Story Reader / Festival Event Story / Once in a Blue Moon / Story
Grab her... Grab her... Grab her...
Grab her... Grab her... Grab her...
...
Stop, just stop already! What in the world are you talking about? Those rabbit robots are meant to play hide-and-seek with the kids!
Behind the center stage, a WGAA is explaining what's in the terminal to his fellow WGAA member—until his fellow WGAA member can't take it anymore.
There is still time to get the script changed, right? See, this line here says, "Grab them," but lines like these are only supposed to bring the staff up to speed with what's going on.
We're going to use the official script when the time comes, so rest assured.
And this official script you're talking about is...
Dubbed by Lucia, Liv, and Ayla from Gray Raven. Yes, it's an original soundtrack. Wanna give it a listen?
Ohh, I know them. That's great, then. Just change it up. There's no time for us to go through the soundtrack now because the kids will be here in no time.
...
Is there a problem?
I just booted them up a few minutes ago with a command and put them all to a test. Why are they all lying down now?
They probably just ran out of power?
No way. I just checked them this morning...
As the two carry on talking, they stick their heads out from behind the drapes to see what's happening...
And see that all the rabbit robots are paralyzed.
The handful that aren't can barely move anymore, having taken blows from Karenina's Blast Hammer earlier.
Did you forget to seal off the place before running the test?
...
This place is all yours now.
Right when the WGAA member is about to go back behind the drapes and leave, their friend grabs him and stops them cold.
Are you both from WGAA
Yes.
These rabbit robots are out of order and need to be checked.
Actually... Let me explain to you what's happening here...
The WGAA member quickly brings Karenina up to speed on WGAA's plan.
So these rabbit robots are designed to look like rabbits from Mid-Autumn Festival to play hide-and-seek with kids? Why did they sound like they've got bugs in them, though?
It's my fault. I was supposed to swap their built-in script with the official script before I ran the test, except I didn't do that.
...
I'm partially responsible for that, too. Let's try to gather them up now and fix the ones that can still be fixed.
I mean I did try to hold to back there with my Blast Hammer, so I don't think they're all damaged...
We'll take care of that. If you don't mind, though, we actually need your help with a contingency plan now.
Children start entering the venue with the celebration just around the corner.
Looking at the rabbit robots on the floor, Karenina gathers that fixing them shouldn't be a hassle.
I got this, but I'll need you to get me some basic tools first.
Let's make it even easier.
The WGAA member whips out a device and asks their fellow WGAA members in all the different zones to come over.
In no time, all the rabbit robots are moved backstage.
All cleared, all cleared. Open the square, open the square.
At the same time, the other WGAA member presses a button on his communicator.
And with it, kids dressed to the nines start entering from the other side of the square.
Where are the little rabbits?
The kids approach the stage as they look around curiously.
Right then, a beam of light showers straight down on Karenina.
Her upright "ears" immediately drop down.
Kiddos, are we all ready for Ms. Bunny?!
W-wait! I can't do it!
Hey, c'mon! Stop! I say stop coming this way!
Teddy, gimme a hand here!
Chill, I already am. Let me just... observe the situation some more.
Dude, I'm outta here—and I'm taking you down with me. Just wait for it!
Teddy knows that Karenina means business when she sees Karenina get down. There is no way children can ever hope to catch up to a Construct running at top speed.
Stay where you are.
No way.
You just need to pretend to be a statue or some big garage kit. Kids usually get bored of stuff like that very quickly, and when they do, the guys from WGAA will have nothing to say.
...
For real?
So what's it gonna be? The kids are swarming up on you now.
Now, freeze in 3, 2... 1!
With it, Karenina freezes on the spot—and Teddy has never seen anything nearly as perfect, what with Karenina's body already being all stiff to begin with from being nervous.
In the blink of an eye, she's swarmed up by the kids.
Hey, why isn't she moving?
...
Ms. Bunny...
The little girl gives Karenina a careful shake, but she obviously stands no chance in making a Construct buckle.
Then, the little girl produces a red candy—a somewhat overly big one at it, too—out of her bag, removes the wrapper, and holds it up to Karenina.
How would you like a carrot, Ms. Bunny?
There is no mistaking it—the candy is made on a one-to-one scale to match the size of an actual carrot.
Like heck I'm gonna eat it!
Wow, she talks!
In a hustle, all the kids whip out their carrot-size candies that were meant for the rabbit robots.
Hey, you gotta look happier so you don't scare the kids.
With it, Karenina musters up what appears to be a perfect smile.
Hey, she's smiling!
The smile, in turn, attracts still more candy her way.
Maintaining her perfect smile, Karenina gently pats the head of the little girl who tried to give her her candy first...
All while she manages to speak in a tone under her breath that hardly matches her perfect smile, so the kids can't hear it.
Teddy, I'm going to ****ing kill you.
Can I touch your ears, Ms. Bunny?
Yes, of course, but can you all just let me through first...
Except the kids all jump up at her, seemingly having only heard the first half of what she said.
Wait, watch out... I still have my Blast Hammer in my hand, and part of it is super sharp... Be careful now...
Karenina has to raise her weapon high above herself to avoid hurting the kids—which makes it impossible for her to stop them from doing whatever they please with her ears.
Oh boy... Are you all ready for hide-and-seek?!
!!!
All of a sudden, the kids seem to find the idea of hide-and-seek ten times more interesting than touching Ms. Bunny's ears.
Letting go of her ears, the kids disperse exuberantly in all directions.
Which gives Karenina enough time to take a breath and give her Blast Hammer to the WGAA member that comes up to her.
We saw how insane that was, but we were just wondering... you know...
Say no more. I'm going to stick through it.
And I was hoping to have the script actually, if you don't mind...
Right, here it is.
The WGAA member gives a speaker to Karenina.
Thanks. Pretty sure this is going to make my life easier. I'm probably the last person you want to count on in this world with giving hide-and-seek commands.
When Karenina presses the button on the speaker, out comes Liv's gentle voice.
Dear Lovely Kids, please make sure to stay within the square during our hide-and-seek.
Was that Liv speaking? Her voice sure is a nice fit for occasions like this.
When Karenina presses the button again, out bursts Ayla's overly zealous voice.
The rabbits are coming. Hide yourselves now, kiddos! The rabbits are coming for you!
Ayla, huh... Is that something the rabbit robots were programmed to say when they approached the kids from behind? Seems like I'm going to dumb down my search a little...
When Karenina presses the button on the speaker a third time, out comes a voice that she knows even better.
Kiddos, are we all ready?
...
Karenina presses the button again.
Gotcha, little one!
Karenina presses the button again. And again. And again. And again and again...
The rabbits are on patrol now, kiddos...
CLACK—Karenina turns off the speaker.
Here, you can take this back.
Wait, aren't you going to use it?
I am not, because I can do a much better job than that.
Karenina takes a deep breath. Then, with a determined look on her face, she turns around to face the square.
Alright, kiddos. Are you ready? Ms. Bunny is coming!
Getting her "ears" to stand up again, Karenina hops away.
"Her voice is melody!"—exclaims the other WGAA member as they come walking out from behind the drapes clapping.
She's doing such a great job. Why wasn't she invited to make the recordings?
Hearing the question, the other WGAA member gives the Blast Hammer a little shake.
Say that again to this gem here when this all ends.
...
...
Looking at the screen, Teddy taps on the Recording Button on her terminal—before she Likes the live stream of the square WGAA is broadcasting.
Karenina shall be forever remembered for everything she has done.
If I were you, I'd focus on trying to get my work done here.
Right, I was just a little carried away with what was happening. I'm almost there, though, and if everything goes well...
And, almost as though trying to prove her wrong, a message window pops up on the screen of her terminal.
...Uh oh.
What's going on?
I just initiated the delivery program on my terminal by accident. Argh, I really should have kept an eye on it.
And with it, Teddy starts operating her terminal manually.
A few keystrokes later, however, Teddy lets go of her terminal again.
What's up? Is it all taken care of? I see the message window is gone.
...
Well, the good news is that I just went ahead and deleted the personal letter in question.
And here is the bad news—all the cards are jumbled up and getting sent out like magma getting spewed out of a volcano. And yes, it's irreversible, if that's what you're wondering.
But how are they even getting sent out when we haven't even written the opening and closing messages and the names of the recipients?
Uh-huh, that's right... Any guess where they're getting sent to?
