Adventures with Thumbelina
Title: What if?
Characters: Thumbelina/Jacquimo
Universe: off-canon
Summary: Ever wonder why Jacquimo didn't just fly Thumbelina to her house at the beginning of the movie?
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"You wait right here, Thumbelina chiquitita. We'll be right back with the padre."
"Oh, no, no. See, I love Cornelius."
"Today, you marry my son."
"Yay!"
"Oh no, no, no. No, I'm not marrying-No, come back here. No now, wait a second! W-Where are you going?"
Growing frustrated at her situation, Thumbelina couldn't help but cry out "Doesn't anybody care what I think?" before she fell over on her bottom. Aggressively throwing her hair back over her head and standing up, Thumbelina let out a grunt of anger. She didn't ask for this! Why did the toads have to take her?! Surely she wasn't the only talented being out there! And what was with that Grundel character wanting to marry her? She didn't even know him!
Determined to get away before the awful toads came back, Thumbelina looked around for any possible escape route, but sadly didn't see any. Swimming seemed to be the only way off and gazing in dismay at the water surrounding her lily pad, Thumbelina lamented her inability to swim or even float. If only she could swim toward the shore than maybe she could've found her way home.
Seeing the impossibility of getting off the lily pad that way, Thumbelina turned to the only other option left for her.
"Help!" Thumbelina bellowed as loud as she could. "Can anyone help me? Please!" Turning every which direction, Thumbelina continued to call out, growing more desperate as minutes rolled by, until a figure grew closer over head.
Waiting for it to draw closer, Thumbelina took in a huge gulp of air before yelling once again, "Help!"
She breathed a breath of relief when she got the attention of what she now saw was a bird.
"Woah, woah. Help? Who is saying help?" replied the bird.
"Mr. Bird, over here!" Thumbelina yelled as she jumped around to show him where she was.
She blushed in embarrassment when she fell over again.
"Oh! Oh, little one. Are you having a bad day?"
"I was sleeping on my windowsill, waiting for Prince Cornelius to come back, and he said he would come before morning because he loves me and-"
"He loves you?"
"Yes."
"Congratulations!"
"Thanks. But, well...But I was stolen away by Mrs. Toad who says I have to marry her son and I just-"
"A toad? Ptooey! Toad." The bird spit in disgust. "That is a very bad day Mademoiselle. Uh, Mademoiselle..."
"Thumbelina."
"Ah, Thumbelina, I am Jacquimo. How can I be of service to you?"
"Well, I must get off this lily pad, but that's impossible." Thumbelina replied, as she fell over again.
Jacquimo laughed. "Ha ha ha! Nothing is impossible." Launching off the plant he stood on, Jacquimo aimed for the lily pad in front of him, and successfully dunked half of the lily pad in such a way that the other half launched Thumbelina in the air. Flapping his arms quickly, he raised his body until he was under the falling girl, and deftly caught her on his back. "Voila!"
Taking a moment to catch her breath from the scare of the launch, Thumbelina, amazed, replied "Oh my. Well, that was easy."
"As I said nothing is impossible!" Jacquimo exclaimed with enthusiasm, making Thumbelina giggle. "Now where would you like to go, Thumbelina?" the helpful bird asked.
"Oh, uh... Let's see," hummed Thumbelina, looking around her surroundings until she spotted a couple of houses off in the distance. Pointing in the general direction, Thumbelina implored, "There! Do you think you can take me to those houses? I think I can see my house from here."
Looking at where she gestured, Jacquimo replied "No problem, Mademoiselle! Et c'est parti" and aimed for her home. "You're sure to do impossible thing..."
Arriving at her windowsill less than five minutes later, Thumbelina sighed in relief and slid off her new friend. "Oh, I can't thank you enough, Jacquimo! Thank you. Thank you so much!" Thumbelina exclaimed giving a big hug to her savior.
Jacquimo patted her back. "Say no more, Thumbelina. I am glad to help." Backing away, taking off his hat, and bowing to her, Jacquimo bid her "Au revoir!" before flying away.
Waving goodbye enthusiastically, Thumbelina grinned, and turned to enter through her open window. Her smile fell when she noticed Hero in the corner of her room, wallowing in grief, and what sounded like sobbing coming from down below.
"Oh Hero! Don't cry!"