The King was returning from the Mysterious Tower. Donald and Goofy met him at the castle gates and entered together, making their way back up through the castle to the throne room.
"How is Yen Sid, yer Majesty?" Goofy asked.
"He's holding up," the King said, but suddenly he looked downhearted.
"What's wrong, your Highness?" Donald inquired. "Is Master Yen Sid angry again?"
"No," the King said, shaking his head so that his large round ears flopped back and forth. "He's alright. I was just thinking."
"What about?"
The King of Disney Castle sighed.
"When did you two stop calling me Mickey?"
Donald and Goofy exchanged a worried glance over the King's head.
Once it was clear that the question had not been rhetorical, Goofy answered.
"It wasn't long after you were crowned." They had started calling him "your Highness" and "your Majesty" because it made him laugh—they liked it when he laughed. His smiles could rival suns for sheer brightness.
It was a long time ago.
The King hesitated as they walked, but eventually spoke.
"I… I wish you would, sometimes. I don't want you to think that I'm… different, or better, or more important than you. You're my best friends."
Donald stopped walking.
"Listen, your Majesty—"
The King flinched.
"Mickey."
He met Donald's gaze.
"We don't call you that stuff 'cause you're the King," he said, face frowning with some of his trademark temper. "Don't you ever think we'll stop being your friends just because of some dumb title."
"Yeah," said Goofy. "We call you that stuff 'cause you deserve it."
Mickey swallowed.
"Thanks," he said, his small voice a bit hoarse. Then he smiled, and it was like someone switched on a light.
"There you are," Donald nodded, putting his arm around Mickey's shoulders bracingly. Goofy ruffled his ears.
"So if it ever feels like we don't call you Mickey anymore," Donald went on—Goofy finished—"it's just because we never stopped."