Chapter Eleven

The Booth

Scrooge banged a glass together, shutting everyone up. "Alright" he said as he leaned forward, "down to business. What are we going to do about Gladstone?" Donald slammed his fist on the nearest table in response, but said nothing else, his stare, his ever glaring, piercing stare, said all that needed to be said.

Banzai and Shenzi looked around having no idea what anyone was talking about, decided to remain silent and observe. Oswald stood up, causing everyone to turn towards him, "I'm sorry everybody" he began, "but I can't be a part of something that I don't care about. All I wanted was to live peacefully in this wonderful place, not start a war that doesn't need to be fought." he turned towards Donald and Scrooge, "I can't be a part of this." Donald nodded in understanding, "It's okay Oswald. I'm not asking you to fight. I'm not asking anyone to fight. All I'm asking you to do is hear me out, but if you want to, you can go." Oswald headed towards the door, "This was never my fight to begin with" he stated, "Never really my story either." With that the rabbit left and the meeting continued.

Lucifer spoke next, "What exactly do you plan on doing?" he asked. Donald pulled out sniper rifle and set on the table, Lucifer nodded, "There must be another way Donald" he spoke, "we can't kill anybody. It's against park rules." Donald huffed, "Rules at this point don't matter." Donald looked around, addressing the whole group, "This isn't just a fight for simple revenge. We can change everything. We can force the CEOs to listen to reason, to lift the ban on the human cartoon relationship and to finally get have normal lives without anyone telling us how to live." Pluto stepped forward and stared at Lucifer, "Don't you want something more?" he asked.

Lucifer smiled and placed his paw on the table, "Whatever it is you're doing Donald. You can count me in." Peter Pan and the Lost Boys also put their two cents, "It's about time we had an adventure around here!" they all exclaimed in unison. Mushu sighed, and succumbed to peer pressure, also agreed to help Donald in his crazy takeover and get revenge on Gladstone scheme.

Jose and Panchito stood up, both of them stared at Donald, "Donald" Panchito began, "Gladstone has gone too far. He kidnapped Huey, Dewy and Louie and took Daisy away." Jose raised his umbrella for no particular reason, "Furthermore" Jose continued, "it would be breaking our oath. Let's make this the grand finale of The Three Caballeros!"

Banzai stepped up towards Donald and looked at him straight in the eye. "I'm sorry" he began, "but why should I care about you?" he asked, "I respect you Donald I really do. But why should I throw my skin on the line for your problems?" he addressed the crowd, "How can you ask any of us to make that kind of sacrifice?" Scrooge leaned down and gave his answer, "Because it's right boy. Because it's right." Banzai laughed, almost insulted by Scrooge's answer, "Because it's right?" Banzai repeated sarcastically, "There are a lot of things that are right Mister Scrooge. A lot of things. But just because something is right mean that we have an obligation to see that it's gets done? Sometimes doing nothing is the better option." Donald huffed, "What do you know? You only just got here!" Banzai nodded in full agreement, "Yes. But I know enough that you don't go walking blindly into a ambush. You plan. But it helps to know what the other guy's doing, that way you're never surprised and always expect the unexpected."

Donald couldn't agree with the logic. So he looked around for volunteers to stake out Gladstone's mansion. Pluto immediately volunteered, for he knew the area, Lucifer also volunteered if only to show up Pluto. Banzai thought about it, but decided against it, for he wasn't familiar with the area and couldn't trust anyone. Peter Pan opted for his shadow to go, and thus the party was formed.

Soon everyone left the Duck Mansion and headed to their respective houses. Banzai noticed that Shenzi had followed Lucifer home, which meant two things, she didn't really care about him and that he had no chance on getting her. "What do I have to do?" he said to no one in particular and simultaneously looking up at the sky in desperation, "How can I make her see?"

Banzai continued towards Main Street, completely ignoring the fact that it had started to rain. Looking around Banzai noticed that the Mickey Store seemed particularly drab and unappealing. To his right, he saw a bar or at least what appeared to be bar, seeing no other options and being extremely hungry, Banzai walked towards the bar and entered.

Inside the bar, Banzai felt completely out of place. For one thing, the bar was entirely full of Heroes and although Banzai never felt it necessary to classify himself as any particular thing, he guessed rather correctly that he would be a Villain if it came down to it.

Mickey was behind the counter serving drinks, this was obviously his night job and by the look of things he was extremely busy. Banzai paid this no heed and sat in the nearest empty booth.

A few minutes later Jose and Panchito entered the bar and sat at the counter, ordering a large amount of random and possibly illegal drinks. Seeing that Banzai's booth was the only place that had seats left, they walked over and sat down. "Ole" Jose greeted, extending his wing, Banzai said nothing and did not shake Jose's hand, just stared blankly at the table, looking as if he just had bad shrimp.

Panchito stared at the hyena curiously, "What's up?" he asked. Banzai stared at the rooster and smiled meekly, Panchito pushed one of the drinks his way, which Banzai immediately downed without a second thought as to what it was. "That was a full Jack Daniels" Panchito replied, Banzai smiled and motioned for another drink, which Panchito reluctantly gave him.

As he began to down a second and then a third drink, Banzai slowly began to open up, something that he had a hard time doing with new people. "Name's Banzai" he said, slurring the I in his name, "Jose Carioca" Jose answered, extending his hand a second time, which Banzai took. Banzai looked at Panchito and spoke, "What's your name?" he said as he began working on his fourth drink. Panchito tipped his sombrero, "Panchito Romero Miguel Junipero Francisco-" before he could finish Jose cut him off, "Panchito!" he cried, "shut up and tell him your real name!" Panchito began laughing uncontrollably, "I'm sorry" he said turning to Banzai, "I've been drinking" Panchito burped loudly and continued, "Panchito Pistoles" he said. Banzai laughed in return and down yet another drink before speaking, "Okay, Panchito Romero Miguel Junipero Francisco Quintero Gonzales III, answer me this question...why do you have such a ridiculous name?"

Jose and Panchito stared at Banzai in utter amazement, not only did he just recite Panchito ridiculous name, which hadn't even heard half of, but he did it while he was drunk. Jose pulled out a cigar and lit it, "You my friend" he said referring to Banzai, "need another round." Banzai laughed again and banged his paws repeatedly on the table, "No I don't" he said, "I'm drunk enough for ten of me." This was true, if Banzai wasn't a cartoon and thus able to withstand impossible amounts of alcohol, he would be dead.

Jose was the only one who managed to stay sober and thus decided to stick with water for the night. He had a feeling that he would end up taking Panchito home, like he did every night they went out on the town, but he was unsure on what to do with Banzai. Leaning in Jose tried to the best of his ability to get Banzai to focus, for now the hyena was laughing to the point where talking to him was almost near impossible. But before he could speak, Banzai spoke first, "I'm done" he said as he returned his gaze to the table, his voice getting lower as the drinks settled in. Then Banzai began to weep, "What am I doing wrong?" he asked to no one in particular, "Why doesn't she love me?" Jose's face went from curiously serious to warm and fatherly in a matter of three seconds, "What's wrong Senor?" he asked as he put out his cigar.

Banzai stared at the parrot, his eyes full of sadness and hurt. "Shenzi" was all Banzai said, literally he was unable to say anything else, in part because his tongue was partially hanging out of his mouth in resemblance of Ed due to the alcohol and the larger, more significant thing of Banzai being immensely devoted and in love with Shenzi.

Jose patted Banzai's paw as the hyena rested his head on the table and began breathing normally. "There, there Banzai" Jose said comfortingly, "it could be worse." Panchito stared at Jose, "You're not good at this are you? Of course it could be worse. She could go off with someone else, she could try the lesbian route, she could die. There are an infinite number of things that could be worse than this Jose." Banzai unfortunately heard everything that Panchito said and immediately began thinking about the possibilities of these things happening, which only made him feel worse and cry again, this time louder and with more pain and sorrow than before.

Jose gave Panchito the evil eye and grabbed Banzai's paw, leading him out of the booth and towards the door, "Come on amigo" Jose said softly, "I'm taking you home." Banzai laughed, "I don't have a home. Not anymore...where could you possibly take me?" Jose thought about this, he thought about it long and hard. He knew that Donald's place was out of the question and there was no way that Scrooge was take him in, especially with all the drama with Huey, Dewy and Louie. So Jose did the natural thing and headed towards Beast's Castle.