Pocahontas

The journey began like any other. Captain John Smith stood on

The deck of a sailing ship bound for the New World. Once at sea

The ship was almost lost in a storm, and Smith had to rescue

One of the men. But he did not even think of turning back

Danger and adventure came along with the territory. It was the

Part of every voyage he enjoyed. Now he was headed for a dazzling

Land that this crew, the Virginia Company settlers, and Governor

John Ratcliffe wanted to conquer for king, country, and gold

But that dazzling land was already home to many people. Among

Them was Pocahontas, the daughter of a native chief. With Meeko

A raccoon, and Flit, a hummingbird, Pocahontas loved running

Through the forest and diving off the cliffs into the pools

Below. She also loved canoeing with her best friend Nakoma

She told her everything, including a dream she kept having

"I know it means something, I just don't know what. You should ask

Your father about it." Pocahontas hurried back to her village

She found her father in his longhouse and told him about the dream

"I think it's telling me something's about to happen

Something exciting." Chief Powhatan smiled

"Yes, something exciting is about to happen

Kocoum has asked to seek your hand in marriage."

"Marry Kocoum?" Pocahontas could not imagine

Marrying the brave, but serious warrior

"Father, I think my dream is pointing me down another path."

" Pocahontas, you are the daughter of the chief

It is time to take your place among our people."

Pocahontas left her father and went to her favorite

Glade to get advice from a wise, enchanted tree

She called this tree Grandmother Willow

"My father wants me to marry Kocoum, but lately I've been having

This dream." Then she told Grandmother Willow about the arrow

That she kept seeing. "As I look at it, it starts to spin

It spins faster and faster and faster until suddenly it stops."

Now the old tree spoke. "Well, it seems to me this

Spinning arrow is pointing you down your path. All

Around you are spirits, child. They live in the earth

The water, the sky. If you listen, they will guide you."

As Pocahontas strained to hear the wind, that same breeze

Filled the sails of John Smith's ship and carried it to shore

Inside the governor's cabin, Ratcliffe gave Smith an ugly look

"About the natives, I'm counting on you to make sure those

Filthy heathens don't disrupt our mission." He didn't add

That finding gold in the New World was his last chance for

Glory in the king's court. Smith cocked his head and grinned

"Well, if they're anything like the savages I'

Ve fought before, it's nothing I can't handle."

Already those so-called "savages" had seen the ship and rushed to

Meet with their chief. Powhatan raised his hand to silence them

"We must know more about these visitors. Kecoughta, what do

You see?" The medicine man poured some powder on the fire

"They prowl the earth like ravenous wolves

Consuming everything in their path."

Kocoum wanted to lead an attack. "We will destroy

These invaders the way we destroyed the Massawomecks."

"Kocoum, in that battle we knew how to fight our enemy, but

These pale visitors are strange to us. Take some men to the

River to observe them. Let us hope they do not intend to stay."

But the settlers did intend to stay. As they set

Up camp, Governor Ratcliffe barked out orders

"You men build the fort! And you, start clearing

This blasted shrubbery! The rest of you, break

Out the shovels! It's time to start digging!"

While most of the settlers began digging for gold, Smith scouted

The area for the people the English called "Indians." From a tree

On a hilltop, he surveyed the view. The land was beautiful

A moment like this, he thought, is

Exactly why he had traveled so far

Then Smith spotted the shadow of someone following him

He hid behind a waterfall. The shadow passed, and he leaped

Out with his rifle raised. It was Pocahontas! They both

Froze. Smith lowered his gun, and she ran for her canoe

Catching up with her, Smith gently held out his hand. "I'

M not going to hurt you." Pocahontas gazed into the strange

Blue eyes of the man, trying to understand what he was saying

As the breeze picked up and leaves swirled around them

Pocahontas followed Grandmother Willow's advice. She listened

With all her heart, and it seemed that the wind was

Telling her to go ahead and take the man's hand. So she did

All at once, it was as if she understood his words. She pointed

To herself. "Pocahontas." The man smiled back. "John Smith."

As they walked together, teaching each other about their different

Customs, the scavenging Meeko stole a compass from Smith's pouch

Smith told Pocahontas that it came from London, a very big

Village filled with carriages and bridges and big, tall buildings

I'd like to see those things

You will. We're going to build them here. We'll show your people

How to use this land properly, how to make the most of it

Pocahontas glared at the Englishman

Make the most of it?

Yes. We'll build roads and decent houses and --

Our houses are fine

You think that only because you don't know

Any better. There's so much we can teach you

Meanwhile, the settlers were growing tired and unhappy. They

Couldn't find any gold, and worse yet, they were running out of

Food. Then Ratcliffe caught the Indians spying on the settlers

Savages! It's an ambush! Arm yourselves!

As shots rang out, the surprised Indians fought back with

Their bows and arrows. During the battle, Ratcliffe

Shot a warrior in the leg. Kocoum rushed out to rescue

His wounded comrade and carried him back to the village

In the forest, Pocahontas suddenly heard the beat of war drums coming

From her village. She said goodbye to Smith and hurried home. There

She learned that one of her people had been shot, and warriors were

Coming from other villages to help fight the invaders. Even though

This saddened her, Pocahontas could not stop thinking about Smith

The following day, as the others built a wall around the village

Pocahontas and Nakoma gathered corn in the fields. When Smith

Suddenly appeared, Pocahontas thrust her hand over Nakoma's mouth

Please don't say anything

Then Pocahontas heard Kocoum calling her

Pocahontas!

She grabbed Smith's hand

Quick, this way!

Leaving Nakoma behind, Pocahontas took Smith to the glade

Smith learned from her that Ratcliffe was wrong; the

Indians were not hiding any gold. Pocahontas introduced

Him to Grandmother Willow. Suddenly, they heard a pair of

Settlers calling, "Smith! Smith!" He glanced at Pocahontas

We can't let them see us

Quick, over here

Grandmother Willow motioned with her eyes, and Smith and Pocahontas

Hid behind the tree. After the men left, Smith gazed at Pocahontas

I'd better get back before they send the whole camp out after me

Then they promised they would meet later that night in the glade

As Smith ran off, Pocahontas peered up at Grandmother Willow

I shouldn't be seeing him again, but still

Something inside is telling me it's the right thing

Perhaps it's your dream

Do you think this could be my path?

Grandmother Willow just smiled

When Pocahontas left the glade and returned to the village

She saw that the warriors had arrived. Quickly, she pulled

Her father aside and begged him not to fight the Englishmen

Sometimes our paths are chosen for us

But maybe we should try talking to them

They do not want to talk

But if one of them did want to talk, you would

Listen to him, wouldn't you? Wouldn't you?

Of course I would. But it is not that simple

He turned and strode into his longhouse

Where the council of warriors was waiting

While Pocahontas was trying to reason with her

Father, Smith was back at the settlement, trying

To convince Ratcliffe not to fight the Indians

They're not savages. They can help us. They know the land

They know how to navigate the rivers. And look, it's food

He held up an ear of corn that Pocahontas had given him. But when he

Told Ratcliffe that there was no

Gold in the area, Ratcliffe exploded

Lies! Lies! This is my land. I make the laws here. And I

Say anyone who so much as looks at an Indian without

Killing him on sight will be tried for treason and hanged

So the day wore on, and both sides prepared for war. But that

Night, Pocahontas and Smith stole away and met in the glade

Maybe it's not too late to stop this. You

Have to come with me and talk to my father

As Smith protested, saying that both sides actually

Wanted to fight, Grandmother Willow interrupted

Look

She dipped one of her branches into the river. Pocahontas pointed

The ripples

Grandmother Willow smiled

So small at first, then look how they

Grow. But someone has to start them

Smith looked at Pocahontas

Let's go talk to your father

With joy, she threw her arms around him. As Smith and Pocahontas

Kissed, Thomas, who had been ordered by Ratcliffe to trail Smith

Stepped from behind a bush. A second later, Kocoum burst into

The glade and tore Smith away from Pocahontas. The warrior pulled

Out a knife, but before he could wound Smith, Thomas took aim

And shot Kocoum in the chest. Pocahontas lunged for the settler

He killed him!

Smith stopped her

He was only trying to protect me

Then they both heard the shrill cries of the

Other warriors. Smith whirled upon the settler

Thomas, get out of here!

As Thomas dashed into the forest, the Indians swarmed into

The glade and captured Smith. In shock, Pocahontas watched

Them leave with Kocoum's body and the man who they thought

Had shot him. Pocahontas knelt by the riverbank and wept

When Pocahontas returned to the village, she was horrified to

Learn that Chief Powhatan had ordered Smith to be executed at

Sunrise. Later that night, Nakoma helped her friend slip past the

Guards and enter Smith's hut. Pocahontas ran to the Englishman

It would have been better if we'd never

Met. None of this would have happened

Pocahontas, look at me. I'd rather die tomorrow

Than live a hundred years without knowing you

Meanwhile, Governor Ratcliffe was stirring up the settlers

I told you those savages couldn't be trusted! Smith tried to

Befriend them, and look what they've done to him! But now I say

It's time to rescue our courageous comrade. At daybreak, we attack!

Powhatan, as well, was preparing his men for war. He reminded

Them that they had no choice but to fight the invaders

Who were nothing more than greedy, murderous savages

Before she could be discovered in the prison visiting Smith

Pocahontas kissed him goodbye, then retreated to the glade

Trying to comfort her, Meeko gave Pocahontas Smith's

Compass. As she looked at it, the needle started to spin

It's the Spinning Arrow!

Grandmother Willow beamed

You know your path, child. Now follow it!

As the sun rose, Pocahontas followed the arrow to

A plateau. She saw her father raise a club above

Smith's head and threw herself across the prisoner

If you kill him, you'll have to kill me, too! I love him, Father

Look around you! This is where the path of hatred has brought us

Powhatan followed her gaze. He saw the settlers at the edge of

The woods, ready to shoot, and his own men, with their bows pulled

Taut, ready to fire back. He knew he had to make a decision

My daughter speaks with a wisdom beyond her years. Release him

The warriors lowered their weapons. And then, against Ratcliffe's

Orders, so did the settlers, moved by Powhatan's act of goodwill

Enraged, Ratcliffe tried to shoot Powhatan, but Smith knocked the

Chief out of the way, taking the bullet himself. Instantly, the

Settlers captured the greedy

Dishonest governor and put him in chains

The next morning, Smith lay on a stretcher, forced to return to

England for treatment of his wound. Just before the ship was to

Leave, Pocahontas, her father, and her friends arrived. Smith asked

Her to come back with him, but Pocahontas knew that she had to stay

Behind and help keep the peace

She gently kissed the English captain

No matter what happens, I'll always be with you. Forever

And then they parted, each hoping that

Someday their paths would cross again