Chapter 1: To Fairyport Landing!
For the first time, Sasha's dad was taking her to Fairyport Landing, the most famous theme park in the United States. It had opened just two years ago, but took only a month for it to become world-famous. She stretched her neck to look out the window. Not that there was anything to see this late at night. Her dad had decided it would be fun to make it a road trip, so they had left as soon as school got out, which was at 2:30. They didn't end up actually leaving right from school, since they had to pack. Packing took so long that they didn't end up leaving until it was more like 3:45.
They each took two bags and a sleeping bag each. They both loved camping, so they had decided to make this trip over spring break a grand adventure, camping at every interesting-looking place, and not spending more than 4 hours at a stretch in the car. Sasha and her dad both agreed, just sitting in the car, even reading, was no fun. The first bag was just for clothes, and the second for fun stuff to do: books, macramé, sketchpad, laptop, and other fun stuff.
They camped in a different place every night, under the stars and the open skies, without a tent. Sasha sat up late each night, sketching the landscape by the light of the moon. Her dad would pretend to be asleep, watching his daughter draw. She really was quite good, he thought. Finally, when it got so late that even the fireflies were asleep, he would say, "Sasha Emily Grimm! You don't mean to tell me that you're still awake?!" Each time, Sasha giggled. That never got old.
In the car during the day she didn't draw; the road was too bumpy, even if it was smooth for a road. She was re-reading the Sisters Grimm stories. The Fairyport Landing theme park was based on the Ferryport Landing of the books. They even had employees dressed up like the Everafters in the book, and the layout of the "town" was based on careful examination of the description in the book. Along with the Sisters Grimm, she had a copy of Grimm's Fairytales. It was fun seeing how the author had changed the original Grimm's Fairytales characters into the Everafters.
Finally, after days of driving and camping, they arrived at Fairyport Landing. An employee dressed as Mr. Canis greeted them. "Welcome! Here in the Fairyport Landing Theme Park, we make it a point to enact daily life as it is described in the books. You can wander around, visit the gift shop, or sign up at the Visitor's Center to work on solving the current Fairytale Mystery. I would recommend that you go to the Visitor's Center first to get a map of Fairyport Landing. It's over there," he pointed, then continued, "Our most popular site is Granny Grimm's house. It's also a restaurant, where you can get strangely colored food. Enjoy your visit to Fairyport Landing." Having finished his spiel, he walked away.
"That was weird." Sasha commented.
Just then, Snow White showed up. She was quite beautiful, and didn't look at all as she did in the Disney movie. She smiled. "I must apologize for Mr. Canis. He doesn't really like having visitors in Fairyport Landing. He thinks it demoralizing to the character of our town."
Sasha frowned. "But, the Everafters aren't really real, are they?"
Her dad smiled uncomfortably. "No, of course not, but most of the workers do live here. They've formed quite a community, I suppose."
Satisfied with this half-answer, Sasha grabbed her dad's arm and rushed towards the Visitor's Center. "C'mon Dad, I want to get a map, and we need to get a hotel or campground or something reservation."
Relieved that he didn't have to explain further, Chuck Grimm let his daughter drag him to the small building with a sign that said, "Fairyport Landing Visitor's Center."
A nice-looking elderly woman was sitting at the desk. "Hello, welcome to the Fairyport Landing Theme Park. What brings you here today?"
Sasha answered happily. "I've wanted to come to Fairyport Landing ever since it opened, and now my dad's finally brought me! We want to get maps, a hotel reservation for five days, and I want to join the Fairytale Mystery."
"Well, I can get you all those things." The woman rummaged in a file cabinet, coming up with two maps that said Fairyport Landing on the front and a booklet that said, "Join our Fairytale Mystery: How to solve it." Then she started typing on a computer. "Let's see, we have a Princess Suite at Charming's Castle, and a Farmer's Cottage on the same street as Granny Relda's House. Will either of those work for you? If not I can probably find something else."
Sasha looked at her dad. "Alright," he said, "Let's take the Farmer's Cottage."
The woman looked at the map, then drew an X with a red pen. "That's where you'll be staying. I'll print up the materials for the current mystery, and you can join the Mystery Club at Granny Grimm's house whenever you feel like it. And I must ask you to surrender your car and keys, we simply cannot have cars driving all over the place. Enjoy your stay!"
Chuck handed over his car keys and father and daughter set off toward their cabin.
"We'll have a great time!" Sasha said, skipping down the street.
"Yes, I'm sure we will," said her dad. Sasha was so happy she didn't notice the strange tone in her dad's voice. He wasn't so certain that they'd have as wonderful a time as Sasha was expecting.