Waha, my first chapter! w I'm planning on having at least 15 for this story, and then a Gabriel De Witt Era~ This may be confusing if you haven't read read The Pinhoe Egg and obviously the prequel. Here's a quick legend for my chappies:

•=POV change

°=time jump

•°•=AN

Hope you like n~n

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"This place is so confusing!" Marianne whined for the umpteenth time. The children were all eating lunch after exploring the gardens all morning, Michael Saunders was called off by Chrestomanci in a different world so their classes were cancelled for the week. Joe and Marianne didn't want to go home, so they said nothing to their parents, who still visited every so often, and stayed at the castle to wander about.

Janet saw a point in this, and nodded in agreement along with the brother and sister. "They're right, it is awfully confusing." She added in while Roger and Julia looked confused. They had lived there their whole lives, so it obviously wasn't confusing at all to them. Cat had gotten used to the castle grounds like Roger and Julia, but did get a bit flustered as well.

While a debate fiercely went around him, he had decided to simply remain quiet as he usually did. But then Cat faintly remembered Chrestomanci scolding him about just avoiding arguments, not solving them like Chrestomancis were to do. And so, with a slight groan, Eric Chant cleared his throat.

The others stopped their bickering and glanced at Cat. He had never sounded so superior or important, ever. And he had just cleared his throat! It was almost as intimidating as Chrestomanci's vague-ness. . . Well, almost. "Let's just go around the grounds and make a map. It can't be too hard."

And that was how their little adventure started. Excited by the idea, they all scarfed down their food, except for Cat, who always felt sick when he ate too quickly. And he thought it was just stupid. Not the map idea, but eating quickly to get somewhere quicker. Then again, they did seem very impatient at that moment. With another sigh/groan, he pushed the plate away, and soon enough they were outside, sitting on the gates with a long roll of parchment and pens in everyone's hand.

"Title it 'Castle Map'!"

"Make a legend!"

"We should have arrows pointing to places we don't need to include . . ."

"Let's do what we know right, now, and work on the rest after!"

"Yes, and then we can go find the places we can't recall!"

After a bunch of blabbering, and a certain nine-lifed enchanter's left hand writing away, the parchment now had a semi-bold title, a legend at the bottom, and a basic outline of the grounds and the castle. Roger and Julia quickly pointed to what was where, and Marianne popped off to where they were uncertain about.

Finally, the map was done. And with everyone working together, it was a very fine piece of work. The only issue was the gardens. They were too strange so Cat had simply drawn the area of the garden and wrote "Garden". Everything else was extremely detailed, not to mention accurate. But by the time it was all done, the sun was setting already.

"Well. . . What now? Marianne asked dubiously as they walked around the grounds, making sure everything was really accurate. "Erm . . . Let's make copies?" Janet suggested after a moment of silence. "Brilliant!" they all said in unison, and were about to go off to get paper. Well, everyone but Cat walked off to get more paper and pens. "What about magic?" he called after them. "That's no fun!" Janet called back, laughing. Rolling his eyes, Cat ran after them with the map calling for them to slow. By the time he caught up, they all had stopped, looking up in some kind of horror.

Chrestomanci was standing at the top of the steps to the entrance to the Castle, not looking vague at all, but instead very, very miffed. "And do you know what's on the back of that particular parchment?" Chrestomanci said, sounding almost like a ghost with his vague tone. Cat was barely able to speak, but he managed to anyways, unlike the frozen others, "I-I'm sorry but I had no idea if there was anything on the back." He stammered out in a quick breath. Glaring, almost, Chrestomanci snatched away the map, and flipped it over. It was somewhat worn out on this side, crinkled with ink blotches. But that wasn't what was important. What were the many signatures stating, "Chrestomanci" that covered the parchment. Finally, at the bottom right corner the signature Chrestomanci always used was bold and obviously not protected.

Without asking, Chrestomanci looked at them as if asking if they understood while at the same time asking who got the paper. Joe and Marianne had no idea what he was looking at weirdly for, while Cat and Chrestomanci's children nodded quickly. Hastily, they nodded as well. "Maps can be requested and given to whenever, all six of you. I'm afraid I didn't mention this before . . . Well; now you know. Oh, and Cat, please double-check all papers you decide to carry off." Once more the elegant man said in his normal superior yet comforting tone. All five youngsters relaxed and nodded when necessary. "Daddy, why are you here?" Julia suddenly said before Chrestomanci could walk off. Raising an eyebrow, and looking mildly bewildered, he turned and started walking while saying airily to the wind, "Why, young Cat, do you not remember putting your hand directly on my signature and longing for me to come in order to save you from the most stupid argument you've ever heard?"

Cat flushed with embarrassment while Janet, Roger, Julia, Joe, and Marianne turned to glare at him. Just then Chrestomanci decided he'd rather not want this to happen again, burnt the parchment, and went back to Series 11 for unfinished business. He couldn't help but chuckle as immediately three female voices started to scold Cat and the poor nine-lifer try to defend himself.

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Chappies will usually be longer, but school is being a big douche-bag right now so, yeah -;;