Chapter 1:
Both teens found themselves surrounded by the emptiness of the park. The usual crowd that would come to Disney World were no longer around. Ever since the villains had took over the Disney Parks, things changed. The Magic Kingdom that they remembered was now dark and gloomy as the dark clouds hovered over the place. The Disney characters were either missing or captured. Their old dear friend was dead. And, the Kingdom Keepers were gone. They disappeared once the Overtakers took over. What could they do now? How were they suppose to save Disney? How were they going to save the Keepers?
9 Years Ago...
May 12, 2003
"Hurry mommy! We can't miss it!" The seven year old girl bounced around excitedly. Her purple tutu bounced upwards wildly. A bright grin spread across her face. It was her special day. Her entire dance team was going to perform at DisneyLand in front of Cinderella's Castle. It was her dream to perform at Disney. Especially in front of her favorite Disney characters. And not only that, her father will be there. Nikki's father worked for the army. Usually they would deport him out of the country. He was always away. Nikki would miss him terribly. She prayed for her father to come home. She feared that he would miss her big day to dance. But when her father finally came home after being gone for four months, she couldn't contain her excitement.
"Hold on, Nikki. I'm need to finish up your hair." Her mom was having a hard time holding her down while she was trying to put up her daughter's hair into a bun. "Now, please hold still." Her mother firmly said, making her daughter sit down. Allowing her mother to finish.
"I'm sorry, mommy. I'm just so happy." Nikki couldn't hold in her excitement. No matter how hard she tried to stay very still as her mother finished up the bun. Pulling out a long, purple ribbon to tie into her daughter's hair.
"I know. I'm very happy for you, sweetheart. Your father and I can't wait to see your amazing dance." She smiled, tying a neat bow into the bun. As she reached into her bag, she paused. "Oh dear. I thought I put hair spray in here." She signed and stood up from the floor. "I think I left it in the car. Now, Nikki. Wait right here and don't bounce around too much. You don't want to ruin your hair before the performance. I'll be right back." Her mother instrcted her before stepping out of the dressing room. Leaving Nikki with the other girls and their parents.
Nikki sat around waiting for her mother, either talking with the other dancers or just goofing off to pass up the time.
"Hello there, young lady." A older man's voice caught the little girl's attention. Making her turn to see an old man with white hair. He wore a blue polo shirt with the Disney Imagineer logo on it. Nikki figured that this man was one of those people who help out at the Disney Parks.
"Oh, hello." She nervously waved. Unsure what to say to the man. Her mother had told her...well, more like drilled into her head that she should not speak to strangers without her permission. But there was something about this man that wasn't so bad. Oddly enough, he seemed really nice.
"You must be Nikki." The man grinned. "Your father has told me so much about you. I'm Wayne." He held out a hand for her to shake. The girl hesitated, but she reached out her own hand to shake the man's hand. It wasn't as bad as she thought. Infact, she give him a small smile.
"I was told that you know every Disney Movie, and you memorized all of the Disney Songs." He informed her. With that, the girl nodded her head with a grin. "Yes! Daddy and I watch them all the time." She said with confidents. "My favorite one is the one with Mickey Mouse. He uses magic on the brooms to bring them to life. He's so brave in that movie."
"He certainly is, my dear." Wayne nodded. Just seeing the twinkle in the girl's eye made him smile. Realizing that this child was full of hope and promises.
Her father then stepped into the room, smiling at both Nikki and Wayne. Nikki beamed, running over to her daddy. He picked her up, kissing her cheek. "Hello, sweetheart. I see that you met my old friend." Nikki's dad then turned to Wayne, who walked over to them.
"I wish I could stay long to talk, Mike. But I'm needed back at the building. But I am looking forward to the performance today." He said, smiling down at Nikki. Giving her a light pat on the back. "Good luck today, Nikki. I"ll see you later." He said to her before he made his way out of the dressing room.
In the hallway, he looked back and smile. "Yes, she is a very special child. One day, she will prove how special she could be." With that, Wayne walked down the hallway. Feeling confident that he found the right person that will be useful for Disney one day.
Eight years later...
It had been four years since Nikki and her family had moved from Burbank, California to Orlando Flordia. She, and her mother had to move in with her grandparents after trangey had struck her and her mother. She remembered that day very well. It would be something she will never forget. Two men in uniform came to the door. She and her mother knew what that meant. She had no choice but to answer the door and talk to these men. At that point, Nikki broke down crying. Already knowing what the men were going to say. Her mother held her close, crying with her.
After the funeral, Nikki and her mother had no choice but to move away from their California home. Nikki thought it was for the best, wanting to get away from the awful memories from that day. She even gave up her dance classes and becoming a dancer. And start over with her new life in Flordia with her mother and her grandparents. But, little did Nikki know. Her new life will bring back an old face from the past.
Months after moving in with her grandparents, Nikki picked up a new hobby by taking her bike and going for a ride down to Downtown Disney and checking out the shops that were there. Luckily, her grandparents had a house so close to the Disney Property that she had access into the area. Her mother didn't like the idea of her daughter always going there, but Nikki still kept going. Disney was the only good memory she had of her late father. It still brought her some bit of joy without hurting her. Also she would still watch all of the Disney movies in honor of him. Even though it made her sad that she was unable to watch them without him.
Nikki had just left Downtown Disney just as the storm rolled in. Unable to ride her bike up the hill, she had to walk it up there. The rain poured down upon her, making it even harder for her to walk anywhere.
She was forced to turn around to head back to Downtown Disney. Deciding to take one of the buses to keep out of the rain for a little while. She took the first bus that arrived.
Once inside, she sat down in one of the empty seats. She silently sat and stared out the window to the rain outside while the bus picked up the rest of the passengers and was heading for the Magic Kingdom.
Once she arrived, Nikki was once again stuck outside. She didn't have a year long pass to get into the parks. Accidentlly leaving it at home. Signing in dispair, she sat down on the bench outside of the park. Watching the excited guest walking in and out of the Magic Kingdom.
"Hey! Nikki Tyler!" A call of a man's voice awaken Nikki from her thoughts. She quickly lifted her head. Seeing a man with white hair approuched her, wearing the same Disney Imagineer polo shirt. He seemed very familar. But it Nikki realized who this man was.
"Wayne?" She called out his name, standing up from the wet bench and walked over to him. It had been years since she had seen this man. He was the same, but Nikki can tell that the man had grown older since they saw saw each other. It was strange by how he quickly recoginzed her even though she has grown up and matured differently. She was even more surprised that he was in Orlando.
"W-What are you doing here?" She asked, happy to see him again despite her curiosity of him being there.
"I was looking for you. I thought you were at Downtown Disney. At least that's what your grandmother told me." Wayne explained.
"Well, I was. But it rained and I couldn't get home. So I took a bus to get here. But I left my pass at home. And I can't get into the park without it." She replied, frowning. Today wasn't a good day for her.
Wayne frowned, placing a hand onto her shoulder. "Don't fret, my child. Here, let's get out of the rain." He said, walking over to the gate. He used his pass to get himself and Nikki into the Magic Kingdom. Nikki was shocked by this. But she didn't say anything as he led her down Main Street, U.S.A to his apartment.
Nikki felt relieved to be inside of a dry apartment. She felt bad for getting his floor all wet. But Wayne didn't mind that much. His only concern was getting Nikki out of the rain. He offered her a chair at the table before going into the kitchen to make both of them a cup of tea to warm themselves up.
Wayne then stepped in with the two cups, placing one of them before Nikki. She wrapped her hands around it before taking a small sip of it. She felt the tea warming up her body already.
"Nikki, there's something I must tell you." Wayne then turned serious, taking a sip of his own tea. "I didn't come to see you just for a normal visit of an old friend."
Nikki raised her eyebrows at this. Putting her own cup down. "Then, why did you come to see me?"
Wayne glanced over at her from behind his cup. "Nikki, have you heard about the DHIs of Disney? The Kingdom Keepers?"
"You mean those kids that act as hologram hosts for the Disney Parks? Yes, I have heard about them." She replied. At school, most of the kids talked about the Kingdom Keepers. Either they hated them, or completely loved them like they were celebrities.
"And, one of your classmates is Finn Whitman. Am I correct?" Wayne asked her.
Finn Whitman. Yes, she had heard of him. Though, the only times she would see him is at the cateteria during lunch hours. Everytime she seen him, he would always sit next to this girl called Amanda. At least that's what he calls her. Despite seeing him, she never really talked to him. She never talked to anyone much except for a few students. Though, at one time, she cheered with with other classmate when Finn and Amanda stood up to Greg Luowski, the school's bully.
"Umm...yes, he is. Isn't he one of the Kingdom Keepers?" She asked, becoming interested.
"Yes, along with four other kids, Terry Maybeck, Charlene Turner, Isabella Angelo, and Dell Philby. They are the main hosts of our parks. And also, they are well known to saving Disney World from the villains called the Overtakers."
"Overtakers?" Nikki asked in confusion.
"They are a group of Disney Villains that teamed up together so they can take over the Disney Parks and regain it for their own. Taking away the magic and beauty that Walt had build for this place."
"That's awful." Nikki frowned. "Are you saying that this is all real? And the Overtakers...are for real?" She gulped in fear.
"I'm afraid so, Nikki. That's why we have the Kingdom Keepers. They are the ones that are chosen to protect the Disney Parks from the Overtakers."
"Well, it's a good thing we have them." Nikki said with a smile. "I would hate the idea if the villains...I mean the Overtakers take over Disney."
"Yes." Wayne nodded his head. "And, they could always use more help. They have the other Disney characters to help them, and the other two friends of theirs. But, they need a couple of friends that will need their assistent in a time when they are in trouble or require their help. And they must do it unseen by the Overtakers. And that's where you come in, Nikki."
Nikki when wide eyed on Wayne. Did she hear him right? Did he said that he, and the Kingdom Keepers needed her help? "Me? But, why? I'm not special like them." She frowned.
"But you are, Nikki. I saw that on the day we first met. I knew from looking at you and your talents, that you would fit into the Kingdom Keepers." Wayne smiled as he explained. "You have something that shows that you can do this. You're very brave, and have a good heart."
Nikki sat there and thought in silence. She never thought in her life that she would be chosen to fight along the Keepers to defeat the Keepers. She always thought as herself as a coward.
"Are you sure about that, Wayne? I mean...I don't think I would be the right person for the job." She said, looking over at him as she rubbed on her arm.
Wayne put the cup down to reach for her hand. "Nikki Tyler. The little girl who would stand up to the fears and care for those around you. Don't let that fear hold you back. And don't let the death of your father allow that fear to take you over."
Nikki raised her head at the mention of her father. Then, she thought about her father. He would tell her the same thing. Always have courage, and care for those around you.
"So, what do you say, Nikki? Are you ready to become a Keeper?" Wayne asked her.
Nikki knew that she was going to change her life forever. And she knew that there was no turning back on if she chooses. "Alright Wayne. I'll do it!" She said proudly, ready to take on this task.
"Atta girl!" Wayne jumped up with glee, leading Nikki from the table. "Come, we must get to the MGM Studios. We must build your DHI. And, there's someone you must meet."
"Really? Who?" Nikki asked in confusion.