Chapter 3: The Enchanted Forest

Strangely, whatever he said after that I could hear in English and I could understand them. I think his touch was to help me comprehend their language. This was a strange technique. But I guess logic does not form a part of the cartoon world.

"Hi there! You're a human right? How did you get here? What's your name?", he asked.

"I'm Sid, and what about you? Yes, I'm human. How I got here, even I'm not sure. I'm confused and trying to understand the situation and your world. Would you help me?"

"Sure thing! Come along and meet my friends." We walked over to the others, "I'm Jim and this is Steve and Roy," he introduced.

Jim was a lanky teen with blonde hair, blue eyes and round face marked with freckles. He had a friendly demeanor and easy gait. Steve was handsome, tall and muscular with brown hair and eyes, like a rugby player and possibly a little older. Roy had olive complexion, dark hair and eyes and smiled with a goofy grin.

And me...I'm Sid...curly black hair, black eyes, good looking (so my mom says) and light brown skin. I'm about 5'10" in height.

After our round of introductions, I got to know that Roy was 18, Steve 20 and Jim 17. I may be a little older, but these guys looked like they'd be a fun bunch to have around. Besides, I'm here now and this adventure calls for good company. They can help me understand what's going on.

"Guys," I spoke up, "I have had the strangest experience in my world, and honestly, I don't know how I came to be in this realm. But I'm really glad to have met you, and want to experience your life with you, if you don't mind."

Roy grinned, "Hey! We're surprised to see you too, it isn't every day that we see a human but that's ok, life is strange and funny. Let's just enjoy it while we can." He looked at Jim, "Jim, when are we going to the carnival?"

They don't seem as shocked to see me as I am to be here. Are they used to this?

"You don't seem that surprised. Have you met other humans before? And there's a carnival on?" I asked with excitement, "I'd love to see that!"

"Sid, life in the Toon World is full of surprises. We're used to it. So let's go to that carnival then," Jim waved his arm to all. Steve, who'd been silent until now, piped in, "Let me draw up a car."

Just as I waited for him to go towards a parked car or call for one, he pulled out a sketch pen from his pocket and started to literally 'draw' a car on the street. My eyes widened as he artfully drew a swanky sedan in fast motion. It was done within about 10 minutes flat.

He zapped it with his pen, and we had a vehicle in front of us. We drove off quickly to the street in the adjoining district and joined the cheering crowds that had gathered there.

"What is this carnival about?" I asked. Jim told me it was a ritual held once a month. "Won't I stand out among the crowd? I don't want to be stared at."

Steve reassured me, "Don't worry. It's a carnival, they'll just think you're in a human costume. Lots of people come in costumes."

Life in the animation world was apparently very vibrant. My own life had been very sedate till now, and in fact lonely and sad the past few years; so here was my chance to find my mojo with some exhilarating experiences.

*Let the adventures begin!*

We walked into that sea of laughter and cheer, street raining with confetti and streamers, and found a good spot to view the parade. Elaborate floats rolled down the street, people in amazing costumes, band, characters - everything like the carnivals in our world. I was having a great time!

Roy caught my hand, along with the others and, in an instant, we were on one of the floats. It was created like an enchanted forest and helmed by a witch. Other characters waving out were an ogre, a fairy, a dwarf and a gnome.

And then there was us...waving out to the swirling currents of heads smiling, shouting and singing in incomprehensible sounds. The euphoria I felt was unimaginable. I had never felt anything like it in my life. My heart soared and I felt a happy light in my soul.

I haven't been this happy since Grandpa died. And these experiences are unreal, like my childhood fantasies come to life.

I smiled to myself, and totally submitted to the events unfolding.

The float continued down the street. About half hour later, it was to turn right towards a demarcated ground where all of them were to be parked. I was told they'd be dismantled the next day at this ground.

However, after turning right, instead of heading towards the ground, following other floats, ours turned left into yet another street. All four of us looked at each other confused.

I tapped the 'witch' on the shoulder to ask. She turned around giving an evil smirk...and POOF! We were no more on the street in a float.

We were in an enchanted forest, with the witch before us, and the other beastly characters surrounding us. Looking perplexed, Jim caught a hold of my arm and signaled me to do the same with the others.

As soon as we clasped ours hands, I realized that I could hear their thoughts and they could read my mind too. It was Jim earlier too, who touched my face, after which I was able to understand what he was saying.

*Is this some kind of power he has?*

The moment the thought crossed my mind, Jim confirmed it. That's when they made me realize another feature of this strange universe.

That most of them have some unique power. So much like the toons where nothing is logical, and anything can happen. Altered Physics...that's what they call this unique characteristic of this domain.

Jim's power was telepathy I guess, and Steve could draw like a dream. Oh yes, and Roy can appear and disappear, sort of like moving by teleporting. That's how we ended up on the float.

Not just that, being physically linked meant that the others were included in on the effects of those powers. That's how we were communicating by telepathy so that the witch wouldn't know what's on our minds. Not much to hide at this point though.

Jim: "Stay together guys. It looks like we're in for some trouble. This witch has tricked us here."

Roy: "Plus she's got these goons to help her too. Aren't fairies supposed to be the good guys, or gals?"

Me: "Why don't we just ask her what she wants from us?"

Steve: "Yeah, that's a start. If you hadn't mentioned, we never would've thought of it." I could see him smirk slyly.

*Wise guy!*

"Who are you and why have you brought us here?" I asked the witch.

She laughed a loud raucous cackle and announced in a commanding tone, "I am Selene Kouris, the ordained priestess of the Enchanted Magus Forest." Her voice grated like sandpaper scraping wood. "My word is law! These are my trusted subjects, and YOU are here to help me become high-priestess of the Toon World!"

Her evil laugh reverberated through the woods, and her loyal creatures joined her in the cacophony.

The witch had a very angular wrinkled face, a sharp long nose and bony body. She looked every inch the typical witch with her dry red hair, and beady green eyes. In fact, her creatures had a cliched look too. The forest, on the other hand, was truly enchanting. Mystical and mesmerizing. I wish we could explore under better circumstances.

But this situation was getting creepier by the minute. And before we could say anything more, she ordered that we be chained and locked in the secret room of the Black Temple.

I looked at my three friends with a 'what do we do' look; surely there was something they could do to get us out of this. Why weren't they using their powers? Roy...he's the one who can teleport right? But he did nothing.

We were led by the gnome and ogre to an ancient dilapidated, yet grand, temple, and then blindfolded. After that, we were walked into what felt like a long corridor, turned left, again walked for a bit, turned right and pushed into a room.

Our blindfolds were taken off and we found ourselves in a dungeon like space. They locked us up and left, their surly, monstrous voices trailing off slowly.