A.N: Hello every body! :3 and welcome to Chapter Lucky 7 of Mischief Magic!
In this chapter we finally get to meet The Ace of Clubs!
I find it interesting that some people have actually faved my stories but didn't bother to review them…Insectlover I'm looking at you!
Thank you again Squad Unit 19 for reminding me of this first scenario!^.^
Just for the record I guess that technically this is somewhat an Alternate Universe story.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Disney Characters but there are those simple few that do belong to me, and Ember belongs to Squad Unit 19. ^^ Enjoy!
The bustling streets of Toontown were as busy as ever. Cars were lined up and honking to make traffic go faster, and the pedestrian traffic was just as terrible. People were pushing and shoving this way and that. At one point, Minnie almost lost Mickey in the crowd, but she managed to latch onto his arm and dared not to let go.
Eventually, the mice made it out of the busy streets and into the calm serenity of the park. The Ace of Clubs could have run off to anywhere after her scare with Alfonzo. Right now the mice and rabbit were running out of time with one hour to go before noon. But with all the rush out in the streets the mice decided to rest a short while by their favorite tree in a secluded area of the park.
"My it's busy today," Minnie commented with an annoyed tone.
"I'll say, for a moment I thought we were going to get swallowed by the crowd," Mickey joked.
"You almost were. I almost lost you back there," she said as she gave his arm a gentle squeeze.
"Aw gee, I'm sorry Minnie," he apologized with plenty of guilt in his tone.
"It's alright Mickey, it wasn't you, it was all those people pushing and shoving."
"Good point. But there is something I'm really sorry for," he said as his tone became distant in sadness and regret. Minnie turned to him fully as she started to get worried by the tone in his voice.
"What is it Mickey?"
"The Sins, especially Lust. I should've been able to control him better and now I'm afraid that the others will be able to control me just as easily without my permission. I'm Sorry Min, but I don't think it's safe for you to be around me anymore," He said with even more regret. He knew he couldn't live without her, but what choice did he have? He was a monster and a ticking time bomb if the Sins ever fused together. He didn't want her to get hurt because of him.
"I don't care, you need me now more than ever Mickey," she replied with determination in her voice.
"But…I don't want you to get hurt because of me."
"Mickey, I know you would never do anything to hurt me. Whatever happens in the future we'll face it together no matter what," she said calmly and lovingly as she took his hands into hers. Mickey hesitated at her reply. He didn't expect her to still insist on staying by his side after her encounter with Lust. But that encounter got him wondering.
"Minnie, when Lust attempted to kiss you, what did he do exactly?" Mickey asked curiously.
"Well, after he helped me off of the floor, I staggered back into the arch of the kitchen. So, he had me pinned to a corner, but he didn't trap me entirely. He leaned over me on one hand and kinda just stood there, waiting for me to kiss him," she answered blushing a bit upon remembering the moment.
"Hmm, that's weird," he pondered aloud.
"What's weird?" she asked curiously.
"Well, a creature of darkness, like a vampire for instance, can only attack if its presence is accepted. I'm surprised he didn't when you took his hand, or my hand anyway. But then, he did promise…" Mickey explained his reasoning and then trailed off as the word "promise" rang in his head over and over as he started to remember something. Not just the fact that Lust promised to be gentle, but something else entirely. Something that is a great deal of importance to a vampire. Something Lust told him a long time ago in case a vampire were to step in and threaten to take a very important part of his life…Minnie.
(Flashback)
"Vampires choose only one person to drink blood from. They use the term "Bride" to refer to her. They can't exert their full powers unless they suck blood from a person. Thus, a vampire who has yet to choose a bride is not considered a full-fledged vampire. But there is a catch. The whole thing is more like a contract rather than a marriage that you would confuse it with. And the only way for the contract to be completed is if the bride kisses the vampire back. It may be considered a contract, but it's still a promise to be together forever. Therefore, a Bride is a very important part of a vampire's life."
"Why are you tellin' me this Lust?"
"Because Mickey, I am a vampire. It's only natural that I would be, considering that I am the manifestation of Lust and all. And Vampires are considered the very definition of the word. Besides, if and when the time is right you'll be able to tap into my powers alone without being possessed by me. The same goes for the other Sins, though if you don't want the universe to end, I suggest you forget about it and let us possess you from time to time, with restraints of course."
"Oh fudge!" Mickey exclaimed suddenly. With the whole fact in mind Mickey knew he had no other choice but to tell Minnie. For her safety of course, with Alfonzo being a power hungry vampire who most likely didn't get a good look at Minnie on their first encounter. Mickey paled a little at having to tell Minnie about it. Then he blushed at not knowing what her reaction would be if he told her that he was technically a vampire, if he tapped into Lusts powers that is. And according to the nightmare, Alfonzo is also a vampire, then, that would mean Mickey would have to…claim Minnie so Alfonzo wouldn't get to her first.
"What's the matter Mickey?" Minnie asked starting to get worried again.
"Uh, well, uh, see, there's this little thing about vampires I think you should know about Minnie," he admitted, poking his index fingers together. Then he continued to explain every detail about the Bride thing, making sure he didn't leave anything out so she wouldn't get it confused with an actual marriage. He even told her that he was also probably a vampire if he tapped into Lust's powers. He then decided to get right to the point of his concerns.
"I guess what I'm trying to get at is…" He hesitated as he swallowed the lump in his throat, blushing madly as he looked into her eyes, "I'm willing to spend all of eternity with you, but…are you willing to do the same?"
Her reaction surprised him as she wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her in response.
"Oh, Mickey," she cooed as she nuzzled her cheek against his chest, "Of course I am. You know that's what I've always wanted, for us to be together forever. And now I know that's really possible, even if it isn't an official marriage, it still similar enough to me."
Then she pulled back a little and took his face in her hands and closed the distance between their faces, brushing her lips against his in a very passionate and powerful kiss, causing her to moan as her leg went up behind her. A few seconds later they each broke the kiss and pulled back and met the other's smile and eyes.
"I wonder if Oswald and Manfred are having any luck?" Mickey mused at random.
So far, the boys weren't any luckier than Mickey and Minnie, but their luck was about to change. The streets were just as busy on their end of things, and they decided to stop at Sal's Ice Cream Palace for a break of their own from the hullabaloo outside. As usual they were greeted warmly by the owner, founder, and manager of the place, Sal O. Mander as they sat down at the bar seats.
"Hey Oswald, hey Manfred! How's two of my regular customers doin' today?"
"Overwhelmed by traffic of both kinds, but other than that we're fine. And we'll take the usual," Manfred answered as he ordered the food.
"Can I also add in a slice of carrot cake?" Oswald asked.
"Sure thing Oswald! Anything for a favorite customer without a girlfriend."
"Are you still harping about that? For the last time, I'm single not desperate!" the lucky rabbit protested as Sal handed them their orders.
"Aw, you know I'm only teasing you Ozzie, especially since that Carrot cake should remind you of Ember." Oswald dropped his fork before he could even pick into the cake. Then, he slowly looked up at Sal with a mixture of confused, embarrassed anger.
"How do you know about that?" Oswald breathed.
Manfred whistled in slight surprise but his facial expression showed that he wasn't.
"Ember, huh? You dated that cute little bunny girl that used to work at the diner down the street? Wow, sometimes it's easy to forget how many flings you've had. So how'd you break up with her? Not that it's any of my business, but that's what happens when one works at the Beauty Shop and actually listens to what Clarabelle Cow has to gossip about," Manfred tormented the rabbit next to him further.
"You're right Manfred, it is none of you're business. And even if I did tell you, you'd be the first to blab it off to Clarabelle anyway, and then she'd blab it off to anyone who'll listen!" the rabbit said as calmly as possible trying very hard not to punch the white mouse or Sal in the face. "But if you really must know, she and I had a small disagreement and moved on."
"That easy huh? So what'd you disagree on?"
"My flirting," Oswald sighed. Then another voice rang out.
"Is it still getting you into trouble hippity-hop?"
Oswald froze, because he knew that voice was from one of his old flames. All three men looked to see a tan female rabbit with green eyes and a pink nose, wearing a small hair bow in front of her right ear. The top of her right ear hung down a little.
"Heh, heh. Hiya Ember, it's good to see ya again," Oswald greeted weakly. He was in for it now.
"It's good to see you too, honey-bunny," she teased. "So, I heard you played hero today."
"Huh? How'd you-?"
"Clover told me. She said she got attacked by a creepy cat with a bell around his neck, and was saved by a black furred rabbit in blue shorts that sicked his dog on the guy. I knew right away that it must've been you walking Pluto for Mickey, so I told her you'd probably show up later," Ember explained and smiled as she had proved her point with Oswald sitting right in front of her.
"Wait a minute, she's here?!" Oswald exclaimed as he realized how Ember could get such information. She only smiled to answer his question. Then she walked a short distance to the door to the back room and opened it only a little and stuck her head in.
"Clover, he's here." With that the fast paced clicking of heels could be heard, and as Ember backed out of the way the door opened fully, revealing another female rabbit. Only, she had gray fur, blue eyes, and her ears were just as floppy as Oswald's. Her eyes widened at the sight of the mouse and rabbit as she walked closer to them, they both looked familiar to her. The rabbit was for sure, but the mouse vaguely.
"Um, hi," she said meekly.
"Hi," the boys said in unison.
"Uh, I didn't really get the chance to thank you for saving me from that creepy guy earlier. So, uh thanks," she said blushing nervously but still smiled. Oswald couldn't help but smile back. He thought she was pretty cute.
"No problem, really." Then he felt Manfred jab him in the back lightly, reminding him of their business with the bunny girl before him. "Baby steps Manfred, I know we're running out of time, but we can't just grab her and take her with us. We'll be arrested for kidnapping," the rabbit said mentally, knowing of Manfred's mind reading abilities.
"Uh, by the way, my name's Oswald, and this odd looking fella behind me is Manfred," he teased as he referred to the mouse.
"Hey! I'm not that odd looking," Manfred defended.
"It's nice to meet you both. But I must admit Manfred you look awfully familiar, have we met before?"
"Well, as Sal always says, I'm a regular customer. But I don't think we've ever met before in person. Now, I hope you don't mind me asking but, by any chance did you have a weird nightmare last night?"
"Now that you mention it, I did. And you were in it! But I also saw this giant emerald in the shape of a three-leaf clover. I started wondering what it meant, and even that creepy cat guy was in it, biting on the neck of a different mouse. "
"That was my cousin Mickey. It must've been even worse for him because he was the one getting bitten. That is to say, he and I also had that same nightmare."
"Coincidently he's also my room mate," Oswald added. Clover just couldn't believe what she was hearing. These two knew the answer to her nightmare? This must be fate 'cause this day is getting weirder by the moment.
"It's not as weird as you think, because it is controlled by destiny/fate. An-" he cut himself off remembering that she didn't know that he could read minds. "Sorry, I sometimes can't control my ability to read minds." Manfred blushed.
"You two aren't normal are you?" Clover asked suspiciously.
The mouse and rabbit looked at each other, thinking of how to answer her without scaring her off completely. They had sensed that she was starting to get uncomfortable. Then they looked back to her and smiled pathetically.
"Well, I'm normal, but he's not," Oswald admitted as he nodded his head to Manfred.
"I don't think Manfred could ever be considered normal in manly standards," Sal butted in.
"Okay, so I work at the Beauty Shop as a beautician. Big whoop-de-doo! I'm sensitive and I love hearing what the girls have to say when they've got something to complain about. And if they've got guy issues, I help them sort it out from the male perspective," Manfred defended again, but at least this time he had a better reason to.
Manfred had always been interested in the opposite gender and what they had to say. Mainly because he already knew all there is to know about the male persona. And quite frankly, he had gotten tired of hearing how manly it was to be able to explode your shirt with your muscles and send the buttons flying…though it is fun to make Mickey do it in his current state of physique.
"Don't worry Clover we're not gonna hurt you." A female voice rang out. They all turned to see Mickey and Minnie standing right beside the door.
"Minnie!" they all exclaimed in surprise. Mickey just stood there confused at the sudden outburst, but he didn't mind that no one was happy to see him. Ember and Clover ran over to their old friend and gave her a hug. Manfred glanced at Oswald and whispered to him.
"I told you it would have been easier if Minnie was with us!"
"What choice did we have? We had to split up into teams of two!" Oswald whispered back before he and Manfred got started on scarfing down their meal. Mickey looked at Minnie with a confused expression on his face.
"Gee Minnie, I didn't know you already knew Clover."
"I just wasn't sure if it was the Clover I knew so I didn't say anything until I was sure, but I'm sure now," she stated simply.
"Oh Minnie, it's so good to see you again!" Ember exclaimed happily.
"It's good to see you again too Ember, we really must catch up sometime."
"How about next Thursday?"
"Sounds good to me."
"Okay! I gotta get back to work so I'll see you then!"
"See ya!" Then Minnie turned to Clover.
"Now Clover, all we want is for you to come with us to the Magical Realm and get that emerald. It's rightfully yours, and it's the only thing that will keep the balance between the Magical Realm and the rest of the world in check."
"But I have to work too. I can't just-"
"Sure you can Clover! You go ahead and take the rest of the day off, you'll make it up some other day," Sal interrupted with a cheery tone. He knew when something was important and this was one of those moments.
"Oh thank you Mr. Mander! I promise you won't regret it."
"I know, I know. Just make sure you come back the day after tomorrow," he teased slightly. Manfred and Oswald caught the small gleam in his eye and couldn't help but get a bit suspicious.
"Uh, Sal. You wouldn't happen to be some kind of magic guru would you?" Manfred asked cautiously.
"Naw, I'm just a manager who knows when things need to slide whenever something of great importance. I'm not gonna get in your way of saving the world. Otherwise I'd be a small time bad guy!" he chuckled heartily.
The mouse and rabbit just sighed at how right he was and then Manfred thought of something.
"Ya know Oswald, I gotta stop kissin' your lucky foot 'cause this streak of good luck is getting weird."
"How do you manage to kiss my foot without me knowin'?" Oswald asked with awkward horror streaked across his face. Manfred only shrugged as he paid the bill for their meals.
Then Manfred and Oswald stepped over to the mouse couple and Clover as Manfred spilled the beans of his plan.
"Alright, so now we have to reach a water portal before Noon, which is about twenty minutes from now. Which is fastest way to get there?"
"We'll use the portal in my backyard. My house is closer," Minnie piped up.
"Okay, problem solved. Besides it'll be interesting to enter the Magical Realm in a 'normal' way," Manfred said as he referenced to Minnie actually having a first class portal.
Well that oughta keep you people busy.
Honestly I didn't know how I was gonna end that chapter.
Anyway...I'm evil aren't I? I made Mickey a Vampire...sort of not yet fully but still...
That whole speal about the Vampires Bride thing was from a cute Japanese anime Manga called "Bloody Kiss".
