Chapter 3: The Adventure Begins

I screamed for what felt like hours as I kept falling into that vortex. I didn't know what all this was or what was going on, but I did know that the poem I read was still in my hand. I tried reading it again to make the vortex stop, but that didn't do anything. I was still stuck in a rainbow vortex falling to who-knows-where for who-knows-how-long. Unfortunately for me, when I did see an exit, I landed in it very hard on my back.

"Ow…" I groaned in pain.

I dragged myself up and tried to look for my fallen glasses. The ground I was using my hands to search on felt cold, almost like marble or granite floors, which amazed me because it didn't seem to crack my head open like an egg and kill me on impact, but it meant bad news if my glasses fell on the floor. I don't think my parents have the money to fix shattered lenses.

"I beg your pardon, young lady, but are these yours?"

I jumped in fright at the sound of an older man's voice. I squinted around to see if I could see anyone, and I was fortunate enough to see a man dressed in blue with a hand reaching out at me. With my glasses resting in his palm, completely unbroken.

"Thank you so much, sir." I thanked the old man as I accepted the glasses. But the moment I put them back on my face, I gasped at who exactly was standing in front of me.

"My goodness, you've certainly had quite the rough landing, haven't you, young lady." Merlin, yes- Merlin the wizard from The Sword in the Stone, said to me as he helped me up.

I didn't know what to believe. How was Merlin here? Where even was I to see an actual animated character from a Disney movie standing in front of me? This had to be all some dream or some hallucination. Ty's leftover pot smoke must've hotboxed the whole loft and I was now hallucinating this, was I? There was no vortex, was there? I really hope this was all fake because this was way too good to be true.

"Please tell me I'm dreaming." I finally said to Merlin. "This has to be a dream. You're not real."

"Young lady, I assure you, I am very much real." Merlin stated. "And you are very much in our world."

I blinked. "I'm sorry, what?"

Merlin pointed at the piece of paper that somehow miraculously never left my grasp when I was in the vortex. "That parchment you hold in your hand is the only spell in existence that can grant one access between two worlds: Yours and Disney."

I looked down at the paper in my hand and read it again. The words on it were almost starting to make sense at the fact that it wasn't a poem. I mean, land of dragons? The only movies I could think of that revolved around dragons were Mulan and Raya and the Last Dragon. And the realm of mermaids? That was a no-brainer. It meant The Little Mermaid. And where was it hidden in all places? My copy of The Sword in the Stone: the story of a boy who befriends a wizard and learns about magic.

"Wait. You're telling me that this dorky poem is a spell that magically transported me to another world in which Disney characters exist?" I asked.

"That's correct, yes." Merlin responded.

"And it was in my house?"

"It appears so."

"Okay, this is awesome!" I said in utter elation. "I know most people would freak out about all of this, but this is amazing!"

Yeah, I know I should've been freaking out, but finding out that magic and a whole other world where Disney characters exist is less crazy and more exciting. This was like entering a movie where I was the main character, and I'd wouldn't be the third-rate child. I'd get the chance to be someone better than how I was back home! This was the discovery of the century -no- the discovery of a lifetime!

"I'm glad you're enjoying your experience so far." Merlin said. "But I'm afraid your visit must come to an end."

"Aw, what?" I asked in disbelief, now bummed that I wouldn't be able to go on a magical Disney adventure. "Why?"

"So you can get back to your world." Merlin explained to me. "Why, your family must be worried sick about you."

"They're too busy taking my older brother to college without me." I rolled my eyes. "They don't even know I'm here."

"Maybe so," Merlin said as he stroked his beard. "But time here works the same in your world. And if you're still here when your family returns home, they'll be worried sick about you."

"I… guess you're right." I said in defeat, knowing the only people who'd really miss me when I'd be gone would be my dad and Leo.

"Wonderful! Now, if you'll allow me to see the spell, I can recite it so I can send you back home."

"Okay." I said as I handed him the spell.

"Now let me see here." Merlin said as he inspected the spell but stopped briefly when he noticed something. "Hmm."

"What?"

"This is most unusual." Merlin said, puzzled as he fixed his spectacles. "This spell was written long before I ever arrived in this world, myself."

"But you were created- arrived in '63." I stated. "You're saying that this spell is older than that?"

"Much older." Merlin confirmed. "This spell requires various amounts of magic to activate it, and my magic won't be enough to do it."

"But you're the most powerful wizard in this world." I said. "How can you not activate it?"

"My dear, sometimes even great wizards cannot create instant miracles," he told me. "You'll need another source of magic to activate the spell."

"Where do I find it?" I asked.

"You'll need to find someone with a vast amount of power at their disposal. A fairy, wizard, witch, sorcerer, or sorceress."

"What about an immortal?" I suggested with a slight idea about who could help me. "Like, say, a god?"

"Oh, heavens, no!" Merlin disagreed with a shake of his head. "Gods and goddesses may be all powerful, but some of their magic cannot be used for activating the spell."

"Why not?"

"All that power could tear apart the balance of the many worlds of Disney." Merlin gave me a warning. "And if balance is destroyed, who knows what sort of chaos could ensue."

I guess that made sense. If all balance was broken, the characters would end up in different worlds and getting mixed up in different stories that weren't theirs to begin with. And that would be as bad, confusing, and as messy as Descendants, and that's bad.

"Especially with all those villains." I pointed out.

"Wait. That's it!" Merlin said in gladdened realization. "A force of evil to balance out the spell!"

"What?" I asked in a confused way.

"My magic is used for good or for assisting those who need help the most," Merlin explained to me as he gave me back the spell. "I sensed that sort of light magic in the spell already, but if you were to combine that with one who's magic is used for wicked deeds, it could just be the thing needed to activate the spell!"

"Then, I find a villain, and try to persuade them into helping me." I pieced together what I needed to do.

"Precisely!" Merlin agreed. "That shall be your quest!"

"A quest?" I repeated that sweet word as it caught my interest even further. "Like an adventure? Where I get to shine?"

"It appears so."

"Thank God!" I cheered. Finally, a chance for me to not be a screw up, a vandal, or be forced to take the blame for someone else. I could be like the heroes and princesses I've always looked up to, just like what Dad said.

"But I must warn you," Merlin spoke again. "No one can know about you, where you came from, or the worlds you traveled to. Even the slightest mention of another world could cause order and balance to fall apart."

"What if I'm accompanied by someone from another world?" I asked.

"Should they be shapeshifters or small enough, no one should suspect a thing."

"Alright."

"And another thing: Don't lose the spell or let it be destroyed." Merlin warned. "It's by far your only chance at getting you back home."

"I understand." I nodded as I put the spell in my pocket.

"Good." Merlin said as he continued. "And should you come across a portal somewhere on your journey, it should lead you to another part of Disney. Similar to how you arrived here."

"Yeah, but uh, how exactly am I supposed to blend in with the worlds?" I asked him the million-dollar question.

"Pardon?" Merlin asked in a confused way.

"Well, if I ended up in a world where it's a different time period than from what I'm from, won't the people get suspicious?"

"That is an excellent point!" Merlin said as he clapped his hands together. "And one that will surely be fixed!"

He then pointed his wand right at me and said some words in -I think- Latin: "Transform et Compositum!"

And just like that, magic shot out from the wand and swirled itself around me. It felt a little weird and tingly, like I was covered in soda pop fizz, but overall, I felt pretty normal. That is, until Merlin made a mirror appear out of thin air and I got a good look at my reflection: I was completely animated. My skin looked so clear, my sapphire-blue eyes were bright even with my glasses on, and my black hair looked so soft. Not to mention the pajamas I was wearing looked even better animated. This was the perfect look for going undercover in this world.

"Wow!" I said in amazement as I continued to look at how vibrant and colorful I now was.

"With that spell, you'll be able to enter any world without anyone suspecting your true time period." Merlin told me. "Also, your animated form should change to fit as well."

"Thanks!" I said as I kept beaming at my animated look. But then Merlin made the mirror disappear, and in its place was another rainbow portal. A new part of Disney was through that portal and just waiting for me to discover it and start my adventure.

"I hope our paths cross again, miss…" Merlin stopped himself when he realized something. "Oh, goodness. I apologize. I never got your name."

"Francesca Cole. But most people just call me Frankie." I introduced myself.

"Thank you." he said before continuing his earlier sentence. "Good luck, Miss Cole, and be safe."

"I will." I nodded. "And thank you, Merlin!"

And with that, I entered the portal. Eager and ready to start my adventure.