Everyone ready to continue onto Southland? ;)

Mike: Not as a coward. :p

Coco: You bet!

Peter: Michael, it's just a story! I'm ready! :)

Debbie: Let's go! :)

Micky: Southland! :D

Gina: We've gotta find the princess and get to the Wizard!

Shelly: Twavel! :D

(Fade in on the living room in the Pad again. Peter whimpers; Valerie puts her arms around him.)

Peter: Poor princess, and the peasant doesn't even know what happened to her! :(

Valerie: I'm sure they'll rescue her eventually! :)

Mr. Bennett: Who's up next?

Davy: Can I finally 'ave a turn?

Emma: Sure, Dave, go right ahead. :)

Lauren: Just don't ramble on, like others we know. ;)

*Micky sticks his tongue out at her.* :P ;)

Davy: (Grins) Nahh, some of us know when to end. (Goes on as he expertly pulls away from Micky's swat) First, we're gonna return to the Witch Grizelda, plottin' evil things for our travelers wit' the source of 'er powahs, the magic mirror...

(Cut to the throne room of the Elbeltha Palace. Witch Grizelda storms into the room and up to a set of draperies. She opens the draperies with a cord to reveal a large mirror made of applewood, with an intricate frame that looks like carved apples.)

Grizelda: *folds her arms over her chest* They haven't been here long, but those kids are already really starting to annoy me. :P

Mirror: (A face appears in the mirror...a rather round and plump female one) The children are from a world far beyond this one, a world that knows of us only through stories...but controls our destiny.

Grizelda: *groans* Oh, that's just great. *pauses* I'm doing my best out here, just trying to keep those who live HERE outta my hair. Now I got those kids to look out for, too. Any suggestions?

Mirror: Gather the wands of the five high princesses. When combined, they will give the bearer power that no one can match.

Grizelda: *slow, evil grin* Now that, I like. I just have to GET the wands.

Mirror: You have one of the five wands...and one of the high princesses as well.

Grizelda: It's the REST that're gonna be interesting. Of course, this princess I have has to be stubborn. :P

Mirror: Did you not turn her into a pig?

Grizelda: Even as a pig, she's still stubborn. :P

Mirror: Oh, yes, a word on those animal spells you dispense so freely. Some of them may be reversed by a kiss by the victim's true love.

Grizelda: *eyes widen* What? You've gotta be kidding me!

Mirror: Mirrors cannot lie.

Grizelda: *dull glare* I didn't say you lied. I said you had to be kidding. *rolls her eyes* Is there any way to prevent that from happening? :P

Mirror: Keep them from falling in love...and away from their lover if they do.

Grizelda: Gee, I was hoping for something less obvious. ;) :P *sighs* Alright, fine. Is there anything ELSE I should know?

Mirror: Sir Michael is in love with the bakeress' apprentice.

Grizelda: Oh no... :P

Mirror: He is shy, and she doesn't know what to make of him. She thinks he's a pet, but senses something's not quite right. They have not yet revealed his true identity to her. The children and the healer are encouraging Michael to pursue her.

Grizelda: I'll have to put the kibosh on THAT! :P

Mirror: The healer pines for Princess Valeria. They fell in love at first sight.

Grizelda: *eyes widen* Figures. Good thing I got her out of the tower.

Mirror: He loves her more everyday. He now wishes to go to the Wizard to ask her for the intelligence he believes will find her and win her love again.

Grizelda: Looks like I'll have to make sure he doesn't get to the Wizard, then.

Mirror: (Sighs) The entire group has inquiries they'd like to make of the Wizard. The bakeress' apprentice is at a turning point in her life and seeks direction. She's dissatisfied with baking and wishes to be a writer, but she has no idea what she wants to do with her talents. The children are seeking the mother of the twin toddlers, whom they believed led them to this world.

Grizelda: I'll just have to make sure NONE of them get to the Wizard, then. :P

Mirror: You could employ the bakeress yourself, and take the healer as your high prince.

Grizelda: *smirks* You're pretty darn smart for a mirror, you know that? ;) Good ideas, both.

Mirror: Thank you, your ladyship. The remaining wands are in the Southland, the Northland, the Truffula Lake, and on the person of your niece, Snow White, who fled after you sent Sir Michael and his men after her. (Mutters) Talk about being obvious... :p

Grizelda: Perhaps I'll start with the Southland. Leave my niece for last, as she'll be probably the toughest to get the wand from :P

Mirror: She would never have suspected if you hadn't sent Sir Michael and his men to kill her, you know. :p

Mirror: She is in the Floral Square, living among the gnomes and the talking flowers and Giant Musrooms.

Grizelda: *sighs* The only high point of going to the Floral Square is the possibility of running into the Flower Prince. I'll have to somehow find her and do it myself this time. :P

Mirror: It will be difficult to invade the Southland and the Northland, you know.

Grizelda: Oh ye of little faith.

Mirror: Their armiers are far more vast than that of the Tower Square and the Golden Square, and the cities of Batone and Yorkalia are among the largest on the Storybook Land Chessboard.

Grizelda: I still have powers and the pigs. *sighs* Any suggestions on invading those areas, oh great mirror? :) ;)

Mirror: You have the creatures that live among the Grickle Grass. Amass their power...and use the wand you gathered from Princess Valeria. (Chuckles) Which reminds me, what DID you do with the old man and the Princess?

Grizelda: *grins* The Princess is with the pigs. I let them keep her for now. As for the old man, he's in the Dungeon. I’m keeping him for information. (Sighs) If only he wasn't so stubborn! I hate torturing perfectly good informants. ;)

Mirror: Perhaps it won't be necessary. You could merely use your powers on him. (She shows a reminder of what her powers can do. The pigs drag Princess Valeria, now on a leash and collar, along behind them as they search for the children, Peter, and Emma.)

Grizelda: You always want to do things the obvious way. :P ;)

Mirror: It is up to you, my lady. Will that be all?

Grielda: *nods* Yes, you've done enough, thank you. ;) :P

(The mirror goes dark, and Grizelda walks out of the throne roome. Cut to a dark dungeon. Grizelda walks down a long, dank hallway until she stops at a cell. Bennett's wrists and ankles are chained to the back wall of the cell. The prison master, a rock monster leftover from "Dream World," unlocks the cell and lets the witch in.)

Bennett: (Glares at the witch) I'm not going to talk, Grizelda. You can do what you want. I'm an old man and I've lived a long time. Torture is nothing to me.

Grizelda: No, a better way to hurt you would be to go after your apprentice and those kids. >:) ;)

Bennett: (Narrows his eyes) You have no interest in them, Grizelda. They're innocent of any wrongdoing.

Grizelda: Are they? I've been more than interested in getting Princess Valeria's father's riches, and it seems that your apprentice has feelings for her. Therefor, I DO have an interest in them. ;)

Bennett: Peter is a peasant boy from a small villiage in the Northland Square, the son of teachers. How would he meet, much less have feelings for, one of the high princesses?

Grizelda: Let’s just say that he did, and leave it at that. ;)

Bennett: Well, whether he loves her or not, it's no concern of yours. Let the boy alone. He's like a son to me!

Grizelda: *eyes narrow* I want full power. NO ONE is going to stop me. I see all of them as a threat.

Bennett: Peter is a shy and gentle lad. He wouldn't step on an ant-hill! The children are too young to be a threat to you. They have no magic, nor any power.

Grizelda: Not until they get to the Wizard. :P

Bennett: They don't deserve to be pigs or monsters for the rest of their lives...or dead! :p

Grizelda: We'll see about that. >:)

Bennett: Do what you want to me, but don't hurt them...especially not the boy!

Grizelda: If they stay out of my way, little harm with come to them or vice versa. ;)

Bennett: The children want to find their mother and Peter says he wants brains (sighs), though what he really needs is a good shot of confidence.

Grizelda: And that could be trouble.

Bennett: (Narrows his eyes again) How?

Grizelda: *folds her arms* I've seen what the boy can do. It does not bode well for me and my quest for power. :P

Bennett: I don't know what you mean. I've taught the boy the art of healing. He's better at it than he thinks. He's a fine musician as well, but he's no sorcerer. (Growls) Grizelda, I'm not just a healer. I'm also a wizard of some skill. If you lay a finger on the boy or the children, so help me, I will blow you and this overgrown pile of rocks you call a palace to the Wastelands and back! X(

(Bennett struggles, trying to shift enough to be able to use his magic.)

Grizelda: I really don't think you're in a position to make threats, old man. Anyway, I have some wands to seek and steal. I'll let you stay here and attempt to use your magic while imprisoned in heavy iron chains. *evil grin; turns to leave* >:)

Bennett: Damn you, Grizelda! The boy will never have you...and you will never have his powers! (Faint grin) For one thing, you're not his type. ;)

Grizelda: *whirls momentarily* We'll see about that! *leaves the dungeon* :P

(Cut to the children, Emma, Sir Michael, and Peter walking along the fields and forests. Peter's eyes are faraway, and he seems a bit sadder than he did before. The girls are up front, while Emma walks with Sir Michael, the twins on either side of the wolf. The group finally stops at a fork in the road. One fork goes across an airy, pretty field. The other goes through a swamp.)

Sir Michael: (Points to the field with his paw) Guess we're goin' that way. Come on... (he starts moving, but Emma grabs his fur)

Emma: We don't know if that way's the right way, Michael.

Sir Michael: You're gonna walk through a SWAMP? Who knows what's in there? :p

Emma: (Shrugs) Swamps are swamps. There's lots of swampland around Cape Holly Beach, too.

Coco: For some reason, I'm inclined to agree with Emma.

Debbie: Michael may have a point. People have gotten lost in swamps!

(As the group argues, something slowly fades in on the branches of the tree above them. The twins are staring at the sparkles in the tree. Micky finally tugs on Coco's pants leg.)

Coco: What is it, Micky?

(The little boy points at the branch. A big, wide smile is starting to materialize in the branches.)

Debbie: What in the...

Coco: *eyes widen* Oh my...

(The smile is finally joined by a small brown cat with large brown eyes and a thick brown tail ringed with tan and cream. He has long, silky brown fur and a very, very big grin.)

Shelly: Kitty! Kitty in tree!

Sir Michael: Yikes! (Runs behind Emma) Does it eat wolves? :o

Cat: (With a familiar North England accent) Naww, I couldn't fit ya in this litt'l belly of mine. ;)

Micky: Kitty grin! :D

Peter: Oh, it's the Cheshire Cat!

Cat: Yes, I do, litt'l man. (Nods at Peter) And yes, I am he who is the Cheshire Cat. I knew that. ;)

Emma: Thank goodness! You know everything that goes on in Storybook Land!

Debbie: You can tell us which way to go!

Cheshire Cat: That would depend (lays back lazily) on which way you want to go.

Emma: We just want to get to the Southland.

Cheshire Cat: Well, you should go to the Southland then, shouldn't you? ;)

Coco: We just said that.

Peter: We want to know which way would take us there the quickest!

Emma: It's very important.

Sir Michael: We're lookin' for the Wizard of Storybook Land, and the Witch Grizelda is after us! :p :(

Cheshire Cat: Any preferences?

Sir Michael: I still say we'd be crazy to go through the swamp.

Emma: It may be faster.

Cheshire Cat: Why don't you catch a ride?

Emma: Where? No trains go through here, and few farmers or delivery people use this road!

Cheshire Cat: Don't believe everything you know, Miss Emma of Cape Holly Beach...or see.

Debbie: Couldn't you give us a straight answer?

Shelly: Kitty silly. :p

Coco: *mutters* You know, I used to love riddles. :P

Sir Michael: (Growls) If I weren't scared to go in that tree, I'd go right up there and bite you until you told us the quickest way to get to Southland. :p

Cheshire Cat: (Displays his very big grin) Oh, I wouldn't suggest that, Sir Michael. I may bite back. ;)

(Sir Michael whimpers and pulls further behind Emma. :( )

Micky: Kitty mean! :P

Cheshire Cat: I really mean you no harm, George Michael Dolenz Jr. I just like my litt'l games. ;)

Emma: You know who we are?

Cheshire Cat: Naturally. :)

Peter: Cat, please, we don't want to play games! We just want to find the Southland and get a ride to the Emeralda Square from there!

Cheshire Cat: (Sighs) Well, some go this way. (Points towards the field) Some go that way. (Points towards the swamp) But, I personally prefer to take the easiest route possible. ;) (He points into the swamp) You'll find the quickest way to the Southland there. It's quite a performance. ;)

Emma: But... (but the Cheshire Cat has started to fade out, until nothing but his grin is left...and then, nothing at all)

Sir Michael: I knew you couldn't trust a cat. :p

Gina: So, we're going into the swamp?

Peter: I guess so.

Emma: If only to answer that darn cat's riddle! :p

Coco: I've got a headache from that now. :P

Sir Michael: I still think this is crazy. :p

Emma: Oh, come on! You're being ridiculous! :p

Shelly: (Throws her arms around Sir Michael) We protect you, Wolfie! :D

Micky: *copies Shelly* Protect Wolfie! :D

Sir Michael. (Blushes again) Awww, you kids are too much. :">

Peter: Come on! If we hurry, we could get to the Southland by dark! :)

(They walk into the dark and spooky swamp as "I'm Gonna Try" begins. Sir Michael tries to stay close to Emma and the twins, but he jumps at every shadow and runs behind a tree every time he hears a spooky noise.)

(Emma makes a face at Sir Michael and pushes branches out of the way...though they keep mysteriously reappearing. Some even appear in her hands, looking like anything from long silk ribbons to birds that fly out of her palms.)

(The twins look up as a grin appears in a tree. They call for Coco...but the grin mischeviously fades again as Coco joins them. She shakes her head and leads them away from the tree.)

(The Cat appears and pulls Sir Michael's tail. He howls and looks behind him, but the Cat has vanished, snickering. ;) )

(Peter watches in surprise as the waters surrounding the path bubble in tune to the music.)

(Psychadelic lights flash and swirl as the music builds. Sir Michael lets out a howl when the tree he'd been cowering behind tries to grab him.)

(The group huddles together as the lights build and we get a swirling light show of grins and dots and shapes. The animation explosion finally ends as the children exit the swamp and the music fades.)

Emma: Whoa, what was THAT?

Sir Michael: I TOLD you we shouldn't have gone in there! :o :(

Peter: That was odd.

Coco: I thought it was kinda groovy! ;)

Shelly: Pwetty lights! :D

Debbie: (Perks up as they make their way down a road toward a small villiage) Hey, what's that?

Peter: (As the sound fades in) It sounds like...music...

Gina: Music?

Debbie: (Tugs at Coco) Hey, Coco, music is performed, right?

Emma: (Nods) The Cat said the quickest route would be "quite a performance."

Coco: *nods* This is the performance...

(The noise gradually becomes louder as they get closer. A young man dances on what looks like a stage with wheels, dressed in a striped suit and bow tie and boater. He sings "Penny Music" to an uninterested audience that's walking away. He dances, but it's rather dispirited. The stage has a backdrop painted to look like a town scene. The young man is very small, with delicate, child-like features, long brown hair, and large brown eyes. In fact, he looks a bit like the Cat! ;) )

Emma: (Grins) This is it! This is what the Cat meant! This performance is on a cart!

Debbie: (Nods) We could ask the owner if they're going to Southland! :D

Shelly: (Tugs on Coco) We ride? :)

Coco: What the heck, why not? :)

(As the song finishes, the young man takes his bows.)

Young Man: And if you don't mind, a few coppah guildahs in the 'at would be so nice for your continued patronage... (but the people have all walked away; only the kids remain. The young man rolls his eyes and waves them off, then jumps off the stage and joins the kids) Did you like what you saw?

Emma: We only saw part of it, but you're quite good. :)

Young Man: Not good enough. I'm afraid most of my performances get that response. They lack 'eart.

Peter: (Nods) You need to perform with more passion, more...

Young Man: Love? I've been told that. (Sighs) I don't know much about passion, or 'eart. I don't think I really 'ave much of a 'eart.

Debbie: How can you sing with no heart?

Young Man: That's what drives the crowds away. They expect me to love, and I don't know 'ow.

Peter: Maybe the Wizard can show you how! He'll give you heart!

Coco: Yeah!

Young Man: The Wizard? No one can get into see 'im! There's a three-yeah waitin' list!

Emma: WE will! I want to ask him for, well, (sighs) some direction in my life.

Peter: I want to ask him for some brains, and Michael here (pats Michael) wants courage.

Young Man: (Nods at Michael) He's handsome, for a wild animal. (Michael pulls away at first, but then sniffs the youth and finally lets him pet him)

Debbie: We just want to find the kids' mom and go home. (Indicates the twins)

Young Man: Maybe I can 'elp you. I'm on my way to Southland. It's a paradise for entertainers! It's where the people never sleep and the parties nevah stop. ;)

Debbie: I'm gonna like this place. ;)

Coco: Careful, Deb. ;)

Young Man: It's one of the major cities in Storybook Land. We could chartah a boat that would take us through the Northland and the Floral Square and ovah to the Emeralda Square, where the Wizard lives. :)

Peter: (Smiles) Thank you, Mr...

Young Man: David of Manchesteria in the Eastland Squah, but you may call me David the Entertainah. (Grins) Now, would everyone be so kind as to 'elp me get the cart ready for our trip to Southland to find a more appreciative audience? ;)