A Sweet Special Event 2

“Gretel’s...  Secret Cottage?”  Rena slowly uttered.  “I’ve never heard of any area like this before...”  Rena stared at the elaborately decorated house with a look of awe on her face.  For something that look like it came straight from a children’s show it was impressively designed, although she had to admit that the candy motif was a bit too overwhelming for her senses.  Rubbing her eyes, Rena tore her sights away from the house to look over to Hotaru, who seemed to be even more enthralled by the suite of sweets.

“I could have sworn that the story was about a Gretel and a Hansel...” Hotaru pondered aloud after breaking out of her trance.  “...And even then, I thought the cottage belonged to the witch...  I think.”

“Hansel?  Gretel?  Cottages?  Witches?”  Rena asked, raising an eyebrow.  “What are you talking about, Hotaru?”

“Well...” Hotaru paused to think.  “For some reason, this whole event sort of reminds me of a fairytale I heard long ago...”  Hotaru replied.  “I cannot remember any of the details of it, though...  I must have been very young the last time I heard it.”

“Can’t say that I’ve ever heard of any fairytales with giant houses made of candy.” Ouka noted as she expected the house, pacing left and right.

“Wow!”  Mireille was too excited to listen to anything.  “A giant house of candy!  What a cool special event!” She bounced up and down, before recklessly rushing towards the candy cottage.

“Watch out Mireille!” Rena shouted, reaching out for Mireille.  “It could be a monster!”

“Nah.” Ouka began to laugh.  “I could have told if it was a monster.  I can smell a monster from a mile away.  Besides, it would have definitely attacked us back when we entered the area if it were a monster.”

“Oh...  Right!” Rena gulped, shuddering at the thought of being attacked by a strong monster.  The idea of being defeated by a large house of sweets wasn’t that appealing to her.

“I wonder what we have to do for this special event?”  Hotaru asked as she stared at the house.

“Hm...  Well, you said something about a witch, so...  Maybe there’s a witch to defeat inside there!”  Rena suggested.  “Besides...  It’d make more sense than fighting a big, cookie...  house...  

“But aren’t witches higher level monsters?”  Hotaru asked, worried about just what the group was getting themselves into.  “Can we handle a witch?”

“Witches are nothing.”  Ouka cracked her knuckles.  “Once me and Mireille spent a whole week fighting witches so we could get her one of those fancy new Witch Staffs, and let me tell you, those witches fell like flies.”

“I’ll say!” Mireille chuckled.  “If a witch comes out of there we can fight them off, no sweat!”

“I...  I hope so.” Rena stuttered.  She was just as scared of having to fight some witches as she was of Ouka’s overwhelming power.

“Trust me, we’ll be fine.” Ouka grinned confidently.  “I’ll even open the door.  If anything comes out of there to attack you guys it’ll have to go through me first, and I wouldn’t let anything happen to you all.”

“That would be wonderful, Ouka!” Hotaru smiled.

“Go for it!” Mireille added.

“I’ll just be waiting back here, then!” Rena smiled weakly as she inched away from the house.

“Here I go.” Ouka walked over to the house’s door, a large slab of gingerbread patterned with pink frosting, and grabbed the nob.  She turned it, and with a snap, the knob broke off right into her hand.  “Hm...” Ouka looked at the cookie knob which was now resting in her hand.  Rena jumped back, while Mireille ran right over to her friend.

“Wow Ouka!  You’re so strong!  You snapped that door off right like a twig!” Mireille cheered.

“I’m never giving her a handshake...  Ever...” Rena yelped as she crept even further away.

“Heh, heh...”  Ouka chuckled.  “I knew that new hand equipment was good stuff, but this is just impressive,” she bragged.  Her eyes darted down to the knob, which was still in her hand.  She lifted it up to her nose and sniffed it, her eyes lighting up.  “I can’t believe it, this smells so good!” She said, her ears twitching gleefully.

“You can smell it?” Rena asked, confused.  “But it’s just some virtual cookie door knob... right?”

“I don’t know why, but it just feels like...  Like I can.” Ouka said.  “Not that I’m complaining!”

“Cool! I wanna try some too!” Mireille began to jump up and down, before running to the door and tearing off a piece for herself.  Without hesitation she bit into it and gobbled it down in seconds.

“Um...  Mireille?” Rena chuckled nervously.  

“Th...  Th...  This is the best thing I’ve ever tasted!” Mireille shouted.

“You can taste it too?” Rena was a bit shocked.  “Wow, I knew this game could be realistic, but this is just too out there...” She turned to Ouka to find her gnawing on the door knob.  “Y...  You too?” She asked.

“Mireille wasn’t kidding, this is some good stuff!” Ouka beamed.

“Well...  I give up...”  Rena shook her head.  “When in Rome, I guess!” Shrugging her shoulders, Rena walked over to the door and broke off a piece for herself.  She raised it up to her mouth, before turning to Hotaru, who was still taking everything in.  “Hey, Hotaru!” Rena lowered the slab down.  “Are you going to have some too?”

“Oh?” Hotaru quickly turned to Rena.  “Yes, I think I will try some...  And I’m sure Grunty would like some too, right?” Hotaru smiled and closed her eyes as she bent over to pet Grunty.  “Grunty, wouldn’t you like something sweet to eat?” Hotaru stroked thin air a few times before opening her eyes in shock.  “Grunty?”

“Grunty didn’t follow you through the portal?” Rena asked, concerned.

“It must not have.” Ouka pointed out.  “It could be restricted from this area.”

“Oh...  Oh no...” Hotaru shook frantically.  “I hope Grunty is okay...  It’s been so long since we’ve been separate...”

“Well, Shugo didn’t come through either, right?” Mireille asked.  “I bet he’s taking care of Grunty right now!”

“You’re...  You’re right!?” Hotaru said, looking up, smiling weakly.  “I’m sure Grunty will be fine with Shugo...”

“Yeah, I’m sure Grunty is doing all right with Shugo.” Ouka added, reassuringly.

“Um...  Are we sure this is a good thing?” Rena interrupted, flailing about.  “If anything Grunty is probably the one taking care of Shugo!”

“What was that?” Hotaru asked as she nibbled on a chocolate covered door hinge.  Rena just took a heavy breath and began munching on her piece of the door.  

“Whoa...” Rena jolted upright as the gingerbread taste took over her taste buds.  “This stuff is pretty good...  I mean, I don’t know how this works, but...  I really feel like I can taste it!” Rena licked her lips and promptly gobbled down the rest of it.

“This has to be the best tasting house ever!” Mireille cheered as she finished off a lemon flavored shard from the window.

“I’ll say!” Ouka nodded.

“Break off some more door for me!” Rena smiled.

“I’ll definitely have to save some for Grunty...  If I don’t eat it all!” Hotaru said as she nibbled on some window frame.