The Exiled Prince
One night in the dark woods, 2 people were walking down a path. One was a suited bodyguard, and the other was a teenager holding a fair tail book of the frog prince. As they walked, a frog heard them from a nearby tree. "This path isn't on our map, but the villagers said it's known as 'The Exiled Prince Road.' Story goes when the fog rolls in, the fabled Frog Prince begins to wander here, searching for his long-lost princess. But no one who's laid eyes on him has ever returned to tell the story." Another frog behind them spotted them and its eyes begin to glow yellow.
"It's time to head back, Marie. The chancellor will not be pleased I let you stay out so late." said the bodyguard.
Then they stopped in front of a frog statue with a torch next to it for light. "I-I think we're lost. Didn't we come across this stone statue an hour ago?"
Then the bodyguard pointed to someone at the end of one of the roads. "Don't worry, I see someone up ahead. Maybe he can help us…" The figure he pointed to had on a green cloak and when it turned his head, his eyes glowed red and had the same frog from before in his hand.
Prologue
Back at Dark Parables, it's been a full year since the Sleepy Beauty case. Charlotte turned 15 years old and during the year, it didn't take her long to decorate her office. Most of her shelves were different adaptations of fairy-tales in book and DVDs. Luckily her visions gave her specific clues of what she needs to study. She also have shelves of anime manga that she collected over time. The only series that were there were Sailor Moon, Yugioh(first series), Dr. Blackjack, and Pet Shop of Horrors: Tokyo. Also she has fantasy novels too, mostly the Red wall series, The Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings. Just a typical teenager like everyone else. As for her friends, some are on their own missions and cases, and others have arrested some villains to fill up the jail. Anyway as Charlotte was reading her Frog Prince books and looking at her DVDs collection of the same topic, when Alexandra came in. "Got another one."
"Does it involve a green animal?" she asked.
"That and more." She handed her the file and recorder. "Here, one more thing," She gave her an earpiece. "You're going to need this if you're going to do these solo. Phantom and Guy are going to help you on this one."
"Ani-san and daddy volunteered for this?" She put it in her ear. "Seems so out of character. Even for them."
Alexandra said, "I thought so too, but you're going to need someone that involves lost love and secret tunnels. They're more experience in that then Irene and Agatha. Anyway they're going to help you threw this case, but be careful cause it won't work during dead zones."
Charlotte got the 2 stuff. "Where is it?"
"Just follow the co-ordinates and you'll see. Now you need to go immediately."
Charlotte hopped on the next train to her destination. Black Forest, Germany. Once there, she opened the file and turned on the recorder. "Detective, the chancellor's daughter went missing last night. Her bodyguard is also nowhere to be found. However, we believe this case has to do with the Frog Prince. More than once he's surface on our radar in the Black Forest, but we've never been able to pinpoint his location. I've given you a map of the area where she was reported seen last. It is imperative you find the chancellor's daughter as soon as possible. Good luck Detective."
Charlotte put the recorder away in her backpack and got her journal ready when needed. Then she heard her earpiece turn on. "Charlotte this is Guy." said Guy Fawkes.
"And Phantom." said Phantom.
"Can you hear us?" they asked.
She replied, "Loud and clear guys. How can you keep track on me?"
Guy said, "The earpiece is also a tracker. We have you on radar so we'll see you as you explore the areas."
Phantom said, "Only thing we can't do yet, is a camera so we can look at the area like through your eyes. We didn't have time to make it before you left."
Charlotte said, "It's alright. Besides whatever secrets are here, it'll be my choice to expose it or for it to remain a secret. That and no one told me to bring a camera or not. I'll call you back when something pops up."
"Roger that." said the 2.
Charlotte got the golden crown that Briar Rose gave her and looked at the forest road. "Alright Princess, what secrets do you know about your brother-in-law?" The road was fogged, there was a log with a lamp inside, a crow on a tree, and only a crow and not a witch, and a lone tombstone. She saw sparkles at the log and saw pieces of a stone emblem. Once she solved it, she put it in her bag. Then she walked forward and arrived at the fork of the road. There, on the floor was the frog prince book. "Guys?"
"Yes?"
"Got a fork in the road. Which path goes where?" she asked.
Guy said, "The one on the left goes to a path to a cottage that is supposed to be abandon."
Phantom said, "And the one at the right goes to a cliff with the view of a city. My advice go to the one on the right first."
"Roger that." She looked at the stone frog statue and saw that the plaque under it was dirty. She also spotted a decorated jar on the ground. She picked it up and looked inside the hole in the tree. It was a dead rotten tree. "It must be dying from the inside. She looked down and saw 2 frogs. "Excuse me guys. I have to get through please." They hopped away. "Thanks." She took the path on the right and did indeed saw a view of the town. "It's beautiful." That's when she saw a lamp on the tree, though it had a compartment. "Someone's been here a couple of times before." She looked down on her left and saw a puzzle case on the ground. It was a match game. When she solved it, she got a sharp sickle.
Then she made her way back to where the statue was and saw a gate that was covered with vines. She used the sickle to cut the vines and used the stone emblem on the slot and walked forward.
Chapter 1
She saw a tree with 5 circles in front of a small cage guarding something. Then she looked at the jar she got and noticed that all 5 have different element themes "I see." Then she went back to the log and saw sparkles. There she found pieces of fishing net. Then she walked through the road and walked towards the cottage. As she stood in front of it, she spotted someone at the top windows. It looked like man but it went away. There was also a gate to her left and gate going into the ground. She walked up to the doorstep and found a shoe from the girl. "Found first clue guys."
"What you found?" asked Guy."
Charlotte replied, "Marie's shoe. She must be inside the cottage." she tried opening the door. "It's locked."
Phantom asked, "Is there a key nearby?"
Charlotte said, "No. He hid it somewhere. I'm going to look around." They signed off and she continued. She saw something sparkling at the window and saw pieces of the gate key. "Who is sending me these pieces? The first one was Briar Rose." After she got the key, she found a red cloth handing near the door and took it. Then she used the key on the gate and went to the back. There was a small late and an island where a light post was. She also saw an object in the water and fished it out using the net. It was ladybug gem. Then she saw sparkles at the small island and found pieces to a dragonfly gem.
Then she made it back to the frog statue and used the cloth to get the mud off and put the gems in place. Then the statue opened its mouth and there was the key. "Guy's I found the key." Then she noticed the fog was getting thicker and the frogs were there but their eyes are glowing yellow. "And I think I unlocked something. The frogs are acting weird."
"Be careful Charlotte." said Phantom.
"You don't want to end up like me right?" said Guy.
Charlotte chuckled. "An immortal zombie with the face that looks like the V movie. Yeah I see no problem in that." she said sarcastically.
She heard a groan. "Just be careful please." they said.
She made her way back to the cottage and she heard tapping at one of the windows. She looked up and saw Marie tied up and was banging at the window mouthing 'help me, help me'. Then she turned her head and the lights went out. In front of the door stood the man but he went away. Charlotte started to run to the house but then the circle where the frogs were gave out. She looked down and said, "Crap." Then she went down and everything went black.
Charlotte woke up by the sound of the 2 in her earpiece. "Charlotte! Come in Charlotte!"
"Can you hear us!"
Charlotte opened her eyes and sat up. "I'm okay guy."
"What happened? You're not on radar." said Phantom
Charlotte stood up and checked to see if anything is broken. "The floor in front of the cottage was a trap. I'm now underground. Deep underground. You won't be able to pick me up on radar. When I'm out in the open you'll find me. For now I'll make a map or find map and I'll document my area."
Guy asked, "Anything broken?"
"Nope but I'm going to get a bump in the morning. I'll call back on more surprises." They signed off. "Man oh man I wish I had a camera." She looked at her area and saw a gate to her right and a dead body holding a sack to her left. "Dead body number 2." She looked at the bones. "No damage so he's just died naturally." She saw a box in the middle of the room and a newspaper. She picked it up and it says, 'Mysterious palace, filled with immense wealth, rumored to be buried under Black Forest!' "Guys can you do quick research?"
Guy asked, "What do you need?"
"Is there any news papers telling about a castle underground? Found a newspaper dating back a few decades. And I found a dead body dating back as well." said Charlotte.
Phantom said, "It's probably the famous thief. I see reports before he went missing that he wanted to find the castle but he as a nobody."
Guy said, "I also found reports of a castle but they never followed the lead since it's in tabloids papers."
Charlotte said, "Even back then there were tabloids. Alright I'm going to find a way to get back on the upper floor. I'll call back when I enter in every other room."
Guy said, "Every other new room. Maybe if you walk around the signal will come back."
Charlotte said, "You got it." She went to the box and saw it was a puzzle. It had 3 locks but to unlock it, you need to know math. After she solved it, she looked inside and saw a rose emblem. She walked inside the cave and said, "Found the thief's hideout." She picked up the dairy and it talks about him proving that the palace is real and wants to steal it's jewels. "Well you lucked out big time dude." Then she found a lakeside disk next to some steal bars covered in dirt. "Swan Lake?"
Then she saw some spackles on the table and fixed a mechanical handle. "Now I can open that gate." She walked back to the drop site and put the handle in place. She pulled down the leaver and the bars went away. When she put the rose emblem in the circular hole. When the door opened, she went through.
Chapter 2
There waiting for her was the Frog Prince. "You are not welcome here, stranger. I do not know your intentions, but taking my key is the last mistake you'll ever make. This is the fate for those who attempt to venture into my kingdom." Then he used some magic and the plant roots from above covered the 2 main doors of the area. Only one was uncovered. "Don't worry, stranger, your dire predicament is nothing compared to the curse I bear every single day." Then he went to one of the covered doorways and the fog made his disappeared and went threw the roots.
Phantom immediately called in. "We just heard him threatening you. Are you alright?!" he asked.
Charlotte said, "I'm fine, he just blocked 2 entrances but not the third one."
Guy asked, "Can you open the door?"
Charlotte said, "I will. Let me just go back to the last 2 and then I'll press on." They signed off and Charlotte found a silver apple on the floor. She picked it up and examined it. "Does he know Snow White?" She put in her bag and went back to the small hideout. She found a small knife on the ground and went back to the drop and opened in the sack. It was a small note about a tunnel next to the cage in the room with the table.
Then she went the 3 door tunnels and went to the uncovered door. On the door was a frog with an empty slot. She got out of the small crown from a year ago and put it on the door. She went inside was a tomb of a princess and a door but it was covered in ice. She made the cross and went inside. She looked at the plaque and said, "Sister Ivy and Sister Briar Rose: Release the spirit of one and you shall free the other." She looked at the princess's stone face. "I'm sorry if you waited in vain for your sister to wake up. But the spindle is destroyed and Evil Godmother is gone…for now. But if she does resurface again, I swear I'll get her." She looked on the ground and found a secret tree disc. "Now what secrets do you have for me?"
She sense something on the small table again and found pieces of a shovel. Once it was put together and used it to make a tunnel into the kingdom. When she saw the kingdom, she was in awe. Then she heard Phantom. "Yes! We got her on radar. I guess there was a camera on her."
Then she heard. "Holy cow!" Apparently the 2 back at Dark Parables can see what she's seeing.
Guy asked, "Are you seeing this?"
Charlotte said, "If I am so are you unless you 2 gone blind. So there really is an underground kingdom."
Phantom said, "Or THE Underground Kingdom. Now I can see where the name from Labyrinth came from."
Guy asked, "What about the Frog Prince?"
"He hasn't popped up yet. But if he's a shape shifter, then he's watching me. So I'm walking on eggshells until other wise." said Charlotte. "Do me a favor, look up the people that has gone missing when they walked into the Black Forest. Something tells me the thief wasn't the first nor the last."
They replied, "Got it!"
Charlotte looked around the area and saw a tree, a sword in a stone, and a cage with a skull on top. On one of the stonewalls she saw a trigger puzzle. As she solved it said, "RIP 1835 to 1927. Who died around that time?" Then the compartment opened and she got a mirror. She put it in the sack and went to the door on the right. In that area she saw a building in tribute to the Swan Princess. "He knows Odette?" It also had a fountain, and 2 statues, one a knight and another a queen, with missing pieces. That's when she saw sparkles on a broken birdcage. It was pieces of an item called Leaf Heirloom. "Looks like a mini-Christmas tree."
She tried the other entrance and immediately she saw a ghost. A green ghost if you will, and no it's not the man with the burned off face. This green ghost looked like a princess. She took one step forward and it went away. "Did you guys see that?"
Guy said, "Yeah we did. Was that princess Ivy?"
Charlotte said, "Maybe, she looked a bit younger in the pictures. But then again that was probably her wedding photo."
Phantom said, "Well we did a bit more research on the Frog Prince and all I'm going to say is, you're going need to get another bookshelf."
Charlotte asked, "Why's that?"
They told her. "You'll see." They signed off.
Anyway, other then the ghost, in front of her was the castle, and in front of the castle was an entrance to the docks, and a greenhouse but it was locked up. She saw sparkles on one of the glass windows and went to it. It was pieces to the royal scepter. She ran back to the 2 statues and put in the hand of the queen statue. When it moved she saw sparkles at the birdcage again. But she instead when forward and saw a cottage in tribute to Snow White. "Woman number 3, Snow White."
Then she went to the birdcage and put together another decorated frog jar. Then she felt something back at the hideout on the table. She quickly rushed back and found pieces to the Swan Princess Key. She went back to the swan princess building and unlocked the door. Inside there was pictures and a rug that reflects the lore of the swan princess stories. There was also a ballerina outfit along with shoes. Next to one of the doors was a wooden oar. She took it with her. She found a puzzle on a dresser and the instructions was to make 20 fish and there was 4 buttons that controlled 4 slots. After a while, she solved it and got a moon disk.
That's when she found a slot for the swan disk she found. The doors looked like something you see as an entrance to a garden. When she used it to opened the doors she saw an a cave with an ice lake, a few candles with flowers, and a ice or crystal sculpture of the swan princess with 2 swans: one black and one white, at her feet. Phantom said, "This is beautiful."
Guy said, "I think she, along with Ivy and Snow White, was one of his wives."
Charlotte said, "It has to be if he makings these beautiful shrines to them." She saw sparkles at the statue but she didn't solve it right away. "For the time being, let's assume that his Odette died of old age and not of suicide or broken heart like in the lore. I'm not ready for suicide 'theme' cases yet."
They said, "Agreed."
Charlotte saw the pieces and when she put it together she got a pirate ship bottle. She started to turn away when she saw a frog on the ground next to her. She smirked at it. "Assuming you're one of the prince's helpers, tell him I have not damaged this statue. I have much respect when it comes to the dead." She found a sledgehammer, took it, and said to the frog. "Now if you excuse me, I need to finish my case though you're welcome to join me though I don't have a bowl to keep you wet." The frog jumped away. Charlotte shrugged and walked back to the sword in the stone and freed it.
That's when she gave the sword to the knight statue and it moved. She walked passed it and she saw the ghost again. "Detective, in your last mission you saved my beloved sister, Briar Rose. I thank you for that." She bowed slightly to Charlotte. "I am Princess Ivy, the first love of 'The Frog Prince'." Then she gently blew some magic at her and Charlotte saw the story as Ivy tells it. "After my magical kiss transformed him, I thought we would live happily ever after. Years passed, then decades. As my hair slowly grayed, he stayed young as ever. I still remember the day he held me in his arms as I drew my final breath. And at that moment, in that state of sadness and anguish, the Prince transformed back into a frog. He doomed to live the cycle over and over again: kiss, transformation, lover's death." Then the vision went away. "I understand you're here to rescue the chancellor's daughter, but to do that the Prince's curse must first be undone." Then she tossed Charlotte a key. "Take this key to the greenhouse. There you will be one step closer to finding what you need. Good luck, Detective." Then she disappeared.
Chapter 3
When Ivy went away, she asked, "You guys saw that?"
Guy asked, "As in his life with Ivy…"
Then Phantom asked, "And the fact that he's doomed to relive the same pain over and over again?"
Charlotte said, "Forget I even ask. So judging from what we saw, we have Ivy, Swan Princess, Snow White, Cinderella, and Little Mermaid probably not in that order right?"
Phantom said, "Unless we know the real order yup that sums it up."
Charlotte said, "Do my a favor and put Swan Lake books, and movies on my shopping list."
Guy said, "Way ahead of you. But for the Don Bluth Swan Princess, do you it's sequels?"
Charlotte said, "No just the first one. After number 3, it went down hill fast and the CGI was crap."
Guy said, "You're 15 years old, you're not allowed to swear."
Charlotte said, "Uncle said I'm allowed to saw some words. Not the main ones." She singed off. She looked at the area. It was basically a small church memorial with the Frog Prince's five wines. In order, it was Little Mermaid, Swan Princess, Ivy, Snow White, and Cinderella. Also in the area, there was a sword trapped in crystal and a small alter with 5 tiara pillows. Each in a different color and different theme to match the missing tiara. She saw sparkles under the Cinderella statue and found pieces to a shield emblem.
Once solved she felt something at the swan lake crystal and went to it. It was pieces of Odette's tiara. Before she left she looked at that statue again. "I'm sorry I didn't bring flowers." She made a prayer sign and left. The statue smiled at her. Then she want to the palace glass windows and found pieces of a skeleton key. "So this unlocks that cage." Charlotte went back to the cage and got bolt cutter out. Then she went to the green house and used both items to free the door.
Inside was indeed a green house. Flowers everywhere of any kind. There was a small cabinet with 2 herbal jars but one is missing. She also found a lightening gem on a small bench near one of the flowerbeds. She also found a slot for the leaf heirloom. She put it in and another ship jar came out. That's when sparkles appeared in one of the flowerbeds. It was pieces for a gardenias potion. "Now I'm collecting potions?" She sigh and went back to the swan princess building and put the gems on the closed door. Once opened, she saw a small theater box with a crank missing. More sparkles appeared on a different dresser. She went closer and found the pieces of the missing herbal jar. Charlotte quickly put it together and went back to the greenhouse.
Once inside, she put the jar in place a secret door opened. It was a lab. She found note on the door. "Immortal wand? Never heard of it." She walked around the desk area and saw a book on a different desk. She opened it and found a silver coin. Then she noticed a safe and it had puzzle on it. The objection was to show the life of a tree from sprout to dead. She solved it and it was blueprint evidence of the palace. That's when she sense something at the broken birdcage. There she found pieces of the crank for the small theater.
Chapter 4
She made it back to the swan princess room, put the crank in place and when it did, the curtains went away and it was a ballerina and a prince dancing. She also found another ship bottle. Actually 2 since she saw sparkles and saw pieces for another one. Then she made her way back to the Princess' Shrine and found pieces of a plant emblem. "It's Ivy alright. She having go all over the place." Then she went back to the green house and put together another frog jar. "2 more to go." That's when she noticed a door with a slot on it. She put the plant emblem in it's place and the doors opened. It was a small garden. There she also saw a potion machine. "So this is where I put them. Well I'm missing a couple more. Then she found a key on the bench and took it.
That's when she felt the palace windows again and went there. And once again she found pieces of a ship bottle. "Finally found all 5." She went to the docks gate and the instruction says to put the bottles in their proper place that match the background picture and the symbol. Once solved she did indeed found the docks and a boat waiting for her. She used her wooden oar that she found earlier, and used it to get to the pier across the water. "The Little Mermaid." There, in it's left was a statue that was missing a crown, and a treasure chest with sparkles waiting for her. It was pieces of the crown. She put it on the fish statue and it moved to the side for a secret entrance.
Down below was maps and books of the Little Mermaid. Guy said, "If you want them, now you're chance to take them."
Charlotte said, "No Fawkes. Can't do that to him. I'm fine with my own collection." She found a big shell that can open the shrine but it was locked by another puzzle. This puzzle requires her to find pieces of the lock as long as it isn't duplicated. She solved it and got the shell. Then she went back on top and put it in place.
Chapter 5
Once the doors opened, she went down to the Little Mermaid shrine. It was basically a aquarium. It was at the ocean floor and in the glass cases were objects such as shells, clams, anything really. And in view, in the water, was a statue of the Little Mermaid sitting on her seashell throne. That's when she heard a croak and saw the same frog from before next to her. She asked it, "If you're the same frog, croak once." It did. She looked back at the statue. "You know, growing up, there was a movie called the Little Mermaid. It was just like the book, but it had a happy ending. As the years pasted by, more adaptation of the story had happy endings." Then she sat down as she looked at the statue. "But in real life, if one lost a love one, it's always sad." The frog jumped on her leg and she smiled at it. Then she gently took it in her hands and put it on her shoulder. "How about we finish this case together?" The frog croaked once as a response 'yes'. She giggled as she found the gold coin that matches the silver one.
She did a prayer sign and left the shrine. What she didn't know is that the Little Mermaid smiled at her. Once she made it back to the docks and went up the palace gate and took a breath. "Here goes nothing." She put the shield in place as well as the coins and the gate opened. She walked inside and stopped after a few steps cause she saw a statue of Princess Ivy in the same clothes as the ghost. She also spotted a red cup full of chemical ink. She went into the hallway on the left and found the kitchen and on the table was a frog with a crown on it's head.
Phantom asked, "Is that the frog prince?"
Charlotte kneeled down to the eyelevel of the frog and said, "I don't think do. If he was the frog prince he would've attacked me by now."
Guy said, "Yet you trust the same with the one on your shoulder?"
Charlotte said, "Same reason. He would've killed me in the Swan Princess shrine." Then she noticed a paper on the wall. It was notes to a potion to change the frog prince. If I find it, this might by the guy."
She left the kitchen and attacked at the main room. Inside, on the first floor there were 3 statues: a knight, prince, and scholar. All 3 were missing items. On the second floor there were doors but had no handles and broken statues. Only a glass case was there. She saw sparkles and went up. It was pieces to a jade goblet. "I think I need one more to unlock the sword."
She went back to the alchemist room in the green house and used the ink in the cup on the paper on display and it shows it was a blue print of the docks but it also shows where the potion was. "To the pier." She left the green house and used to boat to get to the pier and found the pieces for the frog antidote. She quickly left the pier and went into the kitchen an used the antidote on the frog. Turns out it was just a pig. "Crap. A diversion. And that was the last of the potion too." She went to the pier again and at the chest were pieces of the Little Mermaid Tiara. After that Charlotte was holding her head. "Damn it Ivy. You've spread these things everywhere." She went to the theater room in the Swan Princess room and got an ivy potion, then she went to the hideout and got the golden apple. "Finally I can open the cottage." She turned to the frog on her shoulder. "You ready?" It croaked. Charlotte made her way to the cottage, put the apples in place and the door opened.
Chapter 6
When she went inside, and Ivy popped up again. "Not long after the Frog Prince wedded Snow White, a terrible curse fell upon him once again. He would remain forever in human form, but any mortal he touched would turn into a frog." Then she blew some magic dust on Charlotte again and she saw visions as Ivy explains. "Shortly after, the exiled Prince made this forest this forest his home and built an underground kingdom full of shrines to his loved ones." Then the magic went away. "The chancellor's daughter as well as many others has been cursed by him. Only you can save them before it is too late." Then she disappeared.
Charlotte asked, "You guys heard that?"
They replied, "Yeah."
Charlotte said, "Remind me to start a petition to ban frog racing." She signed off and turned to the frog on her shoulder. "Sooo…you were once human?" It croaked once. "You do know I'm going to assume you're the frog prince and that I'm scared for my life right?" It croaked once. "Good so now I'm going to feel like you're holding a gun to my head." She let out a big sigh.
Phantom asked, "You want us there?"
Guy said, "We can kick his ass for you."
Charlotte said, "Then we'll never find the chancellor's daughter and we'll never hear the end of it from uncle Body." They signed off. She looked around the cottage and admittedly it was very homey. There was a small table with 7 little chairs, a painting of Snow White, and a glass coffin in the room. "Please no dead body." She went up to it and it was a puppet. "Is she still alive? If she was dead, this would be closed or something." That's when she saw pieces to another frog jar. She turned to the frog. "I mean no offence but if she DID pass away, I would do a statue with all 7 dwarves." She looked down on the puppet. "My only guess is that she's still alive."
Then she felt her 'tracker' again. "Ivy." she groaned. She went to the Swan Princess crystal statue and found pieces of a dancing figure. Then Charlotte went back to the cottage and saw that the picture had a hole in the bottom left corner and it was a button. She pressed it and a secret room opened. She walked inside and it was full of mirrors. The biggest round one suddenly show a face but it would mouth something and then disappeared and do the same again. Charlotte tried to read it's lips but couldn't. "Can you guys read her lips?"
Phantom said, "Can't it only appears for a few seconds then disappears."
Guy said, "Same here. Can't get a good read. But I suspect that that mirror isn't the figure's home."
Charlotte was puzzled. She put the dancer in place and another puzzle appeared. Didn't take her long to solve it and got more evidence. This time it was a paper showing her to unlock the library, she needs to find the book that is hidden in the kitchen. As she walked away, she noticed a small mirror was loose so she took it. Before she left she saw a small golden bracelets and took it for future puzzle unless otherwise.
She quickly went to the kitchen and just as the paper said, there were pieces of the stone scholar book. Once she put it together, Charlotte went to the main room and put the book in the scholar's hand. It moved to the side and Charlotte entered into the library. But what got her attention was that she found the doors for the Cinderella shrine. All that was missing was a glass slipper. She looked at the of the library and saw a statue and on one if it's wrist was a bracelet. She pulled out the one she found in the cottage and put it on the statue. Another secret room opened and this time it was a treasury. "So this is where the thief found the coins." In the middle of the room was a statue of the Frog Prince. But this one's was more bigger and more stern then the one in the well she saw a year ago. On the floor there as a picture of Ivy on the ground and something tells her to take it. "Please don't be mad." She took it and then walked up to the statue cause there were sparkles. It was pieces of a steel dagger.
She walked out of the room and out of the library when she saw sparkles on the second floor. She went up and put together the agate or red goblet. "Finally." She was on her way to the Princess Shrine and when her powers told her to go to the cottage. It was for a good reason too since she had to put together Snow White's tiara. "3 down 2 to go."
Chapter 7
She made it to the Princess Shrine and put the goblets on it's place and it released the sword. When that happened, sparkles appeared at the Cinderella statue. Charlotte went to it and it was pieces for a knight shield. One put together. She felt something at the green house and went to it. She arrived and went to the flowerbeds and found pieces for a orchid potion. "3 down 3 to go."
She made it back to the palace on the first floor. She put the sword in the hand of the prince statue and the doors opened. She walked up the stairs and it was just a room hiding another room but the doors were different. The doors looked like revolving doors and it's key is a sword. But before she put the dagger in place she saw sparkles at what it seems like a toy castle. It was pieces for a book. "Book on Mortality. Looks like he was trying to end his curse. That or extend one." She turned to her frog friend. "Hard to tell. I'm not risking opening it. Don't want to damage it." Then she remembered one of the shelves in the library. "I think I saw an empty slot." Then she called her boys. "Phantom. Any reports on a Cinderella bride of the Frog Prince?"
"I do see something but I got no name. Either it's erased, or it's hidden cause she was in witness protection." said Phantom.
Charlotte asked, "What about the other 3? We have a solid Snow White but I'm sure there's more then one Odette, and Little Mermaid."
Guy answered, "Same here. No name yet. Remember this all started with Briar Rose and personally I doubt that in her library has anything on them since she was asleep before all this."
Charlotte said, "The biggest puzzle is always the hardest. I'll call you back." She went back to the library and did found a slot and when she put it in the prince's diary came out. "I'm not going to read it. I'm not going to read it. I'm not going to read it." She picked it up and back to the other room and put it in the slot. That's when an opening came out on the Charlotte put the dagger in place. She walked inside and the room was covered in vines. "No machete." Then she saw 2 statues and saw that they were suppose to hold 2 pictures. "Well I got one, but I need one more." She walked out and saw sparkles again at the small castle. She solved it and it was a shoe closet key. "Oh god please don't let it be like Carrie Bradshaw." The frog looked at her confused. "Let's just say she is OBSESSED with shoes that it isn't funny."
She walked to the treasury and saw sparkles at the statue again. Turns out it was pieces for a glass slipper. Once it was put together, she went to the shrine door and put it in place. That's when the doors opened. She walked inside and it was just a pumpkin carriage and a picture of Cinderella. "There has to be more then the carriage." She picked up another potion jar and went to the carriage and saw pieces for 2 marble balls.
Chapter 8
After that she went to the closet door and used the key to opened it. Inside was indeed a closet but not as many shoes as Carrie Bradshaw. "Well it's not like Carrie, but almost close." At the end of the closet was the glass slipper. Probably the real one that she wore. She looked around the shelves until she found it's match and under it was the golden switch handle. She was about to walk out when she saw sparkles at the carriage again. This time it was Cinderella's tiara. "One more to go."
Then Charlotte felt she needed to back to the castle and she was right. Turns out it was pieces for a stone halberd. "Now I can see the room behind the knight." She put the pieces in place and the knight statue moved. Inside, it was an armor display with weapons and such and a statue on the end of the prince. She picked up the axe and went back to Cinderella's shrine and used it to bust open another puzzle. It was the same as the other shrine ones but this one was easy to solve. When the compartment opened, it was notes about the 2 statues in the room on the second floor.
Charlotte went to the armory and found pieces of the prince's portrait. She made it back into the room and used the handle and turned it. When she got inside, the wines were gone and there were 2 doors present. But she couldn't go through them yet. She put the portraits in place and one of the doors opened. She went through it and it was a stone staircase up a hill. Turns out it was back to the 3 doors from before. Only this time the roots were gone. She used the gate key she found in the greenhouse and used it to unlock the gate. Turns out it was the same gate next to the cottage. "Free at last, free at last." She went to the back garden and found sparkles. That's when she put together the machete. "Where were you an hour ago?" Then she called back the boys. "I'm outside on the top."
Guy said, "We noticed your signal is back. What are you going to do now?"
Charlotte replied, "To finish the mission."
Phantom asked, "And the frog prince?"
"To be honest I didn't know if I would get this far." Her powers told her to go back to the log at the edge of the forest and there was the final frog jar. She made her way back to the fake tree and put the jars in the slots. In order it was: Ice, earth, fire, air, and water. That's when it unlocked the metal frog plating. After that Charlotte went back to the cottage and saw that the door is covered with roots and only the window was opened. She saw sparkles and she found pieces of a small hammer. She put it together and used the machete to clear the doorway. Then she finally used the cottage key.
Chapter 9
She went inside the cottage and saw it was a mess and old. "I guess if you're in hiding this would be the scene huh?" she asked her frog friend. It croaked. Then she saw a small theater with 2 slots for 2 figurines. Then she found tongs on the table and made her way back to the garden island. She manage to put together the Joker Frog Statuette. Then she made hr way to the cliff and put the marbles in place and when the small door opened, she used the tongs to pull out a piece of paper. The paper was the blueprint of the cottage. "So there's a secret room there." She made her way back inside the cottage and saw sparkles on the couch. It was parts for a Magician Frog Statuette. She put the 2 on the small theater and it moved out of the way. She went upstairs and it showed 2 big tanks filled with liquid and 2 frogs inside.
Guy said, "We found them! But which is which?"
Phantom said, "You're going to have to defeat the Prince to find out."
Charlotte said, "I know. But…I'm afraid on what I must do." She went downstairs, and saw sparkles on the couch. She put the pieces together and it was an ivy-shaped key. She as about to leave the cottage when she saw more at the window. She put together a rose potion. The she made her way back underground and went to the second floor where more sparkles were waiting for her. She solved it and it was a silver fountain emblem.
She went back to the door and pulled the lever so the ivy can cover it again. Then she found the 3rd door. She put the emblem in place and a lock puzzle appeared. Well she solved it and opened the door. Inside was a massive tree but what caught her attention was a door and a slot key. She got out the tree disk she found in the tomb and put it in place. The door opened and she went inside. It as a gallery of the Frog Prince's wives. But then a different ghost appeared. It was Snow White. She walked forward but she disappeared. "So she is dead?" She looked at the pictures and noticed that some where not in order, but on the plaques has numbers of when which princess married him. The first was Ivy. The picture showed looked exactly the same from the vision. "Ivy: Princess Ivy, my first love. How I yearned to be with you forever." she read on the plaque. The second princess, in order, that married him was Cinderella. Her picture was her holding him in her hands. "Princess Cinderella you taught me that even the most common woman can have a heart of a queen." The next princess was the Little Mermaid. On the picture she looked like a mirror image of Ariel from Disney. "My darling from the sea, I will treasure the life we have shared." And the 4th one to marry him was Odette. She even had references of the black swan on some of her jewelry. "Your elegance and grace have forever capture my heart." But the final picture was of Snow White, but she could see the picture or read the plaque well because it was covered in ice.
Phantom asked, "Have you seen a ghost like Snow White before?"
Charlotte answered, "There was Briar Rose but she was asleep most of the time."
Guy said, "I think Snow White is doing the same thing. But what has happened to her?"
Charlotte said, "I wish I could give you the answers." She walked out of the secret room and notice an orb under the great tree. She used the hammer and got the orb out. Then she walked out of the room, moved the lever so the vines were out of the way and walked back in. Then she used the ivy key on the last door and when it was opened, she walked inside. It was Ivy's room. "This must be her deathbed." She used the golden frog from earlier and used it to get a hidden key.
She quickly went to the armory and saw a red light coming from the ceiling. She used the orb on the altar, then put the square mirror on the shield, then the round one the ceiling and then used the key on the secret key hole. Then a compartment opened and she got the wand, but it wasn't charged.
Chapter 10
Then she saw sparkles near the weapons and put together the final potion jar. Then she went to the treasury and put together the final tiara. Then she went to the greenhouse garden and after a couple of tries made the potion to charge the wand. Then finally she went to Snow Whit's cottage and put together a key to unlock what it was. She ran back to the Princess Shrine and after putting the tiaras on the right pillow, and opening appeared. She used the key, put the wand in place, and charged it. After she took it, the frog jumped off her shoulder and it transformed into the Frog Prince. "Detective, this has gone on long enough. I am putting an end to this now."
Then Princess Ivy appeared next to him. "James, I am here. Please let it go."
James was in confusion and in awe. "Ivy, my love?! Everyday I yearn to be with you again—but how?"
She replied, "I do not know." Then she put a hand on his shoulder. "But I stand beside you in life and in death."
James then took off his hood revealing his face. "My curse is immortality—seeing everyone I love die. You now hold the Immortal Wand, Detective. Please, put an end to my suffering." He closed his eyes waiting for the lethal hit.
Charlotte looked at him and then the wand. She sighed and said, "God forgive me." Then she used the wand on him and it killed him leaving his frog body behind.
But it wasn't in vain for he appeared as a spirit and now he and Ivy can be together forever. "My Princess Ivy, I will be with you as always, forever, happily ever after."
Ivy smiled and turned to Charlotte. "The curse is undone—the transformed frogs have reverted back into humans." Then his locket appeared and is in Charlotte's hand. "Take the prince's locket and free the chancellor's daughter. Thank you and goodbye, Detective." Then the 2 disappeared.
Charlotte heard cheering from her earpiece. "Don't celebrate yet guys, we still have to free the 2." She went to the Frog Prince's frog body and gently picked it up. She walked to Ivy's tomb and body on Ivy's hands o the grave. Then she went up the tunnel and went inside the cottage. She stopped for a second cause there was snow coming from the outside. "What the?" She went up the steps and saw the frogs have indeed turned back into humans. "Don't worry I'll get you out." She walked up to the box and used the locket to reveal the final puzzle. She solved it and got the 2 out.
She found blankets and gave them to the 2. While the bodyguard was calling his men in black, Marie was finally warming up. "I'm warm now. Thank you for the blanket, Detective. Before you rescued us, a figure in white appeared. I looked directly into her eyes—her stare was as cold as ice. She whispered madly about a snowfall kingdom and the end of this world. I don't know or care what it means. Please just take me home."
Charlotte wasted no time into taking the 2 back to the village. Of course Marie got a good scolding and her bodyguard was demoted but the chancellor was relieved to have his daughter back and safe. Charlotte wanted to tell the mayor about the disappearance of the villagers but instead of tell him the truth, she told him that the missing villagers ran off for personal reasons and probably will never come back. She didn't want to tell him about the kingdom because it'll be a giant tourist target and it wouldn't be right for the dead. Instead she called Dark Parables and told them about the castle and hopefully they'll take care of it soon. As Charlotte was in her hotel room, she felt something wasn't right. Something isn't finished.
Frozen Lair
The next night, Charlotte made it back to the Black Forest and went underground into Ivy and James's tomb. Apparently James knew she was in trouble cause he appeared in front of her. "I've used my power to break down this barrier. Beyond that passage you'll find clues to your next investigation." Then he disappeared and his magic hit the wall of ice and broke it freeing the final door.
Charlotte walked through it and inside the hallway, she saw a statue of the prince and Snow White. "I must be in her chambers and it all looks somewhat current." She looked up and saw a key hanging from the chandelier "Of course." Then she looked down and took the chain that was on the floor. She looked at one of the flowerpots and saw sparkles. This time, to her surprise, it was a sewing kit. She managed to get all the parts and saw a puzzle right under the statue. After solving it, she got a key. She used it to open a door and when she walked through it, she saw a torn frozen picture of the Queen Mother, and a mended picture of Snow White and James. Then she saw another puzzle was it was a 2 parter. She solved them but when the compartment was opened, she saw she needed a chain and the lever. She has one of them but no the other. She also picked up a broken arm from a mannequin.
She went back to the hallway and saw sparkles again at the same flowerpot. This time it was for a chisel and hammer. Once she got it together, she went to the other door in the same hallway and saw the door was frozen shut. "That explains it." She used it on the door and when it was opened, she was outside again, in a mini graveyard. One of the tombstones was of Snow White's mother and used the arm on a pot and got a portrait piece. On one of the gravestones, she saw sparkles and found a portrait nameplate. She quickly went back to the portrait hallway and first she put the nameplate on and then she fixed the portrait. That's when a compartment opened and she found a crank and a letter. It was a declaration for a godmother's death. "Could this be against the Evil Godmother or Stepmother?"
First she put the chain and crank into place and it lowered the chandelier in the hallway. She got the key and saw sparkles again at the flowerpot. It was hiding the diary key. She used the key on the last door, and she walked inside. It was indeed Snow White's bedroom and there was a portrait of her in the bedroom. Charlotte noticed half of a crystal snowflake and took it. Then she saw sparkles on the bed and it was the other half of it. "This is getting freaky." She went back outside and saw sparkles at the grave sight and it was a square emblem. Once solved, she used all 3 pieces on the shed and it opened for a metal stand. Then again the grave sight had sparkles and it was a locket to open the diary.
She made it back to the bedroom and again on the bed there were sparkles. In the end she got some tongs. Finally she can open the diary. When it was opened, she got a mirror shard but she also read it. "If she loved James so much, why did she leave?" She set up the stand and put the shard in place and the Snow White picture transformed into the Snow Queen. "Oh…My…God." She saw a small compartment with a piece of paper and when she took it, ice blanketed the room. "Thank goodness I took it just in time." She saw sparkles on the bed and she got the golden compass out of it. When she walked out of the room Charlotte noticed a trail of ice going outside. She found a pickaxe from one of the flowerbeds and went outside.
There, James was waiting for her. "Detective, though normally a portal will appear here, I must warn you of the danger of your next mission. Though I loved Snow White, she changed after a terrible accident. While she recovered, something changed her and now she has transformed into the Snow Queen. Please save her from a terrible fate. Also if, you see a small boy resembling Snow White, tell him, that I'm sorry I won't be able to see him grow up but I will always love him and I'll watch over him until we meet again." Then he disappeared never to be seen again.
Epilogue
Charlotte arrived home at Dark Parables doing the paper work but her mind was going elsewhere. She couldn't stop thinking of that Snow White is now the Snow Queen. "This doesn't make any sense."
Then Guy went into her office. "Hey kid. For a package for you."
She asked, "Who's it from?"
"Doesn't say." he placed it on her desk.
Charlotte opened it and got a golden ticket and a letter. She read it and said, "It's from Wilson Boddy." She gave him a shock look. "It's from my grandfather."
Charlotte rescued the chancellor's daughter and ended the Prince's curse. However, a greater evil looms upon the fabled snowfall kingdom. It won't be long until her next investigation takes her to the high mountains from which no fairytale detective has returned. But first, a curse has fallen on an old theater run by a Mr. Wilson. A case of a ghost ballerina and a brute masked man is haunting the place for the last 40 years. She must solve this case before she has to solve the other.