As morning arrives, Linden’s voice fills the halls. “Good morning, my wonderful children. It’s counselor Linden speaking. You might be unaware of the date, but today is a day worth celebrating — it’s Oak Wood’s anniversary, the most cherished day for me. Approximately a thousand years ago, on this very day, the founding of this academy took place. Therefore, we give you a one-week break to enjoy the company of your friends and family or to simply… be here.” Linden stops to clear his throat. “Sorry, everyone, or to just be here with the ones you love. Have a good day.” The sound of his voice, which once carried through the halls, disappears.

“That was weird.” Jewel says, stepping down the stairs. “Oh, hey Naga!” Naga yawns then says, “Good morning, Jewel, are you going downstairs?” “Yep, Onnie slipped this cryptic note under my door saying, meet in the back garden?” “Oh yeah, Onnie gave that to all of us, I believe. I didn’t even know we had a garden.” He says, then yawns. “Not a morning person, are you?” “Nope.” Jewel giggles and they head outside together.

***

“What going on Onnie?” Rosaline says, handing everyone a cup of tea. “And why are you dressed like you’re going to kidnap someone?” says Jasper. “Shh, not so loud. I’m hiding from the staff.” “And why are you so-called hiding?” says Naga. “Oh, my gods, are you actually kidnapping someone?” “No, let me explain. Around this time is when me and my parents went missing.”

“So?” says Naga.

“So, the staff is in a state of depression and mourning, and they are taking a week off. And to ensure my safety for the week, they wanted to confine me to a room with like twenty something people who are drunk and crying.” says Onnie. “Oh, Onnie I’m sorry to hear that. This must be hard for you,” says Mortimer.

“I was going to say something like that. I was wondering Onnie, are you not sad? It was your parents, after all.” “Don’t worry Jewel, I feel mighty sad. Trust me, if I could take back all the time I was scared and lonely, I would,” says Onnie.

“I would do anything to get my parents back, but they’re not coming back. They’re gone and I’m sick of being sad about it. Do you know how hard it is to be happy when you are surrounded by depressed people? It’s impossible, so let’s leave and do something fun.” “You’re right, Onnie, where do you want to go?” asks Mortimer.

“Well, I was thinking.” Onnie rips off her cloak dramatically and says, “The human world!” Rosaline spits out her tea and stares at Onnie with tea dripping down her cheek. Mortimer tilts his head like a dog. “Uhhh.” says Jasper. “Are you serious?” Naga asks. “Yes! Oh, really Onnie, are your serious right now!? I always wanted to go!” says Jewel. Onnie wipes her cheek. “Yes! well we have Jewel in, anyone else?”

“My mother will hate me if I come home, she has too many kids to keep track off,” says Naga. “…Well, fat chance I’m coming home!” Jasper says. “You said it!” Rosaline adds. “Well, all that’s left is you, Mortimer.” “Oh gosh, sorry guys, I would love to. But I’m going home. My sister would miss me. Plus, it’s kinda hard to hide a walking, talking blue fish.” says Mortimer. “You’re not just a fish, Mortimer. You’re our guy in blue. It’s okay though, we’ll bring you something back.” “Thanks Onnie, I guess I should get going.”

Everyone waves as Mortimer sets off. “Jewel, don’t you have a brother? Won’t he miss you?” asks Rosaline. “Um, yeah, but it’s fine. I’ll send him a card. More importantly, how are we going to hide Rosaline? You know the horse?” “Don’t worry, I have something for that,” says Onnie. “Come on, we have to hurry and pack.”

***

“Thanks, Moxxie, for helping me pack.” says Jewel. “No problem, I wish I could go.” says Moxxie. “Are you sure you can’t do that spell on me to Onnie?”

“Sorry Moxxie, I wish I could, but I could barely do Rose, and her top half is already human. I don’t want to mess you up.”

“Aww, it’s okay. I did really want to go, anyway.” “Don’t be sad we will get you something nice, right Onnie?” says Jewel. “For sure.” says Onnie. “Thanks guys.” “Bye Moxxie.” “Um, Onnie, I still have my hooves. Should we worry about this?” asks Rosaline. “Well, you’re in luck, Rose. I have the thing just for you.” Onnie pulls a pair of jeans out of her hat. “Nana’s bell bottoms, there, put these on.” “It’s a bit big, don’t you think?” asks Rosaline.

“Hmm, well, Nana is a big lady here. Put on this belt. Yeah, I like this it’s baggy, but baggy is nice.” “If you say so.” says Rosaline. “Hey Onnie, Nana is looking for you.” says Jasper. “Ah, hide me.” Onnie scramble behind her friends.

“Oh, hello everyone you’re friends with, Onnie. Have you seen her?” asks Nana. The friends shake their head. “No, okay, I just want to spend time with her. I hope she’s okay. Tell me if you see her. Bye everyone.”

The friend’s nod and smiles. “I can’t believe that worked. You’re good, Onnie.” Onnie comes out from behind everyone. “Note to self, spend time with everyone when back,” says Onnie. “Okay, give me your stuff.” Onnie shrinks the bags and puts them in her hat. “Kay let’s go.” The group heads back outside to the garden. Onnie draws a magic circle on the ground to the human world. The friends jump through, and they land in a bed of grass behind hedges.

“Here we are.” says Onnie. “Okay, but where are we?” says Naga. Jasper looks over the hedges at a billboard. “It seems like. Old York.” says Jasper. “Okay, remember, we are normal people.”

The second the friends step out in the open, they hear screams.

“Oh, gods!” says Jewel.

“It’s been only two seconds.” says Naga.

“Oh, this is it. This is where we get taxidermized!” says Rosaline.

“Rose, why would you say that!?” asks Onnie.

 A girl runs up to them and asks, “Are you cosplayers!?” “…Yes!” shouts Jewel. “Jewel, what’s a cosplayer?” Rosaline whispers. “Oh my gosh, come with me!” says the girl. “These are my friends!” “Hi, I’m Stephanie.” “And I’m Isabella, but you can call me Bella.” “And I’m Naomi! Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too. I’m Onnie. He’s Naga. She’s Jewel. He’s Jasper. And she’s Rosaline, but she goes by Rose.” The girls stand around idly before shouting, “May we check out your costumes!?” “I guess?” says Onnie. The girls squill and begin analyzing.  

“Onnie, I love your hat. Who made it?” asks Naomi. “It’s actually my mother’s.” Onnie replies. “Really! it’s so detailed she must have been skilled.” “Thanks.” “Ohhh! Naga your tail, it looks so real. So do yours Jasper and your horns. Is this genuine leather and scales?” says Bella. “No, of course not. That would make Rose mad.” Rosaline jabs Naga’s side. “Oof!” “Rose, you like horses too?” asks Bella.

“Yes, you can say that.” Rosaline strokes her hair and looks away. “How do you get your tail so long?” says Bella. “Also, what makeup do you use for the scales on your face, Naga?” “It’s paint. Yeah, Paint, that’s why it looks real.” says Naga. “Interesting.” Bella writes that down with a big grin on her face. “Okay, hey Jasper.”

“Hmm!?”

“About your horns. Where did you get them?” asks Bella. “Um, they were uh, a gift.” “Aww, who gave them to you?” “Uh, my mom?” Jasper says, then smiles awkwardly. “Me, I gave them to him, remember Jasper?” says Naga. “That’s so sweet and where did you get them?” “Oh sorry, I forgot. I just slipped my mind.” “Darn okay, tell me if you remember, may I touch.”

Bella goes to touch Jasper’s horns. “NO!” Jasper grips Bella’s hand, stopping her. “Sorry, they’re very fragile. I don’t want anyone touching them.” Jasper lets Bella’s hand go and pats her wrist. “Oh right, right sorry.”

“What about you Jewel? Those wings are so surreal,” says Naomi. “Well, me and my family were mighty adventurers. We went to the top of a mountain that grows a special silk by a special pond. And out of that silk I made these very wings.” says Jewel. “Oh my gosh, really!?” says Naomi.

 “Ha, no.”

“Onnie! You rained on my fun,” says Jewel.

“Well, the pond part is right, but let’s move on.” says Onnie. “Hey Naomi, why don’t you show us around? We’re not from here.” “Oh yes, I could tell from the second I saw you.” “Speaking of which, where are you from?” says Bella. The friends stare in different directions, thinking about what they should say. “Far.” says Onnie. “Oh really, I love it there! Okay, let’s start the tour.” Naomi leads the friends across a busy street. To an ally with lit up stores.

“Down this way is our favorite coffee shop,” says Bella. “And the outer building is mine and Bella’s apartment.” says Stephanie. “And this way in front of the entryway is the community park.” “Where Naomi lives!” says Bella and Stephanie. “Umm, where?” says Onnie. “The treehouse duh.” says Stephanie. “Oh, I also live in a treehouse.” “Really, treehouse buddies! Here, have this.”

Naomi gives Onnie a bracelet with a tree and a heart on it. “Thanks Naomi, this is cool.” “Right, the neighborhood kids built it for her.” says Bella. “Aww how sweet.” says Rosaline. “It is pretty cool, but enough of that. Let’s go somewhere fun, follow me,” says Naomi. Naomi takes the group to the subway and they hop on.

“Some were fun like, Eight Flags!” “I hope this place is fun.” says Rosaline. “Ohhh, it better be!” says Jewel. “After the ride here, it better.” says Naga. “Some old guy touched my tail.” says Jasper. “Same.” says Naga. Jasper and Naga shake in disgust then giggle.

“Oh, my gods, what is that!?” says Onnie. Onnie points at a giant roller coaster. “Oh, the Boliath, ha, I ride that thing all the time,” says Naomi. “Jewel, let’s go ride it.” says Onnie. “You read my mind.” says Jewel. Jewel and Onnie high five then skip off to the Boliath. “Okay, I guess we’re doing this now,” says Naga. Everyone waits in line, doing trivial things to pass the time. Onnie and Jewel fangirls about the Boliath. Rosaline and Bella talk about horse shows. Naga and Stephanie take pictures together. Jasper and Naomi play patty-cake. “Please step this way.” “In need to check your height,” says Worker man.

“Yes, it’s finally time,” says Jewel. “Miss, you’re way too short for this ride.” “The kiddy rides are over that way,” says Works man. “Uh, what!” says Jewel. “Hey, is that outside food or drink?” says Onnie. “Where!?” “Go, go, go!” says Onnie. The man turns his back and the friends run past him. “Everyone, have a seat! Sir, that tail thing needs to go,” says the other worker man. “Why?” asks Naga. “It will not fit sir.” “No look.” Naga shoves his tail under Jasper’s feet. “See!” the worker man sighs and walks off in defeat. “Hey Jewel, sit on this box I have for some reason.” says Onnie. “Alright how is, miss, didn’t I just-” “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” shouts Onnie. “…I had a growth spurt.” says Jewel.

The worker man rolls his eyes and says, “Whatever, I don’t get paid enough, just die for all I care.” “Now that everyone’s seats have been checked!” “We can start the ride. Have fun everyone!” The Worker women waves then starts the ride. When the ride starts, Jewel and Rosaline scream at the top of their lungs. “Ha, see Rose it’s not so bad!” says Jewel. “Your right!” says Rosaline. “Look everyone it’s the camera pose for it!” says Stephanie. “Do something funny, Jasper.” says Naga. “Okay!” says Jasper.

Click goes the camera. The picture shows everyone posing in different ways. Naga is throwing peace signs with his tongue out. Onnie is smiling while trying to keep her hat on her head. Jewel is smiling, almost coming out of her seat. Bella and Stephanie are hugging and smiling. Jasper is making an emotionless face. The wind is hitting Rosaline’s face, showing her eyes closed and her mouth open, happy as can be. Naomi is focused down at the ground, pointing at things as they pass. The ride goes up and down a few more times before stopping.

“Wow!” says Jewel. “So, was it everything you were hoping for Jewel?” says Onnie. “And more.” says Jewel. “Aww, look at Rose.” Jewel points at the picture on the big screen. Stephanie pulls on her phone to take a picture of the photo. “Stephanie, don’t you have to pay for those?” asks Bella. “Come on Bella, no one really pays for them,” says Stephanie. “Oh!” Bella goes to take a picture with her polaroid camera. But the lady working there switches it before she can take a picture. “Uh, petty!” says Bella.

“So, did you have fun smiles?” says Jasper. “Yes, I really did!” says Rosaline. Naga lays Rosaline’s bangs back over her face. “Thanks Naga.” “It was better than I thought.” “I would definitely do that again,” Rosaline says, out of breath. “What should we do next?” says Bella. “Come on, there’s more of the park to explore,” says Naomi. The friends explore the park, enjoying everything it offers. Enjoying the cotton candy candies to playing all games to running around the park until it reached sunset. “Okay, party people, it’s getting late.” “How about we head home and have a sleepover.” says Naomi. By the time the group comes back, it’s night.