>Ask Bruno to call out to her, then point out that he can't really fit in here...but she could go to see him. We are just playing with people's emotions now, aren't we? Well, you gotta do it...
*Vague plotting intensifies*
>Penumbra. I know you are ashamed. But as Jonathan's dream creature, you might be the one with the most power to help him... Or to stop him. I'm looking for a way to become human again, and if I can, he can, too. And if that's not an option, than he might still be retrievable... You and my dream creature, Lepido, were created as nightmares, as were Sliss, Grimaldi, Bruno, and a nightmare leech that turned out to be merely trying to survive. In fact, Mr. Shadow is the only nightmare creature who seems truly evil. If he can be convinced of that, then maybe he might become another friendly nightmare, like the rest. And if he has to be destroyed... Then you have a right to be there when it happens. Please, help us.
My new plan is so secret that even I cannot understand its full scope!
Lord Wiener
>Penumbra. I know you are ashamed. But as Jonathan's dream creature, you might be the one with the most power to help him... Or to stop him. I'm looking for a way to become human again, and if I can, he can, too. And if that's not an option, than he might still be retrievable... You and my dream creature, Lepido, were created as nightmares, as were Sliss, Grimaldi, Bruno, and a nightmare leech that turned out to be merely trying to survive. In fact, Mr. Shadow is the only nightmare creature who seems truly evil. If he can be convinced of that, then maybe he might become another friendly nightmare, like the rest. And if he has to be destroyed... Then you have a right to be there when it happens. Please, help us.
That was amazing. I can't believe you would take the time and effort to write all that just for this game. Thank you.
After listening to this moving speech, Penumbra has perked up.
>Ask Bruno to call out to her, then point out that he can't really fit in here...but she could go to see him.
Penumbra's already looking somewhat confident, so now it's time for the straw to break the camel's back. Carl calls out through the cave's entrance and asks Bruno to say something, anything, so Penumbra can hear him. Bruno's voice echoes back faintly, but still audibly.
"Penumbra, it's me! I'm so glad you've met my friends, and I'm sorry I can't be there too!"
"Oh," says Penumbra, glowing brighter than ever, floating up from the ground, and finally smiling, "don't be."
She dashes forward so fast that she practically drills through the narrow cave, before finally busting through the entrance, where Bruno and Pinky are waiting. Bruno hugs her, and Pinky joins too, despite her shock.
Our heroes walk out through the now-wider cave and hug Penumbra as well. When they finish, Penumbra looks over at Carl. "Thank you, Carl. It feels so good to be above ground again! Now, is there anything I can do for you?"
edited 13th Dec '16 12:16:42 PM by DrNoPuma
Burbank Frollo: the most hilariously ineffectual, unintimidating Frollo ever
see you, space cowboy.
>Fill her in on trying to find Dr. White and ask how she can help.
Long live the New Bev.
Lord Wiener
>Fill her in on trying to find Dr. White and ask how she can help.
Carl asks Penumbra if she can help them find Dr. White.
"Oh, yes!" She grows very big. "Everyone climb on."
Everyone climbs on top of Penumbra, and she launches into the sky. Now they have a birds-eye view of Bad Land. "This is what I used to see all the time. It feels so good to be back!"
Looking down, our heroes can see all sorts of areas. There's Sliss' swamp, the forest areas that make up most of Bad Land, and some new areas. The problem is, Carl can't see anything specific.
Suddenly, Penumbra calls out. "Did you see that?! I just saw something move down there, in the viny place!" Carl looks over and sees a region covered with thick, thorny vines.
"Maybe it's nothing, but it's worth a try, right?"
Burbank Frollo: the most hilariously ineffectual, unintimidating Frollo ever
see you, space cowboy.
>Bollocks to it. Let's check it out.
Long live the New Bev.
Lord Wiener
>Bollocks to it. Let's check it out.
Carl decides to check it out, so Penumbra flies down to an entrance in the thicket of thornbushes. If you need a mental image, just look at the picture on The Hedge of Thorns!
"Do you want me to go in there with you? I feel like I could be more useful to you in the sky. Besides, if it's all the same to you, I haven't been up there for so long."
Burbank Frollo: the most hilariously ineffectual, unintimidating Frollo ever
>It's fine, stay up there and enjoy yourself while we enjoy the light!
see you, space cowboy.
>Just chill, we got this.
Long live the New Bev.
Lord Wiener
>It's fine, stay up there and enjoy yourself while we enjoy the light!
>Just chill, we got this.
Carl tells Penumbra that she can stay in the air. "Thanks!" She goes back up into the sky. "Remember, I'm watching over you! Even if I won't be able to see you! She winks.
Now, our heroes enter the tangle of thorns. It's very dark, so once again, Ophelia leads the group. It's eerily quiet.
Eventually, Ophelia tells everyone that she sees Dr. White ahead. But something's wrong. He's just standing there... Feel free to make a Spongebob reference. :P
Burbank Frollo: the most hilariously ineffectual, unintimidating Frollo ever
*Vague plotting intensifies*
>Stay back. Watch him carefully, to see if he's breathing or blinking, or if he's like a statue. Something's wrong, but we don't know what.
I'm sorry; I don't know what reference you're talking about. Maybe someone else will get it.
My new plan is so secret that even I cannot understand its full scope!
>Is he being menacing?!
see you, space cowboy.
>Consult the Magic Conch.
Long live the New Bev.
Lord Wiener
>Is he being menacing?!
Yes. He's just standing there... MENACINGLY!
>Consult the Magic Conch.
Unfortunately, Carl has no Magic Conch to speak of. He and Captain Rust each have a crystal ball, but Carl thinks now isn't a good time to use it.
>Stay back. Watch him carefully, to see if he's breathing or blinking, or if he's like a statue. Something's wrong, but we don't know what.
Carl and his friends stay back. Dr. White's back is turned to them, but he seems to be breathing. Carl and his friends stand and wait... but nothing happens...
Burbank Frollo: the most hilariously ineffectual, unintimidating Frollo ever
see you, space cowboy.
>TACKLE DR. WHITE.
Long live the New Bev.
Lord Wiener
>TACKLE DR. WHITE.
Carl jumps to tackle Dr. White... and lands in something slimy. It's Dumblob, who spits Carl out.
"Can't you people leave us alone? How did you find us, anyway?" He turns to Dr. White. "I told you to be still." Dr. White protests that he was. Carl explains that Ophelia used her cat eyes, then asks Dumblob what he's doing here.
"Remember when Mr. Shadow and I chased you into the caves? I split in two. I still haven't reformed yet. My other half was with Mr. Shadow at Gingerbread Town, while my job was to kidnap the doctor while you were distracted."
Burbank Frollo: the most hilariously ineffectual, unintimidating Frollo ever
see you, space cowboy.
>"Well how about you give him up before we have to... take care of you."
Long live the New Bev.
Lord Wiener
>"Well how about you give him up before we have to... take care of you."
"No. Now you're all going to di-" Suddenly, there's a rustling sound.
"Did you hear that?"
There's another rustling sound. This time, it's accompanied by creepy laughter unlike anything Carl's heard. Dumblob is starting to look scared, for once.
Burbank Frollo: the most hilariously ineffectual, unintimidating Frollo ever
see you, space cowboy.
>"Oh dude you better run. You should drop White though, he'll slow you down."
Long live the New Bev.
*Vague plotting intensifies*
>Be alert and ready to dodge.
My new plan is so secret that even I cannot understand its full scope!
>Didn't Mr Shadow speak of a master?
>Step back.
Lord Wiener
>"Oh dude you better run. You should drop White though, he'll slow you down."
"Shut up. I'm not scared."
>Didn't Mr Shadow speak of a master?
>Step back.
>Be alert and ready to dodge.
Carl remembers Mr. Shadow mentioning working for someone, and suspects that this is the one lurking nearby. He steps back and stays alert. Dumblob is alert too, but he relaxes when the sound stops. "Enough. Now you're going to di-"
Suddenly, something jumps out of the thorns, hits Dumblob in the eyes to turn him solid, and starts attacking him. Dumblob breaks free and runs away in a panic.
The creature that attacked Dumblob turns around to face our heroes. It's still pretty dark in here, but he seems to be... an oversized caterpillar.
"Carl! So good to see you again."
edited 15th Dec '16 6:26:43 PM by DrNoPuma
Burbank Frollo: the most hilariously ineffectual, unintimidating Frollo ever
see you, space cowboy.
>OH GOD IT'S A GHOST!
Long live the New Bev.
*Vague plotting intensifies*
>"Are you...?"
My new plan is so secret that even I cannot understand its full scope!
>Make a mental note that she looks like a Courage the Cowardly Dog character, and then introduce yourself.
This guy
◊? That wasn't my mental image, but okay. XD
Carl suddenly recalls a cartoon he loved as a kid, and there was one episode with a creepy floating head who Penumbra reminds him of. He shudders a little, but tries to remain polite. He introduces himself and his friends, and tells Penumbra about Bruno and Pinky outside.
"Hello. How did you find me?" Carl tells her that Queen Oneira led them to her. He then fills her in on everything that's happened so far. She listens carefully, but unenthusiastically.
"Poor Jonathan... I wanted to help him, but of course he wouldn't listen to me. I know Bruno, by the way. I saw him all the time, from up in the sky."
"I'd like to help you find this other human... Dr. White, right? ...but I'm scared. Scared and ashamed."
"...Is Bruno really out there? ...I'd like to see him, if he is."
Burbank Frollo: the most hilariously ineffectual, unintimidating Frollo ever