The Mermaid-Cursed Pirate

Chapter 43

Recap:

"Okay, so where are we going first?"

"The sea. We have to go to a different realm to get to her. Luckily, this is one I can get to by water."

"But what realm are we going to?" Belle groans.

"Have you ever been to Oz?" Sirena smirks.

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The Jolly Roger arrived in the Enchanted Forest. The crew was growing suspicious of Pan's plan. Even Killian's trust in the lost boy was fading. Killian pulled him into his chambers to talk.

"Look, Pan. All of us are starting to feel like you are leading us on a pointless quest going nowhere. Tell me the truth. Now. Is all this necessary? Because if you are wasting our time, I won't hesitate to kill you and rip that hourglass from Neverland. Nothing is going to stop me from getting Sirena back. So if you are standing in my way, I will cut you down." His voice was a growl, his eyes drilling into Pan's. Pan is impressed by the fire the pirate has. Although he wants Sirena to love him back, the pirate's actions reassure him that Sirena will be safe with him.

"Believe me, pirate. I care about Sirena just as much as you do. And I will not have my son harm her. If there was a faster way for us to get the dagger, I would be doing it. But this is the only way." He holds the pirate's gaze with the same ferocity Killian has. "I promise you, captain. We will get Sirena back. And if we aren't able to get the dagger, I will give you the hourglass, no conditions. I'll find another way to power Neverland."

Killian is taken aback by the promise. He never could have seen this coming. He struggles to find the words to reply. "Thank you, Peter. I'm going to hold you to that."

"As you should. Sirena is special. I've already lost her. But I won't let you lose her too. Especially not to that damned crocodile."

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Sirena and Belle were hiking through the woods in Oz. Sirena had silently used her magic to dry herself off. Belle was trying to wring out her clothes as they walked. Sirena watches her, amused.

"So who is this friend of yours?" Belle asks, turning to look at the mermaid. "Wait a minute, how are you dry already? We've only been walking for a few minutes!"

Sirena laughs for a moment. Then she waves her hand, drying Belle off. "Mermaid magic. Hey, don't be mad. I was just having my moment of fun. You can take the Lost Girl out of Neverland, but you can't take the Neverland out of the Lost Girl." She gives Belle a sincere grin, holding up her hands in surrender. After a few beats of tense silence, Belle lets out a giggle which she quickly stifles.

"Well, I'm going to be blaming you for any blisters I end up. But I can see you meant me no harm in the prank, so I suppose you can still be my friend." The women share another laugh and continue their hike.

"To answer your question, we're going to see an old friend of mine from school. During my second curse, I lived here with a friend of my father's. This land is full of magic. There was even a program at the school to help people master it. It was small, but I made a friend from it. If you ask most of the people here, they will turn you away. She had the worst luck ever in the cards she was dealt, and the Ozians hated her for it."

"That's terrible! I'm glad she had you though."

"Me too. We understood each other. When my second curse ended without any pull towards my soulmate, I became an outcast. We were alone together. I stayed with her for a few years, but I had to leave to stop my third curse from starting. And she faked her death so she could be free."

"She what?"

"Faked her death. Everyone in Oz wanted her dead, so she gave them what they wanted. Now she can be herself in peace."

"Good for her. You still haven't answered my question, though. Who is she? And how are we supposed to find someone who faked their death?"

"To everyone in Oz, she was the Wicked Witch of the West. But to me, she was just Elphie. A freak girl like me." She smiles at the memories fondly.

"The Wicked Witch? Are you sure she would help us? How do you know the Ozians are wrong?"

"She will help us. And they are wrong. I know that because I was one of the few people who actually got to know her. One who looked past the green skin and the magic she didn't have control of. The whole of the universe can agree on something but still be wrong. Don't you know what it's like to see what is underneath? To see the real human who everyone else turned away?"

Belle went silent. She chews her lip. "If you must know, I do know what it's like. I have seen the hidden parts of someone hated by everyone else. But sometimes, that fades away. People can change, Sirena."

"Yes, they can change. Circumstances can harden someone. Fear can make people build walls. But love can soften and tear those walls down." Sirena stops walking and puts a hand on Belle's shoulder. "I don't know who hurt you, Belle, but Elphaba is not like them. The world threw everything at her and she stayed kind. She may have had a few rough patches, but she got back to herself in time. Maybe the person you know can, too."

Belle gave her a weak smile. "Maybe. But that's a problem for another day. I'm trusting you here, Sirena. Let's go find your friend."

Sirena gave her a grin. "Excellent! I'm not sure where she's at but I do know someone who might. We have to go to the Emerald City to find her though. But, luckily, I know how to get there by bubble."

"Bubble?" Belle asks as Sirena takes her hands. A giant bubble surrounds the pair and carries them up into the air. Belle gasps as she takes in the sight of Oz from the clouds. She had never seen anything like it. A huge forest, a field of poppies, a town of colorful houses and streets. At the edge of the horizon was a giant, shining green castle. "I guess that is the Emerald City."

"That's it. And we'll be there soon. I'm sure Glinda will be happy to see me after all this time."