Meera: Welcome to the jungle! Where it's all fun and games!

Juliet: Well, maybe not all of it.

Meera: Well just because you don't know how to have fun…

Juliet: That depends on your definition of fun. I wouldn't call what you try and do in the story fun exactly.

Meera: Oh what, and babysitting is fun?

Juliet: Let's just get to the story. Remember, we don't own anything, it all belongs to Disney.


Monkeying Around

As Juliet walked through the portal she felt dirt on her bare feet. Outside once again she took in her surroundings and assessed that she was in the jungle, around the beginning of the day. Her knowledge of Disney kicked in as Juliet figured out the portal had placed her into The Jungle Book. Suddenly, she heard the thick ferns rustle on her left. Juliet froze in fear for a moment, after all the jungle was full of dangers, before breathing a sigh of relief as Meera's stilettoed foot snapped fallen twigs as she struggled her way out of the brush.

"Meera!" Juliet said, happy to see her friend. Meera looked up, her black eyes softening upon seeing Juliet.

"Jewels!" she cried, almost hysterical, and threw her arms around her best friend almost knocking them both over. "Thank god you're here. I can't stand another minute in this jungle."

"How long have you been here?" Juliet asked.

"Long enough to find there's no men in the jungle. Where have you been? You were supposed to follow after me in the portal," Meera accused.

"Okay whoa, I did follow after you I just ended up in another story. Peter Pan and then Sword in the Stone to be exact. So don't go blaming me," Juliet barked back.

"Peter Pan and the Sword in the Stone?" Meera inquired. "You have the worst luck. I was in Sleeping Beauty."

"Peter Pan was fun," Juliet insisted. "I got to fly."

"Well good for you!" Meera cried. "While you were off fighting pirates I was changing diapers."

"Changing diapers," Juliet questioned giving Meera a funny look. "That's not in the story."

"It may not have been in the story but it was in the artificial memories implanted in my brain. There was a time loop," Meera explained.

"And you said I was the unlucky one," Juliet stated. Meera opened her mouth to shoot back a retort but Juliet held up her hand to stop her. "Let's just find Mowgli and continue on with the story."

"Oh no," Meera grimaced.

"What?" Juliet asked.

"I think you know my opinions of the boy and the movie. I think we should just let Shere Khan eat the boy," Meera explained.

"Meera," Juliet glared.

"We'd be doing everyone a favor." Juliet just groaned and grabbed Meera's arm, leading her through the jungle in search of the 10 year old. Meera grumbled the entire time, purposely letting branches and bushes slap into Juliet. Suddenly they heard a tiny voice up ahead.

"Bagheera, where are we going?" a young voice that could only be Mowgli's inquired. Juliet and Meera pushed past a bush to see the odd sight of a young boy and a black panther traveling together.

"You're going back to the man-village right now," Bagheera replied sternly.

"See," Meera explained, "even the giant house cat wants to get rid of him."

"You know as well as I do he's doing it for Mowgli's safety."

"Which I don't get. Shouldn't he be after the kid like Shere Khan? He's a predator too."

"It's Disney," Juliet said blankly.

"It's unrealistic."

"And all the other stories we've been in so far haven't been?"

"That's beside the point. This whole movie is stupid."

"To one's own opinion," Juliet said and then noticed they were alone once again. "Shit, where'd he go. Come one we have to find him." Once again she was dragging Meera through the jungle.

It didn't take long to find them. There was a loud splash and Juliet and Meera peered over the edge of some rock to see Bagheera dripping wet and sulking in the river.

"Oh that does it!" Bagheera growled. "I've had it, man-cub. From now on you're on your own, Alone!"

"Don't worry about me!" Mowgli shouted back and the two headed in opposite directions.

"Come one," Juliet said firmly pulling on Meera's elbow. "We have to watch over him,"

"What are we? His guardian angels?" Meera snapped stumbling after Juliet. "Leave him to fend for himself." Juliet was about to respond when they both heard someone singing up ahead.

"Doo-bee, doo-bee, dee-doo. Well it's a doo-buh-dee-do." Meera tapped her feet to the beat. Walking through the brush the girls spotted Baloo dance right up to Mowgli, the man-cub catching his attention.

"Well now, haha!" What have we here?" Baloo asked himself and then got down to sniff Mowgli's head. "Hmm. Hey what a funny little bit of a -" Before the bear could finish Mowgli - annoyed - slapped Baloo's nose.

"Okay he did not deserve that," Meera said.

"I would've done the same thing if someone was that close to me," Juliet said in his defense.

"Oh really?" Meera said getting up in Juliet's personal space. Juliet gave her friend a look before slapping her in the back of the head. Meera's hand shot to the attacked spot. "Yeah, should've known that was coming."

"Leave me alone!" Mowgli demanded.

"Gladly," Meera muttered, beginning to walk off but Juliet pulled her back. "Oh come on!"

"Well now, that's pretty big talk little britches," Baloo said.

"I'm big enough," Mowgli insisted.

"Ha!" Meera laughed loudly, drawing the duo's attention to the girls' presence.

"Two more? Well now I've seen everything in these woods," Baloo commented. With Baloo's attention turned to the girls Mowgli took the opportunity to try and attack Baloo. Juliet and Meera couldn't help but laugh at Mowgli's pathetic punches, while Baloo just tsked unimpressed. "Pitiful. Hey kid, you need help. And old Baloo is gonna learn you to fight like a bear. Now come on."

The girls watched the mock boxing fight as Baloo shouted out tips to Mowgli to loosen up and weave from side to side in order to avoid attacks.

"Now give me a big bear growl. Scare me!" Baloo encouraged. Mowgli let out a small, unimpressive growl causing Juliet and Meera to laugh even harder. "Tsk-tsk-tsk. Oh boy, I'm talking about like a big bear!" He demonstrated, a deep guttural echo reverberating deep through the jungle. Mowgli tried once again.

"Grrr," he growled a little louder.

"God kid, you need to use your diaphragm if you wanna be louder than that," Juliet instructed in between gasping for air from laughing too hard. Mowgli ignored her, having no idea what this girl was talking about, and continued on trying to perfect his bear growl.

"I sound scarier in the morning," Meera grumbled, completely unimpressed.

"Yeah, I know," Juliet muttered knowing well enough how bad Meera got when someone woke her up too early.

"A big one, right from your toes," Baloo instructed. Mowgli kept trying his best to try to impress the bear.

"Wow, he's...he's really crap at this," Juliet commented.

"He's a waste of space is what he is," Meera complained. "We really should just do everyone a favor and GET RID OF HIM!"

"You really are becoming a Disney villain aren't you?" Juliet said. Just then Bagheera came bursting through the leaves.

"Oh no, it's Baloo," Bagheera moaned. "That shiftless stupid jungle bum."

"I hear you," Juliet muttered, sympathetic to the jungle cat's plights.

"Wow, it's like I'm looking at you but in cat form," Meera said, noticing the two's similarities. Juliet would've glared at Meera but she was right, her and the panther were similar. "Do you want to know what I don't get?"

"Is this gonna be about how he should be trying to eat Mowgli?" Juliet asked.

"No, well that too, but… are panthers even indigenous to India?" Meera questioned. "I thought they were an American cat."

"I think you're referring to jaguars. Panthers can be found throughout Asia and Africa. Why he has an English accent though I have no idea," Juliet explained.

"Disney's weird man," Meera said shaking her head. "How do you know so much about large cats?"

"They interest me," Juliet admitted.

"Sometimes, you worry me," Meera replied. "I'm interested in my social life. Which has gone down the toilet since we've been stuck inside Disney! I'm missing all the best parties and I can't even call anyone because I can't find my phone! I wish I had my smart phone. How come our wardrobe keeps changing, but we can't have our phones?"

"Probably because smartphones weren't invented before any of the Disney movies took place," Juliet said.

"Neither were women's pants, and yet," Meera gestured to her ripped up jeans.

"Good point." The girls' attention was interrupted by Mowgli and Baloo's boxing match

"Is someone finally attacking this kid?!" Meera asked excitedly peering eagerly at the action. She couldn't help but cheer when Baloo sent Mowgli flying into a falling tree. "Break his neck, Baloo!"

"Meera!" Juliet growled and slapped her friend in the back of the head.

"Oh, like you weren't thinking the same thing," Meera muttered, rubbing her head. Meanwhile the boxing match halted for a second.

"Heh, heh, fine teacher you are, Old Iron Paws," Bagheera scoffed.

"Oh thanks Bagheera," Baloo said missing the sarcasm.

"Wow," Meera muttered under her breath. "Apparently, he has the I. Q. of Winnie the Pooh."

"Hey, give Winnie the Pooh more credit," Juliet said.

"Yeah, yeah, smarter than you think, braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem," Meera quoted. "Whatever!"

"Tell me, tell me after you knock you pupil senseless, how do you expect him to remember the lessons?" Bagheera asked the bear.

"Well, I, I didn't mean to lay it on him so hard," Baloo replied defensively.

"I'm not hurt," Mowgli said as he walked back over to Baloo, causing Meera to groan. "I'm all right. I'm a lot tougher than some people think."

"I could take him on," Meera stated taking a threatening step forward before Juliet pulled her back. Bagheera couldn't help but notice.

"You have one too?" he asked Juliet who couldn't help but sigh and nod.

"Hey!" Meera cried indignantly.

"Who are you by the way?" Bagheera asked.

"I'm Juliet and the shouting girl over there is my friend Meera," Juliet said introducing the both of them.

"Best friend," Meera corrected. "And you can call her Jewels."

"Oh shush, the fight's starting again," Juliet said.

"I hope this time the bear draws blood," Meera muttered.

"Now let's go once more," Baloo said. "Now you keep circling or I'm gonna knock your roof in again, you better keep movin'...ooph!" Mowgli landed a punch to his jaw.

"He better be letting him win," Meera sighed. "Otherwise it's just pathetic."

"It's pretty obvious he is," Juliet said. Just as Juliet said that the boxing match turned into a tickle fight.

"No, no, we don't do that here, no cheating, no you're tickling, I can't stand the tickling," Baloo cried laughing. "Bagheera help!"

"Now that's all he needs. More confidence," Bagheera laughed.

"What he needs is a backbone," Meera snapped. "Or preferably a coffin." Juliet frowned at her friend.

"Give up, Baloo?" Mowgli giggled.

"I give up, I told you," Baloo begged. Mowgli stopped and sat on the bear, happy with himself. "Hey, you know something? You're alright kid. What do they call you?"

"Mowgli," Bagheera replied tersely. "And he's going back to the man-village right now!"

"Oh, Baloo, I want to stay here with you!" Mowgli said.

"Is it bad that line reminds me of a Disney princess?" Juliet asked.

"Which one?" Meera asked. "The only thing that line brings to mind is begging my Abuela to let me live with her instead of with my crazy, dysfunctional parents."

"I meant more of how he just met this...bear and now wants to live happily ever after with him," Juliet explained.

"Well, I doubt he ever got the 'don't speak to strangers' talk," Meera returned. "And 'happily ever after with him?' What is this bestiality?"

"I didn't mean it like -" Juliet hurriedly tried to explain. "Oh, why do you have to make everything sexual?"

"Oh? And just how do you think he will survive?" Bagheera asked.

"'How do you think he will' - What do you mean 'How do you think he will'? He's with me. And I'll learn him all I know," Baloo said defensively.

"Well that shouldn't take too long," Bagheera and Juliet commented simultaneously.

"Ooh, ouch," Meera laughed.

Baloo glared at Bagheera before turning back to Mowgli. "Look, now it's like this Little Britches, all you've got to do is...Look for the Bare Necessities…"

"And he just breaks out into song," Meera muttered. "I am so sick of random singing."

"The simple bare necessities," Juliet quietly sang along. Meera glared at her before continuing to watch the antics of the bear and the man-cub. Even with her hatred for the singing, Meera couldn't help but get into the beat and soon enough she was off dancing with them.

"I mean the bare necessities, that's why a bear can rest at ease," Baloo continued to sing. "With just the bare necessities of life." Juliet smiled at the sight of her friend having fun.

"I better go after her," Juliet said making her way after the bumbling trio. When she caught up she saw Meera chucking off her torn up jeans. "Meera!"

"What? It looks refreshing," she replied before jumping into the river, splashing Juliet from her entrance. "The water's great! Hop in!"

"No, no, I'm good," Juliet assured, looking down at her sopping clothes annoyed.

"Suit yourself," Meera shrugged before floating down the river on the current. Not wanting to lose sight of her, Juliet followed her alongside the riverbank. Bagheera appeared overhead on a branch, staring off unimpressed by Baloo and Mowgli.

"Ahh...I give up. Well I hope his luck holds out," Bagheera grumbled walking away.

"It won't!" Meera called cheerfully slipping over a small waterfall and laughing gleefully when she popped back up for air.

"Good-bye Juliet, I hope you have better luck dealing with these fools then I have," Bagheera said.

"Bye, Bagheera. I'm sure I'll see you again soon enough," Juliet replied, wishing the cat farewell before turning her attention back to the idiots in the river. Now they were just floating carelessly down the stream, the song having finished.

"Beautiful. That's real jungle harmony," Baloo commented.

"I like being a bear," Mowgli said.

"Oh yeah, you're a real bear alright," Meera grumbled, her black hair spread out around her in the water. While they were relaxing, Juliet noticed a large group of monkeys had set their sights on Mowgli. Juliet tried to let out a warning but the monkeys stopped her before she could. As they pulled her up into the tree tops a smaller bunch grabbed Mowgli from Baloo, replacing him with one of their own.

Meera watched the monkeys pull Mowgli into the trees and then smiled in delight when she glanced at a very indignant looking Juliet. "What's ya doin' up there?" Meera called. "Just hanging out?" Juliet angrily tried to shout back at her but a hand covering her mouth only turned it into mumbles. Meera sighed and made her way to shore, deciding she should probably try and save her friend, or at least get out of the crossfire. Upon reaching shore she took a few steps to the nearest tree before realizing she was only wearing her bra and underwear. "I wish I had my clothes back!" Immediately her clothes reappeared on her body. "That never gets old. I'm coming for you Juliet!" And she began to climb the tree….well sort of.

Juliet managed to wiggle the monkey's hand away from her face to call out to her best friend. "Meera, you don't know how to climb trees!"

"Yeah, I kinda figured that out!" Meera yelled back rubbing her sore rear. By now Baloo had noticed what was going on and went to work trying to save Mowgli from the monkeys. Seeing how there was nothing she could do, Meera stood to the side and enjoyed the show as Mowgli and Juliet were flung through the air. "Nice somersault!"

"I did not sign up for these acrobatics!" Juliet cried out.

"I love acrobatics!" Meera called up to her friend.

"I didn't mean the acrobatics you're thinking of," Juliet snapped.

"Baloo, catch me! Baloo!" Mowgli shouted. Baloo tried his best trying to follow Mowgli as he was thrown through the air. But not paying attention to where he was going was his downfall. Running backwards the monkeys managed to trip him, causing the bear to fall off a cliff.

"An improvised bear trap," Meera muttered. "What are these monkeys? Geniuses?" Meera ran to the cliff and peered over the side to see Baloo was unhurt. "I think it's time to call for Baggy now!" Except they didn't need to with Bagheera already on his way, he got there just to have Baloo yell into his ear.

"Bagheeraaaa!" Baloo hollered, stunning the panther for a while. "Oh, you heard me?"

"I think the whole jungle heard you," Meera snapped.

"Mowgli? Juliet? Alright, what happened? Where are they?" Bagheera demanded.

"They ambushed me, thousands of them! I jabbed with my left, then I swung with the right, and then I…" Baloo exaggerated.

"He fell off a cliff," Meera interrupted swiftly. "The psychotic monkeys took them!"

"The Ancient Ruins. Oh, I hate to think what will happen when they meet that king of theirs," Bagheera sighed.

"He'll let them eat cake?" Meera asked confused.

Juliet had to say that the ride over to King Louie's was unpleasant with all the tossing the monkeys were doing. By the time they arrived she swore she was gonna be sick. Being hung upside down did not help with this as the monkeys presented her and Mowgli to their king.

"So you're the man-cub? Crazy!" Louie said paying attention to Mowgli before noticing Juliet. "Who are you?"

"An unfortunate victim of circumstance, otherwise known as my best friend," she answered hotly. "Now put me down before I vomit all over you!" The monkeys released the two humans. While Mowgli fell flat on his face Juliet corrected herself so that she landed on her feet.

"You cut that out!" Mowgli shouted at the monkeys.

"Cool it, boy. Unwind yourself," Louie said picking the man-cub up by his loin cloth and placing him onto his throne with him. The primate then shoved a banana into the man-cub's mouth. "Word has grabbed my royal ear that you want to stay in the jungle."

"Stay in the jungle? I sure do," Mowgli mumbled through a banana stuffed mouth.

"You're way too accepting of this kid," Juliet commented standing off to the side, swatting away any bananas they tried to force on her.

"Good and ol' King Louie, that's me, can fix it for you," Louie half sang. "Have we got a deal?"

"Yes, sir. I'll do anything to stay in the jungle," Mowgli answered still not having swallowed.

"You're not even gonna ask what the deal is? God, you would be a great soul for the devil, accepting an offer before you know the details," Juliet huffed.

"Well then. I'll lay it on the line for ya," Louie said and then began to sing. Mowgli was enchanted by the swing music singing orangutan. Juliet admitted that the music was good but she wasn't falling for any of what the primate was dishing out.

"Bop-do-wee," the monkeys sang for backup.

"I wanna be like you."

"Hum dee oobee-do-ba."

"I wanna walk like you."

"Tee."

"Talk like you."

"Too."

"Too!"

Meanwhile, Bagheera, Baloo, and Meera were hurriedly making their way to Louie's palace. "You had the boy for five minutes!" Bagheera scolded. "How could you have lost him to the monkeys?"

"Well, those monkeys were fast," Baloo replied.

"And had height advantage," Meera added. "It was an aerial attack!"

Bagheera gave her an annoyed glance. "I can't believe you let those fiends take your friend. Did you even try and help?"

Meera shrugged. "I can't climb trees," she replied simply. "I found that out the hard way." Bagheera sighed, but continued running towards the Ancient Ruins. When they got there Bagheera and Baloo easily cleared the step up into the palace, but Meera couldn't even reach the edge when jumping.

"Hello!" she called irritably. Baloo and Bagheera reappeared and looked down over the edge at her. "I could use little help."

"Hang on there," Baloo replied cheerfully lending her his paw. She grabbed a hold of his arm and let him swing her up the step.

"Thank you," she replied brushing the dirt off her jeans.

"Enough of this let's go," Bagheera insisted and the odd trio made their way deeper into the Ruins.

Juliet was trying her best to get Mowgli and get out of the blasted party temple but the constant supply of monkeys trying to dance with her wasn't helping. At one point they had managed to drag her far away from where the boy and king were.

"Mowgli!" she called out trying to get his attention to no avail. Louie had his full attention.

"Now, here's your part of the deal, cuz. Lay the secret on me of man's red fire," Louie said.

"But I don't know how to make fire," Mowgli admitted. Of course, this wasn't the answer Louie was looking for.

"Now, don't try to kid me, man-cub

I made a deal with you

What I desire is man's red fire

To make my dream come true

Now give me the secret man-cub

Come on, clue me what to do

Give me the power of man's red flower

So I can be like you," Louie sang. Sighing to herself, Juliet looked around for a means of escape, just to catch sight of Bagheera, Baloo, and Meera.

"Fire," Bagheera repeated. "So that's what that scoundrel's after."

"Well I could help him with that," Meera muttered taking a pack of matches out of her back pocket.

Bagheera glared at her. "Why does Juliet put up with you?" he asked swatting the matches out of her hand.

"Because she loves me," Meera replied.

"Will you stop being silly," he snapped at both Meera and Baloo. The bear had been rambling on about what he wanted to do to those monkeys. "This will take brains not brawn."

"You better believe it!" Baloo agreed. "And I'm loaded with both."

"In what alternate universe are you dreaming about?" Meera scoffed, tapping her foot to the monkeys' beat.

"Would you listen?" Bagheera implored.

"Oh, yeah, yeah," Baloo replied distractedly.

"Now, while you two create a disturbance I'll rescue Mowgli and Juliet. Got that?" Bagheera asked glancing back to see that both Baloo and Meera had disappeared. He glanced over his other shoulder to see Baloo dancing off down the hallway. "Not yet Baloo!" He turned again to see Meera dancing happily with a monkey. "Meera!"

Seeing her friend on the dance floor, Juliet made her way over to Meera and shoved the monkey she was dancing with away from her.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" Meera yelled. "I was having fun."

"Sorry if I'm more focused on getting out of here then dancing," Juliet retorted.

"Getting out of here? Why would you ever want to leave? This seems to be right up your alley with all the singing and dancing," Meera replied. "You know how to dance swing don't you?"

"Well yes, but to tell the truth I'm feeling a bit of samba hearing the song," Juliet admitted.

"It's the swings Jewels," Meera commented dryly.

"Yes, I know that Meera. I'm the one who's the trained dancer here," Juliet shot back.

"Then do what you were trained to do and dance!" Meera said grabbing her monkey back and dancing along to the music.

But the party was cut short when Baloo's ridiculous costume fell off, grabbing everyone's attention.

"Um, Meera I think we should go now," Juliet said nervously pulling on Meera's arm.

"Why I'm having fun?" she asked.

"Because the party just ended," Juliet answered. "And I think we both know what comes next."

"The kid dies?" Meera asked hopefully.

"No, the temple come tumbling down," Juliet answered.

"What?! They can't destroy the temple, it's history!" Meera said appalled.

"It's not real. You really wanna stay to try and save a fictional temple only to get crushed in the process?" Meera paused as if thinking about it. "Oh come on!" And Juliet grabbed her arm dragging Meera along as she ran out of the temple. Once at a safe distance the girls watched as the temple came crashing down before they were greeted with the jungle trio.

"Man, that's what I call a swingin' party," Baloo laughed to himself.

Meera and Juliet stuck to themselves later that night as Baloo and Bagheera had a conversation of their own.

"Come on. Let's blow this popsicle stand," Meera urged starting off into the jungle.

"What? No, I'm not moving away from the plotline," Juliet said.

"Suit yourself," Meera shrugged turning back around and walking further away.

"Meera, we have to stick to the story," Juliet insisted.

"Yeah, that doesn't really sound like something I would do," Meera called back over her shoulder.

"Then where are you going to go? There's nothing but jungle for miles!" Juliet shouted as her friend kept going. "Wait. You're not going to find the tiger are you?"

"I'll see you around Jewels," Meera replied purposely not answering her question. She had work to do.

"Tell me you're not going to find the tiger! MEERA!" Juliet shouted, getting no reply whatsoever. "Damnit, this isn't gonna be good." Juliet groaned and made her way slowly back to the jungle group as the sun started to rise.

"What do I do?" she thought to herself. "Do I tell them? Do I not tell them? If I did would I cause a complete panic. Would they try and kill Meera if we ran into her again. Oh who am I kidding of course we'll run into her again." As Juliet's mental war with herself continued Bagheera noticed the lack of another human.

"Where did your friend go?" he asked.

"Uh…" Juliet paused not knowing what to say. So she decided to change the subject. "Where did the other two go?"

"Baloo is taking Mowgli back to the man village. Perhaps you should go with them. I'm sure a human like yourself would like to go back to human society," Bagheera said. "I bet that's where your friend headed."

"Oh you have no idea," Juliet muttered to herself. "Thanks I'll go catch up with them. Bye, Bagheera."

"Good bye Juliet. It was a pleasure meeting you," Bagheera said. She smiled at the panther and then caught up with Baloo and Mowgli. She got there just as the bad news was spilled out.

"You said we were partners," Mowgli stuttered, shocked by his best friend betrayal.

"Perfect timing," Juliet thought.

"You're just like old Bagheera," Mowgli threw out as an insult before running off into the jungle.

"Shit," Juliet muttered before running after the kid, managing to keep up with him unlike the two animals. "How on earth can fast animals not keep up with a scrawny little kid?" So she continued following after the man-cub.

Meanwhile in another part of the jungle Meera was busy following a trail of snapped branches, orange fur, and scat praying it belonged to the cat she was after. She was growing increasingly frustrated with her slow progress. The jungle was thick with branches and ferns and after hours of searching she was covered in mud and scratches from falling. Suddenly, the ground around her began to shake and Meera glanced over her shoulder to see the elephant herd approaching.

"Oh we march from here to there and it doesn't matter where," the company sang.

Meera quickly dodged out of the way and tumbled into a bush, landing flat on her back right in front of Shere Khan. She grinned up at him. "Just the cat I was searching for!"

Shere Khan stared in surprise at her before asking, "Who are you?" Meera opened her mouth to reply when she spotted Bagheera up in a tree. "I asked you-"

Meera quickly snapped the tiger's jaw shut. "Not now," she whispered urgently. Shere Khan gave her an almost amused glance, as if he couldn't believe she would do something so stupid. Meera rolled her eyes and nodded her head in the direction of the tree Bagheera was in. "I don't want him overhearing our conversation. I don't know if Juliet told him about my intentions. Just wait. I can get you what you want." The tiger opened his mouth to reply, but Meera snapped it shut again before edging closer to the tree to hear what Bagheera was telling the elephant herd. She needed to know if he knew her plans. Shere Khan followed behind her, intrigued by her bravado.

"What do you mean taking over my command?" the Herd leader, Meera thought his name was Hiawatha or something, asked. "Highly irregular you know."

"Colonel, I am sorry, but...but I need your help," Bagheera said.

"Impossible," the Colonel stated abruptly. "We're on a cross-country march."

"It's an emergency, Colonel," Bagheera insisted. "The man-cub must be found."

"What man-cub?" the Colonel asked. Meera watched Shere Khan's ears prick up at the mention of the boy.

"The one I was taking to the man-village," Bagheera answered.

"It's where he belongs," the Colonel said. "Now sir, if you don't mind, we'd like to get on with the march."

"No, no, no, you don't understand!" Bagheera cried. "He's lost. He ran away!"

"Well serves the young whippersnapper right," the Colonel huffed.

"But...but Shere Khan, the tiger, he's sure to pick up the man-cub's trail," Bagheera stuttered, desperate for the elephants' help. Meera nodded her head when she realized Bagheera had no idea she was planning to throw the annoying brat under the bus. She motioned for Shere Khan to follow her and lead them far enough from Bagheera and the herd so they wouldn't be overheard.

"Okay so I know you overheard that Mowgli's run off…"Meera began, but it was the tiger's turn to interrupt her.

"I'm going to ask you one last time...who are you?" Shere Khan asked.

"The answer to your prayers," Meera responded but the tiger only glared at her. She sighed. "My name's Meera."

"And what exactly do you have that I want?" he asked.

"I know where the man-cub is," Meera replied.

"And I'm supposed to believe you?" Shere Khan asked.

"Listen Khan, I'm gonna call you Khan, right now you need me," Meera insisted.

"You're a feisty one," the tiger replied. "Not many would dare show me such blatant disrespect."

"Yeah whatever," Meera dismissed the tiger's words. Shere Khan actually blinked in surprise. Meera continued on. "If you want the man-cub you'll want to follow me."

"I don't follow humans, especially women," Shere Khan said.

"Well then…"

"Tell me what direction to go and I will pick up the trail myself," Shere Khan interrupted.

Meera frowned but nodded her head in agreement. "You'll want to go due south," she replied.

"I thank you kindly," Shere Khan said slinking off into the jungle.

Meera waited until she was certain he couldn't hear her. "Sexist pig," she muttered before following after him, making sure to stay hidden in the thick underbrush.

Mowgli had finally given up on trying to run away from Juliet, mostly because his stamina couldn't outlast hers. He was completely out of breath when she caught up with him while Juliet was just panting lightly.

"How are you so fast?" he asked amazed.

"Years of training, it's kinda necessary to keep fit for what I do," Juliet answered, her breathing already evened out.

"So what, are you here to take me back to the village like all the others?" Mowgli asked.

"Mowgli, I have no idea where the village is. I followed you because I want to make sure you're okay. It's dangerous for you to be wandering around the jungle by yourself," Juliet explained.

"I can take care of myself," Mowgli insisted. Juliet let out a dry laugh.

"Kid, I've seen you fight. You wouldn't last on your own," Juliet frankly told him.

"And you think you'd be any better," he shot back.

"Unlike you I know how to throw a punch," Juliet pointed out. Mowgli huffed but didn't fight back. "So what's your plan? Just gonna wander around?"

"Yep, that's the plan," Mowgli answered walking off to nowhere in particular with Juliet following behind him.

"Well that seems very efficient," Juliet said sarcastically. And so Juliet followed Mowgli through the jungle, taking in some of its beauty as they passed by a waterfall. But after a while of walking the both of them were tired and stopped to rest underneath a large tree. Not long after they sat down a snake's tail came down and pulled Mowgli up into the tree tops. Glancing over at him Juliet saw just as he was pulled up into the tree. Sighing she began her climb up to go and get the boy. When she arrived Juliet saw that it was Kaa who pulled Mowgli up.

"So nice to see you again. sss-sss-sss," Kaa laughed.

"Oh, go away. Leave me alone," Mowgli demanded, pushing the snakes face away from him before slipping out of the seat of coils. Seeing Juliet Mowgli headed over to her. Kaa's interest peaked at the appearance of the female.

"And who are you, my dear?" Kaa asked turning his hypnotic eyes on Juliet. She glared at him as Kaa got up close in her face and then slapped him away.

"Not falling for it," Juliet growled. "Guess my will power is too strong for your tricks." Kaa glared at them for a second before putting on his hurt act.

"You don't trust me," Kaa feigned hurt.

"No!" they answered. Juliet pulled Mowgli behind her as Kaa slithered around them.

"Then there's nothing I can do to help," Kaa said.

"You want to help me?" Mowgli asked in disbelief.

"Ss-certainly," Kaa lied.

"Bull," Juliet said through her teeth, shielding Mowgli's eyes from the snake. Kaa glared at her before returning his attention to the boy.

"I can see to it that you never have to leave this jungle," Kaa continued. Mowgli couldn't help but peek out from Juliet's arm.

"How could you do that?" he asked curious.

"He can't," Juliet answered hotly. Kaa glared at Juliet and before she knew it she had been restrained in Kaa's coils. "Hey!"

"Excuse us, we have business to discuss-ss," Kaa said, faking politeness. Juliet went to kick Kaa in the face but he moved her away from him and Mowgli.

"Mowgli, don't listen to a word he says. He just wants to - mph!" Juliet warned but got cut off when another coil wrapped itself around her mouth, cutting off her ability to talk. Kaa turned his attention back to Mowgli who was looking at Juliet.

"As I was saying I have my own ss-subtle little ways," Kaa said catching Mowgli's attention. "But first, you must trust me." Mowgli walked away from Kaa and began to make his way over to Juliet, hoping to help her.

"I don't really trust anyone anymore," Mowgli said. Not giving up Kaa wrapped himself around Mowgli's head, cutting off his vision.

"I don't blame you. I'm not like those so-called fair-weather friends of yours. You can believe in me," Kaa hissed before turning on his hypnotic eyes and forcing them into Mowgli's face. Juliet couldn't do anything but watch as Kaa's spirals invaded Mowgli's eyes, sending him into a trance.

"Trust in me

Just in me

Shut your eyes

And trust in me," Kaa sang as he played with the hypnotized boy with his coils. Once Kaa had finished his song he stared at Mowgli hungrily as he slept in peaceful bliss in the snake's coils. He then turned to Juliet and looked at her triumphantly to which she just glared daggers back at him.

Meera had been following Shere Khan through the jungle for what felt like hours when he suddenly stopped and circled around a large tree. Meera, curious, crouched down into the ferns and watched as Shere Khan raised a massive paw and tugged on what looked to be a vine hanging from a branch. However, it became apparent quickly that the vine was actually the tail of a snake. "Oh yeah I forgot about him," Meera murmured to herself.

"Yes? Who is it?" the snake asked, sounding slightly annoyed.

"It's me, Shere Khan," the tiger greeted. "I'd like a word with you if you don't mind."

"Shere Khan, what a ss-surprise," the snake, who Meera remembered was named Kaa, simpered.

"Yes, isn't it?" Shere Khan said. "I just dropped by, forgive me if I've interrupted anything."

"Oh no nothing at all," Kaa replied a little too quickly.

"I thought you were entertaining someone up there in your coils," Shere Khan said knowingly.

"Coils? Someone?" Kaa repeated nervously. "Uh, no. Well I was just singing to myself."

"Indeed," Shere Khan said, clearly not buying it.

"Yes, yes, you see, I have trouble with my ss-sinuses," Kaa explained.

"What a pity," Shere Khan replied clearly unimpressed with the lie.

"Oh, you have no idea," Kaa said. "It's ss-simply terrible. I can't eat, I can't ss-sleep, so I sing myself to sleep. You know, self-hypnosis. Let me show you how it works. Trust in me…"

Meera raised her eyebrows at the snake's audacity. Shere Khan, too, was having none of it. He quickly pinned the python's head under his giant paw. "I can't be bothered with that," the tiger said smoothly. "I have no time for that sort of nonsense, and I refuse to be disrespected twice in one day."

"Some other time perhaps?" Kaa asked sounding put out.

"Perhaps," Shere Khan replied unamused. "But at the moment I am searching for a man-cub."

"Man-cub?" Kaa squeaked. "What man-cub?"

"The one who is lost," Shere Khan replied. "Now where do you suppose he could be?

"In the tree," Meera muttered, but she was pretty certain the tiger knew that.

"Search me," Kaa replied.

"That's an excellent idea," the tiger appraised. "I'm sure you wouldn't mind showing me your coils, would you, Kaa?"

"Uh, ss-certainly not," the snake stuttered dipping his tail out of the tree. "Nothing here."

"And how about the middle?" Shere Khan asked knowingly.

"The middle?" Kaa repeated. "Oh, the middle." Meera watched as the snake lowered more of his body down only to reveal a tied up Juliet.

"Hey put her down!" Meera shouted storming out of the bushes. Having enough of being constricted Juliet bit down hard on the coil around her mouth, causing Kaa to yelp and release her. Angry, Juliet turned her attention to Kaa and punched him right square in the face.

"That's for binding and gagging me you damn snake," Juliet snared.

"Bound and gagged?" Meera repeated coming up beside her friend. "Sounds like my kind of night."

"How did you get here?" Juliet asked.

"Well, after I told Shere Khan where to go to find Mowgli I followed behind him," Meera shrugged and then noticed that the tiger had moved on, without the man-cub. "Khan! Wait!"

She started to run after him, but Juliet grabbed onto her arm. "Khan?" she asked.

"That's what I call him now. We're buddies," Meera replied pulling her arm free and hurrying after the tiger.

"He doesn't seem to think so," Juliet commented.

"He's just used to being alone," Meera excused him. "Khan!"

Finally the tiger turned back around. "You again," he sighed. "What is it you want?"

"The same thing as you. The man-cub dead," Meera answered. "He was up in that tree."

"What?" Shere Khan replied angrily stalking back in the direction from whence he came.

"Well, he's not there anymore," Meera said.

The tiger stopped and turned to glare at her. "Then where is he?" he roared.

"I imagine the next part of the story," Meera replied. "Jewels and I will show you where."

"We will?" Juliet glared at Meera, upset at her friend for dragging her into her evil plan.

"Yes, now if you'll just…" Meera began.

"And who exactly is your friend?" the tiger asked, glancing over at Juliet. "She wasn't with you before."

"She was leading Mowgli to the tree so you could find him, but then Kaa got into the mix and, well, you saw what happened from there," Meera lied through her teeth, ensuring that her friend would have to play along with her plot now.

"Oh yes, you're the one who punched Kaa in the face. I must say, that was quite impressive," Shere Khan admitted in his I still think I'm better than you way.

"Thanks," Juliet said, not knowing how to feel after being complemented by a villain.

"Anyway, I believe you know where the man-cub is," Shere Khan said turning back to Meera. "I'll make an exception just this once and allow you to lead the way."

"Yeah!" Meera exclaimed and quickly began skipping off in an eastward direction.

"How in the world am I gonna get out of this one?" Juliet thought to herself as she had no other choice but to follow them.

Meera had lead them into a burned down part of the jungle. Once they got further in they heard what could only be described as a barber shop quartet.

"Come on, kid, we need a tenor," someone said.

"Tenor?" Juliet asked. "They're nothing but tenors. What they need is a good baritone."

"Yeah, well neither one of us can help them there," Meera mumbled. As they got closer the girls noticed that it was a flock of vultures singing with Mowgli. Meera smiled widely and turned to Shere Khan. "See, I told you I could get you the boy."

"Yes, yes I know," the tiger replied almost sounding disappointed. "Now if you'll excuse me." He slunk off towards the birds and the man-cub.

"You're staying in the jungle forevermore, That's what friends…." the birds sang.

"Are for," Shere Khan finished in a deep voice.

"There's your bass," Meera said.

"God, that was...I mean I know I'm supposed to hate him because he's the villain and all but that was beautiful," Juliet stated impressed.

"Thank you for detaining my victim," Shere Khan said moving towards Mowgli as the vultures hid behind the boy scared.

"D-don't mention it, your highness," one of the vultures quivered. Shere Khan couldn't help but laugh at their patheticness and frightened the birds of prey off while Mowgli stood his ground.

"Get out of there kid," Juliet muttered to herself.

"Run friend! Run!" another vulture called out to Mowgli.

"Run? Why should I run?" Mowgli asked.

"Oh my God!" Meera said. "Really?"

"This isn't the time for stupid acts of courage," Juliet commented.

"Why should you run? Could it be possible that you don't know who I am?" Shere Khan asked the boy.

"I know you alright. You're Shere Khan," Mowgli answered.

"Precisely. Then you should also know that everyone runs from Shere Khan," the tiger told him.

"You don't scare me," Mowgli announced boldly. "I won't run from anyone."

Meera glared at the kid. "Do you see why this kid deserves to die?!" she cried turning to Juliet. "He's as dumb as a rock!"

"Being dumb doesn't mean he deserves to be eaten," Juliet stated.

"Yeah and neither does choosing the wrong barber shop, but sometimes shit happens," Meera exclaimed.

"You have spirit for one so small. And such spirit is deserving of a sporting chance. Now, I am going to close my eyes and count to ten. It makes the chase more interesting. For me," Shere Khan told him and then started counting to ten. Mowgli took this chance to not run but to find a stick.

"A stick's not gonna do much," Juliet face palmed.

"A stick? Why not just run up a tree? Get a big rock? Run!?" Meera shouted. "Oh I hope the tiger eats you."

"You're trying my patience," Shere Khan frowned seeing Mowgli's actions.

"You're patience? He's been trying mine for the entire story!" Meera complained. "Rip him limb from limb already! Disembowel the little twerp!"

"Oh for crying out loud! Run, Mowgli, run!" Juliet called out to the boy. The tiger lunged himself towards the man-cub but didn't get very far as Baloo had grabbed him by the tail, instructing Mowgli to run. This time he actually listened. The girls watched as the chase between human, tiger, and bear began. Juliet and Meera both routing for different sides.

"Kill him Khan kill him!" Meera cheered.

"Somebody do something with that kid!" Baloo ordered. The vultures, growing a backbone, decided to come and help. They swooped down and grabbed hold of Mowgli, flying up to safety.

"Yes!" Juliet cheered.

"No!" Meera moaned.

"He's safe now, you can let go, Baloo!" a vulture told the bear.

"Are you kiddin'? There's teeth on the other end," Baloo said. But an inconvenient branch caught Baloo and caused both him and Shere Khan to go flying backwards. Now having the upper hand on him Shere Khan turned his claws to the bear.

"I'll kill you for this!" Shere Khan growled enraged.

"Let go! Baloo needs help!" Mowgli cried in distress and wriggles out of the vultures' claws. Juliet tried to make her way over to break the kid's fall but Meera tackled her to the ground.

"I may have lost my chance of the kid dying, but I'll be damned if I let you save him from skinned knees," Meera said struggling to keep Juliet, who was much stronger than herself, pinned beneath her. Juliet knocked her off, however, and quickly got up to try and aid Mowgli but was too late. Not only had the man-cub already picked himself up, he was running towards the tiger with an inflamed branch. With Shere Khan distracted by trying to maul Baloo, Mowgli tied the flaming branch to the tiger's tail.

"Well that's...impossible," Juliet commented. "Tails aren't just ropes, they have bones in them."

"Jewels, it's a Disney movie," Meera pointed out, referring back to when Juliet said the same thing to her. Juliet went to retort back but just sighed, knowing she was right. Instead, they watched as Shere Khan ran away as the branch occasionally burned his rump. The vultures were full of cheer as rain started pouring down on the burned scene. Juliet and Meera followed Mowgli over to the fallen bear.

"I wanted the kid to die, not the bear," Meera grumbled. "The bear was awesome."

"Shush," Juliet hushed her friend. "This isn't the time." Mowgli got down on his knees and tried to shake Baloo awake.

"Baloo? Baloo get up. Oh please, get up," the boy pleaded.

"You can beg all you want kid," Meera said insensitively, "he's not getting up for another sixty seconds."

"Mowgli, try to understand," Bagheera said appearing out of nowhere.

"Bagheera, what's the matter with him?" Mowgli asked innocently.

"He's lived in the jungle for how many years and he doesn't understand death? What did those wolves tell him at dinner time?" Meera stated blankly.

"Shush," Juliet hushed once again.

"Don't tell me what to do," Meera grumbled.

"You've got to be brave, like Baloo was," Bagheera said. Realization hit Mowgli as he hugged what he thought was his deceased friend. Bagheera pulled Mowgli away and began Baloo's eulogy. "Now, now. I know how you feel. But you must remember, Mowgli, greater love hath no one than he who lays down his life for his friend." Juliet and Meera just sat down besides the bear.

"Should we tell em?" Meera asked.

"I don't know," Juliet admitted. "Should we tell them?"

"No I wanna hear what he has to say," Baloo answered softly.

"When great deeds are remembered in this jungle one name will stand above all other. Our friend, Baloo the bear. The memory of Baloo's sacrifice and bravery will forever be engraved on our saddened hearts. This spot where Baloo fell will always be a hallowed place in the jungle, for there lies one of nature's noblest creatures," Bagheera spoke. It was then the rain stopped and Juliet noticed that the surroundings had gone from black and charred to lush and blooming with life.

"How did...you wanna know what, I don't wanna know," Juliet commented.

"It's best we leave now," Bagheera said softly, leading Mowgli away from Baloo. "Come along, man-cub."

"Don't stop now, Baggy, you're doing great!" Baloo called after them. "There's more, lots more!"

"Why you, big fraud!" Bagheera hollered annoyed. "You, you four-flusher! I...I'm fed up!"

"Baloo, you're alright!" Mowgli cried pouncing on the bear and hugging him.

"Sure I am. Never felt better," Baloo assured the kid.

"This is really touching," Meera muttered sarcastically while Juliet smiled.

"It really is," Juliet added, purposely ignoring Meera's sarcasm.

As the moment ended the girls found themselves following the trio, Meera irritated and Juliet genuinely happy. Baloo was having a whale of a time exaggerating the fight with Shere Khan.

"You should have seen how I made a sucker out of stripes with that left in his face. Boom, boom, I was giving him wham! You know, we're some good sparring partners," Baloo said looking up at the boy on his shoulders,

"You better believe it!" Mowgli smiled.

"But…" Meera began to protest but Juliet covered her mouth.

"Oh, let them have their moment," she insisted.

"Yes, sir! Nothing or nobody is ever gonna come between us again," Baloo said pulling him into a big bear hug. Suddenly a young girl's voice could be heard wafting through the jungle. Mowgli, intrigued scurried out of Baloo's arms and peered through the bushes by the river bed to watch the young girl collecting water.

"What's that?" Mowgli asked more hypnotized by the young girl than he'd ever been by the sly python, Kaa.

"Oh, it's the man-village," Bagheera replied pleased by Mowgli's interest.

"No, no, I mean that," Mowgli said motioning towards the girl.

"Forget about those, they ain't nothing but trouble," Baloo replied trying to draw Mowgli's attention away from the girl.

"Hey," Meera and Juliet both said insulted.

"Just a minute," Mowgli insisted turning back towards the girl and sneaking closer. "I've never seen one before."

"What are we?" Meera asked. "Hermaphrodites?"

"I'll be right back, I want a better look," Mowgli said continuing up a tree for a better view of the girl.

"Mowgli, wait a minute -" Baloo tried to stop but Bagheera cut him off.

"Ahh Baloo, let him have a better look."

"Yeah Baloo, let him have a better look," Juliet repeated. The group watched as the girl continued to sing and watched as Mowgli became more enraptured with the young girl. The young boy edged out closer to the river, but his weight caused the thin branches to snap and he fell into the water with a loud splash. The girl's giggle was outdone by Meera's loud guffaw.

"What a doof!" she laughed.

"Really Meera?" Juliet implored but she too was smiling.

They both went back to watching the budding romance unfold as the girl manipulated Mowgli into following her to the man-village by purposely dropping her jug of water, which rolled back towards Mowgli. "She did that on purpose!" Baloo cried indignantly.

"Obviously," Bagheera, Meera, and Juliet replied happily.

"See what girls can do," Juliet said elbowing Baloo in his ribs.

"Some of us better than others," Meera added earning a hard smack to the back of her head.

"Mowgli, come back, come back!" Baloo pleaded.

"Go on, go on," Bagheera encouraged enthusiastically. They watched as Mowgli looked back and forth between them and the girl before ultimately choosing the girl.

"He's hooked," Baloo said glumly.

"Ahh, it was inevitable Baloo," Bagheera sympathized. "The boy couldn't help himself."

"Most can't," Juliet agreed.

Her comment grabbed the attention of Bagheera. "Yes, and now you two should both get back to the man-village as well," he said. "It was a pleasure meeting...well it was a pleasure meeting you, Juliet."

"Yes, you too but you see we're not from the man-village we're…"Juliet said trying to explain but was cut off when Meera grabbed her arm.

"Jewels," Meera said and pointed across the river where Mickey Mouse stood waving at them before opening another portal. "Race ya!"

"Meera!" Juliet cried taking off after her friend who had already cleared the river. "Oh I'm going to kill her." With Meera way ahead she managed to jump through the portal before Juliet could reach her. Letting out a sigh of frustration Juliet followed after her as the girls headed to their next story.


Juliet: That went really well, well, except for when you tried to plot the murder of a ten year old.

Meera: Yeah, that tiger was really unreliable. I think I learned something today.

Juliet: Oh? And what would that be?

Meera: When it comes to murder it's better to just do it yourself.

Juliet: *face palms in disappointment* And I was so hopeful it would be something nice.

Meera: It's like you don't know me at all.

Juliet: Anyway, we hope you enjoyed the story. Be sure to leave us a review.

Meera: And if you'd like to see what we wore for this particular adventure be sure to check out our profile.