The Great Disney Adventure
by talking2myself
DISCLAIMER: see chapter. 1
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Good grief! Has it really been that long since I've updated? dodges tomato from the angry mob So sorry! It won't happen again! On with the story
Chapter. 14 Riddles and Songs
"Rum!"
"What?" Kelsey asked.
"It's rum!" Jack said, "The answer is rum!"
"How do you figure?" Kelsey asked.
"It's a trick question!" Jack said, "My father told me once, 'Rum is the answer to all of life's problems."
"That's ridiculous!" Will cried, "Of all the absurd notions..."
"Kelsey, maybe it's a lawnmower!" Emma cried. Kelsey ran the riddle over in her head. Always running never walking though I have no feet to do it. When crossing fields I bare no sword and yet I cut right through it.
"It could work," Kelsey said, but then she caught a glimpse of the puzzled look on the Boatman's face. "I think we need something a little less modern."
"Okay, fine," Sophia said, "What runs, but doesn't have any feet."
"Oh I got it!" Jack cried, "Your nose! That runs!"
"That's disgusting!" Sophia cried.
"Further more your nose couldn't cut through a field," Will said, "Unless you happen to have a dagger shoved inside it."
Jack paused thoughtfully, "You know I know a guy..."
"Forget it, Jack!"
Kelsey groaned and sat down at the river's edge. She let out a sigh as she watched the dirty water run over her shoes. "Wait!" she cried suddenly, "A river! It's a river! A river runs, but has no feet! And when it goes through a field... they say it cuts through it! It's a river!"
The Boatman scowled, "Darn! I thought the pirate would throw you off!" Jack scowled. "Alright, alright, all aboard."
-888-
The boat rocked dangerously as they made their way across the gloomy river. Kelsey couldn't help, but notice the ghostly figures swimming along besides them. She started biting her nails anxiously. "Hey Kelsey!" Emma cried, "Look, there's people..."
"I know Emma!" Kelsey cried in a near panic, "Sit down!"
"We better find that bloody mirror after all this!" Jack scowled.
"I feel faint!" Sophia cried before pulling a paper bag out of her apron pockets and breathing deeply.
"Don't go tipsy on us now, poppet," Jack said steadying her, "You'd fall into that river and you'd never be able to wash the muck off your pretty apron." Sophia bolted upright at that comment.
"Well, here we are," The Boatman said with a flourish, "Hade's palace." Kelsey looked up at the dark foreboding fortress and felt a little nervous herself. "Good luck getting past the guard dog."
"Guard dog?!" Kelsey cried.
"Oh yeah," The Boatman said with a toothy grin, "Three heads. And they're always hungry."
-888-
The company inched closer and closer to the entry way. Then, it came into sight. A large three headed dog with shiny jet black fur and bright red eyes. "Puppies!" Emma cried happily.
"Very big puppies," Kelsey grumbled, "Anybody got a plan?"
"Well," Sophia offered timidly, "When, I was being trained as a fairy godmother... they always said that music tamed the savage beast."
"Music?" Will asked, "Are you sure?"
"Yes," Sophia said, "Quite sure."
"I'll be right back," Will said before scurrying ahead.
"What are you doing?!" Kelsey cried, but Will was too far ahead. He was now halfway between them and the door that lead to Hades's throne room... right in front of the dog. The dog didn't notice him at first. Then, one head jerked to attention and began to sniff at the air. Suddenly, it began barking and plopped its mighty paw in front of Will's path waking the other two heads.
"No!" Kelsey whispered. This can't happen! I can't watch Orlando Bloom get torn apart by dogs! I'll never be the same! I'll be traumatized for life!
Then, a faint voice echoed forth. Kelsey peered out at Will. Then, she heard it again. Singing! Will was singing!
"The king and his men took the queen from her bed," he sang softly. One of the dogs leaned in closer sniffing him. Will sang a little louder, "And bound her in her bones..."
The dog sat back on its haunches studying Will with interest. Kelsey hid her face in her hands, "Has he been eaten yet?"
"No." Emma said.
"He better not stop singing though," Sophia whispered.
"The sea is ours," Will sang, "And by the powers. Where we will we roam." One of the heads let out a growl of contentment before closing its red eyes. Will quickly motioned for them to come forwards. "Yo Ho! Haul together! Strike the colors high! Heave Ho! Thieves and beggars never shall we die."
Kelsey scooped up her cousin and scurried across the floor in front of the mighty dog. One of the heads watched her lazily, but didn't seem to have the energy to swat at her. She tried to ignore Will's second verse. "Some men have died and some are alive... and others sail on the sea." Jack staggered behind Kelsey and then Sophia bustled along. Sophia's eyes were fixed on the sharp teeth of the dog. "With the keys to the cage and the devil to pay. We lay to Fiddler's Green."
With shaking hands Kelsey pulled open the door. "This way!" she whispered. Jack tugged on Will's shoulder and he took a few steps back. "Yo! Ho! Haul together! Strike the colors high! Heave! Ho! Thieves and beggars. Never shall we die..."
Will held out the final note for a few seconds before he charged into the door following the others. "Will that was brilliant!" Sophia cried.
"Yeah, what did I tell you," Jack said giving Will a thump on the back, "Will Turner. Noble, heroic, terrific soprano," he quickly whispered to Kelsey out of the side of his mouth, "Eunuch."
"Look!" Emma cried, "The Mirror!"
Kelsey whirled around Hades's chambers. Sitting on a pedestal was the Mirror. She clambered up the stairs with the others close behind her. "Mirror!" she cried, "Wake up!"
The Mirror woke up with a start and then a smile realizing it was them, "For once I'm glad you disturbed my sleep! Now you can save me from that flaming creep!"
"Right," Kelsey said with a smile, "We'll take you with us, but what did Hades want with you?"
"Same as you guys information of course," The Mirror said, "Wanted to find a strong man and his wing-ed horse."
"What?!" Kelsey cried. She gripped The Mirror's frame tightly, "You didn't tell him anything did you?!" The Mirror frowned. "You stupid mirror!" she cried angrily, "Now he's going to find Hercules and Pegasus!"
"Yes, Hercules!" The Mirror cried, "How did you guess? He wanted to find Hercules and Pegasus."
"Oh sure so you talk for the bad guys!" Kelsey grumbled.
The Mirror frowned, "He was going to lock me in his terrible Hell. What could I do? I had to tell!"
"Maybe I should leave you here," Kelsey snapped before adding dryly, "You go so well with the decor."
"No wait! Don't leave me please!" The Mirror cried, "Maybe there's time to warn Hercules!"
"Be quiet," Kelsey said as she strapped him back onto her back, "We're getting out of here."
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"Jack, stop humming that song!" Sophia snapped as they sat in the boat crossing the river.
"I can't help it," Jack replied, "Will, got that song stuck in my head and it's bloody catchy!"
"I don't care I'll throw you overboard if you don't stop!" Sophia cried.
"Kids, I'll turn this boat around if you don't behave!" Kelsey cried in the front seat of the boat. Great! I've become my parents!
It had taken another verse of Will's song to sneak past the dog, but at least the boatman had given them a roundtrip with one riddle. "So what are we going to do about this Hercules guy?" Sophia asked, "Hades must be already after him."
"He's in Greece," The Mirror said, "That much I know. And if he's in Europe that's where Hades will go."
"This place has a Europe too?" Kelsey asked.
"Yup," Sophia said, "Though its mostly just Ancient Greece and Paris. Though England's up there too..."
"What are you going to do about Hercules?" Will demanded, "Hades might have found him by now."
"There's nothing we can do," Kelsey protested, "We have to get straight to The Dark Forest and find the beast's mirror!"
"So you're just going to abandon Hercules?" Will cried.
"Have you seen Hercules?!" Kelsey cried, "He has more muscle in his pinky than I do in the rest of my body."
"Though that's not saying too much," Jack said.
"Doesn't matter," Will said, "We need to warn him! He could be in trouble!"
"So?" Kelsey cried, "I need to get home! Emma and I need to get home!"
"Do you ever get tired of being so infuriatingly noble?" Jack asked Will.
"Look, Will," Kelsey sighed, "I want to help Hercules just as much as you do, but I can't be in two places at one now can I?" Will was silent. "Can I?!" Kelsey demanded.
"No, you can't," Will said quietly.
Kelsey let out a sigh of relief. He was agreeing with her.
"That's why we have to split up."
Relief was gone.
"Split up?!" she cried, "What do you mean?"
"You and Sophia have to go find the other mirror while Jack and I go warn Hercules," Will explained.
"But, but, but..." Kelsey stammered.
"Do you have any better ideas?" Will asked.
"No," Kelsey grumbled, "But give me time and I'll think of something!"
"We don't have time!" Will cried, "It's the only way and you know that!"
"But what if something happened to you?" Kelsey asked, "What would you do?"
"Lass," Jack said with a smile, "How many times do I have to remind you? I'm Captain Jack Sparrow."
"Is that supposed to reassure me?" Kelsey snapped.
"Kelsey, we'll be fine," Will said gently putting his hand on her shoulder.
Kelsey frowned, "I don't like it." She reached into her hat and felt a huge lump in her stomach. She tweaked Tinkerbell's wings as she moved and found the lamp. She handed it over to Will. "Take this with you."
"The Genie?!" Will cried, "We can't! You're his master."
"You may need him more," Kelsey said softly, "If Hades is involved... it could be dangerous. I only have one more wish anyway." She unbuckled the sword from her belt and handed it back to Will. Will shook his head.
"No, you keep it," he said it might come in handy.
Kelsey reattached the sword and let out a heavy sigh. This was not the way this was supposed to go! Hades had messed up everything!
Kelsey scowled and thought to herself. When I see him next I'm going to take a bucket of water and give him a REALLY bad hair day!