Ashlynn's Misfortune

Chapter Five

The woods were completely dark by the time they were well into the Forbidden Forest.

Ashlynn had reluctantly agreed to carry Raven  on her donkey back, after she'd continuously complained about blisters on her feet, as they plodded along through the underbrush.

A twig snaps somewhere to their left and Ashlynn freezes midstride. Both of the girls' heads whip fast in the direction, hearts thumping against their chests.

With a loud squawk and noises like an elephant trampling through a forest, a large shape appears.

Ashlynn hee-haws loudly and takes off, Raven clinging for dear life to her mane.

Jumping over trees logs and roots, and around trees, they zoom through the forest until they suddenly find themselves suspended in mid-air. A metallic hand then plops them inside a house. The scary shape turned out to be Madame Baba Yaga's chicken house, just the person they were looking for.

"Raven Queen, didn't expect to see you out past curfew like this. But I like it. It proves you're not bound by rules, just like your mother during her time at school," Madame Baba Yaga says, brushing back her gray hair. "May I ask who this companion is of yours? A very unique looking donkey indeed."

Raven scrambles to her feet. "Madame Baba Yaga, we've come seeking your help," Raven says.

"Oh? You need my help? What for?"

"You may not believe me, but this donkey is in fact Ashlynn Ella."

Madame Baba Yaga stares quizzically.

"Someone snuck a potion into Ashlynn's bookbag yesterday. Ashlynn drank it and this happened," Raven gestures to the blue donkey with its head hung in shame. "She's been a donkey for two days and we need to get her back to human."

"I've never heard of a potion that reverses the effect of an animal potion. Potions that turn humans into animals are a rarity in itself. I'm afraid I can't help you."

"Wait, we found this. Ashlynn was taken from her stables last night by two bandits. They had a book about potions and tucked inside was this map," Raven says, pulling out the paper from inside her satchel.

Madame Baba Yaga takes it in her weathered hands.

"There are various places marked and images of three things. We have the blue seashell," Raven points to the drawing of it. "But we need the yellow flower and the seven-leaf clover."

Madame Baba Yaga studies the map for a moment, scratches her chin in contemplation, and then hands it back.

"Come to think of it, I did catch Kitty Cheshire and Faybelle Thorn heading back from the direction of Meadow Fields about a week ago. Everyone knows that it's strictly forbidden from all students, due to the fact that the rare yellow Yamenelle flower only grows there. I gave them detention and forgot about it," Madame Baba Yaga explains.

"Why would they be there?" Raven says.

"I have a hunch that they thought it would be a funny prank, knowing those two. Potions for turning humans into animals, and vice versa, always require only one ingredient that is the exact same. In this case, a Yamenelle flower."

"When we get Ashlynn back, those two are going to feel my wrath," Raven mutters, fists clenched in anger.

"Feel free to release your anger in whatever way you want," Madame Baba Yaga says as she turns to the controls of the chicken hut. "I've decided that I'll take you and Ashlynn as close to Meadow Fields as I can. The trees tend to get too thick for the chicken hut to maneuver through."

"Thank you so much, Madame Baba Yaga," Raven says.

"But first, you must rest and eat. You look haggard and the woods are not exactly a friendly place at night."

Madame Baba Yaga makes a pillow nest on the floor of the hut and then brings the two girls pieces of apple pie. After eating, Raven and donkey Ashlynn lay down on the pillow mound and fall asleep.

The first rays of dawn stream through the windows of the chicken hut. Raven blinks her eyes and sits up, as Ashlynn lets out a relaxing sigh in her sleep.

"When are we leaving?" Raven asks Madame Baba Yaga, who seems as though she never slept at all, still sitting at the controls.

"Right after you two eat your breakfast," Madame Baba Yaga replies, "might want to wake Ashlynn up. The sooner we get there the closer we'll be to her freedom."

As promised, after a breakfast of porridge, the chicken bounded off through the Forbidden Forest.

Meanwhile, at Ever After High, the students were gossiping like bees in a hive. Ashlynn had been gone for nearly two days, a student suddenly disappearing with no clues as to their whereabouts was unheard of.

When Briar Beauty and Cedar Hood learned of the donkey Ashlynn's sudden disappearance, they couldn't focus in any of their classes and constantly seemed to be searching the school grounds for signs of where their friend could've possibly gone.

Blondie's Mirrorcast had become even more popular over the time of Ashlynn's disappearance. Everyone wondering what the latest scoop about it was.

"Welcome back to the Mirrorcast show, everyone!" Blondie says to the recording camera.

Sparrow Hood, son of Robin Hood, and his band of Merry Men make a loud raucous, supposedly called music, in the background. It sounds more like a metal spoon being sent through a wood chipper mixed with a braying goat.

Blondie cringes at the noise before turning back to reporter mode.

"As you all are well aware, our beloved fellow student, and daughter of Cinderella, has gone missing. But don't worry everyone, it's usual for the Ella family to be late. Perhaps Ashlynn simply got lost?" Blondie says.

By the afternoon, the chicken hut had arrived at its ending point, it couldn't go any closer to Meadow Fields.

"We can't thank you enough for helping us, Madame Baba Yaga," Raven says. Ashlynn nods her donkey head to say "thank you," as well.

"I must warn you to be careful, Raven," Madame Baba Yaga says in a serious tone, as she opens the door for them. "The woods at night are not your friend. You must find the next two items quickly. Take care of each other, and before you know it, Ashlynn will be back to normal."

"We promise we will," Raven replies, and she meant it.