Dizgaia ~ The Dreamfinder's Daughter

Chapter 7 ~ History of a Dark Grudge

"Although we have strived to make this world a utopia, and have very nearly succeeded, there are still many dangers this world has to offer, namely, The Dark Ones."

"The Dark Ones?"

"Indeed. Those you might consider to be the villains from Earth's beloved fairytales and Disney films. Perhaps you can name a few."

Mia thought back through all the kingdoms and heroes Blair had just mentioned and listed off their respective villains. "Let's see. Captain Hook, Hades, Ursula, Jafar, Gaston... GASTON!"

Figment tumbled off the chaise lounge and onto the floor. "AH! WHERE? HIDE ME!" He flew to Dreamfinder, trying to wriggle his way beneath his coat.

"No, I mean... He's not here right now, Figment."

Figment peeked out from Dreamfinder's coat. "You shouldn't say things like that, Miandra," he said, trembling. "Gaston is a notorious hunter. When he tired of hunting the usual game, he started going after more adventurous prey. He'd have my head on a wall in his pub, if he could."

"I would never allow that, Figment," said Blair, patting his head affectionately. "You know that."

"Sorry," said Mia. "It's just that in all my excitement, I nearly forgot my encounter with Gaston earlier today. He and those creepy goblins that chased me and Flynn – why did they come into my  world?"

The Dreamfinder drew a deep breath. "Perhaps it is time I share a very important story with you, the story of Beverly and Blair Mercurial and their dearest daughter, Miandra."

It was the first time she'd heard his name, Blair Mercurial, and the first time she'd heard her mother's surname before she married Edward Baxter; Mia's first surname. Miandra Mercurial. It had a nice ring to it. Mia leaned forward to listen. Perhaps this should've been her first line of questioning – how it was that Blair was her father, how she and her mother had been a part of this world, and why they'd left.

"Beverly... That is, your mother and I met on Earth during the midst of what I believe you'd call The Great Depression. To be precise, the year was 1937."

"What? The Great Depression? My mother was alive in... in 1937?"

"That she was. In fact, she was working for Mr. Disney. That's how I met her."

Mia's jaw dropped. "Mom worked for Walt Disney? But she hates Disney movies."

"Perhaps you will soon see why that is," said Blair with a melancholy sigh. "In any case, I was having one of my meetings with Walt, and he was excitedly regaling me of his most recent endeavor, an animated film project of the tale of Snow White. Your mother, Beverly, was one of the many colorists working diligently to finish the film. It was Walt who introduced us."

He recounted for Mia his frequent visits to Earth, not only to talk shop with Walt Disney, but also to visit Beverly, of whom he'd grown very fond.

"Beautiful and imaginative, I couldn't help falling in love with her," he said, "And so I decided to tell her the truth about myself."

"Mom imaginative? Are you sure we're talking about the same woman?"

"You speak of your mother as though that isn't still the case," Blair said with a frown. "I suppose after everything she went through here, she lost a bit of her spark."

"I wouldn't know anything about that," said Mia. "Ever since I can remember, Mom has always been a very practical and no-nonsense sort of person. And what exactly do you mean by 'everything she went through here'? What happened?"