"Sasha. Wake up."

I opened my eyes.

The sun was very bright and I had to blink a couple times before I became aware of the identity of the figure towering over me.

It was Ella.

"What..." I started. I sat up sleepily.

I gasped.

What in heck's finest hotel??? The ogres... they were all tied up!

I looked around. On horses were the prince and his nights. The prince was looking at Ella with admiration. The nights were all looking at Ella incredulously, and some of them even looked a little scared.

I turned to Ella.

"What... what happened? How'd the ogres..."

A night near Ella smiled.

"Never did hear o' a thing like it! This maiden talked the ogres into sleep!"

"Talked? How?"

"Well, I only imitated their persuasive tones in ogress. It wasn't hard really. Anyone could do it."

"Ogress? What's that?"

"The ogre's language." Ella said. The nights and the prince looked at me weirdly.

"The ogres have their own language? Funny, you'd think they'd have spoken it then."

Now Ella looked at me weird. What was their problems? I was just asking questions.

"They... they spoke Kyrrian to you. They spoke it in their persuasive voices. Perhaps you don't remember them speaking ogress because you were under their spell."

"But... they never spoke a different language."

"Yes... yes, they did Sasha."

Just then a horrible raspy laughter issued from NisSH the ogre.

"You foolish humans!" NisSh roared through the gag he'd managed to get out of his mouth.

Ella and the prince and nights covered their ears.

I probably should too... I'm highly susceptible to their spells after all. I thought. Yet for some odd reason, I didn't.

The prince and his nights shuffled over to NisSH and shoved the gag back in his mouth.

I felt crestfallen. I wanted to hear what that ogre was going to say. They said ogres knew all your secrets after all.

Could they know how was able to go home? Maybe it's like Dorothy of Wizard of Oz. Maybe I've got a way to go home right now but I just don't know it. The ogres would know. They did know. How I wanted to go home!

"Well, Sir Stephen will be able to take you two back to Urnalda's wedding. I wish you the best of luck," the prince said. He said this more to Ella though.

I looked out into the forest.

Urnalda's wedding. Lucinda. Did that mean my time in this strange world was finally over? Would I soon be reunited with The Big Apple?

The thought gave me the chills.

I only felt some sadness. I'd be leaving Ella and Rupert. But I didn't want to think about that. I thought of what everyone's reactions would be when they saw me again.

They'd be so shocked.

Actually, I'd have to think of a good cover story for my absence. No one would believe that I was trapped in a phone booth and transported to another world/time.

Hmmm....

Author's Note: Please review!!!