Isaac helped Liberty haul the unconscious and eerily still Jake into one of the Viking long boats, before jumping back out and pressing a few buttons on the Maelstrom's ride control panel. The ship jolted forward and he hopped back in, taking a front row seat just ahead of the couple. He looked up at the giant mural painted on the wall of the load area. On the far left end were hints of trolls in a dense forest, following by Vikings. Things got more modern further to the right, where blond men manning oil rigs and a ten foot tall nurse dominated the scene. It was hard not to stare.

Isaac pointed at her. "Ha, if only she could help, huh?"

Liberty managed to pull her gaze away from Jake long enough to talk to Frankie, who was standing by the load area. "You sure you'll be okay alone?"

"Hakuna matata. Don't worry about me. I'll be holding the Crown when you come out." Her smile faltered for a moment as she took one more look at the Skipper. "Just make sure to bring him back safe and sound, okay? I don't want to lose any of you guys."

"We will." Liberty pulled up him and rested his head on her lap. She brushed his bangs up off his forehead. "I promise."

Frankie waved at them until the boat disappeared into a dark tunnel and began its ascent into the world of Vikings and trolls.

"You are not the first to pass this way… Nor shall you be the last. Those who seek the spirit of Norway face peril and adventure. But more often, find beauty and charm…"

Liberty held up a hand to shield her eyes. Green light, starting first as a tiny pin point and then expanding outward towards them, filled the tunnel. As they got closer to the top of the lift, she could see it emanated from a portrait of Odin. The light beamed out of the god's open eye. As they got closer, the eye shut, and they were briefly in darkness once more before barreling through a set of doors and into a forest. Totems and faces were carved into the tree trunks. Past a set of such trees was a small home. Inside the house, a fire blazed. Outside, a family chatted excitedly in Norwegian. Some members carried goods out of a boat that was docked nearby. It was a pleasant scene, one demonstrating a happy community, not at all like something one would expect in a theme park ride about Vikings.

But the tranquility didn't last long. They sailed deeper into the forest, away from human influence. Faces could still be found in the foliage, but the large, yellow eyes blinked and rolled to follow the Cast Members. Hoarse voices murmured around them and humanoid forms darted along the shore and between the overgrown plants. The current grew stronger and pulled the boat up to the huge severed trunk of an old tree. With a jolt that made Liberty tighten her hold around Jake, the vessel stopped.

She put her hand on Isaac's. "This is it, Wizard. Put that D&D knowledge of yours to good use."

He cleared his throat and faced the stump. "No pressure." He gulped. "Uh, hi?" Standing on one leg, the knee of the other braced on a bench, he peered ahead. "Troll King?" Crickets chirped. Any second now, there was supposed to be—

"INVADERS!" The three headed Troll King leapt up right in front of the young man, sending him sprawling back. He waved his gnarled staff in the youth's face. "What," the middle face curled back its lips, showing off a small collection of jagged teeth, "are you filthy humans doing in our forest?" The face on the right snorted loudly and then spat out a gob of phlegm. "Disgusting. Make them disappear!" The far left chimed in, shaggy head bobbing. "Yeah! Disappear! Disappear!"

"Wait!" Liberty raised an arm, hoping to stop them before the troll could send the boat shooting backwards down the falls, just like in the ride. "We need your help. Our friend…" She looked down at Jake. "He's…he's been hurt." A sob cracked her voice. "Please!"

The middle head, apparently the dominate one, scrunched his eyes so as to make even more wrinkles crinkle over his aged face. "Why should we care?"

"Because," Isaac pushed himself up, "without us, your world is doomed."

"I doubt that," the Troll King laughed. "What power can you possibly possess?"

"Ha!" Isaac pointed at him. The right head snapped at the proffered finger. He quickly yanked his hand back. "I thought you would say that. I'll have you know, I'm a powerful wizard…" He started digging into his backpack. "One who holds sway over the very cosmos itself!" Pushing past sandwiches, he finally found what he was looking for. "Behold!" He held the flashlight high above his head. "I grasp the power of the sun, your sworn enemy." He clicked the light on.

The Troll King shirked back, holding his arms up over his faces.

Then the battery died.

Isaac pouted. "Oh, Jiminy Cricket."

Using his staff, the Troll King knocked the light into the water. "One of those flameless human torches," he sneered. "What kinds of fools do you think we are?"

Hoping to save the situation, Liberty spoke up. "Not fools, your Majesty. We're just…desperate. Very desperate." She gripped Jake's hand. It was so limp and cold. "I would do anything to save his life, sir… sirs. Anything."

The king's noses began to quiver, and he leaned down into the boat. Nostrils twitching, he poked at the floor with his staff. When he nudged the backpack, a few of the sandwiches spilled out. He picked one up and sniffed it. With careful, yet quick, movements, he unfolded the foil. He sniffed the sandwich some more. "What is this?"

Isaac's eyes darted from the sandwich to the king. "Well…" He cleared his throat and stood with his arms crossed, feigning offense. "We call it Panini. It's a rare delicacy, served only to royalty." He started putting the other sandwiches back. "We're taking them to the Princesses at Akershus. Of course," he pushed his glasses up, "we could offer you some… For a price."

The Troll King rotated the sandwich in his hands. "It seems quite scrumptious…"

"It is. Finest cuisine in the world. Better than lutefisk."

All three of the mouths smiled. "It is done, wizard. Three of your… pah-nee-nees to heal your friend."

"I suppose it's a fair bargain," said Isaac, handing over the food. "I hate to disappoint those princesses, though."

While the left and right heads ate, the middle began to intone in Norwegian. Above them, lights twinkled and formed a spiral of stars. The spiral unfurled and swooped down to curl around Jake's torso. Liberty clapped her hands over her mouth to muffle her gasp. The magic swirled faster, a golden blur around his body. Then it shot up, back into the night "sky."

At once, Jake's eyes opened and he took in a deep gulp of air. He propped himself up on his elbows and looked around. "How'd we get in that weird troll ride?"

All Liberty could do was laugh in relief and wrap her arms around him.

The Troll King banged his staff on a rock, calling for attention. "Humans, our deal is fulfilled." The right head cackled. "Yes, now back, back, over the falls ye go!" He waved his hand and the boat lurched backwards, taking off fast enough to make the Cast Members grip the seats. The last they heard from the Troll King was the left head shouting, "PAH-NEE-NEES! PAH-NEE-NEES!"

Frankie had tried to get into Akershus, but the doors were locked. Hands cupped over her eyes, she'd peered into the darkened restaurant, but didn't spot anything crown-like. She'd known it wouldn't be in there anyway, though; she just felt she owed it to Liberty to look. She told herself that it was not so she could gloat about being right later. A Disney Princess did not act in such a way. Then she'd kicked herself in the shin for such bratty thoughts, especially when Jake was hurt, or worse…

"Everything's going to be okay," she spoke out loud. "We're in Disney World. Good always wins."

She stopped.

Such statements were cues for ironic entrances. A "Is that so, Princess?" should be heard right about now, if she was any judge.

She waited.

"Rowl!"

She tensed.

A scrawny black cat ran out in front of her, stopped to look at her with its one eye, and then headed off for the bushes. Even she flinched at the sight of it. It was too mangy to be cute, skinny to the point of near starvation, and one eyes was swollen shut. She didn't recognize it from any ride or film she could think of. Perhaps it was a bit ominous, but stray cats were no stranger to the parks at night. Walt Disney World had a thriving population of feral cats that were tolerated for their pest hunting skills. By the time guests showed up, the animals had gone back into hiding.

"Okay," she held a hand over her thudding heart. "No biggie, moving along."

"Hi!"

She yelped.

"Oh, sorry." Mulan winced. "I didn't mean to scare you," she smiled. "I just wanted to check in on you."

Frankie smiled back, her heart rate returning to normal. "It's okay. Did you guys get Shan-Yu taken care of?"

"Yeah, Shang's got the Huns in a cell. He's trying to interrogate Shan-Yu, but he's not talking." She scowled. "I think there's something even more sinister going on than just a random villain attack."

Frankie wondered how the Representatives of the Magic Kingdom would respond to that. Did that even matter? After all, Mulan was a member of the Disney family, a citizen of the parks. Whatever they were up against, it threatened her as well. And any extra help the Cast Members could get was appreciated. So Frankie told her everything she knew. Afterwards, Mulan volunteered to go ahead of her to scout for trouble and pass on word to the other Characters. The rest of World Showcase held a formidable amount of heroes, including Belle and Beast in France, and Aladdin and Jasmine in Morocco. That was some comfort, even with Gaston and Jafar possibly nearby.

The young women exchanged "good lucks" and set off, Frankie on foot and Mulan on Khan. Despite her suspicions, Frankie knew she had to be thorough, although it was going to be a long walk back to Future World. Of course, that's if her guess was correct. And what if it wasn't? They'd be there all night.

Quit doubting yourself, she thought. Keep going. That's what a Princess does.

Vigilant, she went onward, pausing to peek in at a possible Crown location or to ask and/or answer questions from the Characters she passed. She passed through Germany, Italy, and The American Adventure. Halfway through Japan, she had to take a breather, allowing herself a drink at a water fountain.

The Japan pavilion was all about harmony and balance. She couldn't help being put a little more at ease there. Also, she felt safe. No major villains would be found here. Thanks to Mulan's warning, a Samurai warrior, (formerly a statue out by the main store front), was patrolling the pavilion. Now all she had left to travel through were Morocco, France, The United Kingdom, and Canada, then down the pathway that led into Future World West.

"Crap," she huffed. "That's a long walk. A long walk for something I'm not even sure about."

"Don't let your judgment be so crowded with anger and delusions. Right thought may soon lead you to inner peace." The voice giggled. "Or, at least, you won't feel so crabby."

The voice, feminine and bubbly, was coming from a tall, white crane. She was perched atop the red torii gate at Japan's waterfront. Elegant, rather than lanky, and hand-drawn animated like so many of Disney's memorable characters, the crane was unknown to Frankie. She spread her wide, red tipped wings and floated down to land by the Cast Member.

"Konnichiwa," she said, dipping her head in a bow. "How goes your quest?"

Frankie lifted her bangs to show a dark splotch on her forehead. "I've got a goose egg from that alien encounter…" She gestured back towards Norway. "One of my friends might be dead, I'm angry at my other friend, and that makes me feel like a bad person, but I know I'm not a bad person; I'm just frustrated. I keep doubting myself, and I feel like I have to put on this happy front all the time, and it's driving me crazy!" She panted. "Sorry," she grimaced.

The crane held a wing over her beak and chuckled. "No need to be. You should be honest. Truth is the daughter of the gods, a blessing. Release it, accept it, and you will be free."

Studying her for a moment, Frankie finally had to ask, "Who are you? I'm sorry, not trying to be rude, but I don't recognize you."

"See? Honesty's wonderful! No more ignorance." She sprang up into the air and flew over to a blue- roofed, five story pagoda. Landing again, she gestured to a building just beyond the shops and restaurants. During the day, and especially at night, it would have been invisible, save for the fact it was faintly glowing. "I am a memory, made whole by potential. You see that building there? That was to be my home. Inside, it's incomplete, even though it's been here for years."

"What was it going to be?"

"A show called Meet the World, a replica of one that'd played in Tokyo Disneyland. After my show was ended, I thought I would never teach visitors again. I was so hopeful when I found out I was being brought here. Sadly, it was not to be."

Frankie frowned. "That's not fair."

"It depends on how you look at it, I suppose. Maybe my show isn't running now, but as long as that building is there, as long as there are plans in the archives of Imagineering, there is always potential for my return. Compared to many others, I am very lucky. I at least did get to entertain guests for a long time in Japan, so there are others who remember me and still love me. I will never be truly gone."

Frankie thought about that for a moment. "Why is it glowing?"

The crane shrugged. "That is a mystery." She smiled. "Perhaps you and your friends will solve it."

"I'll put that on the to-do list." She gave a little bow. "I have to get going, but I think I'm feeling a lot better now. I know where I need to go."

"A great start."

"I think so." Her steps quick, she set off again, now knowing for certain where her Crown was.

"I get brought back to life only to wake up in Maelstrom. You sure this isn't some kind of twisted afterlife?"

Isaac turned around in his seat to reprimand Jake. "The Troll King saved you. Thanks to me," he sniffed.

Liberty patted Jake's hand. "Isaac's got a point. Besides, wouldn't your Hell be more like working the smoked turkey leg stall for all eternity?"

Jake shuddered. "So much grease. Although I would be able to find out what those things really are. I'm not convinced it's turkey. I think it's some kind of emu. Doesn't change the fact we're in Maelstrom—the weirdest ride in Disney World."

"I kind of like it," said Isaac.

The boat shot backwards up a hill, into a corridor with vines and trees painted on its walls. Happy music, Edvard Grieg's "Morning Mood," started playing. With a jostle, it stopped, and the trio turned to see part of the back end was sticking out of an opening, showing a clear view of the outside. Below, a little waterfall burbled. There were plenty of jagged boulders and rocks to emphasize the point that jumping would be a very bad idea.

Jake took a long look. "A psyche out to make us think we're going to fall to our doom, all while happy-good-morning-twinkly-bluebird-music plays. Maelstrom, ladies and gentlemen."

The boat shifted to the right. Liberty turned around in her seat, preparing for another drop. "If it's any consolation, the song's composer was Norwegian." She pressed her lips tightly together. "Granted, he also did 'In the Hall of the Mountain King,' which would have made a lot more sense…"

Next to them, a huge troll head popped up from under a sapling. His big, yellow, bloodshot eyes rolled around in his head. "To the North Sea with you!"

They slid down with a mild splash into a chamber full of storm clouds. A Tesla coil created the illusion of lightning from atop an oil rig. They rounded the rig and came to a stop dockside at an authentic Norwegian seaport. A bell clanged and seagulls cawed. Then the narrator, who'd been missing for quite some time at this point, returned.

"The spirit of Norway is adventure!"

"No it's not!" Jake tried to stagger up. It took Isaac and Liberty to heft him to his feet and then get him onto the dock, lest he tip sideways and fall into the water. His feet were crossing one another as he tried to walk, and his speech was slightly slurred. "The spirit of Norway makes no sense! And where were you while we were dodging angry polar bears and oil rigs, huh?"

Liberty nodded towards the exit, a set of open double doors that led into a theater. "Let's get him a seat, at least 'till he's steady again."

"You guys—you guys don't have to. I'm good." He swerved to the right, nearly sending him and Isaac into the doorframe.

Liberty rolled her eyes, but was smiling the whole time. "Jake, you were stabbed with a sword twenty minutes ago. I think it's all right for you to take a break." She eased him onto the cushioned bench.

"I suppose you're right, Libby. You're always right."

She sat down next to him and held his hand. "Hardly. I'm just bossy, huge difference." She looked up at Isaac. "Uh, you mind stepping out and giving Frankie a call, see how she's doing? I'm going to sit with him for a bit to make sure he's okay."

Isaac grinned, too pleased with himself to object. "A wizard's work is never done." He slipped out before the doors at the other end closed.

In the theater, the lights dimmed and a hidden projector turned on. Liberty and Jake watched the film for a while, sitting in silence as the boy on the screen explored a museum display about Vikings. Then the scene cut to towering tumultuous waves crashing into a Viking ship, sending horned-helmet wearing men running to and fro, screaming orders at each other and flinging around ropes.

"Do you remember when Vikings ruled the sea?" Jake narrated in a reedy, Mid-Western twang. "Pepperidge Farm remembahs!"

Liberty giggled so hard she snorted. "Nice to see you're back. How're you feeling?"

"My brain's still a little fubar, but I'll be okay. It kinda itches where I got, y'know, skewered, but everything feels intact." He grinned. "Did you miss me?"

"Yeah," she chuckled. "A lot, actually." She squeezed his hand a little tighter and laid her cheek on his shoulder. "I was really scared, Jake. I thought I was going to lose you." Her throat tightened and the tears started to flow. "And I don't think I could ever forgive myself if you were gone and I never got to say how much you mean to me. And I've been such a…such a cold witch, but I was scared and—"

She was cut off when his lips pressed tightly to hers. She leaned into the kiss, and all of her worries melted away. When they broke apart, he looked every bit as shocked and ecstatic as she did.

Her voice was a gasped whisper. "Taft's tub!"

"Oh, man," he panted. "Sorry, I didn't even think—I just—"

She wrapped her arms around him and pulled him in for another kiss.

Unnoticed by them, the ride side doors opened and the Troll King walked in. He banged his staff against the floor. "We demand more pa-nee-nees, humans!" All three heads tilted in confusion, and then the lips curled back in disgust. "Disappear! Disappear!" Back to his forest, the King ran, swearing never again to meddle in the affairs of humans.

There was something noticeably different about Future World West from the rest of the park. It was livelier, more playful, and certainly a lot nosier. At The Seas with Nemo and Friends, the seagulls laid claim to anything that looked the least bit edible. Inside, Bruce the great white shark held his nightly "Fish Are Friends" meeting. Over at The Land pavilion next door, a faint rendition of "Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit" could be heard when the sound of jet engines didn't drown it out. The nocturnal creatures found within Living with the Land were stirring, going about their business like any normal animals. Dinosaur roars and screeches barely got through the walls of The Universe of Energy.

Frankie passed by all of this with barely a glance and raced towards the double pyramid-topped Imagination Institute pavilion. In front of the 3-D theater at the left and the Journey into Imagination ride at the right, the Imagination waterfall was flowing. Unlike most waterfalls, though, the stream flowed backwards, the water gushing up and over the ridge.

Suddenly, with a wet plop, a purple ball appeared at the top of the fountain. Bobbing up and down, it bounced on the water, as if of its own will so it wouldn't be swept back. It started to grow larger and five points grew out of it, giving it a star shape. A sixth soon poked out of the back.

From somewhere within it, a squeaky voice piped up, "Oh, boy, I'm havin' trouble! Help me out here. You know the words!"

Frankie grinned. "I sure do! Two tiny wings…"

Two orange wings, bat like, sprouted from the shape's shoulders.

"Eyes big and yellow…"

These followed suit.

"Horns of a steer… but a lovable fellow. From head to tail, he's royal purple pigment..."

The shape become more and more defined, developing distinct legs, arms, feet, and hands.

"And there, voila, you've got a Figment!"

Now complete, the little purple dragon looked himself over. He let out a boisterous, yet still squeaky, giggle. "Would you look at that? I'm just right!" He flew down and kissed her cheek. "Thanks, friend. I needed someone with a great imagination to make me whole again. That Dr. Nigel Channing tried to stow me away for interrupting his lab work, but you can never stifle your imagination!" He giggled again and did somersaults in the air. "Now we can play." He grabbed her hands and pumped his wings as fast as he could, attempting to drag her.

"No, Figment," she laughed. "I can't play."

"Aww!" He hung out his lip in a pout. "Whhhhy?"

"Because I have to find something very special, and I think you might know where it is." She tapped the end of his nose.

"Oh!" He clapped. "It'll be like a treasure hunt." A safari outfit appeared on him and he brandished a huge magnifying glass from out of nowhere. "What do we have to find?"

"A crown, one made for a princess."

"Hmm…." He scratched between his horns. "I don't know where a crown is. We can always make one, though. We'll need… paper, glue, and lots of crayons, felt and gems and—"

She shook her head. "No, I think it's being kept safe, by someone you know. Figment, where's Dreamfinder?"

His playful expression vanished, replaced by a solemn frown. "Dreamfinder?" At the thought of his old friend, the dragon slowly descended to the ground. "Dreamfinder's…gone!" A little sob escaped him.

"Please don't cry, Figment." She squatted down, a bit taller than eye level to him. It was a stance she used when trying to comfort children who'd gotten lost in the park. "We'll find him. Come on, I think I know where to look." She clasped his hand and stood up, and the dragon fluttered up with her. "By the way, I'm Francine, but everyone calls me Frankie."

"I'm Figment, but everyone calls me Figment." He laughed. "Except for Dr. Channing. He calls me 'that nuisance'. Or sometimes 'purple pest.' Ooh, my favorite is 'mauve meddler.' He can have quite the imagination when he wants to!"

A/N: Be sure to check out the fantastic drawings Karalora did on Deviant Art of the four heroes. She's not only a wonderful writer, but a great artist as well, and just a terrific person all around. And go read Crowns of the Kingdom if you haven't already!

Special thanks to Phillip Kipple, who suggested using the Meet the World crane. True story, the show building does exist and has been sitting in Epcot for years now, just waiting to be used for something. That's not the only one, either. There's also a building behind Germany that was meant to house a boat ride. Various countries have been announced over the years, just to be scrapped for some reason or another. But, like Walt said, (and I paraphrase for the situation), these parks will never be complete. Potential exists throughout all of them, and we should never close our minds to what can be achieved.

And if it seems like I'm taking some shots at Maelstrom, don't worry. It's all done with a lot of love. Seriously, it's my favorite ride in Epcot… I can't even type that without snickering. No, I really do love it, for all of its sheer weirdness. It needs more love, so next time you go to Epcot, make sure to visit Maelstrom. Hum along to the inappropriate music and say hi to the trolls. Just watch out for giant nurses and oil rigs.