Back at the Swan Lake, on a dark night when the moon is shining, it has been a couple of days since Madison was a swan. She's been sitting close to the water and stared at the moon. She started to touch her chest for a moment but forgot that she's not wearing her necklace. Rothbart has been asking her twice on some days if she knew where the necklace was, but her answer was still a lie to him. She let out a sigh and continued to stare at the moon, thinking about Alex, Zor, and her family. Hopefully, they're alright and still hoped that she won't stay as a swan forever. But then she thought of something else as she remembered what Odette said to her about try to do magic without the necklace.
She looked around, making sure if anyone's not around, especially Rothbart, but thankfully no one was there. Madison took a deep breath and looked at her hands. For what she was trying to do, was creating a light orb in her hands but the light was flickering. Madison tries to focus more until the orb faded. She groaned in frustration tries again but the orb kept on disappearing again and again.
'I guess... I really do need to be close to my necklace to do magic or maybe I can't since I'm under a spell.' she thought but she decided to try again as she was not giving up.
"May I sit with you?" a voice spoke.
Madison stopped for a moment and turned around to see Odette standing behind her.
"Yes. Of course." she answered.
The princess smiled a little and gracefully sat beside her and looked at the moon.
"The moon is always so beautiful up there every night." Odette spoke.
"Yes... it is."
"I just can't imagine every night it goes down and... turning back into a swan in the morning."
"Unless love breaks it."
"Yes. No matter how long it takes. I'm not giving up on searching for Derek."
Madison looked at her for a moment as she heard Derek's name. The dear prince that she loved him so. She even thought of her dear Alex and wondered if he might be with the prince if he's in this world.
"This Derek, you mentioned. What's he like?" Madison questioned and Odette looked at her with a surprise and confused look.
"No one has ever asked me about Derek before."
"Um... is that wrong to ask?"
"Oh! No, it isn't wrong to ask. I know Derek when I was a little girl. Both my father and his mother arranged for us to spend time together at every summer. We never get along every-time." said Odette and Madison starts to listen about him. "Derek can be reckless as a young boy."
"But did you two fell in love, right?" Madison asked.
"Well..." Odette continued, "During our teenager years, we got along quite fine. I always talk into Derek by playing dress and play a game of cards. I always win. Years later after that, it was our time to meet and... We saw each other looking at each other like we have some-kind of connection. Derek turned from the reckless little boy into a handsome man."
Madison smiled at the moment until she notices that the princess frowned but knew that she wasn't finished.
"The last time we saw each other after saying things we... I asked him is beauty all that matters to him and he said...What else is there..."
"'What else is there'?" Madison repeated the last words from her. "That's all he had to say?"
"Yes." she answered. "With those words, the arrange marriage was off and my father and I leave to go back to my home until..."
"'Til Rothbart came and took you." Madison replied and Odette sadly nods.
"This is the last time I ever seen my father. I got carried away when I cried out to him and..."
Odette tries to finish her sentence until she starts sobbing. Madison looked at her with sadness in her eyes and quickly wrapped her arms around the princess for comfort.
"He looked so weak since the attack..." said the princess as she kept on sobbing.
Madison didn't say anything but hearing the princess's words mentioning about her father, a tear came streaming down her cheek and Madison wiped it away.
"I'm... I'm really sorry for your loss." she spoke to Odette.
"You weren't there, Madison. You don't have to apologize..."
"But I'm sure your father wants you to be strong. That is something my parents want me to do."
"Really?" Odette asked and Madison nods her head as a reply. Odette smiled a little as she wiped away her tears and looked at the moon, but a question came to her mind as she looked at Madison. "Well... since I told you about Derek, what about you? Do you have someone you love?"
"I do." Madison replied with a smile as she looked at the moon.
"So, what was he like?"
"His name is Alex. He's brave, loyal, kind, good with people, and he is handsome. He works as a guard from a different kingdom that is filled with music and love. But decided to take a break as guard and decides to travel with me, but he is still welcomes as a guard to the kingdom."
"He means so much to you."
"He does. But now Rothbart separated me from him and the necklace..." Madison paused for a moment and looked around for a bit to see if anyone is around. She leaned closer to Odette and whispered, "Is with Alex."
Odette couldn't believe the words she just heard as she looked shock.
"So... it's safe in his hands?" she whispers back to her.
"I'm pretty sure. Just when Rothbart took me, Alex tries to reach for me, but he somehow accidently grabbed my necklace."
"I wonder why Rothbart wants to get his hands on your necklace."
"The one thing I know about villains, back in my adventures. They want more power."
"I guess he just wants the power from your necklace for himself."
"That's right. And he will not get his hands from it. Not even find out where it is."
"I'm not gonna let this happen. No matter how long Rothbart does... We'll never give in." said Odette and Madison smiled to her.
"Thank you, your highness."
"Please, call me Odette."
Suddenly, the two heard a loud scream from the distance that was actually sounded familiar.
"Isn't that...?"
"Jean-Bob!" Odette spoke as she quickly got up and follow the sound.
Madison got up as well and follow Odette as they came close to the castle, but then stopped as they saw Jean-Bob flying back and forth on a stick he was holding onto, and the alligators tried to catch him while Speed tries to help him.
"What is that crazy frog doing?" Madison questioned.
Odette didn't reply as she watched but she has to do something. Madison noticed her moving and quickly followed her until she saw the princess grabbed onto the cattail stick and stopped Jean-bob from swinging.
"Grab to me! Grab to me!" the frog shouted as he was close to Speed.
Madison covers her mouth as she was about to laugh while Speed looked at the frog in confusion until he smiled as he looked up to see Odette and Madison.
"Hold my arm! Hold my leg! Hold my – hold it, hold it, hold it."
Jean-Bob stopped screaming as he looked up to see the girls looking at him. He smiled sheepishly and got down.
"Oh, thank you, Odette. Thank you. Here, let me have that." he said, and Odette gave him the stick. "Silence, you savages!" he let go of the stick as it catapults and hit one of the alligators.
Jean-Bob laughed for victory until the stick came back and hits him.
"Ooh! That's going to leave a mark." said Madison as she looked at the frog.
"Are you alright, Jean-Bob? Jean-Bob?" Odette looked at him in concern.
"Oui, oui, oui, Odette, yes, I'm all right." he answered as he starts getting up.
"What in the world were you trying to do?" the princess asked.
"Don't you realize how dangerous it was to go against the alligators?" Madison questioned.
"He thought that if—" Speed tries to explain but Jean-Bob shushed him.
"I wanted to get those flowers for you." the frog said as he looked at the princess.
Odette and Madison looked at each other and smirked as they looked back at him.
"You're being sneaky again, Jean-Bob." Odette spoke.
"What sneaky? You deserve a nice bouquet." said the frog.
"And you deserve a kiss."
"Well, all right." Jean-Bob puckered his lips and wait for the kiss, but he fell.
Madison smiled as she shook her head. She still remembers the deal she made for the frog. But for Jean-Bob's... impatience, he has a backup plan. Getting a kiss from a princess and he'll be a prince. Still, she still wonders what Jean-Bob looks like as a human for real. Can't be like the prince at the end of film or the second movie. Suddenly, her thoughts snapped as she heard Odette's voice speaking to the frog.
"You know I'm under a spell."
"But my kiss will break the spell."
"Give it up, Jean-Bob." said Speed.
"It's never gonna happen." said Madison.
"I can only kiss the man I love and then he—"
"Must make a vow of everlasting love, I know."
"And prove it to the world."
"What do you think I was doing with the flowers and the alligators going chop-chop?"
"Speed, make him understand." said Odette as she looked at the turtle.
"I'm only a turtle." he answered.
Madison wished she could try but she's not good at explaining and also, some guys never listen. But as she looked at the princess, she knew she was about to sing because she knew what this scene is.
Odette: If I could break this spell
I'd run to him today
And somehow, I know he's on his way to me
Derek, you and I were meant to be
Far longer than forever
I'll hold you in my heart
It's almost like you're here with me
Although we're far apart
Somewhere at the castle, Alex was at the balcony from his room and looking at the moon. But his mind was in worry as he couldn't stop thinking if Madison is alright and not in harm. Suddenly, he looked down to see Derek at the courtyard, hearing him singing.
Derek: Far longer than forever
As constant as a star
I close my eyes and I am where you are
At the lake, Madison was far from her new friends as she was looking at the princess. But then looked back at the room and couldn't stop thinking about Alex as she singed a little, but imagined if Alex was singing along with this.
Madison: Sure, as the dawn brings the sunrise
We've an unshakeable bond
Alex: Destined to last for a lifetime
And beyond
Alex and Derek: Far longer than forever
Odette and Madison: Far longer than forever
Derek: I swear that I'll be true
Odette: I swear that I'll be true
Derek: I've made an-
Both: Everlasting vow
To find a way to you
All: Far longer than forever
Like no love ever known
Odette: And with your love
All: I'll never be alone
Odette: Far longer than forever
Derek: Much stronger than forever
Odette: And with your love
I'll never be alone
Madison smiled at the moment and... it's strange to say that somehow, she felt that the song gave her hope. As another song she remembered from a different movie, love will find a way. Suddenly, she notices something flying in the sky. A bird was flying slowly in the sky, whimpering as he has an arrow in his wing.
"Odette! Look up there!" she pointed.
Odette looked at her friend and looked at the sky until she saw the bird following down until he lands to the ground. The girls along with Speed and Jean-Bob came around as they looked at him.
"You think he's dead?" Speed questioned as he looked at the bird.
"No, it's just his wing, I think." Odette answered.
"Well, there is an arrow in his wing. Someone must have hunted the poor thing." said Madison.
"Strange-looking bird." said Jean-Bob as he lifted the bird's head and drops it down.
"He's called a puffin. He's a seabird. Usually, you'll may find these kinds of birds somewhere in North Atlantic." Madison explained a little.
"Poor fellow. He must be in a lot of pain. You better hold him." Odette spoke to Speed as the turtle held the puffin still.
"Ready." he said as he heard the bird whimpered.
Odette carefully broke the arrow in half and gently took it off, which made the puffin gasp and whimpered. Madison cringed a little as the arrow was finally out and Odette tore the end of her dress and wrapped it around his wing.
"Allo! This is your wake-up call!" said Jean-Bob as he lifted the bird's eyelid.
The puffin's vision was a blur, but as it was clearing up and sees the frog, he jumped into action, causing to startle Jean-Bob and Speed.
"A-ha! It takes more than a pair of pond folks to keep Puffin down! Hi-yah!" he spoke as he tries to fight by doing a karate chop, but Speed was hiding in his shell along with Jean-Bob.
"Wait, I'm your friend." Odette spoke as she had the arrow in her hand.
"If you were me friend, how come you have an arrow in your hand?" he asked as he snatched the arrow out of the princess's hand. "Yes! The exact kind of arrow I have in…" the puffin looked at his wing and saw that the arrow was gone but a bandage.
"I took it out while you were laying there." said Odette as she smiled.
"You mean you had a chance to kkkt but instead you pfft?" he asked, and the princess nod her head.
"Madam, I apologize. My name is Puffin, Lieutenant Puffin." he spoke as he stood straight and salute like a soldier.
"It's a pleasure, Lieutenant Puffin. I'm Odette. Princess Odette." she said, and the puffin kissed her hand like a gentleman. "And these are my best friends in the whole world, Madison..."
"Pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant." Madison spoke.
"Mr. Lorenzo Trudge-a-long…"
"Friends call me Speed." the turtle smiled as he greeted.
"And Jean-Bob."
"I have no friends, only servants, and they call me Your Highness." said the frog as he took his hand out to Puffin, waiting for a kiss.
The puffin looked at him in confusion.
"He thinks he's a prince." Speed whispers to him.
"I owe you, Princess. And I intend on staying until me debt is paid." said Puffin.
"I don't think there's much you can do. He has me and my friend under a spell." she said.
"What? You mean a magical…" Puffin wiggle his feathered fingers and making noises until suddenly a flower appeared in front of him.
The puffin looked at it in shock and looked at his wings as he wondered if he actually did that. Suddenly, more magical sparks came around everyone wondering what was going on but the girls frowned as they knew what it was as they got up.
"Great, he's back." Madison grumbled.
Jean-Bob and Speed knew about it too and move back away as the whole scenery changed from gloomy to beautiful. Puffin couldn't believe what he was seeing but the two pulled him back and went into hiding. The girls looked at the direction and saw Rothbart appeared, wearing a gold armor like a knight and stood there while Odette turned away from him and Madison glared at him.
"Your knight in shining armor has come to set you free." he said to the princess as birds were flying around him.
Madison continued to glare but she walked back away from him. Hopefully, he didn't ask her where her necklace is. But continued to watch as Rothbart stopped and bent down on knee and looked at the princess.
"All it takes is one little word. Will you marry me?"
Odette looked at him with anger in her eyes.
"Every night you ask the same question. And every night I give you the same answer. I'll die first." she answered.
The dark wizard started to get angry as his armor turned back to his normal clothing and the scenery change back to its gloomy form.
"You're really starting to bug me."
"I should think you'd be used to it by now."
"That's it! Just keep pushing it. But someday I'm going to boil over!"
"Go ahead then! But I'll never give you my father's kingdom."
Rothbart started to boil but then looked up at the sky and smirked as he looked back at the princess.
"I was hoping you'd say you'd be mine. But it looks as if you need another day to think about it." he said as he laughs.
Odette and Madison turned around and saw the moon was going down.
"No." the princess whispered and walked slowly to lake with Madison while Rothbart continues to laugh.
Madison stood close to her friend as the water underneath them began to glow. She saw the water began rising and then notice Odette began to sob. She had her arms wrapped around the princess as the water covers them up. Feeling the warmth and glowing around them, both Madison and Odette were under the water and popped out as swans as they flapped their wings. Madison swam beside Odette, seeing tears in her eyes. She wrapped her wing around her in comfort and saw Rothbart leave, but also notice the animal friends looked sad and Puffin looked shocked.
"Princess... Madison..." Puffin's words only spoke as he stared at the sad and miserable swans.
To Be Continued...