I have to hurry this up if I'm gonna finish by the time Tangled comes out, don't I? Sorry for the longish update, the power chord to my computer broke and I had to order a new one. Oh, computer issues, how many of my fics have died due to your tyranny. (Seriously, like 3)
Arc 1: Saving the Others
Episode 4
Naveen breathed deeply, leaning back onto the tree. For Pete's sake, why did Tiana have to fall asleep on his leg? Pins and needles taunted it relentlessly. He wanted, no, needed so badly to move and relieve it, but he couldn't disturb his wife like that. She was sleeping so peacefully, especially considering the circumstances.
Darn it, sometimes being a gentlemen was extremely annoying.
Naveen sat back up. He and Phillip were the only ones still awake. Phillip was standing, tending to the horses before he lay down.
"They shouldn't be here." he said, staring at Aurora as she slept with her golden hair sprawled out around her. Snow White and the Prince lay near her, sleeping soundly.
Naveen glanced up at him, a quizzical expression on his face. "What do you mean?"
"I mean we should be handling this. The women should be safe."
Naveen looked back down at Tiana. As irritating as her current placement on his leg was, she did look quite beautiful sleeping there, if frazzled and dirty. Could he do this without her? With her "safe?" (was that even possible right now?) He really couldn't imagine doing anything like this without her. Even if she wasn't necessarily smarter than him (and most definitely not as educated) she kept his head on straight and focused. He needed her.
"I think you don't give them enough credit." Naveen said to Phillip, who shrugged.
"I just don't feel comfortable with them in danger like this."
"Well neither do I!"
Phillip let out a sigh and shook his head. "I just don't know. Where do we go after this?"
"The beach is a bit farther down through the woods." mumbled a soft voice from below them. They both looked down in surprise to see Aurora's bright eyes awake and staring back.
"I'm a light sleeper." She said. Naveen chuckled, but she interrupted him before he could say anything, rolling her eyes, "Please don't make a joke."
She sat up, brushing the grass off her skirt. "If we go longer, we'll eventually run into the ocean."
"It'll be much harder for them to follow us out there." Naveen grinned.
"But how will we get out there?" Phillip pointed out. "We haven't a boat."
The Prince of Maldonia twiddled his thumbs in thought. Breathing deeply, he combed back his curls with his fingers. "I don't know. I guess no sailor would trust us now."
"Besides, where would we go once out at sea? Food would be very limited and…" He paused, placing a hand on his stomach. "Speaking of food, how are we going to eat at all?"
"Tiana made swamp gumbo once." Naveen whispered.
"Oh, great!"
"When we were frogs with considerably smaller appetites."
"Oh, great." Phillip grumbled, rubbing his hand down his face. "I guess we'll need to go hunting in the morning. I wish I had my bow and arrow."
"I wish I had my gun."
"Gun?" Aurora asked, fear in her eyes. "I've seen John Smith carry one, and I don't like it."
"Don't worry, I don't constantly carry mine around like he does." Naveen smiled reassuringly. "They're just some old rifles we kept around the palace, more for social hunting or show than any kind of combat."
"Naveen?" Tiana mumbled, pushing herself off his leg. He gave a silent prayer of thanks. "What are y'all talkin' about?"
"What we're going to do in the morning."
"Oh." She sat up, brushing her tangled curls out of her face. "Well, what have you figured out?"
"Nothing."
"Oh, that's helpful."
"Tiana…" Naveen groaned, "Can we do without sarcasm right now? It's a bit of a stressful time."
"Sorry." She moaned, rubbing her temples. Her head throbbed in pain. "Faldi Faldonza." she cursed, Naveen chuckling at her use of his language. "Hey, I can't swear in English around them."
"Can we go back to sleep?" Aurora said, yawning. "Snow and the Prince are making me envious. Besides, we will probably think better with rest."
Naveen lay down next to Tiana. He had never slept outside as a human before, and it wasn't very comfortable. A chilly breeze blew through the woods, sending shivers down his body. Blinking, he shifted his eyes over to his wife. She lay quiet.
His eyes shut again, but not to sleep. He didn't want her to be here. Not because he thought she could handle it any less than he could, but because he didn't want her in danger. If by any chance she died and he lived, he…he wouldn't know what he would do.
Still, he didn't want to think so darkly. At least, not yet. Things in the Disney Universe work best when you have hope.
He relaxed, falling into the best sleep the circumstances allowed him.
As morning came, tiny specks of sun peeked through the trees, waking Naveen up.
"Tiana, are you awake?" He whispered to her.
"Yeah. And I'm starving." She groaned. Uh oh. Hungry, tired, frustrated Tiana was quite possibly the worst combination in the world.
"We must get moving." Phillip leapt from the ground, untying the horses.
It was then everyone else's turn to groan.
"Must we?" Aurora sighed, brushing her tangled hair out of her face. "I'm still so very tired."
Snow White nodded slowly. "Yes, I am too."
"I'm afraid so." Naveen help Tiana off the ground. She was exhausted too, even if she wouldn't admit it. "We might get caught If we stay in one place for too long."
The women groggily climbed onto the horses. Naveen and Phillip started to lead them through the woods.
"We shall head toward the beach." Phillip said. "Maybe we can find some mode of transportation."
Naveen nodded, somewhat distantly. "I guess."
"What about food?" The Prince naively piped. Naveen glared at him with all his might.
"Do not mention the F word." He threatened.
The Prince nodded quickly, eyes wide.
As they walked, the smell of the forest was slowly replaced with the smell of the sea. Naveen found it rather refreshing. It may not be a good change, but it was at least a change.
Finally, the woods started to thin. More and more sunlight peeked through the leaves, until after another hour or so of walking, the end was in sight.
"Yes!" Naveen almost shouted, before catching himself. There was no knowing who would be on that beach. It could be dangerous if they heard.
And as it turned out, it was.
"Load the ship!" called a very familiar voice. "We can't let any of the cargo escape!"
Naveen stopped the horse. "I'll look." He said.
Worry and fear grew in Tiana's eyes. "But—"
"I'll look." Naveen insisted, his tone hardening. As silently as he could, he followed the voice through the woods. Hiding behind a tree, he spied from around the trunk.
It was Mulan. Or, rather, the fake Mulan.
Servants of the castle were loading cages and boxes onto a huge, beautifully crafted ship. Naveen squinted to see what the cages were filled with.
"Oh no…" Inside were animal companions of all the Disney Princes and Princesses. Pocahontas's little raccoon, Cinderella's mice, even Mushu, until another Mushu jumped from fake Mulan's back and sauntered up to the glaring dragon.
"Well, lookie here. Looks like I'm the king of China now." The fake Mushu's voice didn't sound quite right, as if it was simply an imitation of the real one.
"Oh, man," Mushu fumed, his tail flicking, "When I get out of here—"
"But you ain't getting out of there." Fake Mushu grinned, "Period."
"Mushu!" Fake Mulan called to him, "Stop teasing!"
"Fine!" The dragon ran back to her, grumbling.
Naveen sighed, stepping forward. Even their animal friends were getting replaced? He was glad that Louis was safe at the restaurant…or at least he hoped that was so.
Suddenly, loud cries rang though the air. Flipping his head to the sound, he gasped at what he saw. Four servants were shouting, struggling to hold down…the magic carpet! The carpet pulled and fought, refusing to be boxed up. Naveen watched wide eyed as it tore away from its captors and zipped toward him.
"After it!" Yelled the fake Mulan. Before he knew it, the servants were running right in his direction.
He took off running, feet barely touching the ground. And then…they weren't. He was being lifted into the air by the magic carpet!
"Thank you, my friend." He said to it. It gave a little shake that he took as "you're welcome."
"Can you find the others?" He said. It wiggled again, zig-zagging through the trees until they came into sight.
Naveen leaped off the carpet, landing with a thump on the ground. "Fake Mulan is sending all the others' things out to sea!"
"They must be keeping them somewhere out there!" Phillip exclaimed.
"Yes! So I think we should follow the ship and find them."
The carpet flew in quick circles around Naveen.
"Really?" He asked. Tiana and Phillip glanced at each other, "You'll take us there? Thank you so much!"
"How can you understand what its saying?" They cried in unison. Naveen shrugged.
"I just can." He smiled at the carpet, but then frowned. "But…how will it hold all of us?"
There was a silence. No one wanted to speak up. Finally, Snow White sighed. "I'll stay."
"No!" Tiana grabbed her arm, "You'll get caught!"
"If it helps my friends, then so be it." She was trying so very hard to sound brave, but everyone could tell she was scared to death.
"I'll stay too." Aurora took her hand. "Neither of us are fit for combat. We'll serve better getting caught and protecting you."
"No!" Phillip gripped her shoulders, "I'm not leaving you here! What if they…if they…" he said the last two words in a whisper, "hurt you?"
"They might." Aurora said.
"But they probably won't." Snow White added, "Even if they are replacing our friends, I still feel like they are still, deep down, similar to them. They wouldn't hurt us."
Aurora kissed Phillip gently. "Please, go. Before it's too late."
Reluctantly, he followed Naveen and Tiana onto the carpet. They looked down on the Prince, who was still standing with Snow.
"Go." she whispered. He kissed her cheek, climbing onto the carpet. Finally, it rushed off toward the sea.
"Oh, Naveen." Tiana hugged his chest. "I hope they'll be okay."
Naveen hugged her back. He wanted to reassure her that they will, but he couldn't. He didn't know himself.
He looked out to the horizon, fearing what may be waiting for them on the other side.