Disclaimers: The idea for the beginning of this chapter came from the Sesame Street Special "Don't Eat the Pictures" (unlike Genndy Tartakovsky, I give credit where credit is due!)
The songs used here are parodies of "Someday Soon" by July Collins, a parody of "Maybe" from the musical Annie, "Friendship" by Cole Porter, "Beyond the Sea" by Bobby Darin, "With A Little Help From My Friends" by The Beatles, and "April Come She Will" by Simon and Garfunkel.
Eduardo and Ms. Foster were wandering around the still life painting display, trying to find Frankie, Mac, Wilt, Bloo, and Coco. Eduardo stopped when he saw one particular painting. "Oh boy...still life with ham! Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! Would like to put that painting between two other still lives...with bread! Si, si! I may not know about art, but I know about FOOD!" Immidiately he lunged for the painting. Mrs. Foster had to hold him back.
"NO! NO EDUARDO!"
"Oh, but I'm so hungry...At de mi, I'm so hungry! Por favor.."
"We're all hungry, Eduardo, and I promise we'll go find the snack machines shortly, but you can;t eat these paintings in the meantime!"
"Oh, but it look so realistic. So lifelike. Oh, me can't stand it! Me got to eat it!"
NO, Eduardo, you promised you would behave! NO eating the paintings!"
"I know, I know..." Edurado them moved to the ancient Egyptian display. "Oooh, look! Huge mummy case...looks like giant banana! Top looks like chocolate...oh feliz, happy day!"
"Edurardo, NO!"
"I know I know. Mummy for viewing, not for chewing. What a time to leave mi papas at home!"
Still looking, they came to the statue display. Edurado's gaze fixed on a pure white one near the entrance. "Oooh, look, look, look! Huge white statue! Oh, looks like yummy vanilla! Oh, want to lick it so bad.."
Eduardo.."
"Si, si, Senora Foster. I know. Museums are for looking, not for eating."
"Right," Mrs. Foster sighed. "You know what? We should take a break from looking and go find that snack machine now. We're here all night anyway, so let's..." Edurado sped by her immidately. "go," she finished up.
Meanwhile Frankie and Ashi were sharing stories with one another while Mac, Bloo, Wilt, and Coco were listening. Frankie just finished sharing some stories about the Foster's Estate with Ashi, who was smiling and giggling at the Imaginary Friend's antics. "I can;t believe they got away with that!"
"Oh, we have hundreds of stories about what these guys got away with!" Frankie assured her. "But you have some great stories as well. All those things you and Jack did together! Those were incredible."
Ashi looked down, her smile slowly being erased from her face. "I know," she said softly. Suddenly they all jumped as the clocks in the museum began chiming the half hour all together. Frankie looked at her watch.
"What the...it can;t be 10:30 already?!"
Ashi stood up. "It is. Vishnu is gonna be coming in an hour and a half to ask me the question."
"And we'll find the answer," Frankie took her hand gentily. "And I bet you and Jack are gonna have a lot more adventures when you finally get back to him," she assured her.
Ashi gave a little smile, "Yeah," she said softly...but then it vanished. "Oh, who am I kidding?! I'll never see him again."
"You will," Wilt said quickly. "I know you will."
"I just can't figure out this riddle. And this is the easiest test," she tried to hide the tears forming in her eyes, but she was unable to. "Jack was so good to me. Even when I was brainwashed and trying to kill him he still saved my life. When I explained my background to him he was more than decent and forgiving. He taught me so much. We'd spend hours just looking at things like the clouds, and the stars and he'd teach me all about them. He was so patient with me and made me see things I never knew about myself. He was so selfless with everything he did. He was so caring and understanding...and I broke his heart. I hurt him, and I couldn't stop what was happening."
"It wasn't your fault, Ashi," Frankie tried to reassure her. "You said it yourself, you didn't know that was gonna happen!"
"Yeah, it was just as big a surprise to you as it was to him," Mac said.
"I'll never forget the look on his face when I felt myself disappearing," Ashi said looking at the painting. "I couldn't even try to make him feel better. I never got a chance to tell him I loved him one last time. I never got to even say goodbye."
"You WILL tell him how much you love him," Frankie said again. "And you know why? We're gonna solve this riddle."
"Yeah," Bloo said, studying the paper.
Frankie then sat on the ledge and gestured for Ashi to sit next to her. "You'll see him again. You'll solve this riddle, and maybe it will be tonight!" She started a small clapping game with her hands and gentily began to sing:
"Maybe far away
Or maybe real nearby
He may be pouring some strong tea,
Or he may be straighting a tie!
Maybe in his house
All hidden by a hill
She's sitting playing piano,
Or He's doing a martial arts drill!
Betcha he's training,
Betcha they're smart
Bet his parents collect things
Like ashtrays, and art!
Betcha they're good -
(Why shouldn't they be?)
There was one mistake
When it was you they couldn't see!"
Soon Mac was sitting next to Frankie, Wilt sat next to Ashi, Bloo sat next to Mac, while Coco sat in front watching the clapping. Frankie showed Ashi how to do it and she slowly began to join in as Frankie continued to sing.
"So maybe now it's time,
And maybe when you wake
He'll be there loving you, you'll see,
Maybe.
He'll teach you to read
While his mother sews
Maybe she's made you
A closet of clothes!
Maybe they're strict
Or will give you more...
Don't really care
As long as they're yours!
So maybe now this prayer's
The last one of it's kind...
Won't you please come get your "Darling,""
[Frankie and the gang]
"Maybe."
When the song was over Frankie squeesed Ashi's hand, glad to see her smile. Bloo took the paper again.
"Let's see...when does today meet yesterday...how about New Year's Eve?"
"I already tried that answer," Ashi said.
"In a time machine?"
"No."
"An eclipse?"
"No."
"Hmm...we gotta think about this..." Bloo said, pacing around the room.
"Don't hurt yourself, Bloo," Frankie mumbled to herself before she turned back to Ashi. "We're gonna figure this out."
"Hey," Bloo said, turning around quickly. "I got an idea! If we can't figure this out by midnight...why should we all stay in this museum?"
"Um...because Mr. Herriman and Ms. Foster will be looking for us?" Wilt said. "And eventually they will find us."
"I know," Bloo said. "But I mean, why can't Ashi come with us?" He turned to Ashi. "After all, we're all imaginary friends, so in a way we're all essences too! Why don't you come to the Estate and live there with us? Mrs. Foster would love to meet you!"
"That's a great idea, we would love the extra help!" Frankie said.
"Yeah, I mean, you'll be the only essence that's been to the past AND the future!" Bloo added.
"You can tell the rest of the Imaginary Friends your stories!" Wilt said. "They'd love to hear them! Maybe you can also teach them those cool fighting moves!"
"You could tuck us into bed at night!"
"You could help watch the rest of the friends while me and Grandma clean the house and cook."
"You could make us all tea!"
"And hang out with us!"
"They'll love you!"
"You'd have tons of new friends! You'll be surrounded by so much love, you'll never be lonely again!" Bloo took Ashi's hand. "Come to the Estate!" he chanted. "Come to the Estate!"
"I'll introduce you to my Grandma first thing in the morning as soon as she finds us! She'll be glad to meet you. I know she'll love you insantly!"
"Coco, Coco!" Coco agreed, jumping up and down while Bloo kept chanting
"Come to the Estate!" Ashi gentily took her hand away from Bloo and sadly shook her head.
"Oh right, I forgot," Frankie said. "The spell. You can't leave here or you'll disappear."
"No," she agreed. "Thank you all, but the truth us, I wouldn't fit in there anyway."
"Yes you would!" Wilt said.
"No," Ashi said quietly. "You forget, I disappear when the sun comes up. I'd be no good if I only lived half a life with you, and you wouldn't be able to see me during the daytime. I wouldn't be much good to any of you."
"Well, even if we don't solve this riddle by tonight, there's no reason why we have to say goodbye to you forever after tomorrow," Frankie said. "We can all sneak over here every night and visit you. We can still try to solve this riddle together. We'll talk and hang out here."
"You..would do that?"
"Absolutely!" Frankie said. "Why should you continue to be alone, with no real friends? Especially when you have us now! We may not be able to stay here all night like we're doing tonight, but we can come for a few hours every night to see you!"
"I love it, a little sneakyness for good!" Bloo said.
"I'd be down for that!" Wilt said.
"Me too," Mac said.
"Like Bloo said, you'll never have to be lonely anymore. We'll come and see you. We'll help you every night until we can solve this riddle. You can tell us more about Jack, and about your adventures. You'll have friends now." Ashi smiled and gave Frankie a hug.
"And ya know what?" Wilt said. "One way or another we're gonna solve this riddle! Maybe not tonight, or tomorrow, but we will eventually."
"Yeah, and then you'll be able to go back to the past again and be with Jack!"
"And you'll get married!"
"And you'll be a Princess!"
"And then an Empress!"
"Wow," Mac said. "Just think, Princess Ashi! Then Empress Ashi of Feudal Japan!"
"That does have a nice ring to it," Wilt said.
"Coco," Coco agreed.
Frankie sat down next to Ashi and took her hand, singing another quiet song.
"There's a young men that you know, he's physically about thrity-one
Comes from down in Feudal Japan.
Just went back to his home and he's lookin' for his love
Someday soon goin' with him someday soon
Your parents could not stand him 'cause he's rightous, good and in the know
Your father left so many cryin'
You would follow him right down the roughest toughest road
Someday soon goin' with him someday soon
And when he comes to call, your pa ain't got a good word to say
Guess it's 'cause he was the King of Pure evil all of his days
So blow you ol' blue northern, blow her love to her
Let him come in tonight from Feudal Japan
We know He loves his land and people as much as he loves you.
Someday soon goin' with him someday soon
And when he comes to call, your pa ain't got a good word to say
Guess it's 'cause he was the King of Pure evil all of his days
So blow you ol' blue northern, blow her love to her
Let him come in tonight from Feudal Japan
We know He loves his land and people as much as he loves you.
Someday soon goin' with him someday soon!
Someday soon. Going with him,
Someday soon!"
Ashi smiled at her and hugged Frankie again.
Bloo snuck out of the room and went to the Egyptian exhibit. He took a fancy crown from a pedistal and ran back to Ashi, where he put it on her head. "And you'll wear a crown, just like this!" He bowed low. "Your Majesty!"
Wilt went out of the room and took a chair from the hallway and brought it back. "And you'll sit on a pretty throne! With your husband right by your side!" He guided the chair so it was right beside Jack's picture and guided Ashi to it.
"And you'll have people to entertain you every minute of the day! Jesters and dancers, and singers..."
"And jugglers!" Bloo grabbed some fans from the display and tried to juggle them, "Ya da-da-da, Ya-da-da-da-da-da.." but they all fell down in a heap when he lost his balance. "Oops. Well...maybe not jugglers."
"And performers! And you'll never be alone again!"
Wilt said, "When you become Princess, you'll have so many people making you smile every single day! They'll be dancing and singing just for you!" He bowed low. "Permission to entertain you, Empress!" Bloo, Mac, and Wilt all lined up in front of her while Coco climbed onto Ashi's lap. Frankie than started to sing:
Frankie: "If you're ever in a jam, here I am.
If you ever need a pal, I'm your gal.
[Bloo]
If you ever feel so happy you land in jail,
I'm your bail.
[All]
It's friendship, friendship,
Just a perfect blendship,
When other friendships have been forgot
Ours will still be hot!
Lahdle-ahdle-ahdle-dig-dig-dig.
[Mac]
If you're ever down a well, ring my bell.
[Frankie]
If you ever catch on fire, send a wire.
[Bloo]
If you ever lose your teeth
When you're out to dine,
Borrow mine.
[All]
It's friendship, friendship,
Just a perfect blendship,
When other friendships have ceased to jell
Ours will still be swell!
Lahdle-ahdle-ahdle-hep-hep-hep.
[Wilt]
If they ever black your eyes, put me wise.
[Frankie]
If they ever cook your goose, turn me loose.
[Bloo]
If they ever put a bullet through your brr-ain
I'll complain.
[All]
It's friendship, friendship,
Just a perfect blendship,
When other friendships go up in smoke,
Ours will still be oke!
Lahdle-ahdle-ahdle-goof-goof-goof.
When other friendships have been "forgate"
Ours will still be great!"
The gang went into a tap dance routine, causing Ashi to smile and laugh.
Wilt then quickly took center stage and began to tap dance and sing his own song:
"Somewhere beyond the sea
Somewhere waitin' for me
Your lover stands on golden sands
And watches the ships that go sailin'
Somewhere beyond the sea
He's there watchin' for you
If you could fly like birds on high
Then straight to his arms, you'd go sailin'
It's far beyond a star
It's near beyond the moon
I know beyond a doubt
Your heart will lead you there soon
You'll meet beyond the shore
You'll kiss just as before
Happy you'll be beyond the sea
And never again You'll go sailin'
I know beyond a doubt, ah!
Your heart will lead me there soon
You'll meet, I know you'll meet beyond the shore
You'll kiss just as before
Happy you'll be beyond the sea
And never again you'll go sailin'
No more sailin'
So long, sailin'
Bye bye, sailin'"
Bloo came up to join him backed by Frankie and all three of them started to sing together:
April, come he will
When streams are ripe and swelled with rain
May, he will stay
Resting in your arms again
June, he'll change her tune
In restless walks he'll prowl the night
July, he will fly
And give you a warning to his flight
August, a wedding you'll have,
The autumn winds blow chilly and gay!
September, I'll remember
A love once new is here to stay!"
Ashi by now was smiling and clearly enjoying the show that was being put on. Frankie couldn;t help but notice this and smile back. "And now for our encore," she announced, "We would like to dedicate this next song to true friendship, both old and new," she gave Ashi a knowing nod. "To friends who aren;t here now, and friends you will soon see again!" Frankie, Mac, Bloo, and Wilt lined up and began to sing the song Frankie whispered to them:
Frankie: "What would you think if I sang out of tune
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song
And I'll try not to sing out of key"
All" Oh I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm gonna try with a little help from my friends"
Wilt, "What do I do when my love is away?
(Does it worry you to be alone?)
How do I feel by the end of the day?
(Are you sad because you're on your own?)"
All "No I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm gonna try with a little help from my friends
(Do you need anybody?)
I need somebody to love
(Could it be anybody?)
I want somebody to love"
Frankie "(Would you believe in a love at first sight?)"
All "Yes I'm certain that it happens all the time"
Frankie "(What do you see when you turn out the light?)"
All "I can't tell you, but I know it's mine"
All: "Oh I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm I get by with a little help from my friends
Oh I'm gonna try with a little help from my friends"
(Do you need anybody?)
I just need someone to love
(Could it be anybody?)
I want somebody to love"
Coco jumped off of Ashi's lap and started to dance too. "Take is, Coco!" Wilt said as Coco did an impressive dance number.
"Oh I get by with a little help from my friends
Mm gonna try with a little help from my friends
Oh I get by with a little help from my friends
Yes I get by with a little help from my friends
With a little help from my friends!"
Ashi laughed and clapped her hands when they were all finished. One by one they all lined up to bow to their knees. Frankie then got an idea, took a cloth that was on top of one of the displays, and wrapped it around her waist. "And now," she began, "For the enjoyment of our Empress, a traditional Japanese fan dance!" she took several of the fans on the display and moved her body in a slow and formal fan dance that she remembered seeing in an old video. Ashi stood up and clapped happily when she was done. Just then the clocks in the museum chimed the hour again. Mac counted the chimes.
"9...10...11...oh no, it's 11!"
"11 O'clock already? We only have an hour left!"
"We really have to think," Wilt said, pacing up and down.
"And you said the next tests are harder?" Frankie asked Ashi.
"Yes," Ashi said, removing the crown Bloo had put on her head. Wilt immidiately took it back to the Egyptian display. "The third one is the hardest. Ra is going to give that one. See, when I pass the first two tests, my body will be restored to me...except my heart. Ra has my heart in a box, and he;'s going to put it on a scale with a feather on the other side. If my heart is lighter than the feather, I can finally go back to Japan and be with Jack. But if my heart is heavier, I have to stay here forever."
"Well, that won;t happen!" Mac vowed. "We have to think. And we have to hurry. We only have an hour before midnight comes."
"Kinda ironic that this guy comes just when the new day is starting!" Wilt said,.
"Yeah, I mean when midnight comes you should be wanting to see it happen!" Bloo said.
"I've seen far too many to count, and I don't look forward to any of them," Ashi said.
"Really? Cause I hardly ever get to see it!" Mac said. "I don't really get what the big deal is about midnight."
"Well, it;'s the beginning of the new day," Frankie said. "And it's also gonna be when that deity is coming!" She started to pace around the room. "We HAVE to figure this out. There has to be an answer," Mac and Bloo started to pace right behind her. They spent quite a while walking in a huge circle in the room. "Hmm...every riddle has a clue of some sort. Maybe we're not seeing the clue...maybe the clue is in when this guy comes. He comes at midnight...when the day starts."
"Yeah, the first minute of the brand new day," Mac said. "Is that the clue?"
"Hmm, first minute of the new day. Today offically ends when that happens and the next day begins," Bloo said.
"Yeah, I guess you can say it's when when today offically becomes yesterday," Wilt replied. Quickly Ashi's head snapped up in a gasp.
Frankie stopped in her tracks as well, causing Bloo and Max to bump into her. "WAIT! When today becomes yesterday...Wilt...I think you've done it!"
"Done what?" Wilt said.
"You've solved the riddle! Thank you, Wilt!" Ashi said, kneeling down to give him a hug. Wilt blushed.
"Uh...thanks," he said uncertainly. He leaned over to Bloo, "What did I say?" he whispered.
"You don't know?" Bloo asked incrediously. "You've just said it! The answer to the riddle!"
"I..I did?"
"YES!" Just then the air was filled with huge chimes from every clock in the museum. Everyone looked at each other nervously as they counted the chimes, knowing full well what it meant.
"10...11...12! Midnight!"
Ashi quickly stood up and looked to the painting as huge bellows of smoke began to fill up the room. Strangely no one was hot or even began to choke on it. A deep yellow glow began to emerge from the smoke."
"Oh...it;'s Vishnu!" Mac cried out.
Ashi turned toward him. "Don't worry," she said quickly. Just then a huge voice boomed out, filling up the room.
"It's question time!"