Princess Aurora followed Prince Phillip as he dived into the very much famous bar called the Fairytale. As the two passed near several tables filled with different Disney characters all entranced in their passionate, animated conversations, Phillip let out some awed exclamations.
"Wow. So many cool people, here! You're so lucky to come here with your friends, 'Rora! Must be awesome."
"Everyone can come here, you know," Aurora responded, managing to hide her bewilderment. "You can come whenever you want, too."
As they had almost reached the bar, Phillip stopped and turned around to face the Sleeping Beauty, radiant smile plastered on his round face.
"Right, you bet I'll come every night from now on!" He laughed warmly.
A shy smile bloomed on Aurora's rose lips, and Phillip turned on his heels to head towards the bar. As Aurora was about to follow on his steps, the prince froze, and Aurora had no choice but to comply. Slowly, he pointed the counter.
"Oh my God, 'Rora. Look who's sitting there?! Oh my God. That's Pocahontas. That's a sign, it has to be! You definitely should go sit with her. Then... Then, you can ask her some questions about John Smith. Oh my god, 'Rora. Please, please, please, would you do that for me?"
Aurora sighed deeply as her eyes flew towards the bar counter. Every stool was empty but one. One that was occupied by a tall, dark-skinned woman with shiny endless black locks that fell to the fall of her back. Between her joined hands was a strange-looking glass filled with a dark brown liquid that looked all natural but as much fowl.
Sighing again, Aurora finally nodded reluctantly.
"Okay, but-"
"Ooooh, thank you so much, 'Rora, you're really the best, I love you!"
Phillip planted a kiss on her cheek and beamed at her, hands joined in glee.
"Don't worry, I'll handle your Maleficent problem in the meantime."
Phillip slipped her a wink, and went away and towards a far-off group of tall, looming figures at the other end of the bar. Aurora recognised the most famous Disney villains, and her eyes widened in terror.
"No, wait, Phillip, you don't have to-"
"Don't worry, dear! I'll deal with it, you can trust me."
And as fast as lightning, Phillip has disappeared under the gloomy light of the bar, and Aurora was left alone with the empty stool near Pocahontas.
She sighed again, but resigned herself to approach the black-haired woman. She came to her side and cleared her throat awkwardly.
"Er... Hi, Pocahontas. Er... Would you mind if I..."
She gestured to the empty seat next to her. Pocahontas' dark eyes fell upon her, then on the empty seat. Then back at her, then back to the stool. And finally, Pocahontas nodded, very slowly.
"Why not. If you have time to spare."
Aurora frowned ever so slightly, but she complied and sat near Pocahontas. She called for the waitress and ordered a Red Velvet.
"So, er..." She muttered. "Do you... Do you enjoy yourself, in this park? I mean, do you like the job and the ambiance here?"
"Hm..."
Pocahontas peered at her brewing for that seemed like hours, then took a slow sip, before answering, her voice deep and composed.
"The job is alright, I would say. But the Park... It misses a lot of things, don't you think?"
Pocahontas turned her head to her, her expression waiting. Aurora opened her mouth as if to reply, then closed it again.
"Er... I... Don't know? What do you possibly mean by it misses some things?"
"Hm. For instance... In that Park, where is Nature?"
This time, Aurora couldn't help but open big eyes like saucers.
"Nature? But, I mean, Nature isn't really the point of that Park. It's supposed to propose entertainment, and..."
"And Nature isn't entertaining?"
Aurora recoiled before the dark gaze that locked on hers.
"No, no, that's not... what I meant. It's just, Disneyland is not a nature Park. It's an entertainment, with lots of activities and shows and... Well, lots of things that's not very compatible with a natural environment. But I..."
She hesitated, but continued, daring to meet Pocahontas' deep look.
"I agree that they could have put on some more plants and trees and... flowers, and..."
Pocahontas then nodded, seemingly satisfied, and took another sip of the strange drink. Aurora took the cue and sighed in relief. Then, she knew she must start her investigating.
"And, er... You're not with John Smith? I mean," she chuckled to herself, "I can see you're not with him. But it's just, here, most of the people hang with their colleagues from the same movie, so..."
"You're not with your Prince Phillip either, it would seem," deadpan the Indian woman.
"Er... Yes, that's true, but... I came in here with him, though."
Pocahontas offered her an annoyed look.
"But right now, you seem to prefer my company. Or maybe you're more interested by the informations I could deliver, say... about my supposed boyfriend, for instance?"
Aurora struggled to swallow, and was saved by the arrival of the waitress that came with her drink. To give herself strength, she drank a mouth-full of red cocktail.
"I'm sorry," Aurora sputtered, please don't misunderstand me. "I'm not interested in John Smith, not in the slightest, but..."
"Well, that's good news. Because he wouldn't be interested in you either."
Aurora frowned.
"Really, why wouldn't he?"
Pocahontas let out an amused laugh, rich and warm, but slightly arrogant.
"Why? Did I maybe pick your ego?"
Aurora narrowed her eyes, slightly exasperated.
"Not at all. I am merely curious, that's all. But if you don't want to share that information with me, that's totally fine. I mean, I have plenty of friends that I have to see tonight, so..."
As she was about to retire, she was interrupted by Pocahontas' composed voice.
"Smith would not be interested in you because he's not very much interested in people from the opposite gender. But... That's not very different from you, after all."
Aurora froze, her eyes blinking in shock.
"You... What? What did you- How would you know?"
Pocahontas pivoted on her seat to face her, her chin resting on her palm. A coy smile twisted her full dark red lips. Then, she closed her eyes and raised a finger to her ear.
"Don't you know? The Wind told me."
Aurora's purple eyes grew as big as saucers.
"The... Wind... What?!"
Pocahontas took a deep, contemplative breath and smiled charmingly, her eyes still closed.
"Can't you hear it? The Wind has a lot of things to share, you know, Aurora."
"I, er... Alright. I'll keep that in mind."
Utterly bewildered, Aurora took her glass and downed her cocktail in one go. Suppressing a cough, she managed to let out:
"Alright, er... It was nice talking to you, Pocahontas. I'll see you later, I guess? Er... It's late, now. I think I should better retire."
"Have a nice untroubled sleep, Sleeping Beauty."
"Right. Thank you. You too, Pocahontas."
And with her throat on fire, Aurora made her stumbled way out of the Fairytale. As she was welcomed into the reassuring dark of the night, Aurora let out the breath she didn't know she was holding.
As she was about to head towards Sleeping Beauty Castle, the wind howled madly, and she felt herself be pushed against the stone wall.
A cold grip, sharp nails curled around her throat.
Her heart missed a beat, or perhaps two.
Then, a deep, husky voice made its way to her ears, caressing her cheek.
"Who do you think you are, princess? So it seems you now need an errand boy to address me... Do not take me for a fool. Ever. again. Pathetic little girl."
The icy hand finally let go of her and shunned her away. The tall, dark figure looming over her spat with all the venom it could muster.
"Now, out of my sight."
Mouth opened in shock, Aurora felt a cool dread taking place into her spine and down her back. Slowly, she dared looking up. Just in time to see the black and purple cloak of Maleficent disappearing into the darkness.
And a dreadful thought lingered on her trembling mind.
Oh no. What that damned Phillip had just done?!
Author's Note:
I know it's been a very long while, but I am back to update that story. I am finally free from my exams and so I have time to write and finish that story (only 2 more chapters to go until the end). So don't worry, I won't disappear again!
Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter. See you soon for chapter 9!
~Goddess of All Evil