[Scene: The Hen Tie Oktoberfest. A park in a large patch of forest clearing has been converted to a mock German Village, with beer-gardens, sausage stands, pretzels, games, polka bands, etc... ]
[Zoi appears in a flurry of petals in the woods near the fairground. He looks around, glances at his watch, then waits for the others near the parking lot.]
[Meanwhile...]
[A man in a cloak, far off on a heavily wooded hilltop, is watching Zoi via shimmery mirage. He is surrounded by large black-furred creatures. One of them strains forward at the sight of the mirage and the cloaked figure places his hand on its back.]
Cloaked Figure: Not yet, my children. There is too much at stake, and our victory will be hollow if there aren't enough witnesses.
[At the fair]
[Naru, Umino and Usagi crawl out of Naru's mother's SUV. Naru and Umino are cheerful, Usagi is moping.]
Zoi: Hey, guys. [To Umino] I'm surprised you didn't invite Eleanor Heltry.
Umino: I did invite her. But then she asked who else was going, and when I told her, she said she'd be too busy.
Naru: [haughty] That figures.
Umino: She's helping her brother with his science project. She doesn't have a lot of free time to date, so she'd rather not waste it on a group outing...I'm taking her to see a movie soon, just like Usagi suggested, and she's really looking forward to it
Usagi: [whimpering] Oh god, how is it possible that Umino has a better lovelife than I do?
Naru: Don't worry...Mamoru will come to his senses eventually... [moping] And then I'll be the only one here who isn't in a real relationship.
Usagi: Aw.
[Usagi and Naru huddle in sympathy as they all walk together into the crowd.]
Zoi: [to Umino] Well, this is certainly getting bleak.
Umino: No kidding. [to Usagi and Naru] Hey! You two need to lighten up! We're here to have fun!
Usagi: What did you expect? You knew Mamoru dumped me, so now I'm too depressed to ever enjoy myself ag-
[A couple of people walk by munching on crepes rolled into cones and filled with icecream, Bavarian custard, hot cherry filling and topped with whipped-cream and chocolate pretzels. Usagi's head pivots as they go past]
Usagi: [wideeyed with awe] Oktoberfest crepes? No way!
[She looks around, and lots of people have them. Another couple passes, biting into their crepes which are drizzled with chocolate and sprinkled with toasted coconut. She hurries to catch up with them.]
Usagi: Excuse me. Where did you get those?
[They point to a stall in the far distance with the banner: Auntie Em's Cakes.]
Usagi: Oh my God. Crepes. And Auntie Em's is the best bakery in all of Hen Tie! [grabs Naru sleeve in excitement and tugs her along when she sees there is a long line]
Usagi: Crepes. Oh my god, I can't wait. I haven't had a crepe in forever. I'm going to find out what sorts of toppings they have and get one of everything. Maybe two. Who knows. Come on, everyone. We need to get there before they sell out.
Umino: [to Zoi] It looks like Usagi rediscovered her first great love. Food.
[meanwhile...]
[The cloaked figure appraises the mirage, satisfied with the density of the crowd]
Cloaked Figure: Now my children. Your moment has arrived.
[The beasts race forward. The cloaked figure watches them depart.]
Cloaked Figure: Go forth and prove yourselves worthy of my favor. Do not return to me until he is dust.
[At the fair. Several minutes later]
[Usagi is hopping from foot to foot in excitement. The others can't help but smile at her exuberance.]
Usagi: Oh, I wish this line would move faster. I can barely see the menu board from here.
[The line moves. Usagi looks up at the board.]
Usagi: Forget it. I changed my mind. I'm not hungry.
[She scowls and leaves the line.]
Umino: [not budging] But, Usagi. We've been in line for fifteen minutes.
Usagi: I've lost my appetite. Let's go.
[Usagi walks away, looking like she's about to cry]
Naru: [Rushes to catch up with her] What's wrong... Is it too expensive? I'll pay. I don't mind.
Usagi: Don't bother. I wouldn't eat one of those crepes if I was starving.
[Naru looks at the crepe stand, then keeps walking with a look of disdain on her face.]
[Zoi wonders what the big deal is. He looks at the menu board and doesn't see anything objectionable. Until he looks under the menu board and sees Rei, serving crepes and ringing up customers dressed in a dirndl, with her hair done into two thick braids pinned up to form loops.]
[In fact, all the girls of the C'est La Vie gang are there, dressed in traditional German dresses with petticoats and with their hair done in braids. All except Ami, who is wearing a garland of edelweiss in her short blue hair.]
Zoi: Oh. I see what they mean.
[Zoi would be almost willing to give them the benefit of the doubt, but most of the C'est La Vie gang are giving Zoi and Umino harsh stares. All but Ami, who is spreading batter on the crepe griddle with a sad and guilty look on her face.]
[Zoi leaves the line to join Naru and Usagi.]
[Umino stays in line]
Naru: Come on, Umino. Let's go.
Umino: Do I have to?
Naru: Yes.
Umino: But...Usagi's been talking up those crepes for the past twenty minutes and now I really want one.
[Naru rushed up to Umino, grabs his collar, and pulls him out of the line]
Naru: No, Umino. We're leaving.
Umino: [as they storm off in a huff] I don't see what the big deal is. Yes, they've turned into a roving pack of catty plastics, but that doesn't mean they can't be excellent cooks, does it?
Usagi: I don't care. They want nothing to do with us, so we want nothing to do with them. As since you are our friend, you want nothing to do with them either.
[Zoi hears bloodcurdling screams coming from behind him. He dismisses it as part of an act, but the screams get louder and more frantic. Just seconds before the world spins as he is knocked off his feet and lands hard on his back on the ground.]
[He looks up and finds himself staring right up into the dripping fangs of a huge, snarling beast with black fur and six eyes.]