Note: It's been awhile, sorry. But NONE of my updates are on an scheduele, so this is a norm for me. More exposition, yes, but this time, things get a little…trippy. Hope you enjoy!

Characters and locations © of Disney

Chapter 2-Midnight Surprise

The chattering and growing sea of mummers began to die down upon the sound of an orchestral score reaching everyone's ears, whatever conversation about the weather or anything else immediately coming to a halt. As soon as the lyrics to accompany the booming music began, everyone saw fit to erupt in an equally loud, booming cheer, an all-too-familiar voice ringing just a pitch of volume above the excitable sea of tourists.

"Welcome to the splendor, the spectacle, the sparkling sensation, where the comedy and thrill of Disney fantasies come to electric life. And now, the Magic Kingdom proudly presents, in a million points of musical light, the magic worlds of Disney…in Spectro Magic!"

Toby

The African American high schooler felt it all a little too bizarre. Of course, the scheduled float bearing the title of the parade, studded in those 'million points of musical light' (though how light could be considered musical was beyond him), the spherical floats of equally sparkling lights 'floating' on by along with the jester-like figures garbed in lights pranced and blew their trumpets, something didn't feel…normal. Normal was the best word to describe it, as he didn't exactly know WHAT to call the strange, unnerving sensation going down his spine. A boy of his physique was quite ready and able to leap and dash out of danger's way, yet he didn't feel fear, more along the lines of…peculiarity. An element in the environment around him had changed, yet he couldn't for the life of him discern what. His cheering parents along with the rest of the crowd around him rang no bells, yet his eyes caught something that instantly gave him the answer he had been searching for.

Having gone some years ago and seen this parade as a child, along with all the viewing from his father's treasured home videos, he knew the part early on in the parade where Mickey, garbed in an unmoving, glowing cape would play around with a glass ball with electricity touching the walls, he thinking this was the source powering the parade when he was young, he thought. Yet what met his sight was both what fit his description of the parade, yet it was also something he had NEVER seen and NEVER thought possible.

Mickey was there, stationed atop the platform toying with the electric ball, yet it bore no likeness to the costumed mascot he met with earlier that day on his father's frivolous picture crusade, in fact, in didn't bear any likeness to anything human. What he saw was a small figure with a large head and perfectly circular ears that he estimated would reach up to his thigh. His limbs were thinner than, quite literally, humanly possible, enlarged hands and feet completing the figure's form perfectly. It was Mickey Mouse. Not a costumed employee or even as farfetched as it sounded, some robotic addition to the parade, but THE Mickey Mouse. Toby couldn't help but freeze up upon seeing the mouse's oval eyes shift over and look directly at him: not the crowd where he was standing, HIM. The mouse's lips curled into a cheerful, greeting smile, though this did little to ease his peaking confusion and panic.

"Some night we're having, huh?"

Toby's breath caught in his throat. He spoke. He spoke in a PERFECTLY executed impression, no, it WAS Mickey Mouse's voice. As the float rolled on by, the small dose of unreal phenomenon now presented itself on full display for the teenager to see fully. The musical section lead by a costumed Genie now was replaced by a blue specter, his uniform still worn, yet his legs were entirely missing, the ghostly tail that bore much more transparency whizzing and swirling around as he conducted now 'floating' instruments. Where the costumed Goofy should've been was, of course, a 'real' Goofy stood, banging on the drums and going completely off Genie's tempo, yet both seemed to not care as the blaring background music took care of whatever mishap the dog made.

"Aw yeah! Swing it, Goofy!" the azure being of 'phenomenal cosmic power' joyfully exclaimed, this intensifying Goofy's performance even more.

Toby's mouth then openly unhinged at the sight that lay before him afterward. As he expected, Chip and Dale would be playing the piano dressed in white, lit up tuxedos. Yet they were not so much playing as much as dancing on the keys. Rather, Chip was hopping from one key to another attempting to keep up with the notes, while Dale casually (and not so gracefully) pirouetted and hopped in the fashion of a ballerina only to fall flat on his face, his companion sighing and lifting him up before giving him a light knock on the back of the head.

"I know it's not going to matter if I even say this, but…"

Melanie

'What in the WORLD is going on?!'

She couldn't do anything but stand flabbergasted at what lay before her. Two small rodents were 'playing' a piano, and before that…Genie and Goofy…and before that, Mickey…she had to have lost her mind. There was no other explanation, she was clinically insane or had now just discovered her buried strain of schizophrenia had decided to reveal itself. Then a float displaying a giant peacock was coming forward, the bird bowing and presenting itself to the crowd. Definitely schizophrenia.

Her curiosity reaching its peak, she turned her head and looked around, studying the faces of everyone around her: her 'chaperones' and their…children, the people surrounding them, and then the people surrounding them. All were cheering and had a smile plastered on their faces, yet…no one seemed at all shocked or confused as to what was going on; almost as if…they couldn't see what she saw. Out of her peripheral vision came an intense, green glow, the brightness of it overpowering and when she turned to see the source of it, it took every muscle and every ounce of what little bravery she had to not hightail it from that spot that very instant.

An enormous dragonfly fluttered in front of her, its large multi-sectioned eyes being the source of the intense light. Her eyes slightly adjusting to the glow, Melanie could then focus on the insect's large, multi-colored wings. Each section of the thin material was comprised of a different pastel color, they melding and melting into each other, swirls and smudges of color colliding with each other. Looking past her newest company, she expected to find as much, she saw similar giant insects fluttering and going down the street: butterflies of the purest glowing wings, and more dragonflies akin to her visitor.

"Ooooh, would you get back here! You'll scare somebody!"

The bug turned its long body towards the source of the voice, it then turning to give Melanie one last look before begrudgingly obeying whomever commanded it. She quickly found out whom the voice belonged to.

A float with a forest setting slowly strolled on by, three older women were stationed atop it: all three sporting what she compared to either medieval or renaissance era clothing with pointed hats, carrying long sticks of white with shining lights emitting from the tips. Yet the most telling sign of who they were was the pair of small wings protruding from each of their backs.

Fauna noticed the stray dragonfly had zoomed back, he instantly going to her both out of eagerness and avoidance of the blue one that demanded he come back.

"Hmm? Yes, what's that dear?" she asked, the incest buzzing and flapping his wings excitedly. Once he had relayed his message, the green fairy gained a similar expression and pulled her two sisters close.

"Flora, Merrywhether! We found one! We found one!"

The blue dressed fairy's mind instantly turned from the parade. "What?! Already!?"

"Did he tell you who, Fauna? Who is it?" Flora inquired, attempting to keep calm, yet she was just about to burst due to the announcement.

"It's a girl! It's a sweet, lovely girl!" Fauna exclaimed, she motioning her wand to an already flabbergasted Melanie, both her fear and confusion at an all time high.

Michelle

"Okay, so…it's official I'm not the only one seeing this?"

"Yep. And unless somebody spiked the Cokes in the vending machines, I don't know HOW we're seeing this."

Giant insects were one thing, yet the strange forces behind this bizarre twisting of reality seemed to like to top themselves. Fish. Giant fish. Giant fish bobbing up and down as if in water. The lighting effects on them seemed to be more of an afterthought to the both of them.

"Hey, there baby!" one red fish greeted, Michelle stepping back a bit whilst Bobby firmly reminded her with a grip to her arm that they probably shouldn't draw too much attention, more then they've already attracted apparently. The fish continued. "Maybe you and I can catch some waves sometime later." He winked before 'floating' down the road.

"No thanks, buddy." Michelle replied, feeling quite awkward due to a fish of all things flirting with her (though she couldn't entirely blame him, she WAS a bombshell to look at in her personal opinion), and the fact Bobby would kill her if she raised her voice too loud. "I don't do sushi." While the retort didn't earn her a tongue lashing, it earned her an eye roll from her 'brother to be'. "What?" she defensively asked, he sighing in response.

"Look, I'm just as confused as you are, but really, let's just wait until we get back to the hotel before either of us-"

"OH MY GOSH! LOOK!"

Too late. He would've berated her right there, but he looked ahead to see what had stirred his equally aged, yet obviously less mature, 'sister to be' into such a frenzy. He soon got his answer.

"Oh, Flounder! There they are!"

Michelle's attention was quickly drawn away from the octopus, another float coming forward, her adrenaline soon being replaced with serotonin as she immediately pin-pointed out a young woman with vibrant red hair sitting atop a platform. She came closer, she and her fish friend looking to them instantly.

"Hi!" Ariel waved, Flounder doing likewise with one small blue fin.

Michelle didn't care if it wasn't 'real' or not anymore. Her hero had just addressed her. "Hi! Oh gosh, I am SUCH a fan! I-" her words were halted by a hand clasping over her mouth.

The mermaid couldn't help but giggle at this. 'He and Sebastian would probably get along.'

"Hey, how did you get your hair like that?" Arial inquired, Michelle's heart stopping upon hearing her speaking to her once again. "You mind showing me how when you get the chance?"

"I…I…oh…oh gosh…I…s-sure! I'd LOVE to! Anything for you!"

Bobby

All he could do was hold his head in his hands and do his best to pretend he didn't know the girl he was standing next to at that moment. If Michelle's 'fan-girling' wasn't enough, he already noticed many eyes beginning to shift their way, some people whispering to themselves about the two crazy kids across from them, he thought. Looking to her, he saw that she was still extremely giddy, even after the 'animated' mermaid had passed, he just going back and attempting to make sense of whatever was happening.

The theories were quickly being slaughtered, and the alligator attempting to lift up a hippo garbed in a tutu didn't help matters in the slightest. The reptile must've noticed him (oh, weren't THEY popular tonight) as he struggled under the water mammal's weight.

"Hey kid! You wanna take a lift?" he asked, his voice strained.

The hippo looked down at her 'partner', giddily smiling and stroking his bill with a free hand. "Oh, isn't my sweetie-plum just the greatest? So strong…and handsome!"

"I am NOT your sweetie-plum!"

"Playing hard to get just makes you cuter!"

"Whatever."

The float passed by, the two of them still conversing on the status of their 'relationship' as even MORE ballet-dancing animals came into view, namely ostriches. They didn't seem to be busy, as he didn't see any MALE ostriches or any male animals around them for that matter. He swallowed hard, hopping the noise of the music and cheering crowd would be enough to drown out the noise.

"Uh, hello? Hello!"

One turned her head towards him. "Hm? Oh! You can see us?"

"Well, yeah. Hey listen, what's going on-"

"Oh girls! We found another one!" she reported to her fellow 'flock' each of them happily bouncing at the news.

"Oh, Mickey will be happy to hear about this!"

Bobby's eyes grew wide. Did they mean that Mickey? The Mickey had seen at the beginning of this whole 'invisible' fiasco? Something bigger was going on, he suspected that much, but for what? More importantly, why? Oh no, the float was going away!

"Wait! What's going on? What do you mean another one?"

Brandon

"I mean that you're one of 'them'."

"Yep, one of 'them' alright!"

"Definitely one of 'them'."

Brandon was surprised that his heart hadn't given out at this point due to the fact that three pigs were now talking to him. Upon seeing the characters had…he didn't know what to call it, but he knew he could interact with them, and decided to then start 'interrogating' each one that he could catch the attention of.

"One of whom?" he asked, knowing the parade was near its end. "Who am I in this? Who's 'them'?"

The three swine looked to each other, then back to him. "We can't say for sure yet."

"Not yet, but just you wait."

"Yeah, wait. Ask the other guys."

"Other guys?"

"No time to talk!"

"Here they come now!"

"Get your questions out to them!"

The Philippine teenager looked down the path, more and more characters bending his reality to their will walking and waving to the unsuspecting crowd or doing so from atop floats. As the floats moved closer, his brown irises caught glimpse of a female mouse and a duck garbed in navy wear greeting the excitable crowd, both of them stopping instantly upon seeing him focusing intensely on them and them alone.

Minnie was the first to speak. "I suppose you're waiting for an explanation, right?"

"That's the general idea." Brandon responded. "Either I'm insane, or these are some of the best special effects I've ever seen. It can't be both."

"Well…" Donald started, feathered finger tapping his bill. "It's kinda…well…it's sort of…"

"Let me guess: complicated, right? Sorry, but I'm kinda tired of hearing the same thing over and over again."

"Don't interrupt me! I was gonna say that!"

"Donald, please!" the mouse shushed, the duck folding his arms in a huff, still pouting. "I promise, Brandon, we'll-"

"Wait, what did you say? How in the world do you know my name?"

"Like I said, we'll explain everything later. For now…" she looked back, Donald going back to waving and interacting with the crowd, but NOT facing the teenager that vexed him. "For now, it'd be best for you to just enjoy the rest of the parade tonight and get some rest." The float went on by, she turning her head around to still face him before turning back. "You'll need it for what's to come."

The boy's confidence and fiery determination for answers halted and literally froze over. What's to come? He was at Disney World! His grandfather and aunt brought him here to ride rides (or at least whatever they deemed not too 'stressful' for him), and chew bubblegum. Of course, he was all out of gum. Yet the fact stood that he was here on VACATION. Last time he checked, vacations were the perfect excuses to go crazy with everything you can get your hands on (his urges were growing), and be a lazy slob all at the same time! What was this whole thing to come?!

"Some show, huh sport?" his grandfather's husky voice asked, he shifting his eyes from the ending parade to the elderly man.

"Y-yeah! Sure thing!"

Disney Hotels

Toby smiled like his parents, they still going on about how well the day had went. He couldn't deny it, yet the all-encompassing confusion unseen by only him he assumed set back his early, happy encounters with characters and riding rides. His mind wandered back to Mickey. Truth be told, he was one of the few that actually directly communicated with him. Though he was somewhat grateful for it, the fact he communicated with him at all still unnerved him. Not in the sense that the mouse would possibly harm him (it was freaking Mickey Mouse of all people!), yet the element of 'how' eluded him. It was that missing element that kept his mind on edge, almost as if he was facing the opposing team at school again: counting each player, looking for any gaps or weak links in the group, forming a strategy in his mind to victory. For now, the 'how' was the victory, yet…he had no idea how to get to it.

RING! RING!

The African American boy nearly leapt out of his skin, his parents drawn from their activities to see such an uncharacteristic display of fright from their son.

"You alright there, honey?" his mother asked, he making his way to his cell phone ringing on the table.

He opened it, sighed, and then went into the bathroom. "Hello?" he asked, though he knew well who it was.

"Oh hi! Oh, it's not too late is it?" a feminine voice rang out, bubbly and optimistic, a slight hint of an Asian accent lining the voice.

"No, I was just getting ready for bed. Looks like you caught me at the right time, Tiffany." He responded, inwardly groaning to himself.

"Good! So, how was the Happiest Place on Earth today?"

"It…it was good." He rushed out, not exactly wishing to be open with what happened tonight just yet, possibly never.

Tiffany instantly detected the nervousness in his voice. "The Happiest Place on Earth was just 'good'? Toby…are you okay?"

"Y-yeah, fine! Look, I've gotta go to bed soon, so I'll see you later Tiffany."

"Hey, wait! Let's decide on times for me to call!"

"Could that wait until tomorrow?"

"Great idea, you call me!"

"What?! Wait, I didn't mean-"

"You're always so sweet, Toby! Buh-bye!"

He couldn't get another word out as the phone hung up. Oh wonderful. He'd probably forget to even call her at all, which would then lead to her calling him, which would lead to him getting an earful from her about how 'he didn't call' and 'where he was' and most cringe worthy, 'don't you like talking to me'.

He brushed his teeth, mouthwash included, he washed it all out with a small cup of water before making his dwelling place for the next few hours in the bed by the window. His father had the TV turned on, Total Recall playing on the screen. Toby couldn't look at the screen for long, turning away from the TV and looking to the blinded window.

"You all right, Toby?" his father asked, his usually joyful tone now with a twinge of worry.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I guess I'm just…" he paused, feigning a yawn. "…just a little tired, that's all."

"Well then, rest up because it's going to be like this for a whole week!" he answered, his happy, almost childish vigor returning instantly.

'For the rest of the week…hope not.'

12:00 AM

All five teenagers had their eyelids flutter open, the clocks in each bedroom making each inwardly groan. Once they were up, they were up, and going BACK to sleep was what required effort, yet for some unexplainable reason…each of them had their nerves on edge and hair rising on the back of their necks. No one could discern why such a response was felt, yet the sensation was clear: something was not right.

Toby

His cell phone began to vibrate, the white, hot light shining through the darkness. He grabbed it, mainly due to the fact his parents would undeniably be rather irritable being woken up at this hour, yet what stirred his mind was WHO in the world would be calling him at this hour of night?

"Hello?" he whispered.

His blood ran cold upon hearing the squeaky, high-pitched voice that answered him.

"Get to the Monorail station as fast as you can, Toby. And yes, this IS who you think it is."

Melanie

"Brouw! Raow, raow!"

"Pluto! Put that down! I don't think she speaks dog."

Oh, so THAT explained the indescribable barking. For a second, she though she had fallen for a prank call. She assumed Minnie had gotten ahold of the phone as she could hear her more clearly.

Bobby and Michelle

"How can you be so freaking calm?! Donald and Daisy freaking Duck are calling us-"

"Would you just be quiet? I'm TRYING to listen to what he's saying."

"You're trying to listen to what HE'S saying? I'm surprised you can even understand it." Michelle remarked, slipping on her shirt.

Bobby ignored her, turning his attention back to his conversation whilst apparently she had already gone back to hers.

"…I'm not THAT hard to understand…right?"

Brandon

"Okay, so just go to the Monorail station? How long is this even going to take?" Brandon inquired the dog communicating to him as he strolled down the hotel's hallway.

"Yep! Just go on ahead, and get on the first train ya see! You'll know you're in the right place when them other kids arrive too."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Other kids? What other kids-"

A crash was heard before the connection died, Brandon cursing Goofy's trademark antics as he quickened his pace.

Monorail Station

It didn't take too long of a walk from the hotel to this location. At least from Toby's perspective, yet given his role in his school's 'pride and joy' of financing itself, it was probably mainly due to the endurance he was forced to build. The mouse he couldn't believe even now he had just conversed with was indeed correct; the train-like transportation system was indeed there, yet he was the only one there.

"He-hello?" a small, feminine voice asked.

Coming out of the shadows was the same girl he had caught sight of before the parade started, her beanie still snug around her head.

"Oh…uh…hello." Toby replied, while indeed expecting others to come as his contact DID say, he didn't exactly expect it to be her of all people.

Melanie, upon seeing he recognized her, she felt her nerves ease up slightly, she looking around to see if anyone else had come yet. "So…I guess I'm not the only one who saw something…'weird' tonight?"

"No way! You too?!"

Both teens turned their heads to see two blondes running towards them, the boy lagging behind the girl whose braids were bouncing wildly. Now it was Melanie's turn to be hit with déjà vu.

"Wait…you two saw Mickey and…and those giant bugs?"

"Forget the bugs! Did you see those fish? They were, like, swimming in air!" Michelle retorted, Bobby only nodding in reply.

"That and dancing alligators, hippos, and ostriches. Oh my."

"Looks like I'm last to the party."

All four now looked back to see the final one apparently called that night, his eyes intensely gazing upon the train-like vehicle.

"And did anyone get anymore answers than I did?" he inquired, everyone then considering his words before answering.

"Nope."

"I didn't really even ask."

"How could you even think to ask when there's GIANT FISH?"

"Not exactly."

Before the conversation could go on any longer, the doors of the Monorail opened up, revealing an eerily quiet and completely empty train, awaiting five new passengers to come inside.

"You can talk and introduce yourselves when you get on. Please, hurry! This is the only time we're able to do this! All aboard!" Mickey's voice rang through the vehicle's speakers, all five of them still rattled and fearful of even stepping on the train.

All five looked to each other, Toby to Melanie, Michelle to Bobby, and Bobby to Brandon. No one really had ANY idea of what exactly was going on, yet the things the saw that night…and how they were the only ones to see such things…something was going on; something bizarre, unnatural, and completely…literally unreal. It was something that each of them, despite their fear, did want answers for. That was all that was needed for each teenager to step into the Monorail, the doors closing behind him or her and then moving forward, taking him or her to wherever the mouse in charge had in mind to take them.

Note: There's no way I can't make that NOT sound creepy. But really, in a way, given all the things seen, I'd probably want answers too. Plus, it's Mickey Mouse, he's practically harmless! Or is he? Reviews are encouraged and suggestions are welcome!