The Mermaid-Cursed Pirate

Chapter 44

Recap:

"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."

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Sirena and Belle arrived at the Emerald City. They land and the bubble pops. Sirena grins and starts running to the gate. Belle doesn't move, shocked by the beauty of the tall towers and the glittering lights bouncing off of them.

"Come on, Belle! We have to find Glinda, don't just stand there," she calls, bouncing on her feet in excitement.

Belle shakes her head to focus again. Then she jogs to catch up to the mermaid. They reach the gate and Sirena knocks on it. A guard opens the window above them and pokes his head out. "Who's there?" he demands.

"I think you know, Fyter," she teases.

The guard bristles then leans further to look at her closer. "Sirena? Is that really you?"

"Yup, that's me." The door opens and Fyter walks through, giving Sirena a big hug.

"It's been forever since you've been here! And you haven't aged a day since you disappeared. Where have you been all this time?"

"Neverland. I was trying to escape my third curse in a place with few people. And you have grown up!"

"I'm sorry, how do you know each other?" Belle interrupts.

"Sirena went to Shiz University. While she was here, she volunteered at the nursery in the town. I was one of the kids she saw a lot. I looked up to her, but I guess now she's looking up to me," he jokes, squatting slightly so he was eye-level with her.

"Oh, you think you're so funny," Sirena sasses.

"You think you're so funny," he repeats in a weird voice.

She sticks her tongue out at him, causing them both to laugh. "As wonderful as it is to catch up with you, we need to see Glinda. It's an emergency."

"Oh, of course. Come on in!" He steps to the side and allows the women to enter the Emerald City.

Belle's eyes grow wide at the beauty of the city. Meanwhile, Sirena had a grin a mile wide. She grabs Belle's hand and leads her to the chamber that used to be where Ozians would see the wizard. The room had many people in it and a bubbly blonde was rushing around to each person.

"Which one is Glinda?" Belle asks Sirena in a quiet voice.

"That one right there," she answers, attempting to point at the blonde, but she fails since she kept moving. "Ugh, the one in the yellow dress who won't stand still," she sighs, shaking her head. "Hey, Bubbles!" she calls.

Glinda freezes then spins to see where the voice came from. She jumps in excitement, dodging the other people to get to the mermaid. "Riri!" she shouts in her shrill voice. Sirena is attacked by a hug for the second time of the day. The blonde jumps up and down as she squeezes the mermaid. "Where have you been?"

Sirena repeats what she told Fyter. "That's why I haven't aged. Why haven't you?"

"I was in the Enchanted Forest for a bit to give a blessing to Snow White's child. While I was there, the Evil Queen cast the Dark Curse. Time stops when you're a victim of the Dark Curse. I actually only got back this year, that's what all this hub-bub is about," she giggles and snorts. "Oh, that reminds me." She turns around and addresses the room, "Hey, everyone! I'm going to take a quick break. I'll be right back." The Ozians sigh but float to the seats to wait.

"That reminds me," Sirena echos Glinda. "Belle, meet Glinda. Glinda, meet Belle."

"It's nice to meet you," Belle says, extending a hand for a handshake.

Glinda pushes the hand out of the way and pulls Belle into a hug. "I don't do handshakes, Belle," she giggles.

"Oh, okay." Belle lets out a nervous chuckle.

"Alright, you two. Follow me!" Glinda calls as she skips away.