Chapter Text
The group walked on a while after passing under the leafy arch. They were lead through the Realm by Brian, him being the one who knows the game the best. They weaved their way through the green maze of tall bushes before coming across a large field with medium sized round bushes with shiny red roses.
“I didn’t think roses shone.” Hanna said as she walked around the bushes. “They don’t.” Anthony said as he touched the rose petals and saw how to colour wiped right off to reveal the pristine whiteness of the rose true colour.
“Wet paint.” Maddy read as she put a small sign back down. “DON’T TOUCH THE QUEEN’S ROSES!” Someone yelled from the distance. A large, rectangular figure began running towards them.
“Oh my damn, its a cardman.” Meghan said as she rolled her eyes. A large 10 of spades ran up to them. “You mustn’t touch the queen’s roses! Now, please, leave before we all get into big trouble.” The cardman panted.
“Guys, he’s right. We all know how horrible the Queen of Hearts can be-” Mallory said just before getting cut off. “WHERE ARE MY RED ROSES! WHERE ARE THEY!” A loud booming voice rang through the air.
“Oh BALLS!” Meghan exclaimed. “Run!” Brian yelled as he started booking it towards another section of the maze. Soon, everyone was right behind Brian, weaving in and around bushes. The sounds of card guards coming from behind began growing louder and louder as they got closer. They were all running so fast, all they could see was green, until the began running into each others back, one after the other.
“Hey, what gives?!” Zach yelled from the back of the group. A large castle sat on a hill that was spotted with tall, branchy tree with not a single leaf on them. The sky’s colour began changing, instead of a bright blue sky, the sky became dark and dreary with large storm clouds hanging over head.
“Come on, that castle is our best bet.” Meghan said as the sounds of card cavalry grew louder and louder with each passing second. “She’s right. We need to get to place where those guys can get us.” Anthony said pulling Hanna behind him as the group began making their way up the hill.
Upon entering the castle, the large foyer was dark except for a light flickering at the end of a long hallway. “Maybe we shouldn’t have come in here.” Hanna said.
“Do not worry, mon cheri. You are safe here.” A disembodied voice said in a French accent. “Wait, I know that voice. Isn’t that the candlestick from ‘Beauty and the Beast’?” Zach said as they all watched as the glowing light started getting closer.
“His name is Lumiere.” Ali said as the hopping candlestick stopped before them. “I’m sorry, mon cheri, but have we met?” Lumiere said beckoning for her hand. “Not really.” Ali said with a giggle as Lumiere gently grasped her hand and placed a small kiss on it.
“Then, might you explain how you know me?” Lumiere said as he released Ali’s hand. “We don’t really have time to go over all the details.” Zach said with a huff. He hates to see people acting romantic. “Could you help us? We need to get to the Fairy.” Meghan said as she knelt down next to Lumiere.
“He won’t be able to help. We’ve never been outside this castle.” Said another voice in a British accent. A small grandfather clock waddled out from the darkness. “Our master doesn’t like visitors. You all must leave this instant!”
“Geez, it’s Cogsworth.” Maddy said, rolling her eyes. “We can’t go back out the front. Can’t you get us out the back?” Brian said as his eyes roamed all over the interior of the castle. “But of course! Its much too miserable out there now. We could give them a tour, maybe a meal-” Lumiere ramblings were cut off by Cogsworth. “No, no, no, no! No tours and no meals. We need to get them out of here!”
“I second that.” Meghan said. “And if you won’t help us get out, we can find our own way in here.” And with that, Meghan began walking across the foyer and down the hallway.
Soon, the group began following Meghan as she ducked her head down different doorways and hallways. Cogsworth was frantically hoping and waddling behind them as Lumiere almost glided down the hallway.
“This shouldn’t be happening. Be very, very quiet. We wouldn’t want the master to hear us.” Cogsworth mumbled as they walked in and out of rooms. “The kitchen!” Lumiere exclaimed. “The kitchen has a back door. You can leave through there.”
“Good, wheres the kitchen?” Meghan said. “Towards the back of the hallway. This way, I’ll show you.” Lumiere said before vigorously hopping down the hall.
The group followed Lumiere into the kitchen, a room that soon came to live. “Visitors!?” A voice that came from the fridge said upon the group entering the kitchen.
“Not now, Mrs. Frigidaire.” Mallory said as she found the exit. “Come on, we need to leave. “ “Yes, you do.” Cogsworth said, almost pushing them out the door.
“Wait, Lumiere! Do any of the knifes talk?” Meghan said, all but kicking Cogsworth away. “No, mon cheri, they do not.” He said.
“Ok, we’re going to have to take them. Some of us need real weapons.” Meghan said as she began collecting any large knives in the kitchen before leaving. She passed knives to Ali and Mallory.
“Brian, ask your advisor what to do. This is your game.” Anthony said taking a seat on the ground to rest. The back of castle was brighter, as if the sun was shining for the first time in years. Brian shrugged his backpack off and pulled out his hologram projector. Upon turning it on, the disembodied head of Ryan Haywood came up.
“We need to get the Fairy at the other end of this Realm. What’s the fastest way there?” Brian asked Ryan. “Can you find a cow?” Ryan asked in a serious voice. “What?! Why do we need cows?” Brian asked.
“You need to get cows. Just dig holes and capture a cow. Then name it Edgar.” Ryan whispered that last part. “Gosh darn it! I’m serious. We need to get to the Fairy!” Brian was almost yelling.
“Ok, ok, ok. You need to get to the castle. The Fairy you’re searching for is behind the castle.” Ryan said. “We just got out of the castle.” Brian said as he tried his best to calm down a bit. “No, you just left a castle, not the castle.” Ryan said as his head morphed into the castle.
“Whoa, he’s right. That’s not just any old castle. That’s Cinderella’s Castle.” Meghan said as she stared at the small pixelated image. “You should be able to see it from where you are.” Ryan said before morphing back into himself.
“We can’t. Theres just a huge jungle.” Brian said as he scanned the area. “Wait! I have an idea.” Meghan said as she jumped up and pulled out a pokeball. “Come on out, Yveltal!” She said as she tossed the pokeball in the air to release the giant, red, bird-like pokemon.
Meghan beckoned for the pokemon to come closer to the ground. She patted the pokemon after having it land and soon, moved to it’s side and climbed on it’s back. “Ok, Yveltal. We’re going to take this nice and slow. Can you fly up so I can see over the jungle?” Meghan asked nervously.
And with that, the pokemon quickly lifted Meghan through the air. “Did you guys hear that weird noise?” Anthony said soon after take off. “Yeah, I think that was Meghan.” Mallory said nonchalantly. “Girl is not a big fan of heights.” Ali chimed in.
After landing, Meghan put Yveltal back into it’s pokeball before speaking, “Ok, uh, the castle is on the other side of the jungle, like, right on the other side.” She said between pants.
“Why can’t your pokemon just fly us over the jungle?” Anthony ask as he stood up. “Anthony, that is like asking a Tolkien fan, ‘Why didn’t the eagles just take them there?’” Meghan said after calming her nerves. “And because the plot doesn’t call for it.” Ali whispered to herself.
After grabbing a snack and packing up again, the group began their journey through the jungle.