OC Apprentice Challenge 3 Announcement · 2:33am Feb 22nd, 2016
Team Illuminati's submission:
The team was sent to a small town in the human world nestled between a couple mountains. A beautiful rural town with friendly locals. GOB had told them that the reading would be at the town’s library.
The three entered the building to see the children waiting around a chair. They looked eager to hear the story they were promised.
“Alright, Sentinel you’re reading right?” Reneighah asked.
“Yeah, I’m reading, unless you want Coalstone to do it.” He replied. The thought making him shiver.
“Alright, knock em dead…..well don’t, you know what I mean.” She replied as Sentinel took his seat in the chair. He looked at the kids looking up at him, waiting with smiles on their faces. He opened the book and began.
“Once upon a time, in a magic place not so far from here. There was a little strip of bacon. His name was Kevin.”
Sentinel smiled at the little human children and flipped to the first page, a smiling slice of bacon filling the paper. The small corner of the library was packed with kids, who giggled at the sight of the little drawing.
“Kevin was a happy bacon strip, living peacefully in hopes that one day he could be part of someone’s healthy breakfast.” As he read he scanned the crowd, making eye contact with Reneighah, who sat smiling as a toddler crawled onto her lap.
“But all was not well in this land, and evil group called Veggie Co. had plans to take Kevin off the menu. They bullied him and made people hate him for having a little grease!”
With proper dramatic flare he turned to a new drawing, three pieces of zucchini laughing at Kevin’s squiggly form. The zebra-turned- human rubbed her hand as she tried to get the bits of green paint out of her nails. Even after getting an official print of the book she still didn't have time to wash off the paints that had splashed as she drew, especially since they had been taken to the human world so fast. The little boy in her lap scooted forward, matching the looks of distress on many of the kids faces. I’m glad they care about the story. She thought. That’s always a good sign.
“The dastardly Veggie Co. took all meat from the school menus! Leaving all the kids forced to eat spinach and green beans for breakfast and every meal only had veggies! No sausage, no bacon, not even pepperoni in pizza anymore. They even locked up all the meats in the freezer never to be eaten again!”
The children gasped, and the girl turned to Coalstone, who remained stone faced and quiet. She frowned and elbowed him in the arm. “Hey!” He hissed. “What was that for?”
“Try to act at least a little bit interested.” She whispered. He gave a sharp glare, but let himself focus on the storyline. “It's not like I don't know what happens. We wrote it.” Sentinel carried on.
“Kevin was so sad he hid in his home, but one day a good friend of his a butterstick, named Steve, came to him to ask for his help.”
Murmurs flew through the audience, the children beginning to build an energy of excitement. Reneighah smiled at her handiwork of Steve wearing a “Go BBQ!” T shirt. Not very subtle, but it still made sense with the story.
Coalstone frowned slightly at the t-shirt, and whispered to Reneighah, “I still can’t believe you included that t-shirt. Not like he doesn’t have enough of an oversized ego, even if the kids don’t get the subtext.”
“Winter is here!” Steve cried. “All the kids are too skinny and thin to play happily through the winter! They’ll be stuck inside because of the cold! No snowmen, no snow angels, no snowball fights! With the thought in mind, Kevin knew what he had to do. He had to get back on the menu! Kevin and Steve rushed to the school as fast as they could. The fat in them keeping them warm and safe.”
Sentinel let a smile break his dramatic frown as he looked at his young audience, who now cheered and laughed as he showed the kids a picture of little grease foods riding along a sled, happy as ever.
“Kevin and Steve arrived in the school cafeteria, they knew that their friends were in the freezer, waiting to be freed. They charged in running past the evil vegetables, and running to the freezer. When the arrived, a large broccoli was waiting for them, directly in front of the freezer door.”
The Veggie on the next page stood tall and glaring, not-so-subtly resembling the alicorn they had earlier encountered, with unsurprisingly a stalk of broccoli in place of a horn and wings made out of broccoli fibers. Coalstone looked at the zebra.
“Was that on purpose?” He whispered. She shrugged.
“It's not like we were being very subtle from the start.”
“Touche.”
“Ha ha ha! The broccoli laughed. You’re too late! The children of this school are now too weak to play in the snow. They’ll get cold fast and be unable to play! They’ll only be able to sit inside and do homework! The broccorn then threw back his head in another loud and over exaggerated villain laugh, actually letting out what appeared to be vegetable juice with each laugh. Kevin wouldn’t let this be the end. With his protien he had the energy to play for hours, and he knew the other meats did too! With a quick burst of speed, Kevin leapt high into the, managing to avoid the dastardly vegetables grasp. Landing behind the villain, he quickly reached out and pull the freezer door open, letting loose the cold air. The broccoli froze in its place, as the frigid air encircled him, causing frost to cover every square each of his body. Icicles even started to form under his eyes and in his nostrils, while the fibers on his wings fell like leaves to the ground.”
“N-no too cold! She barely managed to chatter out before his mouth and the rest of his body became encased in ice.”
With Broccoli now frozen, the kids cheered, and many laughed. The youth who had been sitting in Reneighah’s lap now stood up and shouted. Naturally, once the group had calmed down, Sentinel continued.
“With the broccoli frozen, Kevin ran to greet his pals who were waiting. Come one meats! Kevin shouted. Lets serve these kids some real food! The meats charged out of the freezer, trampling the evil broccoli and running into the kitchen. In no time, a new meal was ready to serve, one that was nice and warm. Full of protein and a healthy amount of fat, the kids were ready to play once more, and do more than just sit around doing homework. Kevin and Steve saved the day, and are always willing to help kids in need. they do have a favorite kid though.”
With that he tilted the book to show a plastic mirror that reflecting the faces of their bright eyed audience, next to it a plate of fabric bacon which many kids stepped forward to feel.
This time Reneighah nudged Coalstone’s arm more lightly, grinning happily. “That was a really nice touch. The foals love it.” She paused. “‘Nice touch’. Haha, pun intended.”
He simply rolled his eyes. “Well they're not foals for one, since these little guys are human.” He gave a small smile and looked around. “Two, that pun deserves to go to Tartarus and so should you.”
“Hush, there's youth here. No need to be such a bad example.” She laughed.
“Whatever you say your highness.”
They looked over to where Sentinel was laughing as a group of kindergarteners touched and pulled at his electric hair, the yellow and black strands twisting together.
The sight actually brought a smile to Coalstone’s expression, even letting out a small chuckle at of the guardsmen being overtaken by children, “Guy may have trouble with technology, but when it comes to kids he knows his stuff.”
“Haha! Easy there dudes, I don't want to be bald by the end of this!” The children laughed and tried to climb over his armchair where he sat.
The trio of teammates grinned at each other as parents began to lead their kids away. Reneighah nodded her head in approval.
“Y’know, I always wanted to be a writer.”
Since the majority of Shrekt is gone, they do not have a submission, thus me continuing on to the next Mansion Writing assignment!
It was sundown and GOB was getting ready for sleep. He didn’t have the energy to snap the contestants back to the mansion and decided to summon them a bus to take them back home. GOB had been too excited today and spent the hours smiling and doing work happily, knowing Vanessa will soon be in his grasp. GOB summoned the same 80’s looking brick phone and dialed a number.
“Yes, I’d like to order a bus. Yes… Uh, to GOB Manor. Yes, THE GOB Manor.” GOB said as he sorted out all the details. Address, pick up, etc. With that he ended the call and yawned. He summoned a king sized bed that floated above his desk. He climbed atop the mattress and snuggled into the blankets. Falling fast asleep.
~***~
All the children were gone, the librarians were gone, the library was closed and it was getting dark out. Coalstone, Lucky, Golden, Spark, Sentinel, and Reneigah waited outside the establishment. Except Nova who snuck off to use the bathroom before they left. He figured he didn’t need to excuse himself to go to the bathroom and left without telling anybody.
“Why isn’t GOB snapping us back to the mansion or something? It’s getting dark out.” Sentinel worried.
“I dunno, probably balls deep in that Candle broad again…” Golden commented with a chuckle. Everyone else stared at him with a confused or disgusted look.
“What? Come on it’s obvious he’s bangin’ her.” Golden tried to excuse himself from the bad joke, but it wasn’t working. “Fine I’ll stay quiet.” Suddenly, a large bus popped in front of them. The bus doors opened revealing a hefty looking, faceless man in a bus driver’s outfit.
“Hmm, hm, fm, fhm, hm?” The creature seemed to ask, however nobody knew what it had said.
“Uh… Repeat please?” Reneigah said as she put her hand to her ear. The bus driver seemed to have sighed and pulled out a small clipboard with paper on it. He took a pen and scribbled a message onto the board. He revealed the message to the small group.
“Are you the OCA contestants?” Coalstone read out. “Yeah, we are.” The bus driver seemed pleased and waved the small group onto his bus. Coalstone, Sentinel, Spark, and Reneigah all boarded before a large green flash stopped Golden and Lucky from boarding.
It was her! The same alicorn from the concert, the same green colored Alicorn.
“I saw this little book you rats published… Quite tasteless if you ask me.” The Alicorn suddenly changed into it’s human form. But it’s human form was much larger than GOB’s. This couldn’t have been her human form. Perhaps, her God form. She was a giant green tree-like creature with vines protruding from her back. Although she was a tree, she still kept her feminine features such as her breasts and curvy figure.
Before Golden or Lucky could get on the bus, the vines from the large tree-girl’s back snatched at the boxer and teacher. The rest couldn’t do anything but watch in horror as the giant tree goddess wrapped her vines around the humans as if her vines were pythons.
“Let me go you overgrown weed!” Golden shouted.
“Somepony help!” Lucky called out, but nobody could help. The giant tree laughed with glee and she held the boxer and teacher before her and stared into their eyes. While Golden stayed strong, Lucky was crying in fear as the tree’s vines wrapped even tighter around their bodies.
“Let us out!” Coalstone ordered the bus driver, but he wouldn’t oblige. He was currently soiling his uniform.
Suddenly, the tree Goddess’ vines turned gold and odd looking brown stuff began growing on the legs of Golden and Lucky. The brown stuff appeared to be the bark of a tree as it slowly grew more and more. Reaching their necks.
“I said let us out!” Coalstone ordered a second time. But the bus driver still didn’t listen.
“MMMM! HM! HFMFM!!” Suddenly, the bus driver pulled back the shift stick and floored the pedal. The bus skidded and began to speed down the long road ahead of them.
“What are you doing!?” Reneigah shouted.
“They need our help!” Sentinel exclaimed. But the bus driver still didn’t listen. He was more worried about his own life at the moment.
Lucky and Golden both looked at each other in fear. Lucky stared at Golden, hoping he had an idea. But Golden only stared back with a face that said, ‘there’s no way out.’
The tree goddess laughed until finally her vines dimmed from their golden color to their original green color. Golden and Lucky were now completely covered in bark and looked like odd trees now. The tree goddess laughed and cackled as she shrunk back to her human form. Her human form was a professionally dressed individual wearing a pine green suit jacket and pencil skirt with a white dress shirt beneath her coat and a black tie. Her thin rectangular glasses gleamed as what was left of the sun lowered behind the horizon. She admired her work. Golden and Lucky’s faces frozen in fear as they were stuck as trees.
The goddess put her hands to their chests, feeling for their warmth. She found it, but it slowly died out. Turning cold. Their heartbeats ceased. They had been completely turned into trees.
The goddess fluffed her coat collar and smiled.
“Quite the work, Vanessa. You really did it this time!” She complimented herself. “Why thank you, me!” She replied.
“By the way, what a lovely ensemble you’re wearing!”
“Oh this? I just threw it on!” She replied to herself once again. She stood there in silence. Not really knowing what else to do. Until a faint beep sounded from her wrist. She checked it and her face turned into an excited one.
“Oh! Time to go to my bar!” She exclaimed with happiness. She snatched the two new trees and held them as she snapped her fingers, sending her away.
~***~
Vanessa or Veggie appeared in her bedroom/office. Somewhat like GOB she lived at work and usually slept in her office. She carried the two new trees over to a corner and displayed them perfectly.
“You two look wonderful!” She complimented.
“Thank you! I sure do love being a tree!” Vanessa gave Golden’s tree a voice that sounded almost like the boxer.
“Same here! I really like my leaves!” Vanessa said for the opposite tree on the left. Sounding like Lucky when she could still talk.
“That’s good! Very good… But you two will need new tree names!” Vanessa said as she began to take her coat off. “How about… I know!” She pointed to Golden’s tree, “your name is Oscar… And your name is…” Vanessa thought. Was this really healthy? Giving trees personalities? Of course it was! “And your name is Grace!” She pointed at Lucky’s tree.
“Oh golly, gee, wowzers! I sure do love my new name!” Veggie said for Lucky.
“I second that!” Veggie said for Golden.
“Good… Good.” Vanessa or Veggie said with a soft smile. She had stripped herself of her high heels, glasses, tie, and coat, leaving her in her dress shirt and skirt. “You two mind looking the other way? A girl needs her privacy…” The trees stood emotionless… Or, fear struck if you’re counting their emotion when the two were turned into trees.
“Wait, you’re only trees… What am I thinking? Get it together Vanessa!” She stripped herself of her shirt and skirt and quickly snapped through her different outfits. One was a cute maroon wine dress with black heels and a golden amulet around her neck.
“Eh… Too formal!” She snapped again to reveal another outfit. A plaid buttoned shirt with faded blue skinny jeans, tan ugg boots and a small straw hat. “No, mortal white girl!” She snapped once more and appeared to wear a white ruffled blouse with black skinny jeans, and dark green flats. “Modes, simple… Perfect!” She smiled and untied her hair from it’s tight business-like bun. Her curly jet black hair dropped down, reaching her waist. After fixing her makeup she gathered her things and left to her executive bar. She snapped her fingers and suddenly appeared in the green lit bar with nobody else but her, herself, and the bartender. Vanessa approached the bar and took a seat.
“The usual, James…” She ordered as the bartender simply nodded, keeping his head down, hiding his face from her.
“Today was super hectic, James. I turned two humans into trees! Isn’t that crazy!? Oh, and tomorrow I have to send Clyde and Jimmy out to burn all those “Kevin the Bacon” books those dastardly OCA contestants created. Never become a business Goddess, James.” Vanessa joked, but James didn’t laugh. He only placed her drink before her. Vanessa smiled and took the glass of alcohol and greedily drank it. Suddenly, she began to feel woozie.
“J-James? Wha-What’d you- What was in that?” Veggie asked. James, or what was thought to be James laughed a dastardly laugh. He raised his face to reveal an old looking black male with a kind but menacing smile on his face.
“You just got bipped in the bop.” The man cackled as he began shouting out nonsense like ‘zippity zop, and bippity bop. Vanessa felt herself black out as her body hit the ground with a thud. The black male laughed and approached the unconscious body of Vanessa. He began to feel her all over, from her neck to her chest until a middle aged man shooed him off.
“No, Cosby! GOB said he wanted her untouched!”
“But I just want her to lick my pudding pop!”
“No pudding pops, Cosby! You sick pervert!” The middle aged man exclaimed angrily. “Strip her down to her underwear, and take whatever weapons you find. I’ll take the body from there.” The middle aged man ordered.
“Yes, sir, Mr. Watowski!” Cosby saluted and began his job with an eager smile on his face.
Mr. Cosby and Mr. Watowski successfully trapped Vanessa and are going to deliver her to GOB as he ordered! What will happen next! Stay tuned!
But seriously though, the mansion challenge is simple. It'll be due on Tuesday so it doesn't need to be long. I want everybody to collab on a paper and write about their characters thinking and remembering what happened to Golden and Lucky before they left. On Tuesday, I'll make the next pre-challenge announcement!
I knew they were out, but damn I didn't expect that. I feel bad for their characters. Hopefully we can help them later, regardless, It's time to pick a partner I guess. Any takers from you three?
3769408 We've worked pretty well together. Want to collaborate on this?
3769519 Sounds cool. Besides, I feel like Coalstone will try to destroy me if I work with Camb.