After flashes of blue and yellow, Corey found himself in some kind of desert. "Where are we?" he asked Laney.
But Laney didn't answer. She was looking at Corey, confused and surprised at the same time. "What's your favorite restaurant?" she asked.
"I don't have one," Corey answered. "I prefer anything I make at home."
"Favorite TV show?"
"None. The only show available is Geeks and Girls and it's not funny anymore."
"Favorite song?"
Corey groaned. "I only like my own music with lyrics I wrote."
"So you're not an ordinary guy," Laney said. "But your hair..."
"What about it?" Corey asked, pulling his beanie down.
Laney shook her head. "You're probably not even a Crafter," she said.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know what that is," Corey said. "Why are we here, anyway?"
"I know someone who can help us," Laney answered. "Now come on. We need to find some disguises in case we come across some robots."
Corey spotted a nearby wagon. "Maybe they're in there," he said.
"Perfect!" Laney said. She dragged Corey inside the wagon. "See if you can find something to wear."
"What about you?" Corey asked.
"I'll take care of my disguise," Laney answered.
Corey rummaged through the outfits. Eventually, he settled for a poncho and a cowboy hat. When he put those on, he noticed a flash of light behind him. "What was that?" he asked, turning around.
Laney was already dressed. She wore a black old west-era dress with matching flats, and her hair was curled and piled up on top of her head. Yet the only thing out of place was her black wristband watch. "That was quick," Corey remarked.
"I'm good with disguises," Laney answered.
With their disguises on, Corey and Laney entered a western village. "I still don't get what's going on," Corey said. "Did we travel back in time or something? Was that what that portal was for? Some kind of 'WayBack' machine."
"No," Laney answered. "We only travelled in space, not time."
Corey blinked. "Huh?"
"You thought you were alone in the universe? Think again," Laney began. "There are many worlds in our universe, all co-existing with your home world in Peaceville. Right now we're in the Pony Ranch, just one of those worlds. Others include the Princess Palace, the Island of Giants, Cloudworlds, the Infinity Station, and Planet Robo."
Corey listened intently, eager to hear about these new places. He hoped that he would actually get to go there on this new adventure Laney dragged him out on.
The girl continued. "Once upon a time the worlds existed in harmony, with everyone getting along and using their combined imagination to create whatever that saw in their minds. Inspiration was found everywhere and this fuelled the imaginations of the people. Some of them became so imaginative that they rose above the rest. Those people became known as Crafters, masters of their art."
"What happened?" Corey asked. He knew he didn't need to, but he felt like asking.
"For a while, this was how the world was. The Crafters improved their skills and they served as an inspiration to everyone else." Laney briefly smiled at the memory of how everything used to be. "But there was one being who became unhappy with the universe." Her smile quickly faded as she moved on.
"Mayor Mellow..." Corey breathed.
"Yes." Laney confirmed. "Before he became mayor of your world, Mellow was an ordinary citizen of Peaceville, just like you. However, over time, he began to lose his inspiration. Eventually he completely lost sight of what was so good about the world and he completely forgot what it meant to be imaginative. After becoming mayor, he formed the Turner Corporate Negotiations to forward his plans. Through the company, he decided to cancel our inspiration."
"Wait... Huh?" the eagerly-listening boy interrupted. "Cancel? What do you mean? Why use that word?"
Laney didn't listen. "Mayor Mellow and the Turner Corporate Negotiations separated all the worlds and cut off their contact with the universe. But even then that was not enough to satisfy him, so he started planning to cancel the universe."
"Again with the 'cancel'!" Corey exclaimed. "What are you talking about?!"
"He stole an ancient artifact called the Paralysis Belt and hired the Beff sisters to capture all the Crafters," Laney went on. "But they did not find all of them. Some Crafters were smart enough to go into hiding. They built secret tunnels in order to keep in contact and one day, word spread of a prophecy. Something called the Pick of Destiny was waiting to be found by a Gifted One, and this pick would be the only thing that could destroy the Paralysis Belt and free everyone from cancellation."
Corey couldn't take it. "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!" WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!"
After coming down from his outburst, Corey cleared his throat. "I mean... The sisters mentioned something about paralyzingly everyone," he recalled. "Mayor Mellow was going to do that on Footlong Friday. Course, this makes sense why his voting machines always seemed rigged..."
Laney gasped. "I knew there was something suspicious about that day!" she exclaimed. "We have to find my friend and get to Mayor Mellow's office!"
After the failed mission, Carrie and Bernadette were told to go to city hall, as Mayor Mellow wished to speak to them. When they arrived, they found the tyrant sitting in his office. "Hello Beff sisters," he said.
"Mayor Mellow, we know the Gifted One got away," Carrie said. "But-"
"Stop being serious, Carrie," Mayor Mellow interrupted. "And Bernadette, I missed you."
"Really?" Bernadette hopefully asked.
"Indeed," Mayor Mellow answered. "You iand/i your younger sister. In fact, ever since I hired you to capture and torture all the Crafters, you two have been an amazing team. One sister is the bad cop, the other sister is the good cop. Perfect for interrogations!"
"Thanks you, sir," Carrie said.
"At least until tonight," Mayor Mellow concluded. "You failed to get the Pick of Destiny, the only thing that can ruin my plan."
"What's the big deal with that anyway?" Bernadette asked. "It's just a pick."
"Just a pick?" Mayor Mellow repeated. "Just a pick? It's not just a pick. It's a silver one, crafted out of the finest metals. And its magnetic charge is enough to shut down this!" He showed the sisters a belt he currently wore. It was silver with a black oval stone on the buckle. "Behold the Paralysis Belt, able to permanently paralyze anything!" he spoke proudly. "All you do is push down on the stone..." He did so and the black stone started glowing. "And anything, or anyone, unfortunate enough to be in your way is trapped forever!"
The two sisters gazed at the artifact of power their boss now possessed.
"In fact..." Mayor Mellow spoke, his smile now becoming an evil smirk as the belt prepared to fire. "I think you've earned a demonstration! Wouldn't you say so, Carrie?"
Carrie realized what was going on. The belt was aimed at her! Not seeing a way out of it, she closed her eyes and braced for impact.
"Nooooooooo!"
ZAP!
But Carrie didn't feel paralyzed. Curious, she opened her eyes, then gasped. Laying in front of her was Bernadette, paralyzed into a surprised look.
"Bernadette!" Carrie exclaimed, rushing over to her paralyzed sister. She formed her frozen hand into a fist. "Fumps up, sis!" she cried. "Fumps up!"
"What a shame," Mayor Mellow said. "And she was such a sweet girl."
Carrie fought off tears as she looked upon her sister's paralyzed self. Never again would she move, never again could they play together or chat with each other. Bernadette Beff had been frozen in fear, and Carrie would soon be next. As Mayor Mellow aimed the belt at her, she said the first thing that came to her mind to make him stop.
"Wait!" Carrie yelped. "I'll do anything!"
Mayor Mellow paused for a second. "But you work for me. You already do anything I ask!"
Carrie still persisted. She did not want to share her sister's fate. "I mean it! I will do better! I will get the Pick of Destiny for you, Mayor Mellow! I swear!"
"Hmmm..." Mayor Mellow thought it over. Carrie Beff was certainly a skilled girl. She had always been the stronger sister, and now that her weaker half was no longer in the way, she could only get stronger. "Very well," Mayor Mellow said as the belt shut down. "But be warned. I will not miss next time!"
Carrie stood up, straightening her back and trying to look tough. "Y-Yes sir. I will do better."
Mayor Mellow then turned away from Carrie as the belt fully powered down. "Good. Now get out of my office. And take that trash with you."
Carrie wanted so badly to just leap at Mayor Mellow and rip his head off for what he did to her sister, and what he just called her. But she was still on his good side and she thanked whatever higher force existed for that. Letting out a half-hearted "Yes, Mayor Mellow.", Carrie dragged her sister's body out of the mayor's office with her. Once she was sure Mayor Mellow could not hear her, she allows herself to weep silently.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, Bernadette!" she said softly, pretending that Bernadette could hear her. "This is my fault..."
Just then, she had a change of thought. "No..." she said. It wasn't entirely her fault this had happened! The blame also lied with...
"Riffin!" Carrie Beff cursed the name. If he had just given up the pick, Bernadette wouldn't have been paralyzed!
"You are to blame, Riffin! You and your friends!" Carrie spoke as she wiped her teary face to reveal a look of grief and determination. She would get the Pick of Destiny back, and she would make Corey Riffin and all his friends pay for what they did to her sister.
And she knew just how to do it...
Back in the Pony Ranch, Laney brought Corey over to a saloon. "Blend in with the locals," Laney said.
"Sure thing," Corey said. He casually walked in. "Well hoowwdy! I'm a COOOWWBOOY!" he exclaimed, speaking in a western accent.
But to Corey's surprise, the 'cowboys' weren't even human! They were all multi-colored horses with markings on their rears. "Why do you think it's called the PonyRanch?" Laney asked.
As Corey suddenly realized this was a ranch for ponies, Laney walked over to a girl sitting in a chair. She was wearing a black shall, so it was very hard to see her face. "Trina?" Laney asked.
The girl looked up. "Laney?" she asked, speaking in a voice that sounded familiar to Corey. "Is that really you?"
"Yes, it's me," Laney answered.
"Good," the girl said. She got up. "We better get moving."
"Trina..." Corey thought. "Why does that name sound familiar?"
The girl brought Corey and Laney to an attic. After locking the door shut, she took off her shall. Corey gasped, recognizing the older girl. Pink hair, light pink eyes, a torn pink, white, and purple outfit, that rather familiar voice... He was so happy, he ran over to the girl and hugged her.
"Katrina!" Corey exclaimed. "I never thought I would see you again!"
"It's Trina now," the pink-haired girl corrected, pulling Corey away from her.
"'Trina'?" Corey repeated. "Why did you-"
"I stopped going by that other name when I lost my innocent view on life," Trina interrupted.
"Hold up," Laney said. "You know this guy?"
"Of course I know him," Trina said. "He's my younger brother."
"You never told me you have a brother!" Laney exclaimed.
"You never asked," Trina replied. "So what brings you here, Laney?"
"I found the Pick of Destiny," Laney answered.
"Wait," Trina said, a hint of confusion in her voice. "You're the Gifted One?"
"If only," Laney said. "This boy beat me to it."
Trina smiled as she looked at the Pick around Corey's neck. "So you're the Gifted One," she said.
"He can't be!" Laney insisted. "He's not a Crafter!"
"But he can with proper training," Trina said. "Go on, Corey. Create something out of the objects in this room."
Corey looked around, ideas forming in his head. He took off his guitar and looked at it, seeing how it was broken. Then, using some blue-tinted foil and spare wood, he rebuilt his guitar, giving it a blue-star design on the front. "What do you think?" Corey asked.
"Not bad," Trina said. "But does it work?"
Corey responded by playing some notes. Then he started singing.
Corey: There used to be a love between us
Laney: *unknowingly joins in* Then suddenly, that love was gone
Corey: Now everywhere I turn you're missing
Laney: Like a hairless cat it feels so wrong
Corey: I let we
Be about me
Laney: And I let us fall apart
Corey: Wrong is what I know I'll always be
Laney: Can we de-end and restart
Both: Please come back
Please come back
Corey: My life without you ain't worth jack
Laney: I threw you away
Corey: Like a pile of old stuff
Laney: I'd take all the blame
Both: But I've had enough
I'm nothing without you
Well maybe not nothing but a whole lot less
It's true...
When the song was over, Laney covered her mouth with both hands, embarrassed. "I'm sorry!" she yelped.
"Wow Laney," Trina said. "I didn't know you could sing."
Laney nervously lowered her hands. "It's a force of habit..." she nervously admitted.
"Does this mean I'm Crafter material?" Corey asked.
That made Laney get back to normal. "What about his hair?" she asked Trina.
"What about it?" Corey asked, making sure his beanie was on tight. "If you don't like it, I'll consider getting it cut."
"It's not the style that's a problem," Laney said. "It's the color. According to the Prophecy, the Gifted One has 'hair of a primary color'. You're a brunette, not a blonde or a redhead. I, on the other hand, am a Crafter with bright red hair. I should be the Gifted One, not you!"
"Actually Laney, you're wrong," Trina said. She walked over to Corey, yanked off his beanie, and lifted up his messy bangs. "Look closely."
Laney did look closely. To her surprise, she could see light blue near the scalp. "Blue hair?" she asked. "But-"
"Red, yellow, and blue are primary colors," Trina explained. "The Prophecy isn't limited to blondes and redheads."
"Okay, so I dye my hair," Corey admitted as he pulled away from Trina and put his beanie back on. "I didn't want to look weird, so I made everyone think I'm a brunette."
"You can wash it out now in the washroom," Trina said. "There's no need for you to hide behind dye."
When Corey arrived in the washroom, he took off his clothes and turned on the shower, making sure to close and lock the bathroom door behind him (no one wanted to see his junk, after all). He stepped into the shower, flinching at the heat before slowly adjusting to it. Grabbing a bottle of shampoo, he squeezed a glob of the liquid within into his hands and ran it through his hair, covering it with soapy suds. After thoroughly washing his hair, Corey stuck his head under the running water. Immediately the water ran through his hair, rinsing away the suds and the accursed brown dye. Corey always hated that dye. It was something he forced himself to use every day to appear 'normal' to the citizens. He sighed happily as he remembered he would never again have to dye himself like that for anyone. Corey ran his fingers through his hair, forcing any last specks of brown out of his hair for good and returning it to its original, true-blue state. It wasn't his fault his hair was naturally that color!
That got Corey thinking. It was mention in the Prophecy that this 'Gifted One' with hair like his would be the one to save the entire universe. Could that truly be him? One minute, he was just an ordinary guy living his life in a dull town. The next, he was whisked away on this crazy adventure with a mysterious red-haired girl and his long-lost sister. It all sounded too good to be true. Perhaps he was being punked right now and all of this was an elaborate and complex hoax. The thought put Corey on edge.
But if it was true. If he was truly the one meant to save the universe, why him? Was it the Pick itself that made him the Gifted One? After all, Laney had ignored him outside the music store after she realized he didn't take the pick by choice. He was drawn to it and it was forced into his possession by something he could not control.
Back downstairs, Carrie entered the building with a small metal device. She cleared her throat. "Has anyone seen this boy?" The blue-haired girl held up a picture of Corey with brown hair.
Only one voice spoke up, and it belonged to a black pony with hole-filled wings and blue-green eyes. "What does that boy look like in a cowboy hat and a poncho?" the pony asked.
Carrie drew the two articles of clothing on the picture and showed it to the pony. "Yeah, I think I know where he went," he said.