Chapter 10: The Spirit of Michael Jackson

Natalie's POV

I couldn't believe it. The spirit of Michael Jackson was here? Standing in front of me? The King of Pop himself! One of my greatest childhood heroes was standing in front of me, with a smile on his face and glowing! I felt tears coming to my eyes as the realization of him being here overwhelmed me, but I was quick to blink them away. After a long moment of silence, I uttered out through an emotional whisper,

"M-Michael?"

He replied back to me with a warm smile, "Hello, Natalie."

I then said, trying to comprehend what was going on, "But how? I, I-I don't understand."

He asked with a small smirk, "You never thought you'd see me here, did ya?"

I answered with a nervous smile, "To be honest, not really."

He nodded in response. Despite feeling that this could be far fetched, I asked,

"Michael? I-I know this might sound a little ridiculous, but, was it you that sent me here?"

Michael answered with a nod, "Yes."

I asked him, "But why? And how?"

He explained, "Well, I've seen all the hard work you've been doing in the world of 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame', and many other worlds, so I thought that you would be perfect for mission in 'Captain EO'. So, with the permission of the Blue Fairy, I was able to teleport you from Disneyland to the galaxies of 'Captain EO'."

Michael went on to say, "And I must say, for someone who has trouble with believing in herself, you really did a great job and shown how strong your heart is."

In that moment, I realized that he was the one that spoke to me in my dream. His voice and the way he spoke sounded just the same as the one in my dream. I then said to him in a surprised tone,

"Wait a minute, you were the one that talked to me in my dream!"

He said with a smile and a nod, "That's right."

I then said feeling stupid, "Wow! I can't believe I didn't recognize it before."

Michael then went on to say, "Natalie, I want you to know that I'm really proud of what did out there today, and I want to thank you for being such a loyal fan to me and listening to my music all these years. It really means a lot to me."

I smiled and said, "Thank you Michael, it really means a lot coming from you."

I said with a sigh as I started to reflect on the life that I had growing up with him by saying,

"I remember when I five or six years old, and I started listening to 'The Jackson 5' on the radio with my mom. We would always sing the songs together in the house or in the car. And I remember when I was six or seven, whenever my tap dance teacher would play your songs during practice, like 'Billie Jean', 'Beat It', or 'The Way You Make Me Feel'. It was always fun. I also remember how I use to sing 'Rockin' Robin' around the house, and it would always drive my brother crazy!"

Michael and I both chuckled at that memory. I then went on to say as my memory grew sadder,

"And when I turned nine, everyone was just so sad and shocked. I couldn't understand how it happened, or why it had to happen like it did. I was just left that way for a very long time."

I went on to say as I felt myself getting a little more emotional, "When I became a teenager, I started to learn more about you and who you were as a person. And, your songs have always helped me whenever I was sad or whenever I lost a loved one. They helped give me hope that I felt was lost. I-I'm happy that I learned about you and got to know who you were as a person, really I am. But now that I have..."

I turned back to him and said emotionally as tears started falling from my eyes,

"I just really miss you!"

Michael sympathetically smiled at me, and walked over to me and pulled me into a warm embrace. I then wrapped my arms around him while I started to cry. Michael placed his hand on the back of my head and said, "Shh..."

I then spoke through my sobs, "I w-wish you didn't have to go away."

Michael said as he turned my chin up to face him, "I know. But you know something? No matter where I am, I'm still gonna be with you. Just as I am with my children, my family, friends, and other fans that loved me. That'll never change."

I said with a sniffle, "I'm glad about that, I really am. But there's just one thing that I don't understand."

Michael asked, "What's that?"

I asked him, "Why me? Out of everyone you could've chosen, why choose me?"

He answered, "Why choose you? Natalie, I chose you because you had one thing that I was looking for."

I asked him, "What?"

He explained while placing both hands on both sides of my head,

"The imagination of a child. You are able to see things through your mind and imagination, create whatever it desired. Believe whatever good thing you see. You can see the good and the potential in others that not a lot of people could see, including me. Your imagination is going to take you places, kid."

He went on to say, "So from now on, I want you to start believing in yourself. No matter how many people say you can't do this or that, you go on and show them who Natalie York is all about."

I smiled at him and said as I hugged him, "Thanks, Michael. Oh, I love you so much!"

He said as he returned my hug, "I love you more."

After a moment of our warm embrace, Michael placed both hands on both sides of my face and placed a warm, gentle kiss on my forehead. He then asked me, "Now, are you ready to be sent back to Disneyland?"

I answered with a nod, "I probably should go back. My mom's probably going crazy right now trying to find me."

We both giggled in response, and Michael asked me, "You're ready?"

I nodded in response, and with that, Michael blew some white magic dust into my face and I was absorbed by the light, closing my eyes in the process. Then about three seconds later, I opened my eyes to see was back in Disneyland. As I looked all around me, I noticed my mom running up to me. She said to me as she wrapped her arms around me, hugging me,

"Natalie! Where have you been?! I was looking all over for you!"

I said to her to try to calm down the situation, "Mom, I'm alright. Really! How long have I been gone anyway?"

She answered and asked, "For about three or four hours. Natalie, where did you go?"

I answered, "Well, I actually went on a huge adventure. I'll tell you more about it when we get back to the hotel."

My mom said, "Okay, well we still have about three more hours left before we head back if you still want to go on anymore rides."

I replied saying, "Okay sure, I-I just want to take care of something real fast."

I walked up to the Captain EO attraction and looked at the promotional poster, with the captain himself looking on fearlessly. I looked at it and said,

"Thank you, Captain EO."

Then, remembering the moment I had with Michael's spirit, I said with a smile,

"And thank you, Michael."

And with that, I turned around and I walked away with my mom to go find some more rides and attractions to see. I knew that this was one adventure that I was never going to forget, especially Captain EO and Michael Jackson. Because now, they, along with this fun-filled adventure, will forever be another part of me.