Jaden was still sat at the kitchen counter a good half hour after Mickey had left, gazing at the door and finishing off the last of the crackers Mickey had abandoned. As she was dusting off any remaining crumbs from her jacket onto the already dirty floor, (I should really run a hoover through this place, Jaden told herself in grimace) she remembered that she still had to pay Merlin a visit now that she had acquired the royal tools. Eyeing the now empty plate on the counter, she placed it near the stove to remind herself to wash it later.

Before she decided to head out in search of the kindly wizard, Jaden, with a final look around the rather lonely house, saw as if for the first time since arriving in this strange world, realised just how desolate the house was in comparison to the one she had back in the real world. Her mind drifted to her family, and whilst she was still trying to figure out what to say to her estranged husband, she had to surprisingly admit that she found herself missing him at rare times. The love for him might not be there, but overall he was still great company to be around.
Then there was her two daughters that came into her minds focus, their small, innocent laughter that was currently absent in this shithole she called a temporary home echoing in her mind. Jaden subconsciously smiled to herself, her girls would have loved this place, the mage picturing their beaming smiles as she told them about her crazy adventures with aiding Merlin the wizard in finding the royal tools, to fishing with Goofy, to baking crackers for Mickey Mouse.

Jaden may not see herself as the hero of Dreamlight Valley, but she knew that to her two kids, she'd be their hero for saving their favourite fictional characters from harm, and it was this thought that caused two lone tears to slip down her cheeks in a pang of longing for them that was lodged deep into her chest. It wasn't until Jaden was left with nothing in this dream world that back home she had everything. A nice house, a stable job, and a family she could be proud of. She wanted nothing more than anything right at this moment to relive those memories of her kids coming to greet her at the door after a long hard day's work, jumping into her arms in a big hug as they retold their days to one another. It was a sobering thought, one that Jaden wasn't going to forget anytime soon.

Pushing aside her loneliness to the task at hand, Jaden headed out of the house in search for Merlin, hoping a conversation with the wizard and the possibility of another job to do would distract her from her depressing thoughts.
It didn't take her very long to locate him standing by the well in the plaza.

Merlin's eyes widened as he saw her approach him. "My word! You've pulled the pickaxe from the stone! Oh, and…look! Now that the enchanted pickaxe is in the hands of someone worthy again, the blasted darkness that's hung over the valley has finally disappeared!" Merlin exclaimed.

"You can call me the 'hero of Dreamlight Valley'!" Jaden said cheerfully, wanting to be sick as soon as the words escaped her mouth. She already had more than enough titles to her name, she certainly didn't want to add another to that growing list.

Merlin chuckled. "No, no, I'm afraid one can't simply decide that they're a hero. That's a title which must be bestowed upon you by your peers. But, I know you'll do many great deeds here and prove yourself worthy, and the royal tools will help you do them! The pickaxe can only be wielded by one who is worthy... which you most certainly are! In your hands, it will spilt rocks with just a swing. The watering can never needs to be refilled. It will speed up the growing process for crops, and keep all that blooms healthy. The fishing rod needs no bait and never gets snagged! With it, you can fish what lies of the bottom of the deepest sea and the shallowest pond. As for the shovel..." Merlin trailed off before running a hand through his thick bushy beard in thought. "Well, it's just a shovel."
Jaden frowned in confusion as she gazed at the not-so magical shovel, Well that explains a lot, she thought with an inward sigh, trying not to think about what a waste of time it was in collecting it.
Merlin continued on, "But a very good one! You'll need it for gardening and finding objects around the valley. I hope you're ready, for its your destiny to bring great change to Dreamlight Valley..."

"What kind of change?" Jaden questioned him.

Merlin shrugged. "Well, that's entirely in your hands."
Jaden raised a brow at this but kept silent as Merlin went on. "You've already started on your journey. Why because of you, I'm remembering how Dreamlight Valley once was and how it can be in the future. We've lost so much, you know, not just memories and tools... but magic and friendship, too," Merlin spoke dejectedly, as if remembering all the lost friends that had still not returned to the Valley. "Those of us who stayed when the Forgetting began have been scattered, some are even trapped. And now that you've found all the royal tools, the wishing well is sensing your newfound powers! You're ready to take on the well's duties and collect the Dreamlight needed to remove Night Thorns from the castle door. Let's start with how it all works."

Jaden felt Merlin's hand fall upon her shoulder as he stood behind her, almost like he was preparing her for some great battle. "Gaze into the well to see what the Valley needs. Completing even the simplest tasks will bring great change and help end the Forgetting... as long as they're done in a spirit of love, care and friendship! Then, once you've gathered enough Dreamlight to remove these pesky Night Thorns from the castle, come and find me!" Merlin clapped her on the shoulder in affection.

And with that, the wizard walked away, leaving Jaden alone by the well with her thoughts. The mage sighed as she watched the retreating back of the old man leave, wondering how he can always be so full of energy at a rather depressing time like this. His village is in ruins, most of his friends are gone and with all these Night Thorns invading the village, it was a miracle how the wizard managed to function without collapsing with hopelessness. If anything, his upbeat attitude to it all inspired Jaden to do better.
Once the wizard was gone from her sight, Jaden pulled out her cigarette packet and lit one with unsteady hands. Taking a deep drag, she noticed Scrooge McDuck pacing around outside his shop in a rather bored manner. Jaden suddenly realised that she had promised to help him get his shop up and running.
Stamping out her cigarette once she was finished, she walked down the path and approached him.

Scrooge's eyes lit up as he saw her heading towards him. "Well done, Jaden! With Goofy back in business, you can make some money. Are you ready to invest? As soon as I open the shop there will be all sorts of furniture and clothing purchases. You can trust me or my name isn't Scrooge McDuck!" He said rather proudly, practically dancing around Jaden in excitement at the prospect of more money.

Jaden smiled at the duck's rather eager nature. It seemed that all the residents of the village could still keep themselves in high spirits despite the gloomy atmosphere around them. Perhaps, Jaden thought, that she could maybe learn a thing or two from these citizens. "Let's open the shop." Jaden said, attempting to make herself sounding just as enthusiastic as Scrooge felt. She handed the duck a thousand coins in a small satchel bag that she just realised she now had.

Scrooge took the satchel gratefully. "Thank you so much, Jaden," he extended a feathered hand for Jaden to take, who grasped it firmly in a business-like handshake.
Scrooge, using his free hand, gestured beside him at the waiting store. "Let's get down to business then, shall we?"