Disney's Dangers: Chapter 12
How long had it been since the rest of the travelers had been dragged into the castle? Two days? Three? Basil couldn't keep track. He just had to keep running. He had to get back to Disney Castle to warn Mickey.
He was still sore from when he had landed after Elizabeth had flung him from the camp. Her voice still echoed in his ears. "Go get help. Be safe." Those were the last words she said before she was felled by a blow to the back of the head. Basil had watched the whole thing and knew that his friends hadn't even stood a chance. The fight was over in seconds.
The memory made him stop in his tracks. Every time he closed his eyes, he could see Ben's head snap back from the punch he received from Riley, he could hear the sickening thud that Jim's body made when he was flung against one of the thick trees, he could-
"No!" Basil muttered to himself and continued running. There could be no time lost in dwelling on the past.
But he wasn't running long when he has stopped by a twig cracking somewhere behind him. He dove into a nearby shrub and tried to ignore his heart pounding in his chest like a drum. Had one of those brainwashed goons followed him? Was he going to end up like him friends?
No. He refused to let that happen. He was The Great Mouse Detective. He would come to a better end than that. Wait, he was a detective, duh; what could he hear coming toward him?
Horse hooves pounding on the damp forest floor. Surely they wouldn't send a horseman after him, a mouse?
Maximus! Basil thought with a jolt. The horse had been following him. Now there might be an actual chance of saving the Province.
"Look, men! There it is!" Peter Pan crowed. He had spotted the raven that had been circling the castle for two days now.
The Lost Boys all shouted in excitement and raised their weapons. Mickey had banned them from shooting things when they got to the castle, but he made an exception for the raven. He said it was making him uneasy.
Peter was determined to catch the stupid bird this time. He could swear that every time it got away, it was laughing at him. Nobody laughed at The Wonderful Boy.
With another crow, Peter took off into the air. The raven was circling the tower where the princesses' chambers were located. A crowd began to gather in the courtyard below, Peter noted this and drew his dagger and flew as fast as his happy thoughts could make him. The raven would not get away from him this time, especially with people watching.
The raven saw him and cackled before dropping to the balcony of the tower. Peter could now see that it held something in its wicked beak. An envelope? Peter snorted. What kind of loot was an envelope?
Lifting its black wings, the bird made as if to take off again.
"No you don't" Peter shouted at the bird. And with all his might, he threw his dagger, straight and true, into to the bird's breast.
An unearthly shriek ripped itself from the wicked beak, echoing off the walls of the castle and making the people below cringe. Peter caught the bird in before it fell into the mass below, crowing in triumph. He had bested the raven!
He wrenched the envelope from the stiff talons and stared at the letters written upon. He couldn't read them, and maybe he felt a twinge of remorse for never being able to learn how, but still, Peter sniffed in scorn. Who needed letters?
Peter was preparing to through the envelope to the wind, but a quiet voice stopped him, "Wait!" It was Princess Aurora. "That was Maleficent's raven. It wouldn't have been sent without a good reason."
"Well," Peter said, drawing out the word as if he was thinking harder than usual, "I guess you could borrow it because you're a princess and all… But you have to promise to give it back! What're spoils of war if you can't keep them?"
A little laugh bubbled from the princess's throat, "Of course, I promise to give you back your trophy."
Peter landed on the balcony in front of Aurora and gave an elaborate bow, offering his prize with a flourish. "When, you're done with it, just crow as loud as you can!" And the boy made as if to take off again, but he stopped and a small frown creased his forehead. "I guess proper ladies don't crow… Just send Wendy for me, Your Highness." With another bow, the boy lifted into the air and flew off to play a game of Follow the Leader with The Lost Boys.
Aurora looked down at the letter in her hand afraid of what all this might mean. Who was this for?
Written in red ink was a name: Cinderella
The other princesses that had been in the tower had gathered around her, each with a grim expression upon her face.
Without a word, Aurora sought Cinderella out and offered her the letter.
The princess accepted the letter and hesitated a moment before ripping it open with trembling fingers.
Two words were written on that paper. Two words that shattered the world around her.
He's dead.
"Cinderella," A voice that seemed a thousand miles away, drew her eyes away from those poisonous words. "Cinderella!"
Rapunzel was shaking her hard. "It's a lie. They're bluffing! There's no way that they could have been captured." But even Rapunzel was having a hard time believing her own words. If Charming was dead, Eugene wouldn't be far behind.
And in what Rapunzel would call the most crazry timing on earth, Maximus burst through the gates below.
Basil's voice was so small; most people would have a hard time hearing it. But Rapunzel and Cinderella heard the words clearly.
"We've been betrayed!" Basil screamed, "They've all been taken!"
Rapunzel's heart almost stopped. Who would save Eugene?
As if she had read her mind, Cinderella whispered. "We'll have to go to them. I know who will help."
A/N: Okay, cool. I will probably introduce some more characters in the next chapter.
Sorry for all the delays, ya'll. Being a freshman is killing me!