(Adam's P.O.V.) -About a half hour after midnight-

I sat just shy of the shield that's protecting the temple, and hopefully Pippa, flickering my ears to the faint conversations of Pippa's friends who's talking with my servants, and Prince Charles, along with his little mouse friends, hearing the barely distinct crackle of wood and the scent of fire in the air.

I sighed softly, seeing the shield pulse momentarily before returning to its transparent mode, and I only hoped that meant there's something non-troubling for Pippa. I then heard distinct sounds of something hitting dirt behind me, and I soon scented the tea aroma, recognizing that Mrs. Potts is coming up to me.

I then glanced down to see Mrs. Potts, recognizing the concerned expression, and I sighed softly, "I'm fine, Mrs. Potts. I just can't leave her like this even if this is separating us from her.". She gave a warm smile, "I don't blame you, Master. You truly care for her, don't you?".

I nodded softly, "More than anything I had ever cared about...Is that wrong?". Mrs. Potts chuckled softly, "No, course not. She is your best friend, isn't she?". I pursued my lips slightly at the last comment, "More than that...She's a amazing listener, a loyal woman to her friends, passionate about food, quite very brilliant in mind, and she's brave...There's something about her that I want to stay close to her side yet wanting to give her adventure, freedom...", trailing off as I couldn't dare say about her greatest wish, knowing that she trusted me with that secret.

I heard a slight hop, realizing that I had unconsciously glanced up to see the temple, and looked down at Mrs. Potts who's wearing a slight amused look yet looking like she knows something. "You love her.". I widened my eyes, blinking in surprise, "What?".

Mrs. Potts smiled reassuringly, "It's okay, Master. It's only me, or have you forgotten about me raising you back in that castle?". I exhaled sharply, realizing that she had been there for me after my parents had passed on, leaving me alone...How she had tried to comfort me when I cried, how she advised me about things, how she attempted to help me after I yelled at her and the other servants, doing the smallest things to aid me when I was first cursed, even if she was cursed also as well...how I saved her and the others, thanking me for saving Chip...

I felt my ears droop in embarrassment and disappointment as I spoke softly, "I am so sorry, Mrs. Potts...I was nasty towards you...". Mrs. Potts looked like she wanted to hug me, but only was able to give me a quite warm loving look, "Adam, I've already forgiven you long ago even if you hadn't said it. I am glad to see you healing, and my heart always held a place for you, alongside little Chip.".

I saw the sincere, content look in her eyes, and realized that she's speaking the truth, and I started to smile, "Thank you...". Mrs. Potts nodded slightly, smiling warmly before glancing at me with a slight teasing look, "So, do you love Pippa?".

I exhaled slowly, "I don't know...I barely remember my parents' interactions with each other...or me...". Mrs. Potts smiled softly, "I see. Perhaps if you explain what you feel when you see Pippa. Her smile, her laugh, her personality, her eyes.".

I blinked in bewilderment before deciding to do what she said. I soon had a picture of Pippa in my mind, and I feel warm when I see her smile, wide and beaming, and when she looks at me with a slightly different smile, the thrill of my heart thrumming came, and I felt ever more warm when her eyes sparkle, showing those beautiful blue eyes, I felt something familiar.

Her laugh when she hears a joke from me or the others, gives me the urge to smile, feeling like wanting to make her happy, and in return, making me happy, hearing the slight accent in it among the soft tones of it. When I hear her talk happily about something she read, she becomes alive, and I felt that feeling come back along with another I recognized as being content.

How she becomes rather excited when she arrives for meals, especially when it's meat-based, and the passion of her heritage comes out when she argues with her friends about meat vs vegan, I felt amusement, warmth, delight, knowing that she's quite healthy and strong.

How she could get annoyed when the twin boys tease her for her bedhead hair when she wakes up, yet I didn't care about that as somehow, her earthy brown hair becomes wild and passionate like her, and once a while, I felt the feeling of protection as she lays and sleeps next to me, along with that warm feeling, and the feeling of being content.

When she gets scared or just sad, I felt the all-too familiar feeling of anger, the feeling of protection, the feeling of empathy, the feeling of disgust when I remember that day, the feeling of relief about saving her from that fate, never wanting to let her feel that ever again, feeling that warm feeling get stronger and stronger as I realize that I never want to lose her, never want to leave her.

I blink, getting back to reality, and glance down at Mrs. Potts who has been patient all this time, and I nod softly, "I think so. But...I don't know how to say it...". Mrs. Potts nodded understandingly with a warm smile, "That's all right, Adam. That will come in time. When it happens, you shall know. Trust me.".

I smiled brightly, appreciating her help so much, "I already do, Mrs. Potts. Thank you.". Mrs. Potts smiled quite happily, "Marvelous. If you may excuse me, I must check on Chip. It looks like Jason's talking to him about something.", and I glance over to see Jason writing something in the dirt with Chip on his knee, and I nod as I look back with a amused smile, "Go ahead. And I will be all right. I know Pippa is coming back.".

Mrs. Potts nodded in understanding, and hopped on past me as I turned to my watch upon the ancient temple. I exhaled softly, "I hope you're alright in there, wherever you are...".

(Pippa's P.O.V.) -Five minutes later-

"So I keep walking on this path, and we will be there soon, right?", glancing at Mushu who hitched a ride on my shoulder. It was about 10 minutes ago, I believe, when we somehow popped over to this place, the spiritual plane.

Mushu smiled widely, "Yep! When the golden bridge is in sight, that's where your visitor's awaiting.", and I nodded slightly in understanding, still amazed as I kept looking at our surroundings. The sky is like a kaleidoscope of sunset colors, somehow bright and sparkling, but not harmful to look upon. The ground is a combination of green meadow grass and golden wheat stalks, and the path is earthy, not man-made, but just corroded into a path by people and animals for generations.

Mushu was right. I sure was a bit ditzy, and I almost fell upon Mushu before I brought myself back to balance properly. He forgave my apology quite casually, and he introduced the place dramatically, ironically reminding me of Eddie Murphy.

I blinked in curiosity, "Is this place different to every person or animal?". Mushu did a 'here and there' claw gesture, "More or less. But it's beautiful all the same. Incredible, isn't it?".

I smiled lightly, "Sure is. Am I allowed to ask questions to my visitor?", pondering thoughtfully. Mushu did a shrug gesture, "Let's say she's limited to answer questions. Honestly, she's here because she's from your past.".

I blinked in surprise, and exhaled sharply, knowing a few female friends and family members who had passed away, and I spoke softly, "Are they really free and happy up there?". Mushu smiled softly, "People with good hearts like your friends and family, they are free of sickness, defections, old age, and I can say that they're content.".

I exhaled in relief, hearing the sincere tone in his voice, and smiled, "Thanks, Mushu.". Mushu chuckled heartily, "No problem, sister!", before looking up and grinning, "We're close! Just around that bend, Pippa.". I looked up to see the path turning slightly around a slight hill, and I walked a tad faster, wanting to see this golden bridge and my spirit visitor, wondering who she is.

Just as I came around in the bend, I exhaled sharply in awe and peace when I saw the golden bridge. It's not too small nor too big, somehow similar to a sandstone bridge, yet with French details, and yes, it's golden, like the color of sunflower petals.

And standing in a green patch of the meadow, not far from the bridge, is a girl, and as I get closer, I get the feeling of familiarity and recognizance as I pick out black hair, caramel skin, clothes of tan, blue, and green, and I exhaled softly as her eyes lock upon me, and I instantly recognized her by those amber brown eyes. I barely felt Mushu climb downwards and leave me as I almost instantly went running towards her, barely believing that she wasn't in danger or dying, and then I slowed down in surprise as I saw her flicker momentarily.

I then exhaled sharply as I recognized that she's a spirit, already dead yet alive in front of me. She smiled brightly, "Hi, Miss Pippa.", the distinct Arab accent in her voice, and I widened my eyes as this is the first time I had ever heard her speak clearly and loudly.

I blinked at her in amazement before I suddenly remember her death, and I backed away a step, feeling so much guilt, babbling out loud, "I am so sorry! I wanted to help! I didn't mean to do it! I left you! I am sorry, sorry...", barely noticing that I fell down to my knees, cradling my head, feeling tears fall. I heard footsteps, seeing the distinct shape of sandals before me, and I felt skin touching my hands, causing me to look up at bright and sparkling amber brown eyes, seeing the slight slope of her nose, the warm smile directed at me.

"I've forgiven you long ago, Miss Pippa. It wasn't your fault nor mine...I was simply in a bad place at a bad time...", she spoke brightly, looking like 7 years old, and I exhaled sharply as I realized I left a 7 year old girl to die.

"But I left you...I should have saved you...I should have done something...", I spoke harshly. The girl only smiled, "But you did, Miss Pippa. It wasn't real, but you faced one of your most horrible events.". I blinked in confusion, trying to understand her before I gasped softly, remembering the second test which was the mental one.

"The mental test...", I spoke slowly, and the girl nodded, smiling brightly, "That's right. You did it, Pippa. You ignored your commander's orders, braved the terrifying chaos while saving me and carrying me, ordering that soldier to take me to safety, and staying back to fight those monsters who destroyed my village, my home, my family, and me...".

"I...followed my heart...", I exhaled sharply, and the girl smiled warmly, "And that's why I suggested you to Reality. When I was in your arms, you never left me, not really, and I saw something in you, something strong. You kept going after my death, somehow knowing that your family and friends needed you, and having them made you better and better even if you grieved for me on the anniversary of that day, wishing to have known my name, praying to be forgiven.".

I stared at her in astonishment, "You truly forgive me?". The girl nodded warmly, "Yes, and you know you must forgive yourself.". I looked down in shame, "I don't know how to forgive myself.".

The girl smiled softly, "Perhaps this will help. Think and remember about the good things you've done.". I blinked at her comment before I close my eyes, focus on days I've spent with family, friends, pets, and I recognized the familiar feelings as I see a little cousin laugh as I tickle him, see my mother gesturing happily in recounting a story while listening to her, see the family dog play goofily in the water while laughing, seeing the grateful smile upon a older cousin while helping her with groceries, seeing Zuri chase Jason with a pillow, laughter emitting from them, and Adam's passionate gestures in comforting me, the glimmer of something new in his eyes.

I then opened my eyes, looking at the girl, somehow feeling whole, and I realize I've forgiven myself, and I smiled brightly, "Thank you...I forgive myself.". The girl beamed brightly, "No, thank you, Miss Pippa.", smiling at me, and then hugged me, that familiar hold of her arms around my shoulders, and I exhaled deeply as I hugged her back, feeling the strong yet slight frame of her while noticing that her aura flickered while shimmering.

A few seconds later, a sort of horn-harp combination sound echoed around the clearing, and the girl glanced back, blinked softly, and looked back at me, "I got to go, Miss Pippa. My parents are waiting for me.". I nodded as we let go of each other, getting up, and I watched as she walked on to the bridge, and then I remembered something important, "Hey, wait! What's your name?!", calling out to her.

In the middle of the bridge, she looked back at me with a wide, toothy smile, and called back to me, "It's Abi! Abi's my name!", winking at me before turning around, and laughed out loud, running toward blurred silhouettes in the distance, calling out in joy, "Ma, Papa!", and the bridge then vanished.

I exhaled deeply before I spoke, "Abi...Suits you well...", and I felt a nudge at my knee, and I looked down at Mushu who smiled patiently and warmly, "You alright, Pippa?". I blinked before smiling, "Actually, I think I am more than just alright. I guess we better head back, huh?".

Mushu chuckled softly, "Yep, let's go. There's still a few things to go over before you're done and out of the temple.". I nodded in understanding, "Okay. I just hope my friends aren't too worried.". Mushu chuckled warmly, "Don't worry, you shall wake up to see their faces in due time.", and I smiled warmly, conceding his point.