The Impossible Traveler Presents:

“The Candy Land Conundrum”

Chapter One

Even though they surround her now, the yells of her adopted family sound as though they are coming from a great distance. Blinking rapidly, Betsy Granger lies flat on her back underneath the control console of Excellence. Her vision is distorted for reasons she couldn’t figure out. Something powerful has just ripped her and the Legacy right out of the time vortex and is now tossing them violently towards their uncharted destination. Everyone was tossed around unceremoniously, the chances of any of them getting to their feet was less than zero. Reaching out her hand, she brushes her fingers against someone’s arm. Blinking through the smoke pouring from the overheated control panel, she manages to catch a glimpse of Jackson Hart attempting to crawl his way up to his feet using one of the chairs.

Excellence is jerked violently to the right. This sends all of them flying into the opposite wall. Groans of pain and colorful language follow quickly. Another pull from the opposite side sends them flying again. This time they land in a pile of limbs, tangled up. Someone’s boot clips Betsy just hard enough upside the head to send her into dark oblivion of unconsciousness. Atara Themis happens to see Betsy’s eyes roll up into her head and manages to grab her best friend before Excellence gives one last shudder and crash lands. The group tumbles painfully down the side of the wall and into the metal rails of the entry ramp. Cursing in Greek, Atara gently rolls Betsy off to the side and rolls over on hers to suck in several deep breaths.

James Raven slowly gets to his knees, nursing his ribs. He looks around groggily and notices Noah Jackson unmoving by the door. Shawn Warstein is slowly stirring nearby; James slowly crawls towards him and shakes him by the shoulder slightly. Shawn looks up at James, confusion written all over his face. James points towards the doors, Shawn follows his gaze and sucks in his breath sharply. He quickly tries to get to his feet and buckles as burning pain flares up his leg from his ankle. James, having successfully gotten to his feet, manages to catch Shawn from falling over, while continuing to nurse his ribs. Jackson Hart seems relatively unscathed and has made it to the girls, first assuring that Atara was okay before attempting to revive Betsy.

James looks around and finally notices his knocked-out love. Shawn once again follows his gaze and sighs softly. Jackson rises to his feet and trades off with James. Slowly, Shawn and Jackson make their way towards Noah while James carefully cradles Betsy in his arms. He gently brushes her hair out of her face and uses his fingers to feel her neck for a pulse. Moving his fingers expertly, he feels around her scalp and finds what he’s looking for: the lump he feared would be there. Sliding into a sitting position, he sets her up against him and begins slapping her cheek softly.

“Time to get up, sleepy-head.” He continues to tap her cheek softly, his concern growing when she doesn’t stir. “Come on Bets, it’s time to wake up.”

Everyone is blinded by the bright lights of whatever world is outside Excellences’ doors as they are suddenly shoved open. The force at which they swoop open sends Jackson, Noah, and Shawn flying backward. Each of them hit a different part of the console; Noah is the most colorful about the collision. Warstein and Themis are quick to their feet, but it doesn’t last long. Both of the guards reach into their pouches and blow a thick plume of shimmery powder towards Legacy. Despite their best efforts, as each one inhales the sweet scent consumes their senses and renders them useless. One by one, each member goes down for the count. Once Raven, the last to succumb, is out, a looming shadow figure enters. Walking up to the group, he examines each one carefully, before his eyes land on Atara and Betsy, who had been set up next to one another by the original attackers.

“Yes… They’ll do perfectly.” A booming voice says.

“Frostine?”

That’s odd… It sounded like Atara, but the name she uses was unfamiliar to her. And yet…

“Frostine, are you alright?”

The aroma of flowers, lollipops, and sunshine makes for an intoxicating mix to her olfactory. She can feel the shift in her bed as her younger sister climbs in beside her, uninvited. Rolling over, Princess Frostine pretends to be asleep while hiding the smile creeping across her face. The dream is already fading as she lets out a dramatically loud snore to hide her giggles. Undeterred and not a bit fooled, the radiant Princess Lolly pounces on top of her sister and pulls at the blankets covering her face.

“Frostine Glacia Kandy, I know you aren’t trying to sleep in on the day of your engagement announcement.”

This finally causes Princess Frostine of Candy Land to peep out from under the blanket. Only the top of her blue-blonde ombre hair and neon blue eyes show. The bright violet eyes and curly, bubblegum pink hair of Princess Lolly fill her vision. Sitting up and allowing the blanket to fall into her lap, Princess Frostine brings her knees up to her chin and hugs them. An excited smile creeps across her light blue lips. Looking over Lolly’s shoulder, she once again admires the exquisite gown Mama Gingertree had commissioned for the event. Bold blue silk would cling comfortably to her curves while a layer of shimmering silver-white chiffon would wrap gently around her arms, and billow out behind her from the cape.

Their father had spared no expense in his excitement to make the announcement. A chuckle gurgled from her throat as she started to imagine what the wedding would be like. Or, heaven forbid, the birth of any children she would conceive. Though many had attempted desperately to capture the heart of our fair princess, there had only ever been one man for her. She tears her eyes away from the beautiful gown to the picture propped up on her bedside table. It’s of her and a handsome young man, in each other’s arms, staring up at one another with wide smiles on their faces. Both were dressed casually; This had been taken soon after he’d begun courting her seriously in their final year of education. As a way to celebrate the end of their training, they, along with Lolly and a group of their friends, had gone camping for a week in Lollipop Woods.

Rising from the bed, Lolly walks around to stand before Frostine and takes her hand. Allowing herself to be guided by the younger princess, she sits before her vanity. Lolly sets about doing what she loved best: creating art. As she works on Frostine, she hums a cheerful tune. Starting with the long, thick hair, she patiently plaits little blue flowers into Frostine’s hair. Molded out of frosting, they had been intricately crafted to look like Frostine’s favorite flowers, the black joker Siberian iris. Though they were glazed and hardened to keep them from melting, their sweet scent intruded her nostrils all the same. A sigh escapes as her sister’s expert fingers make quick work of a job it would have taken one of her maids hours to accomplish.

“Hey, are you okay Teenie? You seem a bit out of it for a day you’ve been counting down to.”

Frostine stares at her reflection for a bit. She focuses on the electric blue of her eyes… The blue in her hair, even the pale blue hue that just seems to radiate from her. Her expression wrinkles as she struggles to express the nagging feeling that something was off-kilter here. The face itself was right, but the eyes… Something was wrong with her eyes… She leans in closer to the mirror, earning herself a tug from the lock of hair her sister was still holding. Clicking her tongue in mild irritation, Lolly steps forward and begins the finishing touches. Lost in her thoughts, she only looks up when Frostine finally speaks.

“Green.”

“Pardon?”

Lolly finishes the final flowers and smooths out the top, allowing it to fall in graceful waves over Frostine’s shoulders. Stepping back, she allows Frostine to turn in her chair so that she could start her makeup. Lolly’s eyes narrow when she sees the faraway, confused expression on Frostine’s face. Even though she looks up at her sister, it’s clear that the Princess was far from her bedroom.

“My eyes… This isn’t right. My eyes are green.”

“Uh, Teenie… I’m going to need you to snap out of whatever this is. I know nerves can be a heck of a thing and it is a big day…”

“No… It’s not that, it’s… It’s all of this.” She gestures all around the room. “It’s us, here. It doesn’t make sense to me… It feels wrong.”

Lolly sets down the makeup brush and eyeshadow palette she had been holding. With her back turned to Frostine, she couldn’t see Lolly’s expression harden for the briefest of moments. By the time she’d turned back, however, Lolly’s face was exuberant. She kneels down before her sister and looks up at her, taking both of her hands in hers.

“This day is going to go off without a hitch, I promise you that. Everything has been planned to the last detail, not a thing has been left unchecked. You know how Minty can get when he gets going.”

At the mention of her paramour, Lolly’s violet eyes light up. Squeezing Frostine’s hands gently, she brings both of them to their feet.

“Let’s take a walk to clear both our minds.”

Chapter Two

It’s another beautiful day on the grounds of Candy Castle. The marmalade sky and lemon drop sun were bright overhead. Great trees of spearmint leaves and gumdrops provided a refreshing shade. Tall animal cracker statues stood proudly on display among the many sugar-frosted flower gardens. The princesses walked arm in arm along a trail of gingerbread, followed closely by brightly dressed guards. The girls themselves were divine images, ready for the engagement party and chatting mindlessly about rumors spreading through the land.

An uneasy feeling begins to nag at Frostine again and she looks over to Lolly. Her expression softens as she takes in her lovely sister. Having finished making Frostine into a masterpiece, Lolly had gone to work making herself look every bit a royal princess. Her silk yellow gown hugged her tightly. The sleeves wrapped gently just above her elbows, leaving her shoulders bare. The bodice was sprinkled with sparkling sugar crystals. The skirt floated gracefully in ruffled folds to her feet; brightly colored lollipops hemmed each layer. Her pink curls were held up in a decorative clip, with one lock spilled becomingly over her right eye. Those bright, violet eyes that captivated anyone who looked into them… But they weren’t violet, that wasn’t right…

“Blue… Like the Aegean sea…” Frostine mumbles, a troubled expression crossing her face.

Lolly stops dead in her tracks and turns to her troubled sister. She takes her hands and squeezes them gently.

“Come on, Teenie, not this again. Why is this happening today? What’s troubling you now?”

“Can’t you feel it, Lolls? There’s something amiss around here.”

Lolly shakes her head, earning a sigh of disgust from Frostine. Removing her hands, Frostine turns away and looks towards the massive, man-made pond. Water the shade of blueberry cotton-candy churns merrily from the waterfall of stones. Sweedish fish swim lazily about, the school occasionally getting swept into the current. Doing a circle in place, she takes in the impossible castle ahead. Though made from the same gingerbread as the pavement, the castle was reinforced with thick layers of icing and hard-shell candy coating. Turrets jutted from each corner; the front boasted an elaborate portcullis and drawbridge. On this side, large, shiny peppermint stick gates swung open to reveal several private entrances. Once the trails met at the gate, they broke off. One went to the gardens, another to the pier. Many an afternoon she and Lolly spent on that river, getting away from everything.

Slowly, she turns back towards her sister, who stands where she was, watching her sister with concern. Over Lolly’s shoulder and a day's journey east, were the massive Ice Cream Slopes. Her heart skipped a beat as the handsome face of the Duke of Swirl invaded her memory. It was he who would come forward to declare her hand today, a moment she had been waiting for since they’d met on their first day of etiquette training. Unlike her father, who encouraged his young daughters to follow their hearts and spirits, the Duke had been leaps and bounds ahead of her in their lessons. Even though their instructor had been open of his criticisms of the Princess’s lack of early education, the Duke had been patient and kind. Before any of them knew it Princess Frostine was acting every bit the royal she was born as.

Sensing where Frostine’s thoughts had gone, a brief satisfied smile crossed her lips. She quickly switches it to a much warmer smile when she steps behind Frostine and places a hand gently on her shoulder. Frostine turns around, her eyes were still soft from thoughts of the Duke. Lolly relaxes and admires the beauty of Frostine at this moment. She had done some of her finest work this day; topping this for the wedding was going to be a challenge, but she loved it. Movement behind Frostine makes her flick her eyes over her shoulder. As the steadily approaching figure comes into focus, Lolly rolls her eyes and lets out a groan.

“I thought we made it clear that HE wasn’t invited here today?”

“What?”

Frostine snaps out of her daydream and following Lolly’s gaze turns on her heels. The sight of the tall, lanky figure of Lord Licorice makes her groan internally. Despite his good looks, the character and demeanor of Lord Licorice have diminished him into Candy Land’s most unsavory, unfavored, unattractive bachelor. Despite objections from Lolly, Frostine, and King Kandy himself, the young and newly made Lord had insisted on attempting to court Princess Frostine himself. He had also gone through etiquette training with the Duke and Princess, but he had been unable to master the nuances and delicacy of social graces. Indeed, he was an unpleasant surprise on a day such as this. Having seen Frostine turn to face him, Lord Licorice’s face lights up and he quickens his pace to reach her. He drops to his knee as he approaches and takes her hand, covering it in a moist kiss.

“Fair Frostine, Princess of the Land, Queen of my Heart. If I may say, you look like the most divine of angels this day. Truly, never has your beauty taken me so off guard as it did when you turned just now and I was blinded by such radiance. Any man should consider himself privileged just to be considered for your hand.”

Princess Frostine struggles to keep a straight face while Lolly turns away and coughs into her hand. Knowing full well those coughs were concealed laughter, Frostine can feel her own resolve fading. Pulling her hand free from Lord Licorice, she turns away and closes her eyes, taking several deep breaths to contain herself. Once she’s regained her composure, she turns back to the tall Lord and smiles up at him politely.

“Your words are too kind, most undeserving of me. Truly, Lick, the woman you take for a wife will be a lucky lady indeed.”

His face wavers with vexation as she refers to him with the nickname that had followed him since childhood. Catching this, Lolly steps protectively closer to her sister.

“You know how to read between the lines, Lick. It’s time to give this up.”

A dark look crosses the face of Lord Licorice as he considers the pair of Princesses before him. His love of Frostine was balanced by his hatred of Princess Lolly. The younger of the sisters, Lolly had always been outspoken and a spitfire. His worst day was the first day of their second year of training when Lolly had been old enough to join them. All the old anger and childhood embarrassments boiled within him, even as he struggled to maintain his calm veneer and polite smile. He bows his head slightly towards Lolly, acknowledging her words.

“You still can’t blame a chap for trying.”

He managed to keep his voice even, surprising even himself. Images of wrapping his hands around her vulnerable neck planted themselves into the forefront of his mind. Without thinking, he took a step towards the girls, a hand reaching out to Lolly. Even though she stood her ground, Lolly’s eyes went wide as she followed his hand. Frostine tensed up beside her, clearly ready to spring into action should the situation call for it. Both girls released their breath, unaware they’d been holding it when Lord Licorice gently adjusted the straps of Lolly’s gown.

“Did I lose my invite to this shindig?”

Frostine’s heart races as the rich, familiar voice of the Duke interrupts the conversation. Picking up the skirts of her gown, she spins in the direction of his voice and rushes towards him. Tall and handsome, the Duke of Swirl was the most eligible bachelor in all of Candy Land. Though his love for Frostine had been clear for some time, even Lolly was guilty of peaking through doors and windows when he was changing. Presently, his brown eyes swept the scene in front of him, before landing on his approaching lady. His face breaks out into a beam as she approaches; he lifts her up easily into a spinning hug before setting her down and pulling her in for a deep kiss. Lolly and Lord Licorice both turn away awkwardly as the kiss goes on longer than usual. When they finally part, they walk close together back to the other two.

“Princess Lolly, you’re looking as lovely as ever.”

The younger princess's cheeks flush a becoming pink as she motions for the Duke to continue flattering her. Turning towards Lord Licorice, his jaw tenses slight as his eyes narrow. He nods to his fellow noble, who only glares at him. Their rivalry was no secret through Candy Land and often the topic of the local rumor sheet, the Jawbreaker Debater. With Princess Frostine at the heart of this life-long fight, every gossip columnist and newspaper reporter would be keeping an eagle eye on everything that went on today. Knowing full well there could be photographers anywhere, Frostine smiles at everyone and speaks loudly.

“Perhaps Princess Lolly and I should head back towards the palace. Our father will surely want to have one of his pep talks before the frivolity begins.”

Before either of the men could protest, both Princesses drop into polite curtsies to signal their departure. The noble fellows drop into low bows and hold them until the women walk way. Once out of earshot, the Duke turns to Lord Licorice, who is still glowering silently at him. A grin breaks across his ruggedly handsome face and he holds his arms out supplicatingly.

“Come now, old friend, couldn’t we just put this aside?”

“You don’t deserve her, Duke. You never did and you never will. The fact that dear Frostine can’t see that…”

“Oh, will you drop the act of valiance already? The women are gone, you don’t have to pretend anymore.”

Lord Licorice stands up to his full height.

“She WILL be mine.”

Turning on his heel, Lord Licorice stalks away in haste. The Duke shakes his head, laughing in amusement as he heads back towards the castle.

Chapter Three

King Kandy looks about the lavishly decorated throne room. Keeping to the theme of a royal engagement, wedding bells and white frosting roses hang from the high ceiling. The typical rich plum tapestries have been replaced with white lace, allowing the sun to shine brightly through the large glass windows. Rosy pink bubbles float around the room, unpoppable, while red rose petals create a soft carpet underneath his feet. The red carpet that marked the way to King Kandy’s throne had been put away; in its place was the fancy golden carpet for special occasions.

“Father, it’s absolutely splendid!”

King Kandy smiles as Lolly’s voice rings out from behind him. Turning, he takes in the sight of his two gorgeous daughters, the pride and joy of his very existence. Lolly looked her usual bright, vibrant self, absolutely glowing in the lovely yellow dress. Frostine was a queenly vision in her blue gown; there is a pang in King Kandy’s heart as it hits him once again just what this day meant. Pieces were changing within the palace; though his health was still exceptional, he knew that Frostine’s marriage would officially mark the transition of power. There was a moment of pity when he thought of how short the honeymoon between Frostine and the Duke would be.

Snapping himself out of his thoughts, he holds out his arms. Obediently, his daughters come forward and nestle into each arm. The three admire the grand room just like this in peaceful silence for several minutes. Once he releases them, he takes each of their hands and moves them to stand before him. He gives each one another appraising glance before clapping his hands together in satisfaction.

“My daughters, you are truly the loveliest two women to grace this world of ours. Both of you have grown into such intelligent, insightful, beautiful young women and I couldn’t be prouder of you both. My little Lolly, so creative and free-spirited. You may not have become the regal lady the world expects you to be, but you are exactly who you’re meant to be. It takes a strong woman to follow her heart, yet you make it look so easy. Never stop dancing to your own melody.”

Turning to Frostine, he places his hands gently on her shoulders and smiles down on her affectionately.

“My sweet, soft-hearted Frostine. Hailed through the land as the most beautiful girl to grace these hills. I know your lessons haven’t been easy and the decisions you’ve been forced to make have been difficult. But you’ve risen above the challenges that being my heir presented and I know that you’re going to make a wonderful Queen someday. You and the Duke, you share something that is rare in royal marriage: Love. A true bond, built in your youth and allowed to grow. The two of you will usher in an era of such summertime peace, you’re rein will be legendary.”

Her father’s words wash over her in a warm wave as she allows her mind to slip into sweet daydreams of her future. Enticing images of her and the Duke traveling Candy Land and earning the fealty of the various nobles and residents of this magical world. Two children running around at their feet as she presents a third in her arms. Living happily ever after, ruling Candy Land in peace, prosperity, and love. A dreamy smile crosses her face as she opens her eyes to look back up at her father. A sharp gasp gets caught in her throat as she takes an abrupt step backward.

For just a moment, everything in the background becomes static. Turning fearfully back to King Kandy, he’s suddenly become the very image of someone familiar… The long blonde hair in the half ponytail spilling over his shoulders. A large gold plated belt nestled in a black strap over his shoulder. A smirk on his slightly aged face. A strange outfit that made no sense to her whatsoever, but succeeded in making his muscle-bound figure even bulkier. She whirls around to grab Lolly and run from this imposter, but a strangled cry escapes her throat as she stumbles back. Pink hair has gone dark brown and the bright violet eyes are now bright blue. Shutting her eyes tightly again, tears stream down her face as fear grips her with it’s icy vice grip.

“Frostine?! Come back to us!”

Familiar voices push their way into her thoughts and her eyes fly open. Somehow, she had fallen flat on her back and was now staring up into the concerned face of her father and sister. Sitting up quickly, she looks around the room, which has restored itself to its splendor. Getting back to her feet, she begins to explore every inch of the room she could. She touches everything, confirming it’s solidity under her trembling fingers. All while she does this, King Kandy and Princess Lolly exchange concerned glances while keeping a close eye on the troubled Frostine. Finally, she finishes her sweep and approaches her family again, confusion still clear in her face.

“Neither of you saw that?”

“Saw what, Teenie?”

“The room… Your faces… Everything switched for a moment. The room disappeared and the two of you.. You were you, but you weren’t. You both looked different. I don’t understand…”

She spins around wildly, still trying to make sense of what had just happened. King Kandy wraps his daughter into a comforting hug while Lolly watches on intently. Frostine attempts to pull away, but King Kandy keeps his grip tight.

“I do believe the excitement of the day is getting to be too much for you, my sweet one. Lolls, why don’t you take your sister to her room for a nap before the ceremony? I think some rest would do her good to ease her mind.”

Chapter Four

There she was again: The strange spaceship that could also travel through time. The one she’d built with her own two hands. It was being pulled out of the time vortex and being hurdled violently towards an unmarked planet. The gravity force of said planet was too strong for Excellence to avoid; After several minutes of she and the other occupants of the TARDIS being tossed around, the ship crash lands abruptly. Even though her world is black, she can still heard the worried voice of James, trying desperately to revive her. Her eyes open halfway and groggy images surface: Noah and Shawn helping Atty to her feet. Jackson making his way to where James was cradling Betsy. The unforgiving bright lights as the doors swing open. The strange, shimmering powder that was sprayed, causing them all to fall into comas. James’ desperate voice calling out to her.

“Betsy!”

That was her name, Betsy Granger. The Impossible Traveler. James Raven is her lover, Atara is her best friend, and the other three are her brothers. Shawn Warstein, Noah Jackson, Jackson Hart. The Legacy. Her dysfunctional, pulls no punches, always has her back adopted family that made her transition from fan to professional as smooth as she could have hoped. That’s what they were, a group of professional wrestlers from every walk of life, who had banded together to become something stronger. To be something better.

“Your Majesty?”

Your Majesty? She was no princess, no queen, no ruler of any kind. Just the current Shooting Star Champion for XWF. And yet, the voice persisted, accompanied by someone more familiar.

“Wakey, wakey, sis, it’s almost show time.”

Lolly’s gentle whispered voice breaks through her fog. As she rises from her troubled sleep, she attempts to hold on to the visions a bit longer. The brunette called Atara turns to face her, worry and fear in her sapphire eyes. She mouths something that Frostine can’t make up; the next moment, Atara’s face blends into Lolly’s and she wakes fully. Lolly is hastily getting her out of the bed, smoothing out the wrinkles in her gown. After doing a quick touch-up of her hair and makeup, Lolly leads her towards the throne room. Hundreds of voices socialize among one another as they wait for the ceremonies to begin.

“It’s a lucky man who is named your betrothed tonight.”

A smile breaks out across her face as she turns right into the waiting arms of the Duke. Pulling her behind one of the thick tapestries for a moment of privacy, he leans in for the kiss he wasn’t able to give her earlier. Despite the hundreds of waiting noble guests, things quickly get heated. Pressing her against the wall, he lifts her leg to wrap around his waist and reaches into the folds of her skirt. Her fingernails dig into his back as the overwhelmingly pleasurable sensations flood through her. She protests breathlessly, hanging on to him tighter still as her knees get weak.

“We can’t do this here… What if we’re seen? People will think the worst…”

His lips land on her ear and nibbles on it gently, sending another wave of overwhelming euphoria through her. His voice is thick and deep when he whispers, “Let them. We’ve held to our honor and chastity this entire time; they can wait an hour so we can have our passion at last?”

She opens her mouth to protest, but he catches her lips with his in a lust-filled kiss. Sliding his hand back out from under her skirts, he pressed his body against her firmly. Panting, she pulls back, preparing to protest again, only to be cut off once more when he grabs her by the back of her head, pulling her in for another passionate kiss. Reason leaves her as her hands drop to the top of his britches, fumbling at the ties.

“Seriously, you guys, could you possibly save it for later?”

A brisk, exasperated male voice breaks them up as the tapestry is pulled away. Mr. Mint, followed closely by Princess Lolly, pulls Frostine away from the Duke and begins barking instructions for her entrance at her. Mr. Mint was another one of their friends from lessons and the son of their instructor. His brisk, no-nonsense nature and attention to detail made him a valuable companion, even if it made him unbearable at times. The Duke and Princess Lolly trail behind Frostine as the Princess begins to study her tall friend.

Dressed in white suit trimmed with red, thick red stockings, and a white cap with a red bow, Mr. Mint had forgone his usual red and white striped work suit. He had risen quickly after their schooling as head palace events coordinator. At the advice of her father, Frostine had also taken him on as her personal and most trusted advisor. It was widely known that once Frostine took her place as Queen, Mr. Mint’s appointment as Prime Minister wouldn’t be far behind. They had been trained together in the arts of balancing the power between the throne and the government. It was also an ill-kept secret that there was a possible romance between the unlikely pair of the staunch, serious Mr. Mint and the free-spirited, fiery Princess Lolly.

Stopping at the doorway to the throne room, Mr. Mint turns Frostine towards him and looks her over one more time. Finally, a satisfied smile lights up his face as he pats his friend on the shoulder.

“Loosen up, kid. You look like you’ve got one of Gloppy’s popsicle sticks up your bum.”

A peel of nervous laughter escapes from Frostine’s lips at the image. “I know, I’m trying, I just… I don’t know, Minty. I can’t shake the feeling that something is terribly off. Like there’s a dark presence lurking just out of sight; but when I try to turn my head to see it, it’s gone. Have you ever felt like that, Minty?”

Her electric blue eyes stare beseechingly up at Mr. Mint, almost willing him to say he had. Her hope of that falters when a confused look crosses his face before he shakes his head. “Sorry, Teenie, I can’t say that I have. Maybe you’re just nervous for the ceremony?”

“You know that’s what everyone keeps trying to tell me? Maybe it’s time I start listening. Father said it’s natural to get cold feet when one is making such a life-altering move. It’s time to put on my big girl britches.”

“That’s the spirit, Teenie. Just think, in an hour's time, you and the Duke will officially be engaged and living under the same roof. How long do you think before the two of you have broken your first bed?”

Princess Frostine can’t fight the laughter even as she gives Mr. Mint an innocent expression. “What a scandalous suggestion, Minty! What kind of royal couple would we be if we sullied the fine tradition that comes with the royal engagement process.”

Mr. Mint’s self-control dissolves at Frostine’s heavily exaggerated snobbish inflections. As the herald begins to play the piece written special for her entrance, Mr. Mint gives her a playful push forward, wishing her luck as she goes. Posing regally behind the wooden doors, she hears her father’s voice, full of pride, announce her. The large wood and gold-gilded doors swing open and she remains frozen in her position as all eyes turn to her. Once she’s positive she has the attention of the entire room, she begins the slow, measured walk to where her father is standing on the steps to the throne. His eyes grow warm as he watches her, though his lip trembles imperceptibly at how much she’s grown into her beauty as a young woman and princess.

He offers his hand out to her as she reaches him. Sweeping into a deep, graceful curtsy, she accepts with practiced poise and rises. The crowd erupts into smattering applause as he grips her elbows and leans in to kiss her on each cheek. He then joins the ovation as he steps away, allowing her the spotlight all to herself. Nerves wash over her as she turns the crowd, taking in the sea of faces staring at her. Eventually, the applause dies down and the throne room grows silent as everyone waits on baited breath for the long awaited announcement. Taking in a deep breath, she allows a sweet smile to cross her face as she speaks.

“As I look out and see so many fine faces of many upstanding citizens of our fair Candy Land, I’m reminded of how much this kingdom depends on its people. That so many of you took time out of your busy lives to be here for my engagement announcement is heart-warming and a reminder of how important humility and generosity are when governing this land. Knowing that I have such unwavering support from the people of this fair land from all walks of life is a greater gift than any gold or jewels. It is with an open heart and a clear mind that I have considered the important matter of my marriage.”

A murmur passes through the crowd as anticipation reaches a fever pitch. Everyone seems to inhale at once.

“The first mark of my future reign begins today, in choosing the best man for the job of husband and future king. And though there have been many worthy gentlemen who have vied for a chance at my hand, one has effectively outshined the rest. He is a man who not only shares my desire to bring forth a reign of peace and prosperity; but a man who is strong and loyal. Not only is he a most loyal friend to family and throne, he is a man of the people, no matter their status. Our visions have often blended through the years; so it is with a heart full of honor, duty, and love that I stand before you today to pledge my hand in marriage to-”

Before she can finish, an ear-splitting scream rings out from the middle left side of the throne room. Frostine gasps loudly and before she can say another word, thick black smoke begins to fill the chamber. Noble guests closest to the fog begin to drop like flies; the ones nearby witnessing this go into a panic. Some run for the doors, which takes them right through the knock-out fog. Other’s attempt to get as far away as they can, but eventually, the room fills with the stench and everyone is out cold. Two female figures in long cloaks and heavy hoods concealing their faces walk amongst the ocean of unconscious nobles. Once they reach the throne, they lean over Princess Frostine; both of the wearing grins full of malicious intent.

Chapter Five

The overpowering smell of chocolate invades her nose and she rises slowly from the deep sleep of the black fog. As she attempts to open her eyes, the glaring sun beats mercilessly into her face. Groaning, she holds her arm out and attempts to shield herself some. It’s then that she realizes that she’s on her back. Blinking her eyes open slowly, she attempts to sit up; alarm finishes the job of waking her as whatever she’s lying on wobbles underneath her. Opening her eyes fully, she braves the sun and removes her arm. A gasp gets stuck in her throat as she realizes that she’s floating along an unknown river in a small wooden canoe.

Slowly getting herself into a sitting position, she looks around and immediately discovers the reason for the smell of fudge; the river. Cold dread clutched at her as she realized that she was a long way from Candy Castle. Looking around, the gingerbread forest was a deep expanse that wrapped around all of Candy Land. Lolly had often joked that it was actually a large hand, choking off their way out into the rest of the world. Those words came back to haunt her now as her tummy cramped in fear. Large black crows flew overhead ominously, circling her boat as if waiting for her to perish so they could feast upon her tender flesh. Shuddering, she hunches herself into as small a ball as she can as she begins to cry.

“Hey now, there’s no reason to be a sad lady.”

Crying out in surprise, Frostine scrambles to her knees to find the source of the voice. She watches in mixed horror and fascination as the melted fudge before her materialized into a large, shapeless form. Two large eyes form, as does a mouth; eventually, the top half of a human form shapes itself for the gooey river. Relief floods through her so heavily, she almost breaks out into sobs again. “Gloppy! Am I ever so glad to see you!”

A wide, toothless smile appears on Gloppy’s face as he glides his way to her little boat. Gripping it firmly, he begins to direct it towards the closest spot of land. “What brings you out this way, Princess? I thought today was the announcement of your engagement!”

“It was Gloppy, but something happened just before I could present the Duke as my intended.” Nibbling on her lower lip, she troubles over the fuzzy sequence of events. “Someone screamed like a demon then set off a bomb that put everyone in the room to sleep. Whoever did it took me and sent me off on this boat. I just woke up…”

“Tough break, kid. Maybe it’s for the best… Something’s kind of weird about all this anyway.”

Her thoughts had started to drift off again, but Gloppy’s word snap her back to attention. Before she can press him, her boat gently bumps into the shore. Lifting her skirts, she hops out as gracefully as she can before allowing herself to fall into the grass. Gloppy stays with her, getting as close as he can without ever leaving the actual river. Longing and envy are clear, even in the empty sockets that are his eyes. Catching his expression as she sits up, a pang of sympathy stabs Frostine’s heart.

“Thank you, my friend. I don’t know where to go from here, but getting me on land was definitely the first step I needed to take. But Gloppy… What was that you said about things being weird?”

“Did I say that?” Gloppy’s chocolate face twists into confusion. “Gee, Betsy, I don’t know what I meant by that.”

“Bet… Gloppy, who is Betsy?”

“You aren’t?” The confusion grows deeper. “But then… I don’t understand…” His voice trails off and he seems stuck in place for a moment.

“Gloppy?” Frostine calls tentatively, reaching out to touch her stationary friend.

This seems to bring him back to himself and his expression clears. The friendly smile reappears and he begins to drift away lazily. “Well, it was good to see you Princess, but you should start heading back to the castle. It’ll take you the rest of the day's journey if you hope to get there by nightfall. Good luck, milady!”

“Wait!”Frostine cries, jumping to her feet; but it’s no good, with one graceful backwards dive, Gloppy disappears into his river home.

Panic and vexation fill the Princess as she turns on the spot. The high points of Candy Castle can be seen from a distance. A day's journey, indeed. With a little huff, she marches due east, hoping that would be the correct direction. She barely takes two steps towards the edge of the forest when she’s forced backwards by an invisible barrier. A painful shock of electric current goes through her hand and up her arm, paralyzing her for a moment. Just before her eyes blacked out, she saw something that sent a shot of pure terror straight through her.

Then the pain hit, quick and breath-taking. Rolling around in pain, she clutches her arm, gasping for air. Obscenities she’s glad her father wasn’t there to hear escape her lips and echo through the barren area. Sitting up, she nurses her arm as she looks suspiciously at the seemingly empty space in front of her. Slowly rising to her feet, she approaches it again, careful not to touch it. Looking down at her feet, she kicks a pebble towards the void; when it hits its mark, the barrier glitches for a moment, revealing to her what she’d been afraid of.

On the other side of the barrier are a group of people trapped in incubators. Though green lights show their vitals are intact, they were being kept in stasis. It wasn’t just the horrifying image of people being kept captive like lab rats; it was the faces of those she saw. Father. Lolly. The Duke. Mr. Mint. Even Lord Licorice and Gloppy were in there, eyes closed, floating in the middle in their respective tubes. Several other faces were there; familiar though they were, she couldn’t place who they were anymore than she could those she did. She backs away, confused sobs ripping through her as she tries to make sense of what she was seeing. Even though they LOOKED like the people in her life, the occupants of the incubators couldn’t possibly be the same. Their clothes… the way they looked… Everything about them was wrong…

“Ah, you found the Pod People! The Pod People!”

A cheerful voice from behind her causes her to whip around. Standing closer than expected was the strangest creature she’d ever seen; short and rotund, he was covered top to bottom in green fur. He had large, glittering black eyes and a big, friendly smile on his face. His hands were behind his back as he observed her reaction casually. Recovering from her surprise, Princess Frostine approaches her new company and looks down on him desperately.

“Who are you? What is this? What is happening here?”

“The truth, the truth, you’re finally seeing the truth! They don’t want you to see, oh no no no, they don’t want the Princess to ever see.”

“See what? Sir, you aren’t making any sense! Please, who are you?”

“They call me Plumpy, ma’am. They renamed me after they remade me. Is that what they did to you, too? Of course, of course, it’s all so clear, isn’t it?”

“Plumpy, please… I’m lost and scared, and I just want to go home.”

“Yes, home, yes, we all want to go home! And you can help! Yup, yup, yes, you can help us all!”

With a wild laugh, Plumpy takes off towards the thickest rows of gingerbread trees. He stops just short of entering and motions for Princess Frostine to join him.

“Come, new friend, come along and we’ll go consult Mama Gingertree! She’ll know what to do, yup yup, yes, she’ll know exactly what to do!”

Another elated giggle escapes the strange creature. Turning back towards the barrier, she gives it one more fearful gaze before rushing to catch up with Plumpy.

Chapter Six

Two hours have passed since Princess Frostine followed Plumpy into the Gingerbread Forest. The flora was thick and dense; Plumpy was shocking nimble as he guided her through it. Stumbling, Frostine struggled to keep up, afraid of getting lost in the maze of gingerwoods. Neither had attempted conversation again as they traveled, but Plumpy was fixing to break that trend very soon.

“The Pod People! You are the only other to find the Pod People!”

“What do you know about them, Plumpy?”

“Plumpy… They call my Plumpy… They say that it’s my… my... “ His voice trails off as he struggles to find the correct word.

Princess Frostine gently tries to assist. “Name? Nickname?”

“Alias. It’s my alias.” He replies simply.

Something about the word strikes at her memories. That word… No, name, it was a name, was it not? Alias, that odd man who lurked the halls of XWF; that mystery that insisted on loathing her for unknown reasons. She looks sharply towards Lumpy.

“You ARE Alias, aren’t you?”

Lumpy turns towards her, his eyes wide. “I… AM… Alias.” He repeats slowly, the cheerful demeanor fading. His eyes suddenly change; clearing up, he looks up at her and distrust immediately hardens his expression. “YOU. I might have known YOU had something to do with this!” He spits his words out at her as he backs away.

Desperately, Frostine hurries towards him again, reaching out. “What do you mean? I didn’t do anything, I swear it! I’m as confused and as scared as you are…”

“I’m neither and I’ll thank you not to assume such.” Each word is dripping with venom now.

On the verge of tears again, Frostine falls to her knees, pleading desperately with her now hostile companion. “I don’t know what I did Lumpy, but I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt or offend you and whatever I can do to appease you, just name it.”

Lumpy turns on her, his face full of thunder. “Open your eyes. See the truth. My name is not Lumpy and yours is not Frostine. I am Alias and you are Betsy Granger and we…” His voice trails off midway as something over her shoulder distracts him.

Noting his eyes widening and a mixture of hatred and apprehension crossing his face, Frostine decided to follow his gaze. Her heart leaps into her throat as she sees why Lumpy reacts as he does. Gliding through the forest towards them are the fabled sisters of the Gingertree Forest.

Sister Nutt glides through the trees of silent feet. Her black, patch dress is little more than rags hanging off her voluptuous figure. Blue hair spills down her back, hidden under the heavy black hood of her cloak. Her neon blue eyes cut through the darkness, glowing unnaturally through the darkness. A smile tugs at her blood red lips as she licks her lips, appraising the situation. Her ivory white skin seems to glow ethereally as her gaze fixates on the terrified Princess before.

Sister Gooey skips her way through the forest, crushing as many bright flowers under her boots as she can. The hem of her grey dress sweeps the leaves as the hood of her cloak falls back. A spill of long, brown hair escapes, some of it falling becomingly over her eye. The playful smirk on her face makes it clear that her intentions are malicious. She and Lumpy lock eyes, seemingly lost in one another for several long moments. Her brown eyes dance wickedly as Lumpy retreats, hiding shamelessly behind the Princess.

Now both Sisters look to the Princess as they circle her slowly. Both of their eyes glow with wicked glee; they taunt and tease by reaching out to play with Frostine’s hair, or touch her gown. Fear quickly dissolves to anger as she grows weary of the torment from the Sisters. Reaching out, she gives the closest sister, Gooey, a hard shove backwards. The petite brunette is taken off her feet in her surprise, but she’s quickly back up. Both sisters' playful demeanors grow hostile in a flash; Now they bear down on her, hissing and reaching out, ready to do harm.

Without warning, Sister Nutt turns on Sister Gooey and zaps her back with a flick of lightning from her index finger. Lumpy and Frostine’s eyes grow wide as Sister Nutt makes sure Sister Gooey is alright before turning to the confused pair. Lumpy still hides behind Princess Frostine, though he pokes his head around her when Sister Nutt begins to speak in low, dulcet tones.

“We’re all trapped in hell and the only way out is you, Granger. They keep us in a coma so they can steal our images… Our thoughts… Our memories... “

There’s an almost imperceptible waver in Sister Nutt’s voice as she speaks these last lines. Princess Frostine narrows her eyes.

“You must be mistaken... “

“I’m not and you know it. You and I, we aren’t friends, but we aren’t enemies. Lumpy and I, we’re trapped in our places. As is everyone else. So no, there won’t be any valiant Legacy rescue. James won’t come charging in on a noble steed. The only way any of us makes it out of here and back home is when you’re able to shatter the illusion and break us all free of the control of these things.”

As Sister Nutt speaks, the distorted dreams that had been haunting her begin to play through her mind again. Noticing her thoughts slipping, Sister Nutt grabs her by the temples and pushes her way into Betsy’s head. Suddenly, the images clear and the full memory comes through.

Alarms blare as Excellence is jostled violently to the right. Everyone goes flying in that direction, landing more or less in a pile. Betsy crawls her way out of it and picks herself up by the control console. Reaching out, her fingers brush just enough of the navicomputer to turn it towards her. She manages to get just enough of a look to see what’s happening before Excellence is jerked again, this time right out of the time vortex. Everyone goes crashing in opposite directions.

“Find something to hold onto, everyone. This is going to get bumpy!”

There’s no time. As Excellence hurtles towards the unmarked planet, everyone is tossed around violently once again. This time, as she falls to the side panel, her head strikes the metal rail of the entry ramp. Bright stars fill her vision before everything goes black. She’s knocked out for only a moment, but her vision remains blurry when she opens her eyes again. Even still, it wasn’t hard to make out the shapes of her friends struggling to find a grip on anything they could. The smell of smoke gave away the fact that the engine was going to need repairs.

Excellence finally crashes onto the planet's surface, ending the stomach-churning trip abruptly. Groans and loud expletives join the loud clanking of some detached item within the many rooms of the ship. Struggling to stay awake, Betsy looks around to make sure everyone else is alright. Noah seemed to be out cold, but Shawn and Jackson had made their way over there. Atara sat next to her; James cradled her in his arms. Her eyes must have slipped shut again, because a moment later, he was tapping her gently on the cheek.

“Time to wake up, sleepy-head.”

Just as she was blinking her eyes open, brilliant white light entered the darkened engine room. Two large figures step inside, surveying the damage. A moment later, a sickeningly sweet smell invaded the room and she fell helplessly into a deep sea of blackness…

A strangled gasp escapes her as Sister Nutt lets go of her head. They stare at one another while Plumpy stares back and forth between them. Frostine stares at the Forest Witch, conflicted. The stories told by the nobles and servants of the palace said that the magical sisters were twisted, vile creatures. Everyone was warned to stay out of Gingerbread Forest, for it was told that if the Sisters found you, lost and alone… Shaking the thought out of her head, she looks with refreshed horror as the dark beauty of the woman before her.

“Why would you fill my head with such fantastic tales as these? If you wanted to confuse or defile me, you should have chosen something much more believable. I must say, for all the effort you put into this illusion, it falls rather flat to the legends I’ve heard.”

With an arrogant smirk, Frostine haughtily picks up the skirts of her gown and turns to leave. That is, until she turns right into the tall redhead that had come up behind her on silent feet. Ivory white skin and neon blue eyes stare down at her from under a thick, black cloak. Flaming red hair sneaks out, adding the only other color to her ensemble. Relief floods through Frostine as she rushes over to this mysterious newcomer.

“Mama Gingertree! Thank goodness, I…”

Before she can finish, Mama Gingertree blows a strange powder into her face. Frostine sputters and coughs as she backs away, staring up at her friend in shock. Mama Gingertree caresses the top of Frostine’s head gently.

“Why?”

“When you rise, your eyes will see the truth. Until then… Rest. The final trial is coming.”

Though she tries with every bit of her will to resist, sleep falls over her like a heavy blanket.

Mama Gingertree looks down fondly at Frostine before looking up at Sister Nutt, who seems ready to do her bidding. With a nod, she beckons that Sister Nutt comes closer to her as Sister Gooey begins to stir. She speaks in a hushed voice.

“She must be taken back to the palace and restored to her position. We’ve come too far to let her go now. Be sure she can’t escape before the mission is complete.”

Chapter Seven

“She’s coming around! Quick, everyone, the Princess awakens!”

Her eyes flutter a few times before opening fully. A gasp erupts from her as she takes in the group of hideous faces above her. Yellow skin, oozing with what she could only describe as puss. Demonic red eyes and mouths filled with crooked yellow teeth, bared in terrifying smiles. They all stood about six feet tall, with long arms and legs. A putrid death smell emitted from there, causing her to gag. They part as she sits up, taking in the room.

More like a dungeon than a royal bed chamber, the room is a dark grey and claustrophobic in size. Not a window in sight and the bed she lies on is small and dirty. A little table with a jug of glowing orange liquid is the only attempt at decoration… And she had a feeling that the orange liquid was for her. Sure enough, no sooner had she sat herself up than one of the creatures sat on the bed next to her, offering her the cup. She holds back a cringe as a long arm wraps itself around her shoulders and pulls her in tightly.

“My dearest love, we were all so worried for you.”

Though the illusion of his looks were gone, the familiar voice of the Duke resonated from the walking horror. Except he wasn’t the Duke of Swirl and that wasn’t his voice that came from this nightmare creature… It was clear to her now, all of it…

“James… That’s James’ voice you’re using.”

Every single one of the creatures tense up as her words echo in the now deadly silent chambers. Rising to her feet, she stares down each and every one of her captors, anger filling her swiftly.

“And me… I’m not Princess Frostine, or any Princess at all… I’m Betsy Granger, from Earth. And if I have the situation right, you have abducted my friends and me. And that… Was not your smartest move.”

As she speaks, she begins inching towards the door. Unfortunately, the nearby guards sense her intent and block the way. As the group closes in on her, the familiar warmth of energy begins to pulsate through her body. A menacing grin begins to spread across her face as she fans her fingers out widely at her sides.

“Not so chatty now that I called you on your nonsense? It’s the same anywhere you go, I tell you; Quick to take, take, take, but when it’s time to face the consequences, everyone goes silent. Here’s the problem with that method today, friends.”

As her skin and eyes begin to glow a blinding white, she levitates from the ground a few inches. Once she’s above all their heads, she blasts them with an enormous charge of plasma. The creatures scream and hiss as the light grows brighter. Those who are hit in the first wave of attack glow from the areas in which they were hit. The skin melts quickly as the burn spreads through the body within seconds; moments after a direct hit, the creature dissolves into ashes. Panic spreads as all the creatures scramble to escape her wrath, but it’s pointless. One by one, she takes out each one of the creatures who had kept her trapped in that room.

Once she’s cleared the room, Betsy gently floats back down to the ground, but keeps the plasma energy ready to blast. She quickly makes her way through the castle, working out through memory where to go. Everything about the delicious, fantastic dream world of Candy Land was gone; The lustrous halls were now dark grey stone covered in dirt and cobwebs. Oversized spiders and rodents quickly shuffled across the dirt-caked floors, wanting no part of the Impossible Traveler.

Once outside, she realizes that her journey was still a full day away, even by boat. As she contemplates what to do, a familiar voice calls out to her.

“Vile witch… Come with me!”

Surprised, she turns around to see Plumpy standing before her. She backs away quickly.

“Why do you still look like that and sound like Alias?”

Plumpy stares at her and for a moment, Betsy could feel Alias’ own eyes burning holes into her.

“I asked for permission to continue using his likeness until I got you out of here. I don’t think it’s right for you to be trapped here. Our leaders have been corrupt for too long and are using you against your will to ensure the continuation of our race… It is wrong. For that, I’d like to help you… Because you need to help the one in which I was given.”

“Alias… Did he tell you he needed my help?”

“No, but the moment you’ve been waiting for is nigh. Just remain patient and stay the course.”

“The moment I’ve been… What are you talking about?”

Plumpy stops dead in his tracks and looks deeply into Betsy’s face.

“You need him as much as he needs you. You’ve done your part well and you’re nearly there; it is he who has yet to see the light. Be ready to guide him through it when the time comes.”

Before Betsy can ask any more questions, Plumpy gives her a sad look before turning towards the forest. He disappears through the thick line of trees; After a moment of staring after him, Betsy follows close behind. His words remain with her as they begin the arduous trek through the dense, dangerous woods…

***

“Not too much farther now!” Plumpy cries out in glee.

Relief floods her; She’d long ago abandoned the silver ballroom heels and had since been walking barefoot. Even though her feet were swollen and bleeding, she determinedly continued to make her way forward. Thoughts of those who were being kept hostage because of her gave her the strength to do what needed to be done. Sucking in breath desperately, she pushes herself on. As they walk, Plumpy begins to sing nonsensically again.

“Creatures of the Night, People in Pods
What a delightful display of ill begotten odds
Everything is twisted all topsy-turvy
Betsy must rescue her friends in a hurry!”

Plumpy skips ahead of her, bursting with new energy as light starts the peak through the distant clearing. Encouraged, Betsy picks up her own pace and races to catch up with her little friends. There is a loud scream from the clearing, which cuts off abruptly. The fear in it caused Betsy’s blood to grow cold. Her heart begins to race as she feels the plasma energy begin to race through her once again. Once she breaks through, the scene is exactly what she’d feared and worse: Plumpy lay face down and still on the shore, reverted to his natural form. Standing over him was a grinning Mama Gingertree; behind her, still comatose in their incubating pods, were Legacy as well as Chronic Chris Page, Alias, Lycana, and Ash Quinn. All of this started to make sense except…

“Genevieve… Why aren’t you also in a pod?”

A sly grin crosses the face of the gorgeous redhead as she throws up her hands and shrugs. “No clue… Or maybe this is a clue. Who can say? Who am I? What makes you think I’m actually this Genevive you speak of?”

“Well… The fact that you only look exactly like her. Which would make me think there should be a pod for you…”

“I’m not the one you call Genevieve Tate.”

Betsy’s mouth snaps shut at the tone from the woman before her. Whoever or whatever she was, she had clearly found a way to get into her head to find Genie. Despite the disapproval she felt as having her friend's face stolen, she couldn’t help but agree on the choice; If she could change her face, she’d want to look like Genevieve Tate too. Pushing the absurd thought aside, she eyes the incubators before eyeing the Genie-Creature again. It grins at her, stepping aside obligingly to let Betsy approach the incubators. The Impossible Traveler rushes over to the one containing James and presses a hand against it. Touching her forehead against the cool glass, she asks the question still burning at her.

“Why did you bring us here?”

She turns back to the Genie-Creature, her eyes glittering hard. The woman only grins.

“We needed your remarkable wit and we’d heard rumors of the powers you possess. We’d been fighting those corrupt bastards for so long and losing at every turn… We were desperate. No one else would answer the call, so we had to take action. We sent out a gravity net to the first ship we saw brush anywhere near our sector.”

“How lucky for us.” Every syllable is dripping with sarcasm. “If your world was under the tyranny of corrupt leaders, why didn’t you just signal when we were in range?”

“As I said, we sent emergency beacons to passing ships and no one would stop to help. We’re a small world with little importance, why would anyone stop for us?”

“Don’t do that....” Rolling her eyes and groaning loudly, Betsy holds her hand over her eyes and shakes her head. After a moment, she looks back and the creature has reverted to it’s true form. “You still should have just sent a beacon. I could have had this done a lot sooner without putting my friends and… Why did you bring the others here? Legacy, I get that.. They were with me, one of them usually is. But the others… None of them are friends.”

“Yet they weigh heavy on your mind. Your companions being on board made that easy, the others not so much.”

“Will they be alright once they come out of their comatose state?” She asks, walking through all the pods to make sure everyone’s signs were vital.

“Indeed. No physical harm was done to any of them; they’re just in a deep, peaceful sleep. Be warned, though: the longer the stay in the pods, the less they’ll remember. Everything that happened here will be mere flashes; If anything, they’ll write it off as a strange dream.”

“Convenient plot device.”

Satisfied, Betsy reaches into her dress and pulls out the crown of King Kandy. Holding it up for a moment so that they could see it, she swings her arm out and tosses it at their feet. The creature bends over and picks up the crown, staring down at it in shock before giving Betsy the same expression.

“Your actions were misguided, but well intended. Do better next time, starting with the people of this world. Spread the word that oppression has died and a new era of liberty, freedom, and peace are at hand for all.”

Nodding, the creature bows low to Betsy, her voice full of reverence. “You have my word. I will not disappoint you.”

“Please rise, I’m not the queen here.” With a smirk, Betsy turns to the pods and programs the ones with her Legacy family to revive and open. Turning back towards her new friend, she motions towards the other pods.

“Would you mind giving me a hand with these?”

Chapter Eight

“So you’re telling me that this race of creatures didn’t know how to ask for help… So they kidnapped us and turned us into Candy Land?”

James’ voice is as incredulous as the expressions on the rest of Legacy. Noah is walking back and forth between the pods propped against the wall. He seems particularly fascinated by Lycana’s. The rest were seated around the control console. Shawn and Atara were cuddled up on the bench while Jackson sat in one of the cramped seats, his long legs sprawled out in front of him. James sat with Betsy, his arm protectively around her.

“The new queen says that she sent out many distress signals to passing ships, but none would ever give her the time of day. She was desperate, her people were starving and dying of disease while the leaders were filling the pockets on the backs of the poor.”

“Doesn’t that sound familiar?” Shawn remarks, his voice dripping with disdain.

“Alright, so desperate times call for desperate measures. I get why they used us, we were here. Why the others?” Atara waves nonchalantly towards pods occupied by Chris Page, Lycana, Alias, and Ash.

Betsy’s gaze follow’s Atty’s hand as she sighs heavily. “That race, they have mild telepathic abilities. The biggest is surface memory; basically, they picked out whoever they caught in the forefront of my memories.”

The look of confusion remains on James’ face for an extra moment. “Alright, so Lycana and Ash because of the match coming up. Alias because… Well, I honestly don’t get your fascination with that guy, but whatever. But why CCP?”

Rising from her chair, Betsy glides over to the pods and stops in front of the one containing the Universal Champion. She crosses her arms behind her back and stares up at him curiously. “He’s a wild card. There’s more to him than meets the eye and I’m curious to tear away those layers. Plus,” She says, turning back to James as a sly grin spreads across her lips. “It doesn’t hurt keeping an eye on the guy with the top prize in joint, now would it?”

“I suppose that’s wise, if you feel it’s necessary.” James says, winking at her conspiratorially.

She flashes him a cheeky grin full of promise before turning back towards the pods. She steps over to the one with Alias next and ponders this fellow as well. Plumpy’s words echo in her mind, nagging away at her. Patience; hell, she’d been as patient as she could possibly be with the guy. He obviously didn’t want to be friends. The moment is nigh? What could that mean? Frustrated with the riddles, she begins to turn back towards James when Noah shoots backwards with a high pitched shriek. He points at the pod containing Lycana, his face twisted in terror.

“Oi, the creepy cunt is awake!”

Recovering from his shock, he ducks and walks out of sight. Snickering at how spooked he’d been, Betsy takes his place in front of Lycana’s pod. Emerald green eyes stare into wide, electric blue ones for several moments. Finally, Lycana’s mouth begins to move, but the pods were soundproof. She bangs desperately against the door, obviously wanting to be let out. Betsy shakes her head and adjusts a few settings on the door handle. Lycana struggles violently as a thin fog emits from the top of the pod before falling back into her slumber. With a sigh, she turns and goes back to nestle into James’ arms. Noah has joined the group now, his curiosity sated after his brief scare.

“I feel bad, keeping them holed up like that for the entirety of this trip. But three out of the four would try to tear each other apart, and the fourth himself would egg it on entirely too much. I know it’s wrong, but it’s more important to keep the peace. Besides…” She glances back over at the pods to make sure everyone is still asleep. “The less they remember about this, the better.”

The rest of the trip is silent as they all sleep in turns. Deep into the trip, only Betsy remains awake, ever vigilant at the helm. James wakes up and joins her in the Captain's Chair, wrapping them both up in the big, warm blanket he had been using. Betsy allowed herself to be pulled into his lap and rested against him while he allowed his hand to roam freely wherever they could reach.

“You know, when you promised no moment with you would be boring, I never guessed it would be quite this much.”

“Are things getting a little extra for you, darling?”

James chuckles and tweaks her nipple playfully sending an involuntary shiver up her spine. “I can handle it. Yeah, the whole being kidnapped thing sucks. Having to fight/run for our lives is probably worse; all of this is dangerous and honestly, we’re probably the worst group to have this capability at our disposal. But there’s a rush to it… It’s easy to understand why you couldn’t give it up.”

A joyous grin spreads across her face as her heart begins to pound in her chest. “It didn’t seem right, having seen what I saw and not being able to share it with you. You gave me the world; the least I could do was show you some of the unimaginable.”

“Not to be that lame guy, but you are the unimaginable.”

“That is lame, but not inaccurate.” Atara mumbles as she rises from her own slumber. This in turn wakes Shawn; yawning, he pulls Atara back to him as she sits up.

Everyone rises slowly as Excellence enters into Earth’s orbit. One by one, Legacy drops each of their strange company off into places where they would be found safely. Once the task was finished, Betsy dropped off each Legacy member to their respective homes. Exhaustion sets in as she and James say their farewells to Atty and Shawn. When the door shuts, she collapses into the captain's chair, closing her eyes.

“Well that was an ordeal.”

“Are you alright, though?”

The concern in James’ voice causes her to open her eyes halfway and peer up at him. He’s leaning over her, his eyes filled with concern. Reaching up her hand, she runs her fingers down his cheek and sighs.

“A touch shook, a tad angry, a hair horrified. I should ask the same of you. Any effects from the pod’s coma drugs?”

“Nothing that I’ve noticed. Something else is troubling you.”

“Lycana fought the effects of the coma gas. I don’t know how that’s going to affect things down the line. If she ever remembered… She’ll never want to hear the truth of the situation. And even if she would... “ Betsy looks up at James with trouble written in her emerald eyes. “Why would she ever want to listen? Maybe everyone was right… I am the dangerous one.”

“You’re only dangerous to them because they don’t understand what it’s like to be inside your world. Just like they hate me because they’ll never reach my level of greatness. Don’t let them dictate which side of the conversation you’re on.”

Excellence lands gently on the front porch and the couple their way inside their home. Muppet greets them at the door, his tail wagging happily. As they pass through the house towards the bedroom, Betsy turns back and heads to the kitchen. She starts pulling various bowls, pans, and her favorite iron skillet out from cabinets around the room. James leans against the frame of the door and watches her, amused.

“What’s the occasion?”

“Quags’ Pancake Megabowl is tomorrow, we need to be prepared for this bad boy. Most important contest this week!”

Laughing, Betsy finishes filling the counter with everything they’d need to dominate Twitter with their breakfast creations. They finally head to the bedroom and climb into bed, cuddling for a while; both fall asleep quickly into troubled dreams...