.:Mickey's Toontown:.
"If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is because everything would be what it isn't.
And contrary-wise; what it is it wouldn't be, and what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?"
~ Alice in Wonderland
"When you pass under the bridge you turn into a cartoon!" Emmett announced.
Nessie giggled. "No you don't."
"Are you sure about that, little missy?"
Looking ahead, Nessie saw that everyone on the other side of the archway didn't look like a cartoon. She mentioned that to her uncle.
"Well, of course they don't—we're still on this side."
"Okay, then let's go!"
"That's the spirit!"
Emmett lifted her onto his shoulders and headed for Mickey's Toontown with the rest of their family in tow. Inside Toontown were brightly colored, quirky houses and buildings. Everything needed in a town was there, from city hall to a gas station. A jolly Trolley bounced happily down the main street with its passengers. The entire town was just a fun, whimsical looking place, straight out of a cartoon.
Except for the people.
"See? We're still not cartoons."
"Well, of course not — cartoon people don't see themselves as cartoons. Do I have to explain everything?"
Nessie looked at the rest of her family, exasperated. They only shrugged, amused smiles on their faces.
The Cullens went off to explore. They took numerous pictures — one by the mailbox that talked whenever you opened the little door; one by the jail cell where the kids climbed on the bars, some hanging upside down; another when pretending to drive the silly-faced car in Goofy's Gas Station, where the gas tanks were actually fish bowls...
Crossing the street, they ended up at Goofy's Playhouse. There were not a lot of families in Toontown this early, and so the Cullen kids were having fun bouncing along the house with Nessie. Carlisle and Esme watched outside; however, Esme was quite tempted to go in there just to drag Emmett out, as every time he landed by the window his parents were standing next to, he rubbed it in her face that jumping on furniture was allowed in this house, because this house was fun. Carlisle assured her they didn't have to take Emmett home if she didn't want to.
When they were through with that, they went to Donald's Boat, the Miss Daisy. It was filled with ladders and staircases to climb, lots of fun things to play with, and a great view up on deck. Nessie's imagination threw everyone in her family into specific roles on the ship. Alice was the lookout, Edward and Jacob were guards against Rosalie, Bella and Esme, the evil witches. Carlisle was the magic healer. Jasper was stationed behind the wheel. Emmett got maid duty... In rebellion, he constantly blew the ship's horn whenever Nessie wasn't looking, getting him in endless amounts of trouble with the tiny captain. A few random kids wanted to play, too, and Nessie was very welcoming. Actually, the kids had so much fun that Rosalie encouraged that they explore the rest of Toontown together. The children loved it, and Rosalie became their leader. As the parents and the rest of the Cullens followed behind, snapping pictures wherever they went, Rosalie lead the children throughout Toontown, sometimes revisiting play areas they've already seen (wherever made the children happy). They even sang "Following the Leader".
We're following the leader, the leader, the leader.
We're following the leader, wherever she may go.
Tee dum, tee dee, a teedle ee doe tee day.
We're out for fun and this is the game we play.
Come on, join in and sing your troubles away,
with a teedle ee dum, a teedle ee doe tee day.
Soon, they found themselves taking a cartoon taxi on a tour of the back alleys of Toontown, spinning the whole way. They did watch out for the weasels, but it did no good!
They ended their journey with a climb up the narrow, winding staircase into Chip'n'Dale's Treehouse. Edward told Emmett and Jacob — being the largest two in the group— that they should probably wait outside for this one, but both boys were determined to see the inside of the chipmunks' house just like everyone else. And so nobody helped them when they both got stuck, finding it amazingly difficult to squeeze their way through.
Nessie said goodbye to her new friends, and then asked Edward what they were going to do next.
He smiled and answered, "We can't forget to visit the homes of Toontown's two most important citizens, now can we?"
"You mean Mickey and Minnie?" Nessie's eyes lit up.
"That's exactly who I mean."
"Yay!"
They got in line for Minnie Mouse's house first. Minnie was on her porch, signing autographs and taking pictures. When the Cullens were next, Alice climbed the porch steps first, and then gasped. At first, everyone thought it was because she was excited. But then she said, "Minnie, what are you wearing? Those polka dots are so last century!"
Emmett and Jacob were trying not to snicker, while Nessie's mouth had dropped open.
"Alice!" Esme chastised. "You look lovely, Minnie. Don't mind anything my daughter says."
Minnie put her hand over her mouth, laughing. Then she simply looked down at her outfit, twirled, and posed.
"Hmmm..." Alice thought for a moment, her face softening. "Well, I suppose you're right. It does look good on you."
Minnie nodded and everyone laughed.
After taking a picture with her, the Cullens went into her house (with her permission, of course) and toured the various rooms. The place was like an over-sized doll house. It was all very feminine and "girly", in the words of Jacob; but he didn't really seem to mind, as Nessie was happy. She enjoyed the fanciful appliances in Minnie's kitchen, and even got Bella to play with Minnie's dressing mirror. Out in the garden, Edward gave her a penny to make a wish in the wishing well.
Next, it was off to the home of the mouse who started it all.
Upon entering, they went through Mickey's living room first. They took a picture of Nessie pretending to play Mickey's piano, while Jacob was laying in Pluto's dog bed, with a yummy bone and everything — that was Rosalie's idea. Then they passed Mickey's cleaning supplies, which were enchanted to do the work without any aid. The brooms from Fantasia were there, holding their buckets of water; Edward started humming the Sorcerer's Apprentice tune. Beside the broom was a mirror, and Nessie decided she wanted it in her room because every so often Mickey would appear in it.
Deeper into the house they entered the garden, which lead into a room with a line of people and a big screen. Donald and Goofy were not-so-professionally handling the film projector. The film playing kept the Cullens and the other guests entertained as they waited to meet Mickey, who was said to be filming Fantasia today but was kind enough to meet with them in his dressing room during his breaks.
While in line, guests up front started quietly chatting, as the film was starting over again. Jacob asked Nessie what her favorite part of Toontown was so far, and she started using her fingers to tick her favorite adventures off. When she got to how much fun Minnie's house was, Emmett wondered something. He turned to his siblings.
"Does anybody else find it odd that Mickey and Minnie have separate homes? I mean, aren't they married? Or, are both their last names 'Mouse'...? In which case: SOUL MATES!"
"I've never thought about that before," Carlisle said. "That's quite funny. I'm not actually sure if they are married. In most cartoons, Mickey was courting her, but in some they had a family. I suppose, either way, both their last names are Mouse."
"Well..." Edward mused, "they live close to one another, and they each have different rooms. For instance, Minnie has a kitchen — Mickey does not."
"So," Rosalie said, "they each have half a house that is built right next to the other."
"I wish me and my husband could work out such an arrangement," an eavesdropping elderly woman said, and they all shared a laugh.
The Cullens were next up to see Mickey. A cast member escorted them down the hall, to the front of Mickey's dressing room. He asked Nessie if she knew Mickey's theme song, and, with a little prompting from her family, she sang the verse that spelled out Mickey Mouse's name. With that, the doors opened and they were allowed to enter. Nessie ran straight for Mickey, right into his arms, giving him a big hug. The family joined them, and the picture was taken.
The experience made Nessie want her own pair of Mickey (or Minnie) ears. Alice found little clip on ears that would fit around her princess tiara. It looked perfect.
Now, it was time to exit Toontown.
Before leaving, however, all the Cullens rode the kid-sized Gadget's Go Coaster, just because they could!
OoOoOoO
On their way back through Fantasyland — the only path that lead from Toontown to the other Lands of Disney — there was a crowd of people in front of King Arthur's Carousel that caught the Cullens' attention. Nobody could clearly see what was going on, but they heard the voice of an old man, and music playing. Nessie pulled her parents over to go see what was happening. They squeezed up front, and the better view showed that Merlin had appeared, right next to the sword in the stone. He was announcing that the realm was having a leadership crisis and was, therefore, in need of a temporary ruler. But could someone be found who had the requisite courage and strength to be the new ruler? There was only one way to tell: Whoever could pull the sword from the stone.
"Here in my magic bag is the Magic Ruler Selecting Rod," Merlin was saying.
"What a creative name," Emmett commented.
"This Rod will help me find who is qualified to be our temporary ruler."
The Rod began to shake, and then it was on the move. Merlin was pulled back and forth in front of the audience as the Rod searched for someone capable of the task that had to be done. The Rod stopped suddenly, pointing directly at a bored looking man in the back of the small crowd. "Oh, you sir! You sir- No, not you. You. Yes. No! Yes! Sir, I believe the Rod has chosen you. What is your name? ... Sir John, everyone! Come on down here, Sir John."
The audience clapped as Merlin beckoned the young man forward.
In the end, though, the guy failed miserably.
The wizard was, at first, confused that the Rod had failed. Then he started laughing and apologized that the mistake was that the settings were set to find a Knight, not a Ruler. Merlin shooed the man back to his family, shaking his head in embarrassment.
"Lets try this again." As Merlin kept a tight grip on the Magic Ruler Selecting Rod as it made it's way around the crowd, his old eyes landed on the attractive Cullens, and the lovely, bronze-haired maiden— all decked out in her Belle dress—who was staring back at him in wonderment. (She'd never met a wizard before.)
"Hmm? Oh! The magic rod has caught something! Maybe there is a hero worthy over here. I can feel it; the magic Rod knows it. It's a strong one, alright."
There was a bunch of waving hands, but Merlin stopped in front of the Cullens.
"Here it is! Someone in this family, I presume. Hmmm..."
As Merlin was about to pick Nessie, the little girl pointed behind her and said, "My uncle Emmett can do it! He's the strongest person in the world!"
Merlin looked at Emmett, and couldn't deny he looked intimidating. Emmett stood there with his arms folded over his chest, muscles bulging, towering over the people around him. The whole crowd was looking at him now, probably beginning to feel a little uneasy with no explanation at all... Emmett grinned.
"Alrighty then, we have it," Merlin said, stepping aside and gesturing the burly man forward. "Come on, Uncle Emmett. Time is wasting, the realm needs you."
"Yeah, Uncle Emmett, get out there!" Jacob guffawed, pushing him out of the crowd and to the sword.
Emmett was introduced as "Sir Uncle Emmett".
"Whenever you're ready," Merlin told him, animatedly throwing his hands up. "Lift the sword!"
Emmett stepped up to the sword...and began to stretch.
After a solid minute went by, a random person in the back of the crowd yelled, "Pull the sword!"
Emmett froze and shouted back, "Hey, you don't want a hero with a pulled muscle, do ya?"
"If you are the rightful hero the sword will come out easily," Merlin said simply.
Emmett gave him a look. He was deciding whether to follow the rules...or yank out the sword all the way just to see the look on the old man's face. A look from Edward—a look from everyone in the family who knew him too well—told him to play by the rules.
"Fine," Emmett said to Merlin. "Here I go."
Emmett first tried to pull the sword out with one hand—it didn't budge. He added his other hand and pretended to pull up with a great amount of strength. Then, he decided to play it up a little and seemed to be trying to yank the sword out with all the strength he could muster. He really seemed to be struggling, and, in the end, his acting made it worth it, because Nessie was downright confused. She knew that if anyone could pull out a sword from a stone and anvil it would be a vampire above a human, and it would be her uncle above any other vampire. But here Emmett couldn't get it to move an inch. Silently, she asked her father what was wrong, but he didn't answer. Edward, for his part, was trying not to laugh at Emmett's antics, for it would give him away.
"Gah," Emmett breathed in defeat, letting go of the sword's handle. "Well, that didn't work at all."
"No, no, it didn't," Merlin agreed, starting to lead Emmett back to his family, forlorn. "You might be a hero to somebody," he looked at the bronze-haired princess, "but you are still not the Ruler we seek." He stared at Nessie for a moment. "Could it be," he murmured, "a child? A child! Young maiden, perhaps the Rod meant you. Let us give it a try, shall we?"
Me? Nessie squeaked in her head. She looked up at her family. They were smiling. When she looked back at Merlin, he had his hand held out.
"There seems to be something very special about you. Ladies and gentleman, what do you think?" There was agreement and applause. "There, you see? They sense it, too."
"You can do it, Nessie," Jacob and Rosalie encouraged.
"Yeah, you have to avenge me," Emmett chuckled.
"Just believe with all your heart," Bella said, letting go of her daughter's hand.
"We're counting on you," Edward added.
Nessie looked at them with her wide eyes and knew she had to do it, for them, for her family.
"OK," she said with a rush of determination.
Merlin took her hand and lead her to the sword. He asked for her name, and then introduced her as he did the other.
"Lady Renesmee, everyone! How old are you, dear?"
She took a moment to remember her body's age. "Seven."
"Seven-years-old! What a wonderful age to be, don't you think?"
"Yeah. It has it's advantages."
There were chuckles from the adults in the audience.
"Great!" Merlin clapped his hands. "Now, clear you mind, young maiden. Clear your mind of all thoughts but one: courage. Fill your mind with courageous thoughts." There was a pause. "Is your mind clear?"
"Yes."
"Excellent! On the count of three, pull the sword halfway out—you're only a temporary ruler, you know?
"One... Two... Three."
There was a moment of silence. Nessie closed her eyes and pulled the sword. She didn't have to pull hard at all, with just her touch, the sword gently lifted from it's stone. Bright trumpets sounded at her success.
"You've done it!" Merlin cried in merriment. "You've done it! Ladies and gentlemen, our new ruler: Queen Renesmee!"
There was cheering, whistling, and applause as Renesmee was proclaimed "Temporary Ruler of the Realm" and was given all the privileges and responsibilities that went with it... OK, so really she received a "Sword in the Stone" medal and a certificate acknowledging her accomplishment, but it felt so much bigger than that to her. To her, it was like making her family proud and happy in front of the whole world, and that was magical.
OoOoOoO
"For a true hero isn't measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart."
~Herculese
Oooo, Frontierland is next! :]
Thank you for your wonderful reviews!
On a side note, one of my favorite childhood memories happened in Toontown. I was playing on a playground they used to have there (they took it out T~T) and Chip appeared. He started playing with me. He even let me pull him all around Toontown; I thought that only happened in those Disney videos, not real life, so I was so excited. :D Best birthday ever!