Chapter 8

Fred awoke the next morning in his nest of pillows. As soon as his eyes fluttered open, he began to think to himself, "Was it a dream? No it was too weird for even my wildest dreams. But what must I-" He was suddenly interrupted by a big thump on his head as a pillow went flying. He rose out of the mound of feathers to find Peter and Mia having a pillow fight trampling anyone still asleep. Their fierce battle brought them to a very angry Sam. It took both Aaron and Brad to restrain the freshman. Fred left the tree house to breathe the feather-free air. Gabriel was waiting, "Fred you and the party must go down the random stream and get the lake behind HSHS. From there you can find two roads. One leads to the stadium which you seek the other is the SLC across the street from it. Or the party may decide to go to HSHS. Most people there are willing to lend their Broncos and Mustangs. Since you can't drive that path might just as well be a waste of your time. I have informed Aaron of the choices at hand already. I wish you good luck. Canoes from our Pocahontas play and rations are being prepared for you at the banks of the stream."

Gabriel left as suddenly left as quickly as she had came and left Fred with even more questions, "It's like Sam's grandfather always says, 'Fred, never ask a Theatre student for advice. They will just lead you in circles until you stumble in the right direction.'"

Amy was walking out of the tree house as he said this, "You say that but you are good at voice impersonations." Amy gave him a sly smile that usually only Aaron got and walked of the canoes.

Orlando was explaining the rations to Grace, "Trail mix bars, just one suffices for a whole meal." At hearing this Peter and Mia suddenly felt sick. Next to them laid ten Trail Mix bar wrappers. Sam was down there too inspecting the boats, "I'm not sure of these things Fred. I think they will sink as soon as we set out."

Aaron came up from behind and threw him into the boat, "There is only one way to find out!" He turned around to help Amy into the boat and she invited Fred to join them. Brad reluctantly shared his boat with Peter and Mia. Orlando and Grace got a boat to themselves along with all the supplies. The Thespians did not have a boat for Vincent so he pulled out a captain's hat, an eye patch, a wooden sword, and a remote control speed boat and rode on it surprisingly well in his weird quirky way. They were about to head down stream when suddenly a swan-shaped paddleboat over took them. Gabriel waved from it, "Ahoy there! Want to join us for some lunch before leaving?"

The party pulled back on the shore and feasted with Gabriel and Cedric. Gabriel spoke up after everyone finished their cake for dessert, "I have gifts for every single one of you. I hope they will make your quest a little bit easier or interesting." She added giving Vincent a wink. First, she handed out camouflage outfits for all of them and then she moved to the individual gifts. "Aaron step forward and receive the long lost case for your saxophone." A Thespian held out a black case with silver rune-like designs intertwining on it. "Amy to you I give a new trumpet mouth piece that makes your sword a bit more energized. Orlando congratulations you have made it into the Thespian Society." Orlando's costume began to glow as it upgraded. "You can now even form your own complete costumes. Peter, Mia, I give to both of you a leaf pendant and a pocketknife. Now you don't have to fight with random items the prop department dug up. Speaking of props, Vincent, I give the New and Improved Insta-Set." Vincent blinked a bit before adding "Sweeeet!" Gabriel gave him a special smile. "Sam your gift shall not be of use now but when you get home. You have in your hands the best fertilizer in the world. Use it on you garden. And for now here is some super strong stunt rope that might come in handy. Brad I give you the spiked football helmet, may it be of use to you in battle. Brad let out his best battle cry, which happened to be the worst in history. Gabriel fought back laughter as she handed Fred a penlight, "May this small light illuminate your darkest path." Gabriel's vision suddenly roved towards Grace. "We have nothing to give Debate students as a rule, so what is it you desire Grace?" Grace only mumbled something under her breath. "Project your voice. I can't her you." Grace stepped forward and whispered into her ear. "What?"

Grace gave up and screamed at the top of her lungs, "ONE OF YOUR SHOELACES! You see I want to tell my grandchildren about my adventure some day."

Gabriel smiled at Grace, "Then I shall give you three of my magic shoelaces, so that you may actually live up to your nickname." After receiving the shoelaces, Grace grumbled and staggered away. She climbed into the boat with Orlando and the party set out on their way to who knows where.

They had been traveling on the unusually long stream for many hours. Fred was looking at a map he took from the theatre. "Aaron? Why can't we just walk to HSHS? This map shows the steam going to every school in the district before stopping at the random lake that is half way in-between the SLC and HSHS. What is more why can't we go up stream to get to TIHS? It would be much less time consuming."

Aaron eyed him, "Nope. This is the way my father traveled into battle and besides I want to see this lake. There is said to be an island in the middle of it that my family used to own."

Brad sneered at Aaron. "Can't your family history wait 'till after we saved the district?"

"Nope. Besides I promised to take Amy there on a date." Evening had begun to descend upon them as they spoke. Vincent pulled out the sleeping bags and everyone got ready to sleep for the night.

In the middle of the night Fred heard something flopping around in the water. He drew his pocketknife and stared out into the darkness. Aaron was staring at him. "It's Golem. He followed us out of the sewers. I tried to loose him on the stream but he is a better swimmer. He is the reason we are taking the round about way."

The next morning there was no sign of Golem, but Sam frequently noticed a strange ducky inner tube floating in the middle of the stream out of the corner of his eye.

They made good time and reached the island sooner than expected. They sat down to have a group talk. Fred admitted that he had the pen, but everyone had guessed this by now. Fred wanted to go to the stadium right away. Aaron agreed with this idea. Brad wanted to go back to his football team's weight room. He said it was near the stadium. The company was split on which route to travel. When the arguing got fierce, Fred disappeared to think alone. When they got deeper into the conversation, they noticed that Brad was missing as well. The company split up to look for them.

Meanwhile, Fred was staring at the Pen in his hand. Brad came up to him. "None of us should wander alone; you least of all. So much depends on you. Fred? I know why you seek solitude. You suffer. I see it hour by hour. You sure you do not suffer needlessly. There are other ways Fred; other paths that we might take."

"I know what you would say. It would seem like wisdom but for the warning in my heart."

"Warning? Against what? We are all afraid, Fred. But to let that fear drive us to destroy what hope we have don't you see that is madness?"

"There is no other way."

"I ask only for the strength to defend my team! If you would but lend me the Pen."

"No."

"Why do you recoil? I am no kleptomaniac."

"You are not yourself."

"What chance do you think you have? They will find you. They will take the Pen. And you will beg for expulsion before the end! " Fred began to walk swiftly away. "You fool! It is not yours, save by a lucky chance! I could have been mine. It should be mine! Give it to me!" Brad tackled Fred mercilessly. "Give it to me!"

"No!" Fred drew his pocketknife and poked Brad in the ribs until he got up and then he ran way. Brad had a fit and cursed all the Choirlings, but he slipped and hit his head on a rock. He suddenly came to his senses and sank to the ground begging for forgiveness, but Fred was already gone.

Fred ran up a hill. At the crest there was several tourist binoculars. Fred put his money in one of them. He tired to use the binoculars to spot Brad but something else caught his eye. The binoculars zoomed in automatically. Fred found himself gazing at the stadium again. The horrible vision was even harder for him to tear his eyes from. Fred found himself on the ground breathing heavily. Aaron appeared standing over him. "Fred?"

Fred looked up still gasping. "It has taken Brad."

"Where is the Pen?"

"Stay away." Fred began to rise to resume a fighter stance.

"Fred," Aaron said reproachfully, "I swore to protect you."

"Can you protect me from yourself?" Fred lifted the Pen off of his chain. "Would you destroy it?" Aaron approached. The Pen called for him, Aaron…Aaron… Aaron kneeled and folded Fred's hand back over the Pen. "I would have gone with you to the end. Into the very fires of the Stadium."

"I know. Look after the others. Especially Sam. He would not understand."

Aaron heard something and removed his saxophone from his case. "Go, Fred." Fred began to flip open his knife. The blade was glowing. Aaron's sax turned into a sword, "Run!" As Fred ran away, Aaron turned to see a hoard of Gothic Cheerleaders and Wrestlers. They went at him with their maces with tassels that look almost entirely unlike pompoms. Aaron saw a movement in the shadows. The principals were waiting to catch their prey. Aaron wouldn't let them catch him, but they would be feasting on gothic cheerleaders by the end of the battle.

Peter and Mia saw Fred run past them. They tried to catch up with him and force him to hide with them. Someone ran up and grabbed them from behind. "I have you my little freshmen…" The two looked up to find Dr. Sauron's lapdog, Yusuda Gonto, carrying them. Mia began to scream very loudly.

Brad ran up from behind and tried to grab Yu but he was struck with a mace from behind. Ace's glowing eyes were laughing at him. When she raised the mace again Brad tackled her while wearing his new battle helmet. While she was momentarily stunned, he let out his most fierce battle cry. Little did he know that a vice-principal already had her eyes fixed on him.

Grace and Orlando were the only ones still at the camp by this time. They heard something that sounded like the horn of a pick-up truck under water. Orlando's ear twitched. "That is Brad's battle cry! He is in trouble." The jumped up from their game of Go-Fish scattering cards everywhere. They quickly changed their costumes and ran to find the fray.

Aaron ran to where he heard Brad's horribly obnoxious battle cry. He drew his sax and was about to turn it into a sword when he saw a vice-principle lurking in the shadows. He forwent drawing his blade, but he quickly put the mouthpiece into his lips. Ace was stunned by the loud Bb that ripped from the horn. She covered her ears and went stumbling into another principal waiting in the shadows. In short order she was expelled for attacking an unarmed band member with a mace.

Aaron returned to Brad's side to see a vice-principal standing over him. Waiting to expel him for fighting. "They took the little ones." Brad was gasping in fear.

Aaron glared at Brad and nodded. The vice-principal grabbed Brad, "Fred. Where is Fred?"

"I let Fred go."

"Then you did what I could not. I tried to take the…um…object from him."

"The object is beyond our reach now."

"Forgive me. I did not see it. I have failed you all."

"No, Brad. You fought bravely." The vice principal smiled at the testimony of Aaron. It would be easier to suspend Brad than she thought. Aaron ignored her grin and continued to counsel Brad, "You have kept your honor." Aaron opened his mouth to try to talk the vice principal out of the expulsion but Brad cried, "Leave it. It is over. The students will fail. And all will come to darkness and my team to ruin."

Aaron protested to this statement, "I do not know what strength is in my blood but I swear to you I will not let the District fall nor our team fail."

"Our team…Our team…" Orlando, Grace, Vincent, and Amy ran up just as the vice principal was dragging Brad off by his ear. Brad gave one last shout at Aaron, "I would have followed you, my team mate. My captain. My coach." When all sight of them had faded, Aaron bowed his head. "Be at peace. Student of South Hamilton." Amy blew him a heartfelt kiss.

Fred was at last out to the canoes. Sam ran crying after him. "Fred!" Fred pondered for a moment and shoved off into a canoe. Sam came running up from behind wading into the water. "Fred, no! Fred!"

"No, Sam." Sam began to wade father into the lake. "Go back, Sam! I'm going to the Stadium alone."

Sam trudged on. "Of course you are. And I'm coming with you!"

When Sam began to get neck deep, Fred shouted, "You can't swim!" Sam began to dog paddle. Fred warned him again. Sam's head eventually disappeared underwater. "Sam!" Fred quickly threw over a life preserver and Sam rose back to the surface. Fred hauled him into the canoe. "I made a promise to myself not to leave you alone. And I don't mean to." Fred clasped him into a brotherly hug but quickly broke away. Sam glared a little, "Now that was uncalled for."

Fred nodded but only said, "Come on." The two rolled to the shore of the lake and quickly disappeared into the trees on the other side.

Vincent ran out with a boogie board, "Hurry! Fred and Sam have reached the shore." Aaron casually gazed at the shore while kissing Amy.

Orlando looked up, "You mean not to follow them."

Aaron turned away from the kiss, "Fred's fate is no longer in our hands."

Grace sighed on the ground, "Then it has all been in vain. The Fellowship has failed."

Amy gave all the boys a big group hug, "Not if we hold true to each other."

Aaron smiled, "We will not abandon Mia and Peter to torment and expulsion. Not while we have strength left. Leave all that can be spared behind."

Vincent decided to chime in, "Actually everything will fit in a my pack." He began to pick up stuff the others left. Aaron rolled his eyes. Amy lifted her trumpet into the air. "Let's go hunt some cheerleaders." Aaron and Amy ran off holding hands with Vincent following behind them.

Orlando and Grace stared at each other dumbfounded for a moment until Grace let out a battle cry worthy of Brad, and they both ran to catch up with the others.

Fred looked out at the busy highway towards the stadium, "I hope the others will find a safer road."

Sam looked at him, "Steve will look after them."

"I don't suppose we'll ever see them again."

"We may yet, Fred. We may."

"Sam, I'm glad you're with me." Fred looked at Sam lovingly.

"Maybe you are a little too glad, Fred. But I know what you mean." They smiled at each other and walked up the highway.

The End

the Portable TV of Lauren goes out Gabriel kicks it hopelessly You mean I have to read the next fanfic to see what happens? she begins to search for The Principal of the Pen: The Two Schools