Twisted Wonderland 2

Firework Celebration

Walking through the alley, it starts to get dark as the sun sets. The lanterns glow bright in the dimming light.

"Looks like the sun's setting." Jamil says. "We should get to our seats; it won't be long until the fireworks."

Grim groans, slumped in your arms. "Maybe there IS such a thing as eatin' too much. I'm beyond stuffed... I just wanna take a nap."

You laugh. "This is a first time for everything."

"Don't pass out on us now, Grim!" Kalim chuckles. "The main event's about to start. You wouldn't wanna miss the fireworks!"

A man in a pyrotechnic suit approaches Kalim. "Ah, if it isn't Mr. Kalim!"

"Oh, hey, good to see you!" Kalim waves cheerfully. "It's been ages! This nice man is the chief of the pyrotechnics crew that's handling the fireworks. He's the best at this stuff. There wouldn't be a show without him!"

Jamil nods. "The extra-large fireworks he makes always generate a lot of buzz."

"You should've seen them last year!" Kalim grins. "They set 'em off in time with the music! There were some neat ones shaped like lamps and scarabs, too. It was so cool! So, what amazing stuff do you have in store for us this time?"

"I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. Let's just say I've got something really spectacular up my sleeve. After all, your family told me to go big."

Kalim pumps his fists. "Aw yeah, now I'm excited!"

"You should be!" The pyrotechnician pats at his clothes, panic in his eyes.

"What's the matter?" Kalim asks. "You're patting your clothes. Did you get something on them?

"It's... It's gone! I can't set off the fireworks!"

"You can't set them off?" Jamil exclaims. "What did you lose?"

"A book containing your secret lighting methods?" Malleus asks.

"An ancient piece of flint?" Cater asks.

"Some sort of special charm that gets passed down from generation to generation of pyrotechnicians?" Trey asks.

"No, no! It's my USB stick! It's got the program I use for setting off the fireworks!"

Jamil's eyes widen. "Wait, all the fireworks are computer-operated?"

Cater shrugs. "Not exactly the artisanal touch I had in mind."

"Oh, making the fireworks still requires a high degree of professional craftsmanship. But the Fireworks Fest gets bigger and more complicated every year, and there's zero margin for error. So of course we use technology to do it. I can't run the show without that USB stick!"

"Seriously?" Kalim runs a hand through his hair. "Oh no, this is awful!"

All around the alley, you hear people talking about stolen goods.

"Hey! My wallet's missing!"

"My bracelet's gone! I was just on my wrist a moment ago!"

Malleus hums. "There's quite a commotion. It seems many people are missing things."

Jamil scowls. "Sounds like a pickpocket's hit the market... and a good one at that." Jamil's eyes widen. "Y/N, look out!"

Jamil pulls you away right before something can grab at your bag. Turning around, you see a monkey.

"HEY!" Grim glares at the culprit. "That's the monkey that laughed at me!"

Malleus narrows his eyes. "It would appear we've found our culprit."