A_Familiar_Tale

Leaves of various colors meet your eyes. You look left and right, forward and back, but it's all the same. Forest everywhere and not a hint of civilization. What happened? You were celebrating your best friend's birthday way into the night, only hours before. They lived no where near a forest, so how could you have gotten here? Moss grows on the north side of a tree. That leads to civilization, right? Suddenly, music plays in the distance to the south. Music means people, right? [[Follow the moss]] [[Follow the music]]

You turn to the right and follow the trees lined with moss. As you head deeper into the forest, the path narrows until it's a slit just wide enough for you to fit. //"To move on, fill your pockets with herbs. Don't forget your posy~"// a voice whispers. You hesitate. Where did that voice come from? [[Move forward]] [[Abandon this place and follow the music]]

You turn left and follow where the music is coming from. Louder and louder it gets until your ears scream for you to stop. [[Keep going]] [[Turn back and follow the moss]]

Finally, the path opens up into a clearing, but the only thing within its closure is a lone rose tree. You walk in further. At the bottom of the rose tree sits a small bouquet of flowers lying on an even smaller bundle of herbs. You inspect the rose tree and its offerings, but find nothing more. Left and right, front and back, there's no other path but the way you-- The path you came from has disappeared! Replaced by trees. You approach the area, and with your free hand, touch where you know the path just was. //Sizzle!// You take back your hand, only to see a burnt mark on your fingers. //"You didn't follow the instructions..."// a voice whispers. [[Take the bouquet and stuff your pockets with the herbs]] [[Keep the bouquet close and stuff your clothes with the herbs]]

This place is too suspicious. You turn around and go back the way you came. As you walk down the path, a faint burning smell reaches your nose. You look over your shoulder at the clearing. It's in flames. The rose tree suffers a slow burn, yet its branches and petals already fall. They turn to ash in the wind. //"Ashes, ashes..."// the same voice whispers. You face forward and book it down the path back to your starting point with music that goes beyond a normal level. [[Keep going]]

A //SNAP!// echos behind you. Your path is opened once more! Without a moment to spare, you dash out of the clearing to the way you came. You trudge forward toward the music, but soon regret it. Louder and louder it gets until your ears scream for you to stop. [[Keep going]]

You back up just as the circling trees light aflame. What? How? Why in the world-- You turn to the rose tree. A slow burn was decided as its fate, yet the tree is already breaking. The small branches and twigs turn to ash. //"Ashes, ashes..."// the voice sings. An engulfing fire is the last thing you see as you clutch the bouquet in your hand. DEAD END

You hold your ears as you trudge deeper into the forest. As you venture forth, your surroundings lighten, and oddly, the music softens. You can now distinguish words as the end of the path nears. //"Did you see the egg? Did you see the wall? That egg's gonna fall!"// You walk out onto an open field. A giant wall lines one side where a fear-striken plump man with a semi-pointy head sits atop, clutching a bag. Three tiny kittens bearing swords and shields watch him from the ground. "Get him!" one kitten yells. "He deserves to be punished for his thievery!" //Did the cat just talk?// you wonder, but snap out of it at the man's scream. [[Save the man]] [[Let them duke it out themselves]]

This is crazy. No human can stand this loud of //anything!// You turn around and head back where you came. Suddenly the music stops and laughter reaches your ears. You look over your shoulder. //SPLAT!// Hm... That didn't sound very welcoming. You continue on back to your starting point. [[Follow the moss]]

You run to the man's aid. "Stop!" you say. "What are you cats doing?" One of the kittens--clearly the leader--points his sword at you. "Getting back what is ours. Leave peasant, or join the egg in the afterlife!" "Egg?" "I'm not an egg!" the man cried. "I am a living being like you." "Well," the kitten started, "I'm not a thief like you!" The kitten readies his sword. [[Jump out of the way]]

As much as you'd love to ask a few talking cats and a strange-shaped man for directions back home, this exchange seems rather heated and you'd rather not get involved. You begin to march in the opposite direction of the wall when the man's cries pierce through the air. You stop briefly, take a step, and the cry sounds again. You can't let this grown man be terrorized by a bunch of kittens. [[Save the man]]

You dive out of the way just as the kitten throws a precise shot in the air. The sword was obviously not aimed to hit the man, but he was spooked, anyway. With a yelp and a plea to the powers that be, the man slipped from the wall and fell with a //SPLAT!// Articles of clothing from his bag followed suit, including shoes, ties, mittens, and hankerchiefs. "For the queen!" the lead kitten cheers. The other two join him, then suddenly, all three casts their eyes on you. [[Ask for directions]] [[Ask for mercy]]

You ask for directions back to your hometown, then regret it as one of the companion kittens hands--paws?--the lead kitten the fallen sword. "I do not know of this place you seek," the leader states. "You are as strange as the egg that stole." You open your mouth to speak, but the kitten points the tip of his blade to you. [[Hold your breath]]

You raise your hands in a peaceful gesture. "Please, don't hurt me." The lead kitten picks up his fallen sword. "I showed benevolence, but you chose to not take it." He points the tip to you. "Why let you go now?" [["I'm lost and trying to find my way home."]]

Silence ensues, and nothing more is said nor done. You don't dare relax even as the tension lightens from the kitten leader's eyes and body. He lets out a dissatisfied breath as he sheaths his sword. "If help is what you seek, go down Drury Lane." With the tiniest flick of the tail in what you guessed was the direction to Drury Lane, the leader turns away and helps gather the rest of the fallen apparel with his companions. You give a quick word of thanks and dash in the direction given. [[Go to Drury Lane]]

"That is none of my concern," the leader approaches you. "What is lost may or may not be found, and we cannot rely on others to make it better." He holds up one of the fallen mittens and slides it on. "The proof is in front of you." You open your mouth to speak, but the kit silences you with flick of his blade. "Learn your place!" He raises the blade and swings toward your face. [[Hold your breath]]

Grassy terrain soon turns to a light trail, and a little later, a road made of stone. You look up the path in time to see a middle-aged man scurrying in his sleepware, obviously in a hurry. He carries a silver platter of English muffins and metal basket of milk bottles. "Excuse me!" you call, and the man pauses to look at you. "Hey, can you--" You stop at the man's wiry grin. He shakes the milk bottles as if to entice, then disappears further down the road. [[Follow the man]] [[Find another way]]

Why in the world did that man act so supiciously? Wait...could it be he knows something you don't? That kitten did say you'd find answers on Drury Lane, after all! You jog down the road until the noise of civilization reaches your ears. The ambiance of a crowd becomes louder as buildings appear in your sight. [[Go to the town]]

That man activated every alarm bell in your system. You duck away from Drury Lane and go a round-about way. It's not long before lights, fireworks, and laughter is heard. Nearby, a town is alight with activity, and a weight lifts off your shoulders. [[Go to the town]]

A large crowd surrounds an open street decked out with ribbons, balloons, confetti, and colorful banners. In the crowd consists of men, women, children, and other animal-like creatures similar to the kittens. "I can't wait to see the rumored gems," one lady says. "Yes," a man replies. "I hear the stylist's skills are beyond even this world!" You take a step toward the empty street, only to be stopped by a girl holding a toy sheep. "Don't," she warned, little over a peep. "The king's coming." Music blasts from afar. [[Look up]]

The crowd erupts in cheers. More confetti is thrown and applause fills the air for miles. A marching band trots down the street with a banner of warning, //"If your eyes cannot behold the magic that claims our ruler, then turn away now or risk punishment!"// "Behold?" a man asks. "Why, is the garment that dazzling?" "Will I be blinded by its beauty?" a woman asks. Behind the marching band walks a distiguished man who easily towered over the majority of the crowd, including you. With a straight back, chin pointed to the sky, and teeth outshining the sun, this man sports a large crown, high boots, golden underwear-- And nothing else. All at once, the cheers cease. The little girl with the lamb covers her eyes. No one dares says a word about the confident man standing in front of them. [[Say something]] [[Keep quiet and leave]]

"Um, there are kids here, you know," you say. "Put some clothes on!" The crowd gasps. The king stops in midstep and stares directly at you. "What did you say?" he asks. "Put some clothes on!" "I am wearing clothes, fool! You're simply too uneducated to see them." [["What clothes? Your birthday suit? Give me a break."]]

You duck back in the silent crowd. "Wait," a deep voice rang. You assume it to be the king's. "Was there not someone just here? To leave in my presence without permission means to go against my rule!" You ignore him and manuveur through the figures as quickly as you're able. Eventually, you reach the other side of town and stop the closest citizen who didn't //seem// like a weirdo. "Hi. Can you help me?" you ask. "I need directions." "Don't ask me," the woman says. "Have a question? Ask the man that bakes." She points past the buildings to a house on a hill. [[Go to the house]]

The man goes from pale to red. His eyes erupt in vivid colors. "You dare degrace the king? Off with your head!" [[Show no fear]] [[Run for your life]]

With an elaborate spin, the instruments in the marching band's hands change to weapons of destruction. Your eyes widen and your heart races. You look to the crowd, but everyone--even the sheep girl--had backed away to give the king and his army plenty of room for the deed. You spin around, but not fast enough. With a //BOOM!//, you fall to the ground unable to move. Familiar high boots soon come to your view, and you don't dare look up to confirm whose they were. "In your next life, be sure to study and educate yourself on life and fashion before spilling rotten soil," the king says. With those final words, your vision goes black. DEAD END

Just as the words leave the king's mouth, you see the marching band begin to move, but you don't stick around to see what they'll do. You dive back into the crowd and sprint with all your might. Yelling and yelps of fright echo behind, but you don't look back. [[You manage to lose the king and his men.]]

//It's not safe to stay in town now//, you think, and sigh. Will you ever get home? Not long after leaving town, you spot a house on a hill. Could it be? Is this your ticket out of this mess once and for all? [[Go to the house]]

You walk up and knock on the door. The man with the muffins opens the door. "Hello?" he says with a wide grin. "How may I help you?" You hesitate for a moment, but he's the first normal-looking person you've seen. What is there to lose? You tell the man of your predicament and ask for directions. He scratches his head. "I'm afraid I never heard of that place before... Ah! I have a telephone. You can use that to call home. Come in!" [[Decline the offer]] [[Go inside]]

You shake your head. "Sorry. I don't feel comfortable going in--" "Nonsense! Come in, come in!" The man takes your arm and forcibly tugs you forward. You fight back with all you have until-- "What is this?" a dignified voice utters. You turn around, and your heart sinks. It's the king in all his 'invisibly fashionable' glory! "How dare you invite a criminal to your home, baker!" Before the man can speak, a familiar mew cuts in: "Another criminal? Where?" [[Call for help]] [[Break out yourself]]

Almost at once, it's as if day has become night as soon as you step foot in the house. "Come in! Come in!" the man chants, shooing you further inside until you reach the kitchen. Finally, he stops and points to the rotary telephone sitting on the counter, next to an oven baking muffins. "Be my guest~" You reach for the phone as the man opens the oven door to check his muffins. As you dial, you turn around to thank the man. However, you're just in time to see him lunge at you. [[Jump away]]

You jump out of the way, but hit the oven and burn yourself. The man takes this chance and pushes you inside the oven. It's hot, bright, and probably makes a volcano look like a resort. It's too humid for you to wonder how on earth--is this even Earth anymore?--you could fit in an oven, and you don't care. Through the oven door, the man pulls at his nose. It peels away until the furry face of a wolf is revealed. He marches up to the door and peers at you. "I out did myself," he says. "This disguise is much better than the gran-gran one." He leans back and pats his belly. "But I'll get the same results." DEAD END

A battle hiss is heard, and three kittens bound up the hill, one carrying the bag from the egg--er, man from earlier. The kitten leader scowls at you. "You--" He cuts off as his eyes land on the nearly nude man. His eyes widen. His fur fluffs. "King!" Immediately, he drops his sword and tries to hand the king his own mittens. "You are indecent!" "Nonsense. Do you not see the beautiful garment in front of you?" The kitten leader goes quiet, and even the man with muffins goes stiff. Your blood boils. This is wrong. You being held captive is wrong, this man running around almost naked is wrong, all the foolish townspeople and these kittens are wrong--and this entire world is wrong! What can make things better? [[Tell the king the truth]] [[Make a deal with the king]]

While the attention is off of you, you twist away from the baker and jump back. At the two men's surprise, you turn around to book it, but forget that you're on top of a hill. Your step is misjudged, and you go tumbling down. At the foot, you only have a nanosecond to believe you broke your crowne before eveything goes black. DEAD END

The onlookers gasp, wide-eyed, as you tell the king he wears nothing but his undergarment. He stares at you with an unflinching gaze. "Do you really think that?" "I //know// that," you say. Silence follows, and then the king heavily sighs. "Loosen your hold," he says to the baker, and immediately, you are released. [[Step away from the man with muffins.]]

The companion kittens drop the bag at once and slash away at the hand that still grips your arm. "For the king!" they cry. The baker makes an animalistic growl. "Okay!" he screams, then huffs. "I was just inviting a guest for dinner..." he mumbles, then slinks back into the house, closing the door with disturbingly sharp teeth bared. You sigh in relief and step away. The kitten leader stops you. "You promised!" [[Keep your promise]] [[You can't trust them]]

"I knew as well," the king says, avoiding all eyes. "But...my pride would not allow myself to fall. Kings do not make mistakes." The kittens lower their heads, and it is the leader who speaks. "We apologize, King. Knights fear nothing, yet we feared your anger and disappointment, and could not say a word." The leader fluffs. "We allowed you to be humiliated. We should be punished!" The king pets each kitten on the head. "No, I deserved it. I was taught a lesson." He looks up at you. "And it was you who gave me that lesson." The kitten leader turns to you and holds the tip of his sword just above your heart. "You are worthy," he says. "Thank you." He lightly touches the tip to your heart. [[Close your eyes.]]

Everything's black, yet it's as if a world of colors flood your mind. Are you unconscious, or are you dreaming? How do you wake up again? //"Who did you see?"// a voice whispers. //What?// you wonder. //"Who did you meet?"// When you say nothing, the voice continues. //"Answer me. Who did you try to save after leaving the forest?"// [[Robin Hood]] [[Humpty Dumpty]] [[Peter Pan]]

//"Robin Hood did steal from the rich, but he never fell from a wall."// Your head screams in agony as a shooting pain rips through. You try to compose yourself and breathe, but it only makes the pain worse. You fight it for a while, but it is too much. You give in to the darkness and let the pain have its way with you until nothing more is felt, and you know you'll never open your eyes again. DEAD END

//"Then, who were the predators?"// "Who are you?" you ask. //"Answer me first. Who were the predators?"// [[Three Little Kittens]] [[Three Pirate Kittens of the Carribean]]

//"I'm sorry, but Mr. Pan is not a man."// Pain pounds against your temple, until it becomes too much. You succumb to the pain and dizziness and let the darkness take over for temporary sleep and relief. If only it were temporary. Now you must forever live in darkness and pain. DEAD END

//"I see... Who was the man you crossed on Drury Lane?"// "You told me you'd tell me who you are," you press. //"I said no such thing. Answer me, and I will consider it."// [[The Muffin Man]] [[The Farmer in the Dell]]

//"The three kittens are His Majesty's personal guards, but what is it they lost thanks to old Humty Dumpty?"// Your mind whirls more and more. The colors erupt from the darkness until it becomes unbearable. Your head pounds, your chest heaves. You cannot take anymore-- And no more you shall receive, with the lost of your will to survive. DEAD END

//"Ah, I rememebr now. Oh, but, how about the little girl in town?"// "But--" //"I am one who holds the power to change you and any person or creature."// ... //"Answer my question now."// [[Mary Had a Little Lamb]] [[Little Bo Peep]]

//"The farmer had cheese. This man had muffins."// The colors suddenly disappear, and the world feels as if it stopped. Only darkness remains-- Until a white light breaks through. Don't go into the light... Now you know why that phrase is said. DEAD END

//"Is that so? Hmm...but I seem to recall the girl didn't make a peep."// It's as if something pierces through the darkness straight into your brain. You can't take anymore, and welcome eternal darkness. DEAD END

//"Very well."// "Your turn," you say. //"Hm... I change myself most often, because I like to test others."// You move to speak, but the voice beats you to it. //"What did the incident with the Muffin Man remind you of, when you needed to be saved by His Majesty and the Kittens?"// [[Hansel and Gretel]] [[Little Red Riding Hood]]

//"Oh, yes, that's right..."// The voice giggles. //"Okay. Since you know so much, I shall give you a treat. You may know me as a wicked, but really, was I so wretched?"// You think for a moment, but the voice comes through again. //"Tell me who I am at a later time. It is time you go home."// //"My last question. Why was His Majesty adamant on not wearing anything but his underwear?"// [[He believed he was wearing something over the underwear]] [[He believed he was wearing all he needed to]]

//"Oh, but...didn't Little Red go inside willingly and of her own will? I believe the children were enticed, much like how the Muffin Man tried to do with you."// All at once, the darkness disappears and the colors reign supreme. They are bright--blinding--and you can't look away or see anything else. You're doomed to eternal suffering in this darkness. DEAD END

//"Ah... You've done well. Congratulations, and have a safe journey home."// "Wha--" You cut yourself off as a wave of sickness comes over you. You heave. You thrash. You struggle to open your eyes as the colors and darkness fight to take control. Suddenly, your eyes snap open and you sit up straight. Your best friend stands over you with a worried look on their face. "Hey," they say. "Are you okay? I thought you went home." You stare deliriously at your surroundings. There you sit in the corner of a living room with party favors and confetti littering the floor. Your friend stares at you, holding a broom in one hand and a dust pan in the other. Sure enough. This is your friend's living room...your friend's house... You look up at the television. Pirates clash swords on the screen, then it goes to a cat commercial. //''You made it home.''//

//"Perhaps, but there was more to the reason than that."// The darkness and colors dissolve gradually. Your body relaxes without your will. It doesn't stop until you are no longer able to think or feel. You know you will never open your eyes again. DEAD END

You grab the fallen bag and dump the clothes inside in a pile. In seconds, and with a defiant yelp from the king, you have the towering man decked out in a humbling cloak and striped tights. "There!" you say. Three mewling kittens kneel at the king's feet. "King..." one of them says. "You are dressed." "I was dressed before!" the lumbering man booms. "What is this--" [[Stand firm]]

Promise? This is the same cat that promised you'd find your way home if you followed Drury Lane, and where did you end up? You prepare to run for it, but the companion kittens are two paws in front of you. The lead kitten hisses, tail in a bush. [[Keep your promise]]

"Who are you to tell me what to do?" The king growls. "What do you know that makes you above me?" "I know more about your kingdom than you do!" you say. The kittens gasp, and Kitten Leader draws back his sword. "You spoke against the king!" He hisses and rears on his hind legs, but freezes at the king's bark of laughter. "Preposterous!" the king boasts. "You know nothing!" [["Who are these kittens?"]]

The king raises a brow. "My guards and loyal servants, of course. Who else would they be?" The trio of kittens lower their head, their ears going flat. "If they're your loyal subjects," you say, "then surely you know them. What's the thing they treasure most?" "Does it matter? That's no business of mine. You don't even know!" [["They treasure their swords."]] [["They treasure their mittens."]]

The kittens sigh. "But of course they do." The king rolls his eyes. "They can't protect me without them." Did you make a mistake? You thought those swords meant something more to them. The king snickers at you. [[This man is too hardheaded.]]

"Their mittens?" the king asks. "Of course," you say. "They're the Three Little Kittens." The kittens perk up, their eyes alight and ears alert. The leader glances down at his mittens. "We thought no one remembered us..." he mewled. The king's gaze lingers on the kittens, but quickly snaps back to you. "Your point?" He sneers. "Of course, they're three little kittens. What point have you made?" [[This man is too hardheaded.]] [[Make your voice heard]]

You're only wasting your breath talking to this man. What did you hope to accomplish? You made a deal, you're free, and you put clothes on the man--why are you still here? You look at the door to the house the man with muffins disappeared into earlier. He was creepy...but what do you have to lose? You glance between the house and the king. [[Go inside]] [[Make your voice heard]]

"How could you walk around wearing nothing in front of children?" you ask. "I was not wearing nothi--" You cut off the king, to the kittens' surprise, though they did not flinch this time. "That little girl holding the lamb. She was afraid of speaking before you. Do you know who she is?" "A girl...?" The king thinks. "Are you sure it wasn't a lad crying overacting?" [["Yes. It was Mary who had the Little Lamb."]] [["Yes. It was Little Bo Peep who was afraid to speak."]]

"Mary?" The king tilts his head. "Mary has a real lamb and she is traveling with her school now." You huff. What happened? Surely, that little girl was Mary. You shake it off. Yes...what are you trying to prove? This is not your world, nor your kingdom, and you have no plans to stay in this strange place. You look to the house that stands before you. The man with muffins was a creep, but you came here for a reason and the answer you want may be in the place you least thought it would be. [[Go inside]]

The king huffs. "She was not afraid to speak. She was probably shy." "Or your presence intimidates her," you retort. "I?" The king blares. He looks to the kittens, but they turn their gaze away. "Kittens?" "Your own guards and loyal servants can't even face you because they're afraid of capital punishment." You pause. "Like you tried to do to me." "You are not of this kingdom," the king presses. "I know it!" "I am not." You smile. "That much you know, but do you know where I come from?" The king stumbles on his words. "Your loyal servants do." You turn to the kittens. [["They told me I'd find the answer down Drury Lane."]] [["They told me to go to the town down Drury Lane."]]

You glance at everyone one by one before turning back to the king. "Your loyal subjects are more intelligent than you think." The king stares at the trio of kittens, and they relax under his gaze. "Was I..." the king begins, "...that oppressive, to not know of an entire world?" The trio freeze. Silence follows, until the leader nods. "Yes, king... We could not say... We could only follow, because the king is our ruler." The king stands in silence. A soft stare battle ensues between the king and trio, until the king turns away. The lead kitten turns to you and purrs. "It is not what we planned, but these events told a greater ending. It is time you go home." [["But the king..."]] [["How do you know things will change?"]]

"Oh!" You realize. "I met that man down Drury Lane." You look at the house in front of you. "So...he does have the answers?" [[Go inside]] [[Rethink your answer]]

A paw interrupts you. The lead kittens gestures to the king with his tail. The king looks to the ground with a somber expression on his face. "King is in thought. He will want to know about the other world now...and then he will realize his ignorance of his own kingdom." The kitten purrs again. "He will open up and explore, and it is thanks to you." [["How do you know things will change?"]]

"Because King turned away first." The kitten gently closes his eyes, then opens them again. "Thank you for remembering our story. We will not forget you." The kitten holds the tip of his sword where your hearts lies beneath the skin, and gently pokes you. [["Thank you."]]

//No, wait,// you think. [["They told me I'd find the answer down Drury Lane."]]

You close your eyes as a mixture of light and dark colors whirl around you. Suddenly, dizziness comes over you, as if you're being thrown back and forth across a room. Eventually, it becomes too much. The colors start to spark. You twist and turn, fight to open your eyes-- And you do. Your best friend stands over you with a large grin on their face. "Hey," they say. "About time you woke up." You sit up and observed your surroundings. How you got on the kitchen island wearing a chain of styroform cup bottoms is beyond you, but it's no doubt that your in your friend's house. Your friend...who is still wearing the stupid pirate costume with cat ears. "Awesome costume party last night, right?" your friend asks. //''You made it home.''// //''Congratulations!''//