Brittany's Point of View

After a morning of shopping for different clothes, Dad agreed to let me go to Merlin's to see if he would let me visit Pooh. I knocked on Merlin's door, and he answered soon after. "Ah, hello there, Brittany. To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Well, Mr. Merlin, sir, I was wondering if I might be able to take a look at... a special book. The one about the Hundred Acre Woods?" I requested.

"You want to visit the Hundred Acre Woods, do you? Very well. Come in," Merlin agreed, moving back into his house. I followed him, and a book flew onto a book stand. "Go ahead and take a look at the book whenever you are ready."

I raced to the book and opened it up as fast as I could, desperate to meet my long-lost friend. A blinding light flashed before my eyes, and I was on the book's pages when I could see again. The compass in the top-right corner was my way out. I looked at what areas were available. I figured the best place to start would be Pooh's house. I walked up to it. "How do I get in?" I kneeled down and touched the picture, and I was suddenly falling. Down, down, down, faster, faster, and faster, until suddenly, I hit solid ground, and there I was, right in front of Pooh's house. I knocked on the door, and Pooh answered it. "Hi. Do you know me?" I wondered.

"Brittany? Hm. Something's different about you," Pooh mused.

"I got taller," I explained.

"Oh, yes. That must be it. Do you have any honey?" Pooh wondered.

"I don't. I wish I did, though. I'll bring you more honey later, okay?" I smiled. He remembered me. I had been waiting all my life for this moment, and I hadn't even known it. "Do you think the others will want to play?"

"I don't see why they wouldn't. In fact, I was getting ready for a party at Rabbit's house," Pooh mentioned.

"A party? Can I come?" I asked.

"I don't see why not. All our friends are invited. I don't see why you wouldn't be as well. You're our friend, too. I was just on my way. Shall we?" Pooh offered his hand to me, and I took it.

"I would go anywhere with you," I replied. We left Pooh's house, and I got sucked back onto the pages. I raced to Rabbit's house and fell back in the book. Pooh was already there, along with Piglet, Rabbit, Eeyore, Owl, Lumpy, Roo, Kanga, Gopher, and Tigger. Some of them were sitting at a table while some of them were mingling.

"Oh me, oh my! Is that Brittany?!" Rabbit exclaimed.

"Yes. I know I've been gone a long time. I lost my memories," I brought up.

"Oh, d-d-d-dear. That's awful. I remember when Pooh lost his memories. Did you forget about us?" Piglet fretted.

"Well, Piglet, my brain forgot about all of you, but my heart never did. Deep down, I remember you, and I carry that with me every day. I'm sorry to say I don't remember everything about our time together, but I remember all of you in a different way. You have all been with me in one form or another," I said.

"You probably don't have any memories of me. I'm just that forgettable," Eeyore grumbled.

"Oh, Eeyore," I laughed.

"I have an idea! Let's change this party from a spring party to a coming home party for Brittany!" Roo suggested.

"Hoo hoo hoo hoo! That sounds like a tiggerific idea!" Tigger agreed.

"Welcome back, Brittany," Kanga smiled.

"Three cheers for Brittany!" Tigger prompted.

Everyone started cheering. "Hip hip, hooray! Hip hip, hooray! Hip hip, hooray!"

I giggled. "Thank you so much, everybody!"

"Well, I didn't know you were coming, but luckily, I do have a cake ready. And of course, honey. Before that, however, I have a meal of vegetable stew, fruit salad, acorn soup, and lemonade," Rabbit mentioned.

I was speechless. The characters of Winnie the Pooh were making a big deal out of my return. I never imagined that I would be in that situation in a million years. It was an incredible moment for me. When I realized everyone was looking at me expectantly, I knew I needed to say something. "I'm so happy to be here. I don't know how long I can stay, and I don't know when I'll be able to return, but I'm so glad I'm here now. Thank you for this last-minute coming-home party. I am so honored to be your guest of honor. Probably more honored than you realize. I'm so happy to be here, and I can't stress that enough. It's been a subconscious lifelong dream. Thank you, friends, and enjoy the party."

Owl raised his glass of lemonade. "Here, here!"

The others followed suit and toasted to me. I sat at the table, and Rabbit placed a plate and a bowl in front of me and told me to help myself. I took some of everything. After we finished eating, Rabbit brought out the cake and honey for dessert. The honey looked more like honey from the movies and shows than honey from my world. I ate it happily alongside the cake. It was a yellow cake with chocolate frosting. Simple yet delicious. "It's so good to have you back, dear," Kanga commented.

I felt a pang in my heart. A part of me recognized her that was so close I could almost touch it but still so far out of reach. I wanted so desperately to reconnect with my long-lost memories. I suddenly wasn't in the Hundred Acre Woods. I was in the dark. A small girl stood before me with shoulder-length black hair and brown eyes wearing a blue top and a green skirt with brown shoes. It didn't take long for me to realize why she seemed familiar. "Are you me?"

The girl smiled. "It's good to see our friends again. I hope we'll remember them soon."

"What do I have to do?" I asked.

"Deep down, you already know. Namine should be able to help you, but as you know, it comes with a price," The younger me replied.

I didn't say anything as the heaviness of a reminder crashed over me like a wave.

"Are you alright?" I was startled as Kanga's voice snapped me back to reality.

"Yeah. I guess my brain just wandered away for a second," I laughed.