Chapter 56: Cherry Tree Lane
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter, now many of you were curious of how Mary Poppins would play into this, well to clear it up Mary Poppins will be to Roxas like Winnie the Pooh was to Sora so that means this won't be the last you see of her. I hope you like it. Please Review and Enjoy.
After returning from Pixie Hollow everyone was enjoying their last days of Summer Vacation while they could, however thanks to their visit to Pixie Hollow they were able to learn the Glide skill, it wasn't as effective as Pixie Dust, but no one seemed to complain about that.
Only two more days left and then summer vacation is over for all of them and trust me everyone was doing whatever they could to make it count.
In the town square Daring, Sparrow, Hayner and Hunter had decided to practice for the Struggle Tournament for the last day and while they didn't know it at the time Darling was nearby practicing herself ready to give the boys a challenge.
Meanwhile in the Mansion Ginger was sitting down with Blondie going over the footage of Pixie Hollow while the others had decided to call their parents, go out shopping, play games, or in Xion and Namine's case get some Sea Salt ice cream.
In his room Roxas was laying on his bed with a smile.
"Finally, a summer vacation that I can say was amazing. I got through a whole month." Roxas sighs. Looking over he saw the book he found in Pixie Hollow. Picking it up Roxas looks at it.
"I wonder if anyone know about this story?" Roxas asks getting up.
Walking into the main room he saw Poppy finishing up styling Holly's hair.
"There you go Holly." Poppy said.
"Thanks Poppy all that gliding around really makes it hard to keep the hair from going everywhere. I don't know how Cupid does it so well." Holly said.
"Hey Holly, Poppy." Roxas said walking over.
"Hey Roxas, what are you up to?" Poppy asks.
"Well I'm trying to figure more about this book, Mary Poppins I'm trying to figure out if it's related to any story from Ever After." Roxas said.
"Well did you try the Hexamination App?" Poppy asks.
"I tried but all it came up with was the Author, P.L Travers." Roxas said as Poppy walked over.
"Well you know what they say the best way to learn from a book is by opening it." Poppy said.
"Got a point there." Roxas said.
When he opens the book a large glow came from it as it engulfed Roxas and Poppy bringing them inside.
"Poppy?!" Holly said started as she ran over to the book. "Oh, my fairy godmother my sister went into a book."
Inside Roxas and Poppy found themselves in a city among the pages.
"Whoa is this the book?" Poppy said surprised.
Looking up at the sign they saw it said Cherry Tree Lane.
"It's like when Sora went into the book Winnie the Pooh." Roxas realized.
"So does that mean this world is safe?" Poppy asks.
Roxas nods. "We'll be fine."
Poppy sighs in relief when they heard some music nearby.
(Play One Man Band Mary Poppins)
Looking over they saw a one-man band was playing outside the gates of the park. He had black hair and dressed like a chimney sweep, this was Bert.
"All right, ladies and gents, comical poem suitable for the occasion.
Extemporized and thought up before your very eyes.
All right here we go.
Room here for everyone gather around, the Constable's responstable
Now how does that sound?
Hello, Ms. Locke have I got one for you
Ms. Locke likes to walk in the park with Andrew." He sang looking at a woman with a dog.
"Ah Mrs. Korin, have I got one for you
Your daughters were shorter than you, but…they grew."
Roxas and Poppy chuckle as they walk towards him. "He's funny." Poppy said. Bert turns to the two of them and grins at an idea for his next poem.
"Young love is beautiful yes it true
It is quite a sight why just look at these two."
Hearing this Poppy and Roxas couldn't help but blush. The two of them look at each other before looking away causing Bert to chuckle. He was about to continue on when a small gust of wind blows in.
"Winds in the East, mist coming in
Like something is brewing about to begin
Can't put my finger on what lies in store
But I feel what's to happen has happened before." Bert smiles.
(Song End)
After Bert finishes his show Roxas and Poppy were about to leave when Bert called out to them.
"Hey wait! Please hold up." Bert said trying to catch up to them. "Sorry about this, just hard to move with all these." He gestured to his instruments.
"Is there something we can help you with?" Poppy asks.
Bert gestures for them to come closer.
"I know why you young ones are here. You're looking for help to answers aren't you?" Bert whispers surprising them.
"How did you know?" Roxas asks.
"You would not be the first to seek the help of Mary Poppins from this book." Bert grins. "Quite a woman she is, she uses her magic to take this book to where the people who need her the most are and then she helps them."
"Wow she sounds amazing." Poppy said.
"Do you know where we can find her?" Roxas asks causing Bert to chuckle.
"No, you don't have to worry about looking for her, Mary Poppins will find you. Just take a seat in the park. Make her search a little easier for you both." Bert suggests.
"Thank you uh..."
"Bert that's name, pleasure to meet you both." Bert said tapping his hat.
"Thank you, Bert." Poppy said.
As Poppy made her way in Bert looks at Roxas.
"You know there's something about you that seems familiar." Bert said getting his attention.
"What do you mean?" Roxas asks.
"Not too long-ago Mary Poppins helped someone else. He went by the name of Mr. Banks and while everyone thought his children were the ones who needed help when Mary Poppins came to visit she had actually came to help him." Bert said.
"What exactly was wrong with Mr. Banks?" Roxas asks.
"He was trapped in a cold heartless bank day after day. Cages come in all sorts of sizes I can see it in your eyes, you're trapped in a cage yourself even." Bert said poking Roxas. "But don't you worry young fella if anyone can give you a good push in the right direction it's good old Mary Poppins." Bert smiles walking away.
Roxas looks to him and smiles. "Hey Bert!" Bert turns around and Roxas throws some Munny his way catching it Bert tips his hat towards Roxas before leaving.
For a few minutes Roxas and Poppy sat in complete silence trying to figure out what to say to each other.
"Only one more day to go." Roxas said getting Poppy's attention. "And then summer vacation is over."
"Yeah it's been quite a month." Poppy said.
"I always assumed I'd never need more than a week for Summer Vacation…then I come to Ever After High and the whole month just went by." Roxas smiles.
"Well to be fair we were pretty occupied." Poppy giggles.
"Still did any of you think you would be able to learn to fly when you agreed to help me?" Roxas asks.
"Next to me meeting a parallel version of my mom you just keep finding ways to surprise us." Poppy said.
"Well you guys definitely make this much more interesting." Roxas smiles
"Just think Roxas soon we'll be back at Ever After High and we'll be starting another year. It's gonna be so hexciting. I heard this year is one where we start looking for what we plan to do after Ever After High." Poppy said.
"Have you given any thoughts?" Roxas asks.
"Well I'm pretty good with hair, maybe I'll open up my own salon someday. How about you Roxas? What do you want to do?" Poppy asks.
Roxas pauses to think. "You know I've never really given much thought to the future outside Ever After High."
"Well you do have your hands full dealing with Xehanort and everything else, so I guess I can't blame you for focusing on that." Poppy said.
"Well you said students figure it out this year maybe something will interest me." Roxas said when a wind blows in towards them. "What is with this weather all of a sudden?" Roxas asks covering his eyes.
Poppy looks up in the air and is surprised at what she sees. "Uh Roxas I think I know why."
Looking up they saw a woman with brown hair, a black coat and hat floating down towards them using an umbrella in one hand and a carpet coated bag in her other hand.
"You're seeing this too right?" Roxas asks as Poppy nods.
The woman lands right in front of them very gently. "Why hello there, it's very nice to meet you both." She smiles. "Are you the holder of my book?"
"Uh." Both of them said not sure what to say.
"My Book, you are the one who found it are you not?" She said as Roxas nods.
"I'm Roxas."
"Poppy O'Hair miss."
"Poppins, Mary Poppins." She smiles surprising them.
"Wait you're Mary Poppins?" Roxas said.
"Yes I am." Mary Poppins walks over to a bench and opens her bag. "Hmm not much room for all of us to sit." Reaching in she pulls out a fancy chair. "There we go." Placing it down Roxas and Poppy were surprised by this.
"What kind of bag is that? And where can I get one of those?" Poppy asks.
"I know quite useful. I never leave home without it. Now can you both please stand up straight?" Mary Poppins asks pulling out a tape measure.
"Sure but what for?" Poppy asks.
"I want to see how you two measure up." Walking over to Poppy. "Please stand up straight, no slouching." Mary Poppins runs it down to her feet. "Ah, very kind, but nervous when it comes to matters of the heart. "Now for you." She said looking at Roxas. When she measures him she looks at him curious. "I see, Loyal to friends, but longs to be accepted. I guess that would be natural for someone in your case."
"Uh Mary Poppins if you don't mind me asking what does it say for you?" Poppy asks.
"If you must. Here hold this end." Mary hands it to Roxas who brings it down to her legs. "Just as I thought, Mary Poppins is perfect in every way."
Poppy and Roxas look at each other not sure what to make of this.
"Now why don't we sit down. Roxas would you mind sitting in the chair while Poppy and I shared the bench?" Mary asks.
"I don't mind." Roxas said sitting down.
"Uh Mary Poppins if you don't mind me asking how did you know I had your book?" Roxas asks.
"Well for starters you're inside it." Mary Poppins smiles. "But to answer your question I travel where the changes, and I appear for people who need me the most and I help them, but in this case, I need a little help from you in return."
"Well helping people is what Roxas is best at he helps everyone at school." Poppy said.
"Yes, indeed are you one of the ones he has helped?" Mary Poppins asks.
"Well, yeah Roxas helped me on the very first day I started." Poppy smiles remembering that day.
"Very interesting, tell me Roxas with you helping all these people who is there to help you when you need it?" Mary asks. "Don't you think you deserve to be helped once in a while?"
"Well I do but…I'm not really sure how they can help me find what I'm looking for." Roxas frowns when he feels Mary Poppins pat him on the head.
"Silly boy, the trick to finding what you want lies in the hearts of those who you have helped and have helped you as well." Mary Poppins smiles.
'The one's I've helped and who have helped me?' Roxas thought confused.
"Uh Ms. Poppins." Poppy said getting her attention.
"Please no Miss, just call me Mary Poppins." She said.
"Well you said you needed Roxas's help. What was it for?" Poppy asks.
"Of course. You see pages of my book are missing. During my travels I lost three pages and I am hoping you could find them for me, so my book can be complete again." Mary said.
"Do you have any clue where they are?" Roxas asks.
"I do, they are located in the world you call Ever After, where I have no clue." Mary Poppins said reaching into her bag and pulling out a teapot and cups. "Would you two like some?"
Both of them take a cup and sip.
After they finished their tea Mary Poppins puts them back inside.
"Roxas, I suppose you have some questions?" Mary Poppins said.
"Yes I do, but I don't even know where to start." Roxas said.
"I think you have one and it's one you've always wanted to know the answer to." Mary Poppins said.
"I just want to exist, be my own person. All my friends, Sora, even the people I fought with in the past they're all existing, but I'm not. Why am I so different from everyone?" Roxas asks.
Poppy was literally fighting back her tears as she wanted to come over and hug him, tell him everything would be okay.
"Roxas the reason is because you are very special. There has always been light and dark, but you are different you are what's in between them. You will face many things in your future, but it won't be easy." Mary Poppins said.
"That's what everyone keeps telling me!" Roxas said standing up. "You have to face challenges, stay true to yourself, but I'm tried of it! I don't know what to do so why can't someone just tell me?!"
"Because Roxas if we told you what to do you would never truly discover it for yourself." Mary Poppins said when a clock chimes loudly. "Oh my, well that will have to be enough for today. You two must be getting back."
"Wait Mary Poppins can I ask you one more question?" Roxas asks.
"Very well." Mary Poppins nods.
"You said the hearts I have helped the most will help me, how will I know who they are?" Roxas asks.
"Because they'll always be ready to step in, to step in, just in time." Mary Poppins smile.
"Will I see you again?" Roxas asks.
"As long as you have my book I will aid in you in whatever way I see fit." Mary said as Poppy and Roxas left the book and appeared back in the mansion startling Holly.
"Are you both okay? Did anything happen?" Holly asks running over to her sister.
"We're fine Holly really. We met some really nice people and nothing bad happened." Poppy giggles.
Holly sighs in relief. "That's good to hear, so Roxas did you figure anything out?"
"I think so, but I'm not sure." Roxas said picking up the book.
From another room Ginger walks in.
"Guys there you are. Come on we're having a little barbeque tonight before the festival tomorrow, everyone's waiting." Ginger calls out.
"We're coming." Holly said walking outside.
As Roxas puts the book down Poppy taps him on the shoulder. "Hey Roxas. Listen I don't know what's going to happen, but I want you to know I'll help you anyway I can."
Roxas smiles hearing this. "Thank you Poppy, you're the best." Roxas gives her a peck on the cheek causing Poppy to turn bright red.
The two of them head outside knowing that after tomorrow their summer vacation is over.
