02x03 - A Great Cleaning

[bunniefuu]

Since then, the living dolls
of Shadows House

have been tasked with cleaning
this huge mansion every day.

And with that, Christopher's
story time comes to a close.

Cleaning really is important, isn't it?

Yes.

We know that skipping
cleaning leads to scorches.

But we're not afraid of those things!

This is a story Christopher once heard.

They say there was once a child,
like you, who scorned cleaning.

More and more scorches
emerged in the child's room...

Until one day, the child awoke,
unable to breathe.

Scared, the child
tried to call for help,

but no one heard.

And that...

was because scorches had
covered the child's entire body!

The child died that way...

But those scorches, it seems,

slithered off and began to walk around.

Upon seeing their form,
everyone screamed...

"It's a giant phantom!"

Christopher doesn't want
to end up that way,

so he cleans very thoroughly.

How scary!

They combine!

They merge together and become phantoms!

We need to clean really well!

Christopher should probably become
a novelist or something, don't you think?

Now, as a special treat today,
we'll have just one more story.

If Christopher ever receives an invitation,

it will be difficult for anyone else
to win over these young ones.

Maryrose and Barbara are here
to carry on Christopher's wishes,

so Christopher isn't worried about a thing.

Christopher!

A Great Cleaning

We have a little breathing space today,

so let's go to the training room.

Yes, Mistress!

In order to become Star Bearers,
we will need to gather information.

First, we should investigate
to see who has soot powers.

Kate!

Louise...

Kate is on her way to the training room.

Would you like to come with Kate?

Louise is tired, so she's
going back to her rooms.

Oh! But look, look!

A cute expression!

An even cuter expression!

An expression that's even more cute!

See? See?

Louise has improved, hasn't she?

Louise's repertoire has expanded.

That's amazing!

But doesn't that cause your
living doll to break down?

What?

Her face is as beautiful as ever.

Louise is so glad you were here, Kate!

She can't boast to Sarah.

Louise doesn't know if she
can even show Sarah or not.

That's right.

We don't know if Sarah or
Maryrose can use soot powers.

That sounds like fun.

Let's try it next time.

All of them can control soot.

What kinds of powers might they possess?

You must be Kate.

The twins who are always
cozying up to the Star Bearers.

They're sure to try to become
Star Bearers the next chance they get.

What are Kate and Louise doing
that they'd keep secret from Patrick?

And Emilico was with them, too.

What are you doing over there?

Huh?

Oh! Louise!

Well, well...

Could it be that you were planning
to go to that room up ahead?

Patrick, you haven't received permission
for that yet, have you?

P-Patrick knows that. He knows that.

Of course Patrick wouldn't do that.

Patrick was simply taking a little walk.

And Patrick was just about
to head back to his rooms!

Really? How very suspicious.

You're quite adept at soot
manipulation for a beginner.

That's what Susanna said.
She was praising you.

No wonder you passed your debut.

Pleased to meet you. We're Isabelle...

...and Mirabelle.

Kate is pleased to meet you.

Woof!

Emilico? What are you doing?

Woof! Woof!

Woof! Woof! Woof!

What's going on there?

Woof! Woof!

You two are controlling her, aren't you?

Dear, dear...

Even if one has some degree of soot power...

...with a face like that, one can only give up.

Woof! Woof! Woof! Woof!

Now, the way back...

...is right through there.

Huh?

Let's go, Emilico.

Yes, Mistress!

What do you think you're doing?

What do you mean?

Since you're twins,

Kate can only presume your clumsy
spells have the same timing, too.

Kate is sorry, Emilico.

What?

If we want to become Star Bearers,

we shouldn't respond to such provocations.

Those twins must hate us now, too.

Wait!

When you saved me, it made me really happy,

Mistress Kate!

Did it?

I wasn't able to sleep very well.

After all, today is...

Good morning, Emilico!

Now, let's go to the rejoicing party!

Where's Barbie?

Attending to one of Mistress Barbara's fits.

We'll have to take her some coffee later.

Aside from Shaun, I can't rely on anyone.

Oh!

But I do feel like I'll be able to
explain everything to my team!

Huh? Where's Rosemary?

She went to take out the garbage
quite some time ago.

Where could she be dilly-dallying?

Oh.

Oh, there she is!

What?

Has Rose gotten soot sickness again?

A-Are you all right?

Rosemary?

Something about the shape
of her seems... strange.

Move away from her!

Scorches!

Take...

that!

They're stronger than the ones
we got rid of in the garden!

These scorches must be denser!

Honestly, that Rose!

Where did she pick these up?

Oh! Oh, no!

Are you all right?

Shaun!

Emilico! Are you unharmed?

Yes.

After the scorch went
in his mouth, he attacked me.

If they get all the way inside...

You turn into that?

Pull them off!

Blast it!

They've gotten to several of us already!

Tie up anyone fighting back!

Wh-What is all this commotion?

Whoa!

First-aid team!

Take all living dolls with soot
sickness to the washing room!

Susie! Can we use water?

Well, we'd have to ask Barbie.

Olly, will you go and ask...

Oh, for crying out... He's gone!

He's strong!

Follow Ben's example!

Take that!

Nice work, Emilico!

Whoops, look out!

Mia!

The coffee! We have to protect the coffee!

Belle!

Take the coffee and retreat!

Right away!

Doug's team!

Go and bring the emergency
cleaning equipment!

Understood!

Mia! Mia!

P-Please stop, Mia!

Emilico, while you can...

Right!

Emilico, let's run.

Yes, let's.

Everyone, calm down!

The scorches have retreated
to the second floor!

If we deal with this calmly now,

it shouldn't pose
a significant problem to...

A phantom.

Yes.

The scorches from earlier...

All of them...

They've combined!

It's no good.

Even if I break them off, they reform.

What are we supposed to do
against something like that?

Sir!

The mobile soot collector, Oliver Mark II...

has been completed with impeccable timing!

Wow!

That said, we haven't done a test run.

But with you, my fellow researcher,
at my side, we can do this, Nancy!

I'm not so sure.

Now, we switch it on!

Good. The force produced is okay.

I'll temporarily reduce the power.

I... I will go charge in.

Please increase the power.

Wait a moment, please—!

My!

I can't go on.

You've done good work, Nancy!

Much can be learned from mistakes!

The user must be quick-witted,
agile, and physically strong!

One needs an instinctive understanding of
how to counter the hose's movements!

Is there anyone here
who might be able to handle it?

Olly!

Stop tinkering with that
unusable machine and help us!

Excuse me!

Please allow me to do it!

Mobile soot collector...

Oliver Mark II!

It's spectacular!

First, the scorches are
sucked in through the nozzle.

They then pass through a mill
which pulverizes them,

and they're stored in the
soot tank under the driver's seat.

Oh, and this is the power unit.

There's also a cutter
embedded within the pipe.

It's incredibly dangerous,

so please do not put
your arms or legs inside.

I won't!

I will adjust the power level,

so when you're ready, please let me know!

Ready to go!

Switching it on!

Wow!

It's bucking a bit, but she's
heading toward the phantom!

Here we go!

You're doing well! It's working!

With the suction pointed toward the floor,

she's riding the nozzle
to move at high speed!

Ingenious!

We'll break up the phantom
so that Emilico can suck it up!

There!

And there!

Yeah! We can do this!

We should all help break up the phantom, too!

Ow, ow, ow...

Huh?

Hey!

Are you all right, Ricky?

I found it.

The figure Barbie talked about.

Wha—? Really?

Up there.

It's standing on one of the beams.

Huh? Hey, wait!

I'm the one who spotted it!

Is it still there?

Yes, it's there.

It's trying to get away!

I won't let it!

Hey!

Neither will I.

Shaun! Help...

No.

Never mind about me!

What you're doing is the priority!

Leave me and go on ahead!

You could have hesitated just a little!

Okay.

I'm just about to catch up!

Wait!

It got away.

Shaun!

Come help me after all!

Hey!

We can do this!

Oh! This is bad!

It's performing outside its parameters!

Based on this pattern of events,
its limiter may not be working...

because the power has been operating
for a prolonged period of time.

To put it simply, it is on the fritz!

Emilico, where are you going?

Please ask the nozzle!

Oh, that was close.

I will temporarily shut it down!

What?

Wouldn't it be bad to turn it off now?

Yes, it would.

Emilico!

She's amazing.

This is no time to be distracted!

Take this!

The phantom just shot out a scorch!

In this brief amount of time,

it's increased the number
of ways it can attack?

Watch the way it's moving, you useless lot!

The scorches will come flying
in the same direction their faces appear.

They're aiming for our mouths!

They'll move in straight lines.

Use that to aim!

That girl again...

Just how infuriated
is she trying to make me?

Doug's team, reporting back
with the emergency cleaning equipment!

Good!

Everyone provide support for Doug's team!

Bring water!

If the need arises,
I grant permission to use it!

Barbie is directing things quite well.

Perhaps there won't be any need
to use soot powers.

There are living dolls here whose shadows
have yet to awaken their powers.

Emilico?

How did you end up like that?

Olly!

Please turn the power up to full!

What? While you're in that state?

I've removed the limiter!

What?

The phantom's getting smaller!

The tank has reached full capacity!

Let's open it up, Nancy!

The contents have been pulverized,

so they shouldn't become
scorches again for a while!

I'm not sure about this.

All right. Just a little more.

Emilico!

Magnificent! Well done!

Are you all right, Emilico?

Yes, of course I am.

Huh?

Don't come this way!

There are scorches headed toward Belle!

I'm coming to help you now!

She's got amazing strength of spirit.

Ow...

Say, Ricky...

Huh?

Has my face been harmed?

What?

Huh? I feel like...

I feel like this has happened before.

Yes!

This has been a huge success!

What? Oliver?!

What are you doing there?

Operating this machine
requires Oliver's soot powers.

That makes sense.

Still, with this many scorches,

checking the soot pipes
seems like a good idea.

Yes, miss.

Are you hurt at all, Belle?

Not really.

Nothing that presents a problem.

And the coffee is safe, too.

Huh?

N-No!

I didn't do that!

On this day,

the living dolls have been
returned to their rooms,

and they, along with their shadow masters,

have been forbidden from leaving.

Rosemary, Mia...

and everyone who
contracted soot sickness...

All I can do is worry for them.

Why did the Belles do such a thing?

After hearing my story,

Mistress Kate is quietly
thinking things over.

What is happening here
in the children's wing?

Next Time

Potential Suspects

Next time,

"Potential Suspects."