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    let me start off by saying that as a kid i loved this movie. i loved it so much to the point i knew the lyrics to possible hero by heart. zozi was my favorite. i think it was his voice or his cute sense of humor, like the time he was playing pirite. so after our tape broke we got it on dvd. i watched it all the time but then i grew up. after a few years off watching once awhile i stopped. then one day while i was taking my music exam there was a quesion about bok. for the rest of the day i had bartok stuck in my head on repaet. so when i got home i dug through my room, at the same time causing a mess. finally i found it. it was only a tad dusty. i examined the dvd, a few scratchs but still veiwable. i poped the dvd in and sat back waiting for the memories to consum me once more in its nostalgic glory.
    i forgot the dvd didnt have any premovie trailers so it went right to the menu. there he was, bartok standing with pride as confetti fell down, gleming on its way. i squeled because i heard that fimilar music that touched my heart with the past moments i would just stare at the menu listoning to the music. except, the music was off. i didnt quite sound the same. it kindof sounded like that one song the evil lady was singing when she was transforming....what was it....oh yes, ludmilla's song. it was in the same form as the menu's eailer song, kind of like a little piano playing it, but it wasn't the same song.i ignored it, after all, it was a few years since i seen the dang thing. maybe I forgot it was this one.
    i clicked on special features like i always do with movies. the usual picture was there and i clicked on the game. it was a maze made for same child. i completed 2 and collected the feather. but when i tried the complete the 3rd one it wouldnt let me. i tried all the things that looked liked exits but it just would not let me finish. i quit and looked at the next page. it was just all the sing alongs. so i clicked back to the main menu and played the movie. now i wonder why.
    right from the begining it was way off. instead of the shadows on the walls and floors it was showing monsters. they looked like the classic monsters you would find in a childs movie but it was cji. i dont think cji was around in 1999 when the movie even came out. anywho, when it got to the point bortok was performing for the people of moscow i notice the lights were dimmer and everyone looked kind of poorly drawn, like it was the same animation as a short made with flash on the computer. after the song zozi came out as a bad bear like always. but bartok didnt defeat him like he has always done. before, he would stun the bear but this time he he blew some blow darts out of a straw looking thing. zozi went out like a light. and that face of his, it looked like he wasnt expecting that. maybe he wasnt or it was part of the show. zozi tried to move but instead the door on bartoks cart closed up, swallowing the poor teddy bear inside.
    back at the palace the prince was being yelled at by ludmilla. she looked differant. her face was redder. maybe shes just mad, whos knows? everything was going fine until she went over and slapped the prince. ivan held his bruising cheek with tears in his eyes. "you know," said the woman "i only remain crule to keep you in line. we need you to be the best king you can be. and you cant be that if you give away your rings and other belongings like that." the prince nodded his head. she went over to him slowly, still wearing that same smile as before and wrapped her arms around the price."now get ready for bed, tomarrow is a important day, my prince."
    "what is going to happen?" his voice cracked.
    "nothing you need to worry about. nonetheless, you still need your sleep. important day or not, you are a growing man." she placed a kiss on his head that looked like it was light as a feather. i supose every skin cell on her lips had a hidden firework only he felt because his eyes lightened back up and he left for bed like she advised. i felt so uncomfortable and awkward. it was weird seeing her 'nice.'
    as bartok was counting the coins he has tricked the people into giving to him the bear climbed out as normal. he creeped up behind the oblivous, albino bat. i was expecting him to roar but he shocked me. instead he greeted his freind with "what the hell was that today?!"
     the bat flinched and fell on his rump on the floor. "i have no idea what your talking about."
    zozi rolled his eyes and opened his box where he was taking off his bear outfit. "you know, damn well what. we agreed on me bound to a cliff idea, not you shooting me in the neck. i could have broken my neck in the damn cart!" he slide his jacket on with grace then rubed his neck.
    "okay, jeez, zozi again with the cliff. i wish you could hear youself sometimes..." he went on and on like normal. then he just bursts out luaghing and gives a sly smile to his fuzzy companion putting on his hat. "its not if you broke your neck the show would be over."
    zozi looked up in shock. hell, i did to. what was bartok talking about? the spiffy bear cooly walked over to the bat and pressed his finger tips together like mr. burns does on the simpsons. "excuse me, but i believe we have forgoton who has the upper hand in this partner ship. what the hell, i thought these two were friends! then zozi glanced at the ring. after that the conversation was normal like in the movie. i paused it and went to go get brownies and milk. (even though im lactose intolerant.) when i got back bartok blinked. atleast i think he did. i pressed play and sat back down.
    the witch was now capturing the sleeping prince. hold on, that wasnt the witch. it was the gaurd, and i dont mean him dressed up as baba but as himself. he looked in to the camera and smiled a sweet smile that a father would give. "shhhh" he said pressing his pointer finger to his lips. "he will be just fine, children." what the fuck.... he broke the forth wall. this movie doesn't do that. do they? I felt a chill creep up my spine. he looked back to the dreming sire and placed a hand on his mouth. the prince woke up with a start. "calm down, it is only me!" but the prince still thrashed around trying dispritley to get free. the gaurd used his free hand and got hold of the prince's wrists above his head. with their faces only inches away the prince stopped. a smile grew on the young man's face. the gaurd freed him.
    "what are you-"
    "shhh" the guard said. "we must escape now, before it is too late." he picked up prince in his arms. "forgive me, sire. but i only do this to help you." then he carried the prince off camera.
    next was the scene where ludmilla had to tell the people what happened to the prince. the scene was darker as if it was night but the sun was black out the window. she held the iron tooth in her hands and waltzed out the door to meet the peasents. everyone was holding pitchforks. ermmm thats a new trick.... she explianed everything according to script that the prince was kidnapped by baba yaga. she did however had a slight tone of worry. when the children said they knew who could save the prince she glanced at them with her hands on the edge slightly shaking.
    zozi was up in the bird nest in the chart doing his pirate bit with the puppet when bartok yelled up from below "WILL. YOU. SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP?!" what did he just- zozi ignored the angery bat. "ZOZI, YOUR GOING TO TIP US-" the 'ship' fell on its side in the middle of the road. "over..." they got up and tipped the cart back up right. "zozi, in the cart."
    "what?"
    "in the cart."
    "no." they looked up and seen corzaks comming. didnt know zozi could squeez himself in the cart that fast... everything went as normal from then on. untill the they were pushed out the door of the palace. and let me tell you, zozi was pissed. he did beleive they should save the prince so went hey went on there way he was on one of his poetry rant. isnt he meant to sing possible hero here? i rewind it to see if my dvd player skipped a scene again. it does that often. so i watched the scene play out the same again but this time zozi sounded more aggrivated then the last time. i just guessed that i was wrong about which scene.

        they walked up to the skull. instead of answering a riddle he wanted something more. did i just hear that right? he wants what now? i rewinded it a bit. he said the same thing. he wants lunch. zozi and bartok looked at eachother in alarm. "wh-wh-what?" zozi asked.
    "you heard me loud in clear. find me an innocent soul. then i will let you in with the key." the bone faced creature said with a drak chilling laugh to follow.
    "we will not! bartok here is a hero, he wouldn't dare harm the innocent! infact, he wouldn't want to bring death to anyone. ANYONE!" zozi shouted. when he did it was so loud i had to cover my ears.
    "you can't do it. who would you find to follow a bat and a bear? you just can't do it." the skull taunted.
    "yeah?" bartok asked "well, fine. you want someone? then wait right here. come on, zozi."
    "bartok," i guess me and zozi where on the same page. we had no idea what he was doing. "you can't be se-"
    "come on!" i heard bartok's voice crack.
    i paused the dvd. what the hell is going on? this isnt the movie i adore. i was shocked. why am i seeing this. i rewind it and it replys so this is imprinted on the dvd. but this isnt the same movie i seen as a child was it? no, he wanted them to answer riddles, not a life. and since baba keeps taking the key then that means that they will have to keep getting the key the same way. more and more people following them into the forest to be hurt by the beast. i wasn't sure if i should continue. i was getting a little angry because this wasn't the real movie. but, i am in to horror films so i pressed play.
    they went back to the village. bartok flew around. he was looking down on the people to choose which one should meet there fate. his eyes focused on the little girl he talked to, the one that climbed on stage beside him in his show. he flew to her. no... no, no, no not her!
    "hey."
    the girl looked up at him and smiled "bartok! did you save him already?"
    "well..erm...no" she looked disappointed to that. "but, i can if you come with me. i need your help. im to small for something and i need you to help me."
    "oh, okay. let me ask-"
    "you don't have to. i asked them before i talked to you. there okay with it."
    "are you sure? i think i should check with them first."
    "theres no reason to. what, you don't trust me? why would a hero lie to a kid? i thought i was a hero, your hero." she looked around akwardly. he flew infront of her face. "trust me, i'll have you here before dinners started."
    "well, okay..."
    no NO NO! come on kid, stranger danger!!! before the scene faded out i seen the weirdest thing that made me cringe. i swear if i dodn't know better i'd say he just gave the camera the most pedo look i have ever seen. i played it back and zoomed in. i hade to move the shot a little over and up. i have a dvd player that lets you do that so its pretty useful. i was right. looking dead at me, he is showing everyone his pedo face. there's goes that 4th wall again.
    the scene faded back in with the girl tied up. she was muffleing something behind a cloth tried over her mouth. zozi was behind her tieing her hands together. he looked uneased while doing so. they were on his cart while bartok driving. he wouldn't look at her. "im so sorry, my dear." zozi said.
    "pfft please... she tried to run when she seen you. it needed to be done. besides, she would have had told everyone back there that im a lair and that your alive! it wouldnt have come to this you did as a told you and stayed in the god damn cart!" Bartok spat.
    "what are we going to do with her if she turns out fine? kill her? i won't do it." Zozi crossed his arms.
    "i dont know! i- i dont know. she'll be okay. she'll be home later. im going to make sure of that." he glanced at the girl. "some hero, huh?"
    "bartok, these people asked you for help for a reason. because they believe in you." then he started to sing a possible hero. the poor girl looked so freaked out.
    they got back to the skull who gave a loud thunderous laugh. "so you did do it! good, now place her infront of me." they did as instructed. "hellooo, whats your name?" the girl muffled something under the cloth. "wonderful, but, you want to know something? everyone i meet seems to have the same name." he luaghed once more. bartok and zozi were uneasy. "now how about you two look away, i can tell you two are squimish." they awkwardly turned away. the skulls eyes started to glow green. his forhead glowed a bright green circle and light attached to the child. her body started to grow. her limbs were getting longer and her hair was longer. she was screaming and wiggleing, trying to get free. zozi turned around. bartok didn't look. he ran for her but was stopped by a invisable wall that glowed green when you touched it.
    "NO!!!" the angry bear howled. he smashed into the wall over and over. he pounded it with his fists and growled. he snarled and beat on it harder.
    the girl was now to big for her clothing. all was left was a peice of fabric that covered her boobs and a small skirt. she looked older. the cloth was undoneand her hands free from her new size snapping the fabrics in two. her shouts were louder. all of a sudden below was a large puddle of blood that was dripping into the lake surounding them. did she just have all her peroids at once? now her hair was turning gray then white. her eyes dimmed and her face sagged. she grew thinnner and thinner. she fell to her side. she spat out teeth.her hair fell off and slide down to the ground. her skin desolved and her bones turned to dust. the glowing stopped. there was silance. i couldnt hear the sound feed back that the tv would give off. it was just me and my breathering. finally a light breeze broke the silance. her dust blew away with the wind. in the wind you hear her mouning. it felt like an hour but was really about a minute by the time it was all over.
    zozi fell down to his knee. his hands kept him up. his back was shaking and i heard him sniffle. he used one of his hands to cover his eyes. "make sure of that, huh?" i heard him say. "she'll be home before dinner is started, huh? you said she would be fine. she was dying and you did nothing. you didn't even bother to look to see if she was okay!" bartok said nothing. "turn around and look at me!" he turned around. his face was pale and resembled the dead.
    "thank you two so much." the skull said. "here." he coughed up a key with a skull at the end. "its the payment."
    "what did you do to her?" bartok finally said.
    "i took her life and and now i get to live about a hunderd years longer. now, you can see the witch." he opened his mouth and bartok went inside. then the scene acted out the same as in the real movie. its like nothing happened! zozi wasnt emotionaly distoryed anymore. everything went according to skript up untill they went looking for piloff.
    bartok got up to her and i knew something just wasnt right. bartok and peloff were talking and she didnt sound like herself. jeniffer tilly played as her and now piloff sounds like a computerized male voice. dule and no personality. besides that evenything was fine. except when the bolder flew at zozi he didn't duck in time so he was hit in the stomach. he flew a few feet. when the bolder landed it zoomed in on zozi who was holding his stomach in pain. "are you okay, zozi?"
    "yes, just fine. go on and do what you were doing." zozi grunted.
    they got back to that horrible creature. "and where is the key?" he asked.
    "i don't have it. she took it. oh no..." bartok reliezed.
    "oh yes, for me to give you something i need something in return." he said. "just one innocent soul." smiled the skull.
    zozi smiled a smile that can make a girl squeel. or atleast me. he brought his fingure tips together. "okay, bartok. let go and find one."
    "what?"
    "you heard me, he wants an innocent soul? we will get one."
    "don't you remember what he did to that little girl?" bartok cried.
    "perfectly." zozi smiled. "come on." he said happily.
    the scene appered in a part of the woods. zozi and bartok were walking down a path. they stopped when zozi tree and found a little bird egg. he picked it up and started to walk away. "umm, zozi? what are you doing?"
    "he said he wanted an innocent soul. what soul is more innocent then a child who has not have had the displeaser of meeting the world?"
    they got back. the skull and piloff were watching them walk up to them. "where is the soul? have you givin up already?" the large skinless head asked. zozi walking up and place the egg where the girl died. the skull laughed. "your joking right?"
    "on the contrary, im completely being serious." zozi told him.
    "this is an egg."
    "i know. you asked for an innocent soul. you never said it had to be a innocent human soul. and what is more innocent then a unborn child?" zozi replyed smugly. will he buy it?
    the skull took a deep breath and let out a dark sigh. "this is true. you can never say i am a skull that goes agianst my word." he repeated the process as he did with the child. another breeze passed and this time a light chirping noise was heard in it. he caughed up a key that looked like the last one. bartok went in with piloff in his arms.
    he reached the witch, baba yaga, and handed her the pink creature. she took it with glee a tossed her into the stew she brewed up. "baba!" piloff shouted. she tried to stay aflout but baba pushed her deeper and deeper to the bottom with the stiring stick she used for the stew. there was ferce ripples in it untill it all came to a stop. when everything stoped so did the dvd. on the left, top corner said stop and showed the default screen it does when you need to put a dvd in the dvd player.
    it took a minute for me to gain the courage to stand and walk over to it. i clicked to open the dvd player. i grabed it and stared at the art on the dvd. everyone was smiling like they did on the real one. nothing was wrong with it. a few scratchs but still good. what is causeing all this hate? i wondered.i blew in the dvd player to get the dust out and cleaned the disk. i put it back in and it played. it showed me the menu. i clicked scene selecter. i looked through it all trying to find the one i was on. i noticed it didn't have the extra scenes it was showing me. did i fix it? i found a scene that looked like the one i was last on and pressed play.
    the stew stopped rippleing and she took the stick out of the killing brew. judgeing bartok's face i didn't fix it. it just started from were i left off. he was motionless with his mouth ajar. baba simply looked at him. "what?"
    "oh, er, uhhhh no-nothing..." he stumbled with his words.
    i was still in shock. should i stop this? what exactly happened to this? i never got a new copy of it. its been in great condition since i had it. i honestly feel bad for them all. zozi most all. he is my favorite and he has to watch this. i wouldn't feel bad if this was the movie. but, its not. its all changed. i loved the movie i first seen. the one i seen as a child. seems all those feelings are fading away. lost in these new emotions. poor zozi, he is all alone and scared with the monster. should i tell my parents? no, they would think im crazy. i don't want there pity, i just want the real movie. the one so sweet, impowering, and mild.
    a scream drew me out of my thoughts. ZOZI! the scream came from the lovable bear. he was holding on to a rail of wood. i must have zoned out long enough, because they were at the bridge scene. the gaint chased after bartok and his crown. the bridge was on fire and zozi held the rail with pain. his hands were on fire as well. he was screaming and struggling to hold on. bartok and the crown made it across and was safe behind zozi. he let go of the wood and the gaint fell. he fell into the river below. like before, it all turned to steam. but, this time, he was lying at the bottom. his head was turned 180 degrees. his tounge was out and his eyes open, lifeless. he was dead.
    the screen focused back on zozi who had his knees on the ground with his hands huddled to his chest. his teeth were bared and he was rocking back and forth. "zozi! hey, are you okay, buddy?"
    zozi gave bartok a fake smile behind his pain. "i'll be fine." then gave a nervous laugh. he looked at his hands and opened them. bartok and i both gasped. his hands were nearly skinless. there were bleeding pretty badly and they began to swell. his gloves were burnt off and blisters were poping up. he held them to his chest again and put his head down. it seems we both knew that he was not able to help bartok anymore. i supose it was punishment. in the begining when bartok meet the witch she told him zozi could not help or they will die. zozi lended a hand and now they are useless. i felt my heart sink.
    they were riding back to baba's on bartok's wagon. zozi sat still, hissing once awhile from pain. bartok was wraping zozi's hands in bandages. "she took that damn KEEeeey away from you again, did sHHEEee?" zozi said in pain. batrok nodded. they knew what it meant. they have to find someone else. they got to the skull who was waiting and watching them.
    "oh, you came back. how delightful." he said with sarcasm.
    "yeah and i have that stupid crown she wanted." batrok said in annoyance.
    "good. now, show me the key."
    "he can not, we don't have it. she keeps taking it away." zozi stepped in.
    "well, if you don't have it then you have to get a new one. and for you to get a new one you have to find another innocent soul. oh, lucky me." the skull smiled.
    zozi and bartok was walking back to the village to get another person. "bartok," zozi began "we can't keep doing this. it's not fair to anyone that they have to die. no one deserves the loss of their life."
    "lets just find another egg."
    "no, bartok. no. i don't think he will buy it again." i sat there waiting for zozi to say more. he was thinking hard. "look." he motioned below him. an ant? bartok picked up the ant and held it in his paws. it was sqerming to get free with no succes.
    "what, this thing?"
    "yes, if we take it back he can have the ant. no one has to get hurt. maybe the ant but it's a insect. come, i fear something else will go wrong if we stay any longer."
    the skull gave a deep, agrevated sigh. "alright. place it infront of me." he repeated the procces. another gental breeze flew by. in it was a loud screech. one so loud i covered my ears. this was differant from the others. the last two were quite but this almost blew out the speakers. they seemed uneffected by this so i guess it was just the dvd messing up. he coughed up the same looking key. bartok rolled the crown in. he turned to face zozi.
    "if she puts this in her damn broth," he said "i am going to be overly pissed."
    inside baba yaga's home he handed over the crown. she took the jewel on the side and placed it in the soup. he was angry. bartok's cheeks and forhead were bright red. he looked so cute when he was blushing. but, since he was angry, this wasn't cute at all. he then stumbled and fell. i think he fainted.
    he woke up with a chicken screaming. he looked around in panic and found baba at the counter of her kitchen. she was holding a chicken by the neck. it was flapping around in haste. she raised the knife high and dropped it on the chicken's neck. she let go and the body ran around in circles. hmm so it is true... finally it stopped. with it on the floor she lefted it up by the feet. bartok was just staring at her. she placed the body on the counter and i heard a chop noise. she walked over and placed something in that soup. "one chicken brain..." she said to herself. bartok made a face of disugst. the scene was normal after that.
    now zozi and bartok were gazing at the flouting feather in the sky. since bartok could not fly he had to use the bolder and the crown from the other two missions. after he failed the first attempt and zozi's reverse phycholigoy the scene went so wrong. bartok threw a bolt from the shattered bolder at zozi which hit his paw. he gave a howl. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING?!?" he asked the tempered, albino bat.
    "if you think its easy why don't you try this?"
    "i can't, look at my paws. even if i could, the witch would kill us if she found out i helped you, you know that!"
    "but i can't do this on my own!"
    "if you managed to make one person believe in you, even if she is dead, thats something. you can. you just need to try harder!" zozi said.
    "how the hell can i do that when its all in peices?" bartok stopped and thought. "ah-ha!" he had an idea.
    bartok put the peices all together and it resembled a tower. atleast something is normal...
    bartok and zozi got back to the skull and bartok was all pumped. he was ready to find out where the prince was. he got up to the skull and yelled "open wide."
    "and do you have the key?" the creature asked.
    "well, no. that god damn witch keeps taking them. oh wait, don't tell me. we have to find something else to get another key?" bartok asked. the skull nodded. "well, fine. we'll bring back a butterfly. come on, zozi." he started to walk away when the skull began to laugh.
    "nope. i am not excepting anymore subsitutions. so, while i have the chance i am going to more clear. find me a innocent human soul."the monster grined. bartok's face of pride just vanished.
    "what was that?" bartok asked meekly.
    "find me another human soul."
    "wha- why?!?"
    "because, you idoit, humans live longer then insects and animals." he glanced at zozi with zozi snarling at him in response. "and i want to make sure i live as long as i can." there not really going to go through with this again, are they? "if you return with anything not human you will not get the key and lose all of your chances getting in and saving the prince."
    bartok flew around in the village at night looking for anyone. zozi was dressed in a costum. he looked like a lady. he was following bartok around, staying in the shadows. "bartok.." he whispered as high as he could. bartok landed on his shoulder. he motioned to a poster on the brick wall infront of them. on the poster was the picture of the girl that went with bartok and the letters in all black and bold that spelled; MISSING. they looked at eachother. "so, before dinner, huh? they are looking for her. now no one will dare to follow you for the fear of becomeing lost."
    "don't worry about it, zozi. kids are easy to trick. we just need to find one."
    "no child is going to be outside in the middle of the night!"
    "well someone has to be looking for her. maybe that freind that was with her..."
    "what are we saying?!? we can't do this!"
    "you said we should save the prince. well, thats what we're doing. besides, its their fault anyway. if they didn't guilt trick me into this we could be off doing something fun or money making." bartok snapped. there was a loud thud and the sound of little steps running. bartok flew after it. they were made by the girl's friend running to the forest. he held his lantern tightly and timidly. he kept looking around in all directions.bartok motioned to him and smiled. he was flying to him when zozi dragged him back to him.
    "wait," he took off the dress and put on his hat. "good. now, we are going to this differently." zozi whispered something in bartok's ear and the bat flew off to the boy.
    "hey, what are doing out this late at night? shouldn't you have like a buddy or something?" bartok said inoccently.
    "well, thats who i'm trying to find. she's lost and-" the boy mumbled a bit.
    "in that case i'll help. it's my job to help others. infact, i have someone who can help. zozi, come out here!" zozi walked out of the shadows with a charming smile. the boy took a step back.
    "hello, my boy." he said taking a slight bow. i could tell he was trying to sound as sweet as possible. i think he could tell that the boy was scared so he got down on one knee and reached his hand out but pulled it back remembering that they were burnt. the boy stared at his paws. zozi tipped his hat the best he could. "it's good to meet you." the boy gave a shy smile. zozi smiled back and stayed on the one knee.
    "don't worry, this is my friend. he just wants to help."
    "i thought you were dead..." the boy said.
    "why?" zozi asked paniced.
    "that was a differant bear. yep, this one has a mustache and burnt paws." bartok smiled.
    "what happened?"
    "i was cooking and it caught on fire." zozi lied.
    "oh..."
    "son, are you looking for the girl on the poster?" zozi asked. the boy nodded.
    "great! we know where she is!" bartok stepped in.
    "you do? i'll go get my papa and we'll-"
    "but he'll know you snuck out. if you return with your freind then he won't be mad because you'll be a hero. but, if you go now you'll be in big trouble. won't you?" bartok reasoned.
    "your right. okay, we'll go get her then i'll come back. how far is she?"
    bartok replied "just about a few miles into baba yaga's forest."
    the boy looked down at his feet. "i can't go. we're not-"
    "but you'll be with us." the charming bear said.
    "alright...i-i guess..."
    all three of them walked up to the skull. "well, hello. and would your name be?"
     "i...uhhh"
    "cute name for a little boy. now you two step back." the skull instructed. zozi and bartok stepped back. the skull's eyes and forhead glowed green once more. this time i couldn't look. the last thing i seen was zozi covering his ears while turning around. i heard the boy ask what was happening and where was the girl. then nothing but screams. i covered my ears but i could hear the muffles behind my hands. they stopped. i looked at the screen and uncovered my ears. dust was blowing in the wind and in it you could hear the faint sound of a childs cry. they did it... the skull caughed up the key and bartok took the feather inside.
    inside baba yaga's she was stirring the brew. everything was normal from then. nothing wrong and all to skript. then she had to cry. the fight was the same but the crying sounded odd. it had a ton of static in to it. for a vhs it's okay but for a dvd i don't think it should be happening. baba began to glitch violently! the room around her was fine but was starting to slowly go a dark shade of purple. she never changed color but glitched. it became so bad you could hardly tell she was a person at all. for one second, a single second, she appered to be a figure of all black looking dead at the viewers with a glare of hate using it's bright green eyes. she slowing made the transition back to her old self. the room remand dark purple though. her cries however, became a loud static that changed valume when Bartok took a step to her. it went lower and then higher the closer he got. finaly, he was on the table by her. all he did was touch jump on to her nose like he does in the original. then the dvd went nuts! the whole screen was gletching in to green blocks bunched up together. it showed the camera rolling for a few seconds until it showed that messed up writing and went black. the dvd stopped.

     i walked over to it but then it just played. i sat back down uneasy. i reached for the remote but it just started where it left off. everything wasn't glitching anymore but this scene was new. bartok was sitting by the broth on a shelf and baba came out with a needle. "you ready?" she asked almost casual as she was wiping the needle with a rag. it was a small needle. like one you would use for sewing. he nodded. "good, now hold still. if you flinch it might just go through you." he swallowed hard to that. she had one of his paws in her hand with the palm facing up. it was so small it just liad on one of her fingers. she brought the needle close and began to push. he hissed. she got the needle out and picked bartok up. they walked to the brew and he stood over it squeezing his finger's new wound as she held him up. a few drops landed in the pot and the water turned a blue. he took a deep breath when he was put on the floor. after putting it into a vile on a string she handed it to him and there goodbye was normal. i wonder still what happened before that. i mean, how did she tell him she needed blood? what was on the missing footage? i guess i won't know.

    now outside he showed him where the prince was. this scene went according to skript. unless baba's hair was always green. other then that everything went fine.

     zozi and bartok were riding the cart to the palace through the woods. everything was going great. Zozi put on the gypsy outfit like in the movie. the conversation was longer however. Zozi looked at Bartok with worry. "what do you plan on telling the children's parents?"
    "nothin'"
    "what? you have to tell them something. they are worried sick over them. why cause more stress on them by letting them wonder were their children are?"
    "they would kill us."
    "they would understand that we did it to save the prince." Zozi lied.
    "pfft once I get there they wont be worrying about the kids but the prince. besides, we could just blame baba yaga. her skull did kill them. he should be her responsibility."
    "I hope you know what you are doing."
    Bartok went inside and the trumpets sounded his arrival. Lyudmila and batok spoke when he said "baba never took but the prince was hidden in....the tower!"
    "but," she questioned "if she didn't take him...who did?" she said a little worried and tapping her finger tips on the thrown. Bartok shrugged. the dvd was messing up again by the screen becoming a jumbled mess of green squires. I swore that in the green squires it made a picture of a body falling from a cliff and landing on the view. it was from the angle of the ground. what the fuck... it fixed itself but skipped a bit of the movie. now Bartok, the guard, and Lyudmila was in the tower with Ivan. she slammed Bartok in to the cage not saying that she might have his head still but she will. she sapped the guard and they began to fight. after a few seconds she turned to the bat and went on her rant shaking his cage and spinning with more force hurting him. I think she lost it because she kept shaking the cage harder and harder. Bartok kept grunting in pain. she suddenly just threw the cage that was stopped by the chain. it flew back and she locked the guard in the cell with the prince. Bartok got up slowly. he was bruised up from that ride. he tried to drink the potion but she took it. after the fell threw the floor with the water rushing in she sang her song with troubles. after she slapped the guard she added a verse that had a soft tone. "poor little prince ivan in the tower, no idea the trouble he caused. now with me in power I am in charge of all laws! no one ask where ivan is, if they do off goes their heads. no one remember Bartok, if so they will join the hero in the dead." the song then lost all color and had a black screen. I thought it was the cables so I got up and went to fix it. when I was right infront of the tv it came back so suddenly with the woman singing the last note very load that I jumped back. I sat back down a little jumpy still from the fright.
    she went to the people waiting in the castle. she was now a dragon who busted threw the doors and blew fire. it hit someone so they were rolling on the floor in a blaze. she seen her reflection and growled. it didn't sound the same. it sound more like a lion then the voice actor growling.
    Zozi came in to help. he managed to pull up Bartok's cage and burst threw the door. he grabbed the bat's cage before falling. the nail caught them like the movie but the cage broke in two sending Zozi into the rising water. Bartok flew outside to see what everyone was screaming about. he noticed the lady turned into a dragon. the dragon was doing lots of harm. you could hear people screaming and crying. if you focused on the background you could see people burning or crushed under things. I even seen a man crying next to a woman who was crushed under stone. the dragon looked like it was going to attack something but the camera focused on the ground. that was the spot were the blond girl was meant to be. the dragon was acting like there. how was it even possible... Bartok came in and snapped her eyelids and ended up knocking himself out.
    Zozi got them out of the cage but they were still stuck. he was meant to climb the walls with the prince on his back and the guard holding on by the dress. I wondered how they would get out now since we had hurt paws.
    Bartok flew up to the dragon and then behind it to throw a large rock in her mouth. it was now stuck and he tried to juggle. but she wasn't in the mood for tricks. she slammed the rock that was in her mouth on him that sent him flying into a building. he got up and found his head was bleeding. he held his side and seen the dragon heading to the tower. he flew up trying to find his friends.
    Zozi was climbing the wall like in the script but the guard was climbing next him with the prince on his back. Zozi snarled each time her lifted his weight up. I seen that the rocks he used we bloody and that his paws were dripping. he must have damaged the scabs on the burnt paws. the water was catching up fast. they tried climbing faster but it was no use. the water got them. it got to the window and was beginning to overflow. the people trapped in the water were pushed out the window and fell.
    Bartok and the dragon was on top of the tower. after he got it to knock down the dragon fell with it. the camera zoomed on the dragon. she was flat in the mid section. her guts coming out of her mouth. her eyes were still open and her face still looked like it was shocked. she blinked. she was still alive! she took some breaths then finally there was a pop and she stopped.
    the camera now focus on Bartok. she was looking for his friends. there was mummers. he flew it them and found Zozi under rubble. he looked hurt. he was covered in cuts. his makeup wore off and his dress was torn multiple times. his paws stopped bleeding but the bandages were off and I could see the blisters popped and muscle under it. his leg was bent in the middle of the calf so that was broken. I was tearing up because I loved Zozi. he was always my favorite. I thought he was dead but he opened his eyes. he tried to get up failed. the prince walked up beside him. that little ass was just fine! turns out Zozi broke his fall. that meant he also had some broken ribs! the guard was dead however. he was next to Zozi I think. I say that because there was a large stone next to Zozi and under it was a arm sticking out and a ocean of blood surrounding it. Zozi got help with the help of ivan and they walked to the middle of the disaster.
    after ivan making his speech the witch flew over them. she didn't write Bartok's name but made a circle and grabbed Bartok. she held him tightly as he tried to get free. "what are you doing? I saved the town!"
    "yes you did. but I need you."
    "for what?"
    "I need you're innocent soul."
    "what?!? no no no no no no!!!" he begged. the camera watched them fly into the darkness of the forest. the credits began but instead of music you could hear screaming. it was Bartok's. it went on for a minute till you heard a breeze and his whimper. then music started to play. it was possible hero but in a sadder tune. it was slow and gloomy. the credits ended and it went back to the menu screen. now thunder was the background music and the picture was the town after the dragon had attacked it. it was dark and some of the buildings were still smoking. it looked like the place was still a mess. something still irked me. I went to special features and clicked on the sing alongs. I was right. they were messed with. they were gone and only one video was available. I pressed play on it. it ended up being Bartok being killed by the skull. instead of just the sound this was also the video. I hand my hand over my open mouth. I couldn't handle anymore. I clicked eject button it didn't do anything. I did it again and it still wouldn't stop. after I heard his whimper for the second time the dvd player ejected the dvd. I pulled out the disk and found out that now it was badly scratched. I put it back in and now it wouldn't play. I cleaned it and tried again but it still wasn't readable. I had no choice but to throw it away. I broke the dvd in half and threw in the garbage can outside. I had nightmares about it a few times a month ever since. I still love Zozi but Bartok is dead to me.

Description

    let me start off by saying that as a kid i loved this movie. i loved it so much to the point i knew the lyrics to possible hero by heart. zozi was my favorite. i think it was his voice or his cute sense of humor, like the time he was playing pirite. so after our tape broke we got it on dvd. i watched it all the time but then i grew up. after a few years off watching once awhile i stopped. then one day while i was taking my music exam there was a quesion about bok. for the rest of the day i had bartok stuck in my head on repaet. so when i got home i dug through my room, at the same time causing a mess. finally i found it. it was only a tad dusty. i examined the dvd, a few scratchs but still veiwable. i poped the dvd in and sat back waiting for the memories to consum me once more in its nostalgic glory.
    i forgot the dvd didnt have any premovie trailers so it went right to the menu. there he was, bartok standing with pride as confetti fell down, gleming on its way. i squeled because i heard that fimilar music that touched my heart with the past moments i would just stare at the menu listoning to the music. except, the music was off. i didnt quite sound the same. it kindof sounded like that one song the evil lady was singing when she was transforming....what was it....oh yes, ludmilla's song. it was in the same form as the menu's eailer song, kind of like a little piano playing it, but it wasn't the same song.i ignored it, after all, it was a few years since i seen the dang thing. maybe I forgot it was this one.
    i clicked on special features like i always do with movies. the usual picture was there and i clicked on the game. it was a maze made for same child. i completed 2 and collected the feather. but when i tried the complete the 3rd one it wouldnt let me. i tried all the things that looked liked exits but it just would not let me finish. i quit and looked at the next page. it was just all the sing alongs. so i clicked back to the main menu and played the movie. now i wonder why.
    right from the begining it was way off. instead of the shadows on the walls and floors it was showing monsters. they looked like the classic monsters you would find in a childs movie but it was cji. i dont think cji was around in 1999 when the movie even came out. anywho, when it got to the point bortok was performing for the people of moscow i notice the lights were dimmer and everyone looked kind of poorly drawn, like it was the same animation as a short made with flash on the computer. after the song zozi came out as a bad bear like always. but bartok didnt defeat him like he has always done. before, he would stun the bear but this time he he blew some blow darts out of a straw looking thing. zozi went out like a light. and that face of his, it looked like he wasnt expecting that. maybe he wasnt or it was part of the show. zozi tried to move but instead the door on bartoks cart closed up, swallowing the poor teddy bear inside.
    back at the palace the prince was being yelled at by ludmilla. she looked differant. her face was redder. maybe shes just mad, whos knows? everything was going fine until she went over and slapped the prince. ivan held his bruising cheek with tears in his eyes. "you know," said the woman "i only remain crule to keep you in line. we need you to be the best king you can be. and you cant be that if you give away your rings and other belongings like that." the prince nodded his head. she went over to him slowly, still wearing that same smile as before and wrapped her arms around the price."now get ready for bed, tomarrow is a important day, my prince."
    "what is going to happen?" his voice cracked.
    "nothing you need to worry about. nonetheless, you still need your sleep. important day or not, you are a growing man." she placed a kiss on his head that looked like it was light as a feather. i supose every skin cell on her lips had a hidden firework only he felt because his eyes lightened back up and he left for bed like she advised. i felt so uncomfortable and awkward. it was weird seeing her 'nice.'
    as bartok was counting the coins he has tricked the people into giving to him the bear climbed out as normal. he creeped up behind the oblivous, albino bat. i was expecting him to roar but he shocked me. instead he greeted his freind with "what the hell was that today?!"
     the bat flinched and fell on his rump on the floor. "i have no idea what your talking about."
    zozi rolled his eyes and opened his box where he was taking off his bear outfit. "you know, damn well what. we agreed on me bound to a cliff idea, not you shooting me in the neck. i could have broken my neck in the damn cart!" he slide his jacket on with grace then rubed his neck.
    "okay, jeez, zozi again with the cliff. i wish you could hear youself sometimes..." he went on and on like normal. then he just bursts out luaghing and gives a sly smile to his fuzzy companion putting on his hat. "its not if you broke your neck the show would be over."
    zozi looked up in shock. hell, i did to. what was bartok talking about? the spiffy bear cooly walked over to the bat and pressed his finger tips together like mr. burns does on the simpsons. "excuse me, but i believe we have forgoton who has the upper hand in this partner ship. what the hell, i thought these two were friends! then zozi glanced at the ring. after that the conversation was normal like in the movie. i paused it and went to go get brownies and milk. (even though im lactose intolerant.) when i got back bartok blinked. atleast i think he did. i pressed play and sat back down.
    the witch was now capturing the sleeping prince. hold on, that wasnt the witch. it was the gaurd, and i dont mean him dressed up as baba but as himself. he looked in to the camera and smiled a sweet smile that a father would give. "shhhh" he said pressing his pointer finger to his lips. "he will be just fine, children." what the fuck.... he broke the forth wall. this movie doesn't do that. do they? I felt a chill creep up my spine. he looked back to the dreming sire and placed a hand on his mouth. the prince woke up with a start. "calm down, it is only me!" but the prince still thrashed around trying dispritley to get free. the gaurd used his free hand and got hold of the prince's wrists above his head. with their faces only inches away the prince stopped. a smile grew on the young man's face. the gaurd freed him.
    "what are you-"
    "shhh" the guard said. "we must escape now, before it is too late." he picked up prince in his arms. "forgive me, sire. but i only do this to help you." then he carried the prince off camera.
    next was the scene where ludmilla had to tell the people what happened to the prince. the scene was darker as if it was night but the sun was black out the window. she held the iron tooth in her hands and waltzed out the door to meet the peasents. everyone was holding pitchforks. ermmm thats a new trick.... she explianed everything according to script that the prince was kidnapped by baba yaga. she did however had a slight tone of worry. when the children said they knew who could save the prince she glanced at them with her hands on the edge slightly shaking.
    zozi was up in the bird nest in the chart doing his pirate bit with the puppet when bartok yelled up from below "WILL. YOU. SHUT. THE. FUCK. UP?!" what did he just- zozi ignored the angery bat. "ZOZI, YOUR GOING TO TIP US-" the 'ship' fell on its side in the middle of the road. "over..." they got up and tipped the cart back up right. "zozi, in the cart."
    "what?"
    "in the cart."
    "no." they looked up and seen corzaks comming. didnt know zozi could squeez himself in the cart that fast... everything went as normal from then on. untill the they were pushed out the door of the palace. and let me tell you, zozi was pissed. he did beleive they should save the prince so went hey went on there way he was on one of his poetry rant. isnt he meant to sing possible hero here? i rewind it to see if my dvd player skipped a scene again. it does that often. so i watched the scene play out the same again but this time zozi sounded more aggrivated then the last time. i just guessed that i was wrong about which scene.

        they walked up to the skull. instead of answering a riddle he wanted something more. did i just hear that right? he wants what now? i rewinded it a bit. he said the same thing. he wants lunch. zozi and bartok looked at eachother in alarm. "wh-wh-what?" zozi asked.
    "you heard me loud in clear. find me an innocent soul. then i will let you in with the key." the bone faced creature said with a drak chilling laugh to follow.
    "we will not! bartok here is a hero, he wouldn't dare harm the innocent! infact, he wouldn't want to bring death to anyone. ANYONE!" zozi shouted. when he did it was so loud i had to cover my ears.
    "you can't do it. who would you find to follow a bat and a bear? you just can't do it." the skull taunted.
    "yeah?" bartok asked "well, fine. you want someone? then wait right here. come on, zozi."
    "bartok," i guess me and zozi where on the same page. we had no idea what he was doing. "you can't be se-"
    "come on!" i heard bartok's voice crack.
    i paused the dvd. what the hell is going on? this isnt the movie i adore. i was shocked. why am i seeing this. i rewind it and it replys so this is imprinted on the dvd. but this isnt the same movie i seen as a child was it? no, he wanted them to answer riddles, not a life. and since baba keeps taking the key then that means that they will have to keep getting the key the same way. more and more people following them into the forest to be hurt by the beast. i wasn't sure if i should continue. i was getting a little angry because this wasn't the real movie. but, i am in to horror films so i pressed play.
    they went back to the village. bartok flew around. he was looking down on the people to choose which one should meet there fate. his eyes focused on the little girl he talked to, the one that climbed on stage beside him in his show. he flew to her. no... no, no, no not her!
    "hey."
    the girl looked up at him and smiled "bartok! did you save him already?"
    "well..erm...no" she looked disappointed to that. "but, i can if you come with me. i need your help. im to small for something and i need you to help me."
    "oh, okay. let me ask-"
    "you don't have to. i asked them before i talked to you. there okay with it."
    "are you sure? i think i should check with them first."
    "theres no reason to. what, you don't trust me? why would a hero lie to a kid? i thought i was a hero, your hero." she looked around akwardly. he flew infront of her face. "trust me, i'll have you here before dinners started."
    "well, okay..."
    no NO NO! come on kid, stranger danger!!! before the scene faded out i seen the weirdest thing that made me cringe. i swear if i dodn't know better i'd say he just gave the camera the most pedo look i have ever seen. i played it back and zoomed in. i hade to move the shot a little over and up. i have a dvd player that lets you do that so its pretty useful. i was right. looking dead at me, he is showing everyone his pedo face. there's goes that 4th wall again.
    the scene faded back in with the girl tied up. she was muffleing something behind a cloth tried over her mouth. zozi was behind her tieing her hands together. he looked uneased while doing so. they were on his cart while bartok driving. he wouldn't look at her. "im so sorry, my dear." zozi said.
    "pfft please... she tried to run when she seen you. it needed to be done. besides, she would have had told everyone back there that im a lair and that your alive! it wouldnt have come to this you did as a told you and stayed in the god damn cart!" Bartok spat.
    "what are we going to do with her if she turns out fine? kill her? i won't do it." Zozi crossed his arms.
    "i dont know! i- i dont know. she'll be okay. she'll be home later. im going to make sure of that." he glanced at the girl. "some hero, huh?"
    "bartok, these people asked you for help for a reason. because they believe in you." then he started to sing a possible hero. the poor girl looked so freaked out.
    they got back to the skull who gave a loud thunderous laugh. "so you did do it! good, now place her infront of me." they did as instructed. "hellooo, whats your name?" the girl muffled something under the cloth. "wonderful, but, you want to know something? everyone i meet seems to have the same name." he luaghed once more. bartok and zozi were uneasy. "now how about you two look away, i can tell you two are squimish." they awkwardly turned away. the skulls eyes started to glow green. his forhead glowed a bright green circle and light attached to the child. her body started to grow. her limbs were getting longer and her hair was longer. she was screaming and wiggleing, trying to get free. zozi turned around. bartok didn't look. he ran for her but was stopped by a invisable wall that glowed green when you touched it.
    "NO!!!" the angry bear howled. he smashed into the wall over and over. he pounded it with his fists and growled. he snarled and beat on it harder.
    the girl was now to big for her clothing. all was left was a peice of fabric that covered her boobs and a small skirt. she looked older. the cloth was undoneand her hands free from her new size snapping the fabrics in two. her shouts were louder. all of a sudden below was a large puddle of blood that was dripping into the lake surounding them. did she just have all her peroids at once? now her hair was turning gray then white. her eyes dimmed and her face sagged. she grew thinnner and thinner. she fell to her side. she spat out teeth.her hair fell off and slide down to the ground. her skin desolved and her bones turned to dust. the glowing stopped. there was silance. i couldnt hear the sound feed back that the tv would give off. it was just me and my breathering. finally a light breeze broke the silance. her dust blew away with the wind. in the wind you hear her mouning. it felt like an hour but was really about a minute by the time it was all over.
    zozi fell down to his knee. his hands kept him up. his back was shaking and i heard him sniffle. he used one of his hands to cover his eyes. "make sure of that, huh?" i heard him say. "she'll be home before dinner is started, huh? you said she would be fine. she was dying and you did nothing. you didn't even bother to look to see if she was okay!" bartok said nothing. "turn around and look at me!" he turned around. his face was pale and resembled the dead.
    "thank you two so much." the skull said. "here." he coughed up a key with a skull at the end. "its the payment."
    "what did you do to her?" bartok finally said.
    "i took her life and and now i get to live about a hunderd years longer. now, you can see the witch." he opened his mouth and bartok went inside. then the scene acted out the same as in the real movie. its like nothing happened! zozi wasnt emotionaly distoryed anymore. everything went according to skript up untill they went looking for piloff.
    bartok got up to her and i knew something just wasnt right. bartok and peloff were talking and she didnt sound like herself. jeniffer tilly played as her and now piloff sounds like a computerized male voice. dule and no personality. besides that evenything was fine. except when the bolder flew at zozi he didn't duck in time so he was hit in the stomach. he flew a few feet. when the bolder landed it zoomed in on zozi who was holding his stomach in pain. "are you okay, zozi?"
    "yes, just fine. go on and do what you were doing." zozi grunted.
    they got back to that horrible creature. "and where is the key?" he asked.
    "i don't have it. she took it. oh no..." bartok reliezed.
    "oh yes, for me to give you something i need something in return." he said. "just one innocent soul." smiled the skull.
    zozi smiled a smile that can make a girl squeel. or atleast me. he brought his fingure tips together. "okay, bartok. let go and find one."
    "what?"
    "you heard me, he wants an innocent soul? we will get one."
    "don't you remember what he did to that little girl?" bartok cried.
    "perfectly." zozi smiled. "come on." he said happily.
    the scene appered in a part of the woods. zozi and bartok were walking down a path. they stopped when zozi tree and found a little bird egg. he picked it up and started to walk away. "umm, zozi? what are you doing?"
    "he said he wanted an innocent soul. what soul is more innocent then a child who has not have had the displeaser of meeting the world?"
    they got back. the skull and piloff were watching them walk up to them. "where is the soul? have you givin up already?" the large skinless head asked. zozi walking up and place the egg where the girl died. the skull laughed. "your joking right?"
    "on the contrary, im completely being serious." zozi told him.
    "this is an egg."
    "i know. you asked for an innocent soul. you never said it had to be a innocent human soul. and what is more innocent then a unborn child?" zozi replyed smugly. will he buy it?
    the skull took a deep breath and let out a dark sigh. "this is true. you can never say i am a skull that goes agianst my word." he repeated the process as he did with the child. another breeze passed and this time a light chirping noise was heard in it. he caughed up a key that looked like the last one. bartok went in with piloff in his arms.
    he reached the witch, baba yaga, and handed her the pink creature. she took it with glee a tossed her into the stew she brewed up. "baba!" piloff shouted. she tried to stay aflout but baba pushed her deeper and deeper to the bottom with the stiring stick she used for the stew. there was ferce ripples in it untill it all came to a stop. when everything stoped so did the dvd. on the left, top corner said stop and showed the default screen it does when you need to put a dvd in the dvd player.
    it took a minute for me to gain the courage to stand and walk over to it. i clicked to open the dvd player. i grabed it and stared at the art on the dvd. everyone was smiling like they did on the real one. nothing was wrong with it. a few scratchs but still good. what is causeing all this hate? i wondered.i blew in the dvd player to get the dust out and cleaned the disk. i put it back in and it played. it showed me the menu. i clicked scene selecter. i looked through it all trying to find the one i was on. i noticed it didn't have the extra scenes it was showing me. did i fix it? i found a scene that looked like the one i was last on and pressed play.
    the stew stopped rippleing and she took the stick out of the killing brew. judgeing bartok's face i didn't fix it. it just started from were i left off. he was motionless with his mouth ajar. baba simply looked at him. "what?"
    "oh, er, uhhhh no-nothing..." he stumbled with his words.
    i was still in shock. should i stop this? what exactly happened to this? i never got a new copy of it. its been in great condition since i had it. i honestly feel bad for them all. zozi most all. he is my favorite and he has to watch this. i wouldn't feel bad if this was the movie. but, its not. its all changed. i loved the movie i first seen. the one i seen as a child. seems all those feelings are fading away. lost in these new emotions. poor zozi, he is all alone and scared with the monster. should i tell my parents? no, they would think im crazy. i don't want there pity, i just want the real movie. the one so sweet, impowering, and mild.
    a scream drew me out of my thoughts. ZOZI! the scream came from the lovable bear. he was holding on to a rail of wood. i must have zoned out long enough, because they were at the bridge scene. the gaint chased after bartok and his crown. the bridge was on fire and zozi held the rail with pain. his hands were on fire as well. he was screaming and struggling to hold on. bartok and the crown made it across and was safe behind zozi. he let go of the wood and the gaint fell. he fell into the river below. like before, it all turned to steam. but, this time, he was lying at the bottom. his head was turned 180 degrees. his tounge was out and his eyes open, lifeless. he was dead.
    the screen focused back on zozi who had his knees on the ground with his hands huddled to his chest. his teeth were bared and he was rocking back and forth. "zozi! hey, are you okay, buddy?"
    zozi gave bartok a fake smile behind his pain. "i'll be fine." then gave a nervous laugh. he looked at his hands and opened them. bartok and i both gasped. his hands were nearly skinless. there were bleeding pretty badly and they began to swell. his gloves were burnt off and blisters were poping up. he held them to his chest again and put his head down. it seems we both knew that he was not able to help bartok anymore. i supose it was punishment. in the begining when bartok meet the witch she told him zozi could not help or they will die. zozi lended a hand and now they are useless. i felt my heart sink.
    they were riding back to baba's on bartok's wagon. zozi sat still, hissing once awhile from pain. bartok was wraping zozi's hands in bandages. "she took that damn KEEeeey away from you again, did sHHEEee?" zozi said in pain. batrok nodded. they knew what it meant. they have to find someone else. they got to the skull who was waiting and watching them.
    "oh, you came back. how delightful." he said with sarcasm.
    "yeah and i have that stupid crown she wanted." batrok said in annoyance.
    "good. now, show me the key."
    "he can not, we don't have it. she keeps taking it away." zozi stepped in.
    "well, if you don't have it then you have to get a new one. and for you to get a new one you have to find another innocent soul. oh, lucky me." the skull smiled.
    zozi and bartok was walking back to the village to get another person. "bartok," zozi began "we can't keep doing this. it's not fair to anyone that they have to die. no one deserves the loss of their life."
    "lets just find another egg."
    "no, bartok. no. i don't think he will buy it again." i sat there waiting for zozi to say more. he was thinking hard. "look." he motioned below him. an ant? bartok picked up the ant and held it in his paws. it was sqerming to get free with no succes.
    "what, this thing?"
    "yes, if we take it back he can have the ant. no one has to get hurt. maybe the ant but it's a insect. come, i fear something else will go wrong if we stay any longer."
    the skull gave a deep, agrevated sigh. "alright. place it infront of me." he repeated the procces. another gental breeze flew by. in it was a loud screech. one so loud i covered my ears. this was differant from the others. the last two were quite but this almost blew out the speakers. they seemed uneffected by this so i guess it was just the dvd messing up. he coughed up the same looking key. bartok rolled the crown in. he turned to face zozi.
    "if she puts this in her damn broth," he said "i am going to be overly pissed."
    inside baba yaga's home he handed over the crown. she took the jewel on the side and placed it in the soup. he was angry. bartok's cheeks and forhead were bright red. he looked so cute when he was blushing. but, since he was angry, this wasn't cute at all. he then stumbled and fell. i think he fainted.
    he woke up with a chicken screaming. he looked around in panic and found baba at the counter of her kitchen. she was holding a chicken by the neck. it was flapping around in haste. she raised the knife high and dropped it on the chicken's neck. she let go and the body ran around in circles. hmm so it is true... finally it stopped. with it on the floor she lefted it up by the feet. bartok was just staring at her. she placed the body on the counter and i heard a chop noise. she walked over and placed something in that soup. "one chicken brain..." she said to herself. bartok made a face of disugst. the scene was normal after that.
    now zozi and bartok were gazing at the flouting feather in the sky. since bartok could not fly he had to use the bolder and the crown from the other two missions. after he failed the first attempt and zozi's reverse phycholigoy the scene went so wrong. bartok threw a bolt from the shattered bolder at zozi which hit his paw. he gave a howl. "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING?!?" he asked the tempered, albino bat.
    "if you think its easy why don't you try this?"
    "i can't, look at my paws. even if i could, the witch would kill us if she found out i helped you, you know that!"
    "but i can't do this on my own!"
    "if you managed to make one person believe in you, even if she is dead, thats something. you can. you just need to try harder!" zozi said.
    "how the hell can i do that when its all in peices?" bartok stopped and thought. "ah-ha!" he had an idea.
    bartok put the peices all together and it resembled a tower. atleast something is normal...
    bartok and zozi got back to the skull and bartok was all pumped. he was ready to find out where the prince was. he got up to the skull and yelled "open wide."
    "and do you have the key?" the creature asked.
    "well, no. that god damn witch keeps taking them. oh wait, don't tell me. we have to find something else to get another key?" bartok asked. the skull nodded. "well, fine. we'll bring back a butterfly. come on, zozi." he started to walk away when the skull began to laugh.
    "nope. i am not excepting anymore subsitutions. so, while i have the chance i am going to more clear. find me a innocent human soul."the monster grined. bartok's face of pride just vanished.
    "what was that?" bartok asked meekly.
    "find me another human soul."
    "wha- why?!?"
    "because, you idoit, humans live longer then insects and animals." he glanced at zozi with zozi snarling at him in response. "and i want to make sure i live as long as i can." there not really going to go through with this again, are they? "if you return with anything not human you will not get the key and lose all of your chances getting in and saving the prince."
    bartok flew around in the village at night looking for anyone. zozi was dressed in a costum. he looked like a lady. he was following bartok around, staying in the shadows. "bartok.." he whispered as high as he could. bartok landed on his shoulder. he motioned to a poster on the brick wall infront of them. on the poster was the picture of the girl that went with bartok and the letters in all black and bold that spelled; MISSING. they looked at eachother. "so, before dinner, huh? they are looking for her. now no one will dare to follow you for the fear of becomeing lost."
    "don't worry about it, zozi. kids are easy to trick. we just need to find one."
    "no child is going to be outside in the middle of the night!"
    "well someone has to be looking for her. maybe that freind that was with her..."
    "what are we saying?!? we can't do this!"
    "you said we should save the prince. well, thats what we're doing. besides, its their fault anyway. if they didn't guilt trick me into this we could be off doing something fun or money making." bartok snapped. there was a loud thud and the sound of little steps running. bartok flew after it. they were made by the girl's friend running to the forest. he held his lantern tightly and timidly. he kept looking around in all directions.bartok motioned to him and smiled. he was flying to him when zozi dragged him back to him.
    "wait," he took off the dress and put on his hat. "good. now, we are going to this differently." zozi whispered something in bartok's ear and the bat flew off to the boy.
    "hey, what are doing out this late at night? shouldn't you have like a buddy or something?" bartok said inoccently.
    "well, thats who i'm trying to find. she's lost and-" the boy mumbled a bit.
    "in that case i'll help. it's my job to help others. infact, i have someone who can help. zozi, come out here!" zozi walked out of the shadows with a charming smile. the boy took a step back.
    "hello, my boy." he said taking a slight bow. i could tell he was trying to sound as sweet as possible. i think he could tell that the boy was scared so he got down on one knee and reached his hand out but pulled it back remembering that they were burnt. the boy stared at his paws. zozi tipped his hat the best he could. "it's good to meet you." the boy gave a shy smile. zozi smiled back and stayed on the one knee.
    "don't worry, this is my friend. he just wants to help."
    "i thought you were dead..." the boy said.
    "why?" zozi asked paniced.
    "that was a differant bear. yep, this one has a mustache and burnt paws." bartok smiled.
    "what happened?"
    "i was cooking and it caught on fire." zozi lied.
    "oh..."
    "son, are you looking for the girl on the poster?" zozi asked. the boy nodded.
    "great! we know where she is!" bartok stepped in.
    "you do? i'll go get my papa and we'll-"
    "but he'll know you snuck out. if you return with your freind then he won't be mad because you'll be a hero. but, if you go now you'll be in big trouble. won't you?" bartok reasoned.
    "your right. okay, we'll go get her then i'll come back. how far is she?"
    bartok replied "just about a few miles into baba yaga's forest."
    the boy looked down at his feet. "i can't go. we're not-"
    "but you'll be with us." the charming bear said.
    "alright...i-i guess..."
    all three of them walked up to the skull. "well, hello. and would your name be?"
     "i...uhhh"
    "cute name for a little boy. now you two step back." the skull instructed. zozi and bartok stepped back. the skull's eyes and forhead glowed green once more. this time i couldn't look. the last thing i seen was zozi covering his ears while turning around. i heard the boy ask what was happening and where was the girl. then nothing but screams. i covered my ears but i could hear the muffles behind my hands. they stopped. i looked at the screen and uncovered my ears. dust was blowing in the wind and in it you could hear the faint sound of a childs cry. they did it... the skull caughed up the key and bartok took the feather inside.
    inside baba yaga's she was stirring the brew. everything was normal from then. nothing wrong and all to skript. then she had to cry. the fight was the same but the crying sounded odd. it had a ton of static in to it. for a vhs it's okay but for a dvd i don't think it should be happening. baba began to glitch violently! the room around her was fine but was starting to slowly go a dark shade of purple. she never changed color but glitched. it became so bad you could hardly tell she was a person at all. for one second, a single second, she appered to be a figure of all black looking dead at the viewers with a glare of hate using it's bright green eyes. she slowing made the transition back to her old self. the room remand dark purple though. her cries however, became a loud static that changed valume when Bartok took a step to her. it went lower and then higher the closer he got. finaly, he was on the table by her. all he did was touch jump on to her nose like he does in the original. then the dvd went nuts! the whole screen was gletching in to green blocks bunched up together. it showed the camera rolling for a few seconds until it showed that messed up writing and went black. the dvd stopped.

     i walked over to it but then it just played. i sat back down uneasy. i reached for the remote but it just started where it left off. everything wasn't glitching anymore but this scene was new. bartok was sitting by the broth on a shelf and baba came out with a needle. "you ready?" she asked almost casual as she was wiping the needle with a rag. it was a small needle. like one you would use for sewing. he nodded. "good, now hold still. if you flinch it might just go through you." he swallowed hard to that. she had one of his paws in her hand with the palm facing up. it was so small it just liad on one of her fingers. she brought the needle close and began to push. he hissed. she got the needle out and picked bartok up. they walked to the brew and he stood over it squeezing his finger's new wound as she held him up. a few drops landed in the pot and the water turned a blue. he took a deep breath when he was put on the floor. after putting it into a vile on a string she handed it to him and there goodbye was normal. i wonder still what happened before that. i mean, how did she tell him she needed blood? what was on the missing footage? i guess i won't know.

    now outside he showed him where the prince was. this scene went according to skript. unless baba's hair was always green. other then that everything went fine.

     zozi and bartok were riding the cart to the palace through the woods. everything was going great. Zozi put on the gypsy outfit like in the movie. the conversation was longer however. Zozi looked at Bartok with worry. "what do you plan on telling the children's parents?"
    "nothin'"
    "what? you have to tell them something. they are worried sick over them. why cause more stress on them by letting them wonder were their children are?"
    "they would kill us."
    "they would understand that we did it to save the prince." Zozi lied.
    "pfft once I get there they wont be worrying about the kids but the prince. besides, we could just blame baba yaga. her skull did kill them. he should be her responsibility."
    "I hope you know what you are doing."
    Bartok went inside and the trumpets sounded his arrival. Lyudmila and batok spoke when he said "baba never took but the prince was hidden in....the tower!"
    "but," she questioned "if she didn't take him...who did?" she said a little worried and tapping her finger tips on the thrown. Bartok shrugged. the dvd was messing up again by the screen becoming a jumbled mess of green squires. I swore that in the green squires it made a picture of a body falling from a cliff and landing on the view. it was from the angle of the ground. what the fuck... it fixed itself but skipped a bit of the movie. now Bartok, the guard, and Lyudmila was in the tower with Ivan. she slammed Bartok in to the cage not saying that she might have his head still but she will. she sapped the guard and they began to fight. after a few seconds she turned to the bat and went on her rant shaking his cage and spinning with more force hurting him. I think she lost it because she kept shaking the cage harder and harder. Bartok kept grunting in pain. she suddenly just threw the cage that was stopped by the chain. it flew back and she locked the guard in the cell with the prince. Bartok got up slowly. he was bruised up from that ride. he tried to drink the potion but she took it. after the fell threw the floor with the water rushing in she sang her song with troubles. after she slapped the guard she added a verse that had a soft tone. "poor little prince ivan in the tower, no idea the trouble he caused. now with me in power I am in charge of all laws! no one ask where ivan is, if they do off goes their heads. no one remember Bartok, if so they will join the hero in the dead." the song then lost all color and had a black screen. I thought it was the cables so I got up and went to fix it. when I was right infront of the tv it came back so suddenly with the woman singing the last note very load that I jumped back. I sat back down a little jumpy still from the fright.
    she went to the people waiting in the castle. she was now a dragon who busted threw the doors and blew fire. it hit someone so they were rolling on the floor in a blaze. she seen her reflection and growled. it didn't sound the same. it sound more like a lion then the voice actor growling.
    Zozi came in to help. he managed to pull up Bartok's cage and burst threw the door. he grabbed the bat's cage before falling. the nail caught them like the movie but the cage broke in two sending Zozi into the rising water. Bartok flew outside to see what everyone was screaming about. he noticed the lady turned into a dragon. the dragon was doing lots of harm. you could hear people screaming and crying. if you focused on the background you could see people burning or crushed under things. I even seen a man crying next to a woman who was crushed under stone. the dragon looked like it was going to attack something but the camera focused on the ground. that was the spot were the blond girl was meant to be. the dragon was acting like there. how was it even possible... Bartok came in and snapped her eyelids and ended up knocking himself out.
    Zozi got them out of the cage but they were still stuck. he was meant to climb the walls with the prince on his back and the guard holding on by the dress. I wondered how they would get out now since we had hurt paws.
    Bartok flew up to the dragon and then behind it to throw a large rock in her mouth. it was now stuck and he tried to juggle. but she wasn't in the mood for tricks. she slammed the rock that was in her mouth on him that sent him flying into a building. he got up and found his head was bleeding. he held his side and seen the dragon heading to the tower. he flew up trying to find his friends.
    Zozi was climbing the wall like in the script but the guard was climbing next him with the prince on his back. Zozi snarled each time her lifted his weight up. I seen that the rocks he used we bloody and that his paws were dripping. he must have damaged the scabs on the burnt paws. the water was catching up fast. they tried climbing faster but it was no use. the water got them. it got to the window and was beginning to overflow. the people trapped in the water were pushed out the window and fell.
    Bartok and the dragon was on top of the tower. after he got it to knock down the dragon fell with it. the camera zoomed on the dragon. she was flat in the mid section. her guts coming out of her mouth. her eyes were still open and her face still looked like it was shocked. she blinked. she was still alive! she took some breaths then finally there was a pop and she stopped.
    the camera now focus on Bartok. she was looking for his friends. there was mummers. he flew it them and found Zozi under rubble. he looked hurt. he was covered in cuts. his makeup wore off and his dress was torn multiple times. his paws stopped bleeding but the bandages were off and I could see the blisters popped and muscle under it. his leg was bent in the middle of the calf so that was broken. I was tearing up because I loved Zozi. he was always my favorite. I thought he was dead but he opened his eyes. he tried to get up failed. the prince walked up beside him. that little ass was just fine! turns out Zozi broke his fall. that meant he also had some broken ribs! the guard was dead however. he was next to Zozi I think. I say that because there was a large stone next to Zozi and under it was a arm sticking out and a ocean of blood surrounding it. Zozi got help with the help of ivan and they walked to the middle of the disaster.
    after ivan making his speech the witch flew over them. she didn't write Bartok's name but made a circle and grabbed Bartok. she held him tightly as he tried to get free. "what are you doing? I saved the town!"
    "yes you did. but I need you."
    "for what?"
    "I need you're innocent soul."
    "what?!? no no no no no no!!!" he begged. the camera watched them fly into the darkness of the forest. the credits began but instead of music you could hear screaming. it was Bartok's. it went on for a minute till you heard a breeze and his whimper. then music started to play. it was possible hero but in a sadder tune. it was slow and gloomy. the credits ended and it went back to the menu screen. now thunder was the background music and the picture was the town after the dragon had attacked it. it was dark and some of the buildings were still smoking. it looked like the place was still a mess. something still irked me. I went to special features and clicked on the sing alongs. I was right. they were messed with. they were gone and only one video was available. I pressed play on it. it ended up being Bartok being killed by the skull. instead of just the sound this was also the video. I hand my hand over my open mouth. I couldn't handle anymore. I clicked eject button it didn't do anything. I did it again and it still wouldn't stop. after I heard his whimper for the second time the dvd player ejected the dvd. I pulled out the disk and found out that now it was badly scratched. I put it back in and now it wouldn't play. I cleaned it and tried again but it still wasn't readable. I had no choice but to throw it away. I broke the dvd in half and threw in the garbage can outside. I had nightmares about it a few times a month ever since. I still love Zozi but Bartok is dead to me.