Logan Meets The Pagemaster Chapter 7

Chapter Seven

Logan: Well guys, this is it. The moment of truth... Let's finish this.

*Nodding in agreement, the group slowly approached the massive doors not sure what lies behind or if they face a danger greater than anything they have faced during this whole journey. At first, they didn't know how to get in as they were hardly any door knobs or handles, at least from where they stood compared to the doors. Just as they reached out, amazing the doors opened by themselves as they marveled at what was inside. A massive room seemingly with nothing but a swirl of blue energy like a tornado*

Richard: *sees someone ahead* Who's there?

*And there, approaching from the shadows, there waiting for the heroes to have made it this far, there stood the man responsible for everything that they've been through these seemingly past few days: The Pagemaster himself. The moment the books saw him, they bowed down knowing that the legend indeed stands before him*

Adventure: The Pagemaster.

Richard: HEY!!! How'd you gets here!?

Fantasy: *forcing a smile* Quit it! We're in the presence of the Pagemaster.

Richard: *snaps* I know who he is! He's the guy who did all this to us!

Logan: *to The Pagemaster* Richard's right! Do you have any idea what we've been through?

The Pagemaster: Tell me.

Isaac: Well, we were nearly torn apart by a CRAZY DOCTOR!!!

Popeye: Almost got eatens by a giant white whale!

Logan: Made slaves by a bunch of mangy pirates…

Bonnie: Very RUDE, mangy pirates!

Richard: And eaten - Got that? - Eaten by a fire-breathing dragon!

Horror: They don't mean it, my Pagemaster. They don't mean it.

Richard: Not to mention being tossed, squashed, and scared practically to death.

Justin: And don't forget Mirage!

Everyone: Yeah!

The Pagemaster: Yet you stand before me.

Richard: Well… Yeah.

Isaac: Yeah, I guess it still ends well for us. But I still… Must… Ask… Why?

The Pagemaster: Think, my friends! What kind of adventure would you have had if I'd brought you here with the turn of a page?

*Suddenly, they could hear the sound of laughter coming from the swirling vortex. They turn as a figure emerged and are in shock when they see Mr. Hyde's form looming over them breathing heavily like the mad-man he was when they met. But just before they went to pull out their weapons, he changed into Dr. Jekyll, who looks down proudly towards the group*

Dr. Jekyll: You prevailed over evil.

*Changes into Captain Ahab*

Captain Ahab: Ah, you looked Moby Dick in the eye, boys.

*Changes into Long John Silver*

Long John Silver: Ah, you had pirates tough, me lad, and don't no one speak any different.

The Pagemaster: If I had brought you all here from the start, you never would have found the courage to face your own fears.

*He even shows one more image before the vortex: This time, it was the Dragon itself that they had fought earlier. But instead of attacking the group, it makes a gesture of sorts as if showing a sign of respect to the heroes*

Justin: You mean...this whole adventure we went through, us being in the library… It was all a test?

The Pagemaster: *nods* And in doing so, you triumph here and always.

*The Pagemaster waves upon a screen, Richard turns as an image forms on it. There before him, lying on a compass design on the floor, there was Richard lying there, his real-life form as if it never left. Richard and the others couldn't believe their eyes seeing two Richards before them*

Richard: Hey, is that... That's me!

The Pagemaster: That WAS you.

Isaac: But… If this is the library... And that's the library… And Richard's here… When he's over--

Logan: I think it's best we don't question it, Isaac. We've all been through enough already.

The Pagemaster: You've all performed tremendously well, especially you, Key Bearer. And now, there's only "one" last thing to show you.

*The Pagemaster motions toward the far-corner of the room. They turn as a shape approaches and emerges into view. With a look of ecstatic shock, there the Trimaxian ship approached and made it's landing mark by the crew. A door liquefies off the wall and who should appear out than Max, who looks out toward all the crew members*

Max: Master Logan.

Logan: Max!!

Loki: *growling, translating* Well, it's about time!

Justin: We hoped to find you here, Max.

Max: It is good to see you again too, Master Justin.

Richard: *to The Pagemaster* I'm ready to go home now. *holds Horror in his hands* I mean "we're" ready.

Logan: *nods* I think it's time we ALL went home. *claps his hands* All right, everyone, onto the ship and get in your places. Let's get ready to take off.

*As everyone gets back onto the ship, The Pagemaster stands before Logan. He turns around to see that The Pagemaster holds something else in his hands. Logan holds his hand out and allows the Pagemaster to place them on his palm. He looks at the objects: Three cards, each with a picture that resembled Horror, Adventure, and Fantasy. Logan looks up to The Pagemaster*

The Pagemaster: *nods* Use them well, Key Bearer. This isn't goodbye.

Logan: *nods* Thanks for everything, sir. *to Richard* Hey, Rich! Have a safe ride home, buddy.

Richard: *smiles* Thanks, Logan. Til we meet again?

Logan: *thinks it over, nods* Yeah… Someday. *climbs up the liquefied steps and turns back to Richard and the books one last time, waving goodbye as the steps disappear and the wall closes in front of him*

*Logan takes his seat on the make-shift throne, as everyone gets in position and prepares for take-off*

Logan: Hang on, everyone! It's going to be a bumpy ride!

The Pagemaster: *raises his arms* The world awaits.

Richard: *floats in the air* Whoa!

*The books float up with Richard and follow them, Max follows them as well as they slowly approach the vortex*

The Pagemaster: Godspeed to you, boys!

Horror: Wait for me!

*Soon they all enter the blue vortex, spinning round and round about for a few moments as slowly but surely color starts to form around the twister before they both plummet to the bottom of the vortex teleporting to different directions*

*Above where the pictures were, through clouds of thunder and lightning, Richard's animated body falls down before it goes straight into the Real-life Richard's unconscious body, followed by his three friends who had since reverted back into regular books. The pictures above him slowly return to the way they were before it all happened and his library card slowly falls right beside him. Richard slowly wakes up, back in the real world, and stares up at the pictures, particularly the Pagemaster. It was then that he heard a familiar voice*

???: You took quite a spill, young man.

Richard: Huh?

*For a moment, Richard thought it was The Pagemaster speaking to him. But instead, it was the librarian, Mr. Dewey, who approached Richard and stood over him*

Mr. Dewey: Are you all right?

*Richard slowly gets back onto his feet as Mr. Dewey watches him. He looks around the library, seeing that everything appeared real. But one thing caught his eye: The Exit sign hanging over one row of the library. Ecstatic, Richard proceeds to run straight for the exit as Mr. Dewey watches him*

Mr. Dewey: *calls out* Careful! You'll slip again!

*But then, Richard suddenly stopped… As if he just remembered something. He turns back to see Mr. Dewey picking up the three books on the floor and only then did it suddenly dawn down on him. Making haste, Richard runs back*

Richard: Hey, wait a minute! Wait a minute! Wait! Uh, I forgot something. *picks up the library card* Here.

*Richard gives Mr. Dewey his library card and proceeds to take the three books he held in his hands. But Mr. Dewey stops the boy, as if he was about to remind him of something*

Mr. Dewey: I'm afraid you can only check out two. *takes Horror*

Richard: Horror? But I promised him.

Mr. Dewey: You promised whom?

Richard: Look, I need… Just this once?

Mr. Dewey: *shushes him* Shh. I have a talent for guessing what people need. *looks side-to-side* Just this once.

*Richard smiles as Mr. Dewey returns Horror to him. He then urges Richard to leave, and the boy makes his way to the exit carrying his three books. Mr. Dewey watches Richard take off for the exit and a smile forms on his face. Whether Richard knew it or not and whether Mr. Dewey turned out to be The Pagemaster all along, one thing was absolutely certain: If there was a test, Richard had passed*

*By the time Richard had left the library, carrying his books home, something had changed Richard that one moment. He no longer rode with his bicycle helmet, nor his traffic vest or even had any of that safety stuff at the front of his bike. But the greatest change of all would come when he reaches that makeshift board in the middle of that cul-de-sac. Richard takes a deep breath, grips the handlebars, then rides as wuick as he can towards the board. He goes faster and faster, before finally… He successfully leaps over the board and makes a perfect landing*

Richard: Yes!

*As Richard rides off, he looks back seeing what he just did and gave a satisfying smile to himself. Even though none of the neighborhood kids saw it, that one moment proved one thing certain: Richard Tyler had never felt more braver than what he had just displayed. The events of the Pagemaster's world really changed a lot from this ten year old kid. And now, as he rides off back to his house, the lights shining the street, he no longer had anything to fear anymore. He was now free*

Richard: Good. That was definitely good.

*Many hours later, it had since gotten very late over at Richard Tyler's house. The parents were just arriving home, apparently looking for their son when he didn't come home with the nails. They got worried and looked all over for him, but either no one knew where he went or they didn't know where to look. With their son lost somewhere, they feared the worst*

Claire: I can't imagine where he could be. Maybe we should call the police.

*She suddenly sees Richard's bike left on the driveway*

Claire: *gasps* Alan! *steps out of the car* He's home. *the father steps out, the mother sees something and smiles* Alan.

*Alan, Richard's father, turns to where his wife is looking and is shocked with what he sees: The treehouse and a light glowing inside. But the lantern wouldn't be lit at this hour, unless…*

Alan: It's impossible.

*The parents rush toward the tree house, climbing up to make certain. Alan reaches the top of the stairs and looks inside.

Alan: Rich?

*And there he was, all tuckered out from that long bike ride home, Richard laid to rest in his tree house with his three books by his side. The mother joins up with Alan and when she sees this sight, she is just as amazed as Alan. She slowly reaches out for Richard's glasses and begins to wonder what to do next*

Claire: We probably should put him in his bed.

Alan: Let's let him sleep up here tonight.

*Claire chuckles and decides to let Richard sleep, going down the tree house. Alan takes his jacket and wraps it around Richard to keep him warm. He gently kisses the side of his head and turns the lantern off*

Alan: Love you, Richie.

*Alan soon joins up with his wife and they both return to the house leaving Richard to sleep. As they enter the house, Alan turns around, right over to Richard, and with a smile he says one last time*

Alan: Good night, son.

*Whatever happened, Alan was satisfied to know that he finally got what he wanted: The feeling of being a good father. And so he closes the door quietly and turns off the lights getting ready for bed. As Richard sleeps in his tree house, a trio of voices are heard with him though neither wake him. The voices of three very familiar friends to Richard*

Horror: It's dark out here. I wish there was a night-light.

Fantasy: Honey, wish granted.

*As if by magic, the lantern turns itself back on and shadowy figures appear along the walls of the treehouse. For as it turns out, Horror, Adventure, and Fantasy were alive this whole time. They were very proud to finally leave the library after all these years, that Richard, of all people, would keep his promise and give them that sense of freedom. For after everything that has happened, their adventures with the boy and a group of very brave explorers, this one reward was definitely worth the wait*

Horror: *laughing* Hooray! Hooray!

Adventure: *breathes deeply* Breath it in, mateys. This be the land of adventure. You can lay to that.

*For that one brief moment, they take a look around towards their surroundings and admire what the world truly looked like outside the library. The silence is broken by the sound of crying, Horror's crying*

Fantasy: Come here, handsome. Why you cryin'?

Horror: Because I have friends. *sniffles*

Adventure: *chuckles* That you do, matey. Aye, that you do. Ahem. You know what would make this a happy ending? A kiss.

Horror: Okay. *smacks kiss*

Adventure: I meant from her!

*And they all laugh at Adventure's misfortune, but indeed that was all there is… There isn't anymore*

*Song 1 - Dream Away*

Singer 1: *singing* When this world, the real life world you're living in
Just gets too much for you to take

Singer 2: *singing* When you find too many troubles on your mind
And feel just like there's no escape

Both Singers: *singing* And it seems your heart's forgotten how to believe

Singer 2: *singing* Turn a page in your soul

Singer 1: *singing* There's a place you can go

Both Singers* *singing* Close your eyes and let your heart fly free

Dream away, dream away
Let imagination light your way
Take you as far as your heart can see

Dream away, dream away
To a place where hope is shining
Find your silver lining
Everything you need is just a dream away

Singer 2: Remember when a dream could take you anywhere
Just a wish, anything could be

Both Singers: *singing* When the farthest star was one more star you could reach

Singer 2: *singing* Take a look in your heart
Singer 2: *singing* 'Cause that's where dreams are, where it starts

Both Singers: *singing* Anything is real if you just believe

Dream away, dream away
Let imagination light your way
Take you as far as your heart can see

Dream away, dream away

Singer 1: *singing* To a place where hope is shining

Singer 2: *singing* Find your silver lining

Both Singers: *singing* Everything you need is just a dream away

All it takes is faith, to make your dreams come true
And somewhere in this world there'll be somebody
To share your dreams with you

Dream away, dream away
Let imagination light your way
Take you as far as your heart can see

Dream away, dream away
To a place where hope is shining
Find your silver lining
Everything you need is just a dream
Just a dream away

*Song 2 - Whatever You Imagine*

Singer: *singing* Whatever you imagine
Can one day come to be
There are dreams to awaken,
Roads to be taken.
Follow them and they will set you free

Whatever you imagine
Is where your heart can go.
There are worlds filled with treasure,
Time without measure,
To learn whatever you may need to know.

Imagine, (Imagine)
And you and I can fly past the sun
And leave all our doubts and fears behind us.
You see, that's just what can happen
When you look inside your mind.
There's no limit to the wonders you can find!

Whatever you imagine
Can make your life brand-new.
There are miracles waiting,
So keep concentrating
And I promise you that if you do
Whatever you imagine can come true.

Whatever you imagine (Whatever you imagine!)
Can make your life brand-new. (Can make your life brand-new)
There are miracles waiting,
So keep concentrating!
And I promise you that if you do
Whatever you imagine can come true.


The End