Chapter Seven

Stranger In The Night

A new problem was coming. An evil as powerful or even more powerful than the SHADOWS. And the SHADOWS knew it would happen some day as well. The DARKNESS was coming, and Jacob felt it.

Jacob awoke with a fright. He was suddenly so cold. What is happening, he thought. Could something have happened to the ship?

He stood up. He had to check on what was happening. The ship shook. What is happening, he thought. I need help. Why can't I talk?

Jacob tried again to yell, but it wouldn't help. Then he remembered that he couldn't be in his room on the island world of Paradise Heights. Then where was he?

"Jacob," Samantha yelled from outside the window.

Was this a dream? Was Jacob just sleeping on the couch in the ship? Yet it felt so real. What was happening?
"Sweet memories, huh kid?" A dark figure emerged from the shadows. He was in a black cloak, but showed no sign of a face. Only two red dots under his hood showed up. Jacob thought they were his eyes.

"Who are you?" Jacob said. "And what do you want?"

"A pity what happened," he started. "All this…gone. Yet I can help you get it back. All of it back."

"You are lying," Jacob replied. "You are just a liar."

"That hurts," the dark figure continued. "My heart is crying."

"I didn't realize you had a heart."

"Good one, but here is mine. I know where your friends are. Lok is in grave danger and Samantha has been kidnapped."

"How do you know my friends?"

"Come with me and I will tell you."

"Never!"

"Your stupidity blinds you of the real light. Your friends will be a thing of the past. Join the DARKNESS and you will get them back."

"Go away!"

"Maybe I already did leave."

"I still can see you."

"Look again."

Jacob looks around the room and sees nothing. He realizes this isn't his room or the ship. It is a darkness of it's own.

"You see, Jacob," the voice continues. "I control your world. Join me or die and watch your friends suffer. Everything lays on you my blind friend. The fate of the Worlds of Magic is on your back. Join me."

"I will never do such a thing. Never!"

The figure reappears and takes out a sword like thing. He points it at Jacob and says, "Then you will die along with everyone in the Worlds of Magic. All the people in the Worlds of Magic could not defeat the DARKNESS. Darkness lies in everyone's heart. As long as darkness lies in the hearts of people, the DARKNESS will prosper. Heed my warning. For it is your last."

Jacob falls to the dark ground and wakes up on the couch in the ship. What happened to me?

Mickey, Donald, and Goofy run into the room. They huddle around him with worried looks on their faces.

"What's wrong?" Jacob asked.

"Come with us," Mickey said.

Jacob follows the three down the hall and into the control room. The screens are black and barely any light is showing.

"What happened here?" Jacob asked.

"It is spreading through the ship," Dewey said.

"Very fast," Huey continues.

"We are losing power everywhere," Louie continues the sentence.

"If this keeps up," Dewey said. "We are going to crash.

"Into what?" Mickey, Jacob, Donald, and Goofy said all together.

"The past."

Part Two Chapter Eight

Nightmare

Andrew Poole awoke with a fright. It was the middle of the night, which was usually peaceful in the world called Xenhart. Yet tonight was different…very different.

Screams and shouts came from outside his window. The town was on fire. People lay dead on the ground. The one thing that really stood out to Andrew was a boy, who must've been a teenager, leading a group of monsters down the street.

The door burst open and his brother, Thomas, ran in and yelled, "We have to go! We need to get out of here!"

"What about mom and dad?" Andrew replied.

"They are waiting for us at Uncle Hatter's house."

Andrew looked back out the window. The boy and his monsters were advancing towards the house. Fear now came to Andrew for the first time this night.

"Then we better get going, but how do we get out of town without that boy and the monsters seeing us?"

"Run."

Lok knew this needed to be done. The town must be destroyed for the good of his friends. The orders from Maleficent were short and sweet.

"The first world you will search will be Xenhart," Maleficent had said. "I don't care if you have to burn it to the ground, but I want you to search everywhere for that key. Destroy anyone and anything in your path."

Lok had to do this…for his friend's sake. He continued to walk down the street path with his army behind him. Then a door swung open and knocked him in the face. He fell.

Two boys ran out of the house and down the street. Lok was angry now and wanted revenge. They could've broken my nose, he thought. Fools, now they will pay for what they have done.

"Kill them," Lok told the army. "At any costs."

The army roared with excitement. They loved to kill and here was their chance to watch two boys suffer a horrible death.

"If they survive," Lok continued. "You will be the ones who die. Now go!"

The army charged after the two boys and soon disappeared into the alleys of the Xenhart. Now I have the power, Lok thought. Now I can destroy anyone. Hahahahahaha!

Andrew had never run so fast before, but the army was relentless. They wouldn't stop, but Tom and Andrew would get tired after a while.

"What are they?" Andrew cried out.

"Doesn't matter," Tom started. "They will get tired after a while."

"So will we, but they don't show any sign of being tired."

"Once we pass the Woods of Gorge they won't follow."

"Since when do Uncle Hatter and Uncle Hare live there?"

"Don't waste your breath."

They continued to run until they finally came upon a bridge that was broken in half. It had to be about 400 years old.

"What now?" Andrew asked looking back to see the army slowly coming into view.

"We need to jump it."

"Jump it!"

"Andrew," Tom began. "It is the only way."

Andrew looked at the army then back at Tom. Tom was right, Andrew thought. It was the only way.

"Let's do it."

"Good. I'll go first."

Tom took a few steps back and then ran forward and jumped past the huge crack. He landed safely on the other side.

"Now your turn, Andrew."

Andrew looked back and then he followed what Tom did. He took the steps back and jumped, but fell into the rushing river below.

"Tom!"

Then everything was silent. Tom looked down at the river and then at the army. He turned and ran into the woods crying for the loss of his brother.

It was some time later until the army returned to Lok's location in the middle of the town. Lok stood up and looked at the leader, Merp.

"Did you get them?" Lok asked.

"No, sir," Merp replied.

"What!" Lok yelled angrily. "I'm going to…"

"Hear me out, sir," Merp began. "They ran across the bridge…well one did. The other fell into the river and must've drowned."

Lok stared at Merp for a moment then turned away and replied, "Any sign of the Key of Time?"

"No, sir," Merp answered.

"Then it looks like our job is done," Lok said. "We're going back home."

Andrew floated down the river slowly. He grabbed onto a rock in the middle of the river and spit out water that was in his mouth.

He left me, Andrew thought. Tom just left me like that.

"So sad how things like this happen," a dark figure, standing on the riverbank, said.

"Who are you?" Andrew asked. He looked at the figure. It was in a black cloak and had no face except for two red dots, which were probably his eyes.

"That is not important right now," the figure replied. "The important thing is getting you onto this riverbank. Can you swim?"

"Yes."

"Then swim over here."

"The current is too strong. I already tried."

"Try now."

Andrew obeyed the orders and let go of the rock and swam to the riverbank without a sweat. He climbed onto the land.

"Told you that you could do it."

Andrew stood up and said, "Now who are you?"

"Who am I?" the figure went on. "You don't know? Now that is a pity, such a pity my friend, Andrew. You see I know you but you don't know me. There is a predicament, wouldn't you say?"

"Who are you?"

"Come with me," the figure replied as a black hole appeared. "And I will show you. Come now."

"I don't know…"

"Your brother left you to die," the figure came in. "I'm all that is left for you."

Andrew nodded and walked into the black hole and disappeared. The figure turned to watch him go.

"Now the tables have turned."

Chapter Nine

The Wheels To Time

Fire. The smell of smoke and burning came to the nose of Delxis. What a sweet smell, he thought watching dark forms that were shaped like people in cloaks picked up things and through them into the volcano of Serpentine.

Drifting through the room was something that could not be explained. The workers stopped to turn around. A shadow figure emerged from the smoke and walked over to Delxis.

"Continue your work," Delxis ordered and the workers got going again. "So what is to become of the situation, Draigen?"

"Follow me," the shadow replied examining Delxis. Delxis was dressed in a black cloak and appeared to have no face, but two red eyes. Draigen looked exactly like him except he was in a black cloak.

They entered a silver and golden room and walked over to a computer. The place looked like a lab and was filled with computers and other high tech things.

"Has the time come?" Delxis asked.

"The time has passed," Draigen replied.

"Excellent."

Delxis looked down at the computer screen. On it was the small world of Xenhart. People were peacefully sleeping in their houses, as there were no lights on.

"Draigen," Delxis started. "The Wheels of Time work then. Where are the prisoners? I want them."

"I only have one," Draigen continued. "We are now searching for refugees from the world called Wonderland. Their names are the Mad Hatter and the March Hare."

"Who is the one?"

"Patients my master. You will meet him soon enough. I want to bring up the subject of an alliance with the SHADOWS."

"Never!"

"Please listen…"

"I will not join forces with the SHADOWS," Delxis began. "They are as much an enemy as the rest of the people in the Worlds of Magic. They destroyed all of Xenhart."

"Most of it," Draigen said. "I manipulated things so that people of the Worlds of Magic wouldn't learn of it…except the SHADOWS."

"What!"

"We should join forces with them and then crush them once we have the superior amount of power. You must here me out."

"The SHADOWS and the DARKNESS will never have any such alliance. I will not allow it. I want to see the prisoner."

"I want the alliance."

"Never!"

"Then so be it," Draigen said as he turned toward the exit of the lab. "I will return the boy to what is left of Xenhart."

"No!"

Draigen turned around and said, "Here me out."

"When you capture the prisoners I want then I will listen to you, but until then remember I stand for the DARKNESS. Who was it that found you in peril? Me. Who made the DARKNESS come into the hearts of the people of the Worlds of Magic? Me."

"You think you are the only one?" Draigen questions him.

"I made the DARKNESS what it is today!"

"What do you want?"

"The prisoner! Who is he?"

"Well," Draigen began. "He is a boy named Andrew."

Chapter Ten

Leap Of Faith, Leap of Destiny

He awoke to a sudden burst of energy. He jumped up and found himself standing in a blue and black room. Where am I? He thought. Why am I here?

A door appeared with a voice that said, "Open the door and enter the lion's den. There you face the decision that will change your life forever!"

"What do you mean?" the boy asked.

"That is something you must figure out," the voice replied. "Enter the door and choose your fate. Only stupidity and blindness to the truth will lead you to death."

"Death?"

"Make your decision carefully, Andrew," the voice continued.

"How do you know who I am? What do you want with me? Where did you take me? Answer me!"

"All questions with no answers. Enter…choose the fate of your life…exit with a new life planned out."

Andrew hesitated to enter. What do I do? He thought. Should I enter or try to run. There doesn't seem to be any exit what so ever. Now what?

"Your decision, Andrew?"

Andrew thought quickly and finally said, "I will enter at my own risk." As he said that he stepped through the door into the shocking new world.

"Here is smart to listen," Delxis said watching Andrew enter the door. "Very wise. Maybe he can be of value to us."

"I'm glad you think that way," Draigen replied. "But it comes down to whether you trust the boy or not. What do you say to that?"

"I guess we shall have to wait and see how he reacts to the situation you dragged him into, Draigen," Delxis started. "Alas a leap of faith is about to occur."

"A leap of destiny my lord," Draigen stated. "This shall indeed show what becomes of the boy from Xenhart. A smart path to truth or a dumb path to death and total annihilation of his entire life."

"How does the search go for the Hatter and the Hare?" Delxis asked.

"I do not know my lord," Draigen replied. "I have not heard from the men we sent there for quite some time. Do you think the SHADOWS got to them?"

"Highly doubted."

"But these men always report as soon as they find something of importance and you are telling me they haven't found the key of…"

"Quiet you fool!" Delxis shouted. "They may be listening."

"Who?"

"The SHADOWS."

"Do you fear the SHADOWS now? Do you fear what they can do if they know our intentions?"

"Ours are not the same as theirs."

"Yes they are my lord," Draigen began. "We both want the same thing. You and Maleficent and the rest of the DARKNESS and the SHADOWS are going to fight to the death to get what they want. A battle to the end."

"You told me that you visited the other threat," Delxis switched the subject. "The boy flying around with a couple of ducks, a mouse, and a dog creature in a ship trying to save the Worlds of Magic. What has become of them?"

"I left some darkness there that might get rid of them for good. I'm sure they won't meddle into our affairs."

"How so?"

"They are about to fall into the past."

The darkness scared Andrew. He couldn't see the hand in front of his own face. He thought he was blind. He could barely move. Where had he stepped into? Darkness? But how?

"A wise decision," a voice boomed. The darkness around Andrew dissipated into nothing. He found himself standing in a lab like room. The dark figure from his world was standing there along with another one in a red cloak, but in every other way the same as the first. "You made a very wise decision my young friend, but now for the real test."

"What test?" Andrew said. He turned and looked at the one from his first world. "Who are you people?"

"We are the darkness," the first figure replied. "Sorry for the delay, but now allow me to introduce myself. I am Draigen."

"And I'm Delxis," the red cloaked figure replied. "I am the leader of the DARKNESS. I am about to become your new best friend."

"I highly doubt that," Andrew remarked.
"Show some respect!" Draigen shouted.

"There, there, Draigen," Delxis began. "I like people who are ruthless and unafraid to ask questions and demand answers. What is it you want to know?"

"Where am I?" Andrew asked.

"Thank you for answering me," Delxis started. "But I will not answer your questions until you complete the three tests."

"Three tests?" Andrew questioned.

"Yes," Delxis said. "Three tests that will test your strength, mind, and emotions my favorite one of them all."

"Emotions?" Andrew stated.

"Stop questioning and interrupting him," Draigen spat out.

"Don't worry," Delxis said. "You will find the answers to all your questions in good time, my friend. Until then do what you are told and you will turn out fine. Understand?"

"Yes, sir," Andrew said.

"Good," Delxis said. "Now to begin."

"Wait…" Andrew began, but it was too late. He was transported somewhere else. He was gone in thin air.

"Now," Delxis began. "To begin his training."

Chapter Eleven

Digitized

What happened now? Andrew thought as he stood up. He looked down at his hands and saw he looked like a computer-controlled figure. What has happened to me?

"Time for you to begin your first test," Delxis started. "Your tests will all take place in the computer controlled environment. You will need to make allies if you plan to survive. If you complete the tests you will live, and if you don't you will die in there. Good luck."

A computer? Andrew thought. The entire area around him was like a computer game. Lots of red and blue. No one seemed to be around. Andrew looked left and right, but no one was in sight.

There seemed to be a big towering building in front of Andrew. It was all blue except for a red door. That must be the central command place, Andrew thought.

"Let me go!" A person shouted as two guards with blue and green costumes took him up to a platform, which quickly disappeared. "Help!"

"Hey where are you taking him?" Andrew shouted out, but it was too late. The platform disappeared into what looked like a huge computer city.

"Don't meddle in our affairs," a huge man said walking over. He was in red armor and had a blue and white face. "Who do you think you are? The MCP doesn't like those who meddle in the affairs of ours."

"And who are you?" Andrew said. "You big buffoon."

"What your tone boy," the man replied. "I am Sark. I am the second in command only to the MCP."

"MCP?" Andrew asked.

"Master Computer Program," Sark replied. "And he doesn't like small people bothering the people of this computer entity."

"Well that man should deserve a trial," Andrew said. "And a fair one. Not one that rules in the favor of the MC whatever."

"Don't back talk me boy," Sark said. "You will be thrown in the cell pit with an attitude like that."

"Oh I am so scared," Andrew said sarcastically.

"That is enough!" A booming voice called out. "Who are you and what do you want you fool!"

"I can handle this," Sark replied. "Don't worry about it, MCP."

"As of now you are doing a terrible job of it, Sark!" the booming voice continued. "Now boy who are you?"

"First who are you?" Andrew asked.

"I am the MCP," the voice answered. "The master of this world."

"This is a world?" Andrew replied.

"Who are you?" the MCP asked. "And why are you here?"

"I am Andrew," Andrew said. "And I think that the man your goons just hauled off to a 'cell pit' shouldn't just be condemned like that."

"Too bad!" the MCP shouted. "I guess your rescue mission has failed. Sark, take this pitiful person off to the cell pit so he can meet Tron."

"Yes sir," Sark replied grabbing Andrew. "You are coming with me."

Delxis and Draigen remain standing watching on a computer monitor Sark taking Andrew over to the platform that they brought the man from before on. The platform then zips away.

"So far," Delxis started. "He is doing quite terrible."

"He will do better," Draigen said. "I can assure you of that. He needs Tron's help doesn't he? I mean without it he will be destroyed."

"A true hero," Delxis replied. "Could do it on his own."

"Yet a true hero is also a lot older, my lord," Draigen answered. "This boy is only about fourteen at the most. He will become a true hero for DARKNESS, but you need to give him more time."

"Are you going to just continue cheering for that runt?" Delxis asked. "Or are you going to look at it from my point of view as well as yours?"

"I will look at it from your view, my lord," Draigen began. "But I will probably still stick to my opinions about the boy."

"On another topic," Delxis said. "Have they found the Hatter and Hare?"

"Yes, my lord," Draigen answered. "They are bring them to the jail cells. Didn't put up much of a fight. The boy's family was there. They are being brought here too."

"Very good," Delxis said. "Very good indeed. Now if the boy does complete the tasks, but denies to join us we have his family."

"I could also persuade him, my lord."

"Yes you could, but I would fear that would take too much time. Any more news on that boy Jacob?"

"As far as I know they are still flying around."

"I want you to make sure that the ship crashes into the past. They and the SHADOWS can't get to the Key of Time before us. Make sure of it."

"Yes, my lord."

"I don't care if you have to call an army onto the task, but make sure it gets done quickly and sufficiently."

"It will, my lord."

"Now to see if the boy can hold his own in the program. I made it so that it will be the hardest on him. The MCP will not be brought down easily."

"I thought you just wanted him to escape."

"I do, but to escape he must hold off the MCP."

"On his own?"

"He is about to get the aide of Tron no doubt. Tron will probably be able to help him, but the MCP has taken most of his energy. This should be good. With these three tasks complete we shall see if you chose the right boy."

Chapter Twelve

Tron

Wind was rapidly passing Andrew a mile a minute. They must have been going 80 miles per hour yet still were not at the cell pit.

Sark held a tight grip and Andrew didn't want to try to escape on the platform because there would be nowhere to escape to unless he wanted to jump down which had to be a deep pit about a couple miles deep.

Andrew could see the building nearing closer and closer. The bottom must be deep in the pit, but it was so low that you couldn't see it from on the platform.

Maybe I can throw Sark into the pit, Andrew thought. No it would be too hard. He is probably too strong especially since he has such a tight grip and I would probably fall off the platform.

Finally the platform came to a jolted stop. Sark pushed Andrew onto the walkway leading over to a square shaped building thing that must've been the cell pit.

"Here we are," Sark began. "This may teach you a lesson in annoying the MCP. Have fun with Tron. I will check on you later to see if you have learned your lesson."

A force field around the door disappeared and Sark pushed Andrew in. Andrew landed on his stomach at the feet of the person who wanted help from earlier. The force field returned to the door to prevent escape.

"What did they bring you in here for?" the man asked. He was in blue armor with a blue face. A bit of the armor was green.

"Are you Tron?" Andrew asked.

"Yes I am," the man replied. "I was thrown in here because I tried to stand up to the MCP and so Sark, an old friend of mine, through me in here."

"Same here," Andrew said. "Except I just got here."

"I see," Tron said. "Well we need to find a way out of here."

"There is no way," Andrew replied. "And Sark seemed pretty sure of it."

"His ego is too big," Tron began. "There has to be a way out of here. I know it. Like a secret escape way."

"I think you are going on a wild goose chase, Tron."

"Are you going to stand there or are you going to help me?"

"Whatever you say."

Andrew joined in looking with Tron for the secret escape. Tron walked over to the force field and touched it. He got electrocuted.

"I guess we can't go out the front," he said. He then looked up and saw a small piece of block standing out. "Andrew stand on my head."

"There is no time for games."

"I found the button."

"Good," Andrew replied jumping on Tron's hands.

"I'm going to lift you up," Tron started. "And then you can press the button. Ready, one…two…three!"

Andrew was thrown up in the air and just barley pressed the button. The force fields disappeared as Andrew fell to the ground.

"Thanks for catching me," Andrew said.

"Come on," Tron said. "Now to stop Sark and the MCP."

They ran out onto the platform. Tron walked over to the control panel and pushed a green button. The platform then zipped away.

Delxis and Draigen watched as the platform zipped away off the screen. They looked at each other.

"Impressive," Delxis said. "Most impressive. They found the way out quickly although they should have found it quicker."

"But they did escape," Draigen began. "You need to put that into your thoughts."

"It took him too long," Delxis replied. "If he was in a tight situation by himself he would have been killed. He is lucky he has Tron to help him."

"Well," Draigen started. "The first task can now begin."

Chapter Thirteen

The First Task

The platform came to a quick stop. Tron and Andrew jumped off onto the walkway. In front of them to the right stood the tower building where Sark must've been.

"We need to find the Core Reactor," Tron said. "If we can find a way to fix it we can be able to enter the tower."

"Will it be easy?" Andrew asked.

"With guards it won't be," Tron began. "But if guards aren't there it still won't be because I don't know where the right part is to fix the reactor."

"So either way we still have a problem?" Andrew asked. "That just made my hopes shatter into pieces."

"Come on," Tron said as they ran left down a big flight of stairs. "This is the way to the reactor. I was sent to the cell pit because I tried to fix the reactor."

"Figures you would," Andrew replied.

They finally stopped at a step high enough that the guards standing by the entrance to the Core Reactor Room wouldn't see them. There were three guards standing outside with a force field protecting the entrance as well.

"They now have a force field?" Tron asked himself surprisingly. "This is going to be tough, real tough. Follow me and stay low."

They crouched down try to make no noise so the guards wouldn't become suspicious. Andrew watched the guards. They were in green and blue armor and had electric staffs so that if they touched you with the point you would be badly hurt. That is how they captured Tron, Andrew thought as they continued the decent.

Finally they came to the last step before the walkway. There was about a couple yards or so between the staircase and the guards.

"Now what?" Andrew asked Tron quietly.

"You distract them," Tron whispered. "And then I will come up behind the guard and attack. When I do that use a guard's staff to fry the alarm system at the top up there." Tron pointed to the wall above the force field. "Once we defeat the guards I will take one of their key cards and shut off the force field. We then fix the reactor and get to the tower."

"Okay," Andrew replied.

Andrew then stood up and walked over to the guards. They turned and watched him as Andrew stood in front of the three.

"Who are you?" a guard asked. "And what do you want with the reactor?"

"Just wanted to see if it was real," Andrew replied as he looked toward Tron. Tron gave him the signal to keep talking. "I guess it is. What does it do?"

"Classified," another guard answered. "Now get lo…"

The guard was cut off as Tron attacked the guard the farthest to the left. Andrew then went for the guard in the middle's staff and kicked him in the stomach.

"Stop him Butch!" the guard Tron was attacking shouted.

Butch ran over towards Andrew. Andrew whacked him in the head as Butch tripped and fell into the bottomless pit.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" Butch yelled as he vanished to the depths.

Tron punched the guard in the face and then pushed him off the edge. He then went over and rolled the guard who lost his staff off the edge. Andrew aimed and shot the alarm system.

"I got the card," Tron said as he took it out.

"Good," Andrew replied as Tron put the card in a small control panel. The force field died out and vanished.

"Let's do this quick," Tron said as they walked into the reactor room.

In front of them stood the reactor. It was a huge purple cylinder that had computer screens running with date by the top. In the rest of the room were boxes and computers that were shut down.

"This is it," Tron said walking over to the Core Reactor. "Now we need to fix it to get these computers up in running."

"How do we fix it?" Andrew asked.

"We need to find the part that is missing which is in one of these boxes. The problem is there is about a thousand."

"Perfect."

"He seems to be doing well," Delxis said watching Andrew and Tron on the screen going to boxes. "He has completed the task of getting to the reactor."

"I told you he could do it," Draigen said. "And he did."

"With Tron's help of course," Delxis recuperated. "Without him he would be the one falling into the pit."

"Well," Draigen started. "He is doing very good so far. Once he gets the reactor up and goes into the tower to confront the MCP and Sark we will see if he is worthy."

"That is if he gets that far," Delxis stated.

"You don't believe he will make it?"

"I don't know at this point. The child is full of surprises. I wouldn't be surprised if he abandoned Tron to go off on his own, but I doubt that will happen."

"Who knows what to expect, my lord?"

"I do. I always do."

"Most times."

"Always! Don't deprive me of that. You aren't that powerful!"

"Sorry my lord."

"Now for him to take part in the second task. Let's see how he does."

Chapter Fourteen

The Second Task

There were just too many boxes. One after another Tron and Andrew searched through, but not one contained the right parts and Andrew had grown aggravated.

"How many more boxes do you think are left here?" Andrew asked as he looked up at Tron. Tron looked back.

"I don't know," Tron started. "A couple thousand more or less."

"Thousand!"

"A couple."

What!"

"I thought you two fools would come here if you escaped," Sark said as he entered the room with two guards. "I guess you two are very predictable."

Tron turned and got in a fighting stance. Andrew did the same. Sark laughed and the guards charged at Tron. Andrew put out his foot and tripped one. When that one fell he electrocuted the other and the other one collapsed to the ground.

"Impressive," Sark began. "But not impressive enough. No one can defeat me. No one has or ever will."

"I defeated you in the MCP fighting cup," Tron started. "And I will do it again. Right here right now."

"You also lost a lot of energy," Sark replied. "That the MCP took away from you. Come to your senses you fools. You can't beat me."

"Yes we will," Andrew said and charged at Sark.

"Andrew wait!" Tron shouted.

Andrew came to quick stop, as Sark pulled out what would look like a laser sword from Star Wars except it was more like a laser staff.

"This will kill you at the smallest touch," Sark laughed. "I can't wait to see it kill the both of you as I have orders from MCP to kill you with no hesitation. No prepare to die."

"You wish!" Tron shouted as he picked up a box. "Catch!"

The box hurled at Sark's face, but he destroyed it as he swung his staff at the box cutting it into two large pieces that went off into the pit outside. He laughed.

"I guess he won't be as simple as you two think," Sark laughed out loud.

Tron charged as well as Andrew. Sark held out his staff thinking they would run right into it, but they missed it and Andrew punched Sark in the mouth.

"Nice hit," Tron said as Sark tried to hit him with the staff. Tron avoided it and kicked Sark in the stomach. He took the staff. "It is over, Sark. Give up."

Sark looked at Tron and Andrew. He quickly jumped up punched Tron and then charged toward Andrew with the staff in front. Andrew fell to the ground and took Sark's leg and flipped him. Sark then tripped on the walkway outside and fell into the pit.

"Nooooo!" Sark yelled as he disappeared into the abyss.

"Good work," Tron said. "Now we don't have to go to the tower to escape because look what I got." He took out a computer chip. "Once we get the computers up and running after we find the parts we put this in one and then you get out of here and all systems go back to normal."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Andrew asked. "We need to find those parts."

They then got back to work in finding the right parts as they started the search through the thousands of boxes that were yet to be checked.

"He did well in defeating Sark," Delxis said watching Andrew on the computer screen. "Yet he still has one last task."

"If he could defeat Sark I'm sure he can simply find the right parts and fix the reactor to escape," Draigen replied.

"Indeed," Delxis began. "If he has Tron's help."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm going to see if the boy really has potential to help himself without the help of others. Meaning I am going to take Tron away from him."

"What?"

"I'm going to transport Tron back to the cell pit and have the MCP fix everything. Andrew will be left alone trying to find the parts. If he does and escapes back here successfully he will be able to join, but if he fails he will be stuck there forever and his family killed."

"That isn't fair."

"If he is truly the one," Delxis started. "He will be able to do it." Delxis looked at Andrew on the screen. "Now begins the third and final task."

Chapter Fifteen

The Final Task

"Which one can it be?" Tron said looking at all the boxes. "This is very frustrating. It could take weeks to sort through this."

"Well then we better hurry up," Andrew said. "I really need to get out of here and if I don't I will be stuck here forever."

"Then le…" Tron was cut off as he disappeared.

"Tron?" Andrew asked looking around. "Tron!"

"He is gone," the voice of Delxis said. "This is a true test of intelligence."

"Wait!" Andrew shouted. "I need him!"

"Try it for yourself."

Andrew started tearing open boxes. Not one of them had the parts. He turned left and opened a box and there was the part.

"I found it!" Andrew shouted. "Now bring Tron back so he can fix it to get me out of here and get back home!"

"Fix it yourself."

"Bring him back!"

"Try, Andrew," Draigen's voice came in. "So you can get back here."

Andrew tried to find a place to put the part, but he couldn't reach it. Now what? He thought to himself. It will take too long to put the boxes up high enough.

"Just stack the boxes than," Draigen chimed in again.

Andrew started stacking boxes one by one. The boxes were light and Andrew hoped that when he climbed up they wouldn't all collapse beneath him.

When he finally got the boxes stacked he started the climb. Everything was going well until the third to the last box. The stack started to shake then stopped. Andrew reached the hole and put the circle shape part into the reactor.

The reactor lit up as Andrew got scared and fell off the stack into a pile of boxes. The computers in the room turned on everywhere.

The chip, Andrew thought. Tron had it, but here must have taken it when he disappeared. Now what do I do.

Andrew started to search to see if the chip was still actually there. He then spotted a thing that looked like a chip on top of one of the boxes.

He took the chip and stepped over to the computer and put it into a slot. The computer said, "Transporting back home." Andrew stood still and then disappeared from the Core Reactor Room.

Delxis and Draigen stood back as Andrew appeared in the room from out of the computer. Andrew returned to his normal look in his normal clothes.

"Congratulations," Delxis said patting Andrew on the back. "It seems you are the one we have been looking for."

"Is that good or bad?" Andrew asked as Delxis laughed.

"Good."

"Now we can start," Draigen began. "Our plan if you agree to join us. If not you will be killed and your family lost forever."

"You have my family?" Andrew asked.

"No," Delxis started. "But if you help us we will tell you where you can find your family. So do you agree?"

Andrew looked at Draigen and Delxis and then said, "What do I have to do to know the location of them?"

"Well," Delxis began walking over to the computer as Draigen stared at Andrew. "How much do you know about the Key of Time?"

Part Three

Chapter Sixteen Loss of Altitude

Mickey, Donald, and Goofy sat around a table in the living area. Concern was surrounding them with the problems of where to go.

"I think we should go to Agrabah," Goofy suggested. "I here it is nice this time of year. I like the heat a little too."

"Stop thinking about yourself!" Donald barked out. "We should go to the Pride Lands. They seem to be in need of help."

"Why not just go to the world closest to us," Mickey said as Donald and Goofy looked at him. "And that would be the Castle."

"The castle?" Donald asked.

"Beast's Castle?" Goofy chimed in.

"That is it," Mickey said standing up. "It is the closest world. Why not go there instead of flying around everywhere trying to make up our minds on where to go."

"I like it," Goofy said smiling.

"I don't," Donald said.

"Well three beats one," Goofy said.

"There are only two of you," Donald recuperated. "You knucklehead! Why can't you think straight? Did you get dropped on your head when you were a child?"

"I actually did," Goofy answered.

Donald mumbled something as Mickey joined in and said, "That is enough. I'm going to tell Huey that we have made up our mines on the location." Mickey exited the room as Donald and Goofy followed.

The hallway was cold and they walked into the control room. Jacob was sitting on the bench watching Huey working at the computers that they had gotten back online.

"Set course for Beast's Castle, Huey," Donald said proudly. He looked at Huey and saw he was ignoring him. "Huey, did you here me?" Huey still did not respond. "Huey, listen to me right now!"

"Yes Uncle Donald?" Huey asked looking at him.

"Set course for Beast's Castle," Mickey said.

"Why are we going there?" Jacob asked.

"It is the closest," Goofy said. "And did you know I was dropped on my head when I was a small child?"

"Anyway," Jacob started. "Is that world in peril?"

"All of them are," Mickey said. "But since it is the closest world in peril I thought it may be a good place to stop."

"Just because it is close?" Jacob questioned.

"And in peril," Goofy but in.

"Oh no!" Huey shouted as he fell out of his seat. Everyone rushed over to him and noticed the computers had gone black. It felt like they were falling. "We are losing altitude!"

"What does that mean?" Donald asked.

"If we don't get systems back," Huey said. "We are going to crash and there are no worlds there that will break the fall."

"Meaning what?" Jacob asked.

"We are going to fall into the past," Huey replied.

Mickey and Jacob looked at each other and then both said, "Is there anyway to move the ship so that we crash onto a world?"

"Not unless we get controls back up!" Dewey and Louie said entering the room. "And it seems altitude is dropping rapidly!"

"How do we get controls back?" Mickey asked as the lights went out.

"We can't now!" Louie answered.

"Now what?" Donald asked.

"This doesn't seem good," Jacob chimed in.

"What happens next?" Goofy shouted out.

Huey, Dewey, and Louie all knew the answer and knew the others wouldn't like. They knew it would destroy all of the last hopes of surviving the fall.

"We crash."

"It wasn't there," Lok said reporting to Maleficent in the chamber the gathering of villains met in. "No sign of it at all was there."

"Well," Maleficent began. "There are other worlds."

"Halloweentown doesn't have it," Oogie Boogie came in. "I must have checked 1 gillion times."

"It is a billion you idiot," Scar chimed in.

"Shut up!" Pete yelled. "Continue Maleficent."

"I don't know if Atlantica has it yet," Ursula said. "I have yet to finish searching since the ocean is a big place. Flotsam and Jetsam are looking for it as I speak."

"Good," Maleficent replied. "Keep at it."

"If Neverland had it," Captain Hook said. "It is gone. I will check my ship because that boy Peter Pan may have hidden it somewhere clever as a practical joke not knowing the power it contained."

"The Key of Time is not in the Pride Lands," Scar but in. "I have had my hyenas search the entire world."

"Keep searching everyone," Maleficent said. "We need that Key of Time. If the boy or the DARKNESS get a hold on it we are finished."

Jacob woke up. He looked around and noticed something very strange. Everything was in black and white. There was no color anywhere.

The landscape was cartoonish like a person's doodles. There was a river to the right and a steamboat going down it. There was a small dock a couple feet wide and a few trees with different kinds of animals walking around like people.

"Where are we?" Jacob asked.

"Oh wow," Mickey began. "This is the world of Disney's past."