Lori Fitzgerald is sitting at lunch in the cafeteria enjoying a piece of lasagna. A coat is in the spot next to her which is currently empty. She is looking much healthier and sports a new jacket. She is pouring over a book frustrated, skipping through pages lightning quick. She looks up as she hears Michael Harms slide into the seat next to her and give her a smile.

"I didn't say you could sit there," she points out. He shrugs and has a sip of his soup.

"So?" She goes back to her book. "You seem frustrated. How can I help?"

"Unless you're really good at History-"

"I'm more than passable. Let's see it." He snags the book from her before she can react and examines the pages she's on. She just looks at him annoyed, but he either ignores her or doesn't notice. "What's the problem?"

"I need to pick a subject by Friday for a ten page research paper- it need to be something I won't get bored with. Which is extremely unlikely given the subject." Michael considers this as Charlie Prescott retakes his spot next to her carrying dessert in the form of chocolate cake.

"Is this American or Western Civ.?"

"Western Civ.," Charlie and Hannah answer at the same time. Michael notices who has joined them and gives him a smile.

"And how are you holding up squirt?"

Charlie beams, obviously having hoped for a question like this. "I'm pretty great. I just got a perfect score on my theology test. The teacher said that it has never happened with her before."

"You never cease to amaze," Michael says, shaking his head. "How about the Renaissance?" he offers Lori.

She shakes her head. "It needs to be more specific." She notices him glance down worried and gives a loud huff. "And you can stop looking at it. It's been two weeks, and you said yourself when you examined it yesterday that we're good."

"Can't help it. Sorry. Michelangelo?"

"Only if it's the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle." She takes her book back and shuts it in frustration. "It's all just so bland," she laments.

"I can practically hear the cabinet rattling now," Charlie smirks as he takes a bite of cake.

"It has been two weeks. I'm hoping something happens soon," Michael admits.

"I'm okay with it not," Lori shoots back. She grabs a big piece of Charlie's cake. "What are you writing your essay on and can I steal it?"

He slides the piece away from her. "Joan of Arc and please no. I really like my topic."

She doesn't take the hint and steals another piece. "I just have to submit the paper subject sheet before you do. Unless I come up with something else, Joan of Arc it is." He frowns as she looks at her phone and rises. "I have to run."She starts walking, smacking Michael's head as she passes him. "Stop staring at it."

"Sorry! Sorry." He rubs his head as Charlie giggles from next to him, finishing off his cake.

XXX

So follow me down

(Lori stands with the book)
Where to?
Outta this town

(Charlie examines his map)
With you
Girl, you're movin way

(Hannah is typing away at her computer)
Too slow

So follow me down

(Michael grabs the first aid kit from a cabinet)
Which way?
Down, down, down
I'll show you around
Okay
There's a place we gotta go

(The Disney Encyclopedia begins to glow. Lori sighs)

Follow me, follow me

(Lori, Hannah, Michael, and Charlie are running through the preserve, freezing once on each of their faces)
Fa la la la la

Follow me, follow me

Fa la la la la

(Lori comes to a halt and the others crash into her, sending them all to the ground)

Lori Disney? (Not Likely!)

Episode 2: Higitus Figitus

XXX

Lori notices Ben Prescott walking past her as she exits the library, sporting his usual tie and stern demeanor. She runs and catches up to him. He notices her and physically groans.

"For the eight time this week- no."

"Ben-"He comes to a halt and faces her down.

"I'm busy, Lori. Excuse me, but I don't want to go trouncing through the woods on some insane mission to rope Disney characters." Lori grows frustrated, clearly having heard this before.

"Fine then! Enjoy your boring life!"

He starts walking again. "Trust me, I will." Lori watches him for a moment before stomping off to her dorm building and up to her room. She slams the door shut and enters the bedroom where Hannah Frost looks up from her computer.

"Another stimulating conversation with the lesser Prescott?"

Lori throws her backpack on her bed and hops up after it. "He is even more stubborn than I am. I didn't think that was possible!" She starts searching through her backpack, pulling out books. "And it turns out having a gunshot wound the first week back hasn't been good on my grades. And now I need an essay topic."

"You haven't thought of one yet," Hannah says in a judging tone, eyebrow raised.

"I was thinking Joan of Arc." Hannah shakes her head.

"You stole that from Charlie." Lori grumbles to herself. "I'm doing the Blitz. And you can't steal that one either!"

"But it's so pointless!" Lori flops on her back. There is a beat and then the filing cabinet begins rattling as if on cue. She shoots up. "I take it back! I take it back!"

Hannah smirks, closing her computer. "Too late." There is the flash of light and Lori flops back on her bed. "Should I grab my coat?"

After a beat Lori sighs and sits up. "Yeah. I'll text everyone." They both head to grab their jackets. "I really need to stop just handing it lessons to teach me."

XXX

Lori and Hannah approach the outskirts of the forest preserve where Charlie and Michael are already bundled up and waiting. Lori turns on her flashlight and the others follow suit. She then just stands for a moment looking back at campus.

Hannah looks at her impatient. "We checked the usual spots on campus, so they're in here somewhere. So, let's do this."

"One second. He might-"Her phone goes off and she opens the text from Ben.

'Not happening. 'She puts the phone away with a frown.

"Alright, we'll split up. Charlie and I will head south, you two can head north."

"Lori…" Hannah groans.

"Just suck it up. He's not going to bite." Hannah and Michael head off in one direction and Lori turns to Charlie once they're out of sight. "Alright, we have to make a pit stop back in the room."

"You're up to something nefarious aren't you?" he asks serious.

"None of you business," she answers harshly. "Come on." They run off back towards the dorms.

XXX

Michael and Hannah slowly make their way through the preserve, silently scanning all around them while standing as far away from one another as they can manage. They both come to the frozen pond.

"Try not to shove me in," Michael says suddenly.

Hannah looks at him offended. "I wouldn't-"

"You're pretty easy to read," Michael cuts her off. This angers her and her voice becomes sharper.

"I'm not trying to hide it. You're just not listening to my telling you to get lost." He looks at her.

"Look, I get it. I'm a stranger. I'm here to gawk and point and stare. Sometimes I think you're going to lead her to being killed sooner than later. But… here's the thing. I really don't care. Judge me all you want. Try to shove me in ponds. It's not going to change anything."

Hannah takes a moment before responding, turning away from him. "Hopefully we do get Ben so you can be his partner next time."

"Okay. And then we'll both walk off a cliff so we can make your day," Michael offers. This actually makes her give the briefest flickers of a smile.

"It would be appreciated." They start walking past the pond. "And I was going to trick you into going in there yourself. Shoving isn't my style."

"Clever girl."

XXX

Lori and Charlie meet up with the other two at the clearing. "Anything?" she asks.

"I hate him," Hannah contributes.

"I don't care," Michael also offers.

Charlie looks at both of them before giving a small nod and changing the subject. "There was nothing by the tree. Where could they have gone too?"

Lori shrugs at him. "I don't know. Let's do one more sweep before we turn in for the night." The others nod when crunching is heard coming towards them. Charlie ducks behind Lori as the rest shine their flashlights to illuminate a figure coming towards them.

"Is that Ben?" Hannah asks as he becomes clearer. He steps into the clearing, furious.

"You have some nerve, Fitzgerald!" he shouts, getting right up in her face. "I can take the texts, the yelling, but I draw the line at sabotage!"

Everyone looks at Lori confused as Hannah speaks up. "What-"

"Somebody hacked into my computer and put a virus on it that locked up my computer instantly!" Ben continues.

Hannah smacks Lori's arm. "Lori! You stole my virus!" she shouts angrily.

"You made a virus?!" Michael shouts back in disbelief.

"It's for this joker who sent us messages in the library," Hannah explains over her shoulder before focusing back on a nervous Lori. "I showed it to you so we could be prepared, not so you can use it whenever you wanted. When did you even-"

"She had us take a pit stop," Charlie explains.

"I get we need strength in numbers. But why go the distance when he clearly doesn't want this?" Hannah asks.

"Thank you! Now fix it," Ben orders.

"You let her send a virus, really?" Michael says harshly to Charlie as Hannah and Ben begin shouting at Lori and eventually at one another.

"I didn't know what she was doing?!" Charlie says defensively. "I had to wait outside the door!"

"You should have known she was up to no good."

"Don't lecture him!" Hannah yells at Michael. The four then just begin yelling and shouting at one another as Lori takes it in for a moment before trying to regain control.

"Hey!" she shouts at the top of her lungs, causing everyone to settle down and look at her. "We still have a character to find. Let's focus and then yell at one another later. I swear: it's like working with children!"

"In my defense, I technically am a child," Charlie says. Lori nods.

"True. You win! Come with me. You guys sweep the south one more time."

Charlie pumps his fist. "Woo hoo!"

"You've got to be kidding me," Hannah mutters.

"I'll save you the effort," a voice echoes from around them. They all look around when suddenly Merlin appears in front of him in a cloud of smoke, causing all of them to jump back- Ben falling over into the snow. "I'm sorry," he says, coughing. "It appears I'm late. I was supposed to meet you folks an hour and a half ago before you started searching. I just got distracted, took a detour to Hawaii. Simply lovely this time of year."

Everyone slowly regains their cool as he helps Ben to his feet. "Hello Ben. I'm so sorry to hear about you getting sick. Oh, wait! Twenty-first century. Computer virus, of course."

"What's going on?" Ben asks, still frightened.

Hannah gives him a look. "Obviously-"

"Oh, can I do this one!" Charlie begs, jumping up and down. "I spent Christmas break studying! Please!"

"After you," Hannah says with an arm gesture.

"He's Merlin from The Sword in the Stone. It was released on Christmas in 1963. And it received an Academy Award nomination for Best Score. How'd I do?"

Hannah gives him a thumbs-up. "Solid."

Lori pulls out the book and begins flipping through pages. "Let me make this easy for you. I was wrong to say history was pointless. Lesson learned."

Merlin shakes his head. "I'm afraid the easy route won't work in this case Ms. Fitzgerald. It took a lot of work and magic for me to get to you." He looks at her really for the first time. "Well, I'll be. I certainly wasn't expecting this."

Lori takes a step back, creeped out. "Okay, excuse me being on edge, but the last character who knew my name put a bullet in me. How-"

"How do I know? I promise I will explain, but at the moment you should all go get some sleep." He snaps and suddenly his cottage lands behind him. He heads for the door as the group just stands shell-shocked. "I will meet you here after your classes tomorrow."

Lori just starts muttering incoherently, "What- you can't- if someone-"

He waves her off. "It'll be fine. I just need to make sure we have some tea ready for our chat tomorrow. Now, off you go." He uses his magic to turn them around and start pulling them towards the exit of the preserve. "I will see you later!" he shouts after them.

"Are you sure it isn't as easy as me admitting some positives about history?!"

"Absolutely!" They arrive at the entrance of the preserve and desperately shake the spell off. Everyone is visibly freaking out.

"What just happened?" Michael voices everyone.

"It looks like we'll just have to wait and find out tomorrow," Lori answers. "I guess we'll meet at his cabin after Chemistry lab." Ben goes to speak, but she beats him to it. "And as for you, I will return your computer to normal after you have tea with Merlin tomorrow."

"You're seriously doing this. You're seriously holding my computer ransom."

"Come on Ben!" she shouts in disbelief, putting the book back in her bag. "He just made a cabin appear out of thin air! Magic! Mystery! You really aren't the slightest bit curious?"

He shakes his head, completely serious. "I'm a grown-up. I've moved past this. Stop trying to drag me into this."

"One cup of tea. All I ask." He regards her for a moment before crossing his arms.

"Fine. And then you will fix my computer?"

"And then Hannah will fix your computer… because honestly I don't know how," she admits. This sends him into another rage.

"You gave me a virus that you didn't know if you could fix?!" She opens her mouth and just starts running back to the dorm. The others follow reluctantly, leaving him standing there for a long moment before he finally starts walking back as well. "I can't believe this," he mutters under his breath.

XXX

That night Hannah and Lori both climb into their beds, turning on their alarms and off the lights. Lori waits a moment after lying down before speaking up. "Alright, let's hear it."

"No," Hannah refuses. "I'm going to be supportive to your face. I'll just keep it to myself."

"That'll be the day. I know you don't get it and don't like it but we need to get Ben on the team," she assures her. Hannah just looks at her.

"I'm just wondering if you want him on the team because he should be or because you want him to be," she accuses.

"I'm confused."

"Oh, you know what I mean. I'm just wondering if you're the Tenth Doctor and Rose." Lori puts it together and her look becomes one of complete disgust.

"Stop. I don't- he has valuable skills we could use. It's not personal at all. That's gross!"

"But is it perhaps the Ice Queen just doesn't understand love?"

Lori becomes completely serious. "Hannah, believe it or not, I used to have a boyfriend in high school. If the right guy came along I would date him. I want to do marriage and kids one day. This isn't some sort of bizarre romantic comedy. I just don't let it define me or advertise it. I wasn't planning on it in college, but I would if I knew he was worth the effort. Ben Prescott isn't."

"You used to have a boyfriend?" Hannah asks in shock, ignoring the rest. "Can I get any details?"

"It wasn't blackmail, I promise."

"I was never suggesting that. Can I at least know how it ended?"

"We moved to Canada. That's it." Lori closes her eyes as Hannah thinks for a moment.

"You really think Ben would make a good companion?"

"If the book thinks so, I'm inclined to think he has something we're going to need in the future. I just want him to be around for that so nobody gets hurt again."

"And Michael?"

"He's definitely been useful. I know you have your issues but he is around as long as he wants to be. Like him, I don't really care what the book says about this."

"And I'll respect that. But that doesn't mean I have to be nice to them," Hannah defends, closing her eyes.

"Feel free to interpret it that way if you want."

XXX

Lori walks into her Chemistry Lab, pulling a piece of paper from a box at the front of class. 15 is written on it in black marker. She takes her seat, opens her book, and puts on her goggles.

The professor clears his throat, attracting the class' attention. "Alright, everyone meet up with your partners and get started." She scans the room as everyone starts shouting their numbers and meeting up.

"Fifteen?" a familiar voice says from behind her. She turns surprised to see Michael holding up the same number on his piece of paper.

"Since when have you been in my lab?" she asks.

He sighs, putting his stuff down. "Since Day 1. Wow, you are really not that observant."

"I often have a lot on my mind. Shall we?"

"Yeah, let's get this done so we can have one interesting cup of tea." They start pulling things out and set it up. "So how do you feel about the homework for tomorrow?"

"Is it bad if I'm stuck and this is my major?" Lori asks honestly. "Even Charlie's having trouble getting through to me."

"I'm a little stuck too," he admits. "How about we work on them together tonight?"

She shakes her head, filling a beaker. "I don't like to do group studying. I work much better on my own."

"Suit yourself. Oh," he grabs the beaker just as she knocks it over the edge of the table. "But sometimes it helps to have someone else there. Just saying," he says, setting it back on the counter as she just looks at him.

XXX

The two exit the Science Building to find Charlie waiting. The group starts walking for the preserve. "It was a tough one, wasn't it?" Charlie asks.

Michael and Lori look at one another before he shakes his head. "Not really. We got it the first time."

"Wow. It took me and Lucas Miller like three tries."

"No, it just worked for us. It's weird," Lori admits. "Anyway, let's get over there."

"Whatever you say, L." Michael frowns as she doesn't react and keeps walking.

"What was that?" Charlie asks him.

"My attempt at giving her a nickname." He sighs. "One day she'll react to one and I'll stick to it."

She smirks at him over her shoulder. "It's not going to happen Doctor." They arrive at the cabin and enter to find Hannah and Ben both there already at a giant table that has quite a few empty chairs around it.

"Come in! Come in!" Chairs magically come up behind them and force them to the table. "Now that she's here we can finally get started." He takes his seat as the tea items all flurry in the air before them before placing a full cup in front of each of them and the empty spaces. Merlin notices this. "Now… wait a second. I could have sworn there should be more of you."

"This is it," Lori says, the rest nodding and Ben crossing his arms.

Merlin looks at each empty chair. "But what about… and… oh, I must be earlier than I thought." He makes the empty chairs and their cups vanish, shrinking the table. "Does the name DIZ ring a bell yet?" They all shake their heads confused. "Oh, I'm much earlier than I thought. But, never mind, we'll deal with it."

"Can you please start making sense?" Hannah asks, sipping her tea.

Merlin takes a sip of his, frowns, and magically has the sugar add more. "Yes. So as you know characters come to this world from different points in their lives with the mission of bestowing knowledge upon you and your," he pauses for a moment, stuck, "companions" I believe is the word you use. But I knew I needed to talk to you, so I used some magic to pull myself through that book."

"So you didn't have to do with a lesson about history?" Lori clarifies, ignoring her tea.

Something suddenly clicks with Merlin. "Blow me to Bermuda! That must be why I'm so early! I gravitated towards the time it was thought I would come. It makes sense now!" He finishes his tea with a gulp and bangs his fist on the table. "But I have more important matters to deal with."

"Yeah, like how do you know my name?"

"Oh, you'll eventually find that a lot of us characters will. Your reputation is quite large, you see. By the end of their stories almost every character I've met has come into contact with you. Some of things you're going to do… it's unbelievable!" he says in awe.

"So you all exist in some sort of parallel world together?" Hannah asks.

"You could say it like that. But there is a problem with reputation. It can spread to even the darkest places."

Lori's face light up. "That's how the villains know about me and the book… this reputation I earn."

"Yes, so I am here to prepare you." He gets up goes into his bag, pulling objects out. "No. No. I still have this?" After a moment he finds what he's searching for. "Aha!" He lays a shining sword with a gold hilt on the table before Lori, who is finally taking a sip. "This is yours."

"Excuse me?!" she chokes.

"Awesome!" Charlie shouts, reaching for it before Ben stops him. The others just keep looking from the sword to Lori to Merlin.

Lori coughs and clears her throat. "You must be really mistaken. There's- I can't-"

Merlin sits again. "Oh, it's yours. You gave it to me to give to you now."

"What?" Ben asks, now lost.

Hannah catches on and snaps. "Wibbly wobbly timey wimey! This isn't your first time meeting us!"

Merlin smiles at her proud. "Indeed it isn't. But that's getting into far too much. Stuff so far into the future. The point is I needed to give you this and I have."

"I can't take this," Lori tells him, still looking scared.

"You will. Well, I think it's about time I head back. Let's see if your book agrees." Lori pulls the book from her bag opens it to find a glowing poem.

"What do the villains want from me?" she asks after a beat.

"The ability to stay in a world where they just might win." She takes this in, still looking almost nauseous. He leans forward and covers her hand with his. "Lori, I can't say too much, but you have no idea how much you're going to change. I hardly recognized you when I saw you. All of you," he offers to the group. "You're going to do great things- marvelous, huge things you can't even imagine! I've heard the stories back home. And I promise the next time you meet me that you'll be that person. Now, sing the song."

Lori looks at the book, obviously not buying what he's just said. "Higitus Figitus Migitus Mum I send you back from whence you come"

"He gave you the book for a reason," Merlin attempts one more time as the light appears.

This catches her attention. "Wait! What? You know who gave me the book?" The light fades and he's gone along with the cottage. Everyone sits in a circle in the snow with the sword in front of them, buried in the ground in a very familiar fashion.

"Can I get a little clarification of what just happened?" Charlie asks after they've all recovered.

"It's a time loop," Hannah explains. "When he met Lori she gave him the sword to give to her now when we're meeting him."

"So one day she's going to give it back to him to give to her," Ben summarizes.

"Exactly!"

Michael adds, "And all these characters are being pulled from different spots in their personal timelines. So they all meet up at the end somewhere having met us." Lori rises and pulls out the sword, examining it. After a moment she starts digging, shaking her head. "What are you doing?"

"I'm not bringing this back." She buries the sword in the dirt, covers it back up, and rises. "He was wrong. Let's go."

"And then you are fixing my computer and I'm done," Ben says as everyone stands up.

"He recognized you from the future," Lori reminds him.

"So? He could be wrong about that too? I did what you said and I still want nothing to do with this."

"Alright," Lori admits, defeated. "Hannah?"

"I'll take care of it. You're lucky I made a way to reverse it." They start heading out.

"Future you sounds awesome!" Charlie says, trying to lift her mood. "Not that current you isn't though…"

"Shut up, Charlie," Lori says harshly, stalking ahead. He frowns and follows silently.

XXX

Lori is watching Doctor Who alone in her room when there is a knock at her door. "It's open! She pauses it as Michael enters with his Chemistry book.

"What were you watching?" he inquires.

She shrugs. "Just a show-"

Michael glances at the TV as she turns it off and smiles. "Yes, the Eleventh Hour to be exact. The Eleventh is my doctor too."

She smiles at him. "You just earned some major cool points." She grabs her book and takes a seat on the floor next to him. "Let's hope this goes as smoothly as lab."

"So what's your paper topic for tomorrow? I think Charlie's still worried you're going to steal his."

"He can rest easy. I'm doing King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone."

"Ah, so lesson learned?"

"I suppose so."

"And the other lesson?" She doesn't answer. He flips the page. "Alright, so number seven."

XXX

Tune in next week as the group deals with something completely out of their league as Charlie again struggles with a series of nightmares that a "lucky stuffed animal" can't even fix.