A/N: I can bet 10 Tortilla Chips that people are asking WHY the 3 pre-created fictional characters are acting a bit out of character! So, here's an explanation why they aren't:
Erik, if you've read "RunnerUp", you can now tell that he is used to Amanda's quirkiness, therefore the others aren't a scratch on him.
Willy grows on people he likes. Take Charlie for example. He's nice, but Pebbles, Cricket, Holli, and Amanda are more like him, so he can blend more easily. Besides, he STILL isn't hugging people…yet.
Victor is with Cricket, and Cricket encourages him to spread out. In my opinion, he's the least person to expect to be out of character; he's still polite, shy, etc.
So, there you have it: the characters are fine. I myself hate it when they're out of character. :-)
The Pen
The morning and weekend were quite peaceful for the group. On Saturday, everyone was friendly and neutral. This is the order in which they woke up.
6:00 am: Willy wakes up. When asked why, it's because he is used to waking up at this time to make candy.
6:30: Amanda wakes. This is her school time.
7:30: Holli and Cricket awake. The awake group quietly plays cards while waiting for the rest.
8:30: Pebbles awakes. Goes downstairs to eat breakfast and gather food.
9:15: Victor is the last one up. Is playfully teased by Pebbles for his bed-head.
After the fictional group ate breakfast (Pop-Tarts and muffins), they spent the day playing on the computer, reading, napping, and playing more cards. The same went for Sunday, except that the group was home alone for an hour due to Pebbles going to church.
By Monday, it was perfect.
Pebbles woke up at 6:00 to find everyone (including Erik) asleep except for Willy, who was combing his hair.
She yawned. "Morning, crazy candyman."
"Mornin'," Willy replied, smiling at her in the mirror.
"Listen, can you wake everyone early today? I have school and I want to tell them what the deal is."
"Sure."
Pebbles went down to breakfast to find the house still dark and her family still asleep, except for her mother, who went to work early, still getting ready in the master bedroom.
When she headed back upstairs, clean clothes from the laundry in hand and her brother in the shower, she went into her room, closed the door, and turned to find the group,some yawning and gazing about the room sleepily, and others wide-awake, staring at the floor or some other object in the room. At the sound of the door closing, they looked up.
"Why are we up so early?" Victor yawned, scratching his head.
"It's because I want to tell you what will be happening."
"But who's she?" Willy asked, pointing behind Pebbles.
She turned slowly around to find a 21-year-old woman leaning against the door, grinning.
"Oh my gosh! Hi, TK!" She waved enthusiastically.
"Hello, Pebbles. You guys having fun?"
"We're doing great," Erik replied, stretching.
"There's something I want to tell you…"
TK explained to the group that it would be thoroughly boring for the group to simply hang around the house; they needed to get out more. When asked how, she whipped out an ordinary purple pen from her pocket and tossed it to Pebbles.
"This can contain all of your characters, as well as allowing your characters to take your place."
"But…why will I need this?"
"You'll see." With that, TK dissolved into thin air.
Everyone was quiet. Then Pebbles said, "Well…I'll try it out."
A small button was on the side of the pen. Pebbles pressed it…
…and the fictional group was gone.
"Hey! What happened?" Pebbles twirled the pen around, trying to find an explanation.
She saw a piece of paper lining the cap. It read:
-Erik
-Amanda
-Holli
-Willy
-Cricket
-Victor
-Pebbles
What does that mean? she thought.
A piece of paper appeared in her hand. This read:
When a character is bold, it's in the pen.
When it's not, it's outside.
If you want to release a character, say its name aloud, press the button, and think "Out". Vice-versa for containing one.
If you want to be replaced, twirl while doing the process for taking a character out.
To get out the entire group, simply press the button. It will do the rest.
The pen will guide you. Use it well. It will attack the people you need to attack. It will defend the people you need to defend.
As soon as Pebbles finished the note, it burst into flames and vanished, but seemed cemented in her memory.
After staring at the pen for a few minutes, she pressed the button.
The group returned.
"Is it me, or were we only there a second?" Cricket asked, tossing her hair.
"No, you were there a few minutes." Pebbles glanced at the chart, and no one's name was bold.
"I'm putting you guys back in. We're going to school."
A/N: NOW I'll introduce you to minor characters: my friends! Review and perhaps I'll update soon…
