Wolf! Happily Ever After?

by Nancy Temple Rodrigue

  Looking around, he memorized exactly where they were. There was no diorama in this section and it would look very different when the bright lights were out.

  Wolf gave a curt nod to Wals, who grinned broadly. “Yes, I think this is it. I can tell it is a portal. Let’s just hope it is the right entrance this time.”

  That reminder of the previous failure dimmed Wals’ smile a little. Still, it was more than they had a few minutes ago. “Let’s go tell Rose and Merriweather.” Job accomplished, they ran down the rest of the steps and exited into the courtyard of Fantasyland.

  “Merri already knows,” Wolf flatly stated as he gave a wave to the workers who rolled their eyes and hurried back inside to finish up as much as they could for the day. Seeing so much activity near the exit of the coming attraction, a few of the guests strolling past on their way to Snow White’s grotto slowed down and looked curiously at the two men. They wanted to ask what it was like inside and when would it be open. There was always the hope that they might be invited inside for a sneak-peek. However, the two cast members looked way too preoccupied and unapproachable, so the disappointed guests just continued on their way.

  “She does? How do you know that? Why didn’t she say something?” The fairy’s role—or non-role—in all this was becoming more and more confusing.

  “That was her room.”

  “Then, why didn’t she tell you? Shouldn’t she have known the first portal was wrong?”

  Wolf paused before they reached the curve of the walkway. He was trying to figure out how to explain it to Wals—when he barely understood it himself. “There are many portals all around the Park, Wals. They all go to different places. Even though she doesn’t belong in this time, she must realize it. But, as she has said many times, she can only watch and make suggestions. She hasn’t much power here, not that she would admit it…. I figure she doesn’t know where exactly any of them lead, just as I don’t until I actually try it.”

  That was as good of an explanation Wals would get as the men walked around the side of the Castle to Swan Lake. Swimming in circles, Rose was bored out of her mind.

  “Lance, we found the portal. I’m going to need the Walkthrough shut down until such time as we get back.”

  His security partner and fellow Guardian of Walt gave a small grimace that was unseen over the phone. “You sure, Wolf? The Imagineers are already working overtime to try and get the thing open. They were put out enough by your interruption earlier.”

  Wolf was unconcerned about the workers. “I am trying to get Rose home, Lance. It can’t be helped. We can’t risk jumping back into the middle of a group of workers. Or even guests if it takes longer than we think and the attraction is actually open. You know my clothes don’t make the jump going in, and I don’t wear any as a wolf. So, coming back, I’m….”

  “Naked as a jaybird.” Lance interrupted Wolf with a laugh. “Yeah, I’ve heard. Yeah, that would be a little hard to explain to a family with teenage girls walking through when you landed at their feet. You might get a date out of it,” he offered as a possible good outcome.

  The answering growl got Lance to laughing again. “No, no, we’ll take care of it somehow. Kimberly will make the call as soon as we hang up. You sure this is the right one, Wolf?”

  Wolf could tell by his voice that Lance had become serious. “No, but, it felt right.” He gave an unseen shrug. “As did the portal under the drawbridge.” His deep sigh was easily heard. “There’s only one way to find out.”

  “Well, hope it goes well.” Never one to be serious for long, Lance had a sudden thought come to his mind. “Hey, Wolf, to change the subject a little, I have a trivia question for you.”

  “This isn’t the time for your little game, Lance.”

  “No, no, it will take your mind off things for a minute. Listen to this. It stumped Kimberly, by the way.” When Wolf started muttering in Lakota, Lance hurried up. “Okay, don’t bite anything. Here it is: Which is the only Park to have both Sleeping Beauty Castle and Cinderella Castle?” Smiling expectantly, Lance was disappointed to hear only silence at the other end. “Not even a guess?”

  “Lance, we really don’t have time for this.”

  “Fine, I’ll tell you since you are in such a bad mood all of a sudden. It’s Disneyland!”

  “Fascinating.”

  “Do you know where the two castles are?” Lance prodded, being actually glad he wasn’t face to face with Wolf right then.

  Silence was again his only answer.

  “Okay, be that way, but I’m still marking it down on our running score sheet. One is the obvious big Castle, and the other is Cinderella’s castle on that little hill in Storybook Land.”

  “Can I go now?”

  “Fine. Be that way. But I’ll bet you use it on Wals before your trip is over.”

  “Don’t bet too much,” muttered Wolf.

  Lance knew when to stop his games. “So, do you think you’re all ready to go? You’ll have to be prepared for anything. You don’t know what to expect back there.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Even though the warning was ominous, Wolf sounded relieved to be talking about the trip again. “Wals will need to use the same costume as before, and we already have Rose’s dress and cape wrapped and ready to go.”

  Recalling his and Wolf’s adventure in Columbia when they were following Walt’s second Hidden Mickey quest, Lance was torn between wanting to go along for the adventure and being glad he was safe and warm in the mansion in Fullerton. He still didn’t know what he would do if Wolf offered to let him go along, but he then realized his partner had already hung up.

  Kimberly would have killed him if he went.

  Hidden by the bright lights from the overhead firework spectacular going on, no one noticed a bright pink light radiating out from the upper castle windows. The roar of the vortex’s thunder as it swept through the darkened hallways was muted by the BOOMBOOM of the rockets as they burst into a dazzling display of yellows and reds, the accompanying music rising to a soul-stirring crescendo.

  No one noticed that the swan was no longer swimming in the fern-encircled moat or, had they peered deep in the black confines of the castle, that two men—one dressed as a prince and one unselfconsciously naked—were there one moment and gone the next. Had they noticed the small trail of blue pixie dust that had followed the swan, they would have seen that it, too, vanished in the angry, swirling whirlwind. That conical wind had bounced off one wall and then careened into another, violently shaking the new, colorful pennants that flew high above the elaborate windows of the dioramas. When its use had been fulfilled, the whirlwind blinked out of existence in a shimmering curtain of pink glimmer.

  England — 1289

  Cold water lapped at Wals’ feet, threatening to soak through the thin boots he had again borrowed from the Costume Department at Disneyland. Tucked securely into the tips of his brown boots were the well-wrapped pendant and a few of the gold coins he had taken from the pirate chest on Tom Sawyer’s Island. Eyes closed against the pain throbbing in his head, arms stretched out in front of him, his fingers opened and closed. Lips white from the cold, he frowned as he imagined he was grabbing handfuls of sand. Prying open one eye, he slowly came to realize he was lying on a beach, the placid waves lapping against the bottoms of his feet.

  A faint, feminine groan came to his ears, somewhere over to his left. When he remembered that he had not been alone in the terror he had just experienced, his eyes shot fully open. Pulling his arms closer to his chest, he managed a shaky version of a pushup and got his feet under him enough to stand. “Rose?” Wals thought he had said it out loud, but it only emerged as a croak out of his dry mouth.

  Glancing up, he was rewarded with the sight of a crescent moon peering brightly over the serene beach. To his left, the groan was repeated. With a loud pop coming from his neck, he turned to see Merri helping Rose lace up the back of her dress. He wasn’t sure which one of them had groaned. The fairy was back in her flowing c
ape and light blue gown, but her pointed hat was somewhat askew and her hands were slightly shaking as she helped her friend get dressed. They had all been affected by the violence of the time shift.

  As Rose wrung some of the excess water out of her long lavender skirt, Wals went over to her and held out his arms. Going in for a quick embrace, she gave him a trembling smile. “Are you okay?” This time, his words came out in a hoarse whisper.

  To finish her dressing, she tied her flowing blond hair back into place with the black ribbon Merri handed her. It was the last item out of the parcel Wolf had packed before they made the jump. Rose answered his question with a shaky nod, and then looked around as best as she could in the darkness. “Where’s Wolf? Didn’t he make it through with us?”

  Hearing the tremor in her voice, Wals’ eyes widened as his head jerked around. When he had gone back with Wolf to the 1800’s to rescue Rose, Wolf had somehow ended up in a different year. His distraught face paled even further when the huge, black wolf wasn’t anywhere to be seen. The training he had received with Wolf’s family came to the fore and his hand unconsciously went to the hilt of the unproven sword that hung at his side. Not knowing where—or when—they were, Wals hesitated to call out for their missing companion, his consternation growing. It had also registered in his chaotic brain that there was no castle within sight, not the familiar castle of Disneyland, nor any castle that might signify their location. There was only, inexplicably, a sandy beach. Where are we?

  Merriweather ignored the two humans when they put their heads and exchanged anxious whispers in an attempt to decide what to do. With a contented smile, she pulled her wand from inside her flowing dark blue cape and tapped it against her palm. “Wake up, dear.” When there was no response, she had to give it another tap. A shower of blue sparkles fell over her fingertips. “There you are! Oh, I missed you, too!” The glowing wand belched out another array of glimmer. Shaking slightly, it settled and the bright glow receded. “All back to normal. You can go now. I’ll see you soon.” After the wand popped back out of sight, Merri smoothed the front of her dress and let out a relieved sigh. Now that she was settled, she approached the humans. “Ready to go, dear?” she asked Rose, and ignored Wals.

  Rose reached out and straightened the fairy’s tall conical hat. “Go?” There was a confused frown on her face. “Merri, we can’t go anywhere until we know what happened to Wolf.” At the stubborn look on the fairy’s face, she could tell Merri didn’t agree. “It’s only right, you know. I’m sure he’s doing everything he can.”

  Wals had been watching the fairy, stunned silent by her transformation and the animated wand that had just disappeared from her hand. “You…you really are the Good Fairy?”

  The short plump figure impatiently turned back to the man. “Who did you think I was?”

  His mouth opened and then clamped shut. Who did he think she was? He just feebly shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

  Merri turned back to her charge with an accusing look. “He’s not very bright, dear. Are you sure he’s the one?”

  Rose was saved from answering by the silent approach of the wolf. In the darkness, with only the moon for light, he was reduced to an eerie dark shape. As he moved over the shimmering sand, the gray tips of his black fur turned silver in the light. Head down, he walked slower than his usual brisk pace. It was obvious to all that the passage through the vortex had taken its toll on him as well. Exhausted, he dropped into a sitting position next to Rose. Her hand automatically went to rest on his head as she had done so many times before on Tom Sawyer’s Island. “Are you all right, Wolf?” Worried, she rubbed the soft fur around his ears.

  His eyes closed briefly as he leaned into the soothing feeling. After a single nod, he glanced to the right. Eyes narrowed, he held his nose a little higher in the air. He knew they weren’t alone on that seemingly deserted stretch of beach. Standing, he turned his back on the source of the smell and, head down to hide his moving lips, quietly began a set of instructions. “We have company. Fairy, you take Rose home. You know the way. Wals, you stay with me. You all must remember this: I will not talk again while I’m here. It is too dangerous. You are my mouth, Wals. No, don’t interrupt. We don’t have time. Merri, go now. I’ll find you later, Rose.” Once his promise was made to Rose, he then hissed at Wals, “Draw your sword, but stand at ease.”

  The Blue Fairy stiffened suddenly and the wand immediately leaped into her hand. “It’s her. I can feel her evil is near. How did she get here, wolf?” Knuckles white around her wand, she suspiciously glared at the animal.

  The huge black head turned sharply to the fairy. “Do not address me directly again, fairy. It’s not safe! I’ll not tell you again. She’s always near. The pendant draws her. She has been waiting for it to come. Now, go!” he commanded and snapped his mouth shut.

  With her wand, Merri drew an invisible circle of protection around the confused Rose. Holding off any arguments the girl might offer, she simply said, “You must come with me, dear. Your mother must be worried by now. We must go quickly. Draw your cloak over your hair.”

  With an anxious parting glance at Wals, Rose reluctantly did as she was told. Within moments, the two disappeared through a small cleft in the shadows of huge boulders that lined the edge of the beach. On a familiar, narrow deer path, the blue Fairy briskly led the worried girl through the woods. No soothing beams of moonlight found their way through the dense, dripping trees of this forest. Her straining wand was held under the concealing folds of her cape so it didn’t inadvertently tell her where they were. In unerring precision, Merri led the princess through the night, each quiet with her own thoughts.

  Once the women were safely away, Wolf turned to face the unseen, dark presence. Far enough away to insure its anonymity, it had stopped and quietly observed the two remaining figures on the beach. Head down, Wolf planted his stiff front legs wide apart, the hair on his back rising as he bared his fangs. Wals was startled into taking a step back when the wolf suddenly snarled and snapped at the darkness that faced them. Pawing the sand in front of him, Wolf lashed out one more time with his lethal teeth, his tail straight out, ears alert. The message was sent: I know you’re there. Leave us be.

  As his fingers easily gripped the elaborate hilt, his back straight, Wals raised the tip of his sword in the direction Wolf now faced. Whatever was out there, the wolf didn’t like it, and he would back the animal. Speech was not necessary. The wolf’s actions spoke clearly enough.

  For a full minute Wolf kept his defensive stance. Then, with a deliberate gesture, he turned his back on the unseen danger and slowly walked back to Wals’ position. Head erect, he proudly walked along the shoreline in the opposite direction. Keeping his sword out of its sheath, Wals let his grip relax as the blade dropped to his side as he followed the wolf. Silently wondering what was going on, he had figured they would follow the same path the fairy and Rose had taken. It was becoming obvious, however, that Wolf had other plans.

  When they passed the curve of the shoreline, the man and the wolf disappeared from her sight. Now safe from detection, a large gray wolf padded to the spot where the group had emerged from the sea. Her sharp gray eyes narrowed as she sniffed the ground where each individual had been. Seeing the indents in the sand, it would be easy enough to follow the direction the man and wolf had gone. But the other two…. The vixen’s ears twitched as her head swiveled this way and that. She wasn’t able to get a sense of them. Thinking it odd, she lifted her nose one more time.

  Going to the spot where the black wolf had taken his stand, she used her hind legs to contemptuously throw sand over the clear line he had drawn.

  Easing into a sitting position, she let her mouth loll open into a wolf’s imitation of a smile. She already knew which path she would follow.

  “Fools,” she muttered to herself.

  Rose gave a small cry of happiness when she saw the familiar turrets and walls of her castle. “Oh, Merri!” She gave a tug on the arm of her
companion. “It’s been so long. I’m actually home!”

  With a silent sigh of relief the blue Fairy bypassed the drawbridge and the imposing gatehouse. She headed for a secret door known only to the three Good Fairies. The last time she had used the entry was to bring Rose back to her family after raising her for sixteen years in the hidden cottage deep in the forest. If only we had waited one more day. The disastrous consequences of what had happened when they left the princess alone in her room for just a moment came back to her mind.

  As she shook off the horrible memories, Merriweather was met at the door by her two long-missed companions. There were many tears of happiness that the princess was finally home again.

  Still in the doorway, Merri, the blue Fairy, and her friend Fauna, the green Fairy, immediately started an animated conversation on all that had gone on in that strange place where Rose had been sent. Flora, the eldest, the red Fairy, had to interrupt them. “I know we are all anxious to hear the tales, Merriweather, dear, but we must think of the poor child!” She broke off when she realized Rose had run on in ahead of them and was already out of sight. “Oh!” She smiled fondly as she shut the wooden door to the outside world. “That’s my girl!”

  “Where’d she go?” Fauna looked around, suddenly anxious. “She didn’t run off again, did she?” As she fretted, her green hat unable to keep up with her swiveling head.

  “No, no, I’m sure she is on her way to see her mother.” Flora popped out of sight for an instant. In a burst of red light, she was back and nodded wisely. “Yes, just as I expected. She’s up in her room in the upper tower now, changing her dress first, thank goodness.” Eyes narrowed, she glanced suspiciously at Merri. “She looks pretty worse for the wear. You had said you could handle anything when we decided to send her away.”