Friends on a Different Path

Party of the Free

I could hardly wait for the party, it seemed like a lifetime away. The hours dragged on until the sun began to fall towards the horizon. I wasn't too worried about lying to my aprents, I had the perfect alibi.

When the the time turned to 5:20, I leaped to my feet and raced downstairs. As I suspected, mom and dad were in the dining room, waiting for me to come eat. I took one last breath before approaching mom.

"Hey mom, may I go down to the House of Mouse? I made some friends who invited me over for a party they're hosting tonight." Mom's eyes lit up. "Of course honey, be back before your bedtime." I grinned. "Will do mom." As I ran back out, I couldn't help fist pumping with a silent 'yes.'

After hitching a no pay taxi, I reached the House of Mouse where I noticed the sun steadily approaching the horizon, casting the world in a long shadows twilight. I walked past all the buildings before reaching the stone, just as I reached for the vines, they were pulled back and Shanti's face burst in smile upon seeing me.

"Melody! You came!" She pulled a long, red sled from behind her and sat down at the front, gesturing to the spot behind her. I gulped before sitting down, no sooner I did she pushed off and we sped down the hill, me screaming all the way. When we reached the bottom, I was holding onto her for dear life, panting with wide eyes. She rolled her eyes as she pried me off.

"You'll get used to it, everyone does." She took my hand and we ran off together into the fading light.

~ 

As we ran I noticed more and more tree houses popping up all over the place. Finally, we reached a clearing where a long tie-dye clothed table was waiting, covered in sky blue plates and crowded to the brim with all kinds of characters. Suddenly I was very nervous.

"Hey everybody, this is Melody! A new member of the group!" Heads gracefully rose as I was greeted with warm smiles and sparkling eyes. "Come on Mel, you can sit with Alice, Wendy and I. I'm sure John and Michael wouldn't mind." "Who?" "Wendy's brothers, they always come to Captain's parties." It was then I noticed the two boys sitting on the right of Wendy while Alice sat on her left, Lilo sitting on her left.

Shanti dragged me down the table before plopping me down in the seat on Lilo's right, sitting on my right. I started to wonder where Stitch was until his head popped up in front of my knees, Lilo smiled. "He likes you." As if to prove her point, he smiled at me with a little wave, I awkwardly waved back.

"So you're Melody, when I heard Shanti say you were going to dinner I thought she was joking." I looked up to see a female fox sitting across from me, dressed in pink with a veil over her ears, she held out a paw. "My name's Maid Marian, it's a pleasure to meet you." I shook her paw with a light smile, instantly comforted by her warm welcome.

"Are you a real princess or just someone with the title?" Marian rolled her eyes. "Oh don't start, this is suposed to be a happy evening." The owner of the second voice was blond girl wearing a simple but ever so slightly fancy farmer like dress, a thin blue headband just at her hairline. She shrugged with fake innocence.

"I'm just asking." Lilo leaned over to my ear. "That's Princess Eilonwy, she got kicked out of the official princess lineup when her movie flopped." I had heard about The Black Cauldron before, everyone had, it was one of those Disney cartoon movies mom told me never to bring up.

"I've seen your movie before, I think it's amazing." Eilonwy's mouth dropped with surprise. "You do?" "Sure, it's better then mine." She blinked twice before bursting into a true smile.

"Are you the real Melody?" "Yeah, why?" "I saw your story recently, it's amazing how you're not some mirror of your mother. You're your own person, I like that." I smiled. "Thanks." "Anytime."

"Eilonwy, you shouldn't be having so many sweets before dinner, it's unhealthy." A young woman wearing a yellow dress and brown hair in a messy bun snatched the candy filled plate out from under the blond girl. Eilonwy pouted.

"Oh come on, it wasn't that much." The woman rolled her brown eyes and spotted me, smiling like a mother would. "You must be Melody." She held out a hand. "I'm Jane, one of the mothers. I hope you have a wonderful time tonight." I smiled, shook her hand, and let her walk off.

"What does she mean by 'one of the mothers?'" Eilonwy was quick to reply. "Some of the non-princesses here are older then others so they take on the role of a mother, Jane's one, so is Meg, Esmeralda, the Blue Fairy, and Nature but she's more of a big sister." I was at a lost for words.

"Who?" Eilonwy gave off a little laugh. "Oh that's right, you don't know them. Don't worry, you will soon enough." Just then there was the bang of doors swinging open and three women came out with many covered plates. One was wearing a simple purple dress that matched her eyes, the second had chocolate skin and a bright colorful dress, the last a beautiful glowing blond with wings that were gracefully transparent and large. Eilonwy pointed each of them out by name; purple dress was Meg, chocolate was Esmeralda, and blond was the Blue Fairy. As the food was laid out, I noticed a certain spot next to Eilonwy that was empty. Just as I did, someone tapped me on the shoulder.

I turned and came face to face with a shiny green figure, hair littered with butterflies and flowers as she moved like water. She smiled sweetly, eye sparkling like stars before speaking. "Hello." Something about her voice shook me, it was so soft but powerful like a breeze soon to become a tornado. I gulped. "Hi. Are you...Mother Nature?" "Just Nature's fine, you must be Melody." I nodded. Then she did something that made me jump, she hugged me gently around the neck, arms soft like cotton.

"Welcome to the party." With that she disappeared beneath the table and reappeared in the spot beside Eilonwy. The blond smiled before gently patting Nature's back with a welcoming smile the magical female gracefully returned. Just then, a loud horn sounded off overhead, all heads tilted back with open-mouthed grins. A chorus of voices shouted gleefully; "Captain's home!"

A huge ship, beautifully made and graceful, landed slowly on a large stone hill. There was a brief pause before a figure flipped and landed on the ship's bow, my jaw dropped. That's the captain?

It was a cat, a cat woman, with wide triangle ears, bright turquoise eyes and smooth brown hair, her suit sure did signify authority. She smiled before holding out her arms like she was asking for a hug. "I'm home!" The cheer that followed was defining.