Dante's Inferno
[The scene opens with a shot of the narrow gauge railway as Skarloey and Rheneas pass by Poplar Station (formerly Cromwell) with their rakes of coaches. The station has been decked out with pumpkins, flags of orange and black, cobwebs, and a banner that says "Happy Halloween"]
[Halloween is a special time of year for the people of Anima. It's the season of pumpkins, ghosts, witches, black cats, skeletons, monsters, and candy. Many people on the island love Halloween, some like to play tricks]
[Si and Am are shown dangling a spider in front of Lady as she sits on a bench reading a book. She looks up in shock]
Lady: OH!
[The Siamese twins snicker as Lady looks back at them]
Si: Is the puppy scared?
Am: Of a little spider?
Lady: Ooooooh, you two…
[Others like to partake in the many treats offered around this time, as shown in the Sweets Shop by Yogi as he collects a stack of pumpkin shaped cookies behind his back while Max and Ruby pass by him. The brown bear gives a coy smirk as he holds up one of the cookies]
Yogi: Ain't no one more clever than dis bear, yeah-hee.
[And for a few other people, the costumes are the best part of the holiday, dressing up in all kinds of spooky or creative outfits, as shown by the people standing at Pine Station as Sir Handel and Peter Sam are waiting at their respective platforms on the narrow gauge line. Ryan passes by on the standard gauge with the breakdown cranes; Judy and Jerome in tow before it cuts to Top Cat dressed as Indiana Jones, Wolf dressed as Freddy Krueger, Fox dressed as Link, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon dressed as pink and purple pixies, Penny dressed as a witch, and Maleficent dressed as…well, herself. One figure in particular at the back of the crowd dons an outfit similar to Michael Myers, while we can't see their face, their glowing red eyes stick out]
[To top it off, sometimes, there is a fireworks ceremony held the night before Halloween where everyone attends a big party to celebrate the event, as shown by Merlin, Fairy Godmother, Flora, Fauna, Merriweather, Peter Pan, and Tinker Bell setting off fireworks into the night sky while we get various shots of people and vehicles watching from their places; Balto, Jenna, Tramp, Lady, Aurora, Jinks, Bugs, Daffy, Porky, Buster, Steele, Pamela, Tod, Copper, Anastasia, Merida, Elsa, Anna, Maid Marian, Nala, Dodger, Oliver, Rita, Georgette, Tito, Francis, Einstein, Roscoe, DeSoto, Madam Mim, Queen of Hearts, Wendy, Felix, Kipper, Tiger, Charlotte, Vendetta, Baron, Bambi, Ronno, Foxy Loxy, and the Winx Club are shown sitting in various spots in the park]
[Thomas, Percy, James, Gordon, Emily, Henry, Edward, Toby, Annie, Clarabel, and Henrietta are shown watching from Evergreen Sheds]
[The Star Tugs and Z-Stacks are watching the spectacle from their respective docks]
[From Cedar Station, the Briars are watching the fireworks next to Vortex standing behind them with his arms crossed]
[Indeed, Halloween is loved by the general populace…but if you were to come across Dante Dalmatian, the very thought of anything jovial about Halloween would be far out of his subconscious]
[Dante is shown walking down the dark streets, his eyes darting back and forth as he looks at the various decorations on the houses and shops]
Dante: [whimpers] That's nothing, they're just pumpkins…pumpkins with faces that look like they came from the underworld, hehe, faces that stare into your very soul with their fiery eyes…
[A close-up shot of a jack-o-lantern with its face looking more sinister from Dante's perspective is accompanied by a low wicked laugh]
Dante: IT'S THE CALL OF THE DEVIL! AAAAAAHHHHH!
[Dante rushes off like a roadrunner down the street…the door to which the pumpkin is sitting next to open, revealing Fluttershy looking in the direction that the Dalmatian ran off in]
Fluttershy: Oh my, I wonder what was all that about…[looks down at the pumpkin]...you must have given someone a fright.
[If there was one word to describe Dante, it would be "unnerved". The inverse colored Dalmatian always seemed to be on-edge, whether it was thinking that the end of the world was coming, or how storms signaled a bad omen, or how anything that was unsettling to him made him crawl into a ball for protection. Dante is someone who doesn't really like Halloween as it brings out all the things he fears most]
[As the Dalmatian is walking down the street, he hears the sound of creaking and moaning coming from each and every corner…he gulps as a rattle comes from a nearby alley]
Dante: H…Hello? Is anyone there?
[A wooden creak can be heard from the fences]
Dante: Okay, whatever you do…don't come any closer…I'm warning you, I'm of the Canidae!
[At that moment, a HISS comes from the alley as the camera shoots back to Dante's panic-stricken expression]
Dante: I didn't actually mean it!
[With that, Dante races away from the alley as fast as he can, the camera cuts back to the alley as the Top Cat gang is revealed peering over the wall]
Benny: I wonda' what he was so scared about.
Choo-Choo: He looked like he'd seen a ghost.
Top Cat: With him, ya'd only need ta' drop a pin on the floor to scare him.
Brain: Duuuuuh, kinda like dis hair pin, eh, TC?
Fancy-Fancy: May I ask where you even got that?
Brain: I have a collection of 'em.
Spook: Like, uhhhh, Brain, man, you're into some weird stuff sometimes.
[Because Dante is typically a very skittish and superstitious character, this can make him a target for some people as an easy scare. Such is the example as Dante is sat down on a bench with a cup of what appears to be tea, his eyes closed as he tries to relax]
?: Whooooooooooooooooooooo!
?: I've come for your soooooooooul!
[Dante's eyes shoot open with anxiety as he looks from left to right, only to reveal Charlie and Itchy rolling their eyes while making spooky howls. He frowns as the two exchange a coy grin with each other]
Dante: That's not funny.
Itchy: Hmmmmmmm, I dunno, I think it's pretty hilarious.
Charlie: Keeping a lookout for the supernatural? That's a good boy, keep us all safe.
[Charlie and Itchy snicker to each other as Dante scowls and looks away…he suddenly jolts at the sound of a shrill whistle, looking up suddenly…only to reveal Edward on the elevated track passing by with a train of milk tankers. Dante blushes from this as the two men struggle to hold back their chuckling]
Charlie: Did ya' hear that, Itchy?
Itchy: What, Charlie, you mean that ghostly cry from the underworld?
Charlie: Ah yes, the calls of the dead as they rise from the ground up to snatch away our souls!
Itchy: Oooooh, noooo, we're doomed!
[As the German Shepherd and Dachshund continue to play up the theatrics, the Road Rovers come alongside and find the situation rather bemusing. Dante meanwhile is adamant about his claims]
Dante: They're real! After all, Halloween is remembering the dead and spirits past, they're all beneath us! Waiting for the sun to go down on the 31st and rise up from the ashes!
Blitz: Oh ja, I'm sure dos ghostly specta's exist…in a vacuum.
[Blitz nudges Exile with a snicker]
Exile: Eh? Oooh, is like ghostbusters, no? Hehe, I get it!
[Blitz and Exile descend into a fit of laughter]
Hunter: Hehehehehehe…I don't get it.
Colleen: Trust me, you never will…eh, where'd he go?
[Dante has slipped away in the meantime, popping his head out from behind a lamppost]
Dante: Everyone might think it's a time for celebration, when it's really a time for SURVIVAL!
[As Dante zips away from the lamppost, the camera pans over to Hokey and Ding-a-Ling, both looking rather perplexed at what they just saw]
Ding: Hokey, who was dat guy?
Hokey: That, my dear Ding-a-Ling, was someone out of his damn mind.
[Dante is shown holding a candle to his chest as if he were a defense weapon as the camera pans up to the stairs to show his siblings, Dylan and Dolly, watching on]
Dolly: Would you look at that; Mr. Superstitious has already perfected his costume, all he needs is a book.
Dylan: [sighs] Everytime Halloween comes, Dante's panic mode kicks up from one to a hundred. You remember the first Halloween party we attended?
Dolly: Ugh, how could I forget, the guy flipped out as soon as the fireworks went off.
Dylan: Maybe he'll reign it in for this year?
Dolly: Uhhhhhhh, yeah, Dante not losing his mind on Halloween is about as likely as you getting a date.
Dylan: I suppose you have a point there…hey! You're single too!
Dolly: Am not! I just like playing hard to get.
Dylan: [rolls his eyes] Whatever helps you sleep at night.
[At that moment, Dante suddenly pops in between Dylan and Dolly]
Dante: We need to be on our guard, for soon, the remnants of the spirit realm shall be upon us…
Dolly: …What?
Dylan: Dante, we do this every year, Halloween is nothing to be frightened about.
Dolly: Yeah like, those costumes you keep freaking out over, they're just make up and stuff.
Dylan: Nor are pumpkins meant to represent sacrificial tributes.
Dolly: Or candy meant to keep away the devil. You see what we mean?
Dante: I'm aware some of it is for show.
Dylan: What does "some" mean?
Dante: Of course, there are people trying to make it all seem like one big joke with those cheesy outfits or making "woo-woo" noises, but I know it runs deeper than that.
Dolly: Dude, it's a holiday about getting candy, it's not that deep.
Dante: [whispering] That's what they want you to believe…
[Dylan and Dolly blink at each other]
Dolly: Uhhhhhh, okaaaaaaaay, just…try and relax, won't you? Halloween only comes once a year anyway.
Dylan: You'll be fine, Dante. Maybe focus less on the scary stuff and focus more on the fun stuff.
[Dante gives a feeble whimper as he sinks back down. It then cuts to him suddenly appearing up behind the wall of the brick stairs]
Dante: I want to believe in such fantasies, but alas, it seems I must carry on as a solo act…
[Dante pulls out a cross from thin air and holds it up to his chest. The camera cuts to Hansel and Fergus passing by the residence and watching the scene with some amusement]
Fergus: Well, I see someone's prepared for keepin' ghosts at bay.
Hansel: He has the trinket and everything no less.
Dolly: Oh, Dante? He's just "preparing" for Halloween.
Hansel: You know, I can never figure that one out. He's always so skittish.
Fergus: One would think he's constantly seeing spirits or spiders over his eyes.
[Dante suddenly pops in between Fergus and Hansel]
Dante: I do see them, all the time…
Fergus: AHEM, bud, don't mean to be rude, but like, two inches please?
[Fergus pushes Dante out of his personal space]
Hansel: I take it you're going to stay indoors during the occasion? You know, just so you're not running around in a panic.
Dante: Yes, I know that behind closed doors, I don't have to witness the horror outside.
Hansel: Yeeeeeeah, I thought as much. Anyway, will you two be at the party, we've just gone to get our costumes.
Dolly: Yo, man, it wouldn't be a party without me, whatcha' goin' as?
Fergus: Let's just say, I'll have more than a few eyes on me. HMM, as if I don't already.
Hansel: By the way, Dante, I'd suggest gettin' a white sheet, that way, you won't see anything, and you'll be in costume.
Fergus: [snickers] Great idea, Hansel, he's usually quite pale anyway.
[The fox and husky try to contain their snickering as they cover their mouths, walking away from the steps]
Dolly: Heh, that's not half bad of an idea.
Dylan: Eh?
Dolly: If Dante doesn't see anything that makes him tick, that's one less problem off our hands, and one Halloween all-set for fun.
Dylan: We're not gonna strap him to the bed, are we?
Dolly: Naaaaah…we'll save that as a last resort.
Dylan: Oh…okay, we'll just keep Dante in the house where he can't go off the deep end in public. I suppose it's as good a plan as any, least it'll keep his paranoia in check. What do you say, Dante…Dante?
[Dylan leans over the wall to find that Dante isn't there anymore]
Dylan: Where'd you-?
[Dante slides up from behind Dylan and Dolly]
Dante: How can you be so assured of my safety?
Dylan: EH! Um, put it this way; you won't have to see anything if you can't see it.
Dolly: Heck, it'd be easier if you just closed your eyes. My best bet, wrap up in a blanket come Halloween night.
Dylan: It'll be like a protection barrier, you won't have to see anything scary and you'll be snug warm. Doesn't that sound nice?
Dante: I…I…errrrrmmmm…
Dylan: Trust me, you'll be fine, you'll just be indoors where it's all peaceful and quiet.
Dante: Hmmmmmmm…maybe I'll…consider it?
[Dante's eyes dart from left to right as he sees the cobwebs hanging from other people's windows, or the various twisted smiles on their jack-o-lanterns…the black-furred Dalmatian slips backwards into the house as he opens the door]
Dante: Okay, maybe keeping indoors isn't such a bad idea…
[Dante quickly shuts the door with a loud BANG, causing Dylan and Dolly to wince]
Dolly: You really think this is gonna work?
Dylan: If it means keeping Dante under control, I'm willing to bite the bullet.
Dolly: Riiiight…
[The scene transitions to the night before Halloween as Garfield and Cadence walk past the Dalmatian residence before cutting to the inside of the house where the canines are getting ready for the party. Dizzy and Dee-Dee are right by on either side of Dylan, Dawkins is chatting it up with Da Vinci, Diesel pops his head out from a potted plant, Deepak is calmly waiting in place while Delgado tends to his wheels. Destiny, Dallas, and Deja Vu are applying powder on their faces while the Dimitri trio are gnawing on a bone each. DJ is listening to a Halloween track on his headphones as Dolly escorts Dorothy into the main hall]
Dylan: Okay, everyone, line it up! We wanna leave in an orderly fashion!
Dolly: Chill out, bro, it's a time for fun, not for rules. Isn't that right, Dorothy?
[Dorothy gives a babyish squeal]
Dylan: Either way, is everyone here and accounted for?
Dawkins: Precisely, I've done the check five times around, and we're all present.
Dimitri #1: Yeah, so can we please get a move on?!
Dimitri #2: We're burning time here!
Dimitri #3: Come on, come on!
Deepak: Patience, pups, we shall all leave in due time when we are ready.
Dimitri #1: Ugh, not this again…
Da Vinci: You alright in there, Dante?
[The scene cuts to the living room where Dante is wrapped up in a blanket while laying down on the couch]
Dante: Hmmmmm…I guess I'm doing alright…
Da Vinci: Good, I hope you have a nice, relaxing evening.
Dolly: Remember, if you need anything, you can call us, m'kay?
Dante: Right…
[Dante covers his muzzle up with the blanket]
Dylan: We'll be back in a few hours, depending on how everything goes. Just hit us, alright?
Dante: Okay…
Dylan: Right, everyone, let's go, one at a time now.
[Dylan holds onto Dorothy as he and Dolly lead the rest of the pups out the door. Dante sighs as he sets his head back down on the pillow, the sound of a door closing off-screen]
Dante: [sighs] Okay, Dante, just do what Deepak does, stay calm, take a breath…[inhales…and then exhales]...calm, calm, calm…nothing to worry about…[gulps]...I hope…
[Dante anxiously looks over at the clock, it reads "5:05" as it ticks away before the scene transitions to the clock tower reading "6:20", panning down to the main event on Sweet Cherry Boulevard near Napier Park. Along with the crowds shown in the earlier sequences, some other faces are shown walking around the festival. Tarzan and Hercules are bobbing for apples while Jane Porter and Megara watch from behind, the Greek demigod grabbing a large apple in his mouth…while the jungle man has several lobbed in his mouth.
[Katz and Le Quack pass by the scene, rolling their eyes]
[Scamp and Kiara are taking turns through orange face-painted balls at a set of purple bottles covered with spider decals on them]
[Jinks and Steele are shown walking away from a stand with caramel apples in hand as Courage approaches the stand with Muriel and Eustace behind him]
[As Aleu and Kodi pass by, Baloo, Bagheera, Shere Khan, Kaa, Louie, Hathi, and Akela are conversing with one another as two figures pass by. We can't see them clearly, but as Baloo looks over as if he noticed something, we only just see the back of the duo, one appears to be a Hispanic woman with brunette hair, a gray top with white collarbone and sleeves and olive green pants. The other appears to be a grey wolf with a pilot suit and grey pants]
[Winifred, Mary, and Sarah are conversing over a cauldron as the lead witch whisks out a black chain trinket from the pot as Johnny and Francis, the cat, pass by the kiosk]
Winifred: Aaaaaah, the symbol of Hecate, wouldn't you say it captures that devilish charm, sisters?
Mary: Oooooh, right, Winnie, as if it were crafted by the goddess herself.
Sarah: Hooooo, to be in the presence of such a beautiful figure.
[Winifred notices the Dalmatian family approaching their kiosk, and then looks down to the cauldron as it seems to produce a familiar image…she grins slyly]
Winifred: Sisters, I do believe we are in business…
Mary: My, my, what adorable children, aren't they delicious?
Sarah: Especially that one leading, what I wouldn't give to have a puppy of my own, hmmhmmhmm…
[Winifred whistles and then puts on a 'sweet' tone]
Winifred: Yoo-whoo! Puppies, come hither!
[The Dalmatians stop upon being called. Dylan and Dolly glance at each other]
Dolly: Do we…go over there?
Dylan: I would avoid them, but…something in the back of my head is saying otherwise.
[The Dalmatians walk towards the Sandersons' kiosk]
Mary: Welcome, my pretties, no need to be shy.
Sarah: Many pleasantries, my dears, but art thou missing one?
Winifred: Why yes, where be thy Dalmatian of black fur and violet spots?
Dolly: What…ooooooh, you mean Dante?
Winifred: But of course, he appears to be…absent among thou.
Dylan: [clears throat] Well, we didn't wanna overstimulate him with Halloween, so he's staying in tonight.
Sarah: What a shame, would have made my night a lot better…[sighs]...his screams are like music to my ears…
Dylan: Riiiiight…I just hope he's doing okay.
Mary: OH! Why, I do believe we can help with that, can't we, Winnie?
Winifred: Why yes…come around the cauldron, my dears, and let us see thy frightful sibling…
[Winifred reaches for a sack of powder on a counter nearby and then sprinkles it into the cauldron…citing in magic tongue, an image once again begins to take shape in the pot, showing a blurry image of Dante]
[The Dalmatians squint to get a better look as the image clears up a little. Dante is shown still lying on the couch, his eyes shifting around the room, peering at anything]
Dawkins: Well, it appears he hasn't flown off the handle quite yet.
Dylan: This is good, right?
Dimitri #2: Huh, maybe he won't have to go as a scaredy cat this year again.
Deepak: AHEM, language.
[However, as the image clears away, we cut back to the house as Dante isn't looking as calm as he seems…he looks around the room, gazing up at the clock as it ticks away…his eyes dart to the decorations littered around the house, pumpkins with candle lights glowing bright, cobwebs hung up on the walls, ghosts littered around the lamps…he gulps]
Dante: Uhhhhh…maybe some television will take my mind off things, yeah, yeah…
[Dante reaches for the remote to flick on the TV…the first thing that comes on-screen is Halloween with a frame of Michael Myers…Dante flicks to the next channel, this one is showing a scene of the film Psycho, he flicks to the next channel, this one shows a spider dangling down from its web, the next shows a close-up shot of a black cat's eyes, and the following shows a werewolf howling up at the moon]
Dante: On second thought, there's nothing good to watch anyway, hehe, heeeeeeeeeeeh…
[Dante flicks off the television and decides to go to sleep]
Dante: Maybe…[yawns]...if I don't see anything…I'll be…fine…[sighs]...
[Dante slowly closes his eyes and settles down to sleep…the screen slowly fades to black…]
[The screen cuts to a foggy street as Dante is shown walking down it]
Dante: Hello…is anyone there…?
[The only thing that comes back to Dante is his echo…he looks around to see if anyone is out…the street is eerily quiet, the only lights are the lampposts as they cast down on the roads]
Dante: Ehhhhhh…please…someone…anyone…?
[Suddenly, to Dante's left, Gordon wails through with a shrill ghostly whistle, his carriages clattering behind him, Dante jumps]
Dante: GAH!
[From Dante's POV, the express engine disappears into the fog with hoarse puffing and clanging rolling stock…up ahead, two silhouettes resembling Blitz and Yogi can be seen about a yard away. Dante gives a sigh of relief]
Dante: Oh thank God…
[However, Dante's relief is short-lived as he gets closer to the two, their backs are turned and they appear to be wearing black cloaks…before Dante can get a word in, they stretch out their arms, their ears pointed up, and then turn around…the Doberman and the brown bear hiss as their fangs are like those of vampires]
Dante: YAAAAAAAAAH!
[Dante spins around and dashes away, but then, from above, a witchy cackle can be heard from above. Dante glances up to see Miss Frizzle riding a broomstick with a more witch-like appearance, her lizard Liz on the back of the broom. She cackles once more and then dives down to snatch the Dalmatian from the ground]
Dante: YIP!
[Dante ducks out of the way, but then a cellar next to him begins to rattle. The wooden doors shake and creak as Dante's pupils shrink…the doors burst open to reveal skeletal versions of Bugs, Daffy, and Porky walking out from it]
Dante: Keep away, KEEP AWAY!
[Dante runs down the street as fast as he can, the music pounding to an orchestral harpsichord mix. To his right in a cloud of steam, James appears with a clown mask similar to Pennywise. To his left, diving down from the top of a building is Sly Cooper wearing a black cloak and in place of his signature cane is a scythe, the raccoon's eyes now a hollowed out black as if he were the Grim Reaper. Side to side, Si and Am appear as ballerinas to a music box tune…Dante briefly pauses as if in release…that is until the Siamese twins slowly turn around to face the Dalmatian, their voices distorted with green glowing eyes and extended fangs]
Si and Am: We are Siamese if you please…
Dante: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!
[Dante charges down the street as fast as his legs can carry him, the road seems go on for ages until he runs through a set of curtains]
Dante: Where…where am I…?
[A spotlight suddenly shines down on the Dalmatian, revealing him to be in a circus tent. A twisted version of March of the Gladiators plays in the background. Dante looks above to see Baron, Bambi, and Brer Rabbit on the tightrope, juggling skulls, spiders, and torches.
[A small clown car pulls up alongside the Dalmatian, and outside pops out Charlotte, Louie, Tiger, and Foxie wearing creepy clown makeup on their faces]
[Dante suddenly finds himself being lifted up from the ground to the top of the tent on a platform]
Dante: Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…
[The black Dalmatian peers down and his pupils shrink once more to see a large bucket of something black below him. Down below, the crowd is cheering and laughing for him to jump off]
Dante: I-I can't do this, someone get me down! Please! HELP!
[His cries fall on deaf ears as it seems the platform is shifting away under his feet]
Dante: Oooooh, nonono! Not down there, NOT down there!
[Dante finds no more ground to stand on and he drops down to the bucket, the POV showing him splashing into the substance before he ends up in a black void]
[Any relief he might have had is short-lived once more as the ground begins to rumble…through the mist, ghostly figures resembling Henry and Edward rush past the Dalmatian on either side. A close-up shot of their wheels spinning furiously is followed by Dante feeling as if the room is spinning as the transparent figures of Fox, Wolf, Marian, Megara, Buster, Steele, Pamela, Courage, Maleficent swirl around him, followed by the Winx in their Hallowinx outfits spinning above the Dalmatian]
Dante: No more! NO MORE!
[Dante's screams echo around the void as the past visuals flash around him in a blur before ending on his eye]
Dante: GAH!
[Dante wakes up with a cold sweat before his eyes dart around the room. The decor around the house takes on a more sinister appearance from his perspective, even the clock as it reads "8:30", and in a state of shock, the Dalmatian's mind is only focused on one thing; getting the hell out of here]
Dante: I need to escape this madness! AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!
[The Dalmatian jumps off the bed and runs towards the door, bursting out of the house and jumping down the stairs before he runs into the night in a frenzy…the camera pans back to the door now cracked open. The scene transitions to the Dalmatians having returned home and now frantically looking for Dante]
Dylan: Dante?! Dante?!
Dolly: C'mon, where are you?!
Dallas: Dante, this isn't funny!
Deja Vu: This better not be one of your games!
Destiny: Stress gives us wrinkles!
DJ: Yo, man, where are you hidin'?
[Delgado appears out of a closet]
Delgado: He's not in here.
[Dawkins appears from under a bed]
Dawkins: He's not under here.
[Diesel pops out from another plant]
Diesel: Nope, no Dante in here.
Dimitri #3: Well, he'd hardly fit in there, would he?
Da Vinci: Wherever could he have gone off to?
Deepak: I sense he's run away, he's probably lost somewhere in the dark.
[Dorothy is shown calling down to a vent]
Dorothy: Daaannn-naaaay!
DJ: Like, man, what are we gonna do?
Delgado: Well, we gotta find him, of course.
Dylan: We'll need to search the streets, organize a search party if we have to!
Dolly: We should gather the neighborhood, they might be able to help us.
[The scene cuts to some of the people from the party gathered around, as well as some of the neighbors gathered around the house]
Dylan: Okay, we need as much help as we can get to search for our brother, we've no idea where's gone to, no phone calls, no messages, no notes, nothing!
Fluttershy: Oh my, the poor dear must be terrified all alone.
Top Cat: Knowin' him, that dog could be anywhere, let alone in the city.
Constantin: [sighs] I had a feeling it was only a matter of time before that Dante went off the deep end.
Deepak: It's no joke, please, we really could use the help.
Constantin: I…wasn't going to pass up my assistance, not when you're involved.
[Deepak gives a flattered gesture at this]
Dolly: Right then, we'll need to split up on the streets, one of us is bound to find him somewhere.
Dylan: Group A, you can take Sweet Cherry, Group B, you'll take Napier, Group C, Birch Lane, Group D, we'll search the backroads!
Constantin: Hmmm, he's gotten a bit more organized than before…
[Lady, Tramp, Buster, Aurora, Top Cat, Yogi, Blitz, Exile, and Charlotte head out to search the streets of the festival. Jinks, Balto, Jenna, Steele, Pamela, Merida, and Wendy get out towards the park. Pooh, Tiger, Nala, Pat, Sam, Ash, Kris, Foxie, and Felicity set off in the direction of the urban streets. This leaves the Dalmatian family, Fergus, Hansel, Constantin, Sly, Fluttershy, and Ms. Frizzle left of the search party]
Fergus: AHEM, if I may interject, I got a feelin' yer brother might not even be in the city.
Hansel: How'd you figure?
Fergus: I mean, it's coated in Halloween decor, all things that'll stimulate him.
Dylan: That…actually does kinda make sense. But then where would he have run off to?
Fergus: I know it sounds a bit far-fetched, but ya' don't reckon he might have headed for the hills?
Hansel: Hold on, does that mean he could be in the Evergreen Forest? It's hard to see anything in there at night.
Dolly: And he's got no light with him, he could be in serious trouble!
Fluttershy: In that case, we'll have to find him as quickly as we can. It's not safe to be out at this time of night unsupervised.
Frizzle: [clears throat] If you don't mind, I do believe I have an idea on how to track down our little companion.
Sly: So long as it doesn't involve shrinking me to the size of an ant, I'm good to go.
Frizzle: Ohohoho, nothing like that. I just happen to have a radar that can track anyone within a hundred yards.
[The Frizz's earrings glimmer as she says this]
[The scene cuts to Evergreen Forest as a wolf howls in the distance. In the darkness, the sound of someone whimpering can be heard as the camera pans down to the ground. Dante is propped up against a tree, shivering terribly]
Dante: Nothing to fear…nothing to fear…there's nothing to see here…just trees…and bushes…and darkness…
[An owl hoots from above, causing Dante to yelp]
Dante: Hooooooo, that was nothing…just…nothing…
[Dante looks off into the distance, his vision starting to become muddled as the occasional lights peering through the trees and shrubbery appear almost like eyes watching him, the branches of several trees look like boney hands reaching down to pick him up, and a low tone ghostly whistle can be heard echoing across the forest. Dante is so frozen with fear that he can't bring himself to run away again, even as voices begin to echo around the forest chanting "Dante…Dante…Dante!"]
[Dante has shut his eyes tight and is trembling terribly when a paw from above touches his shoulder]
Dante: THE END HAS COME!
Dylan: Dante, it's just us!
Dante: What…huh?
[Dante looks from left to right…indeed, the search party is standing in front of him]
Fluttershy: Don't worry, sweetheart, you're safe with us.
Dante: Wha…wha…how did you all find me?
Frizzle: Oh, just a little GPS of my creation, it picked up on the sounds of your body motions, and that's how I could track you.
Sly: Well, either way, seems you won't have to stay the night in this creepy forest. Heh, and I thought I was supposed to be the one being incognito.
Dolly: You feeling alright?
[A tear rolls down Dante's face as he looks up with welled eyes]
Dante: Ah…I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…I caused a panic for all of you…
[Dylan and Dolly come on either side of Dante to help him up]
Dolly: Don't beat yourself up over it. All we care about is you being safe.
Dylan: But please, don't scare us like that. We were all worried about you.
Dante: [sniffs] You were?
Deepak: You're our brother, of course we do.
[Deepak goes to hug Dante, and the calming aura around him seems to relax Dante, especially as the others come over to give him the same treatment, even the Dimitri trio]
Fluttershy: Awwwwwww…
Sly: Daaaah…they're giving me the feels…
Frizzle: Well, I'm happy to see everything's worked out. I suggest we all head back home, unless you want to make like bats and stay here for the night.
Dylan: Uhhhhh, I think we're good staying as we are.
Frizzle: Hoho, only a little inside joke.
Fluttershy: Come on, everyone, let's go home.
[With that, everyone heads back out of the forest and back to the city]
[The scene transitions to Halloween Night as the younger pups are gathered around several chaperones]
Dylan: Just make sure they're all accounted for!
Sly: Relaaaaax, patches, don't you know I'm good with children?
Frizzle: Hmmhmm, I'm not called a teacher for nothing.
Fluttershy: We'll make sure everyone has a fun and safe time.
Fergus: We'll save some treats fer you lot.
Hansel: Have a good evening all the same.
[As the group sets off into the night, Dylan and Dolly have stayed behind with Dante]
Dolly: Feeling better, Dante?
[Dante is once again wrapped with a blanket in the living room]
Dante: I…suppose I feel better now that I have some company…but what are you two going to do?
Dylan: I suggest we all have a nice relaxing evening with a little popcorn and a home video.
Dolly: Man, you are so old fashioned.
Dylan: Who said that was a bad thing, eh, Dante?
Dante: Uh…yeah…I would say…this is nice…
[The final shot is of the three Dalmatians watching the film from outside of the window as Dante has a genuinely content expression on his face]
[Cut to black]
Character Guide:
Dante, Dylan, Dolly, Dawkins, Deepak, Dallas, Destiny, Deja Vu, Da Vinci, Dimitris, Diesel, DJ, Delgado, Dorothy, Fergus, Hansel, Constantin - 101 Dalmatian Street
Blitz, Exile, Hunter, Colleen - Road Rovers
Charlie Barkin, Itchy Itchiford - All Dogs Go To Heaven (1989)
Fluttershy, Princess Cadence, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon - My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Hokey Wolf, Ding-a-Ling Wolf - Hokey Wolf
Lady, Tramp, Buster, Si and Am, Scamp - Lady and the Tramp (1955)/Scamp's Adventure (2001)
Ms. Valerie Frizzle - The Magic School Bus
Sly Cooper - Sly Cooper
Top Cat, Benny, Choo-Choo, Fancy-Fancy, Spook, Brain - Top Cat
Winifred Sanderson, Mary Sanderson, Sarah Sanderson - Hocus Pocus (1993)
Yogi Bear - The Yogi Bear Show
Anastasia - Anastasia (1997)
Aurora, Maleficent, Flora, Fauna, Merryweather - Sleeping Beauty (1959)
Bagheera, Baloo, Shere Khan, Kaa, Louie, Hathi, Akela - The Jungle Book (1967)
Balto, Jenna, Steele, Aleu, Kodi - Balto (1995)/Wolf Quest (2002)/Winds of Change (2004)
Bambi, Ronno - Bambi (1942)/II(2006)
Baron Von Rottweiler - Ace Hart
Bloom, Stella, Flora, Musa, Tecna, Aisha - Winx Club
Brer Fox, Brer Bear, Brer Rabbit - Song of the South (1946)
Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig - Looney Tunes
Charlotte, Vendetta - Making Friends
Courage, Muriel Bagge, Eustace Bagge, Katz, Le Quack - Courage the Cowardly Dog
Elsa, Anna - Frozen (2013)
Fairy Godmother - Cinderella (1950)
Felix the Cat - Felix the Cat
Fireman Sam - Fireman Sam
Fox McCloud, Wolf O'Donnell - Star Fox
Foxie, Felicity, Ash, Kristofferson - Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Foxy Loxy - Chicken Little (1943)
Francis - Felidae (1994)
Garfield - Garfield
Hercules, Megara - Hercules (1997)
Jinks - Pixie, Dixie, and Mr. Jinks
Johnny Bravo - Johnny Bravo
Kipper - Kipper the Dog
Maid Marian - Robin Hood (1973)
Max, Ruby - Max & Ruby
Merida - Brave (2012)
Merlin - The Sword and the Stone (1963)
Nala, Kiara - The Lion King (1994)/Simba's Pride (1998)
Oliver, Dodger, Rita, Georgette, Tito, Francis, Einstein, Rscoe, DeSoto - Oliver and Company (1988)
Pamela Bondani - Patrol 03
Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Wendy Darling - Peter Pan (1953)
Postman Pat - Postman Pat
Queen of Hearts - Alice in Wonderland (1951)
Tarzan, Jane Porter - Tarzan (1999)
Tiger - An American Tail (1986)
Tod, Copper - The Fox and the Hound (1981)
Vortex - Helluva Boss
Winnie the Pooh - Winnie the Pooh
Thomas, Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, Toby, Emily, Ryan, Annie and Clarabel, Henrietta, Judy and Jerome, Skarloey, Rheneas, Sir Handel, Peter Sam
Ten Cents, Big Mac, OJ, Top Hat, Warrior, Hercules, Sunshine, Grampus, Captain Star, Zorran, Zebedee, Zak, Zug, Zip, Zilch, Captain Zero - Tugs
