School Days Chapter 1

Home Sweet Home

"Land ho!"

Penny stood at the highest rigging, hair whipping in her face as the ship RLS Treasury drifted towards the Port of Dreams. She had spotted the castle of Fantasia earlier, but wasn't ready to bring it up just yet. And yet, it was Max Goof, captain and leader of their small group, who called out. He stood at the helm and watched the world get closer. Penny glanced below and watched the rest of the crew come up.

Illiana was the first one up, pulling her purple hair into its usual ponytail. She had been below deck, making sure everything was organized and packed up. She ran to the side of the ship and watched the descent. She waved to the crowd of people at the port.

Jayden followed shortly behind, taking off his goggles and replacing them with his glasses. His blue shirt looked filthy as if he was working on something below deck. His normally short hair looked long from their journey.

Penny grabbed some rope and swung down to the deck. She landed heavily on her bare feet and her wolf best friend came up next to her.

You didn't announce the arrival? Midnight accused her.

She stood and watched the people on the port pulling their ship and securing it, I wasn't ready.

"Ah home! How I miss thee!" Illiana said gleefully as she got ready. Their ship drew a big crowd, but her family was in the front.

"Yea, luckily I finished King Mickey's report the other day," Jayden stated. King Mickey ruled the land of Fantasia. He was also the one who assigned them on their first mission.

"I'm sure he wasn't expecting it today," Max told him, strapping on his sword. He had spotted his father among the crowd. "I, for one, am looking forward to my own bed.

Penny stayed silent as she packed. The others obviously were excited, but she wanted to go back to her own world, Neverland. She missed the fairies, the Lagoon, the Lost Boys, Peter Pan. She missed everything, but it might be awhile until she can visit that magical place. Penny was important for this kingdom since they found out she can sense the Heart of the Worlds. So she was sent to make sure they were all safe and find them.

Speaking of the Hearts, she could sense Minnie getting ready to come to the dock. She had asked Penny when she would be back, eager to hear of her adventures. The girl knew there would be a feast, but was not looking forward to it.

Penny shook her head and focused on the present as the others headed into the crowd. Illiana was surrounded by her mother and two little siblings. Her mother looked tired but smiled at her daughter as they hugged. They looked alike except for the hair. Her mother had light brown hair while Illiana magically dyed hers purple. Her siblings, Angie and Andy, looked like they had grown a bit since she last glanced at them. But that didn't stop them from jumping on her. They looked so happy.

Penny turned her head and watched Jayden hug a woman shorter than him. She had some gray in her dark brown hair and more worn than Illiana's mom. Penny guessed this was Jayden's mother and looked for the father and brother. She had met them once and greatly disliked them. They were different than Jayden, but they, thankfully, didn't come.

Last, Max greeted his father Goofy, the head of the defenders and Mickey's left hand man. He had been one of the original travelers to discover the Darkness. There were also two other people talking to Max. One was rather large boy, wearing a helmet, knee and elbow pads, and carried a skateboard. The other boy was skinny and small. He wore sunglasses and there were wheels on his feet.

The crowd of people surrounded them, congratulating them and demanding stories. Nobody notice a small figure climb down from the ship, followed by a black wolf and a ball of light. They ducked down an alley and were out of sight.

Penny sat at a tree's trunk and listened to the forest around her. When she, Midnight, and her fairy, Starlight, snuck from the port, they traveled to the forest that was behind the castle. Star flew around the trees, eager to be off the boring ship. Midnight also ran around the forest he was found in by Penny, but the girl just sat there.

What's wrong? Midnight asked, standing in front of her.

You know what happens tomorrow right? She answered bitterly.

On the last night on the ship, Jayden started telling Penny about "school."

"I went to this school, Penny. It's not that bad. Now, they will teach you about magic and how it works."

"And not only do mages go there. Anyone who wants to become a warrior must go there, so you will meet others like us," Illiana interrupted as she set the table. It was Max's turn to cook so he was preparing.

"I still don't see why I have to go there," Penny pouted. Midnight laid by her feet listening in.

"Because your magic is different," Jayden sighed impatiently. "The teachers there are very kind and know what they are talking about. Illiana, you still have your uniform right?"

"Yea I do. But she's not going to like it…"

"Uniform?" Penny asked.

"It's a certain clothing you have to wear while you go there," Max informed her, unaware that Jayden and Illiana were trying to shut him up. "Girls wear grey skirts with white blouses and a tie that matches the color of what they are. Boys wear long grey pants and a long white button down shirt. The tie is the same as the girls."

"A skirt? Is that the same as a dress?" she stared at Illiana who fidgeted guilty.

"Umm…well…kinda but not really, umm…" Illiana said.

"I'm not wearing it."

"Penny…"

"I'm. Not. Wearing. It." That was the end of that discussion.

Penny came back from that memory as she heard footsteps coming her way along with the color ruby red. Each Heart has a different color string that she follows in order to find them.

"Minnie," she said as the queen of Fantasia sat on a root by Penny.

"Why weren't you at the docks? Your friends are looking for you," Minnie asked gently.

Penny glanced at her moon and star necklace she had taken off. It was a way she and her friends could communicate if they got separated. It doesn't work when it is off.

"I didn't want to deal with all those people," she explained.

Minnie sat there looking at the girl, but she wouldn't meet her eyes. The queen reached over and patted her head.

"Your hair has gotten longer." The beads of the Hearts clinked together.

"I'll have to cut it. The birds here will be nesting soon. They would like the hair," Penny said, pulling on her hair.

More silence followed until Penny finally thought of something to talk about besides school.

"I got your letter!" she said cheerfully.

"Oh! You did? I was hoping it would reach you," Minnie smiled.

"Yea, but I couldn't read it. But I learned thanks to Belle! Wanna see?"

"Of course."

Penny riffled through her pack for some paper and a pencil she "borrowed" from Jayden. Slowly and sloppy, she wrote down a random sentence as Minnie looked on. Finally she turned her paper towards her and the queen saw a roughly scrawled sentence.

"Very nice, Penny."

"Thanks! But I think I'm a better drawer. See?" Penny pulled out a packet of papers and Minnie examined each one. They were pictures of each of the worlds she had traveled to. There was so much detail that the picture seemed alive.

"These are amazing," Minnie touched a tree to see if she could feel the leaves.

Penny grinned at her but lost it when footsteps sounded in the forest. Midnights ears picked up on the sound, but didn't seem alarmed. Jayden's face came around the tree that the girls were sitting on. His glasses glinted in the setting sun as he looked at them.

"There you are! We were looking for you. They want us to get ready for the feast," Jayden said.

Penny covered her eyes with her hair and didn't say anything. Midnight whined as Star sat on her shoulder. They understood her so well.

Minnie glanced at Penny, "Thank you, Jayden. We shall be there soon."

He nodded and walked off. Minnie waited patiently as Penny tried to find the words.

"School? Why do I need to go? I was perfectly happy on the journey and now this! Why?" Penny finally blurted out. She stood and paced in front of Minnie.

"Penny, let me explain—"

"I mean, I know my magic is out of control but I can handle it! I just gotta keep my temper under control. But how can I when I'm gonna be trapped in a place with people who won't like me?"

"Penny, please. Listen to me," Minnie said firmly.

Penny stopped in front of her, arms crossed, feet apart. Midnight watched with cautious eyes.

Be careful. Minnie is not your enemy. She's trying to help.

"I know what you are thinking, I betrayed you by making you not free to go where you please. That's not true. We are all worried about you. We have to make sure you are safe. We heard what happened in Belle's world and we want to make sure you don't do that again," Minnie explained. "We care about, Penny. It won't be for long. We just want you to learn a little bit more before you have to leave. If it doesn't work out, then we shall think of something else. Okay?"

Penny didn't move as she thought about it. Finally she nodded her head in agreement. Her temper finally under control.

"Good. Then shall we?" Minnie stood up and led Penny to the castle.