Dark Storm Dawn

By Lord Akiyama

The follow-up to "Fantasia Crisis"

Chapter Fourteen

---

"You make sure you march your butt right back here, Mister," Sarah softly said before finally releasing her embrace upon him. "You have your whole future ahead of you, Jim. I don't want to see it wasted so soon."

"You won't, mom," Jim said with a smile.

"Ah, doncha worry Mrs. Hawkins," Silver chuckled as he patted his more organic hand across Jim's back. "If I know yer Jimbo, he be alright. He got a lot of talent he got."

Jim managed to crack a smile while raising a brow at Silver. "Maybe I should be the one asking you if you'll be alright, mom," Jim said to his mother. "Are you sure you'll be fine with Silver here?"

Sarah giggled and nearly blushed. "I'll be fine, Jim," she said. "Really, I will be."

"I think we better get going immediately, Mr. Hawkins," Amelia said, dragging Jack by the collar as she approached. "If we stay another minute longer, Mr. Sparrow will be destroying your mother's kitchen looking for that disgusting liquid."

"It's not that bad, Cap'n," Silver tried to reason.

"It's bad if it's in the hands of some unruly pirate like yourself and Mr. Sparrow," Amelia glared. "May I remind you of the trouble you caused last night?"

"How much trouble could've we caused?" Jack asked curiously. "We didn't have guns or anything?"

"Whether you two realize it or not, your so-called singing can do just as much damage," Amelia snorted. "Especially in the drunk state you two were last night. Now then, I understand one of the mages will be arriving shortly."

"And one of the mages you'll be getting," a voice spoke. They all turned to see Merlin standing before them. "We might have the location of our attackers, so we better go now so when can put this blasted thing to rest. So, who else is coming along?"

"Just the kid," Aladdin said. "The other two are staying."

"Fair enough," Merlin said, examining Jim before turning his attention to Silver. "I honestly wouldn't know how Helga would feel about him being about considering we got ourselves another helping body into the fold. Now then, I hope you've said your goodbyes boy because this is going to be quite a trip."

---

"Feeling any better, kido?" Chris asked, placing his right hand upon his wife's cheek with a concerned, yet sympathetic grin on his face. His left hand immediately caught both of her hands and held them tight.

"Do I look like I feel any better?" Helga shot back as she tried to pull away.

"I'm sorry," Chris said, quickly glancing one way before refocusing his attention back to her. He knew exactly what he was getting into when he asked her to marry him. "I'm just glad it hasn't gotten any worse."

"Isn't this enough?" Helga stared hard back before dropping her gaze. "I look like some reject from a circus. More than that," she said quietly after taking a breath, "I don't know if I could hurt you or Alexandra. I...I don't know if I could handle that."

Gently, Chris lifted her chin with his fingers so that they were facing eye to eye. "Come on, Helga," he said softly. "Don't think like that. It's not like you one bit. And with they way I've been holding you for the last several minutes, I doubt you're causing me at harm at the moment."

"So that's a reason to keep pressing our luck?" Helga replied with an arched brow. After a brief moment, she sighed and shook her head. "I thought I lost you before and ...well, it wasn't pretty. If something happened now and I was the cause of it...I don't even want to have to think about that."

Chris widened his grin. "Then don't think about it," he said, leaning in and kissing her forehead. "Think about something else. Like caving that conniving bastard's head in for good."

"Sure, cause it worked so well last time," Helga answered him with a roll of her eye.

"And I know you'll do whatever it takes to make sure he stays down this time," Chris chuckled.

"That woman is married?" Kida asked from a distance, shocked and in disbelief at the sight before her. "And a mother?"

"Yep," Simba replied. "I can tell you that she's very protective of them. Would do absolutely anything to make sure she didn't lose them."

"I just don't understand..." Kida muttered quietly, lost in her confusion. Simba took a shrugging sigh and turned back to Merlin and Clopin. The way they were yelling, one didn't need the assistance of echoes to hear what they were arguing about.

"I still think it was a bad idea for you to have left like that!" Merlin yelled.

"Well, pardon me, but if we are to put an end to this we need to start taking action as opposed to waiting for something to happen!" Clopin yelled back.

"Hey! Would you two like to keep it down over there?" Helga bellowed, but not pulling out of her husband's arms. "If they wake up Alexandra, we're going to have two less mouths to feed around here."

"Make that three if I have any say." Everyone turned their attention to the returning Amelia and her crew, one extra body added. And it was quite obvious who she was referring to. "I swear, this ruffian better be worth having around, or I'm going to start dishing out unimaginable pain."

"He offered rum and because yer so concerned wit me mannerisms, I obliged," Jack reasoned.

"And of course, no one would ever want to put your manners in question," Helga sighed.

"If some friendly lad offer ya some rum, you'd do what I did and..." Jack barely got to finish his sentence when he got a good look at Helga. He did a double take to make sure he wasn't that drunk before opening his mouth. "That's interesting."

Amelia and the others immediately identified Helga's change in appearance. "By God, what on Earth happened?" Amelia gasped in surprise.

"It's nothing," Helga muttered, pulling the collar of her trench coat up a little more. "Just ran into an old acquaintance that holds a grudge."

"And it doesn't help that Hercules was also taken by these guys," Mulan sighed.

"Herc was taken?" Aladdin said. "Geez, this is just getting worse and worse. What could happen next?"

"Not all the news is bad," Simba replied. "We were able to figure out who exactly is behind this. A group calling themselves GHOST. And we've got an extra hand," he added, nodding his head in the direction of Kida.

"I thought you were trying to cheer us up..." Helga whispered under her breath.

"I wasn't?" Simba whispered back.

"Well, hopefully our extra hand will help out just as well," Amelia sighed. "I want you all to meet a very good friend of mine, Jim Hawkins." Jim waved nervously at the odd bunch he found himself standing before.

"Like I said, mate," Jack tried to whisper to Jim. "They're a bit eunuch."

"Look who's talking," Helga smirked back.

"Do what?" Jack slurred in confusion.

"One other piece of business happens to be Clopin leaving the mystic plane unprotected," Merlin growled. "I still do not see how this is such a bright idea."

"Well if you actually listened instead of yell, then you would know that it would help us in the right direction in ending this," Clopin argued back. "I have every faith that Esmeralda won't fail it getting us the information we need to find Frollo!"

"Have we tried just looking where we last left him?" Helga said as she folded her arms.

"The problem is where exactly in Paris he is," Clopin said. "He has many bases of operations and we need to be sure of which one we can best find GHOST."

"We could split up and check them all out." Helga suggested. "If nothing else, it would divert their attention."

"Personally, I think it would be in our best interest to find out for sure so that we wouldn't lose any more to these hooligans," Clopin said. "And besides, you said your friend didn't know what kind of changes they made to their ranks. Meaning we don't know how many within Paris are members of GHOST."

"So what are we supposed to do? Just sit around here and wait while they do who knows what to our friends?" Helga spat back.

Just before any responses could be made, purple mist appeared before Clopin. Moments later, they formed a female figure's face. "I've made contact with Quasimodo," the female spoke, her words echoing many times over. "Chances are good that Frollo is basing his operations at the Halls of Justice."

"Would make perfect sense," Clopin said. "Well done, Esmeralda. Now start finding some volunteers and see if you can't infiltrate to see for sure. And be careful."

"Will do," the mist responded. Moments later, the mist disappeared.

"Why don't we just go?" Helga protested. "It's not like I've never done reconnaissance before and besides, then there's a chance I could pay someone back for this little favor," she added, flexing her crystal hand.

"Wouldn't be a bad idea," Simba said. "But like Clopin mentioned, we need to make sure it's the right place. I'll go. Tarzan, you're coming with me." He then looked over at the group with Amelia and took a good look at Jim. "I hope you don't mind if I borrow your friend here."

"Well, Jim my friend," Amelia said, "it seems you'll be doing something sooner than expected."

"Just remember that all I've got is the solar board and one pistol," Jim said in a tone that mixed with nervousness and excitement.

"Hold on, don't think for a second you're leaving me behind to twiddle my thumbs," Helga glared at Simba with a flash of a red eye.

Simba sighed. "Normally I would take you, Helga," he began. "But I think your being in Paris alone would cause some trouble. Not just because of your appearance." He paused for a moment and took a deep breath, hoping what he was about to say next came out right. "And besides... I think you need to spend some time with your family."

Helga remained silent for a moment. It was still new to her, this idea of her loyalties being torn between her family and her duty. "Just promise you'll be careful," she said at last. "And promise me if you run into Rourke, you'll rip a new hole in his throat for me," she added with a slight smile. "Who knows, by the time you get back, maybe I'll have learned to control this thing like he has."

"Deal on both ends," Simba smiled.

---

Quasimodo didn't realize just how fast his was pushing himself, arriving at the circus a good ten minutes before Madellaine was scheduled to perform. Of course, she didn't mind. It gave them just a little more time together before it was time for her part in the act. Once it was showtime, he immediately went to his spot behind the curtain to watch. It was only the second time he watched her perform, but he started to feel that it was becoming a daily chore fore him to go to the circus and watch Madellaine before the crowd.

Moments had passed and the performance was winding down to its big finish when he heard footsteps. Being caught backstage would not be a good thing. Quasimodo immediately looked around and found a shaded area where he could blend in easily and not be seen through the naked eye. Seconds later, two figures and appeared and stopped before the curtain he was just at. They looked nothing like people who would work in the circus.

"That's the girl?" the strange looking creature said. Quasimodo had always felt he was ugly and deformed because of his physical appearance not matching that to what others would normally look. But this one was just out right inhuman. It looked like a giant, talking spider.

"That's her," the other figure said. Now this one looked more like a human being. But for some strange reason, Quasimodo felt this one was just as sinister as the other. This was especially so with the way they spoke to one another. And were they talking about Madellaine?

"Now why would he send us out 'ere and snatch a girl of no importance?" the spider asked with a growl.

"How should I know?" the other replied. "It's not like we know exactly why Frollo wants us to do these things. Just remember that he wants her alive and untouched. Meaning you don't even scratch her, alright."

Quasimodo remained his place, having listened to everything said. Surely they weren't talking about Madellaine. What was so important about her? Was there something that he didn't know that they did? Moments later, he could hear the roar of the crowd. The show was over. And seconds later, Madellaine was going to walk through that curtain. And then he would know for sure if she was their target.

Madellaine took a sigh before emerging through the curtain. Quite suddenly, her mouth was covered and she was being restrained. Quasimodo watched as the spider creature held her as the other figure walked up and examined her. "I have no idea what Frollo wants with you," the human said to her. "But in all honesty, I could care less. As long as I could get paid, I'll make fine sure you're delivered to him in one piece."

Quasimodo watched helplessly as Madellaine desperately tried to cry and free herself to no avail. Her two captors taking her to Frollo as they disappeared out of the circus. He did nothing but hang his head, shedding tears from both eyes. What did Frollo want with Madellaine? What did Madellaine do to deserve this? So many questions riddled his mind. It just didn't make any sense. And he did nothing about it. He was powerless.

"Do you really think there's more to me than what you see? That I have something else to give?"

Anger overcame Quasimodo as he lifted his head, facing the direction Madellaine's kidnappers went. He wasn't powerless. And he had much to give.

---

"Nice," Jim commented with a hint of sarcasm as he got a good look at the outfit the gypsies decked Simba in. "Very nice. Maybe I should've taken advantage of the whole 'It's strictly voluntary' portion of the deal."

"Think of it this way, kid," Esmeralda said as they approached the Halls of Justice. "You were asked because you were someone that can be trusted. Not to mention there's probably something about you that presents strength and bravery."

"I think there is something about me that presents both, but I see what you're saying," Jim chuckled.

"This is Halls of Justice?" Tarzan asked as the four came upon the building up close.

"I wouldn't exactly have 'Justice' be used to name this terrible place," Esmeralda sighed as they surveyed their destination. "Many of my people were taken here under false crimes and just for being different. Most never return."

"Quiet, guys," Simba said. "I'm hearing footsteps." The four quickly found a cart for them to hide behind as they watched bodies approaching the building. Three figures, two of them human, one was being held captive.

"I guess the Captain wasn't kidding," Jim whispered. "Scroop is alive."

"One of gunmen," Tarzan noted.

"But what are they doing?" Simba asked.

"I'm not sure," Esmeralda replied. "I've never seen her before." They quieted their whispers as they heard voices emerging from the incoming figures.

"Her kicking and squirming is starting ta piss me off, Gaston!" Scroop yelled. "I'm this close ta cutting one of her feet off!"

"Will you just shut up already!" Gaston snapped back. "And need I remind you that Frollo specifically said he wanted her alive and unscratched! That means her feet are to remain intact, you stupid twit!"

"Well unlike you, I prefer ta know why tha hell this bloody woman is worth our time!" Scroop responded. "She has no affiliation whatsoever to tha twelve nor to tha mages. She's not even one of them bloody gypsies he so despises."

"You're getting paid to do this, Scroop, so why should you complain about some stupid little kidnapping?" Gaston yelled.

"Will the both of you just shut up and get up here now!" a third voice screamed. They turned to see a body hanging out of a window from inside. "The portal does not stay open forever and you know how impatient Frollo is when we take too long to complete seemingly simple tasks!" Simba recognized the figure to be the Yzma woman based on the photograph from the file Helga retrieved.

"Portal?" Simba whispered.

"Good chance its in one of the towers," Jim whispered back. "I say we tail them so that we know for sure where this portal is."

"There's some good and bad to go along with that idea," Esmeralda said. "You definitely will be able to find the portal, thus getting you one step closer to finding the others. But there's a good chance these three aren't the only ones in this place, and this is especially so with some of the other minions Frollo has who round up gypsies."

"Another footstep coming," Tarzan said. The others turned just in time to see something making its way at top speed toward Scroop and Gaston.

"MADELLAINE!" a voice cried. Quite suddenly, a large figure landed and with one right hook knocked Gaston into the wall. The sheer force and strength nearly knocked out the gunman. The figure then turned his attention to Scroop who held the girl in a threatening position. The figure was filled great rage as he breathed heavily and began to circle the giant spider. "Let her go!"

"Quasimodo?" Esmeralda whispered. "What are you doing?" The other three looked at Esmeralda for a minute before looking back at the new figure.

"Lemme tell ya, mate," Scroop growled, keeping the woman held in a dangerous position. "I'm already in a pissed off mood right now. If ya make things any worse than they already, and ya can say bye-bye to this pretty lass of yours."

"Get down, Scroop!" another voice called. Doing as he was told, Scroop pulled the girl down with him and gunfire was sounded. Quasimodo felt the force and took several steps back.

"What the hell are you doing, Rico!" Yzma yelled from the window. "You know you're not supposed to kill him! We need him alive!"

"Calm down, Yzma!" the new figure said, quickly rising from his position of having kneeled on one knee. "We both know nothing I possess would be damaging enough to even scratch him. But can you think of a better way to hold him off so he won't get the girl back."

"Why are you doing this!" Quasimodo screamed. "What is so important about Madellaine that you'd want to kidnap her? What does Frollo have to do with all this?"

"You can ask him yerself when he's ready to speak wit you again, freak," Rico replied, setting up to fire again. "Now be a good lil pawn and let us continue wit our job, or yer gonna be waking up tomorrow wit a huge headache."

"Scroop! Gaston! Move it now!" Yzma yelled. "The portal will be closing shortly and we don't want to have to go through the trouble of opening it again!" Scroop and Gaston did as they were told, slowly making their way past Rico and into the building.

Quasimodo stared at the end of the gun barrel pointed at him for a quick moment before turning his gaze over to Madellaine. He could see the fear in her eyes and tears began to run down her cheeks. Not able to make a sound as her mouth was covered by one of the hands of the Scroop creature. As her body began to disappear into the shadows of the building's interior, the rage built back up and began to make a move. "NOOO!" he screamed as he leaped forward.

Just as Rico pulled the trigger, something slammed into his rifle and forced it to move away from Quasimodo. He kept his grip on the gun, but the discharge was far from being close to connecting with the launching figure. Quasimodo nailed him with a right hand and he was sent sliding against the doorframe. Rico shook himself to remain conscious and looked to see who was responsible for changing the course of fire.

"Are you sure you should've done that?" Jim cried after watching Esmeralda send a rounded disc to keep Rico from firing upon Quasimodo.

"Doesn't matter," Simba said. "They now know we're here and we better move if we're gonna both help save the girl and find this portal before it closes." He turned to Esmeralda before he joined Jim and Tarzan in making their move. "Get Clopin and tell him to prepare to get us out of here." She nodded as she watched them dash toward the building.

"The essentials..." Rico muttered, quickly getting back to his feet. "Yzma, the essentials are here!"

"We don't have time!" Yzma cried back. "The portal is starting to close! You need to get back in here now! We'll deal with them later!" As if on cue, Rico turned and ran as fast as he could into the building.

"NOOO!" Quasimodo cried as he began to chase the gunman. Simba and his group followed as they picked up as much speed as they could running through hallways and up series after series of staircases. Soon enough, the found themselves in what they could only guess would be the top of the tallest tower. Leaping over the final step of the staircase, they were inside a large room with many windows. And at the very far end of the hall was a green portal, slowly beginning to close upon itself.

Fearing their foot speed wasn't enough, Jim quickly threw forward his solar board and surfed his way down the hall. He then slammed the tail end of the board against the back of Scroop, who was yards away from reaching the portal. The impact caused Scroop to drop Madellaine as he flew over her and slid upon the marble floor. See that Gaston would made a go for the girl, Tarzan dashed ahead of the group and swiped Rico at the legs which allowed Quasimodo to collide straight into Gaston. Simba looked around and turned his attention on Yzma, who thought about finishing the job herself until she came face to face with the lion.

Though he could not break away from fighting with Quasimodo, Gaston pulled out a net and tossed it immediately onto Madellaine so that she wouldn't make a quick escape. They all engaged in combat as the portal continued to close. Yzma backed away slowly from Simba before attempting to reach underneath her dress for her knife. But she wasn't fast enough as Simba quickly swiped at her, leaving deep claw marks upon her face. Yzma screamed violently before Simba pounced upon her from behind. She kept her balance long enough to reach the table and grab the nearest object. It was a vile and she smashed it upon Simba's head. Simba made only a minor cry before he fell back and rolled to one side before becoming engulfed in black mist. Yzma, trying to regain her sense of sight, tripped over the smashed remnants of the vile and fell though the closing portal.

Sensing someone would make run in grabbing Simba, Jim used his board as a full force weapon and added extra strength in his kick which sent Scroop across the room. The giant spider slammed hard into Gaston, knocking him into and through the window. The gunman tried to keep his balance and grab something, but gravity won and Gaston fell to his screaming doom below.

Tarzan tried to make a grab at Rico, but only caught his coat. The gunman slipped out of his coat and fired at the jungle man. The special bullets Yzma laced were enough to knock Tarzan unconscious. He quickly grabbed the downed hero, ignoring his own coat, and made a dash for the girl. "Forget the others!" he yelled at Scroop. "Get through the portal now!" He didn't look up to see Scroop displeasure at leaving a fight before leaping into the portal.

"Madellaine!" Quasimodo cried as he made a dash of his own for the trapped girl.

"Quasi!" Madellaine cried, trying to reach out of the net she was caught in. Seconds later, she was picked up by the running gunman. "QUASI!" she cried before Rico leaped through the portal just as it closed upon itself. Within the blink of an eye, they were gone and the portal was no more.

"MADELLAINE!" Quasimodo cried as he leaped over and slammed his huge fists upon the concrete wall that just moments before was where the portal stood. He continued to pound away when Clopin and Esmeralda appeared in the room. The two gypsies watched with horror as the hunchback unleashed anger and sorrow upon the wall before slowly coming up to him. Esmeralda gently laid a hand upon his shoulder as Quasimodo before to give up pounding and dragged himself down to the floor against the wall in tears.

"This doesn't make sense," Clopin finally managed to say moments after watching Quasimodo surrender into his sorrow. "Why in the world would they want the girl?"

"It might have something to do with him," Jim said, nodding his head to the hunchback. "Yzma said something about them needing him alive. What for, we don't know either."

"Just when we think we're getting more pieces to the puzzle, it starts to get bigger," Clopin sighed. Suddenly, his eyes shot open as he began to look around the room. "Where are the others?"

"They got Tarzan," Jim sighed.

"And Simba?" Clopin gasped.

"No, no, they didn't get him," Jim quickly replied. "Yzma hit him with something, but I made sure they didn't grab him. He's right..." He turned to show Clopin where Simba was, only to find himself at a loss of words. The gypsy was just as speechless as he looked upon the sight before him.

The black mist was slowly beginning to clear and it was apparent that the vile had a physical effect upon Simba. They could see that it took away his ability to his use claws and his teeth. Not to mention that it took away his tail.

It was Simba alright, but he wasn't a lion any more. Instead, he was a naked man.

"Uh... guys...?" Simba managed to say. "... little help here...?"

---

to be continued...

Thanks to GoblinQueeen, who provided the dialogue and some action for Helga.