Walt's Princess: Chapter Thirty One

Master Yen Sid and Terrance went downstairs and checked the throne room wishing inside them that they would find Rachel there. It had become much more of an urgent matter to tell Rachel about the thing they’ve come to call an engagement. Terrance, as much as he’s always wanted to be with her forever, both wondered and worried over how long would they have the time until the day of their marriage would arrive. Or even worse for that matter, what if Olin intrudes the relationship and ruins everything like he always does? But that part might have been an over-exaggeration. The boy’s stomach growled terribly and it’s not because he’s hungry.

His master, however, even though he shared the same feeling inside as Terrance does, remained calm over the situation. Surely, there had to be a way to find the princess with or without magic somehow. He may not know every single detail of what the world brings in concerning magic and things, but stuff having to do with silver spirits and tracking was definitely a thing he’s known how to do through almost his entire lifetime.

They arrive in the throne room, Terrance running inside while Yen Sid tried to catch up, only to see Rachel wasn’t there. Terrance then was starting to get even more skittish than he’s even been; not since before he had the heart to show his feelings for the girl. He broke a sweat scampering all over the room thinking maybe Rachel could be walking around the second floor. Nothing. The sweats on Terrance’s brow were falling faster fearing something might have happened to his bride. He called out her name several times, but there was no answer. No reply was to be heard from anywhere in the castle! Even when he’s out of breath, he kept calling for her in the loudest tone he could get to.

“Terrance!” Yen Sid called, huffing and puffing for his breath after chasing after Terrance for a while, “Will you please calm down? I’m much to tired and old to be running along like this.”

“Where is she, where is she, where is she, where is she?” Terrance muttered under his breath acting even more nervous than ever.

Yen Sid grabbed Terrance’s arm tightly almost falling down after Terrance caught him. To focus more on his master’s well-being was enough to snap his mind off his worriment of Rachel’s whereabouts. Yen Sid took deep breaths until he was stable enough to lift himself back on his feet with Terrance’s support.

“Forgive me, father.” Terrance apologized, “I take that you believe I’ve gotten nuts in my mind, right?”

“No, no, Terrance,” Yen Sid spoke in addition to a cough and continuous panting, “it’s fine. It is only in retrospect that I have not seen you react like this in quite so long.”

“I just won the heart of the most beautiful woman my eyes have ever seen and it’s already jumped to the conclusion that we’ve become practically engaged so soon! You know I love her dearly, but being in this sort of predicament so quickly is even worse than handing in a due assignment too late.”

“Indeed, and the similarity between those times and now is that you will be handling them the hard way. That is, finding Rachel first and then conversing this over with her.”

“If only you could’ve seen her last night.” said Terrance, “Her heart just exploded with great joy like the time Rodney accidentally blasted Goofy off to China.”

Yen Sid chuckled, “I can imagine so.”

“Since that became to case in addition to Rachel’s letter, I’m desperately hoping she isn’t really thinking about wanting to get married soon.”

“Rachel is a smart child- uh, grownup. I’m sure with the knowledge she has, she won’t let anything nearly as problematic as this get in the way of her life so soon. But we can only be sure she thinks that way if we were to continue finding her and caution our hopes on the assumption she is safe.”

“Well, have you got any bright ideas then?”

“Hmm. I can only think of two ways. We can either search through a crystal ball like most wizards do or we can try hypnokinesis. That was usually how I had always found my Clara whenever I needed to be sure she was safe.”

“Why not try both?” Terrance suggested, “Use the crystal ball first to see where is and then use hypnokinesis to send me to that location.”

“We could,” Yen Sid began, “but doing both at the same time would only take up a lot of power even when I’m still wearing my hat. I would collapse unconscious by the time I bring you back.”

“I can handle locating her through the crystal ball while you cast the hypnokinesis on me. Would that save energy for’ya?”

“It could. But I am not quite sure if you are fully prepared to grasp control of a crystal ball as well as I taught have you yet.”

“Master, I’m almost twenty-years-old. You’ve taught me more than enough. And I’m completely sure you’ve taught me how to use a crystal ball for location. Give me a chance to prove that. For Rachel’s sake, at least?”

“Very well. I believe the nearest one is downstairs in the basement of this castle.”

“Alright then. Let’s go!”

“Hold on, Terrance.” Yen Sid pleaded, “I still need to catch my breath.”

“Oh yeah. Sorry.” Terrance formed a weak smile in semi-guilt.

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“Did we seriously not go that far in the forest?” Rachel groaned.

Rachel and Walt were still standing the forest while Rachel continuously complained and argued of their distance. For Walt, he found this both childish yet quite humorous… mostly childish. The princess’ hand smudged down her face and she groaned, annoyed at the predicament. When Walt had just about enough of Rachel’s attitude, he felt the need to shout again.

“Rachel, it’s alright!” said Walt, “So what if we’re only a short distance away from where we started? We’ll cover more ground and get the chance to have more conversations. Now stop being so immature of yourself, it’s old-fashioned!”

“Uuuugh! Fine.” Rachel grumbled, “How long is it supposed to take to get from here to the cottage?”

“That depends on where we are. Let’s get going.”

With a pat on the back, Rachel followed her friend deeper into the Black Forest hoping they won’t get lost. If it had happened to Snow White at the beginning, it could likely happen to those who would dare venture through. The more they continued on, the darker and scarier the surrounding area looked like. The trees that seemed innocent began to turn dark and menacing like they were being brought to life! The grass turned gray, the sky was black as darkness itself, and at every moment the two of them had their bodies brushed and scraped by branches sticking out of dead bushes and being pulled back like something or someone was grabbing them. Owls and ravens and bats swarmed out of trees and flew over the duo causing them to jump a little.

Somewhat frightened by the appearance, Rachel walked closer to Walt and clutched onto his arm. Walt felt it coming for him and he kind of blushed. Still, being a very supportive guy, he held Rachel close. She felt pretty cold with goosebumps popping out all over her arm and Walt was able to tell of Rachel’s face turning pale white. Almost like Snow White’s.

“Damn, kid. I’ve never felt someone’s skin more cold than a New York winter.” said Walt.

“I’m just a little nervous is all.” said Rachel. “It’s kind of, well…it’s almost like we’re being watched.”

“By what?”

“I don’t know, but I know it’s got to be something.”

“You’re not afraid that the trees will turn into scary faced ones like in the film, are you?”

“No! …Well, maybe just a little. I’ve become more than convinced enough that anything can happen here.”

“That’s the tricky part about this world. It all depends on the restraint of the imagination you have in your head. Let it run too wild and you’ll find yourself in the most darn situations like watching trees turn into, well…you’ve seen the film.”

Rachel thought for a moment about her imaginations. Most of them within the past few days, with the exception of hanging out with some of the Disney characters and finally falling in love with a boy around her age who loves her back, always had to do with Olin taking one step after another trying to catch her and put peril over everything and all over the people she knows and loves, especially the grim spirits that swirl in her mind with Fear out in front facing her eye-to-eye. The way it looks at her always gives the back of Rachel’s brain and spine the complete chills, almost enough to have her central nervous system shout down completely.

She spoke in a nervous tone, “What happens if I let my deepest fear take over just about all of my imagination?”

“Then you’re in a pickle.” said Walt, “Once you find yourself in a great deep pit of darkness with no light at just about anywhere, it’s almost impossible to get out. That is unless you’d figure out yourself what’s really keeping you down and find out what’s more important to you than anything. I almost went down that road.”

“What happened?”

“Well, to reiterate, my father was the only person out of everyone the family that knew that I’m sorcerer, which means I’ve never really had the guts to tell anyone what I was.”

“Not even Lillian?”

“Not at first. I told her eventually when I felt like I needed to.”

“When was that?” she asked.

“The day before I died.” Walt answered, “Anyway, the entire time I knew my family and friends, I’ve never told any of them about my magic despite the fact that most people see the Disney magic as a way to see my films and my theme parks.”

“Exactly why is that?”

“When I was a boy back in Missouri, I didn’t realize something like my magic would be something I would have in me. One night, while my family was asleep, I was thirsty. I got out of bed to the kitchen with a cup to fill the water when I suddenly felt like I wasn’t touching anything at all. My eyes were pretty droopy to see much, but I remember the bump I got on my head when I hit the ceiling.”

“So you unexpectedly levitated up the ceiling without realizing it?”

“Apparently. When I did, I freaked out like a chicken running from a fox, only I tried not to wake anyone up with my voice.”

“And then what?”

“Eventually, I came down, ran to the kitchen, got my water, and quietly ran back to my room. Since then, my magic was becoming even more powerful throughout the years. Of course, I had to practice in secret whenever I had the free time to spare after doing my chores. I learned more on how to levitate a little, I can make fire; in fact, anything that I think of in my head can come true on my own command!”

“Like what?” Rachel asked.

“Anything!” Walt replied, “I can even give you whatever you want! Come on, say what you want. Just anything.”

“Hmm. Okay, how about a chocolate cupcake with blue frosting?”

“Hold out your hand.”

Rachel did as he told her to do and in an instant, a cupcake appeared on her hand and it matched her description. The cake was made in chocolate and with frosting was a blue as the ocean!

“Holy…” Rachel awed, “now what?”

“Eat it.” said Walt.

“Would I turn small after I take a bite?”

“This is the Black Forest, Rachel, not Wonderland. Just try it.”

Rachel cut the cupcake in half, she handed one of those halves to Walt and said, “You do it with me.”

“No thanks.”

“Hey, you made this appear, you eat it too. Besides, you gotta give yourself a little credit for your work.”

Walt smiled, took the half of the cupcake and ate it right there in front of her. “Your turn. It’s really good.”

Convinced enough that Walt enjoyed the cupcake, Rachel finally took a bite out of her half. Her eyes widened with disbelief and astonishment and she said, “Oh my God. How is this real? You just- you just made this appear out of nowhere and it tastes like a real cupcake!”

“That’s because it is real! It wasn’t at first, but with a little magic in my fingertips, I just gave it a little push when it needed it.”

“Okay, so anything you think of you can make real whenever you want it just like that.” Rachel said snapping her fingers, “But why didn’t you let you family know about it?”

“One thing’s for sure, I didn’t want to spoil my family like that. Anyway, a few days after I first discovered my magic and with enough private practice,” Walt continued, “I felt prepared enough to test it somewhere in the barn. To start off, I levitated some hay around the stables for the cows and horses and that worked well. I finished the rest of my chores within a half hour and as I was walking out of the barn, I…”

“What? What happened?”

“I saw a wolf attacking my little sister, Ruth. She was probably five-years-old at the time.”

“Oh my God! Where did the wolf come from?”

“I don’t remember exactly, but all I knew was that I wasn’t going to sit by and watch my family get hurt. I ran up to that beast, grabbed its snout, and opened its mouth letting go of Ruth’s dress. I told her to run back to the house and get help, which she did, but by the time my dad came out with a gun, I was already about to levitate a couple rocks to throw at the wolf. My dad got in the way between me and the wolf, I threw the rocks by accident, two of them hit my dad on the back of his head and the top of his spine, the third on hit the wolf on his face. With that and the gunshot that my dad missed shooting at, the wolf ran away. I thought it was something to celebrate for, but when I looked at my dad’s head, it was bleeding…badly. I guess I threw that rock too hard enough to penetrate his flesh. Despite being relieved that both Ruth and me were safe, my dad got angry for throwing those rocks and he slapped me real hard. I saw my father’s rage in his eyes and I saw the damage I did to him. That was when I decided to never use my magic on anyone again unless I really needed to, which didn’t really happen as often even when it came to me facing Olin for the first time. I never knew how he was able to find out that I was a sorcerer in the first place, but all I knew was that if I continued to do something like this, I would hurt someone. That’s why I never told anyone about it.”

“Dude, that’s a real downer.” said Rachel, “Look, you were young and inexperienced at the beginning and you made a mistake. So what? It’s not as if you wanted it to happen. You did what you had to do and that’s it! You should’ve let it go by now.”

“I could have,” said Walt, “I just felt I too painful to find peace of that. And throughout all the times I’ve used magic to help in times like those, something terrible always happens like I never learn anything. If it’s mistakes from managing a business, drawing a picture, budgeting the finances of my company or anything like I can learn from, I could handle it fine, but using magic so much was becoming far much harder for me to swallow.”

“So you just gave up in telling them?”

“I didn’t want to take the chances even if I was comfortable and ready to tell them.”

“Well, you had one lifetime to try, but wouldn’t it make you feel better to just tell everything one else in the Disney Worlds since technically they’re your family, too?”

“…Your right.” Walt perked up, “I shouldn’t have to keep that from everyone anymore. God, I feel so stuck-up.”

“It happens.” said Rachel, “You’ve just got to know the right time to say what you need to say even if it sounds painful and too much to ask.”

“Yeah…it shouldn’t take too long to get to the cottage from here now that we’re leaving the bad part behind.”

“Really, we’re already out of the dark part of the forest?”

“Yep. It should be smooth sailing from here.”

“Sweet!”

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“Are you sure it’s down here, Master?” Terrance questioned.

“Yes, I am positive, Terrance.” said Yen Sid.

Terrance and Master Yen Sid strode down the stairs to the basement in their greatest assumptions that they would find the crystal ball. The room was filthy with dust bunnies, leftover dirt from people’s shoes, rat’s droppings, and cobwebs in almost every corner of the room. The staircase was pretty high but not steep. Still, the master managed to watch his step carefully and vigilantly.

Just like the master sorcerer’s basement in his tower of a home, the basement here was crowded with boxes and sheets covering old furniture and things. One of the sheeted pieces in the middle of the room with two chairs surrounding immediately caught the boy’s eyes in attention. Hopefully for them, it was what they’re looking for. Terrance approached the sheeted furniture, he pulled the cloth away, and right there in front of him and his teacher was the crystal ball, still clean without a single spec of dirt and dust sticking to it. The ball was crystal clear one can hold his or her hand on the other side and see it perfectly without flaw. The stand that held the crystal was nicely crafted with pinewood painted in purple and edged and decorated in gold. Terrance remembered studying some of his magic with it under Yen Sid’s supervision and his teaching. It was one of his earliest lessons handed down from many of the past master sorcerers that had ever lived especially those who came before Yen Sid himself.

“I haven’t seen this baby since after you adopted me.” said Terrance. “How long has it been down here?”

“I believe it was not long after I had first realized how troublesome Rodney had been with handling with my equipment.” Yen Sid replied, “Perhaps…since we first met.”

“Poor Rodney.” Terrance spoke weakly. While his head was down, he felt a soft pat on his shoulder from his master for his encouragement.

“We all know where he is now and we should all be happy and grateful for his devotion to protecting the people he loved.”

“…I just want him back. He was like my only brother.”

“I know.”

“So, let’s get to it.”

Terrance pulled his chair up close to the table so he’d have a better close up on Rachel’s whereabouts. The elderly sorcerer, with a small candlelight in hand, sat on the other chair across from the boy and watched him prepare for conjuring.

“Now, do you remember what I have taught you long ago?” Yen Sid asked.

“Master, you’re looking at a four point five grade point averaged student with an associate’s degree in just about everything you’ve taught me heading up to a bachelor’s.” Terrance pointed out, “I think I can handle a glass ball.”

“Very well, then. You may begin when you are ready.”

The boy made himself comfortable on his chair and just stared at the crystal ball very sternly. He closed his eyes semi tightly and began to concentrate with all he can use for it to work. Sweat fell down from his forehead. If anything Yen Sid was right for one thing, it’s that use a crystal ball takes a lot of time and energy to master it well. But then, after a small series of electrical sparks cloaking around the ball, the crystal started showing an image of something. In an instant, they found Rachel walking with Walt Disney through the Black Forest…alone!

“Interesting.” said Yen Sid.

“What the heck are they doing in there?” Terrance yelled.

“I am not sure. Oh yes! They must be sending an invitation of the coronation to the Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. And from the looks of it, I must say they have already treaded through the darkest domain of it.”

“Okay, so the good part of this is that they’re safe. Now comes the hard part.”

“Indeed. But bear in mind that the spell will only last for only thirty minutes and you will have to strongly think of the place you want to be and nowhere else. You will only have enough time to find Walt and Rachel and see to it that they both make it to the dwarf’s cottage safely.”

“Got it.”

Yen Sid knelt down in front of Terrance and spoke “Make sure your eyes are wide open. Otherwise the spell won’t have much effect.”

The two of them stared at each other in their eyes very deeply. With a slow wave his hand and the constant wiggling of his fingers, Yen Sid cast the hypnokinesis spell onto his pupil. Terrance, however, had his eyes wide open at his master. But in short time, the boy’s eyes began to droop. They followed the master’s fingers swaying back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, until his eyelids finally closed, not seeing even a glimpse of Yen Sid again.

Meanwhile Yen Sid, whose spell came into full effect, watched his adopted son sleep soundly and peacefully on his soft and comfortable chair and smiled. He can remember how sweet and kind-hearted Terrance was as a little boy the moment he brought him into his home to this day. And although Terrance has matured over the years, Yen Sid can still see that little boy face in him. He placed his elderly weary hand onto the young boy’s lap and spoke in a hushed tone.

“Be safe, my son.” said the master.

In his deepest sleep, Terrance began falling down into darkness. He couldn’t feel anything happening to him in the process. It was all quiet; the only things he can hear were the sounds within his mind. It was like he was falling down into a sleeping death. The only setback of hypnokinesis, however, is that sometimes when one is put into that state for a long time, they can never wake up forever. But being treated by the hands of a master sorcerer who is good and wise at just about everything can only relieve the boy in his sleep.

Finally, after long minutes of total silence, which felt like eternity, Terrance was able to hear faint sounds…soft voices drumming into his ears. He slowly opened his eyes where light had greeted him kindly. He was blinded for a bit, but it wasn’t enough to keep him from not seeing a little fawn standing next to him licking his face.

The fawn was probably about two feet tall, light brown, slender, white spots, tail and underside, and cute all over. Terrance immediately recognized who this was and is usually happy to see this little friend whenever they cross paths. He softly petted the fawn’s head; the fawn didn’t flinch, but embraced the comfort of Terrance’s hand feeling him.

“Hello Bambi.” said Terrance. Bambi took a step back from Terrance and gave a small bow. It made Terrance say, “I see you’re still practicing on your princely approach, huh?”

Bambi nodded.

“That’s very good.” Terrance continued, “You make a great prince of the forest. I actually need your help. You haven’t a man in a mask and a young woman walking by in here, have you?”

In response, Bambi jumped up and down with excitement. He hopped up to the top of a small hill and pointed his head onward towards a lighter part of the forest.

“You have? You’ve seen them?” Terrance perked up, receiving a nod from the little fawn, and said, “Could you take me to them?

With another nod from Bambi, Terrance runs up and begins following him through the forest. If there’s one thing that’s completely reliable about young woodland creatures like Bambi is, it’s that they’re always running off from where need to be, which lets them cover more ground and know how to get around quicker.