Sweet Nectar

Man... Doesn't matter how many times I come here, this place always takes my breath away.

Big Lake Tiilen fan?

What's not to like? It's got a lake, rocks, the big monster over there... I'm a fan of everything this world's got to offer, sure. But I really gotta hand it to this place.

It's great ya got a lotta love to give, Id... But don't you see this place every day?

Yeah, but I mean...

Hey there, little guy!

Oh... Sorry, lady!

What are you doing?! We're supposed to be HIDING from the grown-ups, remember?

Okay, okay! I said I'm sorry! I'll try and be more careful!

Now come on! All the cool stuff is further in!

...Last one there is a coelus butt!

Whoa, there! Don't you kids know there's monsters arou...

Uh... Should we...

Oh yeah, that's a disaster waiting to happen.

Whaddya say, Aldo? You down for a little babysitting?

Hey, wait!

Awesome! Every single one of these is in my Encyclopedia Botanica!

Guys, c'mere! Check out these weird rocks!

Oooh! They're sparkly, too!

Huh?!

Hey guys! That looks really fun! Can I join? Lemme see what ya got so far!

Wh-who's there?! This here's a secret opera...

AAH!

Hey now, I don't bite!

You okay? C'mon, up we go.

Y-you're that lady from before! What d'you want?

You...followed us? Just 'cause we looked like we were having fun?

But sorry, no exceptions! This operation's top-secret, no grown-ups allowed!

Oh yeah? Why? Think the grown-ups will ruin the fun, or something?

Yeah, cause we're adventurers!

And it's hard to GO on adventures when your mom's always telling ya it's too dangerous!

But when we saw all these cool plants in the Encyclopedia Botanica, we had to come check 'em out!

...And so we snuck out, and set out for adventure!

My! What brave little explorers you are.

I'd like to think so! Hehe...

Okay, but you GOTTA let me join your party! Pleeeease!

Whaaat? But you're a grown-up. Like... a super grown-up.

So? I'm here for adventure, just like you guys! Ya gotta let me join! C'mon! Pretty please with a cherry on top?

I'm good with plants, y'know! Like look at this one, it's called a Tear Drop. Do ya know why? Cause at night, they say it cries! Isn't that cool?

And this fella here's a Golden Bell. Cause of its shape, see? Isn't it cute?!

Wow! You sure know your stuff, lady!

See, told you. Come on, what d'ya say? Am I in?

Mmm...

Okay, fine, you make the cut! You can be our official Party Professor.

YES! You guys are awesome! This is gonna be loads of fun, I know it.

Now let's go! C'mon Aldo, we got flora to find!

R-Right...

No way! You can drink the nectar?

You sure can. Go on, give it a try.

It tastes like candy!

So good, right? I love the stuff.

You're so great with kids, Id.

Nah, not really. I'm just doing what makes me happy. Bein' around kids makes me feel good, y'know?

Hey, I wonder what's on the other side of the lake!

Let's go find out! All we need is a boat!

Hold it kids, gotta stop ya there. Ya see, the Man-eating Marsh is on the other side of this lake, and if you couldn't guess from the name... It's teeming with monsters lookin' for little kids to slurp down.

...Kids to eat?! Really?!

Yes, really! There's even one that likes to eat souls. And let me tell you... Tender, young souls like yours? They're gonna seem extra tasty.

...Rarrr!

Eeep!

So, as Party Professor, I can't let ya go.

Stop! You're scaring me!

That's because it IS scary!

Can't they just eat something else? Souls don't even taste good, right?

For us, yeah. But for these monsters... Your souls are like nectar to them. Sweet, sweet nectar.

You're weirding me out now, lady! Stop it with the ghost stories!

Ah! Sorry.

But you know, you really...

Whoa! Id! I mean, Professor! Are you all right?!

Yeah, just a little...light headed... Ran...too fast.

Man, grown-ups are so slow!

But you're white as a ghost! Maybe you should...

Drop it, will you? The kids...are more...

If the Man-eating Marsh is out, we should go to the Keruri Highroad instead!

Yeah! To adventure!

Crud, they're leaving!

Bunch of rascals...

Sorry, that was my fault. We'd better catch up with 'em before they get themselves in trouble.

So this is the Keruri Highroad...

Whoa! There's even MORE new stuff here!

You seein' this, Party Prof.?

...Professor? Hello?

That guy's not here either! Did we leave them back at the lake?

You think we'll be okay with just us? Maybe we should go back...

Ehh... We don't need them! We were gonna do this without the grown-ups anyway, remember?

They'd just slow us down! Now c'mon, let's see what we can find this way!

B-but aren't you worried about the... Th-the you know...

What, the soul-eating monster! Puh-lease! That was totally just a...

D-Did you hear that?!

Come on, don't be a baby! We're adventurers, remember! It's probably just a lizard or something...

EEP!

Wh-What...is...this stuff...

I-It hurts... I... I c-can't move my...

Sorry guys! I'm here!

Is everyone okay? Get back, we'll handle this thing!

...Hey, you. Now why'd ya have to go and show up? Even after all I said...

I know, but I can't let you have their souls. This is gonna be the end of the line for you.

C'mere, Hazama, we've got work to do.

Weird. The temperature seemed to plummet the moment that creature appeared.

It's okay, eat up. ...It was trying to eat their souls. I couldn't let it stay here.

...OKAY! Kids, how's everybody holdin' up?

I... *sniff*

I'm okay... It doesn't hurt anymore.

Thank goodness! It's my fault for taking my eyes off ya back there.

We're real sorry, too.

You warned us, and we went anyway. That was the soul eating monster, right?

......

...See? I told ya.

I think that's enough adventuring for today, don't you? You guys play it extra careful next time, all right? Pinky swear?

Now, off ya go. Your mom's probably worried sick!

See ya! We'll hang out again sometime, okay?

You don't think we should go with them? They've been through a lot today, someone has to make sure they get back okay. And hey, are you sure you're okay? You're really not looking so great.

Wait, seriously?

...Ohhh! Right, duh! Sorry. I keep forgetting how weak the little ones of the species can be.

Uh... "species"?

Hey! Looks like our adventure's not quite over yet. We gotta get this party home!

Now, where do you guys live?

Uh... Acteul.

Acteul? You got it, chief. Homeward bound!

You kids are in BIG trouble!

What in the world gave you the idea it was going to be okay to sneak out like that? ...And to LEAVE TOWN?

Uh oh.

You kids are getting an earful when we get home!

And you can forget about dinner until I've finished talking to ALL of you!

Waahhh!

*sniff* See you again...someday...Miss...

Yeah...I hope we can play again sometime...

You bet'cha! Any time!

I can't thank you enough for keeping them safe for us. We were worried sick! It looks like they had a lot of fun, so if you're ever in town, feel free to come by. I'm sure they would love to see you again.

......

...You okay, Id?

Mm! Yeah! Sure, just...glad they made it home. Sooo... I guess we should...

Id! Behind you!

Uh oh.

ID?!