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The Lost Children

It almost seemed like ages ago after the tremor occurred, and the child hoped that whatever had angered the keeper of this prison wouldn’t do so again.

The child could not recall whenever they were angry. Or happy. Or anything other than fear, sadness and being alone. They wondered if those were the only things you could feel when in the dark, that nothing good could come from it. But did the dark have those same feelings too? Does the dark fear light and thus stays all alone with nothing else around?

These were questions without any real answers the child could figure. All they could do was keep walking onward towards what was likely the unending abyss of their prison.

And then came a point where the child had stumbled upon something that made gasp so loudly they near felt they would die from a heart attack then and there. There was something lying on the ground. The child realized where the ground was for the first time and now there was something there. Something other than blackness.

They hurried over and discovered it was a painting of an odd assemblage of people. The child had to kneel down to take a closer look through the dark as they could see the figures of men, women, children animals that walked like people, and other strange characters. Most looked like royalty while others looked to be simple knights or warriors. A giant blue floating man was in the picture as well. And a lion, along with ducks and mice and a horse with wings. So many incredible looking people all brought together into one grand group, all posed for this painting.

They knew about this painting somehow. They’d seen it. They felt as though it was another lifetime when they had. After knowing this they wondered if they might’ve been someone in it. It was hard to say as the child barley knew what they themselves looked like.

But there was something else the child found. A word etched in the bottom right corner of the painting. After reading and knowing this word the child knew who these people were, and it had brought such happiness in them that tears ran down their cheek. Friends

The child had friends….

********************

The Black Pearl still sailed through the sea through night with the crew doing what they could to pass the time.

While some were simply keeping an eye on their stations others were doing the usual of playing gambling games, like Flynn and Aladdin were with some of the Arendelle sailors. After losing yet another hand Flynn and the sailors all threw down their cards as Aladdin managed to win yet again. When questioning how the thief from Agrabah tossed it up to “good luck”, but of course it was actually Abu handing him one good card after another from the barrel he sat on.

Mulan and Mickey stood near the wheel with Hook, mainly on the grounds of keeping watch on him per Merida’s warnings about him being a villain. The formerly disgraced captain, however, seemed content as he kept sailing the ship onward towards the direction of the “second star to the right”. All the while he was humming the tune of “A Pirates Life for Me”. During this time both of them had also discussed sword hands and skills they’d learned, one trying to top the other by saying how to properly handle one.

Merida was sitting by herself on the deck, looking over his list, when she could see Mary Poppins and Jack walking together. Apparently she told him her special word which, after hearing, Jack gave a very awkwardly surprised expression before looking to the nanny.

“That is, without a doubt, one of the most atrocious words I have ever heard in me life.” He commented. “And you call yourself a practically perfect nanny?”

Mary Poppins huffed before explaining “For you information, my good captain, it’s what you say when you can’t think of anything to say.”

He shrugged and responded “No wonder I doubt I’d be saying it. I always know what to say. Even where there’s nothing to say at all. One of the perks of being me. Savvy?” She rolled her eyes at this before he said “Now aside from highly irregular vocabulary, I must ask how you manage to fit so much in that little trunk bag of yours.” He pointed it out in her hand.

“Well, in all honesty, not as easily as you’d think.” She answered. “But it does have a knack for giving me what I need when I need it.” She then slapped his hand away as he reached before saying “And don’t think of putting those thieving hands of yours to work on it, Captain Sparrow. There’s nothing for you in here.”

Holding his hands up and far away from the bag Jack commented “If it comes to the nature of knowing what you want and getting to it, I’ve a great deal more knowing about it than you think.” His left hand dropping onto his compass. After that he suggested “Maybe you and I could discuss it over a nice pint of rum, aye?”

She turned her nose at this and said “I would never touch the stuff. However…” she pulled out her pocket watch and stated “Back in my home it’s likely tea time. I suppose now is as good a time as any for some. You’re more than welcome to join, Captain.”

He waved it off and smirked as he responded “Never touch the stuff, love.”

The two walked off and Merida, having heard all of this, smiled and shook her head. In her mind she was thinking how, if this world could surprise her further, then the two of them would be a very odd item. But she thought no more as she went back to checking her list, making a few more notes and annotations to it.

Someone walked over and said “Hi.” Making the princess look to see it was Elsa who asked “Mind if I sit?” She nodded as Elsa took a seat on a crate next to her before saying “Thanks. I’m just so….anxious.” She started fidgeting with her hair as she explained “I mean with seeing Anna again. Do you think she’s changed? I mean with age? Or do you think she’ll still be upset with me for what I did? Or…?”

Merida reached over and held the ice queen by the shoulder to calm her while saying “I’m sure everything will be fine. And trust me, if I know Anna like I do….the one that I knew…I’m sure she’ll forgive you.” Still seeing Elsa’s uncomfortable expression she reassured her “I’ll be there if you need help.”

This made her smile and say “Thanks.” She looked up to the sky, seeing all the stars still shining along with the moon, Merida looking up to, before she laughed a little and said “The sky’s away.”

“What?” Merida asked.

She looked to her and explained “It’s something Anna always said whenever there was a clear night.” Merida chuckled at this, Elsa eventually adding in before saying “I wonder if she’ll remember that.”

“I’m sorry to say but that might not be the case.” Mary Poppins said as she approached them both. When they looked Merida asked what she meant, to which the nanny explained “There is more to the enhancements of Neverland than being difficult to find. I believe, when we find those who we’re looking for, they may not be the same.”

“How exactly?” Elsa asked, looking a little more concerned.

Mary Poppins sighed before answering “I cannot say for certain. But I fear when we find your sister, there’s a chance she might not remember anything outside of her time on Neverland.”

“Same for whoever else was taken…” Merida added. “That means….this is going to be harder than I thought.”

“You of all people should’ve known it wouldn’t be easy, princess.” Mary Poppins retorted. “In terms of making people remember, we haven’t exactly had the best of luck.”

“And that’s not all you’ll need worry about!” Hook called from the wheel. “You forget about Pan. The self-proclaimed protector of the island. If you plan to get to the young ones, you’ll have to go through him.”

“But he’s only a boy.” Mickey pointed out. “What’s so bad about that?”

“This is no ordinary child!” Hook almost shouted out of fear. “This boy managed to take my hand, route my men and force us far away from those waters for nearly a decade. Believe me when I tell you, you should not underestimate him.”

While some of the others looked worried about this Mary Poppins huffed and said “The only thing a man should fear from a boy like Peter Pan is his abundant ignorance and stubborn attitude.”

“Might be more dangerous than you think.” Jack commented before receiving a cross look from the nanny.

Merida, however, groaned and scratched her head while saying “This is getting so frustrating! Every time it feels like we get one step closer, there’s always something in the way. First the memories. Then Arawn. Pete. And the Master of Worlds is still out there, and I have no idea who he is! It’s just…..ARRRAAGGH!”

Merida kicked over a nearby barrel out of anger before Mary Poppins walked over and said “That’s enough, princess. Getting yourself riled up into a tantrum is not going to help anyone.” She then leaned in and whispered “You’re making the others nervous.”

Hearing this Merida looked back and saw how concerned some of the others, like Aladdin, Flynn and Elsa, were at her little outburst. She realized it was partly due to the fact they were following on her orders. Of course if the leader was upset it meant not staying focused, and things were nerve-racking enough as it were.

After taking a deep breath, per Mary Poppins instructions, Merida said “Sorry. It’s just…”

“I know.” Mary Poppins comforted her. “But part of it is needing to overcome obstacles. Like with your mother being turned into a bear after all.”

“Exactly.” Flynn said before realizing what she’d said and asked “Wait….what?”

Merida ignored this and said “I just wish we had more help. A little bit more powerful magic behind our backs.” She sighed as she walked towards the bow and commented “I wish Master Yen Sid were here. We need someone like him.” She perked up, looking towards the sky, and said “That’s who we need!” Everyone looked as she pointed towards the bright blue star next to the one they were following and said “Her!”

Everyone looked confused as she pointed to it, even to where Flynn asked “Is ‘she’ a ghost? Or are you actually saying we need to ask a star for help?”

“No, not the star.” Merida tried to explain. “The Blue Fairy!”

Merida hadn’t expected the reaction she recovered from everyone as they looked to her stunned and surprised. Even Mary Poppins seemed a bit taken back by that remark, making the princess looked as confused as ever and ask what was wrong.

“You know the Blue Fairy?” Mulan asked.

Merida gave a quick nod and “Yes…”

“And you didn’t tell us?” Aladdin asked, sounding almost offended.

“Why?” she shrugged. “I didn’t think about her until now. What does it matter?”

“Uh, maybe because no one’s seen her for years now.” Flynn retorted.

Obviously confused Merida asked what they meant before Mary Poppins explained “The Blue Fairy used to be something of a guardian angel to the people. Those who were in need would pray to her, whether they knew it or not, before she would come to help grant their heart’s deepest desire.”

“I used to hear all sorts of stories about her when I was little.” Elsa added. “Sometimes Anna and I would wish and hoped she’d show up to help us find our future princess.”

Merida nodded while commenting “Well that does sound like her. At least the Blue Fairy I knew.”

“Did you know she’d helped those like Princess Cinderella and Aurora?” Mary Poppins asked.

“Wait…she did?” Merida asked. “But….but they have their own fairies who helped them.”

Jack then stepped in to say “Sad to say, princess, but there’s only ever been one real fairy in the world. Any others who claim as such are either would-be magic granters or more likely had one too many the night before.”

Merida had a very uneasy reaction to this. Apparently death wasn’t the only consequence to come for some who’d been forced into the new history of the One World. If the Blue Fairy was the only one of her kind, then what became of the Aurora’s Fairy Aunts and Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother? Did they lose all power and just become humans? Or did they cease to be, making way for only the strongest fairy of the bunch to take over?

While still thinking on this Merida asked “What happened to her? Did she….die?”

“Oh please.” Mary Poppins chuckled. “It would take a lot to destroy her. No, what had happened was apparently she became tired of this world. She’d seen the pain caused by the wars that brewed over the years and, no matter how much magic she used, it was never enough to help. Others say it’s because the gifts she’d granted to some were taken for granted and abused until she receded them.”

Flynn then helped to tell the story by adding “They say she just up and disappeared one day. No one’s seen or heard from her since.”

“So unless you’re both really good friends in this world like the last, I think calling on her for help is a no-go.” Mickey commented.

With yet another staggering revelation Merida plopped down to the nearest seat, which was a sack near the crates and barrels. She tried rubbing her forehead since it felt like her mind was ready to burst from all the exhaustion.

“Why am I not surprised that’s the case?” She rhetorically asked after giving another heavy sigh.

Mary Poppins helped her to her feet while saying “Come. You should rest. It will help ease your mind a little.”

As the two of them made for the door to the lower deck Hook called “Wait!” before hurrying down to meet with them. Once he did he asked “If I may, I’d like a moment with the princess alone. Just a small matter to discuss.”

Mary Poppins and some of the others gave the captain an odd look. Given the reputation they knew him by, and the warnings from Merida she gave to some, there were obviously uneasy with the idea of both being alone.

The princess, however, answered with “Sure.” Before indicating to Mary Poppins “I’ll just be a minute. Don’t worry.”

Reluctantly she agreed and allowed the two to walk down into the hull of the ship. Flynn took the wheel and kept the Black Pearl on course while Hook was away. Mickey and Mary Poppins however stood close to the doorway leading down in case.

Once they were in the hallway where the private cabins were Hook explained to Merida “From what I’ve heard, you’ve some sort of secret knowledge about what they say is the ‘real history’ of how the world should be.”

“Something like that…” Merida shrugged, finding it hard to explain to someone like Hook.

“But it’s true that that’s what you’re fighting for, correct? To set everything right again?” After Merida confirmed this he asked “Then tell me this: in this real world, am I a different man?” Merida began to sound confused before he continued with “I mean am I still a captain with a ship of my own? Do I still have my hand? Or did I at least manage to pay that blasted Pan back for taking it? Please! I need to know who I truly am.”

Now Merida had found herself in a deeper predicament. Hook seemed so desperate for the truth and yet, given what she knew, she found it hard to tell him. But she knew keeping silent wasn’t going to be enough for him. After a moment she thought of what she considered the best option.

“In reality…you manage to take Neverland for your own. Peter Pan is rumored to be dead, and you’re proclaimed the most notorious pirate of your world’s seas. Everyone knows the name of Captain Hook.”

With that answered Hook gave a more delighted grin as he thanked her. He then bowed and tipped his hat before fixing himself and walking back up on deck, a more commanding tone to his posture despite not being the actual captain. Once he was gone Merida sighed and leaned against a nearby pole until she saw the shadow of Mary Poppins cast on the floor.

“You lied to him.” She stated, Merida seeming ready to defend herself. “Don’t bother to deny it. I can tell when children lie. Something I’ve picked up on over the years.”

Merida responded with “What if I did? Do you really think he’d have helped us if I told him the truth?”

“Perhaps not.” Mary Poppins suggested as she walked over to her. “But what if something happens and he should learn the truth? What then?”

The princess sighed and turned away before saying “I didn’t know what else to do. If I told him that he’s a failed pirate still chasing after a little boy who cut his hand off, what then? Do you really think he’d still take us to Neverland or anywhere else if he knew that? Yes, I lied, but it was for the right reason.”

Mary Poppins gave her a unsatisfied look before saying “I only hope you know what the ‘right reason’ is before you confuse it for the wrong.” She then turned and said “Goodnight, princess.” Before walking off.

With another hard lesson brought to her Merida sighed and smacked her hand against the pole she’d leaned on. She didn’t understand why Mary Poppins was so opposed to what she did, being that she probably lied once or twice in her life before. Yet at the same time she understood the consequences if Hook were to find out she lied and if this would happen to anyone else they came across.

Still straining over everything else from earlier Merida went to her room and sat on the edge of the bed. After a moment she looked towards the porthole where she could see the blue star. Even though she knew it might be pointless she walked over to the porthole and kneeled in front of it.

“Please…” she prayed. “I need your help. I don’t….I don’t think I’ll be able to keep this up. Please….just help me. Please…. Just this once….Please…”

**********************

Merida awoken and found herself still kneeling in front of the porthole.

She rubbed her eyes, still feeling drowsy, but upon further inspection she began to realize things were not as they seemed. There were no lights in the sky and Merida knew what this meant. She stood and looked around trying to see the same thing she had seen every time she felt asleep.

“Hello?” she called. “Master Yen Sid?”

She waited a few moments in silence expecting an answer but none came. She opened her door slowly, expecting him to be standing there, but still no sign. She even looked around out in the hallway and walked up towards the stairs and yet again there was nothing.

With that she sighed before making her way back to her room, only to discover the door she knew she’d left open was closed. Upon further inspection she saw a feint light coming through and, knowing what it meant, opened the door to find the figure of Yen Sid standing there. Light was still beaming from behind, only now it was fainter to where she could slightly make out the color of his robes and the thickness of his grey beard.

While Merida sighed with relief Yen Sid commented Apologies. I would’ve knocked, but you already left the room.

Ignoring this Merida said “Please, I need your help.”

I am helping you, Merida. As best I can in my…condition.

She shook her head and said “No. There has to be more you can do. All you’ve done is told me to ‘remember’ and that’s what I’ve been doing. I’m the only one who remembers anything. Aside from you. But then half the time I don’t even know if you’re even real!”

Yen Sid reacted with a calm I would think you of all people would know that reality is not something as strong as stone. In the hands of those who would abuse it, such as the Master of Worlds, it can be used as clay to form a perverse new shape. And with the change of reality comes the alteration of memory. Something you are fortunate to not have been effected by. But even then you still forget.

“What? What am I forgetting?” she asked. “You know I have a list and I’d checked and double checked it. I’ve looked over it so many times just so I do still remember.” She stopped and tried to calm herself before saying “You know so much this world and the ones before. Can you at least tell me something that can help?”

Master Yen Sid sighed and said The young at heart are often have very impatience minds. Everything I’m trying to tell you, Merida, is to do exactly what you need to. You must be prepared for what is to come when you face the true evil of this world.

It took a moment for Merida to realize “The Master of Worlds. You…..you know who he is, don’t you?” Given Master Yen Sid’s silence it seemed to confirm it, to which she asked “You do, don’t you? Then why? Why can’t you tell me?”

I cannot for the same reason you must discover that answer own your own.

She groaned before asking “What does that mean? Why can’t you just be clear with me?”

At that Master Yen Sid chuckled and answered My dear Merida, did you forget? This is a dream. And dreams are never as clear as you’d want them to be.

********************

The call of “Land Ho!” had awoken Merida from her sleep.

She jumped up and realized she’d been sleeping in the kneeling position she took the night before. It was morning and the light from the sun had shined in Merida’s eyes for a moment as she fully woke. After she stretched she realized hard another “Land Ho!” and rushed out of the room to see.

By the time she reached the deck Merida could already see Mary Poppins and Elsa were awake and looking towards the port. Hook was still at the wheel and leading the Black Pearl to what Merida realized was the place called Neverland. At a distance it seemed small but, given what Merida had heard about it, she knew it had held much within the interior.

As Merida met with Mary Poppins and Elsa the ice queen seemed to hold her breath before whispering “Hold on, Anna. I’m coming.”

Mary Poppins, however, looked to Merida, seeing the look in her eyes, and asked “Did you not sleep well, princess?”

It took a moment to realize she been spoken to, given Mary Poppins a confused “Huh?” She shook it off and said “No, I’m fine. It’s…..nothing.”

With that Mary Poppins looked back to the island of Neverland while Merida kept a small worried tone on her face. The dream with Master Yen Sid had left an unsettling feeling inside her. In him not telling her who the Master of Worlds was, she feared she wasn’t going to like the answer. But she had an idea that it was someone she knew, and someone she assumed she would meet in this place.

Mickey, coming up to the deck, hurried his way over to the others and asked “Is that it?”

“Aye, there it is.” Hook called from the wheel. “Neverland! Still that same as last I’d seen her. But don’t let its friendly looks fool you. There’s many a danger to be found here.”

“Well then,” Mary Poppins began to say “you’ll have to point them out to us when we make land.”

Hook nodded before, after realizing what she said, gave a concerned “What?!?”

********************

It had been decided a small landing party would go ashore to Neverland, with Hook acting as the field guide.

Joining him were Merida, Mary Poppins, Elsa, Flynn, who’d argued about not wanting to sit out after the events of Tortuga, and Mickey. Both Merida and Mary Poppins had argued about not bringing any weapons or armed men as this was meant to be a mission of peace. Hook, however, had been objective to the idea even as they’d already taken a small boat out to shore when the Black Pearl anchored in the bay of Neverland known as Cannibal Cove.

He kept searching around the water as they rowed, making Flynn ask “What’s got you so worried? Afraid a mermaid’s going to come and tip the boat over?”

“Of course not.” Hook spat before giving a nervous “Just….keep your ears open for any ticking sounds.”

Hearing this Flynn and Aladdin looked to each other and shrugged, not knowing what he meant. After a few moments more of rowing the group finally landed on the shore. Hook was the first to top out and ran far enough towards the tree line of the beach that he was far enough away from water. The others stepped out one at a time and looked around, seeing how dense the jungle looked.

Merida, looking concerned, asked “How are we supposed to find anyone in all of that?”

“Allow me.” Hook said before pulling one large leaf to the side, revealing a hidden path through the jungle. “I’ve searched this entire island so many times, I know it like the back of my hand.” He held up his hooked hand instead of his whole one. He looked worried as he did before when saying “Now stay close. We’ll need to travel along Crocodile Creek…” he finished with a gulp.

The group began to move further into the jungle, each of them with the exception of Hook and Mary Poppins glancing back to see how far inland they’d gone. They followed the path along the creek that Hook had mentioned, seeing how exotic it all was.

Within an hour they’d still continued on the path, leading them around the large mountains in the center of the island, before coming to a forest. It seemed to be connected with the jungle yet it distinguished itself from being one as the trees and grass and animals they spotted were all different.

After a long enough trek the group eventually came to where Hook was leading them, Hangman’s Tree. It was within a clearing and was the most unique of the surrounding trees given how big and how old it was, with a few old noosed ropes hanging from the branches.

After taking a moment to inspect it, lifting up a hidden hatch as the base, Mickey said “Doesn’t look like anyone’s been here for years.”

Elsa, looking to Hook with an annoyed expression, asked “Are you sure this is where they were?”

“Yes, it has to be.” He tried defending himself. ‘At least it was last I was here. I…I don’t know where they could’ve gone.”

Suddenly a voice from somewhere near said “If I were you folks, the only thing I’d be looking for was a way out of here.”

As everyone looked around Merida asked “Who said that?”

The same voice answered “I did. Up here.” Everyone looked up to a nearby branch where they saw who was talking, a small little bug wearing a vest and top hat with a small umbrella. He tipped it hat to them and introduced himself as “Cricket’s the name. Jiminy Cricket.”

Seeing this Flynn commented “Too bad the captain isn’t here. Or else he’d like say ‘that’s interesting’.”

Merida, still looking up to him, asked Jiminy “Are you from around here, Mr. Cricket?”

He shook his head and hopped down into her hands before saying “Not me. I’m from somewhere pretty far from here. I arrived with a friend of mine who….well I really can’t say what’s happened to him at this point.”

Mary Poppins walked over and asked “Was this friend of yours another child?”

He looked and nodded before giving a sad answer of “He tried to be…. It’s a little hard to explain. But it doesn’t matter anymore.” He sighed and continued “I thought I could be his conscious and set him on the right path, but once he came here he stopped listening to me. I guess I failed him as much as the Blue Fairy.”

Everyone was a bit surprised by this before Mickey asked “You knew her too?”

“Yep. She was the one who made me an honorary conscious after all.” He answered. He then sighed again and said “But not much need for one here, not when all the children only listen to the one in charge. And that’s currently Peter Pan.”

“You said we should leave.” Merida stated before asking “Why? What should we be worried about?”

Just as Jiminy was about to answer the sound of ruffling in the bushes could be heard. He gasped and looked, as did everyone else, as they could hear something, or rather a lot of something’s approaching.

The little cricket gulped and answered “Them…” before hoping up near Mary Poppins and hiding under her collar of her shirt.

The group all turned as whatever it was eventually jumped out of the surrounding tree line, revealing that it was a group of armed and masked children. They held spears or bows and arrows and pointed them at the adults while sporting animal skins and wooden masks that covered their faces. The few children who did have exposed faces showed they had war paint covering them. Instead of being just boys there were girls as well, some hard to tell given the masks.

They surrounded and forced the heroes into a small back-to-back group before one of them, a raccoon boy, said “Looky! Mothers and Fathers back in Neverland.”

Flynn, leaning over to Elsa, asked “Does he mean us?”

A rabbit boy looked and said “They look different from the Indians.”

A fox girl suggested “Maybe they’re more pirates.”

Mary Poppins, who’d not had her hands up like the others, said “We’re not pirates. At least not all of us. We’ve come here to speak with your leader. Peter Pan. And put those foolish things away before you hurt yourselves.”

She pushed the girl’s spear away before she said “Hey! You’re not the boss of me.”

Suddenly one of the boy’s, a familiar one with a bear skin outfit, took a closer look and said “Hang on a second.” He walked over to Hook and, after examining him, gasped and said “Hey! I know you. It’s Hook!”

The other children gasped before one of them said “Then they must be pirates! We should drive them off like the rest.”

“I say we feed them to Tick-Tock.” The rabbit boy suggested, making Hook give a nervous gulp.

Everyone worried before Flynn, taking the moment, said “Hold it! If you kids want to deal with us pirates, which we are.” He emphasized while looking back and winking to the others. “Then we invoke the right of parley.”

The kids all looked confused and asked themselves what that was, even one of the painted faced girls saying “It that some kind of food?”

Flynn explained “That means, by the rules of pirating, you have to take us to your leader. No ifs ands or buts about it.”

Three of the children, who were likely the leaders, huddle and spoke among themselves. They were the bear skinned boy, the fox girl and another painted face boy. As they spoke Jiminy poked his head out from under Mary Poppins’ collar to see what was happening. Seeing him she shushed him, giving a signal to stay quiet for now which he did as he hid again.

When they finished the bear skinned boy said “Alright. We’ll take you to Pan. But don’t try anything funny or else.”

With that he and the few other children lead the way while others were at the groups back, keeping their weapons pointed at them and indicating for them to move forward. All the others moved before Hook, who needed a quick poke to the rear from one of the kids to get him moving.

As they walked Elsa said “Good thinking, Flynn.”

He shrugged and commented “Something the captain taught us. When in doubt, parley will always save your skin….most of the time.”

********************

After heading west for a good long while one of the children gave a loud crow, which was answered by a few more once they arrived at the Lost Children’s hideout.

What was once the area that Hook mentioned to be where the Indians of Neverland once settled was now claimed by the small army of up to 50 children all taken from around the One World. Emerging from the forest the group could see there were small clubhouses built around a large tree that seemed to have grown from nowhere at the very end of the camp. Once they came closer, more children crowing, they began to emerge from their houses to see the strangers who’d been brought to their base. Some were wearing masks and animal skins like the ones they run into, while others wore tattered versions of normal clothes. Some came out and followed the group while others peeked from their windows.

During all of this Elsa was looking around for Anna, thinking that she had stick out the most from them since she was supposed to be at least 18 by now. Yet there seemed to be no sign of anyone older than 12 among the Lost Children, as they were dubbed.

The large tree they were being lead to stuck out the most, being the tallest thing around with a small house built among its branches. This was where some had figured the leader of the group to be, which was only more confirmed when they were met by more of those who Merida recognized as the original Lost Boys.

Once they were brought before them the bear skinned boy said “We caught these pirates near the old Hangman’s Tree. And looky-looky. It’s old Captain Hooky.”

The fox skinned boy said “Hey look. It is Hook.” He then pointed his spear at him and said “I thought we told you never to come back here.”

He scoffed at this before saying “Don’t bother throwing those types of threats around me, boy. Where’s Pan?”

“Uh-uh. You know the rules, Hook.” The fox skinned boy retorted. “You don’t talk to him until you talk with Tink.”

Merida perked up when she heard mention of Tinkerbell. Being that she and Hook were the only ones of the group to know her they looked before the twinkling sound of her wings flapping could be heard from above. The pixie soon flew down from the treehouse and fluttered about around the group. As anxious as Merida was she knew to hold back, being that this wasn’t the Tinkerbell she knew.

After a moment she spoke in her pixie language, pointing at Hook most of the time and he seeming either offended or taken back by what she was saying, before one of the boys began to say “Tink says…”

Suddenly Mary Poppins cut him off and said “I know what she said. And by the way, young pixie, I do not appreciate that sort of tone or language.” Most of the children, and those in the group, were surprised not only by her understanding the pixie but also her very stern tone, before she said “Now enough of this childish nonsense and bring Mr. Pan here spit-spot.”

With that Tink gave a nasty look, only for Mary Poppins to give a more cross one, making the pixie fly up and off to speak with the leader in the treehouse.

Mickey then commented to Flynn “Remind me not to get on her bad side. Ever.”

A moment later the group finally saw the self-proclaimed ruler of Neverland, Peter Pan. He looked basically the same as Merida knew him, only his clothing had changed. He wore a coat that once belong to Hook that was a dark red. Instead of his cap Pan wore the headdress of the Indian Chief on his head, emphasizing his authority. What had surprised Merida the most was his complexion, a colder and almost darkened expression that she’d never expected to see on the boy who never grew up.

Pan floated down in front of the group, looking at all of them for a moment with Tink hovering nearby, before saying “Didn’t think you had the nerve to come back her, you old Codfish. I thought I made it clear you weren’t welcomed here anymore.”

“Aye. That you did.” Hook retorted, standing a little more defiant. “But things are different now. And I’ve got myself a new crew.”

Flynn cleared his throat and tried to say “Actually we’re not so much with him as he is with us.”

Pan huffed at this and turned his back saying “You’re all still unwanted. This place is for Lost Children only.” He then looked to his friends and said “Get rid of them.”

Before the children could make a move Elsa stepped forward and said “Hold it! We’re the ones who wanted to see you. Hook only led us here.”

“So what?” he asked, without looking back. “You’re all still older people, and I don’t feel like talking with you. So go away.”

The bear skinned boy then leaned over and said “But Peter, they invoked the right of parligiy or something. It’s a pirate rule and they said they get to talk with you.”

“I did talk to them.” Peter retorted in an annoyed tone. “And now I’m done. So they can leave.”

“Not until we’ve had our say!” Merida stepped forward. Peter looked back to her before she said “We came here to find our friends. Children who you’ve taken and whose families miss them.”

He turned and scoffed at this while saying “They have a family. Right here. Some of us are even mothers and fathers. Right, guys?”

“Wrong.” Mary Poppins stated loud enough. “They’re only pretending to be. But we’re here searching for sisters. Two in fact. One of them I’d promised to return one way or another.”

“Well, you know what they say.” Pan shrugged. “You shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep.”
He turned to leave before Merida stepped forward and said “Well I made a promise too. And I intend to keep it.”

The fox girl from before pointed her spear and said “Don’t you step any closer, big girl. Or else I’ll stick you right through the head.”

After a moment Merida recognized the girl’s voice. She gave her an odd look while trying to look past the mask, seeing her eyes. She could see something equally familiar in them even past the paint she could see on her face underneath.

It took her a moment before asking “…Lilo?”

The girl reacted with surprise before putting her spear down. She then lifted her mask off and, as Merida had guessed, it was indeed Lilo. She looked the same as when Merida had last seen her, aside from the pain on her cheeks and how her hair was slightly messy.

“How do you know my name?” she asked.

Merida was happy and trying to hold back tears at the sight of her young friend while saying “I….it hard to say. But we’re friends.” She then looked to Mary Poppins and said “Both of us are. We came here because of your sister.”

Lilo tilted her head and asked “Which one?” She looked around at the other girls in the group and asked “Any of you guys call for this funny redheaded girl?”

The other girls denied this before Mary Poppins said “We mean your real sister. Nani.”

Lilo scratched her head before saying “Nani? I don’t know any Nani.”

Elsa, impatient as ever, pushed away from the group and asked “Well do you know an Anna?” She didn’t give her a chance before looking to the others and asking “Are any of you Anna? I’m trying to find my sister!” She then turned back to Peter, looking ready to attack him, before asking “Where is she?”

Pan, out of a sense of trying to keep things calm, whistled to one of the houses to the right and said “Hey! Anna! Someone here to see you. Says she’s you sister.”

Everyone, especially Merida and Elsa, looked towards the house and waited until it opened. They could see the face of someone peeking out, Elsa’s breath catching in her throat as she expected to see her beloved sister. However when she did finally emerge, it wasn’t the Anna neither the ice princess nor the redheaded one expected.

Instead of an 18 or so year old girl, this Anna was still a child. She looked no more than 9 at the most, which had shocked Elsa since that was the last time she’d seen her when she was younger. She walked out looking oddly at every one of the adult before seeing the tears on Elsa’s face.

“Anna?” Elsa asked. “Is….is that really you?”

She gave Elsa an odd look before asking “Do I know you?”

The ice queen took a few steps forward before kneeling down, holding her sister’s shoulders, and saying “Its….it’s me. Elsa.” She smiled while tears were still rolling down her cheeks. “Your sister. Remember?”

When Anna gave the answer of “Sorry. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before.” Elsa felt her heart break, while Merida gave a very uncomfortable wince.

“Oh no…” she commented to herself.