For this chapter, you should be familiar with the song "Our House Now" from Mickey's House of Villains.
Steve entered Imperious's chambers. The grotesque dark magic that Imperious dabbled in adorned the room and made Steve feel a bit repulsed. The dark wizard himself was sitting in a recliner, fanning himself.
"Did you get my Fearcats?" Imperious asked.
"Nope," Steve answered.
Imperious jumped out of his chair angrily. "Do you know the consequences of failure, Newlin? I don't imagine Maleficent will take very kindly to you working in collusion with the enemy."
"No, I don't suppose she will," Steve agreed.
Imperious looked over Steve suspiciously. "I don't think you quite understand. I am going to reveal to her your secret! This is no idle threat!"
"Duly noted," Steve replied.
Imperious squinted at Steve, unsure of what he was playing at. "What do you think-"
Dashing into the area in her vibrant green form, Trakeena cut Imperious off, sending him stumbling backwards. Imperious attempted to launch blasts of dark magic at the insectoid princess, but Trakeena managed to transform herself into green energy and dodge every blast Imperious threw at her. Once she had an opening, she warped directly behind the mummy and slashed at him with her claws. However, much to her disappointment, Imperious blocked her with his staff.
"It seems I have an infestation. Time to exterminate the annoying insect!" Imperious quipped. "Ignacio!"
A hot purple fire engulfed Imperious's staff and burned Trakeena's hand, causing her to recoil in pain. Imperious was now spinning his staff above his head, gathering the energy to conjure up a dark storm. Trakeena, however, did not fear Imperious's magic. She simply hurled a green plasma bolt at the dark wizard. It exploded behind Imperious, and the blast knocked Imperious off his feet. Trakeena warped towards Imperious and attempted to kick him while he was down, but Imperious vanished before she could do so.
"Where did he go?" Trakeena growled.
"A better question," Imperious said as he reappeared behind Trakeena, "is what is he's about to do to you! Malagorum incathorum transfiguron!"
Imperious unleashed his curse designed to transform Trakeena into a harmless mortal. The spell connected, yet Trakeena remained unchanged.
"WHAT?" Imperious shrieked.
"Sorry, but that won't work on me," Trakeena said. "My beautiful green form is more powerful than your magic!"
Trakeena dashed forward and slammed her body into Imperious, causing him to fly backwards. Trakeena then warped behind him and punched him in the opposite direction. Imperious struggled to use a spell to regain his footing, but by that time, Trakeena was already back on top of him. She grabbed onto his staff and attempted to yank it free of Imperious's hands, but the mummy wizard did not relent. With two unrelenting forces trying to pull the staff towards them, the staff had no other option but to snap in two.
A powerful explosion of magic erupted from the shattered staff that blasted both Imperious and Trakeena onto their backs. Every single bone in Imperious's body ached, and with his staff gone he had no conduit through which to channel his magic powers. If he could just get to the pieces of the staff, he could reform it and resume his battle. However, as Imperious began to sit up, a powerful foot stomped down onto his chest and forced him back to the ground.
"This is why you don't fuck with me," Steve Newlin said as he leaned down to face Imperious.
"I obviously underestimated you," Imperious said. "That is a mistake I will not make again. Your secret will remain safe, and I will blackmail you no further. You have my word."
"Your word is worth about as much as the 'loving' smiles of my church congregation back home," Steve said.
"Now, now, be reasonable, there are powers unknown to all but me, Newlin," Imperious said. "I could be a powerful ally!"
"An untrustworthy ally," Steve corrected. "You lie and deceive as much as you breathe, Imperious. But now you're done, because you lost at your own game."
"Wait!" Imperious said. "You can't do this! I am-"
But Steve stomped in Imperious's skull before he had the chance to finish.
"That was for Daken," Steve said somberly as he stood back up.
"Flurious's gyroscope worked like a charm," Trakeena said as she morphed back to her normal form. "It even lets me turn the power on and off at will! I get to have the power and my beauty! If only my father could see me now! So when do I join the Overtakers?"
"Actually, there's been a change in plans," Steve said as he wiped the mummy dust from his shoe.
"What do you mean?" Trakeena asked.
"I mean, two Overtakers are dead, and I'm going to have to spin the circumstances of their untimely demises to Maleficent," Steve answered. "Those circumstances work best when I'm not bringing in you to publicly reveal that I went to the Shadow World. If I went there, then questions are gonna start being asked about why I went there. It'll be easier if she thinks Imperious's hold was over Daken, not me."
"So, what? You're just going to throw Daken under the bus?" Trakeena asked. "After what he did for us?"
"He'd understand," Steve said. "You didn't know him like I did. Anyway, I set you free from the Shadow World and helped you regain your green form. I trust that's more than fair compensation for your help."
"But you said I'd get to be a part of something," Trakeena said, "villains working together and becoming friends to rule the universe! I want to be a part of that."
"Maybe some day," Steve said. "But for now, you need to go away and keep your mouth shut."
Trakeena scoffed. "Some friend you turned out to be."
Trakeena vanished into a flash of green as she teleported away. Steve felt a slight pang of guilt, but he knew it was for the best. He was only doing what was necessary to preserve his status. That was the Overtaker way.
"... And so Daken was sent to his death in the Shadow World," Steve continued explaining. "I was heartbroken, of course, but once I found out about Daken's fate and Imperious's scheming, I engaged the wizard in battle, and I killed him."
Maleficent stroked the feathers of her raven, Diablo, thoughtfully as she took in this information. Doom and Fish were lurking in the same chamber, taking in the tale that Steve was spinning.
"Did you finish the job?" Maleficent asked. "Imperious is well and truly dead?"
"Yes ma'am," Steve said. "His magic staff was broken, and I stomped his face in myself."
"Very well then," Maleficent replied. "It appears then that this matter has been settled. My thanks, Mr. Newlin. You've acted well on my behalf."
"Thank you, your excellency," Steve said with a smile. "It was my honor and my joy."
"Now then, you had a project planned, did you not?" Maleficent asked. "Operation Respite?"
"Operation Repose," Steve corrected.
"Yes. That's the one," Maleficent said. "Resume your task as quickly as possible. If Daken's untimely demise has set you back, conscript anyone else you desire under my orders."
"Yes ma'am," Steve said with a bow before exiting the conference room.
After Steve left the room, Doom turned his attention to Maleficent. "Daken and Imperious destroyed, Amora banished to Hell, and you have yet to shed a single tear for any of their losses."
"I do not weep," Maleficent said plainly.
"A metaphor only," Doom said. "You know what I mean."
"Imperious was a loose cannon that I was prepared to sacrifice myself," Maleficent answered. "Amora and Daken's losses are much the same to a lesser extent, though I doubt Amora will be gone for long. They were neither vital nor was their company particularly enjoyed."
"Cold, but I agree," Fish said. "With Daken out of the way, I can reclaim my hold over the Radiant Garden criminal underground."
"How very nice for you," Doom remarked. "But I have to wonder what our dear leader's reaction to my untimely demise might have been... were I capable of being so easily defeated."
"Doom, by now, I should hope you realize that I see you as a dear friend and valuable ally," Maleficent said.
"So you say," Doom remarked.
"Let's keep our heads cool and focused on the task at hand," Fish said. "In-fighting and arguing benefits none of us at this point. We sink or swim together."
"Very well, Fish. Doom shall leave the matter be," Doom relented. "Do we have any leads as to the location of the final gem?"
"Not yet," Maleficent said. "I sent Hades to touch base with Doctor Facilier again, but it seems the good doctor was dragged to the Other Side by his so called Friends."
"Beg pardon, but doesn't Hades rule the Other Side?" Fish asked.
"Not quite," Maleficent answered. "There are many lands of the dead. Hades rules but one of them. He's negotiating with the Voodoo demons for Facilier's soul as we speak, though we should begin to consider other options."
"I found our most solid lead to the Book of Prophecies through using the powers of fate indirectly," Doom said. "A pity those powers were destroyed by Mephisto. A similar solution might work for our current dilemma."
"Isn't Hades friends with the three Fates?" Fish asked.
"The Fates have already refused to help us," Maleficent replied.
"But my technology and spells combined would allow me to steal their powers," Doom pointed out as he connected the pieces. "I could have the power of fate itself under my control."
"The risk is too great," Maleficent said, shaking her head. "The Fates perform a vital cosmic purpose. Failure would mean erasure from fate itself, whilst success could mean the unravelling of fate altogether."
"You underestimate Doom," he warned.
"No, I simply have a realistic view of the situation that is not distorted by arrogance," Maleficent said.
"You DARE speak to Doom of arrogance, witch?" he growled angrily.
"Okay, the Fates were a bad idea on my part," Fish interrupted as she positioned herself between Maleficent and Doom. "But you have to admit the idea has merit, Maleficent. We just need another powerful psychic. Surely there's more than just three cosmic crones and one Shadow Man in the universe. Let's just keep our ears to the ground."
"A sensible suggestion," Maleficent agreed.
"Very well," Doom said as he fanned out his cape and exited the room.
Fish could tell that Doom's sights were still set on the Fates despite Maleficent's opposition, but shy of using her toxin to order him not to do anything about it, there wasn't much more she could do about it.
"Now then, Fish, I have heard from Hades that you've taken another apprentice," Maleficent said after a moment of silence.
"Yes, I have," Fish replied. "I promise you that Kieran is loyal to our cause. You have nothing to fear from him."
"I accept your assurances," Maleficent said with a nod. "After all, I quite understand the desire to take a young villain under your wing. Before I knew you, I attempted to train the Keyblade master Riku in the art of darkness."
"Something must've gone wrong with that one," Fish said.
"He had so much potential to grow and wield the darkness as no one ever had before, yet he threw it all away for a boy," Maleficent lamented.
"Maybe second time's the charm?" Fish asked. "Have you considered taking another apprentice?"
"Many times, but I've yet to find one as well suited to the darkness as Riku," Maleficent answered.
Perhaps I can help with that.
Maleficent and Fish "felt" the voice rather than hearing it. A shape took form in the center of the room, and a gust of powerful magic reverberated around the villainesses. Maleficent had only witnessed such power from a select few. It was dark and devastating, yet very familiar. A figure dressed in a purple and pink tattered cloak appeared before the two women. The figure wore their hood up, but Maleficent knew that there was no face underneath. Whoever had entered the room had given up their body, much like Ansem had so long ago.
"And who are you?" Maleficent asked.
A friend who is concerned for the timeline.
"Timeline?" Fish asked.
I reach out to you from years down the line.
"Wait, I'm confused, what and how?" Fish said.
"Travelling through time by magic is an arduous process," Maleficent explained. "It requires leaving one's body behind and projecting oneself into the past. There are other, much more rare forms of magic that can accomplish the feat, but none as reliable or accessible as a simple time spell."
Indeed so, your excellency.
"Tell me why you have travelled all this way," Maleficent commanded.
I come because you have now acquired two of the Gems of Cronus, and that means that the time is nigh for you to perform a very specific task.
"Is it now?" Maleficent asked. "I should warn you that I do not indulge distractions."
Of course not, your magnificence. The task is your ultimate vengeance against Princess Aurora.
A look of intrigue flashed in Maleficent's eyes. "I am listening."
I cannot, of course, tell you what you must do. It's something you must decide for yourself. But, if you travel to the Enchanted Dominion, I am certain that inspiration will strike.
With a flash of magic, the mysterious cloak vanished from the chamber, leaving behind only a chill in the air.
"Umm...," Fish began. "What. Just. Happened?"
Maleficent grinned wickedly. "I believe I've just pointed myself in the right direction."
Negotiations with the Friends on the Other Side had been a dead end. Who knew that Voodoo masks were so stingy about making deals? Hades decided to take a walk through the Overtaken Kingdom to see if inspiration struck to point him in a new direction. So far, he'd come up with bupkis. As he was walking through the streets, his concentration was disturbed by the fact that Memory's Skyscraper was gone, and, in its place, a purple and red amphitheater building had been erected.
"Umm, 'scuse me?" Hades said, more to himself than anyone. "What is THIS?"
Curiosity got the better of Hades, and he wandered into the strange new building. Hades stepped into a large and well decorated lobby, complete with a check-in desk. The interior of the building had a magenta hue, and a fog-like mist hung over everything.
"O... kay?" Hades said.
Pain and Panic rushed past him, carrying two ends of a ladder. They seemed to be in a considerable hurry.
"Pain! Panic! What's this?" Hades bellowed.
"Sorry your evilness," Panic said.
"Can't talk right now," Pain added as the two ran into the next room.
"CAN'T TALK RIGHT NOW? YOU WORK FOR ME!" Hades shouted angrily as his fires flared up to orange.
Hades stormed into the next room after his minions. The next room was far larger than the first with an immense dining hall area and a large stage visible from any table. The Toon Patrol's weasels were all hard at work setting up tables and painting the walls the shade of magenta that matched the one in the lobby.
"Ah! Hades, how nice of you to drop by!" Ursula, now back in sea-witch form, said as she slithered over to greet him. "Welcome to the House of Villains!"
"House of What Now?" Hades asked. "Okay, first question is 'What?', second question is 'Why?'"
"It's a dinner theater, sweetcheeks," Ursula said. "We barely use any space in the city, and this'll be a good little fun spot to grab a bite and enjoy a show."
"Hey, uh, boss," a weasel asked as he approached Ursula. "Which o' these doilies d'ya like best?"
The weasel held up two absolutely hideous doilies, one in electric green and one in a dull shade of orange.
"UGH! They're both AWFUL!" Ursula bellowed.
With a blast of magic, she incinerated the hideous decorations and sent the weasel running away terrified.
Ursula turned to the weasels working and shouted loudly, "The next weasel who brings me non-complementary colors gets made into lining for Cruella's gloves!"
"Were my ears burning?" Cruella asked as she and Hook emerged from the kitchen.
"We're nearly fully stocked on libations," Hook said. "Only nearly because someone had to help herself to the gin."
"Oh shut up, Hook, you topped off your flask too," Cruella sneered.
"So you're all in on this lil' House of Villains thing?" Hades asked.
Cruella and Hook nodded.
"Well, hey, could be fun, right?" Hades said with a shrug as he warmed up to the idea. "Credit where credit is due, the place looks spiffy. Good idea, Ursie."
"Would love to take the credit, but this wasn't my idea," Ursula said.
"Oh, then it was Cru-Cru? Great initiative, babe!" Hades said as he moved down the line.
"Not mine either," Cruella replied.
"Er... Hook? You?" Hades asked.
Hook shook his head. "I'm just here for the rum."
"Then WHO is in charge of this?" Hades asked.
Jafar emerged from the backstage area, flouncing his cape dramatically as he did.
"Ah! Hades! I see you've stumbled upon my little pet project," Jafar said as he approached the other Overtakers.
"You, Jaffy?" Hades asked. "Look, don't take this the wrong way, but this House of Villains thing seems, y'know, fun. And you, babe, well, you tend to be the opposite of fun."
"You give me absolutely no credit," Jafar sneered. "I am perfectly amenable to fun. I simply dislike frivolous merriment. The House of Villains will be tasteful and high culture. Back when I was the vizier of Agrabah, I was a great patron of the theatrical arts, a far more worthy diversion than the Sultana's obsession with polo, a dreadfully dull sport by my measure."
"Maybe I underestimated you, Jaffy," Hades said. "You're not such a stick-in-the-mud after all."
"Oh please. As if any who join the Overtakers are capable of being so dull," Jafar remarked.
"I'll drink to that!" Cruella said. "... Seriously, let's drink. The gin I took didn't give me nearly enough of a buzz."
"Might as well enjoy the spoils of our hard work," Ursula said with a shrug.
The five Overtakers filed into one of the large round booths and had the weasels bring them each their drinks of choice: a bottle of gin, a pint of beer, a glass of pink champagne with a fresh earthworm, a cup of coffee black as the darkest soul, and a goblet of sea water with a shrimp appetizer plate for two (that its orderer had no intentions of sharing).
"Y'know some people find it a turn off to go drinking with people who aren't drinking," Hades said as he nodded towards Jafar and Ursula's beverages.
"Trust me, you don't wanna see what alcohol does to my kind," Ursula said.
"Never developed the taste for it," Jafar said. "Alcohol was banned in Agrabah for religious purposes. While I find matters of faith and dietary limits to be absurd, it simply wasn't accessible enough for me to develop any fondness for the drink. When I took over control of Agrabah, I thought to celebrate with a glass of wine as a sign of my utter disregard for the established laws of the Sultan, but the flavor wasn't to my liking, least of all when Princess Jasmine threw it in my face."
"Darling, I love you, but I'm never moving to Agrabah with you," Hook said as he took a swig of beer. "I refuse to live anywhere I can't drink."
"It's a dreadful place, and I'm in little hurry to return there... save to exact my revenge upon Aladdin and his wretched band of misfit fools," Jafar replied.
"You're all more than welcome to visit my home world," Cruella said. "Gin, dancing, and no one's checking anyone's credit."
"Well, that does explain you, now doesn't it? HA!" Ursula said with a sly smirk.
"So have you guys hired actors yet for our lil' stage?" Hades asked.
"Not yet," Jafar said. "I was planning to abduct a travelling theater company for our amusement. Though I did have a certain desire to perform on stage myself."
"Well it is our house now!" Hook remarked. "The floor, or stage as it were, is yours."
"Perhaps another time," Jafar remarked.
"We'll all get up and sing!" Cruella said as she stood from the table and gestured for her companions to do the same. "I've had just enough to drink that I think this is a good idea. Let's go!" Cruella snapped at a weasel. "You! Furry, disgusting little rodent! Give us a beat."
Cruella shoved a protesting Jafar onto the stage as a jazzy tune began to play over the House of Villains' stereo system. A spotlight fell on Jafar, and, despite his earlier protests, he posed dramatically once it did.
"This could be quite the place!" Jafar sang
"Full of wholesome, happy faces!" Cruella joined in.
"Hanging out!" Ursula chimed in.
"Killing time!" Hook sang.
"Where everyone's a friend of mine!" Hades sang as he put his arms around the other four.
"Inside this evil joint," Cruella continued as she gestured to the entire area.
"It's every guest gets to the point!" Hook sang as he gestured to the tip of his hook.
"This day will live in infamy!" All five sang in unison.
The beat made a clock-like ticking noise that briefly made Hook wonder if Rumplestiltskin's wretched crocodile had returned.
"The House of Villains is here to BE!" Ursula bellowed with a deep chortle.
"It's our house now!" the five chorused. "It's our house now!"
"It's the fact you can't ignore!" Ursula and Cruella sang together.
"Shut the windows!" Jafar ordered.
"Lock the doors!" Hades added.
"It's our house now!" they belted once more.
"Raise your mugs, you thieves and thugs!" Hook sang as he danced back over to the table to grab his pint.
"Join the rebel-rousing crowd," Jafar sang.
"It's our house now!" they chorused.
"Now the coolest cats fit in so perfectly," Cruella said with a laugh as she stroked her cat-skin purse.
"Every evil queen gets due respect!" Ursula declared with a sinister laugh.
"Love your work!" Hades said with a wink.
"You'll forget your troubles, put your trust in me!" Jafar said as he hypnotized one of the weasels into a stupor.
"You've had your fun!" Cruella belted.
"You've made your play!" Hook joined in.
"But every villain has his day!" they sang together in unison before another chorus. "It's our house now!"
"Down and dirty!" Pain and Panic chimed in.
"It's our house now!" they continued.
"Me hearty!" Hook shouted.
"What a place for breakin' bread!" Hades sang as he incinerated the remaining appetizer rolls left on their table.
"Hate your neighbors!" Jafar and Cruella sang as they exchanged a judging look at one another.
"Dance 'till you're dead!" Ursula declared as she spun around on stage.
"It's our house now!" they repeated.
"What a party!" Pain and Panic said as they popped in again.
"Join the fun with no regrets!" the five Overtakers sang together as they converged back on stage. "Only greedy, dirty deeds are allowed!"
"Get those puppies!" Cruella shouted.
"Games only tricky!" Hook sang as he rolled a pair of dice.
"Don't be too skinny!" Ursula added with a shimmy.
"Take a hike chickies!" Jafar declared with a dismissive wave towards hypothetical heroes.
"It's our house now!" the five sang.
"Party without drawbacks!" Hades added.
"It's our house now!" the Overtakers sang one last time.
The five villains punctuated their sinister song the only way they truly could: with an evil cackle that echoed throughout the Overtaken Kingdom.