think?

Lost Jack: ...

Lost Jack twirls in the air, seemingly overjoyed by the crew's words.

Ange: Hehe. Looks like he's back to his old cheerful self!

Charlotta: The real Halloween starts now!

Cagliostro: Are you ready, Jack? 'Cause here we come!

Mimlemel: Toota-tootaloo! Too-too!

With the return of Halloween's king, fun fills the festival air.

Voices of trick-or-treaters echo all around as the crew frolics about with Lost Jack.

And even before the night concludes, they all begin looking forward to next year's Halloween.