CHAPTER 3 To the Beast's Castle

Amelia had run quite a long time and was already getting tired. She wasn't good for running. Also because the place was still quite new to her and she didn't have time to look around. She had so far run from the cave directly to Belle's village or at least a small version of it. Maybe she should have taken that map when it was still possible.

"Where's the castle?" Amelia asked.

"Don't you know this place?" Olivia asked.

"Today would have been my first time," Amelia said.

"Oh, great. We're gonna die. " Sebastian said in Amelia's pocket.

"Wait a minute, I know where we are," Dawson said when he landed on Amelia's shoulder. "If we go through there, we can make it." He said, pointing to the forest under the bridge. Amelia was not sure about the idea, but maybe it could work. They probably aren't smart enough to come and see from there. So Amelia climbed from a bridge to a nearby tree and landed down there. After getting to the ground, Amelia had to look around where she steps. Just one little voice could reveal them.

"I don't think we'll be followed anymore," Dawson said, looking up.

"I'll sigh with relief when we're at the castle," Sebastian said.

"They Can't get to the Beast's Castle?" Amelia asked when she started walking towards the castle.

"Fortunately, no. Ever since they arrived, something has prevented them from entering through the gates. That's why many have gone there for shelter." Dawson explained.

"If they haven't already been caught," Sebastian recalled.

"Caught?"

"As soon as it began to become dark, those creatures began to capture others," Sebastian explained.

"Why? ... EEEE!" Amelia tried to ask before someone grabbed her ankle and raised her in the air when Sebastian, Dawson, and Olivia hanged on her clothes so they wouldn't fall. Looking up, Amelia noticed she had stepped into a trap and now hung the rope upside down.

"I told you they could try to come across the woods." said a sound behind the bushes.

"Well, let me handle them." There was another voice before something big began to come out of the bushes. Amelia tried to look down if she could find something to defend, but there was nothing but wrinkles and leaves that covered the trap.

"Little Johnt?" Dawson said as he saw who came out of the bushes. Amelia looked at who he was talking to, and saw a brown bear with a green shirt and a green cap.

"Doctor?" Little John wondered and bent down to look at the mice. "What are you doing here? We thought you were already in the castle. "

"We tried to stop that woman, but darkness took over," Olivia explained.

"And at the same time, they involved this girl in this," Sebastian said, hanging from Amelia's pants.

Now, little John noticed Amelia and looked closely. Amelia tried to hold her breath. Although it was a Disney character, the bear is a bear and they are unpredictable.

"Well, what did we got?" asked the first voice and came to them. It was a small boy bunny with a blue shirt and a yellow hat.

"Hey, Skippy." All three said to the bunny. Amelia was more surprised.

"What are you doing here? And who is she?" Skippy asked and pointed to Amelia.

"That's what I want to know." There was another voice. Amelia tried to turn a little and saw the wolf in dark clothes standing behind them and seeing everyone's reactions it was obvious that he was working for those black beings. "On my way here, I was wondering about the third smell. The mouses and the crab I could already guess, but that human and that she is from the real dimension was completely new. " 

"From the real dimension?" Little John and Skippy were surprised.

"Let her be! She hasn't done anything. "Dawson defended.

"True, she hasn't. But my master is the one who decides it. For me, she should return to where she came from. "Silver said as he came a bit close.

"What about the others? What are you going to do to them? "Amelia asked.

"Why would that  concern you? You're not from here. So if we capture all and let the darkness take over the whole place, it doesn't change anything in your world. There, this is just a theme park." Silver said like he didn't care what he and others were doing.

Amelia bites her lips to hold up her anger. Just a theme park?

"It is not!" She shouted, surprising everyone. "It's full of memories and Disney magic. And by magic, I mean that the kids will smile and believe in their dreams. I may not belong here, but I will not let you and your so-called master take over this place! "

"Amelia ..." Olivia said.

"Good luck with that." Silver said, walking closer. "You can't stop me when you're hanging around there," he said, passing her.

Then there was a flying arrow that flew so close to Silver and hit the nearby tree. Everyone was surprised where it came from.

"Who's there?!" Silver shouted and looked up. There was no answer. Everyone was trying to see who shot the arrow.

Then came the second arrow and it almost hit on Silver unless he hadn't moved backward. "Come on out!" He shouted again.

Right then someone landed between Silver and others and stood up. She was a cat walking on two legs, like little John and Skippy. She had reddish smooth fur and blue eyes. She had red hair that was in a ponytail. She was wearing a red tunic, red tights, brown shoes, brown gloves, and the same hat as Skippy and little John, except it was red and the green feather. She had a bow in her hand and an arrow box full of arrows on her back.

"Who are you?" Silver wanted to know. The catgirl took off her hat and bowed over like she was a gentleman, even though she was a girl.

"Wilhelmina Scarlet, oh my lord."

"Scarlet?" All were wondering.

"Wilhelmina ..." Amelia thought. The name is so familiar to her.

"What? You're not ... wait a minute ... no ... impossible! "Silver said until he started to realize something and looked at Amelia. He looked surprised and didn't have time to do anything as Wilhelmina kicked him in the legs, causing the wolf to lose balance and fall.

"I wouldn't do anything if I were you," Wilhelmina said and looked at the others. "Can we switch?" Skippy realized what she meant and smiled.

*****

After a while, Amelia was standing and Silver was hanging from the rope now.

"You think you're smart?" Silver growled to Wilhelmina, who seemed amused.

"Well, at least you have other things to do, like getting free," Wilhelmina answered. But Amelia wanted to know something, so she took a good grip on the wolf's shirt and pulled him closer.

"What did you do to this place? What are you going to do with other characters?" Amelia demanded.

"Amelia, we don't have time for this ..."

"Yeah. Why spoil the surprise that is coming to all of them? "Silver hinted sarcastically.

"What do you mean?" Skippy wondered.

"Hello! People are no longer interested. Sure, the past times were cool and stories inspired others, but that time is over. Kids no longer play to be princesses or pirates. Nowadays, they only play games and when they grow up those games become only more cruel and violent and as adults, they are not dreaming at all. Goodness no longer wins in their world. You are all old and forgotten fairy tales. "Silver said, but he somehow felt disappointed. It was like he didn't like how things were. Everyone was silent about what he said. Has the world changed?

Then, unexpectedly, Wilhelmina pulled him from the pony-tail.

"If that is true, then explain why I'm here, then?" Wilhelmina explained.

Amelia was surprised when she heard that. Others also looked at her as if she had created new hope for them.

Wilhelmina released her hold from the wolf in which his head hit the tree. "Let's go before the dark cavalry arrives," she said. Everyone agreed and began to go to the castle.

"THIS IS NOT OVER!!" cried Silver. "YOU HAVE NO CHANCES AGAINST THE MASTER!!" 

"Talk to the tail, wolf," Wilhelmina answered. But nobody noticed that Silver took something from his pocket and brought it closer to his face.

"They are near the castle. Take them while you still can!"