Waking Up

“I can’t breathe! I need air! Why can't I breathe? Everything is so dark and cold. Am I underwater? Why is everything going black…..” his eyes closed.

“HUGhhhh….cough cough huh?” He started to look around at his surroundings.  Where am I?

"You stupid kid, why get in if you can't swim!?", he looked up and saw an old man taking a hook out of his shirt.

“What the..cough cough” the old man walked over and hit the boy on his back making him spit out more water.

“You should spit out that lake water before you choke” He looked up at the old man staring down at him… “You're not thousands of screaming fangirls” The old man looked at him with disdain.

“ What in tarnation are you babbling about did you let that lake water sink into your brain I ain't no girl-” he smacked the boy on the head.

“Owww!!! What the… did you kidnap me, old geezer? I know I have fans but to kidnap me and then dress like a peasant to hide your identity is on a whole other level."

The old man just glared at him.

“Why would I kidnap an idiot like you I was just fishin' mindin' my own business and caught you instead!!!! I should ask you what you're doing meddling in the lake!!!"

“Hey old man I'm a celebrity, a star, I'm the one and only Ace loved by all for my talent and good looks.”  The old man rolled his eyes.

“ Yes and Im Prince Kai," he said sourly.

“Look old man Im just as confused as you are I was performing a concert, I fell off the stage, and now I'm here! Then all of a sudden Im drowning, Wait where am I exactly?” Ace looked around to see a forest with strange animals roaming about. Looking up ahead at the road he could make out a small village that looked to be from the medieval times. The only thing that was puzzling him was how weird the animals were. Like they were some weird mutant-type species from a comic book.

“ Boy you're in a small town called Bicalow Village.” the old man replied.

“Whhhaaat???? Ace looked down “My clothes!!!!!! They're different my leather jacket and skinny jeans are now a tunic and cape???” The old man looked at the boy and shook his head.

“ Your hopeless sonny here, how bout I take you home so you can rest, I think you hit your head." Looking around confused and lost Ace had no choice but to go along with the old man. It was better than being alone with weird creatures.

As they were walking back to the old man's home Ace asked “What's your name, old man?”

“Well, Sonny Boy the names Chester."

“Chester? Thanks for saving me, Chester!"

“No need to thank me lad the one who saved you was this ol' hook here." The old man held up a fishing hook that looked as though it was made of a glistening pearl.

“A fishing hook made of pearls?”

Chester looked at Ace and said, “ No it's scintillate crystal, the strongest material in the world. Sells for a pretty penny too. If it weren't for this little fella you'd have been a goner."

"Scintillate crystal?? Never heard of it, doesn't ring a bell even from my school days. Where did you find this at?"

"If you dig deep enough in the right places you'll find some. I just happened to stumble upon this one and made it into a hook so I can catch some mighty beasts without them gettin' away."

"What kind of fish needs a hook strong enough to support the strength of a human?"

"You're not from around here are you laddy?" Chester spoke.

"How'd you know???" He laughed as he scratched the back of his head.

"A wild guess," Chester muttered.

"So we are in a small town called Bicalow but where is that exactly?"

"Well, Lad! This small town is located in the kingdom of Zoul."

"Zoul, is that some isolated place in like France or England?"

Chester just looked at him confused "Aint no land named such as those! You must have hit your head on a rock when I pulled you in boy!"

"Hey, old geezer stop calling me boy! I'm a man I'm 21 years old!"

"Still a boy in the eyes of time," Chester said.

As the two came closer, the village started to become clear, it was evident that this small village was run down and almost in poverty. As they arrived at the house Chester unlocked the door with a small key in his pocket welcoming Ace to the small space inside. As Ace walked through the door the aroma of warm stew hit him making his mouth water. As Chester followed behind him A cheery voice greeted him.

“My dear Chester welcome back! Dinner is almost ready!!! Suddenly a lovely old lady came out from behind the wall and stopped in her tracks. “Oh my, Chester what on earth! You poor dear all soaked from head to toe where on earth did this poor boy come from?" 

"I pulled him in after he decided to scare all the fish away. Lad decided to go for a swim." Chester replied. The old woman looked at the boy.

“Your husband was kind enough to save me from drowning.” Ace chimed

“ My Chester a hero!? What is your name pumpkin?”

Ace grabbed the old woman's hand and gently placed a kiss on it bowing. "The name is Ace mam it is such a pleasure to meet you, beautiful lady."

"Ace! Well, aren't you a handsome thing and a little flirt!" The old lady grabbed Ace's cheeks and pinched them until red.

"Ace this here is my wife Marleen!" Chester smiled 

"Yes! Yes, enough talking pumpkin this lad is probably starving and cold. Chester go get some of your old clothes that might fit this poor boy hurry." After Chester brought back some clothes Marleen then shoved Ace toward a door,  "Here quickly go and take a bath, just because you came from a lake doesn't mean you need to smell like a fish. And after you're all washed up come out and meet us for some dinner. Can't let you have an empty stomach."

“Thank you so much mam,” Ace said as he was shooed toward the bathroom.

Marleen looked worriedly at Chester. " You mean you just found the lad in the lake?"

"Yes, I think he hit his head the kid had been rambling nonsense since I fished him out something bout bein' a star with a bunch of girls screaming. Sounds like all that water he swallowed made him delusional."

"You don't think that poor pumpkin was one of Prince Kai's targets and was left to die in the lake, do you? I know the war is starting to move closer to Bicalow but not this close! It frightens me, Chester!"

"Don't worry Marleen, we're safe for now we will have to wait on some intel to know for sure though," Chester said quietly.

As Ace walked into the bathroom he saw a small wooden bath bin with a thin metal spout faucet. Ace walked closer to further inspect the empty bath bin when he was stopped in his tracks by a giant sharded mirror. When he looked at his reflection it was not his face looking back.

My face! What in the world is happening? My brown hair is now Black! My blue eyes are now Green! I know I was handsome before, but man these looks can kill! If only my fans could see my face now he thought admiring himself in the mirror. He poured himself the hot bath and quickly finished cleaning up. Once done Ace put on the dry clean clothes waiting for him and went to meet with Chester and Marleen.

He went to the kitchen and sat at the small oak table near the warm fireplace. As he waited for food Ace sat there enjoying the warmth of the fire on his face and the sound of the crackling firewood. Marleen quickly came over with a small wooden bowl full of steaming hot stew and set it in front of Ace with a small basket of freshly baked bread. The aroma alone was enough to make Ace's stomach grumble.

"I know it's not much pumpkin, but I made it with all my heart." Marleen beamed.

"Don't apologize this is more than enough!!! And it's homemade I feel so special." Ace replied. This was the first time he was getting to eat fresh bread after constantly being on strict diets as an idol. As he lifted the spoon to his mouth, Ace sipped that first sip of stew which melted all the day's worry that had been built up. As the hot soup went down his throat Ace froze in shock

"What's wrong does it taste bad!?"

He looked at Marleen, "This is the best food I've ever had!" He quickly gobbled up the food.

 "Slow down there's plenty for seconds."

"That's right lad my Marleen here is the best cook! Her food is beloved by all." Chester added.

"Thank you my love that is the highest compliment I have received." Marleen replied, "As for you Ace, I washed and hung your clothes to dry and you can rest here for tonight."

"Thank you so much!  You both have been so kind."

After dinner, Chester threw an old tattered-up feather pillow on the ground of the main room and a straw mat for Ace to sleep on.

Ace laid there wondering about back home. My manager is probably freaking out by now, my fans are probably worried sick as well. Maybe this is all a dream? It has to be, I mean I did get hit in the head with a stage light and then fell off stage so maybe I got a concussion? Yeah, that's it. I'll wake up in the hospital and this weird dream will be over! But man I must be starved for affection to be dreaming about the grandparents I never had! Hehehe well, all good things must come to an end. 

Ace then dozed off into the night not knowing the truth he was soon to discover.