Descendants – A Whole New World
Chapter Four: She's Got A Dream
Rapunzel let out an almost guttural moan as she bit into the pretzel Emily had brought her. "This is so good!" she said, looking at Emily. Who was holding her own. Both Annabeth and Bella had one each, though Bella's was smaller. "I can't believe I've never had one before… This is a pretzel?"
"Yep," said Emily, as she bit into her own, which was still warm. She also let out a small moan of delight. "Ooo, you're right these are amazing. I think I'm gonna have to buy a bunch before I leave to go back to school…"
"You… You don't live here?" asked Rapunzel, frowning. "Will I come with you?"
"I live in a different state… Kingdom… place…" said Emily, looking at Rapunzel with a small smile. "I'd have to ask Ben if you could come back with us, I live at a school currently." Rapunzel's face fell, causing Emily to frown herself before saying "Hey, I'll talk to Ben. I very much doubt he'll say no."
"Why don't we go look around the city, guys?" asked Annabeth, looking at both of them as she changed the subject. "I'm sure we'll find some interesting things to do."
They spent the rest of the day enjoying the city, and at one point Emily let Lupa and Cerberus back out of their balls. Rapunzel had been scared to begin with but soon warmed up to them, playing with both of them. The city was bigger than Auradon, it seemed, but no less interesting. Children were running up and down the streets, without a worry. There were a lot of guards patrolling though, but Emily assumed it was because of the festival. Although she could have sworn she saw Gothel sneaking around, dodging the guards. She shook her head, deciding she'd deal with her another time, probably tomorrow. Before they knew it, it was getting dark and Annabeth led them to the inn.
Emily let out a small smile as she looked over at the sleeping Rapunzel, twenty minutes after getting into the inn, who was using her hair as a hammock and quilt all in one.
Her sister was asleep in the other bed in the room and Bella was curled up in the snug embrace of Lupa and Cerberus, who were asleep by the fire.
She took a deep breath, today had been a long day. She had lied to Rapunzel, something she really didn't like doing. It wasn't like Ben was going to say no to her coming back to Auradon Prep, but she knew that once Ben took them up to the castle, the King and Queen were gonna recognise Rapunzel. And then they were gonna be split up. Something she had implied wouldn't happen…
She took a second deep breath, before placing her head on the pillow and closing her eyes. Praying for sleep to take over her mind.
She blinked a few times as she found herself sat down at a desk in a very familiar classroom. A classroom she hadn't seen in a very long time, since before Pokearth…
She let out a small smile, as she looked down at herself, seeing she was in her school uniform.
"I suppose somebody wants me to think Auradon was all a dream," she said, as she stood up. "I know my dreams though, I'm very adept at recognising when I'm dreaming."
"You always have been," came Rose's voice, from behind her. She turned to see Rose sat at their desk, smiling at her. "You need some help again."
"And you already know why I need your help," said Emily, with a small smile as she sighed, before walking over to the desk. "Do you think dream M Four has the same stash Stella had?"
"It's your dream, sweetie," said Rose, looking at her. "So you're not going to talk about Rapunzel? About how you seem to think you've lied to your favourite Disney Princess?"
"I did lie to her," said Emily, as she pulled the desk drawer open and pulled out a box marked 'Archer'. She opened it and frowned. Nothing. No sweets. "Damn, dream M Four is boring."
"You didn't lie to Rapunzel, Em," said Rose, shaking her head. "You and I both know you're gonna talk to your boyfriend about enrolling her into Auradon Prep, and we both know that he's gonna say yes." She looked at Emily. "I know it's difficult knowing how the stories of certain people end, but we both know Rapunzel has a happy ending."
"Of course I know that," said Emily, looking at Rose with a sigh. "But she's still a real person, I'm no Gwenpool. I still feel bad for lying to her…" Rose raised an eyebrow. "OK, so I'm not lying to her exactly but..." She sighed again, before sitting on top of the desk. "I'm still not being entirely truthful with her." Rose gave her a small smile, as Emily lent back, closing her eyes. "I know what you're gonna say, Roe, I'm overreacting, but Rapunzel is my favourite princess…"
"And you feel bad deceiving her but you and I both know it's for the greater good," said Rose, pointing out the obvious. "We did it all the time when we were with M.I.5."
"But I didn't care for the people at Saint Hopes," said Emily, looking at her. "You and Carrie were the best things there." Rose let out a scoff, causing Emily to roll her eyes before adding "Fine, Oscar as well." Rose laughed as Emily continued "It's… It's just harder to deceive a friend." She sighed, before looking at the ceiling. "Thanks Roe, I feel slightly better now. You always knew how to calm me down."
"Well, distracting you with other means never really worked," said Rose, looking at her, with a cheeky smile. "I had to learn to improvise."
Emily laughed, before they both heard the door creak and turned, to see the door opening on its own. She looked at it with a small smile before saying "I guess my brain is telling me it's time to wake," as she slipped off the desk. "I'll probably see you again sometime, Roe. It's not like my guilt's going to go anywhere."
Emily soon found herself back in the room she was renting with her sister and Rapunzel in the inn, with sunlight filtering in through the shutters on the window. She sat up in bed, a small smile playing on her lips, which became a slight frown when she saw Rapunzel's hair cocoon in the corner. Obviously, the talk with Rose hadn't completely cleared her feelings of guilt, especially when she saw how peaceful the princess was as she slept. She took a deep breath, as her phone beeped from the table causing her to look at it, and let out a small smile. She put it to her ear and said "Hey Benny Boy, checking up on me?"
"Well, after how you left yesterday, I needed to be sure you hadn't ran," came Ben's voice, making Emily sigh. She had left Auradon Prep rather suddenly. "We'll be in Corona at ten, I take it you're not in the forest otherwise we wouldn't be talking right now."
"I'm at the inn, with my sister and, erm, a new friend," said Emily, looking over at Rapunzel, with a small sigh. "I promised her I'd ask you if she could join Auradon Prep, she's our age."
"Of course, everybody's welcome at Auradon Prep. Though it would be up to her parents to let her come, doesn't Corona already have a school?" said Ben, as Emily slipped out of the bed. "I can't wait to meet your sister and new friend later."
"I can't wait for you to meet them as well," said Emily, as she magicked her pyjamas off, replacing them with ordinary clothes. "Where are you staying? We can meet you there."
"The castle. In fact I believe they're actually waiting for you there right now," was Ben's reply, as Emily used her magic to open the shutters. Causing a groan from the second bed. "I told them you were coming yesterday, they've had a room set up for you."
"We'll wait for you to get here before we head up there," said Emily, with a small smile. "Seems safer than three random girls just walking up the gates. Even if they are expecting me." She walked over to the open window and looked out, to see a few kids running down the street with a group of four guards patrolling, as she continued "I'll see you later, Ben. It'll be good to see you again." She felt a nudge on her leg and looked down to see Lupa pushing her head against it, making Emily chuckle before she started stroking the Mightyena, as she and Ben said their goodbyes.
Half an hour later, the three were stood by the pretzel stand, having breakfast. "So we have a few hours before my friend gets here," said Emily, looking at Rapunzel. "If I remember what I've read correctly, the festival starts any minute." She smiled. "I believe it starts in the main courtyard with what they call the Kingdom Dance." She looked at Rapunzel. "You wanna go see?"
"That sounds amazing," said Rapunzel, with a grin. "Let's go!" She ran off, with Bella following. Emily laughed as Annabeth looked over at her.
"You're sure this is a good idea?" asked Annabeth, as she fed Lupa a piece of her pretzel. "Letting her run around town like this…"
"We're the only ones who know who she really is right now," said Emily, looking at her sister. "We will keep her safe."
"I hope you're right, Em," said Annabeth, watching Rapunzel run off ahead with Bella on her shoulder. "I do hope you're right."
Ten minutes later, they were stood in the town square watching Rapunzel dance with the townspeople. The moment was short-lived for Emily when she saw a familiar woman in a red dress and black cloak slinking around in the background, dodging the many city guards patrolling.
"Keep Rapunzel safe," said Emily, looking at Annabeth. "I'll be right back, just gotta go and do something."
Annabeth nodded, as Emily walked over to a pair of guards at the side, with Cerberus following her.
"Can we help you, young lady?" asked one of the guards, looking at Emily, managing to ignore Cerberus. "As you can see, we're rather busy."
"Oh I'm sure you're very busy watching a sixteen year old dance," said Emily, looking at them while rolling her eyes. "But this is important…" They were ignoring her, in favour of watching the dance. She sighed before reaching into her bag and pulling out a black wallet. She stomped her foot as she said "Excuse me, I'm from M.I.5!"
The two guards instantly stood to attention, before one of them said "Why didn't you say so, ma'am. We were told to keep an eye out for you… Though we were also told there would be more than one of you."
"My partner's over there, and the others are on their way," said Emily, keeping her cool. She was internally screaming, how did these guards in Corona know about an organisation she had been apart of in her universe? She decided to shake it off for the moment, getting back to the more important matter at hand. "I presume we've been allowed to do whatever it takes to find the missing princess?" The guard nodded, making Emily grin. "Good. Because I need you to make sure nobody leaves this city. People can come in, but nobody leaves. I have it on good authority that that sixteen year old dancing over there is the missing princess. And the person who kidnapped her is here."
"Whose authority is that then?" asked one of the guards, looking at Emily, confused.
"My own," said Emily, rolling her eyes again. These guards… "Can I have your word that nobody leaves?"
"Of course, ma'am," said the guard, nodding. "What else do you want us to do?"
"Nothing," said Emily, looking at him. "Leave it to me." With that she took off, Cerberus following.
She found Mother Gothel trying to slink away in the alleyways. "Hello again, Gothel," said Emily, looking at the woman. Gothel turned with a scowl, pulling a dagger out of her sleeve. Cerberus' mouth immediately light up with flames, and Emily smiled before saying "Now, we can do this the easy way where you realise you're out gunned and I can calmly take you to the City Guards."
"If you haven't noticed, it's just you and me, little girl," said Gothel, looking at Emily. "You and that mutt."
"That 'mutt' is currently gearing up to burn you, Gothel," said Emily, looking at the woman. "Look, I know your life is spiralling out of control right now. And I know that you think it's all my fault for taking Rapunzel from you. For bringing her here to see the lanterns. But believe me, you were bound to be found out. Come with me now and I will be kind."
Gothel looked between Emily and Cerberus, before attempting to throw the dagger at Emily. Cerberus immediately let out the Flamethrower he had been holding, turning the dagger into ash before it could reach his trainer, and Emily smiled as she stroked his head. At the same time as Gothel's eyes went wide.
"Don't say I didn't warn you," said Emily, sounding resigned. "Cerberus, use Thunder Fang." The Dark Pokemon immediately ran at Gothel, who attempted to flee down another alleyway, with sparks coming from his mouth. Emily turned her head with a sigh as she reached into her bag and pulled out a pair of handcuffs, before hearing a female scream followed by a growl as Cerberus began dragging Mother Gothel's twitching conscious body towards his trainer. "I guess it really is a scary world out here," she said, as she pulled the woman's arms behind her back and handcuffed her. She pulled Gothel up, while leaning in and whispering "Rapunzel is protected now, Gothel. Remember that," before pushing the old woman towards the entrance of the alleyway.
She marched Gothel right up to the palace gates, with Cerberus at her side making sure Gothel didn't try to escape. "You really think this place'll hold me?" asked Gothel, after Emily had announced herself at the gates, showing her M.I.5 identification card. "I'll escape, and I'll come after you and all those you hold dear."
"I don't think this place will hold you at all," said Emily, looking at Gothel. "But where you're actually going to go? That place will definitely hold ya." She smirked, just as the gates opened and the guard returned with another one, in fancier armour. "Ah, captain, I presume the guard told you who this is?"
"Yes," said the captain, looking at Emily. "We weren't expecting you M.I.5 lot till later." He looked Gothel up and down. "This is the woman who took the princess? How did you find her?"
"A very happy accident," said Emily, looking at him. "I was trying to find the origin of the signal jammer in the woods. The trees are not thick enough to disrupt the signal as well as it supposedly does." She gave him a small smile. "Look, I'll tell you everything later, right now I think the princess is wondering where I am… She's safe, don't worry, she's with my sister. But I should probably get back to her." She pushed Gothel towards the captain. "Do you have your own manacles? I need those handcuffs back, they're kinda sentimental." The captain grabbed Gothel and held out his other hand. The other guard placed a pair of manacles in his hand and Emily quickly uncuffed Gothel. She placed the handcuffs back in her bag and began walking off.
"YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS LITTLE GIRL!" shouted Gothel, as Emily and Cerberus walked off.
Emily simply chuckled as she turned and began walking backwards. "I don't think so, Gothel. Turns out, Mother doesn't always know best." She smirked before turning back around and walking down the street.
"Do I want to know where you went?" asked Annabeth, as Emily rejoined her sister back at the town square. Rapunzel was still dancing with the townspeople, alongside Bella, and didn't seem to be slowing down. "And did it have something to do with the woman we both saw trying to dodge guards earlier."
"She's in the castle dungeons now," said Emily, shrugging, as she lent against the wall Annabeth was also leaning against. Cerberus had rejoined Lupa. "Won't be bothering us again, not after they send her to the Isle."
"For somebody who's only been here a few days you do know a lot about Auradon," said Annabeth, looking at her sister.
"The Descendants films were some of my favourites, both of them," said Emily, with a smile. "It's a shame I never got to see the third one… I would have liked to be even more prepared." She looked over at Rapunzel, who was laughing as she danced with four little girls with red hair. "Plus, I only really know Auradon Prep and the Isle… The rest of the world, including the rest of Auradon Central, is a mystery to me."
"And you're alright with that? Miss Has To Know It All," said Annabeth, looking at Emily, with a knowing smirk.
Emily rolled her eyes just as Rapunzel ran over to them, with Pascal and Bella on her shoulders, at the same time as Emily's phone went off. She immediately took it out of her bag and smiled. "Are you done dancing, 'punze? That friend I mentioned, Ben, he's just arrived at the castle with his family."
"The castle?" asked Rapunzel, grinning as she looked at Emily. "You know the King and Queen?"
"Not yet, but I do know the king and queen of Auradon Central," said Emily, smiling. "Ben, he's their son."
"I'm gonna get to meet a prince?" asked Rapunzel, with wide eyes. "Can we go now?"
"Well, I was about to ask if you were ready," said Emily, chuckling slightly. "Castle's this way." She turned to Annabeth. "You joining us, sis?"
"Wouldn't miss meeting my sister's friend," said Annabeth, smiling. "Or Queen Belle."
"Of course," said Emily, with a knowing smirk. As Bella jumped back onto her shoulder, and Lupa and Cerberus stood up, ready to leave. "Come on, let's get going." She walked off, tapping at her phone.
The twenty minute walk up to the castle gates was quiet, with Rapunzel looking around the town in awe. Emily was cradling Bella in her arms like a baby, the Pikachu had worn herself out dancing and was now asleep. Lupa and Cerberus were walking between Emily and Annabeth.
Soon enough, they reached the castle gates and found Ben waiting for them outside. He grinned as soon as he saw them, and went to say something before he noticed the sleeping Bella. "Hey Emily," he said, quietly as to not wake Bella. "These your friends?"
Emily nodded before saying "Ben, meet my sister, Annabeth, and my new friend, Rapunzel." She saw Ben's eyes go wide, and she immediately lent in and whispered "Please don't freak out, she doesn't know yet."
"OK," whispered Ben, while nodding. "You are going to tell her, right?"
"I didn't want to freak her out right away, but yes I am going to tell her," was Emily's response, before straightening up. "Bella's starting to get heavy, did you say they had a room set up for me?" She then looked up at the sky, which was beginning to have dark clouds in it. "Plus I think it's going to rain, so we should probably get inside."
"I can't believe they're letting me stay in here with you," said Rapunzel, as she looked around the small guest room in the Corona castle. Emily had placed, the still sleeping, Bella on one of the cushions of the single queen sized bed and was now hanging her coat on the hook while keeping her bag on. Lupa and Cerberus were curled up in front of the fireplace. "This place is amazing."
"Yeah, it's pretty sweet," said Emily, smiling as she took a seat on the windowsill. Before sighing and looking over at Rapunzel. "Listen, Rapunzel, I need to tell you something important… Something I probably should have told you when we first met." She gave Rapunzel a small smile. "You might want to sit down."
Rapunzel looked confused as she began weaving a chair out of her hair and sat down. "Is everything alright?"
"Everything's fine, Rapunzel," said Emily, with a smile. "It's a good thing, I promise." She took a deep breath. "I have been keeping something from you, however… You were born here in this castle, to the king and queen. You're a princess, 'punze."
"What?" asked Rapunzel, her eyes going wide. "I'm not… That can't be right…" She frowned. "How?"
"Gothel kidnapped you because of your hair," said Emily, with a small smile. "I'm sorry, Rapunzel, but when your mother was pregnant with you she got…" She paused for a moment, trying to think of the right words. "Very ill." There was a brief silence as Rapunzel frowned, before Emily continued "Out in the world somewhere, there was this flower that Gothel used to stay young. After every use of it, she would hide it, but one night she got spooked by the city guards and didn't hide it well enough…" Emily took a deep breath. "Your father had sent out the city guard to find the flower, knowing of its healing properties. They found it and saved your mother, and you were born with your beautiful blonde hair." She sighed. "A few days later, Gothel slipped into your parents room and tried to steal a piece of your hair… It didn't work for her though, so she took you and kept you locked up in that tower."
"How do you know that?" asked Rapunzel, frowning.
"It's history here," said Emily, shrugging. "Well, the whole thing involving your parents and your kidnapping. The bit with Gothel I know about because I spoke to her." She let out a small smile. "She's currently in the dungeons, if you want to verify my story." Rapunzel immediately stood up, her hair losing the chair shape, before she ran out of the room. Emily sighed and grabbed her phone out of her bag and tapped at it.
Minutes later, Emily was walking into the castle entrance hall with her bag on. Lupa and Cerberus were back in her room, keeping an eye on Bella, in case she woke up. "There's no sign of her in the dungeons," said Annabeth, after walking up from some stairs and was now stood next to her sister. "Do you know where she could have gone?"
"I have ideas," said Emily, looking at Annabeth with a small smile. "Probably somewhere she knows like the tow…" She trailed off when she saw the door opening and two city guards leading a group of familiar people inside. Causing her to gasp. "Rose?!"
"Emily?!" asked Rose, looking at her. "Are you…" She immediately grinned and ran up to Emily, allowing them both to embrace in a kiss.
I hope you enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed writing it.