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DISNEY UNIVERSITYIt was no small appreciation that the bird’s outside of the always sunny campus of Disney University sang every morning in perfect, unified harmony as if part of a pre-meditated chorus that broke out into an epic crescendo of obnoxiously joyous proportion. The upbeat, operatic faunae always included, but was not limited to, verse, chorus, more verse, climactic bridge and… you guessed it… epic crescendoing finale. Every. Morning. Never failing. But then again… what else could be expected from the fairy tale sovereign that was the DU, The University of Magic, set in the Down Under in a notable location, with one of the most pristine campuses to ever belong to a university or organization otherwise, and housing dozens of prince and princesses and company…  Esmeralda buried her face in her pillow. She wasn’t ready for songs or the bright light of morning that came cascading in through gorgeous and dramatically ordained double-clasped windows. To which, she’d pulled tightly closed the night before hoping to drown out- (On cue-) 
“Ah-aha-aha!” 
 Giselle.  
“Ah-aha-aha! Aha-aaha-ahahaaa!” 
 Esmeralda took each side of her pillow and wrapped it around her head and both ears, squashing her thick and full, dark hair. She sent a groan into the mattress, “Uuuugh!” Still groggy from sudden consciousness.  “Giselle, for the love of Mickey! Can’t we have one morning-?!” Anna could be heard screaming across the courtyard. Giselle kept singing.  The way the massive courtyard was set up was that each princess had her own suite, and each suite had windows that faced out to the courtyard. So no matter what, they were always facing each other. If they wanted, they could all hang out their own windows and talk to each other, or in many cases, scream across the space to the princesses on the other side. Tiana was on the corner to the left where Esmeralda was. Esmeralda heard her windows swing open, 
“Seriously girl, every morning DOES NOT have to be an opening number.. Some of us need our beauty sleep! Think about Aurora!” 
 “GO KISS A FROG, TIANA!” Came a voice on the other side. Tiana’s voice growled deeper than a Serabi growl, “GO CHOKE ON SAND, JASMINE!”  Another window swung open, 
“Why are we all screaming??” 
 
“The fairest of them all has awakened everybody!”
 “That’s not necessary!” Snow White said from her window to Esmeralda’s right.  
“When’d you get your voice back, Ariel?!”
 
“…REALLY?!”
 
  Esmeralda heard windows swing shut in a huff. Esmeralda lifted her pillow enough to see the sun was fully setting in the room, embellishing every golden detail of the Royal Suite with its prismatic glow. Technically speaking, Aurora would not be bothered or disturbed of her beauty sleep because Aurora was not on campus today, or anywhere near Disney University. The very room that Esmeralda was sleeping in, la Royal Suite, actually belonged to Princess Aurora and was placed in the highest center tower of the north side of the Princess Courtyard. It was disgustingly immaculate, and held no restraint in it’s munificence. It was a wonder that it was even being used at all, however sinful that may be. Even now, the sun cast aura and shadows around the suite that made it all seem ever more mystical.  The truth is that Aurora hardly ever spent time at Disney University, let alone in her Royal Suite, and it was only by a small favor and certain recent events that she had granted Esmeralda access to it while she was away.  Recent Events.  Esmeralda’s mind drifted to places where her skin clutched skin and a purple dress that wasn’t hers, begging someone not to go, her heart already broken in shards but reaching out madly for the love that was so close and still so far. She pulled herself out of those memories before the emptiness left in that person’s wake consumed her again. There was a rapping at the door.Strong and proud. “Ugh!”It happened again. “Go away!” Esmeralda groaned, her voice raspy with sleep. She covered her head again.  Djali’s head came underneath the sheets, he nudged at her, stubborn as a goat. She sighed in defeat. Without saying anything further, she got up and half-drifted, half-trudged over to the door of the suite, which was solid white-painted oak, glossed over with polish that made it shine like glass. It was trimmed with gold, (real of course), with a tiara at the top that a ruby, an emerald, and a sapphire lined in a row at the tip. Occasionally, they’d all mysteriously turn all blue, or all green, and then in a blink turn all red, and then back again, like nothing’d happened.  She opened the door in no hurry, as if to prevent the inevitable interruption. Nakoma’s head peek-a-boo-ed around the door first. “Good morning, Sleeping Beauty,” She said with a sly grin. “We should call her Highness now that she has the Royal Suite,” Pocahontas’s perfect eyebrow was arched all the way up in friendly mockery as she pushed at the door, “Maybe we should come back?” She eyed Esmeralda’s face. Sensitivity was not her strongest attribute. “Forget it. The royal staircase is only a ‘once-a day’ kind of fitness endeavor for me. Her High Depression will have to suck it up and let us in.” Nakoma huffed. Esmeralda gagged, “I don’t think there’s room for the three of us.” Djali bleated. 
“Four of us.”
The door swung all the way open and in barged Pocahontas and Nakoma, of the Powhatan Indian Tribe, fish out of water in the Royal Luxury Suite.Pocahontas had grabbed Esmeralda’s hand and pulled her in, “No wonder you haven’t been seen in days.” She grinned in amusement and plopped down on the bed.“Look at this!” She ogled the gemstones that were all emerald, now. Esmeralda pushed herself down next to Pocahontas, sighing loud. It wasn’t all true. The Royal Suite was more of an isolation scheme than it was a lavish getaway for Esmeralda. …Holy Hades, Es. I never would have thought you’d be the diamond and tiaras kind of gal. What happened to that gypsy girl that I knew too well? Esmeralda pushed the thought of Greek princess out of her mind. She’d spent too much time over the last few nights thinking about her. And crying over her. And sobbing. And hiding away, miserably. She was more grateful to Pocahontas for the interruption than she’d ever let on.  “Tell me this isn’t why you woke me up.” Esmeralda said. “No,” Pocahontas started, “As if anyone can sleep past the morning chorus,” Nakoma said under her breath. “We’re here to rescue you… from your…” She looked around again, eyes wide and bright, “Lonely tower.” “Ah,” Esmeralda laid on the sarcasm heavily, “A couple of heroes.”“-Saviors,” Nakoma said. “-As far as you’re concerned,” Pocahontas poked Esmeralda’s side, giving her a guilt-inducing glare, “If you stay up here, you’re bound to be miserable. Get up! Come out with us!” “What did you have in mind?” “Anything that doesn’t involve feeling sorry for yourself.” Esmeralda groaned. She knew that wasn’t the whole plan that the Powhatan Princess had in mind. It couldn’t be.“Seriously,” Nakoma said then,”It’s getting sad.” Djali bleated in agreement.
“You too, huh?”
 
Twas a losing battle. Esmeralda sighed and went over to the gargantuan of a vanity that was all white marble with gold trim cut into flowers and vines. Atop it was a briar rose, carved elegantly in gold, it’s center jewel suddenly turned from an emerald to a ruby.
 
Fairies!
Nakoma’s face appeared in the mirror beside Esmeralda, “And here I was using my reflection in the river every morning.” “I bet this room costs more than everything we own in our village.” “You wouldn’t have it any other way,” Esmeralda said to Pocahontas. “I’d have it so money was spent on things that mattered… to everyone. Or just mattered.” Pocahontas got up from the bed, as if she were suddenly uncomfortable. “Aurora doesn’t like it anymore than we do.”Pocahontas’s face appeared on the other side of Esmeralda and Nakoma in the vanity, “Did she say that?” Again there was friendly jest in her voice and a small arch of suspicion to her impeccable eyebrow. “She didn’t have to,” Esmeralda assured herself as much as them, “Why do you think she never comes to DU except on conference or town meetings?”“Princess drama?” Nakoma drawled. Then Esmeralda almost smacked herself in regret. 
 
Damn!
“You forgot about the town meeting tonight, didn’t you?” Nakoma eyed Esmeralda. Pocahontas had walked away from the vanity, rolling her eyes. She sat back down on the Ultra-King-sized bed fit for a Queen, hanging her bare feet just off of it. She stroked Djali behind his ears, “She could use the influence she has. Her and Phillip own half of Disney’s assets now.” Esmeralda ran a hand through her hair and then rested it under her chin. Pocahontas suddenly got up again. She came towards Esmeralda as if part of a slow dance and leaned down too close to her, face to face. She was so close that Esmeralda could smell Pocahontas’s unique fragrance of wild and earth. She could see closely, her flawless bronze skin, and her perfect lips sent Esmeralda reaching for the memory of the two of them together on a tree branch, high off the ground from where anyone could see. “You’re going to help us.” This was a command. A demand from the Native Princess. There was no saying no. “With what, exactly?” Esmeralda said, carefully. She wanted to laugh at how predictable Pocahontas could be. At the same time, she could feel Nakoma’s eyes at the back of her, too. “Convincing the royalty to support our cause.” “Like I’m a princess whisperer or something?”Nakoma snorted so loud Djali took a step back, startled. “…You’re in the Royal Suite, in the vanity of Princess Aurora, and you’re going to tell me you DON’T have a way with the royals?”  Eyebrow. Then, Pocahontas came very close, putting her lips to Esmeralda’s ear, to where Nakoma’s eyes were now burning a hole straight through the back of them, “I happen to know you have an uniquely special touch to making friends with princesses… if I remember…” Tree branches hidden behind willow leaves, and brightly colored autumn winds in dark hair surged down Esmeralda’s spine, leaving chills in her body. If she hadn’t caved yet, she’d have done it then.  Then again, what choice would she ever have in those stubborn, dark, and wild eyes?

“What did you have in mind?”
 
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 Nakoma had pulled out an agenda set with dates and times on a planner with a list of names that filled up a full paged scroll, front and back. “You made this??” “No, Anna wrote it, with Jiminy’s help. I think.”“The Ice Queen’s sister helped you make this?”  An agenda to convince the Royalty how to spend their money? “Who knew that girl had a thing for agendas?” Nakoma said, deadpanned. “Why would she be helping us?” Esmeralda asked, confused. There wasn’t even a soul alive outside of her sister, Anna, that could convince the Ice Queen to come down from her frozen tower. Nakoma’s expression was lame, “I think she sees us as the anti-Princess movement here on campus.”“I can’t say I blame either of them with the way they’ve been treated,” Pocahontas stated. “She could probably use a friend,” Esmeralda said with her heart. “…Girl has a lot of time on her hands,” Nakoma finished. “Well, she’s got a friend in me,” Pocahontas said, snatching the agenda from Nakoma and pointing emphatically at the drawn diagrams, “There’s everything from when the Royal couples take their lunch breaks to the places they’ll be at each time of the hour.”“That would definitely be Jiminy’s soirée,” Esmeralda affirmed, looking at the page, meticulously calculated, “You remember his course on Disney Heroines and the importance of time management?”“I’m so glad they took that off the curriculum…”
“And yet here you are with an agenda.”
 A familiar chirp rang from down the hall. The three girls watched as a golf-ball sized bug hopped in their direction, bouncing off a jutting red thumb tack on a bulletin board. Esmeralda stuck her hand in front of her with her palm facing in and her index finger out to which Jiminy landed deftly. “Speak of the cricket,” Esmeralda said, smiling at the bug in a suit and top hat perched on her index finger. He pointed a pin-sized umbrella at her, “You missed my last class, Esmeralda, and all the classes of last week. We discussed Acts of Heroism and why to stay above petty grievances.”His tone was jaunty, but accusing.“I took the week off.” “And the week before, I suppose too?” Esmeralda did nothing but scowl down at the bug. “She’s been sulking,” Pocahontas said, teasing. “I’ve been sleeping…”“Now, now,” Jiminy said, “We all need our time to ponder our inner complexities-““To sleep-““But it also means that we have to get back on our feet, and start over again.” “I’m sure that’s coming.” “At least we got her out of bed this morning,” Pocahontas chimed. “That’s what friends are for. Reminding you who you are in hard times,” Jiminy said, “Remember my course on Disney Princesses and the Efficiency of Sticking Together?”“What?” Esmeralda asked, confused. She didn’t remember any course like that.“Of course you don’t remember, I never had a course on it. You princesses are awful at it sometimes. Lately I’ve been wondering if there is any chance for recovery among you princesses at all.”Nakoma made a noise as if she were both agreeing and offended at once.“That’s why we should try to fix things,” Pocahontas said, as hopeful as ever. Esmeralda found herself smirking, “That goes against the course you taught… what was it? How to be a Disney Royal and always having something to believe in?” Esmeralda winked. Jiminy beamed, “Now that’s more like it!”  “If you ask me, Disney needs a new voice,” The cricket continued, “An underdog that no one is going to see coming.” Jiminy winked at Esmeralda, then. “We appreciate your help,” Pocahontas added. “It’s no trouble at all. My next class is going to communicate why every Hero or Heroine needs a bug or an animal companion.”  “Or several,” Pocahontas mused.  “You three run along now,” the wise old cricket sang, “If you head down the North sector of campus you can interrupt Jasmine, Ariel, and Snow before they head outside. They always spend the mornings in the Courtyard before the early classes!”       The three of them watched as Jiminy hopped off of his perch on Esmeralda’s index finger and bounced away. Like a gymnast.  They all glanced at one another, holding a somewhat awkward silence. Esmeralda said it first, “Jasmine hates us.”  All three of them hesitated, even Pocahontas.  Nakoma finally said, “I’m sure she doesn’t…” Esmeralda sighed in frustration. She ruffled her voluminous hair and leaned against the wall. “She hates me,” she said. Her voice was raspier than usual.  It was true. Jasmine tended to hate anybody who threatened her or her social status. She hated every new princess who came on campus. Ever since Aurora has taken to confiding in Esmeralda over any other princess in Disney University, Jasmine had taken an especially nasty approach to Esmeralda. She had started spreading the worst gossip about her.  ONCE A GYPSY. ALWAYS A SLUT.    Still vividly carved out a piece of memory from Esmeralda’s mind. It’d been all over the door and rugs in her old dorm, graffitied. It was another reason why Aurora had given her the Royal Suite… It was the most secure dorm on campus, three times enchanted.   Even before Elsa’s, who had a castle about a mile off campus. It shot torpedo-sized icicles and was protected by animated snow golems that swung scythes made of ice at anyone who approached without consent. (Everyone.) Peter Pan and the Lost Boys made a game out of getting past Elsa’s magical defenses. Although they’d bragged about doing it once out of all the times they’d tried, no one’d actually seen it happen. Even Wendy had refused to vouch for them.  “There has to be something we can do,” Pocahontas insisted. “We can appeal to her social status,” Nakoma suggested, “Ever since Elsa came and took a huge portion of shares, all of the royals have been insecure.”“Jasmine is a little more than insecure, wouldn’t you say?” Esmeralda said sarcastically. “That has to work!” Pocahontas said excitedly, “We convince her that she’s protecting her status quo, and she’ll have to be convinced to help us. She’s too insecure not to! And then we won’t have to negotiate with Snow White, or Cinderella-““-Or Aladdin.”“-They always do what Jasmine tells them!”“Cinderella, for sure. Snow White at least has a few brain cells on her own…” Nakoma rolled her eyes, “Cinderella is dumb as stone.” Pocahontas opened her mouth to criticize Nakoma, but then closed it, shrugging.  Esmeralda considered it. The only person Jasmine hated more than her was Elsa, for different reasons altogether, and ever since she’d been on her crusade of social ‘procurity’ she didn’t care for the Powhatan Princess or her sidekick, considering them both beneath her for hanging around Esmeralda.  “Yeah, the only problem with that plan is that Jasmine will never even stand in our presence long enough to hear us out,” Esmeralda said, dully. “Unless…” She pressed a finger to her chin as a lightbulb went on, “Aha! Why didn’t I think of that before?!” “What??” Pocahontas and Nakoma said together. “There is somebody that Jasmine doesn’t ever try things with…” Esmeralda became elated,  “I think if I could talk to her I could convince her to try and convince Jasmine to vote our way.” “Wait, are you talking about-“ Nakoma started as Pocahontas gave Esmeralda an all-too-knowing look that made Esmeralda turn away, bashful.  “She’d be…” “Library.”  Nervous butterflies started to form in Esmeralda’s stomach as they moved quick down the corridor. They barely made a sound as they dashed forward since all three of them preferred to be barefoot.  It was just as they rounded a corner to where the corridor led to the stairs that took them past the Courtyard and up to the Library that Esmeralda stopped in her tracks, nearly crashing into the exact princess she’d been looking for.  “Belle!” Esmeralda said, suddenly face to face with the brunette. Her nerves went haywire.  “Esmeralda,” Belle looked just as surprised.“What are you doing down here?” Esmeralda asked before she could stop herself. Belle’s dorm was on the other side of campus, in a corner tower shaped like a rose. She only ever came down to the Courtyard for a mid-afternoon stroll. The rest of her time she spent in DU’s Library. Esmeralda knew her schedule, well.  Belle spoke easily, emanating the gentle confidence that only Belle could show, “Jiminy asked me down to help him with something before his class today.” “Jiminy Cricket,” Nakoma said.“What does he have you doing?” Esmeralda said, falling victim to enchanting and compassionate eyes. Pocahontas nudged her. “Uh- “ “Helping him prepare for his new course, I think. I was in the library earlier doing some research… Something about talking animals vs non-verbal animals and how it affects the structure around Disney.” “What structure?” Nakoma and Esmeralda said in unison. Esmeralda flushed.Belle laughed softly, “The societal structure, I suppose. Although lately it seems to be more of a lack of one.” Esmeralda gave an awkward laugh, and immediately lost wind when Pocahontas elbowed her again.  Belle turned serious, “Um… have you… heard from her at all?”  “From-“ Esmeralda recovered, “Oh… no.” She turned her head down, shaking, “No, I haven’t.”She couldn’t express to Belle how much she wasn’t ready to bring it up, but she knew if anyone held a genuine concern for Meg, it would be Belle. The three of them had been intimately connected at one point. Something Esmeralda, even now, couldn’t seem to forget.  Belle got the message and changed the topic of conversation, unable to hide a disparaging look from her eye as she lightened the tone, “What are you three up to on a day like this? It’s beautiful out… Naturally,” she quipped.“Just hangin’ out!” Nakoma blasted, and keeled over when Pocahontas elbowed her ribs.“I’m helping Pocahontas with her agenda for the town meeting tonight, and so is Nakoma. She’s making a  proposal for the budget expenses.”“Really?” Belle mused, smiling slightly, “What did you all have in mind?”Pocahontas was unable to contain herself. “We’re trying to put the money towards improving communities that are under acknowledged, and less on material things. Helping the communities that could use Disney’s resources, and to the people in them who need help.” “Broaden our reach, you mean?” “Refocusing it. On things that matter.”  Belle looked skeptical. Then she nodded, kindly,“I can see your point.”  “Have you heard from Beast at all?” Esmeralda changed the topic.  “I always hear from him,” Belle said, sullen, “I haven’t seen him since Christmas.” She rolled her eyes. Part of the reason she had become so close with Esmeralda, and with Megara as well, was because Beast was always away on missions for Disney. He was one of Disney’s top operatives and worked with Disney’s  ‘A-Team’ in their military branch. Which meant Belle rarely ever saw her counterpart. “I’m sorry…”“It’s fine. We are working with it. I think that the two of us have started working harder because we keep hoping things will change around here. I think Disney needs change. It’s always the same people, and the same troubles that you hear about. It’s becoming dull, if you ask me.”  “That’s why we’re trying to make this proposal. It’s not just for the sake of everyone we can help, which would be a huge benefit in itself, but also because of the way that we can change by including more in our reach. Think of all the things we could learn from people and new cultures.”Belle looked convinced, “You guy’s might really have something here…”“Yes,” Pocahontas swelled, her chest popping out a little higher, “Help us, please. The others will listen to you.” “Well…sure. I could say something. Although, you seem like you know what you’re talking about. You’ll  be able to convince most of them if you say something like you just did to me. Beast and I are not the only ones who are tired.”“Jasmine?” Nakoma said. “Oh…” Belle trailed off. She understood. She knew very well the trouble Jasmine had put Esmeralda through, being as she has been friends with Jasmine longer than anyone else. Not best friends, but maybe that was why Jasmine had had it out for Esmeralda the way she had, because Esmeralda and Belle had gotten very close, very fast. “Yeah…” Esmeralda looked down. Belle put her hand on Esmeralda’s wrist and squeezed it, assuringly “I’ll talk to her.”“It’s only because I know she won’t get… the way she does… with you,” she said quickly.Belle squeezed her wrist harder, “I’ll talk to her.” She would. Esmeralda gratefully nodded and saw the gentle, firm resolution that could only be present in Belle’s eyes. She was very grateful. “Ehem-“ Nakoma cleared her throat. “I’ll see you guys around… tonight,” Belle said with one final look at Esmeralda and started off down the hall again. Pocahontas looking like she had a grin that meant she was absolutely smitten with herself.  “Belle.”Belle stopped and looked back at Esmeralda, “..Yes?”“I hope you and Adam can see each other soon,” Esmeralda said. “Thank you,” Belle said sincerely, and walked off. A quietude befell them as Belle walked out of sight.  “Well, that was awkward,” Nakoma broke the silence.  “She has the hotts for you still,” Pocahontas teased.“Obviously.” Nakoma rolled her eyes. “Stop.” Esmeralda turned around, starting towards the courtyard“Oh, ‘No worries, I’ll talk to her,” Pocahontas put her hand on Es the way Belle had.“OH, COME ON-““We are sluts. Every one of us.” Nakoma said. Esmeralda took offense, “I AM NOT-“Esmeralda stopped short. She had to catch her breath in her throat.  
Lord Mickey, no…
 Just then Jasmine, Ariel, and Cinderella had rounded the corner and almost walked into the three of them, Pocahontas pulled Nakoma and Es back before they collided into the trio.  “Oh great,” Jasmine screeched, her voice was laden with disdain, “…This campus isn’t big enough.” “Hey!” Nakoma started, “What did we do to you?” “It has nothing to do with what you could have done to me. It’s the company you keep, Nakoma.” “Jasmine,” Esmeralda interjected, annoyed. “OH, PLEASE,” Jasmine threw up her hand, “Don’t come at me after you convinced Aurora to side with your pity-party. The rest of us have troubles, too, you know.” “I’m not trying to cause trouble.” “Really? Want to tell me why Aurora favors you, now? Sleeping in her Royal Suite? All of a sudden, you’re Queen of Campus, or at least you think you are.” “Please!” Esmeralda lost her patience, “I don’t care about material bullshit or any business outside of my own. You can have her Suite if it means that much to you. I don’t want it.” “No one else is allowed in it!”“It’s not like she’s here to know the difference!” Jasmine scoffed.  “Why does it matter to you so much, anyway?”  Jasmine took a long aggravated breath and gave Esmeralda a death glare, “It matters because the rest of us have dedicated more time and money than someone who barely involves herself in Disney affairs. Let alone has no funds whatsoever to add to donations, or supplies, or anything.”  She wasn’t completely wrong and Esmeralda knew that.. Her cheeks went hot with embarrassment. She was taken by how true it was, “I-“ “She has a lot to offer,” Pocahontas said suddenly, “Aurora trusts Esmeralda because she doesn’t get involved in everyone’s affairs. She’s probably the only one who can keep a secret around here.”  “Well, that’s not exactly true, is it?” Jasmine’s voice got particularly nasty, “Everyone is talking about Megara’s disappearance. We all know who caused it.” “Now THAT is NONE of your business-” Esmeralda’s irritation peaked. “Princesses talk, Es, that’s what they do. Megara has too many acquaintances for her disappearance to go on without being noticed.” Jasmine’s eyes narrowed to viper slits, “I even heard from a certain bird that she was talking to Hades again… Now what could have possibly happened to make the Greek goddess go running back to her ex-boss? You have to be pretty messed up to look for consolation in the Lord of the Underworld-““Shut up!”“We all know it’s true. You’re nothing but a gypsy, through and through.”“Shut up, Jasmine,” Jasmine fell silent all of a sudden. All of them stared shocked at Ariel, who had Jasmine in a deadlocked glare. Ariel had known Megara very well. Arguably, she was the first to get close to Megara when Megara had first joined the rank of princesses way back when. Since Megara was technically dating her cousin, they had seen each other here and there. Jasmine had had something to say then, too, making claims that Meg wasn’t a real princess because it wasn’t her official title. Meg wasn’t having any of that. She started to refer to herself as the “Greek Goddess” on campus with Hercules avidly backing her, and within a week, no one heard anything from Jasmine about the subject. Ariel had become all but obsessed with Meg in the meantime. When Megara eventually broke it off with Herc some time later, Ariel followed Meg around religiously. Eric and her had even taken a break, leading Eric to spend time in the big city away from campus at Disney HQ, while Meg let Ariel reluctantly join her at the hip. Always keeping her emotionally, an arm’s length away. Meg built a reputation quickly for being a bit of a princess player, and Ariel, never lost feelings for Meg. At least, not yet.  Jasmine could have said a thousand things in that moment and her glare was so swollen, she looked like she had just caught Jafar sleeping with Aladdin.  She kept her mouth shut, however, since Ariel looked ready to stab her with a dinglehopper. Jasmine exasperated, “Ugh! Come on!” She shouted to Cinderella. Cinderella stared blankly at all of them, a far-off look in her eye before following Jasmine as she stomped off without another word.  Ariel hung back, sizing Esmeralda then, “You haven’t… heard from her… have you?” She asked cautiously.  Esmeralda shook her head, cooling herself after Jasmine’s backlash.  “I-I haven’t….” She breathed. “ I am sorry.” Ariel searched Esmeralda, then, “Okay, well…if you hear from her, just… tell her it would be nice to know she’s okay.” “Okay.”Ariel concluded that was all she was going to get. “ …I’ll see you around,” She said, as she turned on her heel and walked away from them. “Jasmine’s a righteous witch! Seriously, what did you do to her?” Nakoma seized. That was better left unsaid. Esmeralda shrugged it off. “Why would Jasmine say Megara was talking to Hades again?” Pocahontas asked, genuinely concerned. “She can’t be…” Esmeralda took another deep breath. She better not be.“Was she bluffing?” Nakoma asked. “No… even Jasmine isn’t so bold to make something like that up…” Esmeralda thought out loud. God, Jasmine really was a bitch. “I need to talk to Quasi,” Esmeralda said, thoughts of the Greek princess suddenly filling her thoughts again. “Wait,” Pocahontas grabbed Esmeralda’s arm. Esmeralda looked up, “Can you help us, please?” Esmeralda rarely heard Pocahontas ask for help, she was always too proud, too capable. “Help us with the meeting tonight, and I promise we will help you find Megara.” Nakoma’s eyes gave an Oh, will I? expression… “I will.” Pocahontas was firm and proud, but her eyes pleaded, secretly. Esmeralda answered her eyes before she spoke. Okay…  She nodded. Pocahontas’s lightened. Thank you.   Esmeralda took over the agenda from Nakoma’s hands. She glanced over it. The detail was impeccable. “Let’s see…” She said, rubbing her chin, “Disney’s Royal Couples… from the top… We have… Tiana and Naveen… The Beast and Belle… Hercules and Megara... Rapunzel and Flynn Rider… Peter Pan and Wendy…. Eric and Ariel… Aladdin and Jasmine… Cinderella and Charming… Snow White…. Captain Shang and Commander Fa Mulan…. Colonel Merida and…” Esmeralda clicked her tongue, “…last and… definitely least likely to agree with us…” The three of them looked down at Elsa’s name. “…The Ice Queen.”They all sighed. Nakoma said, “At least we know Beast and Belle will side with us.”“And Repunzel, Flynn, Tiana… Peter and Wendy…. I don’t doubt that we can talk all of them into supporting our cause,” Esmeralda said, nodding her head in assurance. “You really think Belle can convince Jasmine to vote for the poor savages and the gypsy in the Royal Suite? She seemed even more hostile than usual…somehow.” Nakoma asked.“Belle has never let me down,” Esmeralda said, meaning it.Nakoma rolled her eyes. “What about Shang and Commander Mulan?” Nakoma side-tracked, “I never see them on campus…ever.” “It’s true,” Pocahontas told them, “Captain Shang and the Commander haven’t been to a town meeting in ages. They always have Colonel Merida speak for them at the night of the meetings.”Esmeralda nodded, “Except that Belle mentioned that the A-Team hasn’t been back here since Christmas. Which means Belle has to be speaking for all of them then.” That meant Hercules and Megara, too, since Meg was M.I.A. and Hercules was also part of Disney’s A-Team. Megara normally cast her vote for the two of them during town meetings. That put the three girls at a significant advantage already with Belle agreeing to vote with them. “Repunzel and Flynn, though,” Nakoma said, tucking a knuckle under her chin in an inquisitive manner, “I actually heard that they gave their vote away.”Pocahontas nodded, “They did.”“To who?” Nakoma asked. “Peter Pan and Wendy,” Esmeralda said, and then, “It is strange. I wonder why they’d give their vote away… and to Peter and Wendy…”“Maybe they thought that Peter Pan and Wendy of all couples would be the least biased. The only person who can convince Peter Pan to do anything outside of what he feels is Wendy.”“Sounds familiar…” Nakoma said, side-grinning at Pocahontas. Pocahontas blushed and pushed at Nakoma. “We should go and see them,” Pocahontas said, “Story-time with Peter Pan and the Lost Boys is starting soon. They do it every morning…”Esmeralda agreed.Pocahontas started down the hall.  “What about Giselle?” Esmeralda asked, suddenly.Nakoma looked at her for a moment as if she had no idea how to answer or what the question was. “I think she’s kind of just there…” Nakoma said after a beat.  “Oh…” Esmeralda’s gaze dropped to the floor.They shrugged at each other.  “Come on!” Pocahontas yelled, already ten feet ahead of them.  The two of them followed after the Native Princess without another word. ~

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Peter Pan and Wendy Darling had been tasked with taking care , or Day Care, during the mornings on school days at the DU. Disney-ans figured it was because there had been a shockingly-staggering lack of volunteers. However if it came to it, the accumulation of Lost Boys, Peter Pan, and Wendy were enough bodies capable of distracting a group of children for several hours before they were taken by designated professors, like Doc or Grandmother Willow, for afternoon teachings.  Did Disney have that in mind when it had decided to open its doors to the outside youth so that they may pass on Disney values and exclusive knowledge? Probably not. However, as long as there were little complaints, (besides the occasional child who came home with too much dose of pixie dust and had to be pulled down from a chandelier or a ceiling fan,) and while no one else was stepping up to the plate on the matter, nobody was too concerned on altering the way things were going right now being run by the Neverland team.   Or so they thought. The three roguish females met Peter Pan and Wendy outside of a classroom with a group of raucous children and an equally raucous Peter Pan.  “Alright, ye scallywags!” Peter Pan shouted in a scratchy, pirate voice.“Y’ar are here to hear the story of how I bested Captain Hook! IS THAT RIGHT?!” Peter pinched his face and turned it into a mock snarl. The kids started shouting, “Yea-!’” 
“-YAAY! TELL US!!”

“TELL THE ONE ABOUT ELSA AND THE SNOW TROLLS! PWEEASE!”
 Peter was grinning big and had a look of pure joy about him, “ALRIGHT. WELL, YOU BETTER GET IN LINE-” He shouted in his normal playful voice, “EVERYBODY LINE UP NOW. SINGLE - FILE NOW FOR MISS WENDY! IF YOU WANT TO HEAR ABOUT HOW I MADE CAPTAIN HOOKEY DRINK SALT WATER FOR BREAKFAST!” “Why thank you, Peter, “ Wendy said as she walked past all of them. She smiled at the kids, touching some of their heads and ruffling some hair, “Everybody line up next to Mr. Peter so we can go inside. The Lost Boys are waiting!”This made the kids even more excited. They all scurried in a line and shouted things like, “I can’t WAIT for them to fight! Do you think they’ll FIGHT today?!”“DO YOU THINK THERE WILL BE SWORDS??”“IS MISS TINKERBELL HERE TODAY?!” “WHAT’S THIS?” Peter Pan mock yelled. The kids screamed.“Couple o’sirens I see!” One child yelled in a scratchy old pirate voice. “That’s Pocahontas and Esmeralda!”“Esmeralda has that really cute goat!”“WHO’S THE OTHER ONE? I’VE NEVER SEEN HER BEFORE!” “THAT’S POCAHONTAS’S LAME FRIEND! THE BORING ONE.” “Hey now,” Peter said, “We only call people boring behind their back. Where are those manners Miss Wendy taught you? Huh?”  The children snickered. Nakoma’s mouth dropped to the floor. “Peter!” Wendy nudged him and then waved at the three girls, “Hello girls!” “BORING??” Nakoma blasted.“Hey!” Esmeralda waved to Wendy. The three of them approached them, smiling at the children who looked up at them like they were the Queen or Minnie Mouse. “Do you mind if we join you today?” Pocahontas asked, politely.“I don’t know, we’ve never had anybody in our classroom before,” Peter said to the kids, more than the three bare-footed princesses, “What do you all think? Should we let them in to our secret hideout?”“I’m sure that’s no trouble-“ Wendy started. There was a unanimous ‘YEAH!’ and cheering from the crowd. “Well, alright then,” Peter winked at them. “Now nobody better step out of line or else y’ar will have to WALK THE PLANK!” Peter said in his pirate voice, “And don’t step on anyone’s toes-“He gave the girls one more look of delinquency before leading the group of children into the classroom.  One of the children tugged at Esmeralda’s skirt as she walked by her and waved at Esmeralda in an adorable gap-toothed smile. Esmeralda smiled wide at the girl and waved her hand. The girl squealed and ran inside. “It’s nice to see new faces. Especially girls, for once-“ Wendy admitted politely before leading them into the classroom. Nakoma had yet to stop sulking. 
 
Immediately they could tell that it was no normal classroom. Just through the doors, it was like walking through a forest, with hanging leaves and brush, and crawling tree trunks on either side. They were walking into a jungle of tree vines. Esmeralda could hear the sound of running water around them.  “I think it was made to look like their treehouse,” Pocahontas whispered to Esmeralda, as they both pushed underneath a swarm of hanging trees. Esmeralda felt excitement gather in her gut. Disney never ceased to amaze her, or remind her how wonder was just another accessory to living around Disney and the DU. The water came out of a tree trunk and ran over flowing logs and into a shallow, glittering pool at the base  of the trunks. Indeed, it looked like they were in an underground treehouse. There were little floor mats all around on the floor, and all of the kids picked one and sat down. They all had an eagerness and excitement smeared across their faces. Esmeralda, Pocahontas, and Nakoma all sat down around the kids. Esmeralda picked a cushion next to the gap-toothed girl, who squealed at her and smiled, giddily.  “Tell the one about Elsa again, PLEEEEASE-““The Snow Queen and the ICE MONSTER-““RAAAWR! It’s the Ice Queen’s HORRIBLE UGLY MONSTER!” “Monster?” Pocahontas whispered to Esmeralda, giving her a look and an eyebrow. “Ice monster?” Wendy looked at Peter with a know-it-all grin, “It seems the plot has thickened.” Wendy smirked and sat down, primly, on a cushion in the front of all of them, “Do tell us, Peter, of this ice monster. If you will.”The kids chattered excitedly. “Shh! Traitors!” Peter said in a harsh tone, “The Winter Queen’s monster is NOT to be spoken about…” A resounding chorus of AWWW’s followed.  Peter Pan stood in front of them all with his hands on his hips. “WITHOUT HELP FROM THE LOST BOYS! ARO-AROO-AROOOOO!” Peter Pan crowed. The kids started cheering madly, and the costumed Lost Boys came shooting out of holes in the tree trunks, CA-CAWing and waving wooden swords. “DID SOMEBODY SAY SNOW MONSTER??”“THE ICE QUEEN’S MONSTER IS NO MATCH FOR US! WE SHOWED HER!!”“WE SURE DID! SHE DIDN’T STAND A CHANCE!”“NEVER!” All the kids cheered like a chorus of thunderbirds.  “That’s right!” Peter started, all sparkling eyes and proud voice and mischievous grin, bringing everybody in, “There we were… at the top of the hilltop where Elsa keeps herself locked away in her ice tower-”“What were you doing there, Peter Pan?” Wendy asked, nonchalantly. “We were just gonna say hello,” Peter said innocently, smiling at the kids. Not a soul in the room believed him.“I was just gonna welcome her to our campus!”“Yeah!” The chubby Lost Boy, Cubby in the bear costumed, whined, “And introduce ourselves!” “I was gonna ask her if she wanted to build a snowman!” Everybody laughed.  “That’s right!” Peter said, “Totally innocent-““Uh-huh-“ Wendy clearly refrained from rolling her eyes. “Anyway, we got to the top of the hill and I call up to Elsa- HEY ELSA!” Peter Pan feigned shouting, “IT’S PETER PAN! ME AND TINK AND THE LOST BOYS ARE GONNA SAY HELLO!”Wendy did roll her eyes then, but couldn’t hide her smile.“And what would you know…” Peter said, looking grievous, “What does the Ice Queen do??”“What did she DO??” One of the kids asked, enthralled. The twin Lost Boys starting making sounds with their mouths that sounded like bullets. Tootles made explosion and crashing sounds. Nibs in the rabbit suit started crying out, like in distress.  “SHE STARTED SHOOTING MISSALS FROM HER TOWER! GIANT ICICLE TORPEDOES THAT WERE THE SIZE OF TOOTLES -BIGGER!” “So I say, THAT’S ENOUGH!” Peter said and then crowed, loud and clear, “ARR-ARRROO-ARROOOOOOO”The kids started cheering all over.  “THAT’S WHEN THE ICE GOLEMS SPRANG UP!” Cubby in the bear costume screamed. “WOOOOAH!” Slightly in the fox costume feinted himself dodging an imaginary attack. “SPRANG UP OUT OF THE GROUND! JUST LIKE THAT” Cubby wheezed, springing up from a seated position to a standing one with his arms and bear paws high up in the air in an attack position.   “Elsa thinks she’s a match for me! NO WAY!” Peter said. “NO WAY!” The kids all shouted.  “I said SLIGHTLY, YOU TAKE THE ONE ON THE LEFT! CUBBY, YOU TAKE THE ONE ON THE RIGHT! KNOCK THEIR BIG ICE SCYTHES RIGHT OUT OF THIER GRIPS!” Peter was shouting and making motions while the Lost Boys acted out the entire scene, roll for roll.“TWIN ONE GRAB THAT ANKLE! TWIN TWO GRAB THAT ANKLE! NIBS, YOU FOLLOW ME! TOOTLES RUN AROUND!”  “Everybody duck!” Peter screamed.All of the kids ducked their heads down like they were dodging the missals. “I’LL KNOCK THAT STINKIN’ GOLEM BACK TO WHERE HE CAME FROM!”“Yeah!” Tootles harrumphed. “DID YOU GET’EM PETER??” One of the kids asked, earnestly. “I GOT’EM ALL RIGHT!”“OF COURSE HE GOT’EM!” “I BEAT THAT GOLEM BACK NO PROBLEM! I WAS GONNA TELL HIM NEVER TO MESS WITH ME OR THE LOST BOYS! BUT THEN-“All of the children craned their necks a little, all with eyes that said tell us more, please!“THEN WE HEARD AN AWFUL SOUND.”The Lost Boys added more sound effects. “IT WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH US!” The children gasped, as did Nakoma. “WE HEARD A RUMBLING COMING FROM UNDERNEATH US, FROM UNDERNEATH THE SNOW!”A little girl threw her hand to her head, nearly fainting.“AND THEN IT CAME! -A HORRIBLE, UGLY, HIDEOUS, GIGANTIC ICE WORM SPRANG UP OUT OF THE HILL!”All the kids’ eyes were wide as saucers, jaws to the floor.“THE ICE QUEEN’S MONSTER! THE ICE WORM!”One of the kids could be heard saying, “Oh my god-“ “Ice worm?!” Cubby yelled, “I thought we were calling it the Snow Snake!”“I thought it was supposed to be the Winter Grub!” Tootles squealed. “I thought it was called Elsa’s Abomination,” Slightly said, matter-of-fact.“Nooo…” Peter waved them off.  The Lost Boys looked lost for just a moment. “IT’S THE ICE QUEEN’S ICE WORM, AND THAT’S IT.”  “Oh wow…” said a chubby five year old looking kid. “What did you do, Peter?”  “Well, what do you think I did? I said, Tink! We’re gonna need more DUST!”   Tinkerbell came from out of nowhere, shining above everyone and their heads, glitter falling down and dusting everyone in the circle. That’s when everyone absolutely lost it. “Tinkerbell!” They screamed.  
“Woohoo!”
 Everybody started falling upwards, drifting off of their mats, giggling like someone had said the most hilarious joke. “Not too much Tink, you remember the last time,” Wendy said, suddenly. Tinkerbell wasn’t listening.  Esmeralda felt the warmth of the pixie dust fall over all of them. She felt lifted…literally. She looked down at three feet of space between her and the floor.  The gap-toothed girl was rolling over to her side in mid-air next to her, laughing away. Pocahontas had a glorious look on her. She started somersaulting through the open air. Esmeralda felt the joy in her blood and kicked out her feet. She grabbed the gap-toothed girl’s tiny hands and twirled her through the air. Even Nakoma cracked a few smiles, pushing at one of the kids who tried doing a raspberry in her face while they hung upside down. The Lost Boys started swinging their swords at each other, dueling mid-flight.The room seemed to glow with the light of the pixie dust and everyone laughing.  “That Ice Worm can’t get us now, can it?!” Peter Pan said victoriously.  “NUH-UH!” They all said together.   “Peter, be careful,” Wendy said.  “Tink… Show Wendy how careful we are!” Tinkerbell grew a devious look over her and dusted Wendy with a cloud of pixie dust so heavy that Wendy was lost from sight for a minute, until she started floating upwards like everyone else. She rose so high she hit the ceiling with her palms up, bracing her against the impact. “Lovely…” Wendy exasperated, “At this point, I’m going to be floating during supper,” “Come on Wendy, you act like you haven’t done this before,” Peter said, growing what seemed to be real concern on him.  “I’m just saying we should settle it down before they come for the children… Tinkerbell, please…”Tinkerbell started pouting and crossed her arms. She flew off, ignoring Wendy.  “Here I thought we were starting to become close…” Wendy huffed, then. “Aw, Wendy. Don’t be like that,” Peter said. “Someone has to be reasonable, Peter…”“Reasonable? You keep talking like that, and you’ll lose all of your imagination. Then you’ll never fly.”“Never fly again-? That’s preposter-oh-oh-OH!” Wendy fell out of the air and landed right in Peter’s arms. Tinkerbell snickered.A look of endearment passed between Wendy and Peter Pan that almost went unnoticed.  They smiled to each other, kindly.  “OOOOO, YOU TWO SHOULD KISS!” One of the kids playfully teased. Everybody started giggling.Peter’s face went beet red for a moment, before gaining back his usual confidence, “Get outta here, you troublemakers!”“Look who’s talking…” Wendy smirked. The kids had a riot with that.   “You make me sound like such an adult, Peter Pan,” Wendy said cheekily, laying across both of his outstretched arms with hers wrapped around his neck for support. Peter gave a genuine laugh, “Haha, because you’re acting like one! One, big, boring, stinking grown-up.” The kids nodded and said, “UH-HUH!”Peter put Wendy back on the floor.  “Let’s be reasonable,” Peter pretended. Then said, “Let’em down again, Tink.”Tinkerbell obliged with rolling eyes, and all the kids started to slowly drift downwards, back to the ground. Esmeralda felt the sensation of the pixie dust drifting off like a midnight dream.  “Now I get why they talk about pixie dust,” Esmeralda said to Pocahontas as she sunk back down onto the cushions. “That was weird,” Nakoma said. “I wonder what would happen if Tinkerbelle were to throw pixie dust on Miko-” Pocahontas said.“Or Djali-” Esmeralda said.“What do you think Disney would do with a flying goat?”“If a raccoon was ever able to get into the highest towers, I don’t think we’d ever be safe again.”“That reminds me of this one time Clopin trained a bunch of flying squirrels to-“ Esmeralda started.  As if on cue, a voice sang in sing-song behind all of them. Clever, devious, and ready to break out into song if need be.   “Well, well, what do we have here?!” It said, the voice coming out from the hanging tree vines and revealing a familiar masked figure. “Master Clopin!” The kids started screaming. “Speak of the devil…”  “No need to talk about me, Esmeralda. Too many stories. Not enough true ones. People might get the wrong idea.”“THEY’RE ALL TRUE!”“HUSH!” Clopin silenced his hand puppet which had crawled out beneath a professor’s cloak. He was supposed to be wearing a suit and tie, but the suit was fitted down the middle with alternating colors, black on the left, red on the right, and the pants were cut the same way. The left side of his suit pants were red, and the right alternated the top of the suit. Red and black, black and red. A jester’s bell hung from the cloak. “Is this the remnants of glitter, I sense? Or do my senses deceive me?”“I smell pixie dust!” The hand puppet crept out again.  “Pixie Dust??” Cubby said, “I haven’t seen no pixie dust! No way!” “Oh dear…” Wendy sighed. “No, no… I’m sure it’s just the latest craft project that Peter and Miss Darling have put together.”Clopin leaned over and swept his index finger across a toddler’s nose who giggled at the touch. He rubbed his thumb and index finger together, and a small amount of pixie dust fell to the floor, glittering against the light in its descent. The other kids started snickering. “I think you might be off your marbles, Master Clopin,” Peter said. “Marbles?” Clopin asked, aghast, “Sounds like a plague.” “No, no! He means you’re crazy!” Twin 1 said.“Totally off the rocker!” Twin 2 finished. Clopin pretended to gasp, obviously offended. “I would never-“ Clopin feigned, “Accept anything less!”  “Oh Clopin, look out!” Nibs chucked a wooden pellet the size of Esmeralda’s fist towards Clopin. Clopin threw his arm down in a swift motion and an explosion of smoke took place where he had been standing. The smoke filled up the room like a fog and made everything hazy, translucent. Cubby started having a coughing fit. Esmeralda could hardly see two feet in front of her. She could make out only silhouettes, however she’d seen this trick before. She’d performed this trick before.  Something came from out of nowhere and hit Nibs and Cubby in the head. A wooden rod. Nibs cried out. Then Clopin’s hand puppet appeared in the smoke and blew a rasperberry in Twin 2’s face who yelped out of fright and toppled off the log he was sitting on, bringing his twin with him. “Alright, I’ll get you for that!” Peter said, unable to hide the excitement growing in his voice. He took out a slingshot and aimed it into the fog. His eyes squinted and the rock went sailing into the smoke and vanished as if swallowed whole. The rock changed it’s course and went flying out of the fog and into Cubby’s forehead and knocked him on his bum.Peter Pan growled in a competitive fashion while Wendy stood folding her arms across her chest.  Pocahontas started looking wildly around the room with that edged look of mirth in her brown eyes that Esmeralda was so fond of, searching for trails of the masked king of the gypsies the way she looked for new explorations. Nakoma covered her head with her seat cushion. “Oh no…” she said.  Esmeralda could smell Clopin the way no one else could, the way the fog started to hug the room made it hard to see but the small disturbances in it were noticeable only to her. The right moment took hold and she struck her hand through the fog and plucked with ease a familiar feathered hat as if right out of the air, which she took and plopped right on top of her bush full of hair, victoriously. Peter Pan let another rock loose. This time Clopin’s puppet could be heard shouting in anguish, “HEY! LOOK OUT!”The fog suddenly started to clear, magically. The room became visible again. Clopin was propped against a tree trunk, lazily tossing the pebble up and down in his hand.   “So is this the send off we give the poor children before their afternoon lessons?” “You’re a little early, don’t you think?” Peter said, crossing his arms, defiantly. “Yea, it’s not even lunch yet!” Slightly argued. “It seems that the powers that be are trying to cut your lessons short after the last child went home and flew on top of a four-story roof.”  Wendy dragged a slow, tired hand from her forehead down to her chin, “…I told you we had to be careful, Peter Pan.” “What’s the matter with everybody?!” Peter said, anger rising in his voice. “Peter.” Wendy said, earnestly. “No. Come on, Wendy. We haven’t gotten anyone hurt.”“Ehem-“ Clopin said.“-Just attached to their parent’s giant chandelier!” The puppet wailed. Clopin held its mouth shut like it was being impolite. “What the heck is Disney for if it’s not for teaching you guys to use your imagination?? Not just to dream it, but to DO it! I’m telling you, Disney is getting on my nerves! You guys have a good time with us, right?” All the kids agreed, some of them even cheered for Peter Pan. “Then what’s with all of the rules?! Disney is supposed to be about magic.”“Peter, that’s not what we’re saying.” Esmeralda and Pocahontas had stepped in, “I don’t think that’s what they mean, Peter.“ Peter stopped when he saw the three girls approaching him, Esmeralda and Pocahontas moving closer to pacify the argument.  Wendy reached out and grabbed Peter’s hand, no more argument or counter argument. Peter looked down at it and growled in frustration. He looked back at the kids. “Alright guys,” he said, “Get out of here and go with Master Clopin. We’ll see you all tomorrow for the real fun.” The kids all got up and started saying goodbye to the Lost Boys, then going up and hugging Peter and Wendy goodbye. Some of them came over to Pocahontas and Esmeralda, the gap-toothed girl included. She ran and jumped into Esmeralda’s arms, giving her a huge squeeze. One boy went up and hugged Nakoma before he hid his cheeks in embarrassment. Nakoma looked both shocked and heart-warmed by the gesture. Esmeralda rarely saw such an expression on her.  They all started following Clopin out of the treehouse. Esmeralda noticed a little boy with his fist closed tight. He opened it a peek and there, Esmeralda saw golden, glittering pixie dust. Clopin certainly noticed too, but he was the only one. The little boy looked up at Clopin, looking sheepish. Clopin slipped his puppet out from under his cloak and handed it to the boy. He emptied the contents of his hand into its opening and closed his fist around it like a sack, gripping it like it held the world’s best magic. He followed Clopin out of the classroom with a skip in his step that seemed to glitter each time his foot touched the ground.    “I am so sorry about that, girls!” Wendy said. “No, don’t be.” Pocahontas said to her. “If anything, he has a point,” Esmeralda said to them.  “Well, yeah!” Peter said. “Why would they even put you guys in charge just to over-manage you? It’s not like they don’t know who Peter Pan is…” “Because Disney has lost it, I’ll tell you!”“You’re not wrong, Peter,” Wendy said with a look of deep sympathy. “Well, I’m tired of it!”  “We’re tired of it, too,” Pocahontas said assuringly, before Peter got into it again. “What do you mean?” Peter asked, suspiciously. “It’s why we’re here,” Esmeralda started, “We’re here to make a pitch at the town meeting tonight and we want you two to give us your vote. “Give you our vote??”“Well now, that’s an interesting offer,” Wendy examined. “It’s not too far-fetched if we just put our minds to it,” Pocahontas said, “All we need is for everyone to agree that Disney needs a change in the way it is run.”“What exactly are we voting for?” “The right to vote on who’s in charge,” Pocahontas said. “Oh…” Wendy whispered and her voice fell off. She hid her face away. Tinkerbell landed on Wendy’s shoulder and started laughing, bells and musical notes instead of any vocal giggles. Those came from Wendy who tried very hard to compose herself. Tinkerbell held her stomach in uproarious fairy laughter. Wendy had to take deep breaths after several moments of fitted giggles.“Say no more,” Peter Pan said then, “You have our vote.”“Oh, Peter-“ Wendy said in disbelief and exasperation. Esmeralda stuttered, “Wait? Do you?” She could hardly believe. “Just like that?” Nakoma asked, amazed.“Yep,” Peter said, “Even if no one else votes your way, at least it will be hilarious and cause a scene.” Pocahontas huffed. Esmeralda saw her nostrils flare a little. “How can you girls be so sure about this?” Wendy asked, the lack of confidence emminent in her tone. “That’s a lot of different minds to try to get to agree on anything. Why… I can’t recall that ever happening before. Never.” “That’s because no one can agree on what is the right way to run Disney, but we all can agree on one thing…”“What?”“..We’re all sick of this sh-“Pocahontas put a lazy hand over Nakoma’s mouth and said no more. Neither Peter nor Wendy could hide their expressions. “This might be the best thing I have heard ever,” Peter said. “I can’t even find the words…” Wendy said. “You can start with, Yes, we will vote for you at the town meeting tonight.” Pocahontas stood beautifully poised. “Count on it,” Peter Pan said, hardening like stone. Wendy hid a smile behind the palm of her hand. “Well…why not?” she said. The three girls gave each other a look of relief. “This will be a good thing, I promise,” Pocahontas said passionately. “It will definitely be worth it to see the look on Jasmine’s face,” Peter said.  Esmeralda thanked them and started to pull Pocahontas away before she could say any more. The three of them waved goodbye to the duo and made their way underneath the vines again and outside of the classroom, but not before Tinkerbell flew over them and sprinkled a small shower of dust over them. The warmth returned and covered Esmeralda from head to toe. She looked over and saw Pocahontas and Nakoma grinning from ear to ear.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Disney University’s “cafeteria” looked more like a dining hall for royalty. The ceiling stretched high and rose into arcs where painted cherubs and fairies danced across it. The sunlight came in every direction from windows that were as high as the ceiling. Off in the distance, you could hear the sound of pots and pans clanging together while previously enchanted, French servants prepared food for all of the company on Disney’s campus. No one ever went hungry at the DU, as no one ever ate anything less than an indulgent, 5-star feast every night.In the morning, breakfast buffets contained every breakfast food imaginable and were served by talking mice in hats and clothes(little mouse-sized slippers), with the help of the boy Chip and the one and only, Mrs. Potts. During the day there would be placed out eight hardwood tables, stretching the expanse of the room and Tiana and Naveen led lunch, almost always guaranteed to be served with a side of jambalaya. At night, the hardwood tables would vanish and smaller, circular restaurant-style dining tables would be dressed with fancy cloths and candelabras. These tables tending to be more clique-oriented.Meaning Jasmine and Esmeralda had never shared one supper together.There was a message board in the middle of the hall that had everything one needed to know to stay up to date with all the current ‘goings-on’ of Disney. DU also had its own newsprint which could be found enlarged on the message board, as well as up for sale all around the campus.“Did you hear Anna was trying to get on the News Committee now?” Nakoma said as the three princesses walked through the threshold into the dining hall.“Good luck to her,” Esmeralda spoke, half-serious.“I thought the writers of the newsprint were a mystery? Doesn’t it always just show up mysteriously outside of the Dean’s office? Every morning?” Pocahantas asked.“I’m sure it’s made by talking animals. Like everything else.”“I always thought it was maybe Ariel… or her sisters…” Esmeralda added, thoughtfully.“The mermaids?” Nakoma laughed, “But they live underwater.”“That doesn’t stop Sebastian from teaching.”“Ha, I’ll bet it’s fairies! Some of Tinkerbelle’s friends may-” Pocahontas said, her voice carrying.“HEY P!” Somebody shouted across the room.The girls saw Tiana gliding across the dining hall.Flynn and Rapunzel could be seen off in the corner, entranced by the other’s presence and hardly paying attention to anything else.Pocahontas gave Tiana a long embrace.“Hey Nay,” Tiana finally said with her thick Southern accent once she saw Nakoma.“Hey suga-“ She gave Esmeralda a smile.“Hey T,” Esmeralda said back.“What have you been up to?” Pocahontas asked, enthused.“The usual,” Tiana said with a warm smile, “Did y’all wanna help me put up the latest news on the bulletin board? It’ll only take a second but it should help me a great ton since the ones who were SUPPOSED TO HELP ME SEEM SUDDENLY PREOCCUPIED,” her tone suddenly changed.Flynn and Rapunzel looked over, broken of their trance.“Tiana, don’t be like that!” Rapunzel said, bashfully, but as Flynn grabbed her hand she was wrapped up in a rueful gaze again. She was blushing shamelessly.Tiana put her hand on her hip with outrageous southern attitude and gave the three princesses in front of her a look of deep disinterest.“This is what I have to deal with ‘round here. No one even tryin’ to get off their lazy bums and do somethin’ outside of swoonin’ over princes and BRUSHING THEIR PRETTY HAIR,” Tiana exclaimed, “Mickey have mercy!”Esmeralda saw Pocahontas chuckle under her breath before immediately rising to conviction, “We wanted to talk to you about that-““About lazy, self-servin’ princesses?!”“Something like that,” Pocahontas said dutifully and unfazed by Tiana’s tone.“We’re willing to help Tiana…” Repunzel said.“Yeah, what about the banquets we host every week?” Flynn argued.“YOU MEAN THE DANCE PARTIES?”“But having fun is important, too.”“That’s right,” Flynn said, playfully, “A little dancing is good for the soul.”He put his hand to his chest.“Don’t you tell me about soul. I grew up in Louisiana!”“Aw, please lighten up, Tiana. We promise to help you from now on. What did you need us to do?”Tiana sighed and softened her demeanor, “I have to finish putting up the news before lunch. Naveen has it goin’ but he’s gonna need me in there soon to help him. Let’s hope he hasn’t gone and sliced a finger off yet.”“Maybe Remy can do all the slicing,” Repunzel chuckled and took some of the papers from Tiana’s hands, “Hi girls,” she said to Esmeralda, Nakoma, and Pocahontas.They all waved to each other.“What did you want to talk to us about, P?” Tiana asked.“I wanted to talk about the town meeting tonight,” Pocahontas started.“Always a great way to waste time,” Flynn said, lazily.“It’s only a waste of time because no one brings anything worth talking about.”“Well sure, but that’s how it’s always been,” Repunzel said, “They always talk about issues but no one ever does anything to change it. And the royals never decide on anything and it all gets left for Phillip and Aurora to make the final decisions.”“And those two are old-fashioned to say the least,” Tiana said.“Is that why the two of you don’t involve yourselves in them anymore?” Esmeralda asked, as the truth of it dawned on her.“Everyone thought that we didn’t care but that is so far from the truth,” Repunzel said, honestly, “With Briar Rose and Elsa having the majority of Disney right now, every other prince and princess suddenly are at the bottom. Equal, but helpless if Briar decides to veto whatever decision is made. The only princesses really able to challenge that are Elsa…” Repunzel hesitated, “And maybe the Beast and Belle. Well, Belle. I haven’t seen the Beast around here since before the last New Year.”“True…” Tiana said.Repunzel made a great deal of sense with what she said. The checks and balances of Disney had become obscenely unbalanced. It had all been because Elsa came in with more money than all of them. Completely new, previously unheard of, and out of nowhere. She threatened to buy all of Disney. It was only thanks to Phillip, who had started Briar Rose Industries back when Disney was just becoming famous to handle all of the business aspects of Disney, that him and Aurora were able to buy the biggest portion of Disney before Elsa was able to. Ultimately, Elsa took what she could get, which was the second largest portion of the company, Beast and Belle took the third largest, which was still small compared to Elsa’s and Briar Rose’s portion, and every other Disney couple were left with scraps.Briar Rose is virtually able to decide against any major changes to the company, which they did for fear of losing Disney’s ‘normalcy’, and no one has the ability or the say so to challenge that. Which means, Disney has stayed as unchanged and mundane as ever before. That was entirely the problem.“Eugene and I thought it best to give whatever say we had away, thinking it would help restore some balance.” Repunzel finished. Tiana smiled at her. They gave each other a look that only best friends would be able to give one another. One that Esmeralda had seen pass between Pocahontas and Nakoma.She thought of Belle.“Especially with Jasmine’s tyrades,” Flynn said then.“So THAT’S why the Queen of Mean has it out for you,” Nakoma quirked her head at Tiana.“Oh girl, Jasmine has it out for anythin’ that’ll think without her givin’ it permission. That princess is a TRIP.”“At least someone understands my pain,” Esmeralda said, sighing.“We could change things if we wanted to,” Pocahontas stated.“How are we gonna do that? The only way we get our voices to matter is if we got EVERY single royal couple to agree on somethin’?” Tiana asked. “INCLUDING ELSA. AND JASMINE.”Pocahontas said, “Yes.”Tiana looked at Pocahontas with a completely disgruntled look on her face.Esmeralda stepped in, “Look, what if we convinced everyone to feel the same way as we do? NOTHING is going to change around here if we don’t MAKE them change. That might mean laying our differences behind us long enough to do the right thing.”All three of them at the newsboard stared at the three princesses in front of them like they had suddenly started floating, no pixie dust involved. Repunzel even had a look of total disbelief and her demeanor was typically kind and cool.“You can’t be serious,” Flynn said.“And yet…” Nakoma said, folding her arms.“You mean you’re plannin’ on gettin’ Elsa AND Jasmine to agree on the SAME thing… after the three of you ask them??” Tiana’s voice had become extreme and breathy, as if they were describing the impossible.Flynn started laughing. Hysterically.Rapunzel’s eyes began to water, but she remained level, where Flynn started to bend over to clutch his knees.Tiana looked at them as if they’d all turn green and started chirping ribbit!“Oh, come on,” Esmeralda said.“And WHAT… in the good Lord’s charms are you planning on saying t- No… no…” Tiana drew a breath, saving her voice from sounding anymore disbelieved, “HOW… may I ask… are you plannin’ on changing the way things are run around here?”“By getting rid of the royalty status, altogether,” Pocahontas said, stone-faced.Flynn keeled over and began sputtering with laughter. Repunzel gripped Flynn’s shoulders in an effort to steady him but ended up falling over him with her own fit of giggles.Nakoma pouted, “This isn’t that hard to grasp.”“ISN’T THAT HARD TO GRASP,” Flynn choked as tears streamed down his face.Esmeralda felt her cheeks get warm. Not with embarrassment, but with frustration.“Well, I’ll hand it to you girls,” Tiana said, “You all sure know how to shake things up. Like puddin’ in a pie cake!”“What…?” Nakoma looked at Tiana like she’d spoken a foreign language.Just then, Naveen had stuck his head out from the behind the doors that led to the kitchens. He shouted at all of them, “Oh my darling! I may need you to come and help me for one second! It seems I have sliced my finger open!”“No surprise there,” Tiana said, good-naturedly, “Naveen, come here a second, will you babe? And bring a towel, I’ll wrap up that finger!”“Anything for you, my darling, lustrous, perfectly not-green-anymore darling!”“Say darling one more time…” Tiana said.Esmeralda pretended to gag. Nakoma started laughing.“Naveen, these three girls had somethin’ real interestin’ they wanted to throw out for the town meeting tonight and they are lookin’ for some support.”Naveen approached them casually, his middle finger wrapped up poorly with what looked like a torn napkin, “Well yes,” He said, smiling at his counterpart, “The three of you are not princess Jasmine, and therefore I can not see why I would disagree with whatever it is you three charming girls must say.”Tiana elbowed Naveen, cracking a smirk, “Try and hear them out, sugar.”Tiana dug into her cooking apron and pulled out a few bandages, removing the makeshift around Naveen’s finger. He looked at Tiana with a look of goofy admiration and affection, their eyes twinkling at each other.Pocahontas started speaking, trepid with her words, “Well, we wanted to share with everyone how us on the outside have been living. The tribes supply Disney with food but the royalty are the ones who decide where our resources go…”“Ah, yes, yes…” Naveen said, distractedly.“There are princesses here who are living obscenely while people on the outside who could use our help are receiving nothing at all from Disney or its resources. Nothing is changing…”“Okay…very good,” Naveen did not show that he’d registered a word that Pocahontas said. Tiana started to grow a large smirk across her face, Repunzel cleared her throat in an awkward way, and Flynn started to snicker all over again.Esmeralda spoke, “We want to strip the royalty of power, and give it to people who’ve earned it.”Naveen looked like a deer in headlights. Flynn was laughing.Naveen looked from Pocahontas, to Nakoma, and to Esmeralda, as if trying to puzzle together the elaborate scheme they were playing him.“Esmeralda, is this because of your missing lover? The lustrous Greek fem fatale? We had heard you had a very bad break up-“Esmeralda felt all the blood drain from her neck.Nakoma and Pocahontas stiffened, Pocahontas’s look turning savage.“Megara has nothing to do with this!” Esmeralda said.Tiana smacked Naveen across his shoulder, pulling her hand away from his wound, and making him yelp.Esmeralda nearly imploded.Pocahontas started shouting, “Leave her OUT of this! What’s the matter with you?!”“This is going spectacularly,” Nakoma said, her tone utterly dull.“With me??” Naveen asked, shocked, “I was only asking if she was okay- People are saying things- I was only trying to sound concerned for the girl-”“It’s NOT your concern,” Pocahontas said, furious.Esmeralda started rubbing circles in her forehead in an effort to cool herself. No matter what she did, she could not escape her.“Esmeralda,” Nakoma said, worried.“I’m fine,” Esmeralda said, pushing the thoughts away once more, “This has nothing to do with Megara,” she told Naveen, “This is because Disney has become a circus, and if we are going to call ourselves ROYALTY, then we should ACT like it.”“Like leaders.” Pocahontas finished, “Instead of children.”They fell silent. Including Flynn.“Well, you got us there,” Repunzel said, quietly.They all shared a guilty look. Naveen’s cheeks were pinker than cherry blossoms.“I am sorry,” Flynn said, suddenly, “I didn’t mean to… to laugh at you… that was uncalled for.”Esmeralda shrugged, “You two are smart,” she told Tiana and Repunzel, “What do you think is going to happen to everyone if we stay complacent?”“What do you mean?” Repunzel asked.She sighed, “I mean… Briar Rose won’t move Disney forward as long as the people who are representing it are fighting constantly with each other. That means that Disney makes no changes and the world outside stays a foreign realm, while we are in here taking classes on how to… what exactly? Change the world? For the good? We’re not-”“We’re not really doing anything,” Repunzel said, meekly.“Hm, well you girls really are making sense,” Tiana said.“What can we do?” Naveen asked.“Support us at the town meeting tonight,” Pocahontas answered.“Of course, that’s a given,” Tiana said.“Maybe we can join the Alpha Dream Team?” Flynn suggested.“Yes, I’ll grow my hair again, and we can be a crime-fighting team,” Rapunzel looked endearingly at Flynn.“Right. It couldn’t take too long to grow 20 feet of hair out.”“It was more like 30 to 40, actually…”“I am sorry for doubting you, female warrior,” Naveen said sheepishly, looking down at the floor.“Just help us tonight! We need voices,” Pocahontas said.“You three are like Valkyries. Fighting for good, and justice, and all the small creatures!”“Yea, like frogs,” Nakoma said, quietly.Tiana laughed at Naveen, “Doesn’t take long to come around, now does it?” She pinched his cheek.He blushed and bore a big dorky smile.“We are with you girls. You got all our support,” Tiana smiled as the rest of them nodded vigorously.Naveen said after a beat, “We should head back into the kitchen before we make Remy finish the gumbo all by himself. It must be hard with such little hands.”“Right, we’d have no idea what that’s like,” Tiana smacked Naveen’s butt as they walked off, “Let’s get a move on…”“We’ll finish the board, T,” Repunzel commented and stuck another article onto the board.“Okay ladies, we’ll see you three tonight!”“Good luck, Valkyries! Team Fem Fatale!” Naveen raised his hand in the air in some sort of lavish salute and disappeared with Tiana into the DU’s kitchen.The three of them looked over at Flynn and Repunzel. Pascale had crawled over Repunzel’s arm and started helping her pin the posts to the board.“What will you three do?” Esmeralda asked Flynn and Repunzel, knowing better than to exclude animal friends from conversation.Repunzel glanced over at Flynn, “Eugene and I have taken to teaching some of the kids to ride horseback,” she smiled.“Sure. Max sits in the stables all day and gets fat, so we gotta get the old boy up and moving. Nothing better than running around with a bunch of miscreants,” Flynn winked at them. He always had a way of seeming so easy-going. Esmeralda appreciated that about him.“You girls should head over to the nursery,” Repunzel said, “I think Peter Pan and Wendy start their story-hour with the kids in the morning. I always love watching them, especially when the Lost Boys get involved with it.”“God love them,” Flynn said.“We just came from there,” Esmeralda said, “It was interesting to say the least.”“More than interesting,” Nakoma said, folding her arms, “Peter nearly had a meltdown before we left.”“What?” Repunzel said, looking concerned, “About what?”“Pixie Dust.”“Ah-,” Flynn said, “Flying children…the instrument of pure disaster.”“They shouldn’t let them bully them,” Repunzel said, defensive, “No one else wanted the responsibility of hosting the Day Care.”“We should get out of here,” Esmeralda said.“Yes,” Pocahontas said, “Let’s go.”The three of them started out.“Girls,” Flynn said to them, “You’re going to kill it.”He gave them a devilish grin.“Wait… Esmeralda!” Repunzel said after them.Repunzel walked all the way over to her and put her arms around Esmeralda. She gave Esmeralda a generous embrace, squeezing her a little too tight.Esmeralda hugged her back.“It’s going to be okay,” Repunzel said, only to her.“Thank you…” Esmeralda whispered.She felt her cheeks get warm, this time with a feeling of gratitude.She gave her one final look before walking out of the dining hall with Pocahontas and Nakoma.“I told you you had a way with princesses,” Pocahontas said grinning through her teeth on their way out.Esmeralda buried her face in her hand and hurried out of the dining hall and away from the onslaught of sentimentality.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

“Unbelievable!” Esmeralda exasperated, “You’d think the whole WORLD knows about Megara.”
“She does seem to be the primary concern of a lot of people,” Nakoma commented.
“She’s a pain in my ass whether she’s here or not!”
“That does sound like Megara,” Pocahontas said, wistfully. Esmeralda stopped somewhere outside of the cafeteria after they had walked out of earshot. She pushed up against a wall and growled, “It’s like I have a big sign on my head that says, I JUST GOT PLAYED BY MY TWO-TIMING GREEK LOVER.” “Don’t do that to yourself,” Pocahontas said, “Whatever was going on with Megara were her own problems. You can’t blame yourself.”“It doesn’t help that everyone seems to be talking about it…”“You know people like to talk around here,” Nakoma said, “That’s all they’re good for.” Esmeralda let out a long breath and laughed, “I just wish she were here in front of me… Right now.”“Why? What would you say to her?”“So I could strangle her,” Esmeralda said. Pocahontas laughed and Nakoma smiled, scrunching her nose. “No matter what happens tonight, I promise to help you find Megara,” Pocahontas said, “So you can push her in the lake.” “Or feed her to Elsa’s Snow Worm,” Nakoma nudged Esmeralda. The three of them shared smiles, Esmeralda trying to convey her appreciation for the both of them. After a beat, Nakoma said, “This is actually becoming surprisingly easier than I thought it would be.”
“Mm,” Esmeralda said, “No one has said NO yet.”
“Yes, they all seem to agree with us after laughing at us like we put on a comedy routine.” “We should try Elsa,” Pocahontas said.
“Uh…” Nakoma started, clearly wanting to say more.
Pocahontas started off down the hall, not waiting for the other two to follow.
“Pocahontas…” Nakoma called after her.
Esmeralda couldn’t help but feel a little unsure as well. She hesitated before she followed after the Native Princess.
“You heard what Peter said about Elsa,” Nakoma said, trying her hardest to keep Pocahontas from running ahead.
“What? Are you scared?” Pocahontas said, teasing.
Nakoma grunted and scowled, “No… no. I just think that maybe we should think about this…”
Pocahontas stopped, “Why don’t we just try first.” Nakoma rolled her eyes, “Because every time you say that, I KNOW we’re in over our heads” Esmeralda couldn’t argue with that. ~-~-~-~-~-~-Elsa lived a mile off campus in an ice castle that was made for her, and by her.
She rarely ever showed her face on campus outside of select classes or monthly specialty dinners where she shared a table with Anna, or Kristoff, or Colonel Merida, when the two latter of the three were on campus. She never talked to anyone outside of her sister and very few others. Mainly Merida, and occasionally Mulan, and Professor Jane. Most of the time, Elsa resided in her castle, never coming down except on special occasions where she would show her stone and cold, icy demeanor which earned her the nickname, the Ice Queen. The girls hiked up the long road that led to Elsa’s domain. At the end, the terrain turned icy and green grass, patches of dirt turned to snow banks, until the entire ground was covered with snow, and flakes of it fell from the sky. Elsa’s magic made the terrain change this way, nothing else. Esmeralda could admit, that the change in temperature was actually a welcome change from the normal Australian heat. The air brushed her face and was cool, but not unpleasant.
At least, not at first. As they walked nearer, the wind started to pick up and the air got colder. Esmeralda ran her palms up and down her arms to create friction, and heat. Her breath was clearly visible in the air, and felt wet. “Typical of us to forget to bring anything heavier to wear… or shoes,” Nakoma’s words had a sardonic humor to them. Pocahontas seemed to ignore her and started towards the main entrance to the castle. Esmeralda knew that Pocahontas was immune to the cold as long as her curiosity was at the forefront of her thoughts. Her eyes were also ablaze with what the magic would bring next.
There was a grand balcony that over-stood the entrance to the castle. It was obvious that walking in would probably not be the obvious course of action, or even a possibility. Pocahontas stood in front of the the threshold of the entrance and called up to the balcony, “Elsa!” Pocahontas called, “It’s Pocahontas!” The three of them stared up at the balcony, waiting for the ice-blonde princess to show herself, if only to cast them that frozen stare.
They waited for several moments that seemed to pass in slow motion. Nakoma had her arms wrapped around herself, teeth clamped.
“I don’t know how much longer I can stand here, Pocahontas,” She said. Pocahontas walked up to the double doors to the castle, that were made entirely out of ice, and knocked.“She has to be up there,” Pocahontas said, earnestly, “Elsa! We just want to talk with you!” Esmeralda heard heels click above them and a figure with a white head suddenly came into view. Elsa appeared over the balcony, her expression entirely unamused. She spread her hands wide across the banister, and looked down on them. “I highly suggest you leave,” Elsa stated, the cold around them seeming to bite a little bit harder.  “Elsa we know that the people here have not treated you with respect, as they do the same to us from time to time, but I want to help. We want to change the way Disney is run, starting tonight, and I was hoping that you could help us.”Elsa gave them a bored and platonic scowl. Her fingers thrummed on the banister, nails clacking against the ice.
Her eyebrow then raised high in the air. And she was gone. “Shit-“ Pocahontas’s eyes cast downward. “Pocahontas maybe we can regroup and talk to some more people who could help us on campus,” Esmeralda pleaded.
Pocahontas cast one more look up towards the balcony, and relented.
“Come on.”The three of them hurried back down to campus. They stopped just inside one of the entryways and caught their breath. Esmeralda felt the warmth and the heat soothe back into her bones quickly, like they had not just come from a wintery wasteland a moment before. The ceiling arched high as they walked a few paces inside. “I’m hungry,” Nakoma said in a monotonous tone. Pocahontas was looking around as if searching for a clue, seeming to ignore the other two.
“Who could help us?”
She said, almost to herself.
“Pocahontas we have got to get something warmer for us to wear first. And something to eat.”
“We can stop back at the village before we try going up again.”“At least we still have plenty of time before tonight,” Esmeralda said, checking a giant clock that hung on the wall above them, making slight tick-ticking noises. “Elsa is the only one we have left to convince,” Pocahontas said.
“Yes but.. How do you suggest we get the most guarded princess on campus to side with us? She won’t even talk to us,” Nakoma said, frustration clearly evident in her voice. Pocahontas went quiet. Esmeralda knew the gears were turning in her head. “Maybe… if we had some sort of leverage- We could convince her.”
“What kind of leverage could we hold over the Ice Queen?”
“Not us…” Pocahontas said. “
“Her sister,” Esmeralda finished.
“Anna is just as much an outcast as we are, and if we could convince her to change the rules…”
“She could convince her sister to.”The three of them looked at each other. “I did hear that Professor Jane is back on campus too,” Nakoma stated, “She has a little more sway with the both of them.”
“You get along with her too, right?” Pocahontas said, grinning at Esmeralda.
Esmeralda decidedly ignored to comment and said, “It’s a place to start.”“Esmeralda!” The girls heard a hight-pitched southern twang call out from ahead of them. Charlotte La Bouf was standing with Ariel, clutching a set of books with one hand and waving her arm at them furiously trying to get their attention.
“Oh look! Pocahontas and Nakoma!”
“Hello Charlotte,” Esmeralda said. Esmeralda was friendly with Charlotte. The poor girl was a bit outcasted as well as the three of them from some of the more higher status prince and princesses. Some of the other prince and princesses gave Charlotte a hard time, saying she was too loud, too unmannered. They called her obnoxious behind her back.
Esmeralda enjoyed how outgoing and genuine Charlotte’s antics were, and truth be told, she got a kick out of the things the girl would say. Out of a particular example, Charlotte had made a comment about Jasmine saying, “I wouldn’t cross the street to piss on her, even if she were on fire!” From then on, Esmeralda knew she liked the girl, however eccentric she was. Esmeralda was surprised to see Ariel standing across from Charlotte, leaning against the wall in a casual manner, as they had just been conversing. Ariel could go either way with some of the bullying on campus. She didn’t necessarily partake in it, but she didn’t stop it either. The three of them approached Charlotte and Ariel. Ariel was glancing awkwardly at Esmeralda. Esmeralda got the feeling that she was, once again, sizing her up.Charlotte sounded elated when she greeted them.
“Well, what are you fine ladies doing out on a day like today?”
Pocahontas was the first to answer among the three of them, “We were actually just coming from Elsa,”
Charlotte’s eyes went wide, “What in Mickey’s dainty graces were you doin up there?”
“We were trying to talk to her,” Pocahontas said, “She is a human just like the rest of us, you know.” “Well, still! I’ll say that is bold of you! I think it’s the ice powers that do it for me. We ain’t got nothin like that down in Louisiana. I swear some of these princesses just give me the heebie jeebies.”
Charlotte shivered.
“She’s not half as bad as some others here,” Pocahontas stared straight at Ariel. “Oh, you sure ain’t wrong Pocahontas! Some of these ladies are way nastier without a snow blizzard flyin out of their fingertips. They sure do like to talk a fuss around here. I thought gossip was bad down where I was, all us rich uppity white folk and all, but these girls gossip like it’s Sunday’s prayer! Noisier than tornado valley, this campus is. Oh, it sure does put a sour in my puss-“ Nakoma’s lip quivered as she tried to decipher what Charlotte had meant, a look of sheer befuddlement crossing over her. She glared at Charlotte like she was not from this world.
“I’m not even gonna ask…” Esmeralda heard her say under her breath. Esmeralda’s gaze fell on Ariel for a moment. Many of the princesses that Charlotte was talking about were the ones Ariel hung around with the most.
Ariel met Esmeralda’s eyes and something unrecognizable glossed over them but Ariel quickly glanced away.“We need Elsa’s help with the meeting tonight,” Pocahontas said.
“What you got cooking, Pocahontas?” Charlotte asked, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.
“It’s a secret,” Esmeralda said over them and winked. Charlotte nearly completely fauned, “Oh, Esmeralda! As if! Ain’t nobody keepin any secrets around here!”
“You’ll see what we mean later tonight,” Pocahontas assured her.
“You mean at the Town Hall meetin’ tonight?” Charlotte asked, “Only reason I like goin to those is because all the dwarves show up, and I neva’ see them all together in one place. What with Doc teachin’ and the rest of them keepin to themselves mostly. ’Cept a’course when Snow has those sales. ‘Cookies an’ muffins for Dwarf Rights’ and all that. Gosh, she really should run for president or somethin’ -or of course whatever you’d call it down here.“ She was referencing, of course, to Snow White’s bake sales for Dwarf Rights. Snow White tried to be quite the philanthropist on campus when it came to her seven little friends. Charlotte looked like she wanted to pinch a couple cheeks, squeezing her face together so it looked like she was staring down at something absolutely adorable, “They’re so cute lookin with their little hats- Oh! I just can’t help myself! They’re just darlin’!” “I’ll bet Grumpy loves that-” Nakoma said. Ariel cleared her throat loudly.“Uh…” Esmeralda said, getting back on track, “We heard Professor Jane was back on campus. Do you girls know where she was teaching this week?” “Oh sure! I actually saw her headin to her office a little while ago. The one with all the birds!” Charlotte said excitedly. “They really do let the craziest things go on here. I ain’t never heard of a teacher livin in a bird house,” Charlotte continued, “Not where I come from anyway. Or— I guess they call it an aviary, don’t they? That’s the fancy term for it.” “She’s in her normal spot, Esmeralda,” Ariel said. Esmeralda nodded and laughed, “She doesn’t sleep there, Charlotte.” “Oh sure, Esmeralda! But it don’t make any less of a strange and peculiar place to keep some birds.” “Well, we sure are in a strange and peculiar place,” Esmeralda chuckled, gesturing to Pocahontas and Nakoma to keep walking, “We should head over there, though. It’s really good to see you,”
She said to Charlotte, “Would you want to sit with us tomorrow?” “You know I’d love that, Esmeralda. I really would.”“Great,” Esmeralda said, winking, “We’ll see you then.” Charlotte’s cheeks had turned pink like cherry soda and she started nodding animatedly. As the three girls started to part from them, Ariel cast a knowing glance at Esmeralda and opened her mouth as if she’d say something but seemed to change her mind last second and looked away from them, shaking her head. Esmeralda just nudged the other two to keep going. She didn’t have time for that. Megara was the last thing on her mind right now, or so she’d keep telling herself. ~  “What’s up with Ariel giving you a look like she wants to skewer you with her dad’s trident?” Nakoma asked while they rounded the corner to the hallway where Jane’s office was. “She thinks that I know where Meg went,” Esmeralda sighed, “—I don’t.”“Maybe she should take a few pointers from Elsa and let it go,” Nakoma said, trying to lighten the mood. Esmeralda huffed, “Sometimes when she looks at me, I feel like she wants to drag me to the bottom of the ocean.”“She’ll have a much harder time doing that now,” Nakoma said, helpfully, “She gave up those fins a long time ago.” “It’s good to know Megara’s going to haunt every step I take in this damn school,” Esmeralda said irritably as they approached Professor Jane’s office. She rapped on her door. The door whipped open, “Girls! Esmeralda!”Just seeing Jane made almost all of Esmeralda’s irritability fade. Jane looked rather flustered, but then again, that wasn’t out of the ordinary. Sometimes, she’d even have her hair sticking in random places, disheveled and unkempt, but with such an ecstatic and lively glow in her eyes, always at a lust for wonder about the world. She was passionate, and eager, and her classes were exciting. And Esmeralda would be lying if she said that Jane wasn’t her favorite person to come to campus. Because above all, Jane was kind. And quick-witted. That was Esmeralda’s favorite type of person. “What are you- Oh, nevermind! Come in! Come in!” Jane ushered them inside the door. Jane’s office was, even by Disney’s standards, truly out-of-the-ordinary and spectacular. Her office furniture stood a few feet from the door; her desk, a few cabinets for filing, a tall, worn globe standing against the wall, but they were all overrun by pieces of foliage that were so out of place but sprung from the ground and reached almost to the ceiling. The room went fairly deep, so most of it was made of the tall, thin trees with wide, green leaves. The ceiling was a wall-to-wall skylight, plated with glass windows and magnifying the bright Australian sun that was streaming down over everything. It casted shadows of the desk, and the globe, and the cabinets.Jane had made the room to be a make-shift aviary, quite reminiscent of a rainforest as well. There were even sets of misters at the top of the room, spraying perspiration over everything every few minutes, adding to the effect. And upon walking in, the room was filled with a chorus of chirping from birds of every shape and size imaginable, all maniacally fluttering about at the sense of visitors. “How do you get any work done at all?” Nakoma asked seriously.“Oh, I manage,” Jane chuckled. A hilarious looking bird with a fat belly, skinny neck, and two cascading feathers falling from its head flew down in front of Pocahontas and made a noise quite like the honking of a car horn. Pocahontas crouched down to the bird’s level and stroked its top feathers where it happily nuzzled itself against her hand.
“I was just going to be on my way out, you’re lucky you caught me. What are you three girls doing on this side of campus today?” “We could use some help,” Esmeralda said. “Of course,” Jane said, sincerely, “How can I be of service?” “We could use some help talking with Anna,” Pocahontas said, standing back up. “I have a vote for the meeting tonight, and we need everyone’s support if we are going to pass it, so we’ve been going around campus today trying to get the royals to help us.” “I see…” Jane said, a small smile forming on her cheeks, comprehension dawning over her, “And what exactly is this proposal for the meeting tonight?” “We want to abolish the royalty status,” Pocahontas said, “And put to vote who has decision making power.” “Disband the monarchy,” Esmeralda added, quietly. “Aha…” Jane said, “Are we proposing a more democratic society?”“It doesn’t matter,” Pocahontas said, “We can’t do anything with the system we have now and if we break up the struggle for power, maybe we can start working together for once. Disney needs to do good. I’m tired of sitting by and watching things happen in the world and not being able to do anything to help. We have too much opportunity to help and we’re not doing anything.”“Quite so…” Jane said, “Except with all of the rivaling royal couples, I believe Phillip and Aurora are afraid of what might happen if we start to spread our influence.” “Which is why those people shouldn’t have any say at all, at least not anymore than anyone else,” Pocahontas said. “Ourselves included. Power should be divided equally and fairly to people.” “Hmm,” Jane inquired thoughtfully, “It must be tough trying to convince the others of your clause?”“It’s actually a lot easier than you’d think.” “A lot easier than I thought it was going to be,” Nakoma remarked. “We spoke to Wendy and Peter this morning, and Tiana and Naveen before noon,” Esmeralda said, “And believe it or not but Belle said she’d talk to Jasmine for us, which is our best bet with her, Aladdin, Cinderella, Snow White… even Ariel.” “Aha,” Jane said, smugly, “And we’re having trouble convincing the Ice Queen on top of the hill to join the cause?” She already knew the answer to the question. “If I could just get in to talk to her…” Pocahontas said, hopefully. “That’s just it,” Esmeralda said, “She wouldn’t talk to us.” “She is quite secluded,” Jane nodded her head and sighed. “Is there anyway that you could help us?” Pocahontas asked, the earnestness just creeping into her voice. “Mmm,” Jane cupped her chin, remarking thoughtfully as the corners of her mouth perked up into a grin that said that she was actually quite pleased with them.
“I suppose I could have a word with Anna,” Jane said. “That would be great!” Pocahontas beamed as they all smiled widely, and appreciatively. “—On one condition-“ Jane said, holding up her hand. “What?” Esmeralda said automatically. “You three go up to talk to Elsa again, try to get her to open up and listen to you.” “Ugh,” Nakoma exasperated. Esmeralda couldn’t help but feel extremely doubtful that that would make any difference at all. “She’s really not as bad as she seems,” Jane insisted. Nakoma almost buckled over, laughing. “No, don’t laugh,” Jane went on, “She’s guarded, like a lot of us, and rightly so. But she’s not unreasonable, I promise. She could probably use more people to open up around, people who could understand where she’s coming from. Who have maybe been in the same position?”“What makes you think she’d even listen to us this time?” Esmeralda asked. “You’d be surprised,” Jane said, “Some of the most guarded people just need someone to talk to, or even more so, someone to hear them.” “You speaking from experience?”“Well, my husband was raised by apes,” Jane laughed, rather fondly, “And now he’s a diplomat for one of the largest corporations on the planet. So if you think Elsa is a challenge…” The three girls shrugged. They couldn’t argue with that. “We’ll do it,” Pocahontas said, ever determined. Esmeralda let out a heavy sigh, “Fine.” “Now that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Jane beamed. The fat-bellied bird had waddled up to Pocahontas again and honked again for her attention. Pocahontas chuckled and stroked the top of its head again, to which it let out a contented mewling noise.
She scratched under its chin, “It’s going to be getting late soon and we still have to stop at the village before we go up to see Elsa again.” Jane had made her way around her desk to Esmeralda. She squeezed her arm in encouragement and smiled softly at her. Esmeralda laid her hand on Jane’s and squeezed it back. “I’ll see what can be done about Anna.”  The three girls said thank you’s and gave Jane their appreciation. They had a big task ahead of them, and the gravity of it was starting to sink in. “Good luck, you three,” Jane said after them.  Nakoma could be heard as they made their way out the door, “Can we please get something to eat first?”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The rich smells coming from deeper in the trees reminded Esmeralda that she, too, hadn’t eaten since the morning. And even then, it was only a small meal before Pocahontas had rushed them out the door. Their village smelled of roasting sweet corn, wild rice, and smoked meat. Outside of the few home cooked meals Esmeralda had had when she’d visited Tiana outside of the DU, it was absolutely the best smell Esmeralda had ever come across. The smell carried all the way down the river until the trees opened up and they were met with the gorgeous colored tepees and straw huts of the village. The village was alway bustling with life, with villagers moving to and from, moving crops and chasing kids, stoking the fires for the midday meal, and dancing. They were always dancing. The way they moved reminded Esmeralda of the drums they played when they celebrated. Steady, but proud. Exciting. Full of life. No wonder Pocahontas carried that strength inside of her all of the time. Nakoma met a woman standing next to a tepee, smiling and greeting her in their native tongue. The woman took Nakoma’s hands and pulled her inside. “Come on,” Pocahontas said to Esmeralda, grabbing her hand and tugging her towards the fires with a warm smile. There was a rectangular stone base and in the middle were several smaller fires where the village folk were roasting vegetables and food, carrying them inside the huts behind them to keep warm over roasting embers. As Pocahontas pulled them nearer, the woman were smiling at them, and before Esmeralda could say anything, they were pushing dishes into her hand. Bowls of rice and squash, the sweetest smelling corn and peppers, green beans, bread-Esmeralda had to hold up her hand. “Thank you,” she said, “…thank you!” Pocahontas chuckled as they pushed more food towards her. One woman started saying something to them, although Esmeralda couldn’t understand what it was she was saying. Pocahontas laughed and poked Esmeralda’s side, “She said you’re too skinny.”Esmeralda laughed, good-naturedly, “If only she knew I spent most of my life living on the streets.” The woman pushed some fresh rolls into their hands, pointing at their waists and commenting more. “Yes,” Pocahontas said, nodding, talking more to her. Pocahontas pulled Esmeralda towards the other side of the fire, Esmeralda’s hands full of food now. Pocahontas had a plate full of bread, corn, and smoked meat. “She said we need to fatten up,” she said as they sat down on a cut log. As soon as Esmeralda started eating, she figured it was the best meal she had ever had. It was perfect after the long morning they had had. It warmed her body so much, from her head to her toes, that she almost forgot she’d be walking up to a frozen castle in the middle of a snow tundra in less than an hour. She tried to push that from her mind for a little longer. Nakoma had reemerged from the tent, a steaming bowl of broth in her hand and a sweet roll. She was also wearing a light jacket now, tanned and colored with blue, teal, and green streaks. It made her look quite pretty, which she must have known, because there was a rare, contented smile on her face. She came to sit next to Pocahontas and Esmeralda, and Pocahontas smiled fondly at the sight of her. Esmeralda knew there was more to the look than what met the eye, but she didn’t mention it. The same woman who’d pulled Nakoma into the tepee earlier, came out and handed Nakoma and Esmeralda a steaming bowl of red rice. She tried to offer some to Pocahontas but Pocahontas shook her head and said thank you, anyway. As the woman walked away, Nakoma leaned closer to them and said, “Okhaune said she’d lend us her coats and shoes for the day, if we needed them.”
Pocahontas explained to Esmeralda, “We have boots and furs we keep for the cold months. They’re big, and definitely warm.”
“They’re hardly ever used,” Nakoma sipped from the bowl of broth. “It should be more than enough.”“And what if we run into Elsa’s snow worm while we’re up there?” Esmeralda asked, only half-serious. “I have an idea, just in case we run into anything,” Pocahontas said with a secretive smile. Her hummingbird, Flick, had landed on her finger. She fed him some small berries and murmured something under her breath. He flew off in a blur of feathers and green. Little helicopters from the trees started falling on them. Esmeralda decided to take in the scene before she knew she’d have to leave it, kicking back her feet and letting the soft breeze and the senses bathe her. Not too far from them, some older boys had formed a drum circle and were beating a powerful, playful rhythm while a group of children danced in the middle, having fun with it. On the way out, the three of them stopped by another tent, where Pocahontas pulled out full fur jackets for them, and tan leather boots with fur lining the top. When Esmeralda put them all on, she felt they wrapped around her like a blanket, just as warm as the fire they had been sitting around. She felt a boost of confidence as she rubbed her hands together and wrapped them with gloves. If they did have trouble going up the mountain again, at least they’d be warm. “She has to listen to us, don’t you think?” Pocahontas said, thoughtfully. “Let’s hope she’s not as stubborn as you are,” Nakoma said. “That’s not possible,” Esmeralda smirked.They all laughed.  ~~ ~~ ~~ A snowball the size of a cathedral came soaring towards Esmeralda, and she narrowly ducked and covered behind a snow mound to avoid it. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this!” Nakoma all but pierced the storm while she screamed angrily at the two of them. If the walk up towards Elsa’s castle, where the wind had picked up pace halfway through their walk and had dropped so cold that snow seemed to be sticking to their noses, if that had been any indication to them that things were different this time, then the massive golems that came charging at them with pointed scythes twice the size of any of their bodies was clearly a sign that reaching Elsa was going to be a lot more difficult. Even the wind seemed to be uproariously trying to push them back down the path. However, determined as Pocahontas was, she was not about to go down without a fight. Even as the golems chucked boulders of snow towards their heads and the three of them dove behind two massive snow mounds to avoid them, Esmeralda and Pocahontas behind one and Nakoma screaming at the two of them from another fifteen feet away. They were in a full-on blizzard, and the raging snow felt like ice when it hit their cheeks. Esmeralda thanked the gods that they had come somewhat prepared for the cold and that the coats were warm enough. Pocahontas glanced around the snow mound they hid behind as another boulder-sized snowball flew over their heads. Esmeralda saw her keen, brown eyes scan the field ahead of them, then move behind her cover once more as snow whipped passed them, and icicles as sharp as glass. Nakoma was shouting profanities not suitable for Disney. Esmeralda only then wondered if they were maybe in over their heads. “You did have some sort of a plan, right?” Esmeralda asked Pocahontas, pointedly. The golems made a roaring sound like two hollow drums being banged together. “I swear if I die up here because of you Pocahontas, I will never let you live this down!” Just then Flick buzzed his way around both Pocahontas’s and Esmeralda’s heads. He fluttered in front of Pocahontas with a wild look in his eyes. Behind them, Esmeralda could her the golem’s footsteps getting closer. “You ready??” Pocahontas asked the hummingbird. Flick hovered up and down and made a buzzing sound that could only then be interpreted as an assurance. “Okay,” Pocahontas said, with a look of determination, and Flick flew off. The golems footsteps were jolts of thunder and they were almost upon them where Esmeralda realized that one of the golems had lumbered up behind Nakoma without her noticing. Nakoma was frozen. She clutched her knees to her chest and all but buried her face in them. The golem lifted the heavy scythe in the air above Nakoma’s head. Pocahontas dove from her cover and grabbed Nakoma, rolling them both out of the way just as the scythe embedded itself in the snow where Nakoma had been a moment before. Nakoma’s eyes were wide with shock as she stared at the massive block of ice that was meant for her. “Pocahontas-!” Nakoma started to scream. Pocahontas had pressed her fingers to her mouth and blew through them. Esmeralda heard her whistle loud and clear, even through the whiplash of the storm. Just then, a figure came out of the snow that Esmeralda thought to be the hummingbird, but then she saw Flick fly out of the snow and speed towards Esmeralda, ducking around her for safety. The other figure had wrapped itself around Pocahontas and Nakoma, flittering just above them and showering them with glittering pixie dust. Then Esmeralda heard the same cawing battle cry she had heard just this morning. “Arr-Arroo-Arroooo!” The sound had a life of its own as all of the Lost Boys flew out of the blizzard and attacked the golem that was fast approaching Esmeralda’s hiding spot. They split off, the twins and Slightly hitting the other golem in the head with stones and slingshots. The golem took a huge swing at Pocahontas and Nakoma while Pocahontas grabbed Nakoma’s wrist and propelled the two of them fifteen feet across the snow. They jumped, landing another ten feet out of the way, all the while leaving a trail of sparkling pixie dust in their wake. The golem behind Esmeralda had gotten all the more aggressive, swinging his scythe around the dodging Lost Boys. “Hey, Esmeralda!” Peter called, “Heads up!” The golem had lumbered right up to Esmeralda’s nook, scythe in hand, but before it could take a swing at her, Esmeralda leapt from her spot and took hold of the handle of the scythe, swinging herself up in one swift motion and launching herself up over its backside in quite an impressive display of acrobatics. Her feet slid down the snowy backside of the golem as she landed deftly on the ground behind it. “Nice one!” Peter Pan shouted, happily. The golems didn’t seem all that bright because the confused giant took a moment to gather his bearings and ramped up to take another swing behind him, but by then Esmeralda was long gone. Tinkerbell flew around her and dusted her for good luck, but she’d already leapt out of the way of the golem’s reach. They had come to a bit of an impasse, however, because as the storm raged around them, the Lost Boys found it almost impossible to stay in the air, and likewise, Pocahontas could barely make any ground towards the castle before they were all pelted with icicles that hit them like glass and left large red marks across their skin. Most of the Lost Boys were forced to take shelter behind snow mounds and only Peter Pan seemed to be able to stay in the air for longer than a few seconds. Esmeralda had taken shelter behind a large boulder about 30 yards from the castle as Pocahontas and Nakoma fought the barrage of oncoming snow to get to where she was. “We need a plan,” Esmeralda said as the other two dove to meet her.
“Yea,” Pocahontas said, breathing deeply. She looked around again, eyeing the two golems that were gaining on them once again, despite being pelted with stones from every direction. Esmeralda could almost see the thought process forming in Pocahontas’s mind. Esmeralda nodded in comprehension as Pocahontas looked back at her. As Peter Pan taunted the giants with slurs and foul language, Pocahontas shouted, “We need cover!” “Got it!” Peter shouted back and whistled with two of his fingers. The Lost Boys reacted immediately and fanned out, making a formation around the golems. They pelted them with stones and pushed the golems back, edging them closer to each other as they started to retreat. “Now!” Pocahontas shouted and the girls broke from the rock, Nakoma reluctantly following as Pocahontas and Esmeralda rounded on the two golems, launching up and landing on top of one of their scythes’ while Esmeralda swung from it from underneath. The golem loosened his grip on the scythe and dropped it, leaving Esmeralda to cripple under the weight of it as she tried catching it with both arms. Pocahontas landed beside her and pick up the other end of the scythe, both of them struggling to keep it up above waist-length. “Nakoma, help us!” Pocahontas screamed. Nakoma ran up behind them and held up the back end, grunting as she put it over her shoulder. The three girls held the scythe up threateningly and pushed the golems back, jabbing at their abdomens. Peter Pan flew around and knocked the handle of the other scythe with his slingshot causing it to crack in the golems hand. He sent another one straight at the golem and it dropped the other scythe on the ground as the girls swung theirs towards them. The golems were stumbling back, and their bodies were big enough that they covered the girls from most of the wind in their ascent towards the castle. Esmeralda almost thought it time for celebration and even heard some of the Lost Boys cheering before, to her horror, she was sorely mistaken. The ground started rumbling all around them and the Lost Boys started shouting in much more of a panic. Cubby screamed, ominously, “It’s coming!” All Esmeralda could do was watch in horror and disbelief as the ground rose up in the distance, seemingly on its own as an impossibly giant mound of snow moved straight for them. “Look alive, guys!” Peter’s voice was much deeper this time and Esmeralda couldn’t tell anymore if he was thoroughly enjoying himself or if he was suddenly taking the situation much more seriously. The rumbling noise underneath them sounded like two steam engines grinding against one another and Esmeralda was sure that whatever was making that noise was nothing short of massive.
The girls lost some of their ground and fell back. The snow mound rounded on all of them and from up out of the snow burst a massive frozen snakelike monster that towered above all of them, with razor sharp teeth frozen like icicles in its mouth. The thing had no eyes or nose, but its face end was entirely one giant mouth with rotating teeth and monstrously bad breath. Head to snow, it was white and hairy and Esmeralda couldn’t believe it but it really was a giant snow worm, its body ridged and so long that Esmeralda could not see the end of it coming up from the snow. It let out a ferocious roar that Esmeralda felt deep in the pit of her stomach and vibrating through her bones. Nakoma was absolutely stunned, shaking from head to foot as she shouted at Pocahontas. “I AM NEVER LETTING YOU TALK ME INTO ANYTHING. EVER. AGAIN!” Peter Pan shouted, “GET IT!”The Lost Boys started to duck and roll around the worm, narrowly missing its giant gaping mouth, and snapping teeth. The twins brought out a long thick rope, like horse hair, and the first twin started swinging it round and round his head like a lasso while the other twin held him up. Twin One chucked the rope over the giant snow worm and Slightly caught it on the other side. The giant started to thrash its head and Peter and Cubby pelted it with rocks from the front end. Peter’s slingshot took its aim and knocked out a razor sharp icicle from its mouth. He took aim and shot more in rapid succession, hitting every target and shattering almost a dozen of its protruding teeth into smaller, more jagged pieces of ice. Cubby picked up rocks and chucked them at the giant worm in a nuisance. The worm made a thrash in Cubby’s direction as Cubby wailed and just barely made a pass out of the way before the worm slammed its body to the ground. “Now or never, boys!” Peter hollered. Slightly had taken the rope and lunged underneath the worm jut as it thrashed its head again, this time towards Peter. Its nasty teeth clenched shut just inches away from him. Nibs was waiting on the other side with Tootles and the two of them together grabbed the rope and jumped on top of the worm, pulling the rope tight. As they tried to lasso the giant worm, Pocahontas, Esmeralda, and Nakoma fought to get their edge back on the golems. Pushing them back and back, pace by pace. To Esmeralda’s total surprise, it was working, and they were nearly there. Nakoma was even holding up her side more than Esmeralda would have given her credit for. “We’re almost there!!” Pocahontas yelled, triumphantly. And with one more swing, the girls pushed the golems back right in the wake of the castle with Elsa’s balcony just above their heads. “I’m going to need a lift!” Pocahontas yelled. Tinkerbell flew over all of them once more and dusted them with a glitter cloud so heavy, Esmeralda could see nothing but glittering specs for several moments. Nakoma started sputtering and coughing, choking on pixie dust. Esmeralda suddenly felt one thousand times lighter. The handle of the scythe was also sparkling now with the magic dust and Esmeralda could lift it now like it weighed nothing at all. The first golem stumbled back tripping over its feet and falling to the ground with a large, shuddering BOOM while the second backed right up to the wall of the castle looking like a fishnet with all the little holes from the stones in him. “Pocahontas, go! Now!” Esmeralda yelled. Just then the worm had reared up behind them, casting the ground before them in shadow, and letting out a long aching groan as the Lost Boys riding the giant’s back could do nothing as the monster reared all the way up in the air to its full monstrous height, ready to slam into the ground.“GO!” Esmeralda’s voice broke and Pocahontas pounced off the fallen golem’s abdomen, pixie dust glittering at her feet as she pounced off the wall of the castle and grabbed hold of the bannister, swinging herself up. Esmeralda had a split second to grab a gaping Nakoma away from the worm as its body came crashing into the ground causing a seismic quake and shattered the icy double doors of Elsa’s castle. Its head went barreling through the opening and sent Esmeralda and Nakoma flying into the snow with the force of a tidal wave. There was a deafening silence after the worm fell, where even the Lost Boys made no noise at all, and the snowstorm had suddenly and alarmingly ceased. Elsa’s castle had been ravaged. The worm’s giant body stuck out like a huge piece of meat from the front end of the castle and there were shards of broken ice everywhere. Esmeralda was near face down in the snow, her body all but covering Nakoma’s. Nakoma scrambled up, pushing away Esmeralda’s grip on her and ran over to the opening of the castle. She started coughing away the residual snow dust in the air and climbed over the worm’s giant body. “Pocahontas!” Nakoma called, her voice hoarse.Esmeralda made to follow her. Flick buzzed around Esmeralda’s head and landed on her shoulder. She even heard the little bird huff, as if it was as irritated as she was. “Where did you come from?” She whispered to him. He went and hid himself in her coat. They hurried over the worm’s massive body and dropped down into the foyé of the now obliterated entrance. They were in a high-arched hall where a spiraling staircase led to Elsa’s quarters up above them, and assuming that was where the balcony was as well. Elsa was on the stairway, she stared at them with as much disdain and emotional leeway as she always had. Her lips were turned down into an etched frown. “Elsa! Elsa!” Pocahontas appeared at the top of the twisting stairway. She was near out of breath. Elsa turned around and gave Pocahontas a once over, holding her gaze for a long time. “I have to say,” Elsa said softly, so that Esmeralda could barely hear her. “Out of everyone here, I expected more from the three of you.” Pocahontas looked shocked. From out of the entrance, Peter Pan came flying in with nothing but a shit-eating grin plastered on his face.
“Heeeey Elsa!” He hollered. This caused the worm to stir. It started to move slightly, twitching its head back and forth. Tootles and Nibs who were face down on its back, still clutching the lasso rope, started to revive themselves slowly and rub circles in their heads, groaning loud. The worm stuttered and cried, filling the entire entrance hall with the noise.It started dragging itself back across the frozen tile. Tootles and Nibs tumbled over the side of its body, squealing. The worm dragged itself back until it was gone, and disappeared into the snow again. The rumbling of its cries shook the ground long after the worm was out of sight.Elsa looked like she had had enough. “Get. Out.” “Elsa, please,” Pocahontas pleaded. She looked forlorn and Esmeralda felt bad for her friend. Elsa walked up her stairs again, passing Pocahontas, “I especially expected more from you.” With a wave of Elsa’s hand there was a gust of wind that was strong enough to sweep them all across the entrance floor. It lifted them up and Esmeralda found herself flying towards the snow once again. Pocahontas jumped down from the stairs and ran across the threshold, throwing Nakoma’s arm over her shoulder and scooping her up from the ground just as the ice around the castle started to reform itself and a brand new set of double doors slammed shut in their faces. Esmeralda knew there were parts of her that were sore that had never been sore before. She groaned as she fell back in the snow, defeated. Cubby, who seemed to join them again from out of nowhere, lumbered over the snow and fell back on his butt, saying, “I think Elsa was in a better mood than usual today!” “Gosh, I think you’re right, Cubby,” Peter Pan said, the usual glee in his voice had not been lost, “See? We’re making progress.”  ~~~ The walk back down to campus was long, and they were all tired, exhausted, and felt the similar feeling of defeat. Pocahontas was uncharacteristically quiet. She helped Nakoma down the path with one of Nakoma’s arms around her shoulders and one of hers around Nakoma’s waist. Esmeralda was more or less okay, although her pride was certainly bruised. As they neared the castle, Nakoma lifted herself from Pocahontas’s side, looking gratefully to her friend, and then she gave her a sorry expression. “I’m sorry that didn’t go as well as we’d planned.” Pocahontas looked like she was about to say something, but Anna had walked up behind the three of them without them noticing and laid a hand on Pocahontas’s shoulder. “Hey,” she said, rather stern, tugging on Pocahontas’s shoulder to turn her around. The three of them looked at her, confused.
“I know what the three of you have been doing and I wanted you to know that you could have told me. Especially if you needed help with my sister.” The three of them were speechless. They looked at one another sheepishly. Anna sighed, “I wanted to help you guys. I even stayed after class yesterday when I overheard Jiminy talking about the three of you. I helped him make that schedule you guys have. Why didn’t you ask me for help?” Esmeralda let out an exasperated sigh, “Why didn’t we ask Anna for help to begin with?” She looked at Pocahontas. Pocahontas looked at both of them, and then at Anna, “I didn’t want you to think that I was using you. I feel like everyone uses you to get to your sister.”“What do you mean?” Anna asked, confused. “I mean, everyone treats the two of you like outcasts, even though no one here knows you two at all. I didn’t want your first impression of me to be me asking you to convince your sister to do something.”“Uh huh….” Anna said, “I see.”
“And I… figured I could just talk to Elsa myself.”
“And how did that work out?” Anna looked amused.
Pocahontas’s bronze cheeks turned red.“Esmeralda! Esmeralda!” The southern belle flew down the hall at them. Charlotte La Bouf was in an absolute tizzy, huffing as she charged at them down the hall as if she were on a mission. “Esmeralda, oh, I hate to be the one to tell ya this but it’s just awful!”
“What??” Esmeralda asked, immediately.
“It’s Jasmine! She’s out in the courtyard, hollerin up a storm about the three of you, sayin the most awful thangs. I really couldn’t bear it. Tongue like a viper snake, she has. It’s just not right-“Repunzel walked up quickly behind Charlotte, grabbing her arm and looking at Esmeralda apologetically. “Look, Es… we weren’t going to say anything, but she’s talking a lot more than her normal venom. She’s really got something out for you this time.”Esmeralda could feel the blood inside her overheat. She was tired. She was exhausted. And she was sick of the rumors. She did nothing to Jasmine to warrant any of her behavior towards her or her friends, and after the rumors flew around after Megara’s disappearance, and the looks she got afterwards, she had just had enough of all of it. She couldn’t take anymore. Before any of them had the chance to say anymore to her, she had unleashed herself down the hall. ~She could imagine that she’d hear Pocahontas’s or Nakoma’s protests, but in actuality, they let her go. And more, they followed her, right up to the edge of the courtyard where Esmeralda finally saw Jasmine, surrounded by the people that never talked back to her when they should have. This shit had gone on for too long. She saw the people around the courtyard making nervous eyes at her while she walked out into the sun, followed by Pocahontas and Nakoma. Aladdin, Ariel, Eric, and Cinderella were sitting in the middle of the courtyard on a set of blankets. Jasmine stood in front of them with her back turned away from the three of them walking towards her. Snow White was off in the distance talking with a group of students. Dopey stood beside her looking… well, dopey. Aladdin and Ariel saw the three of them first and signaled to Jasmine, who whirled around, somewhere between a smirk and a sneer pressed on her face. “Well, speak of the devil,” Jasmine spoke airily.
“Look who’s talking,” Esmeralda said.
“How original,” Jasmine rolled her eyes.
“What are you saying about us?” Esmeralda demanded.
“I was only speaking the truth, that you’re a low-grade princess who’s in no position to tell us where our money goes.”
“I have never done ANYTHING to you, Jasmine!”
“Wrong. You stick your nose in the wrong places and you have no right to talk to us about Disney’s politics. You’re out of your league, Esmeralda.”
“As if. You’ve mistreated me from the get go. This has nothing to do with my status here.”
“I think you’re forgetting where you come from.”
“Where do you get off treating people like this?” Pocahontas fumed. The courtyard had gone quiet. Everyone had turned their eyes to the feuding princesses, even the birds seemed to hush their constant singing. “What’s going on?” Snow White had walked over to them.
“Just showing our three woodland savages why they have no right to talk to us about money.”
“This doesn’t have anything to do with money, we’re trying to fix what’s broken here,” Esmeralda said.
“That’s right,” Pocahontas said, raising her voice so everyone around them could hear, “No one likes what Disney has become. We fill our days with nothing meaningful and waste the resources that Disney has. All of us were brought here because we are capable of making a difference. That’s why we’re here. But we don’t do anything to make a difference because we are stuck fighting with each other. People deserve to have a voice again. The outside world deserves our help and the more we make this about senseless policies and politics, the more we WASTE who we are and why we were brought here.”Aladdin had stood up and walked over to Jasmine. He touched her arm, gently. “Maybe we should listen to them,” he said. Jasmine yanked her arm away. “No, no! I will NOT listen to the three of them about what to do with MY money. You three are out of line. All of us have been here longer than you and I’m tired of Disney treating everyone like we are so equal when we have sacrificed more time and money into this place. Phillip and Aurora control most of Disney while outsiders like Elsa and her sister get to push them around. And penniless princesses like YOU get to parade around, telling people what to do with their power. Sleeping in The Royal Suite as if you’ve done ANYTHING to earn it.”“That’s not even important, Jasmine,” Aladdin said.“That figures you would take their side!” Jasmine scoffed like she was disgusted. “Why don’t you just admit that you have a problem with me?” Esmeralda tried to keep herself calm, “Everyone else here seems fine to coexist with me, but you’ve had it out for me since the day I got here.” “Yes, we all know how you get around, Esmeralda.” Esmeralda could hardly believe what she heard. She wanted to attack Jasmine. Pocahontas’s arm knowingly went for Esmeralda’s shoulder, holding her back.“JASMINE!” Aladdin yelled. “Don’t start with me, Aladdin! Why should they tell us what to do with our power?! Snow White has been here longer than anyone. Why not give her the power to make decisions?!” Snow White had opened her mouth to protest but the words were already slipping from Esmeralda’s mouth.“BECAUSE SNOW WHITE IS COMPLACENT!”There was an audible gasp around the courtyard. Then, the silence that followed was deafening. Esmeralda’s words hung in the air like they were a tangible object. She did not mean to speak those words, they had just come out. And they came out with all of the nastiness she felt in that moment. Completely misdirected. She saw Snow White’s tears well, and a sickening feeling filled Esmeralda’s gut that hit Esmeralda like a thousand bricks and took the fight right out of her. She felt her own face get hot with tears ready to sting her eyes. Tears of shame.Jasmine’s look burned through Esmeralda, “And you’re a low-life and a gypsy who has no voice around here anymore.” She added scathingly, “No wonder Megara went missing.” Esmeralda wiped the tears from her eyes, bitterly. She turned and ran from the courtyard, pushing away Nakoma’s hand when it fell on her forearm.
She ran, and she ran. She rounded a corner and ran up a stairwell. She ran until she knew no one had followed her. She was in a deserted hall where nothing but the empty walls echoed to her. Bright banners against white walls and no one there to judge. So much emotion that she had bottled up came bursting with no will to contain it. Weeks worth of tension, and all the stress of that day suddenly coming up like a volcanic eruption.She had spent months with Megara. The two of them dancing back and forth, acting like they didn’t want each other, acting like they wanted nothing to do with each other outside of Meg’s insufferable flirtatiousness. Esmeralda didn’t want to trust her, but when she did, Meg took it all away from her, and then disappeared. She had never trusted, and never fallen like that. When someone opens up and you find yourself falling, the absolute worst thing to do is to run, because she’d continuously fallen, and fallen, and no one caught her. How she had laid it all on the line for Meg, and she could never get those feelings back. It was an unbearable feeling, and the entire campus was determined to never let her forget. She’d never let herself get hurt like that again.She threw herself against a wall and she cried. Hot tears that soaked her face and couldn’t stop her from softly sobbing there by herself. It was a much needed emotional release and she let herself have it. “Esmeralda?” A gentle voice suddenly asked. Esmeralda looked up.“Belle!” Her cheeks got hot all over again. “Esmeralda!” The look of concern on Belle’s face grew. Belle had a stack of books in her hand. She walked over to Esmeralda, caressing a hand on her cheek. The soft pad of Belle’s thumb circled Esmeralda’s cheekbone. Belle held it there for a moment and then leaned over to put the pile of books she was holding on the floor. She reached up again to cup both of Esmeralda’s cheeks. “What happened?” Belle asked. Esmeralda shook her head. She didn’t want to talk about it. Belle pulled Esmeralda in and Esmeralda sank against her. Soft arms wrapped around her and Esmeralda held her back, tightly, almost as if she were the only person in the world. The feeling of Belle’s arms around her brought more feelings to the surface and she started gently sobbing all over again. Belle did not seem phased and tightened her hold on her. She cried like that until she felt no more left in her and the tears subsided. Esmeralda pulled away slightly and rested her hand in the crook of Belle’s neck. Their foreheads were touching, for a moment. The proximity to Belle reminded her of a short time ago, and she saw Belle’s eyes rise to meet hers, both of them reminded of that moment. Their lips started to close the distance from each other and met. Esmeralda had barely kissed Belle before when both of them had been caught in a moment not unlike the one they were in now, but being with Belle always felt so natural to Esmeralda, as much as kissing her now did. Their friendship always seemed to walk a thin line between something else, but never went over that line completely. Both of them lingered there longer than was necessary. When they pulled apart, Esmeralda took a long, labored breath in, leaning against the pad of Belle’s thumb that still rested against her cheek. “I missed you,” she said, honestly. Belle whispered, her pink lips seeming to form each word carefully. “I missed you too,” she admitted. Her breath ghosted over Esmeralda's. Esmeralda raised her head a little higher. She could feel relief, calm come over her again. What a day she had had. She lifted her head and sighed, leaning back against the wall. “It’s Jasmine,” she said. Belle brought her hand to her forehead, palming it, “Ugh… I’m sorry.”
Esmeralda shook her head to stop her.
“I was going to talk to her,” Belle said.
“It’s okay,” Esmeralda said.
Belle looked apologetic.
The two of them exchanged looks for a moment, Esmeralda trying to reassure her.
“We already blew it with Elsa, anyway. She wouldn’t even talk to us-“
“You guys tried to talk to Elsa?” Belle asked, surprised. The two of them looked towards the stairwell then that Esmeralda had come up. Someone was shuffling up the stairs and when they rounded the corner, Nakoma hesitated in front of them. She eyed them both carefully and asked, “Are you alright?” Giving Belle a side-glance. Belle shifted a little further away from Esmeralda.
Esmeralda nodded, “I’m fine.”
“Okay, I wanted to make sure. You got a lot of people riled up down there.”
Esmeralda huffed, and refrained from rolling her eyes, “Well, now they have something more to talk about.”
Belle looked at her sympathetically.
“No, I mean, a lot of people were upset with Jasmine. Ariel and Eric were furious with what Jasmine said to you. I’ve never seen them that angry with her. They started fighting as soon as you left and Jasmine ran off just like you did.” Esmeralda was taken aback. “Really?” Nakoma shrugged, “I think more people care than you think.” The guilt came rushing back to her, creeping up her neck like a warm liquid.
“I have to go talk to Snow White,” she said, suddenly “I can’t leave things like this.” “I’m going to have a word with Jasmine,” Belle said, mysteriously.
“Are you sure?” Esmeralda asked her.
“Oh yes, it’s time Jasmine and I had a little talk.”
“Okay,” Esmeralda nodded, “Good luck,” She said knowing Belle did not need it.
Belle winked and started off down the hall. Esmeralda made to follow her.
“Check the east greenhouse,” Nakoma said, “Snow sometimes goes there by herself.”
“Thank you,” Esmeralda said, sincerely.
Nakoma nodded, “I’m going to go see if Pocahontas got into any more trouble.”

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

The east greenhouse was just as impressive as the rest of Disney. It was a rainbow of colorful flora and some of the most intricate plants from around the world. Plants that Esmeralda had never seen before, and would probably never see anywhere else. It also had the most flowers out of anywhere in Disney, even the outside gardens, which the ones by the front entrance of campus were known to be enormous.  The air was warm and humid upon walking in, and some of the dew stuck to Esmeralda’s skin. She walked around towers of flowers, stacked tall, making the place look like a forest of them. She saw a tower of bright white flowers and then next to its base, was Snow White, turned away from her. Esmeralda carefully made her way around the luscious display, until a small figure stopped her passage. She looked down to see Grumpy and Dopey. Both of them had their arms crossed in front of them, although Dopey did not seem to hold much conviction next to his friend, with an aloof and quirky look on his face.  Grumpy started to tap his foot and looked up at her, expectantly. Esmeralda knelt down to their level and looked them both in the eye, “Grumpy…” she said, “…Dopey… I know I said something hurtful to your friend. I was hoping I could say something to make it better.” “It’s okay, Grumpy,” Snow White said, turning to look at Esmeralda.  Esmeralda waited for Snow White to say something else, but she stood there hesitantly. Esmeralda took a deep breath, “Snow, I’m-“ 
“I think that people think that I’m delicate,” Snow White said suddenly. It took Esmeralda by surprise. “Like they think that I could drop to the floor and break.”Her voice was light and airy, her words plucked through the air as easily as a white feather dandelion seed. It reminded Esmeralda’s of a girl’s voice, something childish and innocent but the weight behind her words were much more than that. Much heavier.  “That’s understandable, I guess,” she said.  Esmeralda looked for the right words to say but she suddenly got the feeling that maybe it was better to just listen.  “Me, Cindy, and Aurora probably all look pretty delicate next to you guys. Imagine our surprise when princesses started showing up that could shoot blizzards out of their hands, freeze you solid with just a wave. Girls with tigers for pets, girls with gods and beasts for boyfriends, girls that could fight for themselves, or who weren’t afraid to speak up for themselves, too. Next to them, I’m sure we would seem pretty complacent.” Esmeralda shuddered, “Snow, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I wish I hadn’t have said that.” “I know what you meant, Esmeralda,” Snow said. Her voice was light and kind, and it showed no betrayal that she was upset about the situation. If anything, there was a lace of morose to her words. In a way, it stung a little more, knowing she had disappointed her.  “When I first came here, I was the only one. Disney was new and big, and it was beautiful. But I was a small girl in a big world, and I didn’t really know what was expected of me. My whole life I’d only known how to run away, or how to hide. When it came time that my stepmother had poisoned me, I don’t even remember it that much, truthfully. I remember being fooled by an old woman who’d come to our cottage, offering me food, and next I know I was waking up with a stranger that I’d only maybe met once or twice. And then I was here. Completely lost, all over again. Except the weight of the world was finally sinking on my shoulders and it felt like all I knew how to do was to be a pretty, kind girl. I never had anything else that made me special.”  “That’s not true,” Esmeralda said. “Oh, it’s alright, Esmeralda,” Snow said, assuringly, waving her small hand, “I’ve had plenty of time to cope with the life that was given to me.” Dopey went over to Snow White and tugged at the skirt of her dress. He looked up at her with sappy eyes and a pouty face. Snow White patted the top of his head. “And I’m glad I had all of you, of course,” She said softly to him. He smiled up at her.  “If it makes you feel any better,” Esmeralda said after a moment, “I don’t think any of us know what we’re doing.” “Oh, I know that,” Snow White laughed, and the sound of it seemed to fill the air around Esmeralda, almost like a song or a dance. It somehow made the flowers look brighter, causing Esmeralda to involuntarily shiver again.  “I don’t know why, but the day I came, it felt like my old life was nothing but a dream. The world was suddenly so much bigger.”  Esmeralda remembered the day that Captain Amelia had first approached her. She was taken in an airship. Brought somewhere far away from everything and dropped in the middle of a brand new place. Just like that, her old life was gone. At least now, she realized, she was lucky enough that there were other people here, just like her. Snow White did not have that. At least, not at first.  Snow White went on, “I may not be able to fight like Mulan, or talk to people like Pocahontas can, I can’t even be as free as you, Esmeralda, but I figured that while I’m here… I’ll do whatever good I can. In my own small way, whatever that is.”  “I still want to apologize,” Esmeralda said, “It wasn’t right for me to say what I said, and I don’t want to say anything like that if it hurts someone. I think I haven’t given you, or Cinderella, or Aurora even, the credit you deserve.”  “No harm done,” Snow White said, and smiled sweetly. She walked over to Esmeralda and squeezed her hands,“I think there’s a reason why Aurora likes you so much. And if it means anything, I was agreeing with everything you all were saying today. I think me, Cindy, and Ariel all agree. We’ll be with you girls tonight.”  Dopey went over to Esmeralda and smiled impishly. Esmeralda pat the top of his head as Grumpy rolled his eyes next to them. She felt a huge sigh of relief, “That means a lot.” “No, I think it’s time that me and some of the other girls learn to speak up a little more.”   ~~~~      *       ~~~      *      ~~~~    Esmeralda had left Snow White in the greenhouse, sad to leave the smell of flowers and the peaceful, serene atmosphere that she didn’t realize had crept into her skin and displaced her whole mood of the events that had taken place that day. Another small piece of paradise away from it all inside the walls of Disney. Snow White had taken to talking with the two dwarves as soon as she’d walked away. She admired the shared connection that they seemed to have with each other and marveled at the fact that that was, at one time, all Snow White knew.  Esmeralda took the long way around on her way back to the main entrance. She stopped by the courtyard again, this time not passing through but staying on the outside where the roof of the school still covered her and the hallway was held up by pillars that looked through to the courtyard. It really was a beautiful sight, despite the day’s occurrences clinging to the back of her mind and sullying it a bit. The courtyard was lush and green, and had fountains and trees spread around it that the birds liked to flock to. There was plenty of space to walk around and take a stroll during the day, and the lights that hung around made it even more stunning at night.  Esmeralda was lost in her own thoughts when a pair of yellow teacher’s robes sauntered up close to her.  “Taking in the view, are we?” Jane asked, startling Esmeralda from her daydreams.  “Jane…” Esmeralda started and smiled. She doubled back and corrected herself, “Professor.” Jane waved her off with a hand, “There’s no need for that. I just wanted to check on you. I heard we’ve had quite the day.”  Esmeralda laughed breathily, “Mm,” She said, “Word’s already gotten around, huh?” “I also have my hunches,” Jane winked. Esmeralda sighed, “We’re never short on princess drama, here.” “Oh,” Jane said with a knowing look, “That’s everywhere you go, though. Outside of Disney, as well. It’s like everything eventually comes down to politics. No matter what.” Esmeralda leaned against a pillar then, “I don’t think I have the patience for it. Nobody says what they actually mean and we all pretend its normal. I’ve lived in the sewers for most of my life. The people I lived with were no better than criminals to everyone else, and they were more civilized than most people I know.” “I’ve no doubt they were,” Jane said, affirmatively, “I’ve seen apes and beasts act more civilized than the world that’s been built around us. Imagine my surprise when my husband was the least beastly man in all of London when we’d arrived. I would have turned around and gone right back to the jungle if I’d had a choice.” “I’d go with you,” Esmeralda said. Jane smiled despite herself, “Mm yes, I think you’d quite like the jungle. All you can hear out there is the deafening silence of things being eaten in the night.”Esmeralda snorted. “On second thought, maybe we’re better off staying here.” “I don’t think I’d mind being eaten alive after today.” “Come now, the girls here aren’t so bad.” “Have you met Jasmine?”“I have, and I’d say we’ve made it through much worse in our lifetimes.” Esmeralda sighed. She couldn’t argue with that. “Yes…” she said.  Jane offered her a small nudge. A small token of her support. “Do you want to tell me what’s really on your mind?” Esmeralda considered the question for a moment, then relented, “I just didn’t think she would get to me so much.”  Anyone else would have assumed Esmeralda was talking about Jasmine. However, Jane was as clever as she was studious and she knew Esmeralda well. Of course, Esmeralda was talking about the goddess in the purple dress. The one who left, and told no one where she was going.  “What drew you to her in the first place?” Jane asked.  “Her insufferable confidence,” Esmeralda said, “Her undying sarcasm. Her inability to take anything seriously, and the way she could get under my skin with one word.” “She does sound quite remarkable,” Jane said. Her and Esmeralda laughed. “I guess I could just tell there was something underneath all of that. She was kind, and coercive, and she was hard to reach because she deflects everything with something smart to say. But underneath all of that, she was vulnerable like the rest of us. I wanted to help her.” “Ah yes, and it’s always surprising to us in the moment when wounded people perform wounded acts.” Esmeralda sighed. “I wish it didn’t happen the way that it did. I should hate her… but I don’t.” “Perhaps you weren’t meant to.” Esmeralda let that stay with her. She let the feeling sink into her gut. It was real, anyway. That was how she really felt, and she knew it. She did not hate Megara in the slightest, quite the opposite. But she was deeply saddened by the way things had ended, and by the way she left her. They stayed like that for a few moments, soaking up the silence. Eventually the two of them started walking. They walked the edge of the courtyard in a blissful quiet until they made their way around to one of the connected hallways, one that led directly to the entrance hall, down and around the corner. Everyone would be meeting there later tonight. It was one of the most brightly lit and gaping corridors in the school. Even now, the afternoon sun was streaming in through the windows without leaving a crevice of the hall in shadow. From the corner opposite them, coming from the other side of the courtyard, an unlikely pair approached. Belle and Aladdin walked up to them and stopped still before her and Jane. Aladdin had an anxious expression on him, and Belle was as patient as ever beside him. She had a meaningful look in her eye that Esmeralda couldn’t quite place. Esmeralda looked at Jane briefly, feeling a secondhand nervousness from the two of them. She opened her mouth to say something, but she didn’t have to. Aladdin caught her before she did.  “Esmeralda, look,” Aladdin rubbed the back of his head, looking even more anxious. “What Jasmine said to you back in the courtyard, it’s not fair. And the way she treats you isn’t okay. At all. I want you to know that the rest of us don’t feel that way.”“We all owe you an apology, Esmeralda,” Belle said, sincerely. Esmeralda’s mouth opened in surprise, her jaw dropping a little.  “I don’t know why Jasmine has gotten like this. She was never like this before.”  Aladdin took a deep breath, as if bracing himself for what he was about to say. “She was always headstrong, but she was never like this to anyone. She always treated everyone like a person, but now it’s like she’s so obsessed with our status that she doesn’t even think about anyone else. I don’t know what’s gotten into her.” “I’ll admit I had never seen her act like that when Adam and I first met you,” Belle said. “She was actually kind then, and she always said what other people were thinking because she wanted to help people have a voice. The more people who started to come here though, and she started to change. After Elsa came here, it’s been hard to recognize who she used to be,” Belle said, sadly.  Esmeralda wanted to say something to that, she really did. Although, Jasmine had been cruel and unkind to her from the get go. She never saw the person that Aladdin and other people talk about, the level-headed, outspoken, confident princess that even Belle would say she’d look up to. She didn’t get to see any of that. If Jasmine was indeed the person they were talking about, then she changed long before Esmeralda got there.   “I never in a thousand years would think that Jasmine would talk to someone like that,” Aladdin said, then. “It’s like she forgot that she married a street rat.” Esmeralda softened. She saw Aladdin then in a light that was familiar to her. Out of anyone here in this school, he understood where she came from. They were the ones that came from nothing. That was why Jasmine looked down on her, the ammo she always used against her, and yet she married someone just like her.   “I know what that’s like,” Esmeralda said.  “I know,” Aladdin said. “I believe Esmeralda and I were just talking about something similar just a moment ago,” Jane chimed in. “How wounded people often lash out at the people around them, or something along those lines.”  “She’s not wounded so much as scared,” Aladdin said, definitively.  “It’s no excuse,” Belle said, softly. “But maybe it would help to know that Jasmine was just like the rest of us. She just has lost her way a bit.” 
 
Esmeralda was not ready for that. She was not ready to forgive Jasmine, or look at her in any different light than the one Jasmine had always presented herself in. A mean girl.  “What about tonight?” Esmeralda asked, changing the subject. “It really doesn’t matter unless she plans on making a scene tonight. Pocahontas may talk big but her head and her heart are in the right place. We need to get rid of these ridiculous status quos around Disney and start making decisions for ourselves, and we can’t do that unless everyone agrees with us.”  “We’ve got your back,” Aladdin said. “Jasmine might not like it, but she doesn’t speak for the two of us. I’ll back you girls up tonight and so will everyone else.”Belle gave a sly, secretive smile then, “Jasmine won’t be giving you any trouble tonight. Something tells me you took the fight out of her today.” She gave Esmeralda a reassuring nod.  “Well then, maybe we should-“ “Esmeralda!”  Esmeralda could not get over her popularity today.  They all turned to look, and Esmeralda was relieved to see that it was just Pocahontas running towards them, Nakoma following in her tracks. Pocahontas looked radiant. As she got closer, Esmeralda could see that she looked absolutely elated, as if she had the best news to share with them. Her beaming smile gave it all away.  “Esmeralda! We just spoke with Anna and she said she just talked to Elsa! Look!” Pocahontas held up a letter that was written on worn, weathered looking stationary with shiny blue ink. The paper itself felt cold, somehow.  
Tell Pocahontas I’ll be at the town meeting tonight and I’ll support her with her vote. Beyond that, she’s on her own. 
 
~Elsa *
 “That’s so sweet,” Nakoma said, “She left a little snowflake next to her name and everything.”   “That’s convenient…” Esmeralda said, cryptically. Pocahontas and Nakoma turned to look at her. “Aladdin was just saying that our… well, mine and Jasmine’s scene in the courtyard turned a lot of heads.”“Is that supposed to be a good thing?” Nakoma asked. “Yeah well, we’re thinking we may agree with what you guys were saying earlier,” Aladdin said. “Yes,” Belle said. “All of us.”Pocahontas looked back and forth between the two of them, like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You mean…”“Me, Belle, Ariel, Eric, and…” “Cinderella?”“Yes,” Belle said. “And-““Snow White.” Esmeralda said.Pocahontas looked at Esmeralda like she was a fairy godmother. Esmeralda nodded.“Jasmine?” Pocahontas asked, a little breathless. “Don’t worry about her.” Pocahontas looked at all of them then gaping. Even Nakoma seemed to be short circuiting in the moment. “That means…” Pocahontas’s voice dropped. Esmeralda waited for it to sink in. Then she opened her mouth to finish Pocahontas’s thought. “That means we did it.”