The Art of the Fourth Wall

We begin our story with two young archaeologists scouring an ancient ruin deep below the surface of Junk. (Where they live.) They are Steve & Martia.

Steve, approximately three feet tall, four feet if you count his horns. He wears a black mask over his face with zippers over the eyes and mouth. He keeps the mouth piece open and a red ball can be seen in his mouth. Despite the ball he is able to talk in a completely audible tone. Lacking a neck, he wears a brown trench coat with sleeves. He has circles for hands and half circles for feet.

Martia, only three and a half feet tall, four and a half feet counting the horns. Long black eyelashes. No nose, only a four sided star on her face. She has a giant set of teeth, no not teeth... fangs! Thats it! To make sure she doesn't bite anyone she has a black bandanna with a red ball attached to it. Like her partner she is able to talk in a completely audible tone. No real "body", she has a trail of black from below her head which manifests itself as need be.

The two explorers have spent countless ages searching for the long lost tomb of D.P. whom was chosen to wield and pass down an ancient, secret. Though the secret has not been forgotten by our time it is seldom seen and used. Steve and Martia had hoped to discover the methods of this secret by searching the tomb of the Great Crimson King, D.P.

Steve: We've finally done it Martia! The tomb of the Crimson King D.P.! It's secret is finally within our grasp!

The tomb is structured like a giant library. Rows upon rows of shelves each stacked with hundreds upon hundreds of volumes. An immense amount of knowledge bestowed to those fortunate enough to be given the life/attention span to read them all. At every end is a wall, barren except for a giant number on each.

Martia: Yes, tis a momentous occasion for us. Yet again the fates plague us with another challenge. We don't know what to do next. Any ideas my dear?

Steve: Only one. Excuse me! Mr. Author.

Me: Hmm? What is it?

Steve: My friend and I were wondering if you could be so kind of as to tell us what to do next? We're stuck.

Me: Oh? Is that all you wanted to know? All you have to do is break through the wall numbered "four".

Martia: So, just break the fourth wall?

Me: Yup. That's about it. Anything else while you still have me?

Martia: Oh no. You've been kind enough. Thank you sir.

Me: Anytime. Now where was I? Ah, yes I remember now...

Steve and Martia ran to the fourth wall and began to slowly pick away at it. After about half an hour of digging away they had broken the fourth wall. They looked through the hole they made and saw nothing but white. They climbed through the hole and found out that nothing is actually quite sturdy. They looked around again and had both came to the same conclusion.

Steve & Martia:....... Well this sucks! The hell are we supposed to do now?!

???: You could shut up for starters!

Steve & Martia frantically looked around the nothing for any trace of another being, but their search was fruitless.

Martia: Who said that?

??? I did! What are you blind?

Steve & Martia: Where the hell are you?!

???: Up here.

Steve & Martia looked up to see a black couch floating above them. Across from it was a a T.V.

Steve: How do we get up there!

???: The same way I did! Walk!

Steve & Martia had considered it to be a weird enough day, so walking straight up didn't seem as far fetched as it would have any other day. They attempted to walk straight up and just like ??? said it worked. As they came face to face with him they saw that he wasn't quite what they expected. He had on only a white tank top and blue shorts. His face was horribly disfigured. They sneaked a glance at the T.V. and saw he watching cartoons.

???: Can I help you?

Steve: Um... we were hoping you could tell us where the Crimson King D.P. is? We seek his ancient secret.

???: I'm him, and you already now it.

Martia: You're the Crimson King?!

Crimson King: Yeah, I am. And stop calling me that. Call me W.W.

Steve: Okay Mr. W.W. wh-

W.W.: Not MR. W.W. Just W.W.

Steve: Okay W.W., what exactly is your secret? Both of us have spent ages searching for the answer and we would love it if you shared it with us!

W.W.: Alright... I'm gonna level with you. The secret you've been looking for, is just how to break the fourth wall, which you already know how to do. So please leave me alone.

Martia: W-wait! Please explain more to us! We, we don't know what you're talking about!

W.W.: Huh... the fourth wall, in short, is the only thing separating a reader/viewer from any piece of work. By a character acknowledging the fact that they are in a story, they break the fourth wall. Here's an example: a character in a T.V. show say "The viewer must be getting pretty pissed right about now." By acknowledging the viewer, he made it clear that he knows that he is in a fictional setting, and not real. So when you guys asked the author what to do next, you let the reader know you were aware of the author writing this, and broke the fourth wall. It's not used in a lot of "professional" stuff, but it's a good way to lighten certain situations or insert some humor. Now can I please go back to watching cartoons?

Steve & Martia: Oh, yes! Of course! Sorry for disturbing you!

Steve & Martia left the nothing and patched up the fourth wall. They returned to the surface of Junk and proceeded to share their news with everyone.

And everyone thought they were crazy.