Scott Skobbs diary, age 8.
I had a bad dream. Daddy says its because I ate all of those Doritos before bed. There were all these people yelling at me most of them girls. Ick. I hate girls. I think I may be getting a Nintendo 64 for my birthday awesome!

Ehsu account of his interpretation of the events in the forest of Luna Noir:
Well, you have not seen tragedy, young Fiona. You may weep over those lost to Banality, you may weep for the dying flower. But, those tears will cry for your eyes so that they may return to be truly shed when you hear the tale of the Dark Cricket King of Luna Noir. How do _I_ know? I was there...it was very long ago now. I do not even remember...I have been born again many times over since, and yet his tale stays with me, in bits and pieces. Luna Noir, when your esteemed kind left our world, was a freehold in the darkest forest of Belgium. Now, as tell this tale, if you get offended, I simply won't finish it...you say you want me to continue? I thought you would.
The Dark Cricket King founded the freehold. It was a place of great merriment, wine flowed like blood through viens, and the moonlight never shone fairer on any dance I have seen. Most times, moonlight illuminates the darkness with light and exposes it's beauty. Not in Luna Noir...it exposed the beauty of the darkness, and thus it's name. And in a place such as that, the Sluagh were beautiful, magnificent creatures. Indeed, it seemed only natural to revere the Sluagh Grimthistle as the Dark King, as the crickets of the wood sang his praises to all of us. He was benevolent and wise...and could drink with the eshu and satyrs like none I've ever seen...I remember one time, when he and had this bottle of stolen clurichan ale....I'm moving away from my tale! He was not so much our leader, as the one who seemed to belong the most on the place we frequented most often. We always felt as his guests. The females adored him, for he was kind, sensitive, and never pledged his love untrue. His lust, well, only the female satyrs knew of that, and that he maintained his dignity besides. He was not the type of fae one fell in love with. He was the type that they wished those they loved would behave more like. There was one, however, who did love him, and her love was so strong that no woman would dare make an advance on Grimthistle, for to break her heart filled with a love so strong would be a crime. She was Ghille Dhu by the name of Brambleheart. Before your kind returned here, she was my ideal of beauty...a paltry imitation now, but not then...no, not then. Brambleheart was as kind and wise as the man she loved, but she was loved, or rather, desired, by another, fouler creature. He was a redcap by the name of Spittle. He was fierce, his eyes burned with the blood of his prey, his heart stank of battles not yet fought, and his soul not only pined for Bramblehearts touch, but for Grimthistle's head. He despised how much the children feared the Dark Cricket King, despite how much the Dark King obviously loved them. He watched from the shadows, and one day made his strike. You want to hear more? Then you'll have to buy my another drink Fiona.....

Scot Skobbs Diary: Age 12
I haven't had the forest dream for three years now. I wonder what's up with that? It always freaks me out, I'm just writing it down so I know exactly what was going on when it happened.I swear that the girl in it is Candace McNally. I know she's green in the dream, but I think it's her! Oh, this means we were meant to be together! Maybe I'll ask her out tomorrow. No wait...I bet the big nasty guy is Chip Lester. Darn...I'm not gonna ask her out just for that big fat jock Chip to steal her away. I don't think my little heart could take it. Well, I'm going on a sleepover tonight and Frankie's, he rented a playstation, it's gonna be so fun! He'll know what to do about Candace. Bye diary! -Scott

Scott Skobbs diary: Age 14 Sept 14th.
I know it this time. I'm in love. The big "L". I'm positive this time. I know I said it about Candace, and Ronnie, and Crystal, but Brandy is the one. I knew from the moment she walked into geography. I'm so glad I didn't transfer across town now. It's spiritual, I know it is, and I don't even know what I believe yet, as far as spirtuality goes. But whatever it is, Brandy Hillcrest is an integral part, because some days, she's the only part of my heart that I can feel. Operation: The One begins today.

Skott Skobbs diary: Age 14: Sept 21st
She looked at me today. She smiled. I love her.

Scott Skobbs diary: Age 14, October 6th
She's my partner for the group project. Mr. Randall is the best teacher in the world, and he may have just paved my way into being the happiest guy on earth.

Scott Skobbs: Diary: age 14, October 17th
The project is over, and we're not even friends yet. She likes me, but I don't think she understand how much we have in common. She's a hopeless romantic, I know she's seen Titanic three times already. She just has to know that I am too, but you can't do that being friends now can you? I may have to just bite the bullet and ask her out.

Scott Skobbs diary, Age 14, October 24th:
Went to Titantic to ask her out, couldn't do it. I moved one seat closer at a time, but I didn't get the courage. She's just too important to me to mess up. I'll try again after school.

Sckott Skobbs diary, Age 14, November 2nd:
Tried to ask her on her way home, but she was avoiding me. I may have scared her, once she knows I'm just shy she'll understand what it was about.

Letter from Scott to Brandy:
Brandy,
I know you don't know me very well, but I feel like I know you. Your every move rings in my soul. To be around you makes me happy whether you know I'm there or not, because you seem so happy without anyone. Your confidence is beautiful, and I wish I could have shared it. Otherwise, you would have heard from me much sooner. What I'm trying to say, is as hard as it is to believe, Brandy, I love you.
~ Scott
P.S. I hope I didn't freak you out, I'm really not good at these things.

Letter from Principal Randall to Edward Skobbs, re: Scott's inappropriate behavior.
I understand that your young son thinks he is in love. However, pending litigation from the Hillcrest family, I must either expel young Scott or at least have him transferred across town so he will not violate the upcoming restraining order. It is a shame young lives fall into adult courts, but stalking charges are a serious matter.

Scott's diary, age 15, February 12th:
I had the dream again. It's been awhile. But this time it was clear. I saw them...I saw her...I don't think it was Brandy...but boy, do I believe in dreams foretelling the future now. In the dream, I was dark and creepy, I think this is how women see me. And the evil nasty guy is my romantic heart, beating, beating beating me for thinking such awful things. I can hear my heart speaking, I wrote down the words last night....
"If you ever profess your love for someone, all the love in the world towards you will turn to hate. I hate you, and now everyone will. The beauty of your kindness shall never bloom again!"
And its true. Frankie won't talk to me, all the kids at school look at me like I'm a freak, my parents can't hide their shame...I'm just a bad, awful human being. The dream was so accurate...I tried to tempt fate, I didn't believe my ugly, gnarled heart when it warned me, and when I professed my love, I was sent into the realms of true rejection to spite my impudence! How could I even think someone like her could be with someone like me? It was foolish, and I deserve all the woe that's becoming me now. Oh woe, indeed! To feel something so strongly that it draws fate itself to crush it! Why me? Is there no god? There must be, and he hates me! With good reason, apprently! I wish...I wish! I wish I could just crawl underground forever, and never let the beautiful sun shine upon my horrible face evermore! The bugs would be my lords, as I am lower than the lowliest worm!
(LARGE BLACK LETTERS WRITE "WOE" through the next two pages of the diary, follwed by "NEVER BLOOM AGAIN" for the next ten, followed by "NEVER BLOOM" for the rest of the diary.)

Mr. Crunchy to chimerical Snail Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan.
"Hey Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan! Did you hear? Did you hear? The Cricket King is waking up! Yeah! Its about damn time! He still owes me a bottle of clurichaun ale from that time he said he could spin more than me without throwing up! And we can play, and scare the bad kids just like in the old days! Dan? Dan?
"Helllllllllllllllllooooooooooooooooooooooo...."
"Why do I even talk to you? I'm gonna go find the crickets."

Scene: Scott meets Mr. Crunchy
[A field, midnight. Scott is clawing at the ground, digging a hole to bury himself in.]
Scott: Never bloom again, never bloom again.
[Scott eventually gets tired and collapses in the barely started hole.]
Scott (weeping) I can't even do this right! SOB! Oh woe! Take me world of death! Let me dwell in the underdark! This world wearies me to no end!
[Ethereal wraiths rise from the ground, mist-like, only to Scott's vision. He is shocked and relieved at the same time.]
Scott: Sweet reapers! Have you answered my call? You lower yourselves with my presence!
[Scott pounds the ground in frustration.]
Mr. Crunchy: Ow! Cut that shit out, whiny pants!
[The wraiths dissipate. Scott pulls Mr. Crunchy from the earth and stares at him. He is the first chimerical creature he has seen. He stares for a moment. This is Neverbloom's chrysalis, in that dark beautiful moment where he hears the dark crickets chirping, and calling his name. This makes sense to him somehow. All the insects in the field gather, spellbound. ]
Neverbloom: Who are you?
MC: You don't remember me, champ?
Neverbloom: Should I? I'm sorry sir, I am so forgetful, its one of my many many many many faults....
MC: Sir? Don't call me sir!
NB: Sorry.
MC: Don't say sorry! You're my boss!
NB: Oh no...you must have me confused with someone else. I am too low for anyone to listen to.
MC: Low? I'm a fucking _worm_ here, shithead!
NB: Don't use that language Mr. Crunchy! Oh...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap..
MC: You DO remember me! Yes!
NB: Oh...I'm so confused. I'm easily confused. Its one of my many many many many many fau...
MC: It's natural kid. It'll last awhile. It would be an honor to help you through it, sir.
NB: Please, you shouldn't...
MC: If you say so! I'll cut you a deal. I wont call you boss if you don't whine that I shouldn't even be your friend. We've eaten too much dirt together for me to just let go.
NB: Dirt...ohh...I love dirt.....what? What am I saying?
MC: The truth, sir..I mean, bud, the truth! C'mon! This field ain't for diggin'! It's for lunch! There's some good red stuff over here!
NB: You really want to be my friend?
MC: I want to stay your friend.

~~And thus begins the tale of the unknown King, lost in his own misery....