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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/campfires/item_id/1470724-Why-Hedgehogs-Cant-be-Buggered-at-all
by Twiga
Rated: 18+ · Campfire Creative · Fiction · Animal · #1470724
Tale of Moreau High, Once there was a human boy and a cat-girl who loved each other so
[Introduction]
This is the story of two young High School lovers, In the world where humans and animal-people both exsist in the same story.

First a bit a background

Chimera: Is the scientific name for the animal people in this story, there are many kinds of them, Mammal Chimera, Bird Chimera and so on... There were not always chimera they were created during World War 3 which nearly wiped out the human race, so Wyndem Moreau ceated chimera to replace human soldiers, now they are free to live as citizens. Humans and chimera are somehow able to produce offspring.

Now for the Characters

Ichabod Crane: Ichabod looks a lot like his literary namesake with the exception he has red hair insted of dark, he has a lanky frame, a long nose, green eyes and big feet. Such an akward boy is no doubt a target for teasing. He is 2nd in command of the Comrades of Intellect, he loves classic literature and botony.

Marzipan Cheshire: A pink and purple Cat Chimera (Naturaul not died) Marzipan is Ichabod oppistite both physicly and personality wise. Where Ichabod is thin and delicate she is plump and big boned, where he is mild mannered gentleman she is a sassy tomboy. Was once in a gang called The Royal Lords before she joined the Comrades of Intellect

(Their two best friends)

Pandora Nashton: Pandora is both beautiful and brillant, Has flaming red hair (I have a thing 'bout red hair) Green eyes and pale delicate skin which she never puts cosmetics on, Pandora might've been popular if it wasen't her dislike of the decandt cheerleaders and football players keeping her unpopular. She is the leader of the Comrades of Intellect. Pandora is Marzipan's confidant

Rook Reynardo: A Red Fox Chimera, Rook is sly and he knows it! Nearly as thin as Ichabod, needing to wear thick glasses has a mop of black 'headfur' on his head (Some chimera can get injections that will grow them headfur) Rook and Ichabod often spend many hours discussing intellectual subjects.

The other comrades of intellect are three human cousins by name of Bob, Paul and Albert, and anouther cat chimera called Fireheart Thunderpaw.

Remark the Boy
Who hesitates toward you
In the light of the door
That opens on him like a grin

You see the border of his shirt
Is torn and stained with sand
And you see the corner of his eye
Twists like a crooked pin....

Thus was the Ballad of Ichabod Crane the so-called Scarecrow Boy. (Nevermind the fact they were infringing on the copyrights of T.S. Elliot.)

Ichabod was never popular at least not with anyone who was popular. He did have a high rank among those who the rest of the school dubbed 'geeks and nerds'

Ichabod was 2nd in command of the 'Comrades of Intelect' as they called themselves but even they had a fearful respect of him due to his fearful ancestry.

He used to have a human girlfriend named Alice Tetch, daughter of Jervis Tetch AKA the Mad Hatter, but she later broke up with him to improve her popularity.

Now he had anouther girlfriend a feline chimera named Marzipan Cheshire... rather large and strong for her species she joined the nerds because she wanted to be their bodyguard.

One day after Algebra, Ichabod walked by to notice Marzipan looking dejected

"What's the matter Marzipan?" Ichabod asked

"Rodney Roadrunner found out you're my boyfriend. Now my old gang thinks I'm unclean."

"Oh Geez." Ichabod sighed "I wondered when this would happen, Come to my house after school so we can discuss this..."

Later after school...

"So tell me what happened?" Ichabod said as he and Marzipan hung out in the garden

"Well, I told Rodney that I was inviting you to my birthday next Saturday... And he kind of... figured it out from there..."

Ichabod sighed "Did he ever have a thing for you?"

"Not really. He has Melissa Mallard for that I was just the token mammal."

Ichabod scratched his throat. "Maybe it would help if I talked with him..."

"Talk? What are you going to say? Don't worry, we're not unclean?"

"Hey, I thought you wanted to solve the problem. As soon as I
suggest something you shoot it down."

Marzipan squeezed Ichabod's elbow. "I'm sorry. I just couldn't imagine Rodney listening to you. He's so flighty. He doesn't listen to anybody really. Once he gets an idea in his head he runs it to death. I can't imagine him ever changing his mind about you and me."

"Nothing is impossible."

"Maybe... But let me talk to him, not you."

"Alright. Tell me more about this party. Should I wear a suit and tie?"

Marzipan laughed. "No, silly. It's just a birthday party."


"I don't think you'd like the cake as it's going to be made out of meat." The cat said

Ichabod wrinkled his nose "Why meat?"

"Hey That's what carnivores like." She chukled "You know Ichy, You're interesting You seem to prefer a vegetarian diet to one full of meat anyday."

Ichabod cleared his throat "You know, Marzipan, I have an essay due next week about Chimera habits for Biology and I was hoping..."

"...To interveiw me?" Marzipan said bluntly

"You read my mind." Ichabod murmured

"What would you like to know?" Marzipan sighed

"Well first I'd like a few opinions, Like... Why do you think humans find chimera attractive?"

"There's no mystery to that, human's have imposed their standard of beauty on us."

Ichabod cocked his head "I don't really see that, For all purposes you look like a cat walking on the hind legs..." She cut him off and pointed to her breasts

"If you can't see these you're blind Ichy! It's a standard fact of biology that female mammals don't grow breats UNTIL they've become pregnant! I am NOT pregnant! I have never had a kitten therefore biologicaly speaking I shoulden't have breast yet!"

"Oh... I see what you mean." He nodded.


Meanwhile in a city faraway... A huge muscular man wove a noose, He slipped it over the head of a Dog-woman. She growled at him.

"I'm not a bad man, little dog but you are a bad animal and I must make you an example to the others, Don't you understand that?"

And with that he kicked the stool she was standing on out from under her, and the poor poodle-woman howled out her pain!

The large man simply walked away from the scene, all his life he had dedicated himself to stamping out crime and indecency, once he was a jailer at Arkham Asylum, than he was a vigilante, but know he sought to protect the world from a different menace.

He was once called Lock-Up but now he called himself The Hunter and what he hunted was Animal-people specificly the ones who have sex with human beings.

"I've hunted in nearly every major city in America," he mused "Only one town left, my hometown, Gotham City!"

Marzipan's stomach jumped with butterflies on her Birthday, and almost wished they were real so she could bat them away with her padded hands. Most of the guests coming today were Chimera, with the soul exception of her boyfriend, Ichy. Picturing her new guy trying to socialize with the assorted animal hybrids didn't do anything to calm her already jumpy nerves.

She paced around her backyard, adjusting party decorations. True to her nature, she chose a jungle theme to make everyone feel more relaxed. As she stalked around the huge fenced-in area, she tried to concentrate on her senses to calm down. It was one of her favorite techniques to relax when she was upset about anything. Splaying her whiskers forward, her nose twitched as she took in the glorious scents around her. The grass smelled sweet and warm, cool under her padded feet. The slight breeze in the air ruffled through her fur, giving her pleasurable tingling sensations across the skin underneath. She swiveled her ears, eager to pick up any sounds floating on the air.

What's that?

A small sound behind her.

Twitching her meter-length tail, she sprang sideways, extending her claws and showing her glittering fangs. Her ears lay flat against her head as she scanned the area for a threat.

An avian-human hybrid descended to a stop a few yards away. A smile quirked his bird-like mouth and he nodded to her. "I see you still got the moves, Marzi."

She relaxed and assumed a casual stance. "Good as ever, Rod." She moved up beside him, giving him a wicked smile. Drapping a large, muscular arm across his thinner, feathered back, she pulled him toward the picnic tables. "So, let's have a little talk about how things are going to go down today, since it's my special day." She pushed him down onto a bench and then straddled the seat like a cowboy.

He gave her a rebellious glare, but she could tell it was a bluff. Some of his outermost feathers trembled slightly. "Since when do you tell me what to do, catlady?"

Crossing her arms across her furry chest, she narrowed her eyes at him. "It's my Birthday, birdboy. That means I get to call the shots, or you're out of here. No incredibly delicious food for you. Got it?"

His little eyes darted toward the huge table laden with covered treats. He leaned sideways on the table, trying hard to relax his slight frame and appear casual. "Sure, feline. You can have it your way this time."

Her tail lashed behind her. Turning her ears to the sides, she lowered her voice to a dangerous purr. "And one more thing."

He froze at her tone, both eyes glued to her. His brow lowered and the resentful expression returned. "Yeah?"

"We need to talk about how you're going to treat my human friend."


"I don't need you or your posse putting us down." Marzi said firmly "You'll treat him with respect or you're out! Got it?"

Rodney sighed deeply "Got it. I just don't understand why you chose a human of all things..."

The doorbell rang

"My guests are here!" Marzipan meowed with a skip and a hop she greeted her first guest

The were Ichabod himself and Rook Reynardo the Fox Chimera

"Hey there." Rook said "Came as a bodygaurd for Ol' Ichy so he dosen't get attacked by hungrey chimera."

"Oh please." Ichabod sniffed "Who would want to eat me? I'm practacly skin and bones."

Marzipan leaned foreward and kissed Ichabod on his warm mouth

"Ugh! Get a den you two!" Rook's nose wrinkled in disgust

Rodney watched from across the room he frowned but said nothing

Soon the rest of the guests appeared including the rest of the Royal Lords: Melissa Mallard the Duck-woman Woodrow the Woodpecker and Chanticleer the Rooster

Fireheart Thunderpaw a cat-boy appeared. The last of the geasts were two Dragons

Taren Dragonace and his girlfriend Lea

"Help yourself everyone!" Marzipan said

Ichabod stayed close to Rook as Marzipan intermingled with the other chimera, he picked up a cup of what he thought was punch but when he tasted it he nearly choked

"Is this blood?" He asked

"Pure as a mountain goat!" Rook smiled a foxy smile as he downed his blood

"Maybe I'll stick with the fruit bowl" Ichabod murmured as he pucked some grapes

After personaly greeting all her guests Marzipan took Ichabod aside to talk to him

"I know how uncomfortable you must be." Marzi said

"I know it's going to be difficult." Ichabod said "But I'm going to try my hardest to accepting of the differences between us."

Suddenly came a distress call! Rook's fox yaps got everyones attetion

They hurried to the front yard where Rook was. He pointed up into a tree and what evreyone saw made them gasp!

A young mouse-girl, coulden't be older than 15 hung up by her neck clearly dead.

"This is the work of the Hunter!" Rook growled

"He must be nearby," Ichabod said. "She wasn't hanging there when we arrived."

"Come on, everyone," Rook said. "Now The Hunter becomes the hunted. We can sniff him out unless he drove away in a car."

Taren was already out at the curb. "That's exactly what he did! He must have driven up here with the girl, hung her, and jumped back in his car and sped away."

"But why?" Marzipan said.

"I guess he was trying to make a point, to scare us."

Marzipan shuddered. "Well it worked. I sure don't feel much like having a party now."

From far down the street came the sound of an approaching siren.

"Here come the police," Ichabod said.
Marzipan sat down at the large picnic table in the backyard with a heavy sigh. The sun hung low in the sky after a very long afternoon. The police had stayed many hours, questioning each of the party guests individually. During the investigation, the coroner had showed up to take stock of the murder scene, snapping pictures and taking measurements. After a while, they'd taken the poor mouse-girl's body down from the tree and zipped it into one of those awful black bags. Marzi gave a shudder, glad the horrible scene had been cleared.

She gazed at the many platters and bowls still sitting on the table, some emptied while the guests waited their turn for questioning, some untouched. Her glorious meat cake still sat covered in the middle, waiting for a party that wouldn't occur today.

Some party, she thought, bitterness making her mouth taste foul. She laced her fingers together and rested them on the table surface, her tail lashing behind her in frustration. It all could have been so much fun! Since I talked to Rod, he seemed to be behaving himself around Ichy. Her large, oval eyes began to fill with tears and she tried hard to blink them away. She sniffed, twitching her whiskers and wrinkling her nose.

Her sharp ears caught a shuffling sound, and Ichy came into the backyard to sit down on the bench next to her. She didn't look at him right away, still caught up in her morose feelings. He put a hand on her back and began gentle stroking movements across her shoulders.

"Hey," he said, his voice quiet.

"Hey," she echoed, still looking down at her furry hands.

He gave a small sigh. "I'm really sorry this happened on your birthday. It really sucks. You deserve better than this."

She didn't want to cry in front of him, so she took a deep breath and tried to make light of the situation. "Yeah. It's only a birthday, though, right? That poor girl will never have another one." Despite her effort to ignore her feelings, her eyes filled with tears anyways. The feelings of horror and grief over the situation threatened to overwhelm her, making her chest tight and her gut twist into knots.

One of the things that made Ichabod so attractive to her was his sensitivity. Without saying a word, he pulled her into his embrace and just held her. Even though he was smaller than her, his long arms wrapped around her with surprising strength, supporting her larger body with apparent ease. He lay her furry head against his shoulder and rested his chin on top her head between her ears. She could hear his steady heart beat, which added to the warmth of his body next to hers, calmed her in a most soothing way. She slipped her fur-covered arms around his slight frame and let her silent tears fall, wishing the misery of the day would fall away with them.

After what seemed like an eternity, her tears ceased and she was able to breathe normally again. Ichy's calm presence did wonders for her spirit. He kissed her on the top of her head and drew back. She released his waist and looked into his eyes. Amusement danced in the beautiful emerald depths, and one side of his mouth quirked up in a smile.

"So," he said, his tone light. "Wanna salvage this party and have a piece of that birthday cake?"

She giggled. "You don't like meat cake, Ichy."

His eyes twinkled. "Oh, I think I could create an edible piece for myself out of that stack of fruit over there. You can still have a piece of your cake." He spread his hands, gesturing at the table. "No sense letting it go to waste, right?"

She laughed, feeling warmth spread through her heart as she looked at his smiling face. "Right. Let's dig in." She stood and grabbed two plates and forks. Pausing, she leaned down and gave Ichabod a hug. "Thanks," she murmmered in his ear.

He returned the hug and she could hear a smile in his voice. "No problem. Happy Birthday, Marzi."



A Non-Existent User
Meanwhile, Greg was in his homeroom packing up his stuff up for the next class. But his happy go lucky attitude hasn't been in him today. All he did was sigh and frown as he packs slowly. Soon, Momo Kashi, one of the other teachers comes in the room and noticed Greg.

"Huh? Greg what are you doing here?" she said.

Greg said nothing and sat down.

"*sigh* Nothing, just setting up for the next class..." he said leaning back.

Momo thought that Greg was acting very weird today and decided to talk to him.

"Tell me. This isn't you today Greg. Want to tell me what's wrong?"

Greg sighed and sat up in his chair.

"Its just....I have a crush.... Not on a human...But a dragoness...."

"Ohh..."

Momo didn't know what to say. She hadn't ever heard this side of Greg before.

"Her name was Shelly. She is a beautiful blue dragoness in the school, and she's the youngest teacher here like me and... Well... I always think about her... But im afraid that if one of my students heard me or knew what I was dreaming off they all laugh, tease and oppose me in a classroom...So I pretended I didn't like her and lied that I would never love an animal... but.... I can't help but think of her.... I don't know what to do Momo..."
A Non-Existent User
Momo, still a bit shocked to see this new side to Greg, answered cautiously," What you should do I don't know, Greg. I know it sounds like a cliche but you must listen to your heart. You must really take the time to think about and decide what will truly be the best decision for you and anyone else involved."

Greg was silent. He sat staring at a pencil that had been thrown at the ceiling and stuck between two of the tiles above him.

After about thirty seconds of silence Momo looked down at her watchless wrist and said aloud, "Yup, well... ohh look at the time. I have to get going Greg. If you want to talk later..." She walked out of the room and left Greg alone still staring at the ceiling.

Suddenly Greg jumped up, grabbed his stuff and ran out of the classroom.
The next day at school was a field trip.

They headed into the Gotham National Park.

Greg sat down on a stump and gazed at Shelly, her lithe reptilian form more elegant than any human woman could hope to be.

Shelly was explaning the different flowers to the class, Ichabod yawned.

He already new all this stuff, his mother was a botenist. The other teachers there were Mr. Quaxo Tabby the Cat Chimera and Ms Iris Ogg the Silver Bat Chimera.

Ichabod noticed Marzipan looking at some sparrows she offered her paw for them to land on but humanoid or not a cat is a cat and the birds kept their distance.


"Still thinking about yesterday?" Ichabod asked

Marzipan sighed "You do know the Hunter kills Chimera who love humans specificly right?"

"Yes."

"I keep feeling that maybe we shoulden't be together so much, at least until we know we're safe"

They walked down a crooked path together getting farther and farther away from the rest of the class.

Ichabod rubbed his arm thoughtfully "I know who the Hunter is, my father told me. His name is Lyle Bolton, he was the cheif of security at Arkham Asylum back when my parents were crimanals. He was horribly abusive to the inmates in fact my father escaped just to get away from him."


"That's all I needed to know..."

They two kids jumped up with fright at that voice! Out from the bushes The Hunter sprang at them!

Marzipan was able to jump out of the way but Ichabod was nabbed by his shirt coller.

"So You're Prof. Crane's little brat are you?" Bolton sneered "I'll never forget the day he spoke of me at that hearing. I don't normaly kill humans but for you I'll make an exception!"

The Hunter than got out a knife as long as a forearm! He would have slit Ichabod's throat with one deft movement if Marzipan had not sprung out bit his leg!

The Hunter screamed and dropped Ichabod "Marzipan," He choked "You saved me!"

"No time for thanks!" She shouted "She grabbed Ichabod's wrist and hurried of with him into the forrest

"You can run!" Lyle Bolton shouted "But you can't hide from The Hunter!"

The two kids zigzaged through the forest trying to lose him.

"Can you climb a tree?" Marzi asked

"I think so." Ichy said

"Than CLIMB!" She shouted hurring up an anchient oak

Ichabod clumsily followed her, They hid among the branches looking below.

The Hunter walked underneith the oak trying to find out where they had gone. When he finally moved on Ichabod and Marzipan could breathe easy again

"I think we're lost" Marzipan said

"That's just great." Ichabod snapped "We're lost in the forest with a pscopath trying to kill us!"
"Don't panic," Marzipan said.

Ichabod snorted. "I'm not panicking. Why should I panic when we are about to be murdered by a psychopath? Oh no, that's no reason to panic. Why should anybody panic? Hahahaha-"

"Ichabod!" Marzipan snapped. "Get hold of yourself!"

"Sorry... I guess I was starting to panic a little."

"Yeah, well all your chatter will bring him back. I don't see how he couldn't have heard you."

They were both silent for a few minutes. "Where did he go?" Ichabod whispered.

"I don't know," Marzipan said, "But I don't think it's safe to climb down yet."

The sun sank slowly in the west. A cool breeze came up.

"My leg hurts," Ichabod said. "I'm not used to sitting on a tree branch for hours."

Marzipan was curled up comfortably where a branch met the trunk of a tree. "What's that you say? I think I must have fallen asleep."

"How can you sleep in a tree?"

"It's a cat thing. I guess you didn't hear anymore from our psychopath friend."

Ichabod stretched. "No, it's been quiet except for the birds. Can we go now?"

"We're still lost, remember? Do you want to stumble around in the woods at night with the Hunter after you?"

"Geez, Marzipan! We can't stay up in this tree all night! We're just going to have to find our way out of the forest. We'll do it quietly. We can always climb up another tree, can't we?"

"Not if it's too late."

Ichabod rolled his eyes. "You put so much faith in being safe up in a tree. That's the cat in you. Don't you think if he saw us up here he could still kill us?"

"Don't talk like that!" Marzipan said. "Being in a tree is safe. I know that for a fact."

Suddenly, There was a thunder crash, and it began to rain

"You were saying?" Ichabod said

Marzipan grinned sheepishly and they got down from the tree

A Non-Existent User
Meanwhile, Momo, Shelly and the other teachers searched frequently around the area and forest in the rain with the police to try and find Ichabod or Marizpan. They all been calling for their names for over a few hours. But they never strayed from the drop off.

"Ichabod! Marzipan! Where are you?!" Shelly called out.

"Ichabod! Where are you?!" Called out Professor Crane.

He was desperetly worried about his son and was getting a bad anxiety. He searched franticlly and dared to go in the forest. When he tried to run towards the forest, Momo grabbed onto him.

"No! If you go too you'll get lost!" she called out.

"But that psycho bastard is out there trying to find him! And I can't wait any longer if I found out he wond up dead!"

Greg stepped foward taking a glance at the forest. He took a deep breath and said,

"I'll go then."

Shelly, Momo and Crane all looked at him like he was crazy.

"Greg no! Its too dangerouse! If he see's you trying to find and help them he'll kill you too!" yelled Shelly.

Greg looked over at Shelly, his throat was feeling a lump and started to sweat.

"Even so, he would also be my target if he knew....That..."

Momo looked at Greg and knew what he was about to say.

"...I have feelings for you Shelly.."

Shelly was speechless and didn't know what to say. She kept on thinking to herself if this was right or wrong. A human and dragon together? She didn't want to hurt him. But what can she do? Then she realized that it didn't matter. She blushed and cleared up her throat and let herself out of it.

"Greg....You really feel that way for me? ....I should say.... I had the same... I knew you were cute but...."

Shelly couldn't help but leap and hug Greg tightly. She let out a slight purr which made Greg blush. He smiled and chuckled as he lifted her chin.

"But?"

Shelly blushed again and giggles as she stood up and regained herself.

"But I can't help but think what to do if the students found out."

"Neither can I. But it wouldn't matter."

They both smiled and stared at each other for a half a period of time and smiles. They never realized they were still in the rain. Then Greg went back on focusing his attention on finding the kids.

"Crane. I will find your son. How about we go together?"
Jonathan Crane sighed deeply, As much as he despised Greg Narson he knew he had to accept his help if only for Ichabod's sake

"Very well Greg." Prof. Crane sighed "I'll come with you."

Shelly offered something "Let me fly with you, this forrest is a lot like the one my animal ancestors grew up in."

"We can hardly stop you." Jonathan said

"'The rest of us will take the rest of the kids home." Ms Iris said using her Bat wing as an umbrella "It's late enough as it is and it's starting to pour."


Meanwhile Ichabod and Marzipan were trudgeing along through the forrest desperatly seeking some shelter from the storm.

Marzipan's eyes scanned in the evening light "I think I see a cabin by the swamp!"

"Really a cabin?" Ichabod asked hopefully

"If no one is in there we can just enter." She purred "If it's occupied hopefully whoever's in there will help us!"

They ran fast as their legs could carry them. Suddenly out of no where a bat flew at them!

Ichabod jumped back in fright but tripped on a root and landed on his rump.... right on a thorn bush...

"YE-OWCH!" Ichabod screeced jumping off the bush clutching his behind, there must've been a dozen long thorns stuck in his rump like a pin cushin

"Oh what did I do to deserve this?" Ichabod wimpered

"Ichy! What happened?"

"I sat on a thorn bush." He wimpered pulling a thorn out

"Wowsers! That's a lot of prickles!" Marzi exclamed "You're going to need help pulling those out!"

"I can do it myself, Thank you very much." He pulled out anouther prickle but coulden't help wimpering

"Ichabod..." She said firmly

"Of fine! I'll let you pull them out!" Ichabod said "First let's get to that cabin before we get catch our death of cold."

When they got to the cabin they found it was empty and the door was open. The cabin was a single room with a bed, an armchair and a woodfire stove with some firewood next to it, there was nothing electronic to be seen

"OK Let's get down to brass tacks." Marzipan said "Ichy bend over."

Reluctently Ichabod leaned over the bed and Marzipan began pulling thorns out of his backside...

Ichabod bit his lip trying not to wimper or whine 'I'm not going to cry out' He thought 'I'm going to take it like a man and not make a sound'

Than Marzipan started yanking on a thorn that was particuly stubborn and Ichabod coulden't help but moan

"Marzi! Can't you be a little more gentle?"
A Non-Existent User
"Be a man!" She meowed firmly. Ichabod straightened his back, closed his eyes and complained no longer.
When the last thorn had been removed, Ichabod thanked Marzipan and they finally fell asleep, exhausted.
When Ichabod woke, he immediately realized that Marzipan was no longer next to him. The cabin door was wide open and it was still dark out.
Suddenly he heard a noise coming from outside the back wall of the cabin.
"Marzi," Ichabod whispered,"is that you?"
Marzipan was sitting in a tree looking up at the starlight.

She had woken up becuase she had a pecular dream, it was a memory of a moment she had with her mother when she was six

Her mother told her a story, from when she was a soilder in WW3

"When we were first created, we did not know what we were." Her Mother Esmerelda said

"A rumor had circulated among us, The scientists had made us half animal/half human but there was a magic... a magic in our DNA"

Her mother sighed "There was a rumor that if a human loved you... not just as a pet or a toy, but REALLY loved you, than something would be trigured in your DNA and and you become a complete human... alas we were young and foolish and Fairy tales are only that... Fairy tales..."

"Marzipan!" She heard Ichabod's voice call

She saw him underneith the tree she climbed down...

"I woke up and you weren't there" He said

"I had strange dreams." She said

"I'm worried." Ichabod sighed "How are we going to get out of here?"

"We just have to find our way out of this forest." She said softly "If we go west we'll invetibly find civilaztion"

Ichabod leaned against the tree "Sometimes I wonder..." He said "Sometimes I wonder how much I love you romanticly and how much I love you... physicaly"

"Let me tell you how I fell in love with you." The cat whispered "I was out with my gang around the neiborhood when I heard your voice. I saw you in the garden you were nursing a sickly little flower you were trying to help grow, you began to sing to it..."

Ichabod blushed a little "You saw that?"

"Don't be embaressed you have a beautiful singing voice... You should sing more often"

Ichabod blushed redder still but there was a small smile

They walked back to the cabin, He caressed her furry cheek, held her tightly and began to sing...

"There came a ghost to Margaret's door
With many a greivous groan
And aye he's tirled long at the pin
But answer she gave none
Is it my father phillip?
Or yet my brother John?
Or yet my own dear william
From Scotland now come home?"

Marzipan began to purr into his chest his voice was like the trickling of a brook through the forest

He continued to sing...
"Thy faith, I troth, you'll never get
And me you'll never win
Til you take me to yon churchyard
And wed me with the ring.
Oh I do dwell in a churchyard
But far beyond the sea
And it is but my Ghost, Margaret
That speaks now unto thee."

They both could feel the light of dawn entering the window...

After a while Marzipan fell asleep in his arms, Ichabod smiled and looked to the sunrise... He yawned and began to dose off.


Rook Reynardo couldn't get the death of the young mouse-girl out of his mind. It had happened at Marzipan's party and he was the first one to see the body hanging in the tree. She was deliberately murdered by The Hunter to frighten the Chimera. He shuddered at the memory. The Hunter was the cruelest, most vicious being that Rook had ever known. Someone needed to stop The Hunter before he killed again.

Suddenly Rook sat up straight. Someone? Why not Rook himself? He imagined himself tracking down The Hunter and capturing... or killing him. Everyone would thank him. The glory would be tremendous.

But he knew he wouldn't do it. His dreams of glory never amounted to anything. He thought he was going to be a great artist but after painting three not-so-good paintings he quit. Then he thought he would be a writer. His two unfinished stories still sat in his desk drawer. Professional baseball player? Not even good enough for Little League. Championship wrestler? His finger still hurt from when he broke it trying to wrestle Bubba Wilson at school.

Face it. He was a nobody and always would be. Sure, he was sly. He could cheat on a test. He could steal small objects from the store. He could convince a girl he loved her. But what did it all add up to? Nothing much, really. But if he could capture The Hunter... That would be fame. Everyone would know his name.

Rook packed a backpack full of supplies and headed out. Along the way be bumped into the Royal Lords, Who were riding their motartcycles looking for Marzipan

"Hey Foxface!" Rodney said "Have you seen Marzipan? We've been looking for her all day!"

"We heard she was lost in Gotham National Park!" Chanticleer thr Rooster-boy said

Meanwhile, in the forest, The origanal rescuers Prof. Crane, Greg Narson and Shelly were still looking for the kids.

The teachers had camped out beneith the very oak that the kids used to hide from The Hunter.

Jonathan yawned, stretched and leaned against the tree, full of despair.

His stomach let out an angry growl, and that's when Jonathan relyzed, he had gone without dinner last night and now desperatly needed breakfast.

His mind instantly wandered to the thought of eggs, some heavenly whipped up eggs.

Ever since he reformed and stopped commiting crimes, Jonathan had become more apprecitive of the simple pleasures of life, he enjoyed having eggs in some form for breakfast every morning. He always tried not to spoil himself by having too many or to deprive himself by having none at all.

Suddenly there was a rustle in the bushes, Shelly's head popped out with a rabbit in her jaws. Apparently she had gone hunting before they woke up.

"Ah Prof. Crane glad to see you up." She smiled "I decided to get breakfast for us."

"Did someone say breakfast?" Greg sprang out of his sleep

Meanwhlie Near the mouth of a stream that flowed into the swamp. Ichabod and Marzipan were both extremly hungery, although Ichabod didn't like the idea, he agreed to let Marzipan hunt for breakfast for both of them because when you're REALLY hungry you can be willing to eat anything even a rat!

Marzipan was searching upsteam for fish or frogs and Ichabod had decided that he desperatly needed a wash so once Marzipan was out of sight he slipped off his clothes and slipped into the mouth of the stream.

Earlier that morning as they woke up for the 2nd time Marzipan noticed their was some stubble on his face That surprised Ichabod so much he checked his reflection twice to make sure he really was growing facial hair

Ichabod felt his face and indeed he felt those prickly little hairs sprouting on his cheeks and chin

"When I get home I'm going to need a shave." I said firmly to himself. He than proceeded to wash his face in the cold, cold water

"Breakfast!" Marzipan's voice called In her jaws she held a wiggling little silver fish, still not quite dead

Marzipan stuck a claw through the brain and it stopped wriggling.

She put the fish in Ichabod's hand, "Have it all." She said "I'm not all that hungry." Ichabod sensed she was lying but he also knew she could catch a fish whenever she felt like it, so he closed his eyes, took a deep breath and bit into the fish.

He tried to swallow as quickly as possible and not let it linger on his tougue, if he had to eat fish he would've infinatly prefered it cooked...

"So... you plan to shave of that fuzz?" Marzi asked as skipped a stone on the water

"Yes, hopefully before I start to look like a wild man." Ichabod said wiping some fish blood off his face

"I'd kind of like your face furry." She mewed wistfully

"You're just being nice, I'm not the kind of guy who looks good with a beard."

Ichabod was still in the water up to his waist, not quite ready to let Marzi see him in his birthday suit

"Could you please turn around so I can get dressed?" He asked

"Why would I want to do that when I'd much rather watch?" She purred slyly

Ichabod shivered from the cold water. "Come on, Marzipan, give me a little privacy. I would for you."

Marzipan grinned. "No you wouldn't. You would watch me just like I'm watching you."

"But. Marzi, the cold water... it kind of makes a guy... you know... shrink."

"Shrink?" Marzipan thought a moment then laughed. "I don't care. Oh.. alright, I won't look."

She turned around and Ichabod hurried out of the water and put on his clothes.

Marzi hugged him. "Now kiss me so I can feel that furry face."

"Oh, I get it. You like the fur so I'll be more like you."

"It doesn't matter... but fur is nice. WHy don't you let it grow?"

"Maybe I will. Come on. We need to find our way out of this forest. How hard can it be? It's not like it's an infinite forest. It has to end somewhere."

Marzi giggled. "I know. We should be out already. Let's follow this stream. And we'll mark our trail so we don't accidentally circle back."

***

Rook stood at the edge of the park trying to put himself in Ichabod and Marzipan's shoes. They were running from the Hunter so they probabably went into the densest part of the woods to hide. Maybe they got lost. Sooner or later they would need water. That would take them to the stream. Rook decided to follow the stream into the woods and see if he saw any sign of them.
Rook being a fox, tried to sniff them out, using his super sensitive nose.

He sniffed and sniffed and sniffed but he coulden't find a whiff of either of their scent.

Rook headed out further into the forest, It became very dark under the canopy and se suddenly became aware of every little sound and scent he encountered.

In his mind he heard the echo of a D.H. Lawrence poem by title of Mosquito


Yet what an aura surrounds you ;
Your evil little aura, prowling, and casting a numbness on my mind.

That is your trick, your bit of filthy magic :
Invisibility, and the anæsthetic power
To deaden my attention in your direction.

Suddenly a strong young hand grabbed his shoulder and Rook nearly screamed his lungs out!

"Calm down Vulpine!" Came an avian voice. It was Rodney Roadrunner.

"We know you're trying to find Ichabod and Marzipan, we are too."

Rook nearly fainted but when he saw who it was he smiled

"Let's search for them together. My gang from the air, you from the ground"

Meanwhile. Marzipan and Ichabod were following the stream trying to find the exit.

"Do you ever have the ominous feeling you're being watched?" Ichabod asked

"You mean by the hunter?" The cat responded

"No not by the Hunter, by something unatural and evil and intangable." Ichabod nearly whispered "It's almost like...a spirit ...a spirit as old as the forest itself...OW!"

He smacked something on his neck... "Mosquito..." He grumbled "Nasty little thing."

Marzipan's ears perked up... "I think I hear something..." She said

"I think I see something!" Ichabod said with fright

"In the bushes ahead they saw the Hunter looking for them."

Quickly and quitly as they could they headed back upstream to hide

Ichabod did not know it but that mosquito he smacked was the spirit of the Erlking or old spirit of the forest and part of that spirit was flowing his blood

The Hunter stood still. What was that? Just a small noise. Something in the brush upstream. An animal? An animal and a human? His keen ears listened. The babbling stream covered many sounds but he was sure he heard something else. He hurried up to where the sounds seem to have originated. Yes! Broken twigs, bent grasses, and there in the soft earth the prints of a paw and a shoe. He cocked his shot gun. This was it, baby!

Ichapod and Marzipan scurried through the brush. "Do you think he saw us?" Ichabod said.

"We have to assume he did. In fact, if I'm not mistaken, he's chasing us right now!"

The shotgun boomed and a few pellets rained down on Ichy and Marzi.

"He's too far away to get us with the shotgun!" Ichy gasped.

"Up a tree!" Marzi said.

"No! No tree! Just run, run, run!"

Both Ichabod and Marzipan were lean and trim and could run like the wind. The Hunter had a beer belly but was still surprisingly fast. He was running behind Ichy and Marzi through the brush and leaves and vines and trees but wasn't gaining any ground until...

Ichabod tripped over a root and fell face first in the dirt. He quickly scrambled to his feet but now the Hunter was within gun range and the shotgun boomed again. This time Ichy felt the sting of pellets on his back. It goosed him into a little extra speed and when the shotgun boomed again the pellets fell behind him in the leaves.
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Ichabod felt the gash of the bullets as he almost let out a yell but ran as fast as he could. Meanwhile Marizpan was running farther ahead of him but stopped as she found out she didn't find Ichabod.

"Ich?!" she yelled.

Meanwhile, Greg jumped out of the ground as he heard gunshots fired away.

"Did you hear that?!" he yelled.

Shelly and Crane jumped as well hearing the gunshots blazing through the forest.

"THAT SON OF A BITCH IS FIRING A SHOTGUN! HE MIGHT HAVE SEEN THEM!" Crane yelled as he ran fast through the forest.

Shelly and Greg both ran after Crane calling out to him.

"Crane wait!" they both yelled.
Jonathan Crane ran faster than any human had ever run before! He saw The Hunter nearing something in the bushes...

He leaped up onto the brute's shoulders "Get away from my son!" He screamed

Ichabod rubbed his backside, which had been peppered right down to his upper thighs.

Marzipan rushed to Ichabod's side, he wept with fear. Thinking this was the end

Greg and Shelly tackled The Hunter, He screamed and fell.

Jonathan Crane placed his foot on the Hunter's head. "Whose laughing now?" He sneered

"Father?" A small voice said

Jonathan rushed to the collapsed figure in the bushes

"Ichabod! You've been hurt!" He gasped

"Only a little bit." Ichabod sighed rubbing his backside

Shelly lowered her mouth around Hunter's neck

"If I bite here." She said "He'll die instantly"

Greg looked at Prof. Crane "We can't" Greg said "He's a bastard but we can't kill him."

Jonathan noticed some stubble growing around Ichabod's face

"Why Ichabod, you've grown facial hair!" He remarked

"Yes." Ichy said quietly

Jonathan helped him up and put a firm hand on his shoulder

"I've waited a long time for this my boy!" He smiled "I've long awaited giving you your first shaving lesson!"

Marzipan mewed "I think we should leave now."

Shelly took her thick tail, and knocked it against Hunter's head to knock him out "I'll leave him here for the cops." She growled

They tied the Hunter to a tree and Greg and Shelly stood guard until the police arrived.

Meanwhile, Ichabod limped home supported by Marzipan and his dad.

"Alright, son," Jonathan said. "Now it's time for a little shaving lesson."

"Dad! I'm bleeding! Can't it wait?"

"Oh... sure, I guess so. Let's see what we can do about that shot up backside of yours." Jonathan Crane started to hep Ichabod out of his pants. "Marzipan, I guess you don't want to see this."

"That's okay," Marzi said. "I've seen it before. Do you have some rubbing alcohol?"

"Yes, and some even better stuff. Look in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. There's a big box of band-aids in there, too. These wounds aren't serious."

There was knock on the front door. "I'll get it," Marzipan said.

She opened the door on Pandora Nashton. "Marzi!" Pandora said. "I heard all about it. Is Ichabod okay?"

"Sure, just a few pellet wounds. You should have been there, Pandora. We had to run for our lives. That Hunter monster was shooting a shotgun at us!"

"I hope he burns in Hell!" Pandora said and pounded one fist into the other.

Pandora embraced Marzipan "Thank the gods you're alive" She weeped into Marzipan's fur.

Meanwhile Rook Reynardo had found his way out of the forest and had told Marzipan's parents Halcon and Esmerelda Cheshire What happened to their daughter.

Poor ol Halcon nearly fainted with greif. "I knew it! I knew it! He moaned that Ichabod boy was nothing but trouble!"

"We're going to send her to an All-girl-alll chimera school! Starting tomorrow!" Said her mother

Rook gasped a little, but deep down he felt it was right.

Meanwhile Jonathan was giving Ichabod his first shaving lesson

"Many men these days prefer electric razors but I prefer I safety razor." Jonathan said

Ichabod's backside was all bandaged up, His face properly lathered up with shaving cream.

"Now you want to use gentle strokes so you won't cut yourself..." Jonathan instructed

First thing that happened Ichabod scraped himself

"Owch." He muttered

"I told you to be careful." Jonathan reprimended

After a few minutes Ichabod managed to complete the shaving without cutting himself a second time
He sighed hevely and collapsed on the sofa next to Marzipan after that he fell into a deep sleep. Neither of them knew tomorrow they would be seperated

When Marzipan got home her father was waiting for her. "Good news, honey, we've made arrangements for you to attend The Forestwood Chimera School For Girls."

"What?! I don't want to go there!"

Her father smiled. "It will be for the best, Marzi. You'll make better grades without the distractions of boys in the classroom and-"

"No! This is because of Ichabod, isn't it?"

"Ichabod is a nice boy but we don't think you should-"

"It's not your life, dad! It's MY life! And why do you say WE? Mom? Are you in on this, too?"

Esmerelda Cheshire had a concerned look. "Well, darling, you almost got killed yesterday..."
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Marizpan's eyes grew wide as she looked at them.

"Who told you!?"

Her father looked at her and groaned a bit in annoyance.

"Rook told us..."

Marizpan grew angry as she began to yell.

"What?! That idiot told you?!"

"Yes Marz. And no matter what you would say your going there." her mother said.

Marzipan began to cry and growled in anger.

"I AM NOT GOING! AND YOU WILL NOT FORCE ME TO DO WHAT I DON'T WANT TO DO!" she screamed as she ran from her house and ran far away from her parents.

"MARZ WAIT!" they both yelled.




Marzipan ran a block down the street, then stopped, panting. How could things be going so wrong? A girls' school? Ridiculous! She couldn't leave all her friends and she especially didn't want to be away from Ichabod. Maybe if she stayed away from home for a few days her parents would realize she was serious about not going to a girls school.

Pandora was brushing her hair when Marzipan rang the doorbell. "Marzi! What;s up? You look like you've been running."

Marzi collapsed into achair. "I ran all the way here. You won't believe what's happened. My parents want to send me to Forrestwood Girls School!"

"Oh no! That place is full of lesbians!"

"That doesn't scare me, but I don't want to go to a different school from you guys.. and Ichabod."

Pandora resumed brushing her hair. "What are you going to do?"

"I was wondering if I could stay here for a few nights?"

"Here? Why?"

"Just to throw a little scare into my parents and show them I really don't want to go to Forrestwood."

Pandora finished with her hair. "Sure. You can stay here. Did you bring anything with you."

"No."

"It doesn't matter. You can wear my stuff. This is going to be fun."
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Marzipan looked at her friend Pandora and smiled. She hugged her and kept on saying 'thank you thank you thank you.' Pandora smilled and hugged her back smiling as well.

"Don't worry Marz. Everything will be ok." she said comferting her.

"Hehe hey. This would be like a slumber party except us two."

"Heh hey yeah!"

Meanwhile, on the road walking, Greg decided he wanted to pay a visit to Crane. Though, he knew that Crane wouldn't want to deal with a happy go lucky hardcore annoying 20 year old teacher like Greg. But he wanted to talk to him and have a conversation about after what happened in the forest. He knocked on the door as he approached. Crane came to the door and opened it almost making a frown.

"Oh... Its you again.." he said.

Greg smiled as he waved to Crane.

"Hey Crane~! Sorry if you were busy, I just wanted to come over and chat for a bit." Greg replied.

"You? Coming over and chat?"

"Yeah.. I wanted to talk about after that day."

Crane looked down a bit and almost let down a tear.

"Greg....How about you come in and have a seat in the living room?"

Greg looked surprised that Crane was asking something like that to him. He didn't want to sit, it was fine with him. But he decided to walk in and sit anyways. On the couch was Ichabod, asleep. Greg frowned as he remembered he lied to him about animal and human relationships. He wanted to take it back and say sorry to him. Crane took a seat with a cup of water and stared at it.

"Greg... I had to thank you on that day.... Without you with me there, I feared that I was never gonna see my son again...."
Greg was moved by Prof. Crane's tenderness "You're welcome..." He said quietly

They both decided no more would be said on the subject of that fateful day. Greg scratched his head trying to think of a new subject to bring up...

"I want to marry Shelly." He almost whispered

"You're going to have one hell of a time doing that." Jonathan chuckled "Geting wed to a Chimera is as impossible as getting pigs to fly! It just can't be done."

"If you teach a pig how to pilot a jet than it can fly." Greg said sulkily

"It's a figure of speech." Jonathan remarked.

"There must be somewhere in the world where humans and chimera can marry!" Greg exclamed pining for Shelly

Meanwhile Marzipan and Pandora were in the living room. Pandora had gotten out a sleeping bag for Marzi.

"It's just not fair!" Marzi mewed "This stupid species purity act makes it impossible for humans and chimera to get hitched!"

"If only Ichabod could be a cat," Pan sighed "Or you could be a human."

Marzipan jumped up! "That's it!" She said "Rook discovered away to turn humans into chimera, all it takes is infusing animal genes into them! If I can get some extract of cat..."

"How you going to slip it to him?" Pandora asked "I mean I'm sure Ichabod would want nothing more than for you to be together but... he dose have his pride. I don't know if he'll allow himself to be turned into a cat..."

"Well I'll surprise him than!" Marzi exclaimed "With a little something called Granny's home cookin"

She headed to the kitchen "Fetch me a large pot and a wooden spoon! I'm going to make the best batch of clam chowder ever!"

"New England or Manhatten?" Pandora asked

"Manhatten?" Marzi cocked her head "There are other ways to make chowder?"

Marzipan phoned Ichabod to let him know she had left home and was staying at Pandora's house. "Why don't you come over? We cooked up a big pot of chowder. It's way too much for just us. Come help us eat it."

"Sure!" Ichy said and pulled on his sweat pants, hoody, and running shoes.

There was a light misty rain falling but Ichabod didn't care; he was on his way to see his true love, Marzipan. One thing about Marzi, Ichabod thought. She is so honest. you never have to worry about her telling a lie or going behind your back. It's comforting to know she would never deceive me.
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Greg nearlly had fallen asleep on his chair as Crane looked outside seeing his son running towards Pandora's place. He decided to walk back to his chair and sit down.

"And by the way... I might have to apologize for lying to Ichabod." said Greg.

"About what?" Crane asked.

"It was about uhh.. Human and animal affairs and stuff.. And I bluff it up and said other things to cover myself on."

"And you also thought that he would tell everyone?"

"Yeah... Kinda..."

Crane laughed and sipped his water again turning on his TV.

"Ichabod may be a bit of a bit hard on the head but inside he's the only kind of son who would never hurt anyone emotionally."

Greg looked up and smiled. He sat on his chair thinking.

"Sometimes... I think that some of the students in school are picking on more than Chimeras. I see nerds hanging on flagpoles with their underwear on them. Wedgies, and foodfights. Even Jocks get the last laugh as they get pranked." Greg said laughing.

Crane chuckled a bit and laid back in his chair.

Meanwhile, Ichabod finally reached Pandora's house and began to knock on it.

"Hello? Marz, Pan?" he called out.
"Hello Ichabod!" She greeted by caressing her cheek against his forehead. Ichabod coulden't help but giggle lightly at the ticklish feeling.

Marzipan was an expert with any kind of soup, cream-based soups seemed to be her specialty, sort of the old... cat affilation with milk and cream.

Marzipan ladled the white clam chowder into three warm soup soup bowls, you know the kind with handles, and placed them before her friends and herself.

Unbeknownst to Ichabod she slipped a bit of Extract of Cat into his bowl.

Ichabod was had sampled some of Marzipan's cooking before sometimes the dishes were were of human cuisine other times that of chimera.

He took a sample of the chowder... The instant it touched his tougue it felt like he entered a dream world!

It was so sweet and soothing and creamy! The dull ache in his backside from where he had been shot (nevermind the when he sat on that thorn bush) completly evaporated! He quickly found himself in a strange dream like state, Daintly devouring that clam chowder while lost in his own philosophical ponderings...

He remembered Marzipan's birthday and how he accidently drank blood (What kind of blood would probily best left unknown) The cake made out of meat seemed rather revolting to him, he could only assume that it would be nauturly appealing to those of carnivorous origin.

When Marzipan cooked up human cuisine though, she seemed to intamatly know what appeals to a homo sapian, It would be nice if she cooked human style more often...

Suddenly he felt a rumble in his gut... He wasen't sure what this ment but he sure didn't like it...

"Excuse me ladies." He choked out "I think I need the lavatory..."

He quickly rushed to the bathroom quick as a cat. He wasen't sure if he going to vomit or what but when he saw himself in the mirror he gasped!

"I have whiskers!" He screeched "And my ears are pointy!"

Marzipan knocked on the bathroom door. "Ichabod? Are you okay in there?"

"I'm not sure," came Ichy's muffled voice through the door. Then the door opened to reveal the new Ichabod, furred and whiskered with fierce yellow eyes.

"Well?" Marzi said. "How do you like it?"

"You did this?" Ichabod said, pointing at his cat face.

"Mmmmm-hmmmm."

Ichabod put his face close to Marzi's face and licked her chin.

"Ohhh, Ichy, that feels good," Marzi murmured and put her arms around him.
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Ichabod smiled and chuckled as he hugs Marzi back.

"Hehe. I figured you and Pandora had something like this planned." he said.

Marzipan blushed again and giggled.

"Well it was all thanks to Pandora who helped~!" she said.

Ichabod chuckled and let out a murr.


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"I thought you might be upset with us Ichy," Marzipan said.
"I kinda like this," Ichabod said. "I always used to think about what it would be like to be feline."
Suddenly Ichabod froze.
Marzipan noticed and asked,"You alright?"
"What will my father think!" Ichabod yelled as he peered at his reflection in the mirror. "He may not like this."

Ichabod fell silent as he continued to inspect his new form. He still had his red hair, yet it was a bit longer, was striped with black hairs and covered more of his body. His face had lengthened into a delicate muzzle with a tiny pink nose and twelve wiskers on each side of his face.

He he tried to imagine what his father would say about this... Suddenly he felt very ill...

He rushed over to the toilet and vomited into it, his new fur becoming prickly as he hurled.

"You OK?" Marzipan mewed.
"I'm not sure," Ichabod replied, barely able to get the words out.
He slowly lifted his head and turned to look at Marzipan who was standing beside him. She had a frightened, concerned look on her face.
"What is happening Marzi?" asked Ichabod,"Why do I feel so bad?"




"Is this permanant?" Ichabod asked

Marzipan fiddled with her tail, "It's not permanant, you could take the antidote at any time and you would change back but..."

"But what?"

"I want to keep you this way." Marzipan sighed

Ichabod almost looked like he was about to cry, but instead he wiped his tears away and scowled

"Now see here!" He said his voice growing considerably deeper "I'm not going to be a cat just becuase you want it that way and you..."

Marzi coulden't help but giggle "You sound just like your father.."


Meanwhile at Shelly's house the young Dragoness lay on her bed looking at the celing pondering her feelings for Greg.

"If I have children with him." She mused allowed "They will be shapeshifting weredragons cursed to be shunned by socity like that poor Triceratops Momo Kashi..."

She thought and thought and thought... "If only I could be human..." She murmured

Than an idea hit her.

"The Beastmaster!" She exclcamed

The Beastmaster was an old hermit scientist who lived deep in the forest he was one of the few people who understood the gentectic accelerator

If anyone could turn her into a human it would be him.

Shelly spread her wings and head for the Beastmaster's cabin

The Beastmaster put another stick of wood in his cast-iron, potbelly stove. It sat in the middle of his cabin and the Beastmaster had his favorite chair propped beside it. He was just settling in to read another chapter of Moby Dick when he heard the rustle of wings outside, then a knock upon his door.

"Come in!" he called, then "Hello, Shelly! What brings you out to the wilderness? Have a seat. How about some hot tea?"

"Thanks, " Shelly said. "I have a problem I want to discuss with you."

The Beastmaster handed her a cup of tea. "Let's hear it then."
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Shelly didn't know if this would work or not but if it would to be with Greg forever and with their kids, she wanted it. To be a human.

"Beastmaster..." she began.

"I... Want to be a human."

Meanwhile Greg still chatted with Crane at his house. It was almost time to leave until Greg said one thing.

"Crane... I don't care if Shelly's a dragon. She's beautiful the way she looks to me. It doesn't matter by our species that counts, its our hearts." he said smiling.
With that Greg finally left. He strolled to his appartment in the middle of New Tokyo.

Meanwhile Shelly watched with awe as Beastmaster prepared something in the kitchen sink. He came back with a bottle of something that smelled like turpentine and looked like India ink.

"What is this?" She asked Love Potion # 9?"

"This." Said the Beastmaster is the very thing that will turn you into a human, but beware there is a snag."

"Oh that's bad." Shelly said

"But it will also will give you the talent to make the world's most delishious foodstuffs." Beastmaster said

"That's good." Said Shelly

"But the food you will make will be high in calories and give people gas and heartburn."

"That's bad."

"Except for when you make Miso Soup."

"That's good." The dragoness agreed

"The Miso Soup will contain potassium sulfate."

Shelly just stared blankly, "That's bad." Beastmaster said

"Can I go now?" Shelly asaked exsausted.


Meanwhile back at Pandora's house Ichabod sat at the bay window, pondering his fate. He knew he would have to go home soon but when he was sure that when his father would see him in his cat shape he would raise the roof.

"If you want I'll come with you to explain it." Marzipan offered

"You've gotten into enough trouble on my account" Ichabod sighed "But can you promise me one thing? If my parents don't want me to be a cat will you give me the antidote tomorrow?"

"Very well." Marzi sighed

"Thank you." He licked her forehead and headed into the night

When he got home he was greeted by a bone crunching embrace! "Hello Dear! Miss me?

"Mother!" Ichabod gasped "You're back from your reserch trip in Argentina!"

Yes Pamela Isly, the former Poison Ivy was back home after 7 weeks reserching the Brazil nut tree

"She looked at Ichabod and gasped "What have you done to yourself?!"

"I've started shaving!" Ichabod said.

His mother stared at him. "Well, goodness! You have the fastest-growing beard I ever saw... and darling? It's covered your whole face. I think you might have a hormone problem. You father should have taken you to a doctor. That man! Wait until I chew him out about this!"

"Mom! Mom! I was lying. This is not a beard. I'm a cat now."

"This has something to do with that feline girl you were hanging around with, doesn't it?"

"Her name is Marzipan and I love her."
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"Ichabod....." she said with a gasp but sighs.

She looked around hoping that Crane wouldn't see this.

"Ichabod... What would your father think?"

Ichabod looked down slowly in sadness almost crying.

"Ichy, it doesn't matter by what species it is that you love, its what matters in your heart. If this was from that feline Chimera did this to you than she and you don't know from inside the heart." she explained.

Ichabod looked up at his mother almost astounished but soon began to speak again.

"But...But ma this isn't permenent."

"Then when will you change back?"

"All there is is an antidote to bring me back. But I still don't know how to explain to dad..."
Jonathan came down stairs holding a newspaper in one hand.

"Pamela, take a look at this article, Lyle Bolton carged with homcide in..." He dropped the newspaper

"BY LUCIFER"S BEARD!" He thundered "ICHABOD! WHAT IN THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE TO YOURSELF?!"

Ichabod turned beet red underneith his scarlet fur "Marzipan slipped me a potion." He squeaked "She has the antidote and she promised to give it to me tommorow."

"She darn well better!" Jonathan said tapping his foot "I have nothing against Chimera but I will not have my son be something he is not."

"Yes father." Said Ichabod.

Meanwhile Shelly looked at the potion in her hands, she paced and paced, she wanted to drink it but something was holding her back.

'Beastmaster said there was a snag.' She thought 'What did he mean by that?'

She opened the bottle and took a wiff of the fulid, it smelled REALLY bad!

Than she let one drop of the potion fall on her tougue, With one drop her scales became pink skin, her fangs became tiny human teeth and on her head grew long blue hair that went down to her knees.

"Goodness Grasious!" She exclamed "It really dose work! " She set aside the rest of the bottle not planning to drink anymore of the evil smelling stuff.

Meanwhile Marzipan woke up in the middle of the night becuase of nightmares, she noticed her vulva was damp so she went up to the bathroom and checked her self.


Yes, yes she was definatly starting her heat season...and now she was Pandora's house she didn't have any access to the pills that kept her sex drive in check.

But maybe she didn't need that, maybe her will was stronger than that after all had any female mammal chimera ever TRY to resist the urge to mate?

Marzipan merely put a pad in her underwear and go back to sleep confidant her horomones woulden't get the better of her..

Marzipan dreamed she was at the Mall with Ichabod and she had a sudden hormone attack. "Ichabod!" she said in the dream. "Do me now! I need it bad!"

"What?" Ichy said. "Here? In the mall? There are people everywhere!"

"I don't care, Ichy. I want you, I need you, I will DIE if I don't have you in me right now!"

Marzipan dragged Ichy toward the padded benches and pulled him down on one. She ripped off his shirt. A mother and her two kids sitting on the next bench frowned. The little boy's mouth fell open. "Mommy, what's that big cat doing."

"Marzi!" Ichy said. "Have you lost your senses?"

"I need you, Ichy!" Marzi licked Ichabod's bare chest and his nipples poked up as her rough tongue caressed his skin.

Marzi shed her clothes and yanked off Ichabod's pants.

"Marzi!" Ichabod squeaked.

The mother and two kids got up and headed for the exit with the little boy hanging back and looking over his shoulder.

Some shoppers strolled by and stopped to stare.

"Marzi!" Ichabod gasped. "People are looking at us."

"I don't care," Marzi mumbled. Her mouth was full of Ichabod's manhood and she couldn't speak clearly.

"Ohhhhhh, Marzi," Ichabod said and closed his eyes and listened to the mall music.

Suddenly Marzi woke up. She had a mouthfull of pillow. "Wow!" she said and spat out the corner of the pillow she had been sucking on. "What a dream!"
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She looked down and blushed a bit feeling herself a bit warm.

"That was the most intense dream I ever had~! Wonder if I would get it again?" she said to herself purring.

Meanwhile, Greg finally arrived at his house tired and bored. He hadn't had any sleep since that day, well with Shelly anyways. He entered his house and took off his shoes and walked over to his bed.

"Ohh boy what a day." he said to himself as he fell down on his bed.

He kept on thinking about Shelly, and only dreaming of her. She wanted her so much it made him hot and sick in his stomach. He always thought about being with a dragon for so long that he couldn't help but chuckle and dream.

"Me an Shelly... Human and dragon... I kinda like the pair of that. Hehe ahh..."

And with that, Greg fell right back to sleep.
The next day Rook was on his way to Marzipan's house. When a clawed hand closed over his mouth and dragged him aside.

"Hello Foxy" It was Rodney Roadrunner

"What do you want?" Rook asked

"We want you to find Ichabod and tell him that his old girlfriend wants him back."

Rook snorted "Look, Just becuase you have issues with humans kissing chimera dosen't mean the whole world has the bow down to your will..." Rodney cut him off


"This isn't about that!" The bird snapped "I completly understand Marzipan's desires now but... this Alice chick, her new boyfriend is... kinda rough."

"Whachoo talkin bout Rodney?" Rook asked with a dawning sense of worry

"Her new boyfriend sort of...kind of...beats her up."

Rook's mouth went dry

"Why did she tell you?"

"Hey I'm a bird." Rodney shrugged "We are the world's best messangers."

"I'll see what I can do." Rook sighed


Meanwhile at Ichabod's house Marzipan gave him the antidote for the transformation, he soon reterned to his human self.

"Thank you." he sighed relieved

Marzipan licked her paw and blushed. Ichabod cleared his throat

"I've got tickets for a foriegn movie." He said "I've been planning this a long time. The movie's called 'Innanna' and it's about a chimera with a human mother. It's in Japanese with subitles

"This sounds slightly like Ms Kashi's situation only it was her father who was human."

Meanwhile Greg got out of bed when he heard the doorbell ring, he got it in his boxers.

"Yes?"

"Hi Greg! It's me Shelly! I got you a gift of miso soup and..."

"Shelly!" Greg gasped "You look like a human!"

Shelly grinned, twirled around, then put her hands on her hips like a model. "Do you like it?"

Greg's mouth hung open. "Sure, I guess so, but what? How? Why?"

"You don't sound very thrilled."

"I AM thrilled! But also shocked and surprised. I wasn't expecting this. Is it permanent?"

Shelly's face fell. She should have asked the Beastmaster about that. "I don't know," she said. "I hope so."

Greg tightened his lips. What happened to the blue dragoness he loved? Was she gone forever replaced by a human? He tried not to think that way. This was still Shelly even if she no longer had the fascinating blue scales.

"You don't like it, do you?" Shelly said. "I can see it in your eyes. You think I have no right to be human like you."

"No! It's not like that! It's just that... I fell in love with you as a dragon and now..."

"Now what?! Oh my God! I've made a terrible mistake, haven't I?"

Greg hugged her. "No, Shelly, no. Don't cry. It's alright. It's a big change. We both need to adjust to it. Maybe the Beastmaster should have changed you gradually. It's not your fault, it's his."

Shelly sobbed and hugged Greg. "I can't believe I've screwed everything up! Oh why couldn't I just be happy the way I was?"

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Greg hugged her tightly and soothed her rubbing her back while she still cried.

"Maybe because you were scared?" he said.

Shelly looked into his eyes still crying.

"I know what it would be Shelly. But it doesn't matter to them, it matters to us and what we truely are. We are together by heart not by appearence. "

Shelly cried again hugging Greg tightly.

"Im so sorry Greg!" she said.

"Shhh... Its alright now love... We'll go and fix everything up. Let me come with you."

Greg and Shelly were silent for a long time, not knowing what to do. Finally after all the tears were dried, Greg asked

"So... You said you got me Miso Soup?"

"Oh yes I set it down it the kitchen"


Meanwhile, at the tiny 'nickel and dime' cinema Ichabod and Marzipan took their seats and began to watch Innanna

It started out pretty weird, with this romance between a human woman and a male dragon it had this really long intro and it wasen't until halfway into the movie the the title character Innanna was born.

By than Marzipan had fallen asleep. Ichabod sighed, he coulden't blame her really this movie WAS kind of confusing.

Meanwhile Rook was at a small Japanese Restraunt contemplating how the heck he was going to get his message to Ichabod.

He drank deep from his cup of green tea. He pondered and pondered "What will Ichabod say?" He murmured to himself

Suddenly a teenage girl came in the door, She was short, blond blue eyed and had a brused eye

"Alice?" Rook gasped "Is that you?"

Ichabod was going to wake up Marzipan and leave the theater when "Innanna" came to an end, but then a second feature started and Ichy never could resist the bargain of seeing two movies for the price of one.

The second movie was "Golden Fists of Glory", a martial arts epic. It was subtitled, but Ichy didn't mind. It was about a peasant boy whose family was killed by an evil warlord and the boy - his name was Sushuki-Pyo, but most people just called him Shuki - the boy had to scrabble around in the wilderness almost starving to death until a wandering warrior, a knight for hire, took pity and decided to help him out by showing him how to catch rabbits and so on.

The knight's name was Monino and he had once had a son who died. He liked Shuki and decided to train him in the martial arts. Soon they were like father and son and Shuki learned quickly how to handle a sword.

They went from village to village, righting wrongs, catching thieves, punishing murderers, and made a modest living from the few coins the villagers could pay the.

Marzipan woke up. "What the hell are we watching?" she said.
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Ichabod chuckled a bit and laid back.

"Double feature. Golden Fists of Glory." he said.

Marzipan chuckled a bit and looked up at the screen.

Back with Rook. He looked up shocked to see Alice in her state. She began to cry and ran over to hug him.

"Oh Rook! That bastard was doing it again! He beat over something about me seeing Ichabid! Rook I HAVE to find him! Im scared and I don't know what the hell to do!

And with Greg, who had finally finished his soup, went over to get his coat.

"Come on Shelly. Lets find the beastmaster and fix all this." he said.

Shelly smiled a bit and got up following Greg.

"But can we pick up my nephew Dojen? Damn boy ran off from my brother again. I have no idea why he does. Hehhehe. I think maybe he has a crush on someone." she said.

Greg smiled and looked back at her.

"Wouldn't he be surprised to see you like this?"

"Good point."
Ichabod and Marzipan came out of the cinema. They yawned and blinked in the sunlight.

"Ichabod! Ichabod!" Rook's voice called

"What is it Rook?" Ichy asked as the young fox ran up to them

"You're old girlfriend Alice," Rook panted "Her new boyfrind Brad Stud beats her up!"

Ichabod gasped in shock

"Ummm... Marzipan, I think maybe you should go back to Pandora's house. I don't Alice wants to see you."

Marzi snorted miffed "Don't lie to me Ichy I know what you're going to do." She said "You're going to use your father's fear gas to send Brad Stud into a coma."

Ichabod's jaw dropped Marzi could read him like a book.

"Listen, could you just let me have some time with Alice alone?"

"Fine."

She got back to Pandora's house over rooftops and fences.

When she got there she pondered over what she could do to solve this problom.

She walked into Pandora's yard and an apple from the family apple tree fell on her head.

"Eureaka!" Marzipan exclamed "I'll turn Brad Stud into a mouse than I'll eat him!"

Marzipan thumbed through the pages of her spellbook. Mouse... mouse... mouse... Damn it! Nothing! She closed the book and stared at the ceiling. What if she turned Brad into a spider? Or was it all just wishful thinking? She had never turned anything into anything else before. Could she be sure it would work?

Ichabod approached Brad's house with fear gas in his pocket. Maybe he wouldn't have to use it. Maybe Brad would be reasonable. But maybe first he better talk to Alice and find out what really happened. He walked on by Brad's house, glaring at it. he hoped Brad was peeking out the window.
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Ichabod almost began to knock on his door but something held him back. He had some sort of feeling that he didn't like and felt like just talking to Alice to find out what happened. He took a deep breath and walked off trying to find Alice. When he was walking off he accidentally bumbed into Dojen.

"Oww watch it!" he said.

Dojen, the red dragon got up and brushed himself.

"Im sorry I didn't know what... hey your Ichabod! Im Dojen!" he replied.

Ichabod got up and brushed his bottom.

"Yeah. YOu guess right."

Dojen smiled a bit but looked over at Brad's house almost growling.

"Why the hell are you near this bastard's house?"

"Who?"

"Brad!"

Ichabod looked back to over his house and back at Dojen.

"Dojen you know him?"

"Yeah! Better than knowing a gryphon taking athletic training twice a day. That damn guy is no good and he's a hybrid! I saw him change into a fox right out of thin air! It was weird! And he told no one!"

Ichabod thought... He wondered about this Brad Stud boy.

"Are you sure you saw him turn into a fox?" Ichabod asked Dojen "You absolutly positivly sure?"

"Yes!" Dojen said "If what I saw was an illustion than I want a refund on my eyes!"

Ichabod sighed "Perhaps I shouldn't be focusing on Brad I should just find Alice.

He found Alice in her front yard "Oh Ichabod," She sighed "I'm glad you came."

"Your eye!" Ichabod gasped "It's been bruised!"

"Yes." She said meekly, "He hits me because he gets jelous often."

So for a long while they merely sat and talked for a long time. Meanwhile Dojen knocked on Pandora's door. Pandora answered

"Yes?" She said

"Is Marzipan inside?" Dojen asked

"She is."

"I think she better head to Alice's house before it's too late." Marzipan didn't need to be told twice. She raced over rooftops hoping what her premonition told her woulden't come true.

Meanwhile after much comforting and tears, Ichabod and Alice were smiling and laughing again just like old times.

"Oh Alice..." Ichabod sighed "Why did you break up with me?"

"I guess it was all becuase I joined the cheerleaders." Alice sighed "It was becuase I wanted to be popular... The cheerleaders told me to break up with you if wanted to stay on the team."

Ichabod snorted in disgust

"I don't care about being popular anymore." Alice said "If being popular means dating an abusive captain of the football team I don't want to be it."

The apple tree they had been sitting under suddenly lost an apple a bright red fruit fell in Alice's lap.

"It's almost as if nature itself wants us to get back together." Alice said.

By this point Marzipan was on the roof of the Tetch family household. And she saw it all.

She saw Alice take a bite of the crisp firm fruit, She began to make her way down the roof.

She than saw her offer the apple to Ichabod as Eve did Adam.

Her paws landed on the lawn. As Ichabod took a bite.

As soon as he had swallowed, a dark cloudy look appeared in both their eyes

"Oh Ichabod!"

"Oh Alice!"

They rolled on the ground making out, Marzipan YOWLED in dismay!

Marzipan stood there, trembling with rage, her fists balled up by her sides, then she had an idea. She ran to Brad's house. When he opened the door she poured out her concerns.

"Brad! Brad! Alice is in trouble! Ichabod is trying to steal her from you!"

"What!" Brad said. "Impossible. That bitch belongs to me and she knows it. She wouldn't dare cheat on me because she knows what I would do."

For a moment Marzipan felt bad about putting Alice in danger but she had to have Ichabod back and she was sure Alice had worked some spell on him, most likely the old apple spell, as old as time itself. She shook Brad's shoulders.

"It's true, Brad! I saw it with my own eyes. It's happening right now out in Alice's front yard!"

Brad's eyes gred red with rage. "I'll take care of this!" and he was off and running toward Alice's house.
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Dojen was hiding in the bush watching the whole thing and came right out mad.

"MARZI! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU!?!?!? HAVN'T YOU KNOW BRAD?! THAT IDIOT WILL KILL ALICE YOU IDIOT!!" he screamed at her.

Meanwhile Brad finally found them and yelled.

"ALICE! YOU BITCH!" he yelled.

Ichabod and Alice jumped right up and stared at Brad.

"Oh no! Brad wait I...." Alice couldn't speak another for Brad was charging at her.

Ichabod stood in the way and tried to stop him but Brad knocked him down.

"WATCH IT! Hey wait.... YOUR THAT BASTARD ICHABOD HUH!?"

Brad picked Ichabod by the collor and started to beat him in the chest. Across from where they were, Shelly and Greg were walking down the street trying to find the beastmaster but found the fight raging on.

"Oh hell Shelly! Quick we have to stop this!
Greg flew at Greg and knocked him off his feet! Ichabod went tumbling to the ground with all the wind knocked out of him.

Brad squirmed under Greg's grip. Ichabod and Alice ran into the house.

Alice's father Jervis Tetch saw the whole thing "Somehow it dosen't strike me as odd this happened." He sighed

"What do you mean Mr. Tetch?" Ichabod asked

"First thing, You were engaged the the Cat-girl were you not?"

"Well I woulden't say we were engaged but we were in a relationship" Ichabod sighed rubbing his sore ribs from where Brad had smacked him.

"I'm no expert on animal behavior." Jervis said as he polished his glasses "But I see no reason why animal women would not be as possesive as human women."

"Oh LORD!" Ichabod exclaimed as he blushed bright red "Marzipan saw us making out?!"

Ichabod felt so many emotions he didn't know which one was which. He was ashamed that he had cheated on his girlfriend but he was also hurt that she would fink on him even if he was cheating he didn't deserve to be beaten up right?

Meanwhile Marzipan was so upset by what she had done she ran straight back to her parents house no longer careing about going to an All girl's school or not.

When she ran into through the door. Esmerelda started to say something along the lines of "Where have you been?" But Marzipan ran straight to her room and shut the door.

Meanwhile at Beastmaster's cottage Shelly had to finish the journey by herself.

"Beastmaster!" She gasped throwing the door open "I must know, is this change to human permenent?"

"I don't think so." Beastmaster said "Unless you drank all of the potion"

"I only took a drop." Shelly said

"Than I don't see a problom." Beastmaster said

The next day Ichabod was dead tired because he had been up all night thinking about what had happened. He decided he was wrong, so wrong. He should never have let Alice influence him like that. Sure, he felt sorry for her and wanted to protect her from Brad, but making out with her was taking caring too far. He already had someone to care for that way and that was Marzipan.

"I love her!" he shouted and practically ran to her house and rang the doorbell.

Marzipan's mother answered the door. "I'm sorry, Ichabod, but Marzipan left on the bus this morning for the Forestwood School for Girls."

"No-o-o-o!" Ichabod said.

He staggered back to his house and collapsed on the sofa. How could his world fall apart so quickly? Just 24 hours ago he had been so happy. And now... total misery. He thought about it. The thing to do was to talk to Marzipan and apologize.

Forestwood School wasn't in the phonebook so he checked on the internet. It was in another city four hundred miles away.

He went into the kitchen where his dad was eating a sandwich. "Dad, can I borrow the car today?"

"Yeah, I don't need it. I'm not going anywhere today. Put some gas in it."

Ichy caught the keys that Jonathan Crane tossed to him. He wondered if he should tell his dad he wouldn't be back tonight. No, if he said that then he wouldn't get the car. Better just to call dad later and say the car broke down or ran out of gas. He would think of something. But now... on to Forestwood Girls School and Marzipan!

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Shelly smiled and hugged Greg who hugged her back.

"Now THIS is something different. This potion, is the antidote for your troubles. No don't take it in one gulp! Its super sour and super tangy!" he explained.

Shelly giggled and took the bottle and took only a few sips. Her face cringed terribly as she started to shiver.

"Whoa! That WAS sour!" she said giggling. Then she looked at herself and saw that her body was changing back to normal.

Her scales, blue and beautiful. She had her wings, horns and tail back. When she looked at Greg, he looked back with a passion. And at the same time she did as well and started to kiss Greg passionetly.

"Mmmm Oh Shelly its good to have you back." he said holding her.

"Mmm yes Greg it is.. I love you..." she replied hugging her back.

"Ok. Thank you beastmaster. For everything... Come Greg lets find my nephew."

Meanwhile, Dojen sneaked over to Brad's house again to see what he was up to. He peeked through the window and found him in his fox form. He was taking another potion and drank all of it down in one gulp. Then his entire body soon began to transform back into a human. Dojen's eyes were wide and shocked.

"Damn this! I HATE being humans and HATE humans! First thing im going to do is dump Alice! That bitch screwed up far to much! And im going to kill Ichabod and her!" he yelled to himself.

Dojen fell to the ground and gasped at what he just saw.

"I WASN'T seeing things! I have to warn Ichabod! Oh wait.... he's off with that beautiful Marzi cat girl.... Oh why is this all mixed up with our lives?!" he yelled running off.

"Why couldn't I just tell Marzi about me sooner? Why didn't she see that I liked her first?"

Meanwhile, Ichabod drove almost a bit fast to try and catch up to Marzi there. Forestwood. He was filled with all these emotions that he didn't know what to do.
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Dojen the Dragon raced to Alice's house. He rang the doorbell.

"Hello? Can I help you?" Alice inquired

"Alice..." Dojen panted "You're in serious danger!" You're boyfriend Brad Stud isn't a human he's a fox chimera!"

"A fox? I don' t believe it!" Alice snorted

"I know it sounds far-fetched but I saw him transform like an hour ago!"


Meanwhile at the Forestwood School for Girls. Marzipan just sulked in her room.


All the Teacher's in the school were penguin chimera, who ironicly acted a lot like Nuns in a Catholic school.


Marzipan just lay on her bed. She wanted something but she didn't know what...

She picked up the phone and dialed a Pizza Joint Kambell's Kimera Pizza


"Hello. This is Marzipan Cheshire." She said "I'd like a large Raw Meat Lover's Pizza and a bottle of Milk delvered to the Forestwood School For Girls"

With that she hung up and began nibbling on her rubber mousy trying to forget her troubles



Meanwhile Ichabod. Had almost reached the Chimera School. It was a luschious region filled with fruit trees and wildflowers.

He saw a sign, 'Humans not allowed beyond this piont.' He stopped the car immeditly and pulled over.

He knew it would be nearly impossible to sneak in as a thousand eyes ears and noses were senseing for humans and the keepers who keep humans out play rough!


He got out a small bottle of Extract of Cat. Unbeknownst to Marzipan he swiped from her house after dinner, He wanted to examine its contents. Now he could use it to transform.

He took a small sip from the bottle it was rather tastless but that probily was let it lend itself to food so well.

He felt himself transforming, this time he was aware of the change. Whiskers sprouted from his face, his feet became digitgrade a tail sprouted, he had to lower his wastband so it wouldn't pop out of his pants.

When the transformation was complete he sneaked off toward to school he saw a large willow tree growing near the fence.

Using his new claws he climbed up the willow tree to sneak in

From his perch in the willow tree Ichabod had a good view of the school's layout. There were five brick buildings. One must be the office. At least one must be classrooms. And at least one must be dorm rooms. It wasn't immediately obvious which was which. As he sat there thinking about it a bell ring and some girls exited one of the buildings. Aha! Classrooms!

He looked carefully with his sharp cat eyes, but none of the girls was Marzipan. This was her first day. Maybe she hadn't been assigned to any classes yet. She might be in the office.

Ichabod resisted the urge to leap down and prowl around looking for Marzipan even though that's what he wanted to do. He couldn't risk getting caught before he even knew where she was. Maybe it would be best to wait until it was dark. Then he could prowl around unseen.

But then he spotted her. She had just walked out of one of the buildings. She was alone and she looked so sad! Ichy knew she couldn't like it here. She only ran away because he was such a jerk. Why did he have to screw things up like this? He saw that she was headed for the office. If he ran fast he could intercept her. He jumped down from the tree.
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Ichabod finally caught up with Marzipan and called her out quietly.

"Marzi!" he said.

Marzipan looked back and almost jumped to see him.

"I..Ichy? What are you doing here?!" she replied.

Meanwhile, Dojen and Alice ran over to Crane's house to see if Ichabod was there. But he told them that he wasn't home. They ran off again until they ran into Greg and Shelly.

"Dojen!" cried out Shelly.

"Aunt Shelly?" he said smiling but panting.

"Dojen its good to see you! I knew you were chasing a girl but NO! My stupid brother didn't believe me. Especially a beautiful human like alice~!"

Dojen and Alice blushed deeply red and looked at each other. Alice coughed and cleared her throat.

"Mr. Greg is it? We have big news and we need to find Ichabod before he gets into danger!" Alice cried out.

"Huh wait? Calm down and tell us what happen." Greg asked.

"Well.... Only Dojen saw it. And knew and heard all of it."
Dojen wasen't sure how to say it but he maneged to blurt out that Brad was a fox and that he was using a poition to turn himself into a human.

"This sounds highly unusaul" Shelly said "Why would he turn himself into a human if he didn't like humans?"

"I think this Brad Stud character maybe a feral" Greg said

Dojen and Shelly gulped Ferals are what you call a chimera pyscopath. Normaly chimeras aren't hostle without good reason but Brad's violent behavior seemed a little bit much even for a fox.

"You wait here." Greg told the others "I'll check out hs house."

Meanwhile Ichabod and Marzipan had snuck off into her room

"We don't have much time in here." Marzipan said as her tail lashed nervously "My roomate will be in here by nine."

"Roomate?" Ichabod asked

"Ellonwy Scale." Marzipan confirmed "Snake Chimera, King Cobra to be excact."

"I wanted to apologyze for what I did." Ichabod said "I have no defense for what I did."

"We could get out of here." Marzipan said "Theres a club down the road from here called The Pied Piper's its 1980s themed got a bunch posters on the wall and stuff."

Ichabod wodered why Marzipan would change the subject so bluntly, but he coulden't wonder for long becuase she was heading out the window, on to a nearby tree branch and he had no choice but to follow

Meanwhile Greg was snooping nearby the Stud household. He 'jimmied' a lock and found his way in.

He saw a picture of Brad is his fox form with his mother, a very 'foxy' lady herself. He noticed something else on the table he saw a calling card, a small paper that read

'Telekele Rekks, Founder of Animals Anonimous'

"Animals Anonimous?!" Greg wondered "That a support group for Chimera alcholics for something?"

Than he noticed something on the back. Lemon juice! If he took the card home and ironed it he would be able to read the back!

Meanwhile Marzipan and Ichabod had found the Pied Piper's. Outtside many Chimera gathered at a psycodelic building, inside there was a curious music.

"You sure you want to do this?" Ichabod asked Marzipan nodded

They went inside where they saw a couble chimera playing 80s rock. They walls were dark, gritty and covered with movie posters

Ichabod and Marzipan found a table but the music was so loud they couldn't talk without shouting.

"Maybe coming here was not a good idea!" Ichy shouted. But Marzi just smiled at him and said, "Let's dance."

There were a lot of people dancing and there wasn't much room. Ichy found himself constantly bumping into or brushing up against other people. Most of them were girls. Then he remembered The Pied Piper's was near a girls school.

Most of the girls were chimeras and some of them were really hot. He couldn't take his eyes off a mink chimera. Not only was her body curved in spectacular ways but her dark hair was so soft and silky that he... He yanked his head around and looked at Marzipan. Her eyes were half closed and she was smiling that little smile again.

He pulled her close to him and spoke into her ear, "I need to talk to you."
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Marzi looked into his eyes confused but nodded her head.

"Ichy... What do you need to talk about?"

Ichabod coughed and cleared his throat not sure how to make it out. But he only stared into her beautiful eyes. His throat had a lump in it and it stuck getting bigger as he grew hotter.

Back with the others, they finally reached Shelly's car. A Silver Camaro.

"We'll take my car. Dojen, stay with Alice and find Mr. Crane. Its important." she said.

"way ahead of ya aunt! Come Alice follow me!" he said running off.

"W..Wait!" called out Alice as she followed right behind him.

Greg got into the passenger seat with Shelly and took out an apple.

"Boy am I hungry." he said.

Shelly sighed and sweat dropped staring at Greg.

"How can you be hungry at a time like this?"

"Tension."
Ichabod and Marzipan exited The Pied Piper's, Ichy was running his fingers through his carroty hair over and over again, stumbling and fumbling over his words.

"It's just I don't know... I feel..I feel..." He sighed "Marzi this fur is itchy, Mind if I slip back into human form?"

"Go ahead." She said

He took a sip the antidote and once again became his human self.

Meanwhile at Rook's house Rook was with his mother who raised him alone (His Father was a deadbeat)

His mother was brushing out his fur, he sighed and wagged his tail with bliss.

The doorbell ringed "Open up!" It was Dojen's voice

Rook sighed with annoyance at his Euphoria being interupted.

"Dojen Darko, A suprise to see you."

"Hi." Dojen said

He handed Rook a peice of paper "Dose this mean anything to you?"

"Rook read the card

Gnostic Animal Overlords or GAO." Rook scrathched his head and gawked "No this dosen't mean anything to me. Why?"

"Greg Narson found it in Brad Stud's house." Dojen said "And since you were a fox like he is I figured you'd know what it was."

"Whoa Whoa Whoa!" Rook snapped "Brad a fox?! Have you been sniffing scented candles again?"

"It was ONE TIME!" Yowled the Dragon "Let it go already!"

The Fox and Dragon regraded each other for a while. Than Rook said "I think I may know what GAO means, let me type in to Google."

Meanwhile Ichabod and Marzipan sat alone under the willow trees beside a lazy river.

"It really is beautiful here in the countlyside" Ichabod sighed wistfully "It must be even more beautiful to your senses"

"It's true, I can see and hear and smell more than humans can." She mewed "But weather or not anything is more or less beautiful is purely subjective, Sometimes a river is just a river."

She chuckled "Jeebies, we're such nerds!"

"Yeah." He said

Marzi felt his his brow "You feel warm"

Ichabod than kissed her more feircefully and passionatly than he ever did before!

After the kiss broke, a warm glow fell over the cat, her fur sunk into her skin and on her head long pink and purple hair grew, her claws became nails and her paws became feet! She had become human through a kiss!

Ichabod's mouth fell open in surprise. Marzipan leaned forward and covered it with her own mouth. Their tongues met and danced a happy dance. Ichabod shivered with joy. The pleasure was so great he felt he would melt from it. With their arms around each other he and Marzipan were like two halves finally joined together to make one person.

* * *

Rook stared at his monitor. "Government Accounting Office?"

"No," Dojen said. "That can't be right. It's Gnostic Animal Overlords, I tell you."

"Bu that doesn't make any sense."

"Neither does Government Accounting Office! Why would he carry a card with Government Accounting Office printed on it in secret ink?"

"Why not? Crazier things have happened."

"You don't immediately leap to the craziest explanation if there is something more logical to consider!"

Shelly clapped her hands. "Okay! Okay! You guys are getting off into philosophical arguments. The important thing is: What are we going to do next?"
A Non-Existent User
Dojen walked back and fourth thinking of what to do.

"Can you type in the whole thing without abriviating it?" he said.

Rook sighed and did as he was told. When the search came up there was only one article about it. It was on Wikipedia.

"How bout ths?" Rook said as he clicked in it.

"Yes. Try that."

Rook clicked it and read through the article of GAO.

It seems that Gnostic Animal Overlords is a group of ferals wanting to put an end to all human kind. They even try and alter some humans they capture and alter their DNA. Sometimes through different types of humans in a most weird mixed color possible. They even have wings and tails or furr on them. They want to use this to kill all humans.

"Ohh crap.... Dojen you were right!" Rook called out.

"See?! What did I tell ya?!"


Finally, Ichabod and Marzipan broke their most passonate kiss ever!

'21 seconds' Ichabod thought 'That's a new record for me!'

Marzipan gave a big sleepy smile, and than fainted in a swoon on the riverbank. Ichabod chuckled

"Marzipan, you're so silly." He said He kind of liked her human form, he certenly liked it more than he liked being a cat.

He lay his hand on her face, and that's when he noticed something wrong.

"You're burning up!" He exclamed

She was indeed burning hot to the touch. When he picked up her wrist to feel her pulse, he was frighted by what he felt

"Oh God you really are sick!" He felt terribly frightened, how could this happan?

In his panic he absent mindedly licked his lips, and that's what clued him in.

"Deadly Nightshade?" He asked himself

He looked at his reflection in the water and that's when it hit him

"Oh geez." He said "I must be inheriting Mother's plant powers. I must've given Marzi a poison kiss!"

Suddenly he knew he had to get her to a doctor... He tried to pick her up but even as a human she was too heavy for him.

Suddenly a bloodhound chimera walked by

"Something the matter?" The dog asked

"I think I accidently poisoned my girlfriend." Ichabod said meekly

"Accidentally?" the bloodhound said with a very skeptical look on his face.

"Yes! Accidentally! Do you think I did it on purpose?!"

"I don't know," said the dog. "That will all come out in the investigation."

"What investigation?"

"The investigation about why your girlfriend was poisoned by you."

"I didn't poison her! I mean... I did... but it was accidental. You don't know the whole story."

"I'm sure I don't but I will after the investigation. Put your hands behind your back, please."

"Wha- what? You aren't going to handcuff me, are you?"

The dog lowered his brow. "Look, buddy, we can do this the easy way or we can do this the hard way. Your choice. Put your hands behind your back."
A Non-Existent User
The others all piled into Shelly's car cramed in the back as she and Greg drove their way towards the school. After some time later they arrived at what seems to be a couple of cop cars and one ambulence.

"What the hell is happening now?" cried Rook trying to get a good view outside.

Dojen and Alice were both squished together and were blushing. They looked away trying to avoid their gave. Shelly looked out and gasped as she saw Ichabod being taken in the car.

"Oh my god! Its Ichabod! He's being arrested!" she yelled getting out of the car.

"WHAT?!" everyone cried out piling out the doors.

Ichabod got into the squad car but looked back surprised to see the teachers and the other kids.

After a long squalid messy affair of argueing, explaining and some biting and hair pulling (Mostly by Greg and Dojen)

Everyone managed to get this whole thing sorted out

"So... You're saying this boy somehow secretes deadly toxins on his lips? And if he kisses someone they get poisoned?"

"Yes. That is what I just finished telling you." Pamela Isly-Crane tapping her foot

"In case no one's noticed Marzipan's life is slipping away like sand in an hourglass!" Ichabod blurted out

"Son." Pamela said gently "I think if you kiss her a second time you'll give her the andidote"

"You sure?" He asked

"Yes really." She responded

Ichabod knelt down to a now human Marzipan her breath shallow

"Marzipan I'm so sorry..." He almost thought not said

He placed his mouth on hers.

The human girl with pink and purple hair, turned back into a cat with pink and purple fur.

"Where am I?" She asked "Ichabod? Is that you? I dremt I was an ordanary cat in a cage..."

Than she began to cough and hack and wheeze. Everyone looked at each other nervously

"You were poisoned." Pamela said "It may take you a day or two to recuperate"

Jonathan sighed and looked at the cat-girl with a tenderness that he rarely showed for anyone outside his family

"The other teachers and I will sort things out with your parents so you can retern to Moreau high."

Than with Pamela lifting up her head and Jonathan picking up her foot paws

"Now let's bring you home. Where you belong my dear."

Pamela and Ichabod were a little stunned Prof. Crane hadly ever called anyone dear, heck he didn't call Pamela that for the first six years of marriage

Perhaps it was her status as his son's lady friend or that he was empathetic to her suffering weakend state but either way it was a great change from the cold, cruel Scarecrow he once was.

That day after everyone slept in, Marzipan somehow managed to wake up first

That night she dremt of Ichabod's death again



It was one of those strange dreams where you are aware you are dreaming but you don't wake up. It was very disturbing because in the dream she was walking toward Ichabod's room with a huge knife held up poised to strike. She tiptoed down the hallway and quietly pushed open his door. She gripped the knife tightly. I'll have to plunge it into his heart, she thought, or he will wake up and try to stop me.

When she realized what she was thinking she started trembling and shaking and dropped the knife. The sound of the knife hitting the floor woke her up and she suddenly realized she was standing outside Ichabod's room. Oh my God, she thought. It was really happening. I was sleep-walking. Another moment and I would have killed Ichabod!

Her eyes rolled back and she collapsed in a faint.

The sound woke up Ichabod and he jumped out of bed and knelt over her. "Marzi? Marzi? What is it? What happened?"

Marzipan's eyes fluttered and she woke up again.

"Are you alright?" Ichabod said. "What are you doing out here in the hall?"

Marzipan could feel the knife underneath her. She had fallen on it. My God, I hope he doesn't see the knife, she thought. But there was no practical way to hide it and as Ichabod helped her up he said, "Why is there a knife out here?"

He looked at Marzipan. "Is this YOUR knife? Were you standing here with a knife?"

Marzipan looked down. What could she say?

Ichabod stared at the knife and stared at Marzipan and slowly shook his head. "I don't understand."
Marzipan stared at the knife, she had no answer.

For the longest time she just stared at her paws. Ichabod was equally sillent

"Ichabod..." She finaly said "I don't think I can see you anymore. I don't know why but I don't think I can be with you anymore."

Ichabod looked at her trying to understand what she was getting at

"I am an animal." She said her voice broken with greif "And you are a human. Either Mother Earth or the Great Spirit or The Gods or whoever you want beleive is in charge will not allow us to be together..."

And with that she ran out of Ichabod's house into the dark night


Meanwhile in a remote place, a Tyrannosaurus Chimera watched the whole specticle through his crystal ball.

He grinned a toothy grin.

"It dose work." He said without suprise "With my telepath machine I can controll any chimera!"


(Stay tuned for part 2 The Quest for Furtopia)

The End!

© Copyright 2008 Twiga, Steev the Friction Wizurd, Blue-Inspired, xx-xx, xx-xx, (known as GROUP).
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