Scenario:Ferry - Precious Family

Precious Family

When Ferry starts feeling unwell after being struck by an exorcism spell on a zombie-hunting mission, a worried Beppo nestles up beside her, reminding her of their first encounter before her death. At the crew's request, she then begins to describe how she met her other pets.

---

Zombies: Graaah...

Vyrn: Heads up, Ferry! They're comin' your way!

Ferry: Roger that!
Come on, guys! We're up!

Ferry: Haaah!

Zombies: Waaargh!

One day...

The crew accepts a request to take down a horde of zombies within the ruins of a manor on the outskirts of a certain town.

Although overwhelmed at first by the undead swarm, (Captain) and company slowly manage to reduce their numbers.

Zombies: Waaargh!

Ferry: Huh? What's that sound?

Ferry: ...!
Guys, look out!

Noticing a sudden rush of magic, Ferry shouts just as the pillar of light rising from beneath them explodes, flooding the area with a bright, white glow.

Zombies: ...!

The zombies caught within the light are instantly obliterated, leaving only (Captain) and the crew blinking and rubbing their eyes.

Vyrn: Urgh. What the heck was that? I'm seein' spots...

Lyria: ...!
Ferry! Are you okay?

Hearing Lyria's panicked voice, the captain frantically glances around to see Ferry sitting on the ground, surrounded by her pets.

Ferry: Yeah, I'm fine. I got grazed a little, but no serious injuries or pain to speak of.

Lyria: Thank goodness.

Lyria: But I wonder what that was just now?

Ferry: Magic that was imbedded in the floor previously must have been activated. Look over there.

Vyrn: Is that... a magic circle?

Ferry: Mhm. I imagine it was some sort of trap. The spell triggered the instant the zombies touched it.

Vyrn: Now that you mention it, the client did mention that skyfarers had come here zombie huntin' before.

Ferry: They're probably the ones who set it up, then. Thanks to them, it looks like the zombies have all been exterminated. We really owe them.

Ferry: Anyway, I guess that means our mission is complete. Let's hurry back and give our client the good news.

Saying this, Ferry attempts to stand. However...

Ferry: Huh?

Momo: Rawr!

Momo and Beppo dash over as she sways on the spot, propping her up before she falls.

Lyria: Ferry! Are you all right?

Ferry: Y-yeah... Sorry, I just got a little dizzy for a second. Must have stood up too fast.

Beppo: ...

Momo: Rawr...

Ferry: No need to worry about me, you two. Thanks for catching me.

Lyria: I wonder if it was because of that magic circle... Can you walk okay? If you need help, you can lean on me.

Ferry: Thanks, but I'm all right. The dizziness seems to have passed, and I'm not feeling woozy or anything.

Lyria: Really? Well, if you're sure...

Vyrn: Maybe you're just worn out from dealin' with all those zombies.

Vyrn: Let's call it a day early after we talk to the client.

Agreeing with Vyrn's suggestion, (Captain) and the crew depart from the ruins to report back to their client.

A few days have passed since (Captain) and the crew completed their zombie-hunting request.

Ferry: Urgh...

Lyria: What's wrong, Ferry?

While chatting with (Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn, Ferry suddenly emits a small groan.

Beppo: ...

Ferry: Oh, sorry—I'm fine. It's gone already. Nothing to worry about.

Vyrn: You catch a cold or somethin'?

Ferry: No, it's nothing like that. I just keep getting these twinges of pain in my head from time to time.

Beppo: ...

Lyria: I don't like the sound of that. Beppo seems worried too...

Ferry: I'm okay, really. Since I'm a ghost and all, I don't really get sick or anything.

Seemingly unconvinced by Ferry's nonchalant attitude, Beppo nestles up to her.

Ferry: Hehe. This really takes me back.

Lyria: Ferry?

Ferry: Whoops, sorry. I was just remembering something that happened a long time ago.

Ferry: Back when I was still alive, Beppo used to cuddle up against me whenever I was feeling sick.

Vyrn: Huh? But didn't you say you met your pets after you died?

Ferry: Oh, well... Beppo's a little different actually.

Ferry: If I remember correctly, it was shortly after the disease started to spread on the island...

Closing her eyes, Ferry begins to speak slowly, attempting to recall a distant memory.

Ferry: Around that time, I started showing symptoms, and I was sent to a quarantine facility along with my parents.

Ferry: While I was there, I met a dog that was all alone.

Ferry: I can't say for sure whether he was always a stray, or whether he lost his owner to the disease.

Ferry: But he was really attached to me from the get-go, and we've been together ever since.

Lyria: So that's how you and Beppo met.

Ferry: Yeah. A nurse from another island helped me come up with the name.

Ferry: I don't know what his original name was, or if he even had one to begin with.

Ferry: But from that day on, he became my one and only Beppo.

Ferry: He's always been by my side. He was there when my parents died, all the way up to the moment I passed away...

Her expression clouds slightly as she says this, and Beppo looks up from his spot at her feet as though unsatisfied with her explanation.

Beppo: ...

Ferry: Hehe, that's right. He's still with me even now.

Ferry: Back then I was depressed, scared, and in pain—but I wasn't lonely.

Ferry: And that's because Beppo was right there through it all. I guess you could say he's basically family to me.

At those words, Ferry's other pets spring up and begin nudging her relentlessly.

Pets: ...

Ferry: Whoa! What's with you guys all of a sudden!

Momo: Rawr!

Fugee & Nicola: ...

Ferry: Of course, you're all part of my family too. Don't worry, I didn't forget about you.

Geegee: ...

Ferry: You think I worded it poorly? Come on, I'm sorry. So don't pout like that...

Lyria: Hehe. Your pets really must love you!

Vyrn: Hey, Ferry. How'd you meet your other pets?

Ferry: Hm? Now that you mention it, I guess I've never really talked about it before.

Ferry: That being said, I'd just become a ghost at the time, so my memory is a bit fuzzy.

Ferry: But this is a good opportunity for you to get to know them better, so I guess it wouldn't hurt to talk about the old days.

With that introduction, Ferry strokes her pets as she thinks back on the distant past.

As though searching her memories one by one, she begins to recount her first encounters with her precious pets.

Precious Family: Scene 2

After becoming ghosts, Ferry and Beppo save a spirit from a monster attack, whom she dubs "Geegee." A few days later, Ferry encounters two ghosts who had been stealing toys from the village out of loneliness. Convincing them to return the items, she names them "Nicola" and "Fugee," and invites them to join her little family.

---

Ferry: I met my other pets not long after I became a ghost.

Ferry: One day, I was investigating the forest with Beppo in order to find out what had happened to the island, and to me.

Beppo: ...

Ferry: Hm? What is it? Did something catch your eye?

Seeing Beppo come to a sudden stop, Ferry scans the area, attempting to spot what might have grabbed his attention.

Just then...

???: Groooar!

Ferry: ...?
Was that... a monster?

Beppo: ...!

Ferry: Hey! Beppo, wait! Where are you going?

Beppo dashes off with Ferry close on his heels, and together they move steadily deeper into the forest.

Hearing a small sound not unlike a cry for help amidst the threatening clamor of the monsters, Ferry squints, attempting to pinpoint its source.

Bestial Monster: Groooar!

Long-Eared Ghost: ...

At last they come upon a small, pale animal surrounded by a number of monsters.

Ferry: That must have been the voice I heard!
Sic 'em, Beppo!

Beppo: ...!

Bestial Monster: Yelp!

With one of their number felled by a sudden intruder, the monsters shift their attention from their pocket-sized prey to Ferry and Beppo.

Ferry: Naughty monsters that bully the weak need to be taught a lesson! Come on, Beppo!

Beppo: ...!

Bestial Monsters: Yip, yip!

Standing no chance against the ghostly duo, the monsters flee into the depths of the forest, yelping pitifully.

Ferry: Whew... Don't worry, you're safe now.

The small creature immediately leaps into Ferry's arms, shaking with apparent relief.

Ferry: Whoa! Aw, there, there. I know, you must have been scared out of your mind.

Long-Eared Ghost: ...

Ferry: Oh, are you a ghost too? I guess even we're not immune to monster attacks, huh.

Ferry: There are a lot of them in the forest, so be careful out there, okay?

Giving the ghost one final pat, Ferry sets it gently onto the ground before departing from the area with Beppo.

However...

Ferry: Sigh.

Ferry exhales softly as she turns to look back at the little ghost trailing after them.

Ferry: Hey, where do you live? It's not safe to wander around like this. I'll come along to make sure you get home okay.

The small spirit merely stares up at her, making no attempt to leave.

Seeing the pleading look in the creature's button eyes, Ferry heaves a resigned sigh.

Ferry: If you don't have anywhere else to go, would you like to come with me?

Long-Eared Ghost: ...!

Ferry: Whoa! Sheesh, you're a needy little thing, aren't you?

Ferry: Well, it must have been fate that we met like this. As fellow ghosts, I'm sure we'll get along just fine.

Ferry: Now then, I guess you'll be needing a proper name all your own.

Ferry: Hmm... But what?

Ferry falls silent for a moment in thought. When her eyes fall on Beppo, she nods as though hit with a stroke of inspiration.

Ferry: Geegee. That'll be your name starting today. What do you think?

Long-Eared Ghost: ...!

Ferry: Hehe. I'm glad you like it. Nice to meet you, Geegee!

Ferry: That's how I met Geegee.

Ferry: From then on, my family came to include Geegee as well as Beppo, adding a bit more spice to my life.

Ferry: I think it was ten or so years later that my family grew even more.

???: Hey, is this really the work of thieves?

Ferry: Hm?

While strolling through the forest with Beppo and Geegee one day, Ferry comes to a sudden stop upon hearing someone nearby.

Turning her gaze in the direction of the voice, she spots two men hidden among the trees.

Ferry: People, here? With so many monsters roaming around, the villagers don't usually come near the forest if they can avoid it.

Intrigued by what she had overheard, Ferry conceals herself behind a nearby bush, listening intently.

Middle-Aged Man: Well, it's true that things are going missing from the village. Just yesterday, an old woman had a stuffed toy stolen from her—a memento of her grandson.

Young Man: Isn't she the one who saw a shadow disappear into the woods? It's hard to believe there'd be thieves on this island though.

Young Man: Everyone here has been dead for so long, what would be the point of looting the place now?

Middle-Aged Man: Good point. And what's more, the only things being stolen are children's toys and other useless junk—not even anything of value.

Middle-Aged Man: That being said, since we don't know who's behind it all, we agreed to patrol the village just in case.

Middle-Aged Man: There's always the off chance that we'll find someone, and it's better than sitting around doing nothing. So come on, let's get going.

Ferry: Hmm... Things are being swiped from the village?

Ferry: (That's definitely strange. We haven't had a single visitor from the outside since this turned into a ghost island.)

Ferry: (But I can't imagine that someone living in the village would go out of their way to steal from a fellow resident at this point.)

Ferry: If I heard correctly just now, they said the victim saw a shadow escape into the woods.

Ferry: In that case, we might just find a clue there. Let's go take a look, Beppo, Geegee.

Gesturing to her pets, Ferry heads deeper into the forest to hunt for clues about the thief.

Geegee: ...

Ferry: What's wrong, Geegee?

Geegee: ...

Ferry: What are those? Ghosts?

Following Geegee's gaze, Ferry spots a pair of spherical spirits floating in the air.

Creeping forward so as to avoid notice, she finally gets close enough to see that they are playing with a worn stuffed toy.

Ferry: (That must be the plush...)

Ferry: Hey, you two.

Globular Ghosts: ...!

The moment Ferry calls out, the two ghosts spring upward, darting around in an attempt to flee.

Geegee: ...

Beppo: ...

Ferry: The fact that you're trying to run away is proof that you have something to hide.

Ferry: Tell me, where did you get that plush?

Globular Ghosts: ...

Their escape route blocked, the ghosts continue to flit around in circles momentarily before hanging their heads guiltily.

Ferry: I had a feeling you two were the thieves. It's not nice to steal from people, you know. Why would you do such a thing?

Globular Ghosts: ...

The ghosts gesture wildly as though desperately trying to convey something, when suddenly something catches Ferry's eye.

Ferry: (Huh? On second glance, it looks like that plush isn't the only thing they stole.)

Upon closer inspection, she sees a number of stuffed animals, dolls, and building blocks lined up neatly behind the ghosts.

Noticing that their arrangement seems to resemble a small town, Ferry arrives at a hypothesis.

Ferry: Could it be you two were lonely?

Ferry: So you stole plush toys and dolls from the village and built a toy town to help ease the pain. Am I right?

Globular Ghosts: ...!

The two ghosts bound joyfully at Ferry, all but confirming her theory.

Ferry: Whoa! Looks like my guess was right on the mark.

Globular Ghosts: ...

Ferry: It all makes sense now. Still, you shouldn't steal people's things.

Ferry: Even if these objects weren't being used anymore, they still hold important memories for their owners.

Ferry: Anyone would be sad if something precious to them suddenly went missing one day.

Globular Ghosts: ...

Following Ferry's lecture, the ghosts slouch sadly, evidently feeling remorse for their actions.

Ferry: Have you learned your lesson?

Globular Ghosts: ...

Ferry: Good. Then you need to return all the items you stole back to their rightful owners. Can you do that?

Globular Ghosts: ...!

Nodding vigorously, the two ghosts quickly round up the stolen items and soar off toward the village.

A short time later...

After giving back the pilfered possessions, the ghosts return to Ferry, who had been watching their endeavors from the woods near the village.

Globular Ghosts: ...

Ferry: Looks like you kept your word and returned everything. Great work, you two.

Globular Ghosts: ...

Ferry: Now listen. I don't want you stealing from people ever again. Can you promise me that?

Globular Ghosts: ...

Ferry: Good. Then why don't you come with me?

Ferry: That way you guys won't be lonely anymore, right?

Globular Ghosts: ...!

In response to Ferry's invitation, the two ghosts dive at her in clear jubilation.

Ferry: Hehe. I hope we'll be good friends, Fugee, Nicola.

Globular Ghosts: ...?

Ferry: Those are your names. You with the two horns—you're Fugee. And you with the single horn—you're Nicola.

Ferry: Not a fan of them? Then I'll try and come up with something else—

Fugee & Nicola: ...!

Fugee and Nicola bounce up and down animatedly as if to deny her words.

Ferry: And that's what led me to meet Fugee and Nicola.

Ferry: From that day on, Fugee and Nicola became part of my precious family, together with Beppo and Geegee.

Ferry can't help but smile as she watches Beppo and Geegee playing happily with the two newest members of their family.

Precious Family: Scene 3

Although certain that Beppo was the only pet she met while alive, Ferry feels as though she encountered Geegee, Fugee, and Nicola in the past as well, but none of them remember. Deciding it doesn't matter since they're all family now, she and her pets cuddle happily together.

---

Ferry: And the rest is history. After that, I spent my days together with these guys in the mansion where I met you all.

Having reached the end of her tale, Ferry lets out a breath and falls silent.

Lyria: So that's how you met Geegee, Fugee, and Nicola.

Ferry: Yeah. Talking through it like this really brought the memories flooding back. I'm feeling all nostalgic now.

Ferry: That reminds me...

Suddenly remembering something, Ferry begins to speak once more.

Ferry: Like I said before, I'm sure I first met Geegee, Fugee, and Nicola after becoming a ghost...

Ferry: But from the moment I saw them, I've had the strangest feeling that they've been by my side for a long time.

Vyrn: Whaddya mean?

Ferry: Mm, I'm not sure how to explain it...

Ferry: (Captain). You've lived with Vyrn ever since you were little, right?

Ferry: Whenever you feel anxious—like when you're in an unfamiliar place or something—doesn't Vyrn's presence naturally put you at ease?

After reflecting for a moment on Ferry's question, the captain nods.

Ferry: It's similar to that. It's like my body somehow remembers that I can feel completely safe and comfortable when I'm with them.

Vyrn: Huh? But you don't have any memories of meeting them when you were alive, right?

Ferry: No. None that I can recall, at least.

Ferry: But I mean, I even forgot my own name. That shows just how hazy my memories of being alive are.

Ferry: I barely remember anything from back when I was little, so I can't know for sure if I encountered them at some point.

Vyrn: Guess that makes sense...
Oh, but you guys would probably know if you'd met before, right?

Geegee: ...

Fugee & Nicola: ...

Geegee, Fugee, and Nicola shake their heads in response to Vyrn's hopeful question.

Ferry: These guys don't seem to remember much of what happened before they became ghosts either.

Vyrn: Dang...

Lyria: It would make for a nice story if you'd met a long time ago and then found each other again after becoming ghosts...

Lyria: But whatever the case, it doesn't change the fact that you all share an incredibly strong bond now!

Ferry: Hehe, that's true. Regardless of what happened in the past, the fact is we get to spend every day together like this now.

As her pets nestle close to her, Ferry strokes them affectionately with a smile on her face.

Ferry: Fugee is mischievous, while Nicola is a bit of a scaredy-cat.

Ferry: Geegee is a little flighty, but gentle. Momo is brave and reliable, but he can also be somewhat reckless.

Ferry: Beppo is the most mature and skilled at rallying everyone together, but he's surprisingly easygoing and does things at his own pace.

Ferry: They can definitely be a handful from time to time, but that's just another of their charms.

Ferry: Even though I may have been separated from my blood relatives, I'm lucky to have gained such a wonderful family.

Pets: ...

As if in agreement with her words, her pets snuggle up closer.

(Captain) and the crew smile warmly, looking on as Ferry and her family cuddle happily together.