A/n: Sorry, long note responding to review. Skip down for the bold text title where story starts.
Hi Sam,
That Jim Starling story of yours reminds me of Star Trek season 1 episode 'Court Martial'. The young girl's name was Jamie. Anna is the name of a girl in a movie called Frozen. I teared up reading the wiki page. So sad.
The 'prince in New York' stuff reminds me in part of a live action movie called Enchanted. I don't know why they wrote a movie of Don Quixote's feverish fantasy instead of doing respectful social commentary like the book Don Quixote. IMHO the movie Ella Enchanted was much better. It didn't disrespect men or women. I felt like it was a genuine story about social equity while still being silly with its classic moustache twirling villain and historically inaccurate pop music fantasy adventure. Your idea also reminds me of Shadow Hunters on Netflix. Seat belts, Mary Sue, this fantasy plot is set to ludicrous speed!
The Land of Oz (is Full of Horror and Tragedy)
So I'm sorry I wanted to answer you briefly before because I wanted to give you a happy answer. The detailed answer is 'freaking Oz, man, geez. That grizzly queen witch still wants my head for her collection'. A lot of people find my reaction hilarious, but little me is still very precious about not having my head cut off. Whenever someone says 'something something ... Oz ... something something', my brain's firewall goes up.
WARNING
Tragic horror story concept ahead! Do you really want to go there?
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I am 100% prone to depressed miserable funks and totally capable of writing into those Oz inspired dark, depressing and horrific depths, but posting it is a different matter. If anyone really does want an M-Rated story, do PM me.
Your words suggest you want something camp and upbeat, Sam, but you also want Oz. Oz. Happy. Wow...
VAPX007. exe
Run-time error (Juxtaposition):
Negating arguments. Cannot form sentence.
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Don't get me wrong, Sam. 'I' have 'personal issues' with Oz, not your ideas. More people will read your fantastic inspiring reviews than they will the story you left them on. That's worth everything to me. I love that so much and I hope you leave more ideas or even better, have a go at writing them for yourself.
Mind Warp
75
The Needs of the Few
The scene dissolved to open air. Soft rain was falling on the group. The attic roof was missing and so was everything they kept in the attic. There was a bow and arrow in Drake's hands and he was standing by a crenulation looking out on a prehistoric landscape. In the middle distance was a forest on fire. Far off a volcano was erupting. Between the castle and fire was a shallow creek.
"Where are we?"
"My god, it looks prehistoric."
Drake fell back as a row of Mallards hooked bow and drew swords and guns.
"Stowaways."
"Trespassers."
"Burglars."
"Bandits."
"Brigands."
"Outlaws."
"Demons."
"Evil warlocks."
"Uh, no-no-no!" Jose interjected, "We are... lost travellers. Looking only for a way home, away from this place."
"Way away from this place." Panchito added.
"Care to be explaining this, then?" Quack Mallardson held up the amulet.
Felldrake gasped, "My amulet, how did you-."
"Erm, he is not with us." Jose said apologetically.
"No. He is a jerk." Panchito agreed.
"A big jerk." Donald added.
"Lock 'em up." Police chief Drake Aaron Mallard ordered. "Sort 'em out later."
In another moment, the entire group had vanished before Drake's eyes. He looked out on the primordial landscape. A third person view on his deep subconscious.
"Some hero I am." Drake looked down at his clothes. He was in the Darkwing Duck costume. "Weird." He stated. "I've somehow slipped between the cracks in the memory. This must be how Felldrake was able to fix his gender issue. Shouldn't I still have Gosalyn with me?" He shook his head. "Must have something to do with the amulet changing hands to me."
"Now I have a moment: How do I end the magic contract?" Drake frowned. "Everyone gets a turn. I've had my turn, more than my turn... What happens on Felldrake's turn? A world dominating, magic missile casting, sadistic perfectionist gets free."
Drake went down and in to the castle.
On the landing he heard tiny crying and headed towards it.
Two hatchlings, egg shells still around them.
"Aw." He cooed at them and picked each one up. "So what's this part of my nightmare?" He cradled them and set them back in the crib.
A little girl and a little boy. They grew bigger as he watched. A little red dress, a little blue shirt. He picked them up out of the crib and set them down on the floor. They looked about ten years old now. They hugged him.
Drake blinked, watching as they finished growing. Justin's clothes changed to a magicians robe.
"Justin." Drake slighted a smile, "I know you're only imaginary, but I still need your help."
Justin considered, "I can draw from the spirit link between you and Morgana."
"Thank you." Drake turned to the other. "Raya. I'm sorry I haven't met you yet."
She smiled back at him and faded out of existence.
The two of them headed downstairs and into the garage... stable.
Drake's memory collections had separated out Glomgold's few from Scrooge's few. Drake Aaron and Justin Arthur were guarding them.
Liam, Aaron and Quackmire stood, swords drawn, guarding Felldrake.
Quack, leaning against a wooden support, casually flipped the amulet to Justin, while the war veterans stood guard over everything with their army issue rifles, perched atop of hay bales.
"That's mine! Oh, this is ridiculous." Felldrake complained and threw a blast of purple energy at Justin.
Justin caught it mid air and sent it back, freezing Felldrake. "If I could just have a moment of quiet."
For a moment's peace, Justin considered the amulet.
Felldrake unfroze himself. "Ha!" He teased, "Nah, nayh, it's binding! If you want to set everyone here including youself free, you have to set me free as well! And that involves-."
The stable dissolved around them.
They were now all on the front lawn of a large oppressive looking building.
Justin raised a large ball of blue green energy and hit Felldrake with it.
"Argh! No fair, I-!"
Justin hit him with a purple red ball of energy.
"Stop-!"
A yellow orange ball of energy.
"No, wait, not-!"
A grey black ball of energy.
Felldrake collapsed into a heap, a spurt of purple energy shot into the amulet. The midnight grass lawn dissolved back into the meeting room.
Drake dove and snatched the amulet as it fell to the floor.
"Felldrake." Drake raised it up to his eyes. "Donald, this is extremely volatile. We need a better containment. The only thing keeping him in there is his perfectionism. Plus I can't do any real magic."
"That's okay." Donald took the amulet. "I have something organised." He looked at Drake, "Thank you for your help."
Drake nodded to him.
Drake caught Glomgold staring at him.
"Are you really a vampire like that fellow said?"
Drake blinked back at him. "That depends. Who's asking and why?"
"Uncle Scrooge, we really need to go now." Donald interrupted.
"Aye." Scrooge nodded to Drake and left after Donald, shortly followed by Peru.
Drake fell in step with Fenton.
They stepped outside.
"Fenton?" Drake stopped him, wanting to ask about the mysterious after-imaging stuff. When Fenton stopped and turned silently toward him, Drake realised he was definitely not Fenton's favourite person right now.
"I can't believe you grabbed that amulet, Drake!" Fenton took the moment to vent, "You only just finished telling 'me' to be careful! What was that amulet going to do in your hands? You didn't know; the entire group could've died in that first five seconds; especially with you being a vampire!"
Drake straightened.
"I didn't mean it like that, I was talking biologically." Fenton was instantly apologetic, "That amulet could've tapped a much less friendly part of your subconscious mind."
"No." Drake answered simply. "Because the amulet works mnemonically and I was focused on stopping 'Felldrake the criminal'." He turned away and continued walking towards his motorcycle. "If you're in trouble, Fenton, you know who to call."
Fenton followed him. "Drake, I'm sorry that came out wrong. I know you're not like that, but after all the recent attacks you can't blame me for feeling jittery."
"No, I'm blaming you for not telling me!" Drake raised his hands in supplication.
"Me not tell you?"
"You did scan me, Fenton."
"I wasn't scanning you for that!" Fenton objected.
They gazed at each other for a long moment.
"Yeah, okay," Drake shrugged it off, "But I really need you to tell me things in the future. Help me make informed decisions, Fenton."
"I'll go over your scans for you and send you an email on what I missed."
"Thanks," Drake stated, "That after-imaging's got me worried all over again."
