SUPER DISNEY BROS.
Chapter 38: The Redemption
"Well, well." Maleficent raised her curled fingers to her chin. She was charmed and intrigued by the Atlantean girl who had miraculously escaped and eluded the Heartless. The phantom lowered its arm and simply hovered and waited for further instruction.
"You...are Maleficent," said Kida.
"Indeed, I am. Pray tell. Did you send for help? Do they serve you...or the King?" asked Maleficent, casting a half-glance at Moana and Ariel. They were both unsure how to respond. Ariel remembered from Jafar's conversation that Maleficent referred to the King who had opposed them in previous battles, beyond the island. She knew not of his whereabouts or his name.
"Perhaps your new friends could reveal how they discovered my island in the middle of the ocean," continued Maleficent.
"It was easy to find it," replied Moana, bravely. "We followed the path of darkness across the seas. I'm sure others are on their way."
"Is that so? I am impressed that you two somehow slipped through the storm and the barrier," admitted Maleficent. "Answer me this. What is the King's name?" She cracked a clever grin and waited. Moana looked to Ariel, wondering if perhaps she had a clue about the character in question.
"Why do you care for some king? Does he possess another heart you wish to steal?" accused Kida, aggressively. "Will you attack his people and bring ruin to his home as well?!"
"I need only concern for those who pose real dangers. And it would appear that my intruders do not serve the King. A simple misunderstanding, on my part. What a relief!" Maleficent slumped into the throne and ran her fingers through her crow's feathers.
"Relief?" Ariel could not hide her confusion.
"This means neither of you are worth the worry." Maleficent wiggled her fingers through a wisp of green magic.
CRK-KRRRK!
Thorny vines cracked through the walls and whipped at Moana and Ariel. Their arms and legs were immediately ensnared. Ariel could not reach for her trident pendant. Moana could not move her shoulders or legs without pressing into a thorn. Both were forced into kneeling to the floor with their arms forced upward.
"Moana! Ariel!" cried Kida. The vines blocked her away from her new friends.
"Such lovely names for foolish maidens." Maleficent closed her hand into a fist, constricting Moana and Ariel. They winced from the vines, pulling their arms behind their backs.
"STOP!" demanded Kida.
"You hardly know them and you care for them. How quaint," teased Maleficent. She relaxed her hand, halting her vines.
"Release them. They have nothing you want," reasoned Kida.
"Not what I-" repeated Maleficent. "They found their way into my island and into your heart." Kida sighed in defeat. She knew what Maleficent meant. Moana and Ariel were being used as leverage. As hostages.
"What did you dare to accomplish? To save yourself and rid the world of darkness?" Maleficent arose from their throne and paced leisurely. She had no reason to fear insolence from Kida.
"Darkness...has lingered and waited long enough for its reign over this world. The power it holds...it will be mine," revealed Maleficent.
"Then why do you need me?" asked Kida, in a harsh, helpless whisper.
"Legends tell of Atlantis's greatest treasure. Stronger than the magic of a genie from Agrabah. Stronger than the snow queen of Arendelle. We have taken what we can from the hearts of the most beloved. If the darkness ever claimed the Heart of Atlantis, then it would be invincible." Maleficent flung her arms, fanning her shadowy gown. She faced Kida and approached her.
"Adamant and proud, the Heart of Atlantis can only yield so much with force. Relinquish your heart to me and grant my wish to fill this world with darkness so that I may rule it."
"You cannot hope to control its power," defied Kida.
"You underestimate me, dear child. I need only to channel its power through the Door to Darkness," explained Maleficent clearly. She withheld the truth about the instability of the deep darkness from the other side of the door. She had planned ahead for such a predicament and arranged Jafar to procure a device to temper the energy between dimensions. According to him, it was called a global core, obtained from another world filled with friendly monsters. They could not compare to the beasts that thrived in the world of darkness. She carried the global core in her folds of her gown. The pieces of her plans were in place. All she needed was a little cooperation from her captive.
"Then you will release my friends," insisted Kida.
"I can honor such an arrangement. Step forward, won't you?" instructed Maleficent. She curled her finger, beckoning Kida to move towards the center of the throne room.
"No, Kida!" shouted Moana.
"Don't do it!" warned Ariel.
Kida blocked out their cries. She did not want to give into Maleficent's foul manipulation but there was little choice in the matter. Had she refused, Moana and Kida would be further tortured. Kida would return to her dungeon and the Heart of Atlantis would be drained against her will. Pain would follow in more ways than one. Would anyone else find them on the island and help? The storm was gone but the barrier remained.
The phantom was indifferent to Kida's dilemma. Its master was about to acquire the power she so deeply desired. It would wait until further instruction.
Kida prayed to her ancestors before making her way to the very center of the throne room. She relaxed her arms and took a deep breath. Both Moana and Kida looked out to their friend in utter dismay when her body began to glow.
Bolts of azure blue sparked from Kida. She opened her eyes, eclipsed in complete blue. Maleficent softly grinned. Her reaction was far tamer than Tamatoa. The bolts flickered and lit the throne room. The floor was struck and rumbled. The tiles loosened and shined red. Moana traced the red light into a heart. Ariel felt the vines loosen and wiggled her out of its grasp. She helped Moana to untangle herself. They were indeed free but what more could they do with their powers or weapons?
Kida levitated above the floor. The bolts whipped wildly across the throne room. Maleficent pulled out the global core from her gown and caught the Atlantean energy like a lightning rod. She came dangerously close to Kida but remained unharmed. She lowered herself to insert the global core into a tiny hole in the ground. Suddenly, Kida was shackled by her own power and pulled down. She had prayed that the Heart of Atlantis would be too overwhelming for anyone to control.
Maleficent had proved her wrong. The blue lightning smoothly streamed into the floor along the cracks of the stone tiles. Moana and Ariel shuddered. They could feel a swelling pressure in their hearts. Toxic and wretched. Looking down, they both knew what was happening. The Door to Darkness was growing strong. As did Maleficent. She gasped with glee, knowing her plan was executed to perfection. She believed it was too late for anyone to interfere.
Vrrrrrrm!
The phantom turned around and detected a little motor from the doorway. Moana and Ariel heard it too. They looked back and discovered their little friend was still alive.
"Wall-E?" asked Ariel. Moana panicked. The robot had picked the most dangerous room in the castle to visit. The phantom stared at the little wide-eyed robot. Before Moana could run and pull Wall-E out of the phantom's line of fire, Wall-E excitedly raced in circles, under the phantom.
"EEVAA! EEVAA!" squealed Wall-E.
"Who's there?" said Maleficent, outraged from being interrupted. Wall-E waved its arms in hopes of getting the phantom's attention. It leaned down and stared back with its bright, blue eyes.
"Do they know each other?" asked Ariel quietly.
PSZZZ! Maleficent fired a green blast of infernal lightning. The surrounding impact knocked Ariel and Moana off their feet. The phantom ascended and found that Wall-E had been badly damaged. Green cinders sparked over its wheels.
Engulfed in rage, Maleficent stormed past Kida, still sitting and flowing the Heart of Atlantis into the floor. Moana and Ariel hurried out of her path. Maleficent twirled her staff and smacked Wall-E against the wall.
"No!" cried Moana. Ariel gasped and covered her mouth in shock.
"How is it that TWO meddlesome maidens slipped past our defenses? Was this all your plot? Did you try to save your little friend?!" shouted Maleficent at the phantom. "Remember who you serve. Follow your directive," threatened Maleficent, deeply.
The phantom sank. It glanced at Moana and Ariel with indifference. It then looked to Wall-E, crawling out of the wall. Wall-E could hardly move, only reaching out with its claw-like hand.
"Directive," muttered the phantom. It was a gentle voice, one that did not match its grim attire. Moana and Ariel were stunned.
"Redeem yourself! Petrify those two or I shall tear apart this abomination," commanded Maleficent, aiming her staff at Wall-E. It whimpered and shut its eyes from the impending attack. The phantom extended its petrifying pistol, the same weapon that had been used to abduct Belle. It was charging power, enough to quickly turn Moana and Ariel into stone in a matter of seconds. They had nowhere to flee, nor would they dare abandon Kida. Maleficent would not wait long for the phantom to make a decision. It was normally silent and cold, willing to follow any order without question.
"Eeeevaa," whispered Wall-E weakly. The phantom froze. Something deep inside its body sparked. Its only friend was on the brink of losing its life. The phantom had always followed Maleficent's orders and it still faced punishment. With all the evil it had enabled, the phantom did not feel for any human or kingdom. No guilt. No weakness. And yet, it felt conflicted. Uncertain. Curious. Protective.
Amidst the painful extraction, Kida sensed the presence of a new heart in the throne room. It emerged with a brave kind of light. The phantom knew how far it had strayed from its original directive. Wall-E was losing its strength. Maleficent was losing her patience.
The final second passed. The phantom switched targets.
BZZZZZT!
Maleficent shrieked when the scarlet red light struck her. Her whole gown and her pet crow turned stiff. All that was left was cold stone.
Kida gasped and fell forward. Moana and Ariel hurried to help her.
"Are you okay? How many fingers am I holding?" asked Ariel, flexing four fingers in Kida's face. Kida shrugged and rubbed her eyes, clear and white again.
"Can you still feel the Heart of Atlantis?" asked Moana.
"Yes, but it is weak...and tired." Kida hated having to lose consciousness so frequently. Luckily, she had wonderful companions to look after her. She scanned the throne room for Maleficent. She was confused but impressed when she saw her petrified.
"What happened to her?" asked Kida. She then looked at the phantom, gliding towards Wall-E. She tried to charge and save Wall-E from the sinister-looking henchman but Moana stopped her.
"It's okay. I think...they're friends," guessed Moana. Kida believed her when she saw the phantom helping Wall-E to stand upright. Wall-E shook off the dust and rubble. Wall-E leaned in and offered its hand again. The phantom altered its pistol into a white hand with three floating pieces. They interlocked and the phantom let out a heavy sigh.
"Wall-E was being used to force the phantom into serving Maleficent. So, when we freed him, it went to go looking for its friend," explained Moana.
"That's awful," said Ariel.
"Wall-E?" "Can you introduce us to your friend?" asked Kida softly. She took gentle steps without wanting to frighten or interrupt their reunion. She trusted in Wall-E and so she trusted in the phantom. The phantom honored the trust and shed its frightful cloak.
It was a white and almond-shaped robot. Its face only had a black screen where the two blue eyes blinked. It floated with ease but in a less terrifying display. Smooth and sophisticated, the robot appeared as it was before assuming a wicked identity. The phantom was no more.
"Eeeve," said the white robot, courteously. Wall-E squealed and nodded. It was so relieved to have its friend again. Wall-E repeated its name with different inflections. With theatrical gestures, as if playing charades, Wall-E was explaining to Eve how the three women rescued him from the underground chambers. Eve hovered towards Moana, Ariel, and Kida. She closed her eyes and bowed.
"It is an honor to make your acquaintance as well," replied Kida. Moana and Ariel were forgiving of Eve and grateful that she was now on Wall-E's side, their side.
Everyone flinched when Maleficent trembled under her petrified prison. One little crack splintered into several, erratic lines. Pieces popped off. A sizzling steam sprouted forth from the statue. Wall-E trembled. Kida, Moana, and Ariel stood in front to protect him. Eve swiftly hovered in front of them. It was her turn to fight back.
KRKKKKRK-FWOOOOM!
Maleficent returned, flapping her gown like raging plumes of fire.
"FOOLS! You dare to turn my magic against me?!" scolded Maleficent. She aimed the top of her crackling staff. Eve charged like a cannonball and tackled her to the floor. She sprung up and flew midair from a distance. She fired several blue blasts to counter Maleficent's attacks. Maleficent retaliated and unleashed fiery bolts of green light.
"I bestowed you all with the power to petrify. Pete, Hook, Oogie Boogie, and Jafar! You are all BENEATH me!"
Maleficent swung her staff high and destroyed a chunk of the ceiling. Eve dodged into the direction that Maleficent had predicted. She suffered a direct hit and collapsed to the ground.
"The time draws near but you won't set your precious blue eyes upon the dark void." Maleficent had her back turned. She was proud and vengeful in her steps. Eve lay helpless in the rubble.
"Hey!" cried Moana. She sprinted and latched onto Maleficent's robes.
"Wretched girl!" warned Maleficent. She tried to raise her staff to incinerate Moana behind her. Ariel hopped ahead and pulled her arm down. She and Moana struggled to restrain Maleficent, who possessed an unnatural strength in her elderly body. They would not last much longer as Maleficent raged with a burning magic, simmering from her staff. Kida looked to the ceiling's gaping hole. She ran to Maleficent, shaking Moana and Ariel off. Kida twisted the angle of Maleficent's staff, casting an explosive, green lightning bolt. It had been redirected, flying out of the castle and into the sky. The impact burst upon hitting the barrier. Gleaming green sparkles showered from above.
In one wide swing, Maleficent smacked Moana, Ariel, and Kida away from her. She cackled as they fell to the floor.
"Are there no tricks left at your disposal? Have no plan to deal with me?" berated Maleficent. Wall-E squealed and came to the rescue. It scurried over to Kida and growled at Maleficent. She leaned forward and frightened the little robot.
"You cannot stop what I am destined to bring to this world. A never-evening nightmare to your peaceful slumber! A kingdom...no, a dimension of darkness and doom! I shall kill the light...FOREVER!" hollered Maleficent.
Krk!
Maleficent gasped and gazed at the gaping hole.
KRKRKRKRKRKRK-KRINGGGGGGGG!
The booming burst of shattered glass muted all other sounds. Even Maleficent had to shield her senses. She wrapped herself in her cloak and crouched.
The Heart of Atlantis hammered inside Kida. Two new hearts had entered the castle. The beaming light illuminated the throne room, casting a veil of pure white. It was a quick but miraculous moment, only witnessed by Kida and Eve. The light had delivered the heroes and vanished, along with the crumbling remains of the accursed barrier.
"Who dares to tread into my castle?!" Maleficent stood upright while the crow had retreated and perched onto the wall. She could not identify two newest intruders.
A large winged knight in crimson red. Baymax.
A young man in a purple helmet. Hiro Hamada.
"Maleficent, the King sends his regards!" shouted Hiro with righteous pride.
"How?! HOW?!" yelled Maleficent. Her voice grew and echoed in the throne room. Even the Heartless from outside shivered when her voice escaped through the gaping hole.
"We smashed right through your barrier. Took a while to find its weak spot. Lucky for us, the storm died out and someone from the inside came through for us." Hiro waved and smiled at the young women. Kida has known that by redirecting Maleficent's magical blast, she and others had dealt a devastating blow against the barrier. They had aided more heroes with entering the island. Through Baymax's super sensors, Hiro had been able to immediately locate the people in danger inside the throne room and race over in time.
Maleficent lost her composure upon the removal of her storm, for which she blamed Jafar. Her anger sky-rocketed as she immediately recalled how it was her own immense power that ruined her own barrier. Her defenses were destroyed.
"IT CANNOT BE!" Maleficent raged by flinging a flurry of wild green flames around the throne room. Baymax stood guard with his massive bulk while Hiro gathered Moana, Ariel, and Kida together. Eve zoomed from her crater and hurried to protect Wall-E from the fire. He squealed in fright, thinking that Eve would be harmed.
Baymax withstood the terrifying tempest of fire. Maleficent raised her arms, casting dark, swirling power all over her reach. Moana and Ariel could feel the scorching flames filling the confined space. As soon as they coughed, Kida knew she had to act. She turned to the crimson knight and resonated with its strong, yet unusual heart. The heart of a machine, filled with unconditional loyalty. Kida stood up and endured the rising heat. She approached Baymax from behind and spoke in Atlantean with multiple, ancient voices. Moana and Ariel recognized her language and looked up to her. Hiro turned, baffled by what she was doing. He could not see the fearless, azure glow in her eyes.
She pressed both hands onto Baymax and bestowed her power, the power of her ancestors, into his body.
"The Heart of Atlantis calls upon you, our guardian," proclaimed Kida. As she fell to her knees, Baymax was consumed in a bright spectacle of blue light, flickering in bolts of electricity. Hiro and Maleficent watched in awe and fear.
"Baymax?" asked Hiro. He tapped his visor to read Baymax's status. Although the data was glitching, Hiro saw that Baymax's energy output was boosted. Tenfold.
Baymax rushed into Maleficent with a massive punch. She yelled and crashed into her throne. Hiro feared that Baymax was acting against his protocol, prohibiting him from harming a person. The Heartless were an obvious exception as they did not register as people, due to their supernatural composition. Hiro theorized that either Maleficent somehow overrode Baymax's sensors or it was the strange azure power that came from Kida. In any case, he knew that an unhinged Baymax was a considerable danger to anyone in his path.
Maleficent panted and picked herself up clumsily from the shattered throne. Her black gown flung high before she lunged straight into Baymax with her staff. They clashed in a burning blitz of toxic green fire and azure lightning. Baymax proved he was more than a match by withstanding her incredible power all while guarding everyone in behind him. Maleficent was willing to unleash more sinister power to obliterate her opponent. Her skin turned scaly and the pupils in her eyes turned thin. She snarled and pushed harder. Hiro looked down and saw Baymax slowly sliding back by an inch.
"Baymax! Be careful!" cried Hiro. He turned to Moana and Ariel, still coughing from the toxic fumes. Kida continued to hope for Baymax to prevail. Hiro's cry for concern ignited even more power, amplified by the Heart of Atlantis. Baymax could not compute the rising strength in his body. Still, he took one heavy, floor-cracking step. Maleficent gasped. Baymax raised her up and threw her against the wall. Hiro heard the impact, hoping it was enough to defeat her. He turned and saw the surrounding green fire shrink and diminish. Kida helped Moana and Ariel to their feet. Wall-E scooted towards them and squeaked in relief. Eve hovered and watched as Maleficent struggled to lift herself up again. This time, she stayed down.
Kida stood beside Baymax, still postured for the next beating and still glowing in the azure aura. She looked down at Maleficent, unable to hold her staff. It bounced against the stone floor and rolled away.
"It is done," said Kida. Moana and Ariel joined her. They let out a heavy, cathartic breath. Ariel smiled, proud of her work and her friends. Hiro looked up to Baymax, clenching both fists.
"Hey buddy?" asked Hiro, softly. He hoped Baymax had not turned completely berserk.
Baymax turned and blinked. His hands relaxed. His shoulders dropped. The azure aura left his body.
"Hiro. Sensors indicated...an unknown influx...of energy. It...cannot...be traced," replied Baymax.
"That's okay. I'm sure these girls can fill us in on this magic," said Hiro, kindly. He had become more open-minded regarding his ongoing supernatural encounters.
"How much time do you have?" joked Moana. Ariel was the first to offer a hand shake. Before any introductions could be made, everyone heard a harsh groan from across the throne room.
Unwilling to tolerate defeat, Maleficent sneered at them. Her face was weary from the fight.
"This is...far...from over," threatened Maleficent.
"There's nothing left you can do. You have no one left you help you," said Hiro, standing with a reliable team of brave individuals. It felt just like working with Merida and the others.
"This place...was a harbor of darkness," grumbled Maleficent.
"What do you mean? Spill it!" demanded Moana.
"I am not the first to seek the Door to Darkness. I merely continued what was left behind," said Maleficent. She curled her fingers, casting a sliver of magic into the cracks of the floor.
"So, you didn't build the dungeon below?" asked Ariel.
"It was...a facility. Built to peer into the darkness beyond this world," said Maleficent. She chuckled, alerting Hiro and Moana. "They succeeded."
"Who were they?" asked Kida.
"I haven't a clue. All I found were their subordinates, unable to reveal their history to me," Maleficent swung her head, towards Eve and Wall-E. Hiro looked to them and hoped they would speak. Wall-E withdrew its head shyly while Eve only had a minimal answer.
"Directive. Classified."
"It matters not," said Maleficent, regaining her pride. "The Door to Darkness was left open when it was denied to me long ago by a nosy king."
"King Mickey," muttered Hiro. Maleficent nodded.
"Indeed. Tell the King...if he wants to seal the Door to Darkness, he'll have to come here...HIMSELF!" Maleficent slammed her hands against the ground. The spaces in between the tiles shined bright, blood red.
"What's happening?" asked Ariel. Her feet wobbled as a sudden tremor struck the island. Wall-E winced and Eve carried him off the ground.
"What have you done?!" asked Kida. Maleficent mustered enough strength to stand and lean against the wall.
"Oh how long have I waited for this moment!" boasted Maleficent. She cackled with passion. She fixed her crazed gaze upon the gaping hole. Dusk crept across the cold sky.
"Temperature is…dropping and seismic disturbance is…increasing," reported Baymax.
"Then we need to get out of here," decided Hiro.
"What about the Door to Darkness?" asked Moana, keeping her eye on Ariel and Kida.
"We're not safe here. We'll come back with reinforcements," reassured Hiro.
"Do bring your bravest knights and heroes to face me," welcomed Maleficent with wicked glee. "Should you dive into deepest darkness...you will lose your light."
Maleficent slouched and continued to cackle. Her voice echoed, giving more terror to her cryptic claim.
Hiro trusted that King Mickey, Jim, and the others could come up with a new plan to stop Maleficent. Moana, Ariel, and Kida were quick to trust him as he offered to take them off the island. Moana hurried to retrieve her oar and as Kida picked up her spear. They joined Ariel and sat in Baymax's large arms. Eve could float and fly even while holding Wall-E. Hiro climbed onto Baymax's back and gave the command to make their retreat. Maleficent watched them ascend through the ceiling hole. She had fulfilled her plans to feed the Door to Darkness enough energy from strong hearts. She would eagerly await the King to arrive with his loyal army. Although, there was no need to make his arrival so smooth and simple.
Staff in hand, Maleficent made her way out of the throne room and found Jafar in the hallway. He appeared to be soothing an injured neck. Iago gulped when he saw Maleficent approach them.
"Do recover soon, Jafar. We're expecting company," teased Maleficent.