Friends Forever [Bongo Only]

[Dreamchild]

Dreamchild was in a blue nightshirt (but with her mask) while she rested on the same couch she slept on when she first met the Boogie Man. Her arms were crossed behind her head, her palms pressed against her hair. She stared at the ceiling, waiting to fall asleep... an action that just didn't happen. She sighed and rolled over, envious of Bongo's ability to sleep peacefully. He was on the couch beside her, and he looked so happy and content...

Bongo was likely Dreamchild's closest collaborator and friend in the team. That's why he deserved to know... she could trust him.

Dreamchild smiled affectionately as she removed her blanket and crept to the slumbering bear. She gently pressed her bare fingertips to the bear's temple and entered his dream with ease...

---

[Bongo]

It was unarguably a Bongo dream that Dreamchild had brought herself into - however, it might not have been what she expected.

Dreamchild had materialized into what looked like the outdoors - namely, a forest clearing near the edge of a cliffside, that overlooked a spectacular panorama of wide open mountain ranges. The sun was setting over these mountains, showering the surrounding area with a golden glow that made for an absolutely stunning vista. Towering pine trees lined the clearing, and, by a cluster of them, near the edge of a cliff, sat Bongo. His face was not visible to Dreamchild, but judging by his laidback posture, his feet dangling lazily over the cliff's edge, he was as happy as could be. An assembly of woodland creatures - rabbits, raccoons, chipmunks and various birds - accompanied him, some frolicking about and others simply taking in the view with their larger friend. However, Dreamchild's sudden, albeit silent entry seemed to grab their attention. The forest critters stared at the human in surprise, and curiosity - they were silent and still, but did not flee or show any signs of fear.

Bongo, too, noticed the entry of someone into his dream. He turned his head to see, and an ecstatic smile beamed across his face, instantly recognizing his closest friend. His animal friends parted to make way for him as he scampered on over to her, grasping onto one of her delicate hands upon reaching her and gazing adoringly up at her in a manner that seemed to say, "Boy, is it great to see you here!" Blinking with realization, he then turned back to his lingering friends, and waved a paw over in the direction of Dreamchild with a smile. The animals were hesitant at first, but, soon enough, slowly made their way over to the stranger. Raccoons and rabbits stared up at her, their noses twitching and sniffing in curiosity. A couple of chipmunks were bold enough to scurry up Dreamchild and onto her shoulders. They stared at her for a moment, and looked at each other, before nodding and smiling, deciding that they liked this friend of Bongo's. A few birds fluttered around in front of Dreamchild, happily chirping hellos to their new friend.

[Dreamchild]

When Dreamchild had entered Bongo's dream, she used her manipulative powers to wear her full Dream League uniform, mask included. She found herself in the beautiful outdoors, engulfed in a warm, almost holy glow created by the setting sun. She hadn't stepped to the cliff, and even from her distance she was amazed by the vista. The horizon, and the warm glow, resembled a painting by J.M.W. Turner, and the girl was delighted to take part in such a lush, lazy dream. But, at the same time, this dream already got Dreamchild into thinking. She thought about what kind of expository questions she could ask the bear.

Bongo's imaginary friends noticed Alice's presence first. Despite not being real, figments of the imagination could get the dreamer to react. Whether by terror, romance, or even good-natured humor, it almost saddened Dreamchild whenever she woke up, only to find that the extraordinary things she had interacted with vanished from existence. Only the dreaded Boogie Man seemed to have blurred the line between dreams and reality...

The Dream Come True didn't have the heart to tell Bongo that he was in a dream just yet. Instead, she greeted him as he took her hand with a happier tone than usual. "Hello, Bongo. I thought I'd find you here, so I came to look." She smiled when the woodland creatures greeted her enthusiastically. Cute rabbits looked up to her. Chipmunks scampered up her body and onto her shoulders. Birds fluttered around her. Yes, she was in a dream, because you couldn't get this positive of a reception from the real outdoors. With all of these cute, cuddly animals treating her like she was a part of them, it almost made Dreamchild feel like she was about to spontaneously burst into song, singing 'Oh, What a Beautiful Morning.' What musical was that from, again? Oh, right--Oklahoma!

Dreamchild smiled politely to the animals that greeted her, especially to the chipmunks that were close to her face. "Thank you, everyone. It's very nice meeting you." She looked down to the little bear, smiling tenderly. "Bongo, is it all right if I join you? It's a beautiful sunset, and I'd... I'd like to spend some time with you." She continued to hold his paw, never letting it go for a second.

[Bongo]

In response to Dreamchild's request to join him, Bongo all too enthusiastically answered with a nod of his head and an eager open-mouthed smile. He was already quite enjoying this dream, and with Dreamchild's sudden arrival, it only got better! Of course, in his bliss, he wasn't really aware that the Dreamchild in his dream wasn't truly part of his dream - in fact, he wasn't even aware he was dreaming, at the moment.

Bongo eagerly tugged on Dreamchild's hand, forcefully enough to get her moving but not enough to cause her to fall forward, and hurriedly made his way towards the cliffside he was seated at earlier, keeping pace with Alice so as to not drag her along. Once there, the bear sat himself down, keeping his paw held onto her slender hand, and stared adoringly up at his friend, waiting for her to join him in watching the sunset.

[Dreamchild]

Dreamchild grinned in childish delight at the bear's enthusiasm. His attitude was infectious, and it was impossible for the girl to deny him even if he didn't tug on her hand. She followed him in perfect speed and delicately seated herself beside him. Of course she would; she wanted to have an earnest talk with him, after all. Bongo's newly found friends (who would sadly cease to exist as soon as the bear wakes up) accompanied them, but never got in the way of the two as they conversed... at least, as Dreamchild talked.

The Dream Come True sat Indian style beside Bongo, holding his paw as long as he wanted to. She watched the sun in the horizon, her white eyes half closed lazily. Her lips smiled softly, but her expression changed more seriously as she looked to the bear's face, to ask him a serious question.

"Bongo... you weren't born in the wild, were you?" Bongo could not speak, and so Dreamchild quickly figured out an effective way to communicate with him. She would rarely talk to him like a normal person; most of the time, she would ask him simple yes or no questions that he could either nod or shake his head to, or communicate through other types of body language. Bongo couldn't talk, but he could understand English, which Dreamchild was very thankful about.

[Bongo]

Once Dreamchild herself sat down alongside Bongo, the bear decided to get a little more comfortable. One paw still holding onto Dreamchild's hand, he leaned the other paw back behind him and outstretched his legs, reclining and smiling widely with utter contentment at the dazzling sunset. This really was too good to be true - here, in his absolute favorite place in the world, with his absolute favorite person in the world by his side, just soaking up the lazy countryside. Bongo's heart lay in crimefighting, for certain - but, sometimes, he did long to return to his former, carefree forest life. If bears could be nostalgic, Bongo certainly was, right now.

The bear cub's fuzzy round ears perked up, however, at the sound of his name. He instantly whipped his head over to look at his friend with an expectant smile... which faded, upon noticing that Dreamchild didn't have a smile of her own on. He cocked his head to the side, wondering what was on her mind. Then, she asked him a curious question.

Bongo blinked, seeming just a little confused by the query - he understood it, but not where it came from. Regardless, he answered, with a slow shake of his head. He then both lifted his strap-on circus cap and pointed to the red circus costume he had worn for almost all of his life. Bongo gave a smile to Dreamchild - the circus might have gotten old fast, but he was still pretty proud of just how famous he was, while a part of it. And it was fun, for a while... until he felt that irresistible call of the wild. He definitely loved the forest much more... but he didn't feel all that bad about not being a true wild bear.

[Dreamchild]

Dreamchild smiled for just a few seconds when Bongo answered her question through body language. But she returned to her more serious tone. She did feel a little presumptuous, but she had to be honest. "I can understand why you escaped the circus," she said without accusation. "I couldn't stand being a prisoner in a cage... It's better--and natural--to be free." She looked from the bear, and she released her grip on his paw. She looked to the horizon, a beautiful and picturesque view that could only be conjured up by the most vivid of dreamers.

Dreamchild was beginning to doubt her decision, but she quickly reassured herself. Her muscles had tensed during her internal debate, but she visibly relaxed. She exhaled softly then turned her whole body to him, not just her head. She knew that if there was anyone she could trust, it would be this bear, who was now practically her little brother.

"Bongo, I have something to tell you. Well..." She hesitated but continued. While seated, many strands of her hair overlapped her left shoulder. "I have to tell somebody. I don't feel right keeping this to myself any longer, without telling someone. So... whom could I trust more than you?"

She smiled to the bear, this time warmly, as she continued to speak. "Bongo, do you promise never to tell anyone else?" She was playful with that last question, but not snide. He couldn't talk, but she still needed his acknowledgment. "I have something to tell you, but it's my biggest secret. Promise me you will keep it to yourself, and never share it with anyone else. Do you promise?"

[Bongo]

Bongo gave his friend another congenial smile, and nodded firmly in agreement. She was definitely right about that! As nice as the glory of the circus was, for a while... it simply couldn't compare to a fun and fancy free lifestyle, where Bongo could do whatever he pleased, whenever he pleased. Of course... ever since joining the Dream League, life has been a lot less carefree than he might have liked. But you know what? Bongo didn't mind! In some ways, he liked it a lot more - there wasn't much that could compare to the satisfaction of capturing crooks and performing heroic deeds. Sometimes, Bongo felt more at home with the Dream League than he ever did in the forest, with the other bears. Plus... he'd never had friends as great as Dreamchild and the others while living in the woods.

The bear's smile faded, however, as he felt Dreamchild's hand gently slip away from his paw. He glanced down at his paw to witness this, and looked up at her, blinking in innocent confusion. Dreamchild looked awfully gloomy about something or other, all of the sudden... or, at least, in deep thought. It was at times like this that Bongo wished he could actually ask her what was on her mind - instead, all he could do was stare at her, with concern and curiosity. Bongo looked a little surprised and befuddled as the girl turned her entire body to face him - he could only wonder what she was going to say, or do, next.

Despite his inherent confusion, Bongo gazed up with wide, completely attentive eyes at his friend, as she began to explain. Whatever she had to say... it sure sounded important. Bongo knew he'd better pay close attention, and even scooted himself a little closer to Dreamchild as he listened patiently and obediently.

At Dreamchild's heartfelt request of him, Bongo gave her a wide, assuring grin. Somehow, it gave him a fuzzy feeling inside, knowing that he was the only one to know of what she was about to say. The little bear confidently closed his eyes, stuck out his chest and crossed a claw over it twice, in an 'X' shape - a universal symbol of confidentiality. He then opened his eyes to stare at his companion with a warm, trusting smile, ready to listen to whatever secret she was about to reveal.

[Dreamchild]

Dreamchild knew she could trust Bongo the whole time, but she still wanted to ask him to cement what she was about to say as a deep secret. Her friend crossed his heart, just like the Balloonist had done, once. Satisfied, Dreamchild nodded slowly. "Thank you, Bongo."

She was silent and still for a moment, only the ambient sounds of the great outdoors audible. When she was ready, she brought her gloved fingers up to her mask and pinched the edges. She closed her eyes and, for the first time any Dreamer had ever seen, removed her mask. Her eyes remained closed even when she took off her mask, for a moment. She had started this, and now she had to finish; there was no turning back now.

She dropped her mask, then unfastened her black ribbon, dropping it once disconnected with her hair. She quickly ran her fingers through her hair to straighten it, and her bangs, which were previously tugged back, swooped over much of her forehead. She lowered her hands to her sides and stood still for another intense moment.

Confident, she slowly opened her eyelids, revealing to her best friend her natural eyes. Her eyes were bright and blue, piercing and beautiful like sapphire. Her round and innocent eyes, completely unmasked, gazed warmly to Bongo, and her lips matched her loving eyes. She just stared at him, smiling warmly for around twenty seconds, which might have felt longer. When she was ready, she took a step closer to Bongo, just one.

"... My real name is Alice Pleasance Liddell... Alice." Her cheeks blushed slightly, though she continued to stare at Bongo, observing his reaction. She was ready to explain herself more if he prompted her.

[Bongo]

... Woah! Bongo knew that Dreamchild was going to tell or show him something unexpected... but this was not what he expected! The little bear gave a startled take, blinking with wide-eyed amazement, as he watched his friend lift her hands up to her face and... take off her mask. Just the very sight of seeing that cloud-shaped mass of blue being removed from her face was outright surreal, to Bongo - he had almost forgotten it was a mask, as he had only ever seen Dreamchild with it on. Bongo had to wonder... would she look any different beneath it? Would she still be Dreamchild?

... Well, she didn't look that much different... after all, her eyes were closed. It was still awfully strange to see such a large portion of her face no longer... blue. Then, however, she went on to change her appearance even more - she unfastened the black ribbon she always wore in her hair, and down it fell over her forehead. There was a gripping silence, then. Bongo just stared... not knowing what to think, yet. What was Dreamchild trying to tell him? But then... she opened her eyes.

... Wow. Bongo gawked, his eyes wide and his jaw hanging. Was he really looking at Dreamchild right now...? Her eyes... they weren't plain old white, anymore. They were blue, as blue as the sky itself. And... well, being a bear, he probably wasn't the best judge of human beauty... but wow, her eyes were pretty. Bongo just stared into them for a moment, almost lost - in both awe, and... a strange, other feeling. He almost felt like he was looking at someone different than Dreamchild, but... something in her eyes just gave it away to him, anyway. He felt like he could just look into them and know it was her.

But then... what? Her real name? Alice...? She was Alice, and not Dreamchild? Bongo... was confused. Staring up at his friend in lost, innocent bewilderment, he tilted his head to one side, questioning her. He wasn't sure what to think about this, yet...

[Dreamchild]

Alice, known to the Dream League as Dreamchild, watched Bongo's reaction. She could see that the bear was shocked at first, as was expected. But the innocent bear was obviously bewildered shortly afterward, and stared at her in infantile curiosity. Alice compressed her red lips and her blue eyes shifted right. She quickly thought of the right approach, how to explain herself to the mute bear. She had twiddled her fingers nervously, but then placed a hand Bongo's nearest shoulder and leaned closer to his face, her blue eyes gazing into him with sincerity.

"Bongo, my real name is Alice. Dreamchild is just a pseudonym--I mean, a fake name. Don't you remember that time when Sunshine revealed her name and home country? She's Princess Aurora. Sunshine is her pseu--... made up name. Many of the others in the Dream League have fake names, too." Alice grinned teasingly. "I doubt She-Wolf is her real name. I can't imagine it being written on a birth certificate." She chuckled, but lost her smile as she continued to explain. "We have fake names to protect our identity. Some of us don't mind that our identities are known, such as Mr. Fredricksen, but... what if the evil people in Epcot knew my real name? They could target my family, even kill them, just to get to me. That's why I, and most of us, have fake names: to protect ourselves, our relatives, and our friends."

A pause. "Speaking of my family... I'm from England. You've certainly noticed that my voice--my accent--is different from the others... haven't you?"

She paused for an uncomfortable moment, and then looked away from the bear as she thought. She had reached the point of return, so there was no way she could back out of explaining herself. She returned her focus to Bongo's adorable face and continued. "Bongo, I never told anyone this. I never told anyone this--not even my family. I was born with some kind of special power. Call it psychic powers or whatever you want, but I could move very small objects very slightly with my mind. But I was weak. It wasn't until..."

She looked to the gorgeous horizon, using it to emphasize her point. "I was looking out the window in my home one night, just like how you were watching the sunset, here. I saw something fall from the sky--something bright--and it landed among some trees just beyond the yard. It wasn't loud, but I'm still surprised no one else noticed it... but I did. I couldn't sleep, so I decided to... to find out what it was.

"I sneaked outside," she continued, looking to Bongo again, "and was very quiet so I wouldn't wake up my family. I... don't know why I didn't tell them. I walked outside, late at night, and found the glow. It wasn't a meteorite like I thought it would be. No, it was a greenish glow... and it had covered a mushroom. It was just a glowing mushroom, and I could see myself from the green light it cast on me. It was so... Scary. Eerie. Beautiful..."

She paused and seemed a little unnerved. "I was just about to leave, but then... A voice in my head said, 'eat me.'" Her voice whispered the last two words, mimicking the own whisper she heard telepathically. "It said 'eat me' twice. I had no will of my own. I don't even remember using my own arms. I picked up the mushroom without thinking, and I... I ate it, in just a few bites." She held up her right hand (blue glove) and rested her palm against the side of her head. "I felt an awful pain after that. It was the worst physical pain I've ever felt... until that ghost strangled me. You know, that one I told you about, from that haunted manor. But after eating that mushroom, my head throbbed and... I seriously thought it was going to burst--I felt like my head was going to split open. I must have passed out, because I woke up alone, out in the field, sometime later that night. I felt so strange... I felt dizzy and lightheaded. I returned to my room and wanted to turn the light on, so I flicked the switch. But I didn't use my finger."

Her voice was more serious than before as she relived her origin. "And that's when I realized that something was wrong. I gathered all my favorite toys and stuffed animals and put them on my bed. Then I thought about lifting them off my bed and into the air, and... it happened. All of my toys floated like balloons, all because of me." She rested her hands on her lap as she sat Indian style, directly in front of the bear. "I was... well, I can't explain how I felt, because I felt so many different things. I was... amazed, confused, and even scared. Dinah watched all of this, and I told her I was so scared and confused... Oh, Dinah's my cat, by the way." She added the last comment factually, then made a drawn out sigh after her very talkative explanation. "I... well, to make a long story short, I decided to use my powers to... to help people. Oxford had some terrible people that weren't getting arrested, and so I made an old costume for myself... my grandmother taught me how to sew, and we used to sew all the time." Her voice and eyes were noticeably warmer and even melancholic when mentioning her grandmother, and so she changed the subject very quickly. "Anyway, I made an old costume, and I confronted some of those bad men on my own. I used my powers to protect myself, and to... bring those men to justice. When the authorities asked me for my name, I... well, I didn't know what to say, so I thought of the first name that came to mind: Dreamchild."

Though prim and precocious, Alice's more childish side surfaced when she smiled proudly. "... I never expected to see myself on the BBC, you know. To see myself on the telly... Well, it wasn't me they were talking about. It was Dreamchild." Her smile softened. "Not everyone liked Dreamchild. Nobody likes the idea of a little girl fighting crime. Not the Dream League, not even--Cold Shadow." She evaded namedropping Maui Mallard. "It's a dangerous job, and sometimes I wish I'd give it up and live like a normal girl. Sometimes I... wish I didn't eat that mushroom."

She took Bongo's paw and held it tightly, as she leaned forward, her eyes brimming with passion. "But I can't just sit back and not use my powers for good, Bongo. I don't know why I volunteered, but... it's just in me. I mean, I had thought about giving it up when I moved here to... St. Blair Academy. But when I realized how dangerous Epcot was, I... Bongo, you know what it's like, don't you? Why are you a hero? Do you do it just because? Because it's in me. It's just in me..."

Alice's grip loosened, but she remained earnest in speaking to (and gazing upon) the bear. "I don't know why I decided to tell you this, but... I think I had to tell somebody. You're the... only person in the League who knows about this, Bongo." Again, she avoided mentioning Maui Mallard. "You... you're my friend, Bongo. You're probably..." Her eyes filled with warmth, and her lips tugged into a loving, devoted smile. "You're probably the best friend I ever had. You're funny, eager, and you care so much about people. I love you, Bongo. If there's anyone I could trust, it's you. And so... that's why I told you." Alice, still smiling adoringly, tilted her head slightly. "And you promised to keep all of this to yourself, and I trust you. All right?" Her grip on his paw tightened once more.