Interlude: Disney Castle

"Anything?" Queen Minnie asked as she put another book away.

Ludwig Von Drake sighed as he kept fiddling with the computer, "Nope. This stupid thing's transmissions keep getting finagled!" He banged the screen a few times. "Stupid, no good higgilty machine!"

"Well keep trying, please!" Queen Minnie pleaded as she leaned up against her chair. "We haven't heard anything from Donald and Goofy in almost a month now! I'm starting to worry about them."

"As am I! I don't want Donald to get hurt, or worse." Daisy added.

"Of course, Your Majesty. Thankfully, we are still able to track them through the main computer. Gadget has been monitoring them twenty four seven."

Her Majesty grew weary. Day by day passed, and updates from Donald and Goofy became less and less. Reason being was that there was very little news to report. All there was just the same. Visit a world, do something, rinse and repeat. But the boy Sora was learning, so at least a small glimmer of hope remained. But would it be enough. Could a mere child, around the same age as Goofy's own son Max, could save them all from the growing tide of darkness that was soon to come, if it had not come already?

"Well, at least we should be thankful that those Heartless creatures aren't coming for us just yet." Ludwig Von Drake commented as he kept working on the machine. "Though, I heard rumor of some rumbling with Glomgold and the Beagle boys doing some strange underground work."

"Scrooge's rival?" Queen Minnie asked?

"Yeah, when the coppers caught the beagle boys they found the most strangest of things."

"What?"

"Hearts?"

Daisy grimace. "...Hearts?"

"Yeah, sparkly one's too! Trust me, it ain't the organ. Something more is going on there."

Taking a sigh, Queen Minnie leaned on her chair behind her desk and wondered just what the King was doing, if he was still alive. She had wished that he had told her more of what was going on in the other worlds, instead of being stubborn and keeping things to himself! Yet knowing him for years, the Queen knew that the King was known to be stubborn, preferring to take on the responsibility and sacrifice himself while shielding his loved ones from whatever dangers were going on.

She remembered the last time he was like that. It was seven years ago. Seven years ago, something happened that had cause the King and his then teacher Master Yen Sid to traverse the various worlds. While she didn't know what was going on then, all she could know that it had something to do with another growing darkness during that time and when that darkness had been defeated, the King returned victorious. Yet that was not the full story for she remembered that ever since then something always troubled his mind, some sort of closure that had not been met. For years, she tried to get it out of him what it was and yet never could.

Something deep down, however, told her that whatever happened those seven years ago, had something to do with whatever was going on now.

"Your Majesty, we are getting word from Traverse Town." Ludwig Von Drake called, activating the main computer screen inside the Study. "About bloody time if you ask me, stupid machine should be working...Blasted no good higgity piggity machine….work darn you!"

Queen Minnie nodded, leaping from the chair on her desk and walking up to the desk. With a single push of a button. Scrooge McDuck appeared on the screen, giving a polite bow before speaking.

"Your majesty," Scrooge said giving her a firm tip of the hat.

"Scrooge," Minnie nods, "any word from Traverse Town?"

Suddenly, a loud explosion came from behind the old Duck as a bunch of smoke began to cover the screen, quickly dissipating as a south accented voice began to yell behind the camera. A bit of muttering and screeching came in the background.

"Bloated, no good Heartless laser! I knew should have added a extra Gizatron to the Megaltracks."

"What was that?" Queen Minnie asked, giving a curious expression.

Scrooge gave a loud cough. "Sorry about that, that was just Cid working on a Anti-Heartless weapon, apologies."

"No need….Now...how is Traverse Town?"

"Merlin is safe, yet unfortunately there have been no word on the whereabouts of Master Yen Sid. Sadly, it seemed we might have loss the old lad to those blasted Heartless."

Queen Minnie sighed. If this was true and Yen Sid was missing, then perhaps their most magical ally who could probably rival any of them. For years, he had taught the king in the ways of many magical feats. This news caused her to sigh putting her head down in a brief moment of despair before looking up, re-composing herself.

"And Sora?" Queen Minnie asked.

Scrooge sighed. "Still very clumsy with that Key, but Donald and Goofy are keeping a eye on him. Along with their new companion."

Queen Minnie seemed surprised. "New companion? Who?"

"Some young lad named Riku. Apparently, he and Sora are best friends from his own world. But, Your Highness, we know who's behind it."

"Who?" She asked, eyes widening with shock.

"Maleficent!"

Queen Minnie took a moment to think. "I have heard of that name from a few people, but not know of her personally."

"Aye, and the worst part is Pete is working for her."

"PETE!?" The Queen and Ludwig said in unison. "My former captain of the guard!?"

"Aye. So I'd be careful on who you'd mention it too, if I recall Goofy's son Max was pretty close to that cat's son. Don't know if we can necessarily trust him."

Minnie nodded though didn't completely trust his setmiment. Once upon a time, it was Pete, not Goofy, that had been the King and Queens former Captain of the Guard. They thought he was skilled fighter and good leader who knew how to get things done. But they were both naive and realized that he was nothing more than a schemer interested in taking the throne for himself and locking Minnie and the King in a tower for all eternity. It was not until Goofy managed to defeat him with his own unique sense of charm and goofiness that Pete was banished to another dimension by the King for treason, only to be released when he learned his lesson.

She guessed he apparently didn't.

The Queen was tired, ready to return back to her desk. Before she could even taken another step, however, the doors to the study burst open, as the young squire Max burst in, tripping over his feet and landing fat face on the hard pavement Pete Jr. standing right behind him with a embarrassed expression. Daisy giving him a disapproving glare.

"I told you to be careful!" Daisy yelled.

"Sorry,sorry, just wanted to see if I can talk to Dad." Max said getting up and looking up a empty screen. "And I missed it, didn't I?"

"Hey, what's up about my dad?" Pete Jr. asked.

Max got up from the ground, wearing training armor it made him difficult for him to walk. He had been trying it on ever since his father had given him the responsibility of looking after the Queen. In reality it sometimes felt they were looking after him. Yet in reality, it was more of a fifty-fifty partnership. Everyone was scared, nobody knew if the Heartless would invade. Now with word of this Maleficent behind all of it, it could only be a matter of time. Yet still, the Castle was protected by several magical defenses placed there long ago. Hopefully, it would at least give them a fighting chance should the Heartless dare attack.

Minnie sighed. "Apparently, your father is working with the Heartless and is partially responsible for what is going on."

"Oh, I see…." Pete Jr sighed his ears flopped down.

"It's okay." The Queen replied giving him a warm smile. "You are not to blame for his own mistakes."

"Yeah man, I'm still your buddy." Max said putting a hand on his friends shoulder.

"Thanks man. Still…."

Max then turned to the Queen with his own look curiosity as he looked over to the screen. Scrooge watching the whole thing with a mix of annoyance and impatiens.

"Do you know when Dad will call back?" Max asked looking at the blank screen.

"I don't know," Queen Minnie said holding his hand, "but you will see him again soon."

Max sighed, "I miss him."

"I know the feeling, I miss the King every day. Thinking about him and wondering if he's safe."

"Oh, I, uh, didn't mean…."

Queen Minnie held a hand and patted Max's gloved one. "It's okay, I know, we all love someone gone missing."

"I have Donald, I think of him constantly too." Daisy said. "And I hate the fact that we can't do anything but just sit around here!"

Ludwig Von Drake then spoke up. "Well, we can at least help those who lost their world. It seems like whatever is getting people to Traverse Town, also seems to be getting people here. Jiminy Cricket was the first, but more are coming."

"Poor dears," Queen Minnie sighed, "if we can some good here then at least that is something. For now, at least."

"But what about if they can't find the King? Or even find stop the Heartless?"

Queen Minnie sighed. "Then we'll just have to think of something and wait."

"I'd be taking precautions to make sure things are safe back home." Scrooge added.

"I'll keep that in mind, but tell me more about Maleficent, the name sound familiar, yet I don't think I've heard of her."

"We'll she's bad news, that's for sure but that's all I can tell you. I'll keep an eye out here, see what I can do." Scrooge then gave the Queen a sympathetic look. "Don't worry, we'll find the King. I can promise that!"

"Thank you, Scrooge." Queen Minnie said nodding.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty. Oh, and before I go, I'm working on a little project as part of the Gummi Initiative I started with the King years back. Hopefully will be able to have a few contingencies should…."

The Queen grimace causing Scrooge to pause.

"Well, I'm sure it won't come to that. Anyway, I better get going, the supplies needed for this can be a little hectic if misused and hopefully that no-good Pines doesn't get my shipment before I can take it! McDuck out!"

Ludwig Von Drake turned off the screen returning it back to a map of the stars, large black patches started to grow larger. Stars that were once worlds now completely gone thanks to the horror of the Heartless.

"Boy, the plot thickens ,eh, Your Majesty." Ludwig said adjusting his glasses. "Pete is back and now this nasty Maleficent person… Things don't seem to be getting any better now."

"Indeed." Minnie said before turning to in Max's and PJ's direction, "You two, head back to Officer Bonkers to help him with patrolling the castle. I'll send someone to get you should we hear from Donald and Goofy."

The two boys saluted though Max wasn't happy about it."Yes, Your Majesty!"

Minnie noticed Max's displeasure, "And Max, hang in there."

Max nods and leaves with PJ.

Queen Minnie smiled as she watched the two boys leave. Things were going to get a lot worse before they got better, that she did know. But if she had people like Max and P.J by her side, along with Daisy, Ludwig and the others. Then maybe her world could get through this terrible crisis. Yet still, she missed the king and new that finding him would be the key to solving this problem at the end.

"Sora, Donald, Goofy...Please succeed."