Archive of Our Own ^beta

Playful Land: an illusionary amusement park. Every day is Sunday there. And it's jam-packed with friends and fun times. Just make sure to remember… to let your conscience be your guide.

One night, in front of what appears to be an amusement park. The lights are on, and the sign glows as it shows a fox wearing an old worn top hat with the sign 'Playful Land'. There are many rides and attractions beaming with light, fun and excitement.

Soon, someone approaches, "Excuse me, you there. Could I have a moment of your time? Yes—you! I'm speaking to you! The budding scholar with a gleam of intellect in your eye! Ahem... Have you heard of Playful Land?"

Someone nods in response.

The voice continues, " ...Of course you have! And look! That illusionary amusement park just happens to be right here, before your very eyes! As a matter of fact, I happen to have a rare ticket I was thinking of giving to you. Why, you ask? Why else? Because you've got the makings of a star!" Then the figure turns their head to another figure, "Isn't that right?"

The smaller figure nods in response.

The voice continues, "There, you see? By all means, don't be shy. I swear on my good name… that you'll be the biggest star in the park!"

Soon, two figures approach the person and come into the light to reveal two beings.

One of them is a tall fox beastman with orange shoulder-length hair (that turns white at the tips), orange irises with sharp pupils, fox ears and a tail. He has dark angled eyebrows, green eyeshadow, and a black top hat with an emblem of a fox like the sign, resting on his head. He wears a white dress shirt covered by a light green vest and a maroon cravat. Donned over this interior clothing is a knee-length navy-blue coat with a scarlet inner lining wrapped by a black leather belt and adorned with golden Playful Land memorabilia. He wears long black-and-white shoes and white gloves that would've given the illusion of elegant luxury if not for the hole on his right pinky finger. Another evidence of his poor lifestyle covered up by over-the-top presentation is his green pants, its left leg covered in multicolored and multipatterned diamond-shaped patches. From time to time, he has the ability to summon a small black staff topped by a golden fox head.

The other is a young and short cat beastman with a dark complexion and light freckles, sporting spiky brown shoulder-length hair, green eyes, cat ears and a tail. He dons a small light-blue top hat and wears a light-purple dress shirt under a purple bowtie, a cropped yellow jacket and some purple suspenders. The jacket has a golden pin depicting the fox attached to his left lapel and has sleeves that are long enough to drape his hands from view. The suspenders have an asymmetrical pattern, with his left side having alternating patterns of light purple stripes and a light-green inner lining while his right side has a yellow inner lining. Additionally, the suspenders have multicolored patches sewn onto it, reflecting a life of poverty embellished by fanciful handiwork. He also wears brown boots that are a tad too large for him and carries around what looks like a large purple toy hammer.

The fox beast man says, "Got it? Great! Then off to Playful Land we go!" He lets out a whistle as he and the cat beast walk inside.

But suddenly, a sinister laughter is heard "...Haaah hah hah hah…"

One day, walking out of Sage Island, Night Raven College has a Basketball game against Royal Swords Academy. However, the gang are not happy that Night Raven lost to them, again. Walking out of the school and down the street, Briar and her friends are with Ace and Floyd who's on the basketball team.

Ace groans, "Maaan! Losing a Basketball Club game to the Royal Sword Academy seriously burns me up! I was so sure we had it in the bag this time. That's why I spent my day off in another school's stinkin' gym...but we lost! AGAIN!"

"There's always next time!" Briar says.

"Yeah, and you all did your best," Sereia says.

Grim groans, "Sheesh. Me 'n my hench-humans came all the way out here to cheer you guys on… And then your team started fightin' in the middle of the game. So much for playin' basketball. Was the other team that good? Or were you guys just that bad?"

"Grim," Briar says, shocked.

"That's mean, Grim," Sereia adds.

Ace flinches, "Grk... Way to kick a guy when he's down. We totally could've won if Floyd hadn't completely checked out in the first half.

"Excuse me?" Floyd responds with a frown, "You got a problem with how I was playin', Mr. Benchwarmer?"

"Huh? No! I was just saying it was a huge loss of a key asset…" Ace says, sheepishly.

Then quickly changes the subject, "Ooh, I know! How about we grab something to eat before we head back to Night Raven? There's this great burger joint down the street."

"Ooh, burgers?! Sign me up!" Grim says.

"Sounds good to me," Jasper says.

Trinket tinks.

"Sure Trinket, we can get you a fruit salad," Briar says.

"Sure, why not. Not like I got anything else goin' on once I get back to school. But don't expect me to shell out for anyone. You can all buy your own meals," Floyd says.

Ace scoffs, "Tch. C'mon, can't you do somethin' nice for your plucky underclassman?"

But soon notices, "...Hm? Hey, isn't that Jack and Jade across the way?"

The group soon look to see that Jack and Jade are together.

"Oh hey, you're right. That's rich," Floyd says with a grin, "What're those two doin' hangin' out together?"

Floyd calls out, "Yo, Jade!" and walks over

Jade turns to see his twin brother, "Why, hello there, Floyd. Oh yes, you mentioned having a practice basketball game today."

Then the others follow over.

"What're you two doin' out here? Shopping?" Grim asks.

"No!" Jack quickly answers, "I just ran into him while I was looking for clothes, and he invited himself along."

"I grew curious about what clothing stores beastfolk frequent, and what manner of clothes they choose. So I decided to accompany Jack and observe him as he shopped," Jade says.

Jack angrily turns to Jade, "You liar. 'Observe,' my tail. You keep trying to get me to try on random things you think I'd look funny in!"

Then Jade asks, "What brings your group out here, Floyd? I believe the school is in the opposite direction."

"Crabby said he was gonna treat us to burgers," Floyd says.

"Mya-hah!" Grim agrees.

"No, he didn't," Tanzanite says.

"Yeah, I did not! Don't encourage him, Grim!" Ace says, annoyed, "I'm still feeling salty after losing, so I just wanted to blow off some steam with a good meal."

"I went off-campus to relax. Who would've expected it'd just wear me out even more?" Jaack says.

"Oh dear, Jack. Are you feeling worn out? That won't do at all," Jade asks.

Jack angrily says, "It's your fault!"

Ace asks, "Wanna join us for burgers?"

"What a delightful invitation. I would of course be happy to accept," Jade says.

And Jack says, "I'm not a fan of goin' out in big packs, but I AM getting hungry…"

"We may as well while we're out, right?" Briar says.

"Sweet. The burger place is a quick walk from here. C'mon," Ace says.

Soon, the gang decides to head in the same direction to get some lunch. However, unknown to them, two figures secretly spy on the group of schoolmates.

One voice says, "Well, well! Would you look at that, Gino?"

The second figure nods in response.

The first figure says, "Judging by those uniforms...I'd say today's our lucky day."

However, the other figure pulls on the first figure's sleeve.

"What is it?" The voice asks.

The other figure points to the students, and at a specific student. When the first figure looks to where the second figure is pointing at, he is shocked.

The first figure responds in shock, "That young girl… but it can't be… that long light brown hair, that pale white skin, those ocean green eyes…" Then the voice expresses joy, "Seems that our luck has grown more to see her," Gino nods in response.

The figure who is called Gino nods his head.

"If we play our cards right. We'll be able to see her again," The first figure says.

Then the mysterious figure turns to Gino, "Quick! We'll head them off."

Then the two quickly rush off to head off Briar and the group.

Soon enough, the gang arrives on Foothill Town on Sage Island.

"We should be coming up on that burger place any second now…" Ace says.

And soon, the gang arrives in front of the burger place.

"Huh. I had no idea there even was one in this part of town," Jack says.

Ace turns to Jack, "It just opened recently, and Cater says it's supposed to be real good…"

Suddenly, they hear a familiar voice, "Ooh! I thought I heard some familiar voices. I knew it was you guys!"

The gang turns to see Kalim.

Kalim says, "Hey, Jack, Ace...and all the rest of you!"

And Ortho is with him.

Ortho happily says, "Hello! It's rare to run into so many students in Foothill Town at once. What're you guys up to?"

"Oh hi, Kalim," Briar says.

"Hello Ortho," Sereia says.

And Ace asks, "What're YOU guys up to, huh? You're as rare of a pairing as Jack and Jade."

"We were shopping in a local bookstore," Ortho says.

And Kalim says, "I was having tons of trouble making sense of my potionology assignment, and Ortho suggested a good resource for it. But Sam's isn't open today, so I figured picking it up in town myself would be faster than having him order it in for me."

"Poor Jamil…" Ace says, "He said he was worried about Kalim and took off toward school on a broom the moment the basketball game ended. Guess they must've just missed each other. I'll bet he's at the dorm right now panicking about where Kalim could be."

"What potionology assignment? I don't remember gettin' any," Floyd asks.

Kalim sheepishly smiles, "Well, I kinda blew our last pop quiz, so I got extra homework as a remedial lesson. What a mess! Hah hah hah."

Grim laughs, "Myahahah! Talk about a strugglin' student."

Jack turns to Grim, "Like you've got any room to talk, Grim. Didn't Trein keep you after class the other day?"

"Hey, that wasn't my fault! Maybe if Trein's lessons weren't literal snoozefests...!" Grim argues.

"I hear that," Ace says, "I got caught dozing off during a magic history class, and you should've SEEN the look he gave me."

"My, my. You both have much to learn," Jade replies, "If you must take naps, you should do so discreetly. You won't get yelled at if you don't get caught."

"I have to agree with Jade on that one," Tanzanite says.

"Hard to stay awake at Professor Trein's class with his cat yawning all the time. He's making me want to sleep," Jasper says.

"Ooh, is there a way to do that?" Kalim asks, excited, "Trein gets real scary when he's mad. I wanna learn how to stealth nap like that!"

"If you're that bored durin' his lessons, why show up at all? You could just skip. You'd be surprised how often you can get away with it when you get someone else to answer roll call for you," Floyd says.

"Who's gonna volunteer to stick their own neck out like that...?" Jack questions with a frown.

The group continues talking.

"It sounds like you're all sleeping through your lessons, or skipping them entirely… But it's October. Midterm exams are coming up soon, you know," Ortho says.

Ace, Grim, Kalim, and Jasper react in, "Grk!"

"And our after-school schedules are going to be filled with Halloween prep work. By my analysis, it seems like it would be best to start studying now if you hope to avoid utter disaster later," Ortho says.

"You do have a point, Ortho," Briar says.

"The truth hurts…" Ace says.

And Grim shouts, "Would you knock it off?! I don't wanna hear all this gross talk about exams and studyin'!"

"Oh, whoops. I came to a bookstore to study, but I ended up getting all distracted!" Kalim says.

"I mean, if you can't let yourself get distracted on a day off, when CAN you?" Ace responds.

And Ace groans, "Ugh, we've got classes, homework, exams... It's just pain in the neck after pain in the neck. Can't we have some fun for a change?"

"I have plenty of fun just getting to see my friends every day. Like today! Now that I've run into all of you, I just know today's gonna be great," Kalim says.

Sereia, Briar, and Trinket giggle in response.

The gang continues walking along.

And Kalim follows, "Say, where are you guys headed, anyway? I could join you—" and walks ahead.

Ortho calls out, "Ah! Kalim Al-Asim, watch where you're walking!"

"Kalim, be careful!" Sereia calls out and rushes ahead.

Briar calls out, "Kalim! Sereia! Look out!"

And with that, Kalim and Sereia end up bumping into someone.

And they soon hear a voice, "Oh dear, I'm terribly sorry!"

Kalim and Sereia look to see two people standing before them.

One of them is a tall fox beastman with orange shoulder-length hair (that turns white at the tips), orange irises with sharp pupils, fox ears and a tail. He has dark angled eyebrows, green eyeshadow, and a black top hat with an emblem of a fox like the sign, resting on his head. He wears a white dress shirt covered by a light green vest and a maroon cravat. Donned over this interior clothing is a knee-length navy-blue coat with a scarlet inner lining wrapped by a black leather belt and adorned with golden Playful Land memorabilia. He wears long black-and-white shoes and white gloves that would've given the illusion of elegant luxury if not for the hole on his right pinky finger. Another evidence of his poor lifestyle covered up by over-the-top presentation is his green pants, its left leg covered in multicolored and multipatterned diamond-shaped patches. From time to time, he has the ability to summon a small black staff topped by a golden fox head.

The other is a young and short cat beastman with a dark complexion and light freckles, sporting spiky brown shoulder-length hair, green eyes, cat ears and a tail. He dons a small light-blue top hat and wears a light-purple dress shirt under a purple bowtie, a cropped yellow jacket and some purple suspenders. The jacket has a golden pin depicting the fox attached to his left lapel and has sleeves that are long enough to drape his hands from view. The suspenders have an asymmetrical pattern, with his left side having alternating patterns of light purple stripes and a light-green inner lining while his right side has a yellow inner lining. Additionally, the suspenders have multicolored patches sewn onto it, reflecting a life of poverty embellished by fanciful handiwork. He also wears brown boots that are a tad too large for him and carries around what looks like a large purple toy hammer.

The fox beast man says, "I beg your pardon. Are you all right? It would be just awful if you were injured…"

"Oh um, I'm alright," Sereia says.

And Kalim says, "Oh, I'm fine. And I should apologize for not paying enough attention.

"That's a relief to hear…" The foxman says. Then notices the group, "Hm? Oho? What have we HERE?" and sounding shocked, "Those stylish uniforms worn with such grace and aplomb. The utter class exuding from every last one of you… Would you happen to be students of that prestigious arcane academy, Night Raven College?"

"Hm? Yeah, why?" Kalim replies, confused.

"Who are you again?" Ace asks.

The fox beastman says, "Oh, where ARE my manners? Allow me to introduce myself—I am Ernesto Foulworth. I'm well known for my unrelenting honesty! In fact, it's the only thing I've got going for me! Hah hah hah." Then turns to the younger cat beastman, And this here's my bosom buddy, Gino. He doesn't talk much, but he's a nice enough sort. Go on, Gino. Say hello."

Gina waves with a smile.

"Hello," The girls reply.

"Ernesto and Gino, huh?" Kalim says, "I'm Kalim. Nice to meet you both!"

But Jack says to Kalim, "Whoa, hey. Mr. Foulworth's clearly way older than us. You can't just go around calling him by his first name."

"Oh, by all means, do!" Ernesto says, "Let's not worry about formalities. You can call us whatever you're most comfortable with. In fact, everybody's got nicknames for me. Some of my closest friends have taken to calling me Honest Ernesto!"

"Hmm…" Floyd replies, "Then I'mma call you Foxfish and Catshark."

"Oh, I see. You chose 'Foxfish' because Ernesto Foulworth is a fox beastman…" Ortho says, looking at Ernesto before turning to Gino, "...and 'Catshark' because Gino is a cat beastman, right?"

"Makes sense to me," Grim says.

"It does?!" Ace says, dumbfounded.

Ernesto laughs, "Hah hah hah! I shouldn't be surprised that Night Raven College students would also have impeccable taste in nomenclature. Just look at them, Gino. Do you see those bright, clever expressions? They're practically radiating intelligence. These are all brilliant future scholars, there can be no doubt! What a stroke of fortune for us to meet them now, before they all hit the big time."

Gino nods in response.

"Goodness, I can't say I've ever been showered with such praise by someone I've only just met. You're very kind," Jade says, feeling somewhat flattered.

"Oh, sorry if I'm making a scene. The trouble with me is, I can never tell a lie," Ernesto says before he laughs, "Hah hah hah!"

"It's fine by me! This Ernesto guy's all right. Did you hear him? He called me clever, brilliant, and cool!" Grim says, excited.

"Not sure if he's referring to you," Jasper says.

"He's very friendly," Briar says, and Trinket agrees.

"This could be the start of a beautiful friendship. What can I do to commemorate our acquaintance...?" Ernesto says.

And then says, " Oh, that's it! I've got just the thing! I'd like to offer you all a gift."

This pique's Grim's interest, "Ooh, a gift? Gimme! What'cha got for me?!"

"This," Ernest says, and pulls out a piece of paper, which are playing cards.

Grim becomes confused, "A playing card? The ace of spades, no less. Not sure how I should feel about that…"

"That's it? That's just a piece of paper," Grim says.

"Really? A card?" Tanzanite says, confused.

But Ernesto says, "Oh, no. That was just a bit of humor on my part. Your real gifts are these!" and then conjures up tickets, replacing the playing cards.

"They look like...some sort of ticket?" Ortho says.

"They're all colorful and sparkly!" Kalim says.

"I knew you future scholars would have an eye for quality!" Ernesto says, "These, my friends, are tickets to the one and only Playful Land."

The boys reply in surprise, "Whoa… PLAYFUL LAND?!"

Ernesto says, "These, my friends, are tickets to the one and only Playful Land."

The boys reply in surprise, "Whoa… PLAYFUL LAND?!"

"Playful Land?! ...What's that?" Grim asks, confused.

Ace turns to Grim in disbelief, "Dude. You haven't heard of Playful Land?! It's a super-popular amusement park!"

Then turns to Briar and the others, "You've heard of it, right, guys?"

"Oh yeah. I remember Deuce mentioning about a mysterious amusement park yesterday," Briar says.

"Yeah, that one!" Ace says, "Deuce brought it up while we were eating together the other day!"

"Oh yeah," Tanzanite says, remembering it.

"I remember," Jasper says.

Trinket nods.

"Hmm…" Sereia says, "I um… heard of it too…" But sounds a bit skeptical.

"That's the one they call the illusionary amusement park, right? The one's everyone keeps talkin' about?" Jack says.

"Yup! Extra fabulous and extra fun…" Ortho says, "An amusement park is so good, it makes you lose all track of time! That's what the buzz online says."

Kalim remembers, "I've heard of it, too! Supposedly they put on this incredible show inside. They say it's like nothing you can see anywhere else. I heard about it in one of our Pop Music Club meetings. I've been wanting to go!"

"Azul mentioned that place is getting the most attention out of any amusement park these days," Floyd adds.

Then Jade says, "Indeed. He mentioned it being an up-and-coming entertainment institution. Its rave reviews had him curious."

"I getcha. Guess it's gotta be awesome if it's that popular," Grim says.

Ace replies, "Tsk, tsk, tsk... Being popular isn't what sets Playful Land apart."

"Hm? Then what does?" Grim asks.

"The thing is… Nobody knows where Playful Land is," Ortho says.

Grim becomes confused, "Huh? How's it got that big of a rep if nobody knows where the place is?"

"Beats me," Ace says, shrugging his shoulders, "You can't go there even if you want to. That's why they call it 'illusionary.'"

"That just sounds weird!" Grim says.

"Right? Doesn't it make you curious?" Kalim says, "I told Jamil about it, and all he said was, 'It's probably just made up. Don't believe everything you hear.'"

And Ernesto says, "Why, it's nothing of the sort! I can assure you, Playful Land is quite real. And as it so happens… Your good friend Ernesto Foulworth here has the privilege of being the park's manager."

Everyone reacts in shock, "What?!"

"You're the manager of Playful Land?! Seriously? Dude, you're incredible!" Ace says, amazed.

"Indeed. You could've fooled me, with how young you look. Impressive," Jade says.

"Please," Ernesto says, "I may be young, but I'm an old man compared to you bright young students. I've lived well over 20 years in idle indolence... Goodness, that's embarrassing to say out loud. And to be clear, I'm simply an employee. It's nothing all that grand. Even if I have been charged with running the whole place. When I saw all of you, it hit me like a bolt from the blue… You kids could be Playful Land's stars!"

"Stars?!" Grim, Tanzanite, and Jasper ask, surprised.

"Mmhm," Ernesto nods and says, "As Kalim so kindly mentioned...Playful Land has a grand stage where the park-goers and staff all put on a show together. It's one of the most popular attractions in the park—a glitzy affair that draws huge crowds each and every day! If you showcased your talent on our stage, why, you could become mega-celebrities overnight!"

And says, "Ooh, I can see it now... All of your names on flashing neon signboards… Speaking of which—other than dear Kalim here, I don't think I caught your names…"

Grim introduces himself, "I'm the great Grim!"

Then Ace, "Ace. 'Sup."

"Jack Howl," Jack says.

"My name is Jade Leech, and this is…" Jade says, before turning to Floyd.

And Floyd says, "Yo, I'm Floyd. Nice to meetcha."

"My name is Ortho Shroud. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ernesto Foulworth and Gino!" Ortho says.

"My name is Briar Hawthrone, it's nice to meet you," Briar says.

Then turns to Trinket, "And this is Trinket."

Trinket tinks.

"I'm Jasper," Jasper says.

"And I'm his twin brother, Tanzanite," Tanzanite says.

And lastly, "My name is Sereia," and is very shy about it, but also gives a smile.

Ernesto and Gino smile, despite them being shocked to hear Sereia's name.

Then Ernesto says with a smile, "Fascinating. What distinctive names you all have! You've got 'future star' written all over you."

Ernesto says with a smile, "Fascinating. What distinctive names you all have! You've got 'future star' written all over you."

And turns to Gino, "Wouldn't you agree, Gino?"

Gino happily nods.

"I'm sure something brought us together today. I'd very much like for you to accept these tickets. What is Playful Land for, if not the enjoyment of promising future scholars like yourselves?" Ernesto says.

Grim becomes excited, "Myahahah! I get to play at an amusement park AND be a star?"

"That's right! And just between us…" Ernesto says, "These are Dream Tickets and I only hand them out to very special guests. Free entry is a given, of course, but this also gets you free access to all the attractions, and food and drinks are provided free of charge! You can enjoy everything that Playful Land has to offer!"

"I wanna go, I wanna go, I wanna gooo!" Grim says, excited.

"So...you're just GIVING us these tickets? And everything's free, even the food and drinks?" Ace asks, confused.

Then whispers to Jack, "Okay, is it just me or is this sounding kinda sketchy?

"No kidding. There's gotta be a catch…" Jack whispers.

Briar and the others turn to each other.

"I have to admit, Ace is right," Briar says.

"Yeah. Can't believe he's willing to give us valuable tickets," Tanzanite says.

"True…" Sereia says, sounding uncertain.

Jasper asks, "You okay, Sereia? You don't look good?"

And Ernesto notices the worried expressions, "Dear me—you look worried. Do you perhaps suspect something nefarious at foot?" And laughs, "Ha hah, no wonder you go to the prestigious Night Raven College. I suppose there's no hiding my ulterior motive. You see, I was hoping to get some extra publicity for our park if you future scholars turned out to enjoy yourselves there."

Gino nods with a smile

"So basically, you wanted us to put in a good word for the place? I guess that sounds legit," Ace says.

"For sure. And it would be rude to turn down such a gracious invitation. We should all go next weekend!" Kalim says.

"Next weekend? Oh, I'm afraid that won't work. You see, these tickets are only valid for entry into the park tomorrow," Ernesto says.

Confused, Floyd asks, "Huh? Why's that?"

"Well, tomorrow's the special day we've put aside for all our esteemed Sage's Island guests," Ernesto says.

"But tomorrow's a weekday, right?" Ortho points out.

"That's true," Briar says.

"Yeah, we've got class. We have to be at school," Kalim says.

"School?" Ernesto responds.

And laughs, "Hah hah hah! Surely an amusement park would be more fun. Listen, kids. They don't teach you about the shortcuts to success in school."

"Um no…" Sereia says.

"Really? I dunno…." Kalim says.

And Ace says, "If word got out that we skipped school to goof off in an amusement park, the headmage would be royally ticked."

"My brother always says I should go to class. I don't think skipping would be a good idea," Ortho says.

"Okay, scholars, I'm gonna level with you. If you pass up this opportunity, you'll never be able to go to Playful Land again. These are tickets that people all over the world would fall all over themselves to get. And you're going to throw them away?" Ernesto says.

Everyone begins to think about it, "Hmm…"

Ernesto then says, "C'mon. What's the harm in missing out on one day of school? You've got a whole amusement park to explore to your heart's content! You'll find tons of friends and even more fun. It'll be like a vacation!"

Everyone is still deep in thought.

"Come on. What's there to think about? Don't worry! As long as you stick with me, there's nothing to be afraid of," Ernesto says and with a wink.

Everyone is still thinking.

"What shall we do? Personally, I think…" Jade says, before showing a smile, "It sounds like a highly enticing offer."

"Yeah, huh? This sounds rad. I wanna go!" Floyd says.

"Me too! I want to go and have a blast together!" Kalim says.

And Ace says, "Ernesto's kinda got a point. One day off school isn't the end of the world."

Then Jack says, "I'm not a fan of skipping class...but if it's really tomorrow or nothing, it's kinda hard to turn that down."

"That's true. Considering the rarity of these tickets, it'd be a waste to let this opportunity pass us by!" Ortho says.

"I actually like to go," Tanzanite says.

"Me too!" Jasper says.

Trinket nodes.

"I guess it couldn't hurt," Briar says.

"Okay," Sereia says, still a bit skeptical.

"All right! We'll all hit up the park tomorrow!" Grim says, excited.

"Excellent, that's the spirit!" Ernesto says, and then hands everyone the tickets, "Here, take your tickets…" and then an idea comes to mind, "Oh, I know! You should invite your school friends as well. I'd be happy to give them tickets myself. If you have any good chums who'd be up for some good times at an amusement park instead of spending the day at school...

By all means, reach out to them."

Gino nods with a smile.

"Okay! I'm sure the guys will love that idea. Thanks, Ernesto!" Kalim says.

But Ernesto says, "Oh, I should be thanking YOU. The park will come alive with all of you there," And bring out the map, "Just come to the place on this map at sunrise tomorrow and I'll lead the way. I'll see you all then. Don't break your friend Ernesto Foulworth's heart by breaking your promise!"

"We won't!" Kalim says, "Okay, guys, let's get back to school and tell everyone what's up!"

And with that, everyone begins to take their leave back to the campus.

Sometime later, in the classroom, Kalim talks to Jamil and some of the others about what happened.

"...And that's the story. You should join us when we head to the amusement park tomorrow!" Kalim says.

However, Jamil instantly responds, "ABSOLUTELY NOT!" shocking Kalim.

And it's not just Jamil: Riddle, Leona, Idia, and Azul, respond when the others ask.

In the classroom, Kalim has explained to Jamil about going to Playful Land. However, he refused.

And then Jamil says, "Some strange guy invites you to come play in a strange place, and you're actually going to GO? That's completely out of the question, and you know it!"

"Aww! But why, Jamil?!" Kalim asks as he whines.

Turns out, Kalim and Jamil are not the only ones in the room. Cater and Lilia are there too.

"When you said you had some good news to share, I certainly wasn't expecting an invitation to an amusement park," Lilia says.

"Right? I was shocked when you said you had tickets to playful Land. That's a huge trending topic right now! Good job, Kalim!" Cater says, and brings out his phone, "If I posted about taking a trip to Playful Land, I'd do major numbers, guaranteed. Personally, I'd love nothing more than to go, but that said…"

"Everything about this offer is suspicious. It's got more red flags than I can count!" Jamil points out.

"Yeah, there's no way a guy as cautious as Jamil would sign off on this," Cater says.

And Jamil says, "Obviously not! You just HAPPENED to meet a guy who manages an illusionary amusement park, AND he gave you free tickets? Things that fortuitous don't just happen."

"But it did happen! Isn't that cool?" Kalim says, still excited, "And I reached out to you and the Pop Music Club since I thought it'd be fun to go together. We can invite the whole dorm, too!"

And of course, Jamil says, "No. You don't even know if he actually works for the park. He could be angling to abduct you. In fact, that could be the whole reason he made contact with your group. Because he knew who you were, Kalim."

"Nah, it was coincidence! We just accidentally ran into each other," Kalim says.

And Jamil reasons, "Again, that could have easily been orchestrated... Argh, how can someone be so completely and utterly credulous? Anyway, the point is, you're not going and that's final. Neither am I, obviously."

"But it's illusionary! Doesn't that sound fun?" Kalim says, desperately.

Then turns to the others, "C'mon, Lilia. Cater. You think so, don't you?"

I mean, I'd love to jump on this chance, but…" Cater says, unsure.

And Lilia says, "Jamil's objections are entirely rational."

"Thank you both for seeing reason," Jamil says, "Let this go, Kalim. You have something more pressing to attend to anyway."

"I do? What was that again?" Kalim asks.

"Your homework!" Jamil says, "If you forget to do it, not even a good midterm score will help your final grade. This is no time to be goofing off! I'm going to check out some extra reference material from the library. You'd better buckle down and study."

"AWWW!" Kalim whines.

Cater and Lilia remain silent and show smiles on their faces, "Hmm…"

Meanwhile, in the Heartslabyul Dorm, Ace told the others about the park.

With a frown, Riddle questions, "I'm sorry, would you care to repeat what you just said? Because surely you didn't suggest to me that I should join you in skipping school."

"Well, I... Uhh…" Ace responds, nervously.

And then, Riddle angrily says, "It's patently obvious that would never be acceptable! How did you even dream up this ridiculous notion?!"

"Aaand there he goes. I KNEW he'd say that," Ace says with a sigh.

Then turns to Deuce in annoyance, "Why'd you even bring it up with him, Deuce!? You gormless nincompoop! I was nice enough to give you a pity invite, and you blew it by blabbing to the strictest guy in the dorm!"

"Look, it wouldn't be right for us to have all the fun and leave our boss out of it…." Deuce says.

And Trey says, "I was wondering what you called us to the lounge to talk about, and boy… To think our dorm has students willing to actively plan on skipping school AND invite Riddle along for it… You guys are brave, I'll give you that."

"Attending school is a student's whole job! Such a dereliction of duty is beyond the pale!" Riddle shouts.

And Ace says, "But, come on. It's just one day, right? We're about to get really busy between Halloween prep work and our midterms! I figured it'd be okay to get in a little recreational time before then. Y'know, a deep breath before the plunge?"

"IT IS NOT OKAY!" Riddle shouts in rage that his face almost turns red.

And sternly says, "Listen—the number of days isn't the problem. The timing isn't the problem. It's the idea that it's okay to skip school if there's fun to be had," and shouts angrily that his face turns actually red, "THAT IS THE PROBLEM! Our dorm is based on the Queen of Hearts' spirit of strictness. It has no room for idle slackers!"

Trey tries to calm Riddle down, "Now, now... Deep breaths, Riddle."

Riddle takes deep breaths as he tries to calm himself.

Deuce is shocked to see how mad he is, "Wow, he is livid… If our housewarden feels that strongly about it, I guess I'd better fall in line…"

"What?!" Ace says, shocked, "Oh, you're chickening out? Dude, this is a chance to get to go to PLAYFUL LAND. Nobody even knows if it's real! And you're not gonna take it? Seems to me like it'd be smarter to pounce on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity than to just unquestioningly follow rules."

And Riddle sternly says, "That's enough backtalk out of you! This discussion is over. Your opinion is irrelevant. I expect you to do as your housewarden says. Otherwise... It's off with your head!"

"Good grief…" Trey replies with a sigh.

In the Savanaclaw Dorm, Jack has talked to Leona and Ruggie about the park.

"You want to skip school and invite everyone to an amusement park, huh?" Leona responds, "That ain't gonna fly, and you should know it."

That surprised Jack, "Really? But you cut class constantly, Leona. I wasn't expecting you of all people to take issue with this. What's the problem? This is a chance to go to Playful Land and—"

And Leona covers Jack's mouth, "Not so loud!"

"Huh?" Jack replies, confused.

"Tickets to an illusionary amusement park? All provided free of charge?" Leona says, "What do you think would happen if HE caught wind of that?"

"He who?" Jack questions, but soon realizes, "...OH! Ruggie…"

"Yup," Leona says, "He'd swipe your ticket and re-sell it to some poor sucker at an exorbitant markup, guaranteed. People off-campus with no other options for getting in would pay any price he cared to name."

"Y-yeah, guess you're right…" Jack says.

And then Leona says, "I'm willing to overlook a little on-campus mischief...but off-campus? That changes things. If a dispute broke out, there'd be no sweeping it under the rug. And Crowley would pin all the responsibility on me as housewarden."

"You'd sweep things under the rug on campus...?" Jack questions, "Anyway, I can definitely imagine all of that. In fact, I can practically see it now. Now that you mention it, I'm getting the feeling that this ticket could spark some sort of huge fight."

"Yeah, see?" Leona says, "So don't fan the to mention how obviously shady it is that you just lucked into tickets this valuable. Even you could piece that together if you took two seconds to think about it…"

"Welp, guess I'm going alone," Jack says.

But Leona says, "...Hold up. Why are you so eager to get in on this anyway? Wanting to skip school is super out of character for you, considering bein' a square is your sole defining trait."

"A square?" Jack says, confused.

Then Jack says, " ...Anyway, I just think in this one case, it's not that bad. I mean, a chance like this doesn't exactly come around all that often. And I already promised Ernesto I'd show up tomorrow. I wouldn't want to make myself a liar."

"From the sound of things, this Ernesto guy's got a real way with words," Leona says.

"You can say that again. He basically spent the whole time telling us how awesome we were!" Jack says.

However, Leona sighs and says, "Seriously, don't go. This smells like a huge mess in the making."

"You're not gonna talk me out of this, Leona! I never break a promise!" Jack says.

"So lemme get this straight—breaking promises is bad, but skipping school's fine and dandy?" Leona questions Jack.

He sighs once more and says, "You hardheaded numbskull… It's glaringly obvious you're signing up for nothing but trouble…"

In the Octavinelle Dorm, Jade and Floyd explain about the Playful Land Park as well.

"You want all of us to go to Playful Land? Azul responds, "No."

"Aww, why not?" Floyd asks with a frown.

"From what you just told me, you got these tickets for free, right?" Azul questions.

"Yup," Floyd says, "And he said everything in the park is free, too. We can play all we want."

"Let me be clear—there is no such thing as a deal that good," Azul says.

"You think so?" Jade asks, "It could be a viable publicity strategy, simple as that. Haven't you held free sampling parties at the Monstro Lounge before? And didn't you generate a great deal of clientele from them? That's exactly what Ernesto said he wanted to do—to generate more business via our word-of-mouth promotions."

"Hah!" Azul responds in remark, "A place no one can find, with tickets no one can buy? A completely inaccessible park advertised via word-of-mouth? Absolutely preposterous. Such an advertising approach is completely at odds with their 'illusionary' business strategy. They've generated tremendous promo through artificial scarcity. To then turn around and expand to an unspecified wider base… I would NEVER do that. There's a clearly non-promo related motive at play."

"That's quite a compelling argument," Jade says, with a calm smile, "Are you secretly the owner of Playful Land?"

Azul huffs, "Hmph. It's a conclusion anyone can draw by putting two and two together. There's no such thing as a free lunch. That manager is working an angle. You should expect some sort of catch. 'Oh, this isn't covered.' 'There's an upcharge for this.' Et cetera."

"But Ernesto was such a friendly and well-mannered gentleman," Jade says before turning to Floyd, "Wasn't he, Floyd?"

"I dunno…" Floyd says, shrugging his shoulders, "All I remember about Foxfish and Catshark is them bein' kinda wimpy and boring."

"Even indulging the ridiculous notion that this was done out of pure goodwill, I don't like being indebted to strangers," Azul says.

"You don't like bein' indebted to others period. Bein' strangers has nothin' to do with it," Floyd says.

"Precisely. You know me so well," Azul says, "Hence, I must decline this invitation."

Floyd feels disappointed, "Man, what a spoilsport. It's better if he DOES have another angle. Him bein' all shady is half the fun. Makes it hard to predict what's gonna happen. Ain't it exciting that way?"

"Agreed. This is a prime opportunity to visit an 'illusionary' place, courtesy of a strange and obviously suspicious man," Jade says.

"So much for the 'well-mannered gentleman' you were just telling me he was," Azul says.

"Isn't it just delightful to imagine?" Jade replies.

"Your thrill-seeking is not my idea of a good time in the least… Regardless, I'm not going. You do as you please, but don't say I didn't warn you," Azul says.

"Aww…" Floyd replies, disappointed.

Then turns to Jade, "Welp, you heard him. What's the call, Jade?"

"What indeed, Floyd?" Jade replies with a calm smile.

In Idia's bedroom in the Ignihyde's Dorm, Ortho excitedly explains to Idia about the Park. However, it's clear that Idia is not interested.

India cries out in shock, "Buh? An amusement park?"

"Yup! An amusement park!" Ortho says, excited.

After a moment, Idia answers, "...Nope, nope, nope! Literally all the nopes!" and it's clear that he panicked.

"Come on, Idia, it'll be fun!" Ortho urges, "We've never been to a theme park before. This is a good chance to change that! It's gotta be a blast. Don't you want to try visiting one for yourself?"

And Idia refuses, "I absolutely don't. That's the literal worst place I could think of to go. Only extroverts go to amusement parks!"

"I don't think that's actually true…" Ortho says.

"No, it totally is!" Idia says, panicking, "You might not be up on this stuff, but… Dressing up with pals in coordinated sparkly ensembles even though no one's looking, taking selfies with tons of cheesy filters… Squealing over staff in character costumes that aren't even that cute… Standing in lines to do literally anything, your conversations petering out and growing increasingly strained over time… Being dead on your feet by the end of the day, your friendships in taters as you buy souvenirs... What part of that sounds fun?!"

Ortho is shocked, "Idia... For someone who's never been to an amusement park, your imagination has presented an awfully specific scenario!"

Heh, please. This is all common knowledge online," Idia says, "Anyway, I'm not going, and that's final!"

Sometime later in the class room, Ortho and some of the boys gathered.

"...Unquote," Ortho says, "I tried to invite him, but he flat-out refused."

"And you're simply giving up? I would argue this is a prime moment to showcase the acting skills you've been cultivating in our club. A wholeheartedly tearful performance from you should get him to fold in no time," Vil says.

"Hmm…" Ortho responds before saying, "I've been considering that since he first refused, but… I think he might be right that a sudden trip to an amusement park would be far too much stimulation for him. So I don't have the heart to force the issue."

"Fair... An amusement park might be too drastic of a jump for him. He'd be better off starting with a regular park," Vil says.

Ortho lets out a sigh and says, "I wish he was in the position to go with me, though… I just know that any performance the two of us put on would be in perfect sync. We could've hit the big time and become stars!"

"Stars? What's this about?" Vil questions.

"Oh, a fox beastman named Ernesto Foulworth told us…" Ortho says, "If we put on a show in Playful Land, we'd be guaranteed to become stars."

"Oho. That's a rather brazen claim to make. It's not that simple to perform on a stage," Vil says.

"Really? I think my brother and I could definitely pull it off," Ortho replies.

Vil says, "You silly boy. There's no such thing as a shortcut to success. I question if this show even truly exists. I'll grant that rumors about Playful Land have reached my ears… And they say the park puts on superb performances far beyond anything you can find elsewhere. But the details are still vague, right? Which makes no sense, considering how people love to talk. That sounds like smoke and mirrors to me. You should know better than to believe an absurd man making absurd claims."

"Hmm," Ortho thinks for a minute and says, "I did find it suspicious at first, actually. So I observed him on the down-low… But his pupil dilation, body language, pulse—none of those values were indicative of lying."

"What did you say?" Vil questions, "Normally I'd question your judgement...but I can't imagine you erring in your calculations. Does that mean Playful Land truly features a show that lives up to the rumors?"

"I think so, yes!" Ortho says, "What do you think? Doesn't it sound fun?"

Vil remains silent.

In the Ramshackle Dorm, excluding Grim, Briar, Tanzanite, and Jasper, even Trinket is having second thoughts.

"Guys, I'm not sure if going to that amusement park is a good idea," Briar says.

"Huh? Why?" Grim asks, "Didn't you hear what Mr. Ernesto says, "We get to go there for free tomorrow, we get to eat all the food and drinks, and we could be stars."

"I know what he said, but it's strange that he's willing to give us those tickets without something in return. To mention having free food, rides, and such, it sounds strange," Briar says.

"I'm with Briar on this one. How do we know if this is true or not," Tanzanite says.

"And how do we know if there's no strings attached?" Jasper adds.

Trinket tinks in response.

"Aww come on guys, we all wanted to go to the park! There's nothing wrong with skipping school for one day," Grim complains.

"That's another thing to worry about Grim…" Briar says.

"If the headmage or any of the teachers discover what we're doing, we can get in serious trouble," Tanzanite says.

"I'm sure the teachers won't notice we're gone. We're going to have fun in an amusement park after all. We get to go on rides, play games, eat food, and we get to be famous too," Grim says, "Right, Sereia?"

However, Sereia is not saying a word. Everyone turns to see Sereia looking out the window, looking a bit dazed.

"Sereia?" Briar asks.

"You okay?" Jasper asks.

Grim asks, "What's up with her?"

"Is she sick?" Tanzanite asks.

"Who knows," Jasper says, "She's been acting like this since we met Ernest and Gino?"

Sereia sighs, and it makes the others look worried.

Briar walks over and sits next to Sereia.

She then asks, "Sereia, are you feeling alright?"

"What?" Sereia asks, turning to Briar.

Trinket and the boys approach as well.

"Yeah. Are you feeling okay?" Jasper asks.

"You've been acting weird since we met Ernesto and Gino," Grim says.

"Oh well um, it's uh, nothing," Sereia says.

"It's okay, Sereia. You can tell us," Briar says.

"That's right. You can tell us," Tanzanite says.

"And whatever it is, maybe you can convince the others to go to Playful Land," Grim says.

"Not now, Grim," Briar says sternly.

But then Sereia says, "Actually, I want to go to Playful Land."

"Huh?" Briar and the twins react, shocked.

Even Trinket is confused.

"Really?" Grim asks, excited.

"Well, I did think it would be fun to go, but um, well… I don't know…" Sereia says, sounding deeply unsure.

"Sereia, is there something bothering you?" Briar asks, concerned.

Sereia sighs and says, "Yes Briar, there is something. I… I don't know why, but I… I think I've met them before."

"Met then before?" Jasper questions

"You mean Ernesto and Gino?" Grim questions.

"Yes," Sereia says with a nod, "I have an odd feeling that I met them before, but I don't remember, and it felt like a long time ago."

"You met them?" Jasper asks, curiously.

"I'm not sure," Sereia says, shaking her head.

"Now that you mention it, I don't think we know much about you either, Sereia," Grim says.

"That's true," Tanzanite says, "We know that you're a doll that can use magic and change into a mermaid, but that's it."

"Come to think of it," Briar says, turning to Sereia, "The first day we met you was in the dorm, but we never knew where you came from."

"So Sereia, what's your story?" Grim asks.

"Well, to be honest, I don't really know much about my story," Sereia says.

"Really? You don't know" Jasper says, confused.

Sereia nods, "Uh huh. It happened a long time ago."

"Mind explaining?" Briar asks.

Trinket nods with a smile.

"I'll try to remember," Sereia says, thinking for a minute.

She then says, "I remember waking up in some kind of box."

"A box?" Grim asks.

"What were you doing in a box?" Jasper asks.

"I'm not," Sereia answers, "While in the box, I feel rumbling sounds, and soon I feel like I'm bouncing and moving. I think I was in some kind of vehicle."

"Like a car?" Tanzanite asks.

"Or a truck?" Briar adds, and begins to think, "Hmm…"

"What happened after that?" Grim asks.

"Well, the vehicle was shaking a lot and the next thing I knew, the box I was in flew out and crashed to the ground. When it crashed, the box broke and I fell out. The next thing I knew, I was all alone, and was staring at the full moon and the stars," Sereia explains.

"And you have no idea as to why?" Briar asks.

"No," Sereia answers.

"That's strange," Tanzanite says, adjusting his glasses.

"Anything else you remember?" Jasper asks.

Sereia thinks for a minute and explains, "Well, the only other thing I remember was someone calling out, 'Sereia.' I thought that was my name so I've been calling myself that ever since," Then a thought comes to mind, "And… the voice… it almost sounds like Ernesto…"

"Are you sure?" Briar asks.

Sereia answers, "I'm not sure, but… that's the reason why I want to go to Playful Land. I want to see Ernesto and Gino again, and maybe they can help me figure out who I am, or was."

The group looks at each other in concern and skepticism. If what Sereia said is true, then she might have a connection with Ernesto and Gino. The question is, what.

Grim says, "Well, since you plan on going to Playful Land, I'll go with you. No sense of you going alone."

"If you're in, then I'm in too," Briar says.

Then the two look at Sereia in surprise.

"I don't want you both to go alone. I admit, Playful Land is fun, but I also want to help Sereia. If Ernesto knows the truth of your origin, then we should take that chance," Briar says.

"Yeah. You're our friend, Sereia, and we're going to help you," Jasper says.

"And we don't want you to go alone," Tanzanite says.

Trinket nods with a smile

Sereia smiles, "Thanks guys."

"Then it's settled, we're all going to Playful Land first thing in the morning," Briar says.

Early in the morning, at the front gate, there is rustling in the bushes, revealing to be Ace, along with Briar and her group.

Ace looks around, and softly says, "...All right, the coast is clear."

Then turns to the others, "C'mon guys. And don't make any noise!"

"Silent... Stealthy…" Grim says.

"Nice and quiet-like…" Briar says.

"Soft footsteps…" Tanzanite adds.

Everyone quietly paces past the front gate, and soon are outside of the campus.

"All right, we're all outside the front gate. We should be good to go now," Ace says.

Grim takes a deep breath, "Sheesh, it was a real hassle crawlin' on the ground all the way here from Ramshackle. Sure, we didn't tell anyone about the place, and we snuck out 'cuz you didn't want anyone messin' up our plans… But do we really gotta be THIS careful?"

"Absolutely, yes!" Ace says, "Our school's full of guys who don't know the meaning of the word 'fun.' We've got tickets to Playful Land here. Do you really wanna risk missing out?"

"No way!" Grim says, "I'm gonna have ALL the fun and become a big star."

"That's what I'm talkin' about…" Ace says.

Ace then turns to Briar and the others, "I'm surprised you're coming with us. You all don't seem like the type to ditch school."

"Well, as much as we want to have some fun, we're also here for Sereia," Briar says.

"Really?" Ace asks.

Sereia says, "Yes. I don't know why but I think I met Ernesto and Gino a long time ago, but I don't know why."

"Really?" Ace asks.

"Uh huh. I want to see if I really do know them. And maybe I can learn more about myself," Sereia says.

"Huh, I see," Ace says, "Now that I think of it, I don't know where you come from?"

"Well, Sereia doesn't remember much, but she did remember Ernesto and Gino for some reason, and we're going to find out why," Jasper says.

"And maybe we can learn more about where Sereia came from," Tanzanite says.

"I see where you're coming from. Honestly, I'm even curious about Sereia and where she comes from, especially since she's a doll that can cast magic and turn into a mermaid. Maybe we'll get answers there," Ace says.

"I do hope so," Sereia says.

Ace then looks at his phone, "Oh, crud! It's almost time for the meetup. Ernesto said to meet him in Craneport, right? Man, we're going to the harbor… That's farther out from school than where we met yesterday. We'd better hurry."

"Yeah! C'mon, guys!" Grim says.

"And you guys can explain more on the way," Ace adds.

With that, everyone begins to make a run to Craneport Wharf while explaining to Ace what Sereia remembers.

"I see. So you found yourself in a box, fallen out of a truck, and don't remember where you come from," Ace says.

"That's right," Sereia says.

"I have to admit, it's shocking to hear it. Although, I have to wonder what you were doing in there," Ace says.

"That's something I don't remember," Sereia says.

"I'm sure Ernesto and Gino can help if you ask," Ace says.

"Maybe, but still, I felt like I've been to Playful Land before. And… I think I have good memories there, but I don't remember," Sereia says.

"Well, we're heading to Playful Land now so we're about to find out," Grim says.

And soon enough, everyone arrived.

"All right, made it to Craneport!" Ace says, "The sun hasn't risen yet, so it's still too dark to see much. Careful not to slip and fall into the water."

"You heard him, hench-humans. Watch your step!" Grim says.

Ace says, "Briar and the others are way less likely to fall in than you."

Then wonders, "I have to wonder why Ernesto picked this place for a meetup spot, though. This area barely gets any boat traffic, especially before dawn."

Soon, Kalim arrives, "Oh, hey, I hear Ace. Looks like Briar and the others are with him, too, " and calls out, "Over here, guys!"

Ace turns to see them, "Oh, hey Kalim. G'morning."

And Jade and Floyd are with them.

"Splendid—Ernesto has yet to arrive, so that means we're all here on time," Jade says.

Took you guys long enough. The rest of us have been waitin'," Floyd says.

"Does that mean Jack and Ortho are here, too? It's too dark to see…" Ace says.

And soon, Jack arrives, "Yeah, we're here. I see you all managed to actually wake up on time. I was worried you'd oversleep."

"Yup, We're wide awake," Briar says.

"Good morning," Sereia says.

Ortho giggles, "Heh heh. We've got company, too. Kalim Al-Asim and I invited some friends to join us."

"Oh yeah? Who's that? For Ortho, I'm guessing you brought Idia?" Ace says.

"Idia, at a theme park? No way, no how," Grim says.

"Okay, yeah. Forget I said that," Ace says, realizing Grim has a point.

Then asks, "But who does that leave...?"

A voice then says, "Us!"

And walking over are Vil, Cater, and Lilia.

Ace is surprised, "Woah! Lilia, Cater, and Vil?!"

"Oh morning guys," Briar says.

"Morning Briar!" Cater says.

"You can imagine how surprised I was to find Vil at the meetup spot. I never thought he'd join us," Jack says.

And Ortho says, "I invited Vil Schoenheit. He said he's interested in the stage show!"

"I getcha. He IS kind of an authority on theater and stardom," Ace says, "Does Idia know you're going to Playful Land?"

And Ortho says, "I tried to invite him, but he really didn't like the idea, so I left without telling him. There was a distinct possibility he would've stopped me with some claims about not wanting me to be subjected to extrovert influences."

"Well, he already flat-out refused to even consider going, didn't he? Being brothers doesn't obligate you to spend your every waking hour together, or to always deter to what he says. You're a full-fledged student, so you should act on your own initiative," Vil says.

Ortho giggles, "Eheheh, that's a good point, Vil Schoenheit. I'll make sure to have so much fun, the stories will make him jealous later."

"Okay, that covers Vil," Ace says. Then turns to Cater, "So what are you doing here, Cater? I looked for you yesterday, but I couldn't fill you in 'cuz you were busy with a club meeting. Oh, right. You and Kalim are in the Pop Music Club together!"

"Exactly! Kalim gave me the deets," Cater says, "Jamil was with us, and he was extremely opposed. Straight up said it was really shady and we had no business going."

"But once Jamil left, poor Kalim was ever so despondent about it," Lilia says.

And Cater says, "So Lils and I talked, and we decided to make it an impromptu Pop Music Club excursion! On paper, I guess we can call it a field trip to appear in a Playful Land show."

"You wouldn't believe how happy I was when they said they'd come with me!" Kalim says, "Once we get back and I tell Jamil about the awesome time we had… I bet he'll be all like, 'Oh man, that sounds so cool. You should totally take me along next time. I want in on the fun!' So I'll make sure to have all the fun I possibly can and bring back tons of stories to share!"

"I question if Jamil would say ANY of that…" Vil says.

Then Ortho says, "The odds of that happening are less than one percent. But to put that in a positive light, there's a non-zero chance!"

"Jamil wasn't wrong to say this was blatantly suspicious and far too good to be true…" Lilia says, "But children will never grow without diving into a little danger. I respect Jamil's wish to protect Kalim, but sometimes a little adventure is just what the doctor ordered. So I'm coming along to witness this lovely little learning experience of yours."

"You find it suspicious, yet you choose to come along anyway as our chaperone. What a wonderful friend you are. I'm awestruck. Would that Azul could learn from your example," Jade says.

Then Grim asks, "Oh, hey... Speakin' of Azul, how come he ain't here with you two?"

"He was like, 'Blah blah blah, no such thing as a free lunch, I don't wanna get indebted, yadda yadda yadda.'" Floyd says, sounding annoyed, "Once he gets like that, there ain't no talkin' him into somethin', so we snuck out on our own."

"Like Ortho and Kalim, I hope to bring back tales so delightful that he goes… 'If only I'd gone with you!' Gnashing his teeth all the while, of course," Jade adds.

"Yeah, uh... I snuck out without telling my housewarden, too," Ace says, "He'd totally have my head if I got caught, so I was on pins and needles the whole way here."

Cater is surprised, "Wow, listen to you, Acey.. Way to add to your vice housewarden's worries!" and waves with a grin.

Briar and the others become confused.

"Huh? Who are you waving at?" Briar asks.

"Why are you looking over my shoulder...?" Ace questions, and looks over his head.

He flinches, "Grk!"

And soon, walking over is none other than Trey Clover.

"Trey?!" Briar and the others say, surprised. Even Ace is shocked.

Then Ace asks, "When did you show up?!"

"Thanks for the perfect reaction, Ace. It's not just me, though," Trey says.

And walking beside him, is Leona.

Jack is shocked to see him, "Woah... Leona too?! What are you doing here?!"

"I followed you here, Ace," Trey says, "You got really sulky after Riddle gave you the third degree yesterday. So I figured, knowing you, you'd totally ignore his warning and sneak out anyway. And sure enough, here we are."

"So you were onto me from the start…" Ace says, shocked, "Wait, does that mean the housewarden knows?!"

"Please. If he knew, you wouldn't be standing here right now. You know how much magic I had to use to muffle all the noise you were making?" Trey says.

Ace then says, "Dude, you're kidding... I didn't even notice…"

"If it were up to me, I've had stopped you entirely...but Deuce talked me out of it," Trey says.

This catches Ace off guard, "Wait, what? He did?"

"Yeah. He was feeling pretty bad about basically sabotaging you," Trey says.

"Huh…" Ace says, confused, "I didn't know he cared so much."

"I went back and forth on this a lot, but you can be surprisingly stubborn at times. And you know how to hold a grudge," Trey says, "Eventually, what I settled on was covering you so you wouldn't get caught. I was hoping that would tie things up neatly. In the interest of keeping the peace in the dorm—not to mention ensuring you come back safely—I'm here to help."

"Lucky you, Acey! Even if you do get busted, Trey'll be right there with you to apologize," Cater says with a grin.

"Uh, I'm not sure that would go so great... If that came up, we'd need to split Riddle's anger three ways," Trey says.

Then Cater adds, "So I'd have to join in?!"

"Trey, Cater... Thank you both! If worse comes to worst, I'll be happy for the company!" Ace says.

"Please just try to not get caught!" Trey says.

And Jack says, "Okay, so Trey's here to keep Ace out of trouble. Is that the same for you, Leona...?"

"Are you kidding? Your sole brain cell must still be asleep," Leona says, annoyed, "I came to talk some sense into a bunch of fools with no self-preservation instinct. You'll believe anything you hear if someone butters you up first, huh? Didn't anyone ever tell you to be wary of strangers? I come here, and what do I find? Freshmen and sophomores are one thing… But I'm seeing juniors happily jumping on board, too. I almost envy how thick your skulls must be."

"Really? Goodness, I'm flattered!" Lilia says, amazed.

"That wasn't a compliment," Leona says, "Who's gonna be on the hook if things go south? The housewardens—including yours truly. Go back to school and stop making extra work for 're a housewarden too, Vil. Did it not really occur to you to question any of this?"

"Please, don't insult me," Vil says, "Of course I found it highly suspicious. And as someone active in theater, I know just how little credibility this Ernesto's claims have. But do you think this group would turn around and go back just because I explained that? If this man is such a talented actor that he could deceive even Ortho's eyes… If he's a charlatan capable of passing lies off as the honest truth, these spudlings wouldn't stand a chance on their own. I deemed it safest to keep an eye on them personally, to ensure nothing happens."

"Yeah, whatever," Leona says, annoyed, "That's a very nice-sounding made-up excuse. You were just drawn to the promise of a stage performance and you know it. There's no way you could resist the allure of a show put on at an illusionary theme park."

"Excuse me, that's not true!" Vil calls out, "I simply... Well, I suppose I'd be lying if I said I WASN'T interested in it…"

"Alright everyone, calm down," Briar says.

"By the way," Cater says, Then turns to Briar and the others, "Do you all want to check out Playful Land as well?"

"Well, I'm most certainly am," Grim says, excited.

Then shows a serious expression, "But we're also on an important mission."

"Mission?" Leona questions.

"What kind of mission?" Trey asks.

"Well, the thing is…" Briar says.

Briar and the others explain to the rest of the boys like what they explain to Ace. After hearing the explanation and Sereia's story, the boys are really surprised.

"Really? You think you've met Ernesto and Gino before?" Kalim asks, surprised.

"I believe so," Sereia says.

"Hmm, so your situation seems a little similar to Briar, but with differences," Ortho says.

"The question is, what is the connection between our mysterious hosts and our little doll friend?" Jade questions.

"Still, we've got our work cut out for us," Briar says.

Then Vil suggests, "Briar, I suggest you keep a closer eye on Sereia, and how Ernesto and Gino interact towards her," and Briar notices the serious expression Vil has, "They may sound like good hosts, but if Sereia do know them, there's a possibility that it could have ill-intentions."

"Okay," Briar says with a nod.

Then Vil kneels to Sereia, "And Sereia, you must be sure to stay with us at all times. If you do interact with these Ernesto and Gino characters, make sure that one of us is close by to keep an eye on you. Okay?"

Sereia nods, "Okay Vil."

Soon, they hear footsteps and look to see Ernesto walking over with Gino close behind.

Ernesto smiles and says, "My, my! Everyone's here so early."

Ernesto smiles and says, "Good morning, everyone. Lovely weather today, isn't it?"

Gino waves goodbye.

"My gracious," Ernesto says, surprised with a smile, and notices the other students, "There are even more clever-looking scholars here than the ones I met yesterday! And sees Cater and Trey.

Then notices Leona, "What have we here? A lion beastman? Now there's a rare sight around these parts! I mean, obviously I'm a beastman myself, but a fox hardly has the presence that a lion does. Wouldn't you agree, Gino?"

And then turns to Vil with excitement, "And...is this THE Vil Schoenheit I spy? My word! What ethereal beauty! Fantastic! Unbelievable! It's not even dawn yet, but this is such a brilliant assembly of students…" And that catches him off guard, "Your glow is practically giving me sunspots! Am I right, or am I right, Gino?"

Gino nods in response.

And then, Ernesto turns to the others, "What's that? They're so brilliant you can hardly see? I know JUST what you mean. What an absolutely PRIVILEGE it is to welcome such distinguished guests to the park! Why, it's the biggest honor of my life!"

Gino nods in reply with a smile.

Everyone else remains silent.

"...I am well and truly baffled," Vil says, still baffled of the flattery, "You actually believed this...glorified huckster? I was questioning everyone's judgement, but this is worse than I thought."

Lilia nods, "Mm. This is at least a million times shadier than I imagined."

And then Cater says, "Come on, Acey... You thought THIS guy sounded trustworthy? Since when are YOU the gullible one of the bunch, huh?"

"Hey, fox. I'm not here for fun and games. I'm taking these numbskulls back to school," Leona says with a glare.

Ernesto smiles and says, "Ahh, you're quite the jokester! You'd come out all this way just to turn around and leave? It'll be such a shame for you to miss out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Surely someone so bright wouldn't make such a foolish choice."

"If you're trying to sell me on this, don't bother. I don't trust a word out of your mouth. An 'illusionary amusement part'? There's no such place and everyone knows it," Leona says.

And Ernesto says, "Come now, little lordling. I assure you, you have nothing to worry about."

"'Little lordling'...?!" Leona questions, creeped out.

Sereia walks over and asks, "Um Ernesto, where is Playful Land," luckily Briar remains close to Sereia. Vil and Leona remain close behind.

"Do not worry, you'll see it soon enough," Ernesto says and gently pats her head.

Vil and Leona are become suspicious, noticing how Ernesto is being more polite to Sereia.

Ernesto then notices the sun begins rising, "Ah, it's almost dawn. Have a look, everyone."

And then begins to use his magic, "Behold the magnificent… Playful Land!"

With a wave of his cane, and perform some magic, and Playful Land appears right before everyone's eyes.

Kalim is the first to express, "Woah, it's so bright! The sun's in my eyes... Hm? Hey, I see something across the water.

"You do? Woah, you're right. It's…" Ortho says, astonished.

"It's Playful Land," Tanzanite says, shocked.

Everyone is shocked and amazed to see the park when

Ace is shocked and baffled, "Hey... Hey, guys! Are you seeing this?! I'm not just seeing things, right?"

"I see it, all right…" Briar says.

"I can hardly believe what I'm seeing…" Jasper adds.

"So that place up ahead…" Grim says.

"Is that…" Everyone responds before they exclaim in shock and surprise, "An amusement park?!"

"Am I still sleeping? Am I really in Craneport, on Sage's Island?!" Kalim asks, shocked.

Ortho reassures, "Don't worry, you're awake. This is the same old barely-visited-by-ships Craneport we know. But now there's an amusement park so big, it practically overshadows the forlorn port!"

Then Sereia asks, "Is that really Playful Land?"

"It is!" Ernesto says, "The one and only Playful Land, our pride and joy."

"There wasn't anything like this when I passed through here yesterday... Did you build this whole place overnight?! What's the deal... Hm?" Ace says, shocked.

And soon notices, "Wait a second—is that a Craneport pier leading up to the park gate? Is this what I think it is...?"

"Indeed! Playful Land's location is shrouded in mystery because... It's actually a traveling park," Ernesto says.

Grim cries out in shock, "A traveling park?! The whole thing moves?"

"That's right. Playful Land itself is built upon an immense ship," Ernesto says.

"That's... That's AMAZIN'!" Grim says, expressing his surprise and amazement.

"It really is...!" Kalim says, "My family's had traveling parks visit before, but I've never seen one this big!"

Ernesto laughs, "Hah hah hah! I imagine you haven't…" But is soon caught off guard, "Wait, what? You've had them VISIT?"

Cater nervously laughs, "Ahaha... Kalim's not like the rest of us. I wouldn't sweat the details."

"The traveling parks I know of only had small carousels for attractions. I've never seen one on such a grand scale…" Lilia says.

"I've gone to an amusement park with my family before, but I've never seen or heard of one that's on a ship," Trey says.

"Me neither," Jack says, "Playful Land has to be the only theme park ship around, right?"

"That would explain why nobody knows where it is, if the entire place moves around," Jade says.

"Just so!" Ernesto says, "People started calling it an "illusionary amusement park," and I can't say I mind—it does give the place a certain allure. But in reality it's just a traveling park intended to bring hopes and dreams to everyone across the land. At least, that's the idea. Now that the cat's out of the bag, there's nothing to be suspicious about, right? No tricks or gimmicks, nothing up my sleeve—as embarrassing as that is to admit, hah hah hah."

"Dude, what's amazing is that you can even get this thing to float in the water. That's the biggest ship I've ever seen!" Floyd says, amazed.

Gino nods with a smile.

"Ah, we shouldn't tarry here too long. Come, everyone! Our theme park awaits!" Ernesto says, "Why waste daylight standing around talking when you could be using your time more efficiently? We have massive attractions, delectable foods, and delightful shows! You could never take in all the fun in just one day here in Playful Land."

Then Grim says, "All right! Let's move, everyone!"

Before anyone can continue on, Leona says, "Hold up. Knowing the deal with the theme park doesn't make Ernesto's offer any less suspicious."

"True. Ortho, consider your arrangement off. We're taking you all back to school right now," Vil says.

Ernesto notices it, "My, my! Whatever is the trouble?"

"You. You're absurdly suspicious," Vil says, sternly, "All you've established is that you're good at fawning over people. You're the exact kind of adult people should steer clear of," and making sure Briar and Sereia keep their distance.

Cater thinks, "Hmm... That was kinda nagging at me too, I'm gonna be real."

"This is hardly a commitment I can make lightly, considering I'm responsible for my underclassmen's well-being," Lilia says.

But Ernesto reassures, "Oh, relax! What's there to worry about? All we're talking about is playing at an amusement park. What could possibly be dangerous about that? And what could a humble individual like myself possibly do against so many talented mages?"

Gino responds.

Trey, Cater, and Lilia think, "Hmm…"

"Come, now. Playful Land's a place for delights! No need for scary faces here. Let's see some smiles! Here in this park? There's nothing to fear," Ernesto says and winks.

Leona and Vil think, "HMM…"

Then Grim says, "Mrr... How long are we gonna stand around debatin'? I'm tired of waitin'. FIRST!" And runs off.

"Grim, wait!" Briar calls out.

"Get back here!" Jasper says and chases after him

"Ah! Hey, get back here, Grim! Jasper! No fair jumping the gun!" Ace calls out.

"Huh? You got a lotta nerve, goin' in ahead of me," Floyd says.

Jade chuckles, "Heh heh heh. Please don't leave me behind."

Ace, Jade, Floyd, Tanzanite, and Trinket follow from behind. Sereia and the others remain behind.

"Guys, come back!" Briar calls out.

"Oh dear," Sereia says.

Ernesot says, "Ahh, yes... Nothing beats the sound of eager children's voices."

And then presents the tickets to them, "Here, everyone. Your tickets."

Leona huffs in annoyance, "Tch. Fine, gimme one of those tacky sparkling things," And snatches the ticket.

"You're going after all, Leona? Glad to hear it. You're gonna have a blast!" Jack says.

"Don't get me wrong. I'm gonna be your chaperone," Leona says.

"Oh, for... Fine, I suppose I'll have to take a ticket as well," Vil says.

And Trey says, "Yeah. We're already here, and it wouldn't be right to leave Ace and the others and just go back on our own."

"The ship's sailed and we're on it, huh? Well, Playful Land IS a place I was hoping to visit…" Cater says.

"In that case, there's nothing for it but to have some fun!" Lilia says.

"Great! It's gonna be even more memorable with all of you here with us," Ortho says.

"Yeah, let's make today a blast!" Kalim says.

"Well, I guess it does look like fun," Sereia says.

"It kind of is," Briar says. However, her mind is concerned about Ernesto and she has to agree with Vil on the statement of earlier.

"With that settled, let's move along, shall we? In you go!" Ernesto says.

Gino happily nods.

"Wooo! Let's get in and have some FUN!" Grim happily says and begins running off.

But then he runs into one of the poles, "Oww!"

"A pole just dropped down right in front of me... I smacked right into it, face-first!" Grim shouts angrily.

"That's the bar for the ticket gate. You can't just waltz right into a theme park, you know," Ace says.

"I believe we'll have to provide our tickets to the gate attendant to be allowed in," Jade says.

"The what now?" Grim questions.

Just then, a pocket appears in front of the gate and says, "TicKeT, pLeAsE."

"Ticket? Oh, you mean this?" Grim questions and shows his ticket, "Okay, what do I do with it now?"

The puppet remains silent and says, "TicKeT, pLeAsE."

"Yeah, you already said that," Ace says.

"Looks like the gate's got an automated system," Ace says, and looks at the display, "See? That's a puppet on the other side of the window, not a person. Maybe you put the ticket on the gate panel to scan it?"

Ace then scans his ticket, "... There. Am I good?"

Soon the puppet says, "TIckEt ValiDated."

Suddenly, strange magic begins to circle around him.

Ace cries out in shock, "Bwha?! Uh, guys? Why am I glowing? What's happening...?"

"Whoa, Ace is gettin' all glowy: Is he gonna blow up or somethin'?!" Grim panics.

Ace cries out, "Don't jinx it!"

And suddenly, it releases a flash of light, and Ace yelps, "Whoaaa!"

Soon, it's revealed that Ace's clothes have changed. He is wearing black pants with a black belt decorated with gold designs and tinsels. He wears a black shirt underneath a dark red shirt decorated with light red diamonds, and has gold buttons. He also wears a red and black jacket with a red sash. And he is also wearing black gloves/. On his head is a black hat with a red band, yellow glitter, and a red feather on it.

"Huh?! What? What's going on?!" Ace asks.

"Your outfit…" Briar says, shocked.

"It changed!" Tanzanite adds.

"You saw that?!" Ace asks, still shocked, "What just happened?"

"Dang, Ace… What's the big idea, dressin' up all cool when non of the rest of us are?!" Grim asks.

"Oh man, you changed clothes for this, Crabby? That's what I call motivated," Floyd says.

"It's a very flattering look," Jade says, "Did you bring that outfit with you?"

Ace says, "You guys literally just watched my clothes change, right?! This isn't about bringing clothes or being motivated. I scanned my ticket and it just happened on its own!"

"Ooh, neat. I wanna try," Floyd says and walks to the entrance.

He then presents his ticket, "Here's our tickets," And has it scanned.

Jade does the same.

The puppet says, "TIckEt ValiDated."

And soon, Jade's outfit changes. He is wearing black pants, and a purple jacket with stripes. The right sleeve is a pattern of eels while the left sleeve is straight. They have cuffs that have white and black diamonds, and he wears black gloves. He wears a blue sash around him, and there's a pin of two eels making a heart. He is also wearing a black top hat with a purple band, a gold pin, and a red feather hat.

And Floyd's outfit changed as well. He is wearing white pants with black stripes, a teal color shirt with gold buttons underneath a black jacket with dark blue tassels on it, and teal cuffs on long sleeves there are also bluish gray ruffles, and black gloves. And he wears a black bow tie. He wears a similar top hat to jade, but the band is lighter.

"Whoa, you weren't kiddin'. Our duds changed!" Floyd says.

"It was instantaneous, just like with Ace," Jade says.

"This rules. Check out all these cords and tassels!" Floyd says, excited, "This jacket's prolly gonna give me stiff shoulders, but I don't wear stuff with frills and cords normally. This is kinda rad."

"It is somewhat louder than the sorts of things you typically wear. Nonetheless…. You look quite nice in it. So much so, I might suggest wearing that in casual settings," Jade says.

"Thanks," Floyd says with a grin, "You're rockin' that hat yourself, Jade. It goes well with the color of your hair."

"Thank you," Jade says, "...Why, yours does too, Floyd. We seem to have matching hats. Does that mean I'm complimenting myself, or someone else...?"

"We've got a different color scheme than you, huh, Crabby?" Floyd says, "Different designs and hats, too. You've got red and gold, with matchin' makeup. And that fin-lookin' thing on your shoulder is super swanky."

"Well, yeah. Red is a heart suit staple…" Ace says.

But snaps back to another matter, "But wait, we're getting way off track! What's the deal here?!"

"Well, yeah. Red is a heart suit staple…" Ace says.

But snaps back to another matter, "But wait, we're getting way off track! What's the deal here?!"

Ernesto laughs, "Hah hah hah, surprise!That's some special magic at work, designed to enhance your Playful Land experience."

Soon, everyone else approaches.

"Acey, Floyd, and Jade are all lookin' dapper!" Cater says, amazed and takes out his phone, "Mind if I take some pics?"

"Oho. They're even sized, decorated, and fitted to suit each individual. This is some fine attire," Vil says, "

"That looks so cool! I wanna wear it, too!" Kalim says, excited.

"It's magic?" Ace questions, "Like, whose?" And turns to Ernesto, "Yours?"

"Please! You think I could manifest outfits this detailed? Hardly," Ernesto says, "

He then explains, "I'll grant that I can use a wee bit of magic… But at best, all I can do is conjure a gentle breeze, fling water droplets, and summon sparks to my fingertips. My magic is nothing to write home about. I'm hardly worth calling a mage."

"Hmm... I suppose it's safe to take you at your word with regards to magic," Lilia says, "But don't put yourself down over it! Magic proficiency is but one of many different traits that make people who they are."

"Guess that means I'm more talented than you! And a way better mage!" Grim says.

"That's mean, Grim," Sereia says.

Jack apologizes, "Sorry about him. I'll get him to stuff it."

But Ernesto reassures, "Oh, it's fine! After all, I hardly merit any comparison with you boys at all. You're all highly valuable students of a prestigious school... Why, trying to compare me with such elites is like trying to compare the grass and the clouds."

Grim smiles, "Heh heh. Yep, makes sense to me. So, does that mean it's Gino's magic that made the outfits?"

"Oh, Gino isn't even slightly capable of magic," Ernesto says.

Gino looks at Grim and slowly nods.

"Yeah, he smells like how Briar was. Barely a hint of magic on him," Leona says.

"Really?" Briar asks, shocked.

"The magic that crafted those outfits came from the park itself," Ernesto says, "Playful Land's proprietor loves few things more than seeing a person's face alight with awe… So we offer outfits as surprise gifts to all of our attendees. Here, everyone's a performer, and everyone's a star! That's a driving philosophy behind the stage outfits. I hope wearing them will make today all the more fun for you.

He then smiles and says, "Come along, now! Everyone, present your tickets!"

Cater does his first, and his clothes changes. He wears black pants with two white stripes. A red jacket with long sleeves and gold designs, along with buckles at front. He also wears black gloves. He wears a black hat with a bill, a red band, and gold designs on it, along with a red feather.

Then Lilia scans his ticket and his outfit changes. Now he's wearing a green and black colored outfit with a black front and the side has a blue fabric, he has a greenish sash around his waist. His pants are black on one and black and green stripes on the other. Along with black gloves with green frills. He also wears matching ribbons, and a clip choker. He too wears a black top hat, green band, a gold pin, and a red feather on it.

"Oh, this is adorbs!" Cater says, amazed, "I look like a classic nutcracker doll. This is gonna make my park pics super 'cammable!"

"Very nice, Cater. The formal uniform look is a good one for you!" Lilia says, amazed.

"Thanks! You look pretty adorbs yourself, Lils," Cater says, "When it comes to frills and tulle, you never fail to dominate the field!"

Lilia giggles, "Khee hee hee, so true! Look at this ribbon and veritable mountain of frills in the back. Has there ever been a cuter, cooler pair than the two of us?"

"Ahaha, talk about confidence! I think you're onto something, though. Pic time! Yay!" Cater says and takes a selfie picture with Lilia.

Then Trey and Leona scan their tickets and their clothes change.

Trey is wearing a dark long sleeve puffy shirt with a black and red bands on the upper sleeves, along with black and gray diamond pattern cuffs, black gloves, and wears matching black pants. He wears a black triangle sash around his waist with gold trim, and has a charm of a green and black diamond pattern clover, black suspenders, a green bow tie, and wears a black top hat, a yellow band, a pink, and a red hat.

Leona is now wearing a gray shirt with gold buttons, black pants. A brownish gold jacket with black cuffs and gray frills. It also wears a gold design. He wears a black top hat with a gold pink, a wreathy red band, and a red feather.

Seeing his outfit, Leona says, "This getup's ridiculous. Isn't this way too overboard for some lousy amusement park?"

"But you look so good in it," Trey says, "I hope you don't think the same of mine; I couldn't bear to wear it if you did."

"Hah. Like you meant a word of that. You look like a very endearing, well-mannered young boy. It suits you, Clover," Leona says.

"Cut it out…" Trey says.

Then says, "You know, Leona, you look really put together when you're wearing a jacket with a high collar. You wear that hat and jacket well — it gives off a classy feel. Maybe you ought to consider dressing like this all the time."

"Like I don't look perfectly put together in my normal clothes," Leona says.

Then it's Vil and Jack's turn. They both scan their tickets and their clothes change.

Jack is wearing a white long sleeve shirt with gold designs and black design on the sleeves and cuff. He wears black and brownish color overalls that have a few belts on it, and has some charms attached to a gold chain. He wears a black scarf around his neck, and wears a black hat with a black band, a gold pin and a buckle, and a small dark red feather.

Vil is wearing black and white striped pants, black gloves, and wears a purple jacket with gold and black designs. He wears a black satin sash that glitters around his waist and gold tinsel and. He also wears a black hat with a red band on it with a gold pin on it, purple lanyard around it, and a red feather.

Vil remains quiet before he says, "

"Yes, right away," Ernesto says. Then turns to Gino, "Gino! Bring out a mirror!"

Gino acts fast and soon brings out a mirror.

Seeing his outfit, Vil says, "...I was about to be quite cross at you putting Vil Schoenheit in tacky clothes... but I suppose it passes muster. The sleeves of this traditional marching jacket are adorned with cord embroidery that lend it a playful feeling. And the area around the waist has extra volume evocative of a dress skirt. The till's interwoven shading is a fantasy-esque detail befitting an illusionary amusement park."

"I have no idea what you're saying, but I think it's a gorgeous look that's still very you," Jack says.

"Is that so?" Vil responds, "You're wearing your ensemble quite nicely yourself, Jack. The simple white shirt without too many bells or whistles complements your natural physique."

"Is... that how it works? Uh, thank you," Jack says, a bit flustered.

Kalim is amazed to see it, "You guys all look amazing. What am I gonna get?"

He then scans his ticket, and his clothes change as well.

Kalim is now wearing a yellow jacket with a black design, the cuffs on his sleeves has a red triangle design, with black ruffles. He also wears black gloves. Kalim wears black and red pants, a red vest with silver buttons, and a black shirt with collar and necktie. Along with burgundy cloth underneath. He also wears earrings. He wears a black top hat, with gold sparkles, red band with gold pin, and a black feather.

Ooh, it really did change my outfit instantly," Kalim says, amazed, "What do you guys think? Does it look good?!"

"Goodness gracious, Kalim, it looks exquisite!" Ernesto says.

"Bright yellow is totally on-brand for a guy as sunny as you!" Cater says.

Lilia nods, "Mmhm. Those puffy sleeves remind me of aristocrats in the days of yore. It's a fine look on you, Kalim."

"Really?" Kalim asks with a smile, "Heh heh, good to hear. Ooh, I've even got flashy red pants! I love bright, loud colors. This is great!"

"I think our Pop Music Club trio could look super 'cammable up on stage with our different colors," Cater says before turning to the others, "What do you guys think?"

"I agree. You all look quite distinctive, like a group of celebrities," Jade says.

"You're more dazzling than any pop star I've even seen!" Ernesto says, "Today's stage show is bound to draw every eye in the park!"

"Nice! This feels a little stiff and heavy, but I guess that's how stage costumes are, huh?

Just watch! I'll light up the stage with my sweeping dance moves!" Kalim says.

"Stiff and heavy? I've never heard anyone say that about them before," Ernesto responds, a bit confused.

And Jade says, "Kalim typically wears nothing but attire of the highest quality, made from the most fastidiously chosen materials. This is simply something different from what he considers normal. We're all quite happy with our gifts, rest assured."

"Hahaha…" Ernesto laughs nervously, "That a thing to hear. I'll be certain to pass on that valuable feedback."

Ortho floats over and says, "Kalim, you look great. I'm jealous!"

"Really? Well, present your own ticket, Ortho!" Kalim says.

"But I don't wear human clothes. Changing out my gear isn't all that simple," Ortho says.

"That's true. We don't have the time or material to make your gear," Tanzanite says.

But Ernesto laughs, "Hah hah hah! Methinks you aren't giving Playful Land enough credit. Our park's philosophy is to ensure that EVERYONE can have a good time."

"Then it would work on my gear...?" Ortho questions.

"Well, there's only one way to find out," Briar says.

"That is true. I'll give it a try," Ortho says and scans his ticket.

And with that, Ortho's body changed as well. His attire looks like that of a toy soldier of blue, gold, and white, and some black. He even wears a top hat like a soldier as well.

Ortho is amazed, "Wow! My gear really changed! No mechanical issues detected, either. Is this still functionally my School Uniform Gear, just with the exterior altered? Even that shouldn't be so simple... This really IS amazing magic!"

"Do you like it?" Ernesto asks, "I think it's made you look even more charming than before — and even more like a star."

Vil is amazed, "My, Ortho! You give off a different air entirely now. It's lovely."

"Yeah. It's like, the hat and the shoulder bit really stand out... and the chest thing is like jelly. It's neat," Trey says.

"You call those compliments? Can't you use a single fashion term?" Vil questions.

Trey apologizes, "Uh, sorry. I think it looks really cool. That's the best I've got, okay?"

Ortho giggles, "Heh heh heh. Don't worry, Trey Clover, I could tell that was a sincere compliment. Thanks! I really like the mini-cape shoulder plating. it makes me match with the rest of you, doesn't it?"

"Oh, that's true. Now that you mention it, I've got one of those too," Ace says.

"There's a metal bit that looks like a feather, cords that look like ribbons…" Leona says, "This stuff has an awful lot of details."

"I figured conjuring that with magic would be way harder than conjuring clothes, but wow. You look great, Ortho!" Ace says.

"Thanks! You too, Ace Trappola," Ortho says, "You look different than usual — very grounded and mature. It's exciting to see this side of you."

"Different than usual?" Ace questions, "Excuse me, I'll have you know I'm ALWAYS grounded and mature."

"Oh yeah. The way you're constantly palling around and causing scenes with Grim and the others is totally grounded and mature," Leona says.

"Y'know, it's true!" Floyd says, "You're normally a mitten crab, but today you're more like a fiddler crab."

"Those analogies make no sense…" Ace says, "But I guess if you're saying I look like a dapper musician, I'll take it."

"I've always thought you had a cool, stylish flair, Ace. The cape really seals the deal!" Ernesto says.

"You think? You're seriously good at compliments, Ernesto! I better watch out, or flattery like that's gonna go straight to my head!" Ace says.

Kalim turns to Briar and the others, "That just leaves Briar, Grim, Sereia, Tanzantie, Jasper, and Trinker, right? Come on, I wanna see those outfits!"

"Well, with that kinda buildup, guess I gotta give the fans what they want…" Grim says.

Then turns to the others, "C'mon, guys!"

"Let's go," Jasper says.

"Alright," Briar says.

Grim and Briar are the first to scan their cards.

Grim is now wearing a green round hat with a purple band, gold pin, and yellow feather. He also wears a yellow vest with pins, and his ribbon changes to a red yellow and green color.

Briar is wearing a white puffy sleeve shirt with gold and green designs. She is also wearing a green skirt with yellow designs, along with white and black striped tights and black slip-on shoes. She also has a headband with a small hat on it. The small hat has a red feather and the same pin like everyone else on her head.

"How's THIS?! Do I look rad, or do I look super-duper ultra-rad?!" Grim asks.

Kalim says, "Oooh...! That's so cuuute!"

"Huh? Cute?" Grim says, confused.

"It's true. The round little hat makes you look like a young child!" Lilia says with a smile.

Then Floyd laughs, "Ahaha! It's a sealie in a vest. That's totally the cutest."

"Cute...?" Grim says, shocked, "C'mon, I look as cool as the rest of you, right?!" Then turns to Briar, "C'mon, Prefect! Do I look cool or what?!"

"I think you look great. Almost like a star," Briar says.

Grim grins with confidence, "Heh heh, that's what I'm talkin' about! The rest of you guys wouldn't know cool if it slapped you in the face."

"I think you look pretty in yours Briar," Ace says.

"Thank you," Briar says.

"Looks like we're next," Jasper says.

"Yes. Let's try it," Tanzanite says.

Trinket agrees.

Trinket, Tanzanite, and Jasper scan their cards and their outfit changes as well.

Jasper is wearing a light gray shirt, and an orange jacket with black and gold markings, and the jacket is almost similar to Leona's. Only he doesn't wear gloves, and he wears black pants. He wears a black top hat with an orange band, and has a gold pin and a red flower.

Tanzanite's outfit is similar to Cater's, but his pants are black and blue, his jacket is blue with black and blue, and hold. And the hat he's wearing has a blue band on it with a red feather.

Trinket is wearing a cute leaf green ballerina outfit with white tights and green slip on shoes. She also wears a hair tie with a gold pin and a small yellow feather.

"Wow. You all look good," Ace says.

Jack says to Jasper, "Looks like you've got the same kind of jacket as Leona, Jasper."

Then turns to Briar, "And frills like Lilia's, Briar. I've never seen you wear anythin' like it before. I have to say, it's nice."

"Well then, all that is left is Sereia," Ace says.

"Um okay…" Sereia says, sounding nervous.

She begins to approach the puppet, and feels a bit wary.

Gino walks to Sereia and gives her a reassuring smile and gesturing to her to scan the ticket. Briar notices how nice Gino is towards Sereia, despite them only meeting yesterday. Briar wonders if there's truth about Sereia believing they have met before.

Sereia smiles with a nod and scans her ticket. Soon, her outfit changes as well. Sereia is now wearing a light aqua green color shirt with a nicely frilled white collar. She also wears a dark aqua blue overall shirt that goes down past her knees and it has aqua blue frills on the bottom. It also has yellow buttons. She also wears a black vest with a small sky blue ribbon attached with a seashell on it around the collar. She is also wearing flat shoes that look almost like ballet shoes.

"Um, what do you think?" Sereia asks, blushing.

"Oh Sereia, you look so pretty," Briar says.

"You look so cute," Kalim says, gushing over her.

"Aww, you look adorable," Lilia says.

"Thank you," Sereia says, blushing a bit.

"You look great, guys," Ortho says, "I'd better take lots of pictures. I would hate to squander the chance!"

"Oh, yes!" Ernesto says, "With this many stars all assembled together, what would you say to a group photo? There's a plaza just up past the entrance. It would be a perfect picture-taking spot."

"Ooh, good idea! Let's head there, then," Ace says.

But Ernesto says, "Oh, and before I forget — your validated tickets are proof that you're a legitimate park visitor. You'll need them to go on any rides, so make sure not to lose them over the course of the day."

"Okay, got it!" Kalim says.

"Let's go, everyone!" Ortho says.

"Yeah!" Grim, Jasper, and Tanzantie say.

Then everyone begins walking off towards the park.

Sereia and Briar notice Ernesto and Gino aren't following them.

Sereia walks over with Briar close behind.

Sereia asks, "Um Ernesto. Aren't you and Gino coming?"

Ernesto gives Sereia a gentle smile and says, "Do not worry, Sereia. We will catch up after we discuss some things."

Gino nods to confirm it.

"Okay," Sereia says.

"As long as you're sure," Briar says.

"But before you go…" Ernesot says.

And brings out a small box, "I've got something very special for you," and presents it to Sereia.

"Oh thank you," Sereia says, taking the box.

"Open it, and find out," Ernesto says.

Sereia then unties the ribbon and opens the box. Sereia is surprised to see what's inside.

Inside the box is a blue headband with a lovely gold yellow pin, which looks different from the others and a green, and yellow color feather attached to a blue ribbon

"Wow. It's pretty," Sereia says.

"Indeed. And it is perfect for your outfit," Ernesto says.

Gino happily nods.

"Thank you," Sereia says.

She then takes the headband and places it on her head.

Gino happily helps Sereia adjust the headband so it fits perfectly.

"There you go. Perfect," Ernesto says.

"Thank you, Ernesto. Thank you, Gino," Sereia says.

"That's very nice of you two," Briar says, though she is getting suspicious about the two park employees.

"Think nothing of it my dear," Ernesto says, "Now run along and catch up with your friends. Do not worry, we'll catch up with you."

"Okay. I'll see you later," Sereia says, and hurries off to catch up with the others.

"We'll see you later," Briar says.

The two girls then take their leave.

Briar says, "That was very nice of them to give you the headband."

"Yes. It was. Maybe those two are very nice," Sereia says.

"Maybe, but I wonder why they gave you the headband personally and not come with the outfit," Briar wonders.

"I'm not sure," Sereia says.

"Well, maybe once we get to know then, we can ask them about your relationship with them," Briar says.

Ernesto and Gino watch with smiles to see Briar and Sereia following the others from behind.

Once they're gone, Ernesto sighs in relief, "... Whew. Boy, that was nerve-wracking, huh?! We almost lost our best marks ever!"

Gino nods in response.

"Kids these days are so annoyingly canny. There's no working with skeptics!" Ernesto says.

Gino nods in agreement. And soon saddens, even though he smiles.

"Yes Gino, I know. Sereia was so close to us, and yet, it also feels as though she was far away. And to think, she was able to come far without us being there for her." Ernesto says.

Gino smiles and nudges Ernesto.

"Yes. We will make her day extra special for her," Ernesto says, "Still... Once we cast them into Playful Land, the rest should be cake. Let's you and me give these prestigious students the finest of receptions… After all, this will be the last funny memory they'll have," And begins laughing, "Hah hah hah hah!"

Grim runs ahead in excitement.

He calls out, "What's takin' you guys so long?! I'm gonna leave you all in my dust!"

Briar and the others are exhausted, trying to catch up.

Tired, Kalim calls out, "Wait up, Grim!'

"Argh, why does he pick NOW of all times to be quick on his feet?" Ace asks, tired.

Ortho calls out, "Guys, come on! Grim's gonna leave us behind if we don't hurry. Playful Land, the illusionary amusement park... I can't wait to see what's in store!"

Ace then notices, "Hold on, where are the girls?"

"We're coming," Briar calls out.

Everyone turns to see Briar and Sereia rushing over.

"There you are, where were you?" Jasper asks.

"Sorry, we were talking to Ernesto and Gino. They said that they'll catch up," Sereia says.

"Okay," Grim says.

"Come on, let's go inside," Tanzanite says.

Trinket tinks in response.

Everyone continues running until they reach the inside of the park.

Soon, Grim is the first to react, "Whoa! DAAANG!"

"Wow!" Jasper says.

When they rush into the park, they are amazed to see the amusement park and its amazement. There is a building that looks like an '8' Pool Ball, a roller coaster, a ferris wheel, and all kinds of rides, attractions, and vendors.

"Wow. This place looks amazing," Sereia says.

"So this is Playful Land!" Ortho says.

Ace says, "Wow! I see more rides than I can count, and we've barely walked past the entrance! I've never seen a theme park this big or fancy!"

Kalim looks around, "Rollercoasters, Ferris wheels, carousels…" And notices one of the buildings, "What's that round black building there?"

"Beats me — which is great. There's so much here I don't know, there's no way I'm gonna get bored," Floyd says.

"For sure, and it's all adorbs!" Cater says, "Everything looks hyper 'cammable. This theme park is FIRE!" and take pictures.

Soon, Cater says, "

"Hey, Cater. Quit takin' pics of the buildings and get some pics of me strikin' cool poses in the center of the plaza!" Grim calls out rushing to the center.

Soon, Grim notices something in front of them, "...Hm?"

Sereia, Briar, and the rest of the Ramshackle Group arrive to find two statues. One of them is a fox wearing a top hat, a cloak, and holding a cane. The other is a cat wearing a small top hat, and holds a mallet.

Curious, Grim asks, "What's the deal with these fox and cat statues? They're right in the middle of the plaza... I'm standin' in front of 'em and they're still drawin' more attention than me!"

Suddenly, Sereia mutters, "The Friendly Fox and the Gentle Cat," and has a strange feeling that is their name.

"The what?" Jasper asks.

Soon, Ernesto arrives and says, "Ah, let me introduce you to the Friendly Fox and the Gentle Cat. They're Playful Land's mascots."

"Uh-huh, uh-huh…" Grim says with a nod.

And then asks, "And who are they supposed to be, exactly?"

Briar and the rest of the Ramshackle group groan in annoyance. Of course, Grim doesn't pay much attention in school.

Ernesto is shocked to hear it, "You're joking! You've really never heard of either of them?!"

"Of course he hasn't…" Ace says, "Though that definitely tracks for him."

Jack turns to Briar and the others, "What about you guys, have you heard of it?"

"I know them," Jasper says.

"Me too," Tanzanite says.

Trinket nods in response.

"Hmm, I think I remember reading it once, back during the Starsending event, when we were learning about it," Briar says.

"You got it, Briar. In fact, the Friendly Fox and the Gentle Cat are related to the story," Ace says.

Lilia then says, "They're a pair that appear in an old tale so famous, every child in all of Twisted Wonderland knows it. It's called Wish Upon a Star," The turns to the others, "The rest of you are already familiar, I trust?"

"Absolutely!" Ace says.

Then Ace explains, "Long ago, there was an old toymaker who doted on a wooden puppet he built. He wished upon a star that shone oh-so-brightly in the sky — 'I wish that my little puppet might be a real boy.' And what happened next? Why, the Wooden Puppet began moving without any strings! His wish granted, the old man rejoiced, for now he had a beloved son. And they both lived happily ever after."

"Who doesn't love a happy ending? That story never gets old!" Kalim says, "I had an illustrated version of it read to me all the time when I was a kid. The adventures they went on were so exciting! It was my favorite."

"I head it a bunch growing up, too. That's a classic bedtime story when you're a kid, huh?" Jack says.

"Definitely. It's so big, even Night Raven holds a yearly Starsending ceremony based on it," Trey says.

Leona also remembers, "Oh, right. That tedious thing where the designated Stargazers collect wishing stars."

"Nobody even cares about it. Can't they just call it quits with the whole thing?" Floyd says.

"You think so?" Jade questions, "Personally, I think it's absolutely wonderful that you can see the 'wishes' inside of everyone's hearts."

Ortho continues, "The way the story goes, the Wooden Puppet didn't simply move without strings. In the end, he became a real boy! After his grand adventures, he completed his star-given mission, and a miracle happened."

"He had to complete a mission? That sounds like it musta been tough…" Grim says.

"For some people, it might have been. To become a real boy, the Wooden Puppet was told… that he 'must learn to choose between right and wrong'," Ortho adds.

"Must learn to choose between right and wrong," Sereia mutters, becoming fascinated.

"Choosin' between right and wrong? That's easy! Fun stuff is right, and stuff that ain't fun is wrong," Grim says with a grin and laughs, "Myahaha!"

Briar, Tanzanite, and Jasper sweat drops.

"That's bad, Grim, like really bad," Jasper says.

And then Ortho says, "That wouldn't pass the bright star's standards. When the Wooden Puppet asked how he would know the difference… The star said, 'Your conscience will tell you.'"

"Your conscience?" Sereia mutters.

"Conscience? What's that supposed to mean?" Grim asks.

"Who knows?" The group replies.

Sereia tilts her head, confused.

Grim becomes confused, "None of you know?!'

Kalim nervously giggles, "Ahaha. A conscience is a hard thing to describe in a few words."

"It kind of is to be honest," Briar says, "But people like to believe that a conscience is a small voice inside you."

Then Ace says, "Anyway, long story short… Wish Upon a Star is a tale designed to instill morals in misbehaving children like you, Grim."

"Oh yeah?!" Grim says, confused.

Ortho giggles and says, "Heheheh. The Friendly Fox and the Gentle Cat played a role in the moral of the story. The Friendly Fox is someone the puppet encountered and befriended during his adventures. He cared a great deal about the puppet. He put in tons of work to make the puppet a star, and he did everything he could to help the puppet recover when he was in bad shape."

'Hmm…" Grim thinks. Then says, "Okay, the fox I kinda get. How's about the cat, though?"

"The Gentle Cat was the Friendly Fox's partner," Vil says, "He had a mild demeanor and a smile that never left his face. He and the Friendly Fox assisted the puppet in his adventures. Wish Upon a Star has many unique characters… But the Friendly Fox and the Gentle Cat are particularly popular supporting characters that gave the puppet advice. They often get featured in stage adaptations aimed at children."

"Of course our scholars would know their stuff!" Ernesto says with a smile, "Wish Upon a Star is actually what Playful Land is themed around. Many of our rides are designed to emulate the puppet's various and sundry adventures.

She then explains, "During those adventures, the Friendly Fox realized the Wooden Puppet was beset with a terrible malady. Its symptoms? It seemed as though his mouth wasn't working quite right. Also, he'd see red spots when he opened his eyes… And his heart pounded as hard as someone pounding on a door, and so rapidly it made him dizzy!"

Sereia looks at the statues as she listens to Ernesto, almost fascinated by both. Gino smiles, but turns to see Sereia who is still looking at the statue.

Enrsto continues, "In the story, the fox's cure for this malady was inviting the puppet to an amusement park, as I'm sure you'll recall. It was an incredibly carefree environment where the puppet could relax and enjoy himself. He even made a friend! And after a day of fun, the Wooden Puppet got all better and left the park. Yes... Simply by spending time in an amusement park, his physical symptoms faded like they were never there! If people's illnesses were cured just by spending some time in the park, it must have been a magical place indeed."

And gestures to the park, "Which brings us to Playful Land. The creator wanted a park as fun as the one the Friendly Fox took the puppet to. That vision is what drove every decision, and thus the Friendly Fox and Gentle Cat came to be the park's mascots."

Leona nods, "Mmhmm. For such a secretive place, it sounds like it's got some real upstanding ideals."

"Well, this is all information I learned secondhand from the proprietor, or I'd explain in better detail," Ernesto says, "Though personally, I imagine us being a fox and cat beastmen had a little something to do with our employment. Thinking about it like that makes it impossible not to feel a certain kinship with these statues! We lovingly polish them to a sparkle every day."

Gino happily nods with a grin.

Then Ortho asks, "The Wooden Puppet went on a lot of different adventures, right? What kinds of attractions do you have here in the park?"

"You'll just have to see for yourself," Ernesto says, "Why spoil the surprise?"

Then passes the maps to them, "Here, have some maps. You'll need them, with how big the park is! I suggest you pick out where you want to go and plot your route carefully. You wouldn't want to get lost!"

Soon Ace asks, "So, where to first? This place is seriously ginormous. There's no way we can cover everything here in one day…"

'I want to go to the game area first and do some target practice!" Ortho says, "You know, at one of those places where you try to take out as many targets as you can? If it's hard yet rewarding, it could pique my brother's interest in coming here."

"Amusement parks are all about the thrills. Rollercoasters are always a safe bet," Ace says, "Whale Escape looks pretty rad—not to mention it's a really long ride!"

And Kalim says, "Rollercoasters are cool and all, but I'd like to start with the Seafloor Stroll area myself. These little photos on the map make it look like everyone's really walking underwater. Isn't it absolutely gorgeous? I've never heard of an attraction like that at any of the amusement parks I've been to. It's got me curious!"

"I wanna start with some FOOD!" Grim says.

Cater sighs, "You're nothing if not true to your brand, aren't you, Grimmy?"

"Yup!" Grim says, "I ain't even had breakfast today. I want some food in my stomach before I start with the fun an' games."

Ernesto thinks, "Hmm, interesting... it seems each of you has your own form of entertainment in mind. Perhaps further discussion is in order to come to a consensus."

"Okay! In that case…" Grim says.

And everyone but Briar, Tanzanite, Jasper, Sereia, and Trinket say, "SPLIT UP!"

"Split up?" Ernesot questions, "What? You're actually SPLITTING UP? That's quite an... odd choice."

And Floyd says, "Doin' everything as a big group sounds like a one-way trip to boresville."

"We came here to have fun," Jack says, "Where's the fun in passing up on what you wanna do and just following the herd?"

"Is that your logic?" Ernesto questions, "Goodness, you students are more casual about this than I was expecting…"

"But if everybody goes off on their own, that defeats the purpose of having us as your chaperones," Trey says.

And Vil says, "True. If we gave these overeager spudlings complete freedom, who knows what manner of mischief they'd get into?"

"Fine…" Leona says, annoyed, "Guess we'd better split up too so we can babysit 'em."

"All right, that settles the groups," Ortho says.

Soon, Vil, Ortho, Jade and Floyd are in one group.

"Our group'll head to the game area first!" Ortho says.

Trey, Ace, Lilia and Cater are in another group.

"We'll start by hitting up the rollercoasters," Ace says.

Jack, Kalim, and Leona are in the third group.

"We'll visit the Seafloor Stroll and the other stuff around it. Woo, I'm getting excited!" Kalim says.

And Leona says, "Look at you, getting all giddy. You're supposed to be a housewarden too, but you don't got a care in the world, huh?"

Then turns to Vil and Lilia, "At least you two know better. Keep these herbivores outta trouble."

"You can count on me, of course! Ooh, I'm so excited!" Lilia says, excited, "Wheee!"

And Vil says, "I'm not sure I can count on you for anything. Where do you get all this energy?"

'Well, to be fair, we ARE at Playful Land!" Cater says, "We can have fun while still keeping an eye on the others and making sure they don't cut TOO loose."

Ernesto then turns to Sereia and the others, "Say, I haven't heard your plans yet, Sereia. What will you and your friends be doing?"

"Well um, to be honest, I am kind of hungry," Sereia says.

"Yeah. We didn't eat before coming here," Briar says.

"Yep," The twins reply,

Even Trinket nods.

"We gotta eat while we can, y'know. Unlike the rest of you guys, we take that seriously!" Grim says.

Then Vil asks, "Will you six be going off on your own?"

And Grim says, "Ooh, I get it. You're worried about the girls, right? Don't worry, I'll keep a close eye out! We wanna get in lots of fun and games, too. We'll meet up with whoever's in the area once we've had our fill."

"The more, the merrier. You'd be welcome to join us if you wanted!" Kalim says.

And Ernesto says, "I'll be making the rounds in the park. If I happen to run into any of you, I'd be happy to show you around."

Gino nods.

"Thank you. I wouldn't really want us to be here on our own," Sereia says.

Then Ernesto remembers, "Oh, dear. I almost forgot the most important thing of all! The show we discussed is at 1:00 p.m. at the stage on the north side of this plaza. You won't be late, I hope."

"For sure!" Grim says, "I'm gonna light that stage up and put on the best performance this park has ever seen. Then I'll be a mega-popular star!"

Oh yes, I can't wait to see it," Ernesto says, "For now, everyone-enjoy everything this illusionary amusement park has to offer!"

Ace turns to his group, "So, you guys are cool with hitting up the rollercoasters first, right?"

"Mmhm!" Lilia replies with a nod, "I was hoping to get a ride on a suitably thrilling one myself."

"Huge same! Your top pick was Whale Escape, right?" Cater says, "It looks like that's the biggest rollercoaster in the park. We definitely gotta make sure to ride the main attraction!"

"I'll go wherever you guys wanna go. They all look like a blast," Trey says.

"Looks like the coasters are at the edge of the park, according to the map," Ace says.

He then looks at the map, "We're in Gentle Plaza right now, at the center... Boy, that's a walk."

"Are you young scholars about to make your way to the rollercoasters perchance?" Ernesot says, "If you are, I'd suggest taking a carriage ride."

"A carriage?" Ace says, confused.

"Oh, yes!" Ernesto says with a smile, "There should be one coming back to the plaza soon... Ah, here it is now."

And right on cue, a carriage being pulled by horses has arrived on the scene. The carriage is brown with blue and red, with wooden wheels, and pulling the carriage are small brown horses, though they do look like donkeys.

"This carriage is the most convenient means of transportation within the park proper," Ernesto says.

Ace is amazed, "Whoa. There's no engine or anything-it's drawn by real, live horses!"

"Are horses this small?" Trey asks, noticing the horses, "I feel like the ones in the school stable are taller…"

"Yeah, the ones at school are definitely bigger. But these are some cute little guys!" Cater says.

Then Ernesto says, "This is a replica of a carriage that the Friendly Fox helped the Wooden Puppet ride."

"Ah, then those aren't horses at all," Lilia says, understanding what Ernesto means, "Draft animals-that is, animals intended to pull wagons-vary across different times and places."

"That's right!" Ernesto says, "We try to recreate Wish Upon a Star as faithfully as we can here. Including the part where the Wooden Puppet shared a carriage ride to the park with a merry band," And smiles, "Oh, how excited he must have been! I'm sure all of you will experience that same anticipation as you make your way to Whale Escape.

"Sounds good to me-not to mention convenient. Let's hop aboard!" Ace says.

"Ah, it seems you're its only passengers," Ernesto says. Then turns to the others, "Would you mind if we joined you? I could show you more of Playful Land's sights on the ride over.

"Go for it! Welcome aboard," Cater says

Gino says with a happy nod.

Soon, the carriage makes its way down the park, as they hear and see many people around the park having a wonderful time.

"There's a lot of visitors for a weekday. Playful Land seems lively indeed," Lilia says.

"It certainly is," Ernesto says, "And we have everyone from Sage's Island and the surrounding areas to thank! They say the Wooden Puppet's hometown was a bustling place filled with children's voices. So of course we'd like this park to be the same way. Hah hah hah!"

"I see food and merch stands everywhere, not to mention stalls handing out balloons. It's fun just looking at it all," Ace says. Then spots something, "Ooh, guys, check out that cart there! It's got a puppet running it, like the gate at the entrance. That puppet's movements are practically human!"

"Yes, yes. The puppets are invaluable Playful Land staff indeed!" Ernesto says.

Gino says.

"Hmm, they're almost like Sereia. She's a doll and is able to move on her own," Trey says.

That has Ace wondering, "Now that you mention it, we never did find out where Sereia came from."

"You're right. Briar explains that Sereia was found in the Ramshackle Dorm, but they never knew where she came from," Cater says.

"Hmm, really now?" Ernesto responds, taking in the information.

Gino is also surprised to hear it.

"Um yes," Ace says, "Briar told us that Sereia told her that she doesn't remember, except she remembers falling out of a truck a few years ago. She's been wondering around until she found her way to Night Raven College and in the Ramshackle Dorm where Briar and the others are staying."

"You don't say," Ernesto says, taking an interest.

"Indeed. We never figure out where she came from," Lilia says. Then smiles, "But Sereia is happy with Briar and the others. The two girls are so close they could be sisters."

Ernesto genuinely smiles, "I'm glad to hear it."

Then Ernesto says, "Ah, and here we have…" but soon calls out, "Excuse me, you there! I'll take five, please," and leans to the side.

Seeing it, Cater replies, "Huh? You're leaning out of the carriage now? What're you getting?

Then Ernesto presents, "Here you are! A gift for each of you."

And they are fox tails.

"What's this? A fox tail?" Ace says, confused.

"Just so! It's an accessory themed around the Friendly Fox," Ernesto says, "You can hang it from your waist or wrap it around your neck. I hope having matching accessories will enhance your experience at the park."

"The tail's orange, with a white tip. It's soft, and pretty big," Ace says.

Cater smiles, "Oh, this is NICE! Having matching items totally ups our group cohesion for better 'cammability! Thanks a ton, Mr. Foulworth."

"Please, no need to be so formal. Just call me Ernesto! Way easier, right?" Ernesto says.

"I'll take one of those as well," Lilia says, and puts them on, "Give it a quick wrap around my neck, and... there, how's this? Aren't I cute?"

"Why, you look amazing!" Ernesto says with a surprise, and smiles, "Cute AND gorgeous at the same time. Boy, do I know how to pick 'em!"

Gino nods, wide-eyed.

"I'll use mine as a cell phone strap. It'll make using my phone all the more impactful!" Cater says, already having his ears and tail on

"Sure will. I think I'll wrap mine around my wrist. That should show it off nicely, since I'm always moving my hands," Trey says.

"Hmm, as for me…" Ace says.

Suddenly., Cater moves towards Ace.

"You should put yours here, Acey!" Cater says, adjusting his tail.

"Huh? My belt?" Ace says, confused.

"Yup," Cater says, "That way you can look like you've got a bona fide tail!"

Ace looks at himself and says, "Wow, yeah-it's like I really have one. I feel like it makes me the odd guy out, though…"

"Nah, it's cool! Why worry about being the odd guy out when you're here to have fun?" Cater says, "Besides, it's totes adorbs!"

Lilia cries out with a tease, "Nooo, I've been out-cuted! Alas and alack."

Ace is unamused, "Okay, now you're both teasing me…"

Trey laughs, "Haha. I'm sure it's friendly on their parts."

Lilia laughs, "Khee hee hee, sorry. That indignant look you get on your face is just too funny."

"I'll take a really good shot of you," Cater says, "C'mon, we're cool, right?"

Changing the subject, Ace notices something, "Hey Ernesto, what are the other tail for?"

"Oh, I just thought I should get it for a special someone," Ernesto says.

Gino nods with a smile.

"Special someone," Ace says, confused.

Then Ernesto says, "I believe we should be coming up on Whale Escape now!"

Soon enough, they arrived at a part of the park. They're more close to the ferris wheel, a roller coaster, and other rides. The gang looks around the park.

"Oh man, that rollercoaster over there is even bigger up close! This is gonna rock," Ace says.

"I know it's kinda late to ask, but Trey-" Cater says and turns to Trey, "You ARE cool with thrill rides, right?"

"Sure. I've been on my fair share of them on family park trips," Trey says.

"I'm glad you're all being good sports about this…" Ace says, but hers a ping, "Hm?" He then takes out his phone to see a message, "Oh hey, I'm getting a Magicam DM from Briar and the others. They're headed over to meet up with us, and they wanna join us for the ride."

"Oh, nice!" Cater says, "Guess we can wait for the Ramshackle group here, then," Cater says.

"There's gotta be something we could do to pass the time, though…" Ace says.

But then has an idea, "Ooh, I know. Why don't we ride the Ferris Wheel? It IS right here and all. I don't normally go on those, but there's no line right now, so it works out perfectly!"

Lilia likes the idea, "Excellent idea. I do enjoy Ferris Wheels-the views they give you from the top are incredible. It looks like the gondolas fit up to six," Then turns to Ernesto and Gino, "What do you say, Ernesto? Gino? Care to join us?"

Ernesto and Gino are surprised to hear it.

"Are you sure we wouldn't be intruding?" Ernesto asks.

"Of course I am! Why, this is a perfect chance for us to get to know you better," Lilia says.

"Then I suppose we could join you," Ernesto replies. Then turns to Gino, "Are you okay with that, Gino?"

Gino happily nods in response.

"Great, let's go!" Cater says.

Soon, everyone gets on the ferris wheel and begins to ride it.

Soon, the PA system announces, "Enjoy your time on Catch the Star, the ride that takes you up so high you could pluck one of those twinkling lights right out of the sky!"

And soon, the ferris wheel begins to move.

"Ooh, it's moving!" Ace says, excited.

The ride begins moving in a big circle, making everyone look at the view of the park.

Ace is the first to say, "Dude, this view's amazing! I can see out over the ocean from my seat! What a way to remind me this is all on a ship."

"Let me see!" Lilia says and sees the view, "...Ooh, you're right. The sun reflecting off the water is dazzling at this time of morning."

"Come to think of it, wasn't there a part in Wish Upon a Star about a voyage at sea?" Ace replies.

"Yeah, there was," Trey says, "The hero embarked on a whole adventure and even went into a whale's stomach to find the Old Toymaker."

"The puppet goes to rescue him when he's stuck inside the whale with no food, right?" Cater questions.

"Yeah, that's it!" Ace says, "When I first heard that story as a kid, I remember wondering… 'Wouldn't he end up getting digested way before he had to worry about starving?'

For whatever reason, I never could suspend my disbelief that far."

"Ahaha, you got that caught up on biology not making sense in a fairy tale? Guess you've always been the pragmatic type," Trey says.

"Children pick the oddest details to fixate on," Lilia says.

Cater turns to Ace, "Hey, Acey. Wanna swap seats with me? I'm sure the ocean's gorgeous, but my side's got a great view of Playful Land."

"You're cool with swapping?" Ace asks.

"Totally! Gotta be nice to the cute little freshies, y'know?" Cater says.

"Thanks!" Ace says.

The boys switch places and Ace looks out and can see more of the park.

"Wow, you weren't kidding. You can see the whole park from here!" Ace says, amazed, "Seeing it from above really drives home how huge this place is. It might even be as big as the Night Raven College campus."

Cater laughs, "Ahaha, c'mon, that's exaggerating. No way it's actually that big."

"Considering all the attractions it packs in, I can see how it would appear to go on forever," Lilia says.

Ace looks around, "Okay, so that's Gentle Plaza in the center…" And notices something, "What's that big rooftop over to the left?"

"Oh, that's the theater where the shows are held," Enresto says.

"Dang. If it looks this big from all the way up here, it must be ginormous on the ground," Ace says.

"It certainly is. It's a place where stars are born, so it has to be suitably grand!" Ernesto says.

"And up past that…" Ace looks around to notice, "Huh. Is it 'cuz the gondola's gotten lower? I can't see the port past the wall at all. It struck me at the entrance too, but the walls surrounding the park are really high, huh?"

"They are, yes," Ernesto says, "Playful Land is a giant ship in water, so as you might imagine, it goes through its fair share of storms. The walls are made extra high to safeguard the park from giant waves."

Gino happily nods in response.

"The phrase 'traveling park' makes it sound pretty convenient, but I guess maintaining it can't be all that easy," Trey says.

"Just so-which is why it's a point of pride for us that this park is one of a kind," Ernesto says.

Gino nods in agreement.

Then Ernesto asks, "Speaking of one of a kind, I like to ask you something. I hear that your friend Briar also very special, besides her being one of the only females to attend the school, a rare species I might add."

This has the boys shocked.

Then Lilia says, "I didn't expect the stories about Briar is able to reach Playful Land as well."

"Indeed," Ernesto says, "Your friend's story spread even to our find amusement park, the last of her fae species, known as the healer of overblotters, and the survivor of the Seerwood royal family."

"That sounds about right. We were also shocked when we first learn who Briar is," Trey says.

Then Ace says, "She maybe a lost princess and an endangered fae, she's still the same human girl who started going to the school. In fact, thanks to her, we got us of some pretty dangerous spots in some cases. It also helped Sereia and the twins, even Grim and Trinket to become students in the school."

"You don't say," Ernesto says.

Gino smiles.

"That's right. All six of them of Ramshackle are a team. No matter what happens, they always stick together. And she was able to help Sereia get out of her shell, one step at a time," Lilia says.

"Briar sounds like a very kind person," Ernesto says.

Then says in though, "And she was able to take care of Sereia when we couldn't be there. I would have to ask Briar more about herself and her friendship with the others, especially her bond with Sereia."

Then Ernesto notices, "Ah, we're circling back to the ground now. Everyone, get ready to disembark."

A few moments ago…

At the Gentle Plaza, Kalim and his group have been exploring the park.

"Well, Leona, Jack. Here's to an awesome day!" Kalim says with a smile, " Like I was saying earlier, I'd like to visit this Seafloor Stroll."

"I'd like to see the stuff in that area, myself," Jack says.

"Perfect! We're gonna have so much fun," Kalim says, excited.

Then turns to Leona, "Where would you like to go, Leona?"

"I'm only tagging along to keep an eye on you kids and make sure you don't do anything I'll regret. Pretend I'm not here," Leona says, not interested.

"Aww, but that would mean leaving you out. We're at an amusement park. You should enjoy it too!" Kalim says.

But Leona says, "Oh, don't worry about that. I'm having so much fun just being with you guys, I could cry. In fact, I've already had so much fun, we may as well pack it up and leave now."

"You and your blatant sarcasm…" Jack responds.

"Oh gosh, really? Thanks!" Kalim says with a grin, "I feel just the same-when I'm with you two, I know I'm gonna have the best time!"

Jack and Leoan don't respond to that.

Jack says, dumbfounded, "He's beaming…" and calmly smiles, "Good thing Kalim's so sanguine, he lets your snide remarks roll off him like water off a duck's back."

Leona scoffs, "Tch... They're not rolling off him so much as going right over his head. Anyway, let's go find that Seafloor Stroll or whatever it's called. It looks like a big attraction on the map, so it'll probably be crowded. We should get in before the line gets too long."

"Good call. Off we go!" Kalim says.

The three make their way to the Seafloor Stroll and soon find the bazaar, and it's crowded with a lot of people.

"The entrance should be somewhere around here…" Kalim says, and soon finds the gate to the attraction, "Oh, found it! It's that gate. You were right, this IS a popular attraction. The line to get in goes on for miles."

"That's why I said to get a move on. Maybe if SOMEONE hadn't dawdled on the way over…" Leona says.

"But the parkgoers riding the train waved at me! If someone waves to you, you have to wave back!" Kalim says.

"Yeah, and your waving got other people in on the waving game, and it went back and forth forever," Leona says.

"From what I can tell, that train runs in a circuit around the whole park," Jack says, looking at the map, "The map says it's got multiple stations, and anyone in the park can use it to get around."

"If I hadn't forced you to knock it off, you could've stayed there waving for the rest of our lives... I shudder to imagine that," Leona says, annoyed.

"Come on, not even I would go that far. I was only gonna give it another 10 minutes or so!" Kalim says.

"That's still a pretty long time…" Jack says.

Soon, someone approaches the group.

"Hey, I found Jack's group!" Grim's voice calls out.

Kalim and his group turn their heads to see Briar and her group.

"Ah, it's Briar and her group!" Kalim says, "You've finished eating, I take it!"

"Yup. I got me my favorite-a sandwich piled high with big ol' heaps of tuna!" Grim says, excited.

"And they also serve breakfast here," Tanzanite says.

"How are you all doing?" Briar asks.

"We're doing great," Kalim says.

Then Jasper asks, "Are you guys goin' to that Seafloor Stroll place?"

"Yeah, we were just about to line up for it. You should join us!" Kalim says.

"That would be nice," Briar says.

"I like to see it too," Sereia says.

"Thanks for inviting us," Tanzanite says.

Then Jack says, "There's a sign posted on the wall by the entrance. It's got something written on it."

"Those glowing gold letters are so pretty! Let's see here…" Jack says, and reads the sign, " 'The Old Toymaker ventured out to sea in search of the Wooden Puppet. Then…' Oh, it's a scene from Wish Upon a Star!"

"The toymaker goes out looking for the Wooden Puppet, only to get swallowed by a whale and end up stranded far away from home," Kalim says.

"Wow. Way to go, Gramps," Grim says.

"Ahaha, yeah, probably not his best moment," Kalim says with a smile, "The shining star left the puppet a letter explaining what had happened, so the puppet ventured to the seafloor to look for him. This attraction is meant to let you follow in the Wooden Puppet's footsteps!"

"Hey, not to interrupt your chat, but the line's moving. Don't hold it up," Leona says.

"Oh, sorry! I'm not used to standing in lines…" Kalim apologies.

Jack asks, confused, "You're not?"

"Nope. Usually when I go to amusement parks, I rent out the whole place for the day!" Kalim says.

Jack is shocked to hear it, "Dang..! I guess you really are different from the rest of us…"

"Why am I not surprised at this point?" Briar replies.

"You can say that again," Grim says.

After a long wait in line, the gang reaches the front of the attraction.

"Looks like we can finally go in. Get your tickets ready, guys," Leona says.

"Right," Kalim says as he and the others bring out their tickets.

Then Kalim notices, "Huh, they're handing something out to people at the entrance."

"What are those?" Tanzanite asks.

"Are those... rocks?" Jack questions.

Everyone approaches the front and is given rocks.

"They're rocks alright," Briar says.

Grim actually tastes it by licking the rock, " Sure are. Just plain ol' flavorless rocks."

"No kidding…" Jack says, but realizes, "Wait, flavorless? Quit going around licking random rocks!"

"Come on Grim, they're not food," Jasper says.

Trinket responds, annoyed.

Soon, the puppet at the front explains, "In tHE StoRY, thE WoODen pUpPet TiEs a RoCK tO HiS TaIL fOr BAlLaST sO hE CaN wAlK On ThE SeAfLOoR. HeRe, WE gIvE EvErYOnE a ROcK fOR gOoD LuCk. MAy YoU fINd ThE WhAlE On YOuR sEaFLoOr StROll!"

"Uh-huh, sure... Wait, his TAIL?" Grim says, confused, "I don't remember anythin' about the Wooden Puppet havin' a TAIL."

"Actually, there was a time in the story that he does in one of the other versions," Sereia says.

And Leona says, "Uh, she's right. Wish Upon a Star's an old story with some minor regional variations. He's got a tail in the version where he was carved to look like a beastman. In that one, he had big animal ears and a tail, and he even let out a bray sometimes."

Kalim understands, "Ooh, I getcha. I'd never heard that one before."

"Yeah, he wasn't a beastman in the version I first heard either," Jack says.

"The Sunset Savanna's got a lot of beastfolk, so maybe the storytellers there made the hero a beastman for more relatability," Leona says.

"How did you know that, Sereia?" Briar asks, curiously.

"I'm not sure. I just know it. I… I think I was also told that version before," Sereia says, unsure.

Leona gives Seria a suspicious look because the story he hears isn't too familiar to those who aren't beastfolks.

Soon, Kalim says, "Neat, so he ties the rock to his tail…" And then an idea occurs, "Ooh! You guys have tails. What if you tied your rock to them like the Wooden Puppet did?"

Grim, Leona, Jack, and Jasper refuse, "ABSOLUTELY NOT!"

"I figure as much," Briar says.

"Yeah. I doubt they want to reenact the story," Sereia says.

Then Leona sternly says, "If anyone here needs to worry about floating away, it's you, Kalim. Keep some ballast rocks in your pants pockets."

"I'd hate havin' my tail tied to a rock. Let's just go in!" Grim says and walks inside.

Everyone else follows from behind. When they walk inside, the place looks really dark.

"Well, we're inside, but it's pitch black, and these stairs just keep going down," Kalim says, "Everybody, watch your step!"

"It's so dark in here," Briar says.

"Can't see a thing…" Grim says, "So this's the Seafloor Stroll, huh..?"

"Better not be. You'd hope there'd be more to it than just walking down some stairs in the dark," Jack says.

"I kind of picture it to be full of sea creatures," Tanzanite says.

Then Kalim notices, "Ooh, there's light up ahead. C'mon, let's hurry up and see what's over there!"

The gang soon walk into the light and soon find the Seafloor Stroll. Everyone is amazed to see the place is like an underwater display, full of sea creatures, sea plants, and such.

"Whoa, cool!" Kalim says, amazed, "It's huge... It's like we're really underwater! And it's gorgeous…" but notices, "Hey, is it just me, or does my voice sound... weird?!"

"Yeah, it's got like this quiver to it…" Jack says, but soon realizes, "Hm?! Hey, mine's the same!"

Grim laughs, "Myahaha, you two sound so goofy…" But realizes his voice also changes, "Wait, it's happenin' to me, too!"

"Really?" Jasper asks, and is shocked to hear his voice.

"It seems that all our voices sound strange," Tanzanite says.

"It sounds like we're all underwater, like the time we were a while back," Briar says.

"Yeah. It's probably supposed to make you sound that way," Leona says.

"This immersion is amazing. Is it magic changing our voices?" Kalim asks, amazed.

"Probably. I don't think all this scenery is just projections, either," Leona says.

"What do you mean..?" Kalim says, but feels something and giggles, "Whoa! That tickles!"

"What do you mean..?" Kalim says, but feels something and giggles, "Whoa! That tickles!"

And soon enough, Briar begins to feel something and giggles, "What's going on?"

"Look," Sereia says, amazed and happy.

"Hold on, are those-fish?!" Kalim asks, shocked.

Everyone turns to see a school of fishes swimming around them.

"There are fish swimming through the air…" Kalim says, amazed and mananges to touch one, "And I can touch them!"

"Are they puppets, too?" Jack wonders, "But they seem so lifelike... And I don't think puppets can float around so freely like this."

"There's probably magic at work throughout the whole room," Leona says, " I was expecting a few parlor tricks at most, but this is convincing. I'm actually impressed."

Kalim then surges towards Leona in excitement, and hugs him, "Right?! Aren't you glad you came with us? I'm glad you like it!"

"Shaddup and quit hugging me. You don't gotta get all giddy over it," Leona says, annoyed.

However, Briar and the others notice that Grim has a determined expression on his face.

"Grim, what are you up to?" Jasper asks.

"This!" Grim says and runs around, flailing his arms around, like he's trying to catch the fishes.

Jack notices it and asks, confused, "...Grim? Why are you flailing your arms around?"

"The fish... There are fish swimmin' right in front of me... Mrah, this is so frustratin'!" Grim says, trying to catch the fish.

Kalim laughs, "Ahaha, are you trying to catch them? But they're so pretty! Wouldn't you feel bad eating them?" and looks around at the fishes, "This really is amazing... The Wooden Puppet meets so many different kinds of sea life underwater. I remember thinking how pretty the illustration of this scene was when I first read the story in a picture book! It's one of my favorite scenes in all of Wish Upon a Star... I mean, it was just so vibrant! And here I am, getting to experience it for real... Who would've thought?!"

"They really do have all kindsa sea creatures down here, huh?" Grim asks, and looks around, "Pink and blue fish, green and black flat fish, purple anemones... Even some orange and black goldfish-lookin' ones!"

Kalim then notices, "Hm? The orange and black one's coming over to me…" and begins kissing Kalim and snuggles Kalim at the cheek, "Ahaha, that tickles. You're a friendly little guy, aren't you?"

Soon, some of the fishes gather around the others, tickling and giving them kisses.

Jasper laughs, "That tickles."

"They certainly are playful.

"Is it really this gorgeous under the sea? I should ask Azul and the others sometime," Kalim says with glee.

Grim thinks, "Hm? This one looks kinda weird."

The group looks to see sea horses with long ears, and it's a large group of them.

Tanzanite notices, "What kind of fish is that?"

"A rabbit? A horse?" Grim questions.

"It's a seahorse-one with ears and a mane, for some reason," Leona says, "The Wooden Puppet encounters a lot of strange creatures in the story. It's probably supposed to be one of those."

"Look at that huge school of seahorses! They're so cute and teensy!" Kalim says, "If only I was as small as they were, I could ride on one's back! I bet that'd be a fun way of sailing through the water."

Soon, some of the seahorses approach Sereia.

"Aww, they are so cute," Sereia says, "And yet, I… I think I've seen them before…"

Leona ends up hearing Sereia and looks at her with a confused expression.

Sereia suddenly changes to her mermaid form and begins swimming around with the seahorses. Sereia giggles as she and the seahorses are swimming around and having fun.

"Sereia is having fun there," Jasper says.

"She's really happy here," Tanzanite says.

"You're right," Briar says with a smile, "I'm really glad."

Then Jack notices another school of fish, "Ooh... Hey, Grim. Check out what's on the other side of Sereia and the seahorses."

Grim turns to the large fishes, "It's a school of big fish with dull colors and a plain ol' fishy shape. What about 'em?"

"Those are tuna fish," Jack says.

"So?" Grim questions.

"'So?' Really?" Jack says, confused, "That's the opposite of how I figured you'd react."

Jasper laughs as Briar and Tanzantie giggle.

And Leona says to Grim, "Hey, fuzzball. Are you actually that dense? Did you ever stop to consider where the 'tuna' part of 'canned tuna' comes from?"

"Wait, WHAT?!" Grim exclaims in shock.

"It's true. The tuna fish is what makes the canned tuna you like so much," Briar says.

"You could make a lot of canned tuna from those," Jasper says.

"Heh. With tuna that big, even that bottomless pit of a fuzzball might actually get full," Leona says.

"Y-You mean that's what goes into canned tuna?! So there's a school of tuna cans swimmin' right in front of me?!" Grim cries out.

And with that, Grim drifts away from the group.

"I didn't say THAT…" Leona says.

"Uh Grim, what are you doing?" Briar asks, worried.

And soon, Grim begins to bite on one of the tuna.

"Grim!" Briar cries out.

"Don't bite them!" Leona shouts.

"I gotta see if they really taste like tuna!" Grim says.

Grim rushes left and right, biting on the tuna

"He's completely lost control," Jack says.

"He's biting every tuna fish in sight," Tanzaite says, shocked.

Briar cries out, "Grim, NO! "

"You and your big mouth, Leona!" Jasper adds.

"It's dangerous to act up inside a park attraction!" Kalim cries out.

Leona turns to the others, "Jack! Kalim! You grab his arms! Briar, you get his torso. Jasper, Tanzanite, grabs him by the legs. We're getting him out of here!"

Soon, everyone grabs him and runs out with Grim in their arms with Trinket following from behind.

Grim cries out, "Lemme go! C'mon, lemme go! NOOO, MY TUNAAA!"

However, Briar notices that Sereia is still playing with the sea creatures.

Briar lets go and rushes to Sereia, "Come on Sereia, we need to go."

Sereia turns to Briar, "Oh um, okay. Wait for me."

Sereia changes to her original form and the two girls rush with the guys to get Grim out of the attraction.

Finally able to drag Grim out of the attraction, everyone takes deep breaths in relief.

Kalim sighs, "Whew, we actually made it out... For a second there, I wasn't sure we would!"

"I wasn't expecting Grim to get that overstimulated the first time he saw tuna fish," Jack says.

Grim groans, "Maaan, I wanted to take a bite out of those swimmin' tuna cans…"

"So you keep complainin'. Let it go already," Leona says, annoyed.

"Grim, what in the world were you thinking?" Tanzanite asks, shocked.

"What?! I just wanted to get myself some fish," Grim complains.

"You can't just go on a fish eating rampage like that, you would have damaged the attraction," Jasper says.

"This could get us in trouble," Briar says.

"What? It's not like I'm going to damage anything," Grim says.

But then, Kalim spots something, "Hm? Ooh, take a look at that, Grim. Those food carts have some good stuff!"

"Oh yeah?" Grim questions towards the cart and sniffs on something delicious, "Mrr? What's that delicious smell?!"

The gang approach the cart and see some fried food in some food wrap

"Whatever it is, it's giant, and it's fried. Is it chicken?" Jack wonders, but sniffs to notice something else, "No, going by the smell…"

The puppet calls out, "FrIEd TuNA. GeT YoUr FRiEd TUnA hERe."

"What? Tuna?! Is that what those tasty-lookin' things are?!" Grim cries out in shock.

Jack scratches the back of his head, "Seems kinda weird to put a fried fish cart right outside an attraction where you spend the whole time admirin' said fish's beauty, but okay…"

"ThE OlD tOYmAkER aLsO FiShED fOr TUnA tO EaT. CoMe HAvE sOmE FoR yOUrSeLF!" The puppet explains.

Leona scoffs, "Tch. These puppets are creepy, if you ask me."

"I'll take some!" Kalim says. Then the puppet hands a few of the fried tuna, "...Thanks!"

Then passes one to Grim, "Here you go, Grim. You wanted tuna, so eat up!"

"Oooh... That's what I'm talkin' about!" Grim says.

He takes the fried tuna and takes a bite of it.

Grim cries out, "Augh, hot, hot!"

But continues eating it and says, "Mmm, but so GOOD! Crunchy fried batter on the outside, and soft, tender meat on the inside…" And continues eating it, "This fish just gets tastier and tastier with every bite!"

Then Kalim then passes one to everyone, "Here, guys! I got enough for everyone."

Leona takes a bite of it, "Huh, pretty good. The oil and the fish both taste fresh."

Everyone also begins waiting it.

"It's crunchy and delicious!" Tanzanite says.

"It's also piping hot!" Jasper says.

"Straight out of the fryer, but it's really delicious," Briar says.

"It's kind of oily, yum," Sereia says.

Kalim sighs in relief, "Whew, I was worried for a little while there. Grim looked so let down. If he'd stayed upset the whole time, I would've just felt awful."

"This's seriously so good. You should have some too, Kalim!" Jack says.

"I guess if everyone's eating from the same batch... Sure, I'll have a bite. Thanks!" Kalim says and takes a bite, "You're right, this DOES have a nice crunch to it! Yum…" and yelps, "Ack, but it's so hot! Water!"

Leone huffs, "Maybe if you didn't scarf it down so fast…" Then turns to Jack, "Hey, Jack. Go get us something to drink.

"Yessir," Jack says, and looks around, "But where…"

Then Sereia says, "I think I know. Follow me."

Sereia then takes Jack down to find something to drink.

Briar and Leona look at Sereia with confused expressions.

Moments later, Jack and Sereia return with some drinks.

"Okay, We got some drinks. There were lots of options, but this was their top pick," Jack says.

Everyone looks to see the drink is a bottle that has a yellow staw and a small red umbrella attached.

Leona takes one and drinks it, "...Sparkling apple juice, huh."

Kalim also drinks the bottle, "Thanks!"

"And it's actually cute," Briar says.

"But why is there an umbrella covering the top of the bottle?" Jasper wonders, "Doesn't that get in the way of drinking it?"

"I didn't put it there. It came that way," Jack says, "That's a servin' method I haven't seen before... but I'm guessin' it's too keep bugs from getting into the bottle."

"Oh, that'd make sense. This IS an outdoor park. That's a smart idea," Kalim says.

"Actually, it's a decoration," Sereia says, suddenly.

"Huh?" The group reacts, confused.

"What do you mean?" Grim asks.

"In the story, the Wooden Puppet had a cricket who was his mentor and joined him on his adventure. During the incident with the whale king, the Cricket was floating in a glass bottle using his umbrella as a sail while trying to help his friend. The bottle is supposed to resemble the glass bottle the cricket was sailing in while in the ocean, while the straw and umbrella is supposed to be the cricket's umbrella," Sereia says.

Everyone looks at Sereia with dumbfounded expressions.

"Uh Sereia…" Kalim says, confused.

"How did you know that?" Tanzanite asks, confused.

"I'm… I'm not sure… It just came to me…" Sereia says.

Jack decides to change the subject, "Uh here… Here, I got some for you guys too," and passes one to everyone.

Everyone replies, "Thank you."

Everyone begins drinking it.

Leona notices, "The fuzzball's bein' awfully quiet. Is he okay? I get worried when he's not makin' noise."

However, Grim is actually drinking from the bottle, "Ahh, that was good!"

"Whoa, he's already scarfed down three servings…" Kalim says, amazed, "I can't believe you ate that much that fast, Grim! That's incredible!"

Soon, Grim says, "I think I've had enough tuna for one day... C'mon, guys, let's go scope out some other good eats!"

"Oh, leaving so soon?" Kalim questions, "That's a shame. You should swing by our group and hang out some more later!"

Then Leona says to Briar, "Hey, Briar. I'm sure I don't have to worry about YOU or the others causing any trouble… But you never know what that fuzzball's gonna do next. You better find another group, and fast."

"I will," Briar says.

Then Leona whispers to Briar, "And also, keep an extra close on Sereia. It's clear that being at this park is triggering something from her past. So it won't be long before she begins to remember something about our hosts. Take notes of everything that happens. And be sure to let Vil know about it when you see him."

"Um okay," Briar says.

"See you guys around," Jack says.

And soon, Briar and the others take their leave, and Leona has a thought in mind, hoping Briar will heed his advice.

A little earlier at the Gentle Plaza. Ortho's group is ready to have some fun.

"Okay, so our group will be sticking mainly to the game area," Ortho says with a smile, "Vil Schoenheit, Floyd Leech, Jade Leech-I hope today will be fun!"

"I'm sure it will be, considering we have the pleasure of your company and an entire amusement park to explore," Jade says.

"I'm surprised you're even in this group, Jade," Floyd says, "I figured you'd go straight for the thrill rides with Crabby. You're big into stuff where you can't see what's ahead and have no idea what's gonna happen next."

"You're not wrong…" Jade says, "But there's something nearby that's piqued my interest. So I'd like to stay with this group for a while. I can always ride the rollercoaster after the show's over."

"Personally, I'm actually more surprised you joined us, Floyd," Ortho happily says.

"Seconded. I thought that if anyone here'd go for the action-packed rides, it would've been you," Vil says.

"Hmm…" Floyd thinks, and says, "I do like shootin' up in the air and droppin' back down… But that ride's based on goin' through a whale's stomach, right? Whales ain't anything new to me. I'd rather do stuff you can only do here in Playful Land."

"But places for practicing marksmanship are pretty common at carnivals and theme parks, I thought…" Ortho says.

"Yeah, about that. So I looked up stuff about this park last night, and someone posted pictures of the attraction on Magicam…" Floyd says, "And I ain't never seen anything like THAT before. It kinda rules."

"Oh, really?" Ortho responds, "...Yes, I'm looking it up online now, and I see what you're referring to. It certainly looks unique. What fun!" and sounds excited.

Then turns to Vil, "What about you, Vil Schoenheit? Is there anywhere you'd like to go, or anything you'd recommend doing in a theme park?"

"I'm not familiar enough with them to make recommendations. I went to one with my dad when I was a kid…" Vil says, "But by the time I started middle school, I was so swamped with work that I didn't have time for this sort of thing. I'll be happy as long as I get to see the show, so let's focus on the things you all want to do."

"Sweet. We can start by hittin' up the game area," Floyd says, excited.

Soon, the group heads off to a different part of the park.

Sometime later, the gang arrives in front of a large white house that looks like a mansion. Decorated with different bushes, on the front lawn. There are stained glass windows, lights with the fence around the porch areas, and even a large fountain.

"We're here!" Ortho happily says, "Everything in front of us is the game area. That white building there must be where we can do some target practice."

"That's a rather lovely building. Pristine white walls, intricate sculptures, a large stained-glass window…" Vil says, observing the house, "It looks more like a model home than a place to play games. I trust the interior will be just as impressive. Shall we go in and see?"

Ortho chuckles with glee, "Heh heh. I'm afraid to say your assumption is incorrect, Vil Schoenheit. We won't be doing target practice in that building, we'll be doing it ON that building."

"What does that mean?" Vil questions, but then notices the sign, "...Oh, I see the sign with the name now."

Vil walks to the sign and reads, "'Domicile of Destruction'?" but then realizes, "You don't mean..?"

Then the puppet employee says, "CoME oNe, COme aLl! TaKE a GaNDeR aT ThiS bEAuTiFUl HOuSe-rEAdY tO Be BUsTeD Up. VIsItoRs ARe FreE tO Do wHaTeVeR thEY lIKe To iT!"

"That staff puppet over there is offering a rather curious description," Jade says.

Shocked, Vil questions, "Are you saying the building itself is meant to be the target?"

"Yup," Ortho answers, "From what I saw in the images online, that's the deal! Check out the stained glass. The blue parts are worth 50 points if you break them. The smaller pink bits are 100 points. Columns and hedges are worth 10 points, and sculptures are worth 20... So your score depends on which parts of the house you destroy."

"What a grandiose attraction. What do they do after people destroy it?" Jade says.

"They use a combination of magic and manual labor to put it all back together before the next visitors arrive," Ortho says.

"For real? Dude, that's so much work. That's seriously hilarious," Floyd says with a grin.

Then Vil notices, "There's more on the bottom part of the sign… 'The Domicile of Destruction was designed to replicate an attraction from the amusement park the Wooden Puppet visited.' Interesting."

"The story I read didn't go into detail about that park, but it must have been a strange one," Ortho says.

"I suppose one could think of it as a filming set in an action movie," Vil says, "In those, every structure is built to be destroyed-in the most beautiful, spectacular, and aesthetically pleasing way possible."

"Yeah, you won't find a target this massive anywhere else, right? Just Playful Land," Floyd says.

"It does seem rather engaging," Jade says.

Then Ortho notices, "Ooh, what's that puppet passing out to everyone at the entrance?"

He soon walks over to see the puppet is passing out slingshots to the customers.

"Ah... They're toy slingshots," Ortho says, "I guess we're supposed to use them to destroy that building. This is a lot different from the kind of target practice I imagined... which makes it seem like a lot of fun!"

He then turns to the others, "Hey, how about a little friendly competition? Whoever scores the highest can issue any one command to the others they want."

"Oho... I'm game," Vil says, taking an interest, "It's always more interesting with stakes involved."

"I dunno, it ain't gonna be much of a competition with you lot. It'll be boring to crush you guys," Floyd says.

"Oh? Those are some big words I'm going to make you eat later," Ortho says, taking the challenge, "This will be my first time doing this kind of exercise, but my brother and I have played a LOT of video games based on a similar concept. Not to mention I'm pretty good at strategy."

"You all seem quite fired up. I hope you'll go easy on me," Jade says.

"Here I go..!" Ortho says, determined.

The boys gulp.

Ortho pulls the sling back, and releases it, but he ends up missing the target.

"I... missed again," Ortho says, frustrated, "These rubber balls barely get any distance!"

"I'm not having any more luck than you," Vil says.

"Likewise," Jade says.

Floyd laughs, "Gyahaha! You guys all suck! Pathetic!'

Vil turns to Floyd, "You've got no room to talk! Most of your rubber balls landed at your feet."

"Oh yeah? Still doin' better than you, Betta," Floyd points out.

"You both look like you're in the same boat from where I'm standing," Jade says.

And Ortho says, "I'm pretty sure arguing about it is only making matters worse… I've gotten SOME points with big targets like flower pots and columns, but nobody's broken the stained glass yet."

"The stained glass is so high up, it seems quite impossible to hit it with these sling shots," Jade says.

Ortho becomes more frustrated, "Rrgh... Not for me, it isn't! Watch this!"

He winds up for another shot, but he fails, again.

Floyd laughs and says, "Swing and a miss! That's nine whiffs in a row."

"Man! The rubber sling on this is all soft because it's just a toy. It's off center too!" Ortho says, frustrated, "All the random wobbling means I can't calculate its potential energy... The balls don't fly like my simulations say they should!"

"Now I'm gettin' salty," Floyd says, "Wonder if I can make somethin' happen with this brick I just found lyin' around…" and holds up a brick.

"'Make something happen'?" Ortho questions. And soon realizes, "You're not seriously talking about throwing bricks through a stained glass window?"

"It does hardly seem fair to use such a large weapon. Perhaps I could use magic instead…" Jade says.

"Seriously? If you're doing that, I wanna blow the whole building up with beam fire!" Ortho says.

Vil sighs, "This is getting out of hand. What happened to competing to get the highest score?"

Sometime later, after the little competition, the gang returns to the Gentle Plaza.

"Turns out we're all equally terrible with slingshots. We couldn't even declare a definitive winner among us," Ortho says.

"But cuttin' loose at the end was a nice outlet," Floyd says.

Then Ortho notices, "Oh, I see someone we know walking over there... Hey, Briar! Grim! Guys!"

Indeed, Briar and her group soon notice Ortho and his group.

"Oh, hey. It's Team Ortho," Grim says.

"Hi guys," Briar says.

Briar and the gang walk over to Ortho and his group.

"Greetings. Have you finished eating?" Jade asks.

"Yup. I was just talkin' with my hench-human about maybe meetin' up with one of the groups," Grim says.

"Really? Well, you're already here, so come tour the park with us!" Ortho says.

"Sure. That would be nice," Tanzanite says.

"Thanks," Jasper replies.

Then Sereia asks, "Where are you guys going?"

"I've been curious about this one building for a while now…" Floyd says, and points to the building.

"Let me guess: the round, black one?" Floyd says.

The gang looks to see the large round building that looks like the eight ba..

"Yeah, that's been a big question mark ever since we first came to Gentle Plaza, huh?" Ortho says, "According to the map, it's another game area like the Domicile of Destruction," and looks at the map, "All it says on the map is... 'A place to enjoy some chic gaming.'"

"It's not far at all," Jade says, "Shall we go see what it's all about?"

Soon enough, the group walks to the round ball shaped building.

Ortho says, "We're here! Close up you can tell it's not just a solid black building-it's got a big number eight painted on it."

"So it's an eight ball. Perhaps this is a pool hall," Vil says.

"Ooh, pool!" Ortho says, excited, "I've heard of that game, but I've never played it."

"I've only played it for fun a few times, myself," Vil says. Then turns to the others, "What about the rest of you?"

"I do dabble a bit," Jade says.

" Never played it!" Floyd says, "We went to a pool hall with Azul once, but I wasn't in the mood for it."

"You were quite preoccupied with the dart board, as I recall," Jade says.

Ortho turns to Briar and the others, "What about you, guys? Have you ever played pool before?"

"Well. I heard of the game, but I never played it before," Briar says.

Trinket shakes her head in response.

"Really? Then you're in the same boat I am!" Ortho says.

"Tanzantie and I played it before," Jasper says.

"Is that right?" Vil questions.

"I know you're confused because the tables are tall, but we did play it a few times," Tanzanite says.

Then Ortho says, "There aren't exactly any pool halls near our campus. Since we're here, let's play a little! Considering we never got a decisive outcome at the Domicile of Destruction, what if we start the competition over with pool?"

"Are you certain? I never go easy on others, you know-not even first-timers," Vil says.

"Likewise," Jade says, "It would pain me greatly to make you all cry tears of defeat…"

"How'd you know you won't be the one sobbin' after all's said and done, huh?" Floyd asks.

And Grim says, "Heh. Ain't none of you a match for me. Wait until you see my big brain pool maneuvers! ...Not that I ever played it before or even know the rules!"

"I'm in it to win it!" Jasper says, confident.

"Okay, let's play!" Ortho says.

Everyone then rushes inside the room Tanzanite and Trinket decide to sit this one out, to get a some rest and look at the map to decide on what to do next.

Moments later, a spotlight dramatically falls on Jade.

Jade says, "There are many variants of pool, but I suggest for this match, we play using the most prevalent ruleset: eight ball. We'll start by racking the balls marked one through fifteen on the pool table. These balls are divided into two groups. The goal of the game is to knock all the balls in a given group into pockets, with the eight ball going in last. We have eight players present, and several of them are new, so I suggest we play this in teams. One team will be Floyd, Grim, Jasper, and Vil. The other will be Ortho, Briar, Sereia and myself. I'm sure our newcomers will have trouble even hitting the balls with their cues, but don't worry. Let's focus on enjoying the game."

And then says, "Now... Time for the break shot!"

And soon, Jade hit one of the balls on the pool table.

Time has passed….

"There are fast learners, and then there's…" Jade says.

"Two ball, side pocket," Ortho says and does just that.

Then Ortho says, "Five ball, rear right corner pocket."

Ortho then hits the ball and gets it dropped in the pocket.

"Yay, that's four in a row for me!" Ortho says, excited.

"He's too good at this!" Vil says, "What's going on? Ortho hasn't missed a single shot since he picked up his cue stick!"

"What a show of skill…" Jade says, "He's landed every shot in the exact location he's called. There were some points where his shot path was obstructed by the other team's balls, but…"

"...he cleared those obstacles with jump shots and got his target ball into the pocket anyway. Those aren't moves someone playing the game for the very first time could pull off," Vil says.

Floyd yawns, "I'm gettin' kinda tired of the peanut gallery crowdin' around goin', 'Who is this guy?' and 'Is he a pool shark?'"

"Imperfect tools made things hard during target practice, but this cue and these balls have no such issues," Ortho says, determined, "Ball positions logged. Simulating optimal route to pocket. Calculating point of contact, angle of incidence, angle of reflection, ball spin rate and energy. If I make the shot as calculated…" And continues playing, "Three ball, side pocket," and does just that.

"There, see? Easy as that," Ortho says.

"Nicely done!" Jade says, "We might not even get a turn at this rate. Oh, what a pity that would be."

"Well, we certainly have the game in the bag," Briar says.

"Ortho is really good," Sereia says.

Vil becomes frustrated, "Rgh... If I could just get a single turn... We're about to lose before we can even play!"

"Right? It's kinda boring when none of the rest of us can play the game," Floyd says.

"Yeah! Gimme a chance to shine!" Grim shouts.

"Yeah!" Jasper says, "This is starting to get boring!"

"Oh, but we decided the turn order fair and square with rock-paper-scissors," Jade says, "Is that the baying of sore losers I hear?"

"Sounds like it to me," Ortho says, "I think I'll go for the six ball next…"

Continuing the game, Ortho says, "I think I'll go for the six ball next…" He soon readies for another shot. Suddenly, something startles Ortho, "...Ack!" and Ortho ends up missing.

Grim is surprised, "Whoa, Ortho actually missed. About time!"

"That's a positive development, but what happened there?" Vil wonders, "You'd better not have missed on purpose."

"Of course I didn't," Ortho says, "I would never pull my punches in a game! A bug jumped out in front of the ball."

"A bug?" Briar questions

"Hm?" Vil responds, and soon spots the bug, "Oh, there it is. It's hopping all over the pool table. What is it?"

Everyone looks at the table to see a cricket hopping around.

"I think it's a cricket," Ortho says, "It seems to be chirping."

Seeing the Cricket, Sereia says, "Aww, it's kind of cute."

"You're kind of right, it is cute," Briar says.

However, Ortho angrily says, "Come on, little cricket, you can't be up there! You startled me and made me mess up my shot. I was on track to play a perfect game all the way to the eight ball and everything."

Then turns to his team, "Jade, girls, I'm really sorry…"

"That's okay, Ortho," Sereia says.

"You were still very incredible," Briar says.

"Yes, you did quite well. That was a most impressive display of skill, Ortho," Jade says.

Then Vil says, "Okay, boys, listen up. If Ortho gets that cue again, we're finished. We need to win this before his turn comes back around!"

"Hmm... Yeah, okay," Floyd says, "Guess I gotta bring my A-game for this."

Sometime later, the gang continues to play the game. And at the end, Ortho's team has won the game.

Ortho happily says, "Woo-hoo! We won!"

"Aww, man... We lost," Floyd says, and laughs, "Ahaha, actually, more like we got STOMPED."

"Rrrgh…" Vil says, annoyed.

"Don't remind us," Jack says.

"I was surprised you landed two shots your first time playing, Floyd," Jade says, "It's a testament to your skills of observation and comprehension. Vil, your advice was impressively on-point as well. Surely you were being modest about your experience before. Sadly, we never got to see you actually pick up a cue and play."

"You're calling ME modest? You're plenty good yourself. You ended the game before I could even get a turn," Vil says.

I guess that's good," Briar says.

Then turns to Sereia, "I'm surprised at how good you played Sereia."

"I agree. Despite you claiming you might not have played before, you're actually pretty good," Tanzanite says.

"Yeah. You're also great out there," Jasper says.

"Thank you," Sereia says, flustered.

"So how did you learn how to play?" Grim asks.

"I'm not sure. I felt like I was taught this game before, a long time ago," Sereia says.

Briar and Vil notice what Sereia has said about how she might have been taught how to play before.

Soon, Ortho walks over, "Jade, Briar, Sereia, good game! The four of us made a fantastic team."

Grim says, defeated, "Aw, phooey! We lost! Man, why'd I get stuck with the useless ones?!"

"Says the spudling who did nothing but dig divots into the felt surface with his cue," Vil says.

"Yeah. I played better than you did, and you almost got me with the pole," Jasper says.

"No kiddin'," Floyd says, "Remind me again, who was it that messed up my shot 'cuz he was pitchin' a fit about wantin' a turn?" and is ready to crush Grim.

Grim flinches, "Grk! Uhh, hey... I just remembered, I got somewhere to be! C'mon, guys, let's scram!" And dashes out.

"Grim, wait!" Tanzanite says.

"Wait for us!" Jasper calls out.

The two then rush after Grim.

Tanzanite calls out, "Don't worry, we'll watch over Grim."

Then the gang rush after Grim, leaving the building.

"Well, there they go," Briar says.

Sereia and Trinket nod their heads in response.

"Maaan... That was fun and all, but it sucks that I lost. Next time, I wanna beat Clione," Floyd says, disappointed.

Ortho giggles, "Heh heh, is that so? I don't think that's possible, but if you like, how about I take on all of you myself next round?"

"I like that idea. I'll show you what I can really do then," Vil says.

Briar then says, "Actually Vil, can I talk to you really quick, outside."

"Of course," Vil says, looking confused.

Moments later, the two are outside and Briar explains what happened while being with Kalim and his group.

"Really? Sereia said all that?" Vil asks.

"Yes. It's strange. Sereia seems to know about the inspiration of the drink very well. And the way she interacted at the sea floor attraction, it's like she really enjoyed it. But at the same time, it felt like she belonged there," Briar explains.

"It's really strange, but I'm really starting to think that Sereia really has a connection with this park," Vil says.

"I was thinking the same," Briar says.

"For now, it's best that we watch over her, and see if she remembers Ernesto or Gino. And you let me and Leona know, or even the others from Ace group if something comes up," Vil says.

"Okay," Briar says.

Soon, Sereia and Trinket walk out.

"Hi girls, how are you doing?" Briar asks.

"We're doing good, but Trinket and I think we should find the boys," Sereia says.

"You're right. We don't want to lose them," Briar says.

Then turns to Vil, "We'll be on our way, but I hope you and the others have a good time.

"And same for you girls, and hope you and the boys stay out of trouble," Vil says.

"Okay. We'll see you later," Briar says.

"Bye," Sereia says.

Trinket also waves goodbye.

The girls then head off to find the boys and continue exploring the park.

Meanwhile with Ace's group…

After getting off the ferris wheel, they head to the next attraction called 'Whale Escape.'

"Ahh... Y'know, that Ferris Wheel was a lot more fun than I'd expected," Ace says. Then looks around, "Let's see if Briar and the others have an ETA…"

Soon, they hear Grim's voice, "Hey! Over here!"

"We're over here," Jasper calls out.

"Oh hey, you're here already," Ace says.

"Yep. We had a good meal and we're good to go," Jasper says.

"We're glad you made it," Briar says.

"We only just got here. I'm ready to ride!" Grim says, excited.

The gang soon begin making their way to the ride.

Lilia sees the line, "Look at all those people waiting to ride the rollercoaster... Let's add ourselves to the queue, shall we?"

"Oh, what brave souls you are!" Ernesto says, surprised.

But then smiles and says, " You're the spitting image of the fairy tale hero, with how boldly you're facing Playful Land's Whale Escape!"

Everyone looks to see the ride.

"Awesome. It looks thrilling!" Jasper says.

But Sereia becomes scared, "It looks terrifying…" and ends up bumping into Enresto's leg as she steps back.

Ernesto looks down and notices, "Why, whatever is the matter, Sereia, dear."

"Well, that whale there looks really scary," Sereia says, nervously.

"I suppose it would," Ernesto says, looking at the whale.

Gino nods.

Then Ernesto says, "Aside from the ride's scare-factor, its main distinction is how long it goes on for. It's based on the scene where the Wooden Puppet challenges the Whale King."

"I knew that's who the giant whale on the track was meant to be!" Ace says.

"That's the part we were talking about on the Ferris Wheel, wasn't it? When the Old Toymaker got stuck inside the whale's belly," Cater says.

"That's right," Ernesto says.

He then explains, "The Whale King was so massive, people thought it was a monster… And, as the tale has it, it could swallow anything in the ocean. This rollercoaster takes you through every twist and turn of the Wooden Puppet and the Old Toymaker's daring escape."

"How DID they get out, anyway?" Grim asks.

"In the story, the whale coughed 'em up," Sereia answers.

"Huh! Sounds like that Whale King was nothin' but a big ol' softie," Grim says, and begins to sound cocky, "Now, me? I'd NEVER cough somethin' I swallowed up. No amount of pleadin' could make me!"

Lilia snickers, "Khee hee hee. I imagine there's no escape for anything once it goes down your gullet.

Gino nods in response.

Grim looks at the roller coaster, "Now that I'm seein' this rollercoaster up close, it's huge... and spinny... and kinda scary…" And begins to grow very nervous, " I'm not sure I even wanna ride on it now…"

Sereia shakes in fear, "Me neither."

Trinket instantly shakes her head.

"I don't think it's safe for you to not go on that ride, you'll fly off," Briar says to Trinket.

Trinket nods in agreement.

"Oh, my. Are you getting cold feet? You would be very much missing out!" Ernesto says.

He twirls his cane and says, "I can guarantee you'll have a blast. Don't worry! It's nothing to be scared of."

Grim thinks for a minute, "Hmm... Yeah, okay. How bad could it be? I'm goin'! So you're comin' too, guys!"

"Hold on a minute, Grim," Briar says, picking Grim up.

Even Cater says, "Easy there, Grimmy. We still have to wait our turn. No cutting in line!"

"My, my. You really ARE excited for the rollercoaster, aren't you?" Ernesto says.

He then twirls his cane and says, "You know what? I'll give everyone in line a heartfelt apology, so you all just go on ahead!"

"What?" Ace says, shocked, "That feels kind of wrong…" But then says, "...but who am I to say no if you're offering?"

"Are you sure, Ernesto?" Sereia asks, concerned.

"Yeah. I'm not comfortable about it," Briar says.

"I am certain," Ernesto says with a smile, "Do not worry, you all are here to have a good time."

"I guess," Briar says, feeling uneasy.

Tanzanite and Jasper are unsure about it.

However, everyone soon made their way to the front of the line.

Once they reach the front, the puppet employee says, "TicKeTs, pLEasE. EAch rOw seATs tWo GuEstS. PRoCeEd in a doUBLe fiLe LinE."

And soon the coaster car arrives on the track.

"And here's your car now. On that note, I should be going. Enjoy the rest of your time in Playful Land!" Ernesto says.

"Sure thing. Thanks for being our tour guide! Ace says, "All right, guess we better hop on."

Lilia says, "Mmhm! Time to ride this rollercoaster straight into the belly of the beast!"

Everyone begins to climb on the cars. However, Sereia is looking very nervous.

"Sereia, are you okay?" Briar asks, concerned.

Sereia then hides behind Gino and clenches a piece of fabric from his jacket, catching Gino by surprise.

"I'm scared," Sereia says, frightened.

Concerned, Briar asks in concern, "Sereia, are you scared to go on the roller coaster?"

Sereia peeks out to see Briar.

"You don't have to if you don't want to," Briar says.

"I want to, but um," Sereia says, unsure.

Soon, Ernesto kneels to Sereia and says, "You know, Sereia, the Wooden Puppet was scared as well."

"He was?" Sereia asks, curiously.

"Yes. He was," Ernesto says with a nod, "When he learned that the old toymaker was in the belly of the Whale King, he was scared as well, having to go out in the ocean blue with no direction. However, he knows that he needs to be brave in order to find and save his father. It takes courage to do things you're scared of. I know you can be brave too, Sereianna…"

"Huh…" Sereia says, confused.

"Huh?" Briar says, and responds in thought, "Sereianna?"

"I mean, Sereia. My mistake," Ernesto says. He clears his throat and says, "The point is, I know you can face this daring ride with your friends and once you're done, you'll have a big smile on your face."

Sereia thinks for a minute and nods, "Okay. I'll go."

"There you go. I knew you had it in you," Ernesto says with a smile.

Gino nods in response.

Sereia then climbs in the ride and sits between Briar and Jasper.

Sereia says, "Thank you Ernesto."

"You are most welcome dear, you have a good time," Ernesto says.

"Okay," Sereia says.

And with that, the ride begins as the cars move on the track, taking the group with them. Ernesto and Gino take their leave.

Once they're a good distance away, Ernesto sighs to himself, "I can't believe I let that slip like that."

Gino gives Ernesto a reassuring hug.

"I know Gino, but it actually felt good to assist her. Makes me think of what might have been if she was still in Playful Land," Ernesto says.

Gino nods.

"However, we must get to work and tend to our guests. Playful Land won't run itself," Ernesto says.

Gino happily nods with a smile.

A little later, the PA System announces, "Congratulations on making it out of the dark belly of the whale alive! Thank you for riding Whale Escape. Have a 'whale' of a time in the rest of Playful Land!"

Briar, Ace, and their groups walk out of the ride. They all remain silent as they walk out.

Ace says, "Dude, Playful Land's rollercoasters… are so… AWESOME!

However, Grim, Cater, Trey, and Tanzantie scream, "SCARY!"

"That was quite an ordeal…" Lilia says.

"Ernesto wasn't kidding about it being a long ride! We must've been on it for 10 minutes at least, don't you think?!" Ace says.

"Easily more…" Trey says, "That took forever. And there was never a single second we weren't swinging left or right or going upside-down… I lost count of how many loop-de-loops we went through! I couldn't tell which way was which by the time all was said and done."

"No kidding. It was nonstop thrills from start to finish. I could ride that all day!" Ace says.

Then Jasper says, "That bit at the end where the rollercoaster barely escapes under the whale teeth seriously gave me goosebumps."

"You said it!" Ace says.

"Those spikey white things, you mean? I was wondering what they were supposed to be…" Trey replies.

"You were?" Ace questions, "Kinda hard to see 'em glinting in the light like that and think they could be anything BUT teeth."

But Trey says, "Actually, they suggested people take their glasses off to avoid losing them, so my and Tanzantie's vision was pretty blurry. Whale teeth aren't something you get to see every day. I missed out…"

"You were terrified on the ride, yet you still wish you could've seen the thing's teeth..?" Ace questions.

And Cater says, "Okay, it was definitely exciting and lasted a good while, sure… But that pool halfway through! We totally dove underwater, right?! They warned us we might get splashed-not soaked all the way through!"

"Oh yeah, the part where we escaped the whale's mouth into the ocean," Ace says, "You and I were sitting in the front row, so we got the full brunt of it!"

"Sheesh! I was totally unprepared, so I didn't do anything to protect my poor smartphone. I thought it was a waterlogged goner for sure!" Cater says.

"Wasn't it messed up when we escaped the whale's mouth, only to start rolling back into it again?" Ace says.

"Talk about a fake-out. I was NOT expecting the rollercoaster to go backwards! That freaked me right out," Cater says.

"I think I got a little motion sick from that part, and from the loop de loops," Briar says.

"Yeah. I felt a little sick," Tanzanite says.

"What do you think, Sereia?" Briar asks.

"I admit, it was scary, but…" Sereia says, but then smiles, "It was also fun. I felt like I was flying really fast, and it was fun getting wet on the ride."

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, Sereia," Lilia says.

"Altough," Sereia says and turns her head, "I don't think Grim feels the same."

Everyone looks and is shocked to see Grim all soaked and wet, and doesn't look like himself. In fact, he looks smaller and drenched.

"Grim!" Briar says, shocked, "Are… Are you okay?"

"Whoa, Grimmy?!" Cater says, shocked, "Why do you look so much smaller and less fluffy than before?!"

"And you look really sick," Jasper says.

"He's soaking wet…" Trey says.

Ace laughs, "Ahaha! You look like a drowned rat-literally!"

"I hate gettin' wet…" Grim says, "But it was the gusts of wind that really got me. I thought I was gonna get blown off the ride!"

"Oh yeah, the tailwind when we escaped the whale was really strong," Cater says.

"Was that to make us build up speed?" Lilia asks, "We were going so fast it was like the whale had sneezed us out or something."

"That wind lifted me up in the air. If Lilia hadn't held me down, I mighta gotten blown off for real!" Grim says, upset.

"Is this thing really safe to ride?!" Trey asks, shocked.

"Y'know, Lilia, I've been wondering about what you said earlier," Ace says and turns to Lilia, "What was such an ordeal?"

"Remember the way there were tuna fish splashing about inside the belly of the whale?" Lilia asks.

"Oh, the ones that the old man fishes up after the whale swallows 'em?" Trey questions.

"Yes, those," Lilia says, "Grim found them QUITE appetizing. So much so, he started pitching a fit."

"So much for being in danger, Grim!" Ace says.

"Hey, this was BEFORE the wind!" Grim says, "Leona mentioned earlier that that was the fish that they use for canned tuna. When I pictured all those fish as canned tuna, I just couldn't stop myself…" And begins drooling.

"But Grim, those weren't real fish. Those are just machines and puppets they use for display," Briar points out.

"And let's not forget you almost got us in trouble for attacking the fish in the sea floor attraction," Jasper adds.

"I tried to tell him they weren't real, but he kept leaning off the side and trying to catch them. Stopping him was no small feat," Lilia says, "When I think of Briar keeping this ferocious beast in line day in and day out... I can only imagine what a laborious task that is. If you're struggling, don't take it all upon yourself. Come to me whenever you need help."

"All of that was happening in the back row, huh?" Trey asks. I was sitting in front of you guys with Tanzantie, but I'm pretty sure neither of us noticed at all."

Ace asks, "How was it for you, actually? Got any thoughts after the rollercoaster ride?"

"It was a blast!" Briar says, "I was a bit wary at first, but I had fun."

"For sure! I knew you'd appreciate it," Ace says, "If we have the time later, wanna go again with just me? That was seriously fun!"

"Hang on, where's Trinket?" Jasper asks.

And right on cue, Trinket flies back.

"Hey Trinket, how were the flowers?" Briar asks.

Trinket nods and feels happy.

"Glad you enjoyed it," Briar says. Then turns to the others, "Trinket isn't comfortable about going on that ride because she's so small, so she went to smell the flowers instead."

"That's a good call on her part. She would have been blasted out of Playful Land," Lilia says.

Then Cater says, "Oh yeah! Guys! We gotta go check out the spoils."

"Ooh, good call," Ace says, "You can't ride a rollercoaster without checking those out!"

Grim, Lilia, Trey, and Tanzantie exclaim, "What?"

Cater calls out, "Oh yeah! Guys! We gotta go check out the spoils."

Ooh, good call. You can't ride a rollercoaster without checking those out!" Ace says, excited.

Everyone else asks with confused looks, "What?"

"Oh, didn't you guys notice?" Cater replies, "We got our pictures taken on the ride."

"We did?!" Grim, Trey, and Lilia ask, shocked.

"They take pictures on these things?!" Grim cries out, "If I'd known, I woulda struck a cool pose!"

"I didn't notice either. You two have a good eye," Lilia says.

"Oh, it's a standard feature on these rides. This one was timed to go off right before we dove into the water," Cater says.

"Couldn't you have told us this BEFORE the ride?!" Trey asks.

"No way. Where's the fun in that?" Ace says.

Then looks at it, "Ooh, look! Our pictures are up on the monitors over here."

The gang walks over to see the photos being taken.

"Let's see…" Cater says, and looks at the photo. But notices, "Whoa, hold on… Does Trey's face look super-scary or what?"

"You're glaring right at the camera in this shot... You must've REALLY not wanted to ride. You could've said something!" Ace says, shocked.

Trey cries out, "That's not it! I wasn't glaring, I was squinting! I couldn't see, remember?" He crosses his arms with a huff, "If I'd know I was gonna be on camera, I'd have tried to control my expression more."

"And check out the girls next to him," Cater says.

Tanzantie cries out, "Please don't look…"

Everyone looks to see the photo.

Trey is relieved, "Phew, thank goodness I'm not the only one who got caught in a goofy position…"

"Wow, was that a dig?" Ace asks.

"Uh… Trey says, nervously. But then notices "Hey, look at that. Grim and Lilia look way funnier than us."

"What's that, Trey? Are you trying to dodge the subject by turning attention to me?" Lilia cries out.

"He's got a point. You guys do kinda stand out," Ace says.

And Cater says, "Look at the way Lilia's desperately holding down that ball of fur…"

"Hey! The wind's blowin' back my fur so hard, you can't even see my face!" Grim cries out.

Cater laughs, "Ha, I knew that ball of fur was you right before you got soaked, Grimmy."

"This is actually impressive. I never see Lilia looking this serious normally, not even during classes or exams," Trey says.

"That's kinda funny in its own right…" Ace says.

"You laugh, but it wasn't funny at the time," Lilia says, upset, "Considering he came here to have fun, I wouldn't have felt right hurting him, but it sure was hard wrangling him gently… And what did I get for all my trouble? Grim mistook me for a tuna and bit me. See this?" and shows his arm.

Cater is shocked, "Whoa, you've got bite marks on your arm!""

Lilia sighs and says, "This is embarrassing. I prefer to come out cute in all my pictures… Meanwhile, you and Ace make it look easy. I'm green with envy."

"Why are the both of you holding up your hands in that fashion?"Trey asks.

"We wanted to make a heart shape together!" Cater says.

Yeah, we worked that plan out beforehand," Ace says.

"Hm. Ace, I see you're even winking," Lilia says, "You look like a celebrity. How is that fair?! Are you trying to steal my spot?"

"I'm doing nothing of the sort," Ace says

"We definitely knocked this pic out of the park, though, if I do say so myself," Cater says, "The shot was right before we hit the water, so I didn't have the presence of mind to do anything cute with my expression. I'm jelly!"

This makes Grim annoyed, "Mrrr. You must think you're hot stuff, Ace!

"Look, thrill rides are all machines designed to be totally safe," Ace says, "I don't get why anyone would be actually scared!"

"Okay, POINT. But seriously, it's like you've got nerves of steel," Cater says.

And Trey points out, "You were way too bold talking with Riddle yesterday, too."

I suspect that's your age at play. Oh, how wonderful to be so young…" Lilia says.

Cater laughs, "Ahaha, c'mon now. You're only two years ahead of the guy. No need to talk like an old grandpa."

Then Ace asks, "'So, guys. Wanna get these pics printed to mark the occasion?

"Oh, for sure! I gotta get my hands on a physical copy of this perfect shot right here," Cater says.

"I suppose squinty faces and goofy looks still make for fond memories. I'd like a copy, myself," Lilia says.

"You'd have them printed even if one of us said no, wouldn't you? Fine, I'll go get copies for all of us," Trey says.

"Man, I've sure worked up an appetite after all that fun! The map says there should be a food vendor around here somewhere…" Ace says.

However, something catches Grim's attention, more like his nose.

He sniffs around and asks, "Ooh, is that it there?!"

He sniffs around and soon finds a food area that has all kinds of food.

"Whoa, that all looks so good!" Ace says, amazed, "There's chicken if you want savory food, frozen treats if you want something sweet… And pie! Cherry pie, to boot-my favorite!"

Just then, a puppet comes in and says, "StEp RiGhT On uP and fEaSt yOuR EyEs On mY WaREs. I HaVe CAkes, PiES, ICe CrEAm, aNd MorE!"

"'More' is right. There's a ton of stuff here. Even lots of different cakes," Trey says.

The puppet says, "It'S aLL yOu CaN Eat, and AlL foR fRee! FrEe lUncHes FoR EveRYoNe! cOMe aNd gET iT, qUIck!"

"HURRY!" Grim cries out and dashes off when he hears 'All you can eat.'

"Didn't you eat right before you met up with us?!" Ace calls out.

"I ain't had any pie or chicken or ice cream yet! And I definitely haven't gotten to try every type of cake!" Grim calls out and runs off.

"Grim, wait!" Sereia calls out.

"Boy is he hopeless," Jasper says.

"Geez, that guys' a glutton," Ace says.

He walks over and asks, "Excuse me, I'd like some cherry pie!"

Then Ace is given the whole pie by the puppet.

Ace is caught off guard, "Whoa, you're giving me the whole pie?! This thing is huge," He smells it and says, "It smells so nice and sweet, though. I think I might just bite right in... Here goes!"

He takes a bite and says, "...Mmm, that's good! The cherries inside are nice and tart, just the way I like 'em! And there's a more intricate flavor here, too. I've never tasted anything like this before."

"Let me try a bite…" Trey says. He takes a bite in the pie and says, "Mmm! I can taste the cinnamon and the cloves in the filling. There are crushed nuts, too. The taste and texture are both wonderful. What a delicious pie."

"I was wondering why the flavor struck me as so refined. I guess it was the spices. And you could tell all of that from a single bite!" Ace says.

"Sometimes a pie with a strong, distinctive flavor is just the thing. I should do some research and try making this at Heartslabyul," Trey says.

"That's what I'm talkin' about!" Ace says. Then turns to the others, "Oh, you should try some too, guys."

"I don't mind," Briar says, and takes a bite of it.

"What do you think? Good, right?" Ace asks, "Trey was right about the filling having nuts in it. It's got a nice crunch."

"Yes. It's really good," Briar says.

"Does anyone else like some?" Ace asks.

Everyone then takes a bite of the pie and really likes it.

"It's really good," Sereia says.

"Yum!" Jasper says.

"Delicious," Tanzanite says.

Trinket agrees.

"The pies are impressive, but look-they're also selling whole roasted chickens! What a hearty offering indeed," Lilia says.

Cater then says, "Normally vendors only sell the parts that are easy to hold in your hand, like a drumstick. Usually you'd only see the whole chicken for some sort of celebration or special occasion. That's totally 'cammable!" He eats and says, "Mmm. Yup, this tastes great too."

"The skin's cooked to crispy perfection, while the inside's juicy with a nice, peppery zing. This is my kinda food!" Cater says.

Grim continues eating as he says, "An' it's… all free…!" and continues on eating.

Grim gulps and says, "This is TOPS! Hey, gimme some of that pink ice cream there," He takes a bite and says, "...Oooh, it tastes like strawberry milk! It's cold and sweet and GOOD!" he laughs in excitement, "Myahahah! Now to compare all these cakes! Myahah, myahahah!"

"Grim is very much in the prime of his youth," Lilia says.

"So, once we're done eating, where to next?" Cater asks, "We've still got time before we have to meet up with the other groups," Then turns to Ace, "Acey, shouldn't you look for a souvenir to bring back for Deucey?"

"Leaving aside the question of whether I even get him anything, picking out souvenirs should come at the very last!" Ace says, "There's tons of rides we haven't been on yet. Why would I get extra stuff to carry around now?"

"Fair enough. That makes sense," Trey says.

"You gotta travel light, y'know? And we still have to hit up that rollercoaster one more time to cap it all off!" Ace says.

And Trey says, "Uh... I think I'm good there…"

"You've got way too much energy, Acey," Cater says.

"Mm, he certainly does. Yet another striking reminder of our age difference…" Lilia says.

Meanwhile, back in the Pool Hall, Ortho and the others have been playing Pool and are finished for the day.

Ortho turns to the others, "Now, where to next..?" Then turns to Jade, "Say, you haven't mentioned where you want to go yet, Jade Leech. That's where we should head!"

"You don't mind? In that case, let's follow the road once we step back outside," Jade says.

Then the gang walks out and heads to the Bazaar.

"I wanted to try the food they have on offer," Jade says, and buys what looks like popcorn, but seems to be light red or pink.

"But it's just plain ol' popcorn. They have that at every dime a dozen amusement park," Floyd says.

Jade chuckles, "Heh heh heh. You'd think that, wouldn't you? But this flavor is only available in Playful Land, from this very cart. Namely, apple core flavor."

"So... Apple?" Vil says, confused.

"No-apple CORE," Jade corrects Vil, "They aren't the same at all. Likewise with the flavor…" He then eats some and says, "Yes, it's entirely different!"

"I don't know much about flavors, but... do apple cores really taste different from apples?" Ortho asks.

"Nine times outta ten, you're better off not takin' anything Jade says seriously," Floyd says.

"...I suppose I'll try a piece," Vil says.

He then tries some and says, "It's pleasantly sweet and tart... but it's still just apple flavor!"

"My, my. Not even you can appreciate the finer points of this flavor, Vil? What a shame," Jade says, "Apple cores and their seeds apparently contain substances harmful to the human body-so it's interesting they chose that flavor specifically."

Just then, Ernesto pops up with Gino.

Ernesto says, "Yes, about that!"

Everyone yelps in surprise.

Floyd says, "Dude, don't sneak up on us like that!"

"The concept was inspired by an anecdote in which the Friendly Fox gifts the Wooden Puppet an apple core as a token of friendship," Ernesto says.

Gino happily nods in response.

"Hello again, Ernesto Foulworth and Gino!" Ortho says, "I'd never heard that story before. Why an apple core, exactly?"

"Indeed. There must be some deeper meaning to the fact that he gifted only a core, rather than a whole apple," Ernesot says, "Some speculate that perhaps that was his way of saying, 'I hope you become a good human right down to the core.' Gracious, isn't it incredible what depth this tale holds?"

"Now I understand," Ortho says, "So the gift was a symbolic one. The Friendly Fox seems very thoughtful."

Then Jade presents the popcorn to Floyd, ""Here, Floyd. You should try a bite of this popcorn. It's good."

But Floyd says, "Yeah, naw. I eat what I want, when I wanna eat it. Don't go force-feedin' me."

However, despite Floyd's statement, Jade gets very close to him with a smile with the apple core popcorn in hand.

And Jade tries to shove the food into Floyd's mouth.

Floyd yelps, "Whoa... Hey... I said NAW!"

"If you enjoyed the popcorn, I should mention they sell candy of the same flavor in the shop over that way," Ernesot says, "Not to mention all sorts of confectionery. That area's not called Candy Road for nothing! Caramels, lollipops, chewy treats... They've got it all, and no one will scold you no matter how much you eat!"

"Ooh, interesting. Candy is fun to snack on; it might make a good souvenir for my brother," Ortho says.

"Jade, what is it with you and getting hung up on the weird stuff?" Floyd asks, "Also, shouldn't we save the souvenir shoppin' for last? We got plenty of time before the show. We should hit up more rides and games before we go fillin' up on candy."

Then Vil asks, "Is there anything you'd like to do other than playing games, Ortho? You were quite looking forward to coming to the park, so I'm fine deferring to wherever you'd like to go."

"Hmm. There are so many options, it's hard to decide…" Ortho says, and says, "Ooh, wait. Here! I wanna go here!"

"Let's see…" Ernesto says. When he sees what Ortho is looking at, he says, "Oh, excellent idea. Allow your good friend Ernesto to lead the way."

The gang soon reach the Gentle Plaza and find their destination.

Ernesto says, "Hurry along, scholars! Right this way! If you'll look to your left, you'll see the building you're looking for," and soon points to a specific spot, "There it is-the Toymaker's Toy Store!"

Gino nods.

Everyone looks to see a small building that has a small chimney on top, and there is also a window.

"So this is the Old Toymaker's house..!" Ortho says, amazed.

"I tagged along since Ortho wanted to go, but…" Vil says, unsure, "What exactly is this place?"

"Looks like a plain ol' house to me," Floyd says.

Ernesto gestures to the window, "Have a look in the window."

Ortho walks over to see through the window, "There's a fire going in the fireplace. It looks so warm. Every shelf is packed with toys! And there, on the walls… It's lots of clocks!"

"Why don't the rest of you scholars gather 'round and take a peek too?" Ernesot says.

"What?" Vil questions, "But the plaque beside it says to make space for others and admire the interior one person at a time."

Ernesto twirls his cane, "Oh, it's fine! You're all special exceptions. Please, go right ahead."

"Truly? Well, if you say so…" Jade says.

One by one, the group looks to see that Ortho is right. There are so many different clocks, toys, and other stuff.

"...Ortho was right. There's all manner of clocks lining the walls," Vil says.

"Yo, lemme see!" Floyd says, looking through the window, "Whoa, dang, look at 'em all! You can hear 'em tick-tocking from out here."

"Might I crowd in for a look as well?" Jade says, "...Yes, you're right. I see a number of music boxes too.

"Indeed. And you made it just in time…" Ernesto says, "...for this!"

And right on cue, all the clocks in the shop begins to make all kinds of noises.

Ortho yelps, " Ah! All the clocks started chiming at once! Birds dipping their beaks into water and popping back out, a bee flying out of a flower, a middle-aged man hiccuping…" He giggles, "Heh heh, there's even a clock with a chime that's a kid getting chastised! Did he do something he shouldn't have?"

"Huh, so they're automaton clocks. Pretty impressive collection of 'em, too," Floyd says.

"Right? The Old Toymaker was really skilled!" Ortho says, "He didn't just make toys, but lots of music boxes and clocks. The way the story goes, his house was always so cheerful because it was full to bursting with everything he'd crafted."

"Then one day, he drew upon all his skill and created a marionette. That was the Wooden Puppet," Ortho says.

"So the toy store is supposed to be where the Wooden Puppet was born," Vil says.

"Yeah! In Wish Upon a Star…" Ortho says, "...my favorite parts are the beginning, when the puppet first moves; and the ending, when he becomes a real boy. Both of those things happen at the Old Toymaker's house, so I wanted to see what it was like…"

"Oh, yes," Ernesto says, "Two of the tale's most touching scenes. You simply can't come away from them dry-eyed! I'm rather fond of this place myself; it's just so darn wholesome! Wouldn't you agree, Gino?"

Gino happily nods.

Ortho understands, "I get it. Obviously, it's just a set piece, not the real location from the story... but I'm still glad I got to see it. Now I can imagine my favorite scenes more vividly than ever!"

"Wonderful!" Ernesot says with a smile, "What a studious young scholar you are. I can see that inviting you to Playful Land was absolutely it happens, Ortho, I have some good news to share with you. We have something to enhance this experience even further…" And gestures to an attraction, "Here!"

Everyone looks to find what looks like a large standee.

Ortho says, surprised, "What's this? A standee? It depicts the Wooden Puppet, the Old Toymaker, the cat, and the goldfish in its bowl. But there are holes cut out where all their faces ought to be."

"Oh, I don't like where this is going…" Vil says, skeptic.

"This isn't just any standee, but a PHOTO standee!" Ernersto says, "People put their faces in the cut-outs to have their picture taken. And just like that, you can embody the characters from the story! ...At least, that's the idea. Go on, everyone-have at it!"

"No!" Vil instantly refuses.

"Aww, why not?" Ortho asks, "It'd be fun to do together!"

"I'll have no part of any pictures taken with our faces in that cheesy standee. Absolutely not," Vil says.

And Floyd says, "Yeah, same. I ain't feelin' it."

But Jade says, "I love this sort of thing, actually. The star role of the Wooden Puppet should be ceded to Ortho, but I'll gladly take any of the others."

"Hear that, guys? Jade Leech is playing along. Come on, let's take a group photo!" Ortho says.

"Dude, we said no already," Floyd says, "Why don't you just take the pic with Foxfish and Catshark over here?"

"Ah, but we just work here," Ernesto says, "We're background characters at most. The real heroes of the story are all of you!"

Gino quickly nods in response.

And then Orrtho says, "Oh! You know what... I beat you guys at pool earlier, didn't I?"

Vil and Floyd flinch in response, "Grk!"

"I landed the most shots, and your team lost to mine, right? And that means I get to order you around!" Ortho says.

"Well, ah…" Vil responds.

"I want all of us to take a group picture with our faces in the standee. That's my order!" Ortho says.

"I said I'd do anything you wanted, and you're really gonna waste that opportunity... on somethin' like THIS?" Floyd says, "You're one weird little guy, Clione."

"I can hardly go back on my word after making a commitment…" Vil says. He sighs and says, "Fine. But just this once. I will never, EVER stick my face in a ridiculous standee like this again. And to be clear-this is MY face we're talking about. You had better be immensely grateful!"

"I see that grin on your face, Jade," Floyd says, "Just so you know, if you show this picture to anyone else, I'm stompin' you.

"Agreed," Vil says, "No one else should see it, obviously-and this better not find its way online, or I will be EXTREMELY cross."

Ortho reassures, "Don't worry! I'll ensure it's secured in ironclad encryption. It'll be fine-right, Jade Leech?"

"Absolutely. We'll protect it like the precious treasure it is," Jade says.

Ortho calls out, "Okay, Ernesto Foulworth. Gino. Take a picture for us, please! Come on, guys! Get ready!"

The boys peek their heads out of the holes of the standees. However, despite Vil and Floyd's reluctance, Jade makes sure the two don't back out.

"Ahh... You all look positively delightful! This will make a fine photo indeed," Ernesto says and takes the picture.

"Okay, I think we're ready to move on," Kalim says. Then turns to Jack, "Where was it you wanted to go, Jack?"

"Oh, I was thinking…" Jack says.

Soon, they hear footsteps and the gang turns to see Ernesto and Gino.

Ernesto smiles to see them and says, "Well, well! If it isn't our illustrious Night Raven College students. Are you enjoying your time in Playful Land?

"Oh hey, it's Ernesto and Gino!" Kalim happily greets with a smile, "Yeah, we're all having a blast together. We just finished the Seafloor Stroll and were talking about where to go next.

"Indeed? In that case, there's something not too far from here I'd like to recommend, if I may be so bold," Ernesto says.

Soon, Kalim says, "Ooh. If you got a rec, I'd love to check it out. You guys are okay with that, right?"

"Sure. We've got plenty of time, and if it's close by, all the better. Let's see what it is," Jack says.

"Suit yourselves," Leona says, shrugging his shoulders.

"This is something you'll only find here in Playful Land. I'm sure you'll love it," Ernesto says, "Right this way, scholars! Come along, Gino!"

Gino happily nods with a smile,

Soon, the gang heads off to where Kalim wishes to go.

Ernesto turns to the group, "We should be there shortly."

"Already? Wow, it really was close by," Kalim says, surprised.

Ernesto turns to see the destination, "What I wanted to show you is... this!"

Everyone looks to see a carousel.

"Is this... a carousel?" Kalim asks.

"Correct! It's called the Endless Carousel," Ernesto says.

Kalim gets excited, "Ooh! I bet kids love those adorable mechanical horses... Huh?" But then notices there are other animals besides horses, "It's not just horses! I see a bunch of other creatures, too…"

Leona also notices, "A goldfish, a cat... Is that a grasshopper? No, wait, a cricket?"

"Those are some odd choices for carousel animals," Jack says.

"You'd think that, wouldn't you? But these animals are quite popular here in Playful Land," Ernesto says with a smile, "Can any of you guess the connection?"

Kalim then looks at the animals, "Let's see... Goldfish, cat, cricket…" and soon gets the connection, "Ooh, I've got it! They all show up at some point in 'Wish Upon a Star, don't they?'"

"Correct!" Ernesto says with a smile, "And that's why YOU'RE the scholar! Bravo! Brilliant! You're an absolute genius! It's exactly as you say…" And explains, "These animals are inspired by characters that appear in Wish Upon a Star. The goldfish and the cat are the Old Toymaker's family, and it's said the cricket was the Wooden Puppet's mentor."

"That's right!" Kalim says, "Jamil hates bugs, so you should've seen the look on his face as a kid when he read that the mentor was a cricket. 'Crickets can't teach people anything!' He'd always skip the pages that had the cricket on them."

"Wow. Who knew a guy as composed as Jamil could have been such a cute kid?" Jack replies.

"Yup. That takes me back…" Kalim says with a smile.

Ernesto then says, "The Endless Carousel is universally beloved among our patrons. I thought that as fans of the original Wish Upon a Star, you might enjoy it. Come along, now. All aboard!"

Leona is not amused, "What? Are you telling me I gotta get on this ridiculous ride with these people?"

"Going on a carousel at our age is definitely kinda awkward…" Jack says.

But Kalim says, "Aww, come on! We should all ride together! It'll be something to remember."

Ernesto twirls his cane, "I'm sure you'll love it. In fact, I give it the Honest Ernesto guarantee!"

But Leona refuses, "Absolutely not. You couldn't pay me enough to ride on that."

And yet, moments later, the three guys are now riding on the carousel. Kalim happily rides it while Jack and Leona are stoically about riding it.

"And here I am, riding it anyway…" Leona says, annoyed, "How did I let myself get dragged into this?

"I'm not sure how I did, either…" Jack adds, "Not to mention, I'm the biggest guy here! Why am I riding the tiny cricket?!"

Ernesto happily says, "Oh, you all look fabulous! Simply darling!" He then snaps pictures with the camera, "Don't worry, I'll take lots of pictures on Kalim's smartphone!" and turns to Gino, "Go on, Gino. Get some video on Jack's phone."

Gino then presses the button with a nod as he takes pictures.

"Thanks, guys! I'll make sure to post all this stuff on Magicam later!" Kalim calls out.

"Not if I delete it all first," Leona says.

Ernesto giggles, "Hah hah hah! The Endless Carousel isn't over yet-not by a longshot. Enjoy the ride!"

After the ride, Kalim has a good time, Jack and Leona, not so much.

Leona huffs in annoyance, "That carousel sure felt like it was never gonna end, all right."

"Can't believe I let myself get talked into goin' on a kiddy ride…" Jack says.

"I got so many good pics out of that!" Kalim says with a grin, "I'll make sure to send them all to you guys later."

Jack and Leona shout, "DELETE THEM RIGHT NOW!"

"What's next on the agenda, gentlemen?" Ernesto asks.

"Well, I was looking at the map and thinking I'd like to check out this Brawlin' Bungalow," Jack says.

"So that's where you wanted to visit. What a tough-sounding name!" Kalim says.

"Ahh, the Brawlin' Bungalow!" Ernesto says with a smile, "I can't think of anywhere more perfect for you to go. Allow me to take you there. Right this way!"

Soon, the gang arrives at the Brawlin' Bungalow where Jack wants to visit. And they soon hear raucous cheers from outside.

"Ooh, cool! This looks rad," Kalim says, amazed.

"That tent there is the Brawlin' Bungalow. Inside it, rugged visitors like yourselves can put your strength to the test," Jack says.

"Oh yeah? That sounds perfect for you, Jack! You'd totally come out on top!" Kalim says.

"On top of what, exactly?" Leona asks.

"No idea!" Kalim says, "But it doesn't matter, because Jack can beat anyone and anything!"

Leona sighs, and reads a sign, 'Here, you will test your limits against machines. These machines gauge your strength with punches, kicks, mallet swings and more. Compete for the high score!' ...See, it spells it out right there on the signboard."

"Yep. It said on the map description…" Jack says, "...that the puppets are equipped with specific instruments to measure all that stuff. And they keep records of the results."

"Just so. There's also a fabulous prize for anyone who beats a certain score," Enresto says, "Namely... 1/10 scale plushies of the puppets at the entrance!"

"I don't want any plushies…" Jack says, "But if Playful Land's a traveling park, that means there'll be records from challengers all over the world, right? I'd like to see how I measure up against 'em!" And turns to Leona, "And I'd like to see how you'd do, Leona."

Leona smirks, "Oh yeah? You want to compete with me? You've got guts."

"My, my. A competition between Jack and Leona!" Ernesto replies, surprised.

He then smiles, "This will be a fine contest indeed. You're sure to attract quite the crowd of onlookers!" He twirls his cane and says, "By all means, challenge one another to your hearts' content. Don't worry about breaking the machines or anything, either!"

Really? You're cool if it comes to that?" Jack says, " Oho... In that case, no need to hold back. I'm gonna give this all I got."

"Wow, everyone is getting super into this. It DOES look like a ton of fun…" Kalim says.

And adds that shocked the two boys, "so count me in, too!"

Leona frowns and says, "You should sit this one out. You don't exactly know how to throw a punch. If you hurt your hand, SOME people'd never let me hear the end of it."

But Ernesto says, "Oh, I disagree. Someone as bright and flashy as Kalim could draw lots of attention. It would liven things up, guaranteed! What would you say to starting things off with some arm wrestling? I'll be the referee."

"Arm wrestling, huh? That sounds great!" Kalim says.

"I guess that's less hazardous than a novice trying to smack down with a hardened machine," Leona says.

"Okay, let's get in there and get wrestling! I won't let either of you guys win, you know," Kalim says.

"Yeah, yeah. Tell you what-since you're all motivated, I'll wrestle you with just my forefinger," Leona says.

"Heh…" Jack responds.

Leona notices it and questions, "Hm? Somethin' funny, Jack?"

"Oh, I was just thinking that, despite everything, you're having a good time here after all," Jack says.

Leona doesn't like that, "Excuse you? In what world do I seem like I'm enjoying myself?"

"I mean, your usual reaction to stuff like this is to be all like…" Jack says,and imitates Leona "'What a pain. This stinks. I don't wanna. I'm takin' a nap.' Or whatever."

"Is that seriously what you think I sound like?" Leona questions.

Kalim laughs, "Ah hah hah, that's Leona to a T!"

"Yeah, see?" Jack says, "But you haven't said anything like that today. That means you're not totally opposed to being here, right?"

"It's not like that…" Leona says, but then thinks of it, "Wait, maybe it is..?"

And notices the grins on Jack's face, he says, Leona scoffs, "Tch, you can wipe that stupid grin off your face. You've got no room to talk, Jack. Normally you'd be going, 'I'll be fine by myself. I'm not gonna follow the herd.' But here you are, humoring Kalim and letting him dictate your pace without a word of complaint. If anything, you seem like you're enjoying the park as much as a dog who loves walkies."

Jack is shocked by the statement, "What? I am not... I mean…"

Ernesto laughs, "Hah hah hah! I'm so pleased to see you all having fun here! Amusement parks are meant to make everyone's spirits soar, no matter who they are."

"Yeah! Everywhere you look, there's something awesome to see or do. This park is the best!" Kalim says with glee, "But honestly? I don't even need all the rides and stuff. I've been having tons of fun just standing around waiting in line. Guess that's because I'm with my friends!"

Jack and Leona remain silent in response.

Noticing the expression, Kalim asks, "Huh? What's wrong, Leona? You've got a funny look on your face. Did you swallow something gross? And your shoulders are all slumped, Jack... Are you tired from all the walking? Should we find a bench and rest for a bit?"

Leona sighs, "I'm feelin' all the fight drain outta me just lookin' at your oblivious face…"

"My, my. Perhaps this means... Kalim actually wins the test of strength," Ernesto says and laughs, "Hah hah hah!"

The crowd is bustling as they enjoy the amusement park, along with Briar and the others. Suddenly, there's a gentle chime.

Then Ernesto's voice appears on the PA system, "Greetings, park guests! We have a very special announcement to make. Our incredible show will begin shortly at the Playful Stage. We hope to see you all there! Trust me-it will be a performance you'll remember for the rest of your life!"

Hearing it, Grim gets excited, "It's comin' up on time for the show already? We better get to the stage, guys. I can't believe I'm this close to becomin' a huge star. It's gonna be great!"

"Glad to see you're excited," Jasper says.

"Come on, let's go," Tanzanite says.

The gang begin to head over.

They soon arrive at the large theater and walk inside.

They soon arrive at a large stage with black and white floor, with red curtains with blue tonsils. Then there is a golden stage in the area. There is also different seating. Soon, Briar's group and Ace's group arrive in the theater and begin to take their seats.

Ace is amazed, "Whoa, look at the size of that audience!"

"This show's the main attraction, all right," Cater says.

"The place looks beautiful," Briar says.

"It's amazing," Sereia says.

Trinket agrees.

Soon, Ortho's group walks into the theater.

"Ah, there's Ace Trappola and the others," Ortho says, "I see Briair and her group as well. Looks like they beat us here."

Soon, Kalim's group arrives with Leona and Jack.

"Hey, everybody! Having fun?" Kalim asks with glee.

"Yup!" Ortho says, "Judging by your smile, you're having a very good time yourself, Kalim Al-Asim."

"For sure! Everywhere we went was so cool!" Kalim says, "It was SUPER intense when Jack and Leona arm-wrestled! They were at a total impasse-right?!"

"Sorry, already forgot," Leona says.

Then Vil says, "Don't just stand there congregating at the entrance. Take a seat. You're obstructing the flow of the crowd."

"Oh yeah. Sorry about that!" Kalim says, "I'll sit next to you, Briar and Sereia," And sits down next to the girls, Come join us, Ortho! I wanna hear all about the places you visited in the park."

Ortho sits next to Kalim, "Sure-thanks! Where to even start…

"Mind if I listen in?" Ace asks, "I haven't been to any of the stuff around here yet. I want some deets."

"By all means. I wanna hear what you did, too!" Kalim says.

"Okay, then I'll take the seat on the other side of the girls," Ace says.

But then Grim pounces on Ace, "Hey, that's MY seat!" and sits next to Sereia.

"Dude, shut up!" Ace says, "If you yell that loud in a theater, Vil's gonna smack you! Just sit in Briar's lap."

Grim is disgruntled in defeat and sits on Briar's arms with his arms crossed.

Briar giggles, "You're a bit heavy, Grim."

"Hang in there, girl," Ace says.

"I know... I'm tryin'..." Grim says.

"I wasn't talkin' to YOU," Ace says, annoyed.

Ace then asks, "So, did you have a favorite attraction? Or anythin' you wanna rec?"

"Everything was really neat... but I think the most entertaining thing we did together was probably playing pool," Ortho says.

"Pool?" Ace replies, "Dang, that's a game you usually only see adults playing. I've never played it, myself."

"We've got a pool table back home, so I've played a few times. It's pretty fun, huh?" Kalim says.

"For sure," Ortho says, "The best part was watching Vil, Floyd, and Grim stomping their feet when they lost.

"Geez, you're a real character sometimes…" Ace says. Then turns to Grim "And Grim I could see, but you actually beat Floyd and Vil at something?!"

"I didn't lose! I just let him win," Grim says, angrily.

"Oh, is that a fact?" Ortho says. Then turns to the others, "Briar, should we have a rematch and wipe the floor with him again? If Ace and Kalim are down, I'd enjoy teaming up against them."

"Sure," Briar says.

"What about the rest of you?" Ortho asks.

"I like to play," Sereia says.

"Me too," The boys reply.

"Wow, you sound into it," Ortho says, "Are you big into games based on physical prowess, guys? They had more than pool at the game area. There was also bowling and ping-pong. Should we invite Vil, Floyd, and Jade to play more games later?

And Grim says, "I want in on that!"

"Of course I'd include you, Grim. We can invite anyone who seems like they'd enjoy it!" Ortho says.

"Gaming against you two? That sounds nice!" Kalim says with a smile, "When everyone's playing together, it's fun whether you win or lose. Oh yeah, the Seafloor Stroll was great, too. Did you guys get around to it?"

"Not yet, no," Ortho says.

"You've gotta see it!" Kalim says, excited, "It's like stepping into a page right out of Wish Upon a Star! The fish that swam by were really cute! It was like they'd befriended us, right, Sereia?"

"Yes. It really warmed my heart, and I got to play with the fishes," Sereia says.

"Totally. It was so vibrant, it reminded me of the aquarium my family runs," Kalim says, "Though ours has dolphins and orcas, so it's a lot different from the one here… I'll send you some pictures of it sometime. Ooh, or maybe you could visit with me. I know you'd enjoy it, Sereia!"

Kalim then turns to Ace, "What have you enjoyed the most so far, Ace?

"There's been a lot, but I gotta go with the rollercoaster. Everybody should give it a go!" Ace says, "The track is amazingly well-crafted, and the ride's so thrilling... Not to mention, there's a special souvenir at the end."

"A special souvenir? You mean like something commemorate the ride?" Kalim asks.

"You'll have to find out by riding it for yourself. Right, guys?" Ace says, turning to Briar and the others, "The looks on Trey and Lilia's faces were priceless, huh? Oh, and all the food carts there were great. You should definitely try the stuff they have.

"Ooh, interesting," Kalim says, excited, "What kind of food was it?"

"Really good pies," Briar says.

"Yeah, that cherry pie was a slice of paradise!" Ace says, "If Trey makes a similar one once we get back, I'll invite you over to have some. And Deuce, too, though he doesn't need an invite since Heartslabyul's his dorm and all. We can chow down together."

"The chicken was also really good," Jasper says.

Really good chicken.

Ace says, "Yup, that chicken was great. Say, remember how Cater pulled out those bits of meat from the middle and shared them with us? He called 'em chicken oysters. Trey taught him about those. I'm not a big raw oyster guy, but chicken oysters? Those were fantastic!"

"Personally, I'm happy eatin' any and every part of a chicken," Grim says.

"Yeah, no kidding," Ace says, " It freaked me out when you crunched down on the whole thing-bones and all," and turns to Briar, "Seriously, Briar, what is Grim's jaw MADE of?"

In their seats, the Night Raven College students merrily chatter with one another as they wait for the show. As they chat, everyone enters the theater and enters their seats.

Ace looks around and says, "The crowds are only getting denser. This is a big place, but just about every seat's occupied."

"Say... there are a lot of visitors, but I note a distinct lack of Royal Sword Academy students," Ortho says, "Since Playful Land is currently docked at Sage's Island, you'd think there'd be SOME people from that school here too. Do they not know Playful Land is in town?"

"You're right," Briar says, "There aren't any Royal Sword Students here, not even Che'nya and Negie."

"I never saw Dominic and the others here," Tanzanite says.

"That's very weird," Tanzantie says.

"Even if they did, maybe they're not the types that would skip school to go to a theme park. All the guys we played in our Basketball Club match seemed pretty serious," Ace says.

"Heh. Those poor schmucks don't even know what they're missin'," Grim says.

"Grim, that's not nice," Briar says.

"That's right," Sereia says.

Soon, they see Ernesto and Gino arriving on top of the stage.

Ace is the first to notice, "Ah, Ernesto's stepping up on stage."

On stage, Ernesto taps his cane and twirls it a bit.

He then announces, "Thank you all for coming!" That brings the audience's attention.

Ernesto continues, "What you see before you is the Playful Stage. This grand stage-named after the park itself-draws conceptually from the tale of Wish Upon a Star. It was built as homage to the stage that the Wooden Puppet himself performed on. As you clever individuals all know, the Friendly Fox got the Wooden Puppet a chance to perform for an audience. He sang and danced with ease, without a single marionette string involved… And oh, how astounded the audience was! He was a smash hit that rose to instant stardom amid a shower of adoring applause!"

Gino smiles happily.

Then Ernesot says, "And so... What you are about to witness is a wonder of the world-something truly unique. A wondrous stage where you'll find yourselves spontaneously bursting into song and dance. Come, everyone, raise your hands."

The audience cheers as they raise their hands.

"Let's all enjoy ourselves to our heart's content, free of any fetters!" Ernesto says, "And… As a matter of fact, we have some very special guests here with us in Playful Land today. He then turns to Gino, " Do you know who they are, Gino?"

Gino hops in excitement.

"That's right!" Ernesto says, "Behold, a group of young scholars from that most prestigious arcane academy-the one and only Night Raven College!"

Hearing that, the Night Raven College Students look on in shock.

"Did he just say…" Briar says.

"Night Raven College?" Jasper says, stunned.

Ace exclaims, "Ack! Why is he calling us out?!"

Ernesto then adjusts to the surprised group, "Come, my brilliant scholars! Ascend to the stage."

"Ooh, looks like he's inviting all of us up. Okay, let's go together!" Kalim says.

Grim gets excited, "Mya-hah! That spotlight's all MINE!"

Then the two rush to the stage.

"Whoa! Grim? Kalim? Are you kidding?!" Ace calls out.

Ortho notices the scowl look Leona has on his face, "Leona Kingscholar is glaring like he's ready to snap at us."

Ernesto laughs, "Hah hah hah! Kids these days can be so shy. Come on, no need to be embarrassed. The audience is eagerly awaiting the birth of future stars!"

He twirls his cane with a smile and a sparkle-like effect pours out of him and onto the students. Ace takes a moment to contemplate, unaware of this phenomenon settling upon him …

Ace groans, "Augh... Okay, I'd REALLY have to be bad at reading a room to refuse now." And says with a smile, "Okay, fine. Have it your way!"

"That's the spirit! You just gotta have fun and make the most of stuff like this!" Kalim says.

"Heh heh, that's true!" Ortho says, and turns to the others, "Come on, guys, let's join them!"

Briar thinks and says, "Okay, let's go," And gets up from her seat."

"Okay," The twins say.

Sereia and Trinket agree in excitement.

Then the audience bursts into excitement and cheer.

Ernesto reacts in surprise, "Listen to that thunderous applause! And all you've done is rise from your seats!" And soon smiles, "Isn't it incredible? Light, music, applause, fame... They're all yours for the taking. Don't let the others outshine you. Party down and come on up!"

Ernesto says, "You there! You, too! And you as well! Let's enjoy this to our heart's content. Now… It's showtime!"

And on stage, the music begins to play as the gang gets on the stage. And soon, everyone begins to dance as the music plays.

Song:

Reibappa! Utai odorou

(Rave-up! Up! Let's sing and dance)

Reibappa! Koyoi ha minnna

(Rave-up! Up! This evening, everyone)

Reibappa! Sutaa ni narou

(Rave-up! Up! Let's all become stars)

Ready Go! Ready Go!

Ready Ready Ready Go!

Ernesto:

Saa minna issho ni!

(Everybody, together now!)

Song:

Reibappa! Fushigi no jyumon

(Rave-up! Up! What magical words)

Reibappa! Tanoshiku step & step

(Rave-up! Up! Joyfully step & step)

Reibappa! Mawaru ongaku

(Rave-up! Up! The rhythm goes round and round)

Here we go! Here we go!

Here we Here we Here we Go! On!

Ernesto:

Ryoute wo agete!

(Raise your hands up!)

Song:

Hey! Hey! Reibappa!

Hey! Hey! Rave-up!

Song:

Kira kira matataku

(Those twinkling and shining-)

Hoshi dakishimetara

(Stars, if you can grab hold of them,)

Subete wo wasurete

(Just forget everything and)

Saa tobidasouyo

(Come on, let's jump right in)

Song:

Bokura minna Sousa

(All of us, that's right)

Shuyaku nanda Spotlight

(We're stars, in the spotlight)

Kokoro no mama Hora

(We're doing just as we please, see)

Subarashii butai he

(Come join the spectacular stage)

Hakushu ga yonderuyo

(All the applause is calling you)

Go! Showtime!

(Go！Showtime！Go! Showtime!)

Ernesto:

Saa ikuyo!

(Ready, let's go!)

Song:

Reibappa! Utai odorou

(Rave-up! Up! Let's sing and dance)

Reibappa! Koyoi ha minnna

(Rave-up! Up! This evening, everyone)

Reibappa! Sutaa ni narou

(Rave-up! Up! Let's all become stars)

Ready Go! Ready Go!

Ready Ready Ready Go!

And at the end, the audience cheers with excitement.

The Night Raven College Students finish their performance with satisfied smiles as the crowd uproariously applauds them.

After the show, Grim is all happy, "Mya-hah! That show was the coolest! Everybody was riveted to their seats by my performance. Heh heh heh…" And begins singing.

Ace smiles, "Haha, you must really love that song. The show's over and we're off the stage, and you still can't stop singing it."

"I totally get why. It's a catchy tune that sticks in your head! I could sing it forever too!" Kalim says.

Then Grim and Kalim sing and dance together.

Soon, Ernesto and Gino approach them.

"Hello again, Night Raven College scholars!" Ernesto says.

Vil turns to Ernesto, "Ah, Ernesto and Gino. You were excellent emcees."

"Thank you for giving us a chance to join that wonderful show! I had a ton of fun!" Orto says.

But Ernesto says, "No, thank YOU. It went fantastically with all of your contributions. I've been running this show for a long time, but I've never seen the audience come alive as much as they did this time. You've all got the makings of stars!"

"Honestly, I was feeling kind of embarrassed before going up on stage…" Trey says, "But once I was up there, I forgot all about it, just like you said."

"Yeah, totes! We really partied it up, huh? I'm still basking in the vibes!" Cater says.

"I admit, I was kinda surprised to see you guys get so into it," Ace says.

Jack agrees, "No kidding. Vil and Leona were so uptight when we first got to the park, but even they were singing and dancing."

Ernesto chuckles, "Hah hah hah! Yes, well… That's the magic at work."

"Wait, magic?" Ace says, confused.

Leona frowns to hear it, "...I don't like the sound of that one bit. What does that mean?"

"Were you using magic to manipulate our minds or bodies on the sly..?" Vil asks.

"What? That would be some powerful magic, and I detected nothing of the sort…" Lilia says.

But Ernesot says, "No, no. You've just been enchanted…" and makes confetti pop all around him, "...by the thrill of performing on stage!"

Everyone looks at Ernesto with confused expressions.

Jade laughs, "Haha. You're quite a funny person, Ernesto," then his face drops to a stoic expression, "Hahaha."

"Your mouth is laughin', but your eyes ain't," Floyd says, "Man, though… I was all pumped to give you what you had comin' for usin' magic on us without permission and everythin'. What a letdown."

Grim then says, "Heh. Even if he HAD used magic… I'm a future great mage. A weakling like him ain't got nothin' on me."

"I couldn't agree more!" Ernesto says, "Oh, the rumors of how talented Night Raven College students are simply don't do you justice. I was in such awe of you all. I must inform the powers that be that some amazing new stars have appeared! I'm sure they'll be overjoyed."

"Gosh," Briar says, blushing a bit.

"You're making us blush," Sereia says, flustered

Ernesto says, "Come now, there you go with that modesty again. Briar, Sereia, you were shining on stage!"

Then kneels towards Ernesto, "Especially you, Sereia."

"Really?" Sereia asks, blushing

Ernesto and Gino smile towards her.

Briar is looking at Ernesto and Gino, especially on how they're being extra nice to Sereia. Vil and Leona are also giving Ernesto and Gino suspicious looks on their faces.

"Myahaha! Well, if you really insist…" Grim says, "I guess I could put in a guest-star appearance or two at your shows every now and then. Wouldn't it be great if I could dance and sing at Playful Land whenever I got sick of school?"

"Ooh, you'd come and go between the school and the park? That sounds awesome. Every day would be so much fun!" Kalim says.

Ernesto laughs, "Hah hah hah. Interesting; that sounds like an exclusivity contract in the making! I like it! I'll talk to the powers that be! In the meantime, I hope you'll all continue enjoying your time here in Playful Land."

"We will! There's still so much we've yet to try," Ortho says, "Come on, guys! Let's go play!"

"I wanna go to this spot next!" Grim says

"Ooh, yeah. We should go together-all of us!" Ace says.

The group soon begins to take their leave as they talk among themselves.

Meanwhile, Ernesto watches the group leave with a knowing smirk on his face.

"A splendid idea! After all, you ought to make the most of the time you have left," Ernesto says.

Gino also smirks with a nod.

He then gives off a sad smile.

Ernesto also sadly smiles and says, "Do not worry, Sereia's friends will have all the time in the world with us," And says with a smile, "Playful Land will be their new home. As for Sereia, she'll finally be able to return home. She'll finally be back to us. Before she was taken from us."

Gino sadly nods and hugs Ernesto. Ernesto gently pat Gino on the head. From what Ernesto is planning, it appears that they plan to keep Briar and her friends, and especially Sereia, in Playful Land.

Later in the night, everyone has been having a wonderful time in Playful Land, and they gathered at the Gentle Plaza.

"Whew... What. A. Day!" Ace says, excited.

Kalim looks up at the night sky, "I can't believe it's this dark out already. We really played from sunup to sunset! The rollercoaster you mentioned and the pool hall Ortho recommended were both super fun!

"I was surprised at how fascinating the Seafloor Stroll was, myself," Ortho says, "It was fun riding the Ferris Wheel with you and the girls, too!"

"Yeah, that was great," Kalim says, "There's something so refreshing about seeing the world from way up there, huh?"

"After all's said and done, I guess even us nay-sayers ended up having a good time," Trey says.

"Heh, you're not wrong," Vil says, "This was a delightful park. I'm embarrassed by my own initial wariness now."

Lilia nods, "Mm. Perhaps I should've taken the others from Diasomnia along after all."

"Yeah-you know what? We should totally visit again and invite the guys who didn't come this time," Cater says.

"Hmm... I think I'm good now," Floyd replies, "I've had my fun. I'm about ready to head back."

Jade chuckles, "Heh heh. I'm astounded that Playful Land kept you entertained for a whole day straight."

Grim becomes disappointed, "Aww, are we leavin' already? I wanted to play some more…"

"I get it, but we REALLY gotta get back," Ace says, "If I'm not back at my dorm before lights-out, no amount of covering from Trey and Cater is gonna save me. If you haven't had enough, we could always come back tomorrow."

"Ooh! I like the sound of that. I'm in!" Grim says.

"Sounds good to me," Jasper says.

"Right? We can just ask Ernesto for more tickets, and…" Ace says, but soon notices something, "Uh… Say, where IS Ernesto, anyway?"

Ortho looks around to notice, "I haven't seen him since the show ended. How about the rest of you?"

"Ditto. Haven't seen him," Leona says.

"Yeah. And we haven't seen Gino either," Briar says.

Lilia thinks, "Hm. It would be rude to leave without thanking Ernesto for his generous hospitality. Let's all look for him, shall we?"

The gang walks off to find Ernesto and Gini. They try to find them, but they haven't been able to find both Ernesto and Gino. The gang soon arrives at the bazaar to give their report.

"There's no sign of Ernesto or Gino…" Vil says.

"We looked all over," Tanzanite says.

"And we can't find them," Sereia says.

Kalim asks, "Did they get tired and leave for the day?"

But Cater says, "C'mon, no way. A manager wouldn't just ditch a park and leave the guests unattended, right?"

"Hm? Actually, speaking of guests…" ACe says, looking around, "For all the crowds that were here earlier, this place is a ghost town now. Where'd everybody go?"

Everyone soon notices that the stands are silent and the place is deserted.

"...It's awfully quiet," Jasper says.

"Too quiet," Tanzanite says.

Trinket tinks in response.

"Worry about findin' Ernesto later. We gotta head for the exit. Now," Leona says.

"What's the matter, Leona Kingscholar? Your vital signs seem slightly erratic.

"Got a bad feeling," Leona says.

"A bad feeling?" Ortho questions, "That's too subjective for me to properly comprehend, but… It IS strange that there's no longer any sign of other visitors when it's not even that late yet."

"Leona is right. I'm starting to get a very bad feeling about this," Briar says.

"Let's head for the entrance," Ortho says.

The gang then rushes over to the entrance to the park. Ortho is the first to arrive and witness something shocking.

"Hey, wait…" Ortho says, shocked.

And suddenly Ernesto's entire persona changes, "...It's too late for that, you little twerps!"

Everyone is shocked to hear it.

Ernesto groans and says, "Ugh, it's about time. You kids were as stubborn as cockroaches. I kept nudging and nudging, but the magic just wasn't taking effect. It was nerve-wracking! Who would actually want to spend so long with this band of rotten hooligans? Put yourself in our poor shoes, sheesh." And turns to Gino, "Sheer agony, wasn't it, Gino?"

Gino smirks and nods in response.

"Huh, you've sure changed your tune from before. Is this the real you?" Ace asks.

Worried, Kalim asks, "What's gotten into you? Are you mad at us? You seemed like you were having so much fun today!"

And Vil says, "So you ARE a charlatan. Between your extravagant set and elaborate productions... I hate to say it, but you had me completely fooled."

"Does this mean you're to blame for what's happening to Grim and the others?" Orthos says, frowning.

Then Tanzantie demands, "What did you do to my brother?"

Grim struggles, "Grr... It's no use! I keep tryin' to stand, but I can't even get a paw to twitch. Lousy Ernesto-you think you can do this to ME? Who do you think you are?!"

"'Lousy Ernesto'?" Ernesto responds and says, "Hah. I wonder how much longer you'll be able to give me that lip."

"Huh?" Grim says, confused.

Ernesot then explains, "There's a very special spell at work on you and your friends. A truly horrific one formulated by a group of the most exceptional mages! It slowly erodes your body, gradually turning flesh to wood… Until eventually you become a speechless wooden puppet!"

"Wh-wh-WHAAAA?!" Grim cries out in shock.

"Now then," Ernesto says, gesturing to the group, "Which of you shall we bring into our family of puppets next, hmm?"

Everyone flinches.

"And also…" Ernesto says sinisterly.

But soon gives off a somewhat sweet smile, "Sereianna, won't you and your friends please come with me."

"What?" Briar and Sereia ask, confused and worried.

Tanzanite and Trinket grow worried as well.

Leone growls and gets in front of them, "Like we'll let you have any one of them."

"That's correct. You've been acting too nice to Sereia, and I have issues trusting you because of that," Vil says.

Suddenly, Lilia shouts, "Everyone, retreat! Forget about us. Get to safety!"

Everyone is shocked to hear it.

"What are you saying? We can't just leave you!" Try cries out.

But Jade says, "Without understanding his aims or his methods, you're in no position to contend with him!"

"Yeah, fair enough," Floyd says, "Wouldn't want all of us gettin' woodified in one fell swoop. I might save you later if I feel like it. Just think about what you're gonna offer me in return for services rendered."

Amused, Jade says, "Oh dear. That bodes quite ill for after we make it back."

And Grim cries out, "No, no, no! Don't leave me like this! Take me with youuu!"

Jasper cries out, "Tanzantie, you and the others get out while you still can!"

"But Jasper…" Tanzanite says, worried.

"Grim…" Briar says, worried.

Ace says, "Guys…

Soon, Leona says, "Tch... They're right. We run for now!"

And with that, all the students who haven't been affected end up running off as fast as they can.

Ernesto smirks, "Do you think it'll be that easy? Go forth, loyal Playful Land puppets. Capture those boys!"

And with that, wooden soldiers come out and run down the streets in hot pursuits.

"But don't get rough with 'em. Just play around and have some fun. Just be sure Briar and Sereianna are especially unharmed," Ernesto says and laughs, "Hah hah hah!"

Gino smirks with a nod.

The gang continues running away from the soldiers and are soon getting exhausted. And finally, they are able to lose them.

Cater takes deep breaths before saying, "I think we're finally rid of them."

"Geez Louise, those puppets just wouldn't let up..!" Ace says, "We kept shaking them off, and they just kept coming back. Those were all the puppets that we saw working here, huh?"

"Yeah. They turned aggressive so suddenly…" Ortho says.

Suddenly, they hear terrified shouting and screaming nearby.

"What was that scream?!" Briar asks, shocked.

The gang then rush over to witness a shocking and chaotic scene. Multiple people are being turned into puppers and are being carried away by the wooden employees.

Each visitor screams, "Please, I wanna go home!" "Please, please! I don't wanna be a puppet!"

And the puppet says, "CaPtuRE. CaPtuRE. CaPTuRe THeM! ThRoW ThEm IN tHe CRaTe!"

The visitors continue screaming, "Aaah! NOOO!"

The Night Raven Students are stunned by what they're witnessing.

"It's other visitors. Their bodies are being covered in wood... They're turning into puppets!" Ortho says, shocked.

"That would explain how oddly empty the park seemed to be…" Jack says.

"Looks like they're already turned everyone other than us into puppets and hauled 'em off," Leona says.

"That's… that's terrible!" Sereia cries out, shocked.

"Oh, no!" Kalim cries out worried, "Hold on, I'll save you!"

But Trey stops Kalim and says, "Whoa, slow down! Are you just gonna jump out in front of those things?! You saw what happened to Lilia and Jade. Them, of all people. Who knows what those things are capable of. Rushing in without a plan's just asking for it!"

"Agreed. We were hard pressed to escape this far," Vil says.

"But... I can't just stand here and watch!" Kalim cries out.

"Yeah, but not much we can do, either," Cater says. Then brings out his phone, "Especially without phone signal…"

"If only we could contact the school... Getting caught cutting class is definitely the least of our concerns now!" Ace says.

"Okay. I can try hacking into the park's network," Ortho says.

"Try whatever you can," Tanzanite says.

Ortho closes his eyes and begins to activate his gadgets to pick up any signal. But suddenly, a sharp buzz sounds appears, causing Ortho to look shocked, as he regains consciousness.

"...Huh?" Ortho asks, shocked.

"Ortho, what's wrong?" Briar asks.

"I failed to get in? ME?" Ortho says, stunned. Then tries to perform it a few times, nothing, "This is weird. I keep getting errors every time I try to connect… Which makes me suspect there's a powerful jammer set up somewhere in this park."

"Ah, geez... That means we can't get through to anyone on the outside!" Jack says.

Leona responds in anger, "Tch. Guess they've covered their bases to ensure no inconvenient intel makes it out of here."

"So uh, I've got some other bad news on top of the whole communication thing," Floyd says, looking up at the sky, "There were sea birds flyin' around earlier today, but now there ain't any. I think the park's on the move."

"Huh?" Everyone reacts in shock.

"There's no way the park can be moving. That's impossible," Tanzanite says, stunned.

Vil turns to Leona, "...I'll go take a look over the wall with Leona. You all wait here-and stay hidden."

Briar turns to Trinket, "Trinket, maybe you help the guys check it out."

Trinket nods in agreement.

Vil and Leona climb up the wall while Trinket flies up. When they look over, the three see a very shocking sight. They find themselves floating in the ocean, so far from shore, far from Sage Island. Then climb/fly back down.

And Leona delivers the verdict, "Bad news, all right: Floyd called it."

"Playful Land's present location is... in the middle of the ocean," Vil says.

Everyone is shocked to hear it.

"The middle of the ocean?!" Ortho asks, shocked.

"Yes," Vil says, "We couldn't see any sign of land. The park may even have departed Sage's Island from the instant we set foot through the gate."

"So then, the Playful Land Amusement Park," Briar says.

"Is also a huge ship," Tanzanite says.

And Ace says, "Seriously?! We've been totally played! By the time visitors realize something's wrong, they've been cut off from the outside. The park's long gone, and the only thing the rest of the world sees is all the fun pictures and posts about it…

"No WONDER people call this place illusionary!" Tanzanite says.

"Considering how slick this whole setup is, whoever's the mastermind behind it must be an old hand at this," Trey says.

"What do we do now..?" Briar asks, worried.

Trey then unleashes his magic at the puppets while Jack attacks them viciously. And with that, the puppets are destroyed.

"Got 'em! Those puppets didn't stand a chance against your magic," Ortho says.

"Hah. Not gonna be doing much attacking now they're blown to bits," Jack says, but suddenly, "Huh?" And feels his body aching, "...Hrk?!" And collapses.

"Jack?!" Trey and Tanzantie cry out.

Then Trey realizes, "Oh no, is this what I think it…" and his body flinches, "Grk!"

Trey then collapses to the ground.

And in a matter of seconds, Jack and Trey are revealed to have wood growths crawling up the side of their faces.

Trey struggles, "Rgh, can't move…"

"The others weren't kidding... My body doesn't feel like MINE," Jack says.

"Jack?!" Ace cries out.

"Trey?!" Briar cries out.

Kalim cries out, "They've started to turn into puppets!"

And soon, a puppet says, "AtTaCKiNg PArK eMPlOyEEs Is AN eGrEGiOuS ViOlATiOn OF pArK RuLeS! It'S PuPpETdOm FOr aLL bAd CHiLdREn CoMMitTiNg MIsDeEDs In PLaYfUL lAnD!"

"Bad children..?" Ortho says.

"Blast... I'll at least stall 'em before I go full puppet!" Jack says, struggling to move and attacks, "HRAAAAGH!" And soon attacks one of the puppets.

"Rgh... We can't move. All of you, get out of here, quick!" Trey says.

But Kalim says, "No way! We can't just abandon you guys!"

"You wouldn't be," Trey says, "Look-getting to Ernesto's the ultimate goal, right? The two of us are just gonna reach him first, is all. We'll be waiting for you."

"Trey…" Ace says, worried. Then says, "We'll come for you, okay? Count on it."

"No fair, Trey!" Cater cries out, "You're not allowed to act all brave and tough and cool! It's hitting me square in the feels!"

"Cut it out; you're embarrassing me," Trey says.

Jack responds, annoyed, "Tch. Can't believe I didn't make it any farther than this... Sorry, Leona. Guess I'll be heading to Ernesto ahead of the rest of you. I'll come up with a way to sock him one."

"Hey. Don't do anything stupid. You don't know what small-time guys like that could pull when they snap," Leona says, "Just sit tight and be patient. No way you can mess that up, right?"

"Hmph," Jack huffs, "Don't patronize me. As for the rest of you guys... Be careful!"

Soon, the alarms are blaring across the park.

"Rgh…" Vil responds, annoyed, "Here we are, housewardens, walking away from students in trouble!"

"I'm frustrated too, but that'll have to wait. First things first: we gotta scram before the alert brings in more puppets!" Ace says.

"Guys... I'm sorry!" Kalim says.

Everyone then runs off, from the two as they are starting to get carried away.

"Pursuing forces are thinner in this area. Let's hide and wait it out," Vil says.

Leona remains silent.

Floyd notices it, "What's wrong, Sea Lion? You're all quiet and broody-lookin' over there."

"This is how I always look," Leona says, "But I was just thinkin'. About why people are turnin' into puppets NOW."

"That's been bugging me, too. At first I thought it was just that it took a while for Playful Land's magic to kick in," Ace says, "In other words, that we had to spend a whole day at the park… Except none of us have been here any longer than the others. Then the timing of it happening to Jack and Trey was just way too convenient."

"True. The magic took them both simultaneously, the moment they fought the puppets," Cater says.

Soon, Ortho says, "The puppets… What was it they said? 'It's puppetdom for all bad children committing misdeeds,' right? I thought that was just meant to be threatening, but what if…"

"What if you actually turn into a puppet when you do bad things here?" Ace asks.

"If that's it, then all we have to do is avoid doing any misdeeds!" Kalim says.

"That makes sense," Ace says, "Maybe we can get outta this easier than we thought."

"Yeah, huh? That's a relief!" Kalim says, "By the way… What counts as a 'misdeed,' exactly?"

Everyone looks confused, "Uhhh…"

Some probably do know, but are skeptical on how to explain it.

Briar sheepishly says, "Maybe kike, breaking the rules," And nervously laughs.

Everyone sighs in response.

Meanwhile, in the Playful Stage, there is an office that seems to have a desk and Ernesto is there as he watches the monitors close by and a microphone on the desk as well. Nearby, there is a rather large box that is navy blue with cyan blue stars, and a red ribbon wrapped around it.

Ernesto hears his phone and picks it up, "Hello? Yes, it is I, your loyal subordinate Ernesto Foulworth. I have good news for you. I've captured the Night Raven College students I was telling you about!" And changes his expression, "What? No, not all of them... But I'll have that ironed out shortly…" and looks shocked, "What? You'll cut my pay if I don't deliver the goods by the deadline?! C'mon, sir, you can't do me like that!" And calmly says, "...Understood." For a moment, Ernesto seems to scowl in contemplation before trying to smile, "I'll have this wrapped up by tomorrow, as promised. Yes, of course. You can count on me! I'll trust you bump my pay accordingly-" and suddenly, the call suddenly ends.

Ernesto is disdainful and says, "Tch, he hung up. Ugh, rich folks. Always so impatient and demanding…"

Ernesto then turns his head to see a photograph in a picture frame. It's actually a picture of Ernesto and Gino. From the looks of it, it appears to be taken a few years ago in Playful Land. there is also someone else. In the center, holding each of their hands, is Sereia. And the three look very happy together.

"Sereianna," Ernesto sadly sighs.

Ernesto then calms himself and leaves the office, walking onto the stage area of the theater. There he sees Gino with a smile.

Ernesto walks over and asks, "How are things on your end, huh?"

Gino nods with a smile.

He then opens the curtains to reveal Grim, Lilia, Jade, and Jasper are placed in cages. Only Grim and Jasper are placed in a more comfortable cage than the one Jade and Lilia are in.

Ernesto smiles, "Ahh, this is gold! A bunch of preppies from a fancy school, locked in a ratty old cage. Nice work, Gino."

Gino smirks and nods.

Grim angrily shouts, "How dare you stuff me into this tiny little box! Lemme outta here!"

But Ernesto says, "Now, now, take it easy. It's just a matter of time now until the others get here. I promise, I'll move you into a much bigger cage soon enough! Hah hah hah!"

Grim growls in anger, "Grr..!"

And Lilia says, "I wouldn't count on that. Our companions are all exceptional mages. Capturing them might be trickier than you think."

"Oh, spare me," Ernesto says, "Remind me again how YOU got stuck in there, hmm? Playful Land has a great deal of spells at play, courtesy of a multitude of mages. We've got security and anti-crime measures thoroughly covered. We don't miss a single guest that does anything harmful to park facilities or staff. When time isn't an issue, I don't even have to bother giving our guests a little nudge in the wrong direction. I can just sit back and wait. Because this park turns all bad children who lose their conscience and commit misdeeds into puppets-no matter what!"

"Losing your conscience is what gets you turned into a puppet?!" Jade asks.

Lilia chuckles, "Khee hee hee. Conscience, you say? If that's what matters, then clearly… we're doomed."

"We may very well be doomed," Jade says.

Grim cries out, "It's over! We're doomed, I tell ya!"

"You never know. Miracles can happen," Jasper says.

"What does that mean?" Grim asks.

"Briar and the others are still out there, even my brother. I know they'll find a way to fix this," Jasper says.

"Geez Louise, have a LITTLE faith in your friends at the very least! At least, Jasper has faith in his friends!" Ernesto says, "Sheesh, these guys are so bad, I couldn't help sayin' somethin'... Still, the magic's working way slower on them than other troublemakers. Is it 'cuz they're fancy mage-school kids?"

Gino perks up in surprise at the thought.

Jade then asks, "Ernesto, Gino-may I ask why you're doing this? I somehow doubt it's because you've sworn loyalty to whomever it was you were speaking with over the phone…"

"It's the money," Ernesto says, "Sturdy, obedient puppets can be put to any number of uses. And puppets that can use MAGIC? You guys are hot commodities! You'll fetch a real tidy sum."

This shocked everyone.

"All of this, just for money?" Jasper asks, shocked.

"'Just' for money?" Ernesto questions, shocked.

Gino flinches in response.

"What do you know? You're a fancy-schmancy scholar going to an upper-crust school. Money makes the world go 'round," Ernesto says and approaches angrily, "Don't you talk down to me when you don't have the first clue about what it takes to make it! Got it?"

"Don't get mad at me," Jasper angrily says.

Ernesto smirks, "But hey, relax, Jasper. I'll make sure you, your brother, and all your friends are well taken care of here. Of course, you, your brother, and Grim will be quite the pack. Once you fully turn into puppets, I think I'll dub you... the Twin Beast Tamers and the Brutish Beast."

"Taken care of?" Jasper mutters, confused.

"Who're you callin' 'brutish'?!" Grim shouts, offended.

And Grim says, "I... I'm sick an' tired of this! I wanna go back to school!"

But Ernesto points out, "Oh, really? I thought you said you hated school. Didn't you guys wanna be stars? Don't worry. I'll grant that wish…" And makes his baton appear, "by making you such ultra-famous puppets that you'll never have to go to school again!"

"You can't be serious!" Jasper shouts.

"Very serious. But do not worry" Ernesto says and approaches the cage, Jasper and Grim are in, "You two will be especially taken care of. After all, you and your friends will become part of Playful Land. You'll be our stars here, and especially our darling Sereianna."

"Sereianna?" Jasper and Grim reply confused.

Lilia angrily growls and struggles, "Rgh… I still have some magic left, but I just can't muster any of it… If only I could fight, I'd make short work of that Ernesto! How irksome."

"Floyd, everyone... I do hope you're safe…" Jade softly responds.

Grim struggles to break free from the cage, "LEMME OOOUT! GET ME OUTTA THIS CAGE!"

"You better let us out, right now!" Jasper shouts

"How about you kids stop whining already? You're just wearing yourselves out," Ernesto says, "We should be getting some new stock in any moment now. Bring a cage, would you, Gino? A big one!"

Gino smiles with a nod and runs off to find a bigger cage.

Jade turns to Lilia, "It is rather thoughtful of you to lay out the welcome mat, but don't you think you might be getting ahead of yourself?"

"Indeed. It's patently obvious the rest of the boys have all escaped and are now working to undermine your plans," Lilia says.

"Just so. They would hardly be captured in such a short amount of time," Jade says.

Soon, the door opens, and a puppet walks in, "Mr. FoUlWOrTh, I hAVe PrOCeEdED aS iNStRuCTeD…" And soon reveals to have both Trey and Jack in its arms, "AnD bROuGhT MoRe NIgHt RAvEn COlLeGE pUpPEtS."

Grim, Jasper, Jade & Lilia cry out, "That was quick!"

"How could you let them capture you so soon?" Jade questions, "Not that the four of us have much room to talk as the very first victims…"

"We were just denigrating our enemy, too! Not that our sharp words have much of an edge as the very first victims…" Lilia says.

"I got nothin' to say in my defense... but I still don't wanna hear it from the first victims," Jack says.

Ernesto laughs, "Hahah. I was curious how capable students of a prestigious school would be… But turns out you Night Raven College kids are just a bunch of pushovers. Talk about a letdown."

And soon, Gino returns with a large charge with a smile on his face.

Ernesto turns to see Gino with the large cage in tow, "Ah, Gino, you're back. Throw the newcomers into the new cage."

Gino smirks and nods. Then place Trey and Jack in the large cage.

Jack scowls, Tch... If only I could move, I'd be giving this guy the knuckle sandwich of his life!"

"Guys, what happened?" Jasper asks.

"I'm not sure," Trey says, "We busted up the puppets attacking us, and then we found ourselves like this. It was all over so fast, I'm not exactly sure what happened."

"I see…" Jade says, "According to Ernesto, people get turned into puppets when they commit 'misdeeds'." and suspects the results, "I suppose yours must have been when you 'busted up' your attackers."

"Precisely," Ernesto says, "If I were to guess-you wrote 'em off as nothing special and just casually smashed 'em to bits, huh. Our puppets are highly valued members of the park staff, yet you'd openly use magic against them? What absolute cruelty! Your arrogance knows no bounds, does it?"

Gino smirks and nods.

Jack scoffs, "Hmph. Keep talkin' big while you can!"

"Yeah. The rest of the guys will put a stop to you soon enough," Trey says.

Ernesto turns to them, "Huh? I'm sorry, what was that? You think THEY'LL stop ME?" And begins laughing, "Hahaha. Did you hear that, Gino? What a riot!"

Gino snickers as well.

Angered, Grim demands, "Wh... What's so funny? Quit with the cacklin'!"

Ernesto soon stops laughing, "Ahh... Now my sides hurt from laughing. Not a chance, young scholars. Not. A. Chance. You really think pampered, sheltered students… can stop Ernesto Foulworth? Not in a million years!"

"Hrm…" Lilia responds.

But Jasper says, "Don't underestimate them, especially Briar."

"Really?" Ernesto questions, "You mean the sole survivor of her species and her royal family?"

"That's right. Briar and the others will never give up. And I know my brother, he's not going to stand you having me caught," Jasper says.

Hearing it, Grim says, "Yeah. Don't underestimate my minions. Even Trinket and Sereia won't stand for it."

However, Ernesto saddens to hear Sereia's name, and mutters, "Sereianna."

Gino shows a sad expression as well.

"Huh?" Jasper and Grim look confused.

"Hmm…" Lilia responds, just as confused as the others.

They are confused, this isn't the first time that Ernesto called Sereia by that name. It makes them wonder what's the connection between them.

Back at the Bazaar in Playful Land, the gang discuss what they need to do, especially after witnessing what happened to Trey and Jack.

Ortho says, "Now we know committing 'misdeeds' in this park gets us turned to puppets. But those misdeeds include breaking park equipment and harming puppets. That means when puppets attack us, we can't hit back, putting us at a significant disadvantage."

"What if we just turn ourselves in and get them to take us to Ernesto?" Kalim asks.

But Leona says, "Getting captured and immobilized's no better than being turned into puppets. Do you think once we're powerless in the enemy's clutches, they'll just shrug and say, 'Okay that's enough of that,' and let us go?"

"There's only one approach we can take: search for Ernesto and the others while taking care to avoid damaging anything in the park," Ortho says.

Floyd groans, "Aww, maaan. Bo-o-oring. Way to suck all the fun outta this."

"Boring or not, it's all we've got right now," Cater says, "But we can't hit back at the puppets even if they swarm us…"

"So we have to reach Ernesto WITHOUT falling into their clutches. Is that even possible?" Ace asks.

Leona frowns in contemplation…

Leona has been dodging the attacks from the soldiers.

A puppet says, "YoU'Re A nIMbLe ONe."

And tries to capture Lona, but keeps missing.

"None of these puppets have much magic. Or strength, or speed. And their movements are simple enough. The only trouble is how many there are," Leona says and looks around, "Where were all these puppets even hiding?"

Soon, a puppet marches towards Leona, "I'lL cAPtUrE YoU… I'lL BrInG YoU tO Mr. FoUlWOrTh…"

The puppets insistently march onward.

Leona responds, annoyed, "Tch... Gross how they all creep toward me. Guess I'd better go for it…" Then calls out, "Hey! Over here, idiots."

The puppets make an attack. Leona quickly dodges to the side.

"You slowpokes think you can capture me? This is so borin', I'm fallin' asleep," Leona says, and then runs into the Brawlin' Bungalow tent.

"He'S InSiDE tHe BUnGaLOw! DoN'T lEt HIm EsCApE!" The puppet soldier says.

Then they all run inside after Leona

"I knew you'd all run in straight after me," Leona says with a smirk. And then, "...Now!" He then tucks himself against the entrance and dash off.

The puppet says, "He FLeD oUTsIdE!"

But then, something slams from behind.

They turn to find that they're locked in.

"We'RE lOcKEd In..? WE cAn'T GeT oUT!" The puppet cries out, "LeT Us OuT! LeT Us OuT!"

The puppets start fruitlessly banging on the doors.

"Hah. And why would I do that?" Leona says in remark, "You waltzed right in like a bunch of dumb mice goin' after cheese on a mousetrap."

The puppet continues screaming, "LeT Us OuT! LeT Us OuT!" and bangs some more on the door, but their efforts remain fruitless.

"Well, the creepy puppets are all crammed in the bungalow. I don't even wanna imagine what it's like in there," Leona says, "I could break the door lock to make sure they never escape... but that'd be damaging the park. It's more of a pain, but I guess I'll just put up a barricade to keep 'em stuck in there," and soon summons a barricade to bar the door further, "...That oughta do it. Now all the puppets in the area're locked up tight in the bungalow. Now that I've cleaned up those annoying puppets… Guess I can sit down and grab a quick breather. I've earned one... Surely a little liberty like that won't get me punished."

Leona then finds a nearby spot to sit on and rest.

"Ahh... Man, I'm beat," Leona says tired, "Sheesh. It ain't like me to go into a full-on sprint…" but suddenly, his body begins to feel numb, "GRK?! Rgh... Body getting... heavier…" And soon, the wood is starting to crawl on the side of Leona's face.

Leona realizes, "Wait... Am I getting turned? What's going on?! I didn't damage a single piece of park equipment, or hurt any staff!" And soon falls over to his side.

Leona struggles to get up, "Rgh, I can't get up…"" but feels something against his shoulder, "Hm?" And gently looks over, "My shoulder just bumped something. It was too dark to see it before… A signboard?" And reads it, "'No sitting on the ground! Please sit in designated seating areas only!'" That's when Leona realizes his mistake, "No sitting on the ground..? Wait, so sitting on the grass seriously counts as a misdeed?" and he continues to change into a puppet, He then shouts, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!"

Meanwhile, at the Playful Land's Whale Escape, the remaining group continue running as fast as their feet can take them. They finally stop running and are exhausted.

"We've been running for a while now…" Cater says. Then turns back, "And Leona still hasn't caught up."

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but…" Ortho says, "Saying, 'You go on ahead; I'll catch up later,' is basically flagging yourself for almost 100 percent certain doom."

"Yikes... I'd better make sure to never say that," Ace says.

Then Kalim asks, worried, Was leaving him behind really the right thing to do? Maybe we should've worked together…"

"Maybe," Briar says, "He's been going for a while."

"Do you really think he's the kindhearted, self-sacrificing type?" Vil responds, "Leona wouldn't do anything so pointless. He's more indolent, snide and pragmatic than anyone else I know. If he decided to stay behind and have the rest of us go on, then that was the best option we had. As loath as I am to admit it, he wasn't wrong when he said he was smarter than the rest of us."

"Yup, pretty much. After all that posturin' he did, he'd better be doin' his job," Floyd says.

"True enough," Ace says, "I guess our goal is still the same-we have to find Ernesto. Let's split up and search the area. Oh, and just to be clear: we better be more vigilant and mindful of our surroundings this time around."

Floyd laughs, "Ahaha. Maybe you're smarter 'n a fish after all."

Ace says, "This rollercoaster's really long, though. And it's a big area. If he was hiding somewhere here, it'd be really hard to figure out exactly where…"

"Oh, if that's the trouble…" Cater says and begins to build up his magic, "I am he, and we are they," And with that, Cater performs his signature spell, "Split Card."

And with a flash of light, multiple copies of himself appear.

Kalim is amazed, "Whoa! Look at all the Caters!"

"Ahaha, rad. Your lookalikes are so identical, they put me 'n Jade to shame!" Floyd says, amazed.

"What do you think?" Cater asks, "This is Split Card, my signature spell."

"We'll be happy to help, me!" Cater 2 says.

"This should cut down on search time, right?" Cater 3 says.

Ace says, "That's a huge help! Cater, your signature spell is seriously handy! You rule."

"Aww, Acey. Flattery will get you everywhere!" Cater says with a smile.

Then Vil says, "All right. Let's search for Ernesto-but don't go too far out. We should all stay well within earshot of one another. If anything happens, shout for help."

"Yes, sir!" Everyone responds.

The gang splits up and begins searching around the roller coaster.

Ortho scans the area and says, "Clear! Nothing to report inside the Whale King."

"Nothing on the outside, either! No Ernesto, no Gino, not even any puppets," Ace says.

"There were so many earlier…" Floyd says, "Did Sea Lion actually take 'em all out? Way to ruin my fun."

"Your 'fun'?" Vil responds, turning to Floyd, "For goodness' sake…"

Suddenly, they hear Kalim scream, "WHOA!"

"That was Kalim Al-Asim!" Ortho panics.

Then they hear Cater's voice, "Kalim?! Hold on, we're coming!

"And that's Cater. It came from the bridge. Let's get over there, quick!" Ace says.

The gang rushes over to the source of the noise and finds the bridge. There, they see Kalim surrounded by the puppets.

Kalim cries out, "There are puppets coming out of the shadows... Lots of them! What do I do?! I'm not supposed to attack them, and I can't let them capture me…"

Cater soon shows up with his clones, "You okay, Kalim?!"

Cater 2 calls out, ""Quick! Over here!"

Kalim is relieved, "Cater! And Cater... and Cater! You all came to save me? I'm flattered! Your signature spell is always so cool to see. I remember the way you filled the stands and livened things up back when we played our first show to an empty house!"

Cater three stands by Kalim with the real Cater and says, "Now's not the time! Get behind me."

And Cater says, "Yeah. We've gotta get out of here, fast."

"I make it sound so easy, me. Unfortunately…" Cater 2 says.

The puppets begin to approach them.

Cater 3 says, "...our shouts have drawn even more puppets here. I'm not sure we CAN get away."

The puppets approach and say, "CaPTuRe THeM! CaPTuRe THeM!

Cater calls out, "Hey, me! Lure off that big puppet there!"

"Yeah, I got me," Cater 2 calls out, "As for me, how's about I draw the little guys toward the plaza?"

"I'm on it!" Cater 3 calls out.

"Wow. The Cater here, the Cater there, and the Cater over there are all amazing. You guys are in perfect sync!" Kalim says, amazed.

"You bet we are! We're all me, so we've got coordination on lock," Cater 3 says.

Cater then says, "But there's a lot more enemies out there. Right now all we're really doing is burning through my magic reserves. Buying time to escape would take a lot more Cay-Cays, and I can't support more than the ones I'm already fielding…" and is starting to get exhausted.

Noticing it, Kalim asks, "Um, are you okay? You're sweating pretty hard…" Then Kalim becomes determined, "I can't just stand here watching while my friends are doing so much. I gotta help. I'll conjure up some water like, sploosh! Fwish! Then splash!" and plans to conjure his magic.

Cater 2 becomes confused, "Uh, what?! What's gonna happen?! You're kinda scaring me!"

But Cater notices, "Wait, Kalim-behind you!"

Kalim turns around and the puppets lunge grab onto Kalim.

Kalim yelps, "Whoa! Some little puppets snuck up on me…" and begins to pull him away, "They're dragging me away!"

The three Cater cry out, "KALIM!"

Cater begins to unleash his magic, "That's it... I've got no other choice!" And uses his magic to scorch and destroy the puppets, freeing Kalim.

"I'm safe? But that was…" Kalim says, still shocked.

Cater 2 asks, "You okay, Kalim?"

"Thank goodness they didn't drag you off…" Cater 3 says.

"Cater! I'm fine. But you just... The puppets…" Kalim says, looking very worried.

And Cater says, "Yeah, that kinda slipped out before I could think better of it! This is gonna be it for me," But then his body flinches, "Rgh..!" and collapses on the floor as his clones vanish.

And like the others, Cater begins to have wood growing on the side of his face.

Kalim cries out, "CATER!"

That's when the rest of the gang rushes over.

"Cater!" Ace calls out.

"What happened?" Ortho says.

"Cater beat up the puppets to save me!" Kalim cries out.

"Dang, he got all of 'em? Nice one, Seabream," Floyd says, impressed, "Maaan, I coulda gone for a piece of the action. Kind of a jerk move, soloing 'em like that without waitin' for us."

"Floyd!" Briar cries out.

Ace looks at Cater in worry, "Oh, no... First Trey, and now you too…"

But Cater assures, "C'mon, Acey, don't fret. You're gonna have to pull enough weight for the both of us now. Be careful out there, okay?"

Reluctantly, Ace says, "...Yes, sir."

Kalim feels very guilty, "This is all my fault... I'm so sorry, Cater…" And then becomes determined, "But don't worry! I'll carry you on my back!"

Cater laughs with a smile, "Ahaha. The sentiment's appreciated, but you're gonna wear yourself out in no time hauling me around like that."

"Then I'll carry you in my arms!" Kalim says.

But Ortho says, "I don't think it's a matter of how you hold him."

"You can't carry someone and still run at full speed," Vil points out, "Do you want to go down with him?"

"Sorry, Vil…" Cater says, "Could you do me a solid as a fellow junior and look after the others?

"I've got it covered. ...Also, I apologize for failing to arrive in time to save you," Vil says, a little remorseful.

But Cater assures, "It's cool, it's cool. I've got a plan for pulling one over on the enemy anyway."

"Cater..!" Kalim cries.

But then Ortho says, "Kalim Al-Asim, I know how much this pains you… but pressing onward is our only option. We have to go!"

And with that, everyone runs off, forced to leave Cater behind.

Shortly after, the puppets have captured Cater and are hauling him into Gentle Plaza.

"Sure hope Acey and the others get away…" Cater says to himself.

Then turns to the puppets, "Sooo... Don't suppose any of you puppets feel like telling me where you're taking me?"

However, the puppets continue on.

Not getting an answer, Cater calls out, Hello? Are you listening?"

But the puppets continue marching on.

"You guys just hoisted me up, and now you're not saying a word…" Cater says, "Ooh, I bet I totally look like I'm crowd-surfing at a concert right now, huh? Don't you think?"

Again, no answer.

"Yeah, okay, shouldn't have expected much there," Cater says. But then notices something, "Hm? Hey, up ahead-that's…"

Cater is shocked to see the puppets are matching towards their location.

"The Playful Stage…" Cater says to himself, "Seems like they're hauling me into some sort of antechamber backstage…"

The puppets march up and behind the stage. Cater soon sees Gino waiting for them. Gino sees them approaching and greet Cater and the puppets with a smile.

One of the puppets say, "I hAVe BrOUgHt A PuPpET aS ReQUeStED. In ThE CaGe IT gOeS."

Gino smirks and nods in response. Then puppets walk to the cage and place Cater in the cage.

Seeing Cater, Trey cries out, "Cater!"

Cater calls out, "Trey! Guys! So this is where those jerks have been keeping you. What a cozy little cage for us to all be crammed into together…"

Leona scowling in response.

Cater sees Leona in the cage and is shocked, "Leona? You're here too?! You got turned after all... Wow. You really fought tooth and claw for us."

"Apparently they found Leona all keeled over in the grass," Trey says.

"How'd that happen?!" Cater asks, shocked.

"Wore myself out after a pitched battle," Leona says.

"So if you two have been turned to puppets, who does that leave?" Jack responds.

"I believe that would be Briar, Sereia, Trinket, Tanzanite, Floyd, Kalim, Ace, Ortho and Vil," Jade says.

"That's a worrying lineup," Jack says, worried.

But Lilia says, "Oh, don't say that. Why don't we have a little faith in the ones still standing? It's not like we have any other options."

Gino smirks and nods.

"So if Gino's here…" Cater says, "Ernesto must be, too."

"Yeah. He's got Gino watchin' us while he's on the phone over there," Leona says.

Meanwhile, in his office, Ernesto is on the phone, "Yes, yes! The plan is proceeding quite smoothly. Each Night Raven College student is of equally exceptional quality. You'll be most pleased. ...Yes, of course. The remainder will be ready as well. No need to worry…." And continues, "Yes. Yes, sir... Yes, sir. I'm certainly aware. Yes, sir... All right…"

And soon the call ends.

Ernesto becomes frustrated, "...For CRYIN' OUT LOUD. If you trust me that little, do the stupid job yourself! Blithering idiot. Their only redeeming feature is their money!"

Soon, Ernesto leaves his office, walks onto the stage, and see Gino and the caged Night Raven students.

Ernesto smiles and says, "Ah, do we have a fresh arrival?"

Gino smiles and nods.

Ernesot says, "Mmhm. We've got a full constellation of silly stars. It's becoming a real party in that cage."

"Hah. Big talk from a guy who was just licking some fat cat's boots," Leona says, annoyed, "How's it feel having to obey someone you don't even like? Please-I'd love to know."

"Heh. As if I'd fall for such blatant taunting. You brats think you're so clever. Grow up," Ernesto says.

"Into what? A plankter with no hope of becoming anything but whale feed? An eternal small fry? A spineless bottom feeder?" Jade questions with a calm smile, "For some strange reason, Ernesto, those are the only examples I can think of right now-the kind of adult I absolutely DON'T aspire to be."

And Lilia says, "Why, funny you should mention that, Jade! I was just thinking along the same lines that I'd hate to be the kind of lowlife that sucks up to the strong and oppresses the weak. I wonder why!"

"Oh, for sure! No matter how bad a hand you get dealt, there's really nothing worth sacrificing your pride for, is there?" Cater says.

And Leona says, annoyed, "Okay, that's enough. I doubt there's anyone like that we know, but who can tell what nerve you might strike in some poor random schmuck?"

This makes Ernesto mad, "You little... AH!" but then calms down, "No, no. Patience, Ernesto."

The Night Raven students innocently and tauntingly smile at him.

Ernesto says, "Taunting is what they thrive on. They're a twisted bunch of brats, that's for sure."

Gino shakes his head, exasperated.

Ernesto huffs, "Hmph. Whatever! They won't be trading pleasant banter with their school chums much longer. You should say your goodbyes to one another while you still can. The place you're going won't have any of the comforts you're used to, you know."

"What exactly is his problem with us, anyway?" Jack questions.

"I don't think it's us-not specifically. He seems to have a chip on his shoulder about students-or rather, the institution of school itself," Lilia whispers.

"Not only that," Leona whispers, "And I want to know why Ernesto is so interested in Sereia, Briar, and the others."

"You're right. From what Ernesto explains, he's actually planning on keeping them here, especially Sereia. I sure hope the others can solve this mystery, and I hope we can return to the school after this" Trey whispers.

"School…" Grim responds and begins sobbing. He then cries out, "I WANNA GO BACK TO NIGHT RAVEEEEEEN!"

"School…" Grim responds and begins sobbing. He then cries out, "I WANNA GO BACK TO NIGHT RAVEEEEEEN!"

Ernesto laughs, "Hah hah hah! You still wanna be in school, Grim? Who needs school when you can learn what REALLY matters outside its crummy walls? Nobody, that's who. It's worthless. Instead of wasting your time on something so pointless, you can make yourself useful in the real world as a puppet."

"Okay, 'pointless'? I'm not lettin' that one go," Jack says, annoyed, "School's a place where you can compete with others, learn what you're capable of, and push yourself to be better than before. Every second you spend in school is useful down the line. There's nothing pointless about that!"

Trey turns to Jack, "I never knew you were that high-minded when it came to school, Jack... I'm kind of amazed. And when you put it like that, I think you're exactly right. You get to meet a bunch of different types of people at school, and every day's full of surprises-not to mention plenty of trouble. Though even that's a learning experience. To me, that's enough to prove that school serves an important purpose."

"My word. I have to hand it to you prestigious scholars! Even platitudes come easily to you," Ernesto says.

"They aren't platitudes," Jack says, angrily, "What right does a coward like you have to invalidate the way I've chosen to spend my time?"

"Geez, goody-two-shoes much?" Leona says, annoyed, "Personally I think the fox has a point. School's a pretty lousy place, huh?"

"Hmmm..?" Ernestro responds.

Jack is shocked, "Whoa, Leona?! What are you talking about?!"

"Well, it is," Leona says, "The guys in my dorm cause nothing but trouble, and I have to endure endless needling from the teachers. I get dragged into all kinds of nonsense, and even my rest time is restricted by 'school rules' or whatever. Plus, I get saddled with babysitting duty for a bunch of herbivores that just HAD to go to an amusement park…"

Grim & Jack flinch, "Grk…"

Lilia laughs, "Khee hee hee. Seems like you have no end of complaints, do you?"

Leona huffs, Hmph. Come on-you can't tell me you don't feel the same way deep down."

Jasper rolls his eyes and mutters, "Says the guy who always skips class and sleeps in the garden."

"I heard that," Leona says with a frown.

Then Lilia says, "Well what Leona says, is true... I'll grant that, in all honesty, I find school to be rather stifling," but then he says, "But at the same time, there is much one can only learn at Night Raven College. Eating lunch while chatting with friends, after-school club meets, bittersweet romantic gossip, intense turf disputes… They're all forms of learning one can experience nowhere else but school. Come, Leona. Isn't that the kind of knowledge you seek to accumulate in your time at ours?"

"Huh? Not in the least…" Leona says, annoyed.

Lilia signals something to Leona with a blink. Leona catches it, then conspiratorially smiles.

He then says, "...Then again, maybe it is. It's true that the knowledge and experience you get at school is hard to beat."

"I can agree with the assertion that school is a place to learn about values," Jade says, "My time in middle school was delightful, but my life on land has been special indeed. The surprises never end. And that's thanks to attending school with so many others. Had I not, there are things I might never have experienced."

"I guess for a merman like you, Night Raven College offers a whole 'nother brand of interesting social studies," Cater says, "I've been to more schools than I can count... But what's cool is that they were all different, in one way or another. All my memories of the time I spent with my school friends are hashtag #BFF and #TimeWellSpent in my heart. So, the takeaway here is… School's an essential place for learning about both yourself and others, right?"

"Yeah, exactly," Leona says, "As far as we're concerned, school is an invaluable institution that nothing could possibly replace."

"And I'm sure Briar can share to you on what her life is like, both at Night Raven College, and the school she used to go to before coming here," Jasper says.

Gino tilts his head, curiously.

"Well, long story short, Briar was sent to a world with no magic. So her school has to be very different from the schools here. I'm sure Briar would explain what kind of fun and learning she did at her school," Jasper says.

"School is a veritable font of knowledge. What could be more valuable?" Lilia says with a smile.

"I couldn't agree more," Jade says, "So there you have it... Now, what would you say to returning us to our aforementioned, dearly beloved, highly valued learning institute?"

But Ernesto says, "I'd say absolutely not!"

"Well, we tried. And I had such high hopes it was gonna work with Leona playing along and everything, too…" Trey replies.

And Ernesto says, "In what world would that work?! The more you kept rambling, the more I knew you were up to some harebrained scheme."

"No wonder Leona was saying such out of character stuff; it was all just a ploy to fool Ernesto," Jack says.

"He might not have really meant anything he said, but I did," Trey says.

"Same. I actually do think school's valuable," Cater says, "Don't the rest of you?"

Leona huffs, "Hmph…"

Gino is quiet and is uncertain.

Jasper turns to notice Gino and asks, "Are you okay, Gino? Do you want to say something or uh, gesture something?"

Gino perks up in surprise. He then nervously smiles and shakes his head.

"That's okay if you don't want to say of uh, gesture" Jasper says, with a sheepish smile.

Gink covers his mouth with a smile and gently bobs his head, almost like he's giggling.

Then Jasper asks "But can Grim and I ask you something?"

But Ernesto protectively steps in front of Gino, "GINO. Stay away from that one."

"Hey!" Jasper says.

Ernesto lends towards Jasper, "You listen to me, Briar-don't go giving him any funny ideas. It's plain irresponsible to fill a person's head with dumb dreams and false hope about how awesome school is. Because it's NOT. We'll be the ones stuck with disappointment all over again when reality comes crashing down."

Gino droops, and looks morose.

In his head, Jasper wonders why Ernesto and Gino are against schools. Gino continues to look away, sad, while Ernesto stubbornly scowls.

Jasper then says, "Okay, then how about we change the subject. I still want to ask you something, both you and Gino, Ernesto."

"And what would that be?" Ernesto asks, still scowling.

Jasper then says, "Well, Briar and the rest of us, notice how you and Gino have been acting around Sereia. Calling her Sereianna, being very nice to her, and how determined you are to get her. And also, Sereia has been remembering things, even though this is her first time to Playful Land. So… what we all want to ask… Do you two know Sereia, personally?"

Ernesto and Gino are caught off guard to hear Jasper's question.

"I uh, I don't feel like talking about it," Ernesto says, sounding frustrated.

However, he seems to have a hint of sorry in his eyes. Gino's ears sag and shows a sad expression. Jasper and Grim notice it and sensed something must have happened in regard to Sereia.

Somewhere in Playpark, Ace, Briar, and the others end up arriving at the Catch the Star Ferris Wheel.

Confused, Ace says, "First we have to leave Cater, and now you want us to ride the Ferris Wheel for some reason? Vil, have you finally lost it?!"

Vil turns to Ace, offended, 'Finally'? I resent that loaded phrasing. It implies I was already well on my way there."

"I understand what Ace Trappola means, though," Ortho says, "We just lost Cater to the puppets. It seems an odd time to relax and take in the view."

"No kidding! We should be focusing on finding Ernesto and the others as fast as we can!" Kalim cries out.

"Come on guys, I'm sure Vil knows what he's doing," Briar says.

But Vil says, "Please. Who said anything about relaxing?"

"If I know Betta, he's got an angle here. This ain't fun and games to him," Floyd says, "Besides... I've never ridden a Ferris Wheel at night! C'mon, let's get in!

Briar, Sereia, Ortho, Ace & Kalim, "It's totally fun and games to YOU!"

Everyone then walks inside the door of the ferris wheel. Upon doing so, the door slams shut, and the ride begins to move.

"The Ferris Wheel is moving," Ortho says, surprised, "I had a feeling it might still be operational when I saw its lights flashing. The other streetlamps and things seem to have been turned off, though…"

"Yes-all the better for us," Vil says.

"What? That's better?" Ace asks, confused.

"Vil, I'm afraid I'm confused about this," Tanzantie says.

Then Vil says, "Look down below, boys. Look very closely... Can you see that light?"

"Below?" Kalim says, looking down, "Um…" And soon notices something, "Ah! It's hard to make out, but there's a tiny white light moving in the dark."

Floyd also notices, "Hey, you're right. What IS it? Seems like it's just kinda inchin' along."

"It's a smartphone flashlight," Vil says.

"It is?" Ace questions.

He squints and says, "...Ooh, wait. Is that Cater's phone?!"

"Yes. Remember when Cater said he had a plan for pulling one over on Ernesto?" Vil says.

"Yes. He did," Briar says as Sereia looks over to see the view.

"When he was immobilized, he asked me to turn on his phone flashlight. That way, with it sticking out of his pocket, we could see where he was being taken," Vil says, "We ought to be able to follow that light straight to Ernesto."

Soon, everyone understands.

"Now I get it..!" Ortho says.

"Oh yeah, the puppets did mention back at the Brawlin' Bungalow that they'd take us to Ernesto," Ace says.

"And we find Ernesto, we'll find Cater and the others, and everyone else they've captured," Briar says.

"Now we don't have to search all over this huge park for him!" Ortho says.

"That's amazing. Smart thinking!" Kalim says.

"But where are they going?" Tanzanite wonders.

"Let's see…" Flioyd says, "Looks like the flashlight disappeared into the Playful Stage building."

"Then that's where we'll find them," Kalim says.

"Okay, sounds like we've got a plan. To the Playful Stage!" Ace says.

"Yeah!" Kalim and Ortho cheer.

"Now all we need to wait is to get down and figure out a plan, right Sereia?" Briar says.

However, Sereia isn't saying anything.

"Um, Sereia," Briar says, confused.

Sereia however, is not paying attention. She is too focused on seeing the bright lights. And suddenly, something flashes into her mind.

Sereia's mind:

Sereia has a big smile on her face as she is seeing Playful Land's beautiful lights in the night from the ferris wheel.

"Wow. It looks even more beautiful at night," Sereia says with a smile. Then turns her head, "Don't you think, Gino?"

And there he is, Gino is looking at the view with her. He turns to Sereia and nods with a smile on his face.

Then Ernesto's voice, "Yes Sereianna, it is a very beautiful view up here."

"Yes. I'm glad that we get to live here," Sereia says.

"Indeed. And you will be our beautiful star, Serieanna. An elegant dancer on land and underwater. Our beautiful shining star," Ernesto says with a smile.

"Thank you Ernesto, but I'm still a little nervous about performing," Sereia says.

Gino gives Sereia a reassuring smile.

"You think I can do it?" Sereia asks.

Gino nods.

And Ernesto says, "Of course, you can. You can do it, if you believe in yourself."

Sereia smiles.

Ended:

Sereia sadly mutters "Ernes… Gin…"

"Huh?" Briar responds, actually hearing Sereia saying those names.

Sometime later, after the ferris wheel stops when they reach the ground, they rush out and return to Gentle Plaza.

Ortho says, "When I was studying our surroundings up in the Ferris Wheel, I saw a large number of puppets around the carousel. I suggest steering clear of that area on our way to the stage. I've got the park map scanned and stored in memory, so I can be our guide!"

"Couldn't have asked for a better one!" Kalim says.

"All this smooth sailing wouldn't have been possible without Cater's quick thinking, huh…" Ace says.

'Yeah…" Kalim says. He soon begins sobbing, "Cater... You were so cool... to the very last..!"

"We must put an end to this battle. We can't let Cater Diamond's sacrifice be in vain..!" Ortho says.

'Knock off the eulogizing!" Ace cries out, "Cater's a lot tougher than he looks. And Trey's gonna be there with him. They're gonna be just fine," and then says, "If you're gonna worry about anyone, worry about us. Only five of us are left now. We're down two juniors as well. That puts a pretty big dent in our potential firepower. I'm just sayin', if any puppets showed up now-"

But Vil shushes them, "Shh! Quiet."

Everyone remains quiet.

And soon, they hear the sound of marching, causing everyone to rush and hide, and it's coming from a puppet soldier.

"A puppet…" Vil softly says, "There's only one, but it'll call for its friends if it sees us.

"You're right, "Ortho whispers, "And it's pacing back and forth along the same route... I think it might be functioning as a lookout."

"This is bad," Vil says, "If security's this tight, things are only going to get more difficult moving forward."

"So, what, we oughta go back the way we came?" Ace asks.

"That wouldn't be a good idea," Ortho says, "We managed to evade enemies on the way in, but we might run into them on the way out…"

"Is there any other way we could take..?" Kalim asks.

Suddenly Floyd loudly says, "SOOO, " and decides to come out.

Everyone looks at Floyd, confused and worried.

Suddenly Floyd loudly says, "SOOO," and decides to come out.

Everyone looks at Floyd, confused and worried.

That catches the puppet's attention, "WhO SaId THaT?!"

Kalim panics, "Not so loud, Floyd! Vil said to be quiet!"

"You're being just as loud!" Ace panics.

"They're going to see us," Briar panics.

Vil also questions, "What are you doing, Floyd?! The puppet's going to spot us!"

"So what?" Floyd responds.

"Is 'so what' all you have to say? We'll be in danger if they find us here!" Vil says with a frown on his face.

Kalim agrees, "Yeah! And we can't break the puppets…"

"Why can't we?" Floyd questions.

"Are you serious, Floyd?" Briar questions.

Even Ace says, "Huh? I mean, because we'll get turned into puppets if we do…"

Again, so what? I literally don't care," Floyd says, looking annoyed, "Here's the thing... I'm way past over this. I might get turned into a puppet AFTER cutting loose, but that's not gonna stop me from busting 'em up first. As long as I can beat the tar outta the guys tickin' me off… I don't give a flying fish what happens next!" and is ready to let loose

Everyone else exclaims, "WHAT?!"

"Dude... Once again, Floyd proves how seriously messed-up he is…" Ace says, dumbfounded.

"Leona said he had a plan," Ortho says, "Cater fought off puppets because there was no alternative. But this seems different. You're plunging headlong into enemy lines, fully aware that doing so will result in your own swift downfall?"

"Enough from the peanut gallery. Look, I'm just itchin' to go on a tear right now," Floyd says, "I don't wanna keep runnin' and puttin' off the fight. I ain't got the patience. So lemme cut loose, will ya?"

"Floyd, you can't…" Sereia says, shocked.

"Floyd Leech... I'm amazed…" Ortho says, "You lack even the smallest iota of logical thought. What a destructive form of instant gratification you embrace! Even I failed to predict this course of action!"

"As well you should," Vil says.

Kalim laughs, "Ah hah hah, Floyd, you really are amazing!"

Then Ace asks, "Are you sure about this, Floyd? 'Cuz we might just slip on by while you're doing your thing."

"Floyd, I really don't think that's a good idea," Briar says.

Floyd turns to Ace, "You wanna get dragged into the fray and get the same squeezing all those other puppets are about to get, Crabby and Shrimpy? You guys are all distractions. Do me a favor and scram, would ya?"

"Hey!" Briar, Sereia, and Tanzantie shout, feeling offended.

"When Floyd says he'll do something, it's never a bluff…" Ace says.

But has a realization, "Crud, we're gonna be in trouble if we stay here! We gotta run, now!

Kalim becomes confused, "Huh? Wait, we're running from Floyd now instead of the puppets?!"

"Exactly! Take care of yourself, Floyd!" Ace says.

Ace and Kalim run away at top speed.

"Uh yeah, I think we should get out of here," Briar says.

Trinket and Sereia agree.

"Yeah. Let's get out of here," Tanzanite says.

Then the others rush off as well.

"Wait for me, everyone!" Ortho calls out and follows them with Vil.

"Now then…" Floyd says and turns to face the puppets, "It's finally time for some FUN."

The puppet spots Floyd, "NiGHt RaVEn CoLLeGe STuDeNT sPoTTeD! CaLL fOr BAcKuP! CaLL fOr BAcKuP!"

And with that, multiple puppets begin marching towards Floyd.

Floyd laughs with a smile on his face, "Ahaha. Look at 'em all swarmin' in… C'mon! Call in even more of your buddies. Otherwise... This won't be worth my time! Haha! Hahahahaha!"

As anyone can guess, Floyd is actually viciously attacking the puppets left and right, destroying each one of them.

Floyd actually laughs, "GYAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! C'mon, don't tell me that's ALL of ya?!"

One puppet cries out, "ThE ReSt IS uP tO YoU, bACkUp CReW… UsE A cAtCH pOlE! He'Ll BReAk US iF wE CoMe IN cLoSE!"

However, before the puppets can do anything, Floyd flinches, "...Hrk!" and starts to lose his balance, "Rgh... Augh…" And then collapsed to the ground.

Soon, the wood begins to grow on the side of his face, like the others.

Floyd says, "Welp, guess this is it…" And then smiles, "But at least I got to bust up that whole crowd I drew. Talk about cathartic!" and actually liked this, "Ahh, that was a good run. Okay, guys, you can take me to Foxfish 'n his pal now."

The puppets look at Floyd with uneasy expressions, "WhAT's WrONg WiTH hIm..? Ah! THe BiTE mArKS iN mY ArM wON't Go AWaY! He'S TiLl A BiTe RIsK. CaRRy WiTH cAuTIoN!"

And with that, the puppets cautiously pick up Floyd and carry him to where Ernesto and Gino are.

Meanwhile, the rest of the group runs into the Domicile of Destruction. Everyone breathes heavily.

Ace takes deep breaths, "My heart's about to explode. How much farther is it to the Playful Stage?!"

"We're almost there! We just have to make it through this game area!" Ortho says.

"Okay. Let's keep going and save our friends!" Kalim says.

"I've been following along because you've been rushing ahead rather confidently… But do you actually have a plan for how you're going to fight Ernesto?" Vil responds.

And Kalim answers, "Nope!"

Vil freezes in shock as Kalim and the others rush ahead.

But then Vil says, "Everyone, stop."

The gang skids to a halt, looking surprised. They soon turn to Vil.

Confused, Kalim asks, "What's wrong, Vil? We gotta get to Ernesto!

"Yes, and then what?" Vil responds, "Do you think we stand a chance just running in headlong? Ernesto is a park administrator. He has an immense reserve of puppets and a great deal of familiarity with this place. We don't have the first clue about what he or Gino are capable of. They could be using the others as shields, for all we know. Conversely, what do we have?"

Then turns to the shocked Ortho, "A spudling with broken brakes who seems reasonable, but resorts to extreme measures at the drop of a hat."

And turns to Ace, "A spudling who has smarts, but gets easily carried away and always botches things at a critical moment."

And then turns to a puzzled Kalim, "A spudling who could charitably be described as positive, and less so as ignorant and shallow."

Then Vil says, "And last, but certainly not least, a world-famous supermodel with overwhelming charisma. These are such poor-quality spudlings, they couldn't even make decent mashed potatoes to serve with steak."

Ortho feels offended, "Are you saying that even combined, we aren't good enough to be a side dish?! That's downright mean, Vil Schoenheit!

"Are you the steak in that analogy? I don't appreciate being a potato, you know!" Ace says, annoyed.

And Kalim says, "Ooh, mashed potatoes are great on sandwiches!" and is totally being clueless.

Vil sternly says, "Silence! Really now, complaining is the only thing you boys are good at-and Kalim is off on an entirely unrelated tangent. What I'm saying is that if we go in without a plan, we'll lose. Plain and simple. Ernesto is a capable con artist. 'Honest Ernesto,' my foot. He's a shrewd man; the kind who lies through his teeth. Do you think someone so far-removed from the concept of honesty wouldn't have a single trump card up his sleeve?"

"What do you mean by that?" Ortho asks.

And Vil says, "Ernesto was cautious enough to allow his quarry to roam freely while he spent the entire day observing them. I find it hard to believe he's already shown his entire hand. We need a proper plan in case something unexpected arises."

Ace sighs, "True enough. It'd suck to make it all this way only to get outplayed and go out with a whimper.

"Despite your remark, your tone of voice indicates a strong level of confidence, Ace," Ortho says.

Ace has to agree, "Well, yeah. We've got Vil, a junior and the housewarden of Pomefiore to boot! It was rough losing Leona, Cater and Floyd… But as long as we've got Vil with us, I'm sure we can manage."

"I know what you mean. Vil's super reliable. I feel better just having him here," Kalim says.

"For sure," Ace says, "Though obviously I'm also happy to count on you as housewarden of Scarabia, Kalim! I know you'll be there for us in a pinch.

"You truly are shameless…" Vil says, "Oh well, no matter. Let's find someplace discreet to hide and work out our plan of attack."

"Hey Vil, what about us?" Briar asks.

"Yeah. How come you didn't include us, even though it's an insult," Tanzanite says, a bit bothered by that party.

Trinket agrees, but Sereia remains silent.

"To put it bluntly, you four won't be taking part in this," Vil says, sternly.

"Huh?" Briar, Sereia, and Tanzanite react in confused expressions.

Even Trinket looks confused.

You don't want us involved, why?" Briar asks.

"Because, out of all of us, Ernesto and Gino seem to specifically want you, Trinket, Tanzanite, and he has already captured Grim and Jasper. And for some strange reason, he seems mostly interested in Sereia," Vil says firmly, "Or should I say, Sereianna."

"Sereianna?" Kalim says, confused, "Isn't that the name that Ernesto keeps calling Sereia?"

"No…" Sereia speaks up, earning everyone's attention.

"Sereia?" Briar says, confused.

"Sereianna… that… that is my name…" Sereia says.

"What?!" Everyone says, shocked.

"Sereianna is your real name?" Ace asks, shocked.

"Yes. I believe so. And well, I think… I think I actually know this place, Playful Land it was… it was my home," Sereia says.

"Your home?" Ortho asks, shocked.

"You mean, you used to live here?" Briar asks.

"Yes. I do," Sereia says.

"I thought so," Vil says.

"I'm confused," Ace says.

"Ace, it means that Sereia knows Ernesto and Gino. She knows about Playful Land. That must be the reason why Ernesto and Gino seem so nice to Sereia, they know her," Briar says.

"That explains how she knows about the food and drinks here, and the attractions," Kalim says.

"And why Ernesto seems so attached to her," Ace says.

"But it makes me wonder, how did Sereia end up away from Playful Land? How did she end up on Sage Island? How are Ernesto and Gino fully connected to her?" Tanzanite says.

"We'll have to worry about it when we find Ernesto. For now, let's find somewhere to discuss our plan of attack," Vil says.

Soon enough, the gang arrives at a discrete location, hopefully somewhere away from the puppets.

"All right, this area looks clear of puppets," Ortho says.

"We panicked and hid when we saw those puppets with tools on our way here…" Kalim says, "But they were so busy with repairing the building, they didn't even notice us. What hard workers they are."

"This place was back to pristine condition in no time flat after we busted it up earlier today…" Ortho says, "But several places still need repairs. Were the puppets too preoccupied fighting us elsewhere to have time to fix it?"

"Seems weird to even bother fixing it in the first place, when there aren't any visitors left in the park. I admire the work ethic, but still," Ace says, "Here I thought nothing could be creepier than attractions all lit up in the middle of a dead-quiet, empty park… But there's something EXTRA unnerving about tip-toeing through shattered stained glass windows and broken pillars."

Soon, they hear something creaking and groaning before giving weight.

"Hm? What's that sound?" Kalim asks.

"It sounds like it came from above," Briar says.

Kalim looks up and cries out, "Ah! Ortho, Sereia, look out! Above you!"

"Above us?" Sereia asks.

Ortho and Sereia look up and are shocked.

Ortho yelps, "Ack! It's raining glass-!"

"Ortho!" Ace cries out.

"Sereia!" Tanzanite cries out.

"Look out!" Briar cries out and rushes over.

Vil rushes over, "Get down!"

Vil then casts his magic as debris crashes down to the ground. Briar mananges to grab Sereia and uses her magic to move Sereia out of the way.

Ace cries out, "That whole stained glass window fell, frame and all!"

Kalim calls out, "Sereia? Ortho? Vil? Are you okay?!"

"I think so…" Sereia says.

"I... I'm good," Ortho says, "Vil used his magic to push us away right before it came crashing down on us."

"Then what about Vil?!" Ace asks.

Soon, Vil slowly rises from the wreckage, "Rgh…"

Ortho and Sereia rush over.

"Vil Schoenheit! Are you all right?" Ortho asks.

"Are you okay?" Sereia.

"Yes. Worry not... " Vil says and feels confident, "My face escaped unscathed!"

Ortho becomes annoyed, "We weren't asking about your face!"

"I know your face is like, super important and all, but geez!"

"Are you hurt, Vil? Here, let me see…" Kalim calls out and tries to rush over.

But stop to see what's on the ground, "Ack, there's fallen glass and debris all around him. I can't get close."

"Hold on, where's Briar?" Tanzanite asks.

Trinket tinks and looks around, and see Briar isn't around.

"Where is she?" Sereia asks, worried.

Soon, the puppet walks over, "LoOKs LiKE tHeRE's BrOKeN gLAsS. BeTTeR cLEaN tHaT Up… hM?" And soon noticed the shocked Night Raven students, "NiGHt RaVEn COlLeGE sTuDEnTs!"

Ace panics, "Uh-oh. That big crash attracted the puppets' attention. We'd better run for it!"

"I suppose you'd better, yes," Vil says and turns to the others, "All of you, get going."

"Huh? Why are you talking like that, Vil? You have to come with us," Ortho asks.

"Don't you see the mountain of debris around me?" Vil says, "The puppets will capture me before I can climb over it. Why embarrass myself getting caught in an ungainly scramble to escape? A true pro goes out with grace and aplomb. Leona neutralized the most puppets out of any of us. The last thing I want is him calling me pathetic in comparison. And I gave Cater my word that I'd take care of you boys."

"But still…" Ortho says, worried, "Without you, it's just going to be me and two pieces of dead weight. I can't possibly fight in those conditions!"

"Did you just casually refer to us as dead weight?!" Ace questions, "I mean, yeah, I'm just as worried about our chances without Vil, but come on…"

But Vil sternly says, "Don't be so childish! Leona, Cater and Floyd didn't get captured just so you'd be free to whine. Think about what you need to do. Figure the rest out yourselves!"

Everyone remains silent to hear it.

And Ortho says, "...All right. The three of us will make absolute sure to save you guys. So we'll trust you to handle things at this juncture, Vil Schoenheit. Buy us time to get away!"

"Yes, that was the plan. Off you go," Vil says.

"But what about Briar?" Tanzanite asks.

"Yes. Where is she?" Sereia asks, worried.

Trinket also grows worried.

Vil assures, "Do not worry, I'll find her and have her catch up with the rest of you. For now, you all need to leave while you have the chance."

Soon, everyone rushes off, having to leave Vil behind.

"Now then…" Vil says, and turns to see the puppets surrounding him, "I may be about to lose, but my struggle will be far from futile! Adversity is where I bloom-more powerfully and beautifully than anyone!"

"Not without me you're not," Tanzanite says.

Shocked, Vil says, "Tanzanite, I thought I told you to go with the others."

"Sorry Vil, but it's not right to leave you to fight them yourselves. Besides, we need to find Briar, so you're going to need some help," Tanzanite says.

Vil sighs and says, "Very well, but you have to do what I say."

"Yes sir," Tanzanite says.

Vil and Tanzanite turn to see the puppets marching towards them.

Ace, Ortho, Kalim, Trinket, and Sereia are able to escape and rush further before slowing down to a stop.

Ace takes a deep breath in exhaustion, "Okay, we should be in the clear now."

"I could've avoided those falling objects if I'd been more alert to my surroundings. Vil paid the price for my inattentiveness…" Ortho says, feeling guilty.

Sereia sadly says, "Same with Briar, I wasn't able to get away, but she saved me."

Kalim assures, "I'm sure Vil and Briar are just glad you're okay, guys. If they saw you beating yourself up for that, Vil'd yell at you to stop being childish again."

Ortho thinks a bit and says, "...Yeah, you're right. We're about to do battle against Ernesto Foulworth and Gino. Just the six of us. We ought to heed Vil's words of caution and work out a detailed strategy for victory."

Sereia notices, "Hold on, where's Tanzantie?"

Everyone looks around to see Tanzantie is not around.

"He's… he's gone!" Kalim says, shocked.

Ace realizes, "Don't tell me he decided to stay behind to help Vil and Briar."

"Oh no," Sereia says, worried.

"So now it's done to five of us," Ortho says, "But we must carry on, find Ernesto and Gino, and stop them."

"Yeah, about that…" Ace says, "So, hypothetically, what if Ernesto has a signature spell?"

"You think he might?" Ortho says, confused.

"Yeah, I've been thinking about that ever since Vil mentioned him possibly having a trump card," Ace says, "See, ever since yesterday, it's like I've been a little, I dunno, out of character… I've been acting all energetic and excited. That's strange for me, right? I'm normally all chill and stuff."

"Ace Trappola... You're always energetic. Very much so," Ortho says.

"Seriously?" Ace questions.

"Yeah, especially when you're with Grim, or Briar, or Sereia, Tanzanite Jasper, Trinket, or Deuce-you get so bright and bubbly. It's adorable!" Kalim says.

"For real? Is that how you guys see me..?" Ace asks.

Yup!" Kalim answers with a smile, " And what's wrong with that? It just goes to show how excited you were to come here. I can relate! After Cater and Lilia secretly offered to take me, I was so excited I couldn't sleep a wink."

"Hmm…" Ace thinks, "I mean, I GUESS that's valid. But what about Trey? Not to mention Leona and Vil. They seemed like they were in higher spirits than usual, right? So I was thinking-what if that's Ernesto's signature spell at work?" He then says, "Some guys at our school have dangerous signature spells like that, right? Ones that can control people's body or mind. Like a certain someone who's closest to Kalim, to name one example."

Kalim becomes confused.

"Well, when we were exploring the park together, I scanned Ernesto Foulworth to gauge his magic…" Ortho says, "And it's exactly as he described. His magic was really weak in comparison to what you guys have. Lilia agreed with my evaluation, which counts for a lot considering his fae sensitivities. It's safe to say Ernesto Foulworth has very low reserves. Even if he did have a signature spell… Spells that control people are powerful and complicated. I doubt he's capable of anything at that level. And even assuming he COULD control us… Why would he invite us to a theme park, let us goof around all day, sic puppets after us, and wait for us to commit misdeeds? If he could skip those steps, he would have."

"That's a fair point, actually," Ace says.

"It still can't hurt to be cautious, of course," Ortho says, "Let's start by considering how we're gonna get close to him."

"Good call," Ace says, "If we get surrounded by puppets, there won't be anything we can do."

Then Kalim says, "Ooh, guys! I just had an idea!"

"You did?" Ace and Ortho question.

"Mmhm!" Kalim answers with a nod, "What if we invite Ernesto to a party where we eat good food and talk things out with each other?!"

Dumbfounded, Ace says, "Uh, did I hear that right? Because I could swear what you just said made absolutely no sense. Sorry, but could you repeat that for me?"

"What if we invite Ernesto to a party where we eat good food and talk things out with each other?!" Kalim repeats.

"I guess I heard right the first time…" Ace says.

But Ortho says, "Kalim... I really don't think that will work."

Confused, Kalim asks, "Why not? We don't know Ernesto or Gino all that well, right? If we took the time to talk with them, who knows? Maybe they'd turn out to be reasonable people. And also, maybe if we talk to them, we can finally help Sereia get the answers she's looking for."

"I guess that's true, but um…" Sereia says, unsure.

And Ace says, "Dude... Have you already forgotten what Vil told us about being cautious?! I hate to admit it, but Ernesto could smooth-talk circles around the rest of us. If we try to reason with him, he'd have us eating out of his hand in no time flat!"

"I dunno... Maybe there's some reason that Ernesto has to turn us into puppets," Kalim says, "If we could find out what it is, couldn't we work on coming up with a solution together?"

But Ace says, "Obviously not! He's already attacked us, which means he's chosen to be our enemy! There's no room for sympathy here! No way I'm letting that guy off the hook without some payback. And there is no way we're letting Sereia get anywhere near him!"

Then Ortho says, "Hmm. After hearing you both out, I do think there's merit to the idea of appealing to the basest of human needs. The question is: how do we provide food and music in the situation we're in? Kalim Al-Asim, I don't suppose you have any specifics in mind there?"

"Hmm…" Kalim thinks, and says, "Ooh! I can cover the music! I'm a pretty good singer, as it happens."

"That's not specific; that's spitballing…" Ace says.

'Yeah... It's not a very promising angle," Ortho says.

Suddenly, they hear a voice, "Someone, heeelp!"

The four yelps, "Ah!"

"Did you hear that?" Sereia asks.

"That voice…" Ortho says, "Is that another park visitor?"

"It came from that way! Let's check it out," Kalim says.

Everyone then rushes off to check it out.

Back in the Playful Stage, Ernesto is not looking very happy. In fact, he scowls and looks agitated as he twirls his cane. Gino stands to the side, looking morose.

Ernesto is quite irate, "Tch…"

Gino shakes his head in response.

Everyone trapped in the cage looks to see that Ernesto and Gino are not pleased, especially Ernesto.

"Looks like Ernesto's in a pretty foul mood," Jack says.

"The reason why is obvious enough. His name's Floyd Leech," Trey says.

"Yeah. Hurricane Floyd strikes again," Jasper mutters.

"Who, me? I dunno why that'd be," Floyd says, annoyed,

Ernesto angrily turns to Floyd, "Yes you do, you liar! That little tear you went on did a tremendous amount of damage. Do you think these puppets and buildings fix themselves? Well, they don't. Repairs are going to cost a ton of money... Tch. I can only imagine what the boss is gonna say."

Gino droops sadly.

Floyd laughs, "Ahaha. Sorry about that."

"That must have been quite the tear indeed," Lilia says.

"Are you sure you're okay, Floyd?" Cater says, "It really freaked me out when those puppets with the thick gloves hauled you in with a bag over your head."

"Like you were some sort of wild animal," Leona says.

"Wild animal, huh," Jasper says and glances over to Grim.

Grim looks confused, "Jasper, why're you lookin' at me?!"

"You know, Grim," Jasper says, annoyed.

But Jade assures, "Don't worry, do you see the pleased look on Floyd's face?"

"You've got the same look on yours," Jack points out.

"Jade's right. If anythin', bustin' up all those puppets was a total blast!" Floyd says with a smile, "I'd get in major trouble if I smashed up a building at school, but I get off scot-free here. Man, I wish I could do some more damage," then calls out, "Hey, Foxfish. I wanna bust up some more puppets. You mind turnin' me back real quick?"

"That's a great idea. Turn me back while you're at it, why don't ya," Leona says.

"Me too, me too!" Lilia says.

Jasper and Grim sweatdrop to hear that.

And Ernesto shouts, "In what reality would I EVER do that?!" And looks at them like they're crazy, "It's like none of you have a care in the world... Do you even understand the situation you're in?"

"Yeah. We're captured, caged, gettin' shipped off Sage's Island, and we're gonna go full puppet sooner or later," Grim with a monotone expression.

"Yeah. We pretty much know how bad our situation is," Jasper says, deadpanned.

"With Floyd here, that means there's only eight of us left out there, huh," Trey says.

"I'd like to think they're all fine, but... Something tells me we're just about due for another arrival," Cater says.

Soon, the door opens and the puppets march inside.

Soon a familiar voice appears, "All this rocking is unacceptable. Think about who it is you're carrying. If you must carry me, wrap me in your finest cottons and softest silks, and handle me much more gently."

"Seriously, are you more worried about that than the fact that we've been turned into puppets, and what about Briar…" another voice says.

And soon, one of the puppets stumbles, as one is placed in one cage. While the other is placed in the same cage as Grim and Jasper.

And the first voice shouts, "Hey! Don't let my head dip down below my heart! What if my face starts to swell up from the blood rushing to it?!"

"Oh, here we go…" Leona says, annoyed.

And soon, it's revealed to be Vil and Tanzanite, both of them have wood growing on the side of their faces.

"My word. Look at the shabby cage they've got you all in," Vil says.

"Is that all you can think about?" Tanzanite says, rolling his eyes in response.

Cater is shocked, "Vil! You got the puppet treatment, huh?"

"Tanzantie, you too?!" Jasper says, shocked.

"That means it's just Crabby, Clione, Sea Otter, Shrimpy, Angel Fish, and Plankton now? Yikes, that ain't exactly promisin'," Floyd says.

"Okay, come on. Why did YOU have to get yourself captured while those seven walked free?" Leona says, annoyed.

"Circumstances dictated it... And I don't want to hear anything from the ones who got themselves captured before me!" Vil says.

"What about Briar and the others, are they okay?" Jasper asks.

"Sereia and the others are fine…" Tanzanite says, but is reluctant, "But Briar…"

"What about Briar?" Grim asks.

Before Tanzantie can answer, Ernesto says, "Well, well. Vil Schoenheit. Even as a puppet, you look positively stunning! It's no different magic-wise, either. You're promising indeed."

"Heh. Aren't I, though? Yes, I'm QUITE the VIP," Vil says, "And when word gets out I'm missing, it will cause a huge uproar. Do you think you'll escape the search teams bound to come looking for me? It's the same for the others, actually. They all have friends and family. And more to the point, the school won't take a group of missing students lying down."

And Ernesto dramatically says, "Dear me! Did you hear that, Gino? He says the school won't take this lying down!" He then laughs, "Haah hah hah! You're hilarious. My poor sides are in stitches!"

"Wh... What's so funny?" Vil questions.

"Unfortunately for you, the investor backing us is quite the major figure in the marionette world. Just hearing their name would strike fear in hearts the world over. Loose ends aren't exactly a concern," Ernesto says.

"That's absurd…" Vil says, shocked.

"If this is your 'real world', it stinks!" Grim says.

"You're exactly right, Grim. That's just how the world is," Ernesto says, "And, really? You're bringing school into this? Do you actually think your school cares enough about you to come to your rescue? Oh, that is absolutely precious. I thought you were a bunch of insufferable jerks, but it turns out you're just naive little babies who trust your teachers to come through for you!"

Suddenly, Leona says, "Heh. You're only talking like that 'cause you don't know our headmage."

"What..?" Ernesto turns to Leona, confused, "Is Night Raven College's headmage actually some extraordinary individual..?!"

"Oh yeah. Let me tell you a thing or two about Dire Crowley…" Vil says with a smirk on his face.

"Oh yeah. Let me tell you a thing or two about Dire Crowley…" Vil says with a smirk on his face, "He's the most self-serving, underhanded man I know. He'll always try to sweep his own failures under the rug."

Ernesto becomes dumbfounded, "Wait, what?"

Even Gino looks confused.

"It's true," Jade says, "A scandal involving large numbers of students going missing would be utterly unacceptable to him."

"He'd absolutely pull out all the stops to solve the problem before word got out to the public," Floyd says.

Lilia nods, "Mmhm. It's a safe bet that he'd mobilize the whole school to the cause, students and faculty both. Volunteering, as it were."

"What an abominable educator!" Ernesto says, shocked.

"You bet he is! Feelin' demoralized yet?!" Grim adds.

"That's how WE feel on a regular basis…" Cater replies.

Gino shakes his head in disdain.

Trey then says, "Hey, come on. Now you're making poor Gino feel bad for us."

"Yeah. You're not helping Gino at all," Jasper adds.

Soon, Jack says, "Uh, look, we've got plenty of decent teachers too, okay? Professor Crewel's demanding, but also attentive. Professor Trein's super strict but still sensible. Professor Vargas always makes himself available to discuss different exercises and Track and Field records… And it's not just the teachers supporting us. Plenty of adults help make our lives easier, like Sam in the school store."

Gino perks up in interest.

Ernesto scoffs, "Pfft. What a load of bunk. Take those claims with a whole handful of salt, Gino."

Gino hesitates and hides behind Ernesto, looking sad.

Confused, Vil asks, "Am I missing something? Ernesto's gotten rather hung up on naysaying since the subject of school came up."

"Uh, what's going on?" Tanzanite says, confused.

"From what we can tell, he's got some kind of grudge against it," Leona says.

"But why, tho? It's so fun. All kindsa cool stuff happens at school," Floyd says.

Jasper and Tanzantie mutters, "Your kind of fun is kind of different from ours."

Gino looks confused.

But Ernesto says, "Hah! I'm sure it's plenty fun for scholars like you guys-people gifted with talent. But how about the rest of us, who've barely got any magic worth mentioning? The door gets slammed in our faces!" And then angrily says, "We don't get chances to learn. And if we work hard to earn a chance, all we get for it is people telling us to know our place. Schools are rotten institutions that only benefit a select few."

"What I'm getting out of this is... you didn't make it into an arcane academy, and now you hate all schools by extension?" Cater says.

"What a truly petty man you are!" Lilia says.

"Yes, yes... Go ahead, scholars. Laugh it up," Ernesto says in remark, "You know who I really can't stand? People who take the fortune of being in school for granted. You've never imagined what life must be like for anyone who couldn't get in, have you? Have you ever spared the slightest thought for how miserable it is for those of us with only a smidgen of talent?"

Then Vil says, "...An individual's value doesn't rely solely on their magical capabilities, or lack thereof. There are plenty of alternatives for people who don't get accepted into arcane academies or other elite schools."

"Yeah!" Jack agrees, "My little brother can't use magic, but he isn't miserable at all. He's got more friends than me, and he's a seriously good student."

"Yeah, because he was born at the right place and the right time!" Ernesto says, bitterly, "I wasn't. I had high hopes pinned on me, and when I couldn't live up to 'em, I wound up ditched and treated like a total outsider. And then there's Gino. Who knows how much better his life would've been if he could use magic? Meanwhile, you guys get to live it up at one of the best schools around, all because you have magical ability… You realize how privileged that makes you?"

Gino sadly shakes his head in response.

"Dude, what's with the lecture? Are you fishin' for sympathy 'cuz you had a hard life?" Floyd questions.

"Oh, no. I'm showing my respect. After all, school's a 'font of knowledge', right?" Ernesot says, "If that fountain's only accessible to a select few, oh, how pretty and clear its waters must be! Would that I could see them. I'd never expect a bunch of ivory tower scholars to be able to relate to us."

Everyone remains silent about it.

"Well, this is a conundrum. I don't believe he's willing to listen very much at all to anyone who goes to school," Jack says.

"No kidding. And I dunno about you guys, but I certainly can't argue with the fact that I've had a privileged upbringing," Trey says.

But then, Grim says, "Y'know… I kinda get where Ernesto's coming from."

Everyone looks at Grim in confusion.

And Grim says, "The difference is... I'd never give up just 'cuz a school rejected me. I'd keep coming, throwing tantrums, pestering, making threats, biting, burning things, rampaging like wild… I'd do whatever it took until Night Raven College gave up and let me in! After all, I gotta study at school... to be a great mage!"

"Yeah. you tell em, Grim!" Jasper says.

Ernesto asks, confused, "Excuse me? What would some monster know?!"

"Well, the truth is, Grim is one of those who ended up with authority to attend Night Raven, even though he was refused to," Tanzanite says.

"True. Grim did all of those things, and he managed to land a spot at our school," Trey says.

Grim says with confidence, "Heh heh. Take THAT."

"You what..?" Ernesto says, shocked.

"Grim's got way more moxie than either of you," Leona says, "But please, keep sulking forever. Do you think you're the only ones who have it rough?"

Then Vil says, "Take Tanzantie and Jasper for an instant, after losing their parents. They had trouble supporting themselves, and had to go through all kinds of hardship. In fact, they even went into the mines where Briar and the others found them. And seeing how well their magic was and how strong and hardworking they are, the headmage allowed them to enter the school."

"And let's not forget Trinket. She's a little craft fairy who lives around the school, and is able to attend classes with Briar and the others," Lilia says.

"And Briar is another one you should consider. She was teleported to a different world that has no magic at all. And she ended up getting summoned to the school despite her living in a world with no magic, and her own was sealed. She proved that with or without magic, she had the right to be at the school," Jade says.

Then Cater says, "And little Sereia too. Despite her being a doll, she showed that she had quite a good amount of magic, and is able to work hard. Even though she and Briar had no clue of their past identity. Still, the headmage also allowed her to attend the school with Briar, even though Night Raven College is a boys school."

The more they talk, the more Gino takes an interest. Especially about Briar and the others who ended up finding their own way to become students in the school with the other Night Raven students. Even Sereia was able to earn her place in the school despite her being a doll.

Then Jack says, "If you REALLY wanted to learn, you wouldn't let a lack of admission stop you. You'd work so hard you'd have no time to become a degenerate."

Gino is stunned to hear it

Then Lilia asks, "Ernesto. Gino. I'd like you to think long and hard about something. Do the two of you truly hate school? Or, deep down, are you envious of those who get to attend and learn the things you wanted to learn yourselves?"

This makes Ernesto shaken and is very bitter, "Rgh…"

Gino is very uncertain and shakes his head.

Suddenly, a puppet marches into the building.

"Well, it looks like they've captured another student," Ernesto says.

Then turns to see the puppets, "Lets see who they…" but his eyes wide in shock, "Wha… what happened?"

Gino eyes wide in shock as his ears stand. Everyone else trapped in the cage is stunned.

"Is that…?" Leona says, shocked.

Grim cries out, "Briar!"

Indeed, one of the puppets carried Briar into the stage, but Briar isn't being turned into a puppet like the others. However, the only thing she has is a bandage wrapped around her head, along with a bandage on her cheek, and one wrapped around her right wrist and left arm. Possibly the puppets must have mended whatever injuries she has. And it looks like she's knocked out cold.

"What happened to her?" Trey asks, shocked.

"It… It must have…" Vil says, realized, "It happened when she jumped in to save Sereia."

"What are you talking about?" Jasper asks.

Tanzanite realizes, "One of the pillars at that attraction falls over and shatters one of the windows. Vilo uses his magic to clear it away, but Briar jumps in to save Sereia. She must have gotten hurt when the glass and debris fell."

"That sounds like shrimpy alright," Floyd says.

Ernesto and Gino are shocked to hear it.

"She… she saved Sereianna… again…" Ernesto says.

Gino sadly nods in response.

Ernesto sighs and says, "Place her in my office, for the time being, but be very gentle with her."

And with that, the puppet takes Briar away.

"Now Sereia and Trinket are along with Ace, Kalim, and Ortho," Grim says, sadly.

"I hope they're okay," Tanzanite says.

"I'm also hoping Briar will be okay," Jasper says.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Gentle Plaza, the marching puppets search for the remaining night Raven members.

The puppet says, "ThEY rAn THiS wAY! FiND tHeM! DoN't LEt ThEM eScAPe!"

Then the puppets march far away from the area. Soon, Ace and the others peek out from behind the trees.

Ace sighs in relief, "Phew, glad these trees were here to give us some cover... But those puppets are hot on our trail.

Kalim looks around, "I don't see Ortho. Is he okay?"

"Hard to say…" Ace says, "But if the alternative is all five of us getting captured, him getting away alone is probably for the best."

"I hope Ortho is okay," Sereia says.

Trinket tinks in response.

Suddenly, one of the puppets hears them, "HmM..?"

"Oh, crud!" Ace mutters, "That puppet stopped... Is it onto us?!"

The puppet says, "WhAT hAvE We HeRE..?" and sees a bag on the ground, "ThERe'S a PoUCh oN tHE gRoUNd By THe WaLKwAy," It then rattles the bag, "LoSt PRoPeRTy!"

"Huh? Lost property?" Kalim says, confused.

The puppet then says, "DiD oNE of ThE viSItoRs We StUFfed InTo CrAtES DRop ThIS? I MuST DeLivER iT At OnCE."

And then the puppet fusses about in distress.

"Why's it freaking out over one little lost item?" Ace questions, "I noticed this back when they were fixing up the Domicile of Destruction, too. Aren't their priorities a little weirdly skewed?"

"That goes to show how earnest the puppets are about helping out in the park. It's admirable how much they care about their work!" Kalim says.

"That's true," Sereia says, "We have to remember that these puppets are also employees of the park."

"Something tells me a guest stuffed in a crate isn't gonna appreciate a puppet going, 'Here, you dropped this,' though…" Ace replies.

But then notices something about the bag, "Hold on, isn't that…"

Seeing the bag, Sereia gasps, "It's… It's Briar's bag…"

"But why is it out here?" Kalim asks.

"I don't know, but I got a bad feeling about this," Ace says.

"It WOuLD be JuSt TErRibLe If thERe WeRe evEn MoRE loST iTems. LeT's ScoUR tHE AreA MoRe ThOrouGhly," The puppet says.

The gang begins to worry.

"It's a matter of time before they spot us…" Ace says, worried, "And we made it so close to the Playful Stage, too... Is this curtains?!"

"Don't give up now, Ace," Kalim says, "I'll figure something out. You run for it!"

"What?" Sereia asks, worried.

"Huh?" Ace responds, "Wait, why would you suggest that?!"

Then Kalim says, "No point in all of us getting captured. I'm a housewarden. I'm supposed to look after the other students! If I act as bait, well... I'm sure the rest will work itself out!" and is determined to protect everyone.

"Bait? You're not going to just jump out in front of them, are you?!" Ace says, shocked.

And moves towards Kalim, "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Kalim, just settle down for a second and-"

Soon, multiple mechanical chimes are suddenly heard nearby, catching everyone off guard, and one of them accidentally drops the bag.

That also earns the puppets' attention.I HeARd SomEtHIng! Let'S GeT OVer TheRE, NoW!"

And with that, the puppets march away, and forgot the bag on the ground.

"The puppets all left..?" Ace says.

"I think so, yeah…" Kalim says.

"It looks like it," Sereia says, and rushes over to pick up Briar's bag.

Trinket says.

All of them sigh in relief, "WHEEEEW.

"Thank goodness!" Kalim says.

"No kidding…" Ace says.

"But where did that music come from?" Sereia asks.

Even Trinket looks confused.

Soon, Ortho pops out from the bushes close by, "Heh heh. It was me!"

"Ortho!" The crew cries out in surprise and relief.

Ortho says, "I found a vendor's cart in the area where I fled, and I turned on all the noise-making toys it had in stock. Testing toys out before buying them doesn't count as misdeed, right? Are you all okay?"

"We are now, thanks to you!" Kalim says, "Aren't you glad we all got away, Ace? Boy, I was on pins and needles before that!"

And Ace says, "Kalim...I was making snide remarks about you not too long ago. You haven't forgotten about that, have you?"

"So you knew you were being snide?!" Ortho questions.

Ace turns to Ortho, "Can it! Anyway, if an underclassman trashed me like that, I'd never bother protecting them. Why were you gonna stick your neck out for me?"

Hmm... Well, I've got a lot of younger siblings," Kalim says, "They all start getting cheeky once they're older than ten, but I still love them. You being an underclassman kinda makes you like an honorary little brother. And of course, little sister."

Sereia giggles. Trinket smiles and hugs Kalim by his cheek.

Ace soon says, "Hey, I'm not some ten-year-old kid! I'm only a year younger than you."

"I know," Kalim says, "But it's still a big brother's job to look out for his younger brothers. Considering all the Heartslabyul guys have been captured, you must be pretty scared, right? I might not be as dependable as Trey or Cater, but feel free to think of me as your big brother and lean on me anyway!" and Kalim smiles and sparkles with sincerity, "You can count on me being there when you need me most. Okay?"

Ace sighs, "Ah, geez... Can your smile get ANY brighter?"

And Ortho says, "Kalim Al-Asim, your suggestions were illogical, baselessly optimistic, and nonsensical. But Ace Trappola, your counterarguments only conveyed personal irritation. They were juvenile and unconstructive. So what if both of you make an effort to meet in the middle and try to get along?"

"Dude, you sound worse than either of us did!" Ace says.

Confused, Kalim asks, "Was my idea really that bad..?!"

"Rgh…" Ace responds. He then says, "Look, Kalim... I'm sorry. I got bent out of shape, and I shouldn't have said what I did. I still strongly disagree with your whole plan, and I don't think it's the right call… But in-fighting isn't gonna get us anywhere," And grins, "If we stayed at odds... how could we give Ernesto the royal beatdown he deserves?"

"For sure!" Kalim says, 'I mean, I never saw it as a full-blown argument anyway, but... It's totally cool! There's nothing we can't achieve if we just put our heads together!"

Trinket agrees.

Then Ace turns to Sereia, "And don't worry Sereia, we promise that Ernesto gives you the answers you deserve."

"Really?" Sereia asks.

"That's right. In fact, that's basically the reason why you wanted to come, and Briar and the others, despite all of us wanting to have fun, wish to help you. And after all that you remember, it's time that Ernesto answers to all of them," Ace says.

"I agree. You deserve to know the truth about your past and you might finally get your answer," Kalim says.

Ortho giggles, "Heh heh. Good call. Let's find the best approach we can-something the five of us can do."

"But this… I'm worried…" Sereia says, looking at Briar's bag.

"You're right, if her bag is here, then…" Ace says, and grows worried, "It must mean that Briar must have got caught as well."

"Oh no," Sereia says, worried.

Even Trinket thinks in worry.

But Ortho assures.

"Don't worry Sereia, will find a way to save her and everyone. And we'll be sure of it," Ortho says.

Back in his office at the Playful Stage, Gino looks at the unconscious Briar with a sad expression. He then gently pats her head in response.

Ernesto walks in and asks, "How is she doing?"

Gino gestures in sadness, but does give reassurance.

"I see," Ernesto says. Then sighs, "I can't believe this happened. And to the one who took care of Sereianna. And yet, she did it to save her. The girl has a kind heart."

Suddenly, Briar lets out a low groan in pain and slowly opens her eyes.

She slowly turns her head to see, "Er-Ernesto… Gi-Gino…"

Ernesto shushes her gently, "Easy, you have received some injuries, and you need to rest. Just close your eyes, and rest," and then tucks her in with a blanket.

Briar feels dizzy and soon falls back asleep in response.

"Do not worry, you, along with your friends will be well taken care of here, especially for being the closest and taking care of Sereianna," Ernesto says, softly.

Gino smiles and nods in response.

Shortly after, Ernesto is talking to the boss, "Reporting in. We're finally down to just three Night Raven College students still at large. Everything is proceeding as you requested!" ...I, ah, certainly remain aware of the deadline. The remained will be apprehended in no time," And reacts in shock, " What? You say the repair costs for the park and the puppets are running too high? But that's the tradeoff for capturing-" and quickly says, "...Yes, sir, of course. My deepest apologies. Yes, sir... Yes, sir. You can always count on me to deliver... If you'll excuse me…"

And then the call ends.

Ernesto huffs in annoyance, as he leaves the office, "Like I give a flying flip about the stupid repair bills. Remind me again: what was it that drove those bills up? Oh yeah, it was those same Night Raven College brats." And turns to see the Night Raven students, "That's you guys, in case you weren't listening."

Jade, Lilia, Trey, and Jack remain completely quiet and immobile.

Ernesto smiles, "...Ahh, how inconsiderate of me. Must be pretty hard to open your mouths right about now, huh?"

Gino nods with a smirk. Jade and Lilia remain quiet, despite their eyes being open.

Vil says, "It seems Lilia and Jade have lost the ability to move their mouth…"

Trey and Jack are silent as well.

"Trey and Jack, too. Guess they're the first of us to go," Leona says.

And Cater says, "We're not far off from joining them, huh..?"

"It's creepin' me out, Jade bein' all silent," Floyd says.

Ernesto remains silent.

Floyd turns to Jasper and GrimHow're Little Shrimpy and Sealie holdin' up? They got nabbed the same time Jade did, right?"

"I think... they're not doing so hot, either…" Cater says.

Grim struggles to speak, "Rgh... I don't wanna be a puppet… Only thing... I wanna be... is a great mage... at Night Raven College..!"

"Grim…" Jasper softly says.

"This again?" Ernesto says with a sigh.

And then says, "You people really don't know when to give up. School is utterly useless. Shouldn't this whole situation clue you in on that?" And smirks, "We never went to school, but we still pulled one over on you fancy-schmancy students," And smiles, "Being good and studying isn't what gets you ahead. Having the power to survive in the real world is!"

"Well, there's still a lot you can learn in school," Tanzanite says

Ernesto laughs, "Hah hah hah! Like what?"

"Um well, you can learn about the history of magic, and you might learn how to help control your magic. Even though your magic is not strong, I'm sure they can teach you how to use it the best they can," Tanzanite says.

However, Ernesto brushes him off, "I'm already successful. It's ridiculous to think there's ANYTHING I could learn there."

Soon, it's revealed that Grim and Jasper have lost their method to speak.

Ernesto smirks, Oh, what's this? You can't respond? Pity."

"You know, Ernesto... You really don't get what school is about," Cater says.

"What?" Ernesto questions.

And Vil says, "If what Tanzantie was trying to tell you went that far over your head, it speaks volumes about the kind of person you are."

"School's a hassle, but it's far from pointless... Not that you guys could conceive of that," Leona says.

And Floyd says, "If you've never been, how're you supposed to know how useful or useless it is? But keep spitballin'. It's funny to listen to."

Gino remains quiet as he stares.

And Ernesto says, annoyed, "You know what you boys are? Sore losers."

And soon, a puppet shows up, "Mr. FoUlWORth, I HAve A SiTUatiON RePoRt."

Ernesto turns to the puppet, "Let's hear it."

The puppet mutters something to Ernesto and Gino.

Ernesto is shocked, ...What?! Sereia, her fairy friend and the last three students have almost made it to the Playful Stage?! Tch. And you just let them through? Lousy, useless puppets, the lot of you…"

Gino grimaces in worry.

"I take it they've made it here safely, then," Vil says.

I wanted to avoid a direct confrontation, but I guess that ship's sailed," Ernesto says, "The handoff deadline's getting real close. Might as well take care of this myself. They're Night Raven College students, sure, but there's just five of them," And smirks, "What's more, it's three of the original chumps that fell for my invitation! Ernesto Foulworth's got this in the bag." then smiles, "and of course, we'll have a chance to reunite with Sereianna and obtain the last of her friend."

Then turns to Gino, "Come on, Gino!"

Gino smiles and nods.

Ernesto strides out while Gino follows from behind.

But hears something, "Urgh…"

Gino stops and turns to see Grim.

And Grim mananges to say, "Gonna... be... a great... mage…"

Gino stares at Grim with wide eyes.

Back in Ernesto's Office, Briar is still sleeping from the incident. Soon, Briar slowly turns and opens her eyes.

"My… My head…" Briar responds, feeling dizzy. She slowly sits up, "Sereia… Trinket…"

She tries to stand up but feels dizzy and collapses on the couch. Then she lies back down.

Meanwhile, Sereia, Trinket, and the boys arrive at the Playful Stage.

"This is it... Ernesto Foulworth and Gino should be up ahead," Ortho says.

"Along with all the guys that got turned into puppets. Man, they're really putting us through the wringer here…" Ace says.

"Yeah. And um, I wonder what awaits us, especially for me," Sereia says.

Trinket tinks in response.

Kalim asks, "What's wrong, guys? Try not to be too scared. Even the best plan won't work out if you psych yourselves out first. Don't worry. It'll be fine-more than fine! It's all gonna go great!"

"There you go again, claimin' stuff you can't prove…" Ace responds with a sigh. Ace huffs and says, "You just say whatever pops into your head, don't you? Well, whatever. We've come this far. Let's bang out this capture plan!"

"That's better, Ace. Now you've got a much brighter look on your face!" Kalim says, "Okay, is everybody ready?"

Sereia, Ace, and Ortho say, "Yup."

Trinket tinks in response.

Kalim takes a deep breath and brightfully screams, "ERNESTOOOOOO! WE'RE HEEEERE!"

Sereia calls out, "ERNIIIIIIIII! GIIIIIIIN! WHERE ARE YOOOOOOOOOU!

"You know Sereia, I'm still surprised you can scream this loud," Ace says.

"I agree," Ortho replies.

Suddenly they hear Ernesto's voice, "'We're here'? 'Where are you'? That's the best you got?"

Ernesto and Gino respond with a sigh.

"Shouldn't you have a more dramatic introductory line to mark your entry?" Ernesto says with a sigh.

The five rush into the area until they face directly against Ernesto and Gino.

"Oh hey, Ernesto and Gino are up on stage!" Kalim says.

"Hmm... I was somewhat expecting them to run away. I'll give them credit for being brave enough to stick around," Ortho says.

"Finally, the man of the hour. I'll have you know it was BRUTAL trying to get here!" Ace says.

"Strange. I could've sworn I sent puppets to fetch you to me," Ernesto says.

"You sure did. Tons of 'em," Ace says, "But we drove 'em all off. You should've shelled out for a big ol' horse-drawn carriage to come get us."

Kalim calls out, "Hey, Ernesto? Gino? How about you just... stop doing this? Change back all the people that got turned to puppets, and send us back to Sage's Island. If you do, then... we can all be friends again!"

"...What?" Ernesto responds, "F... F… FRIENDS AGAIN?!" and is actually shocked.

Ernesto laughs, "Haha... Haaah hah hah hah! I'm floored. Even now you still see us as friends?!"

Gino nods in amusement.

And then Ernesto says, "Don't you get it? The only thing you guys have ever been to me is a buncha easy marks. The most gullible group of suckers I've ever seen, in fact."

"Ouch…" Kalim responds, feeling bruised.

"That's really mean," Sereia replies.

Even Trinket nods in agreement.

Ortho angrily says, "I didn't see the harm in humoring Kalim and hearing your side of the story first… But judging by your demeanor, you have no intention of doing as he asks."

'Why should I?" Ernesto says, "Granted, if I leveraged a bit of my authority as park administrator… I could easily dispel Playful Land's magic and turn the people-puppets back to people again."

"So you'll do it?! Thank you so much!" Kalim says with a smile.

"I said I COULD, not that I WOULD!" Ernesto says, annoyed, "Geez Louise. You won't even let me finish. Don't they teach you kids common decency in school? Look, I've got my own reasons for this. If you really think you can beat me, you're welcome to go ahead and try. Though…"

Soon, a large amount of puppets emerge and begin to advance towards the trio as Ernesto smiles in smug satisfaction.

"...you'll have to make it through this army of puppets first," Ernesto says.

The gang reacts in shock.

"A bunch of puppets came out of hiding and got in front of Ernesto!" Ortho says.

"Called it," Ace says, "Of course you'd send out a bunch of puppets we can't touch, then sit back and watch from a safe distance while they do your dirty work," And calls out, "You're a total coward!"

Ernesto responds, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Please, Ace, it's called 'cunning'. That's how you survive in the real world; you should try it some time. You've already put me through a lot of trouble. The least you could do to make it up to me is put on an entertaining finale! Now... It's showtime!"

And with that, the puppets charge to attack.

The puppet marches towards the group, unperturbed.

Ace is frustrated, "Rgh... This place isn't exactly easy to maneuver in. Everybody, stay sharp!"

The puppet attempts to attack, but the gang dodges. Trinket also flies away from their attacks. The puppets try to grab Sereia, but she continues running away.

Ernestro laughs, "Hah hah hah. You can't run forever! You'll be joining your puppet friends soon enough! And once we hand you all over, we'll have it made!"

Gino smirks and nods.

Sereia rushes to Ace, "Ace what do we do?"

"I think I have an idea," Ace says with a smirk.

Soon enough, Kalim is surrounded by the puppet.

"It's true that we stand no chance against this many puppets," Kalim says, shocked.

"But…" Ortho says.

Then Ace calls out, "Hey, Ernesto! Check this out," And hold something out in his hand.

"What?" Ernesto says, confused, "That's the fox tail I gifted you. What about it?"

Ace then swings it, "I'm gonna wind up, swing, and…" and tosses the fox tail, "HUP!"

Soon, the fox tail flies out of the tent, high and far away.

"You threw it outside-and it flew so far it went out of sight. I'm guessing you must've used magic for that," Ernestro says, confused, "But why?"

Just then, Ace dramatically calls out, "Oh no, this is terrible! I think I lost something. Sorry to trouble you, but could you find it for me?"

"I was wondering where you were going with this…" Ernesto says. And then laughs in amusement, "Haaah hah hah! Not what I expected at all. Surely you could've come up with a better plea for your life than that!"

Ace smirks, "Sorry to ruin your little giggle fit… But are you sure you got room to gloat?"

However, Gino notices something off with the puppets and is surprised. He quickly zips over to Ernesto and hugs his sleeve to get his attention.

Ernesto turns to Gino and asks, "What's wrong, Gino? Why so nervous?"

And soon notices the puppets, "...Hmm? The puppets have stopped... Something's strange."

Then Ace dramatically says, "It's a special piece of Playful Land memorabilia I got from a really friendly guy, y'know? I can't believe I lost something so precious!"

The puppets remain silent.

Ace calls out, "Hey, you work here, right? Mister? Miss? Could you find my lost item for me?"

After a moment of silence, one of the puppets says, "...UnDerSTooD. We'LL hAVe iT bACk In nO TiME!"

Ace smiles, "Sweet, you guys rule! Thanks a bunch!"

And the puppets start marching away.

Ernesto calls out, "Wait, what? Okay, hold it right there, puppets. Why are you leaving the theater?! I never said you could do that."

"We HaVE tO FiND a LoSt iTeM," One of the puppets says.

"How do some kid's orders take precedence over mine?! What's going on here?!" Ernesto says, shocked.

However, Ace says, "I didn't give any orders. The puppets work for the park. Ensuring a good park experience for visitors matters more to them than your commands. Kalim mentioned how earnest the puppets were about helping in the park. Even after you showed your true colors, they've been working diligently away. And how could such hard workers ever ignore a visitor in need?"

"What..?!" Ernesro exclaims in shock.

Then shouts at them, "Hey, puppets! Finding lost items isn't your job. Your job is to beat up these little punks! So quit with the handwringing. Shut up and do as I say!"

"BuT sIr…" The puppet says.

Ace dramatically says, "Ohhh, poor me! Poor, poor meee! That souvenir was SO special. My time at Playful Land will just be RUINED without it…"

And the puppet reacts, "HoW AwFUl. We'LL gO sEArCh foR iT rIgHt awaY! FiNd iT! FiNd iT! FinD thE ViSItoR's lOSt IteM!"

And the puppets march away.

"They're marching out, all of them…" Ernestro says, shocked. Then shouts, "Hey, get back here! What kind of suckers fall for such terrible acting?!" And turns to Gino, "Gino, stop them!"

Gino nods affirmatively with a smirk. And then, he launches himself at one of the puppets and swings his oversized hammer, attacking it.

The puppet cries out, "AuGH!"

Gino eyes wide in surprise as he feels himself seizing up. Then he collapses to the ground, as the spell is taking effect on him too.

Ernesto panics, "Stop that, you ninny! You know attacking the puppets won't work!"

Sereia gasps and cries out, "GIN!" And rushes over to Gino.

"Gin?!" Ace, Kalim, and Ortho respond, confused and shocked.

And remember this isn't the first time Sereia called Gino, Gin.

Ernesto hears it and softly realizes, "Sereianna… so it's true… she's starting to remember…"

Sereia kneels to Gino and sees the spell is taking effect.

"Gin, are you okay?! Gin! Gin!" Sereia cries out, getting scared.

Hastily, Ernesto rushes over as he says, "Don't worry Sereianna, I'll take care of it."

He then whips out his cane and twirls it, dispelling the magic effect on Gino. Gino slowly stands up, looking embarrassed.

"Are you okay, Gin?" Sereia asks, worried.

Gino turns to Sereia in surprise. To him, it's been a long time since hearing Sereia call him that nickname.

Gino smiles and nods as he pats her on the head, reassuring that he's okay.

Ernesto sighs in relief to have saved Gino.

And then sternly says to him, "No violence!"

Gino nods and looks ashamed.

Ernesto groans, "Augh, the puppets are still walking out..!" but realizes, "Wait…" And shouts, "COME BAAAACK!"

And soon, all the puppets are gone.

"The puppets... They've all left!" Ernesto says, shocked.

Gino shakes his head in defeat.

"Welp, all your puppet shields are gone," Ace says with a smirk.

Trinket tinks like she is giggling.

And Ortho says, "What now?"

And Ernesto is getting frustrated, "Rgh…"

As he finds himself and Gino somewhat cornered, and Sereia is close by.

"Welp, all your puppet shields are gone," Ace says with a smirk.

Trinket tinks like she is giggling.

And Ortho says, "What now?"

And Ernesto is getting frustrated, "Rgh…"

He then sighs and says, "It's time... for my secret weapon!"

Ortho, Ace, Kalim, and Trinket look confused.

"Your secret weapon?!" Ortho says, shocked, "Everyone, stay sharp!"

The group brace themselves, glaring at Ernesto and Gino in a tense stand-off.

Then, with a determined scowl, Ernesto opens his mouth and shouts, "GRAB SEREIANNA AND RUN FOR IT, GINO!"

Gino happily nods. He then picks up Sereia, and both Ernesto and Gino comically dash away.

Sereia cries out, "Wait, where are we going?!"

Trinket and the boys remain dumbfounded.

"Ah! That surprised me so much, I needed extra processing time," Ortho says.

"They took off running at full speed!" Kalim says.

Trinket tinks in response.

"You're right. They're taking Sereia with them!" Ortho says.

Ace shouts, "Hey, get back here! Where's your pride, huh?!"

"If I had any of that, I wouldn't have spent all that time buttering you twerps up!" Ernesto says.

Gino smirks and nods, despite looking concerned, especially towards Sereia.

Kalim calls out, "Wait! Please-I just want to talk with you guys!"

"The daggers your friends are glaring at us say otherwise. Hard pass!" Ernesto says, angrily.

"But Sereia really needs to talk to you too!" Kalim calls outs

"Whoopsie. Guess I let my anger show," Ace says with a smirk.

"We can't let them get away, especially with Sereia," Ortho says, "Let's surround and capture them!"

"Right," Ace says, "Ortho, you head 'em off in the air! Kalim... You get outside and block the theater door so they can't escape! Trinket, you're with me!"

"Good idea. On it!" Kalim says, rushing off.

Ortho turns to Ace, "Ace Trappola... Something tells me blocking the door wasn't your actual goal there," And smirks, "Let me guess: you were trying to get Kalim Al-Asim away from this area, weren't you?"

Ace smirks, "Excuse me. I'll have you know that was a show of consideration toward our kindhearted Kalim. He gave them a fair shot at talking this out. They're the ones who threw it away."

"...True. I suppose we've given them plenty of chances already," Ortho says.

"Exactly!" Ace says.

Soon, Ace and Ortho smirk at Ernesto and Gino's way.

And Ace says, "So now... it's time to give them a whole boatload of payback!"

And Ace and Ortho begin chasing them.

Ace chases after the pair and is getting annoyed, "Ugh. Okay, I've had it up to HERE chasing you around!"

Ace then casts his magic and soon, Ernesto and Gino find their path blocked by a pile of stuff.

Ernesto is annoyed, "Rgh, all our escape routes are blocked off…"

Gino then has a determined smirk.

"Um Gin, what are you up to?" Sereia asks, worried.

Gino then places Sereia down and gently pushes her away. He then swings his hammer, almost hitting Ernesto in the process.

Ernesto dodges away, "EEP!"

Ernesto panics, "Stop that, you ninny! Are you trying to hit ME with your hammer?! Aim for them!" and points towards the boys.

Gilo nods, apologetically.

"Magic that's barely worth mentioning, and a hammer that can't tell the difference between friend and foe…" Ace says.

"Actually, is it just me, or has Gino's hammer ONLY been falling on Ernesto?" Ortho questions.

"I think you're right... Joke's on us for taking these two clowns seriously," Ace says, "Let's wrap this circus up. Take this!" And begins to unleash his magic as he calls out, "Sereia, get out of the way!"

"Oh dear!" Sereia panics and runs away as Ace fires his magic.

That hits Ernesto and Gino in the process.

Ernesto shouts, "AUGH! Rgh... Curses…"

Gino and Ernesto collapse.

Ernesto struggles to get up, "Doesn't matter how fancy your school is... You're still just snot-nosed brats… So how... how are you getting the better of us?!'

Gino tears up.

"Easy. Everything we know, we learned from that fancy school you keep sneering at. We'd never lose to a couple of guys too cowardly to face us head-on," Ace says.

"You might as well admit we've won," Ortho says, "You could've avoided this whole ordeal if you'd have just listened when we were trying to reason with you."

"Now turn everyone back into people!" Ace says. And then remembers, "And you're going to answer our questions, especially Sereia's."

"Rgh…" Ernesto responds, frustrated.

But then he remains silent, surprising Gino.

Ernesto laughs, "...Ha hah! You got me. Your power has left me awestruck!"

Gino hastily smiles and nods.

"What? Buttering us up now isn't gonna get you off the hook," Ace says, dumbfounded.

"Oh yes, I'm well aware," Ernesto says, "We've made a tremendous, horrible mistake. We would never be so shameless as to beg on hands and knees for forgiveness."

Ortho and Ace remain silent.

And Ace says, "Okay, something's fishy about this one-eighty."

"Yeah. He looks pretty beaten-up, but if we let him get in close, he could still attack," Ortho says.

Ernesto feels offended, "Why, I would never! The battle's already decided, is it not? Even if I did try to run or fight, I'm no match for you scholars. You've won, fair and square. Goodness, have I ever underestimated you Night Raven College scholars!"

Ernesto twirls his cane, where magic sparkles fly out, "Now I realize more than ever... just how elite you are! How far out of your league I am!"

"Out of our league?!" Ace says, surprised. He abruptly smiles, mood shifting, "You're right about THAT. You've finally come to accept reality, huh?"

Ernesto gushes over towards Ace, "Oh, yes! I assure you, you drilled that lesson into me quite thoroughly! Your magic was quite astounding. I could spend my whole life striving for that level of precise power and never reach it. Who's this extraordinary mage?! Why, it's Ace! Who could stand in the way of his overflowing talent?! No one, that's who! No average Joe would have thought to misdirect the puppets with a lost item, much less been bold enough to try! Yes, I've been thoroughly outplayed. The self-possessed way this freshman carries himself shows incredible promise!"

Then gushes to Ortho, who is also pleased, "And Ortho-your beams were amazing! Where were you hiding that kind of power?! You truly represent the future of technology. A plain old guy like me couldn't begin to imagine what makes you tick. You must be made with the most cutting-edge technology that these prestigious scholars could have come up with… Does the name Ortho secretly mean 'future'?! Sounds like our dictionaries need updating-not to mention the whole world! You're a literal miracle! One containing infinite possibilities! Simply incredible!"

Ortho smiles,"Oh, gosh! Everything you're saying is indeed factually correct, but it's still so embarrassing to hear it out loud!"

"And best for last," Ernesto says and picks Sereia in his arms, "Sereianna, our darling starfish. You've grown so much since you've been in Playful Land. You've gained magical abilities and even become a mermaid at will. You have met past my grandfather's expectations. It makes me remember the good old days when you were made to be his child, and my dear friend, and were given a special magic to bring you to life. And look at you now. You have become even more of a shiny start than we thought."

"Really?" Sereia asks, blushing and smiles.

"Really," Ernesto says with a genuine smile.

"Yeah, huh…" Ace says but realizes, "Wait. Hold up. What am I getting all giddy for?! I can't let this guy's flattery go to my head," And then asks, "And what do you mean made? And meet past your grandfather's expectations? What is going on? Where are Briar and the others? And what do you know about Sereia?"

Ernesto giggles and gives Sereia to Gino, who gives her a hug with a smile.

Then Ernesto chummily plops himself between Ortho and Ace, "Oh yes, of course. We can't stand around chatting all night! I'll turn all the puppets back. Come, I'll show you to where they're being held!"

Then Ernesto chummily plops himself between Ortho and Ace, "Oh yes, of course. We can't stand around chatting all night! I'll turn all the puppets back. Come, I'll show you to where they're being held!"

"Please do. We've been so worried about them. Let's go, Ace," Ortho says.

"Huh?" Ace says, "...Oh, right. Good call."

Ernesto lead, Ace, Ortho, Sereia, and Trinket towards the back stage.

Suddenly, Ernesto says, "What's this? Your outfits are rather dirty, now that I'm looking. Would you care to change?"

Confused, Ace says, "What? I dunno that there'd be much point."

"I'm fine as I am. Let's just get to the others," Ortho says.

"Yes. Let's meet the others. And um, we also need to find Briar," Sereia says.

Suddenly, Ernesto stops them, "Oh, no! This won't do at all! You're about to come to your friends' rescue! In their eyes, you'll be the heroes who saved them from peril... Great big shining stars! Looking all raggedly is hardly fitting. You'd ruin the touching moment!" And turns to Gino, "Wouldn't you agree, Gino?"

Gino smiles and nods.

"There, you see? Gino thinks so as well. Stars deserve only the finest of costumes…" Ernesto says, "Here! Come on, take it easy!" He then twirls his cane, magic sparking out of it, "Life is Fun," and casts his magic on Ace and Ortho.

Sereia realizes what's happening and calls out, "Wait…"

But it's too late, Ernesto has cast his magic on them. Luckily, Sereia and Trinket haven't been hit.

Soon, Ace says, "Hmm... Now that you mention it, I COULD go for a change of clothes."

"Yeah. We should save everyone in style!" Ortho says.

"Of course, of course!" Ernesto says with a smile, "Take your time-and if you'd like, I'd be happy to look after the items in your pockets while you get changed."

"That'd be great, thanks. I've got a pack of tissues, some mints…" Ace says, and hands Ernesto his stuff.

Then Ortho says, "Oh yeah, I'd forgotten I'd left this in my pocket…"

And Ortho brings out his ticket, "Here's my Playful Land ticket."

Ernesto takes the ticket, "Great! I'll take good care of everything."

Okay, we'll go change and be right back! Ortho says, and takes his leave.

Ernesto smirks as he holds the ticket in hand. Ortho happily makes his way when he hears a ripping sound. Ortho freezes as his eyes wide open, and collapses to his knees.

"Huh?! I'm... losing strength…" Ortho says, struggling.

"Ortho?!" Ace and Sereia cry out.

They soon rush over in distress.

Ace calls out, "Hey, stay with me!"

"Is this what I think it is..? But how?!" Ortho says, stunned and falls to the ground.

Soon, Ortho's body freezes and wood begins to grow on the side of Ortho's face.

"What happened, Ortho?!" Ace cries out, "Collapsing outta nowhere like that... Oh, no- That wood growing out of your face…"

"Why are you turning into a puppet?!" Sereia cries out.

"I don't know. I haven't done anything bad…" Ortho says.

Suddenly, Ernesto begins laughing, "Heh heh... Heh heh heh… Haaah hah hah! You stupid little twerps! You sealed your own fate the very instant you handed me THESE," And held out the two tickets.

"Our Playful Land tickets?" Ace questions.

"Those are the tickets we gave you... but one's been torn up!" Ortho says.

Ernesto chuckles, "Heh heh heh. I warned you when you first entered Playful Land. 'Your validated tickets are proof that you're a legitimate park visitor.' Remember?"

"Proof... Then if anything happens to them…" Ace says, realizing it.

"You're no longer permitted to be here. In other words, you're unauthorized visitors!" Ernesto says, "And that, young scholars... is QUITE the misdeed, wouldn't you say?"

Gino smirks and nods.

Ortho cries out, "Ace! Quick, get your ticket back!"

Ace begins to conjure his magic, "I'm on it!"

"I think not!" Ernesro says and rips Ace's ticket.

And Ace begins to feel the effects, "Hrk?! Rgh... Crud…" And struggles the resistance, "Not after we got so far…" and soon collapses to the ground.

"Ace!" Sereia cries out.

Suddenly, Kalim returns with a smile on his face.

Kalim calls out, "Hey, guys! I've been blocking the door from the outside, but nobody ever tried to come through, so I thought I'd check up on things here. While I was out there, I couldn't help looking up at the sky. The view of the stars is breathtaking! It's so different over the water. Honestly, it's such a shame we're fighting when we could be feasting on good food and admiring the stars together instead!" But then notices something wrong, "Uh, guys..?"

"Rgh…" Ace struggles.

And it's revealed that Ace has collapsed to the ground and has wood ground out of the side of his face too.

Ace sits helplessly with Ortho and says, "Kalim... We've got... bigger problems…"

"Ace?!" Kalim cries out, and rushes over, "And Ortho's turned into a puppet too..? What did I miss?!"

Then turns to the girls, "Sereia! Trinket! What happened?"

"It's Ernesto!" Sereia says.

"He… he got us!" Ace says.

"He stole our tickets and tore them up! That meant we lost our right to be here, so we got turned into puppets…" Ortho says.

"Stole?" Ernesto says, "Please. You handed me those tickets completely voluntarily."

Ortho flinches, "Grk... I still can't believe I did that. How could I have been so careless?"

"You handed them over yourselves?" Kalim says, confused, "You should know to keep hold of your valuables at all times! Maybe I should've bought you guys some handbags. That way you could've kept them someplace safe."

"I hate being casually talked down to... but I also can't argue," Ortho says.

"Actually, the more I think about what happened, the less sense it makes," Ace says, "Somehow I got all carried away and excited and didn't stop to question the finer details… Then I let Ernesto talk me into just handing my ticket over like it was no big deal…"

"It's Ernesto's magic guys!" Sereia says.

"His what?" Ace questions.

Ernesto laughs, "Hah hah hah. Have you learned to fear my signature spell now?"

The boys react in shock, "Signature spell?!"

Even Trinket is shocked.

"Is that why they did what you told them to?!" Kalim asks.

Ace says, "I knew it! Mind control magic!"

"But how is Ernesto able to cast such powerful magic with his miniscule reserves..?" Ortho says, shocked, "No, that doesn't matter right now! Kalim's in danger of falling for it too!"

"Are you ready, Kalim?" Ernesto questions, "Because you're going to hand me your ticket just like they did! Same for your fairy friend!"

With a confident smirk, Ernesto begins building up a lot of magic, and a dramatic spotlight falls on him.

Then Ernesto says, "Come on, to the theater!

Sereia cries out, "Kalim, Trinket, RUN!"

Ernesto twirls his cane, magic sparkles out of it as joyous confetti pops all around him.

Ernesto calls out, "Life is Fun."

Kalim recoils back as he grabs Sereia and Trinket and tries to use his body to protect them from the magic.

Kalim cries out, "AAAAGH!"

The light fades and Kalim stay still, bracing himself for the impact. However, nothing happened.

Confused, Kalim asks, "...Hm? Is anything different about me?" and let the girls go.

Kalim takes out his ticket, "I feel pretty much the same as usual... and I've still got my ticket."

"Are… are you okay, Kalim?" Sereia asks.

"I think so, but are you both okay?" Kalim says.

Sereia and Trinket nod.

"Huh? There's no change...?" Ace says, confused.

Gino smiles and nods, almost like he's laughing as he covers his mouth.

Gino

Ernesto chuckles, "Heh heh... See the pathetic looks on those scholars' faces, Gino? Relax, kids. That was a jape-just a bit of humor on my part. You think my magic controls people's minds? It's nothing so grand," And has a grin, "In fact, I resent being held to the same standard as you arrogant mages, with your reliance on magical might. My signature spell, Life Is Fun, does one single, simple thing… It makes people a smidgen more optimistic."

"A smidgen more optimistic...?!" Ortho says, dumbfounded, "What kind of vague measurement is a 'smidgen'? And I'd appreciate more elaboration on the term "optimistic" as well."

"I dunno," Kalim says, "Do spells really have to be explained in such granular detail? I mean, the best way I can describe my signature spell, Oasis Maker, is… it makes really good water, and a lot of it."

"Really?" Ortho questions, "I could analyze the water's composition and calculate the max volume based on magic consumption and water generation rates."

"I guess, but I don't sweat the small stuff like that... Still, researching it with you sounds like it could be fun. Let's do that sometime!" Kalim says.

Ernesto and Ace respond, dumbfounded, "Is this conversation really necessary?!"

Ortho apologizes, "Oh, sorry. I just get so curious about things that can't be quantified."

"ANYWAY-I get what Ernesto's talking about," Ace says, understanding the spell, "That signature spell is the reason why I've been in such oddly high spirits since yesterday, huh?"

Ace says, understanding the spell, "That signature spell is the reason why I've been in such oddly high spirits since yesterday, huh?"

"That's right," Ernesto says, "You were ready to do tons of things you wouldn't normally do, all without a second thought, right? But, as you boys so gleefully pointed out, my magical prowess is quite lacking. I mean, it doesn't work on just anyone."

And then gestures towards Kalim, "For example, I can't exactly put someone in a good mood when they've seen their friends fall before their very eyes. I can't force someone to do something they're genuinely opposed to against their will. All I can do is give them a little nudge. Just enough to make them go, 'Hey, why not?' If someone's wary of me, simply talking to them one-on-one won't make that wariness go away. The best I can do is hope they've got friends who are less guarded. There are plenty of other restrictions, too."

"Sounds like a real hassle to use with all those limitations and drawbacks…" Ace says.

"Ah, but that's the fun part!" Ernesto says, "You elite scholars might laugh at my piddly little spell… But that's where the great Ernesto Foulworth's conversational skills shine!"

Gino claps and quietly cheers.

And Ernesto continues, "Once I use my silver tongue to make a suggestion sound like fun, then use my magic to help with that last little nudge… everybody goes astray. It's actually hilarious how easy it is. And since it's not remotely powerful, I can use it as much as I want! It barely accumulates any blot at all. Even the weakest spells can shine when you know how to use 'em just right," And gestures to Ace and Ortho, "Take you two, for example-you didn't even know I'd used magic until I told you I had, did you?"

That just makes Ortho & Ace feel offended, "Rgh..!"

"For sure! I didn't notice at all. You're seriously amazing, Ernesto," Kalim says, amazed.

"...Yeah. I hate to admit it, but it's true," Ace says, "Considering your spell was too weak to be detected, I figured you were barely a threat."

"We had the advantage over you when it came to magical power and technomantic energy… But we still lost to your finesse," Ortho says.

Ernesto laughs, "Hah hah hah! Well? How's it feel, getting one-upped on by the very guy you were sneering down at before?!"

"Grr... I'm out of clever comebacks…" Ace says, struggling to move.

Trinket tilts her head, looking confused.

Sereia asks, "Um Ernes, are you saying that Kalim is so optimistic that your spell has no effect on him."

"Precisely my dear Sereianna. You are truly catching up so well," Ernesto says with a smile.

Then smirks towards Kalim, "Now then-your group is down to one person and one fairy still able to move. An airheaded little rich boy, and a little craft fairy. Conversely, there are two of us-not to mention our highly dependable hostages. Something tells me you're not going to win this round as handily."

"He's gonna use us as shields so Kalim can't attack... That dirty coward!" Ace says.

"You've got a pretty poor memory for a scholar. I've corrected you before on this; I'm just playing it smart," Ernesto says, "Plus… In my infinite brilliance, I just had an even better idea.

Then Ernesto calls out, "Say, Kalim."

"Hm?" Kalim says, confused.

Ernesto smiles with Gino and says, "How'd you like to be our friend?!"

Sereia and the boys reply, confused, ...Huh?"

"You want to be friends? Does that mean you want to make up with us?" Kalim asks.

"Really Ernesto?" Sereia asks.

"Not quite, Sereianna" Ernesto says, "I'm suggesting you and your friend Kalim, ditch these Night Raven College kids and join the winning side instead."

"What?!" Sereia says, shocked.

"You want us to abandon them?!"" Kalim asks, shocked.

"Exactly," Ernesto says, "You shone more brightly than anyone else in today's show. You've got the profile and the physique of a natural-born superstar! If you worked with us in Playful Land, you'd be a hit in no time. And the sweetest icing on the cake is your incredible wealth. There's nothing more dependable than that! As long as you have money, every problem in the world can be solved. To name one, just as an example: the proprietor of this park expects me to hand over all the Night Raven College students. But if you pay me a tidy sum, I'm sure I can talk them into letting you go."

Then turns to Sereia, "And I haven't forgotten about you, Sereianna. We can return to us. Return to your home, be with us, your beloved brothers. I promise you, along with your friends, Briar, Trinket, Grim, Jasper, and Tanzanite will be well taken care of. You and your beloved friends will also be stars and join us. You can be with us again, Sereianna."

"What do you say? It's not a bad deal, right?" Ernesto says.

"We… we can… be together… really" Sereia says, worried and not sure what to do.

"It's not bad..?" Kalim says.

"That's right!" Ernesto says.

Then he and Gino amiably close to Kalim and Sereia's side.

Then Ernesto says, "C'mon. Just ditch all these puppet saps."

Gino smiles and nods to Sereia.

And Ernesto says, "We'll keep suckering bad kids and live it up here in Playful Land doing whatever we want. You'll feel silly forever seriously studying things at school. If you join us... you can say goodbye to that boring school life forever!"

Kalim and Sereia seem very troubled.

"C'mon, Kalim. Sereianna. What do you say?" Ernesto questions.

Kalim and Sereia remain silent.

After a moment of silence, Kalim says, "Ace... Ortho… I've never told anyone this before, but…"

"Kalim..?" Ace says, confused.

"The truth is…" Kalim says and calls out, "I'm REEEALLY bad at studying!"

"Ummmmm…" Sereia responds confused.

And Ortho says, "You know we know, right?!"

"What a time to fess up…" Ace says.

Trinket tinks like she's giggling. Even Gino shows that he's laughing.

Ernesto sighs, "And here I thought those fancy schools only let in bona fide poindexters…"

And Ernesto says, "Even when I try to buckle down and study, I always get tempted by something more fun! Beautiful songs, flashy dancing, good food... There are so many temptations in the world. I've got so many things I'd love to be doing besides studying. Ah hah hah! Silly me."

"Yes, yes, exactly! Nobody wants to study, right? What could be more tedious? You should be a star instead!" Ernesto says.

However, Kalim says, "But… Even if there wasn't dancing, singing, and food to tempt me, I would never view school in a negative light. I'm bad at studying, and I don't like doing it, but I know it's necessary. Besides, school isn't JUST about studying. It's a place for sharing laughter and surprises. A place where lifelong friendships are formed!"

Ernesto and Gino are well, shocked to hear what Kalim says.

Kalim then says, "If I hadn't enrolled in Night Raven College, I never would've met Ace or Ortho. These guys are like precious baby brothers to me-I can't imagine life without them! Plus, there's the guys in Scarabia, my classmates, my clubmates... And so many more people who've become near and dear to me. Studying might be rough sometimes, but when I think about all the friends I've made… I can't help but feel like there's nowhere I'd rather be BUT Night Raven College."

"That's really sweet, Kalim," Sereia says.

Trinket agrees.

"Thank you. I feel like you, Trinket, Briar, and the twins are in a way my siblings too, even Grim," Kalim says.

Ernesto becomes annoyed, "Ugh, please. Platitudes make me wanna puke. All of you skipped school and came here without permission! You're all lousy students! Let's be real-deep down, you all hate school. You can't fool me. Quit with the excuses and just admit it!"

Then Kalim says, "You're right that skipping school was a bad thing to do. Jamil tried to stop me, but I ignored his warnings... I owe him the biggest apology when I get back. I know I have obligations, but I still want to do fun stuff. Every day's filled with temptations for me. So sometimes it's hard to tell what's right and what's wrong. But... I definitely know that abandoning friends is a bad thing. Ernesto, you want to know what I say? I say that there's no way I'm ever abandoning my friends to save myself!"

Ernesto becomes irate, "Rgh…"

Gino stares in shock.

Ace laughs, "Haha. I had a feeling that'd be his response. I mean, he's such a softy that he wouldn't even abandon a trash-talking freshman like me."

"Yeah. Kalim, you really put him on blast!" Ortho says.

'Wow, really? Thanks!" Kalim says.

He then asks, "...Also, what's 'on blast' mean?"

Annoyed and a bit tired, Ernesto says, "...Way to take the wind out of my sails. I was really hoping I could get your last hope to betray you, teaching you a tough lesson about the real world. But this kid's so much of a good egg, it's actually a letdown. Guess rich preppie kids can afford to be wholesome."

"Heh. Never underestimate Kalim Al-Asim," Ortho says, "No matter what anyone says, he'll defy all logic and find a way to not only spout impractical platitudes but mean them! Half the fun of school is having atypical individuals like him around! I'm so glad I got to join the Night Raven College student body."

Kalim turns to Ernesto, "Haven't we had enough fighting, Ernesto? Your signature spell makes people feel more positive, right? That's amazing! Why use something so wonderful for such awful things? It's a waste of perfectly good magic!"

"Why, you ask? Why else? Money," Ernesto says, "I turn spoiled rich kids like you into puppets and hand them over in exchange for piles of cold, hard cash."

"Money? Well, if a little thing like that is all this is about, I can totally fix it!" Kalim says.

And it ended up offending Ernesto.

Sereia and Trinket nervously laugh again.

Ace calls out, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, Kalim! Don't rub Ernesto's nose in it!"

Confused, Kalim asks, "Huh? Did I say something wrong?

"If that was unintentional on your part, you just landed a serious blow!" Ortho says.

"Oh dear," Sereia says.

Trinket agrees.

And this makes Ernesto angry, "Of course you don't get it. Why would you? Spoiled little rich brat who's never wanted for anything in your life… You wouldn't know what it's like for those of us who can't go to school and grow up dirt poor!"

Gino nods along to Ernesto's words with a smirk on his face.

"Yeah, you're right, Gino, "Ernesto says, "Let's teach this fancy-schmancy schoolboy a lesson!"

Kalim, Sereia, and Trinket are shocked to hear it.

Realizing his mistake, Ernesto says, "Sorry, Ernesto. I didn't mean to hurt you. I was just trying to say how great your magic was."

"Oh, what a kindhearted scholar you are," Ernesto says.

And then fires his magic, "… That's what I can't STAND about you!"

And Gino charges and tries to swing his hammer at Kalim.

Kalim and Sereia dodge.

Kalim cries out, "Whoa, careful!"

Then Ernesto charges towards them.

Ace realizes, "Wait a minute… Is he trying to tear up Kalim's ticket?!"

"Kalim, run!" Sereia cries.

Kalim and the girls run away.

"Not so fast," Ernesto says and casts his magic.

That ends up hitting Kalim, causing him to fall off the stage.

"Rgh…!" Kalim says, in pain.

"Kalim!" Sereia cries out and rushes off the stage to help him.

Then Ernesto blasts his magic as the other dodges. Gino tries to strike his hammer at Kalim, but he dodges.

Ernesto and Kalim continue to fire at each other with their magic as Gino swings his hammer at him. Kalim is sent falling to the ground in front of Ace and Ortho.

Sereia gasps in shock. And something flashes in the back of her mind. Ernesto and Gino being pushed down after getting blasted by powerful magic. Then a tall figure reaches his hand out and drags Sereia away.

Ernesto struggles to get up and cries out, "SEREIANNA!"

And Sereia cries out, "BROTHERS!"

Sereia gasps in shock at the memory, like she remembered it.

Sereia and Trinket rush over to help Kalim. Sereia then notices Kalim's ticket is sticking out from his back pocket. Sereia gasps in shock and remembers her ticket and brings it out from her pocket.

Ace and Ortho are shocked to see what's happening.

"I don't think they can take much more strain," Ortho says, worried.

Ace calls out, "Kalim, you don't have to defend us and fight! Just give Ernesto what for! Beat him up and teach him a lesson!"

"You say that, but I can't just ignore you guys…" Kalim says.

"But Kalim…" Sereia says.

Kalim says, "Sereia, Trinket, go find Briar and the others! I'll catch up!"

"Okay," Sereia says.

Sereia and Trinket rush off to find Briar and the others.

Hearing it, Ernesto says, "Why do I use my magic for bad things? Why do I care so much about making money? That's… That's what I wanna know!"

And fires his magic, Kalim tries to fight as hard as he can.

Meanwhile, Sereia and Trinket search around to find Briar and the others down the hall.

Sereia calls out, "Briar! Briar! Leona! Trey! Anyone!"

Suddenly, they hear a voice, "Hello! Sereia?"

Sereia turns to see that it's coming from Ernesto's office which is close by. She then rushes inside to see Briar. The young girl is able to sit up, but feels dizzy. And the girls notice that Briar has bandages and scratches.

"Briar!" Sereia cries out.

Back on the stage, Kalim, Ernesto, and Gino struggle to hold themselves together. It's clear that they're tired.

Ernesto says, "The winner here… will be ME!"

And fires his magic towards Kalim.

Back in Ernesto's office, Sereia and Trinket rush to Briar.

"Briar, what happened? Are you okay? We were worried," Sereia says.

"I'm okay, I got caught in the collapse and lost consciousness. I also lost my bag with mine and Trinket's ticket," Briar says.

"Don't worry, we have it," Sereia says, holding her bag.

"Thanks Sereia," Briar says.

Then Sereia says, "But Briar, we need your help. Ace and Ortho and the others are turning into puppets, and Ernest and Gin are fighting against Kalim. I don't know how long Kalim can fight them and…"

Suddenly Sereia flinches, "Ah…!"

"Sereia… are… are you okay?" Briar questions.

Even Trinket tinks in concern.

And soon, Sereia collapses on the ground.

Briar cries out, "Sereia!"

Back at the stage, Ernesto shouts, "...Now!"

And Ernesto uses a flash of magic at Kalim.

Kalim gets stunned, "Augh!"

Ace and Ortho cry out, "Kalim!"

Then Ernesto cries out, "Gino! Hold him in place!"

Gino smirks and nods.

Then Gino latches himself onto Kalim.

Kalim struggles to get him off, "No, stop. Let me go..!" And then falls to the ground.

Ernesto takes a deep breath, "Talk about giving me extra work," He walks to Kalim and says, "Excuse me, sir-gonna need to check your pocket."

He then searches through his pockets and soon finds what he's looking for, "...Ah, there it is."

And brings out Kalim's ticket.

"There's no mistaking this shiny, sparkling Playful Land ticket!" Ernesto says, "Once I tear this up, you'll be joining the rest of your friends in puppet purgatory," And scowls, "Which means... I win!" And rips the ticket in two pieces.

"AHHH!" Kalim screams.

However, nothing happened.

"What?" Ernesto says, confused.

Even Gino is shocked to see it.

"Huh…" Kalim says, confused.

"But how is this possible…?" Ernesto says, beside himself, "I ripped his ticket. He should have turned into a puppet by now…" And Ernesto takes a deep breath, "Whew... That was rough… and it was for nothing.

"Talk about a miracle. Kalim is still our last hope…" Ortho says.

"Yeah, but how… Still, does that mean, there's still a chance to get out of this," Ace says, "But Kalim is already worn out, maybe not…and the girls… there isn't much they can do."

Kalim and Ortho remain silent.

Ace sighs, "Y'know, I've done my fair share of complaining about school being a dreary, boring place. But how was I supposed to know I'd never get to go back?! If I'd have known this would happen... I would've listened to the housewarden!"

"Likewise. I just became a student, yet here I am, getting turned into a puppet and dragging Vil down with me… Will we really never make it back..? Idia... I'm sorry…" Ortho says.

Still having a chance to reason with him, Kalim says, "Ernesto! If it's money you're after, I'll pay as much as you want! Just please, let everyone go! Can't you see how sorry we are? Let us go back to school! I'm begging you!"

"It's too late for that now!" Ernesto says angrily, "Once I figure out what happened…" and feels the pain, "Hrk... Gotta watch it. Shouting makes my injuries flare up…"

Suddenly, he hears the phone ringing, "Tch. Really? Now, of all times? This employer couldn't take a hint to save his life…"

Gino looks at Ernesto, wide-eyed in curiosity.

But Ernesto says, "Nah, I'll take it. If I don't, I'll get the third degree later. You keep an eye on these guys.

Gino droops, looking worried.

Suddenly, Briar rushes over with Sereia in her arms and Trinket flying behind her. However, Sereia doesn't seem to be moving.

"Kalim!" Briar cries.

"Briar! We're glad to see you! I see Sereia and Trinket find you and…" Kalim says, but notices the distressed expression on Briar and Trinket's face.

Ace, Ortho, Ernesto, and Gino notice it too, and are worried.

"Briar? Trinket? What's wrong?" Ace asks.

"You both look pale," Ortho says.

"What is it?" Kalim asks.

Briar and Trinket soon show tears down their faces.

Briar then says, "Gu-guys, it's… it's uh, Sereia… she um…"

That brings up their attention, especially Ernesto and Gino.

"There's something wrong…" Briar says, distressed and tears streaming down her face.

And then shows Sereia. Everyone gasps in shock to see wood growing on Sereia's face.

Ernesto cries out, "SERIANNA!"

Even Gino reacts in shock and distress.

Ernesto cries out, "SERIANNA!"

Even Gino reacts in shock and distress.

"What… What happened to her?" Kalim asks.

"I don't know. She suddenly collapsed, and started to turn into a puppet. But… but why…?" Briar asks.

"How could that be?" Ernesto questions, shocked, "Sereianna never did a misdeed, so how."

"Ern… Ernes… Briar… Gin…" Sereia speaks up.

"Sereia, are you okay?" Briar asks.

"I guess… but I… can't move…" Sereia says.

"But… but why?" Ace asks, stunned.

Then Sereia says, "Ernes… Gin… ple-please, don't do this anymore… no more… And I'm… I'm sorry… everyone…"

Gino is shocked.

Ernesto grows worried, "Sereianna…"

"I'm sorry I couldn't do much to help when you all got turned into puppets… I'm sorry that I… I could stop that mean man from hurting you, Ernes… I couldn't stop your boss from taking me away…" And soon, tears stream down her face, "I'm… I'm sorry I forgot about you… being separated, going through so much pain, suffering, and fear made me forget… Now… I'm glad I came here… I get to see you and Gin again…" and smiles.

Then turns to Kalim, "And… I'm glad… I'm glad I got to save you. Even though… Even though I know the results…"

"Results…?" Kalim questions.

That's when Kalim realizes, "Sereia, did you… did you switch my ticket with yours?"

"You what?!" Ernesto says, shocked.

Even Gino is shocked.

"I did… I'm sorry… but I… I don't want any more of my friends to suffer. I don't want my brothers to hurt anyone else, even though they've been hurt, how all three of us were hurt…" Sereia says, sadly.

"Oh Sereianna…" Ernesto says, sadly, "You… you really performed a selfless act…"

Gino sadly nods.

Sereia sadly smiles, "I'm sorry for doing this, but at least… I've got to see you both again…" and tears stream down her face.

Ernesto says, "Sereianna…"

Soon, Ernesto hears the phone ringing.

Ernesto sadly says, "I'll… I'll be right back. Gino. Watch everyone."

Gino sadly nods and Ernesto takes his leave to his office.

Ernesto finally reaches his office, walking slowly and looking tired.

"Hrgh... Still hurting all over," Ernesto says in pain, "But at least... I won. I beat a whole group of students from a prestigious arcane academy! I dealt those elite jerks a solid loss, and all without ever having gone to school myself! I beat them…" sounded sad when he said it.

Ernesto finally reaches the phone, but still contemplative, "But... What was it for? At… at what cost? Why did I turn down an offer of money, the thing I value the most?" and the phone still rings, "Especially after… losing something more valuable than money."

Ernesto scowls, still conflicted.

He soon picks up the phone and answers calmly, "Hello? Yes, this is Ernesto Foulworth speaking. Your timing is impeccable. I just captured the last of the Night Raven College students!" But is shocked, "...What? But... Sir, I worked as quickly as I…" and reacts, "What? The park puppets? You're invoicing US for their repairs?! That wasn't the deal... Why should we have to foot that bill?" Offended, Ernesto says, "Okay, that's a little much…" Ernesto then frowns, " If I may, sir-Gino and I have been doing the absolute best we could under the circumstances. You can't just-" and soon the call abruptly ends, and Ernesto's left with the phone's empty beeping.

After a moment of silence, Ernesto says, "You…" And screams in rage, "YOU GLOB OF GUTTER TRASH! Where do you get off?!" and slams the phone.

He then yelps, "Oww…" and coughs.

Gino rushes in, alarmed with concern.

Ernesto notices him, "Gino? Oh, don't worry about me. I just got a little worked up… So, I told that jerk I captured all the Night Raven College students, right? And you know what he said?"

Gino shakes his head.

"He said he expected us to get it done sooner! And not only that, he's deducting the cost of the repairs to the puppets and park from our reward!" Ernesto says, angrily.

Gino is shocked to hear it.

"These guys are from NIGHT RAVEN COLLEGE. For a bunch of kids, they're still mages armed with powerful magic!" Ernesto says, frustratingly, "Just winning against them is a huge deal! But do I get a single compliment? No, just a guy calling us useless. Societal dregs. And even worse stuff."

Gino droops in sadness.

Ernesto begins to say to himself, "Is going to school really the be-all, end-all? Is your life over when you fall off the elite path? If only... If only I'd just had the chance…" He then mourns, "If only I could've gone to school…"

Gino stares with wide eyes.

"But I didn't, and look how I turned out," Ernesto says, "I've led a merry life, never letting myself get tied down by anything. So why is it…"

Then remember what some of the students Night Raven Students say, and they're filling his head.

Jack: School's a place where you can compete with others, learn what you're capable of, and push yourself to be better than before.

Trey: Though even that's a learning experience. To me, that's enough to prove that school serves an important purpose.

Lilia: But at the same time, there is much one can only learn at Night Raven College.

Jade: And that's thanks to attending school with so many others. Had I not, there are things I might never have experienced...

Vil: ...An individual's value doesn't rely solely on their magical capabilities, or lack thereof.

Cater: Same. I actually do think school's valuable.

Leona: School's a hassle, but it's far from pointless. Not that you guys could conceive of that.

Floyd: But why, tho? It's so fun. All kindsa cool stuff happens at school.

Grim: After all, I gotta study at school... to be a great mage!

"All they've done in life is study. Why is it…" Ernesto says to himself.

Flashback:

Ace says, "Easy. Everything we know, we learned from that fancy school you keep sneering at. We'd never lose to a couple of guys too cowardly to face us head-on."

And Ortho says, " Half the fun of school is having atypical individuals like him around! I'm so glad I got to join the Night Raven College student body."

Ernesto questions, "Why is it…"

Kalim also says, "Even if there wasn't dancing, singing, and food to tempt me, I would never view school in a negative light. I'm bad at studying, and I don't like doing it, but I know it's necessary. Besides, school isn't JUST about studying. It's a place for sharing laughter and surprises. A place where lifelong friendships are formed!"

And lastly, remember what Sereia says, ""I'm sorry I couldn't do much to help when you all got turned into puppets… I'm sorry that I… I could stop that mean man from hurting you, Ernes… I couldn't stop your boss from taking me away…" And soon, tears stream down her face, "I'm… I'm sorry I forgot about you… being separated, going through so much pain, suffering, and fear made me forget… Now… I'm glad I came here… I get to see you and Gin again…"

Flashback Ends:

"Why is it…" Ernesto asks himself, feeling defeated, "...that they seem so much freer and merrier than either of us?"

Then says to himself, "Sereianna… you've become merrier, despite being separated from us. And you… you still wish to be merry with us, even with your new friends… Sereianna… I'm… I'm sorry…"

"Why is it…" Ernesto asks himself, feeling defeated, "...that they seem so much freer and merrier than either of us?"

Then says to himself, "Sereianna… you've become merrier, despite being separated from us. And you… you still wish to be merry with us, even with your new friends… Sereianna… I'm… I'm sorry…"

Gino shakes his head in sadness.

"What, Gino?" Ernesto questions.

Gino motions and use body and sign languages.

Ernesto is shocked, "Excuse me? I am NOT jealous."

Gino looks surprised.

"Of course I'm sure! C'mon, you dunderhead, pay more attention," Ernesto says.

Gino suddenly looks contemplative. Until he smirks conspiratorially.

"Yeah, huh? Those were good times, all right," Ernesto says, "They weren't EASY times, that's for sure... But at least our lives had direction, y'know?"

Gino smiles and enthusiastically nods.

"Ineed. It was wonderful times, including when Sereianna was with us," Ernesto says.

Ernesto laughs, "Remember the time I passed you and Sereianna off as puppets to try and make some money? We nearly put one over on those greedy fools."

Gino smirks and nods.

Ernesto laughs, "Oh yeah, that was masterful! Haaah hah hah hah. Haha... Hahaha…" and then drops his mood, "Ha…"

Then sadly says, "I also remember the performance Sereianna gave to everyone. She was happy when she danced, and swam while singing and dancing."

Ernesto thinks about it and says, "Okay, I admit it. You were right. I've been so jealous of students, it's been burning me up. The fountain of knowledge, huh. How nice would it have been if we'd had some wonderful school where we could've studied to our hearts' content? And Sereianna was able to have that chance, and neither of us could be there."

Gino nods.

And Ernesto says, "At first I let that envy fuel more productive efforts at making money... but at some point it turned into a personal grudge. I let those emotions get the better of me, and look at me now. Dancing to the tune of one of the rich folks I hate so much. It's beyond pathetic. I bring shame to the name Ernesto Foulworth."

Gino saddens and contemplative. But then, Gino smirks and has an idea. He moves up to the sad Ernesto. And gives him a light thwack with his hammer.

Ernesto yelps, "OW!"

Ernesto turns to see the smiling Gino.

And scolds him, "What's wrong with you, you ninny?! Why are you swinging your mallet at me?"

Gino soon mournfully gestures. And then starts making a series of gestures as he forms a conspiratorial smirk.

Ernesto becomes confused, "...Huh? Excuse me?"

Gino repeats his gestures.

Ernesto is surprised, "Well, color me surprised. You're the last guy I expected to hear that suggestion from."

Hino happily perks up. Ernesto pauses and thinks for a moment.

He brightens up and laughs, "Heh... Haha... Hah hah hah! Y'know what? You're right. Where's the fun in things otherwise?"

Gino smiles up at him.

And Ernesto says, "I can't believe I needed a wake-up call from YOU, of all people. Clearly I've got a long way still to go."

Back at the stage, Ace, Ortho, and Sereia are still changing into puppets. Kalim helps Ace and Ortho sit down while Briar has Sereia in her arms. Trinket grows very worried.

Ortho says, "Well, guys... Thanks for everything. Even if I get sent to work at the bottom of the ocean, and Kalim goes to the north pole, and Ace goes to work in a scorching desert, and Briart and Sereia have to stay in the park… I'll never lose my data of the wonderful times we shared together…"

"Is that supposed to make us feel better? 'Cause I only feel scared!" Ace says, "Honestly. No way are any of us getting sent anywhere extreme like that."

"You really think so? Was I too worried?" Ortho says.

"Yes! Ernesto was clearly treating us as special. If I were to take a guess…" Ace says, "We'll get showcased all over the world as puppets with no strings, or puppets with magic… We'll be treated as a spectacle, and after the years take their toll, we'll get tossed in an incinerator to keep us quiet."

"And you thought what I was saying was scary?! Your scenario is way worse, and contains far too much detail!" Ortho says.

"Don't worry, guys. It'll be okay," Kalim says, and becomes determined, "I'll find a way to save us!"

"Okay, how?" Ace questions.

"Good question. For starters…" Kalim says, "I could invite Ernesto to a party where we eat good food and talk things out with each other!"

Ortho is exasperated, "We've been through this!"

Kalim sadly sighs, "Yeah. Honestly, that didn't make me feel any better. Then turns to Briar and Sereia, "Especially on how Sereia was willing to sacrifice herself to me."

"I understand," Briar says and hugs Sereia.

Tink sadly responds.

Just then, they hear footsteps and see Gino and Ernesto emerging on the stage, expressions indecipherable.

"Oh, Ernesto and Gino are back," Kalim says.

Ernesto remains silent

"Are you here to ship us off now?" Ace questions.

After a moment of silence, Ernesto grins and twirls his cane. He then says, "Here you are!"

Just then, a bright flash of light engulfs Ace, Ortho, and Sereia.

Ortho asks, "Whoa, what was that?!"

"So bright..!" Kalim cries out.

"What's happening?" Briar asks.

The flash disappears to reveal that they've been reverted back to their normal selves.

Ace soon begins moving his body, "Huh? I can move... And the bits of me that turned to wood are back to normal!"

Kalim is amazed, "You're not puppets anymore. You're human again!"

Ortho asks, "Why did you change us back? You wouldn't simply set us free for nothing. What's your angle..?"

Ernesto inhales and announces, "Ortho!"

Startling Ortho, "Huh?"

Then Ernesto says, "Ace!"

Ace has his guard up, " ...Yes?"

Ernesto says, "Kalim!"

Kalim smiles merrily, "What's up?"

Then Ernesto says, "Briar… Trinket…"!"

"Huh? You mean us?" Briar says, confused.

Trinket tinks in response.

"And lastly Sereianna," Ernesto says.

"Um yes," Sereia says.

Soon, Ernesto says, "After bearing witness to your bravery, honesty, and kindness…" and makes the effects of confetti and cheers surround him, "I, Ernesto Foulworth, am deeply moved!"

Gino smiles and nods.

Everyone remains quiet and is shocked.

Ernesto continues, "As such… Please allow us to join your wonderful group!"

Ace becomes confused, "...Huh?"

Ortho & Ace react in shock, "BWHAAAAA?!"

"Really?! Wow, you finally understand that we just want to be friends!" Kalim says, with a smile, "That's good!"

"You really mean it?" Sereia asks with a smile.

"I'm glad to hear it," Briar says.

But Ace says, "No it isn't! He's just turning around and deciding to join us? There's clearly a catch!"

"You already spent ample time mocking us. What's your plan now?" Ortho says, glaring at Ernesto, "This is beyond suspicious. Why would I stand here and let you hoodwink us again when I could just fry you with my beam right now?"

But Ernesto defends himself, "Whoa, whoa, slow down!" and lightly smug, "I can understand your resentment, considering how handily you lost to us, but hear me out. I'm done being the Playful Land manager. In fact, I'm ready to wash my hands of this entire park.

Ace keeps his guard up, "Oh yeah? Good on you. What brought on this change of heart?"

And soon, Ernesto says, "Long story short: I got tired of taking the boss' guff. Get a load of this. Gino said we should just ditch that loser already," And laughs, "Hah hah hah. He's one bad boy, isn't he?"

Gino nods with a proud smirk.

Sereia feels happy, "Really? You're finally quitting Ernes."

"Indeed Sereianna," Ernesto says.

Gino nods.

Sereia crosses her arms, "It's about time. Your boss was really mean. He took me away and hurt you and Gin. He's nothing but a big fat bully," and pouts angrily.

"Easy Sereia," Briar says, trying to calm her,

"Yeah. No need to get your head steaming," Ace says.

Then turns to Ernesto and asks, "What comes next, now that you're done with this place? Will you try to start a career with those acting skills of yours?"

"Next?" Ernesto questions, and thinks, "Next, hm… Good question. What is it I want to do now..?" And smiles, "Well, it's pretty clear what I HAVE to do."

Gink looks in curiosity.

Then Ortho says, "You don't have to explain yourself. After how much you've fooled us already, why would we start believing you now?"

"True. This is our chance. I say it's royal beatdown time!" Ace says.

And it's clear that Ace and Ortho want payback.

But Ace says, "Whoa, hey! Come on, guys, don't do that!"

"Come on guys, no fighting or beating," Briar says.

"Please don't hurt them," Sereia begs.

Ernesto then says, "I had a feeling you wouldn't listen... but I can hardly blame you for your skepticism. If you refuse to believe my words... then have a look over there."

Suddenly, they hear a familiar voice, "Rgh... Mmm…"

Everyone soon turns to see Grim, Jasper, and Tanzanite, groggy but reverted back to normal.

Grim groans, "Still feelin' all heavy…"

"My teeth are clattering," Tanzanite says.

"My legs are stiff as boards," Jasper says.

Ace calls out, "Grim! Tanzanite! Jasper!"

"You're all okay," Briar says, relieved.

Then Ortho notices, "And behind them!"

And walking from behind are Lilia and the others.

Lilia stretches as he feels his joints pop, "Augh... I feel like my shoulders and back are never going to stop cracking. What an ordeal."

"Tch," Jack scoffs, "I couldn't avenge my honor on my own, and have to crawl back like this? Pathetic."

"Oh, how wonderful it is to be able to speak freely again. I could talk forever," Jade says.

Then Trey says, "Boy is it great to be back to normal. I was seriously afraid we were going to be stuck like that forever... Let's not do that again."

"Being stuck in the same position for so long has been terrible for my blood flow. I'll need a massage to head off any swelling," Vil says, holding his head.

And Cater says, "Going to an epic theme park and getting turned into a puppet was a disaster... but OTOH, it was pret-ty rare as far as experiences go."

"Depending on how you look at it, a life where you never have to worry about moving yourself could've actually been pretty chill," Leona says.

Floyd feels bored, "MAAAN, talk about boring. Not bein' able to cut loose was seriously eating me up."

"Everyone's back to normal!" Ace says, surprised.

Briar and the others are surprised and relieved.

Seeing everyone back to normal, Kalim tears up and cries out, "GUUUYS! I missed you all SO much! I'm glad you're okay! It's so good to see you again! Thanks for coming to our rescue."

Grim launches himself into Kalim's arms, teary eyed, and cries, "Waaah! It took you long enough to rescue us! I couldn't move, I couldn't talk... I was just a rigid wooden puppet... I seriously thought it was over for me!"

"Mm. It must've been so scary for you two. Don't worry, you're okay now!" Kalim says.

"See? If I wasn't actually going to quit being Playful Land's manager… It would make no sense for me to release all these dangerous individuals-you three included," Ernesto says.

"'Dangerous individuals'? Really?" Jack responds.

And Lilia says, "Ernesto came over to our cage a short while ago and released us from the spell."

"I inquired as to his reason for freeing us, and his answer was rather surprising," Jade says.

"Yeah?" Ace says.

"Yes! That's precisely what I was getting to," Ernesto dramatically says, "How could any compassionate person condone this heinous, atrocious, horrific park? Wouldn't you agree, Gino?"

Gino nods along.

Ortho says with a frown, "Says the guy who was helping to run that heinous, atrocious, horrific park until a scant few seconds ago…"

"To prevent any more tragic puppet transformations and punish the greedy evildoers who threaten world peace…" Ernesto says and smirks, "...not to mention to express my IMMENSE gratitude to my former employers… I'm gonna tear the whole park down and ensure it never opens its doors again!"

"You're gonna WHAT now?!" Ace says, shocked.

"A-Are you sure that's advisable?" Ortho questions.

"Positive. I just dispelled the park's magic," Ernesto says. And it would also be payback for our former boss for what he did."

Gino nods in agreement and anger.

"What did he do?" Trey asks, couriouslty.

"He took Sereianna from us, that's what he did," Ernesto answers, upset, "He tried to use her as a bargaining chip to keep me and Gino in line, but Sereianna miraculously escaped and ended up at your school."

"He what?" Jasper asks, shocked.

"How awful," Briar says, shocked.

"So then, you really do know Sereia," Kalim says.

"Yep. They're my brothers," Sereia happily says.

"Brothers?!" The guys exclaim in shock.

"Well… um… kind of…" Sereia says.

"How? No offense Angelfish, but you're a little doll," Floyd asks.

"Allow me to explain," Ernesto says.

Then tells the story, "Years ago, there's an old toy maker named Georgio Joy Foulworth, my grandfather. He made a beautiful doll and used his unique magic and potions to make the lovely doll come to life and showed that she can perform magic. He dreamed that one day she will attend school and live life like a real girl." Then sadly says, "Sadly, he passed away, and so I've decided to raise her as my sister. And then we met Gino. All three of us become companions, using our talents and magic Sereianna developed slowly to earn money. We ended up meeting our boss and became the manager of Playful Land. Then he took Sereianna to keep as a trophy and keep us working for him. And the truck he was in lost Sereianna, and ended up alone with no memory of us."

Briar realizes, "And she ended up at Night Raven College's Ramshackle Dorm…"

"Where we found her," Grim says.

"Precisely," Ernesto says, "When we saw Sereianna that day, I thought it was our chance to have Sereianna returned to us, and have our friends stay here. And you know the rest."

"How sad," Kalim says, "But I'm glad Sereia has found you at last."

"Still, I can't believe you want to destroy the park now," Briar says.

"Hard to believe," Tanzanite says.

Ernesto then says "If you still don't believe me, Gino and I are happy to put on a demonstration. Help me scrap the park, and I'll change the ship's heading to Sage's Island. Let's be real-Playful Land's a big place. We're not gonna tear it apart with just the two of us. So, what do you say? Are you in?"

The group is skeptic, "Uh…" and soon glance at their upperclassmen.

Vil exasperates, "Don't look to us for guidance. Can't you think for yourselves?"

"You guys did the most work today. You can make the call," Trey says.

"No promises that I'll play along, though," Floyd says.

Jasper says, "You guys decide!"

"We trust your judgement!" Tanzanite says.

"Well? I'm waiting," Ernesto says.

The group thinks longer.

Ace then says, "Just to be clear, I don't trust you at all. We'll work with you... but only until the moment we reach land."

"Good call. Mutual cooperation seems to be the most sensible solution if we want to get back to Sage's Island. I guess we've got a truce," Ortho says.

"Great! I've wanted to be friends with you and Gino this whole time," Kalim says and walks up to Ernesto.

Then gives him a hearty pat on Ernesto's back, "I'm glad you extended the offer! We're buddies now-and we're all in this together!"

Startled and strained, Ernesto says, "Uh, yeah, that's great... Could you please stop slapping me on the back now?"

He calms himself, "Ahem... Anyway, I appreciate this. We couldn't ask for better backup than you scholars. Now then-hard to starboard! I've got one last job to do as manager."

Gino smirks and nods.

Ernesto turns to Sereia and asks, "What do you think?"

Sereia then says, "Normally, I would think it's wrong to wreck something like this, but that jerk deserves it," And is determined, "And I turn the park upside down after what he did to us!"

"Well, if Sereia is in, then we're in too," Briar says.

Trinket agrees.

"Count us in too," The twins reply.

"Yeah. Let's wreck the place.

Ernesto asks, "Is everyone ready?"

Everyone nods, "Time to raise the curtains on Playful Land's final show!" He smirks and says, "It's showtime!"

Soon, everyone is gathered at the Gentle Plaza. And with that, Ernesto has the pa system play the music from the playful stage. And this time, Ace, Ortho, Kalim, and Sereia will be the one leading with Ernesto and Gino by their side.

Ace:

Reibappa! Utai odorou

(Rave-up! Up! Let's sing and dance)

Ortho:

Reibappa! Koyoi ha minnna

(Rave-up! Up! This evening, everyone)

Kalim:

Reibappa! Sutaa ni narou

(Rave-up! Up! Let's all become stars)

Ace, Kalim, Ortho, and Sereia:

Ready Go! Ready Go!

Ready Ready Ready Go!

Kalim:

Saa minna issho ni!

(Everybody, together now!)

And soon, everyone begins to dance, and each has a stop, with Sereia and the boys still singing.

Sereia:

Reibappa! Fushigi no jyumon

(Rave-up! Up! What magical words)

Kalim:

Reibappa! Tanoshiku step & step

(Rave-up! Up! Joyfully step & step)

Ace:

Reibappa! Mawaru ongaku

(Rave-up! Up! The rhythm goes round and round)

Ace, Kalim, Ortho, and Sereia:

Here we go! Here we go!

Here we Here we Here we Go! On!

Ace:

Ryoute wo agete!

(Raise your hands up!)

Ace, Kalim, Ortho, and Sereia:

Hey! Hey! Reibappa!

(Hey! Hey! Rave-up!)

Sereia:

Kira kira matataku

(Those twinkling and shining-)

Hoshi dakishimetara

(Stars, if you can grab hold of them,)

Ace:

Subete wo wasurete

(Just forget everything and)

Saa tobidasouyo

(Come on, let's jump right in)

Kalim:

Bokura minna Sousa

(All of us, that's right)

Ace:

Shuyaku nanda Spotlight

(We're stars, in the spotlight)

Ortho:

Kokoro no mama Hora

(We're doing just as we please, see)

Ace and Kalim:

Subarashii butai he

(Come join the spectacular stage)

Hakushu ga yonderuyo

(All the applause is calling you)

Ace, Kalim, Ortho, and Sereia:

Go! Showtime!

Ace, Kalim, Ortho, and Sereia:

Be honest!

Brouhaha!

Be honest!

Brouhaha!

And soon enough, the gang divide themselves into different groups to destroy a part of the park.

Ace with Lilia, Jack, Vil, and Tanzantie.

Kalim with Cater, Jade, Grim, and Jasper.

Ortho with Lilia, Leona, and Floyd.

And lastly, Sereia with Ernesto, Gino, Briar, and Trinket.

Ace, Kalim, Ortho, and Sereia:

Hai! Hai! Hai! Hai!

(Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!)

At one part of the park, Ace leads one team to destroy the roller coaster area.

Ace, Kalim, Ortho, and Sereia:

Hai! Hai! Hai! Hai!

(Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!)

Kalim and his group blast their magic where the fighting attraction is.

Ace, Kalim, Ortho, and Sereia:

Hai! Hai! Hai! Hai!

(Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!)

Ortho and his group blast at the large model home attraction.

Ace, Kalim, Ortho, and Sereia:

Hai! Hai! Hai! Hai! …Hahah!

(Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! …Hahah!)

Sereia, along with Briar, Ernesto, and the rest of the gang begin blasting areas around the bazzar.

Sereia:

Saa ikuyo!

(Ready, let's go!)

Time has passed, Sereia, and the boys return to Gentle Plaza to carry the last verse

Ace:

Reibappa! Utai odorou

(Rave-up! Up! Let's sing and dance)

Ortho:

Reibappa! Koyoi ha minnna

(Rave-up! Up! This evening, everyone)

Kalim:

Reibappa! Sutaa ni narou

(Rave-up! Up! Let's all become stars)

Ace, Kalim, Ortho, and Sereia:

Here we Here we Here we Go! On!

Jinsei ha stage

(Life is all a stage)

Saikou no stage

(The best kind of stage)

Rave up!

Everyone soon gathers and each of them perform a powerful blast at areas of the park. Though, Gino whacks stuff with his hammer.

In the Bazaar, the destruction of Playful Land continues on.

Grim laughs, "Mya-hah! Take this! Ultra Grim Attack!" And unleashes a spell, destroying something into smithereens.

"Nicely executed, Grim!" Ernesto says.

Grim huffs, "Hmph. Stupid Playful Land, tryin' to turn ME into some dumb puppet... I ain't done breakin' you by a long shot! This wall's gotta go, too!"

And Grim continues to destroy another portion of the park with his magic, smirking.

Sereia giggles, "Wow. Grim really going at it."

"I really hope he doesn't cause too much destruction.

Suddenly, Grim notices something...Hm? Hey, I see some light off in the distance over the water. Is that..?"

Everyone rushes over to see a familiar place.

"It's Sage Island!" Briar says.

"You're right... This is really happening, Briar! We're goin' back to Night Raven!" Ace says, "But considering we'll have to face the teachers and my housewarden, maybe we shouldn't celebrate TOO much…"

"Yeah, this is great news," Kalim says.

Everyone happily cheers with excitement, suddenly, they hear a loud explosion.

"That explosion... Was that the pool hall?!" Trey asks.

Jack looks around to notice, "It's not just that. There are explosions going off at the Brawlin' Bungalow, the Ferris Wheel, and all sorts of other places…"

And soon, there are multiple explosions, and a great cracking sound can also be heard underneath them. Everyone looks down to see a shocking sight.

"Whoa, sweet. The floor's crackin'," Floyd says.

"It certainly is. Is the ship... sinking?" Jade asks.

Kalim panics, "Wait, uh, isn't that bad?!"

"Oh, crud. It can't sink now! We're still way far from land!" Ace says.

"And the park is falling apart," Briar says.

"Oh, dear... We might've gone a wee bit overboard on the demolition," Ernesto says.

Ace panics, "How are you so chill about this?! Wait, does this ship have lifeboats and stuff?"

"Oh, that'd make sense," Cater says, "This is a huge ship meant to carry a lot of people. They'd have to be equipped for a worst-case scenario, right?"

Ernesto laughs, "Haaah hah hah! Please. Do you actually think Playful Land has any safety measures in place for its guests?"

"Not when you put it that way," Lilia says.

"Then why aren't you more concerned? We're taking on so much water, our shoes are getting soaked!" Jack says.

"Why, because I have all of you here!" Ernesto says, "You're smart little scholars, right? Put those educated noggins to use and whip up a solution real quick, would you?"

"Talk about passing the buck…" Ace says, "Augh, I can't think of a single spell that could move this giant ship!"

Kalim asks, "What do we do..? Ooh, I know. We could all swim for it!"

"Ooh, I second that motion!" Floyd says.

But Leona says, "I veto it!"

"That's not the best idea," Tanzanite says.

And Vil says, "We're too far out from shore for anyone but Floyd and Jade to make it there safely!"

Everyone begins to panic, even the rest of the visitors who have changed back to humans. There are also people screaming and arguing.

"Come on, guys... No need to panic," Ortho says with a sigh.

He then becomes determined, "I've got this. Don't worry-just wait here!"

Ortho then zips out and high in the sky like a rocket.

"Wait, Ortho, you can't just fly off like that! Where are you going?!" Ace calls out.

"Ortho wait!" Sereia calls out.

Ernesto is shocked, "Did Ortho really just… escape on his own?! The cowardice!"

Gino looks surprised.

And Vil says, "Nonsense. He's not YOU, you know!"

"Vil is right. I think Ortho has an idea on how to get us out of this mess," Briar says.

Everyone looks to see Ortho splashing into the water.

"Looks like Ortho dove into the water," Kalim says.

In the water, Ortho says, "Okay, wind direction's fine... Heading's set…" And begins charging his energy within himself, "Engine revved to full! High-speed flutter kick mode, engaged!" and with that, Pushi begins pushing the park as he uses his rocket legs that act like propellers, leaving large waves in his wake, "Full speed ahead!"

Propelled by Ortho, the park quakes as it moves at full speed towards Sage's Island.

Everyone yelps, "Whoa!" feeling the strong push.

"The ship's speed just ramped way up... What in the world? It's never gone this fast before!" Ernesto says, shocked.

Kalim notices it, "We're getting closer to land by the second... Ortho must be doing this! Now we'll definitely reach Sage's Island before we sink. We're saved!"

Ortho continues to use his ability to push Playful Land faster and faster and reach Sage Island. Upon the arrival, the bridge opens and everyone is able to get back safely. Lastly, Ace, Briar, and everyone else out of the theme park and back onto island.

"We actually made it to Sage's Island!" Ace says, "Ortho, you propelled the ship, right? Thanks for that-you're a lifesaver!"

"Thank you, Ortho," Sereia says.

Ortho giggles, "Heh heh. You're very welcome. We're lucky the ship held together long enough to reach land. It's belching smoke from a dozen places, and it's half-sunk at this point…"

"Boy... Now that I'm looking at it from shore, we sure did a number on it!" Kalim says, "I was kind of iffy about tearing it down at first, but it turned out to be really fun. I got super into it by the end... Wait…"

"Don't tell me…" Ace says.

Ortho asks, "Ernesto Foulworth, you didn't use your signature spell on us... Did you?"

Ernesto teasely says, "Who could say, really? What do YOU think?" and laughs, "Hah hah hah hah!"

Leona approaches Ernesto, "Listen to that smarm. It's only gonna get worse from here, you know," with a deep frown on his face.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Kalim says.

"Why do you say that?" Briar asks.

Cater says, "Grown-ups can't excuse this kinda thing just by going, 'I felt like quitting, so I literally burned my bridges.' ...Come to think of it, pretty sure no one can, grown-up or not."

"If someone tore up my turf, I'd for sure tear into THEM, guaranteed," Floyd says.

"Indeed," Vil says, "And I seem to recall a braggadocious speech about how powerful the Playful Land proprietor is… You're going to be a wanted man, Ernesto."

"You're right, if his former boss finds out about this," Jasper says.

"Ernesto and Gino could be in serious trouble," Tanzanite says.

"Wait, he is? Is he gonna be okay?!" Kalim asks, worried.

But Ernesto says, "Please. The great Ernesto Foulworth wouldn't have overlooked something so basic. We've made it through our fair share of hazards so far. We wouldn't be stupid enough to get ourselves caught.'

"You say that... But I'm still worried about you," Kalim says.

"Me too," Briar says.

Trinket agrees.

Just then, Sereia walks to Ernesto and Gino and says, "Ernes… Gin…"

"Yes, Sereianna?" Ernesto asks.

Sereia then says, "Please, come to Night Raven College with us."

Ernesto and Gino are surprised to hear it.

Kalim says, "Hey, that's a good idea. You'd have food and a place to sleep, and plenty of friendly company! And you know what-you've got that amazing signature spell! If the headmage found out about it, who knows? He could be all like, 'You positively must enroll in our school!' And what's more, you can be with Sereia and her friends too.

Ernesto is surprised, "My! An invitation to Night Raven College? That sounds nice. Life would be a lot more peaceful if I could go to a prestigious school. And it'd give me a reputation boost."

But Grim says, "Bwha?! I don't wanna go to the same school as this guy!"

"Oh yes we will," Briar says, sternly.

"That's right," Tanzanite says, "Despite everything they did, Ernesto and Gino are Sereia's family. So they can stay in Ramshackle with us."

"And maybe we can put in a good word with the headmage," Jasper says.

Even Trinket agrees.

However, Ernesto says, "BUT. I must respectfully decline. I mean, let's be real-the rest of the student body's gotta be a bunch of bad eggs like you guys, right? Well, except for Sereia and her female friends. It'd be unbearable having to suffer that many fools day in and day out. I wouldn't go there even if you begged me."

Grim growls in anger, "Grrr, somehow him turnin' down the offer is even more rage-inducin'..!"

"I've got no interest in attending some stuffy, stuck-up school," Ernesto says, "Instead…"

"Instead…" Ernesto says, "I think I'm going to build a BETTER school. The kind that I'D want to go to."

Gino nods with a smile, but stares in shock to realize what Ernesto has said.

Kalim, Briar, and Sereia say in shock, "...Huh?"

The group asks in shock, "You want to build a school?!"

"That's right," Ernesto says, "One that welcomes minor mages like me, and non-mages like Gino. A magnificent educational institution that teaches students things with practical real-world value.

Sereia smiles, "That's a wonderful goal."

"Isn't it, though?" Ernesto says with a smile, you and your friends, You'd be welcome to transfer there once it's established. You've got the stubbornness and brazenness to make it there! In fact, I'll even let you skip the entrance exam. Hah hah hah!"

"Ernes…" Sereia says, blushing.

"Still, that is a very big goal," Briar says.

"Talk about thinking big," Jasper says.

Ernesto laughs, "Hah hah hah. As if you don't! You're fearless enough to go to an arcane academy when you can't even use magic when you first started out. From where I'm standing, Briar? You're dreaming just as big and doing some incredibly bold things."

"I guess you have a point," Briar says.

Lilia laughs, "Khee hee hee... Hahaha! How interesting. I like that idea! But I trust you're aware that won't be an easy goal to accomplish."

"Oh, absolutely," Ernesto says, "Right now, I've got nowhere to go and nary a sorcent to my name. Oh, how low the great Ernesto Foulworth has fallen. There's bound to be hardships ahead-and I strongly doubt anyone will hop on board with my ridiculous dream."

Gino droops worriedly.

Ernesto asks, "What'll you do now, Gino? Will you stick with me anyway?"

Gino beams and enthusiastically nods. He then leaps to hug Ernesto, catching him by surprise. Gino bounces around him excitement and glee.

Ernesto calls out, "Okay, okay, calm down!" And smiles, "Talk about overjoyed at nothing. You really are the ninniest of ninnies."

Ernesto and Gino share a meaningful smile for each other.

Sereia sadly says, "I guess… I might have to say… goodbye… I guess…"

Seeing the sadness, Ernesto says, "You know, Sereianna. I think it would be best if you stay at Night Raven."

"Really?" Sereia asks.

"Yes. I wouldn't want you to fall behind on education. I'm sure Grandfather Georgio would want you to continue to live and grow, and follow your own path," Ernesto says.

"Really?" Sereia asks.

"Really," Ernesot says.

Gino smiles and hugs Sereia. Sereia hugs Gino back. Then Ernesto hugs the two. Soon, it became a group hug for three. The three let go of the embrace and smiled at each other.

Soon, Ernesto brings out the present box from his office, "For you, Sereianna... I mean, Sereia, to remember us by."

Sereia takes the box and places it down, "Thank you… I'll… I'll miss you…"

"We'll miss you too…" Ernesto says.

Gino nods.

Then Sereia asks, "Ernes… Gin… do you think that someday, when you open the school… do you think I could help with it, like maybe someday I can work there. As... as a teacher..."

Ernesto and Gino are surprised by it. Then they smile.

"I would love to, but let's see what path you shall take first," Ernesto says.

Sereia smiles, "Okay."

Briar and the Ramshackle students smile and glad Sereia to have the reunion but saddened to know that Sereia will have to say goodbye again.

Just then, Ace says, "Hey, so…"

And soon, the rest of the NRC students approach, and they are crossed.

Ace says, "You know you don't get to just call things good with us, right? I, for one, am not about to let either of you off the hook!"

"Uh oh," The twins say.

And then Jack says, "Yeah, no, me neither. You've gotta pay for what you've done!"

"HARD agree! I ain't about to forgive and forget all the fun you had at my expense…" Grim says, angrily, "You'd better come quietly!" and lunges for Ernesto, but he deftly sidesteps out of the way.

"Whoa, careful there," Ernesto says.

And Grim comically misses and unceremoniously lands on the ground.

Grim yelps, "Mrah!"

Ernesto smirks, "I wouldn't want to overstay our welcome. We'd best see ourselves out."

Gino smirks and nods along.

Ernesto says, "Goodbye Sereianna. We hope we'll meet again."

Gino happily nods.

Ernesto and Gino hug her and then they both dash off.

Ace shouts, "Hey! Get back here! Don't you run away!"

Ace and the others give chase, only to stop when they realize Ernesto and Gino have gotten aboard onto the park and undocked it from the pier.

"Wait... Are you actually going to take off on the Playful Land ship?! It's barely seaworthy!" Ortho says, shocked.

Ernesto calls out, "Sure am. After all the work I've put into it, I'm gonna sail this thing into the seafloor."

"Aww... You're leaving so soon?" Kalim says, disappointed.

Kalim calls out, "Hey, Ernesto. When you do get your school built, let me know, okay?"

"Oh? Will you come visit?" Ernesto asks.

Kalim calls out with a smile, "No, I'll make a big donation!"

Ace and Ortho, standing beside Kalim, sigh and shake their heads in exasperation. Briar, Sereia, and the others also sigh in response.

Ernesto miffs, "You're an insufferable twerp to the very last… Ugh... Good guys are the worst," And calls out, "No thanks, Kalim. I'm not THAT desperate."

Then gestures to himself and Gino, "We'll manage. We always have."

Gino proudly nods.

"Exactly, Gino! As long as I'm around, there's nothing to be afraid of," Ernesto says.

He smugly says, "After all, I'm the star of the dropout world-the guy whose wits were a match even for smarty-pants Night Raven students!"

The boys shout, "Shut up, you scam artist!"

Sereia walks over and picks up the box.

Grim walks over, "So, what's in the box?"

"I'm not sure," Sereia says.

Sereia removes the ribbon, unwraps the wrapping paper. She then opens it to see a few things inside.

"Look," Sereia says, and brings out the fox tail.

"Well, that explains the foxtail Ernesto got," Ace says.

Then brings out a bottle with the red umbrella, and it has a bag on it. She then sees a couple of books, a few clothes, and other stuff.

"Wow. Ernesto really spoiled you," Ortho says.

Then Sereia brings out a book, and it's different from the others.

Sereia then opens it to see that it's a photo album.

Grim looks at it, "It's an album."

"And they're all pictures of Ernesto and Gino, and Sereia is there too," Ace says.

"You certainly look cute," Briar says.

And soon, Sereia notices a particular photograph. It's a picture of Sereia sitting on the lap of an elderly man. He has silver white hair with a mustache and beard on his face. He also has glasses. He has fair skin, blue eyes, wears a gray shirt, a black vest, burgundy pants, and brown shoes. And next to him is actually Ernesto as a child. He wears a small top hat, green shorts, a red shirt with a green vest, and black shoes.

Below, it has the names Sereianna, Georgio, and Ernesto.

Sereia smiles as tears come down her face.

Sereia looks out at sea as Playful Land gets farther away.

"Goodbye Ernesto. Gino. I'll miss you. I hope we'll see each other again someday," Sereia says.

Amidst the wreckage of the park while night crests into dawn, a cane taps against something.

Ernesto says, "Well, time for us to go! Who knows? Maybe if we're lucky, we'll see each other again… on that shining stage called life!"

He then smiles and says, "Sereianna, do not worry. We will meet again someday. Until then, let your conscience be your guide on the path of life."

Gino happily nods in response.

Ernesto whistles as he and Gino proceed further into the ruined park together.

Past a view of Night Raven's turrets, a star in the fading night sky twinkles overhead as the visage of the ruined Playful Land park slowly floats away into the bright horizon.