Sarah watched as Tess, Jack, and Jess disappeared into a cloud of blue smoke. She lunged forward but ended up tripping and falling onto her knees. She put her hands out in front of her to catch herself. She lay hunched over for a minute processing what just happened. Her face quickly went from shock to anger.
She was mad. Mad that she didn't go after Jess. Mad that she didn't notice the crowd outside the castle sooner. Most importantly, mad that Tess had kidnaped them. "Why?! Why?! I should have followed them!" she shouted at herself as she sat up. She then glanced around at the crowd that had stayed, realizing that they all thought it was a show. She made her hands into fits to hide her frustration, if only they knew the reality of what just happened.
Just then both Amy and Arthur pushed their way through the crowd towards her. They both knelt on either side. "What happened?" Amy questioned first.
"She took them," Sarah responded. "Tess took them to the villain's base." she hit the ground with her fist. She looked up at the guests watching them, wondering what was gonna happen next. How she wanted to tell them it wasn't a show. She swiftly stood up, trying to ignore the guest stairs of curiosity. Where were the cast members when you needed them? "I'm going to look for them," she said through gritted teeth as she took a few swift steps to exit the circle of people.
Arthur swiftly stood up and grabbed hold of her writs, forcing her to stop. "Sarah, wait, you know how dangerous it is, especially for you. Let's go to the castle and come up with a plan before you get yourself into trouble."
Sarah let out a sigh of defeat, she knew they were right. She couldn't just charge in on her own, especially without a plan. She turned to look at him. "Alright, but let's make it quick. Who knows what they will do to them."
They nodded at her as the crowd parted ways to let them by. A few guests followed but stopped when they entered the Sleeping Beauty Castle walkthrough. They then swiftly made their way back up the castle. Within a few minutes, they had made it to the grand hall where Yen Sid and Merlin were waiting along with Philip, Aurora, Phil, Luke, and Ray.
"Well?" Phil questioned, a look of surprise was on his face.
"Jack and Jess were taken by Tess" Sarah quickly explained as everyone gasped. "We need to save them."
"And how are we gonna do that? We don't even know where their new base is yet." Aurora asked with concern.
"Nore, do we have a plan?" Rey added.
"I can use the force to track them, I've done it before-" she began before being cut off by her master. "No, Sarah."
Sarah looked at Yen Sid with a stern glare. "But master, we need to go after them! Who knows what the villains will do."
"Most likely using them as bait to reel you in." Yen Sid stated, arms folded into the sleeves of his robe. "We need to have a more well-rounded plan before we rush into anything."
"He's right Sarah," Arthur said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"But, there are our friends. Not to mention real people." she let out a hmph in frustration. "You know what, if you won't help me, then I'll just go myself." she threw her hand in the air, turning for the door but was stopped by a force holding her in place.
"Sarah, you aren't thinking clearly. You're acting out of anger, again." she heard Luke say from behind her.
"Aren't thinking clearly!" she shouted. "These aren't just my friends we're talking about, but real people as well."
"We can't afford to act reckless right now." Yen Sid said as he walked over to face her. She felt the field holding her in place release as Yen Sid put a hand on your shoulder. "You and I both know what the villains are capable of and even though Tess is on their side, I doubt she'll let them get in harm's way."
"But-" she began but was cut off.
Yen Sid shook his head. "I'm sorry Sarah but you aren't leaving this castle. I won't let you fall into the villain's hands again. Till we have a plan, I'm confining you to the castle grounds."
"What?!" she asked in rage, shaking her master's hand off her. "Master, you can't be serious."
"It gives me no pleasure to do this, but we can't have you fall into the villain's hands. You're too valuable." He said, crossing his arms once more.
"It's not my fault I'm destined to be some savior to this kingdom!" Sarah stomped her foot in rage. "But you can't just expect me to stay cooped up here while my friends are in danger."
"Sarah please," Amy pleaded, coming to her sister's side. "I know you're angry, but getting upset won't get you anywhere."
Arthur then chimed in "Why don't we go to the living room and calm down by the fire"
Sarah and Yen Sid glanced at each other, both faces looked to be at war with each other. Sarah's face scrunched up while her master stayed relatively calm. "Fine," she mumbled as she turned away, fist clutched to her side as she, followed by Amy and Arthur, walked to the castle's living room.
Back down in the villain's base, Jack and Jess sat against a stone wall locked in chains. They had been locked away in a small stone room for a little over an hour. The tension was rising.
"How could she do this?" Jess questioned looking down at her lap, still in disbelief.
"This has gone too far even for her," Jack stated, trying to free himself from the chains. "I swear next time I see her ill-" he didn't get to finish as they heard a click come from their cell door. They watched as it opened, spilling light into the room. Tess walked inside, a smirk on her face.
"Tess, what has gotten into you?!" Jack questioned harshly as she stepped closer. "First you join the villains and now you kidnap me and Jess? Have you gone mad?!"
"You have no idea why you're here, do you?" Tess frowned for a moment as she stopped in front of them. She looked down, glancing between them. "You see, we all know Sarah would do anything to make sure we're out of harm's way. All we need to do is reel her in with some bait."
"Tess this isn't you. I'm sorry things didn't go your way, but becoming the villain isn't the answer." Jess said, trying to plead with her sister but nothing seemed to work.
Tess looked at her sister, brows furrowing. "Oh, but it's been the best choice of my life. I'm somebody once again. Unlike you two who are just here for our enjoyment."
"And just what do you plan to do with us?" Jack questioned.
Tess chuckled as she looked back at Jack. "Why, you're gonna play bait as we feed you to the crocodile." she chuckled.
"You're what?!" they both questioned in shock and anger.
She gave them a look of pity. "But don't worry, I'll make sure you don't die. I'd like you both to stay alive to see my glory as I become the most popular girl on the planet." she then turned to the door "I'll see you both in a bit." she quickly looked over her shoulder, grinning. "I can't wait to see you both walk the plank." she laughed as she exited the room.
Back in the castle. Sarah, Arthur, and Amy chilled in the living room. They chatted with each other, trying to think of the best course of action while sipping on cocoa that Aurora had made them.
Sarah, however, left hers to get cold on the coffee table. She had spent the last half hour pacing back and forth across the room trying to think of a plan. "What if we- no that's not gonna work. Or we could- no we tried that last time." She stopped in the middle of the room.
"Sarah, you are putting too much effort into this," Amy said, placing her now empty mug onto the table. "Why don't you come take a seat and do a meditation to clear your mind."
Sarah's head sped up to meet her sister's gaze. "Amy, was there ever a time you stopped looking for me?"
Amy exchanged a glance with Arthur. "Well, no, but-"
"There practically family to me Amy." she placed the palm of her hand over her chest. "I'm not gonna stop till I have a plan to rescue them." she let out a frustrated hmph. As she did, a small cloud of green dust appeared in the room. They all looked at it with surprise as an envelope appeared, slowly floating down onto the coffee table. They watched it for a moment, unsure what to do.
"Where did that come from?" Amy questioned, pointing at the envelope.
"An envelope?" Author questioned, glancing at it, then Amy, then Sarah. "You don't think?"
Sarah hesitantly picked it up. She broke the seal, opening it to reveal a letter. She unfolded the letter and read the note aloud.
"Hello, Sarah.
I hope this letter finds you. Your friends are in the most excellent care, for now! If you wish your friends to be set free, then you will meet us at the Rivers of America on the Sailing ship Columbia this evening. You are to come alone, and you will bring the key if you know what's good for you. You will sacrifice yourself and the other half of the key to us, and your friends walk free. Don't, any they will walk the plank to be fed to the dreaded crocodile. You've got till the park closes to compile with our demands.
Sincerely
the villains."
They all gasped as Sarah finished reading the letter. Her hands trembled as she reread the letter in her head. The villains wanted not only her but the key as well. And if she didn't comply, her friends would be crocodile chow.
Sarah looked up from the letter, face full of shock and uncertainty. "I need to tell Yen Sid," she said before running from the room.
"Sarah Wait!" Arthur called out before running after her, followed by Amy. They all race to the grand hall once more. To their surprise, they were met with a room full of characters. They all stopped at the entrance, watching for a moment as they all chatted with one another about ways to save Jack and Jess.
"We don't have time for a plan anymore," Sarah said, stopping all conversation. "I need to leave now." she held up the letter in the air.
"Sarah, calm yourself." Yen Sid said as he approached her. "What happened?"
Sarah handed him the letter. He glanced over it, face stern. Sarah didn't speak until he glanced up from the letter. "Please master, I need to go. There not much time left before park closing-"
"I understand Sarah" he placed a hand on her shoulder. "But this is just too risky, every time you try to go off on your own you just end up getting caught."
"What, you rather two innocent humans get fed to Tick Tock Croc?!" she shouted in his face
The room gasped at the words that came from Sarah's mouth. Sure the villain was one's to be drastic, but never had it escalated this bad since the first attack. Sarah glanced up at her master, her eyes pleading "I promised their parents they wouldn't be put in harm's way, and that's a promise I tend to keep."
"But what if it's a trap?" Arthur said coming over to Sarah. "You know what they will do to you if you get caught."
"I don't care if it's a trap." she shook her master's hand off her shoulder. "There are real people, not characters."
"Then I'm coming with you," Amy said, stepping to the other side of Sarah.
"Amy, no" Sarah shook her head "I can't have you come."
"You can't do this alone. I'm not gonna let you go and lose you again." Amy said sternly "If you go then I'm coming with you."
"I'm afraid in this instance, Sarah is right," Merlin said, entering the conversation. The whole room looked at him, a bit surprised. "Yen Sid, you know what the villains are like if their demands aren't met. We can't have that chance with real life on the line, especially a child."
Yen Sid filled his arms as he looked at Merlin with a stern glace. "And just what would you propose?"
"Both Sarah and Amy are correct. Sarah can't go along, but going with someone like Amy is too risky." He then looked up at Yen Sid "I Propose we send Tink with her."
Yen Sid thought about this for a moment, stocking his beard. "She would be small enough to not be spotted, and her pixie dust could come in handy if Sarah needed a quick escape."
Tinkerbell, who had been hovering in the corner of the hall with Peter and her other fairy friends, shook her head, letting out a jingle. Peter glanced at Tink "Oh come on Tink, it's just a small mission." Tink flew into Peter's face, body turning a bright red as she waved a tiny finger in his face.
"Come on Tink, we're talking about a real person's life!" Sarah called from the center of the room. "If you do this I'll owe you big time. Please." She begged with beating eyes, knowing this was the only way Yen Sid would let her go.
Tink made a little fist as she rolled her eyes. She fluttered slowly over to Sarah, nodding her head. Sarah smiled as Tink flew over her head. She watched as she hardly sprinkled pixie dust over her head. She felt herself become lighter, slowly lifting off the ground. "Thank you, Tink."
"Tink, take care of her, don't let her do anything foolish." Yen Sid addressed, to which Tink nodded. He then looked up at Sarah. "And you, don't do anything reckless, you rescue Jack and Jess then come straight back here."
"Yes, Master. I won't let you down." With that said, she and Tink took off out of the castle.
Once Sarah was out of sight, Yen Sid looked at Amy and Arthur. "Both of you go wait outside and listen for any suspicious noises, if you hear or see anything I want you to report back to me."
"Yes, Yen Sid." they both nodded before heading out of the castle.