Chatterbox: Inkwell

The wind is howling outside of your window as a storm approaches. You can hear a crack of thunder out in the distance. It is your favorite kind of weather. Grabbing a book off of your desk, you collapse down on the family's rocking chair. A bolt of lighting crosses the sky as you begin flipping through the pages. Oddly, about half way through the book, you spot a change in the font. You decide to flip back to the page, though what you find is definitely not just a font issue. It is a letter. Addressed to you. You sigh with anguish, disappointed you can't start reading yet, but begin reading the letter anyway. There is no formal greeting at the top, just your name typed out in bold. It draws you in to read more. The first line begins:

Dear reader, everyone tells me it is best to start with an explanation. I, on the other hand, say it is always best to start with a story. 

There is gap here, so you pause for a moment as you find where the text begins again:

"It's time." I said as I threw open the Not-Mansion's rickety old door. "It is time!" 

Ellith, my dear and true assistant, ran up to me with a stack of papers in her hands - the normal way she walked about the place, and put a stubborn hand in front of my chest. 

"Arcady...you remember what happened last time...the Wundersmith…"

"Yes I know they killed everybody. But this time will be different - I can feel it." 

"Just because you haven't gone around murdering people doesn't mean one of them won't'!" Ellith declared. 

"I have made up my mind already Elli. Now please get me a typewriter." 

Your heart starts racing. This isn't a prank by your younger sister. This is something else entirely. Something deadly.

Oh yes. I can tell you are afraid now. Good. People think better when they are afraid. Unless you are Alexander. Alexander just gets mad. But anyway, you are not my nephew (Or are you? If you are, why did you steal my letter?), so let me get to the point and tell you what 'it's time!' for. 

It's time to tell you what you really are. You are magical. You have powers beyond your imagination. You could control the world if you wanted to. Actually, scratch the last part. If you rule the world that means I can't, so clearly that is not an option. 

So why am I informing you of your magical ability? Why that is because I am offering to train you. You and 19 phenomenal others (as we call them in the Phenomenal Occurrences Council) have been selected to attend the Northern No-Mansion (instructions not needed - you will see why) for the highest quality lessons and instruction in your unique ability.

If you choose to accept this once-in-a-life time offer, you are to flip this paper over -  No - not now - I am not finished yet- and fill out the participation form and disclaimer. And no, I will not tell you why there is a disclaimer. 

You will learn to be a master at your magical ability better than Dumbledore himself if you embrace this opportunity. Oh darn, don't tell Dumbledore I said that. Now anyway, there is nobody else who can teach you like I can. And if you don't learn to harness your magic now, your magic will learn to harness you. 

I will include a list of the abilities we are accepting for this seminar. You will learn which ability is yours once the event begins. Please answer all questions on the form and be ready to be collected on 17th of July! 

~Arcady Wunder

Arcady Wunder - What a curious name. Though you don't have time to ponder this strange man's name. You have to see the list - and the form. You flip the paper over:

Arcady's List Of Magical Abilities!

Read the title of the page. You continue down until you see the list. 

1: Animator (Can bring object to life - Can not bring living creatures back from death)

2: Animanetic (Understands/Can Semi-Control Animals - Humans not included) 

3: Botanic (Understands/Can Semi-Control Plants) 

4: Celestial (Understands/Can Semi-Control Celestial bodies - Can not prevent or speed up the end of the universe)

5: Chronologist (Can Alter/Travel in Time)

6: Elemental (Understands/Can Semi-Control the Elements) 

7: Empath (Understands/Detects Emotions when in contact with subject)

8: Energist (Semi-Controls the Flow of Energy)

9: Healer (Can Identify/Create cures on the spot - Again, can not bring living things back from death) 

10: Illusionist (Can Create/Detect Illusions)

11: Imaginist (Can Create Images from the imagination - Can not create events)

12: Linguist (Can speak all languages - On rare occasions can understand animals and plants) 

13: Mesmerist (Can force others to follow their will - though most Mesmerists are severely tracked by the council for their potential)

14: Morph (Can shapeshift into anything - when in contact with others, can share ability)

15: Oracle (Can see into the future, though usually at a limited range)

16: Shadow-Seer (Can Create/Control Shadows)

17: Sun-Seer (Can Create/Control Sunlight)

18: Telepath (Can Read Minds on contact with subject

19: Witness (Can See the Truth of the World - Includes Tracking Origins, Seeing Abilities, And Detecting Lies - Though there are ways to Allude this ability)

20: Wundersmith (Can Control the Fabric of the World - If trained right, they can master Life and Death) 

A shiver goes up your spine. You don't know if you want to meet a master of death. But, if this man is telling the truth and you really have an ability...You decide to look at the form. It has quite a lot of questions, you see, but some of them are rather strange:

 

Name:

Nickname (If no nickname, leave this space blank): 

Pronouns:

Appearance: 

What Ability Do You Think You Have?:

What Ability Do You Want To Have?:

Do You Like Surprises?:

Are You One Who Would Go For A Strange Hairstyle?:

Favorite Color Combination: 

5 Adjectives That Describe You:

5 Adjectives That Describe Your Best Friend:

Does Your Best Friend Ever Take The Shape Of A Snake?: 

Do You Like The Color Black? If So, Why?:

Do You Like Enlarged Beasts Like Giant Lions?:

Would You Live In A House With A Personality (The answer is yes): 

Would You Be Able To Wear An Eye-Patch For Days On End:

Day or Night?: 

Light or Darkness?: 

Do or Die? (Please answer do - We can not except dead candidates): 

Do you like photography?

Top Three Of Your Most Favorite, Obscure Hobbies (The obscurer, the better):

Does The World Bend At Your Will?:

What Do You Think Of Sappy Conversations?: 

Can You Remember Your Dreams?: 

Favorite Quote You Caught A Friend Saying: 

Preferred Way Of Dying (Being a hero is not an option. We can not always provide hero-required scenarios at the time of death. Oh, and dying of old age doesn't count either. Because, well, we haven't made aging rays yet.):

Favorite Number: 

Favorite Time Of Day: 

Do You Appreciate Verb Tenses?:

Drawing Or Writing?: 

Dream Job:

Okay, Are You Tired Of These Questions?: 

If You Said Yes, Than To Bad Because There Is One More:

Letter Your Real Name Begins With: 

Okay, I'm Done:

Now I'm Done For Real:

Sike!: 

Alright, Ellith Says I Have To Stop Before You Give Up On This Thing: 

And The Disclaimer: Do You Agree To Say That Arcady And His Associates Will Bear No Responsibility Caused By This Wunderous (Pun Intended) Situation?: 

You don't quite consider 'Sike!' a question, but you decide to fill out the form anyway. Why not? There couldn't be any harm done. You probably are being tricked, but if not, what an opportunity! You hurry to write your name on the line at the top of the page, fill out the questions, and then rest the paper on the table. It disappears in front of your eyes in a plume of confetti. Maybe this wasn't a joke after all...

Little did you know you were getting yourself into a ski lodge.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 

Welcome to my, Arcady Wunder's ski lodge of the Wundrous Element (Oh, and Wunder is ment to be spelled with a u. Wonder and Wunder are two very different things here). Please feel free to guess my identity, and go ahead and fill out a form if you are interested. We can't wait to see you!

submitted by Arcady W. , age Wunderous, The Northern Not-Mansion
(July 10, 2021 - 4:37 pm)

See? there we go again with the mention of emotions!

Are you still going on about this? 

YES!

Well I find it strange how Rainbow Riot was able to resist some form of mind control? Maybe it's because of the voice in her head and how she's trying to fight that? So if a lesser powerful person came along then maybe she could have some form of control over her mind?

I still think it's you

Rude 

submitted by Skip&Gilly, age she/her
(August 20, 2021 - 7:46 pm)

Dear readers, I am so sorry for the delay on this next section. My life has been very demanding lately (I would tell you what, but, I am supposed to be an adult in this story, and therefore I shall remain silent). I will try to get the next part out this weekend, hopefully, but if I can't I sincerly apologize. Thank you so much for staying with me! 

submitted by Arcady W. , age Wunderous, The Northern Not-Mansion
(August 26, 2021 - 4:16 pm)

Ah! Day 2 is here! I yet again apologize for the long wait, dear readers! 

Day 2 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

The murderer woke up with the burning pain inside their chest again, and now it was worse than ever. The heat was blistering. Something must be done. 

The murderer wandered over to the window overlooking their room and tried to breathe. To their surprise their breath was not made of air, but fire. 

Inferno

That voice was in their head again. But the word inferno…it must mean something. 

The first Wunderous Art.

Even with their dim knowledge of the Wunderous world, the murderer could guess that that meant Inferno was something a Wundersmith would use. 

And apparently, they were Wundersmith. 

One with a taste for fire. 

Shaking their head in disbelief, the murderer turned away from the window and set back to normal morning routines. Oh, how they hoped they could be normal again. 

That was, in fact, an impossibility. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"AHHHHH!" LG's screech could have been heard from miles aways. As a matter of fact, one bewildered farmer far off in the countryside heard her that day, and has since been wondering why he ever got a pair of hearing aids. Riot screamed herself, at the noise. 

"What! What! What is happening-wait ohh…." Riot's expression immediately changed from that of anger to that of discomfort. In front of LG - in the very hallway in front of the Dining Hall - was Jaybell's body. 

"No...not another one…" 

"Oh gosh there is blood on the floor..." LG whimpered. 

Riot felt sick at the sight of the body. She didn't like the giant dent in Jaybell's head or the dagger in her back. It was all so awful. But wait - what if..."You're a Healer!" Riot shouted to LG." Is she still alive?"

LG perked up quickly, running over to Jaybells to place two fingers on her neck. 

"No."

Riot's expression fell, and she knew breakfast that morning was not going to be a pleasant one. 

For the most part, she was right. At the announcement of Jaybells' death, the table was saddened instantly. It was a quiet meal. Until the pie fell from the ceiling. 

"Gah!" Writing cried in the middle of a forkful of eggs. "What was that?" They looked across the table to see a glaring, pie splatted Opal.

"Ergh…" Opal growled. " I. Don't. Like. Flying. PIE!" 

Opal was furious. She was in a bad mood already from Skip's late night snoring, and the pie made it all that much worse. 

She picked up a stack of pancakes, and flung one at Writing. 

"Hey!" 

And so forth, a food fight broke out. Writing and Opal both formed teams. Opal had sided with Bean, Gilly, Dreamii, and Riot while Writing took Silver, Quill, LG, Oil, and Skip. Lynx refused to be on either team and stood on the table throwing waffles at either side for the entire battle. Alexander snuck around under the table and sneak-attacked people with globs of whipped cream. Ellith fled at the first sight of a battle, and Arcady disappeared in thin air.

It was officially a food fight. Quill, Oil, and Silver worked together to build a miniature biscuit catapult, and pumuled Bean and Dreamii until they were forced to retreat under the table. Then Quill was smacked with a waffle on the back of her head, and found a wild-eyed Lynx grinning at her from the table. Lynx was neck to get biscuit-ed. 

Writing and Opal faced off one on one, full on pancakes versus eggs. Writing got so sticky from the pancakes' syrup, the fork they were holding got stuck in their hand. Opal soon backed away when Writing started waving her fork hand around. It was a good thing too, because the fork eventually came loose and lodged itself in the wall. 

Skip considered the whole thing to be an utter time waste, and tried to leave the room. Unfortunately for her, Alexander whip-creamed her face as she turned to go. Of course, Skip now had to stay and defeat him. Alexander and Skip soon were engaged in a feisty food battle that everyone in the room noticeably avoided going near to. 

LG, Gilly, and Riot just stuck to the old fashioned method of simply throwing food, and honestly, they were the most successful out of all the fighters. Each was thoroughly covered in bacon grease, hash browns, and peanut butter by the end of the whole affair. Oh, and Riot had gained a waffle hat that she was quite proud of procuring. 

Lynx remained unscathed by any of the flying food on their table perch. Somehow though, their waffle bombs had landed on practically everyone. Telepathy was a special gift indeed. 

Yes, when Lynx had woken that morning, she had finally developed their ability. It had just...clicked. She didn't know why or how, but it was an amazing gift. She might have been a late bloomer, but she was a fast learner. Already, she could infiltrate minds like a professional. 

Lynx grinned and grabbed her bow. One of Opal's pancakes was now flying in the air (as she had known it would be), and Lynx had a new target. She shot their bow and pierced the pancake right through the middle, pinning in right above Opal's head.

After that, everyone decided they better stop the battle before someone got killed. Lynx sighed, but agreed. 

Alexander took all his remaining whipped cream and flung it at Lynx's head. 

Lynx charged Alexander out of the building and nobody again saw the two before dinner that evening. 

"So...what do we do now?" Dreamii asked, rubbing a splotch of butter off her cheek. Or trying to. It only smeared the butter, and made Dreamii stomp with frustration. 

"I suppose we look for Arcady?" Oil answered.

The guests agreed. Arcady was the host of this whole thing after all. And if classes were to start soon, as they thought they would, Arcady would be the only one who would be able to make the mysterious doors appear. 

They decided to split up. Opal, Gillian, and Bean departed to look in Arcady's office. Oil, Dreamii, and Riot headed for the library. Quill, Skip, Silver, and Writing set off for the Arcady's bedroom. 

Oil was the one who found the papers.

"What is this?" Oil asked quietly when he came across the library's fireplace. It was a beautiful hearth, laid in with brick and delicate gold-colored molding. Books sat atop the mantelpiece, pages faded and yellowing with age. Holding them upright was a statue of a sour looking lion with a mouse held in between it's teeth. It seemed to frown at Oil when he looked it in the eyes. Blackened wood sat in the fireplace, an ember still glowing faintly from the night before. And in between the logs, there was a scrap of paper, still legible, but charred. 

Oil picked them up. 

"Is that a letter?" Riot asked, edging her way past a teetering tower of books in the middle of the room. 

"A clue?" Dreamii questioned. 

"I...don't know." Oil whispered. He was not whispering simply because he was in a library though. He was whispering because he was completely terrified of what he read. 

It was a letter, as Riot has guessed, written out in messy, untidy scrawling. And it was addressed to...Arcady. 

Arcady,

I see that trouble has arisen. Never had we thought they would dare set foot...or mind for that matter, in one of our own buildings. It is them, of course. Nobody else could have the skill to take over in such a manner. This is clearly not the coincidence we thought it was. Their power, as we feared, is growing. If we don't find their apprentice, then I dread they will be able to use them against us even worse than they already are. We must find them before they take over. We must. 

"There is no signature." Dreamii mumbled, staring at the paper over Oil's shoulder. 

"But look, there was one." Riot pointed a quavering finger to a burn mark over the end of the letter. "That is where I always signed my letters." 

"So someone is communicating with Arcady about...about...an intruder?" Oil asked.

"I mean, maybe. But they seem much worse than that. It looks like they really want to find them. And that line about them setting mind in the building - it makes me think they aren't really here." Dreamii gestured toward the line in the letter. 

"But that isn't possible, is it?" Riot questioned, rubbing her head. 

"I didn't think it was...but...I'm not so sure anymore. The intruder might be a telepath or mesmerist." Oil commented.

"Lynx and Alexander! What if it is them!" Riot exclaimed. 

"It could be.." Dreamii started. "But this person has an apprentice. What do you think that means?"

"What if there are two murderers?" 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Opal, Gilly, and Bean were not having much luck with Arcady's office. Every time they found the door, it would move down the hall away from them. They never even got close enough to see if the door was unlocked. 

"What is it with this dang door!" Gilly cried, charging at the door again, only to have it move further down the hall.

"I don't think Notty wants us in there." Bean answered calmly, grabbing Gilly's arm to prevent them from trying to attack the door again. 

"But whyyyyyy?" Gilly moaned. 

"I bet there are secrets in there!" Opal exclaimed. "Ooh - what if there is evidence?"

"Evidence for what?" Bean asked. 

"For who dun it!" Opal shouted enthusiastically. 

"I doubt Arcady knows who the murderer is." Bean responded. "I don't think he wants us to be killed. 

"But you never know!" Gilly chimed in. "So we've got to get to that door!" 

Gilly again ran up to the door, this time, running into a vase that shattered on contact. 

"Are you okay?" Bean asked, running toward Gilly. 

"Yeah...I knew that was going to happen.." 

"Then why did you do it?" 

  "I thought I might have been wrong." 

"But how is an Oracle wrong?" 

"Maybe I...miss-saw?" 

"You still crashed into a vase." 

Gilly gave up at that point, and sat down on the carpet in defeat. "So what are we going to do here?" 

Opal and Bean both sat down next to Gilly, and they all thought for a good few minutes. Gilly was about to go back to charging at the door when Bean had an idea. 

"What if we try to trap the door?" She said, looking toward Gilly and Opal. "Like, one of us goes on one side, and the other goes on the other side, and then one of us runs down the middle and opens the door?" 

Opal, who was about to retort, paused in the middle of opening her mouth. "You know, that isn't a bad idea." 

And that is how Gilly, Bean, and Opal ended up cornering a door. Opal agreed to walk around to the other side of the door while Bean and Gilly stayed where they were. It took Opal a great deal longer than both AEs thought it should have, but eventually, they saw her appear on the other side. 

"Where were you?" Gilly shouted.

"It was just a long walk!" Opal exclaimed, flush appearing on her cheeks. "I'm not that fast!" 

"Fine, fine." Gilly answered. "Let's just get this door open. 

Bean and Opal slowly approached the door from their sides. Clearly, the door wanted to move, but as the AE's got closer, it had less and less room to move. The plan was working. 

"Gilly! Go!" Bean screamed, turning around to signal Gilly forward. 

Gilly took off, running past Bean and grabbing the handle to the door with both hands. It was locked. 

"NO!" Gilly cried. "It's locked!" 

Opal stared uncomfortably for a minute, and then reached up for her hair. She pulled out a hair pin and handed it to Gilly. "Try this." She said. 

Gilly jammed the pin into the lock, and wiggled it until they finally heard the door click. Then, they turned the knob and the door finally opened. 

"Yes!" Gilly shouted, beaming. But they weren't beaming for long. Because inside that door, was someone who was definitely not Arcady. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Quill, Skip, Writing, and Silver found Arcady's bedroom on the very bottom level of the Not-Mansion. It was dark in the hallways there, and each of the CBers were slightly creeped out, though none of them wanted to mention it. 

The longer they trekked through the hallways, the stranger they started to feel. Paintings on the wall started moving more often, and lights flickered on and off when they walked past them. The occasional cool breeze brushed past them more than once as well, and it felt all too much like they were in a haunted house. 

They were close to believing it, too. 

"H-h-how much farther do you think we will have to g-g-go?" Silver asked, teeth chattering. The temperature had definitely dropped in this area of the hall. 

"I'm sure it's near…" Writing answered, rubbing their hands together for warmth. 

As they continued, a strange sound started to fill the air around them. It sounded like...breathing. 

"Is that one of...you?" Skip asked, looking at her companions.

"That noise? Not me." Silver answered.

"Not me, either." Quill responded. 

Skip looked to Writing, and they shook their head slowly. 

It wasn't any of the CBers. So who was it? 

That, the group didn't find out for a while more. 

Trying to ignore the haunting noise, the four continued down the hall until they spotted Arcady's bedroom door. 

"Finally!" Quill exclaimed, jogging the last few steps to the oddly plain brown door. "This has taken forever!" 

Quill tried to get the door open, but it was locked. Or, she thought it was probably locked. She couldn't tell because there wasn't a knob. 

"Um...any guesses on how we get this open?" Quill asked.

"A wedge?" Writing suggested, shrugging. 

"We could break it." Silver commented. 

"Maybe we should just try knocking first?" Skip replied. 

Skip walked toward the door this time, reaching her fist out to knock. Wrap Wrap Wrap! The sound echoed around the eerily dark halls, sending shivers up the CBers spines. 

The door slowly creaked open. 

Skip eyed her friends skeptically, and with a brief nod, stepped into the room. All Skip saw before she fainted was a giant, furry, paw.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dead: 3: Hollyshock (Bludgeoned), Raynee (Burnt), Jaybells (Smashed)

Suspects: Skip, any others? 

Temporarily Safe: Opal, Bean, Dreamii

submitted by Arcady W. {New Part}, age Wunderous, The Northern Not-Mansion
(August 29, 2021 - 3:42 pm)

I'm loving this ski lodge! It's such a cool and unique setting, and the writing is so fun. I suspect Riot, though I'm not exactly sure why as of yet.

submitted by Quill, she/they
(September 1, 2021 - 12:56 pm)

Oh yes, Riot! She was supposed to be on the suspect list, but I forgot to add her. I will *try* to remember her for the next part's suspects!  

submitted by Arcady W. , age Wunderous, The Northern Not-Mansion
(September 1, 2021 - 3:32 pm)

oh wow okay. Well I'm still alive? 

that's unfortunate 

shush. But anyway @Acardy I just wanted to let you know that I've had a pronoun switch so for now if you could use they/them as my pronouns in the story that would be great! 

You're literally becoming me

You literally are a part of me and changing my pronouns doesn't mean I'm becoming you. I can't get a tattoo.

oh is that the only defining characteristic I have??? rude

Also I didn't know you could pick a lock.

honestly? neither did I

now I'm worried

nothing behind locked doors is safe now! Mwahahah

Oh no

submitted by Skip&Gilly, Pronouns: they/them
(September 7, 2021 - 9:04 am)

Readers! I am so sorry on the wait for this! I hope you can forgive me! 

Day 2, Part 2

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ah, dear, dear reader. I see you have suffered through many cliffhangers in this story by now. Dreadful of me, isn't it? I believe it is time to clear some things up. Let us start with Riot, Oil, and Dreamii:

"No way." Riot answered her friends, looking at the letter again in utter horror. "No no no no NO! There can't be TWO murderers!" 

"But...we can't exclude that possibility now, can we?" Oil answered.

Riot responded only with silence. 

"So...so do you really think there are multiple murderers?" Dreamii asked cautiously. 

Riot answered "No" at the exact same time Oil answered "Maybe". The two turned to glare at each other. 

"Okay then…" Dreamii whispered

"Well, what if somebody wrote the note just to throw us on the wrong trail?" Riot started." 'And...if there were two murderers, what if they accidentally murdered each other? 

"Well, they could be working together." Oil responded. "Or what if they are working against each other?"

"Like a battle…"Dreamii said. 

"Mm" Riot mumbled. She didn't seem to like this idea of two murderers at all. 

"But then again," Dreamii started again, "We really can't know what the situation with the murderer or murderers is until we find out who wrote this letter. We should take writing samples or something from everyone."

"And not tell the other CBers?" Oil asked.

"It might be best not to…" Dreamii answered. 

The three shivered. It was uncharacteristic to not include the other participants in their finds. How could they keep this a secret? And even worse, what if one of them was the very culprit they were looking for? 

"I guess...I guess we can watch the other guests today." Riot sputtered, "We can see if any of their handwriting is similar." 

"Yeah, but we need to watch the staff harder," Oil added, "It seems more likely the person who wrote the letter knew about this event before it began." 

"Good point." Dreamii commented. 

"Alright then." Riot began, "we keep this a secret?" 

"Yes." 

"Mhm." 

"Okay - then, I guess we are going to be spies for a day." 

And with that, the trio of CBers left the library solemnly, none feeling even the slightest bit excited about their self-given job. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, let's check in on Gilly, Opal, and Bean, shall we? 

"GAH!" Gilly shouted from the doorway, bringing their hands into fists as if they were about to pummel the figure in Arcady's room with punches. 

The figure inside jumped at the scream, and turned around to stare. They, too, shouted in shock. 

"Get OUT!" The voice shouted. "Get out get out get OUT!" 

"Why should we?" Gilly challenged. "Who are you to be in that room? I don't...I don't think I even know you…"

"You do, Gillian." 

 "Wha…" Gilly found herself staring into the face of none other than MM, her teacher. 

"I am down here looking for Arcady." He started, grabbing a piece of paper from Arcady's desk. "I was sent to deliver him this." 

"What is it?" Gilly asked, drawing closer. 

MM yanked the paper back. "Confidential business." 

"Confidential my foot." Gilly murmured. "If Arcady isn't here, which he obviously isn't, then why are you still in here?" 

"Because, Gillian, I was looking for his mailbox. 

"In his room." 

"Yes, in his room." 

"Yeah, cause everyone obviously has a mailbox inside their office."

"Yes!"
"Well anyway, how did you get in here?" Gilly continued." 

"Key," He said, dragging a chain out of his pocket with a shiny golden key on the end. "And you?" 

"Logic." Was all Gilly answered.

"Well then! I believe I should see you out!" MM shouted. 

"But! Arcady!" 

"Is not here. Now go." 

So MM ushered Gilly out of Arcady's office, his dark cape scraping the floor yet never leaving his face. The mysterious so-called "letter" dangled out of the corner of his pocket, and Gilly very badly wanted to yank it out. 

"Now, go do something productive, thank you!" MM grumbled, plopping Gilly outside the door. He didn't even think to look around, for if he had, he would have seen Bean and Opal had so clearly been eavesdropping. 

"Who is that?" Bean cried, helping Opal up. 

"My teacher." Gilly sighed. "My now highly suspicious teacher." 

"What was he doing in there?" Opal interrupted. 

"Delivering a letter." Gilly said, rolling their eyes and adding finger quotes to echo their belief that he was lying. "He was clearly up to something." 

"You think?" Bean questioned. "I mean he might have been looking for Arcady. That was what we were doing, after all."

"But he wouldn't show us the letter. That is enough proof for me." Gilly commented. "Come on, let's go find the others. They need to hear about this." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ah, and now finally, Skip, Quill, Writing, and Silver. 

"SKIP!" Writing screamed, hearing the tail-tale thump of a frightened body falling on the floor. They darted into the room, Quill and Silver close behind, to see what was the matter. 

"Oh dear, there are more of them." Moaned a most feline-like voice. "Would you get them off of my rug, please?" 

Silver gazed up into the face of not another odd house guest, but to that of a cat. Or a lion. Either or, it was extremely large, and its teeth were much too close for comfort. 

"I knew it…" She mumbled, grasping for one of Skip's legs so that she could pull them out as quickly as possible. "That form was much too specific."

"Oh cod," Quill squeaked.

"Um, hello?" Writing cautiously. 

"FINALLY!" The beast purred so loudly the walls shook. "Someone with manners! The humans these days are so disrespectful!" 

"Um, your welcome?" Writing responded. 

"Yes, I am welcome. Now, please, get them," the creature paused to nudge Skip, "off of my carpet." 

Quill, Writing, and Silver each grabbed a limb and pulled Silver into a sitting position. They were too scared to disobey it, and they also didn't think it was right to leave Skip just lying on the floor like that, so slowly, they scooted them against the wall. 

"This good?" Writing asked, seeming to be the only one with enough confidence to speak to the thing. 

"Yes, you are very compliant little things. I don't hate you." 

"You mean you like us?" Writing questions.

"No, I mean I don't hate you. Now what are you doing down here in the first place?" 

"Uh, looking for Arcady. We were told to come this way." Writing answered. 

"By whom?" The thing asked. 

"The map." Writing answered, pointing to the map. "It said this was his room." 

"PHH! That map is a monster I tell you! Going and sending meddlesome humans down here during my nap time!"

"Your Arcady?" Silver suddenly chimed in from next to Skip. 

"Goodness no!" The creature shouted, "I am simply a Magnificat, for Wunder's sake!"

"A Magnificat!" Writing commented, remembering Arcady's lecture on the first day. 

"Yes, though I have a name!" It answered, "Matilda."

"Oh, that is a lovely name!" Writing said. 

"Well poo, I don't like it. Call me Mat if you have to call me anything." 

"Um, okay…" Writing answered. "So why are you in Arcady's room?" 

Mat looked annoyed, rolling her big cat eyes and realising a big cat sigh. "Well I obviously am his helper."

"His helper?" 

"You humans don't know anything, do you? Yes! I help him with things he needs help with! I don't just lie around and sleep all day, what do you think I am, a pet?" 

The CBers did not think it was a good idea to think that that was exactly what they were thinking. 

"Now, you probably would like to know that your friend over there is waking up." 

Quill, Writing, and Skip, all promptly turned to look at Skip, who was, as Mat had said, waking up from their faint. 

"Big...Cat…" They mumbled, groping for the floor and trying to stand up. 

"Magnificat, dear." Mat said, "And I believe you should be going." 

The Magnificat opened the door with her gigantic paw, and pointed, as best a feline could, toward the hall. 

"Now that your friend is awake, please leave. You are disturbing my rare and important peace." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And that is how the guests went about discovering that many mysterious things happened at the Not-Mansion. They knew it shape shifted, and they knew the residents inside held magic at their will, but now, they had seen that it wasn't all fun and games. They still hadn't found Arcady, to somes' dismay and to others' delight, but they had found many other things, and were about to burst to share it with each other. 

Once they were each completed with their tasks, they headed back toward the Dining Hall to tell their tales. 

Gilly, Opal, and Bean arrived first, theorizing to themselves what MM might have been up to. Gilly suggested that MM was some kind of spy. Opal said that he was probably a Wundersmith. Bean decided that they both were making up tall tales and would have no part in their "game". 

They continued on like this until Riot, Dreamii, and Oil entered. 

"What is this about M and Ms?" Oil asked, trying to erase all traces of worry from his face. 

"Not M and Ms, Oil, MM!" Gilly shouted. 

Those two went on for a while about the oddness of MM's name, and even more theories erupted. Riot and Dreamii kept to themselves, and brainstormed ways to get their fellow guest to write something for them. 

"I. Don't. Like. Giant. Cats." Quill shouted as she stomped into the room. 

As one would expect, more conversation instantly spread throughout the room. Riot and Dreamii even got involved this time. 

"What did she look like?" Bean asked, curious that some of the guests actually spotted such a beast. 

"Gray fur with black streaks," Skips started "And really large teeth." 

Opal retreated to the far end of the Dining room. It continued on like this until Marli arrived. 

"Silence, Silence, SILENCE!" She screeched, turning everybody's heads away from their previous conversation. Writing and Oil instantly knew who the distinct voice belonged to, but the other guests were clueless. 

"Who are you?" Gilly asked, tired of asking the same question over and over again. 

"Your temporary commander." She said, "And you will do as I say." 

"Sheesh," Dreamii spoke. "She's intense." 

"And you," Marli added, "Are no one to insult me. Intense people get things accomplished, and as you have not noticed, LG has gone completely missing from your group." 

She was right. LG had just - disappeared. The group started mumbling to each other in astonishment - where had she gone? 

"Where is she?" Quill asked quietly.

"You expect me to know?" Marli commented. "I am not a member of your group. You are the ones responsible for her." 

The participants lowered their heads, ashamed. 

"But, what are we to do?" Opal asked. 

"Find her. And find her fast." Marli answered, "Before the murderer gets to her."

Quickly, the guests created a plan. Quill and Opal were to go North. Oil and Gilly planned to head South. Riot and Skip decided on going East. Dreamii and Bean were set to go West. Writing and Silver were assigned the hallways. 

"Now go, people!" Marli shouted. "Find her!" 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was Skip who found the body. 

"Gggh"

They had no idea what that sound they made was, but it was one of disgust in horror. They had simply been going to get a sip of water, somewhere off of the path of their and Riot's search, but low and behold, that was where LG lay. 

Dead. 

"Riot!" Skip shouted, recovering themselves. "I found LG!" 

Riot, who had been searching the Library (even though she had told Skip LG wouldn't be in there), came running. 

"You did! Where is she?" Riot shouted. 

"Um...here." Skip answered, seeing Riot come around the corner. 

"OH...oh. She's dead." Riot's smile fell instantly, and she walked to join Skip with the body. "We were too slow."

"We were too slow." Skip agreed. "And look," They picked up a pallet knife lying next to LG's bloody side. "They used this." 

"Wait a sec…" Riot said, looking confused. "Nobody could commit a murder with that thing - its flimsy, used for painting." 

Riot took the pallet knife from Skip, and plucked it with her finger, letting the tip wobble back and forth. 

"Plus, there is no blood."

"Then why is it here?" Skip asked "I know LG didn't just carry a - what is it called, Riot?" 

"A pallet knife." 

"Yeah, I know LG didn't just carry a pallet knife around with her." 

"Mhm…" Riot looked as if she were staring off into space, all of a sudden.

"Riot?" Skip asked, concerned.

"Mm?" 

"You okay?" 

"Yeah - I was just thinking about who would have a pallet knife with them." Riot answered. 

"Who?" Skip questioned. 

"Raynee." Riot said. 

"But she is dead…" Skip commented. 

"Exactly. Her roommate could have easily taken it." 

"You're not saying...it couldn't be them."

"Oh yeah I'm saying." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Dead: 4: Hollyshock (Bludgeoned), Raynee (Burnt), Jaybells (Crushed), Lightning Girl (Cause Unknown) 

Suspects: Skip, Rainbow Riot, Raynee's roomate (which I will see which of you can figure out whom that is), MM?, any others? 

Temporarily Safe: Bean, Opal, Dreamii 

submitted by Arcady W. {New Part}, age Wunderous , The Northern Not-Mansion
(September 12, 2021 - 3:13 pm)

Wow. that's amazing. I love this 

So do I. Like safdkwsdjf it's amazing. 

Well

*put's on glitter detective's hat*

*puts on classic detective's hat*

Let's do this. 

So Raynee's roomate is Silver, so that could be quite the possibility that Silver did it..

LG was mentioned last in the food fight. That means that someone in one of the groups killed her without the other members noticing. 

Okay So I was in a group with Silver Writing and Quill and I was mentioned very frequently. So were they. And I fainted at some point so It couldn't have been me or them.

But no one was watching you. 

WAIT LYNX DOESN'T HAVE AN ALIBI. NO ONE SAW HER. She also isn't back yet...

It could be her.. Also I was with Opal and Bean.

The entire time?

Hmmm I guess not. They could've split off and killed LG while I was with MM. But they're already safe.

We can change the lists.

hmm 

Oil Riot and Dreamii were all mentioned during this time and unless there's three murderers I think they're safe. Dreamii is already safe so there's that. 

So we are suspicious of: Opal, Bean, Lynx, You(Skip) again, and Silver

Yep and the safe people for now are: Oil, Riot, Dreamii, You(Gilly), Writing, and Quill 

 

submitted by Skip&Gilly, Pronouns: they/them
(September 12, 2021 - 6:38 pm)

:D I love this!!! So amazing... and MyStErIuS (I spelled that wrong, didn't I?)

Anyway, Riot is sus for sure, and I'm very suprised I had the courage to talk to Mat.

submitted by Writing_in_the_dark, age 12, NY but not NYC
(September 12, 2021 - 7:45 pm)

Name: Alana (Pronounced Uh- lo-nU)

Nickname (If no nickname, leave this space blank): 

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Appearance: long blond, wavy hair that reaches her waist, tan skin

(from the sun) bright blue eyes

What Ability Do You Think You Have?:orcal or imaginist

What Ability Do You Want To Have?:morph

Do You Like Surprises?:YES!

Are You One Who Would Go For A Strange Hairstyle?: BRING IT!

Favorite Color Combination: light blue and light purple

5 Adjectives That Describe You: kind, helpful, crazy, smart, imaginitive

5 Adjectives That Describe Your Best Friend: insane, silly, funny, freindly, crazy

Does Your Best Friend Ever Take The Shape Of A Snake?: Umm...no? WHY IS THAT A QUESTION?!

Do You Like The Color Black? If So, Why?: Only in the night sky.

Do You Like Enlarged Beasts Like Giant Lions?: Only cougars

Would You Live In A House With A Personality (The answer is yes):YES, YES, YES!(Unless it's bossy!)

Would You Be Able To Wear An Eye-Patch For Days On End:Nope!

Day or Night?: Can I say both?

Light or Darkness?: Light

Do or Die? (Please answer do - We can not except dead candidates): DO!

Do you like photography? Not particularily

Top Three Of Your Most Favorite, Obscure Hobbies (The obscurer, the better): trying to see the futer(because some times it works!) writing books, reading to my dog

Does The World Bend At Your Will?: No

What Do You Think Of Sappy Conversations?: To...SAPPY!

Can You Remember Your Dreams?: Most of the time

Favorite Quote You Caught A Friend Saying: Never caught a freind saying it, just really like it, "Without reading we are without light in the dark, heat in the cold."

Preferred Way Of Dying (Being a hero is not an option. We can not always provide hero-required scenarios at the time of death. Oh, and dying of old age doesn't count either. Because, well, we haven't made aging rays yet.): After a long night of writing a book (About things that I should not know) being killed quickly in my sleep. (Preflerblty a dagger to the heart). 

Favorite Number: enfinety

Favorite Time Of Day: sunrise

Do You Appreciate Verb Tenses?: Uhhhh...sure?

Drawing Or Writing?: writing

Dream Job: auther

Okay, Are You Tired Of These Questions?: yes

If You Said Yes, Than To Bad Because There Is One More:

Letter Your Real Name Begins With: A

Okay, I'm Done: ok 

Now I'm Done For Real: OK

Sike!: UGGGG!

Alright, Ellith Says I Have To Stop Before You Give Up On This Thing: 

And The Disclaimer: Do You Agree To Say That Arcady And His Associates Will Bear No Responsibility Caused By This Wunderous (Pun Intended) Situation?: Sure

submitted by BookPhoinix, age 9 3/4, Arcady Wunders ski lodge
(September 14, 2021 - 4:10 pm)

Ah! I just read everything in this thread and I have discovered this is

AMAZING 

I hope I'm not too late to join because AAHAJVSUSGAYIS I LOVE THIS SO MUCH

Name: Tsuki the Skywolf

Nickname (If no nickname, leave this space blank): Tsuki

Pronouns: she/her

Appearance: Brown hair that goes to mid back, green eyes

What Ability Do You Think You Have?: Empath

What Ability Do You Want To Have?: Elemental

Do You Like Surprises?: Heck yes!

Are You One Who Would Go For A Strange Hairstyle?:  Uhm, YEAH

Favorite Color Combination: green & blue!

5 Adjectives That Describe You: bookworm, empathetic, sMaRt, forgetful, excitable

5 Adjectives That Describe Your Best Friend: Nerdy, smart, generous, loving, bookworm

Does Your Best Friend Ever Take The Shape Of A Snake?: Not that I have ever seen, though occasionally she takes the shape of a wolf

Do You Like The Color Black? If So, Why?: ...yeah!  I like all colors (except that one weird pukey yellow green color.)

Do You Like Enlarged Beasts Like Giant Lions?: OH MY GOSH OF COURSE

Would You Live In A House With A Personality (The answer is yes): Interesting! Yes indeed!

Would You Be Able To Wear An Eye-Patch For Days On End: What! No! (the Nick Fury comment was hilarious)

Day or Night?: Ah, that depends...

Light or Darkness?: Light.

Do or Die? (Please answer do - We can not except dead candidates): Do!

Do you like photography?  Taking photos, no.  Seeing beautiful photos, yes.

Top Three Of Your Most Favorite, Obscure Hobbies (The obscurer, the better): Playing solitaire every second of every day, learning, watching "Nailed It" while pretending I'm in a plumbing warehouse

Does The World Bend At Your Will?: Not that I have ever known.

What Do You Think Of Sappy Conversations?: Sweet, yet uncomfortable.

Can You Remember Your Dreams?: Occasionally.

Favorite Quote You Caught A Friend Saying: "Wait she is not dead.  That is a... good thing?"

Preferred Way Of Dying (Being a hero is not an option. We can not always provide hero-required scenarios at the time of death. Oh, and dying of old age doesn't count either. Because, well, we haven't made aging rays yet.): Huh what! Not painfully I suppose?

Favorite Number: I don't like numbers too much.

Favorite Time Of Day: Evening.

Do You Appreciate Verb Tenses?: This is odd, but yeah yeah yeah!

Drawing Or Writing?: ...Both!

Dream Job: Writer & Artist (artist of any graphic novels I might publish, of course.)

Okay, Are You Tired Of These Questions?: Actually, no I am not!

If You Said Yes, Than To Bad Because There Is One More: Well we're both in luck, cause I said no!

Letter Your Real Name Begins With: Sometimes, I am called a word that begins with S.

Okay, I'm Done: Dang.

Now I'm Done For Real: ...Ya sure about that?

Sike!: What

Alright, Ellith Says I Have To Stop Before You Give Up On This Thing: ...

And The Disclaimer: Do You Agree To Say That Arcady And His Associates Will Bear No Responsibility Caused By This Wunderous (Pun Intended) Situation?: Nope! 

submitted by Tsuki the Skywolf, age many moons, extremely new CBer
(September 30, 2021 - 8:31 am)

NO DON'T DIE I MUST SEE WHAT HAPPENS!!!! TOP!!!! TOP!!!!! TOP, I SAY!!!!

Also, um, @Tsui and @BookPheonix, I just felt the need to say... uh... I don't think you can join a Ski Lodge after it's started. Sorry to disappoint you, and sorry @Arcady if I'm stepping out of line, but I just felt the need to say. *awkwardly slinks back into the shadows* 

submitted by Topping_in_the_dark, age TOPTOP, topping
(October 2, 2021 - 4:28 pm)

All right... yeah, I'll probably not be able to join, but I saw Bean join (though that was much much earlier in the ski lodge) so I thought maybe? But if not I'll just watch from the shadows... (this is SO INTERESTING)

Yes, either way don't let this die! @Arcady W., COME BACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK 

submitted by Tsuki the Skywolf, age many moons
(October 3, 2021 - 11:00 am)
submitted by Topping_in_the_dark, age TOPTOP, topping
(October 23, 2021 - 12:33 pm)
submitted by Pls don't die!!!!!!!, This was amazing!!!!!!!!!
(October 23, 2021 - 12:33 pm)