Pirates Pals II: Bonjour Paris!

Chap 10—Around the mines we go: Big Thunder Mountain

A/N: YES! We're here, chapter 10! Enjoy!

Jack's Log Book

Pirate Pals' Committee--Report of: Disneyland Paris—Frontier Land

Still The Late Afternoon Report, recorded by William Turner Junior

Jack's Scribbling: Y'all know how many times I've said this, so I'm NOT going to write it again.

As Liz had written earlier, we reached the Big Thunder Mountain's queue at last, although it seemed there was a number of people there, wanting to get on this famous train as well. We'd have to wait a long time. What could we do? Use Fastpass? We'd already got lunch, and there was nothing to wait for now. Except this, that is.

The answer was more than simple: wait.

Jack's Scribbling:And that's simply the shortest and most hatred answer in the world.

Jack was irritated. Again, like the Eiffel Tower incident, but as Tom said, "Disneylands are like this, Jacky." Jack, sighing, admitted to me it was the first time he had to listen to his enemy's advice.

Jack's Scribbling: Who knows? Some days enemies could be useful!

40 minutes of shuffling through crowded, zigzag queues later, we boarded the train. Liz held my hand, though this time excited. "It's fun. I've heard my tutor talking about it. Lucky her, that woman could travel all over the world if she wants."

Jack's Scribbling: Travel around the world? My wish!

"Yeah, Liz, you're going to see all these cute opossums," her eyes lit up. "…and dynamite mines." I finished, while she was puzzled. "What? Those two things aren't related. What are you talking about, Will?"

Before I could answer, Jack shot from the back, "It is in Thunder Mesa, missy. You'll see!" he laughed happily as the train launched off in its fast speed.

Jack's Scribbling: How I love the swiftness of the train. Heard there's another roller coaster ride in the Magic Studios, with music too. Looking forward to that, but first: That Fantasy Land for Lizzy and then Discovery for the whelp? And that ride seemed a hundred years' ahead.

The train passed beautiful, though manmade, landscape, with lush flora, clear blue water, and opulent red rocks of the mountain. Liz was smiling in glee, her blonde hair blowing in the wind. "Nice! This is second best from Pirates!"

Jack's Scribbling: Nothing beats that ride, mate!

Then it went into a tunnel. Dark, blackness surrounded us 30 riders, but through that tunnel, we passed to the island section of the attraction, which Tom whispered, "Wow, you only get this in EuroDisney, nowhere else!" How lucky we were to have visited Paris!

Jack's Scribbling: And knowing the good man Will is, he'd probably continue with, "Thank you the Gov, heaven…blah, blah, blah."

After that, the train went around, going down the mountain, passing gorges and peaks. At the front of the mountain, we came face to face with a family of opossums, causing Liz to squeal in delight, while Jack and Tom said, almost at the same time, "there's just animatronics, girl."

I, on the other hand, remarked, "Well, they are cute, aren't they? No matter what they are!" Jack pretended to puke.

Jack's Scribbling: Trying to score some points, weren't we, William?

Fortunately for me, we were heading towards this bridge, and as the train launched toward the water, some splashed Jack in the face. Everyone, even the Gov, giggled at the sight.

Jack's Scribbling: I command you now NOT to laugh!

Jack hastily brushed the water away, saying "Notsobad!"

Unlike Jack, for others it was a lovely experience, a refreshing splash of water spraying them in the face. Liz couldn't like this ride more.

We made a sharp turn at the left, seeing clothes hanging on a line. "What a life, imagine if people actually live here, like this," Tom said sort of dreamily, while Jack fired, "It's all part of 'impressing the riders', man, geddit?"

Tom muttered, "Just saying."

Jack's Scribbling: Yes, and you're forever 'just saying' these things, right?

A mine! I sighted a mine, with a TNT sign in front. "See? Liz, that's what I was talking about," I told her, who nodded understandingly.

Jack's Scribbling: It's the 'love power.' (Snorted)

Suddenly rocks were falling by the sides of our train, as it scrambled up to the top. Once there, inky blackness enveloped us. "Brrr, so scary. Ah, Will! Bats!" Liz screamed at a couple of eyes looking down on us in the dark.

Jack's Scribbling: Ooh, bats. (in a mocking tone)

The train increased speed. "WHEE! THIS IS FA-UN!" one could hear Jack yelling; he was the loudest in there. We turned again before coming up to the sunshine and fresh air.

"Wow that was great…" Liz told me.

Jack shrugged. "I like the Phantom Manor better. There's nothing here, only nature, bats, darkness, blah, blah, blah." Jack's Scribbling: How TRUE.

I thought it differed for everybody, whether you like nature, a train ride, and mines or not.

Jack's Scribbling: A—greed.

CAPTAIN JACK'S RIDE FACTS

Queuing Time: Horrid. The queue was a mess because of its terrible design. I know it's a popular ride, but…it was too LONG waiting! I couldn't take it!

The View: In Liz's words, 'Nice, very nice.' The flowers (which Will used a fancy word for 'flora') were pretty, as well as the bats. Their eyes, anyways…the setting was kind of real, believable.

Fun: 8/10. Fast, ok, but my enthusiasm was down due to too much queuing time, and Tommy constantly whispering annoying facts he thought 'interested' us along the ride. And that water! Why the heck did it had to splash me in the face?

Speed: Quite fast, bearable, although slow enough for Liz to 'admire the beauty' in every animal or flower she sighted.

Overall View: A great train ride you couldn't go on anywhere else. The special thing about it was, as Tommy kept saying, 'the island' part. Train or view lovers, this ride is for you.

Views from fellow members:

Will—Well, it was ok. Not as exciting as the Phantom Manor, but fine. Liz loved all the views, and whatever she liked was fine with me. I liked the darkness, the mines, and the many levels that we had to go through before coming out to sunshine at the end.

Liz—Those opossums were adorable, Jack! The island scene was great, too. How lucky we were to have seen it. I heard that you wouldn't get to see most of the ride unless you go on it. It was powerful the first half and unique the second. :)

Tom—Fantastic! At last something to take my mind off the (shuddered) ghosts. The views, the trees, the red rocks, and the dynamites. They were so real, and I always liked train rides, too.

Too short, everyone, too short!

I see we're in need of an energy source, such as the ice cream cart passing here.

Will's Scribbling here: Jack's gone mad. He just dropped this book and went around chasing the ice cream man, threatening him for a Mickey Cookie Ice Cream. The kids standing there in queue were now pulled away by their parents, so as not to 'mess with crazy kids,' as Liz heard one mother said to another. Finally Gov sighed, buying Jack and everyone ice cream. Tom ate, saying with mouth full, "Thanks, buddy!"

Jack glared at him. "It's not for you…"

Liz remained calm as usual. "Guys, now that we're energized with those ice cream, thanks to Jack," who beamed, "Let's head on to Fantasy Land!"

And she completely forgot about her having to record Liz's Expenses of the Day Section! Walking determinedly to the Sleeping Beauty Castle, Gov was following worriedly while the rest of us, still licking ice cream, strolled behind.

"So much for girly stuff," the now-not-so-eagerly Jack reasoned.

I'll have to write it down, then.

We bought those ice creams, which each cost 2 dollars, so it totaled up to 8 dollars. Nothing else here, good for me…Ta for now! Gotta go follow Liz.

A/N: Sorry if it's short. I was having a sort of writer's block. The next one will be better, promise, at Sleeping Beauty's Castle!

Have a happy summer, everyone, and enjoy while it lasts!

Love you all,

Your ever humble fanfic writer :)