The Faun

## Episode guide

**"The Faun"** is the thirty-second episode of the first season of *Nate Is Late*.

## Synopsis

When Nate and Malika notice the faun statue in the park is missing, they follow hoof prints into a clearing where a bunch of fauns are having a giant party!

## Plot

Nate and Malika are heading to school where Nate is trying to show off his yo-yo tricks but can’t seem to manage pulling them off. When he flings the yo-yo off his hand while attempting “Around the World” (nearly hitting Malika in the process) and it bounces off one of the park’s pedestal, Malika notes the faun statue that’s normally on it is missing. They see some footprints and follow them through some thorn bushes, finding a party set up occupied by a lot of fauns, including the one that was in the park who offers them food until he realizes the two are human. This shocks the rest of the party guests since it was supposed to be a faun only party. The faun claims they’re the entertainment and pulls them aside to explain. On a certain week of the year, fauns come to life from their statue state, get together and have a party. This year was this certain faun’s turn to host, and he doesn’t wish for anything to go wrong. After hearing this, Nate agrees to help. The faun introduces himself as Dion and asks what the two can do. Nate pulls out his yo-yo and tells the two to leave it to him.

He gets on stage and does his “rocking the baby” trick, but the fauns are not impressed. When asked what else they can do and asks if he can dance. Nate agrees to the request and starts to do so once the music plays. The fauns enjoy it, asking what Malika can do. Malika states to Dion she doesn’t dance and that they need to get to school. But Dion insists she play her part and uses his lyre to bewitch her into joining Nate in dancing. The fauns enjoy the show but eventually Nate decides they need to get going, but Malika claims she doesn’t want to quit and keeps dancing, mentioning she started doing so after Dion played his lyre. Dion interrupts the two and directs the guests to a piñata.

As they’re occupied with it, Nate confronts Dion about his actions. Dion refuses to let the two leave since they were a hit with the guests and wishes to keep the duo around for the remaining week. Nate refuses, so Dion tries to bewitch him with his lyre as well, but his magic misses, followed by part of the piñata landing on his head.

Nate rushes to Malika and tries to get the two to leave, but Malika can’t stop dancing due to still being under the spell. Dion comes looking for the two, his eyes flashing yellow as he proclaims he’ll find them, but he’s called away by his guests. Nate realizes he can’t leave till the spell on Malika is broken first. Searching through the party, he sees Dion’s lyre on the table and goes to grab it while dragging Malika with him. Just as he’s about to get his hands on it, Malika blows their cover and kicks the lyre off the table toward Dion. He reclaims it and starts to use it again, but Malika also kicks some fruit at him as well with Nate joining in pelting him.

This angers Dion that the two are ruining his party and he takes a four-legged bestial form before charging them. Nate has to push Malika along to avoid him as he rampages through the guests and party ground. Dion manages to corner Nate, but Nate points out the damage he caused and the guests leaving the party. Realizing what he’s done, Dion changes back, begging the guests not to go before conceding that he went too far, especially after seeing Malika still dancing. Nate hands him the lyre and Dion breaks the spell over Malika, bringing her back to normal. Dion apologizes to the two, feeling he doesn’t know how to have fun, but Nate disagrees and tries to show him a yo-yo trick only for it to wrap around his head, causing Dion and Malika to laugh. The fauns hear this, come back and soon the party resumes.

While the duo enjoy themselves for a bit until they realize they’re late. Dion thanks the two with Nate giving him his yo-yo to remember them by. He asks if he can do anything for them which Nate has an idea. The duo head on for school where Principal Prudence is waiting and expects a usual excuse. Rather than explain, the two cover their ears as Dion uses his lyre and causes her to dance. With her distracted, the duo head in to go about their school day while Prudence takes on an afro look and continues to dance.

## Characters

* Nate
* Malika
* Dion
* Fauns
* Principal Prudence

## Trivia

* This is one of the few times Malika lets down her hair.

### Allusions

* When Nate is doing his "Rocking the Baby" trick, he states "keeping rocking, baby" which is likely a shout out to a line from *Capcom vs SNK 2* that the announcer says in the character select screen.

## Gallery

Click the image to view the gallery for this episode.

## Transcript

Click here to view the transcript for this episode.

## Names in other languages

* **Basque:** Faunoa
* **French:** Le faune
* **German:** Die Waldgeister-Party
* **Mandarin (China):** 聚会
* **Spanish (Spain):** El fauno

 Season 2 | 1. "The Lady of the Lake" • 2. "The Thunderbird" • 3. "The Crocodile Man" • 4. "The Golem" • 5. "The Hairdresser" • 6. "The Mood Enhancer" • 7. "The Chess Game" • 8. "The Drone" • 9. "The Astronaut" • 10. "The Gorgon" • 11. "The Dimensional Rift" • 12. "The Reptilians" • 13. "The Enchanted Bracelet" • 14. "The Ink Thief" • 15. "The Tiki" • 16. "The Puppet" • 17. "The Mandrake" • 18. "The Vampires" • 19. "The Sphinx" • 20. "The Pendulum" • 21. "The Giant Fish" • 22. "The Wedding Dress" • 23. "The Home Spirit" • 24. "The Great Pili-Pala" • 25. "The Endless Recess" • 26. "The Chicken Cop" • 27. "The Kitsune" • 28. "The Collector" • 29. "The Kappa" • 30. "The Beanstalk" • 31. "The Demigod's Test" • 32. "The Glitch" • 33. "The Tiny Tops" • 34. "The Magician's Top Hat" • 35. "The Chromapix" • 36. "The Gingerbread Family" • 37. "The Alphabet Agency" • 38. "The Wild Beasts" • 39. "The Return of the Cuddly Toys" • 40. "The Race Car" • 41. "Inside Professor Toybos" • 42. "The Asteroid" • 43. "The Time Travellers" • 44. "The Nebulons" • 45. "The Witches' Convention" • 46. "The Kobolds" • 47. "The Superstars" • 48. "The Goblin's Cousin" • 49. "The Golden Crown" • 50. "The Scarecrow" • 51. "The Banana Peel Part I" • 52. "The Banana Peel Part II"