>>560679
Rita, you could summon someone to send off to help Nina and Nino. Then you could help in both places at once. Nina would have to come fetch whoever it is, though.

Nina, it's a good thing you can't turn yourself into a frog, because you wouldn't be able to cancel the spell! Unless croaking while meaning to say the counterspell works? Well, you could teleport down there but unless there's air in there you'd still drown. Meanwhile, I suppose you could visit the faeries to ask if they've noticed anything unusual.

Nina, Nino, & Rita 2014/02/05(Wed)20:45 No. 561103 ID: 2ae1fb
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>>560686
NINA: ....Wait a minute. Woon, did you say that we would be able to breathe in the Wind Room?

WOON: Of course! Why would we call it the Wind Room if it was full of water? That would be really dumb!

NINA: How on earth could I have been so dense!?

I can't believe it. I cannot believe it. Of course! My ring! We don't have to swim at all!

>>560691
NINA: Nino, why don't you take Woon to the Wind Room with your hair? I'll meet you there once I've checked in with Rita.

NINO: Alright! Now we're in business!

WOON: Uhhh... What did she mean about your hair? I like your hair. It's pretty, like Peter's.

NINO: Oh, I'll show you!

I take Woon's hand.

NINO: Hair, take us to the Wind Room in the Mermaids' castle!

NINA: Ring, take me to the Lost Boys' home.

I find myself in the dark room filled with roots. It takes my eyes a minute to adjust to the darkness.

CUBBY: Come on, new mother! You've gotta tell us more!

SLIGHTLY: What happened to Don Quixote?

RITA: Oh, there'll be plenty of time for Don Quixote and Sancho Panza later.

PETER: This is wrong! You can't stop in the middle of a story!

NIBS: Peter's right! You stopped at a really exciting part!

RITA: And that, children, is called a "cliffhanger." See how excited y'all are? That's a good thing. Hold on to that. The best part about stories is that they'll always be there, just waiting for you to get back to them. In the mean time, y'all can use your imaginations to try to imagine what happens next.

PETER: Hmmm... That's a good point, I guess.

The boys are all chattering excitedly about Don Quixote, arguing with one another over what sort of adventures he might get into next. Rita look up at me and smiles.

NINA: The Lost Boys seem to be enjoying the story.

RITA: Well, sure! It's a classic!

NINA: So... The, err, the voices said that you could...

RITA: Don't worry, I was just about to call in my dear old friend, Br'er Rabbit.

NINA: Br'er Rabbit? You mean, Uncle Remus' Br'er Rabbit?

RITA: There's only one Br'er Rabbit!

NINA: Oh... Of course.

RITA: Once upon a time... not our time, nor yet our grandparents' time, but one time.... There lived a bodacious critter that went by the name of Br'er Rabbit. One day, Br'er Rabbit took the notion in his head to pay me a little visit, and he said...

BR'ER RABBIT: How you come on, Sis Rita?

Goodness! I blinked, and suddenly he was there! How on earth did she do that?

RITA: I'm doing just fine, Br'er Rabbit. And yourself?

BR'ER RABBIT: Oh, mighty fine, Sis Rita, mighty fine! Who your friend?

RITA: This is Nina. We're... well... We're sort of saving the world together.

BR'ER RABBIT: Oh, of course! Uncle Remus done told me all about that. Howdy, Sis Nina! How you come on?

NINA: Oh, err... I'm doing well, thank you.

BR'ER RABBIT: Now, I suspect y'all be needing my help for this world-saving, else I don't rightly see why y'all would of called.

RITA: Nothing gets past you, Br'er Rabbit! You have to go with Nina, and help her and our other friend with... whatever they need your help with.

BR'ER RABBIT: Hmmm... Well, I suspect I don't got nothing better to do for a time. I'm gonna have to leave round about supper-time, but I suspect I can help y'all 'til then.

RITA: Great! Thanks!

BR'ER RABBIT: Pleasure's all mine! Now, come on, Sis Nina! We gots to take our foots in our hands!

NINA: Err... right. Ring, take us to the Wind Room in the Mermaids' castle.

Suddenly, we are sitting on a large slab of rock next to Nino. We appear to be in some sort of beautiful room with walls made of delicate-looking iridescent material. There is no floor, only rocks sticking out of a large pool of water. Under the water, there seems to be even more delicate, beautiful carving, and I can see mermaids swimming back and forth.

NINO: Hey, Nina! It's really pretty down here, isn't it? Mother of pearl EVERYTHING! And Woon said that the rest of the castle is even more beautiful, 'cuz this is the only room with walls. She said almost everything else is made of mother of pearl and whale bones, and... is that Br'er Rabbit from Uncle Remus' flashback-story-thingy?

NINA: Yes, it is.

BR'ER RABBIT: You must be Br'er Nino! How do you do?

NINO: Pretty good. You?

BR'ER RABBIT: I'm doing might fine. Say, this sure is a fancy house! Who live here?

NINA: The Mermaids.

BR'ER RABBIT: Now if that ain't the most bodacious thing I's ever heard!

NINA: Where is Woon, Nino?

NINO: She went to get the queen.

BR'ER RABBIT: Say what, now? Sis Rita didn't say nothing about talking to no queen! I ain't used to such big and uppity folks as all that!

NINA: Do you think you can handle it?

BR'ER RABBIT: I'll try my best, Sis Nina, but if I go and make a fool out myself, I suspect I's gonna be feeling might humble-come-tumble.

NINA: I'm not sure we can afford a serious mistake. This castle is full of Mermaids. I'm not entirely sure they'll react well if we accidentally offend their queen.

NINO: No time to discuss it! Here she comes!

Woon is swimming through the water under the Wind Room, and there's another Mermaid following her, with gorgeous hair covered in pearls and shells.

Woon comes up into the Wind Room, poking her head above the surface of the water.

WOON: I present to you Her Royal Highness, Queen Eewee!

Woon swims away, and the queen gracefully pulls herself onto a large rock across from ours. Other than her rather elaborate jewelry, she appears to be wearing… nothing. Only her hair is covering her chest. Oh… goodness. I don’t see how I expected any different.

QUEEN EEWEE: Hello. You must be the ugly human and the human with pretty hair that wanted to speak to us. And, this is your pet? Charming. We are called Queen Eewee. Welcome to our beautiful castle.

Huh. She seems like kind of an asshat. What the heck are we supposed to say to that? I kinda don't want to screw this up, and now we've got a rabbit to deal with, too. I think Nina's gotta be just as worried as me, since she's not talking, either.

And... uhh... just so we know, I'm the human with pretty hair, right? Right?

>>561103
Ah. Well, Nina, you could turn Bre'r Rabbit into a frog for a while, if he'll consent to it. Or just ask him to be quiet for a while and let Nino handle this.

Nino, I want you to introduce yourself and the others, and say that you heard they were having trouble with the faeries and you wish to offer your services as a problem solver. Just generally be polite and perhaps even flattering, and try to get some information out of her about when and why they became hostile to the faeries. You might also ask if they've encountered any foul-tasting/smelling water/air or any unusual objects.

Introduce yourselves, thank her for seeing you, and ask about the faerie problems that they have been having recently. Nino should probably start the introduction since they seem to like him a bit more.

Nina, Nino, & Rita 2014/02/09(Sun)11:45 No. 561633 ID: 2ae1fb
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>>561104
I give Br'er Rabbit a look and hold my finger to my lips. He nods vigorously, and gives me a thumbs-up.

>>561138
Me? Well, okay... If you're sure.

NINO: Well.... Uhh... Hi, Your Highness! Thanks for seeing us, we, uhh... we really appreciate it. Yeah.

QUEEN EEWEE: As, indeed, you should. We do not often give audiences to humans. Most of the humans in Neverland make for exceptionally dull company. The Pirates are atrocious, the Indians are boring, their princess is insufferable, and, except for Peter Pan, the Lost Boys are rather annoying. Tell me, pretty-haired human, which of these factions you belong to?

NINO: We don't belong to any of them, Your Highness. We just... came to Neverland. To help.

QUEEN EEWEE: Help? With what?

NINO: Well, we're problem solvers. And we heard that you were having a little problem with the Fairies, so we thought we'd come and solve your problem for you. Or help you solve it. Or whatever.

QUEEN EEWEE: How marvelous. Except, we don't need any help. We can flood Pixie Hollow whenever we want to.

NINO: Yeah, see, that's kind of the problem. Queen Eewee, you're.... great. You're beautiful. And smart! So... why do you want to kill a bunch of Fairies? What's the point?

QUEEN EEWEE: The point? Why does there need to be a point? We just hate the Never Fairies. That's all the point there needs to be.

NINO: Yes, but... maybe we can solve the problem without violence.

QUEEN EEWEE: Silly boy. Violence is the best solution to all problems!

NINO: Uhh... maybe. But... we could always try something else first. We're professional problem solvers, after all.

QUEEN EEWEE: Hmm. I suppose if you are indeed professionals, then we have no choice but to listen.

NINO: Great! So, uhh... when did this whole thing with the Fairies start?

QUEEN EEWEE: There was no beginning, but there will surely be an end.

NINO: Uhhh... could you run that by me one more time?

QUEEN EEWEE: We've always hated them. It has always been so. It is simply the way things are.

NINO: Yes, but... but why?

QUEEN EEWEE: For one thing, they think that they are incredibly special, because they have pixie dust, and because they can fly and go to the Mainland. Mermaids have no need of such silly things. We are far more beautiful and graceful than fairies, and far more interesting because we can swim. Fairies cannot swim. For another thing, they think that they are too good for us. They never come to visit, nor do they ever submit to my will. They are easily offended. For example, they become very upset if one of our Mermaids tells them that they are ugly. This is not a statement of an opinion, this is simply a fact. Fairies are extremely ugly, because all creatures are ugly when compared to Never Mermaids. In fact, if there are Mermaids on the Mainland, which I doubt, I would be willing to assume that they, too, are ugly when compared to the loveliness of a Never Mermaid.

NINO: ....Wow. Well.... I mean, uhh... You are very lovely.

QUEEN EEWEE: Of course I am.

NINO: Yes. Uhh... Another question! Have you seen anything weird lately? Like, really gross water or air? Or maybe something really strange?

QUEEN EEWEE: Hmm... not that we can think of. No other Mermaid has reported anything strange, lately.

NINO: So... uhhh... Woon says that you only decided to drown all the Fairies last week? Why is that, if you've always hated them?

QUEEN EEWEE: We don't know. We only had the idea in a dream last week, and it seemed marvelous. We are the only beings in Neverland, except for some of the dumb animals, that know the location of Pixie Hollow. The Pirates have been searching for it for a long time, but they will never find it without our help, and we hate them, too. The Lost Boys and the Indians don't care either way about the Fairies, and no one will miss them when they're gone. We can drown them if we want to, and we have suddenly decided that we would like very much to do that.

NINO: Do the Fairies know anything about this plan?

QUEEN EEWEE: Yes.

NINO: Really?

QUEEN EEWEE: Of course! It would be silly to just drown them suddenly when they don't even know about it! So, whenever one of our Mermaids see some Fairy by the edge of the water, she shouts, "Hey, Fairy! We will destroy you!" And then, according to our Mermaids, the Fairy panics and flies away. Fairies are very nervous, stupid creatures. Either way, they have been leaving Pixie Hollow less, lately. They're probably scared. Which is good. They should be.

NINO: Uh-huh. Well....

She's freakin' NUTS! Completely NUTS! I'm not allergic to nuts, but I think she might be some new kinds of nuts I've never seen before that I might just be allergic to! It doesn't sound like there's any reason for ANYTHING! I don't even know if I can get any information from this lady! What the heck am I supposed to ask her? Or should we just give up and try something else? This is really, really weird.

Nino seems to be handling this rather well. I knew he would. I'm just not entirely certain that he's getting anywhere with Queen Eewee. She seems a bit unreasonable. Still, I get the sense that we're learning an awful lot about this world from speaking to her.

...Fairies are easily offended...And all creatures are ugly in comparison to Neverland Mermaids?

I think I get it.

She, like the other Mermaids, are proud of their beauty. And the fairies are touchy so when the Mermaids brag about how beautiful they are, it causes a problem.
...Perhaps the Mermaids could display better manners? Given that Fairies are easily offended, be courteous to them so that they don't get so upset, and we'll go tell the Fairies things have been smoothed over somewhat.

I DON'T think it will be so easily solved as that, and we don't know what the Fairies think about this, or why they've become so reclusive. I've a feeling it's not Mermaids scaring the Faries though...

>>561633
Yep, she's gone nuts. This is the corruption's angle, they twisted the emotions of the mermaids.

Nino, you should play into her desires to kill the faeries and make yourself look like a better way of dealing with them: We could try suggesting that we go "persuade" the faeries to submit to the mermaids. Also you could tell them that maybe the faeries are planning something, and you can go check it out to make sure the flooding won't backfire somehow. Lastly, you can even say that you could deal with the horrible faeries on your own, allowing the mermaids to keep all their water to themselves, undirtied by filthy faerie corpses.

Then she'll hold off on the flooding, and you can teleport to Pixie Hollow. We don't actually need to know where it is, but if she tells us where it is that might make things easier anyway. I mean, what if we teleport there and it's a hidden entrance we can't find?

Nina, Nino, & Rita 2014/02/12(Wed)06:01 No. 562159 ID: 2ae1fb
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>>561660
NINO: Don't worry, Your Highness! As professional problem solvers, it is our job to help you! We could go convince those pesky Fairies to obey you.

QUEEN EEWEE: That would never work. They won't listen to you.

NINO: We've still got to try! And, besides, we should go check on them. They might be planning to attack you right now!

QUEEN EEWEE: I... We never thought of that! They wouldn't! They COULDN'T!

NINO: But what if they are? And if they are, we'll just have to take care of them for you.

QUEEN EEWEE: We are perfectly capable of taking care of them ourselves, thank you.

NINO: How many fairies are there?

QUEEN EEWEE: Too many!

NINO: Think about this! After you flood Pixie Hollow, where will all the water go?

QUEEN EEWEE: It will flow down Havendish Stream and back here, of course.

NINO: And then there'll be dead Fairies all over Mermaid Lagoon! Eww! They'd get everywhere, and it would be totally gross! They'd probably float all the way down here and make a big mess of your lovely castle, too.

QUEEN EEWEE: Why, you're absolutely right! I'm sure this is why you are professionals. Very well, you may take care of the Fairies if you wish. We will call off the attack. For now. Of course, you'll have to find them, first.

NINO: Could you do us a huge favor, Your Highness, and tell us where Pixie Hollow is?

QUEEN EEWEE: Of course! Everyone in Neverland knows that Crocodile Creek is the river that flows into Cannibal Cove. But no one realizes that there's a tiny fork of Crocodile Creek, at the bottom of one of the waterfalls, that flows right through the jungle and into the Mermaid Lagoon. That's Havendish Stream, and it goes right through the middle of Pixie Hollow!

NINO: Thanks!

QUEEN EEWEE: You just take care of them, now.

Without another word, she throws herself from the rock and dives down into underwater castle.

NINA: I told you that you would be able to speak to the queen just fine on your own.

NINO: Aww, shucks!

BR'ER RABBIT: That sure was some fancy speechifin', Br'er Nino, sure enough! But now I suspect we've got to take our foots in our hands?

NINO: Yeah, see, I heard Uncle Remus say that a few times, too. What the heck does it mean!?

BR'ER RABBIT: We gots to get a moving! And fast!

NINA: Right. Let's. Ring, take us to Pixie Hollow.

We arrive in Pixie Hollow, and... just... wow. It's really magical-looking. From where we're standing, it looks like all four seasons are happening at once! I don't even know how that's possible? How come nobody ever found this place before? I feel like it would kind of stand out.

NINO: Whoa, Nina! Check out the tiny little buildings!

BR'ER RABBIT: This whole place is mighty little! You big folks best be careful not to step on nothing!

NINO: Hey! What about you?

BR'ER RABBIT: Aww, I won't step on nothing, Br'er Nino! I's mighty careful, mighty careful!

NINA: So, where exactly are all of the fairies?

NINO: Psst, Nina! Look behind you!

I turn around to find a huge tree, glowing faintly golden. In its branches, I see hundreds of tiny people with wings, all peeking out from behind leaves and over branches. It's a bit like being in the Fair Folk's cavern in Prydain, although these fairies are considerably more human-looking. They appear to be whispering to one another, pointing at the three of us. It sounds like many small bells ringing softly.

Suddenly, one Fairy flies towards us. She looks nervous.

These Fairies are so CUTE! This one's got a long, dark braid, and is wearing an orange tunic and brown pants, all made of leaves! She flies to Br'er Rabbit, and starts gently patting his head, jingling.

BR'ER RABBIT: Oh! Well, my name's Br'er Rabbit. How you come on, Sis Fawn?

NINO: Wait, you can understand her?

She looks up at me, and jingles as if trying to explain something. That's no fair! Why can he understand them and we can't?

BR'ER RABBIT: Sis Fawn says she got a special talent to talk to critters, and since I's a critter, I can talk to her just fine. Course, she can understand you plain as day, 'cause Fairies talk just the same as folks. Just different, is all.

Fawn smiles and nods.

Alright, so we have a way to talk to the Fairies. Now we simply have to decide what to say to them. I'm not sure that we can get them to obey the Mermaids, or even if that is a wise idea. I also don't think killing them is the correct response. Of course, we should probably determine whether or not they're plotting against the Mermaids themselves, but I'm not sure how to ask them about that, especially if they are as easily offended as Queen Eewee suggested.

Why the heck would Queen Eewee say the Fairies were ugly? They're super-pretty! Probably just as pretty as the Mermaids are! I wonder what else she was lying about?

Nina, Nino, & Rita 2014/02/12(Wed)06:02 No. 562160 ID: 2ae1fb
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RITA: ....Of course, poor Sancho knew now that there wasn't any such person as Dulcinea, but he didn't want his friend to be upset! So, what do y’all suppose he did?

PETER: I'm hungry!

SLIGHTLY: Me, too!

CUBBY: Yeah, me three!

NIBS: You're always hungry!

CUBBY: Am not!

NIBS: Are, too!

PETER: Quiet, men! Is that any sort of way to behave in front of your mother?

NIBS: You're right, Peter. Sorry, Mother.

Nibs elbows Cubby in the ribs.

CUBBY: Yeah. Sorry.

RITA: It's alright, y'all. I think it might be time for a break, anyway. I'm real thirsty. So, what do y'all have to eat around here?

NIBS: Cubby at the last of the food last night!

CUBBY: Hey, it wasn't my fault it smelled so good!

PETER: It doesn't matter whose fault it was! We gotta go get more food. So, what'll it be, men?

CUBBY: Rhino!

TWIN: No! We want tiger!

TWIN: We want tiger!

NIBS: We could catch a bear! That's good eating!

SLIGHTLY: We should let Mother pick!

RITA: Oh, well... That all sounds... lovely. But... uhh... couldn't y'all just find some nice... salad?

SLIGHTLY: What's "salad?"

NIBS: Don't be stupid, Slightly! Salad is when you take a bunch of birds and stuff 'em inside each other and eat 'em all at the same time!

SLIGHTLY: No, it's not!

NIBS: Is, too!

RITA: No! Sorry, Nibs, but that's not a salad at all! Oooh, y'all know what would be perfect? Some nice steaks!

CUBBY: Buffalo steaks!

TWIN: Yeah, let's go kill a buffalo!

TWIN: Kill a buffalo!

NIBS: Can we, Peter? Can we? We haven't had buffalo in a real long time!

PETER: Alright, men! Let's go kill a buffalo!

RITA: Wait! Aren't they endangered?

PETER: What does "endangered" mean?

RITA: It means... you know what? Never mind.

They're going to go kill a poor, defenseless animal? Just like that? What kind of children ARE they? I mean, I guess they have to eat somehow, but it just seems so... barbaric.

SLIGHTLY: Well, gee, Peter... Didn't the Chief say we should ask next time before we go after a buffalo?

PETER: Come on, Slightly! You know the Chief and I are heap big pals! He won't mind if Chief Flying Eagle takes just one itty bitty buffalo to feed his braves and squaw!

RITA: ....Squaw?

Oh no no no no, I don't think I like where this is going. I don't think I like where this is going at all.

PETER: Come on, men! Let's go hunting!

The boys all fetch their weapons from different hiding spots, and run towards different doorways in the room.

RITA: HEY! What about me?

PETER: Aww, come on, Mother! Girls don't know anything about hunting!

RITA: Just because I've never been hunting before doesn't mean I want to be left alone down here. And besides, I could go hunting anytime I want to. I just don't, because it's inhumane.

PETER: But girls really aren't supposed to....

RITA: Oh, yeah? Girls can do anything boys can do, and y'all had best not forget it.

It takes a lot to make me angry, I'll tell you what. But I'm starting to get pretty upset. These children don't understand how oppressive the patriarchy is, and I don't know how I'll be able to change their minds. And what on earth was all that about “squaws” and “braves,” and...

Shit. This is an adventure kind of story, isn't it? So of COURSE all the boys are sexist, and... And if we meet Native Americans, I have a bad feeling they're going to have really, really, really colonialist underpinnings.

And now I gotta go hunting? But I don't even have anything to hunt with! And I don't want to hurt some poor animal, either. What the heck am I supposed to do?

Man, I thought I was bringing imagination and literacy to these children, but... I'm really starting to dislike this world. Hope Nina and Nino are having more fun than I am.

[Nino and Nina] We shouldn't mention Tinkerbell, since apparently they don't currently like her, but maybe we should say that we had heard from Peter Pan that they were having trouble with the mermaids recently?

[Rita] It is an adventure story and a fairly old one, so yeah. Neverland is a sort of dreamland-like setting, so I am not sure if agriculture is a thing, or even domesticated animals for that matter, so I wouldn't know of a food source for them other than hunting. Now that I think about it, in some versions of the story the food is powered by belief, though I don't know if that is the case here. They might have a spare bow or something if you are sure about going hunting, but that is up to you whether you would find it worthwhile (and it might not work out if this is one of the food-run-by-belief versions).

By the way, about the whole Don Quixote thing, you might want to go with one of the versions with the less cynical endings. As mentioned above some things (especially faeries) here literally run on belief so that is a thing to be careful about.

>>562160
Rita: If the Lost Boys are distracted by hunting you could rejoin the others, at least for a while. They're in Pixie Hollow. All it would take is admitting that you have nothing to hunt with, and you're gonna go exploring instead. Alternatively, you could go visit the indians. Unfortunately, we do not know their exact location. Hmm. Maybe something like "outside the Indian camp" or "near Indian territory" would work? Then again you could use this opportunity to work on your combat skills. You said you wouldn't mind fighting, but what sort of fighting are you skilled in? Oh by the way, Br'er rabbit is turning out to be quite useful as a translator since he can understand the Faeries.

Nina, Nino: Ask about their situation with the Mermaids. Assume nothing, merely explain that the Mermaid Queen is acting strange and wants to flood the Hollow but you convinced her not to, and you're here to ask the Faeries if they've noticed anything strange going on just before the Mermaids' behavior changed. Also ask if they've seen or sensed anything strange, maybe if anyone they know is acting strangely aside from the Mermaids? Oh, and while you're here you could ask what their way of life is like.

Nina, Nino, & Rita 2014/02/13(Thu)17:19 No. 562435 ID: 2ae1fb
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>>562250
Don't worry, I got this under control. Why do y'all think I picked something so episodic? I can just keep making up new adventures for our favorite delusional knight forever! We can just pretend the ending never even happened. Trust me, I understand that different demographics have different story-telling needs. Figuring out just what kinda story is needed is one of my specialties!

>>562251
RITA: You know what, Peter? I think I'm just gonna go check on Wendy and John, if that's alright.

PETER: Good choice, Mother! See you later!

And just like that, he disappears. Now he's gonna think I didn't go because I'm scared or something. Great. Oh well, I guess I don't really care what he thinks. I'd much rather go check on the others.

RITA: Bandanna, take me to Pixie Hollow!

That rush of light and color... I'm not sure if this is actually teleportation, it seems more like a "fast travel" ability. Everything goes by so fast, and in such psychedelic colors....

Whoa! Pixie Hollow's gorgeous! I see Nino, Nina, and Br'er Rabbit right away.

RITA: Hi, y'all!

NINA: Rita!

NINO: Hi, Rita! Did the head-voices tell you to come find us?

RITA: Kinda. I mean, it was one of the options they gave me. And I didn't really want to go hunting with the Lost Boys, so...

Fawn laughs, like a little bell. Fairies are SOOOOO cute!

BR'ER RABBIT: Sis Fawn says she reckons there ain't nobody who'd want to go hunting with the Lost Boys!

RITA: Why not?

Suddenly, Fawn's face becomes serious.

BR'ER RABBIT: She says that them Lost Boys are mighty stupid. They ain't kind, and they ain't pleasant. They's just rude and altogether unsatisfactual.

NINA: Well... She isn't wrong.

NINO: Ouch! Harsh, Nina!

RITA: Nino's right. They're just kids, after all.

BR'ER RABBIT: But Sis Fawn says that they's going to be children forever. She says they've always been children, and they ain't never getting older.

NINA: Perfectly horrible.

RITA: Hmm... That would be a problem, huh?

NINA: Fawn, we're here because Peter Pan said that you were having trouble with the Mermaids, and we would very much like to help.

Fawn suddenly flies very close to my face, points her finger at me angrily, and then flies away.

BR'ER RABBIT: Sis Fawn says that if'n you're here on account of Peter Pan, you best just get.

NINO: Huh? Why?

BR'ER RABBIT: She didn't say why. I suspects she don't like him, though.

Whoa! A new Fairy just flew out of the tree so fast I almost missed it! She's pretty, too, with a dark ponytail and dressed in purple leaves and feathers... but she looks really, really angry. She puts her arms up in the air with the palms towards us.... What is she doing?

Suddenly, a gale force wind rushes towards us, almost blowing me over. Leaves and twigs fly from the ground and scratch at our faces.

A few other Fairies rush forward and grab the Fairy in purple by the shoulders, speaking in little jingle-bell chimes. Meanwhile, the wind continues to rush forward, gaining speed until I actually have to shift my pumps into the mud to stay on my feet!

RITA: Br'er Rabbit! What are they saying!?

BR'ER RABBIT: Don't know. I can only understand Sis Fawn. Oh, Sis Fawn just said, "At least let 'em explain, Vidia."

If we want to stay on our feet, we best start talkin'. And fast!

What the HECK!? Is everyone in this world CRAZY!?
We need to ask them all of the things that you listed. But it looks as though we made need to help calm this one down, first.

>>562435
Say you're not with Peter Pan, you're from another world!

>>562438
That, and say that you are here to prevent the mermaids from attacking. That might get their attention.

Nina, Nino, & Rita 2014/02/24(Mon)17:59 No. 564206 ID: 2ae1fb
File 139329354834.png - (385.17KB , 712x512 , DisneyQuest223.png )

>>562438
NINO: We can explain! We're not with Peter Pan at all, we really just met him!

NINA: We aren't from Neverland, either. We're from another world!

>>562485
RITA: We're here to stop the Mermaids from attacking you!

The wind stops, and Vidia looks uneasily at us, and at the small group of fairies around her. She raises an eyebrow and frowns before flying back to the tree.

BR'ER RABBIT: Sis Fawn says don't pay her no mind, she just upset about something. She also says they wanna hear what y'all have to say about these here Mermaids.

NINA: We know that you haven't been getting along well with the Mermaids, and we know that they are planning to attack you. We'd like to help you, if at all possible.

The Fairy in a pretty yellow sunflower dress points off towards the cherry trees. Between where we're standing and the trees, there's a small ravine, full of Fairies dressed in green leaves. They're building something big out of bits of wood. The Fairy in blue flies into the ravine, and pulls out a scrawny male fairy wearing tiny goggles. She jingles at him, and he shows us a teeny-tiny leaf with a teeny-tiny drawing of a trebuchet.

NINA: Some sort of catapult?

NINO: How is that gonna stop the Mermaids from flooding Pixie Hollow?

BR'ER RABBIT: Sis Fawn says that Br'er Bobble says that the Tinkers are trying their hardest, but they ain't got their most cleverest worker no more.

A heavy-set Fairy in green flies out of the ditch and grabs the one in the glasses, pulling him back into the ditch and handing him a very small hammer.

Suddenly, Fawn nudges the Fairy in blue, who whistles towards the tree. Many other fairies wearing blue suddenly appear, and they fly to the tiny stream behind us. A soft, golden powder pours out of their hands, and they lift a huge amount of water out of the stream.

BR'ER RABBIT: Sis Fawn says Sis Silvermist and the others can handle them bodacious Mermaids. Fairies surely do have some powerful strong mojo.

Hmm... That was pretty impressive. If the Fairies and the Mermaids go to war, I'm not sure who will win. I haven't met the Mermaids yet, so I can't really judge. There's just gotta be a better way.

I guess the Fairies aren't really helpless! They seem kinda on-edge, but that's probably a good thing if they're in so much danger. I mean, they probably know the Mermaids waaay better than we do, and we know them enough to know that they’re completely koo-koo for Cocoa Puffs! Who knows what they could do!?

I'm not sure whether or not the Fairies need help defending themselves. Do we need to take a side? Is there actually going to be a war? I feel that there are too many things that we just cannot know about this situation. Communication hasn't been the easiest, and I'm still worried that this could go wrong. Where do we go from here?

>>564206
If we are uncertain about our goals, this is a good time to contact the spirits. Just keep in mind they may send us on a wild goose chase.

Hrrrm...Have the Fairies always been this on edge? I mean, granted the Mermaids have been crazy lately but...Wait, they mentioned their best Tinkerer was missing.
Maybe that's related to this whole situation somehow?

Nina, Nino, & Rita 2014/03/01(Sat)10:45 No. 564829 ID: 2ae1fb
File 139369950539.png - (386.54KB , 712x512 , DisneyQuest224.png )

>>564212
NINA: Excuse me, but... Bobble said that your best tinker was missing?

NINO: Yeah! What happened there?

The fairies gathered around us make mournful expressions, looking at each other and eyeing the four of us up carefully. Finally, Silvermist puts a hand on Fawn's shoulder, and Fawn begins to jingle, slow and sad.

BR'ER RABBIT: Sis Fawn says them bodacious Lost Boys took her away, and now she real different. Won't even come to Pixie Hollow no more.

RITA: Why would the Lost Boys kidnap a Fairy?

BR'ER RABBIT: Sis Fawn says it weren't no ordinary kidnapping. Least, it don't seem like it. She says it happened a long, long time ago, too. But since that time, the Fairies can't build like they used to.

>>564210
Alright. I sit on the grass, and contact the spirits.

RITA: What is she doing?

NINO: Oh, this spell is great! You'll see! But... it's not always right.

RITA: How does she know?

NINO: Well... she doesn't. So.... Yeah.

NINA: Serpents and spiders, tail of a rat; call in the spirits, wherever they're at. Rap on a table; it's time to respond. Send us a message from somewhere beyond. Goblins and ghoulies from last Halloween: awaken the spirits with your tambourine. Creepies and crawlies, toads in a pond; let there be music, from regions beyond! Wizards and witches, wherever you dwell, give us a hint, by ringing a bell!

I see Tinker Bell, hammering pieces of metal together to form large war machines. I see the Fairies using them to defend their home. The Mermaids try to drown them, and they are driven back by the massive artillery. A man dressed as a pirate comes close to Pixie Hollow, and he is shot. I do not see any more attacks on Pixie Hollow. Their defenses are too strong, and they are left in peace.

NINA: I think we need to get Tinker Bell and make her come back to Pixie Hollow. It sounds like she is the missing tinker, and her militaristic inventions can protect Pixie Hollow. If Pixie Hollow can defend itself from all threats, there will be peace.

The Fairies gathered around us nod emphatically, but Rita does not look so sure.

RITA: Nino said that spell doesn't always work...

NINA: Well... he isn't wrong. But it can't be wrong again, can it?

RITA: I'm sorry, Nina, but... I think it is.

NINA: What makes you so sure? You've never even seen me use this spell before. How can you tell?

RITA: I don't know! I don't know how I know, but... I know. The spirits lied.

NINA: In what way?

RITA: Well... I can't be too sure. But it seems to me like forcing Tinker Bell to come home to build weapons can't be our real goal, can it? It just seems so... unnecessarily violent. This just doesn't feel like the kind of puzzle that can be solved with big guns.

NINA: How many puzzles have you solved?

RITA: Well... plenty! I mean, none with y'all, but you get where I'm coming from! Look, I ain't even mad. I understand why you don't believe me. I guess this IS my first rodeo, after all. But I know stories, and we're in one right now. It's not knowledge in the same way I know the sky is blue, it's... it's more of a feeling. And it just doesn't feel exactly right.

NINO: Nina, calm down. It sounds like Rita knows what she's talking about.

NINA: And I don't?

NINO: No, no! I never said that! But, like, we don't know exactly what her powers are yet. This sounds like some deep meta-level shit, Nina. Maybe she can sense things that we can't. We all have to work together!

NINA: I... I suppose you're right. I'm sorry if I snapped, Rita.

NINO: Yeah, she's SUPER insecure about that spell!

NINA: Hey!

NINO: It's not your fault that spell is dumb.

RITA: It definitely feels like an exterior force causing it to show lies. It has nothing to do with you, Nina. At least, I don't think so.

NINA: Well... if you're both so sure.

Before anyone has time to say another world, a human girl runs through the maple trees toward us, fallen leaves clinging to her hair. She wears animal skins and moccasin boots, and her long, dark hair is pulled into braids. She wears a blue headband, and a red-and-white feather sticks out from behind her head.

Oh, no... Please. No. If she opens her mouth and something stupid comes out, I might just be done with this world.

The girl runs toward the large tree where all the Fairies are gathered.

???: Please! Fairies must listen. Father take-em paleface Lost Boys. Lost Boys violate-em hunting treaty. Father heap angry! If Fairies no help, Father kill-em Lost Boys!

Rita shakes her head and mumbles something under her breath.

RITA: I guess I didn't expect anything different.

The Fairies peek from behind the branches of the tree, looking at the girl and at one another. I do not think the girl has noticed us, yet. What should we do?

hunting treaty...And now the lost boys are...Waaaait a second here.
Crazy theory here, but I think I've got an idea of what's going wrong with this world.
It's missing it's NORMAL source of conflict- Peter Pan and the Lost Boys, versus Captain Hook and his pirates. And instead...The story's trying to compensate, but well, it's not quite working out!
The mermaids didn't have a reason to be after the fairies, so there was a disconnect there. As for the Lost Boys well...
I'd think Peter Pan would have remembered about the treaty, but this seems off as well.
Normally things are...Okay I dunno how much MORE peaceful, but everyone's not supposed to be up in arms at each other like this, and it's weird we haven't seen any sign of Hook, as well.

I am pretty sure Rita is right about this one; an arms race is unlikely to help things in the long run.

>>564830
That definitely seems worth looking into. For now we need to head over to the Indians' place. Maybe we can convince the faeries to come as well if we say that helping the Lost Boys might convince Tinkerbell to help them.

Wouldn't it be weird if, to save this world, we had to help the villains?

Nina, Nino, & Rita 2014/03/04(Tue)19:31 No. 565260 ID: 2ae1fb
File 139399029712.png - (242.79KB , 712x512 , Disneyquest225.png )

>>564884
NINA: Can we do anything to help?

TIGER LILY: Paleface squaw want help-em Lost Boys? Tiger Lily heap glad!

NINA: Tiger Lily?

TIGER LILY: Haau! Tiger Lily daughter of Chief. Chief leader of all Indians. Tiger Lily friend of paleface Lost Boys, no want father burn-em at stake!

RITA: I have an idea! Why don't we all stop talking and go help?

TIGER LILY: Yes! Save-em Lost Boys! Tiger Lily know Fairies hate-em Lost Boys. Tiger Lily also know Fairies love-em Tinker Bell. Tinker Bell love-em Lost Boys! Tinker Bell no want-em Lost Boys dead! Fairies help-em Lost Boys! Please.

RITA: No, I meant, like... stop talking. Really.

TIGER LILY: Darkface squaw sound-em heap grumpy.

RITA: ...Excuse me?

NINO: She's right, Rita. Are you feeling okay? 'Cuz, like, your eye keeps twitching.

TIGER LILY: Brave right. Eye twitch not sign of good health.

NINA: Are you sick, Rita?

RITA: What the heck are you two doing? Y'all are agreeing with her? It's like, y'all keep talking to her like she's a normal person. Native Americans are a highly intelligent people! This... this... this grotesque caricature is, quite frankly, disturbing.

NINA: Grotesque caricature? She's a little girl!

NINO: And she's... uhhh... kind of right here.

TIGER LILY: Ugh! Why darkface squaw say heap mean things? Tiger Lily want-em help friends. If darkface squaw no help, darkface squaw get-em out of sight of princess. Indians heap intelligent! Tiger Lily heap intelligent!

RITA: Then why are you talking like some sort of bad stereotype?

TIGER LILY: Tiger Lily no understand. Tiger Lily use words of tribe. Heap important custom. Darkface squaw heap culturally insensitive. Ugh.

RITA: What!? But... But... That's... Then, what's with all this "darkface squaw" talk?

TIGER LILY: Darkface squaw no Indian. Also, no paleface. Tiger Lily no see darkface human before. Only some fairies. What else darkface want be called?

RITA: How about my name?

TIGER LILY: Tiger Lily no know darkface squaw name. This first time we meet-em. Heap rude, not to tell-em name. Ugh.

RITA: Oh... Uhh... It's Rita.

TIGER LILY: Haau, Rita.

NINA: My name is Nina.

NINO: And I'm Nino!

BR'ER RABBIT: I'm Br'er Rabbit!

TIGER LILY: Haau, Nina. Haau, Nino. Haau, Br'er Rabbit. New friends follow Tiger Lily! Fairies, please help-em Lost Boys.

The nearby Fairies, who had simply been watching the conversation passively, suddenly all jingle at once.

BR'ER RABBIT: Sis Fawn says...

TIGER LILY: Fairies, we heap friendly. Please, help-em!

NINA: You... can understand them?

TIGER LILY: Yes. Tiger Lily only Indian understand-em fairy speech. Silvermist say Fairies no help-em Lost Boys. Fawn say Lost Boys steal-em Tinker Bell. Rosetta say Lost Boys break-em Indian treaty, Indians should punish. Iridessa say Fairies no want-em war with Indians.

NINA: But, if you help save the Lost Boys, perhaps Tinker Bell would be persuaded to come back to help against the Mermaids?

NINO: Yeah! If Tinker Bell likes the Lost Boys, and you help save them, she'd be totally grateful!

TIGER LILY: Right! Tinker Bell heap intelligent. If Tinker Bell no want go with Lost Boys, Tinker Bell no go with Lost Boys. Lost Boys no steal-em Tinker Bell!

The fairies simply jingle.

TIGER LILY: Tiger Lily princess of Indians, heap friends with Fairies. Tinker Bell beloved of Fairies, heap friends with Lost Boys. Can befriend-em other factions. Ugh.

RITA: Listen. We're trying to help everyone, alright? I reckon I don't know what I'm doing yet, but I'm trying to figure it out. I think we need y'all to help. If we help the Lost Boys, maybe they'll help us. I don't know where the Mermaids fit into all this, but I'm sure we'll figure it out. For now... we could use all the help we can get.

NINA: Well said, Rita!

The Fairies all look at each other, and slowly form a circle, their hands in the center. All of a sudden, the Fairy that caused the huge wind-storm flies out of the big tree, and joins the others. She looks at us and smiles grimly, and all five fairies jingle.

NINO: What did they say, Tiger Lily?

TIGER LILY: Faith. Trust. Pixie Dust.

NINA: Are we heading to your village, Tiger Lily?

TIGER LILY: Ugh.

RITA: I... I take it that's a "yes?"

TIGER LILY: Rita, you funny squaw. Yes. Tiger Lily mean "Yes."

NINO: Come on, everyone! Hold hands!

TIGER LILY: Huh?

NINA: Magic.

TIGER LILY: Ugh.

Nina, Nino, Tiger Lily, Br'er Rabbit and I join hands, and the five Fairies seat themselves on the princess' arms.

NINA: Does your village have a name?

TIGER LILY: Indian Village.

RITA: Convenient.

NINA: Ring, take us to the Indian Village.

We fly over Neverland in rainbow colors, faster than light, and...

Of course. Tipis everywhere. Where the hell else would they live?

Nope. Nope, gonna try to stay positive. I wonder if I could engage the princess in a debate at some point? It could be mutually educational... But I have a feeling it would be made of insane troll logic. She'd probably go out of her way to TRY to break my brain.

All the Native Americans are covered in war paint... of course... and a chief in a massive warbonnet sits in the middle of the village. The Lost Boys, minus Peter, are tied to a large pole.

TIGER LILY: Father! No burn-em paleface Lost Boys!

CHIEF: Daughter? Princess no have authority to tell Chief no burn-em treaty breakers!

TIGER LILY: Ugh. No. No need authority, Father. Brought friends.

CHIEF: Friends? Why bring-em strangers to village, Daughter?

TIGER LILY: Convince Chief to free-em Lost Boys. Or...

CHIEF: Or?

TIGER LILY: Fight-em Chief if necessary!

The Fairies look as shocked as I feel. We don't have to fight this guy, do we? He looks pretty strong, and he probably has a lot of really tough warriors at his disposal. Oh, man.... Hopefully we can do this without violence, but... how the heck do we convince a bunch of racially-insensitive "savage" stereotypes NOT to burn someone at the stake? Isn't that... kinda their thing?

Sure would have been nice to know she wanted us to fight her dad before we agreed to come! He looks really, really serious. I wonder if there's a way to release some tension here? This is totally lame....

Is she... staging a coup? What on earth? She seemed like such a sweet little girl, too. And I'm still not sure where the Mermaids fit into all this, or the Pirates everyone keeps mentioning. I think we could fight the Chief if we needed to. We have magic on our side, and superior technology. I would prefer not to do things that way, but if it comes to blows, we should be fine. Still, there must be some way we can address the situation without it coming to that.

Argh!
We're missing something, I know we are, but I can't tell what!
It seems like everyone here is crazy! Or at least they get crazy when we're close to them or something!
Tension...Tension...A good burla of some sort could do that, at least for a bit, but it doesn't explain how we settle this...
Maybe we could try sitting everyone down and discussing things?
What IS the treaty the Lost boys broke, and how exactly did they break it? They might have been easily distracted, but I didn't think they were that forgetful.

Nina, Nino, & Rita 2014/03/11(Tue)18:08 No. 566010 ID: 2ae1fb
File 139458649811.png - (325.36KB , 712x512 , DisneyQuest226.png )

>>565261
NINO: Hey! Whoa, whoa, whoa... no fighting will be necessary! Can't we all just sit down and talk?

CHIEF: Who you?

TIGER LILY: Father, these strangers Nino, Rita, Nina, and Br'er Rabbit. Strangers come to save-em Lost Boys.

CHIEF: Save-em treaty breakers? Heap unlikely!

NINA: What sort of treaty did the Lost Boys break exactly?

CHIEF: Hunting treaty. Lost Boys say they no hunt buffalo in Indian territory. Lost Boys lie! Hunt-em buffalo today!

RITA: You boys never said y’all weren't supposed to hunt buffalo!

SLIGHTLY: Uhh... guess we forgot.

NINA: Where is Peter Pan, anyway?

CHIEF: Peter Pan member of tribe. No kill-em Peter Pan. Just take prisoner. Him eating in tipi of Chief.

RITA: Eating? Why is he eating at a time like this?

CUBBY: Well... uhhh... he said the Chief was just kidding.

SLIGHTLY: I always said the Chief was a great spoofer!

NIBS: He'll turn us loose for sure!

CHIEF: Lost Boys heap stupid. Chief already told them he no spoof-em.

NINA: Is there any chance we can all talk about this?

CHIEF: Lost Boys violate-em treaty for last time!

TIGER LILY: Father! Lost Boys need eat too! Buffalo most delicious meat! No deny-em Lost Boys hunting rights!

CHIEF: Lost Boys hunt-em plenty other animals. Buffalo not meant for paleface Lost Boys.

RITA: ...He has a point.

NINA: Rita, you can't be serious. He's going to burn these children at the stake.

RITA: I'm not saying that's right. But... the bison is a sacred animal. The Lost Boys acted in a colonialist and insensitive manner.

CHIEF: Darkface squaw understands!

RITA: My name is Rita.

CHIEF: Chief heap apathetic.

TIGER LILY: Father! We no eat-em all buffalo ourselves! Must share with Lost Boys.

CHIEF: Ugh.

NINO: Can't we just make a new treaty? Because I don't think you guys should kill these dudes. They're just kids!

RITA: They'll probably just keep breaking the treaties until all the bison are dead.

CHIEF: Ugh!

NINA: Whose side are you on?

RITA: I'm not on a side! We need balance here. We can't just let the Lost Boys run around and break promises they made. These people were here long before they were.

CHIEF: Ugh!

NINA: I thought you said they were just caricatures?

RITA: Maybe. But this situation is uncomfortably similar to actual events in the history of our world.

NINA: This isn't our world! You said yourself, we need a balance!

RITA: We can't side with the Lost Boys.

NINA: Right. And we can't side with the Indians.

NINO: Uhh... guys? I think Vidia's trying to say something...

TIGER LILY: Vidia say she no care about treaties or buffalo. Vidia say Fairies want-em Tinker Bell.

SLIGHTLY: Tinker Bell?

CUBBY: What do you want her for?

NIBS: She's an honorary Lost Boy!

TWIN: Yeah! Tink's one of us now!

TWIN: One of us now!

CHIEF: Chief no care about fight between paleface Lost Boys and Fairy squaws.

Vidia simply jingles, a cruel smile on her face.

TIGER LILY: Vidia, no!

CHIEF: What Fairy say, Daughter?

TIGER LILY: Nothing!

CHIEF: Heap big lie! What Fairy say?

TIGER LILY: Vidia say... She say... If Lost Boys no give back Tinker Bell.... Fairies no stop Chief from kill-em Lost Boys.

CHIEF: Fairies want alliance with Indians? Heap strange! But also heap mutually beneficial.

TIGER LILY: Fairies my friends! Lost Boys my friends!

CHIEF: Princess no bother with politics. Politics for Chief and important braves only.

NINO: Come ON! We can't just sit down and... and talk it all over? Share a peace pipe?

RITA: Nino!

NINO: What?

CHIEF: No share peace pipe until peace come. Chief speak-em to Peter Pan. No need for squaws. Brave from strange mainland tribe welcome to come.

RITA: Excuse me?

NINA: So... you want to talk to Nino? But... you won't talk to us?

NINO: Oh, man! You're serious!? That's ridiculous!

CHIEF: Brave better at negotiation. Squaw get-em firewood.

RITA: That's just not gonna happen.

NINA: We should play by his rules. He probably has an army.

RITA: You're just gonna let him disrespect you like that?

NINA: Well, no... but...

NINO: Look, dude. These ladies are waaaay better at speaking intelligently than me! Like, they're both kinda serious. I'm just... well... I'm a pretty silly guy. Like... I don't think I want to talk politics. Politics are SOOOO boring!

CHIEF: You right. You pretty dumb brave. You stay with squaws. Chief speak to Peter Pan alone.

Without another word, the Chief leaves and enters one of the tipis.

Tiger Lily turns towards the rest of our group, tears in her eyes, and addresses the Fairies.

TIGER LILY: Fairies Tiger Lily's friends! Why no help Tiger Lily? Father big windbag, new friends no help, and Fairies turn-em traitors! Tiger Lily hopeless!

The princess turns and runs far away from the camp, disappearing into the dense jungle in the distance.

So, here we are. The Lost Boys are tied up, the princess is missing, and the Chief's a sexist asshole. How are we even supposed to deal with these people?

We can't let the Lost Boys get away with treaty-breaking. That never works. They'll just keep marginalizing the Indians more and more, and it would be irresponsible to let Neverland turn into yet another colonial holding. Nina and Nino do have a point, though. We can't let the Chief kill children. How do we get through to them?

Hold on, I'm confused. Let me talk it out, okay?

So... the Mermaids and the Fairies hate each other. The Fairies hate the Lost Boys, so they're friends with the Indians now, because the Indians hate the Lost Boys, too. But Peter IS an Indian, and also the leader of the Lost Boys. Still not sure how that works, but whatever. Tiger Lily's the Indian princess, but she's friends with the Lost Boys and the Fairies, but now that all three of her groups are in this big mess, she ran away. I hope she's okay...

We can do this, though! And, hey, Nina and I have dealt with sexist douche-nozzles before! I bet this one won't be any different. I think Nina turned the last one into a frog and we saved the world behind his back. I don't know if that will work here... Everyone was pretty sick of the Captain in that world, but the Chief seems to be a bit more popular with his people. Except Tiger Lily, but I'm not sure she's a big help.

So... we need to get everyone to talk, but no one wants to talk. How the heck do we do that?

I'm terrified. This might be one of the most complicated situations we've ever had to deal with. It doesn't help that this is Rita's first adventure, either. I'm not sure she understands how this works. This is not our world, and we cannot treat it as such. She seems like a wonderful person, and I'd love to get to know her better. I'm only worried that she seems rather volatile, and it could be quite easy for her to become uncooperative.

Either way, no one in this world appears to be getting along. There must be something we can do to help. You mentioned pirates, earlier. How on earth do they fit into all of this? I have a bad feeling this will only become more intricate and difficult. Wonderful.

...Hooooly this is getting crazy. But I think I can see where this goes though!
[Rita]
What the aim here isn't necessarily to be progressive, much as you might not like it, but to 'preserve' to return this world to a 'stasis' point, so to speak, so that it can be properly sealed away...
Imagine, if you will, if Don Quixhote ran into a mysterious stranger who somehow managed to convince him of how ridiculous he was being and talked him into going back to his life before, and then the story was locked like that. It'd suck! It'd be nice for him, maybe, but it'd suck as a story, and wouldn't last as well. That's more or less our job- to head off said mysterious stranger before he strikes and ends the story of Don Quixhote, so the story proceeds as it should. It's okay that you want to change the tale up...But for now, let's make sure there's still a Peter Pan story TO change up!

[All]
Yes, I think I'm understanding better how this is changing up, or at least I have a theory on what's going on.
Simply put? The lines of friend and foe are being re-drawn.
The Lost boys are losing their friendships with the Fairies and the Chieftains, and possibly might befriend the Mermaids as a result. Sure, the Mermaids are crazy, but it's not like the Lost Boys have many other friends they can reach out to, unless Hook decides he wants to save them which I don't think will happen...But unfortunately, this voice is more familiar with the story as it revolves around Peter Pan, but it looks more like this story might be from the later ones focused on TinkerBell, instead, which this voice doesn't know about!
But generally...Somehow, the old friendships are changing and shifting. It's almost like someone's trying to manipulate the Lost Boys and Peter Pan out of the story...And with the Mermaids going nuts and opposing the Fairies, and who are now aligned with the Indians, but I Could see the Mermaids aligning with the Pirates to balance things out, possibly. Or right about now the Pirates are about to swing in and shake everything up(Look out for flying Pirate ships, btw).
But for now...Hope Peter Pan has a plan, because right now the best plan I can think of is buy time by turning all parties involved into frogs!

Actually, looking back at it, the Lost Boys weren't forgetful or completely apathetic about the treaty. They did have misgiving and being it up, but Peter Pan assured them that bison hunting would be ok. From that, the Lost Boys won't admit it out of loyalty, but the source of the treaty trouble is Peter Pan's refusal to take anything seriously. For that, there is something that the Indians might do to get Peter to pay attention for once: not to burn the Boys, but to disown Peter from the tribe until he repays them for breaking the deal.

About the faeries, I feel like we have more leverage with that situation, since there is the option of talking directly to Tinkerbell and convincing her to talk to the other faeries. If she is indeed staying with them of her own will than the demands to "give her" back loose any reasonable justification.

>so the story proceeds as it should
Whether or not it is a good story is more of an indicator that the main thing we are worried about here. Remember that the end reason behind this is that some supernatural force is invading these worlds through various ways. While we haven't actually seen what happens if the force wins, considering the effects we have seen so far (from global progressing amnesia and decay to zombie outbreaks) it is highly unlikely that results will be anything short of apocalyptic. So we should do the best we can for the future of each world, but to do so we first need to meet the world's meta-narrative requirements to ensure there is a future.

>Or right about now the Pirates are about to swing in and shake everything up(Look out for flying Pirate ships, btw).
Honestly at this point the pirates showing up would make things easier, since barring some drastic changes they are a solid common enemy.

Nina, Nino, & Rita 2014/03/29(Sat)17:41 No. 568015 ID: d731ff
File 139614006284.png - (399.34KB , 712x512 , DisneyQuest227.png )

>>566017
Reckon that's true, but it still gets under my skin. I can't stand being socially irresponsible. Problematic situations need to be addressed!

And anyway, that is pretty much what happens in "Don Quixote," and the death of his dream kills him. I think I understand what you're trying to say, but I'm still pretty sure it's a bad example.

>>566032
NINA: Where's Tinker Bell?

SLIGHTLY: Back at the hideout. Why?

NINA: I was hoping to speak with her.

CUBBY: Nah, she doesn't usually come hunting.

Fawn seems to breathe a sigh of relief.

BR'ER RABBIT: Look, Mr. Chief's coming back!

The Chief appears from one of the tipis, Peter Pan walking alongside him.

PETER: I already told you, we don't care about your dumb old buffalo.

CHIEF: If Little Flying Eagle no care what happen to buffalo, then Chief no care what happen to paleface Lost Boys.

PETER: Say that again and I'll gut you like a trout!

CHIEF: Ugh! Big attitude no save-em friends. Just get in heap more trouble. Little Flying Eagle burn, too.

PETER: You'll never burn me! You'll have to catch me, first!

NINA: Please, stop! Both of you!

PETER: Oh, hi, Wendy!

CHIEF: Wendy? This no look like Wendy. Wendy heap young, and heap pretty. This squaw... Ugh! She not Wendy!

PETER: Shows what you know! She's definitely Wendy!

CHIEF: Suit-em self. Heap unimportant. Squaw no have authority to boss-em Chief!

NINA: I'm terribly sorry, but my friends and I had an excellent idea.

CHIEF: What you mean?

NINO: Well, the Lost Boys really need to be punished, right?

CHIEF: Heap punished, yes.

RITA: Right. But y'all can't just go around murdering children.

CHIEF: But Lost Boys no ordinary children!

RITA: Still... Do they really deserve to die?

CHIEF: What else can Chief do?

NINA: Peter Pan is an honorary member of your tribe, correct?

CHIEF: Yes. His name Little Flying Eagle.

RITA: Why don't you just excommunicate him?

NINO: Yeah! And don't let him be a member of the tribe anymore, either!

NINA: ...Oh, Nino.

NINO: What?

CHIEF: Ugh! Heap good idea! From this day forward, no more Little Flying Eagle. Peter Pan paleface only.

PETER: So... I'm not an Indian anymore?

CHIEF: No.

PETER: But my friends and I are free?

CHIEF: Lost Boys can go. No come back.

PETER: That's alright, then. Untie them!

???: Not so fast!

A small crowd of Native Americans has gathered to watch the drama unfold, and all of them gasp and take hold of bows and tomahawks. We turn around to find a group of men, most of them filthy, coming closer. Leading the group is a well-dressed, mustachioed man with long, curly black hair. In place of his left hand is a hook, and on the end of that hook is the Princess Tiger Lily, dangling above the ground by the back of her shirt, a sheepish look on her face.

PETER: Captain Hook!

CAPTAIN HOOK: How very nice to see you, boy. And on your last day, too. My, how marvelous!

CHIEF: What you doing here, Pirate?

CAPTAIN HOOK: Oh, I was just in the neighborhood, when I heard your piercing voice, Chief. I happened to pick up something that belonged to you on the way, and thought I should return it. For a price, of course.

PETER: "Just in the neighborhood?" Yeah, right!

CAPTAIN HOOK: Well... if you must know... I was on my way to your little hideout. Today is the day we end this, once and for all. I just happened to find you here, instead.

PETER: You don't even know where the Lost Boy hideout is!

CAPTAIN HOOK: Have you forgotten? Your little pixie told me all about that years ago!

SLIGHTLY: Yeah, remember? They left a bomb and everything!

PETER: Oh, yeah. But I survived, then I beat you up anyway! I'm just that awesome! Why would today be any different?

CAPTAIN HOOK: Chief, I see you've already tied up the Lost Boys.

CHIEF: That not Pirate's business. Chief about to let-em go.

CAPTAIN HOOK: Oh, of course. Carry on. I suppose I'll just be taking the little princess, then. She'll make a lovely playmate for those empty-headed Mermaids, don't you think? Of course, I suspect she won't be a very lively companion. Do you know, Chief, how long your daughter can hold her breath?

CHIEF: No drown-em princess! No path through water to Happy Hunting Ground!

CAPTAIN HOOK: Exactly.

CHIEF: Let Tiger Lily go.

TIGER LILY: Father, no!

CHIEF: Chief give-em Lost Boys to Pirates. Only... only let-em Tiger Lily go.

TIGER LILY: NO!

CAPTAIN HOOK: Pleasure doing business with you!

A Native American man unties the Lost Boys from the stake, but they are all still tied together, and more-or-less helpless. He pulls them toward the pirates, as Captain Hook holds the princess out toward the Chief.

CAPTAIN HOOK: We'll make the exchange on the count of three.

CHIEF: No tricks.

CAPTAIN HOOK: None. Just commerce. One... two...

PETER: No!

Peter leaps into the air, a drawn dagger in his hand. He stands between Captain Hook and the Chief.

CHIEF: Stop-em, Peter Pan. Need save daughter.

CAPTAIN HOOK: You don't want your princess to get hurt, do you, Little Flying Eagle?

CHIEF: He no brave of mine!

CAPTAIN HOOK: You mean... the brat is no longer under your protection?

CHIEF: No. Chief kill-em Peter Pan before he let-em Tiger Lily be hurt!

TIGER LILY: No kill-em, Father!

CAPTAIN HOOK: Shut up, girl!

The Chief draws a tomahawk as well, and the Captain unsheathes a rapier from his side with his one hand. All of the pirates are wielding glinting steel.

CHIEF: New allies, help-em Indians.

The fairies begin to flutter, golden dust pouring from their hands. Drops of rain begin to gently fall, while the sunlight begins to glare more brightly. A gentle breeze begins to blow a bit harder, and the plants themselves seem to grow into larger, more threatening forms. Flies begin to buzz madly through the air, adding to the overall chaos unfolding.

CAPTAIN HOOK: Now, now, Chief. The boy is mine! I WILL be the one to kill him!

CHIEF: Ugh.

Everyone has weapons! Are the Indians and Pirates going to fight each other over Peter? Or is everyone trying to kill Peter? I don't even know exactly what's happening anymore!

If we don't do something immediately, someone is going to get seriously hurt, and I'm not sure who. We need to act. Now.

For future reference the point when only one of the hostage takers has a weapon drawn is the best time to turn them into a frog. Fortunately the pirates only seem to have swords rather than guns, so this is still workable.

So the obvious response is to frog Hook since he is the one in arm's reach of the princess, but if we startle the pirates too much they might start attacking anyway and we don't want that. Therefore, my plan is this: Rita, shout for them to stop, and declare that if the pirate leave we will transform Hook back from being a frog (before we have actually cast anything). Then when they are focused on responding to Rita by pointing out that Hook isn't a frog, asking who we are, or making counter-demands, Nina casts the spell to actually turn Hook into a frog before he finishes talking (if possible, do so quietly enough that they cannot hear that it is you doing the casting).
Our backup plan if they manage to grab the princess again is to rabbit her so she can get away.

1/4 Nina, Nino, & Rita 2014/04/14(Mon)18:24 No. 570722 ID: a32d59
File 139752504961.png - (176.45KB , 712x512 , DisneyQuest228.png )

>>568042
RITA: Would y'all just STOP!?

The tension's so thick you could cut it with a knife. Every head slowly turns towards me. I sure hope Nina's ready.

RITA: If y'all Pirates leave, and let the princess go free, then we'll turn Hook into a human again, instead of a frog?

HOOK: Oh? I'm a frog, am I? And who exactly are you?

I try to move my hand as subtly as possible to point toward him, as I actually need to shoot the spell directly at him. I can whisper, but it's still going to look like lightning.

RITA: We're here to save the world.

I can see his eyes darting over me, with perfect clarity. Thanks to my improved vision, I can see his every little facial movement. I think he's already noticed me. His eyes dart toward the barrel of my rifle. I only have one chance at this.

NINA: Enough of this.

Before anyone has time to react, blue lightning pours from Nina's fingertips. Hook moves the princess in front of him, like a human shield, and she becomes a frog faster than you could say "Croak."

2/4 Nina, Nino, & Rita 2014/04/14(Mon)18:24 No. 570723 ID: a32d59
File 139752508565.png - (15.14KB , 512x252 , Disneyquest229.png )

With one, swift, fluid motion, Captain Hook pulls an old-fashioned flintlock pistol out of his coat and points it directly at Nina. We hear the gunshot before anyone's even had time to move.

3/4 Nina, Nino, & Rita 2014/04/14(Mon)18:26 No. 570724 ID: a32d59
File 139752516443.png - (353.61KB , 512x712 , DisneyQuest230.png )

He... he shot me... I... Everything's getting cold.

I...

I've failed, haven't I?

4/4 Nino & Rita 2014/04/14(Mon)18:26 No. 570725 ID: a32d59
File 139752521084.png - (160.73KB , 712x512 , DisneyQuest231.png )

Dios mio dios mio dios mio dios mio she's not moving. She's not moving. She's just laying there. There's so much blood. I'm going to be sick.

He killed her. That FUCKING BASTARD killed my BEST FRIEND.

I can't believe this is happening. She's dead! Like, she's actually dead. I just watched someone die. I... This is nothing like in the movies. I don't know how to feel at all.

Before my eyes, her body seems to glow with a bright white light, and she is gone. There's a huge bloodstain on the ground, but other than that, there's nothing left. No clothing, no items. Nothing. That was... really strange.

NINO: NINA!

HOOK: Get them!

The Pirates turn to us and attack, swords drawn. The Fairies and the Indians stand back, watching. I don't think they know what to do. And neither do I. I just feel numb.

I don't know if it's what she'd want... And I don't know if it's right... And it doesn't even feel like me... But I can't help how I feel. I don't care what happens now. I want that son of a bitch's head. And I'm not even joking.

>>570724
No, no shit NO!

Th-this can't happen, we- I-

...

I don't want to lose you, Nina...

...A...*sighes*
[Nino]
Nino, listen. Do you think you could close the distance before you were shot too? This...This was terrible, but we will only lose you too if you surrender to your rage now.
[Rita]
...Rita, I have an idea. A foolish foolish idea, but... you know how you can summon Br'er Rabbit? Could you do that, could you directly manipulate this story here? Re-write the tale as it should be? I fear we've overlooked your abilities true scope but...What and how to use it was something that I didn't know.

Shit, how the hell did I never notice the visible lightning effect when it is mentioned multiple times when I check back now. And how can I ever make any plans at all when I can't notice things that are plainly and repeatedly stated...
I did specify to cast before he finished talking which wasn't followed, but that wouldn't even change anything with the visible projectile form that I somehow never noticed once when reading any of the previous times it was used.
And I have even less of an idea of how to use any of the other power-sets.

Nino & Rita 2014/04/15(Tue)18:07 No. 570928 ID: a32d59
File 139761044022.png - (427.63KB , 712x512 , DisneyQuest232.png )

>>570727
....You're right. I kinda hate to say it, but you're right. I just.... Fuck, man. Nina... I can't believe this. And now all these pirates are running toward us, and we're probably gonna die anyway.

CHIEF: Princess Tiger Lily frog now.

The chief's statement is simple, but he says it loudly. Loudly enough that the pirates are distracted. They turn to look at him, as he watches the small frog hopping helplessly around.

CHIEF: Ugly squaw turn-em my daughter into frog. Ugly squaw heap dead. Now, Pirates turn-em back.

CAPTAIN HOOK: Stupid redskin! That's impossible. No one can turn a frog into a little girl!

CHIEF: TURN-EM BACK. NOW.

The Chief begins walking toward Captain Hook, his tomahawk raised above his head. The Pirate Captain throws aside his spent pistol, drawing his rapier again.

While they're distracted, I may as well try to do what you said. Br'er Rabbit is standing by my side, watching everything unfold. I try to remember how it feels to call on him. I close my eyes, and take a deep breath...

Whoa... This is pretty wild. I can feel the pulse of the world, like it's a living, breathing creature. But... it's sick. I can feel the sickness, like grease sliding over the surface of water. I can feel five greasy spots... Captain Hook, Peter Pan, the Chief... and two others, but they seem farther away, more detached. I can feel the infection, as if the world was wounded. It's gone completely nuts, like... I can sense that this world is fun. Dark, but fun. The fun is what's been poisoned. Peter Pan seems to be the least greasy, but he's infected, too. Everyone's taking themselves too seriously.

This world is rancid, and it makes me want to cry. It would be so beautiful, a well-crafted story. But it's in ruins. Is this what they've all been like?

I imagine the entire world as a story, and try to... to fix it somehow. I reach somewhere deep inside myself and... I don't know... I guess I touch on a sort of power. I feel it coursing through me, pulsing in time with the story's pulse.

But I don't know what I'm doing. This isn't like summoning Br'er Rabbit. This isn't inside of me; it's external. How the heck am I supposed to fix it? I can sense what's wrong, but I can't fix it. I can't just write a "happily ever after" and call it a day. We need to do something. Something to do with the five corruption points. But it's gotta happen soon.

What the fuck is Rita doing? She's just standing there with her eyes closed! She's missing everything! The pirates aren't even attacking us anymore, they're just standing there, staring at Asshole McFuckface. The Indians aren't doing anything, either. No one is. It's pretty much just Peter Pan floating around like he's trying to decide what to do, while the Chief walks slowly towards Captain McFuckface, looking like he's about to bash his stupid face in.

Rita turns to face me, whispering.

RITA: Nino, we have to stop him!

NINO: No.

RITA: What? Nino, I think we need the Captain alive.

NINO: I don't.

RITA: Yes! We have to save the world! I know you're pissed, and I'm not happy either, but we have to do something!

NINO: You don't care. You didn't even know her! And how the heck do you know we need him alive?

RITA: I just do, Nino. You have your powers and I have mine. Trust me, please!

NINO: Well, what the fuck are we supposed to do?

RITA: I don't know.

Come on, voices. You... you were always on my side before, right? Or, well... almost always. You liked my ideas best, and.... Oh. Nina... Look, you guys get it, right? We can't save this stupid asshole. He got the princess turned into a frog and... I don't think there's any way to turn her back. This whole thing is his fault. Hell, I dunno, maybe killing him saves the world or something. Just... please. I'm not as angry as I was, you were right. I'm just... I'm just tired. I don't want to do this anymore. This isn't fun anymore. I want Nina here to argue with me. Rita isn't the same. And I don't like this anymore.

He has a point. What am I supposed to do? It's like... As soon as I showed up everything went to Hell in a handbasket. It sounded like they were doing just fine. And... yeah, I didn't know her, yet. I wanted to get to know her. We could have done the whole Whovian fangirl thing together, I think. It would have been real nice. But she's gone, and I figure Nino just about hates me now. I'm lost, y'all. I'm as lost as I've ever been.

Okay, Rita, I think the forth and fifth points of corruption is the Fairy and Mermaid Queens, respectively.
And you say the trouble is they're taking themselves too seriously?...
The plan, effectively, is a fusion of your talents. Rita, you need to lighten things up, but you can't simply write 'and they lived happily ever after' and call it a night. But this isn't a book, these are people, and I think if we can lighten the mood for a bit here, you could use that to push back, and perhaps push out the corruption all together. And that, is where Nino comes in.
This is...Probably the hardest thing you will ever have to do as a Toon, Nino. But I think...I think you can undo the frogging of Tiger Lily with one of your burlas, I'm thinking some sort of act with a magicians hat, or something to stand in for that. Frogged Tiger Lily goes in, Normal Tiger Lily comes out.
Think you can manage that?

>I'm just... I'm just tired. I don't want to do this anymore. This isn't fun anymore. I want Nina here to argue with me. Rita isn't the same. And I don't like this anymore.
I know exactly how you feel. I understand the weariness, the desire to stop, of having had enough.

...but we can't really afford to stop in this world. We can't let what happened to her here be meaningless. For nothing.

Nino & Rita 2014/04/18(Fri)19:29 No. 571419 ID: a32d59
File 139787458138.png - (179.92KB , 712x512 , DisneyQuest233.png )

>>571019
....You're right. Nina would want me to be strong and keep going. I need to be strong for her, and I need to save this world.

>>570957
I don't think I can do that! I mean, I've never tried, so I guess it could work. Hey, there's nothing wrong with trying, right? The only problem is, I'm going to need to build up a lot of laughter. Oh well, may as well give it a shot.

NINO: Wait! I think I know a way to turn the princess back!

That certainly got their attention. Everyone turns to look at Nino, and the Chief is so startled, he nearly drops his tomahawk.

CHIEF: Stupid brave turn-em back daughter of Chief?

NINO: I don't know, maybe? But it isn't going to work, unless...

CHIEF: Unless?

NINO: Unless everyone laughs.

RITA: Nino?

NINO: That's how it works, Rita.

CHIEF: This situation heap serious. Nothing to laugh at.

CAPTAIN HOOK: I hate to say it, but he's right. I believe we were about to engage in a life-or-death battle?

CHIEF: Nasty Pirate take-em words right out of Chief's mouth.

They're gonna fight again! No, we gotta think fast. Hmm... let's see... Banana peel? Alright, here goes nothing! I throw the banana peel at the ground between the two guys. The Chief gets to it first, and begins to slip. He goes sliding forward, right into the Captain! He's so big, he knocks him right over, but they fall down together.

For a long moment, there's a stunned silence. Suddenly, one of the Pirates starts to chuckle. Soon, the entire crew is laughing uproariously, and even the Indians begin to chuckle. Peter Pan floats in mid-air, holding his sides and crowing, and even the trussed Lost Boys are cackling madly. Barely audible under the sound of the deeper laughs, the gentle ring of Fairy laughter can be heard. This is awesome! I don't know if it's the tense situation or what, but I guess banana peels really are pretty funny...

Whoa, that was easier than I thought! Even Rita and Br'er Rabbit are laughing! This is good, this is really good. Okay, I think this might be enough laughter to do a good deal of stuff. I run over to the frog Princess, spinning my legs like a whirlwind. I grab her while everyone's too busy laughing to notice me.

...Crap. I don't have a magician's hat or anything like that. But... as crazy as this is, I kinda have an idea. With the power of all of this laughter, I reach into my bag and pull out my inflatable bra, and throw the princess into the bag. Before anyone has time to notice me, I slip on the bra and start to dance.

What? What the heck is he doing? Why the bra? Why is he dancing? Is that supposed to help us somehow?

Oh... I don't even believe this. How is he doing that? He made his outfit look like Tiger Lily's dress. He didn't put on a different outfit or anything, he just kind of... pulled on it, and that happened. He's even pulling his hair into black braids. Again, I don't know how! He just kind of... ran his hands over his hair and did it! He hasn't done anything to his face, and he still has his bag, but... it's kind of convincing somehow. This is hilarious!

How long can he keep this up?

Gotta keep 'em laughing or I'll turn back, so... Let's see what's in the bag! ...A handkerchief? Uhh... Uhh... I wave cutely toward Peter Pan. They're about the same age, right? He look up at just the right moment, and turns beet red!

PETER: Look, Chief! That guy turned Tiger Lily back!

The Chief stands and brushes himself off. If I'm not imagining things, I think he may be chuckling, too.

CHIEF: Daughter of Chief human again?

The Chief looks down at the somewhat-dazed Captain, and smiles.

CHIEF: Ugh. Thanks, Pirate. Break-em fall of Chief.

His deadpan delivery makes the other Pirates laugh even harder, and even Captain Hook smiles sheepishly. That Nino's a miracle worker! I can't help but feel that all of this communal laughter is doing wonders for the world. I take a deep breath, and the corruption feels less-intense now. The Queens' infection hasn't changed at all, but the other three feel much... fresher, now. Less greasy.

I really hope Nino has a plan. I have a bad feeling that this could go very, very wrong when the Chief realizes he's not Tiger Lily.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING. Halp?

Hrrm, Okay, so Rita, you're right in that this act of Nino's won't go over well at all once he's found out. But! That's only if he finds out!
I think right now we should try and steer the attentions of everyone towards the trouble with the Mermaids and Fairies- that's not exactly going to occur without problems for either Hook and his pirates or Chief and his braves, and away from Nino.
Once the spotlight's off him, we search that bag as fast as we can to get Tiger Lily out of there, and then swap her out with Nino while they're not looking!
How to do this...AH!
Rita, this might be asking too much of you out of the blue, but maybe there could be a massive stampede of buffalo nearby if you reached out to the world like you did before? I think you can do things like that, have things happen, and not just passively sense the corruption.

I feel like with a few more laughs you could potentially turn the princess back if you have enough laughs by saying you will kiss your hero, taking out the frog, and kissing her to turn her back into the princess dressed as Nino.
Rita, I have been wondering, would Bard powers work for giving classic tropes (like the maiden-kissing-frog-transformation) a bit of an extra push?

Nino & Rita 2014/04/19(Sat)18:49 No. 571616 ID: a32d59
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>>571531
Hmm... you know something? That's just crazy enough to work. And I think I know how to do it!

RITA: All right, y'all! It's story time!

Peter Pan and the Lost Boys perk right on up at that, and Peter cuts his gang loose. They all run over to me, sitting at my feet. The Indians and Fairies follow, and soon, even the Pirates are watching us. Nino's dancing furiously, trying to keep them laughing. I think they're starting to die down, though, so let's see if I can make this quick. I just hate to tell the short version of "The Frog Prince," but I don't think I have time for the whole thing.

I try to focus on the way it feels when I summon Br'er Rabbit, and I start the story.

RITA: Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess.

NINO: Hi!

They laugh! Good, good! Keep it up, Rita!

RITA: One day, the princess was walking in the woods, and she saw a frog.

I reach into my bag... I don't know if they're laughing enough for this to work... but Rita kinda looks at me me and nods. Is she helping me stay in costume, or what? How the heck are we doing this?

I reach in and pull out Tiger Lily on the first try. It feels like Rita's guiding my hand or something.

I put her on the ground.

RITA: The princess was disgusted by the slimy critter, but he told her, "You must not judge a book by its cover, fair maiden! I may appear to be a loathsome frog, but I am, in fact, a prince!"

NINO: No way!

Nino makes exaggerated faces of disgust, and everyone laughs. This isn't how I operate, but I think it's helping. Everyone's really, really into it!

RITA: The frog told the princess that, as a prince, he had great wealth and power. He promised her that once he regained his human form, he could give her anything she asked for.

NINO: How about a pony?

RITA: "Yes, Princess. Even a pony!"

NINO: Aww, yeah!

RITA: There was just one condition. To break the spell, the frog needed one thing... A kiss from a princess.

NINO: Eww!

RITA: You want that pony, Princess?

NINO: Is it really the only way?

RITA: Just shut up and kiss the frog already!

This is GREAT! Rita's hilarious! We've got 'em eating right out of our hands!

This is ridiculous, but I've gotta admit that it's kind of fun. A little sillier than I'm used to, but if the audience loves it, then the tale's done its job.

I make a big show of picking up Tiger Lily, mugging at how gross the slimy frog is. I give her a kiss, and...

RITA: And just like that, the prince was human again!

As suddenly as I can blink, just like when Br'er Rabbit appears, Tiger Lily is standing right in front of Nino! But... Oh, wow. She's dressed up like a storybook prince! It's PERFECT!

RITA: And they lived happily ever after!

Holy crap, did you SEE that? What did we just do? How the heck did we do THAT!?

TIGER LILY: Tiger Lily heap confused. Why Tiger Lily wear-em strange clothes? Tiger Lily no frog!

CHIEF: Daughter!

TIGER LILY: Father!

The two of them run towards each other and embrace, and our entire audience--Lost Boys, Indians, Fairies, and Pirates--erupt into applause. With the laughter completely gone, Nino and Tiger Lily morph back into their normal clothes.

I feel as though the corruption has been more-or-less purged from Peter, Hook, and the Chief. But the other two are still pretty gross.

>>571424
You're right. We gotta take care of the Queens. But how?

Nino & Rita 2014/04/19(Sat)18:49 No. 571617 ID: a32d59
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I've never felt so messed-up in my life. I'm on an adrenaline high, psyched about my teamwork with Rita, and totally jazzed about just about the best burla routine I've ever pulled off. Why the fuck am I happy when I hurt so much? How the hell is this happening to me? I just want to lay down and cry. I'm proud of what we've done, but... But I really wish Nina could have seen it. It's like I'm still expecting her to pop in with her ring, you know? But... but she's gone. She hasn't even been dead for half an hour, and Rita and I are laughing and excited and shit. This is wrong. This is just gross, and I think I need a break.

It's basically dancing on her grave. I wasn't kidding when I said this would be hard, since I basically asked you to forget your friend died for a moment there, and act like a toon. You did great Nino, and the same for you Rita.
Anyhow... I think we could use a moment alone, now, to grieve. Forget our mission for the time being- I don't think it's good for any Toon to have to wear a smile when he wants to cry...

I can see where you are coming from, but on the other hand being a toon for a bit was part of making sure all of this wasn't for nothing. I agree with >>571634 that you could take a rest though; perhaps ask the faries to meet with you at some point a few hours later or something.

Nino & Rita 2014/04/23(Wed)16:05 No. 572094 ID: a32d59
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>>571636
Before anyone has a chance to say anything, the Pirates just get up and start walking away.

CAPTAIN HOOK: I'll get you yet, Boy! Not today, and maybe not tomorrow. But I WILL HAVE MY REVENGE!

PETER: Good luck with that, you old codfish! Now come on, men! Let's go find something to eat and call it a night.

CHIEF: Lost Boys heap hungry? Lost Boys eat-em with Chief.

SLIGHTLY: You mean it?

CUBBY: Gee, thanks, Chief!

PETER: Does this means we're friends again?

CHIEF: Little Flying Eagle one of us. We more than friends.

Tiger Lily grabs Peter by the hand and leads him into a tipi.

CHIEF: Storyteller squaw and funny brave hungry?

RITA: I know I am. How about you, Nino? It might be good to get something to eat.

NINO: Well.... I guess so. But I kinda want to go take a break and just not be around anyone from this world for a little while, if that's OK?

RITA: Sorry to trouble you, Chief, but do you think we could maybe get some food to take with us?

The Chief nods and goes into the tipi, coming back with two little bags made of buffalo skin.

CHIEF: This pemmican. Heap nutritious, heap delicious. Chief make-em gift.

Hmm... this smells like beef jerky! I hadn't really thought about it, but... I guess I am kind of hungry.

RITA: Thank you, Chief.

NINO: Yeah, thanks!

CHIEF: You heap welcome.

Without another word, he vanishes into the tipi with the rest of the Lost Boys. How many of them are in there? It seems too small for them all to fit. Oh, well.

The Fairies all stretch and flutter past, heading toward Pixie Hollow.

RITA: Wait!

They stop and turn towards me.

RITA: Would y'all mind terribly meeting up with us in a few hours? I don't know my way around Neverland, but we can meet wherever y'all want.

Fawn jingles an answer, and Br'er Rabbit responds, yawning hugely.

BR'ER RABBIT: Sis Fawn says y'all can meet down at Cannibal Cove. They got a mighty fine beach, and she suspects it's easy enough to find. But this critter is dead tired, Sis Rita. I'm going to bed; it has been a long day, sure as you're born.

RITA: Alright, Br'er Rabbit. Goodnight.

And just like that, Br'er Rabbit disappears. The Fairies fly away, and it's just Nino and I in the middle of the Native American encampment.

I don't really like the sound of this "Cannibal Cove," especially if it's anything like the rest of this world. But I guess it's gonna have to do.

>>571634
RITA: Should we head to the beach awhile? We can eat our pemmican and rest.

NINO: Yeah. I guess that sounds good.

He holds out his hand, and I take it. His voice is sad, and his eyes are far away.

NINO: Hair, take us to Cannibal Cove.

He taps the base of his ponytail three times, and turns it a little. That's really weird. I mean, it doesn't look physically possible. That Nino sure is full of surprises, isn't he?

The rainbow colors are back, and it's like flying through the air, just like last time. Well, almost.

Soon, we're on a beach. The sun is low in the sky, and paints the sea in a pink-and-orange glow. There are palm trees all around, and tiny bits of random junk scattered across the sand. The stars are starting to show up in the sky. I think this is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. I sure hope Nino and I can save it.

I open my pemmican and scoop some out. It's messy, but it's delicious. It's also surprisingly filling. Before I know it, I've eaten the whole bag. Nino eats his too, his eyes on the sea.

The food's okay, I guess. I don't know. I just don't know how to feel about anything anymore.

RITA: Nino? If you don't want to talk, that's okay. But I want you to know that I'm here if you need to say anything. I'll listen.

NINO: Sorry, it's just... Nina and I were best friends. It's weird, 'cause like, we didn't have that much in common. But we saved a bunch of worlds together, you know? And even if we disagreed a lot, it was kind of fun. She saved my life, you know.

RITA: Really? What happened?

NINO: Well... I did something really stupid. I got my face all covered in acid. I think my eye melted off or something, I don't know. I passed out. I could have died. But she knew a spell that healed me, but it somehow got all my wounds on her face. And then some mad scientist alien dude gave her that eye. She did that for me, and I wouldn't be here right now if it weren't for her.

RITA: Wow.

NINO: And... I just... I just feel so useless, because... well...

He starts to cry, the tears flowing freely. He pulls his whole body in close, like a lonely child, his hair drooping lifelessly across his face.

NINO: Because I couldn't do the same for her. Why did it have to be her, Rita? She was the one who was good at all this hero stuff. I'm just... I'm just me! I can't save anything alone!

RITA: Nino... You're not alone.

He lifts his head, turning his tear-filled eyes towards me, looking completely helpless.

NINO: Rita, I didn't mean...

RITA: I know. But we're a team now, right? And we're damn good! I mean, I didn't know Nina for very long. And maybe we're not as good at this as she was. But it was you and me who got Captain Hook and the Chief to stop fighting, right?

NINO: Well, yeah, but...

RITA: And it's you and me who turned Tiger Lily back, when we thought we couldn't, right?

NINO: Rita, I know, but that's....

RITA: And it's you and me who are gonna save this world, Nino.

NINO: OKAY! We will TRY! And I KNOW that already! And you know what? Maybe we WILL do okay. Sure. Great! Congratulations! We're gonna do a GREAT job! But it's not. The. SAME! Nina's DEAD, Rita. She's dead, and she'll never get to see us save the world. And it's more than that... It's not even really about saving the world.

RITA: What do you mean?

NINO: She won't be there to argue with me, or be all serious. She won't be there for me to tease and stuff, either, and that's no fun. She won't be there to stop me from being an idiot, or calling me out when my plans don't make any sense. She won't even be there to call me a manwhore anymore, and I think I'll miss that most of all!

RITA: ....What?

NINO: Never mind, it's not important.

RITA: Look, I'm sorry. And you're right, I know you guys were friends. And I know I will never, ever replace her, and I'm not going to try. And we don't know each other very well yet, anyway. But, if you need a friend, I'll be right here, Nino.

NINO: Thanks, Rita.

She's right. We make a good team. And I'm sure we can be friends. I just... I just don't want to feel like I'm replacing Nina. There's no one who could ever take Nina's place, and I'm not looking for a new best friend. Either way, I'm glad Rita's here. If it were just me, I don't know what I would have done by now.

Besides, we're gonna save this world, and we're gonna save all the other worlds. And we're gonna do it for Nina.

I just don't know what to say to him. I've never lost anyone close to me before, and I can't imagine what he's going through. What do I even say? We're gonna be here for a couple hours until the Fairies show up, and I'd appreciate any advice y'all might have. About anything, really.

I guess I just wanna prove to him that I can do this. But I kinda also don't want to make it about me. I get the feeling he kinda needs me right now. We all need somebody to lean on.

Oh, and if y'all could stop me when I'm about to make some cheesy old song reference, that'd be great, too.

One of the first things Nina was told when she entered this whole 'saving the multiverse' business was that sacrifices may need to be made. She knew it was a possibility, one that became very real when she lost her eye. Now that she's made the ultimate sacrifice, the most we can do is make sure it wasn't in vain.

Nino & Rita 2014/04/24(Thu)15:57 No. 572237 ID: a32d59
File 139838027363.png - (145.32KB , 712x512 , DisneyQuest237.png )

>>572152
He wipes his face on his sleeve and looks at me, his eyes swollen from crying. Suddenly, his tear-stained cheeks begin to dimple with the tiniest hint of a crooked smile.

NINO: The voices are right. Nina sacrificed everything to help save the multiverse. She's gone, but we're still here, and we can finish what she started. It's what she would have wanted.

RITA: Exactly.

NINO: And, you know what? The two of us DO make a great team. It's not replacing her to think that. It's.... it's practical. And Nina was all ABOUT practical! She would want us to work together and be awesome and restore these worlds. And we're damn good at it!

RITA: Absolutely!

NINO: Man, with my awesome burlas and your.... whatever the heck your crazy-meta powers are, we're completely unstoppable!

RITA: Yeah! You know, I kinda wonder... How the heck do you do the things you do, anyway? It's like the laws of physics don't really apply to you or something.

NINO: They kinda don't. See, I grew up in LA, and I spent a lot of time in Toontown.

RITA: Toontown? Never heard of it.

NINO: It's where cartoon characters go to hang out. Anyway, I was there a lot, ever since my mama finally trusted me to leave the house by myself. And I picked up a few things. I don't know how I do it. I just kinda do.

RITA: That's how it is with me, too! I just... I have a knack for stories. It's been passed down my family for generations, and I don't know how it works yet. But I'm starting to.

NINO: What do you mean?

RITA: Well... the voices told me to try to manipulate the story.

NINO: What story?

RITA: "Peter Pan." The one we're in right now.

NINO: Oh, right! Like... all of these worlds are actually movies or something. I think that's what Uncle Remus said.

RITA: Really? You know, I'm still super-jealous that y'all met Uncle Remus.

NINO: I'm sure you'll see him someday. He's like our awesome old mentor dude or something.

RITA: It's just... he's the one that taught my ancestors how to use these "crazy-meta powers." So it's like... everything I am, I sort of owe to him. I've always dreamed of meeting him, but I assumed he was dead.

NINO: I think he's immortal or something.

RITA: Hmm... When do you think the Fairies are gonna be here?

NINO: I have no idea.

RITA: I told them to meet us in a few hours, and we've only been here for about forty-five minutes.

NINO: Ugh... I just wanna save the world and move on to the next one. Why do we have to wait so long?

RITA: Well... I don't know. I just told them what the voices wanted me to.

NINO: Looks like we have a lot of time, then.

RITA: Yup.

NINO: Hmmm... Well, maybe we should talk a little more and get to know each other, now that we're gonna be the dream team saving the multiverse?

RITA: Alright. You first.

NINO: Let's see... My favorite color is pink, I like pie, I'm more of a cat person than a dog person really, and someday, I'm going to be the greatest stand-up comic that ever lived.

He speaks quickly, but there's something far-away in his eyes, as if he's only half-present.

RITA: I think you'll definitely be a great stand-up comic someday.

NINO: Thanks, Rita. Anyway, it's your turn.

RITA: Oh, well... I'm an English major at Georgia College, and I grew up in Atlanta. I love books more than almost anything, but I really like anything creative. Art, film, fashion, music... I was the lead singer of a band once.

NINO: What, really?

RITA: Yeah... we weren't very good, and we never got out of the garage. But it was fun. Hmm... I also like cats, pink, and pie. I guess what I really want to do is teach.

NINO: Like... high school?

RITA: Never! College, for sure.

NINO: Wow. You must be really, really super-smart.

RITA: Well, I don't mean to brag but... I guess I'm pretty smart.

NINO: That's good. I'm not, really.

RITA: Aww, don't say that!

NINO: No, really! I make stupid decisions all the time! And I have a really short attention span kinda. I like fashion and stuff too, but I'd rather party than read.

RITA: Yeah, I can't identify with that at all! But I do like to party.

NINO: Really? You have time to party?

RITA: Well, not too much. But I do go to parties every once in a while. I just don't like to stay out too late, or I feel like crap in the morning.

NINO: That's funny. I'm usually the one that makes them crazy! Toontown has a killer party scene.

RITA: I can dig it. Maybe someday I'll have to check it out. Hey, are you on Tumblr?

NINO: What's a Tumblr?

RITA: It's a blogging website? Lots of artsy-types hang out there?

NINO: Nah, I don't really spend too much time on the interwebs. I like the funny pictures of cats, though.

RITA: Wow, LOLcats? That meme's kind of played out...

NINO: Hey, don't disrespect the classics!

There's silence for a moment. I'm not sure either of us know what to say. Suddenly, Nino starts to laugh. I can't help it, it's absolutely infectious. Soon we're both laughing like a couple of hyenas, laughing until we cry. Laughing like it's the only thing keeping us sane.

RITA: Nino, you're a pretty fun guy.

NINO: Thanks, Rita. UGGGGH! How much longer until the Fairies get here?

RITA: It's still only been a little over an hour.

NINO: Damn it! I'm getting restless. They'd better get here soon.

RITA: We could just hang out until they get here. This isn't too boring, is it?

NINO: Nah, this is actually kinda fun. I'm just... not really used to doing nothing anymore. Or just hanging out and talking. It was always kind of serious business back when.... before.

RITA: I know. But I feel like we have a lot in common. Nothing wrong with taking it easy for a little while.

If Nina were here, she would want us to do something in the meantime. Like, I dunno, go talk to the Mermaids or something. Or some kind of planning at least! Rita's really cool, and I think we have a lot in common, and it's really nice to just chill for once. But I feel really guilty. Didn't we just say we were gonna save the world now? Because I feel like I'm just wasting time and that's no fun, either.

I'm sure the Fairies will be here before too much longer. If we go do something else, we might miss them. He did say he had a short attention span, but I thought he was enjoying just talking. At least, as much as he can enjoy anything right now. Did I say something wrong? Am I being insensitive? I just... I think we really hit it off, and maybe he needs to just relax for now. Take his mind off stuff, you know?

We did tend towards a practical 'let's get this job done ASAP' view of things, but I figure if you guys explore or something it should be okay as long as you get back in time...

>>572339
Exploring a bit in the near area seems like a good idea; not too stressful but still something to do.
I am also curious about trying out the story sense a bit. Does it just work for corruption, or can you sense the presence or status of things like the world's primary protagonist?

Nino & Rita 2014/04/28(Mon)16:22 No. 572636 ID: a32d59
File 139872732973.png - (223.73KB , 712x512 , DisneyQuest238.png )

>>572409
Hmmm... let's see...

This world's protagonist is... huh, that's funny. I've never seen that girl before. She's very far away; I can't see her very well. Peter Pan is very important, too, but I get the sense that it's this other girl's story more than his. I know he thought Nina was some girl named Wendy. Is that her?

But the weird thing is... I feel as though Tinker Bell is tied into this as well. She isn't the protagonist, but she has some protagonist-like leanings...

The more time I spend looking at this world's structure, the more I'm starting to think that this isn't just one story. There are layers, here. Maybe... something to do with an extended canon? Pixie Hollow feels... fresher, somehow. As though it were added in later. It doesn't have anything to do with the corruption, but I have a feeling that this world still has an evolving sense of canon.

NINO: So... what do you think?

RITA: Hmm? Oh, I was just testing out my powers for the voices. They wanted to see what all I could tell about this world.

NINO: Learn anything interesting?

RITA: I don't know. It's probably not all that relevant.

NINO: Oh. Let's go exploring!

>>572339
RITA: Okay, Nino. But we shouldn't go too far. We want to be back in time.

NINO: We could just walk along the beach, I guess. I mean, it's something to do. And I guess that's as good as we're gonna get.

RITA: Sounds like a compromise. We don't wander off, but we don't just sit here doing nothing. I like it.

NINO: Yeah, I guess it sounds alright.

We walk up and down the beach for a while, finding random things buried in the sand. It's mostly junk, but Nino picks up a few shiny coins and a pocket watch. He pockets his small treasures, and keeps digging in the sand.

RITA: What are you doing?

NINO: I thought I saw something shiny... Aha!

He pulls something out of the sand, and it sparkles in the moonlight. It looks like an earring in a really sweet vintage style. Victorian, maybe. But it looks really new! And there's a huge gem in it. It could be a real diamond, but I don't know.

NINO: This is GORGEOUS!

RITA: It really is.

He holds it out to me.

RITA: Huh?

NINO: Take it. I can't wear it anyway. I never got my ears pierced.

RITA: Really?

NINO: Yeah. I figured you'd like it. Plus, it'd be a shame to leave it behind.

RITA: Thanks, Nino.

I slip it into my right ear. I'm so used to just my coral one on the left, I'm not used to feeling the weight on that side. It really is a lovely thing. That was pretty sweet.

Aww, jeez, that doesn’t match at all. Like, her other earring is coral or something? But... I figured she’d like it. She doesn’t seem to care that much about matching anything. I dunno.

It doesn’t really matter. It looks really pretty on her, anyway. I’m pretty sure it’s real diamond, too, and you really can never go wrong with diamonds!

We walk in silence for a long time, except for the incessant, gentle lapping of the ocean against the sand. It's perfectly tranquil and lovely, and I wonder if all of the worlds we'll visit are as beautiful as this.

We turn around to walk in the other direction, and see glittering, golden lights in the distance. The Fairies!

We run towards them, and they spot us, meeting us half-way.

Uh oh. I just realized we don't have anyone with us anymore who can understand Fairies. I have no idea what they're saying! Also, what are we even supposed to say to them? 'Cause I don't have any ideas!

Hrrm. That could be a problem.
Okay...Understanding the fairies...We didn't really solve this one last time either now that I think on it. We just lucked out in that one of them could talk to Br'er Rabbit.
Hrrm...Okay so this is probably going to be a stretch of an idea, since I really really dunno how exactly Rita's powers work but...Part of me wants to try and...Story tell some sort of magic conch shell that could let us talk to the fairies.
Another thought is to ask them to 'trace' out what they want to say via flying but I dunno how tiring that would be for them, and generally it seems like it's possible to read their body languange I think?

Do you think Br'er Rabbit will be rested by now? Ideally I think we would want to try and get them to have a conversation with Tinkerbell, but that might go badly if we can't understand what they are saying. Maybe we can ask them if they know someone who can translate?

Nino & Rita 2014/05/19(Mon)22:56 No. 575089 ID: a32d59
File 140056537557.png - (271.12KB , 712x512 , DisneyQuest239.png )

>>572680
I don't know. He's probably still sleeping. I wouldn't want to bother him just yet.

RITA: Hi, Fairies! You know, it just occurred to me that we can't exactly understand what y'all are saying. Do y'all know anyone who could translate for us?

They jingle back and forth to one another, and Vidia raises a tiny eyebrow at us, looking annoyed. Wait a second...

RITA: I remember now! Wasn't Tiger Lily talking to y'all?

They all nod. Vidia looks almost disgusted that it took me this long to remember. Well, excuse me for being a little preoccupied with saving the world, Sassy!

NINO: So... we have to go back to the Indian Camp?

RITA: Looks like it.

I gesture for the Fairies to climb onto my arm, and they do. Nino and I link hands, and he takes hold of his ponytail again.

NINO: Hair, take us to the Indian Camp.

When we get there, it looks as though every Native American in the encampment is seated in a large circle, except for a few who are dancing in the center. A calumet pipe is going around, of course, and the sound of drums echoes among the tipis. The Princess is seated next to her father, with Peter Pan on his other side.

The Chief notices us, and waves us hover.

CHIEF: Haau!

RITA: Haau, Chief. We need to speak to your daughter.

CHIEF: Very well. Daughter, speak-em with storyteller squaw and funny brave. Party no stop-em until long into night.

TIGER LILY: Yes, Father.

She stands and walks toward us, and we all walk a short distance from the encampment, so the sound of the drums is distant and muffled.

The Fairies swarm around Tiger Lily, and she greets them quietly.

TIGER LILY: What you need, friends?

RITA: What we need is a translator. We have to speak with the Fairies, only we can't understand their language at all.

NINO: And you can!

TIGER LILY: Yes. Tiger Lily understand-em Fairy speak. It heap beautiful language.

RITA: I'm sure it is! We need the Fairies to talk to Tinker Bell, if that's alright. And we'd like to help.

An uncertain jingle ripples through the small swarm of Fairies.

TIGER LILY: Rita make-em good point. Fairies need-em reunite with Tinker Bell. Tinker Bell heap important, and heap good friend. Tiger Lily come, too.

RITA: Peter Pan said that Tinker Bell is back at the Lost Boys' hideout.

NINO: Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!

We all grab hold of each other.

NINO: Hair, take us to the Lost Boys' hideout!

Just like that, we're back in the dark, warm room under the roots of the tree.

The Fairies are suddenly dead silent, floating gently in the air.

NINO: What's wrong?

TIGER LILY: Fairies heap nervous. No talk-em to Tinker Bell in heap long time.

Sounds like this is going to be one awkward conversation. I'm at a loss for how to handle this. We've figured out how to talk to the Fairies, but we still don't know what to do now that we can. How do we approach this?

Hrrm. It's been awhile?
Then I guess we just need something to break the ice! Like what's the latest news with the Fairies, or how are things going with the Lost Boys?

>>575104
Something to break the ice sounds good, though maybe not with mentioning the Lost Boys in particular since that seems to be a sore spot. Some kind of joke would help, though I can't think of any topical ones at the moment.

Nino & Rita 2014/06/15(Sun)16:48 No. 578761 ID: a32d59
File 140287612925.png - (193.91KB , 712x512 , DisneyQuest240.png )

>>575212
That's a great idea! Only... I kinda can't think of anything either, right now.

NINO: Come on, guys! What are you so afraid of? She's your friend, right? Does she bite or something?

A few of the Fairies break into nervous laughter, but Vidia just glares at Nino. From a small hole in one of the walls, I can see a faint golden glow. Tinker Bell peeks out of the hole slowly, as if both desiring and dreading this encounter.

>>575104
RITA: Hello, Tinker Bell! Your friends just wanted to stop by and talk to you. Aren't you curious about what they've been up to?

She just jingles, a stubborn-yet-sad glint in her eyes.

TIGER LILY: No. Tinker Bell no curious. Tinker Bell heap indifferent.

RITA: I don't think that's true. Isn't there any news or something she wouldn't know about?

The other Fairies all start to jingle in unison.

RITA: Tiger Lily, how can you even understand what they're saying when they all talk at once?

TIGER LILY: It heap easy. All Fairies say same thing.

RITA: What are they saying?

TIGER LILY: All of Pixie Hollow heap upset. Tinkers no invent-em or build-em good things anymore, because Tinker Bell best tinker. Zarina use-em tinker dust, make tinkers better. But it not same thing. Also, Terence and Periwinkle both heap distraught. Terence no focus on job now, him cry whole heaps. But Periwinkle even worse! Periwinkle no eat-em, no make-em frost. Only lay-em in bed.

NINO: I don't think I understood any of that!

TIGER LILY: Long story.

RITA: I think Tinker Bell gets it, though. She looks real upset, so I guess they're getting to her.

TIGER LILY: Tinker Bell say, "Tinker Bell no care. Tinker Bell Lost Boy, now. Tinker Bell no abandon friend Peter Pan."

Vidia zips toward Tinker Bell so fast that she's nearly invisible, and grabs her roughly by her shoulders.

TIGER LILY: Vidia say, "Tinker Bell already abandon-em many friends. Abandon Silvermist, Rosetta, Fawn, Iridessa. Abandon Terence. Abandon Fairy Mary, Bobble, Clank. Even abandon Periwinkle, sister of Tinker Bell. And Tinker Bell abandon Vidia. What one more friend?"

Tinker Bell sinks to the ground, holding her face in her hands. Everything is silent for a long moment. Suddenly, a faint jingling disrupts the quiet.

TIGER LILY: Iridessa say, "Also, Pixie Hollow under attack. That important news, also."

Tinker Bell looks up, her eyes wide with fear and her face streaked with tears.

TIGER LILY: Tinker Bell say, "What?" Silvermist say, "Mermaids." Fawn say, "Tinkers try-em build weapons, but it heap difficult."

NINO: We tried to talk to the Mermaids, Tinker Bell! Their crazy queen said they wouldn't attack Pixie Hollow just yet. But she's completely nuts! We're going to need a more permanent solution, I think, but I don't know what!

RITA: It's clear that something around here's broke, and it needs fixing.

The jingling seems to grow to a roar. Was it something I said?

TIGER LILY: Heap smart, Rita.

RITA: Huh?

TIGER LILY: Tiger Lily think that just what Tinker Bell need. Rosetta say, "Tinker Bell hear lady." Fawn say, "What Tinker Bell have say now?"

Slowly, but resolutely, Tinker Bell joins her friends.

TIGER LILY: Tinker Bell say, "Tinker Bell tinker. Tinkers fix things."

All of the Fairies hug. This is awesome! We finally got them talking again... But we're still going to have to deal with the Queens. I wonder what we ought to do next?

Weee gotta fix up the mermaids!
Easier said then done, they and the faries never liked each other...
I'd think a simple comedian act mixed in with 'no need to fight/Is it really worth the effort?' Could do it...
Anyone know a good joke about war being dumb or something?

There are two general ways I can think of that we could go about this. First, we could try calm both queens together, which has the risk of them fighting or taunting each other but has the advantages of keeping an eye on them and feels like it would fit better from a meta-narrative standpoint (with the themes of not being divided and hostile). The other option is to try and calm each queen separately, which has the advantage of the queens not directly interfering with eachother but might insult one of them or leave us open to the second one causing trouble while we deal with the first one (though that could be mitigated if we spoke to the mermaid queen first since the other faeries can keep their queen from doing anything rash).
I think I am generally leaning towards the calming together option, though maybe Rita can get a feel for whether we can realistically get them to meet without a fight immediately breaking out. The vague concept I have for a plan for this is to ask for the queens to meet with us to discuss their differences, and them make fools of ourselves at the talk so they are too busy laughing at us to be overly angry with each other.

Nino & Rita 2014/06/17(Tue)19:46 No. 579067 ID: a32d59
File 140305956472.png - (357.43KB , 712x612 , DisneyQuest241.png )

>>578923
Hmmmm.... Let me see if I can figure anything out. I concentrate on the story, as I did before.

I'm sensing... tension between the Fairies and the Mermaids. I mean, y'all already knew that, so there's nothing new there. Anyway, the rotten stuff is just making it worse. I think... I think we might be able to get them to talk without killing each other. This isn't for sure, but it's an educated guess, and that's really the best that I have right now. I get the sense the queens don't talk much. Or maybe they've never talked, that part's... fuzzy. But with a little bit of diplomacy, I think we could make this work out alright.

RITA: Alright, so it sounds like we need to get the two queens to talk to each other. The question is, how are we going to do that?

Silvermist jingles softly, a worried look in her tiny eyes.

TIGER LILY: Silvermist say, "Fairies no swim. Mermaids no come to Pixie Hollow."

NINO: What about the Wind Room? It's full of air, and we can just teleport in and out, right? What if we went and got the Fairy Queen, and then took her down to talk to Queen Eewee? I mean, we'd have to get Eewee to talk to us, first. I don't think she'd really appreciate us just barging into her Wind Room. She's really, really touchy. But how else would we make this work?

RITA: Hey, that's actually a really good idea, Nino!

NINO: ...Wait. You're just... agreeing with me? Just like that?

RITA: Well... yeah! What other choices do we have? Besides, that'll probably work.

NINO: Wow! Yeah, okay! Let's just do that, then! You know, normally, we would just have to leave it up to the voices, and...

Oh. Right. Everything's different now. These past few hours... I keep forgetting. What the hell is wrong with me?

Rita gently puts a hand on my shoulder, and gives me a tiny smile.

RITA: Come on, Nino. We can do this. Let's head back to Pixie Hollow.

We all join hands, and the Fairies land on our shoulders, this time with Tinker Bell in tow. Nino twists his hair again, like he did before.

NINO: Hair, take us to Pixie Hollow!

We sail through the air on a storm of colors again, and land exactly where we landed on our last visit to Pixie Hollow.

Tinker Bell immediately flutters away from our group, looking around, as if re-familiarizing herself with this place. Eyes follow her from the branches of the huge trees, and I can hear the faint, whispered jingles of the stunned Fairies.

She jingles loudly, intensely. I don't need to know what she said to know that she said it with purpose.

TIGER LILY: Tinker Bell call-em Queen Clarion.

NINO: You think the queen will actually come out?

TIGER LILY: Yes. Queen Clarion wait-em long time for Tinker Bell return. Queen Clarion good Chief, never ignore-em common Fairies. Tinker Bell no common Fairy. Tinker Bell very rare talent. Best Tinker of all time, so say-em Fairies.

In the darkness of the night, a fine golden mist comes from the branches of the immense tree. Fine golden particles race together, lighting up the darkness. A hush falls over Pixie Hollow, and even the sound of the wind seems to fall silent. The sparkling dust forms the shape of a tiny person, taller than the other Fairies, but still so delicate. Her massive wings are not the dragonfly wings of the other Fairies, but ornate butterfly wings that appear crafted from the magic dust itself. Her golden outfit, also, seems crafted of light. She looks every inch the Fairy Queen, and her voice sounds bright and clear, like the clarion call of a church bell.

TIGER LILY: Haau, Queen Clarion.

The regal Fairy smiles benevolently at Tiger Lily, gesturing a greeting, before looking us over.

TIGER LILY: Queen Clarion say, "Me hear-em of three strange humans. Me see-em two."

Tiger Lily swallows hard as she translates, looking away from us.

NINO: It's just us, Queen Clarion. We're... all that's left.

RITA: Nina was killed by Captain Hook.

A gasp sounds across Pixie Hollow. Nino's staring off into space, like he wants to be anywhere but here.

TIGER LILY: Queen Clarion say, "This violence heap unacceptable. What happen Neverland? First, Mermaids threaten Fairy home. Now, Pirates kill-em outsiders."

RITA: We know, Your Majesty, but that's why we're here. We're trying to save Neverland from all of this pointless violence! The Pirates, the Lost Boys, and the Native Americans have all parted in peace.

Queen Clarion raises an eyebrow, as if not understanding exactly what I said.

TIGER LILY: Rita talk-em heap funny, Queen Clarion! Rita mean "Indians."

RITA: What? No, I don't!

NINO: Rita... I don't think Neverland is even in America!

RITA: Well, no, but... You know what? Forget it. But, anyway, as I was trying to say before y'all interrupted me... All we need to do now is try to negotiate peace between your people, Your Majesty, and the Mermaids.

TIGER LILY: Queen Clarion say, "That heap easier say-em than do. How you do this?"

RITA: Your Majesty, please come with us. We're going to request an audience with Queen Eewee.

The Fairies closest to us all gasp, and eye their Queen nervously. The Queen herself simply laughs.

TIGER LILY: Queen Clarion say, "Mermaids no want-em peace. Fairies never hurt-em Mermaids. No want-em Fairy friendship. Mermaids heap selfish, heap vain, and heap aggressive. Me no discuss-em anything with Queen Eewee."

NINO: But, Your Highness, you have to! If you don't, Neverland won't be safe anymore! This is the only chance we have!

RITA: It sounds crazy, Your Majesty. But it's true. I've seen the fabric of the world, and it's being attacked by... something. The only way to fix it is if you would talk to the Mermaid Queen.

TIGER LILY: Queen Clarion, Tiger Lily want-em say something. Outsiders want-em trade. Outsiders get-em Tinker Bell come back home. Heap difficult task! Tinker Bell home, now. Tinker Bell build heap useful things for Fairy tribe. Tinker Bell fix all broken things. Tinker Bell talk-em to sad friends, make-em happy. Terence work-em again, make-em more Pixie Dust. Periwinkle work-em again, bring-em winter to Mainland. Tinker Bell come home, everything get-em better. Queen Clarion must help-em Outsiders. Queen Clarion owe-em heap gratitude.

The Queen is silent for a long moment. Finally she smiles, and nods at Tiger Lily. She elegantly chimes at her, and Tiger Lily simply beams and looks away, as if embarrassed and proud of whatever the Queen said to her.

Tiger Lily holds her hand out towards the Queen, and the Queen gently nestles herself into Tiger Lily's palm. Tiger Lily looks at us and nods, and Nino prepares to teleport us again.

NINO: Hair, take us to Mermaid Lagoon!

Mermaid Lagoon is really pretty at night, but...

It's weird to think that I was here just a few hours ago with Nina. I'm... I'm never going to see her again.

No! No time to be sad now! Gotta save the world. Gotta do it for her!

Rita's looking around like... oh, wait, that's right! She really hasn't been here before. She's never talked to the Mermaids before at all. That sucks, because she's a lot better at talking than me.

Woon's laying out on a rock, and so are a few other Mermaids.

Tiger Lily's holding the teeny-tiny Queen in both her hands, kinda like how kids hold fireflies on TV. I guess it's so that the Mermaids can't see her. Probably a good idea! I wouldn't have thought of that at all!

WOON: Hey! It's you guys! Hi, again, human-with-pretty hair! And... Wait... You...

This Mermaid's staring at me really hard, like she has some kind of problem with me. She better not say something dumb-as-hell, or I'm going to seriously lose it.

WOON: You got prettier all of a sudden! I mean, you're still not as pretty as me. You're just not as ugly as you used to be. Good job!

What the fuck does that even mean? I...

Oh. Right. Dammit, she thinks I'm Nina. That's really rude!

NINO: Woon, this is serious. We have to talk to the queen again!

WOON: Twice in one day, huh? Did you kill all those nasty Fairies? Wait... Why did you bring HER with you?

NINO: Who, Tiger Lily?

WOON: Yeah! What are you doing here, Princess? Thought you didn't like to get wet! What's a matter, catfish got your tongue?

Tiger Lily eyes Woon warily, but does not speak. I hadn't really thought about it before, but it's clear that she doesn't want to have anything to do with the Mermaids. I wonder if this has anything to do with the "Happy Hunting Ground" thing I heard the Chief mention earlier?

WOON: Ha! Indians really are stupid! Whatever. I guess I can't stop you from coming along. Can't guarantee the Queen will let you leave, though.

The other Mermaids just laugh, and dive off of the rocks they were sitting on. You know what? I really, really dislike Mermaids. I've just decided. They're really horrible.

WOON: Alright. Use your silly magic to get into the Wind Room. I'm sure Queen Eewee will come to see you when she feels like it.

I grab Rita and Tiger Lily.

NINO: Hair, take us to the Wind Room in the Mermaids' Castle!

Wow! This place is gorgeous! I've never seen so much mother of pearl in my life! But it's the entire wall! Wow... This is making me want to design a whole outfit around this castle. It really is a shame that such horrible things as Mermaids live here! This would be such a nice place to live! You know, if it weren't completely underwater.

Before I even have time to ask Nino about the Queen, a Mermaid with the most elaborate hairstyle I've ever seen rises from the water, seating herself delicately on a large slab of rock across from us. She's completely decked in jewelry and stuff. It would be gorgeous, if she didn't look like she just smelled something bad. She just looks really unpleasant. And from what I know about Mermaids so far? I'm really not expecting anything better.

QUEEN EEWEE: Woon was right! You did get less ugly, less-ugly-but-still-not-beautiful human! Well done! And I'm glad to see that your hair is still as pretty as ever, other human. But look who you brought with you this time! Never got to meet you face-to-face before, Princess. How fortunate you are, to finally get to meet me in person! You're just as stupid-looking as I suspected, though. I knew you were insufferable. But I'm glad to see you're really plain, too!

Tiger Lily just looks down, grinding her teeth together in frustration.

QUEEN EEWEE: Well, I don't know why you dragged this into my palace, but I guess it's slightly better than the mangy animal you brought last time. I trust you bring good news about the Fairies? Are they all dead yet?

And now she's trash talking Br'er Rabbit? Oh, no. Oh, HELL no. If we weren't trying to negotiate peace, I'd give this problematic bitch a piece of my mind.

NINO: Huh? No! We never said we were going to kill them.

QUEEN EEWEE: What? Yes you did. You said, "Yes, Your Majesty, the most beautiful and intelligent creature in the world! We will crush the Fairies one by one, and we will do it in your most wonderful name!" I heard you with my own ears. Or are you accusing me of lying?

NINO: Look, we're just here to negotiate peace. Remember? We're professional problem solvers.

>>578777
Come on, gotta think of a joke. Gotta get her to laugh... I reach into my bag, and pull out... A banana peel? Hmmm...

I drop the banana peel kinda sneakily on the ground near my feet, and kinda move like I'm gonna say something super-dramatic.

NINO: I mean, when you really think about it, the issue is....

And... the banana-assisted prat-fall, with a combo-slip into the water!

NINO: ...Really just a lack of communication, and... WAAAAAH!

Nino slipped on his own banana peel, and slid right off of the rock and into the water! He... He meant to do that, didn't he?

Well, the Queen sure thought it was funny.

QUEEN EEEWEE: Stupid human! The rock is slippery! And the fruit is slippery, too! Humans are so stupid, with the feet, and the big, dumb... Hahahahaha! You're all wet, now!

I climb back onto the rock. Man, this can't be good for my outfit. I need to let it dry or something... Wait, where's my hat? Aww man, I think I lost it a while ago... I guess I just didn't notice it.

No! Focus, Nino! Worry about your outfit later, dude!

Wait... why is the Queen looking at Tiger Lily like that all of a sudden? She's smiling, clearly still in a great mood from Nino's little stage dive.

QUEEN EEWEE: What is that in your hand, Princess? Something shiny? Is it a gift for me?

Oh, no! She can see Queen Clarion's golden glow from between Tiger Lily's fingers.

QUEEN EEWEE: Don't keep me waiting! Give it to me, Princess!

Sheepishly, Tiger Lily opens her hands, and reveals Queen Clarion sitting on her palms.

QUEEN EEWEE: Oh, how delicious! What a lovely little toy you've brought me! I shall keep her as a pet... She can't exactly leave this room without getting her wings wet!

RITA: What do you mean?

Tiger Lily whispers quietly, without taking her eyes off of Queen Eewee.

TIGER LILY: Fairies no swim. Fairy wings hold-em water, get-em heavy, drown-em Fairies.

Queen Clarion pulls herself into a standing position, looking regal and brave on Tiger Lily's hands.

The two Queens eye each other, neither one blinking.

Nino's joke put Queen Eewee in a good mood, but she still sounds really nasty. Maybe I made a big mistake in bringing Tiger Lily and Queen Clarion down here. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea...

But we have to negotiate peace somehow. The question is: how?

Ok, here is a general plan for what to say:
Rita:To start off with, say to Queen Eewee that we remember how she said that the faeries never visit, and as she pointed out wings don't work underwater, so our we have shown her two impossible things. As mere humans {Nino: who are only occasionally royalty}, we are sure that a mermaid queen can do a third and even greater impossible thing that we cannot: to have cooperation between the mermaids and faeries. Even humans can fight and bicker (Nino: "no we can't" followed by Rita: "yes we can" back and forwards ending in a duck-season-rabbit-season switch).
Nino:...What were we saying again? (At this point you can gauge how convinced Queen Eewee is by how she responds.)

If Queen Eewee is still unconviced, further points to potentially bring up include:
- The mermaids have the entire ocean compared to one small island, so they don't need to fight the faeries.
- If they start drowning people, there will be less people left to be superior to.
- The pirates are always trying to attack their enemies and look how undignified they look doing it.

Nino & Rita 2014/06/19(Thu)19:31 No. 579476 ID: a32d59
File 140323151578.png - (240.97KB , 712x512 , DisneyQuest242.png )

>>579182
RITA: Your Majesty, we didn't bring Queen Clarion here as a gift! Think about it. You said that Fairies never come to visit, right?

QUEEN EEWEE: Of course they don't, stupid human girl. Fairies can't swim!

RITA: Exactly! And it's also true that a Fairy can't be underwater, because of their wings.

QUEEN EEWEE: And what exactly is your point?

RITA: Look! Queen Clarion has come to visit you! And, she's underwater, because she's in this castle, and the entire castle is underwater.

QUEEN EEWEE: So?

RITA: Those are two impossible things! We have shown you two things that shouldn't be possible. And do you know what else is impossible?

QUEEN EEWEE: For any living creature to be more beautiful and intelligent than myself?

RITA: ....Other than that?

QUEEN EEWEE: Don't waste my time with stupid guessing games! What are you playing at?

RITA: It's impossible for Fairies and Mermaids to ever cooperate, and have peace.

QUEEN EEWEE: Precisely! Perhaps you aren't as stupid as you look, after all.

RITA: But, you see, we've already shown you two impossible things, and we are mere humans!

NINO: Right! We're not even royalty, like you are, Your Highness! Except, I did dress up as a princess earlier, and that actually was pretty fun. But that's not the same thing as being some sort of big fancy awesome-sauce queen lady, right?

QUEEN EEWEE: You are correct. The two of you are inferior to myself in every way imaginable.

RITA: ...Exactly right, Your Majesty! And so, if puny beings like us can do two impossible things by bringing the Queen of the Fairies to see you in your underwater palace, then we are absolutely sure that a wonderful creature like you can do one single, tiny, insignificant impossible thing, like burying the hatchet and making a peace agreement with the Fairies.

NINO: Whoa, Rita! I'm not so sure about that! It IS kind of a big deal! I don't think I could really believe that even someone like Queen Eewee could do something so hard! Even she couldn't do it!

RITA: Oh, yes, she could!

NINO: Oh, no, she couldn't!

RITA: Yes, she could, Nino!

NINO: No, she couldn't, Rita!

RITA: Could, too!

NINO: Could not!

RITA: Could, too!

NINO: Could not!

RITA: Could, too!

NINO: Could not! Wait... what were we talking about again?

QUEEN EEWEE: You were having a stupid childish argument as to whether or not I am wonderful and magnificent enough to do an impossible thing.

NINO: Oh, right! Well... are you?

QUEEN EEWEE: Well... I am! I most certainly am! I am the most wonderful and magnificent thing there is! But... But I just don't feel like it. That's all. I don't want to make peace with the Fairies, and no one can make me.

RITA: We aren't trying to make you do anything you don't want to do, Your Majesty. We just don't think you actually want to go to war with the Fairies.

QUEEN EEWEE: I don't?

RITA: No! I mean, look how beautiful your castle is! And think of how huge your kingdom is! Why, I'll bet you rule the entire ocean, don't you?

QUEEN EEWEE: I... Of course I do!

RITA: Well, the Fairies only have a very small, pathetic kingdom, bless their hearts! Don't you almost feel sad for them?

QUEEN EEWEE: No, no I don't. I think they're gross.

NINO: Exactly! And you know what? That's a good thing! You should want to have more gross people around!

QUEEN EEWEE: What? Why?

NINO: Well, like... It's really, really obvious that the Fairies aren't anywhere near as cool as you and your Mermaids! And you know what that means? More people for you to feel superior to! Like... if you see the most gorgeous seashell on a beach, and you think, wow, hey, this is really pretty! But... you still kind of ignore it? Because...

RITA: Because you have no frame of reference! But if you put that seashell next to a really ugly rock, then the seashell looks even better! It isn't just a gorgeous shell anymore. It's a gorgeous shell that's even more gorgeous than the measly rock!

NINO: Yeah! The more people enter a contest, the better first place looks!

QUEEN EEWEE: Hmmm... So you're saying... I will look even more beautiful if I keep the ugly Fairies around... Because I'll have more competition to completely outshine?

RITA: Exactly!

QUEEN EEWEE: That does sound very tempting. But what's done is done. I've already made up my mind, and I won't change it just for that reason!

RITA: Well, you see.... that's not the only reason.

QUEEN EEWEE: It isn't?

NINO: Nope! Queen Eewee, who on Neverland always attacks their enemies?

QUEEN EEWEE: Just those horrible Pirates.

RITA: Are the Pirates beautiful? Are they glamorous? Are they regal and dignified?

QUEEN EEWEE: Ewww! They aren't any of those things! They're ugly and stupid and gross and smelly and mean and I hate them! They're even worse than the Fairies. At least the Fairies aren't also big and loud and scary and push stupid boats all over my beautiful kingdom!

RITA: Exactly! If you attack the Fairies, people might start saying, "Look, it's the Mermaids! They attack their enemies just the same way that the Pirates do!"

QUEEN EEWEE: Blasphemy! Treason! How dare you say such thing?

RITA: Oh, I'm not saying them. But people might! Tiger Lily, what do your people think of the Mermaids?

TIGER LILY: Oh, Indians heap apathetic. Mermaids heap beautiful, but Indians no like-em water. Stay heap far away!

RITA: And what do you think your people would think of the Mermaids if they attacked Pixie Hollow?

TIGER LILY: If Mermaids attack-em Pixie Hollow, Mermaids ugly like Pirates! Mermaids vicious and cruel and heap petty! Mermaids heap dishonorable.

RITA: You see? All of your dignity, and all of the respect that all of Neverland has for you, all of the evidence that yours is the best kingdom in the entire world? It will all crumble to dust if you act out of anger, here. You must be the bigger person, Queen Eewee. You must be the noble, gracious Queen that all of Neverland knows you to be.

QUEEN EEWEE: I am! I am noble, and gracious, and beautiful, and perfect! And that's why I had decided not to attack Pixie Hollow before you even came here! You simply reminded me of why it was such a good idea in the first place.

Queen Clarion relaxes a bit and rings softly.

QUEEN EEWEE: I appreciate the gesture, Queen Clarion, of you coming to my palace to grovel. Of course, I shall grant your boon. Let there be peace between our people for the rest of eternity!

The Mermaid Queen extends her hand. Steadily, nervously, Queen Clarion flutters away from Tiger Lily, and places her tiny hand between Queen Eewee's fingers. Queen Eewee delicately shakes the Fairy’s hand, with surprising gentleness, so as not to injure the other queen.

Whoa... what's happening? My mind fills with images of the story of this world. The dark film seems to peel away, purged in a glowing light. Suddenly, the images go dark, and I can hear the sound of an immense, metallic door swinging closed.

The sound! Yes! We did it we did it we did it!

I just wish Nina could have been here to see this. We did it for her. Her death wasn't in vain. We saved the world. Rita and I make a damn good team. It's what Nina would have wanted. I just....

I just don't know what to do, now. Like... saving this world was literally the only thing I felt like I could actually work up the strength to do. I feel drained. It's late. I'm tired. It's been the longest day of my life. I want to curl up in my own bed at home and sleep for a year.

What do we do now, voices? You've always been there for us, since before I started this adventure. Where do we go from here?

Now? We go...Hrm.
We don't particularly have a place to stay and sleep, do we?
Part of me wants to say that here in Neverland wouldn't be a bad place to spend the night...

>>579492
Staying here would be for the night would probably work. I think we will want to talk to Micky, but after getting some rest.

1/3 Nino & Rita 2014/06/25(Wed)06:58 No. 581012 ID: a32d59
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NINO: Okay! Looks like it's time for us to go!

QUEEN EEWEE: Yes. It's exhausting having visitors twice in one day. Now, leave.

We all huddle together, and Nino uses his hair to teleport us out of the castle.

NINO: Hair, take us to the Indian Camp!

Just as the Chief had said, the party is still going strong, several hours later. Queen Clarion makes a deep curtsy, and makes a soft, deep ringing sound.

TIGER LILY: Queen Clarion say, "Thank-em strangers for peace. No could do without help."

NINO: No problem, Your Highness!

In a flash of gold, the Queen erupts into shimmering, golden dust, and blows on a sudden breeze toward Pixie Hollow.

TIGER LILY: You heap clever. Queen Eewee heap stupid and rude. You know-em just how manipulate her. Heap good job.

RITA: It was no trouble at all! I'm just glad we managed to get her to agree to peace, bless her heart. I think our work here is done.

NINO: Wow, you're been really nice about that psycho, Rita.

RITA: Nah. "Bless her heart" is just my way of saying "She can eat shit and die."

NINO: Oh. Makes sense.

RITA: No, it really doesn't.

TIGER LILY: So... You leave-em Neverland now?

>>579492

NINO: Well, we should probably just stay the night.

RITA: Really? Don't we have worlds to save or something?

NINO: Yeah, but even legendary heroes need to sleep. Sometimes we gotta stay over night. It's hella late. Would you really want to barge into some other world at this hour? I mean, no one would probably even be awake! And then it would just get kinda awkward...

RITA: Oh. I guess you're right.

TIGER LILY: You stay-em with Tiger Lily! Tiger Lily daughter of Chief. Live in heap big tipi. More than enough room for Father and Tiger Lily. Father think you heap wonderful! Love-em have you stay overnight! Eat-em heap pemmican for breakfast. Have heap leftovers!

NINO: Thanks, Tiger Lily! That's super nice of you!

The princess walks through the throngs of revelers, and they part as she approaches. She eventually finds her father, and he nods enthusiastically. She comes back over to us.

TIGER LILY: Come! Look-em heap tired.

She leads us to a huge tipi, and follows us inside. It is surprisingly spacious inside, and there are two large, hide mats on the ground. Tiger Lily pulls out two additional mats from a massive basket on the far side of the tipi, and lays them down near the basket.

TIGER LILY: Good night! Tiger Lily return-em to party. Rita and Nino, get-em rest.

She smiles at us, and then leaves us alone.

NINO: So? How does it feel to be a big damn hero?

RITA: Well... pretty good, I guess. Not as different as I thought. I mean... I don't really know. Today was rough.

NINO: ...Yeah.

RITA: I'm sorry. I... We should just sleep. We'll talk in the morning, okay?

NINO: Sounds good. I... I just need to sleep right now.

RITA: Good night, Nino.

NINO: Good night, Rita.

Maybe it's a stupid thing to think about, with all that's happened, but... I wish I could plait my hair, and I wish I had my satin night cap. I have a real bad feeling I'm just not gonna be able to take care of my hair at all during this journey. Ugh, it's going to be so stupid-looking tomorrow! Maybe I should just change my hairstyle... But I've taken such good care of my afro for so long! This sucks. I don't even have a pick.

Oh, well. I have bigger things to worry about, now. Good night, voices.

I can't sleep. Last night, I was sleeping on Buck Cluck's futon, next to Nina. Since then, we've gotten a new team member, saved three worlds...

And Nina died.

Rita's super-clever, though, and I trust her. We've gotta finish this adventure together. I can't give up, or just curl up and cry. I have to be strong. I have to be tough. I have to... I just have to keep it together!

I'll.... I'll try to get some sleep.

I awake with the sun streaming through the flap of the tipi. Nino, Tiger Lily, and the Chief are all sleeping around me. I really wish I had my dream journal with me, though. I had kinda weird dreams all night!

It's weird to think that, just yesterday, I was worried about exams. Now, I'm in the middle of some sort of adventure. I'm not sure yet whether or not I'm some kind of Campbellian archetype just yet, but it's a really surreal feeling.

After a little while of laying on my mat, thinking all of this over, I look over and find that Tiger Lily's awake, too.

TIGER LILY: Haau, Rita!

RITA: Good morning, Tiger Lily. Your dad and Nino are still asleep...

TIGER LILY: Yes. Father heap heavy sleeper. Always sleep-em until after breakfast.

RITA: Looks like Nino's kind of a heavy sleeper, too.

TIGER LILY: You want-em breakfast?

Suddenly, like something from some kind of cartoon, Nino sits bolt-upright and wobbles slightly.

NINO: Did someone say "breakfast?"

Tiger Lily hands us each a small pouch full of pemmican, just like last night. This stuff really is pretty good.

>>579693

RITA: Alright. We should probably go talk to Mickey, now. I mean... We should probably tell him... Or, at least, talk to him about... you know.

NINO: Yeah. I guess... We probably should do that.

TIGER LILY: Goodbye, friends.

RITA: Goodbye, Tiger Lily.

NINO: ‘Bye.

I take Nino’s hand. He’s shaking. He really doesn’t sound like he wants to talk to Mickey at all. I guess that would make it too real. Still, we have to do what we have to do.

2/3 Nino & Rita 2014/06/25(Wed)06:58 No. 581013 ID: a32d59
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NINO: Hair, take us to Mickey’s house.

We’re suddenly standing in the middle of Mickey Mouse’s living room. It’s a lot warmer than last time we were here, and the ice is off of the closet door. Clearly, the people who were here yesterday found something better to do with their time.

MICKEY: Just the two adventurers I wanted to see! I was actually about to summon you. See, we have some really, really important stuff to talk about.

RITA: Yeah, we do. Mickey, Nina...

MICKEY: I know.

NINO: Wait... You know?

MICKEY: Of course. We’re monitoring your progress, remember?

NINO: You know.... But you’re so... casual about it? No, “Gee, I sure am sorry your friend died,” or “How are you doing, Nino?” Just... “I know?”

MICKEY: Look, it’s complicated.

NINO: Complicated? What do you mean “complicated?” You send us all on this batshit insane quest to clean up all these worlds, and when one of us dies, you just say it’s “complicated?”

MICKEY: Listen, Nino. I know you’re upset. And you should be. You went through something really, really difficult. But it’s not exactly what you think...

NINO: What.... What are you talking about?

MICKEY: Things in the multiverse are... fuzzy. And my friends and I have a good deal of power over what happens here. Even with all the worlds under attack, we have a good deal of power. We’re not really miracle workers, you see. And there are some things that just... well...

NINO: Come on! Tell me!

MICKEY: There’s a fail-safe. It’s been in place since the beginning.

RITA: Fail-safe?

MICKEY: Yes. We knew how dangerous this quest would be. We knew you could... get hurt. Really badly. And we didn’t tell you about the fail-safe, because, as I’ve already said, we’re not miracle workers. Take Nina’s eye, for example. There was nothing we could do. And, if you knew about the fail-safe, you might get... irresponsible.

NINO: Just what are you saying?

MICKEY: Don’t get your hopes up, okay? The corruption.... Well, some things will never, ever be the same, no matter how it looks. But... you know, why don’t you see for yourself?

3/3 Nino & Rita 2014/06/25(Wed)06:59 No. 581014 ID: a32d59
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Fail-safe? What the fuck does that mean? My head’s spinning, my heart’s racing, there’s no way he means what it sounds like he means...

He points toward the kitchen, and I run in there. I... I don’t know what to say.

This can’t be possible, can it?

Sitting around the table, eating breakfast, is Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, some sort of cow-person I’ve never seen.... and Nina.

>Nina's not dead
!!!!!

She really is the Doctor, folks. Dies saving the world, only to regenerate in time for breakfast.

[to Nina]
You have no idea how happy we are to see you again. And for what's it worth, no, you never failed. We might have failed you there for a bit, though.

[to Nino]
> I... I don’t know what to say.
I would think whoops of joys, generally flipping out, and hugs would be appropriate.

[to Rita]
>This can’t be possible, can it?
Seems it is, somehow. I guess the story isn't done with her, yet.


>boring practical concerns
Wait, did we grab Nina's stuff? Did it respawn here with her? Or did we leave it behind or bury it with her... um. Wait. Did we even do anything with the body?

>>581018
Her body disappeared near instantly.

Try not to celebrate yet- something's off. Mickey said some things would never be the same. That could include her not remembering you, having a different personality, or being some kind of alternate universe Nina- meaning all of the above.

hello Nina? Can you hear us? We're...Well, we're REALLY sorry about what happened in NeverLand, but it's nice to see that you're alright...
And well...Sorry. For always taking the brunt of our mistakes.
Your eye, your leg, your death...You've paid the price when we've messed up. It's something we regret has happened. With any luck, this will be the last time we fail you.

Alright! I had my suspicions, but I didn't want to get people's hopes up if it wasn't the case. (Also, metanarratively speaking counting on immortality is the surest way to lose it.)
Sorry about the getting shot thing, that was very careless planning on multiple levels.

...So does the failsafe cover death but not injury, or is the difference that the previous injury was directly caused by corrupted material?

>>581014
Nina, you're alive!
[Joyous sobbing]

1/3 Nina, Nino, & Rita 2014/07/01(Tue)18:22 No. 582359 ID: a32d59
File 140426415980.png - (141.67KB , 712x512 , DisneyQuest246.png )

You... You're back! I was wondering where you had gone. Last night was sort of a blur... But I missed you. Is it strange, that I'm happy to have voices in my head again? It was strangely... quiet, without you.

>>581030
And it seems like you are happy to be back, as well! That certainly is some comfort!

>>581020
I most certainly can hear you again! I certainly am glad to hear that you do not believe that I failed you. I actually was rather worried about that. Don't worry. We can get better at this together.

>>581018
The Doctor... I suppose you're right! I suppose I just keep getting more and more like him by the day...

My equipment is all currently in Mickey's bedroom. He let me borrow it for the night. Everything's there, except for my clothes. There was blood everywhere. All over my clothes, my hair... I'm sure there's some on my backpack as well, but I don't think it was enough to ruin it.

When I woke up yesterday, Mickey and Minnie wrapped a blanket around me, and told me I was alright. They let me take a shower, and Daisy came over to give me a haircut. The blood was matted into my hair, and it had to come off. I... I actually miss it. My head feels so light... I'd been growing my hair out for years!

This morning, I met Clarabelle Cow. She brought me some clothes to wear, as she is much closer to my size than Minnie and Daisy are. I actually rather like this outfit. Still, it's a shame that I had to throw out the old one.

Hmmm... "the story isn't done with her yet." What an interesting way to phrase that. You mean our story? Or something else? Either way, I'm glad to see her again. Though I don't think I'm as glad as Nino is!

It's her... It's really her...

I don't think I've ever been this speechless! But... you're right! That's the only thing there is for me to do!

As if someone flipped a switch, Nino's tear-streaked face contorts into a huge, genuine smile. He gives a hearty, healthy laugh, and turns a triple-cartwheel, right there in the kitchen! I'm honestly surprised he wasn't acting like this right from the jump, but I guess this was a little too emotional for even Nino!

He throws himself unceremoniously in Nina's lap, and gives her a huge hug. Nina's hard to read, though. She looks happy to see him, but also kinda uncomfortable.

NINA: Nino....

NINO: Oh! Personal space. Sorry. Hehehe... I just really missed you. I thought I was never gonna see you again!

NINA: I was fine...

Her hand goes to her chest, and I can see pain in her eyes.

RITA: Are you sure you're okay, Nina?

NINA: Yes... My chest just hurts a bit. I guess it's still tender where I was shot.

She's hiding something from us. I know she is. I don't really want to say anything, though. Don't know how everyone else in the room is going to react, especially Nino. Actually, except for him, everyone looks kinda worried. Well, except that cow. She's just staring at Nino with this weird look on her face. It's actually kinda creeping me out.

>>581019
See... that's what I'm worried about. She seems the same as before. But... Yeah, she's definitely not telling us everything.

>>581023
Hmm... actually, they never explained to me exactly how the fail-safe works, now that you mention it.

NINA: Minnie? What exactly is the fail-safe? You never told me.

MINNIE: No, I didn't! You weren't in any shape to talk about something so important last night! Besides, Mickey thought we should wait until you were all together again to explain it.

Mickey joins us in the kitchen, and simply nods at Minnie.

MINNIE: Clarabelle, do you mind stepping out for a minute? This is sort of official business...

The cow breaks her steady gaze at Nino, focusing on the mouse instead, her brow furrowing.

CLARABELLE: I'm surprised at you, Mickey! How many times do I have to go over this? I've been here longer than Donald, or Daisy, or Goofy! I have as much a right to know what's going on as any of them, if not more! This is my home, Mickey. Just because you're the boss doesn't mean you can just... throw me out when you feel like it!

MINNIE: Mickey... She has a point. Besides, we did ask her to come over this morning.

MICKEY: Yes, to bring an outfit for Nina.

MINNIE: Now, Mickey Mouse...

MICKEY: Okay, okay. You win, Minnie. Clarabelle, you can stay. But do not breathe a word of this. I don't want to see it in your gossip column, I don't want to hear Clara clucking about it, and I certainly don't want Horace spreading it all over the place. Nothing leaves this room. Understand?

CLARABELLE: You got it. Boss.

MICKEY: Alright. Essentially, the fail-safe is a measure that I put into place before your adventure began. It only applies to the three of you, as well as to the other two heroes that we're calling in. If the world can no longer detect your life signals, it is to immediately transport you to my location.

RITA: The worlds themselves can do that?

MICKEY: Yes. They may be corrupted, but they're still a part of the multiverse. Now, when this happens, the fatal wound is healed, using some of the same power that keeps the worlds alive in the first place.

RITA: And that power is...?

MICKEY: Classified. For the time being.

RITA: Why?

MICKEY: I'm not the one you need to ask about this. You'll learn when the time comes.

RITA: Ah. Hero's Journey type thing. Fair enough.

NINA: So... I'm alive because of Neverland itself?

MICKEY: Yes.

NINO: Wait... if the worlds can heal wounds, why didn't it cure me when my face got all melty, so Nina wouldn't have to?

MICKEY: It only applies to wounds that are actually fatal.

NINO: So... you're saying that... If Nina had just let me die... We'd both be alive, AND she'd still have her eye?

MICKEY: Well... Yes. That's one way of looking at it.

NINO: That's not fair! You should have told us! I...

MICKEY: No. You don't understand. That would have been very, very bad.

NINO: Doesn't sound bad to me!

MICKEY: The fail-safe is an emergency measure. It's less than ideal. If it wasn't for the fact that it's absolutely necessary to keep you all alive, I wouldn't have even put it into place.

NINA: But... why?

MINNIE: Nina, maybe you should... Come finish your breakfast. It's getting cold.

NINA: What about Nino and Rita? Shouldn't they have breakfast, as well?

RITA: No. We already ate breakfast in Neverland. You just... go enjoy your food. We'll fill you in on whatever you miss, okay?

2/3 Nina, Nino, & Rita 2014/07/01(Tue)18:24 No. 582360 ID: a32d59
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Nina looks at me like some sort of caged animal. Her eyes are cold as ice, and her mouth is a hard, stubborn line.

Whoa... I never saw Nina look like that before... What's happening? Is she okay?

NINA: What are the three of you planning?

NINO: Planning? Nina, we're just...

NINA: You're all going to talk about me behind my back. What is this?

MICKEY: Nina, calm down. We're just...

NINA: Did you have fun without me? You saved Neverland without me, so you're clearly perfectly capable. You're going to leave me here, right? And Mickey's going to send the two of you off with his blessing. Because I'm defective. Right?

RITA: Whoa! Just hold on a minute! Without you, we...

NINA: What?

NINO: I missed you! Who cares about saving the worlds anymore? NOTHING was the same without you! Nina... why are you acting like this? Why are you treating us like this?

Nina shakes her head, as if dislodging a particularly nasty mental image. She winces and touches a hand to her chest, looking at us like a wounded puppy.

NINA: Yes... Quite right. Sorry, I just... I don't feel so good this morning. I'm... I should go eat my breakfast. Just... promise me you'll tell me whatever it is Mickey has to say?

RITA: Of course, Nina. You just eat. You need your strength. You've been through... more than anyone else has, at least anyone alive.

NINA: I suppose you're right.

Nina returns to her seat, her legs shaking. Mickey leads Nino and I into the living room, and motions for us to have a seat on his sofa.

MICKEY: I think you saw for yourselves why I don't really like the fail-safe very much. See... it has to draw in life-force from the world around it...

RITA: ...But the world around it is corrupted, right?

MICKEY: Exactly. Whatever corruption was in that world, it's a part of Nina now. Even after you save the multiverse.... I can't really say for sure that she'll ever be the same again. So... tell me. What was Neverland like?

RITA: Everyone seemed... on edge. The corruption mainly affected the leaders of each faction.

MICKEY: That's what I thought. Paranoia, distrust, a desire to hold onto a position of leadership and relevance...

NINO: Wait! Are you saying Nina's crazy like Queen Eewee now?

MICKEY: No! Well... not exactly. Queen Eewee was never the most stable to begin with, from what I understand. Nina's still Nina. Just... a little different.

RITA: What should we do?

MICKEY: That's really up to you, and your assistants.

RITA: Assistants?

NINO: The head-voices, Rita!

RITA: You know about them?

MICKEY: They're a vital part of your quest. That's all I'm really allowed to say. Still, I would recommend being gentle with her. You need her and her abilities to succeed, and you won't want her getting too mad at you.

RITA: That's a good point. Though Nino and I are a pretty good team! I think we could handle ourselves, in the worst-case scenario. I mean, we thought Nina was gone forever, so...

NINO: Yeah, but I still wouldn't WANT to do it without Nina. She's still Nina, Rita! She's still my best friend in the whole world, or universe, or multiverse, or whatever!

MICKEY: That's right, Nino. No matter how paranoid she gets, no matter how power-crazed she seems... Nina IS still in there. Hold on to that thought. You might need it. Now... I shouldn't keep you any longer. She may start to worry that you're planning to mutiny, or something.

RITA: Oh, yeah. That's not terrifying at all.

Nino shoots me a pained expression, before heading to the kitchen. I know she's his best friend and all, but... Honestly, if she's going to act like one of the giant toddlers in charge of Neverland, she may actually be kind of a liability. I mean, it's not my place to say, and I know y'all really care about her, too. But... This sounds like it could actually be kinda dangerous, and I don't know how to handle it.

3/3 Nina, Nino, & Rita 2014/07/01(Tue)18:25 No. 582361 ID: a32d59
File 140426431346.png - (201.96KB , 712x512 , Disneyquest248.png )

I follow Nino into the kitchen. Simultaneously, as if they had planned it all out in advance, Nina and Clarabelle rise from the table completely in sync. Clarabelle walks over to Nino, and Nina herds me into the other side of the kitchen. Minnie and Daisy just eye all of us nervously, before simply walking out of the kitchen.

NINA: So... Rita. What all were you and Mickey discussing in the living room? Also, would you mind filling me in on what I missed in Neverland? I can't help but feel a little... out of the loop.

What should I say? I'm worried the wrong answer will just make her even angrier... But I don't know whether a lie or the truth is riskier!

This simply isn’t fair. I’m the leader. This was my adventure, before either of them showed up. I am the Doctor, and they are my companions. Right? They should tell me these things. I have a right to know...

You’re also my companions, right? You’ve always been there for me, and now you’re finally back where you belong! Help me make Rita tell me everything.

Or... You could just tell me. That might actually be easier, honestly. What were they talking about? Rita may lie to me... But I know that you never would. Actually, if you tell me whatever these two are keeping hidden from me... I might just tell you what I’m keeping hidden from them. They may be related. You really cannot afford to leave variables unaccounted for. Right?

Not if you actually plan on getting any better at this, at least.

While Nina and Rita have a conversation on the other side of the kitchen, I guess this Clarabelle lady really wants to talk to me!

CLARABELLE: Nino Johnson! Long time, no see! I mean, I knew that they were calling in heroes from your world, but I guess I just didn't put two and two together! I mean, of COURSE it's you! No one else from your world can DO the things you do! It's amazing. You always were... Did you miss me? I mean, it's been a little while since the multiverse got sealed off, and I haven't been down to Toontown in such a long time... Of course, I'm back together with Horace, at the moment, but who knows how long THAT will last? Hahaha! I'm sorry, where are my manners? I guess I've just rambled on and on, and I haven't let you get a word in edgewise! What have you been up to? Uhh... other than saving the multiverse, I mean!

Oh. Oh, no... What should I say? I mean, I remember Uncle Remus said that we couldn't remember anyone from the multiverse. I knew something like this would happen eventually... I've met so many Toons over the years! Of COURSE some of them are from here! I think we were friends... But I can't remember ever seeing her before in my life!

AND I wanna know what Rita and Nina are talking about, but I can't just be rude to Clarabelle! What should I say? She's so happy to see me... But I have no idea who the heck she is! This sucks.

Nina just asked Rita what we just discussed. I figure she should know since her streak of misfortune is probably gonna break sooner or later, hopefully with a flat end but we might not be so fortunate...Simply put, the Doctor never came back quite the same as before, right? It's the same deal here.
Or, to be more accurate...You are restored via the world's life force, but if the world is corrupted, that also gets in you, and changes you to it's affliction. Which means given enough failures...I'd like this to be the first, and last time this happens.
Now, Nina, in your case...Your 'corruption' thanks to us, and I can't say it doesn't fit...Is Mistrust. Paranoia. A desire to retain leadership and relevance. Being open with you should keep down the mistrust, and as for leadership and relevance...Leadership is practically yours due to your experience, and even if you don't get to lead the way, you'll be relevant for the same reason.
THAT SAID, I doubt it's going to make THAT much of a difference, it seems to even be something you can shake off with enough mental effort, and it's only a drop in a bucket-who you are at your core won't change so easily.

Hooo that was alot to say.
[Rita]
How to handle this...Well, maybe it's just me, but I think I can tell when the corruption starts up, and when Nina, is being Nina. And with any luck, given enough time, you'll be able to as well.
[Nino]
Hrrm. Maybe...Explain the multiverse thing Remus told you to Clara? I don't see any reason not to be honest with her about it.

Nina, the others don't want to anything from you; that was Mickey's decision. He might have some reason for his secrecy like the corruption getting stronger from people knowing more about it, but we aren't going to get anywhere if we can't be open with our own team.
Remember that world with Chicken Little, where the corruption made everyone easily angered? Because we messed up, you are more or less under a similar effect now due to being healed by a partially corrupted world. We have dealt with it before so I know that you can handle it, though it is still unfair that you have to.

We probably should be able to heal her corruption similarly to how we heal a world's corruption, right? I mean, I don't see how this is any different than that.

[to Rita]
You promised you'd be honest. And really, actually lying to her is just going to validate and foster her paranoia when she realizes it. Best thing to do is confront it head on, and try to provide enough trust to counter the effects. If she's aware of it, she can also try to resist.

Short term, she might deny it, or the corruption might make her react badly, but long term honesty is a better way to cope than trying to hide things from her and inevitably having them blow up in our faces.

Tell her the trust, and we'll confirm.

[to Nina]
>This was my adventure, before either of them showed up. I am the Doctor, and they are my companions. Right? They should tell me these things.
Tsk, tsk. Like the doctor never kept secrets. You're even fessing up to doing it right now!

...regeneration always came at a cost. The Doctor survived, but he was never exactly the same as he was before. That's what Micky was warning your friends about- the cost you paid. If they're nervous or unsettled, it's because they're worried about you, and the part of you that isn't the same as it was.

The Doctor had time-energy. Your regeneration? Fueled by world-energy. Specifically, the world you were in when you died. ...a world that was touched by corruption. Leaving you somewhat touched yourself, now. That's why you went off on them, before.

You're now left in the unfortunate position to have to watch your own reactions. To make yourself be the strong person who trusts her friends and does what's right, and doesn't let darkness or suspicion derail that. Rather... too much like the Doctor I'm afraid. You have a dark side, now. You have to trust others to be your humanity, when you can't always trust yourself.

>We probably should be able to heal her corruption similarly to how we heal a world's corruption, right? I mean, I don't see how this is any different than that.
This is a legitimate point. If corruption can be removed from a world, why can't it be cleansed from a person?

If Nina dies in a pure world, it will overwrite the corruption.

>>583713
Maybe. Or maybe the corruption will stay, and more power will just be poured in. I don't think it will actually fix anything. Maybe even make more problems.

Nina, Nino, & Rita 2014/07/16(Wed)18:59 No. 584395 ID: a32d59
File 140556234008.png - (139.08KB , 712x512 , DisneyQuest249.png )

>>582396
RITA: Look, Nina... I'm not your enemy, okay? We're on the same team. Which is why I'm not going to lie to you, no matter what Mickey wants. You've been corrupted. The darkness that was in Neverland--the paranoia, the lust for power--it's a part of you, now. And that's something you're going to have to deal with. Something we're all going to have to start dealing with.

>>582366
>>582368
...Thank you. All of you. This is an awful lot to take in. It would make sense, though. These intrusive thoughts... I keep thinking about Nino and Rita deserting me, or secretly hating me. It hurts.

And I probably should tell you. There's a mark where the bullet wound was. It looks corrupted. I suppose that this explains that, as well.

NINA: Thank you, Rita. I'm glad you told me the truth.

RITA: Of course! What are teammates for?

>>582393
That's a very good question.

>>583713
>>583718
It seems pretty risky to try something like that, since we have absolutely no idea how this works.

RITA: You know, Nina, I think we should go ask Mickey about this corruption. Maybe we can find some way to cure it?

NINA: That would make sense. Perhaps we should do that while Nino and Clarabelle are having their conversation.

RITA: I don't know. Shouldn't Nino be a part of this?

NINA: Well, I suppose we could wait for him, if the voices want us to.

RITA: Yeah. Let's just wait for their input.

>>582366
NINO: Clara? Look, I'm sorry, but...

CLARABELLE: Clara!? It's Clarabelle! Nino, are you feeling alright?

NINO: Yes! Sorry, Clarabelle. It's just... do you know what's going on with the multiverse?

CLARABELLE: No. Mickey won't tell me anything.

NINO: Well, apparently something happened to people's memories of the multiverse. Uncle Remus didn't explain that part very well, other than that whatever happened to my memory isn't the same as what happened to the memories of the people in the worlds we've been saving. But... I can't remember anyone from the multiverse that I've met before this adventure. I'm sorry, Clarabelle. But I can't remember you at all. I think it has something to do with whatever it is we're fighting. But I just don't know.

CLARABELLE: Oh. Well. This is... sort of awkward, then.

NINO: Sorry. I guess it is! I mean... have I known you for a long time?

CLARABELLE: Well... time passes differently here, but when we met, I think you said you were fifteen.

NINO: Oh! That was like six years ago! So we HAVE been friends for a while!

CLARABELLE: Yeah... You really don't remember anything about me? Anything at all?

NINO: I'm really, really sorry.

CLARABELLE: I mean, I guess it's not your fault. But I can't help but be a little upset! Mickey didn't tell my ANYTHING about that!

NINO: Were we close friends?

CLARABELLE: Well...

NINO: ...Oh.

CLARABELLE: Yes... I had just broken up with Horace, you see. But I wasn't really ready to get back together with Goofy yet, and... well, I guess you don't remember how that goes anymore.

NINO: No! Not really!

CLARABELLE: Well, it's complicated. But anyway, you were there, and you were such a good listener! It was a party, you know. But that was back when you were a lot younger! In fact, I think it was your first real Toontown party, and...

NINO: Wait. Was this at Roger and Jessica's house?

CLARABELLE: Huh? Oh! Yes, of course you would remember them. I almost forgot they're Toontown-native! Yes, it was.

NINO: Oh. Oh! Shit, I uhh... I don't really know what to say! I mean, I usually just kind of talk and let words come out anyway, but this is... I mean, you know. Because it's starting to sound like you were, well... Anyway, I'm sorry! I'm really, really sorry that I can't remember you! I mean, it's not my fault. I don't really know what happened, but I actually had been wondering why I couldn't remember that specific detail about my life!

CLARABELLE: Yeah, well. Now you know.

This might be the single most awkward conversation in my entire life! I mean, I don't have any reason NOT to believe that she was the first person I ever slept with! She's cute and all, but it sounds like we were actually friends, and I feel really, really, REALLY guilty that I can't remember anything about her at all! Like, seriously, what the fuck is wrong with me? This is weird, guys. Like, really weird! What am I even supposed to say to her?

>There's a mark where the bullet wound was. It looks corrupted. I suppose that this explains that, as well.
Well there we go. Almost keeping the same secret from each other.

>You know, Nina, I think we should go ask Mickey about this corruption. Maybe we can find some way to cure it?
While part of me thinks that helping people can't be any harder than it is to help cure entire realities, I wouldn't expect him to have easy answers. He wouldn't be acting the way he was if he thought this would be easily resolved.

Of course, he has tended to lay things on rather more heavily than was necessary in the past. His being gloomy or cautious isn't really out of the ordinary.

>Nino, what say
Okay, first check, is this actually some kind of freaky amnesia-thing and not you just being uncomfortable because you forgot someone in your past? A person you meant a lot more to than they meant to you? I mean, plain old cruel selective memory is a good deal more common than reality-hopping mind-wipes.

Assuming the amnesia angle: just roll with it. You remember feeling happy that you got Nina back? Well, you just got back a friend you didn't even know you lost. And she's apparently glad to see you, and she was there for another friend of yours when you couldn't be.

>I don't know. Shouldn't Nino be a part of this?
I think we should have everyone there at an important discussion like that. When we do talk to him, if he still won't tell us we might at least get him to say why we wont tell us.

Bumping this to keep it out of the graveyard. I'm certainly not ready to give up on it yet!

[Nina & Rita]: You might want to wait for Nino, I mean this conversation you are planning sounds very important. So wait for him a bit, I believe he should be joining you shorty.

[Nino]: This is so heavy stuff man, I think you should step back from this, a lot of things have happened in a short amount of time. You need to digest what you know now and keep moving, like it or not there are a lot more people who need you right now.

Girls just leave him, nino has other things to do right now.

Nina, Nino, & Rita 2015/01/08(Thu)11:54 No. 618891 ID: a32d59
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>>584430
>>599025
No way, Dude! I don't forget my friends like that. I mean, you know, not on purpose or anything! Besides, it sounds like we were super-close, and I know that something happened to my memories. Even Uncle Remus said so!

NINO: I'm really, really sorry, Clarabelle! You seem super-cool, and I'm really glad that you were there for Nina while Rita and I took care of Neverland. I can't remember you right now, though. It's not because I don't want to! It's some kinda weird crazy magic shit, you know?

CLARABELLE: ...I guess?

NINO: What I'm trying to say is, I wanna get to know you all over again! And maybe I'll even be able to remember you after we're done saving the mutliverse. But for right now, I'm actually super-busy. Plus, it looks like Nina and Rita need me right now. They're kinda looking at us.

CLARABELLE: I understand. I'll let you get back to whatever you're doing for the big mouse in charge. Well, if you're ever in the neighborhood, look me up.

She gives me a small wave and heads out of the kitchen, and I hear the front door open and close. I guess she's gone. Welp. That was certainly a thing that just happened!

>>584574
Perfect timing! It looks like Nino's done talking to Clarabelle. That felt like it took a long time. I don't think it actually did, though. I don't think more than a minute's passed. But something isn't quite right. I don't know if the others noticed it, but time seems a little off, for some reason. Oh, well. I don't think it's anything too important.

NINA: What was that all about?

NINO: Oh! Hehehe, nothing! It wasn't about anything. Why would it even be about anything?

He looks a bit troubled, but I don't think he wants to talk about it.

NINA: Really?

NINO: Yeah. Just, you know... personal things? Like... the kind of thing you wouldn't actually want me to tell you about, even if I did want to talk about it, and I kinda don't, because I've lost a crap ton of my memories apparently and it's super-uncomfortable?

NINA: ...Oh.

Nina turns redder than a tomato. I definitely feel like I'm missing something here, but I don't really have time to ask. Besides, we've kinda got bigger fish to fry.

RITA: Alright. So, now that we've got our whole party together again, let's go ask Mickey about the corruption.

NINA: An excellent idea, Rita.

I don't know what the girls were talking about, but it must have worked! It looks like they're getting along and stuff! Yay!

When we return to the living room, Mickey's sitting on the sofa, along with Minnie and Daisy. A boy I've never seen before with messy, black hair is slouching in a recliner with his legs over one arm, playing with his phone. The mice and duck look at us, then at the boy, then back again. Something weird is definitely going on, but I'm really not sure what.

MICKEY: So, I guess you're off to save another world, right?

NINA: Actually, Mickey, there was something we wanted to ask you first.

MICKEY: ...Okay.

NINA: The assistants were wondering if there was any way to cure my corruption.

RITA: I know they proposed specifically the idea that, if Nina dies in a pure world, the purity would override the corruption.

NINO: Which totally make sense! Good triumphs over evil, right?

RITA: Exactly, Nino!

MICKEY: Well... It makes sense in theory. But it won't work.

NINA: Why not?

MICKEY: For the same reason that we can't allow passage between worlds in the multiverse until everything's been purified! There's a possibility of recontamination.

NINO: Whoa, whoa, back up! Does that mean that if Nina dies in a world that we've already fixed, it could mess it up all over again!?

MICKEY: I never said that.

MINNIE: I think Mickey just doesn't want to take that chance.

DAISY: Besides, Nina's already been through enough dying once. Would you really want her to have to go through it again?

Nina's eyes widen, and her hand moves to her chest.

NINA: If it would fix me, then wouldn't it be worth it?

MICKEY: But it won't, Nina.

Suddenly, the boy looks up from his phone, as if concerned about the topic of conversation.

???: What's even happening?

MINNIE: We're just discussing the corruption of the multiverse with three of our chosen heroes. Remember, Hiro? We told you about them.

The boy just nods and goes back to playing with his phone.

NINA: Is he another refugee, like the queen and princess who were here last time?

MICKEY: Yes.

The boy, Hiro, gives a little half-wave, but doesn't seem terribly interested in any of this.

RITA: And you told him all about us, in just the minute or two that we were all in the kitchen?

Mickey looks a little cagey, if you ask me. This is weird.

MICKEY: We did. Now, please. Go and purify the next world. There are still so many left to go, and time is of the essence.

Alright, then. I suppose we really should do as the mouse says. Besides, the sooner we finish saving the multiverse, the sooner we can take care of the refugees, and return home ourselves.

Wooo, adventure time! Anything we should take care of before we move on?

Something here is really bothering me, but I'm not sure how important it is. We could just keep moving forward, I guess. Maybe it'll be relevant later.

Hrm. Not sure what Rita's sensing here...
But if I had to guess? That kid- his name is Hiro, and he's probably the source, as in, like Anna and Elsa from earlier... But then again, he tends toward being proactive I think, so I dunno for sure...

The time will come when we can help the guy, for now you need to keep moving.
Rita: you are probably feeling the every expanding story, I'm guessing not everything is as Mickey tells it. Leave it for the moment, I don't think there is much that can be done right now.

Before we go, maybe we can ask Micky if he can tell us why he needs to keep some things secret?

Nina, Nino, & Rita 2015/01/09(Fri)03:20 No. 619031 ID: a32d59
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>>618896
Hmm.... No, I really don't think it's coming from him. At least, it doesn't seem to be. Whatever it is, I think it's on a bigger scale. Not sure what that means, though.

Whoa, is she sensing stuff? Her powers are super-cool! She's like some kinda magic psychic person or something!

What exactly are you talking about?

>>618909
Yeah, that sounds plausible. Oh well, I reckon it's not that big of a deal. Besides, if there's nothing we can do about it, then there's no sense in wasting an awful lot of worry over nothing.

>>618948
NINA: I still don't quite understand why exactly you need to keep so many things secret from us, Mickey.

Mickey looks mildly uncomfortable, as if he's debating with himself internally.

MICKEY: For one thing, we don't know exactly how any of this is happening. You'll get better information from other sources.

NINO: Other sources? But I thought you were the big cheese around here!

DAISY: He is. But it's complicated.

MICKEY: Don't worry. The Storyteller will call you again when he has more to say.

Oh, wow! Rita looks super-excited. I guess he's kind of a big deal to her, huh?

This is so frustrating! I suppose that he just doesn't want to tell us. Still, I'm sure we'll find out everything we need to eventually.

NINA: Well, if that's the case, then it doesn't seem as though we have anything to gain from staying here.

Nina heads upstairs and returns with her backpack, broomstick, and rifle on her back. The two mice and the duck wave bid us goodbye as we all take each other's hands, and Nina uses her magic ring.

We seem to be in a small room, with five doors against one wall. Over each door is a screen: two blank, and the other three each bearing one of our faces. A familiar voice comes from the speaker in the ceiling.

MINNIE: This is a pre-recorded message. This world requires that you change your shape. Our automated system will allow for the most pleasant possible transformation experience. If each of you would report to your designated changing room, we'll get the process started.

NINO: Oh boy! I can't wait to see what kinda super-cool things we get to be this time! I hope I can be a monkey again!

And just like that, the doors slide open, and Nino dashes into the one under his own image.

RITA: What on earth?

NINA: Don't worry, you'll get used to it. This is the third time I've been here. Just follow the instructions on your terminal, and you'll be fine.

And now Nina's gone, too. Oh, well. When in Rome, I guess! I head into my own room.

Inside, there's a computer terminal against one wall, and a closet with empty hangars, and a small chest with a sign on it that says "Jewelry and other miscellany." A small sign says, "Rita, please keep your handkerchief on your neck. Deposit all other items, and they will quickly be returned to you upon your return to your human form. Thanks!"

So... it looks like we really will be shape-shifting after all! Neat!

I take off my clothes and leave them in the closet, putting my earrings in the tiny chest. Suddenly, the terminal springs to life and, another pre-recorded message starts.

DAISY: Hello, Rita. This message has been pre-recorded. After depositing your items, please select one of the following forms.

The screen displays two images: a mouse and a bluebird. This is going to be pretty interesting. I'd be lying if I said I weren't a little nervous about it, but I guess I've just gotta roll with whatever happens.

Oh, no. I see the clothes closet is back. I suppose there's no keeping my items this time, is there? There's the same little sign as before, instructing me to keep my ring. The terminal switches on, and the same messages plays that played in the world with the Windigos. I place my rifle and broomstick on their respective racks, and my clothes in the closet. This time, there are only two choices on the terminal. It looks like... a bird and a mouse? The question is, which one should I choose?

Whoa, there's a closet this time! The computer thingy turns on again, and Daisy's voice comes out.

DAISY: Hello, Nino. This message has been pre-recorded. After depositing your items, please select one of the following forms.

Depositing my items? Wait, does that include my bag? Oh, no! What'll I do without my props? Oh, well. I leave my clothes in the closet, but I leave my ponytail holder in, since the sign says "Nino, please keep your hair in a ponytail. Deposit all other items, and they will quickly be returned to you upon your return to your human form. Thanks!" That's pretty good! I like my ponytail!

When I go over to the screen, though, there are just two big buttons instead of a keyboard. It looks like I only get to choose between a mouse and a bird. Oooh, those are both pretty neat choices! Uhhh.... I don't know which one I should pick!

Nino you should choose mouse, Rita and Nina you two should be birds.

>What exactly are you talking about?
Rita noticed things don't seem to quite sync up when we're there. Mickey's apparent conversation in the other room seemed to wrap up too quick, and Nino's uncomfortable conversation seemed bigger on the inside (longer for him than for outside observers).

It could be some weird property of that universe (conversational relativity?) or something more deliberate (making sure you have enough time to talk before you're interrupted strikes me as very convenient for someone as secret prone as Mikey).

Our problem remains that we have too little information to draw conclusions, and Mikey and his cohorts are largely unwilling to enlighten us. It would be really helpful if we could find some other reliable source of multiversal knowledge in our travels.

>shapes
In case you're wondering, all three of you were given the same choice.

I'd guess we'd want at least one person in each shape, as they have different advantages.

Nina, I'd suggest your taking on wings. You've already got flight experience (if by another means), which should help.

Nino, you probably want to go mouse. You'd still have hands (sort of) which would facilitate your abilities better, even if you're limited to what you have on-site to work with rather than props.

Rita, I don't see as strong a bias for, although I suppose their is a storyteller archetype associated with birds. (Plus, two birds might be able to carry one mouse, if needed. One bird carrying two mice is less likely).

>mice and birds
...here's hoping you don't suddenly feel like eating each other on the other side.

>>619048
Supporting this choice of forms.

>For one thing, we don't know exactly how any of this is happening. You'll get better information from other sources.
So he won't tell us why he is keeping secrets; that is bad news (though on the positive side he seems to be evading rather than outright lying). I think that means that either the enemy gains some advantage from us knowing about it or that he thinks that if we knew too much about the plan at this point we would not go through with it. We don't currently have any viable options other than continuing as before though, since we can't just not save worlds.

Hrrm. Aside from him being stressed/painful options...How, exactly, is he locking these realms?

And yeah, Bird Rita&Nina, along with mouse Nino.

Nina, Nino, & Rita 2015/01/18(Sun)17:34 No. 620991 ID: a32d59
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>>619058
You're right. Best thing to do is just keep on going, and hope we figure out just what's going on around here soon enough.

>>619037
>>619048
>>619068
I press the button with the picture of the bird, and the pre-recorded voice plays again.

DAISY: You have selected BIRD. Is that correct?

So, I tap the green button.

DAISY: Remain still.

A beam of light comes out of the computer terminal and begins to scan my body and... whoa. I can feel myself shrinking down, little purple feathers bursting out of my skin. It doesn't hurt, but it feels so strange! My lips lengthening, hardening into a beak, my arms transfigured into wings. I give them a little flap, and find that I easily lift off from the ground.

DAISY: You are now a bird. Prepare to enter the next world.

The terminal slides out of the way to reveal a vast, dark portal. I guess it's not actually all that vast, though. I'm just really, really small! I flutter through it to the other side. Flying really isn't that hard. Maybe I got the instincts to go with my new body, too? I don't know, but I figure it kinda does make some sense.

I repeat the exact same procedure from the last two times that I've done this, turning into a little red bird. It's funny how something so extraordinary can become normal, after you've done it enough. It is strange to be so much smaller, though, even smaller than when I was a Fox! My ring has shifted to my ankle, where I can use it easily with the claw of the opposite foot. The control panel is still on the side of my head, though. I suppose it doesn't transform along with me, under any circumstances!

I fly through the portal.

Okay, okay, I remember exactly how this works! Hit the mouse button, hit the green button, turn into a mouse! Whoa! I'm super super super tiny! Everything in the room looks so big!

I dash through the big hole, and there are these two birds on the other side! I guess that's Rita and Nina!

So, it looks as though were all on a windowsill or something. On the one side, there's a long way down, looking over a bunch of trees and pretty little European-style homes. Maybe 18th century? Yeah, let's go with that. On the other side is a very small, simple room. At least, it looks like it'd be small for a human. To me, it looks pretty big. Anyway, this is definitely a classic fairy tale. Very structured, very archetypal. Hopefully that means that purifying this world is gonna be easy!

NINA: Peep, peep. Chirp-chirp peep?

NINO: Huh?

RITA: Chirp chirp chirp, peep. Cheep cheep chirp cheep peep.

NINO: What?

NINA: Peep, peep peep chirp?

NINO: Sorry-sorry, but... What?

RITA: Chirp?

NINO: Rop-a chirping, Ninanina! Rop-a chirping, Ritarita!

NINA: Chirp chirp peep, cheep.

RITA: Chirp chirp chirp, peep. Chirp chirp peep cheep cheep cheep!

WHY WON'T THEY TALK TO ME!? And why the heck is everything I'm trying to say coming out SUPER-wrong!?

This is ridiculous. Why is Nino talking like that, and why on earth is he so confused? Rita and I can understand each other just fine! It seems as though this world is going to be rather difficult...

Alright, so I can understand Nina, Nina can understand me, Nino can't understand either of us, and he's talking really weird. Can you understand what we're saying? I'm not actually sure if that's relevant or not, though, since you can actually hear our thoughts...

Haha, whoops. Apparently bird and mouse are different languages, here. Odd. In the wendigo world we had different kinds of animals talking fine.

Sorry, Nino. Didn't mean to leave you the odd one out. We can still hear you guys when you talk to us though, so we can relay messages around the language barrier.

Birds can talk to each other in bird, and mice appear to have a vocal handicap but can still get the point across to birds. If either of the girls want to give Nino a message they will have to do so through us.
Also Nino you are now a mouse and i'm willing to bet that humans aren't going to be found of you. You need to find other mice, so look around the room for a mouse hole. Also be on guard, i believe there is a cat in this house.

So birds can speak mouse but mice cannot speak bird, and speaking mouse sounds weird. Perhaps the language barrier thing will be part of some social allegory theme.
Anyway, lets start looking around. Is Rita picking up anything yet on her story senses?