«In which we meet Donnie, his family and The League»

Rrring. Rrring. It’s Monday, towards the end of the summer vacation and Donnie’s phone is ringing. The time is acceptable, (it’s nearly four o’clock) but Donnie is still asleep. Let’s just say it got late last night. Donnie crawls out of bed and answers the phone.

”Donnie. Who’s this?”, Donnie almost whispers, as he just got out of bed. ”It’s Richard. Are you ready for tonight’s meeting? I have something for you, remember?”, Richard replies, a little nervous. But now, Donnie’s all woke up and answers clear and strong,”I know. Who’s holding it?” ”It’s you… We are to see an epic fantasy movie and talk about some books. It was all you’re idea.” Oops. That’s a bad one. He had, of course, known about this but he had completely forgotten. After a long time of uncomfortable silence, Richard starts talking again. ”You forgot, didn’t you?” ”Yeah, I did. But I really have to hang up now. You know, I must get ready for the meeting. Eh, when are we scheduled?” Donnie is getting quite nervous now. It appears that he has overslept, and the clock on his room shows the time of a quarter to four. Thus, not acceptable at all. And as both Donnie and Richard know, it’s not much left of the day. Soon, night will rise. ”The meeting will start half past five. So that should give you enough time”. ”Yes, it should. Now, must go shopping for the meeting. See you at half past six.” Donnie is about to hang up, but then he hears Richard is desperately trying to tell him something. ”FIVE! HALF PAST FIVE, DONNIE!” ”Oops, sorry. It was that I meant to say. So, Byeish!” Donnie hangs up. ”I have like a shitload to do now. And my guests are going to arrive in about an hour and a half. I’m completely FUCKED!” Donnie runs into the shower, and gets dressed more quickly than ever. Then, he’s off to the shop. The clock now shows four. Half an hour left. And the clock is ticking…

Donnie is adopted. No one knows the identity of his real mother and father, except some mysterious guys in black suits which we will come back to in some time. (But maybe not when it is acceptable) His mother is named Rachel and his father is named Walter. They all have the same surname, which obviously is Knightale. They have no idea why they have this weird and unnormal surname, but it probably is because they are a little weird and unnormal. And on Walter’s side on the family, it is seen as a hymn to the old bloodline in which they have come from. And while Donnie is rushing to get some Surge, Snapple and Dr. Pepper (yes, The League only drinks special knightly drinks. They’re working on a drink themselves. It’s called A Knight ‘ale), Richard and the other members in The League, are preparing themselves for a great, cool evening of chill, Donnie is working his ass off to get everything perfect.

The League is all Donnie and Richard’s idea. They are the founders. In The League, they all have titles, and Donnie’s title is King. Donnie’s best friend (and co-founder of The League) is named Richard. His nickname is Castle. This is because of the popular TV-show named Castle, and, as Richard Castle on the show, Richard is smart, witty and wanting to be a writer. (Although Richard Castle on the show already is a writer... But, you get the point) All of the members in the League have nicknames that relates to kings, princes and princesses (although no lady’s are in the League yet) in both fantasy novels and medieval reality. In addition to the King and Castle (Donnie and Richard), we have Daniel, which is a Prince, and Adder, which is a servant. To become a Prince, you have to have showed up to at least three meetings, and hold at least 2 meetings. In addition, you have to read all the books at a book-list, but that list is so long, so I won’t go into that at the time being. What I will go into, is The League. You have probably wondered why they’re named JUST The Leauge, and not anything else. Well, this is because they haven’t come up with anything good yet. They’re still stuck at ’The League of Fantasy and Sci-Fi’-brainstorming, and it doesn’t work that well. So, until they’ve come up with a better name, they just call themselves The League. And it’s a rather fine name, don’t you think?

Over at Richard house, Lora is bugging him again. “Why can’t I come to the meeting along with you? It’s so BLOODY unfair of you, and you know it!” “It’s a BOY club, Lora! It’s for BOYS! And you will not be permitted access, at least not until you’ve read some fantasy or science fiction books! Now, I’m off to help Donnie. He REALLY needs it, and you know it. See you later!” Richard leaves the house, and walks over to Donnie’s place, while Lora is left behind. “He’s so unfair!”, she tells himself. Then she enters his room, and grabs a random book out of the bookshelf. “Cirque Du Freak. Well, I’m bloody well going to read this book from cover to cover. Today!” And with those words, she sat down on his bed and started reading.

At this exact moment, there was a member of The League who read. His name was Adder, and he was new among The League; His rank was just Servant. It did not mean he had to follow everything they said. It was merely a title. Adder had moved to the little pile of dirt that was named Darreniousville by some moron. His mother and father were going through a tough divorce, and The League had opened their arms to help him in his hard times. Even though it had been his first week on a new school, which had the dumb name of Shanster School, he had already been at Donnie’s and Richard’s home. Things were starting to work out in his life for once. Currently, he was reading The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor, and watching Firefly for the first time in his life. At this moment, someone is calling for him from downstairs; it’s his mother, telling him that he has a visitor. Adder walks down the stairs, and meets Richard. “Are you ready to go?”, he asks. “Yeah, just wait a moment.” Adder walks into the kitchen and talks to his mother. While he does that, Richard calls up Donnie. When Donnie finally answers the phone, Adder and Richard are already halfway to his house. “Are everything going as scheduled?”, asks Richard when all the formalities are over with. “Yeah, everything’s going alright now”, Donnie answers. “Great. Me and Adder are on our way to you now, to help you out a little.” “That’d been GREAT! Really appreciate it, Richard! See you in about ten minutes then?” “Yeah. Byeish”. They both hang up at the exact same time.

And people, don’t mind the ‘Byish’-thing. It’s something Donnie says. Just, don’t ask. Long story. Or, actually, it isn’t a story. He just says it.

At that exact moment, the time is 16:45, and it is a half hour till the meeting of The League will begin. Daniel is sitting home and drawing, while listening to the fantastic soundtrack to Pan’s Labyrinth. He wonders about which film they’re going to watch tonight, and what books they’ve read since last time. It’s been a month since the last meeting in The League, and they don’t have that much time to talk books at school. Lora is sitting on Richard’s bed, but in her mind she’s long over the hills and far away, and standing besides Steve Leopard and Darren Shan, watching a great spider. She has been stuck in the same position as she sat down in. Her whole body’s gone stiff, and she’s reading faster than ever before. The house is all quiet, and she loves it. Before, she was scared of an empty house (She still is. Little bit), but as she reads it is not quiet anymore. She’s far away, listening to the voices of Darren and Steve. And it’s great.

At another time, in another place, Walter is working on a great plan to communicate with Donnie again. He has wondered about this a very long time, but his files and notes are all left in his house, which he can’t go back to. But then it suddenly hits him, the impossible reason, why is he stuck this time; all he has to do is find a way to get Donnie here, and that solution has he already figured out. Now, he must go on a quest, and put the machine a place Donnie can find it. He has to get Donnie right this time. And he has the means to do it.

Donnie is nearly finished now. He knows which movie he will see, and he has candy and the special drinks. The drinks on the menu is Surge, Dr. Pepper, Snapple and their current favorite; Vanilla Coke. All that remains is to check with his mother if he can have the living room for tonight. «Mom?» «Yes Donnie, I’m your mom. What is it?» I was just wondering if I could borrow the living room tonight. The League is going to watch a movie, and then we’re going to discuss some books. Do you think that will be okay?», Donnie asks, a little nervous. «Well, when you’re friends and you use the living room, you know it always creates some problems for your father and me. But I don’t think it’s anything we’re going to watch on the telly today, and there aren’t anyone that’s coming to visit us. Well, not that I know of anyway. So I think that’ll be fine, darling. Who’s coming?», answers Donnie’s mom, while she’s working on her computer. «Richard, Daniel and Adder», answers Donnie. «Well, I suppose that’ll be okay. They’re all good and fine people. I guess I can’t call you kids anymore, now that you’re all grown and such» «Mom!», Donnie calls out, a little emberrased. Rachel gives Donnie a big hug. «You know I will always love you, no matter what you do». «Yeah, I know that mom. But I really have to get ready» «Of course, Donnie. Of course.»

The League is slowly pacing together to Donnie’s house. Daniel is walking his way over to Donnie’s house while listening to Depeche Mode. As an only child, he has the whole house to himself every day, and thinks this is awesome. Daniel was born like a normal child but ever since his birth, strange things have happened to him and the people around him. As he walks up to Donnie’s front door, the doorbell rings without him even touching it. He wonders about this, but only till Donnie shows up. “What’s the matter with you? Been experiencing some strange bunny visions and falling jet engines? Get the hell in here, I’m freezing!”

And as Daniel utters these last words, events far out of his control is set in motion by both his father, and the Black Suits. He should only know how right he was with the strange experiences…