Knights of the Otherworld REWRITE

by Ten-Faced Paladin

(REWRITE of KOTO). Destiny has always been a focus to the people of Ever After. However, Destiny is not so easily predicted or controlled. A force outside of Giles Grimm's written pages has forced itself into their world. A meddlesome mage, with the power of Prophecy, sees a solution outside of the context of their stories.

1. Chapter 1

Disclaimer: Don't own Ever After High or Kamen Rider Ryuki. Making no money and just writing this for fun.

Knights of the Otherworld

By Ten-Faced Paladin

Chapter 1: Once Upon a Time…

Once upon a time…

In a land beyond imagination…

Comes the tale of Ever After High…

A high school for the next generation of fairy tales. Each student is charged with the duty of following in the footsteps of their fairy tale parents. Ensuring their classic stories continue to be told.

But today is something new! A new story is unfolding before our eyes and we shall see new stories being written and characters doing something new!

Brooke, what did we say about going off script?

But Mom, I'm not! It says so right here, see?

...what on earth? I don't recall this man in the list of characters.

We have to narrate! You said so!

Brook does have a point, honey. Besides, what's the harm?

Well, I suppose, but rest assured we will be reading into this!

(***)

The Village of Book End

The Village of Book End was a place of beauty, fit for a fairy tale. The buildings were modern, sporting shoe stores, coffee shops, bakeries, bookstores, and other trendy or cozy shops. A noticeable facet of them all was the fairy tale aesthetics which were part of all of them. Many buildings almost looked like a medieval building theme made with stone and wood shingles, although with much more skill to make them pleasing to the eye, even trendy. The stores were also named after a fairy tale theme. There was the Glass Slipper shoe store, sporting a sign of the famous glass shoe of Cinderella. Then there was the Beanstalk Bakery where a real beanstalk was browning with an outdoor bakery and cafe set up around the base.

The Ever After Public Library was certainly a sight to see. It shared the same aesthetics as the other buildings save for one exception. A large tree was growing out of the top, providing pleasant shade for everything around. Inside was just as majestic, being wide with multiple rows of books with the trunk of the tree in the middle before the roots spread outwards to make a kind of veranda, making arches between the rows.

A second floor consisted of a large ring with even more shelves of books with bright windows giving a soft light to everything in bright sunlight. There were also reading nooks common areas to enjoy the sight of the library or a view of Book End from the windows.

In the middle of it all, underneath the massive tree was a single person. He was an adult, looking to be in his thirties. He had shock white hair which was tied in a long ponytail. He wore a blue suit with a white shirt and blue tie, looking much like a librarian. More than that, a white robe hung on his shoulders and he was holding a black staff in the shape of a crook.

The man was frowning softly as he stared into a full-body mirror, one of fourteen which had been set on each of the roots of the tree above him. His reflection was seen from many angles as he kept a stern eye on the one mirror in front of him.

"Go ahead," he suddenly spoke. "You know you can't make it."

His words echoed as he was alone in the section. Then…

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

The image on the mirror changed in the man's eyes and a humanoid figure appeared in the reflection, but only the reflection. The figure was difficult to see in the glass and the man's eyes were glowing to help him see the figure. It charged forward in the reflection before leaping at the glass' surface. It struck before there was a flash of blue and the figure let off a hiss, struggling in the grip of the light.

The man reached into his suit pocket and produced what looked like a small card. It was gray with a blank picture square. With gold bars like a memory card placed on the top. A title above the blank picture frame called it 'Contract' with a gold circle emblem on the left side.

The card began to glow and bathe its light over the mirror with the struggling humanoid figure in it. The figure began to thrash even harder before the humanoid was pulled out of the reflection before seemingly drawn into the card in a flash of white. The light then died down, showing the card had changed. Now it depicted a crouching chameleon creature. The title read Biogreeza with a chameleon face emblem on the left.

"And that makes fourteen," the man nodded, slipping the card into his pocket.

As he tucked the card away, another figure stepped out from another mirror. Unlike the monster, this person was much more discernible. They had the appearance of a teenage girl, but she had an odd green hue to her skin. Her hair was green with silver streaks and she sported silver eyes and lips with a beauty mark under her right eye. She wore a flashy silver jacket with a black blouse underneath and a silver belt with black jeans and silver pump shoes.

"The last monster brought to the light," the girl smiled. "Then is it time to begin the fight?"

The man nodded, "Yes. It's time we begin the fight. Book End isn't going to survive these beasties unless we get them here." He turned and began walking down one of the aisles. "Hopefully my silver tongue hasn't turned to lead…oh who am I kidding? I'm as sharp as ever," he finished with a grin.

The green-skinned girl fondly shook her head in exasperation.

(***)

Well now, I haven't seen him take up a role in the story in some time.

Huh? Mom, Dad, do you know who he is?

A very wise, albeit mischievous man whose story hasn't been looked at for ages.

It seems he's playing a part again, but if he's serious about something, it must be important.

I wonder what it might be.

Uh, is it just me or are these next pages made differently from the others?

(***)

The Town of Storybrooke

Storybrooke was a typical town that was not big enough to be considered a city, but not small enough to be considered a town. It was someplace in between. Still, that just meant it had enough open space to have room to breathe, but still, have the usual hotspots people would like to go to. Malls, arcades, fast food, restaurants, and all the typical hotspots people liked to congregate to.

This included a public park which was a nice and open green space with numerous trees and public decorations for people to run around in. It hosted many public gatherings in the past and often served as a hub for many functions when it was considered suitable, like funfairs, small concerts, and other events.

Today the park was the gathering space and pick-up point of a summer camp. A group of teenagers was waiting for the bus to arrive. It was late in the summer, only a few weeks away from the start of school, making it an odd time to begin a camp, but it was only for a few weeks rather than most of the summer-like so many camps were believed to run.

Waiting in a group at a circle section of pavement with flower gardens around it were a group of teenagers. They seemed utterly average, milling about in their groups who were familiar with each other. They numbered in fourteen, each a normal teenager who would not have stood out in a crowd. They spoke idly, some more familiarly than others. Some of them knew each other while others knew of each other.

Sitting on one bench was one young man who was of average height with a slightly fit build. He had short blonde hair which was just natural, not highlighted or styled, and had green eyes. He could be considered handsome in a boy next door sense, although he considered himself average in his moments of vanity. He wore jeans, a blue t-shirt with red sneakers. He had a duffel bag of clothes and necessities next to him for his trip to camp, although he looked decidedly uninterested in going.

His name was Arthur Pendragon III, a fifteen-year-old Storybrooke high school student. He considered himself ordinary, nothing special, although there were people who knew him that said he might as well be the king of Storybrooke High. He was polite, got along with most, and was considered a reliable guy in just about everything.

If that were the extent of it, he wouldn't have minded. However, he found himself often made into the leader of projects or sports teams or any other group event he found himself part of. Others said he had a kind of charisma and his reliability just made him a natural fit. Arthur simply called it annoying since he didn't like to be in the spotlight and considered himself average, but he didn't shirk duty either so he usually found himself taking the lead.

Arthur wasn't against the idea of going to camp. Having a fun summer experience was never a bad thing. What frustrated Arthur about it was that his teachers, ever trying to convince him to 'achieve his potential' convinced his parents he needed it. They had seemed to feel that since he wasn't as involved in student activities, clubs, events, etc. as they felt he should be, then something must be wrong. They said the camp had 'leadership' qualities that could help Arthur and the 'potential' they all saw in him.

Arthur personally thought they were hoping to ride on the coattails of his family name, considering his grandfather was still a man who was highly respected after his death while his parents were high in the community hierarchy. Arthur didn't see himself as anyone special, simply an ordinary teen. But being related to his grandfather seemed to make plenty think he should be someone special.

"Hey Arthur, why looking so glum?" a new voice asked.

Arthur broke out from his daydream and looked to see who was talking to him. Where Arthur tried to stay out of the spotlight, the teen talking to him looked like he adored it. He was tallish, athletic, naturally handsome, had short brown hair which was perfectly styled between natural and modeled with rich brown eyes. He wore trendy clothes which included a white t-shirt with a red collar, jeans, and his own sports shoes, all making him look good and drawing the eye.

"Ah, woolgathering," Arthur replied. "Counting down the minutes, Lance?"

"You bet," Lance laughed. "A summer camp for one last blast. No parents, limited supervision…"

"And lots of girls for you to flirt with no doubt," someone interrupted. It sounded close to Lance's voice, but it was not Lance who had spoken.

"Hi Harry," Arthur waved to Lance's brother.

Harry was Lance's twin brother, but you would never have been able to tell by looking at them. Harry was only of average height with dark red hair from their mother and blue eyes from their father. He was shorter than Lance with an average build. He didn't even have the same sense of style as Lance, preferring casual clothes that didn't stand out since he wasn't an attention hog like his brother. It was no wonder they referred to themselves as the worst twins ever.

"Hi Arthur," Harry nodded. He slapped his brother's shoulder, "And of course, this jock is excited about going to camp. After he read some stories of what some campers get up to, any reluctance he had suddenly vanished."

"Just looking on the bright side of things," Lance defended. "I mean come on, a leadership camp? The brochure Mom and Dad showed us didn't really go into detail about activities, just a lot of the great outdoors stuff. It sounds shady to me so I may as well find the good spots."

"I agree it seems focused more on 'making the leaders of tomorrow,'" Arthur sighed. "Mr. Willis was laying it on hard when he proposed it to my parents."

"He was always on your case, wanting you to join the political science clubs and debate teams," Harry shook his head. "I think it's because he knew your grandpa."

"Or wants to ride on his coattails through me," Arthur huffed. When Mr. Willis, the political science teacher tried to recruit Arthur for the clubs and teams he was in charge of, he kept playing up being able to travel, achieve great things, make important connections, etc. Then when Arthur would turn him down, he would deflate like a balloon, clearly disappointed.

"Meh, hard to say," Lance shrugged. "Seems like he wants his students to excel, but he sure makes a lot of good connections that way."

Arthur nodded and cast a glance around to the other teenagers who were likewise stuck at the bus stop. He saw some familiar faces people he had seen around. Others he had heard of but hadn't personally met before. Strumming a guitar on another bench was Gwen Nighte the local musician girl. Next to her was the quiet giant Ben Gigant, patiently listening to her practice. On Gwen's other side was a good-looking goth guy, Kyle…Raye, Arthur thought his name was, was trying to cozy up to her with no success.

On another bench snoring loudly was Robert Bray. Arthur didn't know him personally. He was just the type who could end up anywhere and easily fit in. What had Arthur remember him was Robert's reputation for accepting dares on impulse, some of which were still making the rounds in the gossip mill at school. Next to him was his slightly older brother Kevin who was keeping Rob from tilting over and cracking his head on something while he slept. Kevin was more of a ghost in Storybrooke High, except when he would pop up to try and keep his brother from doing something stupid.

On another bench and intensely focused on their Switch was Gabriel Lighthart, shorter than average and mistaken to be younger than he really was. Many girls found him adorable, but he was more known for being a highly-skilled gamer. Rumor said he had a YouTube channel that was about to begin being monetized and indie game companies were starting to send out feelers for him to get early access to their games for streaming. Looking over his shoulder and firing quips when Gabriel would do something was Daren Quinn, Storybrooke High's attempted class clown. One who seemed to only be able to tell the most bizarre and nonsensical jokes ever conceived.

Near a tree, somehow getting the squirrels to come close to him to snatch some nuts was Gawain Forrest. He rarely spoke a word and many were even afraid of him thanks to his stern stares and few words. Yet, he was also known to be incredible with animals, being raised on a farm and having to deal with them all the time.

Stewing away from the group, but not sitting together were Maxwell LeFay and Tristan Irons. Max was simply studious and reading up on some kind of subject, likely a history book. Tristan was just keeping away from the others, fiddling with his phone and looking like he would rather be anywhere but there.

The only one who was actually standing with the bags and dutifully keeping an eye for the bus was Rex Shephard, the 'all but declared' king of Storybrooke High. He had it all from good looks, golden hair, strong manners, and a fit physique. There was even a rumor that he really was distantly related to royalty.

"Everyone, the bus is coming!" he suddenly barked out, making everyone perk up. "Pick up your bags and let's make this quick. I don't want to have people slowing us down because they waited until the last minute to pick up their bags."

No one argued, although there were some grumbles. Kevin roughly poked his brother in the side, snapping him out of his nap with a snort and mumble. Still, everyone who had set their bags down near the bus stop managed to get their things together before the bus itself pulled into the spot. It was a blue and green bus with an eagle emblem on the side and a logo writing out 'Camp Eaglearrow" in what looked like logs.

The bus came to a stop and a man, looking like a preppy college student in a polo and shorts with the eagle emblem on the breast popped out, "Okay, so you all are our new recruits here from Storybrooke?"

There were some agreements and Lance muttered under his breath why they couldn't get a hot college coed for a counselor, but Harry elbowed him in the side. The man chuckled and pulled a clipboard from inside, "I know, I know, likely some parents or teachers pushed you to sign up, but it'll all be worth it. You'll get the whole camp experience from camping, canoeing, hiking, and all the stuff people know camp is about. Trust me, it'll be fun."

Reading off the clipboard, he counted the fourteen teenagers who were picked up from that point and they loaded onto the bus. Surprisingly, but pleasantly so for several, the bus was empty so everyone could choose their own seating. Naturally, they picked the back of the bus.

Arthur took his own seat, finding Gwen sitting down across from him. After they both set their baggage down, he glanced at her, "So, how did you get roped into this?"

"Family wanted me to 'connect with my peers' and apparently it's a family tradition to go to the camp at least once according to my dad," Gwen answered. "You?"

"Political science teacher apparently thought I wasn't getting involved enough and wasting my potential," Arthur replied. "Sold my parents on the idea."

"Mr. Willis, right?" Gwen gave a 'tsk.' "He's always trying to network. Someone needs to tell him he's a teacher, not a politician."

"I think he plans to run for office and hopes former students will remember and support him," Arthur huffed.

Once everyone was settled, the driver got the bus rolling again and they began heading out. The conversations began to delve into the various subjects teenagers were interested in. Talk of TV, video games, celebrities, and gossip were the common subjects. Darren attempted to let some of his jokes bring some laughs, something about a dog house not flying. Naturally, no one got it. Rex shared a few words with the counselor, wanting to know what they would be expecting at camp.

Cities and streets soon gave way to highways surrounded by trees and signs of nature. Storybrooke was a pretty quiet place and had plenty of natural scenery which brought the outdoorsy tourists around. The highway began to curve around the hills and everyone settled in for the trip. None of them, save perhaps Rex, really knew where the camp was so they settled in for a trip.

At some point in the trip, the counselor shared words with the driver and they began to pull off the highway and towards a rest stop. Once they began pulling in, he turned to the collected teens, "Okay everyone, this is our one and only pit stop before we get to the camp, so everyone take advantage of it."

The bus rolled into the parking lot and everyone filed off, stretching and getting the stiffness out of their limbs. The rest top itself wasn't large, but it was an island of modern life in the hills, forests, and highways. The boys made a beeline for the restroom but found themselves suffering a lineup since they were so many of them. Gwen gave them all a smug grin as she waltzed into the ladies' side, having it all to herself.

After some tense moments as natural processes demanded to be fulfilled, the teenagers headed back to the bus to wait. The driver was the last one in line and the counselor was talking to some college girls who, from the look of their car, were heading away for a cabin weekend.

"Anyone else think this setup feels like a plot from a horror movie?" asked Kyle, gesturing to the counselor. "I mean, camping in the woods, bus full of teens, and a horny counselor who seems to lose all sense once chicks get involved?"

"Ah, let him go," Lance shrugged. "It's the campers who get the most tail since counselors have to keep an eye on everything."

"Oh? You got some insight on that?" Kyle began to grin, his interest piqued.

Arthur rolled his eyes and settled into his seat as Lance began to regale Kyle of the numerous camp stories he fished out. Apparently, to him, it seemed going to camp was a surefire way to get laid. Gwen scoffed at Lance's talk with Kyle while Harry rolled his eyes at his brother's skirtchasing.

Arthur just resigned himself to hearing Lance plan out how he was going to get a summer romance going for sure. He pulled out his own phone and although he didn't have internet, he did have a game or two he could play. As he was wondering what to do, he heard the door to the bus close and the engines roar to life, signaling they were about to head out again. He just settled into his seat to wait out the trip to camp…

"Hey…where's the driver?!"

Arthur's head snapped up hearing Kevin's words and he glanced to the front of the bus. To his mounting shock and horror, the driver indeed was not there, nor was the counselor. Worse, the bus was moving, even turning out onto the road without anyone driving!

Shocked, Arthur spun around to look out the back window and saw the driver and the counselor both running after the bus, but it was no use. They were picking up speed and the two were quickly falling behind. Everyone was shocked and confused as to what was happening, rending them still as they tried to comprehend what was happening. It was when they hit a bump and everyone jostled did they begin getting their minds back.

"Dammit!" Arthur cussed. Moving out of reflex, he leaped from his seat and ran to the front of the bus. Moving to the driver's seat, he tried to turn off the engine, but the keys weren't in the ignition. He tried stomping down on the brakes. He dearly wanted to hear the sound of squealing brakes, but instead, all he got was no noise and the continuing movement of the bus.

Arthur paled, "The brakes aren't working!"

"What?!"

"Are you serious?!"

"Turn to the side!"

"The bus is possessed!"

"We're all gonna die!"

"Mommy!"

Hearing the shouts, Arthur gripped the wheel and tried to violently turn to the side. His hope was that by putting the wheels at an angle, he would force the bus to slow down, or running into enough underbrush would kill its momentum. His fear grew when the bus refused to turn. In a final bit of desperation, he grabbed the handle which would open the bus' doors. If the doors opened, they could all jump out since their speed wasn't too fast yet…he hoped. Road rash was preferable to a crash. To his horror, this likewise met with failure.

The bus suddenly made a sharp turn, moving onto a side street that had a tunnel moving through a hill. Arthur's eyes widened when he saw the tunnel was dark with no lights, making him fear that it was blocked.

"BRACE YOURSELVES!" he shouted over the din of the panicking passengers.

Screams echoed through the bus as it hurled into the dark tunnel.

And then…the tunnel vanished.

(***)

Wow! Talk about a beginning!

This certainly is not a normal fairy tale opening.

True, but this is turning out to not be a typical fairy tale.

I can't wait to see what's going to happen next!

(***)

Arthur thought his number was up when the bus drove into the dark tunnel, expecting to hit something hard. The others on the bus thought the same, wondering if they had all died in what they thought would be a crash. It took them several moments to realize that rather than a crash, the bus had slowed down to a gentle cruising speed.

"Uh...we're not dead?" asked Gabriel, poking his head up from behind a seat.

"Doesn't look like it," Tristan muttered.

"The question remains," Rex spoke up. "What did happen to us if we aren't dead?"

No answer was forthcoming until a light appeared rather suddenly at the end of the tunnel. Before long, the bus drove through, temporarily blinding the group before their eyes adjusted. Everyone found themselves looking at an idyllic space. It had rolling hills, lush forests, and fields of flowers all around. There were animals frolicking around and even the tiny, cute birds were flying around in patterns like they would in a cartoon.

"I see a baby deer frolicking with a rabbit and skunk," Ben muttered, taking in the admittedly peaceful and happy-looking scenery.

"When the duck did we land in a Disney movie?" asked Kyle, but then blinked. "Wait, did I just say 'duck'?"

The bus kept rolling on, continuing down the road even though Arthur was making no attempt to steer, it kept driving as if he was an expert bus driver. After passing by some hills and through what looked like a small forest, the road became cobblestone and rolled into what looked like a town. As they entered the town proper, they saw the aesthetics of the town fit more for that of a fairy tale with carriages parked in the stress and people dressed like the classics, albeit with modern interpretations.

"Is that a giant?" asked Harry, staring at what indeed looked like a giant teenager walking through another part of the town.

"I…think it is," Lance gaped next to his twin.

"I repeat…" Kyle spoke up again, watching a woman who was seven feet tall with her hair done in black braids walk down the road. "When did we end up in a ducking Disney movie?"

Arthur couldn't speak as he looked at their surroundings. The buildings, to the signs, to the people who were walking down the street dressed like fury tale personalities. He could even see that some of them were animals walking and dressed like people! All of it had the obvious sensation of magic, of fantasy and wonder. Magic and wonder he hadn't felt since his grandfather would tell him stories of knights and damsels when he was younger. He hadn't felt that same magic feeling since his grandfather passed away. Here, now, that sensation returned and it was making him feel like he was finding a cherished childhood memory again, nearly bringing him to tears.

And he was only fifteen. How messed up was that?

The bus continued to drive through town, seemingly knowing where it was going. It allowed the teenagers to see the number of shops, all of them having plays on familiar fairy tale elements. The Glass Slipper, Beanstalk Bakery, Hocus Latte, and even a Gingerbread Boutique. All of it was just so fantastic and, familiar from their childhoods, no one was really panicking or trying to escape the bus anymore.

The bus finally turned a corner and passed in front of a large library that had an even larger tree growing out from the top. Passing in front, showing a sign that the building was home to the Book End Royal Library, the bus turned in and came to a stop in a back parking lot. It slowed to a halt before the engine cut out and the doors opened. All fourteen teenagers were quiet, looking at each other and unsure of how to proceed.

"So…what do we do?" asked Max, adjusting his glasses.

Arthur looked to his friends and their classmates, open to suggestions. They all looked unsure, unsettled, downright afraid, or a mix of all three. He dared to come to the door of the bus, which was looking at the back of the building. There were a pair of oak doors that allowed entry. As if they knew he was looking, the doors opened as if beckoning the group to come inside.

"I think…someone's inviting us inside," Arthur gulped.

"Should we?" asked Gawain.

"How bad could a library be?" asked Gwen, although her tone showed anything but confidence.

"How bad? Have you ever seen a horror movie set in old buildings like this?" Kyle scoffed.

"Well, we can't just stay on the bus like hobos forever," Arthur cut off any impending argument. Steeling his courage, he stepped out into the parking lot. It really was no different from home in that regard, just a parking lot. Knowing that there was so much fantasy-theme and magical people just on the other side of the parking lot made it feel a lot different to him though.

Taking a breath, Arthur began to approach the doors. Hearing gravel crunch behind him made him stop and turn around. His fellow passengers all filed out after him, perhaps emboldened by him going first. They were nervous, just like him, but with all of them together, the fear didn't seem to be so menacing. It certainly helped Arthur feel better as he unintentionally led the way inside of the library.

Inside they discovered shelves upon shelves of books. Actual books and not a piece of film or digital media in sight. The scent of old newsprint paper filled their nostrils, reminding them of the school library and the public library back home. It gave the group fond memories of their younger days, various books they liked, and just fun around school and town.

Arthur glanced at the actual books and saw their titles. Absolutely all of them were books about fairy tales, magic, and other fantasy subjects. He saw tales of brave knights, beautiful damsels, fairy godmothers, and dastardly villains. What really got Arthur's curiosity was the titles made the books seem more like they were history or other subjects with a fantasy history. He was tempted to take a look at them, but he curtailed that impulse, focusing on what was in front of him.

The group passed the rows of books before coming to the middle of the library itself. The tree was above them, it's roots spread out to make fourteen pillars which marked the beginning of the aisles. At the base of each root was a full-length mirror, but the frames were carved and framed with gold in such a way that it was hard to tell if the mirrors were mounted on the root pillars, or carved from them. Sunlight came down from above, filtering through the skylight and branches and giving small beams of sunlight to land on everything. It was a majestic sight, bringing a sense of awe to the group.

"Wow…" Harry couldn't help but whisper, summing up everyone's feelings.

The serene moment of awe was abruptly interrupted when a painful screeching noise began to echo through the group's ears. All of them were unable to resist trying to keep the noise out by covering their ears. The tone sounded like glass scraping against glass through some kind of audio equipment, making it echo slightly and make it worse. The sound gave way to roars as each of the fourteen mirrors around them began to show a figure of an armored monster. Two dragons, a bat, a massive minotaur, a cobra, a shark, a stingray, a chameleon, a crab, a tiger, a group of gazelle monsters, a swan, a rhino, and even a blazing phoenix. All of them were clearly wild, set off by something. It made the teens group together, feeling surrounded by the monsters and that the only thing keeping the monsters from charging were the panes of glass they were inside of.

Everyone was frozen in shock at what they were seeing, fearing the monsters were going to break through and attack them. A sudden loud clap had all the monsters stop their roars. When they quieted down, a new voice spoke up, "Now that won't do! What's the matter with you? Running wild to go and see, will just reflect badly on me!"

The monsters drew back, vanishing from the reflections cast by the mirrors. To the shock of the group, a new figure, a girl who looked to be their age, stepped into view. Her green hair, skin, and silver eyes all vibrant and drew the eye to her, especially since she was on the other side of the glass like the monsters were.

The girl smiled and waved to the group of teens, "Hello one and all! Sorry for the monsters' ball." She stepped forward and even passed through the glass to step into the library proper. The collected teens gaped at the new girl who smiled and gave a dramatic bow, "Mira Mirror is my name, librarian assistant is my game."

The group of teenagers were stunned and looked to one another and back to the smiling silver and green girl. Arthur gulped, finding his voice first, "Ah…right. Um…so, were you the one to bring us here?"

"Oh no, it was not me," Mira shook her head. She gestured over her shoulder to one of the rows of books, "It was my boss you see."

"And that boss would be me," a man's voice came before a man dressed in a sharp suit with a white robe hanging on his shoulder. A black crook was in one hand and he had shock white hair, looking non-threatening although definitely not normal. In fact, to many in the group, he looked like a wizard in a business suit.

"And you would be?" asked Rex, crossing his arms.

"Myrddin Emrys," the man replied with a welcoming grin. "But everyone these days calls me Merlin. I'm the head librarian here at the Book End Royal Library. Sorry for the rough arrival, but that kind of teleportation magic is never subtle or smooth."

Lance gulped, but found his voice "Okay…so, why us?"

"Well, haven't you ever wanted to have an isekai adventure?" Merlin asked with a grin. When he got no reply, he blinked and scratched his cheek, "Okay…wow. So, no anime fans among you? That's a new one for me." He shook his head and pressed on, "Anyway, the reason I summoned you all here is that I feel that you have what it takes to change the course of destiny and save these lands."

Gwen, among others, gaped at the declaration, "Uh, what? Do we even look like we're some kind of fantasy story characters?!"

"Why yes you do!" Merlin grinned back, which made the entire group gape at him. He just chuckled and waved his staff. In a flourish of light, a long table with numerous chairs appeared in the middle of the room, making the teens yelp and/or backpedal. Nodding in satisfaction, he looked to Mira, "Mira Mirror, would you be a dear and bring some sweet snacks over here?"

"Right-o! Here I go!" Mira beamed before she began happily skipping down one aisle of books and vanishing from sight.

"Alright then, explanations," Merlin took a seat at the head of the table. He gestured for the teens to sit down. They eventually did, but not after testing the chairs to see if they were even real and not going to vanish on them. Once everyone was sitting down, Merlin got to the point, "Well, let's get the big point out of the way. As you might have guessed from seeing Book End on your way here, you're not in your original world anymore."

Arthur blinked, somewhat torn at the idea. He somewhat entertained the thought when he saw the giant walking through the streets along with the animals walking and dressing like people. Still, his sense of reality and logic had rallied against it since something so bizarre just couldn't be real. It was like something out of a story and fantasies. What made it difficult to deny was seeing it all happening in front of him.

"So where are we?" asked Tristan.

"Well, the land is called Ever After, the home of some of the most famous fairy tales of all time," Merlin answered. "Here, fairy tales are very real. Everyone here is a character from the stories you all know back home, or are the children of them. Here, maintaining those stories are the highest priorities, and said children of fairy tales are expected to take up the roles of their parents, taking their names, and endlessly retelling the stories over and over again."

The teenagers looked at each other, confused and wondering what it was they were hearing. Gabriel voiced what the others were thinking with a slow, "...okay?"

"And right now, there is a bit of unrest going on, especially in Ever After High, the top school where all those fairy tale children are training to be ready to take up those tales," Merlin explained. "A movement has begun, sparking something of a conflict between the Royals and the Rebels. Royals are the ones who are usually the protagonists or heroes of their stories and they want their Happily Ever After just like their parents got. Rebels are generally the ones who have to take the roles of villains or otherwise get the short end of the stick and want to break free and find new destinies."

"While that is fascinating, I hardly see the drama you seem to be putting into this," Harry commented. "What's the big deal? Teenagers want to do things authority doesn't approve of all the time."

"The big deal is if you believe Milton Grimm who's the headmaster of the school, if you don't follow your story then you disappear in a big poof and your story goes with you," Merlin explained. He was interrupted by Mira returning with a trolly of tea, cookies, and biscuits. Merlin helped himself to some tea, taking an indulgent drink. "Ah, love the Wonderland brands. Anyway, I believe the man's full of poppycock and is lying, wanting to keep the stories the same in some stupid homage to his ancestors, the Brothers Grimm."

"While that's a fascinating idea for a philosophical debate," Arthur spoke up, taking a cookie, "Just what exactly does it have to do with bringing us here?"

"Ah, well, that's a little more serious," Merlin admitted. "You see, some time ago, some event happened. I'm not sure if it was a solstice, some stars aligning, or one big magical accident. Book End is officially at risk and so far only Mira and I know about it."

"At risk from what? One-eyed, one-horned flying purple people eaters?" asked Darren.

"I wish!" Merlin barked out a laugh. "Well, you saw the menagerie behind the looking glass before Mira shuffled them away," He pointed to the mirrors around them. "There's now an entire world which is a mirror reflection of ours. Those fourteen you saw, I managed to capture and tame, but there are hoards of them out there. Worse, they're all hungry and their favorite food is the life energy of animals or people from this side. They can pop out of any reflective surface and make a mad grab for anything fleshy they can get."

"Wait, they've been attacking people…and no one is doing anything?" asked Gwen, horrified.

"That is partially on me since I erected a barrier once I realized the Mirror World connected to ours," Merlin replied. "I created a barrier which kept the monsters out after one of them tried to make a grab at Mira. Being the daughter of the Magic Mirror, she managed to sense the connection as it happened and also became the first target."

"So Ever After is protected then," Rex commented.

"No, I just slowed them down," Merlin shook his head. "When I cast the barrier to keep the monsters out of Book End, they either tried to hunt in the nearby forests, or they began to chew on the barrier itself and eat the magic."

Gawain perked up, concern painting his features while Arthur frowned, "They…eat magic too?"

"Well, what is magic but the energies of the body or the world around them? I made a neon sign for a buffet for them," Merlin sighed. "I can reapply it, but it will just make the sign brighter. If I let it go, eventually the monsters will slide in and begin targeting the people."

Rex frowned, "So, you can't keep them out or else you'll attract more monsters, but if you don't reapply the barrier, they'll come in and attack the people."

"A catch-22 as it is," Merlin nodded. "So that's why I brought you all here. It's why I captured those monsters in the mirrors. I need to collect those who can rise up and fight the monsters to protect Ever After."

"You can't be serious," Max frowned, finally speaking. "You picked fourteen random teenagers to fight monsters? We don't know the first thing about fighting monsters!"

"Well, I didn't pick you just at random. Hasn't my name clued you in yet?" Merlin grinned. After a few moments, Rex and Arthur's eyes widened in shock.

"Wait, so you're…the real…?" Rex managed to gasp.

"That's right. I'm not a descendant of Merlin, but the real one from every story you've likely heard," Merlin grinned. "I'm the one who prophesied the rise of King Arthur, enchanted the sword in the stone, and advised King Arthur through his reign. Prophecy is one of my powers and when I used it for this problem, it showed me all of you."

"B-But we don't know anything about fighting monsters!" Ben trembled.

"No worries! Skill can be trained and we've got plenty of time for that," Merlin replied with an easy grin. "As for the power to fight them, I've got you covered." He waved his staff and small clouds of smoke erupted in front of the teens. Some yelped, but when the smoke cleared, each of the teens had a small plastic case in front of them, each with a gold emblem based on an animal.

"What are these?" asked Kyle, picking up the cobra case in front of them.

"Those are what I call Advent Decks," Merlin explained. "With those, you can manifest armor and weapons which will give you all the strength and power needed to not only fight off Mirror Monsters but also destroy them."

"How do they do that?" asked Tristan. "I mean, does it just make the armor magically appear? How's it supposed to be strong enough to help us fight monsters?"

"Well, I didn't show off those monsters in the mirror and take the time to catch them for nothing," Merlin answered, taking a cookie. "The decks transfer the power of those monsters into the armor, enabling the power and weapons to be used. To activate the armor, just point the deck into a reflection to summon a V-Buckle. Slip the deck inside, and the armor appears." The teens looked at their new acquisitions in skepticism and wonder, making Merlin grin, "And posing dramatically while saying the word 'henshin' is highly encouraged."

"Right…" Kyle deadpanned at Merlin turning from serious to goofy in a heartbeat. "Saying we do this, which I'm not saying I will yet, what do we get out of it?"

"The pleasure of doing the right thing?" Merlin offered but just received more deadpan stares for his joke. He only chuckled at the looks, "Right, right. That won't be enough for plenty of you. Well, let's go over some of the basic benefits: A fresh start in a new town to reinvent yourself, the chance to act out your heroic fantasies, an easy part-time job working here in the library when you aren't monster busting, living in a happier and friendlier world, being free from the expectations set on you in your world. Then there's the most important one: The girls just love, love, love a good knight in shining armor here and I can confirm, they're all beauties. Alas, my chance for such things passed years ago."

Mira just giggled from her seat at her boss' antics.

"Sold!" Lance raised his hand like a shot but got swatted in the back of his head by his brother. "Ow!"

"Reign it in," Harry muttered.

Arthur frowned and tapped at the black case in front of him with a dragon motif. What Merlin was telling them was insane, fit more for a kids' action show than anything else. If he was given the pitch back in Storybrooke, he was wondering if they were all there in the head. Seeing the fantastic sights in Book End, much less how they got there, he found himself actually entertaining the thought that the monsters were real. The monsters in the mirrors were rather compelling evidence that the creatures existed. Such illusions couldn't be done in person like it was.

"Can we talk about this? I have so many questions," he asked.

Merlin nodded, "By all means. I would be worried if any of you accepted right away."

"Hey," Lance frowned, feeling like Merlin just took a jab at him.

(***)

And so Merlin has collected a team of future heroes to combat this new threat to Ever After.

Mirror Monsters? A Mirror World? I've never heard of such a thing before.

Yeah, but that's what makes it so exciting Mom! Oooooh, turn the page, hurry! I just have to see what happens next!

(***)

Merlin proved to be a…generous host. Soothing concerns and outright fears, he was ready to answer questions and talk about what Ever After was like. Reactions were mixed among the group. Some, like Darren and Gabriel, wanted to go run out into the streets and explore what the Village of Book End had to offer. A sharp word from Rex got everyone to calm down and they decided to talk about the situation.

"Well…if I wasn't living this, I would consider it someone's idea of a story," Arthur admitted, fiddling with his new Advent Deck.

"No kidding," Kevin massaged the bridge of his nose. "But what are we going to do about it?"

"Do about it? What is there to do about it?" asked Max. "This is insanity. I'm willing to admit all this is real since we're here, but expecting fourteen untrained teenagers to just go out and fight monsters like some kind of superheroes is just…ridiculous! We'd get killed!"

"Merlin offered training and special gear," Gabriel offered but got a bland look from the bespectacled boy.

"Hey, come on, we've got a chance to get superpowers with the armor," Lance argued.

Harry groaned, "Lance, don't let that line about girls lead you along," That earned a glare from his brother.

"I'm willing to accept that this world is magic and fairy tales," Gwen admitted and looked at Merlin. "But why couldn't you just rouse some knights in shining armor or prince charmings to deal with this? Why collect us even if you have prophecy powers?"

"Part of why I picked all of you, besides my vision, is because you can handle what the Mirror Monsters dish out. They fight dirty, they aren't afraid to be brutal since they're like animals," Merlin explained.

"How?" asked Gawain.

"I had to study them in order to catch the ones I did," Merlin answered. "As for knights or princes, none of them are really prepared for the savagery of the monsters. You're all desensitized to it, but them? It's as PG as you can get. Can you name one fairy tale which can fight but doesn't involve swinging a sword in a fancy way and isn't just to scare away a dragon or villain? Name one and I'll recruit them."

"The people mentioned in Grimm's Fairy Tales?" Max suggested. "Weren't some of them soldiers or the gritty types who didn't shy away from violence?"

Merlin sighed regretfully, "If only we were in those ages. I'd easily be able to recruit them. Nowadays it's more like out of those films from Disney rather than Brothers Grimm."

Max had to concede that point. Everything outside was a pure fairy tale in the modern sense, mainly gentle, good, and Happily Ever After.

Rex took up the topic, "So I understand being from Earth violence is not such a shocking thing to us, but just what is it about us in particular that made us so worthy?"

"Well, who can understand the whims of fate?" Merlin shrugged. "I just used my magic to get a glimpse. It showed me that you all were the ones for the job, but not why. We might be able to figure that out along the way if you're willing."

"What about our families?" asked Rob. "They sent us away to summer camp. They might freak if this takes longer than a few weeks."

"Oh, it will take longer than that unless we get really lucky in finding the source of this mess," Merlin nodded. "But, I am nothing if not thorough. Anyone who wants to stay and take up the duty will get a cover story of winning entry into a prestigious private school."

"Will we be going to a prestigious private school?" asked Tristan.

"Nothing more prestigious than going to Ever After High. It's the ivy league of our world," Merlin shrugged. "Any subject taught there, can easily translate to your world…with a few tweaks."

Arthur sighed, running a hand down his face, "You're asking for a lot…"

"I know," Merlin nodded, for a brief moment looking exhausted. "It's nothing little than I'm asking for. Still, I have to ask as there isn't just anyone else that I can ask. Prophecy claims you all can do it, so I'm asking, really almost begging."

Arthur nodded, somehow just feeling that Merlin really was trying his best to convince them to stay even if he knew what he was asking for was likely dangerous. Still, Arthur could understand that people would be dangerous if the monsters in the mirrors they saw were just the tip of the iceberg. His survival instinct told him to stay away, to keep safe from such dangers. His morals on the other hand were pushing him to do something about it, since Merlin was giving him the ability to do just that.

"I think we need to still think about this," Arthur sighed.

"Seconded," Rex agreed. "Are we able to go someplace to think?"

"You're of course free to come and go," Merlin nodded with a smile. "Book End has plenty to do and the field is still up, so you don't have to worry about monsters appearing. If you want to hole up, I've got small study rooms downstairs you can have for privacy."

"Good, I need some coffee to soothe my nerves," Gwen sighed.

"Well truth be told, the currency here is gold," Mira winced.

Groans echoed through the room. Of course, the currency would be different!

(***)

And so these potential new heroes went to explore their new surroundings, conflicted if they should accept the call of duty or return to their safer lives.

But Dad, I don't get it, shouldn't heroes leap at the chance to do something heroic? I mean, all the others do.

All those other future heroes were trained and prepared. These humble heroes found destiny suddenly thrust on them. Of course, they would be hesitant, but I'm sure destiny will find a way.

(***)

Book End was proving to be a pleasant place to be. It was clean, bright, and everyone seemed friendly. The fact that everyone was either a fairy tale character or the child of one. There was a certain charm to seeing it all, a magic in the air which Arthur found himself appreciating now that he wasn't afraid that something bad wasn't going to happen to him.

In a lot of ways, it felt ordinary. He saw a coffee shop, typical stores, and other typical things he had seen around town back home. Of course, the fantasy flare of it all gave that ever-present sense of magic.

Arthur went to the store Hocus-Latte, needing something caffeinated to help soothe his nerves after everything which had been dropped onto his lap. With the gold, literal gold coins, Merlin passed out for an allowance, Arthur entered the shop, the door giving a jingle as he did so.

"Hi there!" the perky barista, a freckled girl greeted him. "What can I get you?"

"New customer, so I don't know what's on the menu," Arthur admitted. "Something with cinnamon and caramel?"

"A Candy Apple special," the barista nodded. Arthur nodded and she put in the order on her register. "Who's it for?"

"Arthur Pendragon," the young man replied. Immediately the barista almost fumbled her cup, gaping at him, "Wh-what?"

"Um…nothing," the barista gulped. She fiddled with the cash register, although she did keep glancing at him like she wasn't believing what she was seeing. "Ah, would there be anything else?"

"Um, just the coffee," Arthur nodded.

"Okay, it will be ready in a minute," the barista nodded. "It's a little slow these days since Ever After High hasn't begun the school year, so not much waiting at this point."

"School town. Got it," Arthur nodded with a half-grin.

Arthur took a seat once his coffee came and he just idly drank it as he tried to keep his thoughts calm, not noticing the barista excitedly gossiping with one of her coworkers and both looking at him. Instead, after marveling at the taste of the coffee, he tried to get his thoughts in order about what he was getting himself into.

He wouldn't deny he felt excited by the prospect of adventure in a world of magic and fantasy. It was the kind of thing he loved, especially from his grandfather's stories. Common sense kept telling him it was an insane idea and he might die. He couldn't deny it wasn't real, seeing everything in Ever After, but there was still that nagging part of him saying he couldn't stay, that he had a life back in Storybrooke, and he had to get back to it no matter what reassurances Merlin gave.

"Grandpa, I could really use some advice right now," Arthur mumbled, taking another sip of his coffee.

(***)

On the other side of the looking glass was a world few knew even existed. It was a near-perfect imitation of the real world. It looked exactly like Book End, down to the buildings, the streets, and the various trees which were growing in and around it. There were only two exceptions to this. The first was that any piece of writing was reversed, much like a mirror image of the letters would be if seen in the mirror. The other was that there were no people around…

…but that did not mean it was uninhabited.

Shambling through the streets were strange white humanoids. She shambled around clumsily, absently picking at reflective surfaces, but finding themselves unable to do more than that, making them mumble and slam at the reflections before they moved on.

The creatures were entirely a grub-white in color, have plain chitin armor on their shoulders and chests, accented by bronze sections. Their arms were thick and club-like with segmented fingers. Their heads were smooth, having insectoid mouthpieces with a clear dome protecting the grub-like head within.

These were monsters that Merlin called Sheerghosts, common scavengers among the ranks of the Mirror Monsters.

Several of them were poking at reflective material, seeing a smorgasbord on the other side, but finding the material uncooperative. Several grew agitated, slamming at it to no avail. Eventually, they grew bored and moved on to try their luck elsewhere, the gnawing hunger keeping them going.

One Sheerghost grumbled, giving off 'woot' noises as it found a big glass window looking into the street. It mumbled and saw some people through the glass in the real world. It stared hungrily, seeing the meals just out of its reach. With a frustrated grumble, it swung its arms hard at the reflective surface…

*CRACK!*

The Sheerghost stopped when its arms hit the window and cracks ran…above it? The entire glass surface began to show a blue glow as some kind of barrier was set over it. Seeing it was on to something, the Sheerghost swung several more times, each impact dealing more cracks and damage. Finally, pieces began falling off, which the Sheerghost caught and greedily gobbled up like a starving man at a buffet. Its actions caught the attention of four more Sheerghosts who came to gobble at the barrier pieces as well.

They tore and pulled at the barrier, slipping their grubby fingers underneath to try and pull off larger chunks of the magic so they could feast. Before they knew it, the barrier collapsed, dispersing into particles that soon faded. Their disappointment did not last long as they realized the way was clear for the feast they witnessed on the other side.

The first in the group reached to the glass and its fingers began to phase through the material like water, making ripples in the reflective surface.

(***)

*Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!*

"Guh!" Arthur gagged on his coffee, clamping a hand down on his ear as the sudden screeching noise assaulted his senses. Looking up, he first thought the music playing in the shop's speakers had gone wrong, but he then recalled hearing the noise before…when the monsters in the library mirrors had appeared.

"Oh no, no, no, no," He murmured. Forgetting his coffee, he dashed outside of the store and into the street, trying to find the source of the noise. "Did they get through the barrier already?"

He winced as the screeching noise continued. He searched, trying to find the source of the noise. The intensity of the screeching made it difficult. Still, he managed to track down the source, seeing a window to one of the many stores begin to ripple like a pond's surface.

To his shock and some horror, a dome-headed creature began to phase through the glass, trying to crawl out. Only the fact no one was on the street thanks to the quieter days before the school year kept anyone from noticing. Arthur dashed across the street, coming to the monster and slammed his shoulder into it.

"Whut!" the monster grunted, stumbling back and into the glass from the strike.

"And stay there!" Arthur huffed. As the creature fell back into the glass, he looked around, "Okay, ah, cops? Merlin? G-Gotta get to the library-!"

*THWIP!*

"HRK!" Arthur choked as a line of white thread burst from the mirror and wrapped around his neck. Grunting, he grabbed the length of material, trying to break it. The thread felt like simple silk, but it was resistant like steel, unbreaking as he tried to rip it apart.

A sharp yank on the thread pulled Arthur off of his feet, drawing him into the glass. He cried out in fear, falling through first the glass, but then a prismatic tunnel of sparkling glass which would have been beautiful to look at if it weren't for his circumstances.

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" his cry echoed through the tunnel of endless glass. As he fell, his pocket began to glow a bright red. In a flash, Arthur was enveloped in that red light before he passed through a pane of glass and landed on the street again.

"Oof!" he grunted. Groaning, he pushed himself up and shook his head to get the stars out. As he did so, he realized he wasn't clad in his usual clothes anymore…but something different.

(***)

Back in the Real World, Merlin perked up when he heard a familiar tone coming to his ears. Biting back a curse, he gripped his staff and stormed to the main atrium where the circle of mirrors stood. Also, there was Mira, polishing the glass diligently.

Mira glanced up, seeing her boss in the reflection and looking particularly grim, "What's the problem boss? Is it another Magi-Mari loss?"

"A monster just broke the barrier," Marlin answered, making Mira's eyes widen in shock. The wizard then raised his staff, speaking an incantation before slamming the but of it down. Immediately, thirteen circles appeared before in a multitude of colored flashes, his thirteen guests appeared.

"Merlin, wait…the noise is gone?" Harry winced.

"What?" Gabe asked, rubbing his ears. "I can't hear you!"

"Oooh, it was like cat claws on chalkboards," Gwen winced, massaging one ear. She glanced around, slightly surprised to see herself back in the library, "What was that?"

"That would be a signal which sounds off when a Mirror Monster attempts to get into this world," Merlin explained, getting everyone's attention. "Call it the world's natural resistance to keeping them out. What worries me is that for it to happen, my barrier had to go down."

"What?!" Rex cried. "You were the one who said we had time to prepare for them!"

"And we should have!" Merlin snapped back, frowning with all his earlier goofiness gone. "The only reason I can think of is that a group of them banded together and they rarely do that and…" Merlin stopped as he looked around the collected face. "Wait, where's Arthur?"

"Arthur?" Lance looked around. "Ah, is he here?"

"No," Rob scratched his head. "I didn't see him around."

"Wasn't with us," Harry shook his head.

"Curses!" Merlin grimaced. He looked to Mira with his stern face, "Mira Mirror with the power to see, show me where Arthur Pendragon might be!"

Mira saluted and turned to the mirror she had been polishing. It turned hazy for a brief moment before what was reflected changed entirely. Instead of the library, it depicted an empty street and a crimson-clad figure

He was dressed in a red bodysuit with black and silver torso armor and shoulder plates. Sockets decorated his body on his knees and shoulders. Around his waist was a silver belt with a black panel in the center with his Advent Deck set in the middle. His features were covered by a black and silver helmet with big red eyes hidden behind a grilled visor with the dragon symbol on his forehead. His left forearm was mounted with a bracer shaped like a dragon's head with a handle grip extending to hand.

"Who…is that?" asked Ben, confused.

Mira's face twisted to shock, "A tragic sight to behold, Arthur is in the Mirror World!"

"Tsk! And he's not alone," Merlin grimaced. From the edges of the mirror, he could see the five Sheerghosts starting to stumble towards Arthur as he broke a line of thread one had apparently pulled him into the Mirror World with.

"Merlin, what are those?"

"Sheerghosts. Lowest of the low, but dangerous when they have numbers," Merlin replied, eyes unblinking as to what Mira was showing. "Figures enough of them got together and broke a piece of the barrier."

"Well, can't we pull him back out or something?" asked Lance, now afraid for his friend.

"Well…" Merlin began.

"They're charging!" Kevin shouted, catching everyone's attention.

(***)

Arthur didn't have much time to really look himself over and the strange suit he was now wearing. The hooting grunts of the Sheerghosts, and the link of thread connecting to one of their mouths, was quick to get his attention. Thinking fast, he tried snapping the thread a second time, surprising himself when it snapped so easily.

"Huh?" he blinked.

"Whut, whut, whut!" the first monster grunted, charging and swinging at him with its club-like arms.

"Woah!" Arthur cried, ducking underneath the blow. Straightening up, he almost got slugged by a second Sheerghost which was following its comrade. He managed to back out of the way before retaliating, slugging the monster across the face. To his surprise, the monster's head turned from the force of the blow and stumbled back, clearing taking the hit hard.

"I…hurt it?" Arthur blinked. He could tell the armor, chitin, whatever, of the monsters was thick and he didn't think his average strength would get through with a punch.

"Whut, whut!" Arthur was snapped from his reprieve when a third Sheerghost tackled him, wrapping its arms around him.

"Ugh!" Arthur grunted. Huffing, he lifted his leg and kneed the monster in the side, making it grunt from the force of the strikes. "Get, off!" Arthur grunted, finally kicking the monster aside and pushing it back. He barely had time to process it before another Sheerghost attacked from his side, slugging him in the face.

"Agh!" Arthur grunted, vision slightly swimming from the blow, but not nearly enough to debilitate him. "Ow…"

"Arthur!" a familiar voice sudden spoke into his helmet, making him jump.

"Waugh!" he cried, but not before he dipped out of the way of two Sheerghosts clumsily lunging for him. "What…Merlin? Merlin, is that you?!"

"Yes. Not much time to talk. You're on a time limit in the Mirror World so you either have to run or trash those monsters," Merlin explained rapidly. "You'd be better off destroying them since they are a stubborn, and hungry lot."

"How?! I don't even have a weapon!" Arthur cried, backing away from the Sheerghosts as they shambled towards him.

"You do. Inside of your Advent Deck are numerous cards which can be used to manifest weapons to help you fight," Merlin explained.

"Cards? What…oh nevermind!" Arthur groaned before he looked at his belt. Sure enough, he spied an opening that had something in it. He feared his gloves wouldn't allow him to draw it properly, but his gloves seemed specifically made to be able to draw them.

He slid the card out with ease and looked at it. The image depicted a gold scimitar wreathed in flames. The top corner had his dragon emblem on it and a title which called it 'Sword Vent'.

"Good. Now, that gauntlet you're wearing, the brow can be pushed down to reveal a slot where the card can be slotted," Merlin continued. "And do it fast!"

Arthur obeyed, holding the card between his fingers, he pushed at the silver brow of the dragon head gauntlet he was wearing. It pushed down, revealing a slot mechanism inside. Taking the card, he slotted it inside. At first nothing happened, but then Arthur slid the brow back up. Immediately, the dragon's eyes flashed as a voice came from the device.

[Sword Vent!]

Arthur suddenly felt his arm jerk up, on its own, before something heavy landed in his hand. Once it was in, he lowered his hand, surprised to see the sword depicted in the card now in his grip.

"Well…that works," Arthur blinked, but turned his attention to the Sheerghosts. The monster were unimpressed with his new armaments. Instead, they just charged for him again with the same hooting noise they produced.

"Haaaaaaa!" Arthur cried, gripping his blade in his free hand.

(***)

Merlin face was a blank slate as he watched Arthur charge for the five Sheerghosts with his new sword, "Well, good to see the Advent System works in real-world conditions."

"So, all of us can use cards to make weapons?" asked Kyle, looking at his cobra deck.

"Yep," Merlin answered.

Arthur met the Sheerghosts and slashed wide, catching the first one across the torso. Rather than cut open flesh, the blade struck the armor and created a blast of sparks. Despite not actually cutting the monsters, it reacted like it had been, scrambling back with a cry of pain.

The monsters pressed on, swinging their bulky arms, trying to beat down Arthur with raw force. Blade in hand, Arthur managed to dip and dodge before going in and slashing at the monsters. Sparks flew from each strike and knocked them back, showing damage to the strange organic armor they were all clad in.

"He has a talent," Rex commented.

"Not surprising," Merlin muttered. "Arthur, the sword's treating you well, but you're on a time limit there! Take them down before more monsters are attracted by the noise! Use another card!"

(***)

"Got it!" Arthur grunted, blocking a swipe from a Sheerghost before kicking it in the chest, knocking its back into their fellows. He silently thanked whatever higher powers there were that the Sheerghosts were rather dumb and seemed to stick to mob tactics to just try and swarm him. They weren't even trying to get around to take his sides or back unless one of their own members were already in the way.

Getting some distance, Arthur drew another card. This own depicted a dragon's head, open mouth and aimed at something. The card was called a 'Strike Vent.' Quickly opening his Drag Visor, he slipped the card inside before shutting it again.

[Strike Vent!]

Arthur's body jerked as he passed his sword to his other hand. His free one lifted up before something came down from the sky. His arm lifted before attaching to his hand. The flames covering it died down to show a gauntlet shaped like a dragon's head with the mouth open. Looking at it, he saw a flame deep in the mouth and he felt a trigger mechanism inside of the head-shaped weapon.

"Whut, whut, whut!" the Sheerghosts hooted, starting to charge at him again.

Arthur eyed them before he pulled back his arm before thrusting it at the five Sheerghosts. Pulling the trigger inside the gauntlet, a blast of fire erupted from the dragon's mouth, throwing a fireball at the monsters. The fireball screamed through the air, colliding with the Sheerghosts with a fiery blast.

The monsters fell back with cries of pain. They all hit the ground before to Arthur's shock, they erupted in explosions. He flinched and stepped back, shielding his face from the light and heat by accident.

"Woah!" Arthur yelped. Lowering his hands, he looked to the burning spots on the ground. "Okay…"

(***)

"Wooo! Arthur did it!" Lance cheered.

"Did you see that?!" Gabe laughed, "He blew them away like out of a tv show!"

"Whew," Merlin sighed with some relief.

Rex's voice broke the cheer, "Wait, there's one more!"

Merlin's eyes snapped up to the mirror.

(***)

"Whut…whut…whut…" the sound snapped Arthur's attention back to his surroundings, not just the site of the explosion itself. At the back, one Sheerghost remained, although parts of its body were scorched and smoking. Clearly, the blow had hit it, but the four other monsters had taken the brunt of the blows.

"Okay…I can take one," Arthur readied himself, sword and gauntlet in hand.

As the Sheerghost tried to remain on its feet, the fires around it began to flare. Front he spots where the four monsters exploded, a sphere of golden energy began to rise up from each spot. Arthur once again felt confused as to what was happening, but the Sheerghost was anything but. Letting out a hoot of glee, it opened its arms, lunging for the spheres. Arthur wasn't sure how to react as the spheres were absorbed into the monster's body in golden flashes just as it touched them.

The monster let off a hoot of glee before curling up into a ball, hands on the back of its head. Arthur blinked at the sudden action, confused at the sudden and random action. His eyes widened when the back of the monster began to bulge and wiggle. In a burst, the monster's back split open as a brand new creature emerged from the hollow skin.

It was a sapphire blue with jagged armor and yellow hexagon plates. The only exception was its chest plate which was gray and its faceplate, which was the same with several red spots, likely its eyes. Jagged blades extended from its wrists like reverse-held daggers. From the back of its head, a length of segmented armor hung down its back and looked like a dragonfly's tail.

This was a new monster that Merlin would later record as a Raydragoon.

"Oh crap…" Arthur gulped.

The monster let off a buzzing his and charged at Arthur, its blades held high. Arthur yelped and raised his sword to block the first strike, making sparks fly from where blade met blade. Arthur managed to block the strike, but the monster then moved much faster than it did as a Sheerghost and managed to pull the sword aside before being slashed across the chest, making a rain of sparks from the strike.

"Gah!" Arthur cried, feeling pain from the force of the hit. He tried to get his footing back and swing hard at the new monster. It reacted quickly, blocking the strike. Arthur acted fast and jabbed his Drag Gauntlet into the monster's abdomen, flames starting to rise from the mouth. The Raydragoon twitched before the fireball crashed into it, making it screech and stumble back.

The force of the fireball made Arthur likewise stumble back, fortunately not burned, unlike the Raydragoon which sported a burning patch of armor. It snarled, but patted the fires out, leaving a scorched surface. It snarled before a pair of insectile wings rose from the back of its head before buzzing loudly, taking the monster into the air.

"Oh come on!" Arthur cried out in shock.

The Raydragoon buzzed and dove at a high speed. It buzzed past, slashing him across the chest with a shower of sparks. Arthur cried in pain, stumbling back. He never had the chance to get his bearings back before it returned, slashing him a second time. The monster made several more passes before one more strike sending him tumbling to the cobblestone in a heap, dropping his sword and gauntlet in the process.

"Ow…" Arthur groaned. The pain made his head swim and he couldn't see too clearly. He never was one to get into fights that much, so he was unused to taking hits.

(***)

"Merlin, he's getting creamed out there!" Lance shouted.

"Then let's go in and help!" insisted Kyle, gripping his purple Advent Deck.

"No, none of you are ready!" Merlin retorted. He looked back to the glass, "Arthur, Arthur you've got to get out of there. Just get to something reflective and you can pass through! I'll keep the monster away if you can just get close enough!" His staff began to glow with blue arcane energy as he prepared a spell.

"Once you're out I'll reapply the seal and keep the monsters from coming out," Merlin continued. "But you have to get out first!"

(***)

"I…" Arthur groaned, forcing himself up to his knees. This was definitely something he wasn't prepared for. Plenty of his instincts were screaming for him to get up and bolt to the nearest reflective surface to save his own hide. For a moment, he was ready to do that.

Then another thought hit him.

'If I run, even if I get away, what will this thing do?" he thought. Five Sheerghosts had managed to break Merlin's barrier and pull him in. The Raydragoon was clearly as strong as the five put together. It would be able to easily shatter the barrier again. Even if Merlin put the barrier up, this monster alone might be able to break through in short order.

Fighting the monster himself, he could see how savage Mirror Monsters were. A fairy tale might be competent to some fantasy monsters, but no fairy tale Arthur knew of could actually fight. The monsters were completely savage and definitely not some chivalrous knight or even an evil villain. The monsters would attack, attack, and fight like wild animals. They also were aiming to kill, and likely had no hesitation for that.

Arthur got up to his feet, slightly unsteady, before he gave his answer, "No."

"What?! Arthur, that monster is going to kill you if you don't run!" Merlin shouted.

"And it's going to kill someone else if I don't beat it!" Arthur snapped back, looking up at the monster which was hovering in the air, staring down at him.

Arthur drew another card from his deck. This one was different from the others as it depicted a spiraling red serpentine dragon. The title across the card called it Dragredder. Seeing him move, the Raydragoon started to dive at him. Arthur moved quickly, surprisingly so, before he snapped open his Drag Visor and dropped the card inside before snapping it shut.

[Advent!]

A portion of a building suddenly exploded as bursting through it came a large armored eastern dragon. Roaring, it dove at the Raydragoon, capturing it in it's jaws before flying past several of the buildings, smashing the monster through several layers of brick and mortar before throwing it to the ground in a heap. Roaring again, the dragon swerved back to Arthur's side, staring down the monster.

Arthur looked up at the dragon in awe, which seemed to please it as it let off a huff as it regarded him. Within Arthur, he felt something stir. A connection,a bond, something which partnered himself and the dragon together. It wasn't something conscious that he felt, but rather just something that his subconscious regarded. What he did know was a name that came to him once the dragon had appeared.

"Dragredder…" he breathed, earning a rumble of approval from the dragon. "Thank you…"

Dragredder bobbed its head before looking at the recovering Raydragoon. Its body was dented from Dragredder's teeth and it was bashed and dented from the several collisions with the buildings the dragon had smashed it through. Still, it didn't seem to be deterred. It snarled, raising its blades again, and even tried to use its wings, which had been smashed like glass in the attack, to no avail.

"On its last legs?" Arthur wondered. Reaching to his belt, he drew another card. This one depicted his emblem in gold, surrounded by a red field. The title above called it a Final Vent. "Sounds…final."

Not wanting the Raydragoon to get a second wind, he quickly slipped his Drag Visor open and slipped the card inside.

[Final Vent!]

Arthur's body suddenly stiffened and he began to crouch slightly, bending his knees to prepare to jump. Dragredder roared and began to spin around Arthur in a tight circle. Arthur trembled, not sure what his own body was doing before he jumped up. Not just a hop, but he rocketed into the air, Dragredder following him as he rose higher than physically possible.

Dragredder continued to spin around Arthur as he flipped through the air and gravity slowly began to take hold again. Like a trained acrobat, Arthur flipped around before he adjusted his posture for a flying kick aimed at the surprised Raydragoon. Dragredder soon came behind Arthur, opening his mouth before unleashing a blast of flame at Arthur's back, sending him roaring at the Raydragoon like a flaming projectile.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Arthur cried out, his body not responding as he kept his flying kick aimed at the monster.

The Raydragoon couldn't move quickly enough, not with Arthur flying like a bullet. His kick landed hard, crashing into the monster's chest. The monster screamed, ignited by Dragredder's fire. It flew back, crashing hard into the ground before exploding with a resonating scream.

Arthur landed on his butt, slapping at his body fearing he was on fire. To his surprise, the fire quickly died out, leaving not so much as a scorch mark. Looking to where the monster exploded, he watched another golden sphere, this one larger than any of the ones the Sheerghosts released, rose into the air. Dragredder roared and swooped to the orb, absorbing it in a flash of light before flying away.

"Ah…ah…woah…" Arthur sighed, dropping onto his back. Adrenaline and shock running through him.

Merlin's voice rang through whatever means of communication he had been using, "Arthur, I'm glad you won and all, but if you just lay there the atmosphere of the Mirror World is going to start eating away at your suit so you'd better get your butt out of there."

Arthur groaned and sat up, "Okay, I'm going, I'm going."

(***)

Oh wow! That was so cool!

Indeed, the first of the new heroes tested his mettle and proved himself on the field of battle.

I do not approve of this level of violence. Just where did these monsters come from?

Who cares? We've got brand new heroes to protect the people and take care of them!

(***)

Arthur returned to the library with some fanfare from his friends and other unintended world travelers. Once he had left the Mirror World, Merlin used some kind of magic to summon him directly to the library. He discovered that Merlin had summoned them all and used Mira's powers to see where he had gone. They had all gotten a front-row seat to his battle with the monsters.

"Arthur, you okay man?" Lance asked as he appeared.

"Took a beating, but I'm fine," Arthur sighed. His body was sore from the blows he took, but the armor managed to keep any physical damage from actually hurting him. He looked around, seeing Merlin standing with Mira, "Merlin…that was…it was…"

"That was how Mirror Monsters fight," Merlin nodded. "But I have to give you credit. Even when that Sheerghost suddenly evolved like that, you managed to pull off a win. Kudos for that." Arthur grinned at the praise despite himself at the compliment.

"So that kind of savagery is what we're expected to face?" asked Rex. "I can see fairy tales being unsuited for it if that's the case."

"Disney never really had that in the recent stuff," Ben admitted.

"Like I said. It's part of why I picked all of you," Merlin nodded solemnly. "Maybe in time, but that is time we just don't have if the Mirror Monsters are forcing their way through the barrier this quickly."

The teenagers looked to each other, perhaps for guidance or a lead as to what they should be doing. Morals clashed with survival instinct, desire for adventure with caution. They knew they could step up and do something, but should they? Weren't there more people who were better suited for it than them?

Arthur grit his teeth, remembering his battle and what he went through. Many would have been afraid after experiencing it. Fear did play a bit of a role in what he felt, but so did that stray thought he had when Merlin offered him the choice to run. If he did run, what would the monsters do? A thought which did not need an answer.

"I'll do it," Arthur's voice broke the silence from the group. "I'll fight the Mirror Monsters."

"Arthur?!" Lance gasped.

"Are you crazy?!" Max cried. "You're still willing after what you went through?!"

"If I don't, who will?" Arthur asked. "At least I have a bit of experience now. You all saw that fight too, right? I don't know any fairy tale that has anything like that in it!"

His words brought pause to the others, each understanding what he was saying. Still, there were various degrees of reluctance in them. Once again, survival vs. morals were playing a role in it all. There was a moment of baited breath before Lance groaned, "Ah man, I can't let you do this alone."

"Lance?" Arthur blinked.

"I mean, it's nuts, but I guess that kind of makes it fun," Lance grinned. "Besides, magic, knights in armor, and fair damsels to rescue? A guy could get to like that sort of thing."

Harry snorted and shook his head, "Lance, you never change, but I can't let you go by yourself either. I'll stay too."

Rex chuckled, "If you three can muster the courage, then I have no excuse to say no either. I will answer the call!"

Tristan groaned, but stepped up, "I can't believe I'm doing this…but seeing those things, yeah, I'll fight."

"I'll do it!" Gabe waved his hand. "I can't let a bunch of noobs show me up!"

"You're a noob too," Gwen pointed out. "But I can't let a bunch of boys show me up either."

Kyle ruefully chuckled, "Aw man, what the heck? Adventure of a lifetime and all that, right?"

"I'll go," Gawain nodded, the two words conveying more than just their meaning, but also his determination.

"I'm so there!" Rob cheered, grinning excitedly.

"Some days I'm not sure you are," Kevin groaned. "Guess I have to look out for you again though. I'll stay too."

Darren laughed out loud, "I've got to be mad! The best thing to be! I'll stay to fight too!"

"I-If you guys are staying…th-then I'll stay too," Ben nodded,

Max groaned, crossing his arms, "You all are crazy. I should be running from this…but crazy or not, the threat is real. I'll do my part too.

Merlin eyed Arthur and the other teens but saw that while they were afraid, they were also resolute. Seeing Arthur's battle and then winning, cemented their courage. Smiling in relief, he nodded, "Then, in that case, I have one last thing to show all of you. Follow me."

Merlin led the group through the library, down a set of stairs to the basement level. Underneath were some shelves of books, but much of the basement floor was taken up with displays of suits of armor. Some were posed in dynamic actions, flighting each other with swords. Others were horse armor with knights on the back, jousting as if they were in real competition. It was something to see as all of the suits, their weapons, banners, and other equipment gave off a sense of majesty that no museum piece could match.

They came to another chamber at the far end, set behind a pair of double doors. Merlin escorted the group through the doors. Inside was a stone floor with stained glass windows, somehow lit as if the sun was shining through, including a glass canopy above with the same lighting. In the center of it all was a large, circular and polished but plain. Fourteen high back chairs were set around them, all equally distanced from each other. Oddly, there was no decoration to the room aside from the windows.

Arthur looked at the table, but then his mind clicked, "Merlin, is this…?"

"The Round Table?" Merlin asked with a knowing grin as he approached the table. "Yes, the very one that King Arthur and his knights met at. Seated as equals, they treated each other as such and discussed the issues of the kingdom. Here is where their stories unfolded."

"Amazing," Rex breathed, daring to come up to the table and touch it. Anyone who knew the stories of King Arthur knew the Round Table and the heroic individuals who claimed seats there. Rex savored the moment before looking to Merlin, "Not that we're not honored you showed us this, but why?"

"Simple Rex," Merlin answered, walking alongside the table, trailing his hand along the surface like he was recalling an old memory. "Since you all have bravely answered the call to stand up and be knights in shining armor, we may as well make it official," the collected teenagers blinked in surprise. "As the guardian of the table until a new King Arthur rises, I have the right to bestow knightly titles upon you."

Arthur blinked, "Ah, whu…how?"

Merlin chuckled, "Simple. All of you take a spot at the table and place a hand on it. Declare your name and swear the oath. It will come to you then."

Again there was hesitation, but not much, as all of the teenagers had declared their intent to fight the Mirror Monsters in Ever After. They stepped up and each found a chair and stood at the table. Placing a hand down on the cool, lacquered surface. Some looked to Merlin who merely nodded, reassuring him what they were supposed to do. Arthur shrugged at Lance and Harry and decided to take the lead.

"I am Arthur Pendragon…" "Lancaster Beauregard" "Robert Bray." "Tristan Irons" "Hadrian Beauregard." "Gabriel Lighthart!" "Kyle Raye." "Rex Shepard!" "Gawain Forrest." "Kevin Bray." "Darren Quinn!" "Gwyneth Nighte." "Maxwell LeFay." "Benjamin Gigant!"

The next words came unbidden, but somehow…it felt right to all fourteen teens even with their different personalities.

"We are the Knights of Camelot! We pledge courage in the face of terror, compassion to those in need, to fight injustice wherever it is found, and bring fairness to all! So do we swear!"

Their words echoed through the room before the windows and the skylight above began to shine. A sound almost like chorus vocals began to sing. The light shone down on the fourteen, highlighting their forms. In a flash of light, each found themselves engulfed for a brief moment, their identities hidden, as their new armors formed over their bodies. Each had a specific color and themed after their particular contracts. Above them, in blasts of color, banners depicting each new knight's emblem appeared, creating their heraldry above their seats, making a colorful display to fill the room.

Gasps of wonder and amazement, or a groan or two of embarrassment followed as the new Knights checked out their suits. Merlin smiled, his eyes soft as he recalled times past, seeing knights returning to the Round Table.

"Alright, Knights of the Round Table," Merlin grinned, getting the attention of the armored youths. "Now…we begin a knight's boot camp."

(***)

And so begins the story of the new Knights of the Round Table.

A group of youths who find the call of destiny thrust most unexpectedly on their shoulders.

Ooooh, I can't wait to see what they're going to do next! Hurry, turn the page, turn the page!

To Be Continued…

I suppose I should explain myself. You see, while I do enjoy the idea of Knights of the Otherworld and the things going on with Kamen Riders in Ever After High, I was finding myself no longer having fun writing the story. As I was looking back, I found an erratic timeline that felt like a gaping plothole, ideas I meant to use but did not, rushed chapters, errors, and accepting suggestions and scenes from beta readers to the point I just didn't feel like I was writing my own story anymore.

I tried pushing forward, but my inspiration left me and it felt like writing the story was like pulling teeth. I decided to take a break, thinking I may have burned out, but as I kept telling myself it was a short time, that time away from KOTO just kept getting longer. It just wasn't fun to write and I felt like I was just adding scenes to someone else's document as a chore, rather than writing my own story for fun.

So now, I finally realize that I can't avoid it anymore. I am going to do a rewrite, fix errors, fix timelines, adhering more to a linear plotline. Trying to make a better and more complete story with a natural flow rather than just episodic formats which skip development in favor of more action.

I hope to continue making the Knights of the Otherworld fun for my readers and perhaps try to make it at least a little better than before.

Ten-Faced Paladin