Ariel - The Next Generation: Kayla White

Wendell was lost.

He didn’t know what he was doing there; he didn’t know how he had gotten himself into this mess. Here he was, back from the dead, and supposed to come up with some way to save his daughter and friends from who knows what.

He paced the room, sat on the bed, and banged his fist on the dresser until it was numb.

Wendell, you’re wasting time.

His grandmother’s clear, pure voice was sounding inside his head.

“Oh, go away,” he said aloud. “I’ve got enough trouble as it is.”

This is a very serious situation, Snow White said, used to Wendell’s occasional rudeness. Either you get out there and show the queen what you’re capable of, or your daughter, as well as your friends that saved your life and your throne, will die.

“What do you want me to do?” Wendell whined. “I haven’t got the brains or the guts.”

After what you’ve been through as a dog, I expected more from you.

“Rubbish. Will you help me, or not?”

Fine. Go look in the mirror.

Obediently, he strode over to the full-length mirror on the wall and gasped.

He had transformed into a totally new man – not that transformations were new for him. He had slick black hair and a hint of a growing mustache, and he was dressed in a black suit with black shoes and white gloves.

“What in the fairying forest have you done to me?” he demanded. Even his voice sounded different.

You’re a servant now.

“I’m a what?”

A servant. Don’t you see? You can go anywhere you’d like now without arousing suspicion.

“I have no idea what to do next.”

The queen is in her room of mirrors. Kayla and Warren are running through the palace in search of the mirror leading to the Tenth Kingdom.

“Why?”

The Tenth Kingdom is the only safe place for Kayla to hide. Listen to me, Wendell. You must find the children before the queen does, or all is lost. You of all people should know that she does not hesitate to kill.

“But where do I find –“

I cannot help with everything, Wendell. You’re on your own.

“Do you expect me to go through all of this without you?”

There was no answer.

“Oh, very well,” he sighed. “Kayla, Warren… here I come!”

With a deep breath, Wendell left the bedroom.

Virginia and Tony followed Chief Farmer and his men throughout the house, tidying the mess that they made as they went. The Chief looked more and more discouraged by the minute.

“Search for hidden rooms, trap doors, anything,” he said hoarsely. “She must be here.”

Suddenly, a stranger burst into the house, ignoring Virginia’s protests.

“Who are you?” she demanded.

The man did not respond. Instead, he said, “Chief Farmer? I have a message from the queen.” His cold eyes glared at Virginia and Tony as he whispered something into the Chief’s ear.

The Chief’s eyes grew wide, and he stared sorrowfully at the two innocent people before him.

“I’m sorry… I have no choice…”

“No!” Virginia shouted as the realization dawned on her. “Dad! Dad, run!”

Too late. Chief Farmer’s voice rang through the air, and they were surrounded.

“Show them no mercy,” the stranger said icily. “Or she’ll have your head!”

“Elliot,” the Chief said wearily, “return to her majesty. Tell her that I have killed them, as they will be dead by the time you reach her. I will bring her their hearts as proof.”

Elliot bowed and sprinted away. Chief Farmer turned back to his prisoners.

“I’m sorry, truly I am. You must understand that I have no choice…”

Gregory and Wolf pondered their choices hastily. They could either go back to the cottage, or they could stay in the palace.

“You go back,” Wolf said decisively. “I’ll stay. I can sniff them out easily, and it’ll be no trouble fighting anybody off. You’ve risked enough on our behalf, anyway.”

“I do what I think is right,” Gregory objected, “and I refuse to abandon you all here. It’s like suicide!”

“Huff puff, I can handle it! Gregory, I need you to make sure that my wife is safe. Well, make sure my father-in-law is safe too, but focus mainly on my wife. Will you do that for me?”

Gregory paused a moment to take in Wolf’s pleading eyes. “All right,” he said finally. “I’ll do it.”

Wolf grinned and gave him a hug. “Tell her I love her,” he said tearfully. “Tell her I’m coming back for her.”

“Take care of yourself, Wolf,” Gregory whispered, and hurried out of the palace as Wolf followed the scented trail of the Warren and Kayla.

Kayla’s lungs and legs were burning, and she imagined that Warren’s were as well, but they couldn’t stop. It was a life and death matter.

Just keep running, and everything will be all right.

Panting, her eyes darted about the corridors that they flew through.

Mirrors, mirrors, mirrors… why can’t I remember which room they’re in?

Presently, they came upon a familiar hallway. “I know where it is!” Kayla called to Warren. “This way!”

He followed her as she made a sharp turn to the left, struggling to keep up. He was surprised at how out of shape he was. He’d gone on so many hunts with his father… but then again, he had mostly just been watching.

“Ow!” He heard her cry out before he stumbled into her and they crashed, falling to a tangled heap on the floor. As he hastened to pull himself up and get Kayla back on her feet, he saw that they had bumped into a servant.

“We’re very sorry,” he said quickly, taking Kayla’s hand to pull her up. “We’ve got to go –“

“Wait!” the servant cried, grabbing Warren’s free hand. “I can help you! I’m Wendell, don’t you recognize me? Oh, that’s right, I’ve changed…”

He’s mad. “I’m sorry, but we’re in a hurry. Come on, Kay… err, Kristi –“

“No! Please! Snow White sent me… she brought me back to save you! If you don’t listen to me, you’ll die!”

Warren nudged Kayla and tugged at her arm, but she didn’t budge.

“Can you prove this?” she asked quietly.

“I can’t,” the servant/King Wendell said, exasperated. “You have to trust me!”

“Wait!” Warren said suddenly. He leaned over and sniffed the man. “You smell familiar.”

“You mean my scent hasn’t changed?” the man said, looking relieved. “That makes one thing that’s still me.”

“You do smell exactly like King Wendell,” Warren said, straightening. “And my instincts tell me that you are, but…”

“But what?”

“I just can’t believe it.”

“Warren,” Kayla said, squeezing his hand, “we have to trust him. We have no choice.”

“But what if he’s under a spell, or the queen –“

“Warren, at least if we have him, we’ll be in less danger.”

“How do you know that?”

“I don’t. You do.”

It was true. His wolf instincts were telling him that this man was indeed King Wendell in disguise, but…

“Come on, then,” the man said, jumping to his feet. “I know that you’re looking for the mirror, but we have to think of something else. The queen is in her room of mirrors as we speak.”

“Are there guards?” Warren asked impatiently.

“I don’t know.”

“Well, we could fight ‘em off,” Warren said fiercely. “Kayla knows where the room is; let’s go.”

With that, the three of them raced down the hall, with Kayla in the lead.

Tony threw his arms around his daughter. There was no way that any of those son of a bitches would lay a hand on her.

“The hell with the queen!” he shouted. “You know that this is wrong! I can see it! You’re just scared!”

“Dad, stop it, for heaven’s sakes,” Virginia said shakily. “Shouting like that won’t do any good.”

“What do you want me to do, stand here while they chop us to pieces?”

The men moved an inch closer, their swords raised.

“Please, Mr. Chief,” Virginia said, trying to stall, “we didn’t do anything. Why kill us?”

“I’ve been ordered by the queen to kill you both,” Chief Farmer said, his voice full of regret. “I have no choice.”

“Is there any way we can make you change your mind?”

“The only reason why I wouldn’t kill you was if you knew something about the princess,” the Chief said sympathetically. “You don’t know anything, do you?”

Virginia and Tony were silent. Thoughts raced through Virginia’s mind. Of course, she would never give Kayla away, but she and her father were going to die. She would never see Wolf or Warren again.

“Please,” she whispered desperately, “I have a son… I have a husband…”

“I’m sorry,” the Chief said. “I’m terribly sorry…”

And suddenly, the Chief fell down dead.

Kayla, Warren, and Wendell (or was it Wendell? They couldn’t be too sure) stopped short when they reached the room of mirrors.

Kayla couldn’t help it. She let out a slight cough.

“Elliot? Jonathon? Is that one of you?” The queen’s terrifying, icy voice rang out. “Come in if it is.”

“What do we do?” Kayla whispered. Fear tore at her heart, making it impossible to think straight.

“We go in,” Wendell whispered back. “We have to.”

“Wait!” The three friends spun around at the sound of the familiar voice.

“Wolf!” Wendell exclaimed as Wolf skidded to a stop.

“Who’s out there?” the queen demanded, hurrying out to the hallway. Her eyes narrowed when she saw them, but her mouth slithered into an evil grin.

“Welcome back, darling,” she cackled, taking Kayla by the arm and shoving her inside. “I’ve missed you so…”

Virginia and Tony gasped with surprise as the Chief fell to the floor, caught in the arms of a few of his startled men standing nearby.

Gregory became visible from behind, bringing tears of relief to their eyes.

“Get out, all of you,” he demanded. If he was frightened, he didn’t show it.

The men were suddenly helpless. With their Chief dead, they had no leader, and without a leader, they didn’t know what to do.

Fearing for their own lives, they quickly departed the house, leaving the Chief lying on the floor.

“Oh, Gregory…” Virginia ran over to their savior and gave him a hug. “Thank you so much…but what are you doing here? What happened?”

“They’re fine,” Gregory reported. “Wolf is at the palace to help Warren and Kayla. The two children ran when it became necessary, and Wolf insisted that he would sniff them out and that I ought to return. He sent me back with a message.” He smiled at Virginia. “He says that he loves you. He says that he’s coming back for you.”

Virginia smiled back. “Thank you for everything, Gregory,” she said softly. “We couldn’t have done it without you.”

“My pleasure, dear lady,” Gregory replied with a grin, and swooped down to kiss her hand.