The first time Nora walked into the Magic Kingdom she'd been too dazed to cry.

How could she even begin to describe her experience? Everything was clean and concise. There wasn't a blade of grass out of place. The second there was a mess, it got swept up by a Cast Member. And while Main Street was flooded with people, it was easy to maneuver through the crowd as Cast Members helped with the flow.

Plus it smelled like waffle cones.

Cheerful music swept through the air wherever she went, perfectly matching the theme of each land. Cast Members smiled. Pluto walked by, ears flopping, waving as guests cried out his name. People were smiling and laughing, most of them clad in mouse ears and Disney memorabilia.

And, the second she saw the castle, its spires twinkling in the bright Florida sun, she knew she was home.

Her MagicBand hugged her wrist, swinging next to her side. She'd made Fast Passes, though she knew they weren't the best ones. Jungle Cruise was pretty good, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad was all right, but she knew PhilharMagic was a lame one. Still, that's what she snagged, because at least she'd get to see the little Mickey head light up and chime when she used it.

She'd researched everything, and she meant everything. Attractions, shows, food, bathrooms. Yes, bathrooms. Because at Disney, even the bathrooms were amazing. Clean, with pretty music, themed to the land. Oh, she loved it.

So while she'd never stepped foot inside a Disney park, she had the layout memorized like a pro. It looked much different than the 2D map, but she'd seen enough videos to know where everything was. She knew how to use her MagicBand, how to make Fast Pass reservations, how to go through an entire day as efficiently as possible, and that you can't just eat anywhere you want without a reservation, which would normally be a six month in advanced thing. Going by herself meant she could probably swing by snagging reservations, but she didn't exactly have the money for that yet.

Which was a shame, because the merch called to her. She was itching to buy everything, especially with her AP discount, and she couldn't.

But still, Nora was here, living her best life. She was ecstatic.

And yet she was stuck in the hub, frantically trying to figure out where she wanted to go. The world was her oyster (literally) and she had no idea what to do first. Because she didn't want to just wander around, she wanted to do something. She wanted to commemorate her first day at Disney. She wanted to be able to say "Yes, this is the first ever attraction I did, thank you very much."

But it couldn't just be any attraction. It was like picking a Pokémon. That was your first starter forever. Your little buddy, tied to your soul in a way that so few things could.

Okay, maybe that was a stretch, but it was important to her.

And she couldn't just ask someone, or many someone's, about their favorites. No. It had to be hers.

She did love rollercoasters, but at the same time going on one of those first felt too intimidating. She couldn't say it would be her favorite until after she rode each one. As much as she loved Fantasyland, she didn't feel any of those dark rides speak to her on a spiritual level. Well, maybe a little, but not first ride worthy. The Haunted Mansion gave her the heebee jeebees, so that was a no.

But there was one thing that she had loved since she'd seen it as a twelve year old—Pirates of the Caribbean.

It was her favorite movie trilogy, her favorite romance, her favorite wacky, quotable, beautiful adventure.

Her favorite pirate.

Nora couldn't suppress her smile as her feet carried her left, towards Adventureland. The drums sounded, the music upbeat and chipper. She passed a marketplace, Aladdin's Flying Carpets, and even saw the entrance to Jungle Cruise before arriving at the giant rugged mast displaying the attraction's name, the letters jagged as drunken scars.

She went through the queue slowly, the cobblestones turning to rock, the lighting dim, the cave-like tunnels damp as she passed cannons, cells, a pair of skeletons stuck in a never-ending game of chess. And finally, she came upon the loading dock, the Cast Members dressed in their pirate finery, the boats rumbling up, prepared for boarding.

She waited patiently for her turn, climbing down onto the little seat. She got the first row all to herself, excited to not have anyone's head in her way. Cast Members from a hole in the rock above her, controlling the ride, waved as the boat descended back into the water.

The voyage began.

The dark water lapped up against the hull as the boat crept around sand barges. Crabs scuttled across the grains, the bones of adventures past still locked together in marooned defeat. A seagull sat perched in a decaying hat perched upon a skull.

But then it was onward, towards gusts of wind and flashes of lightning. A skeleton at the helm, croaking, "Dead man tell no tales."

They plummeted.

Nora took it all in. The murky darkness before hearing the shouts of Barbossa, before seeing him lean over the rail of a ship as cannons fired. That musty, mechanical smell of the animatronics, along with the hissing and popping of their limbs as they acted out their scenes without a fault.

"Don't tell him, Carlos. Don't be chicken!"

The bray of donkeys, the gurgle of poor Carlos being demanded to tell the whereabouts of a certain infamous pirate, and there, hiding behind a stack of crates, was the one and only Captain Jack Sparrow.

Nora had to force herself not to scoot closer, mesmerized by the amazing detail. His skin was the exact right shade, his clothes utter perfection, and that face. She would be the Tia Dalma to his Davy Jones, if only he let her.

The rest of the attraction she tried to pay attention, but she was mostly focused on every single Jack Sparrow animatronic. The last one was her favorite. Poised in a grand chair, treasure surrounding him, toasting them both for his good fortune.

Or, rather, his cunning.

When she exited the boat, she wasn't sure what to do with herself, which was really saying something because as soon she was off the escalator leading her away from the ride, she was in a gift shop. A pirate themed gift shop.

But she couldn't take any of the skull t-shirts, swords, or movie memorabilia in, her mind in a fog, her heart creaking like old, splintered masts.

Nora exited the gift shop, telling herself she'd come back, and continued farther into Adventureland, looking for a quiet, shady place to sit.

It didn't seem to exist. There were guests everywhere. She circled back around when she got to the land's end, not wanting to drift into Frontierland just yet.

There wasn't any shade in the empty place she found, near the Cast Member entrance, nor was there a seat. So she squatted down, hands over her eyes as she thought.

What was she doing here by herself? She should be doing school stuff. She should be at home with her parents. She should not be spending money.

But Disney called to her like gold. And yet...

"Are you all right?"

Nora took a shaky breath, squeezing her eyes shut as if it would be less embarrassing if she didn't see whichever guest or Cast Member had decided to take pity on her. All she knew was that it was a guy, which made it that much more mortifying. "Yeah. Just resting."

"You look as harried as a pirate escaping natives after almost getting eaten alive."

That was oddly specific. Still, they were in Adventureland. CM's were typically good at representing their land. "No. It's just my first time here and I wasn't expecting to feel this way."

"Which way is that?"

Lonely, she wanted to say. But would whoever it is think she was spoiled? She was at Disney World for crying out loud. And normally she never let loneliness touch her, but this? Disney felt like something to be shared, hence the families, the couples, the Cast Members all together. And here she was, by herself, and there seemed to be a lot less magic when you didn't have someone to share it with.

The shadow over her vanished as the man knelt in front of her. "It's a bit overwhelming, isn't it? Hopefully in a good way."

"Yeah. I love it. It's just...a friend would be nice to share it with."

"I'd be happy to oblige." He cleared his throat. "Especially for the right price."

Her brow furrowed. Who did he think he was, and at Disney too?

Nora's head snapped up. Her mouth dropped open.

Kneeling in front of her with the look of a man who was always in the right place at the right time, perhaps completely accidentally, was Captain Jack Sparrow.

Her cheeks were probably giving off the Pirates fire smell. All of her teen fangirling rambling fumbled through her head, Ohmygosh it's Jack Sparrow, I might swoon. Swoon! He's gorgeous. But he's a person. And he's not Jack Sparrow, he's a Cast Member. A clearly super attractive my age Cast Member who is staring at me with a super attractive smile. Dang son. Oh, Nora. Pull yourself together. Be smooth. Come on Carlos, don't be chicken.

"Hi," was all she managed to get out at first. Then, "Sorry, you must have meet and greets to do and I'm just here having a Pirates hangover or something." A pause. "I don't drink. I just mean it was really great and I had to stop to take it in." She pointed to him. "You were in it. A few times, really. You looked great."

Oh, God, kill her now.

"I do look quite alluring as one of those moving mannequins. Something Tia Dalma must have whipped up." He stood now, offering a hand. "Feeling a bit over your seasickness?"

She stared at his hand momentarily. She didn't think they normally offered their hands, especially to teen girls. God, her hand was sweaty, but she took it. "I hope so."

Nora's stomach swashed around like a message in a bottle bobbing in the sea as she was pulled to her feet.

Jack stood back, as if admiring her. "It seems you're more shipshape. Not nearly as much as the Pearl, but you'll do."

"Um, thank you?"

She saw his handler lingering ten feet away, scowling, most likely because they were running late, but with Jack staring at her she didn't care. "Thank you for stopping for me. I'll be okay."

"There are plenty of other guests to share your experiences with, if you ever so choose. Just choose wisely. My last crew marooned me with nothing but a single shot."

"Well, you did end up surviving. I remember a story about sea turtles."

"Aye. Sea turtles. You know your stuff."

Nora grinned.

"Jack," his handler, the Cast Member in charge of making sure he stayed out of trouble, called.

"Captain," Jack and Nora said at the same time.

His face startled before smoothing over, an easy smile forming. "I like you."

"Captain Jack," the Cast Member emphasized, "your crew members are waiting for you."

"Aye. I suppose I have kept them waiting long enough." Jack nodded to her. "Good day, love. Make the best of it."

He sauntered away, not looking back. But Nora watched, her thump thump pumping like the animatronic limbs, infatuation spewing like the water Carlos was forced to spit out over and over.

Embarrassed, Nora almost went straight back to her car. She sure as heck didn't get in line to meet him at his meet and greet spot, but she did feel as if she owed it to herself, and to him, to go explore more. To not let her loneliness get her down. Because this was Disney and it was fun for all ages, for all people, no matter how big or small the party size.

Besides, Nora had enough Disney glee in her for a whole group. She'd be fine.

Her adventuring was cautious, as if she'd see something to somehow trigger that deep sadness again. But nothing did. And she liked the slow immersion. It was like dating, she decided. You didn't get to know a person in one date. It took a while. A lifetime, really. And she wasn't going to get burnt out, like so many other guests did.

Her tennis shoes carried her down the pathway into Frontierland, the smell of turkey legs heavy in the humid air. The River of America (it was a corny name, she admitted) lapped at the shores, its waters stirred by the steamboat the Liberty Belle. She was amazed by all the noises. The sea of guests, the distant ringing of the train's bell as it passed from some unseen corner, the giant rush of water from Splash Mountain accompanied by screams, all tied together by twanged, melodious string music.

She decided to head over to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which was a beautiful skyscraper scene of rustic rocks.

And that was just the beginning.

Ahoy Readers!

I'll try to keep my end notes short and sweet. I'm used to asking a question per chapter, just for fun. In no way must you feel obligated to answer. Feel free to like, follow, comment, all the good things.

Question of the Chapter: Have you ever been to a Disney Park? When? Did you love it?

-Flips