Hearts, Minds and Magic: A Disney Princess Fan Fiction
The Sequel to Twelve Worlds
By gibberish17 for the lovely syrensong
Part 11: The Sun, Sets
"You have taken everything from me, I will claim at least this one victory!" King Sol roared. "My kingdom, the love of my people, my children, my throne, everything that matters is gone. I can at least destroy all of you!"
"You realize I am your son AND one of the people you're trying to crush under your great big burning heel?" Alex shouted as King Sol stomped the ground.
"Forget it Alex, he really has snapped!" Alicia shouted as she sent a wave of fire at Sol.
As the flames dissipeared against Sol he turned and advanced toward her. He inhaled deeply and released an endless cone of flames at Alicia. As they approached, an icy blast hit the flames and extinguished them.
"We're here too Sol, don't forget that," Elsa said.
"Oh I know you're here Ice Queen, but do you really think that all the power of winter can stop the sun? That is what I am, a sorcerer turned living sun. I could burn you into ash with a single thought."
As he Sol sent a massive wave of molten fire at Elsa, Mulan and Jasmine ran t her and helped her lead out of the way.
"King Sol stop this," Aurora pleaded. "I know you are mad but we did what we had too with the best of intentions. Can't you see the damage you were doing? Can't you see how far off the path you strayed?"
"All I see are enemies," Sol flicked his finger at them sending a giant ball of fire at them. Alex rushed in front of them and held up his hands. As he did his new powers reacted to his will and a wall of solid light was created. The fireball struck the ball with explosive might, but when the smoke cleared Alex and the princesses were unharmed.
"A new magic power I see. From the Elsa obviously. Its strong sure enough, but I wonder how strong?" Sol fired crimson beams from his eyes against the solid light wall. Almost immediately Alex could feel the heat and he struggled against it. As Sol intensified the heat something he did not expect happened, he felt pain. His heel ached, causing him to stop his attack. When he looked down, he saw Mulan slicing into his left heel with her sword. A strange red aura around it seemed to protect the blade from melting.
"Not bad huh?" Alicia taunted. "A spell of my own creation, not a spell that makes a sword cut with fire but one that lets a sword cut fire!"
"Enough of this!" Sol flex his arms and released a wave of power and heat. Everyone was knocked of their feet and Alex's light shield shattered. Suddenly the ground rose up unevenly and the heroes struggled to keep themselves from falling. However the rumblings also separated them, leaving many of them vulnerable. As the ground became cliffs that rose above Sol one person managed to get to the highest point, Rapunzel leaped down and swung her frying pan as hard as she could. A satisfying clang echoed through the area as Jasmine reached out her hand and caught the falling Rapunzel. In retaliation Sol lunged at them but stopped when Mulan landed in front of them with her sword held out. As he pierced his hand on Mulan's sword Sol screamed in pain. He immediately reacted and swatted Mulan away. As she rolled with the hit she had trouble telling if the hit was worse than the burns that came with it.
"Mulan!" Jasmine and Rapunzel said as they ran to her. Rapunzel immediately began her healing song but Mulan was hurt badly. It would take time.
Meanwhile Alex and Alicia had reached each other only to be separated by fire raining from the sky. It seemed like the primary target was Ariel and Aurora. Alicia and Alex exchanged a look for only a moment. The two nodded before separating. Alicia ran to Elsa as Alex went to save Ariel and Aurora. As he slid next to the princesses, Alex raised his hands and created a massive barrier of solid light around them.
"Thanks Alex, we just need to catch our breath before were ready to help," Ariel said.
"No its too dangerous out there. I don't want to sound mean but it would better if you too stayed here and left this to the rest of us. Sorry."
"Alex were part of this, were not going to sit on the side and do nothing," Aurora said.
"I am sorry but I need you too to stay here," Alex said before he left. Ariel immediately got up to follow him but found that she couldn't leave the barrier.
"Did he lock us in?" Aurora asked in a mixture of shock and outrage.
"He did, but I don't think that means we can't help. Magic reaches out to you right? It makes itself easier for you to use right?" Ariel said turning to her.
Aurora nodded.
"Okay I have a plan…"
On the other side Elsa and Alicia unleased their collective power. As Elsa struck Sol with cold Alicia use her own magic to drain the heat away from Sol. As he turned to them Jasmine leaped at Sol with Mulan's sword. As she did Alex followed her and created a shield of light to protect them from the heat. The two slip down Sol's side and landed safely on the ground.
"I have had enough of that tactic and that sword!" Sol roared. He stretched out his hand toward them. Unknown to Alex Sol had summoned fires to rise around them. AS Jasmine became aware of the double threat she pushed Alex away and found herself trapped in a cage of flames.
"Hold on Jasmine, I'll get you out," Alex said as he started to cast a spell to free her.
"Don't bother. Go help Alicia and Elsa, the three of you may be our best chance to stop him. Go!"
Alex nodded and ran to Alicia and Elsa's side. As he reached their side he looked at the man his father had become. "Is this who you really are? This monster? Do you really think she would want this!?"
"How dare you! I forbid you too-"
"To what? To argue with a man who isn't king? To shout at a former tyrant? To question a man who has become corrupt and evil? Or are you trying to forbid me from talking about mom? She died and you made a law that punished anyone who spoke her name, or referred to her. I should have seen it then, I should have known than that you were a monster. Everything that has happened since than has led to this, has led to you trying to become an immortal, imperial sun. I couldn't stop you before but I will stop you now!"
The giant Sol stopped for a moment. As it did a normal sized Sol appeared in front of Alex and the others. Alicia and Elsa walked up to Alex to protect him but he stepped away and faced his father.
"Look at what you are doing. These are the legendary people you, as the Solar King are meant to protect. Why are you doing this?" Alex pleaded.
"Alex, don't you see, you and I… we aren't like these people. We have to work for our happy endings, they aren't given too us. Even when they are they don't last. What would you do if you lost Alicia? Wouldn't you do everything you could to bring her back? Wouldn't any of you do something drastic for love?" Alex's eyes filled with tears, he tried to speak but his father continued. "My son, when you left I realized that I cannot restore what was lost and gone, I can only strive to preserve what is. Yes I tried to make an empire for myself, but it was the only way that I could guarantee our legacy, our families legacy would last forever. These people, the royal court of the harmonic they don't understand that. They are guaranteed happiness, they are guaranteed it forever. Don't we deserve the same guarantee?"
Alex looked at his father, "Not at the expense of others, no."
"My boy please you have to understand, all I have left is you. You have to help me, you have to help me get it all back."
"There is no going back, there is only now and for you there is only facing the penalty for the crimes you committed."
As Alex spoke, the smaller Sol exploded into flames and disappeared. The giant Sol resumed its attack and released a massive wave of heat. Suddenly it felt like the air was on fire as the giant attacked Alex with every form of fire in existence. Together Alex, Alicia and Elsa protected themselves. Once again Alicia tried to take control of the flames and drain the heat, while Elsa chilled the air beyond freezing, all while Alex formed the strongest light barriers he could.
"Too much…" Alicia strained.
"Hold on, just a bit longer… he has to be getting tired," Alex groaned.
"Alex, you know how strong he is, he won't get tired…"
"And… we… wont… give… up!" Elsa said releasing all of her power. An explosion of ice and winter erupted in all directions. The entire area was covered in snow in that instant and Sol was flash frozen.
Elsa tried to give a proud grin but she was drained… completely. She barely had the strength to turn and fall into Alex and Alicia's arms.
"Wow…" Alex said.
"Alex… can you imagine if I did that?" Alicia said with her eyes wide.
"Really? Your going to do this now?"
"What you always said I am just as powerful as Elsa, you meant it right?"
The sound of cracking ice silenced them. They looked to the Sol. His frozen form started to crack, and from the center a red glow was growing.
"No… please no…" Alex whispered.
The ice exploded and Sol stood undamaged. The snow all around instantly melted.
"Not bad, too bad she wont have a chance to do it again," and as he spoke bolts of fire flew from his body and struck the land. The air radiated with heat and fires broke out all over the bear ground. "This ends now!"
…
Within the palace of light many of the heroes sat impatiently waiting for the return of the others. Belle's team had returned and now the only ones missing were the eight that battled Sol in the Harmonic tunnel. They knew there was an intense battle happening, but they had no way to reach it.
"The Harmonic is in pain," Cinderella explained. "Whatever Sol is doing hurts the Harmonic and keeps us from reaching the others."
"Is there anything we can do?" Anna asked.
Cinderella stayed quiet. Her ability to speak with the Harmonic had become a very useful tool, normally she could decipher the voiceless messages the Harmonic sent them but this time she only felt pain and destruction.
Adam paced nervously as Merida constantly shifted in her seat. Even the normally calm at heart original three princes fidgeted uncontrollably. Phillip would sit down only to immediately stand back up and cross the room. Henry would reach out to Cinderella only to retract his hand with no words of comfort for her. Florian was seated next to Snow White but he constantly changed the way he held her hand as she tried to comfort him.
"What's that?" Pocahontas asked.
"Hmm? I don't notice anything," John Smith replied.
"The wind… its changed… there is… like a gust of hot air. Can't you all feel it? It's unnatural for this area… for this world…" The others looked at her confused. Even Pocahontas herself couldn't tell if it was real or her imagination until Cinderella looked up at her.
"Pocahontas, follow it! Follow the wind! I can hear a voice from the Harmonic!"
Immediately Pocahontas sprinted away with the others following her. Several times she had to wait and sense the way the wind flowed through the castle. She followed the faint hot wind until it lead her to the secret top tower where the wise ones took a stand against the End's mind. In the center of that room was a tear in world that glowed red and orange. It was the source of the hot wind.
As Cinderella and the last of the heroes entered the room she shouted out to it, "I can hear her, its Aurora! Aurora are you all right?"
"Yes Cinderella I can hear you, but we need help. Sol is attacking us and he is winning. We need help!"
"Alright, hold on Aurora I am coming in," Phillip said drawing his sword.
"No Phillip," Aurora's voice said. "The path isn't strong enough to bring everyone… infact we can only bring two people."
"Okay than, make it Phillip and me. Or Phillip and Shang, or me and Shang." Adam said considering his options.
"It's not that simple Adam. Ariel and I think we need to bring two specific people…"
"Okay than, who?" Aladdin asked.
…
As Sol's burning assault continued Alex leaded away from the wild fire aiming to land on the safe edge across a large gap. He would have made it if Sol haden't reacted and destroyed part of the ledge. As he struggled to grab onto anything, Alex managed to take hold of something and stop his fall.
"You should have stayed at my side boy!" Sol said hurling a fireball at Alex. With his hands focused on holding onto the ledge and his mind filled with panic Alex couldn't create a barrier in time, or cast any spell at all. Thankfully he was pulled up by an unseen ally.
"What's the matter? I thought you were stronger than this?" Merida joked as she pulled Alex to safety.
"Merida? How?"
"Aurora and Ariel sent out the help call and brought two of us to help."
"Who's the other, Phillip?"
Merida raised in eyebrow, "Why is it always Phillip? There are other warriors you know."
"Enough!" Sol said as he swung his arm at them. A streak of fire struck Sol's arm and pulled his attention away from Alex and Merida. Alicia, still carrying Elsa, stood in defiance of Sol.
"Come on, Elsa and I have to be way more of a tempting target than Alex and Merida," Alicia said with confidence.
"Yes you are!" King Sol swung his fist at them but stopped when he saw a glimpse of what was behind them. Pale skin and ebony hair, her beauty and fairness was legendary among legends.
"Snow White!? You brought Snow White here?" Alex yelled in outrage. "Do you know who bad it would be if we lost Snow White!?"
"We do, but look," Merida said pointing.
Sol had stopped. His fist hung in the air silently. His burning eyes seemed to shake and the heat all around seemed to lessen. Alicia leaned the unconscious Elsa onto Snow White who nodded to Alicia.
"Alright Alicia, let's take this brute down!" Merida shouted.
Alicia hurled her fire at Sol and Merida fired her magic arrows. As they attacked Alex couldn't help but notice, their attacks were hurting Sol. Even better his all out assault had significantly lessened.
"Alex, where is Rapunzel? I think Elsa needs her," Snow White asked.
Alex nodded and led Snow White too her. By the time they had reached Rapunzel,, Mulan had recovered from her injuries but Rapunzel herself had been drained by the effort.
"Are you okay?" Snow White asked.
"Yeah. With Alex around I get my strength back faster, but I'll still need more time before I can help Elsa. Alex you should see if you can help Jasmine."
Alex nodded and ran to Jasmine, who was still trapped in a cage of fire. As he reached her the ground shifted again.
"Enough!" Sol shouted. He released a shock wave that shattered the ground. Many of the heroes became isolated on their own tiny little rock that floated in the air. "I will not let you use her against me. You will not take that away from me!"
Snow White's rock was floated above Sol, and with her above him, Sol began to release his destructive magic on the others on the floating rocks to his side.
"He's isolated Snow White!" Ariel shouted as the light barrier protecting her and Aurora finally shattered.
"But why, why does he always act so strange around Snow White?" Merida asked.
"It's obvious isn't it?" Alicia answered. "Can't you tell that-"
"Silence you little witch!" Sol shouted as he fired his heat rays at Alicia.
"Why should we?" Alex said landing in front of Alicia and creating a light barrier. "You always criticized me when I was little. 'Don't become enamored with the Harmonic princesses, they aren't worth it.' That's what you always said, when in reality…"
"Don't you dare!" Sol said adding his fire breath to the attack.
"When in reality…" Alex continued, "Snow White was your first love!"
Those words forced Sol to stop his attack. His boyhood love and dream was to meet the lovely and fair princess Snow White. Even when he became an adult and found his true love and his future Queen he never forgot Snow White and what she meant to his childhood. His brief reflection was interrupted by Merida and Alicia resuming their attack, even Alex and Mulan found ways to attack with their limited options. In the midst of the chaos of battle Elsa began to reawaken. However before she could lend her powers to the battle Sol had reached his breaking point. As he roared with anger he summoned colossal flames from the ground. The inferno rose quickly and would soon engulf the heroes and their floating rocks. Only Sol and Snow White would be sparred. Seeing this Alex began to create a barrier of solid light beneath them, one large enough to hold back the fire.
"You are such a loyal guardian boy, but what will you do about this?" Sol said as he launched an attack at Ariel, Aurora, and Jasmine. Without hesitation or thinking Alex ran and blocked the fire with his body. As the impact echoed in the area Alicia anger erupted. She launched her most intense flames at Sol who only laughed at her. Meanwhile Rapunzel and Elsa ran to the unconscious Alex and tried to heal and cool his injuries.
From above Snow White watched helplessly. She had been removed from the battle and stranded somewhere 'safe.' Sol was forcing her to watch as her friends were beaten and burned, and soon destroyed by a man who had admired her since childhood. She would have been flattered if he wasent such a maniac. Her she floated above the others, perfectly safe. She couldn't even feel any heat, she assumed this was because Sol went out of his way to protect her. It was that thought that gave her an idea. It was a dangerous plan, and her beloved Florian would not likely forgive her for even considering it, but everyone one else was risking their lives. Who was she to do anything else? She looked over the edge and saw the rising fire, she saw her friends struggling to fight, to defend, to heal, to survive… but she also saw Sol the one responsible for all of it.
"King Sol!" Snow White shouted.
Each and every person looked up at Snow White. Their eyes struggled to tell their brains what they were witnessing. The first princess fell through the air. For some her fall was fast and a blur, for others the horror was made time stagger. Each of the heroes scrambled to think of a way to save her. Ice bridges, arrows with rope, solid light slides, leading out to catch her, and everything else. Unfortunately none of them were the right combination of strong enough or close enough to save her, none except Sol himself. His giant hand stretched out to catch the falling princess and as it did the flames and heat instantly disappeared. Instead of a living sun in the form of a giant man there was only the giant. He gently cushioned her fall and once she was safe in hand the horror left his eyes and he gave a giant sigh of relief. However, Snow White wasted no time.
"Now everyone who can, hit him with everything!"
The heroes found their resolve faster than Sol could react. Magic arrows, fire, ice, a thrown sword and everything that could be imagined pelted him without mercy. Despite the attacks on him Sol did not return to his sun form out of fear of burning Snow White. In a last major effort Elsa and Alicia launched a tremendous wave of fire and ice at opposite sides of his body. The extreme clash of hot and cold was to much for Sol and his body began to shrink down. The pain was so great he didn't even notice that Alex had taken Snow White from his shrinking hand. As his colossal roar of pain shrank down to a human sized whimper the Harmonic tunnel returned to its normal.
The heroes circled around Sol, defeated but still alive. They all remained silent as they looked at him. The silence continued until the Harmonic tunnel was opened and the Knights of the Solar Kingdom entered with Viola.
"Sister?" Alex said with surprise.
"Hello brother, we have come for the traitor and to ask you a question. As the eldest child the throne is first available to you. If you want it the Solar Kingdom is yours to rule and rebuild." She said.
"I appreciate that, but I gave up my right to the throne when I became I left. The kingdom should be ruled by someone who's dedication can be completely too it, its recovery and repairing the damage our father did to the Lunar Kingdom. To me that person is you."
As Alex spoke a crown of light began to form over Viola's head. As it became solid, Viola bowed her head and it lowered itself onto her.
"All hail Queen Viola of the Solar Kingdom!" the lead knight shouted. The heroes gathered bowed their heads in respect.
"Rule well," Alex told her.
"I hate to ask, but the Lunar Kingdom…" Alicia began.
"As my second act as Queen I will began to repair the damage done by my father including repairs and relationships with your home world."
"Second?" Ariel asked.
"Yes, my first act is to deal with the traitor," Viola said approaching him.
"Wait, please have mercy… he-" Snow White started.
"I am sorry Snow White but I have no choice." Viola said before turning to Sol. "Father for your selfish crimes and attempting to destroy everything you were sworn to protect I hereby banish you into the darkness beyond the Harmonics light."
Following her words the Harmonic opened up and for the first time no one saw any light at the end of its path. With no words to his children or anyone he sank into darkness. In the last moment he looked to Snow White and glared at her. It was a glare of sadness mixed with a message, a single message… you betrayed me.
Epilogue 1: Return Home
The Harmonic court lined the royal walkway leading to the thrones in the Palace of Light. Behind them the staff of the castle, now more numerous than ever. As the music swelled to its zenith, Alex and Alicia entered. Slowly the two entered their throne room. The light in the room always reflected the emptions of the people in the room, and this time the colors reflected the full spectrum of joy. As they passed by the Harmonic court of the Twelve Worlds bowed their heads to their guardians, from Elsa to Snow White. Finally Alex and Alicia reached their thrones and the room was filled with cheers. The happiness in the room exploded as a dazzling display of light that swirled until it showed the Twelve worlds again. Each thriving and glowing with joy. Than something new happened. Each world began to branch out. Like a trees branches reaching into the sky, paths began to be formed from each the Harmonic twelve. From those branches new worlds appeared. The citizens of which were unknown to some, except Alex and Alicia recognized many of them.
"Tinkerbelle, Arthur and that's…
"Alice… and look isn't that Hercules?"
"The Harmonic is opening! I can hear it, new worlds are reaching out and connecting to us," Cinderella explained.
"But why?" Kristoff asked.
Suddenly darkness began to spread rapidly across the worlds. Like a wave of smoke that overtook the light. The heroes stood in terror as the Harmonic revealed the culprits behind them.
"It can't be… That's Ursula!" Ariel shouted.
"Jafar! It's him, look!" Aladdin called out in anger.
"It can't be… Mother… Mother Gothel…" Rapunzel said grabbing Eugene's hand.
"No please… not her… not again… Maleficent…" Aurora said with fear.
"Gaston!" Adam roared.
"Alex what should we do?" Alicia asked.
"Were the guardians of the Harmonic, so let's go guard it."
Epilogue 2: Into the Darkness
Banishment from the Solar Kingdom meant floating forever in darkness. An ironic end for someone who tried to become immortal in any way possible. Float forever in darkness… Sol expected the worst and therefore was shocked when he felt solid ground under his feet. The darkness began to fade, but only slightly. He found himself in a dark room, with a throne bathed in shadows in front of him.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
A woman's voice spoke back to him, "A king and nearly an emperor, its no surprise you have no manners."
"Why do I recognize your voice?" Sol asked.
"Oh you know me. You see I was the first person the End recruited to destroy the Harmonic. It restored me entirely but found I was too difficult and powerful to control. So it left me hear on the barren dark place with no escape. So I have remained her waiting for a chance like this one?" the woman in the dark explained.
"A chance like what?" Sol demanded.
"You have intimate knowledge of the Harmonic and how to travel in it, I need it and you need a new purpose. I propose we help each other."
"And if I refuse?"
"Oh you don't have a choice former sun king. You are now a citizen of darkness, and all who live in darkness bow down to me." As she spoke black chains rose up from the ground and wrapped themselves around Sols arms, legs and neck. As he struggled against them he realized his magic was different now, dark instead of light or fire. Still he fought and he heard the woman laugh. As she laughed she leaned her head out of the shadows into the dim light. There he saw her face, and in that moment, he stopped struggling.
NEXT TIME: TWELVE WORLDS 3: THE WORLDS OF D
