Merida and Mulan walked away from a burning village, each carrying a basket filled with all of the valuables of the former village. Merida slung her basket over her shoulder. "How much will this get us?" Mulan sighed, sifting through the gold and other valuables. "The gold alone might be enough to buy dinner for the both of us. Might." Merida threw her basket to the ground. "Not good enough."
Mulan shrugged. "These trinkets should sell for about fifty gold sceats total. So... over nine thousand nine hundred more to go." Merida picked up one of the valuables and hurled it into the flames in fury. Mulan winced. "Forty gold." Merida thrust out her arms in exasperation. "Nobody's going to follow us into battle to steal from these villagers, so we can't take on larger, wealthier villages! Even if we could scrape together enough gold for a bean, who's going to follow us into battle through a portal bought with blood money?"
A wolf's howl cut through the air, startling the two. A wolf ran up to the two, a red cloak sitting on its back. The wolf grabbed the hood of the cloak with its mouth, trying to pull it over its own head. Merida leaned forward, pulling the hood over the head of the wolf. The hood momentarily grew to envelop the wolf entirely, and immediately shrank to reveal the body of a young woman. The woman stood up and removed her hood, tying up the tassels on her cloak to keep it in place.
"I've been looking for you, Merida. Queen Snow White sends her regards." Mulan sheathed her sword. "Red. I've heard about you before." Merida adjusted her bow. "What does the Widowed Queen of Misthaven want with me?" Red Riding Hood smiled and pulled a spellbook out of her basket. "This is all of the magic that Snow White knows, which anyone who challenges Pan will desperately need. This magic will also help you raise an army and steal large amounts of gold. All she asks for in return is help hunting down an escaped prisoner named Regina." Merida took the book and skimmed the pages. "I know how we're going to raise our army."
One week later, Merida, Mulan and Red Riding Hood stormed into the throne room of DunBroch. King Fergus and Queen Elinor stood to attention. "What do you have to say for yourself, Merida?" Merida pointed at her father. "I'm willing to do what's necessary to protect the children of this kingdom. Which is more than can be said about you, father. The Kingdoms of Virtue call you King Fergus the Brave, but all I see is a coward."
"It's not cowardice, it's intelligence. Nobody can defeat Peter Pan. Rescue would be suicide." Merida held up her hand and put on a glowing glove. "You're right. We can't win without magic." Merida walked up to Queen Elinor and thrust her hand inside Elinor's chest. Merida pulled her hand back out, holding a glowing red orb in her hand. Merida held her mother's heart up to speak into it. "Now show the King the secret you've been hiding for years."
Elinor stepped back, her body starting to go into convulsions. Fergus drew his sword. "What's happening?" Merida smiled. "You may recall a certain spell my Mum was once under? As it turns out, a transformation spell is never lost for good. A hint always lingers, and can be called on once again." Elinor became engulfed in a cloud of black smoke, which disappeared to reveal an angry bear.
Merida whispered into her mother's heart. "Now bring an end to his reign." A pair of guards drew their swords, but had their hearts ripped out by Mulan and Red Riding Hood as the bear closed in on King Fergus. Merida happily looked at the heart in her hand. "Now I have the means to obtain a powerful and loyal army."
