Ruggie: Yup. There's someone I happen to be searchin' for, y'see～
Ruggie: Just adding me'll be fiiiine. C'mon, scootch up!
Jack: Right. Then, let's go.
[Christmas Town – Gate]
Deuce: Bucchi-senpai, how is it that you can eat all that much…? Urp. I don't think I could eat anymore.
Jack: I also ate too much just trying to keep up. The lights feel like they're spiraling around me…
Ruggie: You two're still so green. If you can't eat more'n your fill when you get the chance, then you might be in a pinch when it really matters, y'know?
Jack: …Huh? Oh yeah, you were saying you were looking for someone. Who were you talking about?
Ruggie: Right, that's…
Kalim: Heeey, Ruggie! You enjoying Christmas?
Ruggie: Ooh, hey, Kalim-kun and Ortho-kun! Sheeheehee, you bet I'm havin' fun.
Jack: Looks like the two of you are having a great time, too. Kalim-senpai, the tip of your nose is bright read.
Kalim: Yeah! We were playing ice hockey up until a bit ago.
Ortho: I'll give you a play-by-play recording on how many points I scored. Everyone was so surprised!
Ruggie: WAIT!!
Ruggie: Right now… There's somethin' more important we gotta chat about.
Kalim: Something more important?
Ruggie: Yeah! I'm talking about that super-duper special promise you made… You haven't forgotten, right?
[Christmas Town – Street]
Kalim: A promise I made with you? Hmmm, what was it again?
Ruggie: Oh man, that was close… Glad I double-checked. See, you already forgot 'fore we even went back to our world.
Ruggie: You said you'd prepare a buncha presents that'd make me happy once we got back to school.
Kalim: Now that you say that, I feel like maybe I might've said something like that…
[FLASHBACK]
Ruggie: Christmas, huh… If I knew about this holiday earlier, maybe I coulda got presents, too.
Silver: It's not too late. Why don't we all exchange presents now?
Kalim: Oho, that's a great idea! But it's not like we can really prep any here, so let's do it once we get back to school!
Kalim: Oh, I remember now!
Kalim: You're talking about when we said the three of us should exchange presents because you're so poor you haven't ever gotten presents!
Ruggie: YEAH! THAT'S IT!
Jack: What a thing to say with a wide smile on his face.
Ruggie: I'm reaaaally looking forward to your gift, Kalim-kun! So, don't forget it!
Ruggie: See, look! I made a note in my phone. You need to do the same thing so you don't forget!
Kalim: Yeah, got it!
Ruggie: Oh yeah. Ortho-kun, your record-keeping's super accurate, right?
Ruggie: I need you to remember every single word spoken just now!
Ruggie: That way, even if Kalim-kun forgets, or if we return back to our world and I lose my memories…
Ruggie: You'd gotta remind us that Kalim-kun promised to give me a ton of presents!
Ortho: R-Right, sure. Every conversation is already auto-saved into my memory, anyway.
Ortho: When we return to campus, I can give a reminder that you all have planned to exchange presents.
Ruggie: I owe you one, Ortho-kun!
Kalim: Ruggie's being super intense about this, huh.
Ortho: He looks so serious that I couldn't help but nod along.
Deuce: Glad you found the person you were looking for, Bucchi-senpai.
Ruggie: Yeah. But he wasn't the only one I was hoping to talk to…
???: This one's on the nice list, nice list, naughty list… Nice, nice, nice...
Santa Claus: Not many naughty kids this year.
Deuce: Ah, Claus-san. Oh, and Ace, Grim and Yuu, too.
Jack: What's what that paper you're looking at, is it some sort of checklist?
Santa Claus: Oh, it's you lot. Right now, I'm double-checking my nice and naughty list.
Santa Claus: After all, only kids on the nice list will get presents from me.
Ruggie: Right. Well, then, this is the perfect opportunity for me.
Ruggie: Santa-san… Can you hear me out?
Santa Claus: You look so serious, what is it?
Santa Claus: …I think I understand your story. Seems like you abandoned those around you, even for a short moment.
Santa Claus: You came here to reflect on your actions, did you? Ho, ho, ho.
Jack: Wait… Are you saying that Ruggie-senpai of all people is here to apologize for betraying us?
Deuce: Nothing'll change what he did… But it's great that he's trying to reflect on what he did.
Ace: I mean, even Ruggie-senpai's gotta own up to his actions. Not like he's got a chance of hiding it.
1. Good job doing a proper apology!
2. I wonder if that's really what he's doing…
Ruggie: Santa-san…
Ruggie: WHEN WILL I GET TO RECEIVE MY PRESENT～?
Everyone: HUH!!??
Ace: Why do you think you're gonna get a present, Ruggie-senpai!?
Ace: Obviously the guy who betrayed us for Swing is gonna end up on the naughty list!!!
Deuce: Yeah, definitely. No good student would ever join hands with a bad guy!
Jack: I don't like how one of my dormmates is getting ganged up on, but there's nothing I can say to defend it.
Jack: Ruggie-senpai… Please just admit to what you did and let it all go.
Grim: Yeah, yeah! Plus, you ate almost all of the feast that was set out for the great and powerful me…
Grim: How's it that the guy who betrayed us got to eat all the tastiest parts!?
Ruggie: Is there something wrong with that?
Grim: Huh?
[Christmas Town – Street]
Ruggie: I'm just repeatin' myself by now, but this world's all about survival of the fittest.
Ruggie: Anythin' the loser tries to say just ends up soundin' like bitter jealousy. No one'll listen.
Ruggie: The fact that all y'all can stand around criticizin' me now is just 'cause Swing was beaten, right?
Grim: Well, that's… yeah…
Ruggie: I'll do whatever I gotta to win. Just so's you know, if somethin' like this ever happened a second time, I'd do it again.
Ruggie: I just wanna eat as much as I can when it's time to eat.
Ruggie: Enjoy myself as much as I can when it's time to play.
Ruggie: I want everythin' and everythin' I can get my hands on.
Ruggie: I ain't gonna be satisfied until I snag every single chance I get that's in front of me!
Ruggie: 'Sides, it all worked out this time because I went with Swing.
Ruggie: So, it's all good in the end, ain't it?
1. You might be right.
Kalim: Yeah! I'm super happy to be celebrating Christmas together with everyone!
Grim: Ain't no way! I ain't gonna forgive you for stealing my turkey!
2. Is that really right…?
Ortho: [Yuu]-san. Don't you think you might be getting a little taken in by Ruggie Bucchi-san's energy?
Grim: Don't get carried away! Ruggie's the worst guy ever!
Ace: Don't know if he's clever or just shrewd… Either way, he's real calculating. Oh, but I mean it in a good way.
Ace: Looking at Jack and how hard-headed he is, it's crazy that he's got an upperclassman who's the complete opposite.
Ace: Doesn't it seem like Savanaclaw's just filled with weirdos?
Ortho: Feels like if you added up Ruggie being too flexible and Jack being too stubborn and divided it by 2, it'd be just right.
Deuce: Even then, when I think about how quickly Bucchi-senpai can change sides like that… It really isn't something a model student would do.
Ruggie: See, y'all're easy marks. That's why you keep gettin' the legs knocked out from under ya.
Jack: …But, it is true that there's no way for me to keep up with Ruggie-senpai in that regard. I can admit that much.
Ruggie: And that's perfectly fine. 'Cause Savanaclaw's all about showing your own strengths!
Santa Claus: What terrifying children…
Ruggie: Well, guess I really won't be getting a present. Thought I'd ask, just in case.
Santa Claus: OBVIOUSLY YOU WOULDN'T!!
Santa Claus: …However.
Ruggie: Hm?
Santa Claus: …I have no presents for naughty children, but I do have something that my elves have prepared for you all.
Santa Claus: It's their thanks for saving them. Here you go, Ruggie. Go on, take it.
Ruggie: Is this a cookie…? [sniffs] Nah, it smells more like gingerbread.
Kalim: It's shaped like an animal. Is this… a dog?
Jack: Probably a hyena. Feels kinda similar to how Ruggie looked earlier when he transformed.
Grim: No fair! Hand one over to me too!
Santa Claus: Don't worry, I have enough for each of you. I'll hand one over one at a time, so wait your turn.
1. Grim, make sure you line up properly.
Jack: We wouldn't be dealing with so much trouble if he actually just listened. [Yuu], hold onto him tight.
Deuce: I'll help too… Hey, Grim, stop thrashing about! You'll break the gingerbread.
2. Are they all shaped differently?
Ace: Jack's is a wolf, and Grim's is a cat…? Or is that a racoon? I wonder what ours'll look like.
Ortho: They said that there's one for everyone, so we should all check them out later!
Kalim: A present from the little faes as thanks, huh. Good thing we put in all that effort, huh, Ruggie!
Ruggie: All that effort… huh.
Ruggie: Can't help be a little disappointed that all I get is one measly cookie instead of whatever I want most…
Ruggie: But I guess it's not that bad a feelin' to get a beautifully wrapped cookie like this when it's not even my birthday after all.
Kalim: Yeah. It's great to get gifts, huh. That's why I love giving 'em.
Kalim: 'Cause I can fill 'em with toooons of joy! Okay, I'm gonna go line up for mine now.
[Kalim runs off]
Ruggie: …
Zero: [sniff, sniff]
Jack Skellington: Oh, what darling gingerbread cookies.
Ruggie: Ah, Jack-san. No way I'm gonna give this to you. I got it, it's mine!
Jack Skellington: Ahaha. I won't take anything from you, Ruggie-kun. That was a special present from the elves, right?
Ruggie: Special…? Well, I guess so.
Ruggie: I'm still a bit full from stuffin' myself with the Christmas feast earlier, so I think I'll savor this taste later.
Jack Skellington: Yeah, that's a great idea. I'm sure any moments that you're able to spend reminiscing about the joys of Christmas will be a lovely time.
Ruggie: Mmkay, then I'm gonna gently, carefully put this in my pocket so it won't break.
Ruggie: 'Cause presents are awesome, no matter what's inside!
Jack Skellington: Great, it sounds like you're getting the hang of it.
Jack Skellington: That is the spirit of Christmas!
[Library]
Ruggie: I still don't really get what Christmas is all about… But at least partying with everyone'll be fun.
Kalim: Yeah. We should totally get those dishes [Yuu] mentioned made.
Ruggie: When ya do, make sure you make enough for a ton of leftovers! I'll bring all the containers I got to take it home.
Ruggie: …......Hm?
Kalim: What's up, Ruggie? You got a strange look on your face. Does your stomach hurt, or something?
Ruggie: Not my stomach, but my head's feelin' a little off. I feel like I'm forgettin' something real big…
Ruggie: Kalim-kun, didn't we make some kinda of super-duper important promise!?
Kalim: Eh, a promise? I don't remember at all! Do you know anything about this, Ortho?
Ortho: Eeeh, I don't! I just searched through my memory banks just in case, but there were no hits on any conversation about that.
Ruggie: Ehh… But I'm so sure there was something.
Ruggie: I always make sure to take down notes in my phone if it's somethin' I definitely can't allow myself to forget, but there's nothin' like that written down.
Ruggie: If I made a promise with Kalim-kun, there's no way I wouldn't've made a note.
Ruggie: Ah! Oh, right. Maybe I wrote somethin' down on a piece of paper and put it in my pocket...
[rustle, rustle]
Ruggie: Nothing. There ain't even a bit of lint in any of my emptied pockets.
Ruggie: Even though I feel like I put something super precious away in them gently, carefully.
Ruggie: …And now I'm starting to feel like I somehow missed out on eating something special!
Ruggie: Arrgh, man! I don't really get why, but it feels like I came out a loser～
Belladonna Scream is a young skeleton girl who woke up one ordinary day in the Halloween Town cemetery.
She's Sally Skellington's ward. She's also Jack Skellington's assistant and the town's mayor. So, the poor thing has a lot of duties to do in her new life.
This is a redesign of a very, very old character I had saved in a school notebook. You can see I gave her a big makeover.
I tried drawing without line art, or at least mixing the two. It's not the best, but this is the result. 🖤
The best Twisted Wonderland cards are the ones that include other characters than just the focused character of the card. All of these cards are from the all new 2025 Christmas event, Lost in the Book with Nightmare Before Christmas - The First Christmas.
All rights go to Yana Toboso, her team at Walt Disney Japan and Aniplex
