Ok, who's ready for a trip up the river to Northland? :)

Peter: Sounds like fun! I love a boat trip. :D

Shelly: Boat ride! :D

Debbie: Maybe we'll be able to work on our tans. ;)

Micky: Wanna ride boat! :D

Coco: I'd love to just kick back for a little while. :)

(David and Michael just groan. :p )

Peter: (Sighs) Oh, dear...

(Cut back to the living room. The Angellettes stand, grinning.)

Winnie: So, how did ya like that? ;)

Lauren: Very nice. ;)

Audrey: You made me PREGNANT? :o :p

Lillian: Geez, Aud, it's just a story! :p

Winnie: We've gotta cut out. We have a gig at the Club Fairview in a couple of hours. We'll see you guys around.

Audrey: Call us the next time you're making up good stories. ;)

(As they walk out, four more female bodies walk in. The Wesminster Abbies all wear old clothes, overalls, painter's hats, and old shoes. Maxine drops a can of paint. Kimberly and Daphne put down rollers and brushes.)

Maxine: Hey, gang.

Daphne: Sorry we're late. Our album session in Studio City ran overtime. :p

Emma: That's ok, Daph.

Millie: Yeah, we're just taking a rest, anyway. :)

Kimberly: (Plops next to Lauren and Micky) So, what's with the circle? Is this one of those sacrificial things? ;)

Shelly: Tell a stowy! :D

Daphne: Stories?

Mike: The TV died, so we decided to make up a story to amuse the twins while we have lunch. ;)

Maxine: Ehh, who needs TV anyway? ;)

Jenny: What kind of story?

Lauren: A fairy tale round robin. ;)

Gina: We're making up a story about us (indicates herself, her sisters, and the twins) in Storybook Land, having all kinds of adventures! :D

Jenny: (Grins) Oooh, sounds like fun! :D

(Emma brings the Abbies up to date. Maxine's grinning this time.)

Maxine: Can anyone jump in on this story?

Emma: Go right ahead. ;)

Maxine: (Looks at the others and grins) Well, if the Angelletts can throw a little of their homeland into the stewpot, I can put in a bit of mine. ;)

(We begin on a pier early the next morning. The group are now on a small, somewhat weathered houseboat with the name "Dorothy Alice" painted on it. The items from the cart are in crates. Everyone but Davy stands on the pier, once again dressed in their traveling clothes. Audrella, her court, and several soliders are also there.)

Emma: Where is he?

Sir Michael: Flirtin' somewhere, probably. :p

Audrella: (Grins) I have the feelin' he may have overslept. He was out awfully late last night. ;)

Lilly: I saw him dancin' with a couple of hip chicks from the Perrault Club and drinking champagne at four this mornin'. ;) :P

Winifred: (Points at a figure walking and groaning down the pier) There he is!

Coco: Oh, dear... :P

(It is David, but he's so tired, he walks right past them and off the pier. He lands in the water with a splash. ;) )

Peter: (Runs to the end of the pier) David, are you ok?

David: (Groans) Petah, what do you think?

Audrella: I think the appropriate answer to that is "no." ;)

Lilly: Hit the champagne a little too hard, Eastland boy? ;)

David: And it hit back. 'Ard. :p

Audrella: (Sighs) Boys, fish him out, please. (Turns to the kids with a large wood box as the soliders cast a line) Ok, kids, here it is. (Hands Peter the box) You guard my wand with your lives...and it'll guard YOU.

Emma: We'll only use it in real emergencies. :)

Peter: (Looks at the long box with wide eyes) Wow. :o

Debbie: No one's ever given us something this important before! :D

(We see a still-groaning David being literally fished out of the river with fishing poles by the soliders in the background. ;) )

Shelly: David fishie! :D ;)

Micky: Big fishie! :D ;)

Soldier: Hey Princess, look at what we caught! Want us to throw him back? ;)

Audrella: Well... ;)

(Lilly nudges her as David's eyes widen. :o )

David: (Shakes his head) You can't do that! (Holds out some money) I've got the cash I made from the sale of the cart and 'orses. You can't toss the bank back in the drink. ;)

Audrella: Toss him onboard, fellas. He'll dry off and dry out on the boat. ;)

(They literally toss him onto the boat as the others join him. Peter, the girls, and Emma embrace the princess and her court as they get on.)

Peter: (Leaning over the side) Thanks for all your help, your Highness!

Coco: *waves* Thank you!

Audrella: No, thank YOU for warnin' us about the witch last night and takin' the wand to the Wizard. Just be careful. Griz will be more determined than ever to stop you from gettin' to the Emeralda Square now.

Gina: We know what to watch out for now!

Sir Michael: (Whimpers) And what to run from. :o

Shelly: (Coco holds her up and she waves) Bye bye pwetty Pwincess! :D

Audrella: (Blushes a bit) Bye, shorty. ;) :) :">

Micky: *Debbie holds him up; waves* Bye bye! :D

Winifred: Bye there, kiddo!

Lilly: You runts be good now! ;) :)

Shelly: We will! :)

Micky: Okay! :)

(Peter, Emma, and Michael pull up the anchor and start to push the boat along with poles as "DW Washburn" begins. David goes to the small building in the middle of the boat and lays down on a small couch, groaning.)

(As the wind picks up, Emma, Peter, and the girls unfurl the sail on the small craft, letting it drift across the waves. Michael doesn't take this as well, however. He takes one look at the water and runs for the sides, bending over and making noises indicating he doesn't feel well. :p :-&)

*Coco sprawls out on the deck, sunning herself.* ;)

(Peter goes in the tiny kitchen to make potions to soothe Michael and David's stomaches.)

(Emma sits next to Coco, writing in a small book. :) )

*The twins are playing with Coco's hair.* ;)

(Debbie and Gina sit in sunchairs, wearing bikinis and sunglasses. Debbie has a reflective mirror to tan quicker. ;) )

(David walks out of the house, holding a mug of Peter's concoction and shading his eyes against the sun. He finally just walks back in, squinting and muttering. :p)

(Michael comes up, looks around, and goes back down again.)

(Peter brings out a potion in a bowl for Michael. He laps it up and lays down next to the twins, whimpering. :p)

*The twins lay their heads on Michael, trying to make him feel better.* :)

(The water starts to get a bit rougher as the music ends. Emma frowns as the sides of the boat rock.)

Peter: (Runs out) What's going on?

Emma: I'm not sure! There's something in the water!

Coco: There's something in the water?! :-O :-/

(The kids all look in the water except for Michael, who continues to whimper, and the twins, who hold him tightly. Bright orange fish with large teeth are gnawing at the sides of the boat, shoving it and rocking it as they feast.)

Peter: Termite fish! :o

Emma: They eat anything wooden! I didn't think termite fish lived in the Batone River.

Gina: They're eating the boat! :o

Coco: What do we do?

Shelly: Bad fishie! No eat boat! Get tummy ache! :p

Micky: Shoo, fishies, shoo! :P

Peter: Shelly, that's a great idea! :D (He runs in the house)

(Emma, Debbie, and Coco try to push the fish away with metal poles used for David's scenery, but they just keep coming.)

Peter: We'll give them tummy aches! (He emerges from the house with bars of soap)

David: (Groans as he emerges) Petah, we're tryin' to get rid of them, not give them a bath. :p

Peter: This is my own special soap! It won't hurt them, but it will make them leave the boat alone! (Drops bits of soap in the water. The fish eat the brown soap...and start hiccuping bubbles. They get caught in the bubbles and float behind the boat, far down the river. ;) )

Peter: Everyone feed the fish soap! (Hands the whole group bars of soap)

Micky: Here, fishie, fishie, fishie! :D ;)

(The kids feed the fish more and more soap, and more and more fish hiccup bubbles, until the air is filled with fish in bubbles with tummy aches. ;) )

Gina: We're not hurting the fish, are we?

Coco: Yeah, what's so special about this soap?

Peter: (Shakes his head) Their tummies won't feel funny for long. I made that soap myself from ferns and Truffula goo. It's good for the enviorment. If you eat it, you'll feel weird for a little while and you'll be able to blow bubbles without any gum, but it'll pass in a few minutes and you'll just come out feeling silly for eating soap. ;)

Debbie: Which means twins, don't eat Peter's soap. ;) :p

Sir Michael: (Whimpers) Are they gone yet? :o

Emma: (Looks over the side of the boat) They're gone! :)

Debbie: (Also looks over) And it doesn't look like they did too much damage, either.

David: (Looks over and nods) It's a little chewed-up, but nothing we won't survive. :)

Gina: (Walking up to the other side of the boat as it starts to rock again) Um, guys?

David: Yeah, kid?

Coco: Now what?

Gina: Are those rocks supposed to be there? (Points at the river; the boat is coming up on rapids)

David: (Eyes widen) Oh my god!

Peter: Yikes!

David: Emma, Petah, grab poles. Kids, get down and 'ang on! :o

Sir Michael: (Moans) Ooohhh, this ain't gonna be good for my stomach. :p

Shelly: Yipes! River bouncy! :o

Micky: Bad river! :P

(The river bounces the little craft across the rocks, and though everyone screams and gets quite wet, both the boat and the group are still alive when the rapids finally subside and the boat and the river are once again stable.)

Emma: (Panting) Holy cow! That was crazy!

Sir Michael: (Whimpers) Is it over? :(

David: (Shades his eyes and nods) All cleah.

Micky: Wanna go again! :D

Shelly: (Shakes her head) No go again! :p

Coco: *groans; to Micky* You are your father's son. :P

Debbie: I'm with Shelly. We could have gotten killed! :p :o

David: We're lucky we DIDN'T get killed.

Sir Michael: (Groans) David, don't remind me. :p

Debbie: Hey guys, look! (She points at the land around them. The trees have given way to tall buildings with shining roofs of copper and gold. Birds of strange colors fly amid the buildings, and beautiful trees in shades of silver and green grow in a huge park. David, Emma, Coco, and Peter lead the boat over to a pier.)

David: Deb, Gina, you'd bettah go get dressed. We don't know who we're going to meet here.

Emma: (Frowns at the empty pier. Not a soul is to be seen. All of the boats are tied up) It's awfully quiet.

David: It's too quiet.

Sir Michael: (Sniffs the air, then howls) I don't like this! I smell pigs! :(

Coco: Oh great. :P

Sir Michael: (As the girls go to get dressed) Maybe we should stay on the boat.

Shelly: (Points at the city) See big houses! :D

David: It couldn't hurt to take a little look around. :)

Peter: Maybe there's just something going on in town.

Emma: Yeah, but there would still be a few people here. It's dead quiet.

Sir Michael: (Whimpers again) I wish you hadn't said that. :(

(Cut to a bit later. Everyone disembarks the boat. The girls are now back in their traveling clothes. They stand in a group on the pier.)

David: Ok, did you put the wand in the spot I mentioned?

Peter: Sure did! :)

Emma: (Looks around her) I still say there's something wrong.

Coco: Definitely. :P

Sir Michael: My nose is actin' up. I'm gonna go back on the boat... (he starts to turn around, but Emma grabs his fur)

Emma: Oh no, you don't. We're all in this together.

Peter: Michael, you can't back out on us now! If something's happened, we'll need to help the people here!

Sir Michael: Why us?

Debbie: We have the wand, for one thing.

Gina: Remember Audrella and her court told us we could zap the witch with it if we had to? :D

Sir Michael: (As Emma pulls him along) I know we're gonna get in trouble... :p

(The group walks down the streets. Troops of huge, ugly monsters with long fangs, big tongues, spots, and lots of eyes march past them, singing "Doo Wah Ditty.")

David: (Gulps) Um, I was hoping we would be able to rent a cart, but I 'ave the feelin' we won't be able to do that 'ere. :p :o

Sir Michael: (Howls) Oh, god! (Sniffs) There's been a battle here! The witch must have invaded! :o

Debbie: Like she tried to do to Southland!

Gina: But they weren't prepared here!

Coco: Exactly. :P :(

Peter: What are we going to do?

Emma: Go where the witch ISN'T, for one thing. :p

Sir Michael: (Sniffs again) Um, guys...

David: What is it?

(Sir Michael points a paw upwards. The pigs all come flying out of the sky, along with several other fuzzy flying creatures that look like oversized bats with bug eyes. Grizelda is perched on one of them.)

Emma: Grizelda! X(

David: Kids, run! Get outta 'ere!

Sir Michael: Don't have to tell me twice! (He takes off, but Emma grabs his fur)

Emma: You're not a kid!

Pigsly: Well, looky what we have here!

Flying Pig 3: Your trap worked, Lady Griz! ;)

Grizelda: *comes to the forefront of the pigs, with her arms folded* It certainly did. ;)

Peter: Trap?

Porker: You hadda pass through the Northland if you were gonna get to the Wiz, so we thought we'd wait for you. ;)

Emma: What did you do with all the people here?

Pigsly: Aww, ain't no one got hurt. These monsters are really pussy cats. They just look mean. Everyone's sittin' in their skyscrapers scared. ;)

Grizelda: *grins* Ugly-looking help has its advantages. ;)

David: (Puts up his fists) We ain't goin' down without a fight!

Emma: What do you want with us, anyway?

(Sir Michael hides behind Emma. The kids are behind them. Peter frowns.)

Peter: Kids, RUN! Get out of here! Get help!

Shelly: No go! (Grabs Michael's fur)

Grizelda: I want that wand!

David: You won't 'ave it! It's goin' to the Wizard!

Debbie: How do you know we have the wand?

Grizelda: *smirks* That's for me to know and you to not find out. ;) >:)

David: I've 'ad enough of this, Grizelda! (He tries to hit Pigsly, but the large Flying Pig grabs him by the arm and throws him over his shoulder)

Peter: David! :o

Emma: Let him go, you overgrown sides of bacon! (She goes after Grizelda, but Porker picks her up and takes her in his arms)

Porker: Hi there, cutie. ;)

Emma: (Struggles) Put me down, hash breath! :p X(

Sir Michael: Emma!

Flying Pig 3: The runts are takin' off! (Points as the kids run down the street, back towards the pier)

Grizelda: Well, go after them! :P

(Several flying pigs take off after the kids. Sir Michael is cornered by two more pigs.)

Sir Michael: Now, fellas, maybe the bacon cracks she made earlier were a bit out of line... :o

Flying Pig 4: What about Fuzz Face here? (Indicates Michael)

Sir Michael: Who you callin' Fuzz Face? :p

Grizelda: Why don't you boys have a little fun with the wolf? ;)

Flying Pig 5: Ok, your ladyship! (They grab Michael by his tail. He howls, but they pull a muzzle over his mouth. The pigs pull at his fur and poke his sensitive nose and ears. Emma struggles angrily in Porker's arms, trying to get away)

Emma: No, stop! Don't hurt Michael!

Flying Pig 6: (Takes Peter's arm) What about Blondie?

Peter: Grizelda, we won't give you the wand and won't tell you where it is.

(The pigs return with Coco, Debbie, Gina under their arms. One pig has the twins.)

Debbie: (Kicking) Let us go!

Shelly: (Pushes at the pig) Bad piggie! Put down! X( :p

Grizelda: I have an idea. ;) >:)

Peter: Grizelda, where are the High Princess Maxie and the White King and Queen who rule the Northland Square? They live in Yorkalia. What did you do to them? :o

Grizelda: They've been locked in the Empire Tower, which is exactly where you're going to go.

Peter: The Empire Tower is the highest building in all of Storybook Land!

Pigsly: Yeah. Figure you'd need a bird to get outta there. ;)

(Sir Michael looks fearfully from the pigs to Emma and the twins, a bare whimper escaping his muzzle. :( )

Flying Pig 6: (Pulls Peter over to Grizelda) Lover boy, too? ;)

Grizelda: Why don't you boys hold onto him for me? ;)

Flying Pig 4: You still gotta thing for him?

Peter: Grizelda, I've told you, I'm not a prince! I'm a healer, and I don't love you! :(

Grizelda: You'll learn to. ;) :X >:)

(Two of the pigs take his arms...but Grizelda shakes her head and indicates her vaccumn cleaner.)

Grizelda: I'm bringing him with me. ;)

Peter: But... (Grizelda lifts her hand and creates a ball of red light. She throws it at Peter. It lifts the struggling young man onto her vaccumn cleaner. David roars; Emma screams.)

Grizelda: Much easier that way. ;) >:)

Pigsly: Let's get outta here. This guy is startin' to dent my ham hocks. :p

(The witch takes off for the Empire Tower, a tall building topped with gold and blue gems, followed by the pigs with their prisoners.)

(Cut to the inside of the tower. The pigs lead the group down a hallway done in an Art-Deco mishmash. Emma and David's wrists are chained in front of them. Sir Michael is still muzzled. One of the pigs drag him along on a chain collar and leash. The kids are not chained at all, but are being pushed along by a group of monsters.)

Pigsly: (Opens a door; smirks) Here you go, kiddies. This will be a very nice little prison for you until you're ready to talk.

Porker: But they can talk just fine! I've heard them!

Pigsly: About the wand, moron. :p

Porker: Oh.

(The group is pushed into a small room. Pigsly slams the door behind it and locks it.)

Pigsly: Have a pleasant night! (We see him swinging the keys around his hoof as he and his cohorts walk off, laughing.)

Emma: (Sits on one of the two simple beds in the room) Oh, this is wonderful! :p

Debbie: What did they do to Peter? :o

Emma: Grizelda probably has him somewhere. :p

Coco: Poor Peter! :P

(Sir Michael lays down on the other bed, sobbing into his muzzle. The twins get on the bed and put their heads on the wolf, stroking him.)

David: Griz seems awfully interested in Petah. I wonder why?

Debbie: (Eyes widen) Peter has powers! He showed us at Bennett's house!

(Sir Michael looks up and nods briefly.)

Gina: Yeah. Didn't he know Sir Michael was sad and embarrassed?

Coco: That's right!

Emma: Grizelda must want to use his power somehow. :p

David: She's obsessed wit' gettin' more powah than everyone else, now that it's fadin'. Maybe she's afraid she'll lose 'ers, too.

Gina: (Goes to a window, the only one in the room, and looks down) Wow, we're really up high! :o

Debbie: (Looks out the window too) Yeah! You can see everything from here! (She leans a little closer...and the window moves as she pushes it)

Gina: Hey, Deb, you made the window move!

Debbie: I didn't MEAN to!

Emma: (Lifts one shackled hand) Yeah, it's loose!

David: (Puts his shackled wrists on the windowpane) Maybe if we all pushed a bit...

(They do. The window finally opens. It's a large window, large enough for a good-sized animal to get through and most humans.)

Gina: We did it! :D

Coco: Oh, wow!

Debbie: How are we going to get down, though?

Gina: Jump?

David: Not on your life! That's twenty stories down! :p

Emma: (Flops back down on the beds) If only we had some rope!

(That's when there's a tapping on the wall. The kids all go to the wall as voices are heard.)

Voice 1: (Very female...and very New York) Yoo hoo, anyone home?

Voice 2: Are you friendly?

Voice 3: And if you're a monster or a pig, could you NOT hurt us? :o

Coco: Yes, yes, and no. Are you? ;)

Voice 1: Heck no! I'm Princess Maxie, and this is my court, the Ladies Kimmy and Jenna!

Kimmy: Max, we could be here all day! Use that damn thing and turn the wall into something! :p

Maxie: I'm so glad I hid this thing.

Jenna: Everyone stand back and pull everything away from the wall!

(They do so, pulling the bed from the wall and hurrying to the other side. A blue light surrounds the wall across from them...and suddenly blasts out in a shower of psychadelic flowers. Three young women in blue gowns step in. They look like something from out of an old 40s Hollywood movie in pretty print dresses, curled and ratted hair, wide-brimmed hats, and strappy shoes. The tall, round blond holds a blue wand with a circle-shaped gem, trimmed with silky gold ribbons.)

Kimmy: Nice work, Max. ;) :p

Maxie: Well, at least I didn't blast the whole place to the Wastelands. ;)

Jenna: They’re still repairing the back wall of her room in the Winter Garden Palace from the LAST time she tried to open a wall that way. ;)

Maxie: See? It coulda been worse! ;)

Jenna: Are you guys ok?

Kimmy: Who ARE you?

David: I'm David the Entertainah of Manchesteria, and this is Emma of Cape Holly Beach. We're on our way to see the Wizard and bring him Audrella's wand.

Maxie: (Eyes widen) That's you guys, ain't it? The ones who warned Audrella about the witch at her ball?

Debbie: That's us!

Coco: Yup. :)

Maxie: I'm sorry we couldn't have met you at the pier, but we were (indicates the room) otherwise engaged. :p

Kimmy: Grizelda sent her monsters up here this morning. They've haven't really hurt anyone, but Griz has turned a lot of folks into animals and are holdin' them somewhere, includin' Maxie's parents-in-law. :p

Jenna: (Sadly strokes Sir Michael) We were told what she did to your friend, too. You must be poor Sir Michael Del Naysmythe. :(

(Sir Michael lets out a small whimper. :(( )

Kimmy: Man, what she did to you was just plain wrong. You've fought off every monster, ogre, troll, and evil magic-maker that's ever invaded Storybook Land! Kids watch stories of your explots on the moving picture box! :o

(Sir Michael only whimpers more. :(( )

Shelly: (Hugs Sir Michael) Witchie made him sad. :(

Micky: Sad wolfie. :(

David: Grizelda 'as a friend of ours, too, Petah of Grenwich. She took a fancy to 'im and 'is powahs and is keepin' 'im somewhere around 'ere.

Maxie: Don't worry, folks. I'll get us out of here. (She runs her wand along David and Emma's shackles, opening them, then undoes the chains around Michael's neck and his muzzle.)

Sir Michael: (Opens and closes his muzzle) Thanks, your Highness. If I wasn't such a coward now, I woulda given those pigs a run for their money before they started pokin' at me like I was a snake or somethin'. :p

Emma: How are we going to get out of the rooms?

Maxie: The easy way. (She peers out of the barred door. A monster sleeps against one wall, snoring loudly. The keys are on it's stomach. Maxie waves the wand and makes the keys move. They get half-way to the door before the blue beam gives out and they fall to the floor. Maxie pulls the wand back in and shakes it. It gives out a few blue sparkles.)

Maxie: Darn thing...

Gina: Maybe it needs batteries?

Maxie: It's been acting weird lately. The power keeps giving out on me. I'm surprised it got through the wall.

Coco: Maybe it used up too much power going through the wall. :P

Maxie: That could be it.

David: The keys are pretty close, though. We need somethin' long to drag them ovah and pull them in.

Debbie: How about this? (Hands a mop to David)

Kimmy: (Takes the mop) Here, I'm tall. I can push it farther. (David pouts as Kimmy reaches for the keys. There's a few tense moments and a lot of jangling before she finally gets it onto the mop handle and slides it into the room. Maxie unlocks the door, and everyone rushes out as the monster awakens.)

Sir Michael: (Howls) Yikes! Sleepin' Ugly's up!

Shelly: (Goes over to the monster and starts to stroke him) Doggie! :D (The monster starts laughing)

Debbie: He's ticklish! (Debbie tickles his stomach; he laughs harder) Coochie coochie coo! :D

Micky: Tickle, tickle! :D

Gina: Let's get him! (She starts tickling his side. Soon, everyone is on top of the monster, tickling him all over. Michael even gathers the courage to tickle his nose with his tail. ;) )

Maxie: (Holds out the wand) Ok, folks, I'm going to see if I can get this thing working again. Here goes nothing! (There's a blue light around the monster. When it subsides, the kids are sitting on the floor and a spotted butterfly is fluttering out the open window.)

Kimmy: Great, NOW it works. :p

David: Well, at least it got rid of him. (Nods at the hall) Let's see if we can find everyone else, before Grizelda and the Pork Chops of the Month club get wind that we're loose.

Maxie: The cells are all up here. I know Griz has your friends around here somewhere.

Sir Michael: (Sniffs at the floor) I smell...(frowns) rabbits.

Shelly: Bunnies here?

Micky: Where bunnies?

Sir Michael: (Indicates the hall) This way. (Gulps; to himself) It's awfully dark down there. (He shakes his head) Gotta do it, for Peter... (He puts his nose to the ground and sniffs at it. Everyone follows him.)

Maxie: This is weird.

Emma: I feel like we're tracking down evidence in the penny dreadful mysteries I read! :o

Sir Michael: (Stops in front of one door) Here! There are rabbitts here!

(Everyone peeks in; Coco and Emma hold up the twins. Sir Michael stands against the door on two paws. Two monsters play cards at a table, guarding cages filled with lots and lots of white rabitts.)

Maxie: Oh man, that must be the entire court but us! :(

Shelly: Help bunnies! :o :(

Sir Michael: How are we gonna get around the monsters? :o

Emma: (Takes the keys and starts putting them in the lock; one finally clicks) Maxie, you use the wand to free the rabbits. Your court can stay with you. We'll go find Peter.

Sir Michael: What about the kids and me?

Emma: Sir Michael, stay with the twins and the girls. Coco, come with us.

Coco: You got it.

Debbie: Right.

Sir Michael: (Nods) I'll just stay here with the kiddies. Someone's gotta watch them.

Shelly: We'll protect Wolfie! :D

Micky: Yeah! Wolfie safe! :D

Sir Michael: (Mutters) Two year-olds gotta protect one of the Knights of the Center Square. This is embarrassin'. Cute, but embarrassin'. :p

(Maxine and her court goes into the room with the rabbits. The others go down the hall. They haven't gone far when they hear voices.)

Pigsly: Your move.

Porker: Hey, I was almost home! :p

Pigsly: Your fault for leavin' the blockade there for five turns. :p

Flying Pig 3: Who wants pork rinds? ;)

Flying Pig 4: Pass the ale, please. Maybe the healer boy wants some. (There's some muffled cries) Guess he don't. More for us. ;)

(They peer in as Emma tries keys. Peter is bound and gagged in one corner of the room. The pigs play Parchessi while eating potato chips and pork rinds and drinking odd-smelling liquid from large brown jugs.)

Porker: What do you think Griz wants with Blondie?

Pigsly: Many things, none of them repeatable in a kid's story. ;)

Coco: *holds her nose; whispers to the others* Gross! :P

David: (Also holds his nose) Not to put too fine a point on it, but they're behavin' like pigs. :p

Emma: What did you expect, them to smell like roses? :p

(There's finally a soft click. Emma grins.)

Emma: Everyone ready to get Pete out of here?

David: I'm up for some bacon. 'Ow 'bout you girls? ;)

Debbie: I like ham myself. ;)

Coco: I'd love some bacon! ;)

Emma: Actually, I love a good pork chop. ;)

(They fling the door open to the tune of the 90s version of "Circle Sky." The pigs stand, but they're more than a bit tipsy from the ale.)

(Peter looks up hopefully. Gina and Debbie untie him. :) )

(Davy dances rings around Porker. A hole appears in the ring he danced, and he points down...and Porker falls through it. ;) )

(Emma picks up one of the ale jugs and takes a whiff. She holds her nose and passes it to a pig. He drinks it, wipes his lips, grins, and passes out.)

(Debbie grabs a ham and wields it in front of two pigs like a sword. They scream and pass out. ;) :o )

*Coco empties what's left of the pork rinds onto the floor. One of the pigs gets up to retrieve them, but instead steps on them, making an awful racket. He mistakes it for shots being fired and dives to the floor with his hands covering his head.* ;)

(There's a commotion in the hall. Thousands of rabbitts hop here, there, and everywhere. The twins run up and down the hall after them. Michael cowers under a table, whimpering. There's a scene of everyone running up and down the hallway. The twins chase rabitts. The pigs chase the kids. Maxie chases rabbits with her wand, turning them back into humans. Kimmy and Jenna chase rabbits. The kids, Kimmy, and Jenna are chased by pigs. Maxie chases the pigs. The pigs chase Maxie, trying to grab her wand. The kids chase the pigs, waving various pork products. They finally chase them into the room Peter was being held in before. Peter locks them in and Maxie seals the door with her wand as a woman and man who look like walking chess pieces join them.)

Woman: (Pale blond hair, high squeaky Brooklyn accent) Maxie baby, what was that all about?

Man: (Small, craggy-faced with gray curls) It looked like a Warner Bros cartoon!

Maxie: We were just giving the pigs a taste of their own medicine. ;)

(David and Peter lean against the door to close it, both gasping when Emma finally locks it.)

David: So far, so good.

Peter: Thanks for getting me out of there, guys. The witch was called away to Elbetha Palace and left me with the Pigs until she came back! :p

Woman: All I know is, one minute, we were having a perfectly lovely tea, and the next, we were sitting in cages craving carrots!

Man: This has NOT been the best day of my life. :p

Woman: Hush.

Emma: How are we gonna get out of here now?

Peter: If we go the front way, the monsters will see us!

Maxie: I know. ;)

Man: (Shakes his head) Oh, no. Maxina of Yorkalia, I forbid you from doing that! It's much too dangerous!

Woman: Honey, it's her special skill! It couldn't hurt in a time of need!

Maxie: Your majesties, it helped me once, and it may help us now. (She leads them back to the room she and the court were imprisoned in. The room is somewhat larger and filled with straw. An old-fashioned spinning wheel sits in the middle of the room) I was just a miller's daughter before I became High Princess. My dad said I could turn straw into gold.

Man: Did you have that awful little fellow helping you out that time?

Maxie: (Indicates the wand) I should be able to do it with this. I hope there's enough left.

Queen: Your magic is still fading?

Kimmy: It keeps going in and out, as far as we can tell.

Emma: Why don't we set up an assembly line? The kids could bring Princess Maxie the straw, she can make the gold, and the rest of us will tie it into a rope. :)

Shelly: (Takes a bit of straw and drops it next to the spinning wheel) We help!

Micky: Help! :D

Coco: Sure!

Kimmy: Just don't touch the spindle. That means instant sleep. ;)

(We get a quick montage of "You Can't Tie a Mustang Down" as the children and Sir Michael bring Maxie straw and she waves the wand over the spinning wheel, which transforms the dry grass into beautiful gold strands. The others weave it into a long, long rope. The rope gets longer and longer, until the group finally pushes it out the window the kids opened before. Everyone climbs down. Sir Michael comes down on Emma's back and whimpers the whole time. They meet troops of monsters on the ground. Sir Michael runs to the sidewalk with the twins, howling. :o )

(Maxie turns armies of monsters into butterflies, flowers, and little floating hearts. Kimmy karate chops a few coming at her. Jenna produces a pallett and paints them until they run away screaming. Peter feeds them soap. They hiccup until bubbles form around them and float away. ;) )

(Emma makes a few run into a theatre. They all come out prancing in tutus, singing and doing twirls and standing on their toes. ;) )

*The girls jump on monster's backs, putting their hands over their eyes, or tickling them.* ;)

(Davy dances along with them...and dances them over to the piers. They dance right into the water. ;) )

(The King, Queen, and citizens slowly emerge during the romp. By the time the song's over, they're all on the streets, cheering. Maxie and her court curtsies for their citizens.)

(Cut to the park. The kids all stand on a bandstand in the park surrounded by the silver-green trees.)

Maxie: How can we ever thank you for helping us to escape the Witch Grizelda and show the monsters how to either lead more productive lives or leave? ;)

David: Give us a good cart, your finest 'orses, and enough money to make it to the Emeralda Square in a few days time. :)

Maxie: I'll do one better. I'll give you my protection. (As with Audrella, she kisses everyone, including Michael, though she makes a face and wipes her lips after him) There. You've got my blessings now, too. ;) :p

Queen: We're really quite grateful for everything you've done for us.

King: We want you to take our wand to the Wizard, too. You have the first one.

Kimmy: Two will be doubly powerful! :D

Queen: By the way, honeys, where IS the wand?

David: (Grins) Hidden among the props in my carton. If someone goes lookin' for it, all they'll see is a box labled "stuff." ;)

Peter: What about you?

Queen: We're wise to Grizelda's tricks now. The remaining monsters have all been rounded up and sent back to the Elbetha Square.

Jenna: We'll be ready the next time she tries anything. :)

(A large, brightly painted cart drives up to the bandstand. In fact, it looks something like the Abbies' van driven by two beautiful horses. ;) )

David: (Grins) Those 'orses are the most beautiful sight I've evah seen. :D

Shelly: Pwetty car! :)

Coco: Wow! :D

King: You've checkmated us, kids. It's the least we could do for you. You've got some rough terrain to cover, including the Floral Square, one of the most magical squares on the Storybook Land Checkerboard.

Queen: Your things are loaded on already. :)

Peter: How can we ever thank you?

Queen: Take out the Witch Grizelda for us, honey.

Jenna: Or at least teach her to be nice! :)

Kimmy: Tell the Wizard the Northland says 'hi'!"

Maxie: And that High Princess Maxina is really worried about the situation with the magic vanishing. :p

David: We will, (bows deeply) your 'ighness. (Grins) Ok, folks, everyone aboard! The quicker we get goin', the faster we get to the Emeralda Square! :D

(Everyone cheers and climbs aboard, Sir Michael after some prodding. The Queen hands Coco the wand.)

Queen: Guard it with your lives, dearies.

Coco: Thank you. We will!

(Coco is the last one on the cart. They finally drive down the street, past waving people as ticker-tape and confetti falls everywhere. We fade out on the Queen, King, and High Princess Maxie and her court waving good-bye and the cart rumbling down the street and across the huge city.)