Friends on a Different Path

The Reality of It All

After we swam around for a while, enjoying each other's embrace and the gentle currents, I realized it was time to go and bid my love a hearty farewell. She didn't mind, knowing I'd be back soon.

When I returned home, my parents were already fast asleep and I slipped into bed. "Oh!" I opened my locket and set it beside my bed, listening to the music and watching the merfolk swim as I was lulled to sleep.

~

The next morning, I woke to find mom ready and waiting, I already knew what that meant.

"Do we have to go to the House of Mouse?" I groaned, she rolled her eyes while helping me prepare. "We always go every third Saturday, it's required for Disney princesses. And you are one of them." "So? Why can't I do something else for a change? Disney princess meetings are so boring." "Well we're still going, no matter how much you hate it." I sighed as she walked out the room, leaving me with my reflection. Once I'm sure she's gone, I grasp my necklace with a sigh.

Don't worry Mommy, I'll be back as soon as I can. I thought, relaxing instantly at the idea.

When we reached the House of Mouse, I let myself get dragged into a what I despise more then anything in the world; princess studies. After what seemed like forever, lunch time came around and I escaped to the calm outdoors of the afternoon sunshine.

"I hate this day." I muttered to myself, sniffing softly as I held back tears. "I just want to...get away from it all."

"Ha ha, you're slowing down Wendy, that nightgown catching up with you?" "Just because you're used to running from the Queen of Hearts doesn't mean the rest of us are Alice." "Hey, I thought I wasn't a good runner too until that jungle escapade, it's amazing what fear can do to you."

The approaching joy of the three voices startled me, I slipped behind a tree just as the owners came around the corner.

They were all girls, probably my age or younger, one was a brunette wearing a light blue nightgown that matched her eyes, the second a blond wearing a blue dress and white apron with eyes the same shade of blue, and the last wore a simple purple dress and had her black hair in pink bow pigtails, brown eyes twinkling.

"Oh I can't wait for tonight, it's been so long since we last visited Neverland." The brunette said with a smile, ms brown eyes rolled them with a playful grin. "Are you sure we're not going just so you can see your dearest darling?" Brunette blushes while blondie laughed. "Oh, she got you there Wendy!" The brunette smiled mischievously. "At least I have a darling." Brown eyes laughed while the blond pouts with a slight smile. "Touché." She pulled a pocket watch from her apron, eyes going when upon looking at it's face.

"We better hurry if we want to make it in time for pastry hour." Blondie took off down the cobblestone street, friends in hot pursuit. "You keep this up Alice and you'll end looking like the White Rabbit!" The brunette shouted, but the blond just laughed.  

As they disappeared around a corner, I came out from my hiding place, utterly fascinated.

"Who are those three? And how come I've never seen them before?" But the holler of my mother broke me from my thoughts and I regretfully went back inside.