I do not own Kamen Rider Ryuki or Ever After High. They belong to their respective creators and not me. I am not writing this for profit, only for fun.
Knights of the Otherworld
By Ten-Faced Paladin
Chapter 25: Darren's New Friend (Deadpool Darren)
We come back to Ever After with Spring Break in full swing. The school feels empty, although many students remain on campus.
A sad truth. Some students merely wish to stay, others live in Book End, and sadly some others just cannot return home due to their circumstances. Like the Princess of Hearts, Lizzie Hearts.
But she has her twisted Chameleon Knight to put a smile on her face. *sigh* She's so lucky.
Ever After High - Dorms
"Ah, so nice to have a day all to ourselves," Lizzie smiled, passing tea to her boyfriend who happily accepted.
"Yes, ourselves," Darren replied, looking down the table. In fact, every Wonderlandian student was invited to a banquet-style tea party which Lizzie had thrown for some reason or another. Perhaps just to remember a bit of home, or perhaps to build bonds with her future subjects. Darren kind of felt a little odd being at the head of the table with Lizzie. Of course, the princess insisted on her twisty knight to sit beside her.
"Oh, don't mind them, Sir Darren. It's just tradition for us to come together and have a tea party," Lizzie said. "Here, you should try one of the strawberry tarts. They're wonderlandiful."
Darren took the offered treat and took a bite. It really was wonderful. He remembered having something just as yummy a long time ago when he was a kid.
"Hey, Darren!" Maddie popped out of nowhere. giggling. He was used to it already. "Guess what day it is today?"
"OK, I give up! What day is it today?" Darren asked, amused. He loved surprises.
"Well...it's a special, merry happy unbirthday...for Lizzie!" Maddie threw confetti which rained down on Lizzie and everyone applauded. The Mad Hatter's daughter put on a party hat, putting one on Darren's head as well.
"My unbirthday?" Lizzie gasped. "Oh, I've forgotten it was my unbirthday today!"
"It's your unbirthday?" Darren gasped dramatically. "And me without a present! How horrible of me!"
"Oh, Darren. It's alright. You being here is enough of an unbirthday present," Lizzie smiled, kissing his cheek.
"Well, lemme make it up to you soon, OK?" Darren promised. He jumped to his feet. "Wait, I know!" He took out his Advent Deck. "I'll do impressions!"
Darren got up and ran to a fountain, pointing his Verde Deck at his reflection. Summoning his V-Buckle, he swiftly transformed, earning cheers among his Wonderlandian fans. Bowing to them, he trotted back to the table. Once presenting himself, he drew a card, "And now, for my first impression!"
[Copy Vent!]
Verde's form shimmered until he changed into an exact copy of Headmaster Milton Grimm.
"No running in the halls! Follow my rules! Follow your destiny! Grumble! Grumble! Destiny, destiny, destiny!"
His form shimmered again and he was in the form of Daring Charming.
"Hey, check out my good side, ladies." He smiled, doing finger pistols.
He then changed into Mr. Badwolf in his werewolf form.
"I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down! But first, could you show me where the little old lady clothes are? I feel like dressing up!"
The Wonderlandians laughed hysterically as Verde shapeshifted into different people, doing funny impressions of each one.
"Darren! Do me! Do me!" Maddie waved her hand excitedly.
"OK!" Verde snapped his fingers and twirled, turning into Madeline Hatter. "Hi, I'm Maddie Hatter! How about a spot of tea? Anytime is tea time! Hat-tastic!"
"That's so me!" the real Maddie laughed hysterically.
As everyone laughed hysterically at Verde's performance, Lizzie opened a locket that contained her mother's picture.
"Oh, Mother. I wish I could introduce Darren to you. You'd simply love him," Lizzie sighed.
"And now, an encore!" Verde shifted into Milton Grimm again. "So, you will not follow your destiny? Detention! Not signing the Storybook of Legends? Detention! You must follow your destiny or else you'll go poof!" Nobody was laughing anymore. In fact, they had gone completely silent and someone cleared their throat behind Verde. "...He's standing right behind me, isn't he?"
Everyone nodded slowly.
Verde sighed, dropping the illusion to turn around to see an annoyed Milton Grimm with his brother Giles next to him. The younger Grimm brother did have a distinct smile on his face though.
"Detention for me, sir?" Verde asked though he knew the answer already.
"Oh yes," Milton nodded sternly.
"Wait, you can't give him detention! We're on Spring Break!" Lizzie protested, standing up.
"The school grounds are still open and since students still stay in the dorms, the rules are still in effect," Milton retorted.
"Milton, why don't you let the young man off with just a warning?" Giles advised. "It was all in good fun, right? Nothing was truly malicious about his performance."
"Just light-hearted Wonderlandian humor, sir!" Verde nodded rapidly.
"Fine," Milton conceded. "But if you wish to resume such tomfoolery, do it off school grounds, Mr. Quinn. Remember, always respect the faculty." He turned and marched away.
"And enjoy your tea party, children," Giles smiled, winking before he followed his brother as they did their rounds.
Darren removed his armor, planting himself beside Lizzie.
"That was a close one. You know, it's good to have Mr. Giles here. Headmaster Grimm isn't such a grumpy goose with his brother around," Darren remarked.
"He has gotten less stuffy since Headmaster Giles returned," Lizzie agreed with a grin. "All the better. He needed some cheer in his life."
"At least now he's not forcing kids to follow the destiny he thinks is right anymore," Darren nodded. It was a different Ever After High since Giles came back. Things felt more balanced without Milton putting so much pressure on the students to follow their destinies.
"Oh, and it's not an unbirthday party without an unbirthday cake! Lemme go get it!" Maddie zipped away.
"Are all unbirthdays always like this?" Darren asked.
"They are. And one day, we'll have a surprise unbirthday party for you. Since it'll be your first Wonderlandian unbirthday, it will be extra special," Lizzie smiled.
Darren smiled back. He felt at home with the Wonderlandians, fitting in with them like he was one of them. Technically, he was. His grandfather, Sir Dagonet, had revealed to him that his grandmother had been a native Wonderlandian.
It explained so much.
(-)
The unbirthday party went on without a hitch, including the upside-down unbirthday cake that Maddie managed to procure. Everyone seemed to have a wonderlandiful time and spirits remained high even after the party finally ended.
Of course, Darren wanted Lizzie to continue to enjoy her day so he asked her to walk with him through the hedge maze and into the rose gardens. It was one of Lizzie's favorite places and it was clear she enjoyed the romantic stroll with her boyfriend.
Making out in the garden's gazebo was a pretty big clue.
"*Kiss, kiss* Mmm, happy unbirthday to me indeed," Lizzie murmured, sitting in Darren's lap, their arms wrapped around each other. "Oh if only every day could be so topsy turvy."
"Good thing we're dating every day then," Darren grinned against Lizzie's lips, making her giggle.
"It helps, but the orderly day of going to class can get dreadfully dull," Lizzie pouted. "Were it not for you and the croquet club, I may well lose my mind for good."
"And not the delightfully mad kind either," Darren nodded. Madness was a respectable state of mind to a Wonderlandian, but what they would equate to Ever After's definition of insanity would be someone who was unimaginative, predictable and just plain dull.
"I'd be so dreadfully dull indeed," Lizzie murmured. "But days like this make everything so delightfully mad. I wish it would never end."
"Why should they end? We've got seven days of no school, Lizzie. Seven days of fun things we can do," Darren said. "We could dance on the moon, swim in a pool of chocolate sauce, we could even play hopscotch with the animals of the Enchanted Forest. Seven days that belong only to us."
Lizzie blushed beautifully, "Oh Darren. You say the most ridiculous things. It makes me love you all the more!"
"Ah, shucks," Darren chuckled. "Anything to see you smile and laugh."
Lizzie beamed and stole another kiss. Truly, it was a perfect ending to such a pleasantly ridiculous day.
*Eeeeeeeeee!*
"Not now!" Darren groaned as he heard the annoying ringing. It really killed the mood.
"A monster?" Lizzie asked, noticing his expression. Darren nodded and she pouted, "Curses! Off with the monster's head for interrupting our time together!"
"I can do something like that," Darren admitted, reluctantly letting Lizzie stand up. "I'll be right back. Don't lose those amorous feelings for a moment, Lizzie!"
"I'll keep them bottled up and ready for you," Lizzie smiled and kissed his cheek. "Fight well and win. You have the Princess of Hearts' favor after all."
"Ooooh, that thing doesn't stand a chance!" Darren grinned. Jogging to a nearby decorative pond, Darren held out his Verde Deck a second time. Once again summoning his V-Buckle, he snapped his fingers and slid it in, "Henshin!"
His armor formed and after blowing a kiss to Lizzie, he hopped into the reflection in the water, vanishing into the Mirror World.
Mirror World - Hedge Garden
It didn't take long for Verde to track down the Mirror Monster. It was a Gelnewt that was lurking in the hedge maze, apparently stalking him and Lizzie, seeing them as an easy snack. Verde quickly decided to dissuade it of that notion and dove into the fray, starting a running battle through the hedge maze.
[Hold Vent!]
"Hiyah!" Verde cried, throwing several whacks into the Gelnewt with sprays of sparks. It snarled and grew a shuriken from its back. With a mighty heave, it threw the shuriken at Verde, sawing through portions of the hedges.
"Ho!" He ducked under its huge shuriken as it threw it before going on the offensive, hitting it with punches and kicks. Meanwhile, the Gelnewt's shuriken was making a return trip, headed for Verde's back.
Darren, watch out behind you!
Verde performed the splits and ducked. The shuriken flew over him and hit the Gelnewt in the chest stunning it.
"Huh? Who said that?" Verde wondered while scratching his head. He shrugged. "Must be my imagination." He drew his Final Vent card and activated it.
[Final Vent!]
Biogreeza appeared from his camouflage nearby. It slurped its tongue before shooting it, letting it hang over a tree branch. Verde flipped into the air, allowing the pink appendage wrap around his legs before he began swinging towards the Gelnewt. The monster shook its head to get its senses back, but was swept up by Verde's attack as he grabbed it. Biogreeza let go, sending Verde spinning around in the air. He performed a painful piledriver attack, bringing the Gelnet crashing headfirst into the ground with a decisive slam.
"And he sticks the landing!" Verde cheered, hopping off the monster. It fell over and exploded, leaving Biogreeza to slurp up the life force once it appeared.
Stepping away from the explosion, Verde looked around.
"Is anyone there? Voice in my head? Were you real? Either way, thanks for the warning, wherever you are!"
Mom, Dad, I think he heard me!
Brooke, you know he can't. Only a Wonderlandian can hear us.
But...didn't we just read his grandmother was from Wonderland?
Oh! Oh! Yes! He can hear us!
"Wonderlandians can hear you?" Verde pondered. "Hm, might have to check with Lizzie and the others about that. Maybe I'm crazier than I thought." Well, Wonderlandians were said to hear voices so maybe he was coming into his bloodline? Food for thought. "Oh, right! Lizzie! She's still waiting for me!"
He quickly made his way to exit the Mirror World. When he came out, he found Lizzie where he had left her, waiting for him.
"Victorious again, I presume," Lizzie smiled as his armor vanished from his body. "I do hope you took its head."
"Well, snapped its neck but you presume correctly," Darren smiled back as he hooked an arm around her waist. "So, where were we?"
Lizzie smiled, wrapped her arms behind his neck, "Oh, we were making out when we were so rudely interrupted, my dear twisty knight."
The Chameleon Knight and Princess of Hearts locked lips again but he could not focus. He had questions that Lizzie could answer. Breaking the kiss, she looked at him perplexed since he did not seem into it.
"What's wrong?" Lizzie asked.
"Well, I was just wondering, do you Wonderlandians hear voices in your head?" he questioned.
"Oh, those voices," Lizzie rolled her eyes. "They always talk about what we're doing everyday. I just ignore them though Madeline and Kitty often speak to them."
"Wait, so those voices are real?" Darren asked.
"Wait," Lizzie blinked. "You can hear them?"
"I think so," Darren answered. "While I was fighting that Gelnewt, a voice told me to watch out behind me. I thought I was hearing things. Then I heard them talking about only Wonderlandians hearing them."
"But how can you hear them?" Lizzie did not understand. While most would have been concerned about their lover hearing voices, Lizzie was more surprised that someone who wasn't one of her people could hear them.
"Well, you did say that Wonderlandians could hear them and my Pops, Sir Dagonet, told me my grandmother was from Wonderland," Darren explained.
"You have Wonderlandian blood!?" Lizzie cried, shocked yet ecstatic. "Oh, Darren! That's wonderlandiful!" She always knew there was something special about him besides his sense of humor. It was no wonder he was so fluent in Riddlish.
"Guess it explains a lot, huh?" Darren chuckled. "So, who are these voices anyway?"
"Oh, Maddie calls them the 'Narrators'," Lizzie answered. "They're like faceless voices who tell our stories."
"Hm," Darren looked deep in thought and looked up. "Hey, Narrators! Are you there? Can you hear me?"
Brooke, you know it's against the rules…
I can't help it! This is too cool! Hi, Darren! Hi, Lizzie!
"Hey, you're the voice that helped me out!" Darren replied.
I just didn't want to see you hurt.
"Well, thanks. You really saved me. Hey, what's your name?"
It's Brooke. Brooke Page.
"Well, Brooke Page. Nice to meet you. I'm Darren Quinn."
Oh, I know. I know who you and all your friends are, Darren.
"So you've been watching us? That sounds kinda creepy but if you're the Narrator then it's cool."
You know, Darren, besides little Gabe, you're one of my favorites. I'm so jealous of you!
"Jealous?"
You get to go to Ever After High, go out with friends, go to parties, have adventures. *sigh* I wish I was there with you guys but I can't.
"Guess being a Narrator doesn't leave you much room to make friends, huh?"
No. It's just me and my parents.
"Then how about I be your friend, Brooke?"
Really? You'd be my friend? For real?
"Cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye," Darren promised.
"Darren, did you just make friends with a Narrator?" Lizzie asked.
"Well, yeah. She sounds lonely," Darren answered. "...Kinda like me when I was a kid." The last part was said in almost a whisper as his smile fell.
"What?" Lizzie gasped. "Who would dare turn my twisty knight's smile upside down?"
Darren blinked, but then winced, "I...said that out loud, didn't I?"
"Your mumbles were not very mumbly," Lizzie confirmed. "I will not have this shadow of gloom rest on your shoulders. Speak and be free of it!"
Darren winced, not thinking it was too big a deal, but knew Lizzie wouldn't stop until she had an answer.
"Well, I had a lonely childhood. Sure, I had my parents but I didn't have any friends. I was always the oddball, the weird kid, the freak."
"Why would they ever think that?!" Lizzie scowled. "You are one of the funniest, most charming boys I know!"
"To Wonderlandians, but to others, I was just weird," Darren shrugged. "My mannerisms, my sense of humor, it was all just weird to them. Mom and Dad thought I was funny, or at least cute. To the other kids, I was strange. Kids would laugh at me like I was a joke so one day I decided to just own it and try to make people laugh. It helped me cope and I didn't feel so lonely anymore. My teachers thought I had a screw loose and suggested I go to a doctor. They thought I had ADHD, clinically hyperactive, and couldn't pay attention. The joke was on them when I tested perfectly healthy."
"Oh, Darren..." Lizzie looked sympathetic. He was misunderstood, just like her. While she had friends in Wonderland, it took time for her to adjust in Ever After. "I understand what you went through. When I first came to Ever After High, the other students avoided me because I kept shouting and saying 'off with your head'! It was not until I met Apple and the others that I found some good friends here."
"Before I met the guys and became a knight, I didn't have any close friends either," Darren smiled. "Guess we're just a couple of misfits who found each other, huh?"
"And will be Happily Ever After for it," Lizzie hugged Darren tightly.
D'aaaaaaw! They are so cute!
Brooke, you are on thin ice as it is. You know you shouldn't interact with them like that!
Mom, it's not like I changed anything. If anything, it was just one paragraph more.
She is right. She didn't influence the story. It's not like the Wonderlandians didn't already know about us.
"Hey, Narrators?" Darren asked. "Yeah, I can still hear you. Could you, I dunno, go to another scene or page or something? This is a private moment."
Right, sorry! Later, you two!
Wonderland Haberdashery and Tea Shoppe
"You can hear the Narrators too!" Maddie hugged Darren, giggling. "That's hat-tastic! You really are one of us!"
"Guess you knew already, huh, Maddie?" Darren smiled.
"Well, duh. I heard it from the Narrators. What a twist. Your grandma's from Wonderland. That explains so much!"
"Yeah, and I even made a friend," Darren looked to the ceiling again, "Hey, Brooke. Are you there?"
Hi, friend!
"Ah, I know you!" Maddie gasped, looking up. "I heard you with the other two a few times! Oooh, you should have said you wanted to be friends!"
Well, my parents want me to follow the rules. Just tell the story and that's it, but I really wish I could hang out with you guys. You have so many adventures and have so much fun while I'm stuck here just watching. Darren's the first one who ever offered to be my friend.
"Hey, Brooke. Is it possible for us to see what you look like?" Darren asked curiously.
Sorry, but Narrators are to be heard not seen. That's what Mom and Dad keep telling me.
"Hm..." Darren tapped his chin then snapped his fingers.
"What are you thinking, Darren?" Maddie asked.
"Mira Mirror, can you hear me? Would you like to help me see?" Darren called. One of the many mirrors in the shops began to ripple. Mira's form appeared in it before she popped out with a hop and a pose.
"Here I am, as you call, come to help, one and all," Mira rhymed as she appeared.
"Mira Mirror, I've made a new friend. Could you let her come to Book End?" Darren asked.
Huh? Darren, what are you-?
"Ooooh! What a hat-tastic idea!" Maddie gasped, catching on. Mira tapped on her chin for a moment before she nodded. Reaching into the mirror she came out from, she pulled her personal mirror out before showing the reflective side to Darren and Maddie.
"In my glass, you will see, this friend you wish to bring to tea," Mira's personal mirror glowed. In the reflection, Darren could see a girl looking back at him, with wavy dark hair that covered her left eye.
"Brooke, is that you?" Darren asked.
"Darren?" Brooke's eyes widened as she saw him and he saw her.
Darren held his deck to the mirror and he transformed.
"Henshin!"
His armor appeared and he reached into the mirror, his hand sinking into the rippling surface as if it was water. Brooke looked stunned.
"Take my hand, Brooke."
Brooke, what are you doing?
Young lady, you do not know what you're doing!
"Dad, you always talk about the Rebels following their hearts. Mom, you always tell me that I have to accept my destiny. I think, to be a better Narrator, I need to be part of the story!" Brooke grasped Verde's hand.
"OK, here we go!" Verde pulled and Brooke cried out as she was taken out of the mirror. She stumbled on her feet. Appearance-wise, she was monochrome, with pale white skin, dark eyes, dark wavy hair with a black turtleneck and matching pants and shoes.
"I'm...I'm actually here?" Brooke gasped, amazed as she looked around. She was no longer just watching events, but actually part of them now.
"Welcome to Ever After," Verde smiled and he took off his armor.
"Maddie!" Brooke went and hugged Maddie who happily accepted the hug.
"Welcome to this side of the mirror, young Narrator!" Maddie greeted.
Brooke let Maddie go and then she took a deep breath. She then turned to look at Darren, the boy who made all this possible.
"Thank you so much, Darren!" Brooke was grateful.
"Anything for a friend," Darren grinned. Brooke instantly threw her arms around him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"OFF WITH YOUR LIPS!" Lizzie screamed. Somehow, she just seemed to pop up even though Darren never noticed her being there. Then again, Wonderlandians just seemed able to pop out from any of the multiple doors that populated the shop. Likely, it was their own express entrance.
Alright, young lady. You've had your fun. Now, come home.
You don't belong in that world.
"Hexcuse me, Narrators," Maddie called. "I know Brooke's your daughter and you want what's best for her, but maybe you should let her have this chance to make friends."
Well...
I'm not sure that's a good idea. We're Narrators and our job is to tell the stories, not become part of them.
But there's nothing we can do to change that, is there? Brooke's now in the story. I think that maybe we should let her be.
But-!
We can still watch over her. She won't be too far. Mr. Quinn.
"Yes, sir?"
Since you decided to bring our daughter into the story, she is now your responsibility. When it's time for her to come home, please send her back to us. Until then, please take good care of her.
"I will, sir."
And remember, we are always watching.
"*gulp* yes sir," Darren paled.
"Thanks, Dad!" Brooke cheered, still hugging Darren. "Ooh, I've always wanted to come here! It's so topsy turvy and anything can happen!"
"You're gonna love it!" Maddie giggled.
"I said off with the lips!" Lizzie shouted, stomping over to the table. "Darren is my boyfriend and twisty knight! Who says you can kiss him?! Who are you anyway?"
"Oops!" Brooke released Darren, her cheeks darkening. "Hi, I'm Brooke Page, daughter of the Narrators. And you're Lizzie Hearts, daughter of the Queen of Hearts."
"...You're a Narrator?" Lizzie's eyes widened in disbelief. "How are you even here?"
"Darren brought me here!" Brooke smiled brightly.
Lizzie looked to Darren who grinned proudly, and then she broke out into laughter, "Oh my ridiculous twisty knight! Always breaking those dreadfully logical rules! Ah ha ha ha!" Suddenly, her outrage at seeing another girl kiss her boyfriend seemed forgotten.
"So, Brooke. What do you want to do first?" Darren asked.
"Well, since we're here, I'd love some tea," Brooke said as she sat down. "Wow, I still can't believe I'm here."
"Coming right up!" Maddie zipped away to make her order.
Glass Slipper Shoe Store
"Oh, the Glass Slipper!" Brooke entered the shoe store with Maddie, Darren and Lizzie. "I've always wanted to come here! I've narrated Ashlynn's time here so many times! And look at those shoes! They're all so fableous!" She leaped to one display of shoes, eyes lighting up like a kid in a candy store.
"Oh, Maddie, Lizzie, Darren," Ashlynn greeted, seeing her friends. "Welcome."
"Hey, Ashlynn!" Maddie waved.
"So, who's your friend?" Ashlynn looked at Brooke who was checking out the shoes.
Maddie beamed proudly, "Her name's Brooke and she's a Na-"
"New in town! Hahaha!" Lizzie interrupted, cutting Maddie off. "We're just showing her around, that's all."
"Hi, I'm Brooke Page and you're Ashlynn Ella! It's so nice to finally meet you in-person!" Brooke shook Ashlynn's hand. Darren and Lizzie felt a shock run down their spines. Had Brooke already blown her cover?
"O-Oh, I didn't realize I had a fan," Ashlynn blushed slightly.
"Yeah, I mean you broke the rules by dating Hunter Huntsman! That takes guts! I was so inspired!" Brooke continued to gush. Ashlynn seemed to blush more, but seemed pleased that Brooke looked up to her for something she actually did instead of her story.
"Oh, I was just following my heart!" Ashlynn giggled. "Well, if you're new in town, then I just have to give you a personal guide to what we have for sale!"
"Oh, thank you! I wanna try everything!" Brooke beamed. Ashlynn immediately got a gleam in her eye, believing she met another shoe enthusiast.
"She seems fairy hexcited to try shoes," Maddie remarked.
"She's probably read about all the fun many of us had here or our misadventures," Darren shrugged. "Now she gets to be here in-person and try shoes with Ashlynn. I'd wager it's like getting fashion advice from a spellebrity."
Brooke did indeed try every kind of shoe in the store. Any color, style, or brand she would want to try just to see how it looked. Some employees may have been frustrated by such a customer, but not Ashlynn. She loved shoes and working with people to find the perfect fit. The pickier they were, the more fun she had with helping them find the perfect pair. With Brooke wanting to try literally everything, it was becoming the most fun day on the job Ashlynn ever had.
"Okay, the perfect pair!" Ashlynn smiled breathlessly, finally presenting the box with the shoes Brooke finally picked. Her hair was disheveled, but the glowing smile on her lips was unmistakable. She hadn't had that much fun in ages!
"Yay! Thank you, Ashlynn!" Brooke cheered as Ashlynn rung up the purchase. Lizzie already had her purse out to pay for it.
"Zzzzzz," Darren snored softly in a corner, Maddie next to him giggling like mad.
"Oh before I go," Brooke somehow presented a book, perhaps a personal diary, with a pen, "Could I have your autograph? And a selfie?"
"Oh, you're making me blush!" Ashlynn giggled. "Okay, just let me clean up my hair."
Book End - Streets
"I can't believe I got Ashlynn's autograph and a selfie of us together! This is so cool!" Brooke giggled, admiring the picture on her phone. "I'm going to make an album with everyone!"
"Then we're on a mission! We'll meet everyone and fill Brooke's phone and diary!" Maddie declared. "Forward!"
"C'mon, I know exactly where everyone is!" Darren led the way.
(-)
Brooke spent the whole day with Darren, Maddie and Lizzie. Experiencing Book End was just so different than just watching everything. Back then, there was a barrier that divided her and the characters of the story, but they weren't just characters. The more she watched them, the more she started to care about them, and she wanted so much to meet them and get to know them.
They stopped to grab some burgers, which Brooke enjoyed. While they ate, they saw Rob and Nina who were out on a walk. Darren quickly waved them down, giving Brooke the chance to meet more of the characters she would narrate. Naturally, this included autographs and selfies. After that, they went into Yarns and Noble where Harry was browsing through books and Briar had fallen asleep in one of the chairs. They then stopped by Hocus Latte for some coffee and Brooke introduced herself to Sparrow Hood and Hunter Huntsman.
They even stopped at the arcade to watch Gabe killing it at one of the machines. He was adorable and a gamer. Brooke could just watch him play all day but she still had more to see and people to meet.
After going around Book End, the group returned to Ever After High and Brooke marveled at the campus. To her, it was like reading her favorite book series and then suddenly finding herself being able to live it and meet the characters she loved so much. It almost felt like a dream and she had pinched herself once or twice to make sure she wasn't dreaming.
They were giving Brooke a tour through the school, letting her see the main setting for the majority of the stories she would narrate. She would gush and tell her new friends of events she narrated, such as Hary getting pinned by Briar when she fell asleep, or the cute sights of Gawain helping the small animal students.
As they were walking through the halls, they came across Milton Grimm who blinked when he saw a young lady in his school that he did not recognize.
"Who's this then?" Milton Grimm asked the group. Not hostile, but curious about the new face with them.
"Hi, I'm Brooke Page! This is such a beautiful school, Headmaster Grimm!" Brooke smiled.
"Why thank you, Ms. Page," Milton nodded. "Are you perhaps interested in enrolling at our school?"
Brooke looked like she was ready to cheer at the question, "Can I!? I mean, yeah, but I need to ask my parents first."
"Certainly," Milton nodded. "Well if you decide to join us here in the new semester, just pass your paperwork to my office before the Spring Break is over. I hope you do decide to join our illustrious institute of learning."
If Brooke wasn't already in delight at her surroundings, being offered to really be a part of it made her practically glow.
The group walked around, giving Brooke a tour as she took pictures with her phone. Ginger and Rex had set up a stand together, giving away the candy girl's sweet treats. Brooke's mouth watered and she gravitated to the table. Everything looked and smelled so yummy.
When night fell, they decided to finish the day with a visit to the Red Shoes Dance Club. Now, here, Brooke was a bit nervous.
"I don't know how to dance!" She fretted as they stepped into the club.
"I don't think half the people who come here know either," Darren chuckled. "Relax, Brooke. You don't have to dance here. Max just comes to enjoy the music until Ramona hunts him down and drags him to the dance floor. But anyway, dancing is easy. Just move to the groove. Here, I'll show you."
Darren unceremoniously leaped onto the dance floor, moving along with the beat and just making up dance moves as he went. His sense of rhythm was good and while he looked a little goofy, it did bring some laughs and compliments from the other dancers.
"He really is something special, isn't he?" Brooke asked Lizzie.
"Yes, indeed he is," Lizzie answered, watching him do a silly little dance without a care in the world.
"Well, what are we waiting for!?" Maddie took Brooke and Lizzie's hands. "Let's dance!"
Brooke laughed cheerfully as she and Lizzie were dragged to the dance floor, joining Darren. They all danced together, just making up moves as they found their groove, like Darren said they should.
While they were enjoying themselves, the doors of the dance club were suddenly thrown open and an armored figure entered, making many people gasp.
His bodysuit was black with sockets on the knees with silver bracers and greaves. His shoulder armor looked like the top halves of scorpion claws over rounded shoulder plates with silver sockets. The gauntlets connected to a raised collar. The chest armor seemed like pectorals and abs, narrowing as it went to his abdomen, looking more like a carapace with silver bands which connected to the socketed back.
The helmet appeared like a knightly helm, sporting a wide V-shaped visor and mouthguard. The sides held scorpion claw decoration and seemed to have a scorpion's body styled on the top with a blue gem in the middle while the scorpion's tail trailed down to the knight's shoulderblades like a ponytail. The majority of the armor itself was green, save for accenting which outlined the edges, which was a tarnished silver.
Gripped in his hand was a sickle which had a deep green handguard in the shape of a scorpion, the tail connecting to the shaft of the weapon like the blade was the stinger. Naturally, around his waist was a V-Buckle with a dark green deck inserted with a gold scorpion emblem in the middle.
People gasped and backed away from the scorpion knight as he walked through the entryway before coming to the main area itself. Many people noticed, although some were still busy dancing and never noticed him.
Seeing he only had the attention of a few, the knight reached to his belt and drew a card. It depicted a green scorpion with silver legs and stinger. The title above it called it 'Rascorpio'. He then pushed the scorpion on his weapon down, revealing the card chamber. He slid the card inside and shut it again.
[Advent!]
In a flash, a large scorpion in forest green biomechanical armor and black and gold siding up its tail with silver legs, stinger, and markings on its face scuttled from the disco ball in the room, landing in the middle of the dancers. It was easily the same size as Blancwing and it almost knocked over several people as it scuttled to the knight's side. Screams erupted and soon people were backing away as they eyed the giant scorpion fearfully.
"Now that I have your attention," the knight spoke, easier to hear over the music now that people weren't talking all at once. "I apologize for this...scare tactic, but it got your attention. I seek Sir Darren Quinn, Knight of the Chameleon. Is he here?"
Darren gasped but steeled himself. Stepping forward despite Lizzie's grip on his arm, he presented himself in front of the scorpion knight.
"You wanted me for something?" he asked with his hands on his hips.
"I do," the knight nodded. "I, Brendan Hautdesert, the Toxic Knight, Rogue Knight of the Scorpion, do challenge you to a duel of honor. The terms are thus: we shall duel with witnesses and the winner shall be wreathed in the glory of victory while the loser must admit the shame of defeat."
"That's it?" Darren blinked. "Most people duel to get something from the loser."
"Challenging a Knight of the Round Table and being victorious over them is an honorable and glorious reward in itself," Toxic Knight replied.
Darren frowned as he offered a compromise, "No Advents or Final Vents?"
"Agreed," Toxic Knight nodded. "Victory is declared when one combatant's deck is ejected from their belts."
Darren knew he could have asked for information about where the Rogue Knights were coming from, who made their decks, any number of things, but he did learn from his grandfather that it might be taken as a bad sign. This Toxic Knight was not asking for anything more than the glory of victory so if Darren asked for anything beyond that, it would make him look bad and allow Toxic Knight to back down without shame and ruin any chance of a getting a lead.
"Very well," Darren nodded, earning gasps from the witnesses. "Dismiss your contract and tell me where we duel."
Toxic Knight nodded and waved to his monster which scuttled away, making people yelp before it vanished into one of the glass tables which decorated the club.
"We duel out front in the open street. Everyone witnesses so neither of us can deny the outcome."
"Alright," Darren took out his Advent Deck. "Henshin!"
Darren transformed into Verde and followed Toxic Knight as they stepped into the street outside the club. The Wonderlandians who came to the club came out to support Verde while many of the teens simply wanted to watch two knights take each other on in a duel.
Lizzie stepped forward.
"This is a duel between the Chameleon Knight Sir Verde and the Rogue Toxic Knight," she spoke. "The duel will end when either combatant is unable to continue, either by forfeit or loss of armor. Are these terms acceptable?"
"Yes."
"Yeah."
"Very well," Lizzie stepped over to Verde and gave him a kiss, even though his helm was in the way. "Good luck." She joined the spectators, raised her arm and brought it down. "Begin!"
Toxic Knight lifted his sickle and charged at Verde. The Chameleon Knight moved to a battle stance before abruptly rolling underneath the strike. Landing in a crouch as Toxic Knight spun around to strike, Verde put his weight on his hands and kicked with both feet, catching the Rogue in the chest and knocking him back.
Getting his feet back under him, Verde stood up and drew a card. He wasn't so naive as to believe he could win without a weapon. He was skilled but he wasn't that good at hand-to-hand.
[Hold Vent!]
Gripping his Bio-Winder, Verde charged back into the fray. Toxic Knight recovered himself and lifted his sickle to strike. Verde merely flicked his wrists and spun with his weapon, launching it to first strike Toxic Knight's weapon, throwing him off balance, and then he struck him across the chest with a wide swing and a shower of sparks.
Toxic Knight huffed, but quickly drew a card and slotted it into his sickle.
[Swing Vent!]
Toxic Knight dismissed his sickle and was armed with a segmented whip which looked like it was derived from Rascorpio's tail. He cracked it across the ground before he charged back into the fray. Verde reared his arm back and snapped out with his Bio-Winder, although Toxic Knight cracked his whip and snapped it out of the air.
"Oh poopie," Verde huffed. In that moment of carelessness, Toxic Knight cracked his Scorwhip across Verde's chest, ripping sparks off on impact as he cried out. Staggering on his feet, he felt a hot burning pain in his chest.
"Ugh, what?" Verde grunted, clutching a spot on his chest which seemed to be glowing a toxic green where Toxic Knight's whip struck him.
"I am called Toxic Knight for a reason," Toxic Knight explained, coiling his whip back up.
"Neat trick. Here's mine!" Verde pulled the clip from his Bio Visor after he drew a card. Clipping his card, he released it as the string pulled it into his Visor.
[Clear Vent!]
Verde turned semi-clear before he vanished entirely from sight. Toxic Knight stiffened when he realized his opponent had vanished. He knew that Verde hadn't run away. He was getting ready for his next strike, and being invisible he would have plenty of opportunity for it.
He heard footfalls coming from behind him and turned around only to be struck in the chest by what felt like a pair of feet. He stumbled from the blow and then received a strike to the right side of his face before another one struck him in the chest, sending him backpedaling.
With each strike he took, he noticed Verde would flicker, becoming visible for only a moment. Toxic Knight huffed and quickly drew another card as his sickle returned.
[Strike Vent!]
Toxic Knight raised his hands and both became covered with gauntlets that resembled Rascorpio's claws. Looking around, Toxic Knight waited for his next shot. After a moment, he spun around, avoiding the Bio-Winder as Verde reappeared. Toxic Knight lunged and smashed Verde across the face in a blast of sparks, disrupting Verde's Clear Vent before he crashed to the ground with a grunt.
"Ow," Verde grunted and rolled to his feet. "Pretty good."
"Good trick yourself," Toxic Knight praised.
"Oh, I have plenty," Verde stood up and drew another card.
[Copy Vent!]
A pane of glass came off Toxic Knight before it flew over Verde. Spinning over him for a moment, Verde's armor was replaced with Toxic Knights, Scorpio Claws and all.
"Anything you can do, I can do better!" Verde took a battle stance, sounding exactly like Toxic Knight himself.
"So, this is how Verde the Chameleon Knight fights," Toxic Knight observed. "Using tricks. Not exactly a knightly way to fight."
"Dude, I'm one of a kind. Ask anybody," Verde replied, not offended. "And I'm perfectly knightly. Ask the Wonderlandians!"
"WOO!" the Wonderlandians in the audience cheered.
"Now, are we gonna chat or are we gonna brawl?"
Toxic Knight responded by charging at Verde who charged back and the two went back and forth, throwing punches as sparks flew between them. The spectators cheered, though they were completely lost as to who was who since they looked identical.
"I can't tell which is Darren," Lizzie said, losing sight of her boyfriend in the fight.
"He's that one," Brooke pointed. "C'mon, Darren!"
Verde and Toxic Knight each threw a punch, executing a perfect cross-counter as they struck each other in the face. At the moment of impact, Verde's disguise shattered, revealing him.
"Nice punch," Verde rubbed his jaw.
"Indeed," Toxic Knight muttered.
"So, knight to knight, care to tell me where you got your deck?" Verde asked.
"The patron of my family, which my grandfather swore to, supplied it," Toxic Knight answered. "How they got it, or if they created it, I cannot be certain. They had a source somewhere, but I am not privy to it."
"Ah bummer," Verde sighed. "Seriously, it's like someone's churning out these things!"
"If they are, I cannot say," Toxic Knight shook his head. "Now, shall we continue?"
"OK," Verde cracked his knuckles and hopped on his feet before he adopted a fighting stance. "Woooo-cha!"
Toxic Knight raised his fists…
*Eeeeeeeeee!*
"Oh come on!" Verde groaned.
"Tsk!" Toxic Knight frowned.
Another ripple came from a mirror and both knights turned to face it and fight the approaching Mirror Monster. The ripple grew stronger before the figure leaped out from the glass, weapon raised.
"Rest at ease comrade and never fear! For I am here!"
Verde and surprisingly, Toxic Knight let off groans as Perfect Knight came from the glass, landing in a crouch with his rapier at the ready. The self-proclaimed Prince of all Tales rose up with a flourish, pointing his weapon at Verde.
"Why are you here?" Toxic Knight asked, annoyed.
"You know this clown too?" Verde questioned.
"We serve the same leader," Toxic Knight sighed. "Unfortunately, he was picked more for his pedigree and embellished deeds than any actual competence. We can't get rid of him though."
"So basically you're stuck with him," Verde sighed. "Truce?"
"He dishonored this duel. Do as you wish," Toxic Knight nodded.
"Ah-ha! So my comrade sees my superior skill!" Perfect Knight nodded. "Now then, I shall cut you down Knight of the Chameleon and take your story with the Princess of Hearts as my first tale!"
In the crowd, Lizzie crossed her arms with an upturned nose and a huff. As if that fool could even compare to her beloved twisty knight. Brooke likewise looked unimpressed. The guy was lame in the previous chapters she read, but now that she was seeing him in person, he was just pathetic. Verde himself felt his eye twitch at the loser's intent to beat him and then somehow steal his girlfriend. Oh, that was crossing the line to the Chameleon Knight and now the Perfect Knight would pay the price.
"Ooooh, he shouldn't have said that!" Maddie tittered.
"Hey, Perfect Knight. Quick question: What's full of themselves, and down on the ground?" Verde asked.
"What?" Perfect Knight blinked, thrown off by the question.
"BANZAI!" Verde broke into a run and leaped over Perfect Knight, landing behind him in a crouch. He then latched himself onto Perfect Knight's back. Wrapping his legs tightly around the Rogue, he started to smack his head repeatedly like a drum.
"Get off me!" Perfect Knight screamed.
"OK!" Verde planted his feet on Perfect Knight's and hopped off his back, sending him stumbling. Perfect Knight spun around and swung at him but Verde caught his wrist and grinned under his helmet. He then started to repeatedly smack Perfect Knight in the face with his own sword hand.
"Why are you hitting yourself? Why are you hitting yourself? Stop hitting yourself!" Verde was making a mockery of Perfect Knight and the crowd was eating it up. He then delivered a kick, knocking Perfect Knight to the ground. As he tried to get back up, Verde grabbed hold of his arm and then crossed his legs around Perfect Knight's neck, keeping him in a head-scissor submission hold. "And to answer my last question, it's you!"
"Ack!" Perfect Knight gagged. He frantically waved to Toxic Knight, "Brendan! Brendan, help!"
Toxic Knight sighed, "You interrupted a duel. You pay the price for the dishonor."
"Say uncle! Say it! Say uncle!" Verde demanded.
The spectators were cheering Verde on while laughing at Perfect Knight.
"Perfect Knight has no chance of winning," Brooke said confidently. "He never stood a chance."
"Ooh, Narrator foreknowledge?" Maddie asked.
"No, obvious observation. I mean, the way Darren fights is completely random. He's completely unpredictable and nobody can guess what he's about to do next."
"He does have a uniquely unconventional style," Lizzie agreed. "But it just goes to prove he's a Wonderlandiful knight!"
Perfect Knight continued to struggle before he gave off a gurgle and fell silent. Verde released him and got up before lightly kicking his side to check if he was passed out or just faking it.
"Well, he didn't say uncle. I'll give him credit for that much," Verde said.
"He's too stubborn to quit," Toxic Knight sighed, palming his face. "If only he was as competent as he was stubborn."
"Now, let's see who he really is," Verde reached down to remove Perfect Knight's Advent Deck. He was about to grab it when he heard Toxic Knight's Visor speak and the Scorwhip wrapped around his arm. "Huh?"
"Unfortunately, I can't allow that," Toxic Knight objected. "I am duty-bound to help my comrades. Perfect Knight dishonored our duel so he needed punishment. Sadly, I can't allow you to expose his identity."
Verde and Toxic Knight stared each other down, only silence passing between them. The crowd watched them in suspense, wondering how this would play out.
Finally, Verde stood up and Toxic removed the whip from his arm.
"Okay. Since you're holding to the code of chivalry so far, I'll respect that," Verde said to the honorable Rogue.
"Thank you." Dismissing his weapon, Toxic Knight walked to where Perfect Knight was out cold on the ground before unceremoniously picking him up and hefting him over his shoulder like a sack of flour. "Perhaps we can finish this another time, Sir Verde. I do have thirteen of you to challenge before I can dream of facing the king."
"Just be sure to bring your A-Game, Toxic Knight.
Nodding, Toxic Knight walked towards a building's window before passing through it to the Mirror World. Verde sighed and removed his deck, banishing his armor. Sighing, he passed a grin to his friends and girlfriend.
"Okay, so all that tense stuff is over. Let's go back to partying!"
A brief interruption came when Ryuga came bouncing out of a window from the dance club. He looked around and quickly removed his deck, banishing his armor. He kept an eye on everyone, pulling out a notepad and a pencil.
"I'm here! I'm here!" Max yelled, huffing and puffing. "Don't start the fight without me! I need to take bets!"
"Sorry, man. You're late," Darren said. "Oh, and the duel ended in a draw."
Max slumped on the ground, "Oh come on! I would have made a bundle on that fight!"
Darren snickered, "Did Ramona keep you?"
Max rubbed his neck which had a noticeable love bite, "...Maybe."
"That was amazing!" Brooke cheered running to Darren with her new friends. "I've read about these fights all the time, but seeing one in-person was so cool!"
And I think that's enough excitement for one day.
Brooke, you had your fun. It's time to come home.
Brooke heard her parents and sighed. They were right, though. It was getting late and she needed to get home. . She looked at Darren, Lizzie, and Maddie who heard them.
"Well, I guess that's it for tonight," Brooke said sadly. She wished she could stay longer but her parents wanted her back now.
"Oooh, don't worry! You'll be back with us before you know it!" Maddie smiled, giving a warm hug to Brooke.
"Yes. You're our friend now so you had better keep in touch," Lizzie nodded. "But off with your lips in regards to my boyfriend!"
"Promise!" Brooke giggled.
Darren approached while Max went off to sulk about his loss of profits.
"I thought I heard your parents. Time to go?" Darren asked.
"Time to go," Brooke confirmed. "Darren, thank you so much for bringing me to Book End and Ever After High. It was like a dream come true!"
"No worries," Darren grinned. "Well, let's get all the new stuff we bought you today and help you get home then."
Brooke smiled at her new friends, "You know, maybe someday if my parents let me, I'll enroll in Ever After High and live my own story instead of telling the story of others."
"Now you sound like a Rebel." Darren approved.
The group of friends went back to the library where Brooke's new shoes and clothes were stashed for her. Mira easily brought the image of where Brooke came from back to her mirror. One quick step through as Verde, and Brooke was back home with her parents, plus a sizable addition to her wardrobe. The last anyone actually saw of her, was her waving to them before the mirror returned to normal.
"I already miss her," Maddie pouted.
"Eh, it's not like we can't talk still," Darren shrugged. "She's already looking out for us anyway."
"Yeah, but it's not the same as hanging out," Maddie sighed.
"Well, we'll just have to do this again sometime," Lizzie nodded. "There is still lots of spring break left after all."
Welcome home, Brooke. It seems like you had a lot of fun.
Sure did, Dad! Thanks for letting me hang out with them!
Well, after that stunt Darren pulled, we may as well have let you enjoy some time on your own. But don't think this means you can step out all willy-nilly!
Yes, Mom. Only on days where no big developments happen. Promise!
That's...not quite what I meant.
Oh, there's no harm in it. Brooke's still young and can enjoy some time with at least a few friends once in a while. So, Brooke, what was it like to see a knight's duel in-person?
It was awesome! All the detail and just being so close to the action was incredible!
As exciting as they are, they can be dangerous. So, don't put yourself in danger if you can help it.
OK, I promise I won't put myself in danger and try to avoid it. So, what's gonna happen in the next chapter?
That will have to wait. It's bedtime for you.
Mom, seriously?
Your mother's right, Brooke. It's late and you need your sleep.
OK. Goodnight, Mom. Goodnight, Dad.
A/N: Well, we have Brooke officially join the cast and Darren pulls a Deadpool. Come on, with how wacky he is it was only a matter of time before we saw this happen. It was another bit of slice of life, added with a new Rogue, and another pathetic showing from Perfect Knight.