Sophia's Story
A Disney crossover by talking2myself
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any recognizable Disney characters. All original characters are my own creations.
CHAPTER 51. Three Brothers and a Song
The wind was picking up as they raced to the top of the mountain. Sophia was getting bumped around like a piece of luggage as Will carried her up the hill. "Denahi! Wait!" she screamed.
"I don't see him anywhere," Elizabeth said.
Will paused, nearly dropping Sophia in the snow as he tried to catch his breath. "Sorry." He managed to say in between pants.
"Don't worry about me!" Sophia insisted. "We're at the summit. They have to be around here somewhere. Go find them!"
"I'm n-n-not leaving you!" Jackie said stubbornly as she pulled Sophia to her feet.
"Fine, fine, if you must," Sophia said impatiently. "The rest of you go find him before he does something he regrets!"
"Listen!" Mim cried.
For a moment, all Sophia heard was the wind whipping by, but gradually she did hear something. It was the faint grunt of a bear. "Kenai!" she whispered.
"There he is!" Jackie cried. She pointed down to a lower ledge. Sure, enough a brown bear was wandering around in confusion.
"Oy! What's that over there?" Jack asked. He pointed at a strange shadowy shape on the horizon. "Is it an eagle?"
It certainly had the vague impression of wings. Sophia squinted through the snow. Suddenly, the shape materialized. It wasn't wings. It was the edges of a cloak.
"Denahi!" Innoko cried.
"Kenai run!" Sophia screamed.
Kenai must have heard her yell because he looked up just in time to see Denahi land in front of him. "What d-d-do we do?" Jackie cried.
With a wild wail Sophia, leapt from the ledge. "SOPHIA!" Will and Elizabeth cried unison. Sophia managed to land roughly on Denahi. He let out a roar of frustration as the two tumbled to the ground in a heap. Sophia's whole body was aching, but she wrapped her arms around Denahi's waist and clung to his back for dear life. Kenai raced forwards through the snow desperately trying to escape. Denahi growled and struggled to move forwards in the snow while Sophia dragged behind him like the train of a wedding dress. "LET GO!" he bellowed.
"Denahi!" she cried. "You have to list to me…. Kenai."
"That bear destroyed him!" Denahi roared.
"NO!" Sophia hollered back in frustration. "If you just…"
Denahi jerked and flung Sophia away. She landed roughly in a pile of snow. She sat up just in time to see Denahi and Kenai disappear over the next hill of snow.
Will skidded to a halt besides her. He gripped her under her arms and hauled her to her feet. "Where did they go?!"
"That way!" Sophia cried pointing ahead.
The little group struggled to run through the snow, slipping and sliding as they moved. Finally, they caught up with the brothers. Denahi had retrieved his spear and was attempting to wrestle Kenai to the icy ground. Fortunately, Kenai seemed to be holding his own, at least for the moment. That lasted long enough for Sophia to watch the two of them tumble over the cliff ledge.
"No!" she cried, she dropped to her knees at the ledge of the cliff. She peered down below and caught sight of Denahi and Kenai both sprawled out on the ledge. "Denahi! Are you alright?" she yelled.
Denahi staggered to his feet and stumbled over to where Kenai lay prone. "DENAHI" Sophia screamed, her voice lost in the wind. Denahi gripped Kenai's shoulder and flung him onto his back. He withdrew a knife from his belt and raised it high above his head. Jackie screamed and Sophia flung her hands over her eyes, bracing herself for the terrible sound.
What she heard was something different. It was a second bear. Like a tiny cannonball, the bear cub flung out of the snow careening into Denahi and knocking him to the ground. The little bear stood a short distance away, crouched in the snow, staring at Denahi in terror. Kenai wobbled to his feet as Denahi slowly advanced on the bear.
Without thinking Sophia struggled to get to her feet, ready to jump again. "OH NO!" Will cried. He sprung forwards, catching her around the waist and dragging her away from the ledge. We're not trying THAT again!"
"Then, do something!" Sophia cried.
Denahi was glancing between the two bears before his eyes fell somewhere else. It was the spear. It lay on the ground a short distance away. The bear cub came to the same realization and scrambled after the spear. Kenai let out a roar as both man and beast sprinted for the spear. The little bear gripped the shaft of the spear with his mouth and struggled to run, dragging the heavy weapon along. Denahi lunged for the spear, managing to grip the handle. Kenai was hot on Denahi's trail. Denahi snatched the spear and whirled around to face Kenai. As he did, Sophia caught sight of another shape out of the corner of her eye. This time it really was an eagle, a huge eagle. The majestic creature swooped down just as Denahi whirled on Kenai.
All of sudden, the entire mountain and night sky blazed with light. The eagle scooped up Kenai and flew into the warm light. As he did, Sophia could hear voices. Strange ethereal voices singing in a language that she didn't understand.
"Uh… Sophia?" Mickey asked anxiously.
Sophia looked over at the mouse. He held out the Book of Songs. The book was beginning to glow as well. "Is… is this normal?"
Sophia struggled to think back to the last time Kelsey had discovered a song. She could see it glowing in her eyes. "Yes," Sophia insisted. "Yes, it began to glow and then…" Sophia frowned. What usually happened next was The Book would begin to soar around like a thing possessed. Sophia let out a cry of alarm and seized The Book from Mickey's hands just in time for the book to take off into the sky.
Sophia let out a scream as she soared through the air. The sky was glowing around her and suddenly she understood the words of the voices.
Everything will become clear to you, when you see things through another's eyes.
Sophia felt herself being weightlessly tossed through the air for a few moments. The book wasn't the only thing glowing. Her whole body was surrounded by a warm, orange glow and her injured ankle was suddenly fine once again.
Mercifully, the mysterious forces lowered her gently to the ground besides Denahi. Denahi stood there stunned, still holding the spear. Sophia looked up to see the massive eagle land, still carrying Kenai. The eagle plopped him on the ground as the snow miraculously retreated from the mountain ground replacing the white flakes with greenery and flowers.
The light swept into a warm cyclone, encompasses the bear within. A few moments later, the light faded away and where a bear had stood was a young, stunned Inuit boy. Kenai.
Sophia let out a pent out breath that she hadn't realized that she had been holding as Denahi whispered, "Kenai?"
Kenai inspected his body, but he seemed unharmed and completely human again. The eagle itself landed a short distance away before it too transformed into another, older man. The man strolled calmly over to Denahi's side, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder and closing Denahi's open mouth with his spare hand. "Sitka?!" Denahi cried in disbelief before he dropped the spear in horror. Sitka removed Denahi's cloak and made his way back to his younger brother draping it over Kenai's shoulders.
At that moment, they heard the plaintive bark of a bear cub. Everyone turned to see the little bear gazing at the scene with wide eyes. Kenai cautiously approached the little creature. "Koda, Koda don't be afraid. It's me," he soothed.
The little bear cub anxiously approached him nuzzling him gently as Kenai hugged the little cub. Denahi frowned at the sight in confusion before Kenai turned towards his Sitka. The elder brother smiled warmly and held out something, a small bear totem on a string. Kenai accepted the gift and stared at it for a moment before he turned towards Denahi. "He needs me," Kenai said.
Denahi was thoughtful for a moment before he smiled wryly, "You know… he did look better as a bear…"
Sitka raised an eyebrow and Kenai chuckled before his smile fell. "But Denahi…"
"It's alright, Kenai," Denahi said gently. He hung the totem around Kenai's neck, no matter what you choose, you'll always be my little brother."
A second glowing light appeared out of the corner of Sophia's eye as the two brothers embraced. It was the large glowing shape of a mother bow. The little cub instantly ran to it eagerly. Then, the lights began to glow again as Kenai shifted back from a man and into a bear again.
Jack stared at the scene slackjawed before exclaiming, "Well, I missed something…"
"SHH!" everyone hissed.
"Did I say little?" Denahi laughed as Kenai transformed and three brothers hugged for one final time.
A short distance away, the little cub, Koda apparently, was also enjoying one final goodbye with his mother before Sitka and the bear ran into the lights, Sitka transforming once again into an eagle, and vanishing into the sky.
"Sophia?" Mickey asked cautiously. "Did it work?"
Sophia had been so wrapped up in the brothers that she hadn't noticed. She stared down at the glowing pages of the Book.
Song of Transformation
Transform your body and see the world through another's eyes.
Sophia's mouth hung open before she let out a whoop of triumph. "WE DID IT! WE DID IT! WE GOT THE SONG! WE GOT THE SONG! TAKE THAT YEN SID YOU OLD COOT!" She suddenly looked chagrined and gave Mickey an apologetic look. "Sorry Mickey." Mickey simply smiled and shrugged as the two bears wrestled around in the flowers.
"Now," Denahi said clearing his throat awkwardly. "Who exactly are you guys again?"
Sophia gave him a smile. "We're friends of Tanana."
"Can confirm," Innoko nodded.
"And what are you doing up here?" Denahi asked.
Sophia sighed, "It's a long story, but I image it's going to be a long trip back to the village. We can discuss it on the way."