Weber's Webisode
"Are we rolling?" Weber Croakington asked, looking into the camera.
"Nope," Eggna Dumpty said, rolling her eyes. "I told you this a million times. If the camera's on, there should be a red light."
"Right, right." Weber nodded, not really hearing her say this. "So are you done with the website now?"
They were currently in the Mirror Lab, setting up Weber's Webcast which was appropriately named "Web Full of News". Since Honey Lockes had no intention of continuing her mother's show "Just Right" here at EAH, Weber had asked his friend Eggna to create his own show. It was the beginning of the third week of the semester and he figured that someone should start a news channel to keep everyone updated on what was happening at the school.
Eggna nodded. "Yep, but we still need to make a video. Otherwise it'll be just a blank page." She pushed her glasses up her face and squinted at the screen.
Weber's best friend Eggna had light blonde hair that was always in a short ponytail with long bangs covering most of her eyes. Her glasses were large and light blue, which matched with her long-sleeved romper that she wore. A loose yellow tie hung around her neck and comfortable yellow clogs adorned her feet. Around her hands were yellow, mesh fingerless gloves. Her eyes were a soft blue and her cheeks were usually rosy.
Weber had bright red hair, a fushia crown and had deep blue eyes. He wore a lime t-shirt with purple shorts that had suspenders attached. His feet were covered with the same lime green colored socks and orange tennis shoes. He was quite pale and had dashes of dark freckles across his entire body.
"Hmmmm," he thought for a moment, "what should my first video be about?"
Eggna turned away from her computer and gave him the "Are you really this dumb?" look that she always gave him. "Well, what's the biggest news story that's happened so far?"
"The lunch troll's mystery meat?"
"I'm talking about Legacy Day, silly!" she said, hexasperated. "Amity White, the one girl we all thought was gonna sign, didn't! And no one knows why! Then, her mother is arrested, and Queen Raven won't even tell the public what she did! That's what everyone's talking about, and that's what we need to know."
Weber slowly nodded, cupping a hand to his own chin, "I do believe you're right, Eggie."
"Please don't use that nickname."
"It's already done, Eggie. That's your nickname, be proud of it."
Eggna sighed even though she was smiling.
"Okay, so what should I ask people?" Weber asked. He toyed around with his custom made microphone. It was a lime green with a frog figurine as the mic part.
"How they feel about it. OOH! And you should ask Amity why she didn't sign!" Eggna said, hexcited.
"Wow, that's really good." He grabbed a notebook from his backpack and started writing her suggestions down. "Hey, maybe you should be the one on film."
Eggna laughed. "Oh no, you know how I get." She curled into herself.
Weber smiled, remembering how back in spellementary school, she had gone pale and forgotten her lines during their second grade showcase.
He supposed that he had always been the louder of the two, even when they were small. Because their parents were best friends, they had grown up together. They were like brother and sister, friends since the very beginning.
"Alright, let's go!" Weber said, getting out the lab seat.
"Wait, now?" Eggna asked, grabbing her yellow camera and swaddling it protectively in her arm.
"Yup! We have to get this information now before anyone else does!" Weber hexplained. He grabbed his backpack and turned the microphone on, bounding up the Mirror Lab's steps, headed to the door.
Eggna groaned and turned off her computer. She muttered something that Weber didn't hear, most likely cursing him for his excitement. Still, despite her grumpy demeanor, she grabbed her satchel and camera, following her friend into the hall.
School had gotten off a while ago and students were walking leisurely in the hall, talking to each other and catching up on their MirrorPhones. Weber scanned the area for someone of interest, someone who was close to the events that happened that night.
After Apple White had been arrested by Raven Queen, her majesty had cancelled the event, without a reason why. To be completely honest, Weber had been relieved to find that they weren't going to sign at Legacy Day. He was supposed to live 10 years as a frog before finding his true love, who he didn't even know. Weber got turned into the amphibian whenever he had the hiccups so he wasn't too crazy about to spend a huge chunk of his life hopping around.
He also was relieved for Eggie's sake. She would have to fall off a wall and be broken into a thousand bits if she ever signed the book. Of course, she would be put back together again, but he still would never want his best friend to have to go through that.
"Hey," Weber said, "let's ask Mar on her opinion." He gestured to the girl in the red hood.
Since Raven Queen didn't sign and the old Storybook of Legends had been destroyed, it was revealed that Mr. Badwolf and Red Riding Hood were actually married and that Cerise Hood as well as Ramona Badwolf were their daughters.
"She's a mix of a good guy and a bad guy."
Eggna nodded. "Okay, let's go ask her."
They walked over to Maroona Hood who was at her locker. "Hey Mar?" Weber asked, politely.
She looked up, golden eyes glowing and her ears perked up. "What?" she asked, a growl deep in her throat.
"We wanted to ask you your opinion on everything that went down at Legacy Day. I'm starting this show: Web Full of News, and this is my first video," Weber hexplained. "Is it okay if we record you?"
Mar rolled her eyes and shrugged. "Sure, why not?"
Weber smiled and nodded to Eggna who turned on the camera and gave him a thumbs up. The light turned red and Weber took in a deep breath, clutching his microphone.
"Welcome to Weber's Webcast: Web Full of News. Today, for our fairy first webisode, we're interviewing students on their take on Legacy Day. As we all know, Amity White refused to sign the book. Plus her mother and the former queen, Apple White, was arrested by Raven Queen, our current monarch. We still don't know why she was taken but that Raven cancelled the signing of the Storybook of Legends, ultimately overidding The Board of Fairy Fables and Tall Tales' Storybook of Legends Law. Here we have Maroona Hood, daughter of Cerise Hood and granddaughter of Mr. Badwolf. Mar, what's your thoughts on that night?" he put the mic in front of Mar's mouth.
Mar glared at the camera. "I'm glad that Amity didn't sign because now things will be even. Maybe this time heroes won't always win and villains will have a chance."
"That's great!" Eggie said, as she turned off the camera. "Now, we can get a bunch of other statements from different students and compile them!"
"Yeah," Weber agreed. He turned to Mar. "Thanks for helping out."
Mar sneered. "Please, it was my pleasure."
They said goodbye to her and looked around for other students to ask questions to. By the time the night had ended, they had plenty of material to create their very first webisode! The next day, Eggie called Weber to the Mirror Lab to show him the finished product.
The video started with Weber's speech and Mar's interview. Next, with a fancy transition, it showed the second interview they had done. Flora O'Hair, with her sunny features sat at her desk which was flooded with flowers and ferns, smiled on the screen.
"I think that Amity is just confused. We all have our moments of doubt," Flora blew a piece of hair out of her face, "but that doesn't mean we can't make up for our mistakes. She will understand what she's done wrong because she's a good person."
Next, it cut to a scruffy boy with dark hair and skin. His name was Jake Beanstalk, son of Jillian Beanstalk. They had taped him outside in the gardens, tending to some of the plants. "Just because Amity doesn't like her destiny, doesn't mean that she has to take everyone else's away," he pouted and crossed his arms.
He had seemed really mad. Weber guessed it was because his destiny was to become rich and a hero and without signing, that destiny, that life, wouldn't be completely granted.
Finally, the last interview was with Amity White. After much convincing, Eggna and Weber were eventually able to find out why she hadn't signed.
The camera focused onto a girl with soft curls and big blue eyes. She was as much graceful as she was petite. Weber appeared beside her, both sitting at a coffee table in Hocus Latte, a popular cafe down in Book End.
He said, "Amity, thank you for agreeing to talk with me."
"Of course. I want to clear things up." She seemed happy, but her eyes were vacant as if she was considering whether this was a mistake or not.
Weber figured why. Her only parent was now in prison and half of the entire school resented her. Weber tried imagining that his mother and father were locked up somewhere and that he recieved hateful glares throughout the day. He wasn't sure he'd be able to handle it and wondered how she was able to cope, being as fragile as she seemed.
"Let's discuss Legacy Day. Being the descendent of such a traditional family, we all have been wondering, why didn't you sign the Storybook of Legends?"
Amity sighed and clutched her latte tighter. "I didn't sign because I panicked." She lifted her eyes from the table and looked into the camera. "I saw a different destiny for me that night."
Weber's face turned concerned. "What destiny?"
"Alyssa Wonderland's." After she said it, a look of relief flooded through her face and her body relaxed, like a tension had been built up inside her and was just released.
Weber could see the confusion spreading on his face in the video. Eggna did a wonderful job with the camera, capturing the intensity of the moment and she had even added an icon in the down corner with two Ws drawn cartoonishly, the new symbol for their website.
"So you saw her story?" he asked, drawing the question out, clearly not understanding.
"Not exactly," Amity said, shaking her head. "The story had changed. Every scene in the book had me as Alice, not Alyssa. I was painting red roses into white and Alyssa Wonderland was the Queen of Hearts, except that instead of wearing red, she had white on." She blushed.
"So, what do you believe is the next step for you?" Weber asked.
"I'm not sure." She set her elbows on the table and her gaze hardened. "But I want everyone who's watching to know that it's not my decision that decides yours. I know things have changed since Raven didn't sign, but just because someone makes a choice different from the status quo, it doesn't make them a leader. I chose what was best for me. Chose what's best for you."
Weber nodded on screen and faced the camera. "Strong words from a strong student. Make sure to comment down below what you think and if you have any stories for us. Thanks for watching Web Full of Lies, and tune in next time for the next webisode."
The video ended with the website's icon and a picture of Weber and Eggna, standing back to back.
...
Princess Eleanor Hearts turned off her MirrorPhone, shutting off the newest video on Weber's Web Full of Lies.
This "Amity White" was stealing Alyssa's destiny? Alyssa was the Queen of Hearts? This would not stand. Eleanor would be the one to rule Wonderland, it was her birthright! Just who did this Amity think she was? Had Alyssa planned to steal her destiny this entire time? There was only one way to find out.
"Armora!" she called.
Her best friend, Armora Redford dashed in, sword in hand. "What is it? What's the emergency?"
"Nothing!" Eleanor assured her.
"Then what's going on?"
Eleanor smiled. "We're going to Ever After High."
Coach's Guide to Bookball
6:00 am - On schedule
Coach Gingerbreadman woke up that morning with a crick in his back but a smile on his face.
Today was the first bookball practice! Finally after going through weeks of boot camp and trying out the new kids and picking the best of the best, he had his team. They were going to be the gnarlest, toughest, and greatest players there ever were!
Unfortunately he was disappointed to find that on the bookball field, only 3 of his players had arrived. Beau Beauty, Bruce Wood, and Oliver Ugreo stood on the field, barely awake.
"Where's everyone else?!" Coach demanded.
Beau, who looked sleep deprived with heavy bags under his eyes, said, "Blair had a party last night and everyone went."
"Yeah, they're all sleeping," Bruce hexplained, yawning.
Coach sighed. Students these days. "Alright kids, go into the shed and grab the buckets."
Oliver raised his hand. He was an ogre, large, green, and spotted with warts. But despite all his scary features the guy was a big softie. Still, Coach put him on the team because he withstood trials and because Coach hoped that the opposing team would scram right at the sight of him.
"Yes, Ugreo!"
"Uh why are we getting buckets?"
Coach Gingerbreadman laughed, sneakily, rubbing his hands together. "Oh, you'll see."
...
7:00 am - 30 minutes behind schedule
As he crept into the room, bucket full of water in hand, Coach cursed himself for picking such lazy teammates. He tip toed over dirty socks and school books that were thrown across the room, finally reaching the mark: Jay Hood. The boy looked like a elf with pointy ears and a devlish smile, tall too, but snarky and sarcastic, even when it wasn't needed. Hood slept peacefully, a bit of drool coming from his mouth but all that would change in...3...2...1—
"AAAHHHH!" Jay sat up bolt right, drenched in cold fountain water. He sputtered as his light green hair dripped water down his back and front. After he had calmed down, he looked up at Coach and screamed again, only this time, the boy rolled off the bed.
"Serves you right!" Coach chuckled. "Practice was this morning but ya missed it! So now we gotta work overtime! Get dressed!" he barked and rolled his eyes.
...
7:30 am - An hour behind schedule
So after 30 minutes of dumping water on the rest of the boys who had slept in, waiting for them to get dry, and then dragging everybody out to the field, Coach finally had his team.
"First," Coach Gingerbreadman said, looking at his players, "you will run 10 laps around the track. No groaning! Then you will get into two groups and throw and catch with these practice bookballs almost like a real game. Oh be quiet, Croakington! Finally you will do 50 pushups."
"Oh thank Goodfairy!" Clef Piper, eldest son of Melody Piper, hexclaimed.
"You thought I was done?" Coach asked, glaring at him.
"I-uh..." his voice quickly dampered.
"There's more?" Bruce Wood said, surprised.
"Well, since some of you decided that bookball practice wasn't a priority." he cleared his throat, "I've decided that we should work extra hard for the first day." A series of mumbling and disgruntled whispering grew. "After you do these three things you will have lunch and then come back here immediately."
The boys slouched, groaned, but did as Coach asked. He watched them proudly from his spot on the bleachers, all while reading his book on candy boats.
Many of them lacked the finesse of a bookball player, but he knew that he could whip them into shape. After all, Coach had taught and coached their parents, what was the difference here? If anything, they would be easier than those rebels back in the early days.
After a couple hours and many commands from Coach, telling them to suck it up or press on, he released them for their lunch, watching as they trudged up to the school.
Coach grabbed his napsack full of his lunch and read on, waiting for his players' return. He must have gotten so immersed in his book, Coach Gingerbreadman began to wonder when the boys' lunch would be done. It had felt like hours.
Coach checked his watch. It had been 2 hours! Where were those boys?
He ran all over school looking for them, scaring many students and staff until he eventually found them in the castleteria, hanging around a group of cheerleaders.
He rolled his eyes. Typical.
"ARGGGG!" Coach Gingerbreadman ran over to the boys and girls, as they turned around to see their coach waving his hands around, furiously. The girls scattered, laughing, while the bookball players gulped, waiting to be chewed out.
"Field. Now."
...
3:45 - 4 hours behind schedule
Coach Gingerbreadman shook his head at the players in front of him. Never had he seen such lazy and weak boys in his life! "Never have I seen such lazy and weak boys in my life!" Coach yelled at his students.
"Never have I had such an uninteresting and weird coach," Jay retorted back. A couple of the boys laughed with him.
Coach shook his head, disappointed. "I'm disappointed alright," he said, "but I won't let that deter me away from training you. Let me tell you a story—"
"Do you have to?" cried Weber, sighing.
"Yes!" Coach Gingerbreadman insisted. "This is the story of my grandfather, or as I liked to call him, Gingergramps. Oh stop laughing, Jake!
"You see, Gingergramps had a problem when he was your age. He was too slow. In my story, we Gingerbreadmans must be fast. We must be swift to outrun all the people in the town who want to eat us. But my grandfather was baked small and thin. He had to be careful when he was running because a wrong step, and he might break. So, I'm sure you must be wondering, what did Gingergramps do?
"Well, my boys, he trained. He got stronger. He lifted candy canes, he jumped rope with liorice, he worked harder than anyone had ever worked. And you know what happened? He still lost. He still could not run as fast as the other gingerbreadmen in my family.
"But that was okay. It was okay because he tried. Because, no matter what happened, my Gingergramps gave his best effort, as we should. So what I'm saying boys, is that no matter, win or lose, we should still try. We should try to be the best bookball players in the history of Ever After High, because that is what truly matters, that we gave our best shot.
"Do you understand?"
"Uh, Coach?" asked Bruce.
"Yes?"
"All the other guys left, it's just me."
Coach Gingerbreadman opened his eyes. He had been so enveloped in his speech that he had shut them, inspired by his grandfather's story. He had hexpected applause when he was finished but was dismayed at the sight of the only player left.
He sighed. "Ah, well, you may go too Wood."
Bruce nodded and jogged back up to the school.
Coach watched him go and he smiled. So maybe not all of them were star players, but at least he had one. And that was enough.
The End is Just the Beginning...