Part 2: The Prince of the Wonder Woods

In order to find the Red Inotium that Cornet's Grandpa wants, we need to head on over to the Wonder Woods. This place seems pretty small at a first glance, but it's really not.



The map for this place only documents about half of it initially. In the bottom left corner there's a secondary area though there's no reason to go there now. Our destination isn't marked on this map either.



: I know what you're thinking! You wish you could take a walk with the Prince.
: Ah, I went through the same phase... A long time ago...
: ...
: Huh? Why're you looking at me like I have a third arm? I have some experience in love too! My age, or being a puppet, doesn't matter. Love is love!



Since Cornet can't stand toads at all, this leads us into our first battle. It's a relatively simple one, and it's impossible to lose. It serves as a way of learning how to actually fight, without outright being a tutorial.






The combat itself takes place on the top screen, but all the commands are on the touch screen. Most battles, like this one, can be gotten through just by clicking "Auto" and waiting about 5-10 seconds. The only times this won't really work are where you're somewhere you really shouldn't be yet or when you're fighting bosses.

As for the Kansha Gauge in the top-right corner, that fills whenever Cornet uses one of her special "Horn" type attacks (which involve her using her... cornet) but whenever it raises to a level, maximum of 5, it allows her to use slightly more powerful attacks... with the exception of the fifth, which is a full HP and SP heal for all your characters.



The only technique/spell here worth using at the moment is Love Horn since it applies four buffs - Attack, Defence, Speed and Intelligence - to the entire party. At the moment it can only be used twice, so there's no point wasting it unnecessarily this early. There's barely any point to even using it this early.

Everything that involves using the Kansha Gauge, with the exception of Heart, will deal more damage than Cornet's regular attacks to everything. Naturally, Sugar Candy is the weakest of them and Pancake is the strongest.



Kururu's spells are far more straight forward, though Kururu herself is far better suited to dealing melee damage. Like, a whole lot. She'll easily outdamage Cornet and Sharte with it consistently. Her elemental spells do have an annoying drawback as well - nothing is weak to them. There is no element that is weak to Thunder; though this does mean a Thunder element character has no weakness either.



Sharte's only spell, for now, is also for offensive purposes. Not much else to say, since she can actually use her spells reasonably well.



: If you hate them so much, why didn't you just run away from them? You can be so stupid sometimes, Cornet.
: Well, I can't help it. I was born that way.
: Cornet, can I ask you for a favor?
: Again? What is it this time?
: Let's have our lunch now. I'm starving!
: Not yet! Not until we find some Ino...



: Ha ha ha ha... You sound hungry too! Don't you know that hungry soldiers can't fight? So, let's eat!
: We're not soldiers...
: I guess it doesn't matter. Okay, let's eat!



: Cornet, would you sing my favourite song?
: No.
: Why do you have to be that way? Come on, sing for me!
: No.
: You big meanie!



By opting out of singing, the game just skips a small segment and then continues on as normal. However, if you choose "Yes" at either prompt...



From there the game continues on the same as if you said no. You can also actually skip the musical segments at any time, by tapping on the touch screen, if you really want to.



There's nothing to the south that's actually worth our time right now. There's a few items, and a lot of combat in the Cave but that's it. There's no need for either, though, so it's off toward the Forest and River.





Of course, being an RPG there's normal level ups involved. Whenever a character levels up, their HP and SP is fully restored. This isn't something to overly rely on, but it can be useful at times.



The Natalie River is one-screen large and there's nothing of interest there. According to the map, this screen only leads down but there's an obvious westward path here and the sign even tells us to go west...




: I found some Red Inotium.
: Great!
: Something's not right... We usually find a lot more than this. It's like someone came over and picked this place clean.

Enter recurring villainous characters in 3... 2... 1...





: Give it to me! Inotium is for Marjoly and Marjoly only... So you better give it up if you know what's good for ya! If you don't...



If you've played either/both of Disgaea and Disgaea 2 you might recognise the name Marjoly. Naturally, she is the same Marjoly as the one here. Nippon Ichi loves it's cameos after all. Even Myao here, who is currently the world's worst highwayman, had a cameo in Phantom Brave... where she was surprised that people didn't spontaneously burst into song.



: Will you shut up!? I can't take you guys anywhere!
: Who are these morons?
: Who cares! Don't pay any attention to them. Let's just get going before...



: And just where do you think you're goin'? Are you tryin' to ignore me?
: Hey, Kururu? Did you hear something?
: Hey! I'm talking here! Give up your Inotium or else!
: Why?
: I already explained all that! Were you not listening to anything I was saying?



: Say, that's the smartest thing I've heard you say all day...
: Why don't you give them some punishment?



: Move it or lose it!!



This fight basically counts as the end of chapter boss, though it's ridiculously easy and is roughly on-par with the regular encounters around here. Each cat has 30 HP, and deals barely any damage. There's no need to use any spells/buffs; I just find that fun. Plus I'm very much used to it after having played so many games where it's practically required.



: Well, I guess I should start taking you seriously!
: I command you to come to me! My super-dee-duper dragon!




: W...What the heck is a dragon doing in a place like this?
: Got me...
: Come on! Give me all your Inotium, or else!
: No way! If you think that I'm gonna fork my Inotium over to you, you've got another thing comin'! Right, Kururu?



: What are you doing? Are you out of your mind?
: You're a good girl! I like you, little one.
: Hey! Kururu! You lousy TRAITOR!
: We've got to give it to her. Otherwise, we'll end up as dragon food! You're not thinking about fighting that dragon, are you? You're nuts if you think you can beat that dragon.
: Real courage is facing adversity even if you know you can't win!
: That's not courage! It's more like...suicide! You do know that when you die... The game is over, right?



: But, if by some miracle you manage to come out of this alive, then maybe... Maybe your dreams will come true someday! But, at this specific point in time, I highly doubt...



: Give me your Inotium already!
: Ahhh!
: Watch out, Cornet!




: My name is not important. Leave here immediately. Otherwise... I will slay you!!
: Hey, wait a minute. That crest on your sword belonds to... the Royal Family!
: You won't get away with this, hero-boy! Just wait until Marjoly finds out about this!



: My name is Ferdinand. What's your name? ... Poor girl. She's too frightened to even speak...



: Somebody must've found out that I've been missing from the castle! Excuse me, fair ladies, but I must take my leave of you. Journey home safely!



: Intelligent, kind, handsome, daring, and even a great swordsman to boot... He's everything a woman could possibly ask for... (sigh) Hey! Cornet! Are you okay? Jeez, it's like you've never seen a prince before. Hey! CORNET!!!

And, with the introduction of obvious antagonists and a love interest for the main character, the prologue comes to a close.

Next time: The Great Cooking Plan!