"Welcome to Scratch Writing Camp! Home to cabins full of skilled writers, mango armies, and a meowing polar bear! Come join our amazing community of misfits today!" "Rubbish." Robin crumbled up the advertisement tucked inside of the newspaper and threw it away in the trashcan. Ravioli, the meowing polar bear, lay on the floor adjacent to her, sadly gnawing on a plush flute. Another session has passed by at Scratch Writing Camp- and camp admissions had gone down dramatically. The situation was only getting worse- cabins were being phased out, leaders cut, and campers left scrambling to find out what exactly would happen to the camp. Robin needed help- and fast. Knock, knock. "Who is it?" Robin leaned back in her chair and called out. The Pied Piper entered the room, wearing a long coat and an even longer smile. "So, we meet again, Robin." "The Pied Piper." Robin grit her teeth. Not long ago, the Pied Piper had almost managed to get everyone in camp killed. He had done it one once, but TWICE (it was a long story.) "What are you doing here? The mango army and guitar heroes banished you ages ago." "That's just the reason I came to you in the first place." The Piper put down a small, purple box wrapped in a bow on Robin's desk and knelt down to the polar bear's level, reaching out to scratch his ear. "Ravioli, my good friend. It's been a while, hasn't it?" Ravioli growled in response. "Anyways, I just wanted to apologize." The Piper took off his hat and folded it to his chest. "I know we haven't gotten along the best in the past few years, but I've heard how much the camp has struggled in recent times and I wanted to help." "And how," Robin crossed her arms. "Could you possibly help us?" "I know a few people. All you need to do is sign this paper." The Piper opened the box and took out a long, white sheet of paper. He pointed to a 'SIGN HERE' box on the paper's front. "Come on, Robin. You know you want to." Robin put her hand to her head and rubbed her temples, face contorted in thought. On one hand, the Pied Piper didn't seem like a good person to trust, especially since the camp was in such a state of need right now. On the other hand, the Pied Piper's friends would be helping, and not him directly. Beside, the camp needed the aid. "I'm not standing here all day, Birdi." The word stung out like a sore thumb. Ever since Birdi had left SWC a few sessions ago, Robin had been forced to step up as a leader, and now, she had to come face-to-face with one of, if not the hardest decision in her leadership. "It's a deal." Robin extended her hand out for a shake. The Piper accepted it graciously. "I'll send my helpers over tonight." The Piper grinned as he passed Robin a pen so she would be able to sign the paper. "Have fun, Robin. I'm sure my friends will." "What was that?" Robin said, turning around. "Oh nothing, nothing at all." The Fairytale army arrived at Scratch Writing Camp the following day. The Three Little Pigs, the Big Bad Wolf, and Jack and the giant all came lumbering in through the camp doors. "ROBIN!" Bookie came running through the doors of the Fantasy cabin. "Something awful is happening!" "Doesn't something awful happen every session nowadays?" Robin span around in her wheely chair. "Let me guess- the Pied Piper is causing chaos again?" "Why did you even invite him back?" Organic, leader of the Mango army, was right behind Bookie, his face contorted in disappointment as he talked to Robin. "How you forgotten how he almost ended the camp twice?" "I was just in the Fairy Tales cabin." Bookie looked around nervously. "The fairy tale army isn't helping us at all- they're conducting a raid!" It was true. Throughout the day, all the fairy-tale characters had run amok in the camp. The Three Little Pigs made mini forts out of bricks, sticks, and straw, blocking the cafeteria from access. Jack and the giant played chicken fight in the cloud, causing rain everywhere. The Big Bad Wolf blew all the flowers and plants in the greenhouse away. Robin was furious. And just when she thought she would be able to trust the Piper again! The following day, when the Pied Piper came over to check out the progress made on the truce, she confronted him. "What have you done?" Robin yelled. "Your 'helpers' are just nuisances!" "Oh, Robin." The Pied Piper chuckled. "If only, if only you had read the fine print." The bottom of the contract read: "NOTE, THAT THE FAIRY TALE ARMY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CHAOS CAUSED DURING THE TRUCE." Robin was stunned. How could she have been this stupid? Throughout the night, she lay in her bed, hearing the anarchy outside and hating how blindly she had followed orders. Wynter was stroking Ravioli when Robin came lumbering in the main cabin, head in hands. "I'm doomed." "What happened?" Wynter stopped petting the polar bear and cocked her head.
"I signed a contract without looking at the fine print and now the Fairy Tale army can run amok like crazies!" "Maybe," Wynter spoke in a low voice. "We need to beat the Piper via his own game." "What do you mean?" "Oh, I'll show you." Wynter grinned. "When can I uncover my eyes?" The Piper stumbled around, his face covered by a rag. "Soon." Robin grinned. The Piper stood on something papery and white. "What was that?" He flinched. "Nothing, just the contract you just signed." Wynter took the paper off the piper's foot and smiled. "A contract saying that the Fairy Tale army must leave SWC effective immediately. "W-what?" The Piper was stunned. "But that's not fair! You can't sign a contract with you foot!" "Should have read the fine print." Robin read the paper. "NOTE THAT THIS CONTRACT IS SIGNED BY FOOT AND CALLS FOR THE TERMINATION OF ALL FAIRY-TALE CHARACTERS FROM THE CAMP. Beat you at your own game, Piper."
