PB_5_OnceUponATime

Queen Woman is my favorite queen. Look at how lovingly she looks at her child - who has grown so much over these years...\n\nAllow me to introduce you to...\n\n<<display "Princess Boy">>

BOOKSHELF: Very well. How about... Princess Boy?\n\n<<display "Bookshelf 4">>

Princess Boy and Little Elephant

Mama is snoring lightly.\n\n<<display "Toys">>

Aaliyah raises the fourth block over the high-rise and carefully places it down, down down - perfect! Four blocks tall. "Yes!" She says. \n\nAALIYAH:\n<<choice [[Does Papa have to fight a lot?|Papa 3-1]]>>\n<<choice [[Do they celebrate birthdays in war?|Papa 3-2]]>>\n<<choice [[Why can`t girls go to war?|Papa 3-3]]>>

Aaliyah raises her snout and topples her four-block tower with a quiet snarl. \n\nAALIYAH:\n<<choice [[When will Papa come back?|Papa 4]]>>\n<<choice [[Mama, will you tell me the Mama-Papa story again?|Papa 4]]>>\n<<choice [[Does Papa still have his moustache?|Papa 4]]>>

Aaliyah puts another block on top of the two blocks on Pigeon and Cockatoo. That's now three blocks. She lifts the fourth block very carefully with her snout...\n\nAALIYAH:\n<<choice [[Do you think he got my birthday card?|Papa 2-1]]>>\n<<choice [[What did you write on your birthday card?|Papa 2-2]]>>\n<<choice [[I drew a picture of you and me and Papa on his birthday card.|Papa 2-3]]>>

Oh, how he broods alone in his chair. What's he thinking about, I wonder. Anyways, onwards!\n\n[[Continue|South]]

Here is Merchant Quetzal, who sells garments woven in the south.\n\n<<display "Palaces">>

Here is Merchant Cow, who sells her milk, and the milk of all of her maidens.\n\n<<display "Palaces">>

BABY AALIYAH: I love to read but I don't know words! Will you read to me?\n\n<<display "Baby-pic-2">>

BABY AALIYAH: I am already your sister! Will you read me a story?\n\n<<display "Baby-pic-2">>

In the corner sits Aaliyah's little bed. [[Sit on bed|Bed]]\n\nBehind it, the bookshelf, with many, many books. [[Talk to bookshelf|Bookshelf]]

King Polar Bear and King Penguin have had a long and powerful alliance. King Penguin brings the gold, and King Polar Bear brings the steel. It's quite interesting actually - their kingdoms have fascinating economies - but alas, I have a story to tell...\n\n[[Continue|South]]

...the beautiful Princess Boy!\n\nOh, look at how they dance! Look at the splendid movement and the way their hair and their clothes swerve with their sways.\n\nThey practice for the oncoming celebration of their 12th year of life. Hurray!\n\n[[Continue|WHAT]]

Here is Farmer Bull, who tills all the farmland in the city with his family.\n\n<<display "City">>

Oh, I do not like the look on his face. Let's move on...\n\n[[Continue|South]]

Here is Merchant Penguin, who sells ice from his family in the north.\n\n<<display "Palaces">>

AALIYAH:\n<<choice [[Maybe tomorrow...|Bookshelf-3-1]]>>\n<<choice [[No, he`s too mean.|Bookshelf-3-2]]>>\n<<choice [[The Little Prince is is resting today.|Bookshelf-3-3]]>>

...\n\nLet's see here. \n\nAh, this is unfortunate. \n\nWe seem to have run out words. Are these pages blank?\n\nAlas!\n\n[[What?|WHAT2]]

The book falls onto the floor. \n\nTHUMP\n\nMama rolls over on the couch. The snoring stops. Aaliyah freezes, and stays still until Mama begins to snore again. \n\nLying on the floor is a book, titled in gold: Princess Boy of the Kingdom of the Valley. [[Read|Once Upon a Time]]

AALIYAH:\n<<choice [[This is a book that I haven`t read! Yes, yes, I want to read it!|Bookshelf-4-1]]>>\n<<choice [[Ah! You have it? Where?|Bookshelf-4-2]]>>\n<<choice [[But Mama told me that book is for grownups. Is it hiding on your head? My snout does not go that high.|Bookshelf-4-3]]>>

AALIYAH:\n<<choice [[I do!|Bookshelf-5-1]]>>\n<<choice [[I do!|Bookshelf-5-2]]>>\n<<choice [[I do!|Bookshelf-5-3]]>>

Here is Farmer Mole. He and his family plant the crops in the city's farms.\n\n<<display "City">>

Here is Noblewoman Anteater. She wishes to escape this city with her friend, Lady Mongoose, with whom she is secretly in love.\n\n<<display "Court">>

BOOKSHELF: Very well, then.\n\n<<display "Bookshelf 6">>

BOOKSHELF: Very well. Watch out, here it comes!\n\n<<display "Bookshelf 6">>

BOOKSHELF: Okay, now, watch your head...\n\n<<display "Bookshelf 6">>

jquery:off\nhash:off\nbookmark:on\nmodernizr:off\nundo:on\nobfuscate:off\nexitprompt:off\nblankcss:off\n

King Man is distracted, as a king is wont to do. Of coure, he's come of age long, long ago. No, let me introduce you...\n\n<<display "Princess Boy">>

Deeper into the city we go. Ah, here are the palaces, where live the nobility. \n\n<<choice [[Nobleman Tapir]]>>\n<<choice [[Noblewoman Mantis]]>>\n<<choice [[Noblewoman Anteater]]>>

What is she wispering about, this time? Curious.\n\n[[Continue|South]]

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BABY AALIYAH: But it's the only book in this whooole room I haven't read!\n\nGo back to photo. [[Back|Photo]]

BABY AALIYAH: It's high on top of the bookshelf so you can't reach it. \n\nGo back to photo. [[Back|Photo]]

BABY AALIYAH: But I want to know who Princess Boy is!\n\nGo back to photo. [[Back|Photo]]

On the photo: \nA family of three, facing the camera, posing rather stiffly.\n\nTalk to [[Papa|Papa-pic-1]].\nTalk to [[Mama|Mama-pic-1]].\nTalk to [[Baby Aaliyah|Baby-pic-1]].\n\nGo back to the wall. [[Back|Wall]]

MAMA: No, it is holiday for me also!\n\n<<display "Work 2">>

MAMA: I forgot - no work today! So now I sleep.\n\n<<display "Work 2">>

MAMA: Hahaha, to make money! To buy food for my Aaliyah. But no work today.\n\n<<display "Work 2">>

ACT I - SCENE I (Text-only prototype) \nMusical Accompaniment: [[Listen|https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL999C807BFB501182]]\nAuthor: [[@raghaaav|http://twitter.com/raghaaav]]\n

My, he's furious! Let us leave angry old men alone...\n\n[[Continue|Royals]]

Aaliyah pops her snout into the bowl, sucks up all the water, and swooshes it out into her mouth. Yum!

It's Monday morning. Aaliyah the Elephant and Mama Elephant have finished breakfast.\nMama prepares to lie down on the couch. She makes a pillow by curling her trunk, folds back her fan-like ears, and puts her head down. She lets out a long, trumpeting sigh. \n\nMAMA: Aaliyah, Mama will take nap, ok?\n\nAALIYAH: Ok. Aaliyah will play Mayor of Junction Point.\n\nAaliyah sits down on her play mat - a colorful map of a quaint town named Junction Point. Her stubby legs fall right between the train station and City Hall. A jumble of toys lie scattered across the mat. Aaliyah scoops them towards herself with her trunk.\n\nAALIYAH:\n<<choice [[Mama, are you going to work today?|Work 1-1]]>>\n<<choice [[Mama, why do you go to work?|Work 1-2]]>>\n<<choice [[Mama, why are you wearing your work clothes?|Work 1-3]]>>\n

Ah, please don't mind the mess! The palace is in preparation for a coming-of-age celebration of a very special persion. Might you have a guess who?\n\n<<choice [[King Man VI]]>>,\n<<choice [[Queen Woman VI]]>>, \n<<choice [[Princess Girl]]>>, who sleeps in Queen Woman's tummy...

PAPA: ...\n\nPapa also wears a moustache.\n\nAALIYAH:\n<<choice [[Do you still have a moustache?|Papa-pic-3]]>>\n<<choice [[Did you see the secret drawing of us in my birthday card?|Papa-pic-3]]>>\n<<choice [[Mama is snoring. Hehe!|Papa-pic-3]]>>

PAPA: ...\n\nGo back to photo. [[Back|Photo]]

Papa wears camoflauge.\n\nAALIYAH:\n<<choice [[Papa, is war fun?|Papa-pic-2]]>>\n<<choice [[Do you celebrate birthdays in war?|Papa-pic-2]]>>\n<<choice [[Where is war, Papa?|Papa-pic-2]]>>\n

BOOKSHELF: Very well. How about The Little Prince?\n\n<<display "Bookshelf 3">>

My, how gravely they carry their faces! Old men can be so serious. Let us go to the dance chamber.\n\n[[Continue|Royals]]

MAMA: Papa is translator. He just use his big mouth. *Yawn*\n\n<<display "Papa 3">>

MAMA: I don't know. My mama does not celebrate birthday. *Yawn*\n\n<<display "Papa 3">>

MAMA: They can go. Mama can go. But Mama want to stay with Aaliyah. *Yawn*\n\n<<display "Papa 3">>

A bookshelf, packed with books, photographs, trinkets, notes, pens, a feather, a tusk, and several envelopes of various sizes.\n\nAALIYAH: Hello, bookshelf! What should I read today?\n\nBOOKSHELF: Hello, Aaliyah the Elephant! How would you like to read about the Princess and the Frog?\n\nAALIYAH:\n<<choice [[Mmmm... maybe later.|Bookshelf-2-1]]>>\n<<choice [[No, I don`t want to read about kissing today.|Bookshelf-2-2]]>>\n<<choice [[The frog is tired of turning into a prince. Let`s give him a rest.|Bookshelf-2-3]]>>

Aaliyah flips through the rest of the pages, but they seem to be blank! \n\nWHAT DO WE DO NOW?\n\nTo be continued...

There are newspapers with pictures of soldiers. "Peace talks postponed due to resurgence of militiants in Three-Fang Mountain Base." Aaliyah wonders if "ree-suuur-gense of milli-tents" is a good thing. There are other papers she cannot read because they're in Mama and Papa's language.

Aaliyah climbs on. She will sit here and read books today, she thinks.

On her town map, Aaliyah places a house on Possum street, a house on Chupacabra street, and a school on Elk street.\nOn the corner of Penguin and Cockatoo, she carefully places a single block.\n\nAALIYAH: \n<<choice [[Is it fun to work?|Work 2-1]]>>\n<<choice [[Do you have a teacher?|Work 2-2]]>>\n<<choice [[What do you eat for lunch?|Work 2-3]]>>

The wall is a gentle cream. \n\nLight pours in the from the window. [[Look through window|Window]]\n\nA photograph beckons her from over her bed. [[Look at photo|Photo]]\n\nThe bed sits tucked away in the corner with a bookshelf. [[Go to bed|Corner]]

AALIYAH:\n<<choice [[What should I read?|Baby-pic-2-1]]>>\n<<choice [[How about Princess and the Frog?|Baby-pic-2-2]]>>\n<<choice [[How about The Little Prince?|Baby-pic-2-3]]>>

AALIYAH:\n<<choice [[Princess Boy? But Mama says we`re not supposed to have that book.|Baby-pic-3-1]]>>\n<<choice [[I don`t know where Mama put Princess Boy.|Baby-pic-3-2]]>>\n<<choice [[I haven`t read Princess Boy yet. Mama says that`s for big sister Aaliyah who`s even bigger than us.|Baby-pic-3-3]]>>

Here is Nobleman Tapir, who sits in his bed all day eating grapes and pining for the love of Lady Penguin, who is visiting the palace for Princess Boy's coming-of-age celebration.\n\n<<display "Court">>

Aaliyah, after having put her mother to sleep and having destroyed the town she had so caringly built, rises from the rubble and stretches herself into a yawn. She heads to the [[table|Table]], where a bowl of water sits glinting in the sunlight.

Baby Aaliyah is very little.\n\nAALIYAH:\n<<choice [[Baby Aaliyah, will you be my sister?|Baby-pic-1-1]]>>\n<<choice [[Baby Aaliyah, would you like to read with me?|Baby-pic-1-2]]>>

Within the city walls live the merchants:\n\n<<choice [[Merchant Penguin]]>>\n<<choice [[Merchant Cow]]>>\n<<choice [[Merchant Quetzal]]>>

And that brings us to the Royal Palace. Here, we have the royal court. You see <<choice [[Grand Vizier Cobra]]>> discussing heatedly some topic of great importance with <<choice [[Viziers Sloth and Lemur]]>>.

On the block on Penguin and Cockatoo, Aaliyah places another block. Beside it, she puts the kid Parrot and the kid Pigeon so they're holding hands.\n\nAALIYAH:\n<<choice [[I don`t know. Will Papa call today?|Papa 1-1]]>>\n<<choice [[Pamela is not my friend anymore. When will Papa call?|Papa 1-2]]>>\n<<choice [[... Has Papa called?|Papa 1-3]]>>

Aaliyah puts Mrs. Walrus by the house on possum street with a baby stroller. On Chupacabra, she puts a Mr. Pony and a Mrs. Mule. \n\nMAMA: You are happy for no school today?\n\nAALIYAH:\n<<choice [[Yeah! I am going to read lots.|Friends-2-1]]>>\n<<choice [[I`m ek-stah-tic!|Friends-2-2]]>>\n<<choice [[Ya, mama, can we go to the library?|Friends-2-3]]>>

MAMA: No, I have a manager. Manager Cat. He speak very fast. Mya-mya-mya-mya-mya. I don' understand.\n\n<<display "Friends 1">>

MAMA: I eat my peanut and my cabbage. Everyone say cabbage make lunch room smelly but I say good smelly!\n\n<<display "Friends 1">>

MAMA: No, not very funny. Everyone make joke but I don' understand. But I laugh. Haha!\n\n<<display "Friends 1">>

The city sits etched into the skyline as if it were painted by someone who very much liked tall and shiny things.

And, of course, the Kingdom of the Valley, tucked between the two other kingdoms and surrounded by beautiful hills. It is here that our story takes us.\n\nLet us go to the City of the Valley and meet its mellow denizens.\n\nAt the outskirts live the farmers:\n<<choice [[Farmer Bull]]>>\n<<choice [[Farmer Mole]]>>\n<<choice [[Farmer Stork]]>>

MAMA: ...\n\nMapa is wearing an elaborate red dress.\n\nAALIYAH:\n<<choice [[Where do you keep that dress, Mama?|Mama-pic-3]]>>\n<<choice [[Why don`t you wear that dress anymore, Mama?|Mama-pic-3]]>>\n<<choice [[Can I wear your dresses, Mama?|Mama-pic-3]]>>

MAMA: ...\n\nGo back to photo. [[Back|Photo]]

Mama is wearing makeup.\n\nAALIYAH:\n<<choice [[You`re pretty.|Mama-pic-2]]>>\n<<choice [[I want to be pretty like you, Mama.|Mama-pic-2]]>>\n

BOOKSHELF: Are you sure, my dear? You know what Mama said-\n\n<<display "Bookshelf 5">>

BOOKSHELF: Yes, your mother put it on my head where you're too short to see and your snout is too short to reach...\n\n<<display "Bookshelf 5">>

BOOKSHELF: Don't worry, if you want it-\n\n<<display "Bookshelf 5">>

Do NOT look at her in the eye. Legend has it that you will freeze to death! Let's get out of here.\n\n[[Continue|South]]

Here is Farmer Stork. She harvests the crops and prepares them for the city.\n\n<<display "City">>

PRINCESS BOY OF THE KINGDOM OF THE VALLEY\n\nOnce Upon a Time, there was a land where three kingdoms grew out of the ground.\n\nThere was the Kingdom of the North, a mountainous region ruled by the seven Kings and Queens of the North: \n<<choice [[King Wolf]]>>, \n<<choice [[Queen White Eagle]]>>, \n<<choice [[Queen Red Fox]]>>, \n<<choice [[King Polar Bear]]>>, \n<<choice [[King Penguin]]>>, \n<<choice [[Queen Mink]]>>, \nand <<choice [[King Ram]]>>. \n\nIt is quite a moment that we find them in one room together... they can hardly stand each other!

BABY AALIYAH: I want to read about... Princess Boy.\n\n<<display "Baby-pic-3">>

BABY AALIYAH: He's too mean. How about Princess Boy?\n\n<<display "Baby-pic-3">>

BABY AALIYAH: No, the frog is tired of turning into the prince. I want to read Princess Boy.\n\n<<display "Baby-pic-3">>

I hear she likes listening to the harp. Oh, I can't wait to be at her coming-of-age ceremony somday.\n\nNo, it is in fact a different princess who comes of age today. Allow me to introduce you to...\n\n<<display "Princess Boy">>

Here is Noblewman Mantis. She instructs the Royals and the Nobles in the arts of war.\n\n<<display "Court">>

Ah, always the host of the party. No invitations for us, unfortunately.\n\n[[Continue|South]]

Yes, now, the second kingdom: the Kingdom of the South - a large and vast kingdom of both jungle and desert, ruled by the equally large Queen Elephant and her many children. And, of course, their army of slaves. \n\nLook at at them march. They fill the horizon! Curious that they are marching in such number at this hour...\n\n[[Continue|Valley]]

MAMA: That is new word. Did Pamela teach you?\n\n<<display "Friends 2">>

MAMA: Library is too far! Maybe you can go to Pamela house. She's nice girl.\n\n<<display "Friends 2">>

MAMA: Good! What is your friend Pamela doing?\n\n<<display "Friends 2">>

MAMA: Oooh, I don' kno', Aaliyah. I hope he call today. I hope he call yesterday.\n\n<<display "Papa 1">>\n

MAMA: No, but wake Mama up if he call, ya.\n\n<<display "Papa 1">>\n

MAMA: Maybe. Maybe he call tomorro'.\n\n<<display "Papa 1">>

MAMA: Not yet. If he read what I say he will call me. I know.\n\n<<display "Papa 2">>

MAMA: Oh, you did not show Mama!\n\n<<display "Papa 2">>

MAMA: That is secret.\n\n<<display "Papa 2">>

On the table:\nWater in a bowl. [[Drink|Bowl]]\nNewspapers and magazines. [[Read|Newspapers]]\n\nOn the wall behind is the window and a photograph. [[Go|Wall]]