Part 9: Cat-astrophe

I'm still not sorry.

Anyway, let's go see this theatre in the Wonder Woods. You can wander around the main area or the cave for as long as you like; you won't find it. You have to head to the area where we first met Myao.



: Hmm... Hold on, Cornet.
: Don't you smell something? It smells pretty good...
: Yeah, you're right. It smells like BBQ.
: Cornet, can I ask you a really big favor?

Last time she asked that question, we got an optional song. This time?

: Don't tell me you want to eat what you're smelling!
: I'm hungry! I want to eat it! Please, Cornet! Can we?
: No.
: C'mon, c'mon, c'mon! I have to get some-o-dat BBQ!
: I said NO!
: BBQ!
: No.
: C'mon, c'mon, c'mon! I have to get some-o-dat BBQ!
: I said NO!
: BBQ!
: ...Fine.
: Okay, right? Then, let's go!



This time, rather than get a song we find Burg's Restaurant. You might recognise the name "Burg" from when a few cats mentioned it at the Natalie River; this restaurant is run by that guy.

And, yes, that sign is a cat. Nothing suspicious about that.

: Maybe someone renovated the theater, and turned it into a store. After this meal, we're gonna get back to costume searching!



You'll probably notice two things interesting here; the green "L" is probably obvious at this point but the red "B" might not be (...pun not intended). There's three routes through the place that all lead to the same room, and the three routes are actually all identical. It's a blatant illusion of choice, though if you didn't have the map you might not realise this. Just because it's quicker to hold left the entire time, I'll be taking the middle path.



Yes, that mat is of a cat's face. Nothing suspicious about that either.

IN ORDER TO SERVE YOU WITH THE BEST FOOD, WE HAVE PLACED VARIOUS OBSTACLES IN THE RESTAURANT TO GET YOUR JUICES FLOWING! A MEAL IS 10 TIMES BETTER AFTER SOME GOOD EXERCISE. GOOD LUCK!

: ...Okay. What does that GOOD LUCK part mean anyway?



Kururu really shouldn't have asked...

Also, nothing suspicious about the monsters either. Fighting them probably is good exercise.

: This is what they meant by EXERCISE!?
: GOOD LUCK, they say...



This fight is, essentially, identical to the one from the end of the previous chapter... though there, there was only the one Bone Boy as opposed to two. As was the case with the cats, this fight is just as easy as the last time.



: Why is the floor here covered with salt?
: More EXERCISE, huh? I think somebody's messing with us...



The werewolf looking thing (Beast) is a new monster but... it's really nothing special. It might occasionally hit the entire party with a multi-target physical skill but it's not threatening in the least. It should die before it even gets a turn.



: The food part sounds good, but why the heck is it so hot in here!?

I'm sure you know what's coming next...



The Nightmare is, by far, the toughest enemy to date. With just shy of 200 HP it might last a turn... unless you hit it with Saint, Holy or any advanced form thereof. It's Dark elemental, so Sharte can tear it a new one in seconds.

Also note that these three forced fights are all far toughter than the random encounters here (though that really isn't saying much). The regular monsters here are the same as for the Wonder Woods proper so Jellys, Mushrooms and Toads are all you'll find.




At some point, both Kid and Tell gained a new skill. I mustn't have noticed since I'm alternating between the two still (though not for much longer). Neither is particularly good, though Wind Speed is the better of the two, as you could imagine.




?: Meat! Meat! Meat! Meat! I love making BBQ! To make great BBQ you need to spice it up good! Oh yeah, here it is, the main dish BBQ!



...Yes, Burg is a giant cat. You may have guessed as such already, and that IS a portrait of Myao in the background, with an oddly convenient hole beneath it.

: BBQ, meow, BBQ!
: Uhh... This restaurant may not be the best place to find something to eat! Especially when we're the main course!



: You guys look nice and fresh... Yum! Yum!
: All you Nyankos! Wanna eat some delicious BBQ?!
: Yeah, meow, yeah!
: Then, I have a question. What is the key to making great BBQ?
: Let them exercise to get rid of unnecessary fat!
: How 'bout the taste?
: Salt them lightly, meow!
: And how do we cook them?
: Steam them lightly, and... tenderize them with a mallet!

Aside from the "tenderize with a mallet," Cornet et al. have been through all of that...

: Good, good.
: Uh, let me guess... we're the ones being prepared to be cooked?
: And tenderized, right?
: Correcto mundo! But not many fall into this trap as easily as you did.
: Shut up!!
: Alright! Let the tenderizing and barbecuing begin!
: I won't let you tenderize me that easily!
: Let's go, Kururu!! Are you ready?
: I'm ready!!



: Uh, hello STUPID! Do you know what tenderize means?!





So, it's time for the first actual boss fight! As you'd expect, the two normal cats are as easy as ever. Burg, on the other hand, might get to live for a turn or two... because he has no actual weakness and has 400 HP. Just because he's a boss doesn't mean this fight is hard nor does it mean he'll last very long (the longest fight to date is still the first encounter with the cats at the end of the prologue... because I was level 2). He has a special attack that hits everyone for maybe 20-30 damage at most though he probably won't get a chance to use it.




He didn't even leave a scratch this time. He'll have to train like hell to come close to standing a chance in any hypothetical future encounters.

After this, he runs off and Myao's picture falls over and vanishes.



Shame, a mouse might come in handy.

Next time: the actual contest.