(No P.O.V.) -Around the same time-
Somewhere else, far from Andalasia, in the region of Narnia, in Cair Parval, King Mickey's castle, deep through the stone walls, in the throne room, King Mickey is smiling warmly at Captain Phoebus who's standing before him. "Are you certainly sure that Dr. Sweet is arriving soon, Captain Phoebus?".
The blonde-haired man nodded, "Yes, your majesty.", a wistful smile adorning his face as he spoke further on, "That is some of what Helga's letter said. Some more help in healing couldn't hurt.". Mickey hummed happily, "Indeed. Rapunzel has trained Lucy Tumnus nee Pevensie well, and she has a gift of empathy, that's for certain. But Dr. Sweet is more of a logical healer which we could need around here especially with the occasional battle on the northernmost shore.".
Phoebus sighed softly, "Scar is getting more dangerous these days. Rumors indicate that Frollo is madder than ever. I have never seen General Mulan in such a state before.". Mickey nodded, "Yes, her letters has been quite troubling. How are your troops faring?".
The captain frowned softly, "Training hard, but they are quite restless. Why, there has been a few stirrings here and there, and I had to break them up.". The king looked thoughtful, "Any prospects?".
Phoebus bit his lip anxiously, "I expected more to be top of the class, but I barely found three.". Mickey blinked in surprise, "Three? I'd expect there'd be improvements by the week, and have more skillful soldiers by each day.".
Phoebus sighed heavily, "I suspect it has to do with their ages and experience of warfare, sire. The war has reigned for almost three years...The very experienced soldiers are either war-wounded or retired, wanting to have time with their families before it's too late. And the current troops under General Mulan are getting worn out.".
Mickey rubbed at his temple momentarily, "I had a feeling this would have been noticed sooner or later. Are your prospects loyal to Narnia?". Captain Phoebus nodded, "Yes, your majesty. One of them might not be surprising for you, sire.".
Mickey raised an eyebrow, "Do I know this soldier?". Captain Phoebus smiled softly, "His name is Peter Pevensie, the oldest brother of Healer Lucy.". Mickey laughed warmly, "Ah, yes. Such a brilliant boy through he could be a bit headstrong at times.".
Phoebus smirked lightly, "He's not as bad as the other two when it comes to having stubbornness issues. Why, Taran of Dallben is a daydreamer at times, wishing to have gold armor like me!". Laughter came out, piercing the air for a few moments.
Mickey took a deep breath after laughing, "Okay, that'd be quite expensive to do it now, but perhaps if say, with encouragement, you'd gift him with perhaps a golden scabbard for his sword. That might push the young boy into the soldier you're wishing him to be.".
Phoebus hummed in thought, "Well, that sounds like a good idea since a golden scabbard is definitely the lightest of all golden things including armor, and it will not be cumbersome unlike my armor.".
Mickey smiled, "Glad to help, Captain, and oh, about the third prospect?". Captain Phoebus chuckled warmly, "General Mulan would be proud of this one. The young woman's name is Mei Yutaka.".
"Oh, she couldn't be the wife of Yao Yutaka, could she?", Mickey inquired curiously. Phoebus smiled widely, "You presume correctly, my king. Mei has been briefly taught by her husband and General Mulan before they left for battle almost a year and half ago, and since there's no children in the Yutaka household which is quite relieving in retrospect as you know, children of soldiers are prone to be orphans and such, Mei is able to come to the barracks to train herself further on.".
Mickey nodded in understanding, "I could see that. Is she quite restless? I'd expect her to be as she would want to reunite with her husband instead of waiting around.". Phoebus shrugged softly, "Mei keeps herself busy within the stables in her free time, but yes, there's a bit of anxiety around her. I believe training will last for two more weeks before heading out as that's my opinion on the situation.".
Mickey blinked softly, "Because of the late rains and early signs of the woods coming back from hibernation, yes?". Phoebus nodded, "Yes, sire. Only with your permission, of course.". Suddenly, the sound of the horns is heard, and a moment later, sounds of barking came closer, and a dog door within the big throne doors opened up to reveal Pluto, the royal dog.
Mickey smiled warmly, "Pluto! What news do you bring me, buddy?", and Pluto briskly sprinted to Mickey's side, holding his head up to reveal a roll of paper tucked in his collar, and Mickey plucked it out, flattening it out to read it. Phoebus could see a grin forming upon the king's face, and Mickey soon spoke, "Dr. Sweet will be here within five minutes. Very fortunate he knows the way. I have to admit that those Martags are remarkable in transportation, far faster than a ship or a horse. It's too bad that sentient brooms or magic carpets are very rare.".
Phoebus chuckled softly, "Indeed. Martags are quite an advantage, but those machines require far more training for battle. Queen Kida is right. A secret weapon is more precious than any other weapon.". Mickey sighed wearily, "Don't forget Milo's words as well. We cannot afford to attack straightforward until the right time to do so.".
"Your highness, we all heard such rumors of the said United Talons, and your appointed team is probably with them by now if the past weeks had good weather over on the other side of the continent.", replied Phoebus encouragingly. Mickey nodded, "Yes, I conclude your point. I only hope their journey aids good fortune on them.", a slight widening of his eyes as he saw something behind Phoebus, and a smile adorned his face, "You have my permission to let your guard down, Phoebus. We have company.".
Phoebus blinked in confusion, and he then heard a voice, a female voice he recognizes all too happily, "Much thanks, your highness.", and he twirls around to look straight into two warm blue eyes, a messy bang of silky blonde lingering upon sharp, beautiful features, and Phoebus breathed in amazement, "Helga.".
Helga Sinclair gave him a wry smile, "I apologize for the fib in the letter, but I wanted to surprise you, Phoebus.", dressed in a blue tunic, brown pants, and black boots. "I couldn't stay any longer in Atlantis after I heard from Queen Kida about the current news in Narnia.". Phoebus stared at her for a moment before moving forward to kiss her passionately for a minute, hands flying through hair as Helga returned the kiss.
Phoebus pulled back softly, holding her in his arms, "Four months, 16 days. I dreamed about you since that day. When I heard about your recovery, I nearly wanted to go to you despite the fact that I was held up by enemy lines. Are you okay?", looking at her face reverently. Helga smiled reassuringly, "The healing magic of Kida's people helped out mostly, but yeah, it was damning close for me...I knew I trained under Rourke, but I didn't realize that he was power-mad until it was too late. I remembered that you said you felt odd around him, but I thought it was the stupid dominance you boys do around women!", nearly scoffing at the last comment.
Phoebus smiled widely as he watched her, loving her passionate temper, her fiery spirit, her surefire determination, and of course, her unique beauty on the inside and outside. He breathed warmly, "Marry me.". Helga blinked in shock, staring at him, "What?". Phoebus touched her cheek gently yet lovingly, "We had a long courtship those past two years. It was remarkably crazy in the fact that we were from different squadrons, but it worked...I'd love to have you by my side, Helga Sinclair. Seeing you here, alive and breathing before me, I can't wait any longer. Will you have my hand in marriage, and be my wife?".
Helga's blue eyes widened in awe at the proposal, and before she'd consider any further, King Mickey interrupted happily, "I approve of this, and since Rourke and his followers are dead, you are free to join Phoebus's squadron, and aid him as co-captain if you say yes to his proposal.".
Phoebus grinned softly, "Captain Helga Sinclair. That rolls off the tongue very nicely.", and Helga smirked wryly at the comment, nodding softly, "I'll marry you, Phoebus. I love you so.".
Phoebus's smile was the biggest one that the king has ever seen, and Phoebus spoke warmly, "I love you very much.". King Mickey laughed heartily, "Wonderful! I'll call for the priest, and oh, Queen Minnie, she couldn't resist to help out with some details! Dr. Sweet, would you like to witness the wedding tonight?". Dr. Sweet smiled brightly, "Of course, anything for my friends!". Indeed, there's to be a secret wedding tonight. It's a sign of hope and rebirth that everything will turn out all right. The war will wait another day.
-Back in the temple- (Emma's P.O.V.)
I grunted lowly as I pushed a heavy door open, side-glancing at the dead pirate behind me. I can still feel the blood pooling through my threadbare shirt from the lashes. I can't believe that John experienced all of this. I looked ahead, checking left and right, wincing lightly as my right leg gave out a pang of pain. Definitely a break. No wonder why John hates James Hook.
I hobbled and ran fast as I could, planning to use the lifeboat on the side. At least Smee was polite about the food even through it was only small portions. As I got up to the deck, I can see stars through the grate, and I carefully yet quickly opened it up, looking around as I heard a shout from the wheel, and once I saw the lifeboat, I used the dead pirate's sword to fight off the oncoming pirate as I freed the wrench up, seeing the rope roll and letting down the lifeboat to the surface of the ocean. I snarled lowly as I slashed through the pirates' eyes with a well-aimed motion of my sword, hearing more shouts, and then I heard Hook's voice.
"Get the bitch, you motley dogs!", he roared, and I smirked softly as I threw my sword at a rope upon one of the masts, hearing the screams of the pirates as I leaped over the edge, diving through the water, and resurfacing as I heard Hook scream for the cannons. I climbed into the lifeboat, grabbed the oars, fitted them in, and rowed fast as I could, watching the velocity of the cannonballs as I rowed one side or the other, dodging the splashes and the thunderous force of the cannonballs until it was too far.
I laughed, mocking Hook in the distance, pretty sure that he's boiling red in the face, "You'll never catch me ever again, codfish!", hearing a outraged scream as I took deep breaths, calming down from all the adrenaline and self-defense I somehow did gather from deep in my body during the escape.
I looked over myself, enduring the lashes stinging from the saltwater, the hook slashes across my side, and the leg break, along with the dull thrum of a headache coming up, my hair stringy and greasy, if not mostly clean from the water. From the feedings and torture routine, I believe I was a prisoner in that damn brig for 3 weeks, give or take a day.
And to make it worse and far different from John's situation, I was groped unnecessarily and abandoned in the darkness as I remembered that John had to endure the sun while tied at the mast. I sighed wearily as I rowed slowly, hiding under the cover of night, far away from the Jolly Roger. I smiled to myself as I realized one thing, "I did it! I survived the test! I made it!", feeling exhilarated at the thought, and suddenly, there was light not five feet away, causing me to look carefully as I wasn't technically used to any light after three weeks of darkness, even if it was a mental/traumatic simulation test.
It looked like a light blue glowing door with gold metal encasing through the door like a gate, and there on the corner is a hand-print lock of black metal. I rowed the rowboat closer, and as it is almost touching, I made my way to the front carefully, not wanting to topside the rowboat over. I could see that the door's somehow standing on the surface, floating with no help.
I took a deep breath as I reached my hand out to the lock, fitting perfectly in size, and then suddenly, I saw a whitish-blue light flash through the lock before I heard the deadbolt click, and the door opened inwards, revealing a garden of aromatic flowers and herbs. I somehow felt safe after taking in a breath of the air from there, and I smiled softly as I got up and jumped from the rowboat into soft beds of sun-soaked soil, barely noticing that the door closed up after me, and vanished with no trace.
I got up, feeling no pain, and I blinked as there was no sign of the leg fracture, and I pulled up a freshly made shirt which isn't threadbare, and saw that the hook slashes are gone too, and with a hand checking around my back, I realized with joy to feel mostly smooth skin, no whip lashes, yet there's still the scars from the grenade bomb incident. My head is completely clear of headaches too, feeling mentally better in the mind. I smiled widely as I took time to smell the flowers, walking around as I breathed deeply.
After maybe 10 or 15 minutes, I then saw a glimpse of stained glass near a large boulder. I walked straight, wanting to take a closer look to see, and as I got closer, I saw that there's a dragon statue made of stained glass, posing in a rearing position with wings halfway open, eyes of earthy brown glass, and there on the curled tail tucked inside, I could see a egg. I knew how mothers are protective of their young, so I bowed in respect, and I saw the eyes gleam before dulling down. I quietly made it to the egg, seeing that it's made of black marble yet it seems to have a aura of warmth as I got closer, and as I touched it, the surface became mirror-like.
Under two seconds, words appeared on the surface, bold white words in German, and I chuckled warmly as I read them out loud in English. Sie haben die zweite Prüfung bestanden, und jetzt ist es an der Zeit, tief in Ihrem Inneren zu suchen. Ihr Schicksal erwartet Sie. Vergiss nicht, wer du bist. "You have succeeded the second trial, and now it's time for you to seek deep inside. Your destiny awaits for you. Don't forget who you are.".
I suddenly heard creaking up ahead, and I looked up to see a gray wall beyond the statue, opening up to reveal a podium, and there, I saw a blue gemstone floating over the podium, right in the middle of the room within the wall. I smiled widely, realizing that the spiritual test is waiting just beyond, and I got up, walking back around the curled tail, and straight to the podium.
I soon felt a energy within the room, and the energy is stronger as I get closer to the gemstone, and I then get a sensation of joy and optimism. I leaned slightly, my hand reaching to touch the gemstone, and the sensation gets louder, not like noise, but more like powerful bubbling lava, but it isn't hurting me at all as I finally touch the gemstone, fingers grasping around, and then I see nothing but black.