GAMEPLAY
Lady in the Garden: Ah, a perfect blossom. So delicate, so beautiful.
Lady in the Garden: Oh, my sweet little creation! Whatever am I to do with you now?
Flutterpage and Lamplighter crouch behind a hedge, watching as the lone figure plucks a flower and brings it to her nose.
Were it not for the dark red stains on her clothing, she might appear no different from any other gardener.
Flutterpage: So this is the so-called madwoman that critter was talkin' about? She looks plenty nice to me.
Lamplighter: We can't be too sure about that. There are loads of stories about this lady. Rumor has it she's ...
Lamplighter bites her tongue. The Lady in the Garden suddenly flings the delicate flowers to the ground in a fit of rage.
Lady in the Garden: Destroy you all, naturally! Rip! Shred! Destroy!
Lady in the Garden: How about this! Ahahahahaha!
She crushes the flowers beneath her heels, stomping maniacally, over and over, until the once-blooming flowers are reduced to mulch.
Flutterpage: Oh. Right then, spoke a bit too soon, eh?
The girls glance at each other, both taking cautious steps back, but it appears to be too little, too late.
Lady in the Garden: Who's there?!
In the blink of an eye, the Lady in the Garden is standing before them. The girls gasp, frozen on the spot.
Lady in the Garden: Again! Again! You noisy insolent invaders think you can trespass in my garden again?!
Flutterpage: Eh?
A word in the madwoman's rant stands out to Flutterpage.
Flutterpage: Wait, you mean ... Are you the one who planted all these flowers, Miss?
Lady in the Garden: Me? Yes, of course! I raised them, every petal, every stem, each more beautiful than the last.
Lady in the Garden: And then I pluck 'em! Smash 'em! Feast on 'em! Cast 'em into the mud! Hahaha!
Despite flinching at the lady's outburst, Flutterpage's curiosity wins out, and she presses forward with her questioning.
Flutterpage: I don't get it. Bit strange, innit? Why grow all these flowers only to smash 'em up? Ain't you fond of 'em?
Lady in the Garden: Me? Fond of flowers? No!
Lady in the Garden: They are nasty, disgusting things.
Flutterpage: But why bother growin' 'em if you hate 'em so much?
Lady in the Garden: I simply can't live without 'em.
Lady in the Garden: Their scents, their lovely vibrant hues. I simply can't live without 'em.
The Lady in the Garden bends down and snaps off a branch yet to bloom, tracing its delicate outline with her fingers.
Lady in the Garden: Ah, yes, this one. This will bloom into a horror that plagues me day and night.
Her movements are delicate, yet the veins swelling on her trembling hands betray the violent urges she struggles to suppress.
Flutterpage: You need 'em, but you hate 'em. No wonder you're in such a state.
Flutterpage: But you've gotta admit, these flowers are certainly beautiful.
Flutterpage: If you didn't care for 'em, not even a little, I don't think they'd be so beautiful.
Lady in the Garden: Beautiful? You really think they're beautiful?
Flutterpage: Yes! They're bleedin' gorgeous!
Lady in the Garden: Really? Is that what you see? Beauty?
Lady in the Garden: That's marvelous. Truly marvelous.
In a trance, the Lady in the Garden rises, murmuring under her breath as she drifts into the blossoms.
Flutterpage: Where're you off to?
She remains silent as the twig slips through her fingertips, falling softly on the petals beneath.
The Lady in the Garden fades into the sea of flowers beyond them.
Lamplighter: Look, it's those fireflies again!
Lamplighter's voice snaps Flutterpage out of her daze. Her eyes catch the soft glow rising from the fallen branch, similar to the lights they have seen before.
Flutterpage: Wow! Another piece of me name, the third letter.
Lamplighter: Honestly, I was prepared for the worst this time, but it turned out a lot easier than I'd imagined.
Flutterpage: So, turns out the flowers were what she held dear. Hmm.
Lamplighter: What's the matter? You look a little down.
Flutterpage: Reckon it'll flower again someday?
Lamplighter: Huh?
Flutterpage: The twig she dropped. Once we're done, I could stick it in a vase, see if it blossoms again, all pretty-like.
Flutterpage picks up the twig left behind by the Lady in the Garden and places it in her pocket.
GAMEPLAY
Gluttonous Critters: Dearest club members! Let's see now. What do we get on our spread? What's here? What's here?
Gluttonous Critter I: Smoked salmon!
Gluttonous Critter II: Scones with blueberry jam!
Gluttonous Critter III: Chocolate and hazelnut cupcakes!
Gluttonous Critters: Fantastic! Afternoon tea time! Afternoon tea time!
Gluttonous Critters: What else is there to nibble on?
Gluttonous Critter I: Deviled eggs!
Gluttonous Critter IV: Pea soup!
Gluttonous Critter III: Pistachio macarons!
Gluttonous Critters: Fantastic! Afternoon tea time! Wait ... What?!
Gluttonous Critters: Nobody likes pea soup here. Get it gone! Get it out! Get it out!
Gluttonous Critter IV: Ugh?! Yucky, yucky, yuck!
Flutterpage and Lamplighter stare in disbelief as the unfortunate critter with the pea soup is seized and thrown out by the rest.
Flutterpage: Hey, what a waste! Pea soup ain't my favorite neither, but you shouldn't be chuckin' out good food like that!
Lamplighter: Those little things? They've always been like this. Don't let their size fool you. They're the wealthiest critters on all of Cross Street.
Gluttonous Critters: Only the most scrumptious delights deserve a spot at our table! Sit down! Sit down!
Gluttonous Critters: All friends of the Administrator are more than welcome to share in our feast! Share in our feast!
Flutterpage: Thank you, but we'll have to give it a miss this time. We're actually looking for somethin'. It's ...
The gluttonous critters exchange looks of confusion and panic, cutting Flutterpage off before she can finish.
Gluttonous Critters: What are you talking about? Something valuable? Don't look at us. We've got nothing like that here—nothing like that!
Flutterpage: No, no, no. It's not valuable on its own, but it might be inside somethin' you hold dear.
Flutterpage: Reckon you might've seen it?
The critters huddle together, murmuring amongst themselves.
Gluttonous Critters: You're after our dearest possession, aren't you? Aren't you?!
Flutterpage: No, no! I'm just askin' if you'd take a peek for me. Maybe what I'm after's hidden somewhere inside your dearest possession.
Gluttonous Critters: Our dearest possession? Okay! We'll give it to you! Give it to you!
Flutterpage: Huh?
For a second, Flutterpage is stunned, but soon her expression softens into a bright smile.
Flutterpage: Is that true then? That's so nice of you!
Gluttonous Critters: But you'll have to pay for it! In cash! In cash!
Flutterpage: Oh ...
Flutterpage: Cash.
Flutterpage is stunned by the absurdity of it all. The huddle of plump critters stare out at her expectantly.
Flutterpage: Alright, I s'pose it's only fair. Can't just go 'round asking favors for free.
Flutterpage: How much were you expecting?
Gluttonous Critters: Much obliged! Return any time! Come back soon! Come back soon!
Flutterpage: ...
Lamplighter: ...
Lamplighter: You know, I reckon you could've bargained with those little critters.
Flutterpage: Well, it's a bit late to say that now, ain't it? Why didn't you say somethin' earlier?
Lamplighter: I do apologize. I'm not very good at bargaining myself.
Flutterpage: Don't worry about it. I'm the one who messed up.
Flutterpage: You've stuck by me through all this without askin' for so much as a penny. That's more than just being a good mate. Thank you, Lamplighter. You're a true pal.
Lamplighter: Don't be silly! I'd never ask you for money!
With a weary sigh, Flutterpage inspects the critters' so-called "dearest possession," which cost her so much money.
Flutterpage: Anyways ...
Flutterpage: You reckon this really is their most dearest possession?
Lamplighter: Erm, I can't rightly say.
Flutterpage: Sarah's gonna kill me if she ever finds out I blew all our dosh on a bloomin' stone.
Flutterpage: ...
Flutterpage: Hm?
Flutterpage: Who's Sarah?
Flutterpage: Oh!
Flutterpage: That's right! She's my sister. I remember now.
The dim light of the fireflies flickers around them as Flutterpage struggles to piece together the true meaning of that name.
Yet just as quickly, her thoughts are consumed again by a chaotic void.
Lamplighter: Flutterpage, you ...
Flutterpage: I know.
Flutterpage: That ain't a good sign, is it?