New Orleans

Ben, Lonnie and Jane were transported to New Orleans, precisely in the Swamp. The king had been there several times before. He loved going to parties when he was little, but he had never been there, even though it was in that particular place that most of Tiana and Naveen's story took place.

"Ben, where are we?"

Lonnie asked after a quick scan of the place. Mud, dark water, little light and she was sure there were wild animals there.

"New Orleans, I just don't know where."

Ben said, looking for some clue to his location.

"I don't like this place, seriously, it's not cool..."

Jane talked non-stop. With fear running, she couldn't stop talking and couldn't think of anything. However, the princess heard a suspicious noise that caught her attention.

"Jane, shut up!"

Lonnie asked, while trying to make sense of the noise.

"What did you hear? Is it an animal?"

The girl kept talking non-stop. An enormous animal appeared behind them.

"I don't believe it."

That's all Ben said when he saw the shadow of the gigantic beast. Unlike Lonnie, who had already pulled out his sword and got into a fighting stance.

"Hey, good guys." The terrifying animal said to them, offering its paw. Even though in theory they shouldn't be frightened by such things, it was inevitable to feel afraid, except for Lonnie, who remained on guard. "Hold on, haven't you ever seen a talking crocodile?"

"Wait, Louis?"

"King Ben! How are you?"

The animal passed in front of the girls and headed towards him.

"Sorry I didn't recognize you, Lonnie this is Louis from Tiana's restaurant."

He tried to convince her that he was the trumpeter who played in her favorite restaurant.

"Louis? You look so different."

"Yeah,I've lost weight, I'm trying a new diet, it's been a while since we've seen each other, guys."

The animal joked with them, who were already laughing with him, including Jane.

"There's been a lot going on recently, you have no idea."

The boy tried to justify his absence.

"A witch is terrorizing Auradon and destroying everything? Yeah, the news is all over the place. Oh, she wants to put an end to Fairy Tales."

He gave a great summary of what was going on.

"Where are we Louis?"

Lonnie asked.

"Swamp, Mama Odie asked for you."

"Mama what?"

Jane wanted to know, as did the other two.

"Don't you know her? You people from the big city are funny."

They walked off led by the swamp animal

"How is everything here? The center and the people?"

Ben asked worried about the town that had been destroyed by one of Agatha's whirlwinds.

"Bad, it's destroyed, the restaurants, the houses, she destroyed everything Ben. Naveen and the people from the town hall have been trying to get people back here, at least for now."

Louis told him the absolute truth.

"Where have they been staying?"

"Some in huts and those who are hurt the most there with Mama Odie."

"This Mama Odie, I know her from Tiana's books, but I've never seen her in person."

"That's because she never leaves here, it's just her, Juju and the cauldron."

"Juju?"

"Her pet snake."

"Okay, nothing strange."

"She's the one who sent for you."

"Did she know we were coming?"

"And what doesn't she know? Hurry up and we'll be there soon."

And indeed, they did. A house on top of a tree stump that made them question their safety. It was funny how most things had changed and modernized, but at the same time retained the essence of twenty years ago.

"King Ben! Good to see you."

Naveen went to hug him as soon as they appeared on the small balcony of the house.

"Hi, how's everything?"

Ben asked.

"As you'd imagine when you're attacked."

"This is Lonnie and Jane."

"China's best warrior and the fairy girl. Mama Odie is waiting for you."

"Do you need anything?"

Jane asked, observing the many people.

"Since you asked..."

They continued to stand there, while Ben walked over to where the woman was standing.

"Excuse me." Ben walked around the house and observed how frightening the place was. There were several people being treated for injuries, but the fear came from the glass on the shelves. "I am... I am... is that snake dead?"

"You're King Benjamin, aren't you? She's alive, get out of there Juju." A lady of small stature, black, wearing white clothes and glasses appeared, scaring Ben, but no more than the yellow snake coming out of the bookcase towards her "Don't worry, it doesn't bite, normally." She kept banging on things until the snake appeared and helped. Ben wasn't going to ask, but deduced that she couldn't see.

"How do?...how do?"

Ben wanted to ask a lot of questions, but no words came out of his mouth.

"How do I know your name? Who are you? Or how do I see you? It's a joke." She said laughing, "I can't see you."

He relaxed, still afraid, and laughed.

"Do you know where Harry is?"

Ben asked, wondering why he had gone there.

"Lucas? He's outside helping Tiana."

"Is that what he calls himself now?"

"I was going to tell you the truth, but I can't play that role and it wasn't the right time. Everything has its moment, you know that?"

"Yeah, I hope so."

"Relax, kid, you'll be able to beat Agatha. You have to, in fact."

"What? Why?"

"It's just the way things are. Everything has a beginning and an end. And the other prophecy has to be fulfilled."

"What? More prophecies? Doesn't it end?"

Ben complained like a child.

"What a nervous king. This prophecy is good, the best I've seen in years. You'll like it, you and Mal."

"Shall we? What's it about?"

"I'm not going to tell you, you'll know soon enough. You have things to sort out first."

"Don't remind me."

"You're a good king, but if you want my advice. Fix your legs, because you're going to be working a lot harder than you think in this kingdom."

"What do you mean, Mama Odie?"

"You know that being good or evil is a choice. These people are bad, but they think they're great heroes. Mal, you and your friends are going to have to fight hard to put an end to these senseless wars, but you know what? She's going to win it all."

"Yeah, Mal really is incredible."

"Mal?" The lady laughed at his innocence. "You don't know what's in store for you." She laughed in a way that left him at a loss for words. Mama Odie wouldn't say what he wouldn't understand at that moment, since she wasn't talking about Mal. What really scared Ben was the lady coughing and falling on top of him.

"Mama Odie?"

Ben was startled to see her fall into his arms.

"Calm down, boy, it's just a weakness, it'll pass." She said helplessly. "Calm down Juju, it's just... my magic." The snake's eyes were full of water.

"Mama Odie! Mama Odie! That woman you said, she...she's taking away everyone's magic. Mama Odie!"

Someone was shouting and calling out to the woman, while Ben was still there holding her.

"Over here! She's here!"

The king shouted so that the person could see her.

"Mama Odie? Mama Odie!? Oh my God! What happened?"

A man ran towards them, picking up the old woman on his lap.

"She fainted, I came here and she...Harry?"