Camp Wilderwood
The royal coach flew over a forest. The entire royal family were aboard.
"I see the lake!" Sofia pointed.
"And I see the camp!" Madeline added.
"Oh, it's just like I remembered it." Roland smiled, as they flew over a summer camp.
"That's it?" Amber frowned. "I wanted to stay home and look for meteor showers with my telescope."
"I wanted to go to flying carpet camp with Zandar." James growned.
"Oh, you kids are going to love it here." Miranda declared. "Just like your father did when he was your age."
"When I first went to camp, I wasn't sure of it either." Roland admitted. "But before I knew it, I was having the time of my life!"
The carriage landed on the camp grounds, and the kids' luggage was unloaded.
"Don't worry, dad." Sofia declared as they disembarked.
"We'll make sure they love it here." Madeline added.
"Thank you, girls." Roland hugged them both. "Have a great time."
Moments later, the carriage took off again.
"Bye, daddy!" Amber waved.
"Guys, this is gonna be so great!" Sofia beamed. "James, you'll get to try tons of new activities that'll be even better than flying carpets."
"Some of this stuff does look kinda okay..." James admitted.
"And we'll all get to make friends." Madeline smiled. "Amber, you know everyone will love you."
"It's true." Amber nodded. "Everyone does love me."
A trumpet blared.
"Wilder welcome, campers!" A female fairy called, as she and a male fairy flew over.
"That must be Maple and Marty, the camp counsellors." Sofia mused.
"Howdy-ho, Maple!" The campers chorused.
"Welcome, one and all, to our peaceful Wilderwood sanctuary." Marty declared.
"Here at camp, we have over fifty enchanting activities." Maple announced.
"And over five hundred species of animals and plants that are even more enchanting." Marty added.
"Except for the itching ivy." Maple frowned. "That is not so enchanting."
"What's itching ivy?" James wondered.
"I think it's... that!" Sofia pointed at some vines around James' boots.
"Whoa!" James jumped aside.
"It makes you really itchy is you touch it, and it's super-contagious!" Madeline cringed. "So stay away from it!"
"Huh, I thought we cleared all the itching ivy from this area." Marty frowned. "Sorry!"
Marty waved his wand, making the ivy disappear.
"Alrighty then." Maple smiled. "Let's start this summer off right. Everybody introduce yourself to another camper!"
"Here we go." Amber smiled confidently, as a girl camper approached.
"Hi, I'm Mandy." The camper smiled.
"Pleased to meet you, Mandy." Amber nodded.
"And you are?" Mandy asked.
"You don't know who I am?" Amber gasped.
"Uhh... No." Mandy shrugged.
"Hi, I'm Sofia." Sofia stepped in.
"And I'm Madeline." Madeline joined them. "And this is our other sister, Amber."
"It's our first summer at camp." Sofia added.
"Mine too." Mandy smiled. "I could hardly sleep last night, I was so excited!"
"Me too!" Madeline grinned.
"And me!" Sofia smiled.
The girls walked away, all chuckling.
"Hello." James greeted a male camper. "I'm James."
"No offense, but I'm not shaking your hand." The boy stepped back. "You're the kid who was standing in itching ivy."
"I didn't even touch it!" James protested.
"Yeah... I'm just gonna go over there." The boy edged away. "Sorry."
James saw another camper; A redheaded boy who was sitting by the flagpole, head, in his hands. James approached him, but the boy looked up, he leapt back in shock.
"Ahh!" James yelped. "Wendell?!"
"Yes, it's me." The royal siblings' past foe smirked.
"What is a wicked wizard like you doing in summer camp?" Madeline frowned, as the others joined James.
"And what are you planning to steal this time?" Amber glared.
"Sadly, I'm not here to steal anything." Wendell sighed. "i don't have my magic lute, or my wand. My parents took all my good stuff away."
"Then why are you here?" Sofia asked.
"After I tried to steal all your flying horses, I might have turned a pig into a vicious flying pigasus." Wendell smiled.
"Wow." James said flatly.
"That doesn't sound good." Madeline noted.
"And then, I might have taken over a kingdom." Wendell shrugged. "Just a small, out of the way kingdom, mind you. That's when mum and dad decided grounding me wasn't enough. So they forced me to come here, to this rubbish camp. They wanted me to see 'there are ways to have fun without being naughty, Wendell'. Whatever that means."
"Well, everyone deserves a second chance." Sofia smiled.
"Or a tenth chance..." Madeline joked.
A short while later, all the campers gathered.
"Now we're about to begin enchanted arts and crafts!" Maple announced. "Cozy up and find a seat, campers! Oh, don't be shy!"
James tried to find a seat, but the other campers weren't too welcoming.
"That's the itchy kid." One whispered.
James tried to sit down, but another camper blocked him.
"This seat's taken." The camper declared.
James heard more whispering as he walked around.
"Hey, I'm not even itching!" He growled.
"Give it time." One camper told him. "It's gonna happen."
"I don't want to sit over here anywhere!" James stormed off to the lakeshore.
Meanwhile, Sofia, Madeline and Amber were looking for seats.
"Ahem." Amber cleared her throat. Who would like to sit next to me?"
The other campers barely reacted.
"No-one knows who I am here!" Amber gasped.
"Sofia, Madeline, sit with me!" Mandy waved.
"Thanks, Mandy!" Sofia beamed.
"Come on!" Madeline pulled Amber along with them.
Once they took their eats, Marty flew overhead.
"Welcome to silk-weaving." He smiled.
"With these enchanted sew-and-sew spindles, you can weave anything!" Maple added.
"All it takes is a flick of the wrist." Marty demonstrated.
"just picture an image, and... voila!" Maple smiled, as her silk strands formed an image of campers in a canoe. "Ror, row, row your boat, tiny campers! Oh, I could do this for hours!" She grinned, making a silk fish as Marty made a silk fisherman. "Well hello there, fisherman. Meet the catch of the day!"
The campers started spinning their own silk. Sofia and Madeline made Madeline a silk necklace and hairband, giving them to her.
"Why is it so easy for Sofia and Madeline to make friends?" Amber sighed.
On the shore, James tried to spin silk, but it wrapped around his wrists.
"Hey, wait a minute, the stupid thing is... ugh!" He groaned.
"Ha! Look at James!" Wendell smirked.
The other campers started laughing.
"Get off!" James struggled to free himself.
"Oh no." Sofia rushed over. "Here let me help you..."
"I don't need your help." James ripped off the silk. "I don't need anyone's help! I don't even like arts and crafts! I thought camp was meant to be fun."
"I'm sure the next activity will be better." Madeline walked over.
The next activity was enchanted rock climbing.
"This is too easy!" Wendell smirked, as he climbed up quickly.
"Our first climber reaches the top." Maple announced, as Wendell jumped off, riding the safety line to the ground. "And look at that dismount!"
"Here." Wendell handed James the safety line clip. "Give it a try."
James starting climbing, the handholds of the wall appearing and disappearing randomly.
"Our next climber is doing quite a good job." Maple declared. "Notice how he perfectly anticipates each magic handhold. What technique! This is so exciting!"
"Oh... I'm starting to feel itchy..." James cringed, as a rash grew on his body, and he started scratchy. "Itchy!" He lost his grip. "Whoa!"
James landed on the soft mat below.
"That's gotta hurt!" Maple cringed. "Good think he had a cushion to break his fall."
James slipped on some mud as he stepped off the platform.
"And a mud puddle." Maple added.
"James, are you alright?" Sofia asked.
"Does it look like I'm alright?" James groaned, as the other campers (especially Wendell) laughed.
"Alright campers, settle down!" Maple urged.
"James, I-" Madeline started.
"Leave me alone you two." James walked away.
That night, James was sitting in his cabin. He was writing a letter to his parents.
I know you meant well Mom and Dad
But trust me camp is really bad
Whoah oh, uh uh oh
I haven't made a single friend
When will the summer ever end?
Whoah oh, uh uh oh
Can't do one more activity
Feels like I'm in captivity
Please send a coach to take me home
I've got the Summer Camp Blues
Too many rocks in my shoes
They can keep their canoes
Cause I've got the blues
The Summer Camp Blues
Whoah oh, uh uh oh
I ran into a stinky skunk
A wicked wizard shares my bunk
Whoah oh, uh uh oh
Got Itching Ivy everywhere
I look so weird, the kids all stare
Whoah oh, uh uh oh
Each day, I feel so miserable
I wish I were invisible
Please send a coach to take me home
I've got the Summer Camp Blues
I really need some good news
There is no time to lose
I've got the blues
My hiking pack weighs a ton
The campfire's hot as the sun
My S'mores got way overdone
I've got the blues
The Summer Camp Blues
Whoah oh, uh uh oh
All I wanna do
Is go home to you
Cause I've got
The Summer Camp Blues
"Love, James." He finished writing.
The next morning, the campers gathered for breakfast.
"Sofia, Madeline!" Mandy approached. "I heard that Maple and Marty are going to make a huge announcement after breakfast!"
"Oh." Sofia smiled. "Do you know what it is?"
"No idea." Mandy shrugged. "But you two can come and sit with me, and we can make guesses."
"Great." Madeline nodded. "We'll be right over. Come on, Amber."
Amber didn't respond.
"Um, Amber?" Sofia frowned. "What's wrong?"
"She asked for you and Maddie, not me." Amber sighed. "Everyone is usually lining up to make friends with me. No-one's doing that here. And I don't know how I'm supposed to make friends if I have to do it myself."
"Why don't you try talking to the other campers?" Madeline suggested. "See what you have in common?"
"It would be a lot easier if the other campers would come and talk to me." Amber mused.
"I know." Sofia nodded. "But things are different here."
"Uh-oh." Madeline spotted James walking by. "I'd better go see what's wrong with James. Save my breakfast for me, Sof?"
"You got it." Sofia nodded.
Madeline rushed to catch up with James.
"What are you doing out here?" She asked. "Why aren't you at breakfast?"
"I'm not going to breakfast here." James scowled. "Ever again. I'm going home."
"What?" Madeline frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"As soon as dad gets this letter, he's gonna come pick me up." James held up the envelope.
"James, I know you've been having kind of a rough time, but this is just the beginning of camp." Madeline blocked the letterbox. "Things will get better."
"Not for me, Madeline." James tried to post the letter.
"Come on!" Madeline blocked. "I hear the next activity they're about to announce is the best. Before you send that letter, just come to the announcement. There's some great stuff coming up. You can still have fun! Please? Pleaaase?"
"Okay, okay." James sighed.
"Great!" Madeline smiled, as they walked back to camp.
Soon, it was time for the announcement.
"Was everything okay with James?" Sofia asked.
"Not exactly." Madeline admitted. "But I think it's under control for now."
"Good." Sofia smiled.
"It's time to start this year's inter-camp competition!" Maple announced.
The campers cheered.
"Once again, Camp Wilderwood will take on the camp next door." Maple continued.
"The Junior Knights." Marty added.
"In our annual flag race!" Maple cheered.
"Teams from each camp will compete to be the first to plant their camp's flag on that island." Marty pointed out a nearby island.
"And I really feel like this is the summer we are finally going to win!" Maple smiled.
"You mean Camp Wilderwood has never won?" James frowned.
"No." Marty confirmed.
"But that just means we're due!" Maple smiled.
"Uh, how are we supposed to get to the island?" One camper asked.
"That, young campers, is entirely up to you and your infinite imaginations." Marty declared.
"But you will not have to imagine alone." Maple added. "You will each team up with a camp buddy. and each buddy team will have until tomorrow morning to build a boat, raft or anything else you can think of to get you to that island as fast as possible."
"So everybody buddy up!" Marty urged.
The campers started pairing up.
"How about it, Sof?" Madeline asked. "You and me?"
"With pleasure." Sofia nodded.
"Well chum, guess it's just you and me left." Wendell approached James. "The wicked wizard and the kid with itching ivy."
"I really didn't think that camp could get any worse." James groaned.
"Tell me about it." Wendell sighed. "There is nothing good about this camp."
"At least you didn't get itching ivy." James scratched himself.
"At least you didn't get a belly ache from eating a tray of cookies." Wendell grinned.
"Sofia, Madeline." Mandy approached. "Would either of you want to be my camp buddy?"
"Sorry Mandy, but we're already paired up with each other." Madeline declared.
"But we were thinking you and Amber would make great good buddies." Sofia added.
"Oh, you were?" Amber and Mandy chorused.
"Yeah." Madeline nodded, as Sofia pushed Amber over to Mandy. "Once you talk to each other, you'll find out you have so much in common."
"Well, I really like silk weaving." Amber admitted. "And you do too, right?"
"I love it!" Mandy smiled.
"Then maybe we could make a whole raft for the race out of sew-and-sew silk weaving?" Amber suggested.
"That's a genius idea!" Mandy agreed. "We're gonna make the best buddies!" She turned to Sofia and Madeline. "Thank you, girls!"
"You're welcome." Sofia smiled.
"Now we're gonna see how James is doing." Madeline added.
"Well, I think he found a buddy." Amber pointed at a log where James and Wendell were sitting.
"Oh, how about that?" Sofia mused.
"I haven't slept one night with all crickets chirping in my ear." Wendell complained.
"Well at least you didn't fall in the creek." James snorted.
"This camp is absolute rubbish." Wendell declared.
"Complete and absolute rubbish." James shared a fist bump with him.
Maple played her trumpet.
"Alright campers, it's time to get building!" She announced.
"Come on, Mandy." Amber took her buddy's hand. "Let's go to arts and crafts."
"We'd better get to work too, buddy." Madeline smiled.
"You know it, buddy." Sofia nodded.
"So camp buddy, what do you want to build?" James asked Wendell.
"How about a lifeboat to save us from this camp?" Wendell grumbled.
"Yeah." James sighed. "Too bad we can't make a boat to take us home instead of to that island."
"Who says we can't?" Wendell smirked.
"Do you mean...?" James grinned.
"Oh, yeah." Wendell nodded.
"Brilliant!" James cheered. "We should totally do that!"
"Everyone will think we're racing to the island." Wendell declared.
"But then, boom!" James smirked. "We turn around right in the middle of the race, and head for home!"
"We must do it!" Wendell urged.
"Oh, we're doing it!" James did a complicated handshake with Wendell.
Over time, they built a wooden boat.
"Well done, us." Wendell smiled upon completion.
Everyone else was getting to work.
"This is harder than I thought." Madeline mopped her brow, their small ship almost done.
"Yeah, but it'll be worth it." Sofia grinned.
As they kept working, they noticed James and Wendell's work.
"Wow, James!" Madeline smiled. "Your boat looks incredible."
"Thanks, but it's not quite finished." James retorted.
"Right." Wendell agreed. "We still have to get a sail big enough to take us to-"
"To the island!" James nudged him. "Right, Wendell?"
"Right." Wendell said awkwardly. "To the island."
"Looks like Wendell turned out to be a great camp buddy." Sofia smiled.
"Good for both of you." Madeline added. "Come on, Sofia. We need to finish our raft."
As they walked down the shore, Sofia picked up a volleyball.
"This might work..." She mused.
"Sofia! Madeline!" Amber called, as she and Mandy were working on their own raft, which had a pink tent atop it. "Over here!"
"Hey." Madeline smiled, as they joined her. "Your raft is sure looking good."
"I know." Amber grinned. "Our raft already looks great."
"Now we just have to make sure it's float." Mandy added.
"Hmm, I think I've got an idea." Sofia handed the volleyball to Amber. "All you need are a few of these."
"Good thinking, Sof." Madeline smiled.
That night, James and Wendell snuck over to the flagpole.
"Look at that flag." Wendell smirked. "it's the perfect sail for our boat!"
"The Camp Wilderwood flag?" James frowned. "Wendell, we can't take that!"
"Sure we can, James." Wendell assured him. "Look, we'll send it back once we get home, I promise. All we have to do is get past one sleeping fairy."
Maple was sleeping on a hammock, near the flagpole.
"Okay, let's do it." James smiled.
They tiptoed over to the flagpole.
"Camp Wilderwood is neck and neck with the Junior Knights..." Maple muttered in her sleep.
"It's just a dream." James whispered. "She's sleep-talking."
James clipped himself onto the flag's rope, and started climbing. Once he reached the top, he unhooked the flag, but couldn't catch it before it fell. It drifted down, landing on Maple.
Ah!" James slid down the pole, landing on Wendell. "Oh no..."
"That's right, we caught up to you, you stuffy Junior Knights..." Maple mumbled, still asleep.
"Still dreaming!" Wendell whispered.
"Now we're racing..." Maple snored.
"Quick, let's get it before we're really caught!" James urged, as they pulled off the flag.
"And Wilderwood wins for the first time in camp history..." Maple mumbled, as James and Wendell ran off.
The next morning, the campers were all ready to race.
"Volleyballs? Great idea!" One camper told Amber.
"Thanks." Amber smiled. "We had a little help."
Sofia and Madeline were in their boat, ready to go, when James and Wendell pushed their into the water.
"James, I can't believe you made such an amazing boat!" Sofia smiled.
"Yep." Wendell nodded. "With our own four hands."
"We'll see you after the race." Madeline declared.
"Right, see ya then..." James cringed.
"Campers, this is the day you have all been waiting for." Maple announced. "The inter-camp flag race against the Junior Knights!"
Two Junior Knights stood in their submarine-shaped boats, cheered on by their own.
"Before we get started, it has come to my attention that the official Camp Wilderwood flag has gone missing from the flagpole. None of you campers would know anything about that, would you?"
James and Wendell smirked.
"Alright then, we'll get into that later." Maple sighed. "Now, it's time to race!"
As Maple flew off, Marty grabbed the megaphone.
"Now everyone listen for the sound of the starting horn, and get ready to launch!" He declared.
The crowd cheered.
"Racers, to your starting lines!" Maple instructed.
"Okay, everything's ready." James smiled.
"Home, here we come!" Wendell smirked.
Maple blew on her trumpet, and the race began.
"And they're off!" She declared.
Wendell unfurled the flag-sail.
"The teams are neck and neck." Maple announced.
"See ya!" Wendell waved.
"But wait!" Maple gasped, as James and Wendell boat pulled ahead. "Camp Wilderwood is taking the lead!"
"So long, campers!" Wendell called.
"Hey Maple, isn't that the missing camp flag?" Marty pointed out.
"I suppose I shouldn't let them get away with that." Maple frowned. "But we're winning!"
"It's working!" James grinned.
"We're home free!" Wendell added.
"Whoa, look at James go!" Madeline gasped.
"Yes, but it looks like he's heading in the wrong direction." Amber frowned.
"Maddie, look out!" Sofia yelled.
Sofia and Madeline's boat ran onto some rocks, as did Amber and Mandy's.
"James, help!" Madeline called.
"We've run aground!" Amber added.
"Help us!" Sofia yelped.
"Are you okay?" James called.
"No James, we are very much not okay!" Amber yelled.
"I think we'd better lower the sail and turn around." James told Wendell.
"What are you talking about?" Wendell frowned. "Just a little further and we can sail right home!"
"I know, but... my sisters are in trouble." James began to turn them back.
"That's their problem." Wendell snorted.
"Wendell, I'm not leaving them behind." James insisted.
"Hurry!" Mandy called.
"We're sinking!" Madeline waved.
"Help!" Sofia added. "Hurry, Amber!"
Amber handed Madeline a length of rope.
"There, that should do it." She declared.
"Catch!" Madeline threw James the rope. James grabbed it and started pulling his and Wendell's boat to them.
"They're going to ruin our plan!" Wendell groaned.
"We'll just bring them back to camp, and then we'll go home." James retorted.
"Ugh, fine..." Wendell helped to pull the rope.
"Thanks." Sofia smiled, once they were in close enough.
"Hey campers, you'd better get moving!" Maple urged.
"The Junior Knights are catching up!" Marty added.
The Junior Knights were closing in.
"There's still time to win the race." Madeline declared, as she jumped onto the boys' boat.
"Come on, James." Sofia joined her sister. "We have to get to the island!"
"We're not going to the island!" Wendell scowled.
"We're taking you back to camp, and then we're sailing home." James sighed.
"What?!" Mandy gasped.
"Why would you do that?" Madeline asked.
"I know you and Sofia love camp, but I don't." James frowned. "It's just not for me."
"But you looked like you were having so much fun building your boat." Sofia smiled.
"I still don't like it here." James sighed. "No-one will be friends with me."
"What about Wendell?" Madeline asked.
"Me? Oh,I don't have any friends." Wendell declared.
"Well, what about James?" Sofia pointed out.
"She's right." James smiled.
"You mean we're actually... friends?" Wendell beamed.
"I guess we are." James nodded.
"We can still win this race!" Amber declared.
"What do you say, guys?" Sofia asked.
"I'm in!" James nodded, placing his hand with the others. "Come on, Wendell. It won't be the same without you."
"I guess if you're doing it, I'm in too." Wendell added his hand.
"For Camp Wilderwood!" Sofia cheered.
"Camp Wilderwood!" The others chorused.
"Hurry up!" Maple urged. "You're our last hope. The honor of Camp Wilderwood rests entirely on your shoulders!"
"Everybody, pull!" Madeline urged.
The group pulled on the rope, enabling the boat to get nearer to the island.
"Looks like it's neck and neck!" Maple gasped. "Oh, this is exciting!"
"It's going to be close!" Sofia declared, as the Junior Knights moved their oars as fast they could, tryng and failing to keep up.
"We're doing it!" Amber smiled. "We're winning!"
"And... Camp Wilderwood takes the lead once again!" Maple cheered, as their boat pulled ahead.
The boat reached the island, everyone cheering.
"Whoo-hoo!" Amber whooped.
"We did it!" Mandy yelled.
"Way to go!" James smiled.
"But we haven't won yet." Madeline declared.
"That's right." Sofia agreed. "We still have to plant the Wilderwood flag."
"But ours went down with our float!" Amber realised.
"Don't worry." James climbed on Wendell's shoulders. "We got this."
As James unhooked the camp flag, the Junior Knights reached the shore.
"And the Junior Knights have their flag, and they're racing across the beach!" Maple announced, as James and Wendell rushed off with the flag. "But Camp Wilderwood jumps out at them. It's a steep climb, and neither of the teams are slowing down!"
James and Wendell rushed up the rock formation where the flagpole had been planted. They attached the flag, and raised it.
"Yes!" Sofia and Madeline cheered.
"We did it!" Amber nodded.
"Camp Wilderwood wins!" Maple cheered.
Marty flew down to James and Wendell.
"Next time you want to borrow the Camp Wilderwood flag, just ask." He told them.
"Okay..." Wendell cringed.
"Sorry." James apologized.
The other campers cheered as the boat returned.
"Let's hear it for our Wilderwood champions!" Marty declared.
Once the boat reached the shore, two campers put up a ramp for the passengers to disembark.
"I love camp." Amber smiled, taking in all the cheers.
"Our heroes!" One camper cheered, as the other disembarked.
"Great job, James!" Another added.
"Go, Wendell!" A third whooped.
James and Wendell raised their arms triumphantly.
"Now, who would like to win me in celebrating this historic, wonderful victory with some campfire cookies?" Marty smiled.
The campers cheered even more loudly.
"I do!"
"Yeah!"
"So, are you guys gonna go escape from camp, or are you coming to the mess hall for cookies?" Madeline asked James and Wendell.
"Cookies sound good." James smiled.
"Hmm, not to me." Wendell shrugged. "But let's go anyway."
"Maybe camp's not so bad." James nudged him. "Y'know, know that we're the champions of it and all."
"Yeah." Wendell nodded. "I never knew I could have so much fun without being bad." He suddenly froze. "Oh no. My parents were right!"
"I guess they were!" Sofia giggled.