Author's Note: This Author's Note is longer than the actual chapter because reasons. A while ago, I said this story might be around 20,000 words. It might end up being even shorter than that. In retrospect, I posted the first chapter of this story waaaaay too soon. With my previous fanfics, I made sure I had multiple chapters ready before posting any of them; that way I had a cushion in case I got behind on my writing quota. But that wasn't a thing with Raya and the Strange Visitors, so I've been releasing chapters that are under 2,000 words a piece. On top of that, I've been getting more hours at work because we're short staffed, I've been putting more effort into my novel, and I can't stop thinking about the girl I'm in love with, so writing this story has been hard to focus on. Also, it bears mentioning that the fanfics I've written in the past have been built around worlds and characters I've been a fan of for years while Raya and the Last Dragon is something I've seen for the first time mere months ago, so there's less fuel in my brain for this. I still need to at least see Raya and the Last Dragon a few more times. Disney Princesses: Extermination was built mostly around films that I grew up with and/or changed my life. That is not a joke. So DPE was a work of passion that lasted over 100,000 words. I have very little planned beyond this point in the story besides the wrap-it-up stuff, so I guess we'll just do that and call it good.

So, what's next after this? I have a few options in mind, but I'm telling you right now that my next fanfiction will not be immediately posted as soon as this one is over. I'm considering pausing from all fanfiction writing until my novel is complete, but that's not certain. If nothing else, I at least want to write multiple chapters of my next fanfic before posting any of them; that's the way it was for my first three stories and that's the way it should be for me.

So let's talk potential fandoms for my next fanfiction. I have previously expressed interest in writing a Spider-Man story, but that will need to wait. I'm planning to time that story to coincide with the hype from Spider-Man: No Way Home. So Spider-Man might be my second to next or third to next. But that doesn't mean that Spider-Man can't be in any fanfics from me until then. I have also been considering an Avengers fanfic; I make no promises about that happening, but if it does, it would absolutely include Spider-Man.

Next, let me say that I am still considering a sequel to my most popular story. Don't hold your breath, but I might one day write Star Wars: The Unending 2. I left a few nuggets of where-could-this-go-from-here in the last few chapters and I would love to write more content with the main couple. I even have a basic concept of what the story would look like.

While we're on the subject of sequels, I currently have no plans to write a sequel to Miraculous Contempt in case you were wondering. I haven't seen any of Miraculous Ladybug season 4 yet, so there's still time to persuade me. But I won't consider writing more Miraculous until the main couple finally gets together in canon.

Those of you who have read Star Wars: The Unending might remember that I said I was either going to write a Raya and the Last Dragon fanfic or a Power Rangers fanfic. Long story short, the time is not right for that Power Rangers fic. If I ever write it, I'll explain why in more detail.

As for the Disney Princesses Saga, I am not confirming that any of them will actually be written, but do have well thought out ideas for three more stories and a few undeveloped concepts for additional stories.

Chief Virana didn't know what to make of Ariel's mood when she returned. Ariel was distracted; near to questioning herself, but held back from a full revelation.

"What news do you have of your old friends?" Virana questioned, sounding as submissive as she could stomach to be.

"They . . ." Ariel hesitated, her eyes flashing blue only once before she continued, "They need to die. Send humans to do it."

"If our queen wishes them dead, how are they still alive?" Virana asked.

"My former friends are dangerous; if I send dragons, they could be killed. Human lives are less . . ." Ariel's eyes flickered again as her eyebrows furrowed. "Less rare," Ariel explained, her eyes staying red again.

"Was our queen unable to finish them herself? I'm not sure if my soldiers could succeed where our queen failed."

"Your queen has not failed! Your queen has decided the best way of dealing with an infestation!"

"Of course, my queen," Virana replied, recoiling.

Ariel considered her for a moment. She wasn't hearing her thoughts at the moment. For some reason, Kahn wasn't sharing them with her. "There's someone who wants to talk to you," Ariel informed her.

"And who would that be?"

Ariel didn't tell her; she just held out her hand. Virana reluctantly grabbed her hand and, after a few seconds of squeezing, Ariel let go and began walking away. "I'll leave you two alone," Ariel said, confusing Virana with the implication of a second person.

"It took far less time than expected for this talk to become necessary," Kahn said.

Virana looked around, trying to find the source of that strange voice. "Who are you?" Virana called out.

"I am Kahn, the voice in Ariel's head, the source of her vision, and reason for her control. Skip further introductions; we have little time before your connection to me expires."

"What do you want to talk to me about?"

"I'm afraid that Ariel has been more difficult to control than I originally assumed. A change of host may be in order," Kahn explained.

"And that host would be me?"

"If you would follow the vision for Kumandra."

"You want me because you think I'm easier to control."

"I do and you are," Kahn said blatantly. "But you are because your interests are aligned with my control. Do you not see that you crave power and my host is the one with all power?"

"Ariel is powerful because of that weapon of hers."

"That weapon, like me, could be yours. Kumandra could be yours. I know that you have little choice. The rest of Kumandra will blame Fang for all their misery and the only way to prevent war against your people is for all of Kumandra to be your people. Our new queen is a woman of the people, our new queen foresees the danger I can save her from."

Virana's eyes flashed with red. "Tell me more."

Raya and Namaari sailed back toward Fang a boat with the strange visitors. The hardened water had long since liquefied and no longer obstructed their path.

"So, let me get this straight; you went around the world, collecting pieces of a magical artifact that you used to restore people who had been turned into statues?" Rapunzel summarized, having heard a tale from Raya and Namaari.

"Yep, that's what happened," Raya confirmed.

"That's a really big coincidence," Merida said. All the strange visitors recognized the parallels between Raya's story and their war against the Enchantress.

Author's Note: It really was a really big coincidence. In DPE, they did actually collect pieces of something, hoping it could turn statues back into people. But I wrote that long before Raya and the Last Dragon released.

I'm sorry this chapter is incredibly short. Like I said before, I have less fuel, I have more work hours, I have a focus consuming novel, and my mind is constantly captured by the girl of my dreams. I didn't want to miss a week, so I just posted what I had. Let me know if you would rather I just wait until next week next time I have so little written.