"Hamish! Hubert! Harris!" Merida ran to her brothers in the kitchen who were stomping on a line of ants. "Those could be people's mothers!" Merida knelt down and scooped up the lifeless ants in tears.

The triplets gave each other a girls-are-weird look.

"No they couldn't," Hamish spoke up.

"Yes they could! Perhaps a young girl stumbled upon a witch and told her that she wishes to change her mom; to change her fate."

The boys stood over their teary-eyed sister.

"The witch could turn her mother into an ant! Or perhaps her whole family!"

The triplets giggled at their foolish sister.

Merida turned to the boys. "What?! You don't think turning a family of humans into ants could change someone's fate?! Huh?!"

The three ran out of the kitchen confused and amused.

"Come on, I'll give you a proper burial," Merida whispered to the ants as she wiped her tears.

"Merida, is there something you need to talk about?" Queen Elinor asked watching from the door frame.

Merida lifted her head.

"You have not been...yourself since..."

"I'm fine mum I just need to bury these..."

"Ants? Listen to yourself Merida."

Merida shed a tear.

"Come sit darling," the Queen patted the empty seat next to her at the dining room table.

"First, get rid of those insects," Elinor quivered.

Merida placed the ant corpses in the garbage and washed her hands.

"Now, what is the matter?"

Merida remained silent.

"You use to be a thrill-seeking, adventure-loving, daring daughter. You were just like your father," Elinor grinned at Merida. "Now you cry over a few dead ants in the kitchen?"

Merida broke down. "The tapestry ripped and although it is stitched, it will never be the same!"

"It was just a tapestry darling," the Queen pat her distraught daughter's head.

"But it meant so much more! It represented our separation; our divide. And it's all my fault!" Merida sobbed.

"But do not you see Merida, you are the one who mended it."

"It wouldn't have to be mended if I never ripped it. Now it can never return to how it once was." Tears streamed down Merida's face.

"I don't want it to return to how it once was."

Merida looked up at her mother.

"If it returned to how it once was, nothing would have changed; I would not have changed. Merida, we would be back to where we started. We needed the tear for the mend."

A smile began to form on Merida's face.

"But promise me that you won't keep sparing the ants; they keep stealing the dessert."

"I promise," Merida laughed.