Happily Ever Never? Starting!

Crokk

I picked up the paper and tried to read the horrid handwriting, trying to focus on that other than all the people that kept popping up, the one that came with the strange man introduced herself as Sabine.
"You have all been chosen for...to make it home you must reach the Last Page...follow the book," I strained my eyes to read the rest but it was nothing but incomprehensible scrabble. "I can't read the rest," I sighed, "but it looks like we need to find some the Last Page to get out. That makes sense," I said.
"Ex-ex-excuse me, do you know where I am?" I looked up to find a girl running towards us, her face flushed. And so there's another one.
"None of us really know, we're trying to figure it out," Ryan said. And then, the girl fainted. Oh, come on! Everyone crowded around her and Claire worked on getting her up.
"Okay," Calicifer said, "we need to get going." He stood up and dusted off his jeans. "We probably have a long way to go." I nodded in approval and stood up with the rest of them. Ryan grabbed the still passed out new girl and put her over his shoulder.
"Let's go then," Natalie and Kelsey said at the same time. I smiled slightly and started walking.

Jessie

I got up to find myself over cat-boy's shoulder. I immediately said that I was awake and he put me down.
"Oh, I am really sorry. I have this tendency to faint a lot, because the doctor says that I'm not eating enough and... Sorry, I'm blabbing."
"That's OK, well let's get going. I'm Calicifer by the way. We got this note that said you have to get to the last page to get home. " Calicifer explained before we all continued to walk along. I nodded like I knew what he was talking about.
"Jessie," I said.

Calcifer Steele-McKenna:

I looked around at the small group as we walked through the dense of the forest; we're all going to die! Eaten by something, I bet you. Maybe not now; maybe when we're sleeping...Pushing back a branch, my foot caught on a small stone and I collapsed onto a dirt road. I glanced down at my hands, they were animated. Great, in one day I managed to get expelled from my ninth school and become a cartoon, definitely something for the memory book. Oh wait, I was going to be eaten any time soon so that crossed out that option.

Claire waddled out from behind a bush, pushing back her glasses and running her finger through her a marroon hair. Now that looked like a girl who got everything she wanted. Her father didn't leave her and then force her mother to get married to some twit to support her own son!

"Do you even know where you're going?" she asked, narrowing her eyes and looking up into the sky.

Jessie gasped beside me, pointing up into the sky, I followed her hand to see the sky. It didn't look like that of Earth...sure it had clouds and clear blue sky but when you looked up further, red and pink lines surged through the top creating spidery patterns. Letters danced across the side, creating long shadows underneath.

"What is that?" Crokk asked, stopping beside me. As he began to stumble, Natalie stepped up to give him a shoulder, stoping him from hitting the ground.

"I don't know," Ryan awed.

"...What you kids doing out 'ere?" a huntsman came out from the forest, a pig slung over his shoulder. My eyes moved volunaterily toward his axe and I immediately cringed. Sabine took Kelsey's hand on instinct and backed away slowly, their eyes pressed on the large axe. Natalie reached into her pockets, her hand clamping down on what looked like a bottle.

"Checking out the scenery," I said quickly when no one answered.

"That's some weird clothes you young ones are wearing. Where did you come from; out of town?"

"You could say that."

Has it been decided which story we are in right now?

EDIT: Oops! I thought this was the DT. Sorry for the clutter.

We are in a giant storybook and the stories we go through are in order on the first page at the top.

Claire

The huntsman shrugged and glanced toward the sky. "Well, whoe'er you are, you'd best be on yer way home. Storm's comin'." He hoisted his pig up higher and trudged off toward where the town was.

Claire watched him go, her patience waning rapidly. Claire was sixteen, for God's sake! She wasn't about to start believing all of this fantasy hogwash now. The age for such things had come and gone. Tommy might be able to relate to all of this, but Claire was not in any position to.

Something in Claire snapped. "Well," she said nastily, folding her arms across her chest. Eyes turned to her curiously. "I am still not convinced that this whole ordeal isn't some horrible dream that my mind has cooked up. But, in the event that it is not, I want answers."

The cat-boy - Ryan - blinked at Claire. "I think we all want answers. That's - "

"Why we are blindly following a piece of paper that an old man gave us?" finished Claire, scoffing. "No. I don't know about you, but I have no clue who that guy was. Weren't you ever told not to go with strangers?"

"Do have a better idea?" snapped a boy to Claire's right. Claire remembered his name as Calcifer. Claire pursed her lips and pushed her glasses farther up indignantly.

"No," replied Claire haughtily. "But I am not going a step farther until I do." Calcifer rolled his eyes at her.

**Hope this is okay, Apple.

No problem, but, for future reference, I'd rather matter like this be handled in the DT.

Ryan

I rolled my eyes at Claire and walked up to stand in front of her.
"You don't have to walk." Before she could protest, I grabbed her by the waist and draped her over my shoulder. I looked around the group and huffed before walking ahead. "I don't know about you all," I scoffed, "but I'm getting home no matter what. That paper is the only thing we have and, as mixed up as it may seem, I'm following it anyway."

"Put me down," Claire screamed in my ear, her fist pounding on my back. I rolled my eyes and put my hand on her back to keep her from falling.

"Nope, nope, nope," I said. "We haven't the time for your stubbornness."
The the others followed behind me and we walked on. I noticed the pictures from Rissa's books, this was Cinderella's world. Once we neared the bridge crossing over into the town Cinder lived in, I heard coughing from behind me. I turned around and saw Crokk doubled over it a fit of coughs. My eyes grew wide and I walked over to him, slower than usual because of my extra weight.

"What's wrong?" Everyone gathered around him but he waved them away before pulling out a orange bottle and dry swallowing two of the small round pills.

"I'm fine," he choked out. His face looked paler than usual, which was saying a lot. Everyone lingered for a few more moments before he smiled sweetly and continued forward. "I said I'm fine, don't worry."

Natalie and Kelsey Greene

Natalie jumped as Crokk started to cough. She eyed him worriedly. What was happening to him? Then he took two pills and recovered. She frowned. "Are you alright?"

Crokk's pale face reddened slightly, and he nodded, slipping the little orange pill bottle back into his pocket. Natalie nodded, but she didn't look convinced.

Kelsey giggled slightly, but kept her mouth shut. Then she gasped. "I know where we are!" she cried ecstatically, "we're in the town where Cinderella lives!" She bounced up and down excitedly, grinning.

Natalie looked around, blinking. This town did seem familiar... Something in some far-off illustration. Kelsey looked overjoyed.

>That's great, Phantom! Also I don't know whether we're crossing through the fairy tales when they're happening or finished, so I kind of placed in that we're passing through them when they're happening...if that's not what you intended I'll fix it. <

Calcifer:

I watched Ryan pick Claire off of the floor and place her onto his shoulder, leading her along. I glared after them, though I couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion. Deciding it was hate (since that was what I usually felt), I shrugged and glanced at Kelsy. She thought that we were in Cinderella land. I, personally thought Cinderella was one of the worst fairy tales in the world, but she didn't seem to think so.

"So what do we do?" Sabine asked.

Crokk placed his weight on Natalie's shoulder, taking in deep breaths before straightening his posture.
"Isn't there a fairy God Mother?" he asked, blinking slowly.

Claire scoffed loudly, "Unethical! The thoughts of their being a "fairy godmother" are just out of the question."

She sure used a lot of big words... So I retorted with what I could think up off of the spot; "Your unethical!" to bad I was never to good with come backs.

"By you calling me unethical you are meaning that I am not conforming to approved standards of social or professional behaviour. By me speaking to you now, I am being very unethical!"

"You know what; you should really shut-"

Ryan stepped in the middle of our argument, he looked at Kelsy who nodded back at Crokk.

"Why don't we go see her for answers?" Natalie suggested. "Isn't she supposed to be magical?"

"It depends on which part of the story we are in. What happens if she's already met her fairy god mother?" Sabine answered.

Sabine

As Ryan picked Claire up from the floor and placed her very gently on his shoulder, I sulked and pouted, folding my arms. Luckily no one was looking, but I couldn't help but notice that the boy called Calcifer also looked sullen. Did he like Claire too? I wondered as I trudged on those the forest along the rest of them.

"What should we do?" I said out loud, and squealed with delight when a little sparrow landed on a branch next to me.

Crokk said in between breaths, "Isn't there a fairy godmother?"

"Unethical! The thoughts of there being a "fairy godmother" are just out of the question." Claire scoffed.

Calcifer bristled. "You're unethical!"

Claire tried her best to look dignified (which was an impossible task with her big glasses askew), and looked very cross. "By you calling me unethical you are meaning that I am not conforming to approved standards of social or professional behaviour. By me speaking to you now, I am being very unethical!" she scowled. I giggled at her furious face, but I shut my mouth when Calcifer replied in an angry tone, "You know what; you should really shut-"

Ryan gave them both pointed looks, and they immediately stopped arguing. "Why don't we go see her for answers?" Natalie suggested. "Isn't she supposed to be magical?"

"It depends on which part of the story we are in." I pointed out. "What happens if she's already met her fairy godmother?"

Kelsey piped up, "I don't think so!" We looked at her, startled. She began twirling her teddy bear around, and said, "Cinderella went to the ball and danced with Prince Charming and they had a great time dance---" Claire looked very impatient, and cut in rudely, "Get to the point!" Natalie glared at Claire, and growled, "She was getting to the point before you cut in, Claire." They both glared at each other, and looked as if they were about to start arguing again. I looked at poor Kelsey, who looked scared of the brewing confrontation. "Go on, Kelsey," I prompted.

Kelsey gave me a small smile, and continued in that bright, cherry voice of hers. "Then the clock rang! It was already midnight! So poor Cinderella had to rush out of the castle and back to her home in the heavy rain!" Natalie gasped. "The huntsman just said there was a storm coming!" We all looked at each other, and Crokk slowly grinned. "It seems that we have a chance to meet the fairy godmother!" I started humming "When You Wish Upon A Star", and pranced along the dirt path. No-one seemed to follow. "Come on, people!" I laughed over my shoulder. "We have a ball to catch!"

Kelsey ran to me, her big eyes sparkling. "Are we really going to Cinderella's ball?" Natalie caught up with us, and said warily to her excited sister, "We don't really know, Kelsey." Kelsey immediately looked forlorn, so I said, "Maybe the fairy godmother could let us go to the ball before we return home!"

Claire sighed and rolled her eyes. "Who cares if we could go to a stupid ball or not?!" Kelsey and I said at the same time, "I do!"

Jessie clapped her hands together in glee. "It would be a wonderful idea!" Natalie looked as if she agreed, but all the boys look horrified. The smooth fur on Ryan's tail stuck up in all directions, Calcifer looked at us with his mouth wide open and Crokk started to have another coughing fit.

Natalie hurried over to when Crokk was and looked very concerned. We all crowded around him, but he soon stopped coughed and wheezing. "I'm fine," he said in a hoarse voice. I absentmindedly twirled some of my curls around my fingers and slowly said, "Maybe we should talk about this later, when we find the fairy godmother."

Claire said under her breath, "Good riddance." Crokk shook his head and cough for a bit before saying, "You mean, if we find her." Ryan nodded and pointed up at the sky. It was already starting to turn dark, and I could already see the moon up in the air twinkling. "We should hurry --- the fairy godmother is going to arrive at Cinderella's house pretty soon." I picked up the folds of my dress, and hurried on, ducking my head in fear that they would all see me blushing over the handsome cat-boy.

Jessie

Crokk's coughing fits were really scary, I seriously don't know how to handle a situation like that, it's all too much for me. As we were walking through the woods I heard the owls start to hoot. We really were running out of time.

"I think we have to run!" Calcifer suggested, we all nodded along apart from from Ryan.

"What about Crokk's condition?" He asked, patting Crokk on the shoulder.

"Don't... worry. I'll be... fine," he said. I wasn't totally convinced, but he didn't mind.

So we all started to run, I felt a little embarrassed running so slowly. I always came last in running races. They all were running so fast I nearly lost them, but then I heard someone fall over. I rushed to the scene to find that Sabine had tripped over her dress. I helped her up, and she brushed all the dirt off of her lovely dress. I wish my parents could afford me stuff like that.

As we were approaching the end of the woods Kelsey started to run ahead.

"Kelsey, get back here immediately! You could get hurt!" Natalie cried, running after her.

"Look! It's Cinderella's house! Just like in the book!" Kelsey beamed. Crokk coughed and everyone rushed over to him.

"Are you okay? Does anyone have any water?" Sabine worried, Crokk shook his head.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. It was a tiny, little cough!" He reassured. The group started to run to Kelsey and Natalie, we all stood proudly standing in front of Cinderella's house.

Crokk

I ran forward with the others and tried my best not to collapse. Finally, we made it to the front on Cinderella's house.
"Around the back," Kelsey said happily. They all took off running again so I followed, lacking behind a bit with Jessie. Finially, we made it behind the huge house - really, it was almost as big as my house - and saw the Fairy Godmother floating over a patch of roses.
"Fairy Godmother," Kelsey and Sabine both yelled at the same time. Claire, who Ryan let down before we all started sprinting. I panted and bent over to put my hands on my knees. The Godmother seemed taken aback before finding some air of understanding.

"Oh, you darling," she said gleefully. "I've been told that this was going to happen."
"We need to get to the ball," Calcifer said hurriedly. We all nodded in response. Godmother looked over all of us and smiled, whipping out her wand, she started singing that song and changing us all to look appropriate. I watched as everyone got transformed. I laughed silently as she put a bow on his tail. Natalie and Kelsey got matching dresses, both Calcifer and Sabine got outfits to match their hair, Claire got new glasses, and then...
"Hello," she said, looking down at me. I smiled slightly and closed my eyes.
"Do your worst," I sighed.

Ryan

I growled in annoyance at the bow that was fastened onto my tail. I flicked it back and forth angrily, trying to get it to fall out. Suddenly, I felt hands clamp down on it and I yelped. I looked back to find Kelsey tugging on it as if it was some leash.
"Let's go kitty cat," she hummed. I huffed and started forward with the others.
"To the ball," Sabine yelled. I smiled and looked back. She did look nice in her dress. But, out of the corner of my eye, I could see a puff of white behind a bush.
"Crokk," I yelled, smiling, "you can come out from behind the bush!"
"Never," he mumbled. I sighed and stopped walking.
"We really have to go, Crokk!"
"I won't come out," he replied.

I groaned and looked over at Calcifer, but he was already on his way over to the bush. Without warning, he reached behind the bush and grabbed Crokk. All we heard was a yelp and a squeal before Calcifer emerged with Crokk. Everyone starred at him and covered their mouths.
"Crokk," Natalie started, "did she..."
"Yes," Crokk huffed, "she mistaken me for a girl and made me put in a dress." I smiled widely and covered my mouth. His hair was pulled up in curls and pins and his dress was long and white. Not being able to hold it back anymore, I burst out laughing, soon after I started, everyone was laughing. Crokk just glared and shook his head.
"Guys," Jessie said between laughs, "we have to get going!" Silencing out laughs, everyone started back towards the ball. About two minutes in, I stopped running and turned at everyone.
"Were not going to make it running, we need-" A bright flash of light from off to the side interrupted me and I looked over to find a large carriage. "There," I yelled. So we all ran over to get in, as soon as the last person was in, the carriage took off as fast as it could go.

((XDDD Poor Crokk! Here's their dresses, but Kelsey's has straps, and they're not quite that long. http://cloud.lbox.me/images/v/200810/19 ... 238e88.jpg ))

Natalie and Kelsey Greene

Kelsey was bouncing in her seat, brown eyes sparkling with excitement. Natalie just looked nervous. She'd bit her lip in an attempt to keep from laughing at poor Crokk, but hadn't altogether succeeded.

She shifted slightly, uncomfortable in her dress. They were very pretty dresses, though; Kelsey probably loved it.

Natalie, on the other hand, was very uncomfortable, and it was very obvious. Plus the fairy godmother had given Natalie four-inch heels. Natalie couldn't walk in any kind of heel. She was prepared for a night of extreme embarrassment.

Kelsey was wearing blue patent-leather dress shoes that clicked slightly when she walked. She'd been very excited about these; she'd even jumped and ran back and forth several times just to hear the clicking sound. Natalie had managed to fall over about three times.

Well, this is definitely going to be a night to remember, she thought dryly.

Claire

Claire fitted herself into the far corner of the carriage and folded her arms tightly across her chest. Claire was in a dress. She hadn't been in a dress for... years, really.

Claire frowned as she picked at her dress in thought. Her mind was spinning. That woman - the "fairy godmother" - had changed nearly everything about what Claire had been wearing. What Claire wouldn't give to be safely back in her jeans and sweatshirt again.

But how had the old woman done it? The dress seemed real enough. Claire knew that there was some technology being developed that involved bending light to make a person look invisible, but the study was not even close to being completed. Changing the appearance or form of clothing? That was much more advanced stuff.

Suddenly, the carriage skidded to a halt. Kelsey cried out in excitement. Claire rolled her eyes, and was about to make a smart comment when she spotted Natalie glaring at Claire pointedly. Claire shut her mouth and looked away disdainfully.

Everyone jumped out the carriage quickly, eager to get inside and to the ball. To be honest, Claire wasn't sure what they expected to find there. Claire climbed out of the carriage slowly, and looked up at the looming castle above her.

Claire exhaled slowly. Her mind began to spin rapidly. As twisted as the thought was - Castles were a place of government. Of order. Claire might be able to find some law enforcement that could help her. Of course, that was too direct of a path for the others to even bother with. But it suited Claire just fine. She'd just have to find a moment to sneak away -

Claire let a satisfied smirk grow on her face. Let the others run around like headless chickens. Claire was going home.

(Claire's dress: http://bestbridesonline.com/prodimages/81006c.jpg)

Jessie

As everyone started running to the hall, I tried to catch up. No use, I cannot walk in heels, never have. I wondered where my old clothes had gone, not that I don't like dresses I must have a pair of trainers on, or something like them.

"Aww, man. I would kill to get out of these heels," I moaned. Claire agreed with me, just as we were about to move on a pair of plimsoles fell at my feet. Everyone gasped and looked at them.

"I like to please people, it's part of my job!" The Fairy Godmother's words echoed. A big grin appeared on Claire's face.

"I want more comfy shoes too" She cried, the exact same thing happened. Trainers dropped in front of her. She put them on excitedly. Ryan frowned.

"Enough of this, let's go inside!" He said.

"What about my freaking girl clothes? Excuse me fairy godmother, I'm a boy! Can I have a tuxedo?" Crokk asked, his dressed changed into a tuxedo, and his hair transformed into a very nice do.

We all made are way inside, Kelsey was bouncing up and down. Just like the book! She thought. It was one of the most magical sights ever; and the fact that that it was animated made it so wonderful. Everyone looked happy, either dancing, chatting or, well, eating their face off.