Eliza! You're here! I'm so happy you could make it -- I was beginning to think we'd NEVER get to hang out.
Hmph. I only came because you promised we'd share a feast... But this place doesn't exactly kick-start my appetite. What's going on here? Is this an ambush?
No, silly -- we're gonna feast on CANDY after we go on a ghost hunt! If we find tons of ghosts, we'll get a mother lode of treats!
W-what?! What nonsense is this?
You're one of the strongest warriors I know -- and the Professor is busy! -- so I figured we'd be the perfect pair for this kind of thing. Let's go!
Hey, a Sinister Dragon's come to show us around! What's wrong, Eliza? You're looking a little jumpy... Don't tell me you're scared of--
N-NO! I just don't like being surprised! I STILL don't know what we're supposed to be doing here. How does one HUNT ghosts?! They're not real!
Huh? Of course they are! At least, dragon ghosts are real -- and they're just as rambunctious as living dragons. They love to play!
The Muerte Dragon lets them run around in our world every year around this time. But sometimes they get a little too excited, and lose their way home.
It's fun to help them out, and we get candy as a reward! Plus, this Sinister Dragon is a pro ghost-hound. I'll show you!
We found our first ghost -- a Ghost Dragon! Hey, buddy. Did you lose your way home?
AAAAAAAGH!!!
WHOA! Eliza, you must've jumped four feet straight in the air! A-are you okay...? I think you freaked out the Ghost Dragon!
I-I just stubbed my toe on one of these blasted jack-o'-lanterns, that's all!
Phew... we defeated it...
I'm sorta surprised we did, considering you hid behind me the whole time...!
Aaanyway, I'm sure we gave the Ghost Dragon a battle it won't forget for the rest of its afterlife!
Ready to come find the Muerte Dragon with us, ghostly pal?
A-Arya... the Sinister Dragon is staring at me... MYSTERIOUSLY!
Well, it knows its way through the Haunted Woods better than anything -- it's probably just making sure we're following it.
Arya, it's called the SINISTER Dragon -- deception is right there in its name! How are you so sure we can trust it?
Well... I trust YOU. If I can have a Viking for a friend, can't I trust a Sinister Dragon?
Bones... those are bones... wh-why are there bones?!-- *snap* WHAT WAS THAT?! Oh, I stepped on a twig...
Apparently witches do rituals around here sometimes. Don't worry; I'm sure all those bones are ethically sourced!
Jeeze, though -- Eliza, I asked you to come with me 'cuz Ned was too scared. But if you--
I'm NOT scared! I'm just CAUTIOUS. Y-you'd be wise to be more careful as well!
What IS that putrid smell? It's like rotting-- uUWWUUAUAAGH!!! What is THAT?!
Eliza! Don't be rude! The Zombie Dragon doesn't smell any worse than your brother Olaf!
Rude? RUDE?! That thing is worse than DEAD! It's UNDEAD! How are you not freaking out?!
*sigh* You went and made it upset...
Feeling better, Zombie Dragon? Now that you're all tuckered out, let's go see the Muerte Dragon together!
I promise that mean ol' Viking won't say anything mean about you... RIGHT, Eliza?
... ...
(*snicker*)
The Sinister Dragon's led us to some sort of gate... Is there a structure hidden in these woods? Some sort of civilization?
Civilization? I don't think so... I'm pretty sure it's just a swamp. And a graveyard. Pretty atmospheric, huh?
Oh, great... atmosphere.
A swamp... I hate swamps.
As much as you hate ghosts?
I NEVER said I hated ghosts! Hmph! Hurry up, now; we've got a WHOLE SWAMP to explore!
A ghostly swamp at that! The air's thick with dragon ghosts... Looks like we've got our work cut out for us!
How're you doing, Eliza? You've gone white as, well, a ghost -- but I guess we've found plenty so far!
... ...
OH! Took me a second to spy that Bone Dragon. This one looks like it won't go back to the Muerte Dragon quietly, huh?
C'mon, Bone Dragon -- let's shake, rattle, and roll!
Did it! C'mon, Bone Dragon, aren't you tuckered out?
*shiver*
Eliza...? I should've known you'd be scared -- it says right in this dragon's Codex entry that it chills Vikings to the bone. Sorry...
W-what doesn't kill you... makes you s-stronger...
(Human, can you not admit to your companion that you fear all manner of spectral spirits?)
(Hush! I'm not listening to you, and I don't trust you! I don't need Arya to know ANY of my secrets or weaknesses!)
Looks like you're getting along with the Sinister Dragon, huh? I knew you had it in you, Eliza.
You'll be a "BONE-afide" ghost hunter in no time. Haha... get it? Eliza?
Hey Eliza, didn't you befriend a Ba Jiao Gui Dragon back in the day? What was that about?
What do you mean? It was a powerful ally, and it frightened Ned most entertainingly.
But the Ba Jiao Gui Dragon is a ghost... You knew that, right?
O-o-of c-course I knew that! W-what are you i-i-implying?
A Scarecrow Dragon! Were you guarding this abandoned hut, buddy? Sorry, but it's time to see the Muerte Dragon.
Surely this is no ghost, Arya. Why should we waste our time with it?
You know there's absolutely nothing under all that burlap fabric, right?
... Ah! She fainted!
Eliza? You awake? I think the Scarecrow Dragon's gonna cooperate with us now.
It's kinda sad. I bet that hut meant something to this dragon's spirit when it was alive. This time of year, it can visit its old stomping grounds.
Thoughts like that make me want to help the ghosts instead of being afraid of 'em... Anyway, let me help you up.
... ...
Looks like we found the path ahead to the graveyard! Oh, but, um...
It's okay, Eliza, we can take it slow. I was hoping tonight would be fun for us -- I didn't think to ask if you were afraid of ghosts!
I'm NOT-- ... Okay, okay, FINE! Ghosts are my WORST and ONLY fear! I hate, hate, HATE ghosts!!! There -- are you happy?!
N-no, I'm not happy! Well... I'm happy you were honest with me, actually. I promise I'll keep the ghosts away from you, if you stay close!
Okay, deep breaths, Eliza! I guess a place like this is kinda your worst nightmare... and I can tell by how hard you're gripping my hand!
I-it's fine... your annoyingly fearless attitude is actually making me feel more at ease...
Then... could you ease up on my hand so I can catch ghosts a little easier?
*blush* I-I'm not THAT at ease!
(Welcome, humans, to the Ghostly Graveyard. I've got one li'l question for ya before you see the Ruler of the Dead: trick or treat?)
TREAT! I mean-- Arya, do we have any treats? This little goblin of a beast will play a trick on us if we don't comply...!
That's part of the fun, Eliza. Spooky stuff is so exciting, 'cuz you never know what's coming next -- it's like a wild ride!
*sigh* I can make a guess.
(Thanks for the battle, humans! It was a fright! Now, can you find your way out of the graveyard...?)
*mumble* It's all part of the fun... it's all part of the fun... it's all part of the fun...
You're doing great, Eliza! Now that the Treater Dragon will let us move on ahead, we'll be meeting the Muerte Dragon in no time!
I've been thinking about what you said earlier... How ghosts should be pitied, not feared.
I've never been great at the whole "pity" thing, but... I suppose I can become less afraid of something I understand a little better.
That's great, Eliza... but, uh, scary stuff is so much fun BECAUSE you can't really understand it!
ARGH! I will NEVER understand the appeal of this! A-and make the Sinister Dragon stop smirking at me!!!
This is the deepest, darkest part of the forest, where the Muerte Dragon stays while its ghostly flock plays around. Pretty freaky, right?
Listen, I'd like to live long enough to at LEAST conquer my fear.
You'll be fine, Eliza. I'm right here -- and we found plenty of ghosts for the Muerte Dragon!
Only one of those facts brings me any peace.
(Oh, great Ruler of the Dead, I bring these humans to you, so that you may do with them as you please...)
WAIT, WHAT?!
Huh? Why does it look like the Muerte Dragon wants to battle us?
(Well done, humans... If you can understand me, please forgive me -- I only meant to give you a little scare. Hee hee.)
(You have proven yourselves worthy ghost shepherds, even overcoming your fears... Well, sort of.)
Ha! I gotta admit -- that gave me a fright! Seems like the Muerte Dragon's accepted our help after all...
I don't even want to think about what else it had in mind...
Welp, we found tons of ghosts, battled some spooky dragons, and got piles of chocolate as a reward!
Best yet, I think my good buddy Eliza might've conquered some fears! Right...?
I... suppose. Maybe. I am a LITTLE less afraid of ghosts. A-at least when you're around.
(She's still gripping my hand... I almost wish I was as scared as she is -- it seems kinda fun!)