Trouble at Sea

Part One: The Adventure Begins


Chapter 1: With Poems Comes Plans

Wayne jerked awake, startled by his dream. He looked around the room.

It was only a dream.

He was still in his apartment above the firehouse, safe from all the dangers of the world. Relief flooded over him as he got out of his bed and looked through the window. He could see Finn and Charlene running towards the castle. He checked his Mickey Mouse watch: 12:34 A.M.

The Keepers were probably heading back to get the black fob. Wayne sighed, knowing he wouldn't be able to help them soon. If his dream was correct, he was on the wrong side of the United States of America. But the West Coast wasn't the only thing mentioned in his dream. There was a message, one he needed to give to the DHIs. He sat down at his desk and got out some paper and a pen. He wrote down the poem, not fully conscious of what he was doing. When he was finished, he read it in surprise. He didn't know what language it was written in, but it certainly wasn't English. He wanted to investigate and find out what it meant. But he knew he didn't have time for that. He folded the paper into thirds, got up and walked outside. He needed to talk to Finn.

"So, what are we doing?" Maybeck asked.

"We're sitting," Finn said, although he knew what Maybeck really meant. He didn't want to admit that he didn't know—didn't know what the plan was, didn't know why Wayne wanted to talk to them. He was supposed to be the leader, and as the leader his friends expected him to know what he was doing.

"Hello," Wayne said, walking into the room. He sat down on a chair across from the couches the others were sitting on. They were in Walt Disney's apartment over the Cinderella Castle. It was a perfect hideout from the Overtakers, the evil Disney villains who were trying to take over the parks. It had a table and chairs for the seven of them, not to mention a breathtaking view of Main Street.

"I know it's a little crowded in here," He said looking at Charlene and Amanda sitting on the floor. "I know you want to get some sleep, and I truly am sorry." He shifted in his chair and pulled a folded piece of paper out of his pocket. "However, I'm afraid your adventures aren't over yet." The teens nodded. None of them were really surprised to here this. "Tonight I got a message—a poem of some sort. I know it's important somehow, and I want you to figure out whatever it means." He handed the paper to Finn. "Don't read it yet," Wayne said when he saw Finn unfolding it.

"Okay," Finn said, setting the paper on the coffee table in front of him. "Can you help us with this? What are we supposed to do?"

"I don't know," Wayne admitted sorrowfully. "I just know it's important. And to answer your other question, no, I'm afraid I cannot help you with this one. I will be leaving shortly on a… business trip of sorts." He got up and headed to button that led out of the castle.

"Where are you going?" Charlene asked before Wayne could push the button. Wayne looked at each of theirs faces, observing their expressions of curiosity and confusion. He couldn't tell them everything. Not yet. However, he didn't think it would hurt to tell them at least a little bit about his location.

"California," Wayne told them. Then he pushed the button. A hole opened in the floor, and Wayne fell through. Seconds later the hole was filled, and the apartment looked just like had before, as if nothing unusual had happened.

"Should we look at the paper?" Amanda asked, yawning.

"No." Finn shook his head. They were too tired. He put the paper down on the table before him. "Tomorrow."

"Hello?" The pirate asked to the darkness.

"I'm over here," The girl whispered. In the dim moonlight, she appeared to be a young, harmless girl. The pirate knew better, though. Even though they were currently working together, she would stab him in the back without hesitation. "We need a plan," The girl said. "Did you trick that old guy Wayne into going to California?" She asked.

"Yes." The pirate nodded sharply. "How clever of you to send a fake message to the Keepers!" He exclaimed.

"What message?" The girl asked confused.

"You didn't send them a message?" The pirate asked, confused. The girl shook her head. "Oh…" The pirate said. "I saw him writing something down, but it probably wasn't anything important. A grocery list, perhaps." But the pirate pursed his lips, still worried. "Are you sure we shouldn't wait for Maleficent?" He asked.

"No!" The girl responded fiercely. "She had her turn. She tried three times—and failed repeatedly. If she gets locked up, that's not my fault. I'll bring down the Kingdom Keepers myself!"

"What are you going to do?" The pirate asked curiously. The girl rolled her eyes.

"You really think I'm going to tell you? Just do what I ask you to do."

"Like what?" The pirate asked.

"Well, first off, that blonde girl over there—" She pointed to Charlene running across Main Street. "Charlene Turner. What's her story? I know her name, her personality, but nothing else. But I can tell she's hiding something. Something big. Find out what it is, and you'll become my second in command." She told the pirate.

"Really?" The pirate asked.

"Yes. When I get hold of this park, I'll give you Adventureland." The girl told him, wondering if it was wise to fulfill this promise.

The pirate smiled. "I won't fail you!"

"Whatever," The girl responded, sounding uninterested. "Just come back to me with results by tomorrow. If this plan goes correctly, the other Keepers will never trust her again." She laughed manically. "And soon, Disney World will be ours!"

Amanda looked at Mrs. Nash in utter disbelief. "What do you mean I'm going to Maryland?" Mrs. Nash sighed. She had hoped the girls would've taken this better. Amanda and Jess stood in the kitchen with her, each with an expression of annoyance and confusion.

"I told you, you two have been accepted at a boarding school in Maryland," She explained for the second time.

"Don't boarding schools cost a lot?" Jess asked.

"Normally, yes, but they have many scholarships available for students in certain situations." She said.

"And by 'certain situations' you mean because our parents are dead." Amanda replied.

"Well, in this case, yes—" Mrs. Nash started.

"What if I don't want to go?" Amanda asked, cutting her off.

"I'm sorry dear," Mrs. Nash said even though she clearly couldn't care less. "But you don't have a choice. Pack your bags, and tell your friends goodbye. You're leaving on Friday." Amanda opened her mouth to speak. "I don't want to hear any argument from you missy. Now, go." Amanda and Jess left the room with long faces and slumped shoulders. As Amanda climbed the stairs, she saw her roommate, Jeannie smirking at her triumphantly.

"Goodbye, weirdoes." She said to the two girls as they passed her to go to her room. Amanda walked into her room and shut the door behind her.

"Do you even have a suitcase?" She asked Jess. Jess shook her head. "Me neither," she said, sitting down on her bed. "This sucks." Jess nodded, organizing her notebooks and pencils. "Why are you so calm about this?" She asked Jess. Jess shrugged.

"Because I know there's nothing I can do about it."

The goodbyes were the hard part. Not to the other girls, of course. They seemed pleased to see Amanda go. But telling the other Keepers she was leaving was horrible. She saw their faces when she told them; she saw how crushed they were. "I'm sorry," she had told them. Their disappointment just made leaving harder. She was happy knowing she wouldn't have to room with Jeanie anymore. But the Keepers?

Finn had decided not to work on the poem until they left. Friday morning, Amanda and Jess stood in front of Security at a nearby airport.

"You two should probably get going," Mrs. Whitman advised them. She had offered to drive them to the airport since Mrs. Nash couldn't. Finn was standing next to them sad and awkward. "I'm afraid this is far as we can go with you."

Amanda nodded. "Goodbye," she said as she headed to security.

"'Bye," Jess said and followed Amanda. Jess continued through security and to the gate. Once the plane had taken off, Jess closed her eyes, and fell into a light and restless sleep.

"Aidez-moi," the girl breathed. "Aidez-moi." She looked slightly younger then Jess, perhaps a seventh or eighth grader. She had dirty, tangled hair that fell almost to her waist. Overgrown bangs covered most of her face. Jess could see gold eyes and red lips through the hair, but not much else.

She sat in an alleyway hugging her knees like a little kid. The girl wiped her hand across her sweaty face. She let out a gasp of air, as if trying to regulate her breathing.

Jess had thought the girl had been talking to her, but she realized she was actually muttering the phrase to herself. Jess wanted to help the girl, but she knew it was a dream. Jess wasn't really there. The girl was alone, and no one could help her. Jess wanted desperately to help the girl, but her surroundings were beginning to fade.

When was this happening—the future? Before she could think anything else, she woke up. But long after Jess had stirred, she could hear the echo of the helpless girl's plea.

S'il vous plaît: Please.


A/N: Originally published 11/25/10. Revised 6/2/12