[setting]
title = "A Christmas Carol "

[story]
bg,snow_castle.bmp,1,0
bgm,mainTheme.ogg
wait,500
To begin with, Cassandra was dead. There is no doubt whatsoever about that. 
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sp,7,alice_st03,400,0,1,1
sp,8,cassandra_st04,-200,0,1,1
She had suffered the wrath of the monster lord herself, and had been completely dissolved. 
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flash,250,500
sp,8,cassandra_st05,-200,0,1,10
Not a single living cell remained. 
sp_del,7,1,0
sp_del,8,1,0
bg,snow_castle.bmp,6,500
Cassandra was deader than dead. 
Did Erubetie know she was dead? Of course she did. 
Erubetie, one of the renowned and feared Heavenly Knights, and her, sharing certain ideals, had met on a few occasions and had some truly interesting discussions on subjects ranging from inter-species relations to gastronomy. 
When she passed by Cassandra's village to find most of the other monsters sealed and Cassandra nowhere to be found, it was quite clear what happened to her, not that Erubetie particularly cared. It simply strengthened her ideals. 
The mention of the defeat of most of Lady Village's inhabitants brings us back to the point we started from. There is no doubt Cassandra was dead. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come from the events that are about to happen.
sp,8,erbetie_st01,250,0,2,400
Oh! She was truly someone to be feared, Erubetie! A powerful, merciless, rather deranged, monster! Hard and sharp as a famous dragon swordswoman's blade, with absolutely no compassion for beings not her own race; 
secret, self-contained, and solitary as an oyster girl. 
The cold within her froze her features in a permanent emotionless glare. 
Nobody ever stopped her to say, with gladsome looks, "Hello Erubetie, how are you?" or invited her over to sip cranberry juice or eat fried tofu. When monsters saw her coming they avoided her or pretended to be very busy. 
She ignored everyone and they did the same to her. 
But what did Erubetie care! It was the very thing she liked. To edge her way along the crowded paths of life, warning all sympathy to keep its distance, was what the knowing ones call "nuts" to Erubetie. 
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Once upon a time, of all the good days in the year, on Christmas Eve,
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sp,8,erbetie_st01,400,0,1,1
Erubetie sat in her room, brooding as usual.
It was cold, bleak, biting weather: foggy withal: and she could hear the monsters in the castle busily shuffling around in the corridors.
sp_del,8,1,0
sp,7,slime_red_st01,0,0,10,200
She watched Susan Cratchit, a slime girl hired as a maid in the castle and the only being Erubetie allowed in her room, as she was busy cleaning.
sp_del,7,1,0
sp,8,erbetie_st01,400,0,10,200
wait,700
sp,9,tamamo_st04,-150,0,10,600
name,Tamamo 
Merry Christmas Erubetie! 
name, 
It was the voice of Tamamo, one of the heavenly knights. She arrived with a smile, looking very jolly.
name, Erubetie
Bah! Humbug! 
name,Tamamo
Christmas, a humbug! I'm sure you don't really mean that. 
name,Erubetie
I do, Merry Christmas! What reason have you to be merry? You've seen dozens, no, hundreds of Christmases.Why do you even bother celebrating such a silly holiday?
name,Tamamo
Well then, why do you have to be so grumpy? Come on it's a happy time of year, even the slimes are happy now...even if they're mostly frozen solid...
name,Erubetie
What else can I be, when I live in such a world of fools as this? Merry Christmas! While humans continue to rampage around, slaughtering our kind and destroying our land. 
If I could have my way, every idiot who goes about with "Merry Christmas" on her lips, should be dissolved along with all those pesky humans. 
sp,9,tamamo_st03,-150,0,1,0
name,Tamamo 
Erubetie!
name,Erubetie 
Keep your pathetic Christmas to yourself, and don't you ever bother me about it again.
name,Tamamo
Fine then! If you want to spend this time alone, I won't stop you.
sp,9,tamamo_st04,-150,0,1,0
As for me, I'll be joining the others at Yamatai village to have fun, but if you ever  change your mind come drop by, I'm sure the humans there will even make you a shrine. 
Well so long, and Merry Christmas! 
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sp_del,8,10,300
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name, 
Meanwhile the Monster Lords castle was busy with activity, monsters of all types running up and down the halls, some coming in to help with decorations and others leaving to visit monsterous relatives in other lands. 
The large, almost church-like windows of the castle shone brightly as monsters busied about all around Erubetie. The small rooms of monsters gave off the scent of cookies being made, 
the working ants were carrying large trees from outside instead of carrying the usual luggage or various supply crates around the castle.it seems everyone was in such a jolly mood for the festive holiday, 
except for poor old Erubetie. 
sp,5,vgirl_st01,-225,0,10,300
sp,4,pramia_st01,-75,0,10,300
sp,6,dragonp_st01,75,0,10,300
sp,7,gob_st01,225,0,10,300
Why even a small group of young monsters came to her door, it was those little bandits who were a big fan of the knights,and started singing a carol 
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sp,5,vgirl_st03,-225,0,1,1
sp,4,pramia_st03,-75,0,1,1
sp,6,dragonp_st03,75,0,1,1
sp,7,gob_st04,225,0,1,1
Even when she slammed the door in their faces, you could still hear them singing quietly...and crying 
name,Bandit@Chorus 
Erubetie please let us sing! We just want to make you happy for Christmas...Waaaaaah! 
name, 
Eru opened the door only to shout at the monsters to leave less they suffer the wrath of a heavenly knight, 
se,1,escape
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sp_del,4,10,300
sp_del,6,10,300
sp_del,7,10,300
the poor little girls scattered with tears in their eyes.
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sp,8,erbetie_st01,400,0,10,150
sp,7,slime_red_st03,0,0,10,150
Now that she got that little distraction out of the way, she could talk about that "Urgent matter" with her new maid, 
While the maid was a Slime like Erubetie, there was a small bit of her Eru didn't like...And that bit was that she liked the humans and their silly holidays. 
name,Erubetie 
You'll want all day tomorrow, I suppose? 
name,Susan 
If quite convenient, miss Eru...yes 
name,Erubetie 
It's not convenient, and it's not fair. If I was to keep you here for the holidays, then Alice herself would even say you were ill-used. 
sp,7,slime_red_st02,0,0,10,150 
name,Erubetie 
And yet, you don't think me ill-used, when I pay you to clean this room, but you won't even be here to make it so. 
name, 
The poor maid observed that it was only once a year. 
name,Erubetie
A poor excuse for pretty much stealing money straight from the Queen of slimes herself every twenty-fifth of December! But I suppose you must have the whole day off. Just be here even earlier after tomorrow. 
name, 
The slime maid promised that she would; and Erubetie walked away with a growl.
The maid finished what little work was left and prepared to leave, she only had one day to make it to her home to meet with the rest of the slimes (since after all slimes would rather be near their own kind) 
and enjoy the holiday before she has to come back to work. 
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bgm_stop
bgm,Cassandra.ogg
Erubetie took her melancholic dinner on her usual melancholic table; and having read all the Hellgondo weekly papers, and having shooed away those little singing bandits again, 
she finished her meal and retired to her now much nicer looking room, to spend this silly holiday alone. 
Now, it is a fact, that there was nothing at all particular about the knocker on her room door, except that it was very large. 
It is also a fact, that Erubetie had seen it, night and morning, during her whole residence in that place; also that Erubetie had as little of what is called fancy about her as any monster in the Monster lord's Castle. 
Let it also be borne in mind that Erubetie had not bestowed one thought on Cassandra, since her last visit to her possibly 1 year dead's acquaintance's village months ago. 
And then let any monster explain to me, if they can, how it happened that Erubetie, having her key in the lock of the door, saw in the knocker, without it undergoing any intermediate process of change -- not a knocker, but Cassandra's face. 
Cassandra's face. It was not in impenetrable shadow as the other objects in the hall were, but had a dismal light about it, like a bad lobster in a dark cellar. 
It was not angry or ferocious, but looked at Erubetie as Cassandra used to look: with same cold stare that every other Setouchi monster made. 
The hair was curiously stirred, as if by breath or hot air; and, though the eyes were half closed in a dazzed fashion, they were perfectly motionless. 
That, and its livid colour, made it horrible; but its horror seemed to be in spite of the face and beyond its control, rather than a part or its own expression. 
As Erubetie looked fixedly at this phenomenon, it was a knocker again. 
To say that she was not startled, or that she didn't scream like some pathetic unbaptized hero internally, would be untrue. But she put her hand upon the key she had relinquished, turned it sturdily, walked in, and lighted a small candle. 
She did pause, with a moment's irresolution, before she shut the door; and she did look cautiously behind it first, as if she half-expected to be terrified with the sight of Cassandra's disgusting hair sticking out into the hall. 
But there was nothing on the back of the door, except the screws and nuts that held the knocker on, so she said
name,Erubetie
Pooh-pooh!
name, 
and closed it with a bang. 
She fastened the door, and walked across the hall, and up the stairs (It's a rather large room); slowly too: trimming her candle as she went the wax dripping off on her hand and mixing in with her slime body. 
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Up Erubetie went. Darkness is cheap, and Erubetie liked that, but she didn't like bumping into objects she couldn't see. 
But before she shut her heavy door, she walked through her massive room to see that all was right. She had just enough recollection of the face to desire to do that. 
Large pool of water, sleeping area, that empty semen slave cell. All as they should be. Nobody under the table, nobody under the slime sofa; 
a small fire in the grate; spoon and basin ready; and the little saucepan of gruel (Erubetie had a cold in her head) upon the hob. 
Nobody under the bed; nobody in the closet; nobody in her dressing-gown, which she can't even wear since her slimey body would simply ruin it instantly. 
Semen-slave cell empty as usual. Old fire-guards, old head gems, two fish-baskets, washing-stand on three legs, and a poker. 
Quite satisfied, she closed her door, and locked herself in; double-locked herself in, no triple locked herself in, no Setouchi monsters or caroling bandits will ruin her peace tonight. 
Thus secured against surprise, she took off the small gem in her head, sat down on the slime sofa; and allowed her body to mix in with it so she could finally relax and skip this pointless and silly holiday. 
It was a very large room, nothing less for a heavenly knight, but due to her absence from the castle for so long, it has gotten rather dusty, which is why she hired the maid Susan, 
a poor little slime that was pushed away from her home by those wretched humans. 
Eru took her in and now the place looks fantastic, but it could look even better if she was still here and not enjoying that silly holiday those pathetic humans themselves created. Erubetie let out a 
name,Erubetie 
Humbug! 
name, 
As she threw her head back in the sofa, her glance happened to rest upon a bell, a disused bell, that hung in the room, and communicated for some purpose now forgotten with a chamber in the highest point of her massive room. 
It was with great astonishment, and with a strange, inexplicable dread, that as she looked, she saw this bell begin to swing. It swung so softly in the outset that it scarcely made a sound; but soon it rang out loudly and francticly. 
This might have lasted half a minute, or a minute, but it seemed an hour. The bell ceased as it had begun, suddenly. They were succeeded by a squishing noise, deep down below; 
as if some person were dragging a large fleshy body over the casks in the rooms cellar, 
Eru didn't even know this room came with a cellar. Erubetie then remembered to have heard that ghost girls that live in the mansion tend to haunt some of the weaker residents for a good laugh, but why would one even dare spook a heavenly knight, 
or even Erubetie on the worst day of the year to do it. 
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The cellar-door flew open with a booming sound, and then she heard the noise much louder, on the floors below; then coming up the stairs; then coming straight towards her door. 
name,Erubetie 
It's humbug still! I won't believe it. 
sp,8,erbetie_st01,0,0,10,200
sp,6,ghostCassandra.bmp,200,0,10,600
name, 
Her colour changed though, when, without a pause, it came on through the heavy door, and passed into the room before her eyes. Upon its coming in, the dying flame leaped up, as though it cried 'I know her; Cassandra's Ghost!' and fell again. 
The same face: the very same. Cassandra in her fleshy form. Usual posture, same old cleavage and poor taste in music, even the same old dead daughter, but now she had a strange mixture of chains around her. 
The chain she drew was clasped about her middle. It was long, and wound about her like a tail; and it was made (for Eru observed it closely) of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel. 
Her body was transparent; even though Cassandra's body isn't exactly something you'd WANT to see through. Erubetie had often heard it said that Cassandra had no soul, but I guess that was proven to be false tonight. 
Eru couldn't believe what she was seeing. Though she looked the phantom through and through, and saw it standing before her; though she felt the chilling influence of its death-cold eyes; 
and marked the very texture of the folded organ tissue bound about its odly fashionable dress, which she had not observed before; she was still incredulous, and fought against her senses. 
name,Erubetie 
How now! What do you want with me? 
name,Cassandra 
Much!
name,Erubetie 
Who are you? 
name,Cassandra 
Ask me who I was. 
name,Erubetie 
Who were you then? You're particular, for an actual ghost, not a ghost girl. 
name,Cassandra 
In life I was a close friend of yours, Cassandra. We shared many views together on how the humans should be treated. 
name,Erubetie 
Can you -- can you sit down? 
name,Cassandra 
I can. 
name,Erubetie 
Do it, then. 
name,Cassandra 
You don't believe in me. 
name,Erubetie 
I don't. 
name,Cassandra 
What evidence would you have of my reality beyond that of your senses? 
name,Erubetie 
I don't know. 
name,Cassandra 
Why do you doubt your senses? 
name,Erubetie 
Because, a little thing affects them. slight disorder of a slimes membrane can cause a large unbalance of what it can and cannot see, or hear, or taste, 
and having a good thousand of so other slimes and humans mixed into you doesn't exactly help either, whatever you are! 
name, 
At this the spirit raised a frightful cry, and shook its chain with such a dismal and appalling noise, that Erubetie held on tight to her slime sofa, to save herself from falling in a swoon. 
But how much greater was her horror, when the phantom taking off a large chunk of fleshy tissue from it's dress, as if it were a mere loose nail, 
it's flesh squirmed and you could swear it even made a small squel as it dissolved into the ground! 
Erubetie stands up from her relaxing slime sofa and asks in an almost demanding tone. 
name,Erubetie 
Cassandra's spirit, why do you trouble me? 
name,Cassandra 
ERUBETIE! Do you believe in me or not? 
name,Erubetie 
I do. I must. But why do return here to walk the earth, and why do you come to me? 
name,Cassandra 
It is required of every monster, that the spirit within them should walk abroad among their fellow kin, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. 
It is doomed to wander through the world -- oh, woe is me! -- and witness what it cannot share, but might have shared on earth, and turned to happiness! 
name, 
Again the fleshy apparition raised a cry, and shook its chain and wrung its shadowy hands. 
name,Erubetie 
You are fettered. Tell me why? 
name,Cassandra 
I wear the chain I forged in life, I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you? 
Or would you know, the weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself? It was full as heavy and as long as this, seven Christmas Eves ago. You have laboured on it, since. It is a ponderous chain! 
name, 
Erubetie glanced about her on the floor, in the expectation of finding herself surrounded by some fifty or sixty fathoms of iron cable: but she could see nothing. 
name,Erubetie 
Cassandra, do tell me more of this....Well come now spit it out! 
name,Cassandra 
I have none to give. It comes from other regions, Heavenly knight Erubetie, and is conveyed by other ministers, to other kinds of monster. Nor can I tell you what I would. A very little more, is all permitted to me. 
I cannot rest, I cannot stay, I cannot linger anywhere. My spirit never walked beyond my mansion or your room in this castle -- mark me!
In life my spirit never roved beyond the narrow limits of our little bases of schemeing; and weary journeys lie before me! 
name,Erubetie
You must have been very slow then Cassandra, but it seemed you always were.
name,Cassandra 
Slow! 
name,Erubetie 
A whole year dead. And you only now arrived here at the Monster Lords castle! 
name,Cassandra 
The whole time. No rest, no peace. Incessant torture of remorse. 
name,Erubetie 
You travel fast? 
name,Cassandra 
On the fleshy wings of the wind itself! 
name,Erubetie
You might have got over a great quantity of ground in seven years, it doesn't explain why you took so long to- 
name, 
Cassandra, on hearing this, set up another cry, and clankes her chain hideously in the dead silence of the night, interupting Erubetie, how rude!
name,Cassandra 
Oh! look at me, once a great and powerful high class monster, I had a monster village, we had a system and peace, and of course a steady income of food, but now...but now I'm just spirit, 
meant to travel across the lands seeing and hearing things I could not re-tell, I'm meant to just float on in regret about the poor choices I've made, and many have I made. 
name,Erubetie 
But you were always a good at making those humans pay! 
name,Cassandra 
Business! Lady's Village was my business. The common well being of my people was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. 
The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business! 
At this time of the rolling year. I suffer most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-monsters with my eyes turned down, and never consider that Lady's village couldn't last forever! 
name, 
Erubetie just stares deeply into Cassandra, not letting a single emotion show on her face. 
name,Cassandra 
But Eru, you must listen to me, for my time is nearly up. 
name,Erubetie 
I will. But you never did answer me why you've come here, I can assume it wasn't just to tell me you messed up badly at Lady's village. 
name,Cassandra 
The reason I came here is to warn you Erubetie, for tonight you'll have a chance to escape a fate like mine. 
name,Erubetie 
You were always a good friend. I can see why we saw eye to eye so much. 
name,Cassandra 
You will be haunted by Three Spirits. 
name, 
Eru flinches a tiny bit at the sound of spirits, but she remains as cold as ever. 
name,Erubetie
Is that the chance and hope you mentioned, Cassandra? 
name,Cassandra 
It is. 
name,Erubetie 
Hmmm...Is this truly the only way? 
name,Cassandra 
Without their visits, you cannot hope to shun the path I tread. Expect the first tomorrow, when the bell tolls One. 
name,Erubetie 
I'm going to just assume there is some reason I can't just see all spirits at once right? 
name,Cassandra 
Expect the second on the next night at the same hour. The third upon the next night when the last stroke of Twelve has ceased to vibrate. Look to see me no more; 
and look that, for your own sake, you remember what has passed between us! 
name, 
Eru ventured to raise her eyes again, and found her supernatural visitor confronting her in an erect attitude, with its chain wound over and about its fleshy arm. 
The apparition walked backwards from her; and at every step it took, the door opened itself a little, so that when the spectre reached it, it was wide open. It beckoned Scrooge-er I mean Erubetie to approach, which she did. 
When they were within two paces of each other, Cassandra's Ghost held up its hand, warning her to come no nearer. Erubetie stopped. 
Not so much in obedience, as much as she doesn't even care at this point, this was just dragging on : for on the raising of the hand, she became sensible of confused noises in the air; 
incoherent sounds of lamentation and regret echo within the halls of the castle; wailings inexpressibly sorrowful and self-accusatory. The spectre, after listening for a moment, joined in the mournful dirge; 
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and floated out upon the bleak, dark endless hallway. 
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Erubetie followed to the opened door: desperate in her curiosity. She looked out. 
The halls were filled with spooky ghosts, wandering hither and thither in restless haste, and moaning as they went. Every one of them wore chains like Cassandra's Ghost; some few were linked together; none were free. 
Many had been personally known to Eru in their lives. She had been quite familiar with one old ghost, it had a strange white tint to it's slime body, with a monstrous iron safe attached to its ankle,  
who cried piteously at being unable to stop the humans from destroying her home, whom it saw below, upon a door-step. 
The misery with them all was, clearly, that they sought to interfere, for good, in monster matters, and had lost the power for ever. 
Whether these creatures faded into mist, or misenshrouded them, she could not tell. But they and their spirit voices faded together; and the night became as it had been when she walked home. 
Erubetie closed the door, and examined it carefully. It was double-locked, as she had locked it with her own slimey hands, and the bolts were undisturbed. She tried to say... 
name,Erubetie 
Hum... 
name, 
but stopped at the first syllable, she thought for a moment that saying umbug once more, just ONE more time, would probably summon more annoying ghosts, and not the right kind. 
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bgm_stop
So she went straight to bed, without undressing, and fell asleep upon the instant. 
goto,act2

[act2]

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The curtains of her slime bed were drawn aside. Eru wondered why they made a bed for slimes, but they continued to use regular linen curtains...it was just a mess; 
bgm,Lazarus.ogg
and as Eru was thinking about that detail of great importance, the first spirit appeared before her. 
sp,7,ghostLazarus.bmp,200,0,10,600
It was a strange figure -- like a dirty human with greasy hair,but an alright goatee, viewed through some supernatural medium, which gave him the appearance of having receded from the view. 
Its hair, which hung about its neck and down its back, was black and looked like it hadn't been bathed in a long time. The arms were very long and muscular; 
the hands the same, as if it's hold were of uncommon strength, but his left arm seemed to just dangle there. Its legs and feet were stregnthened from many travels on foot. 
It wore a dirty brown tunic and a red cloak around it's neck with patches of what seemed like sand stuck to it. 
But the strangest thing about it was the aura about him, you could see a large amount of anger in him, but also regret and sadness, and even a tiny bit of...relief. 
name,Erubetie
Are you the Spirit, whose coming was foretold to me? 
name,Lazarus 
I am. 
name,Erubetie 
Who, and what are you? 
name,Lazarus 
I am the Ghost of Christmas Past. You can call me Lazarus if you want. 
name,Erubetie 
Long Past? 
name,Lazarus 
No. You disgusting slime. Your past. 
name, 
Perhaps, Eru could not have told anybody why, if anybody could have asked her; 
but she had a special desire to see the Spirit shut it's god damn mouth, like seriously, she could already tell this guy was going to be a rude dude and takes jabs at her slimey form, Erubetie really didn't need that right now. 
Erubetie reverently disclaimed that this guy should just tell her what he's here for so she could get this whole mess over with and just go back to sulking around the sanctuary...or bossing Susan around...or both. 
name,Lazarus 
Your Welfare. 
name, 
Eru expressed herself much obliged, but could not help thinking she was faring pretty well. 
name,Lazarus 
Well shit I'll just show you your past then, I mean that IS my job after all. 
name, 
It put out its one working hand as it spoke, and clasped her gently by the arm, but quickly drew it's hand back upon contact. 
name,Lazarus
Ew what are you made of SLIME? Oh wait yeah that's right, anyway follow me. 
name, 
It would have been in vain for Eru to plead that the halls of the Monster lord's castle weren't exactly accepting to humans, especially really rude ones who are partially transparent; 
But the spirit insisted that she come with it, and continued to say horrible rude things about slimes being really gross and that humans should take over more lakes, 
Erubetie didn't like this spirit at all. 
name,Erubetie 
I really hope someone sees you and beats you senseless right now. 
name,Lazarus 
Only you can see me, and besides we don't have to like each other to get the whole deep christmas meaning beat into your skull...or membrane or WHATEVER, we just need to talk about your past and how shitty it was. 
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bg,snowVillage.bmp,10,500
wait,400
sp,7,ghostLazarus.bmp,200,0,10,500
sp,8,erbetie_st01,0,0,10,500
name, 
As the words were spoken, they passed through the wall, and stood upon an open country road, with fields on either hand. The castle had entirely vanished. Not a vestige of it was to be seen. 
The darkness and the mist had vanished with it, for it was a clear, cold, winter day, with snow upon the ground. 
bgm_stop
bgm,Past.ogg
name,Erubetie 
Good Heaven! I was bred in this place. I was a slime larvae here. 
name, 
The Spirit gazed upon her mildly. 
She was conscious of a thousand odours floating in the air, each one connected with a thousand thoughts, hopes, joys, and cares long, long, forgotten. 
name,Lazarus 
Your lip is trembling. And what is that upon your cheek? Are you crying or just dripping? It's really hard to tell with slimes. 
You remember the way. 
name,Erubetie 
Remember it? I could walk it blindfolded! 
name,Lazarus 
Good because I have no idea where I'm going, this is YOUR christmas adventure after all. I'm just here for the hats. 
name, 
They walked along the road, Erubetie recognising every river, lake, and tree; until a little market-town appeared in the distance, with its bridge, its church, and winding river. 
Some shaggy ponies now were seen trotting towards them with boys upon their backs, who called to other boys in country gigs and carts, driven by farmers. 
All these boys were in great spirits, and shouted to each other, until the broad fields were so full of merry music, that the crisp air laughed to hear it. 
name,Lazarus 
These are but shadows of the things that have been...I think. They have no consciousness of us, well at least they shouldn't anyway. 
name, 
The jocund travellers came on; and as they came, Eru knew and named them every one. Why would Erubetie, the heavenly knight, the great human hater herself, possibly know or at the very least care for a bunch of travellers? 
name,Lazarus 
Hmm it seems one of them is going to that lake over there...hey wait what are you dripping about? You still haven't answered me, are you crying or just being really gross? I mean give me a sign over here! 
name, 
Eru said she knew him. And she sobbed silently.It was probably the first time in a long while that she felt an emotion other than hate. 
sp_del,7,10,100
sp_del,8,10,100
bg,frozenLake.bmp,10, 500
They left the high-road, by a well-remembered lane, and soon approached a lake so vast it seemed like an ocean, with water so clear that you could see the smallest minnow from yards away, if it wasn't frozen that is. 
sp,8,erbetie_st01,0,0,10,300
sp,7,ghostLazarus.bmp,200,0,10,300
They went, the Ghost and Erubetie, toward a cluster of rocks on the side of the lake. It looked like someone set them up there as makeshift seats. 
The lake was frozen solid, you'd swear you could throw a Behemoth at it and even it could walk on the lake just fine. 
Or so it seemed, the spirit tapped Erubetie on her shoulder (and then quickly wiped his hands off on his tunic) and pointed to a small child running towards the lake. And Erubetie remembers this all too well... 
name,Erubetie 
Oh no, it's that child from before. I remember this now, this is where it all started...The hate, the untrust, the pushing away, everything began right here in this town, and it's all my fault. 
sp_del,7,10,100
sp_del,8,10,100
name, 
To hear Erubetie say something in almost a regretful tone, truly this IS a christmas miracle, who would ever think that Erubetie the great heavenly knight would ever feel regret? 
Then, with incredible rapidity, Erubetie turned away as if she didn't want to watch what was about to happen, if it was something bad why would she care? It's just a mere human... 
sp,9,mob_syounen,0,0,1,100
Lazarus and Erubetie watched as the boy walks over the ice and begins to brush away much of the snow off of it, and makes a large circle in which to skate around in. 
name,Erubetie  
Poor boy, he has no idea what he's doing and he has no idea what he's about to cause. 
name,Lazarus 
What is the matter? 
name,Erubetie
Nothing but a foolish boy who was never taught he shouldn't walk on thin ice. 
name, 
se,2,iceCrack.ogg
sp_del,9,10,200
Just as Erubetie said that the ice cracked and the boy fell in, after what seemed like an eternity the boy never resurfaced, drowned on the eve before christmas, what a sad tale. 
sp,8,erbetie_st01,0,0,10,100
sp,7,ghostLazarus.bmp,200,0,10,100
name,Lazarus 
Ok that kinda sucks...but what does it have to do with you? Or me bringing you here? Why am I asking the questions now? Ok let's fast forward a bit. 
name, 
sp_del,7,1,1
sp_del,8,1,1
bg,bgBlack.bmp,1,1
bg,frozenLake.bmp,6,600 
The days sped through while they remained at the lake. What looked like people from the village were investigating it and the hole that was made. They were afraid to get a closer look at it for fear of falling in themselves. 
That damn kid walked out pretty far in retrospect...what an idiot. 
sp,9,mob_seinen1,0,0,10,200
name,Citizen 
Oh dear oh dear, it seems some child fell into the lake and drowned, and right before Christmas too...this just isn't right, I thought this was Ilias's holiday, why would she abandon us so? 
sp_del,9,10,200
name, 
Erubetie just watches as scenes are skipped through in front of her. What used to be days are passing by at the speed of a thought. 
It seems like a council was gathered. 
sp,9,mob_sinkan,0,0,10,200
name,Another Citizen 
Now then everyone, as we know, about a week ago, a child drowned in the lake, and we think we know why. 
name, 
People start to stand up from their chairs demanding an answer, most likely the family. 
name,Another Citizen 
Now now settle down, you may not want to hear it, but we have a theory...we think the slimes that live near the bottom of the lake could've done it, and at the very least not killed it, 
but kidnapped him somewhere and are keeping him as some perverted sex slave. 
name, 
The whole crowd was in an uproar.
sp_del,9,10,200
Erubetie continues watching the memories fly by her, keeping her hand close to her chin in a ponder-like fashion. 
sp,8,erbetie_st01,0,0,10,100
sp,7,ghostLazarus.bmp,200,0,10,100
name,Erubetie 
And then they stopped trusting us...couldn't find the body...hmm... 
name,Lazarus 
Ok so I get it now, this is why they don't like slimes. They think they killed some kid on Christmas. 
name,Erubetie 
Nothing gets past you does it? 
name,Lazarus 
So you guys did it, didn't you? 
name,Erubetie 
No...well not on purpose, I was... 
name,Lazarus 
YOU did it? 
name, 
Erubetie seems uneasy in her mind. 
name,Erubetie 
Yes. 
sp_del,7,10,100
sp_del,8,10,100
name, 
sp,10,jelly_st03,200,0,10,100
sp,9,mob_ozisan1,-200,0,10,100
The images continued to flash forward, a bunch of people gathered around the lake and a small group of slimes came out of the water, Eru being amongst them, but she didn't seem like the leader at this time. 
She was standing in the far back while another much bigger slime addressed the crowd. 
name,Erubetie 
I know this part, it's where I took over. 
name, 
The crowd of humans yelled at the group of slimes and demanded an answer for what happened to the child, but no matter what they said the humans wouldn't believe them. 
The slimes explained they had nothing to do with the child, that they don't even leave the underground cavern during the winter times or they'll freeze in the water, 
but without some sort of proof that they weren't keeping him somewhere, their words fell on deaf ears. 
Eru looks at her younger self holding a small object in her hand, she seems to mentally berate herself. 
sp,10,mob_gorotuki1,200,0,10,200
Eventually the crowd of humans gets violent and throws what looks like a sharp tool at the slime leader. As more humans jump in, the slimes retreat back into the water. 
sp_del,9,1,1
sp_del,10,1,1
bg,bg087,6,600
The images skip ahead more and the slimes eventually all leave the lake and seem to follow Erubetie now. She didn't want to be leader, she never asked for it, they just sort of pushed the crown to her. 
sp,9,mob_mamono4,200,0,10,200
name,Slime Girl 
You have to take us somewhere, somewhere safe where the humans won't find us and hurt us. 
sp_del,9,10,200
name, 
Erubetie's younger self simply nods and begins to walk in the direction towards Undine spring. It's the only place she knows other than her old home. The slimes should be safe there, they had to be. 
sp,8,erbetie_st01,0,0,10,100
sp,7,ghostLazarus.bmp,200,0,10,100
name,Erubetie 
And little did they know, this entire thing wasn't just the boy's fault. It was also mine. 
bg,bg051,6,600
sp_del,8,10,100
sp_del,7,10,100
name, 
The images and memories rewinded to the point of the boy skating, but this time from under the water. A young slime girl ventured outside of the cave to take a swim, 
even though she was told not to leave the underwater cave during winter for risk of freezing and turning into a slime ice sculpture, yet this slime girl took that risk, that is to say, Erubetie took that risk. 
While swimming she noticed a shadow almost dancing above her, normally you couldn't even see past the snow that covers the lake ice, but someone cleared it, and she could see a shadow dancing. 
Erubetie swam up to the shadow to get a better look. It was a young boy in little worn skates having what looked like a lot of fun. Erubetie had never seen a human before, much less a young one having fun in such a dangerous location. 
She tried tapping on the ice above her to get his attention, but he continued skating, paying no heed to her at all. 
Eru didn't like that and so she banged harder and harder to try to get this young boys attention. It eventually made a few small cracks appear. 
Eru realized what she was doing very quickly and stopped, she didn't want to harm the boy, she was simply curious, but he wasn't aware of what was happenning down below. 
He tried to do tricks while skating and beging jumping and doing spins in the air. Each time he landed the cracks only got bigger and bigger. 
Eru tried to call out to him to stop from below the water, but nothing was heard. 
se,2,iceCrack.ogg
With one final jump the ice cracked and the boy fell in. Erubetie picked him up to take him back above water, but she noticed a human and completely panicked and ducked back underwater with the boy. 
She didn't want to be blamed for this. She knew it was partially her fault, but no it was his fault, she uselessly tried to tell herself. He kept jumping, she warned him, she tried to find some other way to get him out. 
Not even realizing how much time had passed, the boy was out of air and she was out of time. She put his chest to her head and heard nothing. As far as she knew, she had just killed a young human. 
Erubetie didn't know how to react, she simply hid the boy's body deep in the water, where no man nor slime could find him and know what she did. She noticed the small necklace around his neck and took it,
maybe if they tried to look for him she could show this to them and say it wasn't her, she just found it. No, they'd never believe her, and so she just swam away, leaving the hidden body under the water. 
Erubetie struggled to contain her emotions as her greatest mistake was shown right before her eyes. 
sp,8,erbetie_st01,0,0,10,100
sp,7,ghostLazarus.bmp,200,0,10,100
name,Lazarus 
So that's how it all went down, huh? You killed the boy and so you were all driven out for it. Seems like fair punishment to me. 
name,Erubetie 
Fair? The humans killed our old leader before our eyes! 
name,Lazarus 
And why wouldn't they? From their point of view a bunch of kindapping, and possibly raping, slime girls just kidnapped a little boy on the day of Ilias herself. And, from their point of view, 
are just lying to them and making them angrier. You all look pretty bad. 
It's fitting though, you know being monsters and all. 
name, 
Erubetie looks at the spirit with hate in her eyes. 
name,Erubetie 
It was an accident, it was the boys fault anyway, he knew what he was getting into when he walked on that lake, the risk of it breaking was too high, it was thin after all, 
I mean my punches at such a young age wouldn't make it crack at all, what do you know you're a ghost and you have a stupid cape, 
that human who saw me would've thought I attacked him anyway, therewasnothingIcoulddoItried 
name, 
Erubetie just rambles through conflicting thoughts to the point where even she doesn't know what she's saying anymore.
name,Lazarus 
What is the matter? 
name, 
Erubetie slows down and begins to go back to her usual emotionless state. 
name,Erubetie 
Nothing, let's continue...what else did you want to show me? 
name,Lazarus 
You sure you're alright? 
name,Erubetie 
No...but we need to get this over with so let's continue. 
name,Lazarus 
Alright, I'm running out of time anyway. We have only a few more things to see and then you'll be free to go. 
name, 
bg,bg097,6,500
And in what seemed like an instant, the images around the two changed once again. Now Erubetie saw herself, much older than before, but still younger than she currently is, standing before a gathering of slimes in an underground cave, 
Which Eru knew immediately to be Undine's spring. It appeared she was holding some sort of gathering for her people. 
sp_del,8,10,100
sp_del,7,10,100
name,Past@Erubetie 
Now then, why is it you're all here? Why is it that you cannot remain in the great lakes and rivers that you once lived in peacefully? 
sp,9,slime_st03b,200,0,10,200
name,Young Slime 
...Because humans don't trust us? 
name,Past@Erubetie 
Because the humans don't care. They're stupid and heartless, they think only for themselves and their own prosperity, not knowing the hundreds of lives they ruin everyday. 
Not just us slimes, but the fairies that live in the forest and the alraunes, they just push whatever they don't want away. 
name,Young Slime 
Why don't we just try talking to them? They'll probably lis- 
name, 
She just yells back at the slime before she can even finish her sentence. 
name,Past@Erubetie 
They'll never listen! Those idiots wouldn't even understand our problems, much less CARE about them. No no, in fact they'd probably just laugh and keep expanding and forcing us all to suffer. 
name,Young Slime 
But miss Eru, not all humans can be the same. I mean look at us, we all look the same, but even we- 
name,Past@Erubetie 
We're different than them! We're formless intelligent beings with a complex living system, they're just overgrown apes who can barely even maintain ONE form. They can't even get along with each other! 
How do you think they'd get along with us? 
name,Young Slime 
W-well I just thought- 
name,Past@Erubetie 
You thought wrong, now be quite or you'll have to leave this sanctuary and never return!  
name, 
sp_del,9,10,400
the young slime looks down at the ground and walks to the back of the group. 
name,Past@Erubetie 
Alright then, back to what I was saying before. Ah yes, it's the humans' fault you're all in here blah blah, on to the next part. 
Ah yes, you all remember the day of Ilias right? Or the simpler term, Christmas? Well this holiday has a large part in why the humans don't like us. 
sp,9,slime_st03b,200,0,10,200
name,Young Slime 
I thought it was just the day Ilias was generous and gave gifts to everyone, even monsters. 
name, 
The past Erubetie glared angrily at the slime. 
name,Past@Erubetie 
Well you're partially correct, it is the day Ilias gives gifts to all her little creatures, even us, but humans are...twisting the tale around. 
name, 
The past Erubetie put on a smug expression, clearly proud of her sudden inspiration. 
name,Past@Erubetie 
They say Ilias isn't actually giving gifts. In fact she is only giving gifts to the humans that don't respect monsters, it's like some sort of reward system. 
name,Young Slime 
But that doesn- 
name,Past@Erubetie 
HUSH, it may not make much sense, but when has anything the humans ever done make sense? Like throw poor defensless creatures like you out of their homes? 
sp_del,9,10,100
sp,8,erbetie_st01,0,0,10,100
sp,7,ghostLazarus.bmp,200,0,10,100
name, 
Erubetie watches her past self tell outright lies to the group of young slimes. 
name,Erubetie 
Looking back, I'm surprised they bought that. 
name,Lazarus 
Me too, but then again it makes sense, slimes are pretty brainless after all. 
Oh don't give me that look it's true, anyway we have only one more past event to go to, then you can go back to doing whatever it is you monsters do. 
name,Erubetie 
I don't think I can handle anymore of this... 
name, 
But the relentless ghost forced her to observe what happened next. 
bg,bg011,6,300
The images began to show themselves once again, but instead of focusing on one, the images seemed to play mutiple stories at once. Multiple stories of the young slimes Eru talked to years ago. 
bg,bg085,6,300
Now they're a little bit older and it's Christmas once again, and it seems each one of these slimes is taking out their own bit of vengence on the humans, 
bg,snowVillage.bmp,6,300
a purple one is digesting a human telling him that's what he gets for celebrating this holiday, a green one jumping out and ambushing a small group of humans only to be swiftly cut down, 
It seems past Erubetie's teachings has driven each of these girls into hostile monsters, at least hostile at this time of year anyway. 
What a shame, they could've grown up to be such great monsters, but all they do now is drift human and monster relations further and further apart. 
name,Erubetie 
Hmmm they're acting like they should be. 
name,Lazarus 
I'm going to go against myself here and say no, they're acting how you want them to be, you grumpy old slime, and the way YOU want them to act isn't the way they SHOULD act! They should be happy around this time of year! 
It's a joyful time where even someone like ME would accept them! 
name,Erubetie 
Stop talking. 
name, 
The ghost rambled on. It seems as a spirit Lazarus could see things from a different view, or maybe he just found someone like him and realized how awful he looked. 
As he continued talking there was a change in Erubetie's face, it was almost as if some of the things he was saying were getting to her, maybe she's beginning to accept- 
name,Erubetie 
We're done here, haunt me no longer spirit, you won't change my mind. 
name, 
Despite the words coming from a former terrorist who is still very much insane and now very much ghostly, Erubetie still remains as cold as ever. 
bg,bg114,10,600
Lazarus made a heavy sigh and returned her to her room in the monster lords castle, hoping that despite what she said, what he has shown and said will have some impact on her. 
sp_del,7,10,600
bgm_stop
Erubetie looked around. No more images of the past, no more filthy human ghost, no more conflicting thoughts, everything is back the way it was before he showed up. 
Without giving it another thought, she went over to her slime bed and drifted into a heavy sleep, she'd need all the energy she could get for the second spirit tomorrow. 
sp_del,8,10,400
goto,act3

[act3]
bg,bgBlack.bmp,10,600
wait,500
bg,bg114,10,600
bgm,suspense.ogg
name, 
Awaking in the middle of a prodigiously tough snore, and sitting up in bed to get her thoughts together, Erubetie had no occasion to be told that the bell was again upon the stroke of one. 
She felt that she was restored to consciousness in the right nick of time, for the especial purpose of holding a conference with the second messenger despatched to her 
through Cassandra's intervention. 
sp,8,erbetie_st01,0,0,10,300
But, finding that she turned uncomfortably cold when she began to wonder which of her curtains this new spectre would draw back, 
she put every one of them aside with her own hands, and lying down again, established a sharp look-out all round the bed. 
For, she wished to challenge the Spirit on the moment of its appearance, and did not wish to be taken by surprise, and made nervous. 
Now, being prepared for almost anything, she was not by any means prepared for nothing; and, consequently, when the Bell struck One, and no shape appeared, 
she could swear she felt a bit of trembling deep down inside of her, almost like she was...afraid of what was going to happen next. 
Would they relive her past life once again? And show her all the mistakes she made once more? Would they perhaps go into the future and see where her descisions will lead her? 
Or would it just be some horrible fiend that would shriek at a note high enough to shatter- 
sp,9,ghostLuka.bmp,250,150,10,400
bgm,comi1.ogg
name,Ghost of@Luka 
Oh god damnit! I lost my Serene Mind again. At least Alice wasn't there to see that one. 
name, 
Or maybe it would be that young "hero" that the monster lord follows around, that works too. 
name,Luka 
Alright um...I sort of screwed up badly and I need to do this to return to my adventure, so um...yeah let's just kind of get th- 
Hey wait Erubetie? What're you doing here? 
name, 
Erubetie didn't know whether to laugh or cry, it was humorous to see that little hero in such a sad state, but it was also painful that he'll be talking to her for the rest of the night. 
The spirit pulled out a small piecs of paper. 
name,Luka 
Ok ok, Erubetie...hmm...really grumpy.. 
..blah blah Christmas ok got it, ahem, ERUBETIE I AM THE GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT AND I- 
name,Erubetie 
You're an idiot. 
name,Luka 
Doh, do you have to talk like Alice? I mean come on I'm here to show you bad things you did, so that you may change your ways and finally see why coexistence is possible! 
name,Erubetie 
Christmas and coexistence have nothing in common, you fool. 
...well they're both impossible to enjoy, I guess they share that quality. 
name,Luka 
Sigh, Erubetie come on just roll with this please? I know you don't like me- 
name,Erubetie 
You're right I don't. 
And I think I'll continue to act this way if you're the one who is supposed to guide me. The last spirit I could kind of see working, but you? 
name,Luka 
Just touch my hand Erubetie. 
No no no don't you sulk away in that weird slime bath of yours, come here! 
name, 
Erubetie let out a sigh and got up from her weird pool of whatever that is, and touched the young heroes ghostly hand. 
bg,bg070,6,300
bgm_stop
The room began spinning and soon the two of them were in a lower level of the monster lords castle, it looked like a cafe of sorts. Erubetie didn't even know they had one of those. 
bgm,Present.ogg
sp_del,8,10,100
sp_del,9,10,100
The two of them walked past monsters that payed no attention to them, until they came up to a small table and who else would be sitting there, 
but four tiny monsters with tears in their eyes, festive hats on their head, and little books of song. 
And over to the right of them was Tamamo, wearing a similarly festive hat and talking with her young grey kitsune about their travel back to Yamatai village 
for the holidays with the humans and of course, mentioning all the great gifts they get as some kind of offering. 
Tamamo upon seeing the crying little monsters decided to invite them as well. They were only happy to take the offer, And it wasn't just them; 
Tamamo was telling just about every monster to come to Yamatai, from the smallest imp to the biggest behemoth, everyone was invited. 
She mentioned the other knights would be there as well, Granberia was surprisingly enthusiastic about it because she wanted to get a present for "someone special" and 
Alma knew there would be plenty of tasty human males there who are just dying to meet a succubus. 
When the younger monsters asked if "mean old Erubetie was coming",Tamamo said no, she's too busy staying in her room being a stick in the mud, or slime, and working that poor new one to death. 
Most monsters left to gather some belongings for the trip while others went back to talking amongst themselves about their new trip. The tiny monsters now had smiles on their faces 
and almost seemed like they were glowing right now. 
sp,8,erbetie_st01,0,0,10,300
sp,9,ghostLuka.bmp,250,150,10,400
name,Erubetie 
Those are those stupid little monsters that tried singing to me earlier today. 
name,Luka 
Oh? And what did you say back to them? You thanked them right? 
name,Erubetie 
No I told them to leave fast or they'll suffer the wrath of a heavenly knight, then I slammed the door in their foolish faces! 
name,Luka 
Don't you think that's a bit rude? 
name,Erubetie 
No. 
name,Luka 
Well you know what, it is! And we're going to change that. 
name,Erubetie 
... Luka, you don't really understand why I don't like this stupid holiday, but it's alright, you never could understand. 
name,Luka 
I.. 
name,Erubetie 
You don't need to say anything, I already know. 
name,Luka
I.. 
name,Erubetie 
Let's just keep this going hero. 
name,Luka 
Sigh. 
Well, if you're going to be like that. 
name, 
A large smile ran across the young heros face as he showed off his spirit powers. Just like the spirit of Christmas Past, 
bg,bg097,6,300
the room changed again and images flashed before their eyes and they were in some dim cave in the middle of nowhere. 
Luka looked over to Erubetie with a big smurk on his face clearly proud of his kick ass ghost powers.
She just told him bluntly that the last spirit could do it too and he's nothing special. Poor luka couldn't catch a break even as a spirit. 
sp_del,8,10,100
sp_del,9,10,100
The walls of the cave were picked clean of any insects or moss or any lifeform at all really. 
Luka was a bit confused, but Erubetie knew instantly, this was a cave that housed slimes. Upon closer inspection you could see the different colors of various types of slime coat the wall.
Erubetie takes the lead this time and walks further into the cave with Luka closely behind. At the very end point there was a small group of slimes gathered around a wooden table. 
It seems like they made a little home, or at the very least attempted to make one, inside the cave as there are some small poorly made slime beds 
and other types of furniture made for slimes. Luka questioned how they got stuff like that and Erubetie simply responded with "shut upE 
sp,6,slime_purple_st01,200,50,10,200
name,Old Slime 
Oh where is Susan at? She is usually never this late for our Christmas feast, 
sigh oh well, now then did you little ones all get gifts for her? 
sp_del,6,10,100
sp,4,slime_green_st02,200,0,10,100
name,Green Slime 
Yes I got mine, it's way better than Sil's too. 
sp_del,4,10,100
sp,5,slime_blue_st02,200,0,10,100
name,Blue@Slime 
HMPH, oh please you just found some shiny rock, MY gift is something from the heart. 
sp_del,5,10,100
sp,4,slime_green_st02,200,0,10,100
name,Green Slime  
That's just a heart shaped rock. 
sp_del,4,10,100
sp,6,slime_purple_st01,200,50,10,200 
name,Old Slime 
Now now little ones, don't argue they're both great gifts, I'm sure she'll love them. Now come get your gifts wrapped up, I'm sure she'll be here soon. 
sp_del,6,10,100
sp,4,slime_green_st01,200,0,10,100
name,Green Slime  
Wait, you hear that? I think she's here! 
sp_del,4,10,100
sp,3,slime_red_st01,200,0,10,300
name, 
And just in time for the gift giving, Susan finally arrives back to the cave she was spawned in to celebrate the holidays with the slimes she grew up with, 
after the long, long journey from the Monster Lord's castle, over the high cliffs of Hellgondo and the vast ocean between it and Sentora. 
name,Susan 
Well I finally made it. sorry it took so long, it's always so hard to ask Erubetie to give me this holiday off. She has such a grudge against it. 
sp_del,3,10,1
sp,6,slime_purple_st01,200,50,10,100
name,Old Slime
Well what doesn't she have a grudge against at this point? I'm just waiting for the day she somehow gets a grudge on all of us 
sp,6,slime_purple_st02,200,50,1,1
(imitating Erubetie) Oh look at you slimes, you're such idiots, you should've killed more humans blah blah blah.
sp_del,6,10,1
sp,3,slime_red_st02,200,0,10,100
name,Susan
Hehehe yes, but she did take me in when I first left this cave oh so long ago. 
If it wasn't for her in the first place I wouldn't even be able to come back here every year, and I must be thankful for that. 
sp_del,3,10,200
name, 
The slimes start sharing stories with one another on their travels. There used to be a much larger group that gathered here every year, some simply can't make the long journey, 
some have found males that require majority of their time weither they be voluntary husbands or captured semen slaves, and of course there are the few slimes that died over time. 
They could've been slain by more would-be heroes, devout Illias followers, or even a murderous monster. No matter what reason it is, the fact remains, 
the group is much smaller now. While the holiday is one of merriment and joy, one can't help but think about the others. 
And when they begin to think about those that can't make it, they begin to think about their very own... 
sp,6,slime_purple_st03,200,50,10,100
name,Old Slime 
Um how did...how is she doing? 
sp_del,6,1,1
sp,6,slime_red_st03,200,0,10,100
name,Susan 
You mean Elena? She says she's feeling better, but one look at her shows how she really feels. She's even having trouble just keeping her shape now, 
First she went from a bright blue to a dull gray, her speech has gotten slower, and now she can't even mantain her form. Who would think one of us would contract Uvidus Cachexia? 
No matter how she gets, how much pain she feels, she still remains hopeful for the holiday. The human holiday that Erubetie said was the day we were supposed to hate the most, 
and all she wants is for others to be happy and enjoy it. If Erubetie could see that, I bet she'd get rid of her stupid grudge. 
name,Erubetie
sp_del,6,10,100
sp,8,erbetie_st01,0,0,10,300
sp,9,ghostLuka.bmp,250,150,10,300
name,Erubetie 
Luka... will Elena live? 
name,Luka 
I don't know Erubetie, you know more about slimes than I do. I only read a bit about Uvidus Cachexia and it's a disease that only affects slimes, 
so most human books don't have a lot of information on it other than the basics. I mean how bad is she? On a scale of like 1 to- 
name,Erubetie 
Only elder slimes could survive something like this. It messes with all that keeps you together, like they said, you lose control of everything 
and most younger slimes simply turn into a mindless puddle. They're minds are so simple early on and the disease already messes with it enough, 
that they can't return to normal and starve to death, like what you humans would call a "vegetable". 
name,Luka 
Well if she died then I guess she was just some idiot, not fit for survival, no better than a human right? 
name, 
Eru hangs her head when hearing her own words quoted by that idiot hero, and is overcome with penitence and grief. 
name,Luka 
You know what they say Erubetie, "If thou repent enough thou sh-" 
name, 
Luka was cut off by a quick shut up 
name,Luka 
Just listen ok? I'm sure there is something you can do right? I mean you are kind of the queen here, you have like powers and stuff. 
name, 
Eru comments on how HE is supposed to be the spirit guide here.
sp_del,8,10,100
sp_del,9,10,100
Their ghostly bickering was cut short by the sound of a dull, almost lifeless, looking gray slime lurch into the room and try to give Susan a hug, 
it was non other than poor little Elena. After a quick hug the other slimes came to escort her back to her room for more rest. 
While walking her back, small chunks of her fell off of her body and dissolved into the ground, her condition was getting worse, poor thing. 
While the other slimes handled Elena. the Old slime went back to preparing the meal.
Slimes don't exactly have the most refined tastes in the world. Preparing a meal for a slime is usually just taking something big and splitting it into even pieces,
since slimes don't need to waste their time actually cooking their food since it just dissolves away inside their gooey bodies; 
But that doesn't stop the old slime from trying to prepare a good meal. She ran all around the kitchen picking up ingredients to throw into a giant pot 
while a boar was roasting in the stone oven. 
Luka questioned where slimes got all these things from and Erubetie just told him to shut up once again. 
The other slimes returned from taking care of Elena to get a meal for her. 
They're afraid to bring her to the table herself because she falls apart more and more each step she takes at this point. Once Elena was taken care of, 
the rest of the slimes gathered around the much older one and the meal. No less than 20 seconds of setting them all down, each slime took a chunk and began feasting, 
It was quite a sight. In almost no time at all there was nothing left, not even a bone, every last bit had been melted down and turned into energy by the slimes, 
luckily the food was already dead or was simple vegetation or else we'd be getting into Plantsect territory. 
name,Susan 
A Merry Christmas to us all. 
name,All Slimes 
Merry Christmas! 
name,Elena
(entering the main room of the cave once again) Merry christmas! 
name, 
The slimes' joy quickly turned to sorrow as they saw Elena try once again to stumble her way to celebrate with the others. The old slime ordered the young ones to take her back to her room, 
but Susan stopped her and instead held Elena close to her. She knew she probably wouldn't last much longer, 
and Susan dreaded that she may not even wake up to see the christmas morning, but Susan knew she had to do something special for her this year. 
sp,5,slime_red_st01,0,0,10,100
name,Susan 
Erubetie...
That's it, I'll give you Erubetie! She's the reason I'm still here after all, and the reason we can all still come together each year. 
sp,6,slime_purple_st03,300,50,10,100
sp,5,slime_red_st03,0,0,1,1
name,Old Slime 
But she'll never agree to come out here for some "stupid human holiday" even if it was for us. She'll say she's taking care of the suffering slimes or something.. 
name,Susan 
But look at her. (Susan points to Elena) 
name,Old Slime 
Besides you'd never make it to the castle and back in just under a night, it's impossible even if you could teleport like her, and besides 
(She steps closer to Susan and speaks softly) Elena might not be here when you get back.. 
name,Susan 
Well you know how those humans believe there are miracles around this holiday? Well I have to believe in that too. 
name, 
sp_del,5,10,200
sp_del,6,10,200
Erubetie was the Ogre of the family. The mention of her name cast a dark shadow on the party, which was not dispelled for a full five minutes. 
While the slimes were thankful for a lot of the good things she does for them, there are also the bad things that almost seem to outweigh the good. It's a rather tricky situation. 
By this time it was getting dark, and snowing pretty heavily; you could feel the cold chill from the outside come into the cave, even as a spirit Erubetie could feel it. 
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sp,8,erbetie_st01,0,0,10,200
sp,9,ghostLuka.bmp,250,150,10,200
As Erubetie and the Spirit left and went along the rough paths in the forest, the brightness of the small lights the fairies put outside their little tree homes, 
glowing in the snowy winter night, was beautiful. Other than the sound of wind and snow the forest itself was almost dead silent, 
no monster that lived out here could survive in this condition, why are slimes out this far? How could they even survive out here during this time of year? 
How could they allow themselves to live here? Were the humans behind it? Erubetie had so many questions, and somehow she knew the answer to all of it, but didn't want to believe it. 
She felt another episode of conflicting emotion building up and her head felt like it was about to burst, 
sp_del,9,10,200
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but suddenly the snow seemed to build up around them almost as if they weren't in some forest in the middle of nowhere, but on top of some great mountain. 
Through the harsh blizzard Erubetie looked out for Luka's spirit, but he was nowhere to be found, all that was left were some footprints in the snow. 
Without any other options, she followed the footprints. 
bg,bg087,6,300
sp,9,ghostLuka.bmp,250,150,10,200
The blizzard died down and returned to a peaceful snow and Erubetie could see Luka close by and a village in the distance, she ran up to Luka and asked... 
name,Erubetie 
What is this place? 
name,Luka 
Oh I know this place well, and you've heard of it many times before, I assume. It's Yamatai village. Sound familiar? It should because ,from what I've been told, 
this is where most monsters gather to celebrate the holidays, since they're almost worshipped here. Since you seem to be so set on just holding onto this blind hatred of yours, 
even after what we just saw, I figured it'd be smart to show you what you were missing. 
bg,snowYamatai.bmp,10,400
name, 
Without warning the two of them are suddenly in the village, it seems Luka was getting the hang of his kickass spirit powers more. 
sp_del,8,10,200
sp_del,9,10,200
All around the village little monsters are busy about just like inside the castle before Erubetie and Luka set out. 
In fact these are all the same monsters from before, these must be the ones Tamamo invited. There's that stupid imp with the large breasts, 
there's that stupid vampire who wanders hellgondo, there's even the behemoth, and oh look it's...oh look it's those bandits again. 
sp,5,vgirl_st01,-225,0,10,100
sp,6,dragonp_st01,75,0,10,100
sp,7,gob_st01,225,0,10,100
name,Dragon@Pup 
Wahahahaha~ 
It was so great of Knight Tamamo to invite us here! 
name,Goblin@Girl 
Yeah! And it even snows out here. I don't think it snows anywhere in hellgondo anymore, and all the people here love our singing! 
name,Vampire Girl 
And the men are pretty much begging for us to stay, oh look at that another one.
name, 
sp_del,5,10,300
The little vampire runs off to chase after some young villager, doesn't seem like he's afraid though, he's just playing along to make her feel better. 
name,Dragon@Pup 
Hey, haven't you been here before Goblin? 
name,Goblin@Girl 
Yeah, but only on some deliveries. I haven't been here when it snows, but I'm glad I got to be here now! 
sp,4,pramia_st03,-225,0,10,100
name, 
The tiny lamia enters wearing a big festive stocking on her tail and a big fluffy hat. 
name,Tiny@Lamia 
It's f-f-freezing out here and I don't like it! 
name,Dragon@Pup 
Oh come on it's nice out and that big red sock looks good on you~ 
name,Tiny@Lamia 
(shivering) Yeah yeah you d-d-dragons get all the heat you want, I'm j-j-just a poor l-I mean big busty snake who is all cold blooded! 
And you, how can you stand it? I don't think your big stu-stu-stupid helmet of yours keeps you warm. 
name,Goblin@Girl 
I'm just tough Wahahaha~ But we're wasting time let's go sing some more! 
name, 
sp_del,6,10,300
sp_del,7,10,300
sp_del,4,10,300
The three remaining little bandits took out their carol books and walked door to door singing to the nice villagers, 
each carol they sang they tried to replace some words with key figures in the monster lord's castle or just the word monster. 
It didn't flow sometimes, but it was adorable nonetheless and of course the villagers absolutely loved it and usually gave them snacks for it. 
Even without the vampire (who was probably their best singer) and the Lamia's shivering tone, they still sounded just adorable 
and they were beginning to think they could stay in this village and sing other popular human songs outside of the christmas season, 
I mean who doesn't want to listen to a bunch of little monster girls sing? 
sp,8,erbetie_st01,0,0,10,100
sp,9,ghostLuka.bmp,250,150,10,100
Luka was pretty pleased to see everyone having a good time in Yamatai. He takes a look at Erubetie while making sure to put a smug grin on his face like 
he's got the whole spirit thing down and he's making her learn something from all of this, worst part of it all...he kinda is making an impact. 
name,Erubetie 
So what if they're enjoying the holiday, there are slimes out there suffering right now and all these idiots care about is singing stupid little songs and messing with perverted humans. 
name, 
It seems Erubetie is getting the idea, but we can't just leave her like this, she'll only focus on the few slimes during christmas and 
associate the holiday with slimes in pain and then she would just be living that lie she told those slimes all those years ago. Luka had to show her more merriment. 
bg,bg089,10,400
sp_del,8,10,200
sp_del,9,10,200
sp,6,dragonp_st01,75,0,10,100
sp,7,gob_st01,225,0,10,100
sp,8,slime_st01b,-50,0,10,100
The scenes change once again, now the little Bandits are hanging out wth a little slime girl inside the community hall, 
it seems they're trying to get her to join their caroling group. 
name,Dragon@Pup 
But come ooooooon, it'll be FUUUUUN! 
name,Young Slime 
But miss Erubetie always told me Christmas was awful and singing about christmas was even worse. 
name,Dragon@Pup 
Oh but Erubetie is just a big old grump, isn't that right lamia? 
name, 
The tiny lamia doesn't say a word and just bundles herself up near the fireplace. 
name,Dragon@Pup 
All that old slime is good for is being rude and yelling at us to leave her alone. 
Come on she can't yell at you for singing a carol or two because you're a slime too, she'd never yell at you. 
name,Young Slime 
I still don't know...I mean I don't even know how to sing. 
name,Goblin@Girl 
Oh come on you've got a great singing voice, now come on let's go! The more we carol with, the more snacks we get! 
sp_del,6,10,100
sp_del,7,10,100
sp_del,8,10,100
sp,8,erbetie_st01,0,0,10,100
sp,9,ghostLuka.bmp,250,150,10,100
name, 
Erubetie wanted to say something, she just wanted to go up to the little slime and tell her not to sing for such a stupid holiday, but even though they couldn't hear her, 
even though she knew she couldn't do anything to stop this, she almost didn't want to. 
Something was just tugging at her mind that was telling her to let the slime have a good time and enjoy the caroling, just let people enjoy the holiday. 
Her conflicting thoughts were coming back to her, but were quickly muted by the sound of the four little monsters sing from their little caroling books. 
They sang songs about peace between humans and monsters, giving gifts to the needy, decking the halls and caves with decoration, and being fair to your fellow man, 
well ok they changed the lyrics to monsters, but the message was the same nonetheless. Even a group of human children sang with them, 
a holiday where both man and monster are coming together as one, even if it's just a group of stupid kids. 
Erubetie just looks on, unable to say anything.
name,Luka 
See Erubetie, christmas isn't so bad, and see humans and monsters can live together too. 
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name, 
The chimes were ringing the three quarters past eleven at that moment. 
name,Erubetie 
What was that? Spirit why are we back in the room? I wanted to keep watching the carolers. They... 
bgm_stop
name, 
As Erubetie looks around she couldn't find the spirit of Luka anywhere, she was back in her room as before, everything the same as it was; 
the bed just as neat, the pool just as calm as always, everything was as it should be. 
name, 
The bell struck twelve. 
Erubetie looked around her for the Ghost, and saw it not. No stupid hero ghost nor third and final spirit, was it finally over? 
As the last stroke ceased to vibrate, she remembered the prediction of old Cassandra, and lifting up her eyes, 
sp,9,ghostStein.bmp,200,0,10,500
beheld a solemn Phantom, wearing a large white lab coat and having burgandy wine-red colored hair, coming, like a mist along the ground, towards her. 
goto,act4

[act4]
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sp,8,erbetie_st01,0,0,1,1
sp,9,ghostStein.bmp,200,0,1,1
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name, 
The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached. When it came, Erubetie bent down upon her knee; 
for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery. 
It seemed to have a cold expression on it's face, much like Erubetie herself, and it made not a sound while it stepped forward. 
Despite it's ghostly glow, there seemed to be a shroud of mystery and darkness around the spirit. 
name,Erubetie 
I am in the presence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. 
name,Promestein 
... 
name,Erubetie 
You are about to show me shadows of the things that have not happened, but will happen in the time before us. Is that so Spirit? 
name, 
The spirit remained motionless. 
name,Erubetie 
Ghost of the Future, I fear you more than any spectre I have seen. But as I know your purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live to be a new monster from what I was, 
I am prepared to bear you company, and do it with a thankful heart. Will you not speak to me? 
name,Promestein 
... 
name,Erubetie 
Lead on. Lead on. The night is waning fast, and it is precious time to me, I know. Lead on, Spirit. 
bgm,Future.ogg
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They scarcely seemed to enter the halls of the Monster Lord's castle; for the busy monsters rather seemed to spring up about them, and encompass them of its own act. 
But there they were, in the heart of it; on change, amongst the little monsters; who hurried up and down, and conversed in groups; and so forth, as Erubetie had seen them often. 
The Spirit stopped beside one little knot of guard monsters. Observing that the hand was pointed to them, Erubetie advanced to listen to their talk. 
sp_del,8,10,100
sp_del,9,10,100
sp,2,wyvern_st01,0,0,10,100
name,Wyvern 
No, I don't know much about it, either way. I only know she's dead. 
sp_del,2,10,100
sp,2,hatibi_st03,0,0,10,100
name,Yao 
When did she die? 
sp_del,2,10,100
sp,2,wyvern_st01,0,0,10,100
name,Wyvern 
Last night, I believe. 
sp_del,2,10,100
sp,2,behemoth_st03,0,0,10,100
name,Behemoth 
Why, what was wrong with her? I thought she'd never die. 
sp_del,2,10,100
sp,2,wyvern_st01,0,0,10,100
name,Wyvern 
(with a yawn) No one knows, I just walked by, noticed the door open, and there she was. 
sp_del,2,10,100
sp,2,hatibi_st03,0,0,10,100
name,Yao 
What will happen to that maid? 
sp_del,2,10,100
sp,2,wyvern_st01,0,0,10,100
name,Wyvern 
I haven't heard. She'll probably be offered to stay here for free or just return to her old home. 
sp_del,2,10,100
sp,2,hatibi_st03,0,0,10,100
name,Yao 
It's likely to be a very cheap funeral; I can't imagine many people showing up except for a few slimes, and maybe master Tamamo out of pity for the low numbers. 
sp_del,2,10,100
sp,2,behemoth_st01,0,0,10,100
name,Behemoth 
Well I don't know about of all of ya, but I ain't going! Erubetie treated me like crap even when I strolled around guarding this damn castle! 
Saying I was nothing but big dumb muscle for the castle. Saying stuff like the castle deserves more slime guards, can ya believe that? 
sp_del,2,10,100
sp,8,erbetie_st01,0,0,10,100
sp,9,ghostStein.bmp,200,0,10,100
name, 
Speakers and listeners strolled away, and mixed with their groups. Erubetie knew the monsters, and looked towards the Spirit for an explanation. 
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The Phantom glided on into another corridor. Its finger pointed to two kitsunes meeting. Erubetie listened again, thinking that the explanation might lie here. 
sp_del,8,10,100
sp_del,9,10,100
She knew them, also perfectly. It was Tamamo and that little gray kitsune that follows her around. 
sp,3,youko_st03,230,0,10,100
sp,2,tamamo_st03,-130,0,10,100
name,Kitsune 
Master Tamamo are you alright? 
name,Tamamo 
Hmmm...Yes I'm fine, it's just I didn't think this would happen. 
name,Kitsune 
Well are you going to go? I mean to her funeral? 
name,Tamamo 
Well little one, let me tell you something...It's not that I want to go, it's that I pretty much have to go. 
Granberia and Alma do too, but Granberia disappeared right before christmas and when was the last time Alma did what she was told? 
name,Kitsune 
Want me or Yao to come? 
name,Tamamo 
No. No. It's alright you don't have anything to do with it, besides I wouldn't want you to get bored now would I? 
name, 
Tamamo lets out a weak chuckle.
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sp,8,erbetie_st01,0,0,10,100
sp,9,ghostStein.bmp,200,0,10,100
Erubetie looked on in fear, even Tamamo, another heavely knight, didn't truly care about her ally's demise. 
Everywhere the spirit pointed, it showed gatherings of monsters, some stoping to take a look at the scene, others just walking by not giving it a second glance. 
The gatherings of monsters talked amongst themselves about their usuals, the ants were once again busy doing work, 
and the guards that weren't by the scene were just on their regular patrols. 
name,Erubetie 
If there is any person in the land who feels emotion caused by my death, show that person to me, Spirit, I beg of you. 
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name, 
The Phantom spread its white lab coat before her for a moment, like a wing; and withdrawing it, revealed a room by daylight, where an old slime and her little ones were. 
sp_del,8,10,100
sp_del,9,10,100
sp,6,slime_purple_st03,200,50,10,100
Well littles ones I'm sure you've heard, Susan is coming back to live with us. 
The small slimes all jumped in joy, their favorite relative is coming back to live with them forever, but they know why right? 
Their queen is dead, their leader, the person they should look up to is gone forever. 
sp_del,6,1,1
sp,6,blob_st03,0,0,10,100
name,Adult Slime 
Still...it is a shame what happened to Erubetie. 
sp_del,6,1,1
sp,6,slime_purple_st03,200,50,10,100
name,Old Slime 
It is a shame, but she brought it upon herself. Maybe in death she'll learn that when you make an enemy out of everyone, 
well you really don't have anyone to count on. I mean after all, where was she when we needed her most? 
sp_del,6,1,1
sp,6,blob_st03,0,0,10,100
name,Adult Slime 
How do you think Susan took it? 
sp_del,6,1,1
sp,6,slime_purple_st03,200,50,10,100
name, 
They were very quiet again. At last she said, and in a steady, cheerful voice, that only faltered once. 
name,Old Slime 
I've known Susan for a long long time, she really did look up to Erubetie, despite all her flaws. 
She was only happy to serve her for so long and even though she might be free to do whatever she wants now, deep down she's saddened by this loss. 
sp_del,6,1,1
sp,6,blob_st03,0,0,10,100
name,Adult Slime 
Well we may not be sad for Erubetie herself, but the loss of a queen is still huge. 
sp_del,6,1,1
sp,6,slime_purple_st03,200,50,10,100
name,Old Slime 
Indeed, but someone will rise up, or we'll just be like the Succubi without a true leader. 
wait,300
Oh you hear that? I think she's here already. 
sp_del,6,10,100
name, 
She hurried out to meet Susan. Her tea was ready for her on the hob, and they all tried to help her as best they could. 
Then the two young slimes got down and laid, each child a little cheek, against her face, as if they said,"Don't mind it, Susan. Don't be grieved." 
She was very cheerful with them, and spoke pleasantly to all the slimes living within the cave. She looked at the work upon the table, 
and praised the industry and speed of them all. They would be done long before Sunday, she said. 
sp,5,slime_blue_st01,200,0,10,100
name,Blue@Slime  
Susan you're back! Hey did you talk to Erubetie? What happened? Is she coming here? 
sp_del,5,10,100
name, 
The older slimes didn't want to tell the younger ones of their Queens recent demise, it would break their poor little hearts. 
sp,5,slime_red_st03,200,0,10,100
name,Susan 
Well...No she isn't coming here...She won't ever be, you see Queen Erubetie is a very busy slime and she can't just take time out of her schedule to visit poor poor...Elena. 
sp_del,5,10,100
name, 
She broke down all at once. She couldn't help it. What could she help? Her queen was dead and soon enough Elena, the slime she knew like a little sister would be too. 
She left the room, and went a little bit deeper into the cave, which was lighted cheerfully, and hung with Christmas decorations. 
There was a chair set close beside the dying slime, and there were signs of someone having been there lately. Poor Susan sat down in it, She looked down at Elena, 
now she couldn't even get up from her bed, much less actually walk, she was at her limit. The disease could take her any day now. 
sp,5,slime_red_st03,200,0,10,100
name,Susan 
Erubetie would've known what to do... 
sp_del,5,1,1
sp,5,slime_purple_st03,200,50,10,100
name,Old Slime 
I doubt she would come here even if she was alive right now. 
sp_del,5,1,1
sp,5,slime_red_st03,200,0,10,100
name,Susan 
Don't say that! She would've, I know it! She wouldn't just let Elena die, I've worked for her for a long time now, it'd only be fair to help me when I needed it right? 
sp_del,5,1,1
sp,5,slime_purple_st03,200,50,10,100
name,Old Slime 
Susan please calm down- 
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sp,5,slime_red_st03,200,0,10,100
name,Susan 
NO! Everything is ruined, Erubetie is dead, now I can't even get free supplies from the Monster lords castle anymore, Elena is doomed, and 
(bursting into tears) It's not fair! 
sp_del,5,10,100
name, 
The yonger slimes heard the shouting. Now aware of queen Erubetie's death and already knowing of Elena's inevitable fate, they go to Susan and hug her, all crying quietly together. 
sp,8,erbetie_st01,0,0,10,100
sp,9,ghostStein.bmp,200,0,10,100
Erubetie and the ghostly scientist watched the slimes all breakdown in tears, but the ghost had one last vision of the future to show, one last image for Erubetie to see. 
name,Erubetie 
Spectre, please, I don't think I can handle any more of this. 
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name, 
The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come shook it's head in disapproval and as it did the scenery around them changed. They were in the monster lords castle once more, 
right outside of Erubetie's room, which was now completely cleared out of every possession. There were ant girls running around putting down tools and crates, 
the room of a great heavenly knight was turned into a mere storage room for the worker monsters. Erubetie just looked on, unable to form even a clear thought. 
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The spirit wasn't finished still, once more the images and scenery around them whirrled and changed, now they were in southern Hellgondo, 
the barren wasteland that most monsters tend to stick away from besides the large ones. 
The ghost pointed at a small grave by a old dead tree, far away from the castle, the forests, everything, just a single tiny lone grave. 
name,Erubetie 
...That can't be where I'm to be buried, I'm a heavenly knight! 
The queen of my people, I've led them for countless years, and they wouldn't dare just forget about me like that! 
They wouldn't...they couldn't...No no no! 
There would be memorials, a grave of honor amongst the other Monster lord's and her heavenly knights, not just...not just thrown out here...to be forgotten... 
name, 
The Spirit stood in front of the lone grave waiting for Erubetie to approach it, to finally see where her path was leading her. 
Erubetie slowly approached the spirit and grave, emotions and thoughts of denial buzzing in her head, it couldn't be true... 
name,Erubetie 
No...no...Wait spirit before I read what is on this grave, answer me one question. Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that may be only. 
wait,300
One's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead. But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. 
Say it is so with what you show me. 
wait,300
name, 
Erubetie crept towards it, trembling as she went; and following the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected grave her own name...  
Erubetie fell to her knees. 
name,Erubetie 
Am I to be hated so and then just forgotten like a mere fly? 
wait,300
No, Spirit. Oh no, no. 
wait,300
name, 
Erubetie tightly clenched the spirits coat.
name,Erubetie 
Spirit, hear me. I am not the cruel slime that I once was! The holiday isn't silly, it isn't a waste. 
I was wrong, the boy was right, they can get along. He was right and I was wrong, the kitsune was right, she was right, he was right they were right they were all right. 
Spirit please say something! 
wait,300
Good Spirit, please tell me that I can change this, tell me that I may change the course of my sad end! 
wait,300
I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. 
The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. 
Oh, tell me I may remove this grave from it's lonely and far forgotten spot. 
bgm_stop
sp_del,9,10,600
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name, 
Holding up her hands in a last prayer to have her fate reversed, she saw an alteration in the Phantom's white coat. It shrunk, collapsed, and dwindled down into a bedpost.
goto,act5

[act5]
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name, 
Yes! and the bedpost was her own. The bed was her own, the room was her own. Best and happiest of all, the Time before her was her own, to make amends in! 
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name,Erubetie 
I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. Oh Cassandra, Christmas Time be praised. 
name, 
She was so fluttered and so glowing with her good intentions, that her broken voice would scarcely answer to her call. 
She had been sobbing violently in her conflict with the Spirit, and her already slimey face was drenched in tears. 
name,Erubetie 
Everything is here, that means there is still time. The images, the visions, everything that spirit showed me can still be undone, I can fix it. 
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(laughing and crying in the same breath) I don't know what to do. I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an Imp, I am as merry as one of those little bandits. 
I am as giddy as a drunken goblin. A merry Christmas to everybody. A happy New Year to all the world. Hallo here. Whoop. Hallo. 
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name, 
She had frisked into the main room, and was now standing there: perfectly winded. 
name,Erubetie 
There's the door, by which the Ghost of Cassandra entered. There's the corner where the Ghost of Christmas Present, appeared. 
There's the window where I saw the wandering Spirits. It's all right, it's all true, it all happened. Ha ha ha. 
name, 
Really, for a grumpy old slime who had been out of practice for so many years, it was a splendid laugh, a most illustrious laugh. 
The queen of a long, long line of brilliant laughs. 
name,Erubetie 
Oh, glorious, glorious. But how long was I with those spirits? I could've been days, I could've missed my chance...No I can't- 
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name, 
Running to the door, she opened it, and put out her head. No little monsters about, no usual chatter, just quiet halls with small decorations on them, 
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and a single lone imp. 
name,Erubetie 
Oh, glorious. Glorious. What's today? 
name, 
... calling to the tiny imp in festive clothes, who perhaps had forgotten all about Tamamo's party in Yamatai village. 
name,Imp 
Eh? 
name,Erubetie 
What day is today imp? 
name,Imp 
Um...uh... it's Christmas Day miss Erubetie. 
name,Erubetie 
It's Christmas Day. I haven't missed it. The Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do anything they like. Of course they can. Of course they can. 
name, 
Erubetie steps out of her room and runs off somewhere. 
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name,Imp 
Wait miss Erubetie where are you going? 
name,Erubetie 
Just go to Yamatai village, and quickly, I wouldn't want a cute little imp like you to miss out on the most wonderful time of the year! 
name,Imp 
...Eh what? Miss Erubetie I thought you hated Christmas. 
name,Erubetie 
Hate Christmas? Of course not, why I love this time of the year, ha ha ha. 
name,Imp 
(Confused and looking rather nervous) Uh yeah hahaha~ 
name,Erubetie 
Now go head of the Yamatai and tell Tamamo that I'll be there, she'll be confused no doubt, but I'll be there soon. 
Right now I have some important heavenly knight duties to attend to. 
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name, 
Erubetie sped past the confused imp. 
She had a plan: get to Susan's cave, use her magic to cure Elena (being a queen comes with some kick ass powers after all) 
and bring them to Yamatai, yes brilliant everybody wins. 
name,Erubetie 
(slapping herself in the head) Oh right I can teleport like Tamamo and Granberia, I'm wasting so much time running. 
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sp_del,8,6,400
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name, 
In the blink of an eye Erubetie was right outside of the cave she has come to know from her visions, 
if the spirits were right then Susan should be leaving right about now to try to find Erubetie and have her try and save Elena. 
Oh would you look at that! 
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name,Susan 
I know I can find h-Miss Erubetie! W-what are you doing all the way out here? 
name,Erubetie 
Susan there's no time show me the young one. 
name, 
Despite Erubetie's uncharacteristicly cheery tone, there was a hint of urgency in her voice. Susan had so many questions, but there was no time for that. 
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The two of them headed inside the cave in hopes that there is still some time left. 
Immediatly upon entering the cave many of the slimes were shocked. Elena said she would try to get Erubetie to come here, but they didn't think she'd actually agree, 
let alone get here so fast. 
sp,8,erbetie_st01,200,0,10,100
name,Erubetie 
Quick where is she? I have an idea. 
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sp,8,slime_purple_st01,200,50,10,100
name,Old Slime 
How...Right this way Erubetie. 
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name, 
The slime went deeper into the cave and Erubetie followed her into Elena's room. 
sp,8,erbetie_st01,200,0,10,100
name,Erubetie 
Hmmm yes this is bad, while I can fix it, it will require a lot of energy and time, while I'm busy doing this I want you to take the rest of your group to Yamatai village. 
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sp,8,slime_purple_st01,200,50,10,100
name,Old Slime 
But Erubetie you can't just expect us to leave the cave to travel to some far off- 
sp_del,8,1,1
sp,8,erbetie_st01,200,0,10,100
name, 
That's an order from your queen. Just trust me, head there and find Tamamo, tell her I sent you there. 
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sp,8,slime_purple_st01,200,50,10,100
name,Old Slime 
I...as you wish Erubetie. 
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name, 
Erubetie held Elena's hand. 
name,Erubetie 
Don't worry little one, I know just what to do. 
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name, 
The Old Slime returned to the main area of the cave. 
sp,8,slime_purple_st01,200,50,10,200
name,Old Slime 
She said she could handle it...and that we should all go to Yamatai Village while we wait. 
sp_del,8,1,1
sp,8,blob_st01,0,0,10,100
name,Adult Slime 
why does she want us to go all the way out there? 
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name, 
Susan remembered that Tamamo and all the others were there.
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name,Susan 
That's right we should go there! 
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name, 
The little slimes all jumped at Susan agreeing with the idea, so the group of slimes headed out to Yamatai village just like Erubetie said. 
While it was a good sign to see Erubetie herself come to aid them, they couldn't help but be worried about Elena and of course the sudden order to travel all the way to Yamatai. 
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The festivities in Yamatai were going well, the humans were recieving gifts from one another and were as happy as can be, 
while the monsters were giving the human males gifts of their own and were just as equally happy to do so. 
Tamamo's invition to the whole castle went surprisingly well and even the guard monsters like the Wyvern and Behemoth were finally taking a break from their regular duties and relaxing, 
well relaxing in their own ways. 
But for some reason Tamamo couldn't help but be worried, after all a large group of slimes showed up under "orders" from Erubetie, 
and even that one annoying little imp that Erubetie hated was sent here by her, why? 
Erubetie's a big old grump who hates Christmas and Yamatai, and caroling, and those little monsters...and a lot of things really. 
sp,6,tamamo_st01,200,0,10,100
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name,Tamamo 
So you don't have any idea why Erubetie is suddenly acting so strangely? 
name,Slime Girl 
No clue, she just told us all to come here, but we're all enjoying it. I mean we just showed up and I myself have met so many perverted human males here I lost track, 
oh and they give us free stuff on top of that. 
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name, 
Even with the sudden group of slimes, the festival in Yamatai was running as smooth as ever, it even improved a bit since 
a lot of the little slimes joined up with those bandits as back up carolers. All together they sounded better (and cuter) than any of the human carol groups, 
the Dragon pup seemed know that too and was looking pretty proud. 
Just about everyone was here, Alma dropped by to see what the fun was all about and plus she heard there were some human males that wanted to meet a succubus. 
Granberia was here looking for "someone" who Tamamo thought was Luka but Granberia just blushed and stuttered no it wasn't him and ran off somewhere. 
Speaking of Luka he WAS here earlier with Alice, but they went inside the inn hours ago and haven't been seen since, huh I wonder what's up with that. 
But still something bothered Tamamo, when the imp and slimes told their stories, Erubetie said she would be here herself, but the festival is about to be over and so far no Eru- 
Off in the distance a shout could be heard!
name,Erubetie 
Wait wait. We've made it! Hang on you idi-I mean fool-I mean you people! 
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name,Tamamo 
No way. 
name, 
Erubetie showed up holding Elena in her arms.
name,Erubetie 
I took care of it ahahaha! And we made it just in time, just in time! 
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name, 
It seems this Christmas it full of miracles too, even when it was all looking down, even when it seemed the slimes would have once again a pretty terrible Christmas, 
Erubetie showed up just in time to turn this into what was possibly the best Christmas for them yet! 
She finally enters the village, gasping slightly. 
why she didn't teleport we have no idea, must've just slipped her mind AGAIN. 
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name,Erubetie 
It's ok, it's ok. 
We made it! See Elena I told you we would, hmph and you doubted your queen. 
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name, 
And there they all were, all the monsters (that mattered) and all the humans of Yamatai, joined together in a festival of merriment and cheer (and gifts). 
All the slimes from the cave, minus the little ones, gathered around Erubetie, asking question after question, most of them being the subject of Elena's sudden boost of health. 
Erubetie simply did what she almost never did, smiled, and told them not to worry, a queen's power is great and sometimes...miraculous. 
They all quickly went to Elena, happy as they could possibly be that she was alive and feeling well, they lifted her up in the air and cheered "Merry Christmas". 
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Smiling, Erubetie quietly said to herself: 
name,Erubetie 
Hmmm yes...Merry Christmas indeed. 
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end