Chapter 20. Kiss the Girl

Cinderella Tremaine

Yzma was furious that The Wonder Boy slayed the Hydra. "How'd a pale waif like you know to play the one card that could beat the hydra?" Yzma's reddened eyes blinked.

"My friends taught me how to play." Cinderella held her cards close.

"Don't be a sore loser." Tiana rolled her eyes.

"Sore? I'll show you sore." Yzma slammed down a card called Flood Waters.

"Is that supposed to make us sore? Tiana raised an eyebrow.

"Figuratively." Yzma spat.

Tiana just smiled. "I think I have a hero to counter that."

Ariel Triton

Ariel bashed a goblin-man with an oar. There were more and more of them and despite Hercules being able to lift and hurl them around the teens were getting overwhelmed.

Just then the putrid water began to pour into the room and fill higher and higher.

Ariel's nose was assaulted with a foul smell as she struggled to breathe. "The water is filling up!"

The sallow men panicked and tried to climb out of the room as the water filled but a concrete wall began to rise blocking everyone's exit.

"We're going to drown in here." Kenai panicked.

"There has to be a way out!" Ariel ran towards the rusty door but a wave of putrid water knocked her off her feet and into the rising waters.

Moana's necklace began to glow.

"What's with that?" Hercules pointed to her necklace.

"I don't know?" Moana looked at her green necklace thoughtfully as the water reached their waists.

Just then a burst of blue, clear water arose from the green liquid. The water stood before Moana and she touched it. The clear water descended and rolled through the disgusting water. It rolled back the water making a path towards the rusty door.

"Thank you!" Moana nodded to the waters and the teens ran towards the rusty door and their chance of escape.

Was Moana a mermaid too? What gave her such a strange connection with the waters? Looking at Moana's face Ariel felt there was something Moana wasn't saying.

Fa Mulan

Mulan, Aladdin and Philip raced up the rickety stairs till they found themselves in a supply closet.

"It's locked." Aladdin fiddled with the door in the dark.

"Stand back." Mulan called and kicked the door open.

"Dope." Philip smiled.

The three teens raced into the white linoleum hall and found themselves face to face with a huge, burly man with pale skin and yellow eyes.

"Stand back." Philip pointed his blade at the guard.

The man just smiled and pointed his gun at Philip. "It seems like it's game over Bright Paladin."

Mulan wouldn't let that happen. She leapt forward and kicked the gun out of the burly man's hand.

"You stupid girl." The man spat.

Mulan punched him in the face, he swung back but she dodged.

"You run ahead." She shouted. "I got this lug."

Aladdin Ata

Aladdin was faster than Philip. They took the stairs up to the 7th floor where Briar Rose was kept and Philip fell behind him as they raced up the steps.

"Come on, man, keep up." Aladdin called as he burst through the door to the seventh floor.

He entered a waiting lounge where the King and Queen sat talking with Dr. Jafar, who leaned on a gold cane that was shaped like a snake. The guards all instantly turned to look at him.

"I'm sorry, this suite is off limits currently." Dr. Jafar drawled. "Please take the elevator to the 7th floor lobby and check in with the nurse at the front desk."

Philip charged in with his sword.

"Philip?" Queen Leah gasped.

"Hey." Philip smiled sheepishly.

"Guards." Stefan called. "Arrest the intruders!"

The guards began to rush them.

"You don't understand, I need to save Briar Rose from Maleficent." Philip shouted.

"What nonsense are you screaming in my hospital?" Dr. Jafar spat. "There's no way we can save the Princess Aurora."

The King and Queen repeated back in slow and sluggish voices "There's no way we can save the Princess Aurora."

The guards closed in but Aladdin followed the Queen's line of sight. She was staring into the ruby eyes of Jafar's cobra cane.

Aladdin leapt towards Jafar and grabbed the cane.

"What are you doing, thug?" Dr. Jafar called out.

"You're majesties, you've been under a spell." Aladdin slammed the staff against the war, shattering it.

"No!" Jafar shrieked.

The King and Queen jolted as if waking up.

"What is going on here!" Stefan shouted.

All the guards froze in place and Philip took his chance and booked it down the hall.

"You're too late." Jafar grinned at Aladdin. "Far too late."

Tiana Orleans

Belle didn't need to tell Tiana to play the Ocean's Chosen against Yzma. Tiana had already memorized the abilities of the different heroes. Watching Yzma's eyes bulge in horror was scary beyond all reason but also hilarious.

"How did you-you? What?" Yzma sputtered.

Cinderella brought the Diamond in the Rough, the Strong Blossom and the Bright Paladin into the Forbidden Mountain after the Dawn Princess.

Yzma placed a bunch of villains in the way.

On Taran's advice, Tiana used the Strong Blossom against the Soulless Warrior and Belle told Cinderella to use the Diamond in the Rough to defeat the Red Schemer.

Yzma played The Malevolent Fairy into the space right next to the Dawn Princess. "HA!"

Tiana shrugged. "He can defeat her."

Yzma blinked in shock. "Wait can he?" She turned to a Dr. Facilier.

"Now Tiana, let's slow down." Dr. Facilier snapped his fingers and suddenly the concrete room was a beautiful restaurant on the river, with diamond chandeliers and gold fixtures and tables covered in rich soul food and fine wine.

"Tiana, I can give you everything you've ever wanted, ever dreamed of. Just don't make your next move. Forfeit the game." Dr. Facilier cooed.

"What, how?" Tiana was flabbergasted by all this blatant magic right before her face. "So magic really is real."

"As real as the nose on your face." Dr. Facilier smiled. "I'll give you everything you and your father wanted and more."

Tiana thought for a moment. Esmeralda and Cinderella were nowhere in sight. The choice was up to her and magic was real. She looked down and saw the game board on the restaurant's hardwood floor.

Dr. Facilier handed her a card. The Overworked Man. "Think of your father, how hard-working he was, how he dreamed a dream so big but it never came close to coming true. Think of how hard you've worked for your dream. While your friends chase boys and play sports, you work hard at everything. Working after school and on weekends, getting the best grades to go to business and culinary school. All for your dream. Now I can give you that dream and more, give you all your daddy ever wanted, if you just throw the game. Think of how proud your daddy will be."

Tiana thought for a moment. She could have her dream. She could have everything and make her father proud. But at what cost?

"My daddy may not have had his dream but he had me and mama and his friends. He had love and character and I'm not going to betray my friends and put someone else in danger just for a restaurant. I'm choosing the side of love." Tiana played her card. "True Love Conquers All."

Immediately the vision of the restaurant wisped away and they were back in the concrete cellar.

"NOOO!" Dr. Facilier cried out.

The Shadows seemed to come alive, taking on ghoulish shapes, swirling around and shrieking.

"No, Hades, I promise I can still win the game. We can still win!" Dr. Facilier begged.

The Shadows formed a swirling grey vortex. A clawed, bluish had grabbed Dr. Facilier's leg.

"Please, I have plans. We have plans." He cried as he was dragged into the vortex.

Another clawed hand reached out for Yzma.

"No! Take these imbeciles instead." Yzma grabbed Cinderella and Tiana by the wrists and went to throw them into the vortex.

"No. Leave us alone." Cinderella cried out. She stomped the ground with one of her strange glass shoes and a burst of blue light shaped like butterflies flew out and fluttered in Yzma's face. Yzma let go and stumbled back into the vortex.

"These were my best shoes!" Yzma cried out as she and Dr. Facilier were dragged into the portal.

Tiana, Cinderella and Esmeralda embraced and held each other close as the two villains were dragged off into the abyss.

The Princess Aurora

Aurora raised up the stairs into the dark fortress. Ogres and goblins charged at her, shrieking and growling. The Animals followed along with her. Aurora waved her sword with fierce determination. No monster was getting in her way.

She ascended the crumbling stairs past wyverns and gargoyles and ghouls, her bright blade cutting down her foes.

Eventually she reached the top of the tower. There he was, Philip. Stripped down to his breeches and tied to a thorny cross above a boiling cauldron of green flame. Before the cauldron stood Maleficent in billowing robes of purple and black. She held her staff in her graceful claws.

"Aurora, hair of sunshine gold, lips as red as the rose. Fair and sweet and innocent. You hardly look it." Maleficent laughed quietly.

"Let him go!" Aurora commanded.

"You poor simple fool." Maleficent laughed.

She stomped her staff, and the black scars and Philip's chest throbbed and beat.

He cried out in pain. "Aurora! Save me!"

Aurora drew her sword and charged. Maleficent raised her staff and blocked the blow. The Owl screeched and dove at Maleficent. The cardinal and the bluebird pecked at her eyes. The Squirrel crawled up Maleficent's staff and bit her hand. The rabbits bit her feet.

"You pesky woodland creatures!" Maleficent spat. She slammed her staff down and in an instant all the creatures were turned to stone. They fell lifelessly on the stone tower.

"No!" Aurora cried and swung her sword at Maleficent.

Maleficent blocked again with her staff. They walked round the tower, Aurora pushing Maleficent with all her strength and Maleficent pushing back. Pink light poured from Aurora's sword and fought against the green fire that blazed from Maleficent's scepter.

"You are mine." Maleficent grinned.

"Never." Aurora screamed and pushed Maleficent. The fairy sorceress lost her balance and fell towards the cauldron, falling into the engulfing flames.

"NOOOO!" Maleficent shrieked as the flames devoured her.

Aurora ran to Philip. He hung there, bleeding and in pain.

"Philip, I came for you. I finally found you."

"Briar Rose?" The boy whispered.

"Yes. Briar Rose." Aurora smiled and leaned into him.

She kissed him, his mouth tasted sweet and warm and all her passion and soul poured into this kiss, because it was the Kiss of True Love. Her lips wrapped around his and in that moment the stormy green sky was engulfed in the rose-colored light of dawn. The tower crumbled into a green and verdant forest and the animals came to life. Birds sang and the whole world seemed to fade away until all that she saw was Philips's face.

Philip Prince

Philip ran towards Briar Rose's room. He burst in the door and saw her, Briar Rose, laying still, fast asleep. A green pallor was over her and she seemed sickly and pale.

Over the bed lurked Angelina, Maleficent. She stood there in a skin-tight leather suit, stroking her staff.

"What are you doing here?" Philip demanded.

"I'm simply claiming what belongs to me." She smiled. "You and the Princess."

She stomped her staff and immediately the black scars on his body throbbed and he cried out in pain.

"You insolent fool." Maleficent cackled.

Philip swung wildly the Sword of Truth at her, but she deftly blocked it with her staff.

She laughed. Philip kicked her. She beat him on the side of his head with her staff. He cried out in pant and swung the Sword at her again. She dodged but Philip turned quickly and grabbed her shoulder pushing her against the wall. He pressed the sword up against her and Maleficent's pale skin burned at the touch of the blade.

"You won't stop me." Philip said fiercely.

"Oh, I will. You're too late anyways-" Maleficent's bravado suddenly fell away and her face looked like she was in pain. Her whole body burst into green flames. Philip leapt back in shock.

"No!" Maleficent screamed as she dissipated into green flame.

Philip had no idea what happened but he didn't have time for that. He turned towards the sleeping Briar Rose.

He walked towards her and leaned in. "Briar Rose?"

He leaned in and kissed her. Letting his lips gently touch hers. He lifted his head up and looked down on her. The color came back to her face and it lit up. Her eyes fluttered and her lips formed a gentle smile.

"Philip." She said thoughtfully.

"Briar Rose." He smiled.

She was back. She was awake. She had returned to them. She was alive.

"Oh Philip." She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. "I'm so confused. But I know you and I know what you'll do."

Before Philip could respond he was pulled away by several guards.

"You're coming with me, sicko." The guard said.

"Wait! No. You don't understand." Philip called out but the guards were strong and rough.

They took the sword and dragged him down the hallway.

"Philip!" Briar Rose screamed!

Ariel Triton

After Ariel and the others had made it into the hospital, they were quickly apprehended by hospital guards. They were stuck in a small jail cell that Ariel didn't know hospitals had. Mulan and Aladdin soon joined them.

"Did Philip make it?" Ariel asked.

"I don't know." Aladdin shook his head. "I hope so."

Ariel's heart shattered when she saw Philip dragged in, kicking and screaming.

"Wait here, pervert. We'll have someone come check out your injuries in a little while." The guard huffed and tossed Philip into the crowded cell.

"Did you make it?" Ariel almost didn't want to know the answer. Would her best friend live?

"I did." Philip smiled. "Briar Rose is awake."

Ariel screamed with delight and everyone cheered. She enveloped Philip in a hug. "We did it! We saved Briar! Thank you!"

"Except we all might go to juvie now." Kenai fake cheered.

Kristoff elbowed him.

"He does have a point." Phoebus shrugged, "We broke into a hospital."

"No one got hurt." Ariel countered. "I think Anna successfully distracted most of the guards with her protest."

The door to the jail room opened and in stepped several guards, followed by Briar Rose, her blonde curls bouncing, her dress pink and lively, her step bouncy and joyous. She held Queen Leah's hand and led the Queen and King into the room.

"These are my friends. They broke in to save from Maleficent. I'm sure since you hired these guards dad, you can order them to let my friends go." Briar Rose smiled up at King Stefan.

"How can I say no to my daughter's first request." The King smiled back. "Let them go."

Dr. Jafar stepped into the room frantically. "You can't do that. These youths are hooligans."

"I'll deal with you later, you quack." Stefan glared at Jafar and the doctor stepped back.

Ariel bolted to the front of the cell so she would be the first one out when the guards unlocked the door. When the cell clinked open Ariel burst out and ran into Briar Rose's wide open arms.

"Ariel!" Briar smiled.

"Briar!" Ariel screamed. They hugged and held each other close. Ariel cried tears of joy. This might be the happiest moment in her life. "I'm so glad you're back. I missed you so much."

"I missed you too, Ariel." Briar hugged her close.

Eventually Briar Rose let go to greet everyone in the cell, smothering them in hugs and praise. She kissed Philip and kissed him again. In that moment Ariel felt so much sunshine in the room, more sunshine than she had felt for months of long winter.

Cinderella Tremaine

Ella, Esmeralda, and Tiana left the warehouse and joined Anna and the others in the park.

"How's it going?" Cinderella asked Anna.

"Good I think." Anna glanced around nervously. "The guards have doubled at the front of the hospital, which means Philip has a chance."

"I hope you're right." Cinderella grasped Anna's hands.

"It worked." Sister Merryweather interjected. "My spell worked."

The hospital doors opened and the guards parted for the King and Queen who beamed with pride. Behind them on Philip's arm was Briar Rose. Cinderella's heart leapt for joy. Briar Rose was saved!

The cameras all turned to the royal family and began to inundate them with pictures. The King and Queen waved and Briar Rose just looked up at a bandaged Philip, smiling.

The Liechtenstein Royal Family crossed the sidewalk to the park so Briar could greet her classmates and her godmothers.

She embraced the three sisters tightly and hugged Anna and Rapunzel, cooing over Rapunzel's new hair.

Then she approached Ella. "Cinderella, I missed you." She held open her arms and Ella ran into them.

"It's nice to see you again Briar Rose." Ella smiled, she could feel the magic radiating from her.

"You're shoes." Briar looked at Ella's glass slippers. "They're faerie magic. I recognize it now."

"I can feel the magic on you too." Ella replied.

"Funny. I think we've changed a lot." Briar cocked her head.

"I think so too." Ella smiled.

The Princess Aurora/Briar Rose

Aurora's parents took her in a limo to the hotel suite where they were staying in Waltville. Her parents, her godmothers who she was used to calling her aunts, and Philip were all with her. She felt so alive and happy, snuggled next to Philip.

Stefan seemed uncomfortable with how close they were sitting but she didn't care, she had only officially met her father a couple of hours ago.

"How are the scars?" She whispered to Philip.

He checked under his shirt. "Gone." He grinned. "I've never been happier."

"I wish we could feel like this forever after." Aurora sighed.

Her father shifted uncomfortably.

"I do too." Philip kissed her forehead.

She buried her face in his chest and stayed there. When they got to the hotel she would get to know her parents and chat with her aunts but for now, she needed this one blissful moment with her True Love.

Maleficent

Maleficent drew herself out of the darkness. She gathered all her hatred and malice for the Princess Aurora and her family and her Prince boy and turned it into a fire. A fire that could fuel her soul and reshape her body.

In the darkest corner of the underworld the Malevolent Faerie was reborn moments after she had been destroyed.

"There you are. Enjoy your break?" Hades sipped a martini.

"Hardly." Maleficent fumed.

"You're lucky I'm letting you resurrect. Dr. Facilier and Yzma and Madame Mim are staying down for the count." Hades grinned.

"We both know I can resurrect by my own power, unlike that Horned King warlock that fancies himself a Necromancer." Maleficent held out her hand and the darkness formed her staff. She breathed a spark of green fire that turned the emerald orb at the top of her sceptre.

"So we lost some allies due to incompetence." Hades shrugged. "And lost our chance with the Dawn Princess. It looks like we'll have to help Grimhilde find the Snow Maiden."

"Shouldn't be too hard. I have my spies." Maleficent placed a manicured hand on her staff. "I'll spread the word amongst our allies, if these kids want a war with us, then it's a war they shall get."