The Dark Side of Disney Episode 2

by Cosmotron

Because of their base destroyed, Cobalt and Saber both make a journey to Canada where they find out completely abandoned. When they are captured by the Dark Side, Frollo and Ratcliffe force them to do work in the mines as a prison, but the two brothers must plan an escape.

The Dark Side of Disney

Episode 2: Relocation

Life has become grim for the Resistance, now that they're secret base was discovered by the Dark Side of Disney. With it gone, the enemy thrives in joy to take over the world without anyone to stop them.

Unbeknownst to them, only two have survived the sneak attack. As they journeyed to find shelter, Cobalt and Saber make a daring adventure through abandoned lands to find a new home.

Unbeknownst to everyone else, there is another team in the open. The question is, whose side are they on?

Act One

Saturday, November 13 2021 AD 1900 hours

Because of Resistance Centre being discovered and destroyed, Captain Cobalt and his brother Saber are driving the Magic School Bus to go find someplace else to hide. With Cobalt at the wheel, Saber is reading the map. But as they drive, they are inside a dark, creepy forest.

Saber: We should be… right here, at sector 16. Which used to be the state of New York.

Cobalt: I don't like this place. It's hardly inviting.

Saber: Hey Cobalt, where exactly are we going to?

Cobalt: [pauses] Home.

Saber: Wait- home? But… Canada was abandoned some time ago.

Cobalt: That is true, but it's where the Dark Side doesn't care about. If I'm right, they will never find us there. Wait a minute.

Sticking his head out the window, Cobalt lifts a lantern to illuminate the sign giving directions to New York and Michigan.

Cobalt: Hmmm. Let's, uh…. Let's try this way.

Saber looks at the map for one more look.

Saber: Uh…. Michigan is left, so let's-

Cobalt: Nuh-uh-uh! We're taking the New York route because it's the closest way home.

Saber: But Cobalt, it's looks too-

Cobalt: I know what it looks like, but I'm the older brother, I'm the leader of the Major Squad, and I'm the one driving this bus. I'm the one who says where we go. [pauses] We're going right to New York.

The bus drives to the right. But then, the bus transforms into a steam whistle and blows a steam out like an alarming rate. When it changes back, the grill starts smoking.

Cobalt: Aw, come on. Don't tell me it's what I think it is.

Cobalt steps out of the bus to approach its smoking grill. He puts a thermometer into the bus's mouth and it is turning red, enough for it to spit it out before it is completely red.

Cobalt: Yup. Overheated. I should've given him a break last week.

Saber: Well, that's just great. Are we going to have to walk the rest of the way?

Cobalt looks at a gauge on his wrist, which may indicate something as the meter is at a medium rate.

Cobalt: Maybe not for long. My suit's flight capability is recharging, and when it's full, I'll be able to fly us there. But in the meantime, we've got to pull Bus down the road.

Saber: That's what I'm afraid of.

Later, Cobalt and Saber are pulling Bus with a rope to continue their journey home. With his War Machine MK 1 suit, Cobalt has no problem with it, but as they continue through the forest, Saber is looking worried. He looks at the bare trees with their branches almost looking like bare hands, and now then looks at the moon being sealed by a pair of clouds resembling hands.

Saber: I don't like this place at all. This area's even ideal for an ambush.

Cobalt: Scouts are not supposed to be scared of their surroundings.

Saber: I'm not scared, I'm just… concerned. There's a difference.

Cobalt: Most parts of this state are barren. It's practically a ruin. Nothing predatory has lived here for years. Just…. [whispers] Be brave.

Mustering all of his courage, Saber nervously whistles a tune to keep himself calm amidst the sounds of crickets chirping, the wind whistling, and a crow cawing. A gust of wind blows some scattered leaves in front of Saber, as he shields himself from the leaves as he and Cobalt continue onward. Saber screams upon running into a phantom ahead and hides behind Cobalt's back. Fortunately, it turns out to be the open hollow of a tree, as a pair of fireflies fly past him.

Cobalt: [amused] Puh-lease. All that for a tree?

Saber: Hey, it just happened.

Cobalt: Keep moving.

The boys continue pulling the bus to move on. Saber seems relieved, but stutters, then he sees an owl hooting at him.

Cobalt: It's just an owl.

Saber: I still dislike the idea of walking through these woods. It looks good at day, but at night it becomes worse.

Cobalt: Oh, relax! It's not like we're gonna see a ghost on the street.

Suddenly, there was a ghostly sound like a pipe organ coming out of nowhere, which alarmed the two brothers.

Saber: You…. You were saying, Cobalt?

Cobalt: Don't be silly, it could just-

But the sound is getting clearer for them, meaning it can be a ghost.

Cobalt: Actually…. That sounds awfully… familiar. Like it was from….

Cobalt looks back at the Magic School Bus, and he gets the idea of what that sound is from. And finally, he has a scared look on his face.

Cobalt: The Haunted… Sound Museum.

He looks to his left to see the Sound Museum from The Magic School Bus, where the ghostly sound is emanating from. And then, a ghostly-lady phases through the main door.

Cobalt: [scared] Okay, I should've taken your word!

Cobalt takes the Porta-Shrinker, also from the show, from his pocket and zaps the bus to shrink it, before picking it up. He and Saber both run for their lives as the ghost-lady flies over to chase after them. They fall down a steep hill, land on the ground hard, but they look ahead to find a massive gate at a stone wall.

Cobalt: The border line! Saber, get on!

Saber climbs onto Cobalt's back, just as the ghost-lady hovers overhead. But with rocket boosters on his boots, Cobalt flies away from the phantom, over the border wall and they are both flying over Canada at last. However, the power is reduced a little and they crash land into a ghost town.

Act Two

The dust clears away, and the duo cough it out of their lungs as they regain their bearings.

Saber: You…. [coughs] Have the Porta-Shrinker the whole time and didn't bother to use it from the beginning?

Cobalt: I had to save it's battery.

When the dust clears away, Cobalt and Saber both find out where they currently are: Gatineau, Quebec. They are at the crossroad at Boulevard Saint-Joseph and Saint-Raymond; the whole area is deserted, ravaged, abandoned and most of the buildings are covered in foliage and litter.

Saber: [hesitant] We're…. We're home.

Cobalt: Yes. We're back in Gatineau… after all these years. Although… it looks bigger than I remember.

Saber: Are we going to stay here?

Cobalt: For now… yes. We'll just camp here for the night and fix our transmitter to see if there are survivors.

Saber: How can there be survivors? We both know Canada was attacked and the populace was wiped out of the whole country.

Cobalt: Listen, I said if there are survivors of the Resistance, they'll know about our existence, and we can both pinpoint our locations. Just as long as we encrypt it for the Dark Side not to trace us. But for now, we'll camp here for the night.

Later, they are in an old gas station. Saber opens a car door and gets into a car's backseat to sleep on it like a bed, while Cobalt gets to work on the bus (now in normal size) by replacing its car battery with a brand new one.

Cobalt: Terribly sorry, Bus. I must've pushed you a bit too hard.

The bus has a saddened face, indicating something to Cobalt.

Cobalt: I know. I miss them too. The whole team. But…. They knew the risk, as we all do. You just have to….

[can bangs]

Cobalt: [alarmed] What…? Who's there?

Cobalt readies his minigun on his shoulder to fire as he tiptoes around the bus. He goes to the backside where the banged can was heard. He jumps out and takes aim at the source, but finds out it is Albus Dumbledore from the Harry Potter series.

Cobalt: [relieved] Oh. Professor Dumbledore, it's you.

Dumbledore: I should've known that you would be back, Mr. Wilson. Or would you, perhaps, have me call you Captain or Cobalt since you're with the Resistance?

Cobalt: I… don't think so for the moment. The Resistance has been compromised. My brother, me and this bus are… all that's left.

Dumbledore: I know. I've heard what's happened, Dieter. And I am… so sorry for your losses. Many of us back in Hogwarts wanted us to stop the event when it happened.

Cobalt: If you know what happened, what was it? What… destroyed the base?

Dumbledore: Magic. A very powerful source of magic, given to Judge Frollo by Maleficent to… end your syndicate.

Cobalt: If you know, you should've done something about it. You could've… stopped it from happening.

Dumbledore: I did… years ago, when Maleficent attacked us. I faced her, I fought back, and she…. She blackmailed me for Hogwarts' grounds in exchange for the lives of my students. She knows what she faces, and exploits everything about us to an advantage. It was lucky that my staff and I had enough to relocate the school, but we…. We only got most of the students out alive.

Cobalt: When we formed the Resistance, you didn't have to join in because you and the others in Hogwarts were only teachers. But now, since we're all that's left, it's never too late to teach us how to-

Dumbledore: I'm afraid not, Dieter. Everyone would know it, once they've read the book or watched the movie. Magic only works for wizards and witches, but never… for Muggles.

Cobalt: I was referring to potions or something like that. They're not completely magic, so it would work for everyone, including Muggles.

Dumbledore: True. But Hogwarts is where we teach young wizards and witches to master their spells for good, never for war, because it would have them learn more about the Dark Arts. A trait we've failed Tom Riddle to ignore.

Cobalt feels dejected for the Professor's refusal, but Dumbledore puts his hand on his shoulder in comfort.

Dumbledore: There, there, Dieter. It's not really a terrible thing to know. There will always be another way to sort things out, with or without magic. You and your brother may be the last of the Resistance, but it is not the end for humanity, because life… will find a way. Good luck.

With a magic spell, Dumbledore disappears without a trace, leaving Cobalt alone behind the bus as he is deep in thought about what Dumbledore said to him.

Meanwhile, the Dark Side of Disney is in a theatre where Captain Hook and his crew are on stage singing "A Pirate's Life". By the time the song is over, a banner unfolds to reveal the words "The Resistance Is Dead", and all the villains seated there applaud it. Maleficent and Hades are sitting together on a VIP balcony where they can have a higher view of the stage.

Hades: Heh-heh-heh, I gotta say, you do know how to throw a party.

Maleficent: Indeed. What a pity that not all of us could be here to enjoy the celebration.

Hades: Oh, forget about it, because they're just too occupied with their own affairs. I mean, like, what? The Ladon has many heads with many eyes, but they never blink and it never sleeps to guard golden apples. We, on the other hand, have all the time we've got because we've got all the time in the world.

Maleficent: We can only hope. Because I would-

But then Maleficent's pet raven, Diablo, flies into the theatre and lands on her shoulder to whisper something. Whatever it is, she gets fury in her eyes.

Maleficent: WHAT?! [echoes]

Later, she and most of the Top Ten members are back in the conference room to talk about something.

Ursula: Survivors? How many?

Maleficent: Two boys. The Captain of the Major Squad. But how?

Shan Yu: Frollo said the hyenas were meant to drive a few of them away from the base, in hopes that they would… perish in the wilderness. Apparently, he said about the ghost in the Sound Museum. But how can this Captain Cobalt make it out there?

Cruella: [sighs] No surprise there. When Horace and Jasper were captured by them, they said he had the Magic School Bus and added that he's known it since he was a little boy. If it was the Sound Museum, he would've known what to expect.

Hades: But where are they now?

Jafar: If they escaped the ghost, that could mean that they've crossed the border line. Back to Canada.

Oogie: Oh, forget about them. The Resistance is gone, and Canada was wiped out completely. They will be all alone and they're going to be bugs' food in a few short weeks. [laughs]

Maleficent: Don't underestimate them, Oogie. The Resistance is highly known for expertise on toons like us.

Jafar: Indeed. But of all countries on the continent, why would they go there of all places?

Hades: Who cares? I can seek them out.

Hook: The last time you did, you couldn't tell Hercules was living on a farm.

Ursula: A fair point. Ratcliffe and Frollo have their troopers scouring the place, so they'll do the honours.

Shan Yu: I agree.

Maleficent: Very well. Call them immediately.

Meanwhile, the remains of the fallen Resistance Centre are silent, until there is a sudden burst of sound coming from the shed. At last, the Eds all make it out of the shed to see what's happened to their base.

Edd: Good lord, what happened?

Ed: This looks like something from a movie, where the sky has fallen and the world has collided.

Eddy: Don't be ridiculous, Ed. There's no way the sky can fall.

Edd: Oh, I concur, Eddy. Why, it's too impossible for stuff like that to happen.

[muffled voices]

Edd: Wait. Did you hear that?

Ed: Over there.

Ed is rushing to the left, while the other two are taking the other way where they hear the noise. At his end, Ed lifts up some debris, lifts a cement slab, and out comes Shoutmon with Zoe beside him.

Ed: Oh. Hello.

Zoe: [coughs] What happened?

Ed: Don't know.

Shoutmon: Zoe and I were… doing night shifts and then… we were caved in.

At the other end, Edd and Eddy both struggle to lift up some concrete, but they succeed and Kero comes flying out.

Kero: Finally! Did you forget I was in there or what?

Edd: Sorry about that, we just got out ourselves.

Then Kero notices the rubble all around themselves, as the others join in.

Kero: What the- What the heck happened?!

Eddy: Don't know.

Shoutmon: Uh, hey… does this mean… we've been discovered?

Edd: Well, Shoutmon, the Resistance has been known to have a secret base from the Dark Side of Disney, so…. Yeah. We've been exposed, somehow.

Zoe: Does it mean…. [tearfully] We've lost our friends? Our families… everything? [sobs]

Ed: Chin up, miss, let Ed dry those-

Ed, reaching into his pocket, lets go of the cement slab, which lands on his feet, crushing them. All noise stops.

Later on, the six survivors begin a journey through the wilderness. Most of the boys are carrying luggage while Zoe has one purse.

Shoutmon: How come we have to carry your luggage?

Zoe: Well, I'm a girl, and girls always have accessories to change into. And also, I can't be in my maid outfit forever, you know?

Ed follows, walking on his hands, his feet bandaged up with Edd struggling to carry the briefcase.

Ed: I should have all the feeling back in my feet when our time has come for the next part, Double D.

Edd: Curse broadcast commercialism!

Act Three

Back in Canada, it is morning and Saber wakes up from sleeping in the car's backseat. When he gets out, Cobalt is attaching a satellite dish on top of the bus and he presses some buttons on his wrist wired to the device.

Cobalt: Attention. This is Indy-Golfer-91 checking in. Please respond, over.

[static sound]

Cobalt: I repeat, this is Indy-Golfer-91, waiting for response, over.

[static sound]

Cobalt: Christ. [to Saber] I can't do it here. The power's been offline for decades.

Saber: So much for rebuilding the Resistance, huh?

Cobalt: I'm not trying to rebuild. The Dark Side knows it's been destroyed, and we're gonna have to keep it that way, so we can catch them by surprise in the next attack.

Cobalt jumps off of the bus's top and down on the ground where he opens a hatch on the side. He takes out a box of pop tarts, takes one package and gives it to Saber as he has one of his own for breakfast. They both sit down together and eat their pop tarts, but Cobalt is looking at the satellite dish mounted on the bus in thought.

Cobalt: I just hope the others are out there.

Saber: Well, I'd know the Eds would. Because before we left, I told them to take shelter in the shed… just in case of emergencies.

Cobalt: Really? Do they have a radio or a walkie-talkie? Anything they can use to contact us?

Saber: No. You know that trio. They get lost in their own backyard. But if they make it, then…. [realizing] We shouldn't have gone here. We'd have to go-

Cobalt: It's no use. We just crossed the border and we're in southern Quebec.

Saber: Dammit, why didn't think of this sooner?! I just left them behi-

Cobalt: [alarmed] Shhh. Listen.

They hear something approaching their area. Immediately, they rush into the bus; Cobalt pulls the red lever and the bus turns into a frog to hide. At the corner, a US Army Jeep drives up on the highway. Looking at the window, Saber sees a symbol on the side that has the letter "A" and the omega sign.

Saber: Alpha-Omega? Wait, those are the guys from the War for the Planet of the Apes.

Cobalt: I see it too. But why would they be here?

The Alpha-Omega Jeep makes its way down the highway. The frog-bus hops over some cars to get on top of the semi-truck, where the brothers can see where the vehicle is going to.

Cobalt: Looks like he's heading for Gatineau Park. Let's see where he's going.

Pulling the red lever again, Cobalt turns the frog-bus into a butterfly that allows them to fly and follow the Jeep.

Saber: A butterfly? Really? Couldn't you pick something else like a bat or something?

Cobalt: Nah, bat's are just creatures of the night and it's ten past eight.

Saber: Well next time, change it into a bird or something. I feel like we're in a girl's show or something.

The butterfly-bus keeps flying to follow the Jeep farther and farther into Gatineau Park. But when the fog appears, things get too misty for them and the Jeep is lost.

Cobalt: He's gone.

Saber: Who's gone?

Cobalt: We lost the Jeep. Let's set it down here.

The bus reverts to normal, lands softly on the ground and the two step out with their weapons ready as they look around to see and hear what they can find.

Saber: I'm not hearing anything. There's hardly a sound. Where could he have gone?

Cobalt: Anywhere. This park is 139 square miles. But what I'm curious to know is why someone would come all the way here to an abandoned country.

Saber: Maybe… he's a deserter?

Cobalt: Probably. But whatever the case, we can't let our guard down. It was Alpha-Omega we saw. It's from a movie made by 20th Century Fox, which is owned by Walt Disney pictures, so… it could mean the Dark Side's looking for us.

While the two are talking, someone in a hood tip-toes out of the bushes to go towards the bus, as he picks up a stick. Then, he bangs on the bus with the stick, and it makes Cobalt and Saber turn to notice the stranger, who just runs away.

Cobalt: Hey you! Stop!

Saber: I got him!

Cobalt: No, Saber, wait!

But Saber ignores him as he chases the guy through the trees.

Cobalt: [peeved] Nobody just ever listens to me!

Putting on his War Machine suit, Cobalt begins his follow into the trees.

Saber is running as fast as he can to go after the hooded stranger, who is just a few yards ahead of him.

Saber: Freeze! Stop right there or I'll shoot!

But the runner just ignores him. So Saber takes out his pistol to take aim at the gunner, but without looking, he trips over a log and misfires at a tree that falls down on top of him. He quickly gets up, pushes the tree off of him, and continues the chase until he finds out the runner's gone. He stops in his tracks, just as Cobalt runs over to him.

Cobalt: You lost him. This is why you have to listen to me. Direwolf may have put you-

Saber: Tracks.

Saber bends over to the tracks, which belong to the suspect, and follows them down the path. Cobalt follows him along the way. The trail leads them to an abandoned cottage placed next to a lake.

Cobalt: Kingsmere Lake? This is where he was going?

Saber: Yeah. The trail leads to that cottage.

Cobalt: [whispering] Alright. March in…. Quietly.

Cobalt and Saber both tip-toe their way in. They open the main gate of the front fence, and take baby steps on the pathway to the porch, and they open the door to get inside, but the whole cottage is completely empty. There isn't a soul to be seen. The two close the door gently, and they search the place.

Cobalt: I don't see him. But stay sharp. He could-

Saber: Whoa!

Cobalt: [alarmed] What?!

Saber: The floor. It's been swept.

Cobalt is peeved at first, but he finds out that Saber was right. The floor looks like it's been swept, and he swipes his finger on the shelf to find no speck of dust.

Cobalt: Surfaces' been dusted.

Saber: The window's are washed. Not a cobweb in sight.

Cobalt opens a fridge to find so many fruits and vegetables in there, and he inspects one of them.

Cobalt: The food's fresh. Someone's been living here all this time.

Saber: But… he left his mud trails over there.

A mud trail is found on the floor. Cobalt and Saber follow it again, going down the stairs to a dark basement, but they turn on their flashlights to light their paths to see where they're going. They follow the trail to a door, meaning the runner could be behind there.

The door is kicked open and the two march in with their weapons ready.

Cobalt: Come out with your hands up!

Saber: To infinity and beyond!

Cobalt is looking at Saber because of that quote he just said.

Saber: What?

[thud]

Hearing that thud, they walk further towards the source of it. They turn to the corner on the left, seeing only a dark room. But with the flashlights, they illuminate it to reveal the hooded figure cowering at the wall.

Cobalt: There you are. Come on out and no one gets hurt.

Slowly, the figure steps out of the room towards the boys. Saber uses his pistol barrel to lift the hood off, showing it is only a girl who is nearly in tears of fright. The boys are stunned to see the suspect is really a girl.

Saber: It's…. It's a girl.

Girl: Puh…. Please don't kill me. I don't mean to hurt anyone. I just-

Cobalt: Calm down.

Cobalt removes his helmet to show his face to the scared girl.

Cobalt: We're both human. We mean you no harm. What's your name?

Girl: [breathes heavily] Ashley. Ashley McCam.

Cobalt: I'm Dieter. This is Jack.

Later, Cobalt and Saber are both in the living room with Ashley sitting in front of the fireplace.

Ashley: When I saw the bus, I thought you were cartoons. But you're real people… like me.

Saber: Um… "real people" sounds a little far fetched in our scenario. We've been all identified as li-acs, as in live-action characters. For cartoons, it's just toons.

Cobalt: How long have you been here?

Ashley: I've always been here. This cottage is my home.

Cobalt: So you've stayed here…? All this time you've stayed in Canada?

Ashley: Not just me. My parents as well. Most of the people in the big cities have all evacuated when… cartoon characters attacked us. But not us. Some of us chose to stay at home and fight back, which we did. And since I found out that we were invaded by the cartoons, I… developed a fear of them. So that's why I hit that school bus.

Saber: The Magic School Bus? Nah, it's not that bad.

Cobalt: Speaking of which, I've got to go get it before it's found. Saber, you stay right here with Ashley. I'll be right back.

Cobalt leaves his helmet on the table and he runs out the door to go get the bus.

Ashley: Is Dieter… your brother?

Saber: He is. My big brother. For a long time, it's been just the two of us.

Ashley: What about your parents?

Saber: I…. I don't know. It was Cobalt who saw what happened to them. I would've wanted to ask how they died, but it was too traumatic for him.

Ashley: "Cobalt"?

Saber: Oh. That. It's Dieter's coade name; mine is Saber. We're both from the Resistance, or we used to be?

Ashley: [stunned] You're with the Resistance? I thought it was just a rumour.

Act Four

Meanwhile, the Eds, Zoe, Shoutmon and Kero are still on the move until it is getting too dark to travel and they end up in a clearing of a dark forest.

Ed: Hey, everybody! Look! A clearing!

Shoutmon: Great. Let's spread out the blanket and have a picnic.

Zoe: But it's full of stickers.

Shoutmon: Well, my toes are full of thistles and sticks and who knows what else!

Looking around, the group finds out the woods are getting darker and less lighting with the moon light shining.

Zoe: Do we have to stop here?

Kero: Only for a while, Zoe.

Eddy: Just as long as we can. We'll be savages in a few hours. I've seen it in Lord of the Flies.

Shoutmon: And you'd be the first to go, flathead.

Ed: Hey, guys! We can stay in here! Check this out!

Ed turns on his flashlight to reveal a scary face on a tree. The others gasp in horror, and hide in the bushes.

Ed: Um, what's the matter?

Kero: Getting eaten alive, that's what!

Walking out, Ed turns around and sees the scary face.

Ed: [scared] WHOA, WHOA, WHOA!

He runs and joins the others in the bushes.

Edd: Ah, this is ridiculous. We can't stay here in the woods when we don't have the means of camping.

Eddy: Hey, if it's anything like camping, we can just… do what we can.

Kero: Aw man, if only Sakura was here to use the Create Card and make us a tent or something.

But then, Zoe opens her briefcase to take out a blanket and sets it on a tree branch just like a tent.

Zoe: There we go. Good thing I've learned from a li-ac to do some traveling.

She gets in and just puts a "No Trespassing" sign in front, leaving it all to herself. With that. The boys are staying out. Edd lays his head on a log like a pillow with Shoutmon sleeping beside him. Ed stuffs himself in a hole on a tree, and Kero makes a bird's nest next to Ed. He hears a sound and sees Eddy drawing a dirt circle in the dirt.

Eddy: You guys see this line? This is my sleeping space, so nobody crosses this line!

Kero: Yeah, well you'd better not wake us up at 6:00 as usual!

Shoutmon: What are you complaining about? You didn't do any work this week.

Edd: Gentlemen, please. We've got no time for arguing. We have to get some beauty sleep.

And so, they all get their sleep in the woods.

Back in Canada, the bus is now parked beside Ashley's cottage, and they are all making themselves comfortable with sleeping bags and dim light in the basement.

Ashley: You know, Dieter, I had no idea you could make friends with them. The toons, I mean.

Cobalt: Well, we can't make friends with all of them. Our leader wanted us to just… kill them off, but I… suggested giving them a second chance to redeem themselves with either restraining orders or probation. But never with Maleficent or her Top Ten.

Saber: So… you've been all by yourself for so long?

Ashley: I have. My mother died when I was twelve, and my dad… had Covid-19.

Saber: So… the pandemic was here too.

Ashley: It was. Covid-19 just… ruined everything. I was hoping we could rebuild Canada to its former glory, but that was before the virus spread.

Cobalt: I know what you mean. It's happened in the States as well. But we've both been given our two shots of the vaccine, so we're in the clear… for now anyway. But what did your father do?

Ashley: He was a toy maker. [gasps excitedly] Oh, wait.

Ashley makes a run for it to her room, then she slips and falls down.

Ashley: I'm okay.

She gets back up, rushes to her room, and returns to the boys, a small toy in his hand that resembles a flowerbud. She winds the key and sets it in front of them. As a gentle tune plays, Cobalt and Sader both see that the bud has turned into a ballerina, who dances for them.

Cobalt: [awed] Wow.

Saber: Your father made that?

Ashley: Yes he did. He made this for my twentieth birthday.

Outside, a figure slowly approaches. It hoots softly as his shadow looms over the door to the cottage.

Inside, the doll has finished her dance, and Ashley reaches out to pick it up.

Ashley: [saddened] But also… that was in the last year of his life.

Cobalt: Don't worry. We're trying to contact some others like us. When we get a response, we can see if you can-

The tender moment is interrupted when they hear a door being opened from up the ceiling. The sound of footsteps is heard and so are some voices and noises, heading towards the stairs.

Ashley: Who is that?

Saber: It must be the soldier we were tailing.

Cobalt hides Saber and Ashley in the closet behind them and stands in front of it and he puts on his helmet.

Cobalt: Quickly, guys, stay in here and don't come out!

Then, several soldiers break in through the door and open fire at Cobalt, who is protected by the iron in his armour. He fires his weapons back; another soldier fires a rocket at him and it explodes on him, sending him to break open the closet door. He shoots the soldier in the head to kill him, but he sees his minigun badly damaged.

Cobalt: Sorry Ashley, but we gotta go! Back to the bus!

Ashley: Go? But my….

Saber: We cannot argue with Cobalt on this one!

The trio jump out through the window to be outside, and they make a run for the bus, but it has Velociraptors standing on top of it, guarding it from them. And then, a gas grenade is thrown over to land right next to Saber to unleash a huge veil of smoke, enough to make the trio cough.

Cobalt: Saber! Ashley! [coughing] Stay with me now…. Saber?

But the smoke is taking its effect on them, and Cobalt is the last one standing until some more soldiers circle around. At last, the smoke affects Cobalt to pass out cold, allowing the soldiers to cuff them. Preacher, from War for the Planet of the Apes, oversees this scene, just before Governor Ratcliffe comes over.

Ratcliffe: Well?

Preacher: [salute] Mission accomplished, Governor. We've found the two survivors and some girl who could be a remaining Canadian.

Ratcliffe: Thank Heavens your trap was a success. Well done, Preacher.

Preacher: Thank you, sir.

Ratcliffe: Bring them in, men. We're going back to the mines.

Cobalt's vision is blurred as he overhears them, then his vision goes completely black.

Act Five

The vision comes back to Cobalt, and he is seeing blurs of his area, until it is starting to get clear for him. He tilts his head up, finds out that his arms are chained up to metal bars in a large warehouse, and he's not wearing his War Machine armour. Ratcliffe stands in front of him, drinking a glass of wine.

Ratcliffe: Well, you're awake.

Cobalt: [glaring] Ratcliffe. You've got a lot of nerves showing your face in front of me.

Ratcliffe: Do I now? Because if I didn't know, I'd think you can face me without your precious suit.

Cobalt: Take these chains off me and I'll show you what I'm made of.

Frollo's voice: No need. You're more used to us alive.

Cobalt whips his head to the left, and sees Frollo walking towards him.

Cobalt: Judge Claude Frollo.

Frollo: Surprised, Captain? I'd like to think it's your lucky day. Because normally, we'd both kill each other until one side is dead. But let's give you a recap. The Resistance… is over. You've lost. And instead of killing, I've decided to crush your spirit and have you put to work with the others we have.

Cobalt: I don't work for you sons of bitches.

Frollo snaps his fingers. Then Cobalt gets zapped by a collar he wears around his neck, which silences him.

Ratcliffe: It wasn't a request, young man. Like he said, this is your lucky day, because if it wasn't, you'd be put for treason.

Cobalt: Treason for what? You're not the rulers of all.

Another snap of Frollo's fingers makes the collar electrocute Cobalt.

Frollo: Not yet, anyway. We still have other plans to carry out until world conquest is actually made official. So for now, we can keep you alive, so you can be useful for us. Put him with the others.

Two Alpha-Omega soldiers unlock the chains and drag the exhausted Cobalt away to go somewhere. The doors are opened automatically, and Cobalt sees that he's in some kind of facility where it is filled with Alpha-Omega personals. At his left are kennels for the Velociraptors, rattling and growling like angry guard dogs, but to his right is a holding pen of prisoners, both li-acs and toons. One of the soldiers opens the gate and throws Cobalt in before closing the gate.

Soldier: Have sweet dreams, big boy. [laughs]

As the soldiers leave, Cobalt charges in to ram his arm at the fence, but it pushes him back to the ground and he groans in pain on his left arm. He looks at it to see so many punctured holes bleeding.

Old li-ac: I wouldn't do that if I were you. Those wires are barbed on the inside, so ramming it isn't a good idea.

Cobalt: [in pain] Aw, God!

Saber's voice: Cobalt?

Looking back, Cobalt finds Saber and Ashley both rushing to his aid and they move through the crowd to sit at the far end of the pen, checking the wounds on Cobalt's arm.

Ashley: Are you alright?

Cobalt: For now, yeah. How long have we been here?

Saber: Days. You've been out cold for nearly three days.

Cobalt: Three days? Damn, I must've been a heavy sleeper.

Old li-ac: Pardon me, strangers. It may be rude to talk to you, but my name is Langstrom. May I help-

Cobalt: You look like a reasonably smart man. I want information! Where the hell are we?

Saber: Aaah… sorry! He's still reacting to the punctured arm.

Langstrom: Well, my angry young friend, you are selected by Governor Ratcliffe and his "majesty" Minister Frollo. Here, we've all been imprisoned to do hard labour for fifty years.

Cobalt: Fifty years? We don't have time for this. We have-

Langstrom: Arguing will give you nothing around here. This is Alpha-Omega territory and we're at their mercy now.

Cobalt then sees something up top. It is a huge mortar cannon mounted on the mountainside.

Cobalt: A cannon?

Langstrom: Yes. It's their warp cannon. They fired it last month, destroying something in just… five minutes.

Saber: So that's what hit the base? But Cobalt… would you think…?

Cobalt: I'm not sure, but we both know the General is smart and he can be fully aware of the Dark Side's firepower. We just… have to be patient until something happens.

Inside, Ratcliffe is strolling down the hall and motions a guarding soldier to do something for him. The guard opens the window on the wall, showing a massive room, and Ratcliffe sees that no one is sitting in his chair. Concerned, he presses his face up closer to the window.

Ratcliffe: Where'd he go?

Then, a face jumps out with a "BOO!", startling Ratcliffe. It is Megamind, the titular character from Megamind, laughing and jumping on the chair.

Megamind: Good evening Ratcliffe. Great news, I'm desciplined well enough and I'm ready to re-enter the mines like a solid citizen.

Ratcliffe: As much as I'd like to hear that, I've got other orders to follow on Frollo's behalf for his help with my retribution. We're not allowed to have demons out. Not even blue ones.

Megamind: You're fun.

Ratcliffe: And by the way, you've got a present in the mail.

Megamind: Is it a puppy?

Ratcliffe opens the box to reveal a hand watch with a note on it.

Ratcliffe: From Maleficent. "To count every second of your eighty-five life sentences." Amusing, because I never thought she would gloat. But she does have nice taste, so I'll hold onto it for you.

While talking, he puts the watch on his wrist, which is also scanning like a machine.

Megamind: Any chance you could give me the time. I don't want to be late for any event.

Ratcliffe: Trust me, nothing exciting will happen. But by the time it gets here, you may miss it, by several thousand years.

Ratcliffe takes his leave, and the guard presses a button on the wall to close the window.

Guard: By the way sir, I think we could give him a chance since we're running low on extra hands.

Ratcliffe: No need, private. We've already got the two Resistance survivors, and I'll need those witless peasants to dig up my gold, won't I?

Act Six

The next morning, the sun shines over the base and the prisons slow wake up one by one as Alpha-Omega soldiers begin marching across for their morning stroll. Cobalt gets close enough to the barbed fence to look through it, seeing the scene out there.

Commander: BLOOD…!

Alpha-Omega: MAKES THE GRASS GROW!

Commander: WE…!

Alpha-Omega: MAKE THE BLOOD FLOW!

Commander: WE ARE THE BEGINNING…!

Alpha-Omega: AND THE END!

Right after that, the fences are opened and the Velociraptors get in to snarl at the prisoners to walk out. The prisoners all carry shovels and pickaxes to go into a huge quarry, and Ratcliffe steps forth to give a presentation.

Ratcliffe: Right men. To work. For those who are new, I'll give you all the details you need. One half will fill those slate cars with explosives. And the rest of you, break out the shovels. It's time to start digging.

Ashley: Digging?

Cobalt: You're not suggesting, what I think you're suggesting.

Ratcliffe: Well of course. This quarry used to be a mine. Before we were born, they came here for one thing. Gold. Mountains of it. Why for years, our forefathers have searched for that, while building those railroads. But now… it's our turn. Now start digging.

Ratcliffe fires his pistol, signalling the prisoners to start digging the quarry while the song "Mine, Mine, Mine" is played by speakers on lamp posts. Cobalt digs with two pickaxes, simply trying to make it faster, but a soldier hit his head with the stock of his gun.

Soldier: Show off. Do it with only one.

Instead of arguing, Cobalt obliges and digs with one pickaxe, but he is peeved as he listens to the song. However, looking to his side, he sees four very familiar faces: the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles from their 2003 TV series. But there's only Leo (Leonardo), Donnie (Donatello), and Raph (Raphael).

Raph: [to Cobalt] What are you looking at?

Cobalt: You guys are here too?

Donnie: For a long while, yeah. Just after our show, they just stormed in and brought us here.

Leo: Hold on. [peering] Are you… Captain Cobalt? Of the Resistance?

Cobalt: Well…. I was.

Raph: Well, great. Cuz we were thinkin' you might break us out.

Leo: Raph, take it easy. He just got here.

Cobalt: I can honestly say… I'm glad you guys are here. I was going to ask if you'd be interested in joining the Resistance. I mean… if it was still around.

Donnie: Well, as much as we'd like the invitation, we'd-

Then Ratcliffe approaches the turtles behind their back.

Ratcliffe: Any luck?

Leo: [peeved] Nothing but rocks and dirt sir.

Donnie: Um, how long are we gonna keep digging like this, sir?

Raph: Yeah! We've been slaving away, busting our shells for-

Ratcliffe: Settle down, my scaly friend. I know how hard it is, but it's all worth the risk. Now stop socializing and get back to work.

Ratcliffe takes his leave, but Cobalt whispers to the turtles.

Cobalt: Where's Mike?

Raph: Mikey? He's up top.

Up top, Mikey (Michelangelo) is on a catwalk, picking the wall with his pickaxe, but when he sees a guard approaching, he gets an idea and disappears in a dark corner. When the guard arrives, Mikey jumps out in surprise.

Mikey: SURPRISE!

Startled, the guard walks back and falls off the catwalk down to the pond. Everyone in the quarry look at what happened, and they stare at Mikey who is responsible for it. Later, Mikey is forced on his knees by soldiers before the scolding Ratcliffe, who has a whip in hand.

Ratcliffe: When I say you dig, I mean you actually dig, because playtime is not an option.

Mikey: Aw, come on. It was just a bit of fun.

Ratcliffe: Obviously not. But five lashes will remind you that fooling around is a bad move.

With Mikey's back turned, Ratcliffe raises his whip to slash him, but he is stopped by Cobalt when he grabs his hand.

Cobalt: Back off!

Ratcliffe: Oh? Standing before my duties? You'll share the punishment, boy.

Cobalt: It won't work with you whipping his shell. It'll protect him.

Then Frollo comes in from the entrance to approach the scene.

Frollo: Is that so? And why would you risk it, to save something that's not even human?

Cobalt: [pauses] Because he and his brothers… are some of my idols.

Frollo: How thoughtful. Ratcliffe, instead of the turtle, do it to him as an example.

Ratcliffe nods in agreement, and motions Preacher to force Cobalt on his knees, letting the Governor whip him on the back several times. Saber sees what's happening, and he tries to help his brother, but a soldier holds him at gunpoint.

Soldier: Stay right where you are.

Frollo: Preacher, take him to my office.

Preacher: Yes sir.

Preacher hoists the injured Cobalt up and drags him away to follow Frollo out of the quarry.

Ratcliffe: The rest of you, get back to work and don't stop until sunset or if you've found gold. Understand? If anyone plays a game, the one who did it will be thrown to the pets before you'd say "mercy".

Outside of the site, a pair of silhouettes watch it all through binoculars with a parked car behind them.

Silhouette 1: So, what's the plan? Are we going in there or what?

Silhouette 2: Not yet. We must wait for further orders.

Back inside, Cobalt, with shackles on his wrists, is dragged into a large room with a lit fireplace illuminating the place with dim light, and Preacher throws him forward. Frollo walks to the fireplace, poking it with a fire iron.

Frollo: That'll be all, Preacher. Leave us.

Preacher salutes to Frollo before taking his leave, closing the door behind him. Now alone, Cobalt has to stand up to glare at Frollo.

Frollo: You have a lot of spirit in you, saving fellow inmates from a punishment they so rightfully deserve.

Cobalt: If we're being honest, you deserve a far worse punishment than what one of those slaves do.

Frollo: Come now, there's no need to be so cruel. Not after I've given the opportunity to… spare your miserable lives. The least you can do is be thankful that I've shown mercy.

Cobalt: Don't give me that. You're the type of man who rarely shows mercy, but you did with Quasimodo… for your sins, and you wouldn't know righteousness if it smacked your face clean off.

Frollo glares at Cobalt for his comment, and he puts down the fire iron by the tip that makes it fall down on its own. Calming down, Frollo steps forward to say his speech.

Frollo: It's also rare… for li-acs to show mercy. The way it works is, when it comes to show it, they keep the atomic bombs from dropping down on top of foreigners. Li-acs all lived with the same thing: do what you can before it's too late and claim it as your own. That's how this world works. The irony is you created us toons, for bringing laughter and joy to people's lives. But there are those who are… sick of the fates bestowed upon us and we wanted better. That's when this war broke out, a war between the Dark Side of Disney and… the world.

Cobalt: No. Just the ones who want in on the action.

Frollo: So you say. But tell me…. What is… Covid-19?

Cobalt: It's a pandemic. Everyone knows that.

Frollo: Indeed, but that's the glimpse of it. The shocking truth about it is… it was made in Wuhan… on purpose. It was made by the people there as a way of destroying us toons, but it backfired. The coronavirus worked only on li-acs… because it was made by li-acs, so we were… resilient. And that was ten months before Maleficent created the Top Ten because she needed generals to lead her growing armies into victory. They came to me for a place at their side… but I wasn't interested, so I turned them down. Then they made an offer I couldn't refuse. The lovely gypsy girl Esmeralda.

Frollo walks over to the tapestry hanging on the wall that illustrates Esmeralda dancing.

Frollo: I was given command of Alpha-Omega, and after a successful mission in the mountains, she was given to me. But then one day, she suddenly stopped speaking. She became… a mute. Like a newborn. I thought she lost her mind, that the war was too much for her. But then some of the toons in Disneyworld stopped speaking too. One of our doctors had a theory, before he stopped speaking. The virus is finally taking its toll on us. Instead of the same symptoms as li-acs do, it just steals our voices, and if it spread, it would destroy us. Not by killing us… but by robbing us of everything that makes us the cartoon characters we are today. Our speech, our quotes, our… personalities, and by the time it's over, we'd be on the verge of extinction. You talk about mercy? What would you have done?

Cobalt stares back, unnerved, challenged; he has no answer. Frollo carries a dagger he pulled out of his cloak.

Frollo: Three days after I was told about it, I had this in hand… and Esmeralda in my sight, behind bars. I held it so tight in my hand, I pointed it at the only gypsy that I can be merciful to. [emotionally] She looked at me with sorrow in her eyes, all she had left in her silent gaze. I… hesitated for almost a minute… but I wasn't… so quick to ponder. I… was going to have second thoughts… but I… couldn't. And I slit her throat.

His eyes finally return to Cobalt's, who looks stunned.

Frollo: That's when I realized that I can do my part in the Top Ten. I've become a full-fledged member to rid the world of all the infected, including li-acs. And now, you or your scout don't have it, but the only mercy I'm showing to you both is sparing you from the pandemic.

Cobalt: [harried] You… are really an asshole. [glaring] You would've thought about vaccines instead of being judge, jury and executioner on your own. And no matter what you want with me, I won't be a part of anything.

Frollo glares back at Cobalt, unimpressed about the way Cobalt said, but he takes a moment to regain his composure.

Frollo: Very well. If that's your decision. Because without hard labour, you won't be free for the next twenty years, so you'd have to be here for the rest of your days. But if I may say, when we found out you and the new scout were the sole survivors of the Resistance, Jafar was baffled about why you would go to Canada. But now… I know. You both are Canadians; the last ones who lived there… or so we thought, until we discovered that girl during our pursuit last week.

He picks up Ashley's ballerina doll that was on his desk and he winds it up. Frollo sets the doll down, watching it dance.

Frollo: This is awfully good. It's baffling how a toy maker would make something like this, just for his daughter. If she really mattered, I would have such sleepless nights if anything… unfortunate happened to her.

Cobalt: You wouldn't dare.

Frollo: You think I'm joking?

Frollo picks up the doll again, and squeezes it until it breaks. He gazes at the doll in mock sorrow, then lunges threateningly at Cobalt.

Frollo: [yelling] NOW GET BACK TO WORK!

In defeat, Cobalt does as he's told as soon as he walks out of the office. Now alone, Frollo throws the broken doll into the garbage.

Act Seven

At sunset, Cobalt is digging in the quarry with a pickaxe. Then the horn is blown, giving a signal, and all of the prisoners line up to walk back into their pen. Langstrom is the last one to get in; he is shoved in by a soldier before he slams the gate shut.

Langstrom: Barbarian.

Cobalt, on the other hand, is being thrown into another pen, which is electrified with 30,000 volts as the sign on it says. He regains his bearings, wiping the mud off of his face, but he finds out that he's with the Turtles who look at him.

Mikey: Hey. You're here too, huh?

Raph: Hey listen… thanks for standing up to Mikey back there.

Cobalt: Oh, don't mention it. You four were my heroes when I was a kid after all.

Leo: So what happened? What did Frollo say?

Thinking about it, Cobalt sits on a boulder like a chair, stunned.

Cobalt: That guy… is worse than I thought. He has a way of threatening people with just his own words and he kills without mercy when it comes to anyone infected with Covid.

Donnie: Yeah, I know what you mean. He has got to be the worst Disney character of all times.

Cobalt: No, I'd say he's second. The worst is Maleficent.

Raph: Okay, now that we're together, we can finally plan an escape.

Leo: You obviously don't get it, Raph. Nobody has ever gotten out of here.

Mikey: That's not true. My cat Balloons did.

Leo: No she didn't. We just told you that so you wouldn't get upset.

Donnie: She… died of old age seventeen years ago.

Mikey: [emotionally] NOOOO!

Leo: Yeah. In that very bush.

Leo directs his eyes to a bush outside the electrified pen that looks dead.

Leo: She's still there.

Mikey: [tearfully] Bummer….

Cobalt: Guys, listen. There's no escaping from Frollo. He's too cunning, even for the likes of us all.

Raph: Well, gee, I thought you were with the Resistance. I was often told that you led teams into victory and stuff. I guess… I was wrong.

The Turtles take their leave, away from Cobalt. Then, Cobalt looks behind to see Horace and Jasper, both from 101 Dalmatians, walking over with a jug of water.

Jasper: Good evening, Cobalt. Care for some water.

Horace: We thought you might be thirsty.

With some thirst, Cobalt walks over to get some water, but the Baduns just pour it all over him and it is enough to shock him with the fences, much to their amusement. Then they both walk away, with Cobalt soaking wet.

Cobalt: Assholes.

The next morning, all of the prisoners are forced to start digging in the quarry for gold again. Cobalt is chained up to the Turtles, as a way of making sure they don't do anything more funny business.

Mikey: Man, this is exhausting. How come this Ratcliffe guy wants us to dig for gold?

Cobalt: It's a bit obvious. Almost everyone wants it.

Donnie: Yeah, because gold is a very precious resource on Earth. Just a handful of it would make anyone richer than even the President of the United States.

Raph: Who cares what they want it for? I just want to get out. I'm just sick of this quarry. It's too cold, too rocky, too damped, and a couple more years of this, and I'll have hibernate until summer's arrived.

Leo: Raph, you can't just move from one place to another out of a whim.

Raph: It's hardly a whim.

[bell rings]

Preacher: That's lunch.

At the lunch corner, the prisoners are each given one burger on their hand and a line is formed. Saber and Ashley are both lined up, wanting to have burgers as well, but Saber is bummed that he's only given one.

Cook: Just take five bites and you're ready.

Saber: Just one? What about fries or something?

Cook: Fries? FRIES?! This is NOT Wendy's, okay?! Next! Move out!

Saber and Ashley take their leave, eating their food along the way. By the time they've finished their food, Langstrom comes over to dig next to them.

Ashley: This is wrong. I feel like having this with fries too.

Langstrom: This is only the first week. Just one more month, and they'll be giving you bigger ones.

Saber: This is bullshit. If they want us to work, we're going to need more than just one burger to help us out with this.

Langstrom: Oh, don't be so glum, Saber. They always make sure that we've all eaten, because they wouldn't want us to starve.

Then Ratcliffe clears his throat behind them, having them all to continue digging, and he walks away.

Later at night, a guard is patrolling the perimeter at the main gate of the facility. But then, he hears something in the bushes. Curious, he loads his gun and adjourns to the bush to find the source, but no luck. Then, something pulls him in and disappears.

Back in the electrified pen, Cobalt lays on the ground and sadly looks up at the night sky with the full moon in view.

Cobalt: What was I thinking? Being patient for something to happen? Nothing's going to happen like that.

Man's voice: I wouldn't say so, bub.

Cobalt: Yeah, well- [realizing] Who said that?

Looking behind, Cobalt sees the gate guard unlocking the door to get in, but when he emerges into the moon's light, he's revealed to be Wolverine, much to Cobalt's joy who jumps up.

Cobalt: Wolverine! Ha! You're alive! This is great!

Wolverine: Shhh. Keep it down. We're not alone here.

Cobalt: Oh…. What a relief, what a relief. I knew there'd be survivors. But how did you make it?

Wolverine: The General gave us the alarm right before we were hit. Luckily, Avalon used her Shield Card to make a force field around… some of us.

Cobalt: "Some of you"? As in, the team?

Wolverine: Sadly, yeah. Taz, Snake Eyes, Flint, Dennis, most of us didn't make it.

Cobalt: What about the General and Proto?

Wolverine: They're both okay. Now, let's get you out of here. It's almost dawn.

Cobalt: First things first.

Cobalt walks over to the sleeping Turtles, knocking on their shells to wake them up.

Cobalt: Up and at 'em, guys. We're busting out.

Raph: Oh, finally.

Then the sleeping Jasper in his undershirt, undies and socks on the couch hears them.

Jasper: Hey! Shut your yapping! I'm trying to get me beauty sleep!

He scratches his bum while getting back to sleep. Horace, also in his undershirt, undies and socks is asleep on the chair, so the group has to whisper.

Donnie: But how? How are we getting out?

Cobalt: Follow this guy behind me. [to Wolverine] Logan, Saber and the others are in the other pen. Have these guys follow you there, find the bus and get out of here. This is our only chance.

Wolverine: Got it.

Mikey: Wait, what bus?

Wolverine: The Magic School Bus.

Mikey: Oh, yeah. We saw one being towed away to a dumpster.

Cobalt: Then you guys will go there.

Leo: Wait, what about you?

Cobalt: Don't worry about me. I'll go get my suit and catch up with you.

Leo: Alright. Good luck.

Wolverine and the Turtles all tip-toe their way out of the pen to go do their parts for the escape, but Cobalt stays behind to look up at an office window on the higher spot of the mountain where Frollo is stationed.

Act Eight

In the holding pen, Saber and Ashley are sleeping at the corner, shivering from the cold wind, until they hear the locked gate being opened. Saber walks over to it, seeing it's Wolverine, and all of the prisoners wake up one by one to notice it as well.

Saber: [pleased] Wolverine.

Wolverine: You missed me, kid? Your brother's getting his suit. He'll meet up with us.

Langstrom: Wait, a minute. Are we really… getting out of here, young man?

Wolverine: Sure, we are. But… there may be room for just some of you.

Saber: There can be a way. The bus has the Porta-Shrinker in the glove compartment.

Wolverine: Alright. Everyone, follow me. And fast.

Taking his word, the prisoners all follow Wolverine out of their pen to escape.

At this time, Horace gets up to have a late-night snack. He scratches his bum while heading to the fridge, looking for something to have and then he bumps his head, awakening Jasper.

Jasper: [irritated] Ah, what is this with- Aah!

The reason for his shriek is the sight of all the cages open and bare. Horace discovers it as well. Then the Baduns point fingers at each other

Both: You let the prisoners get away!

Jasper: Hold on! They can't have gone far. Start searching.

Jasper looks between two crates, even by stretching himself to fit between them, and Horace looks behind another crate. The Baduns look around almost every corner of every area, and they walk inside, not realizing that the Turtles are jumping over roofs. The Baduns keep searching, unaware they are near Frollo.

Jasper: Oh, if that crazy skeleton finds out we lost them again, he'll skin us.

Frollo's grin changes to a frown as he overhears Jasper, and turns to the two, who freeze before turning to him with hesitant grins.

Frollo: Excuse me, gentlemen. What are you doing at this hour?

Jasper: Nothing, sir.

Horace: We haven't lost the turtles or anything.

Frollo: Turtles? You let them escape?!

Horace: Jasper fell asleep.

Jasper: You were snoring like a train!

Then a tapping sound is heard coming from behind the door. Frollo approaches the door, opens it and to her disappointment, there is nobody but a stairway.

Frollo: They must already be downstairs.

Horace: Funny how you never heard the door opening.

Jasper: Aye, Horace.

Frollo: Be quiet.

They all walk down the stairs. If they have stayed there longer, they will have Cobalt jump out behind the door, where he is tapping. But when Cobalt walks in the door, Frollo pops out to look at it.

Meanwhile, Ratcliffe walks out of his room as he straightens his suit, ready for a good morning. The watch in his wrist scans him, and projects the image of Megamind onto him. Several Alpha-Omega march out, then they look at him.

Megamind (Ratcliffe): Good morning, men. Have something to eat and-

Soldier: FREEZE!

Megamind (Ratcliffe): Wait, what are you doing? I-

ZAP! Ratcliffe is zapped by a taser and the soldiers drag him away. In one fluid motion, Ratcliffe is sat down as Megamind takes the watch, reverting the Governor back into his usual appearance.

Soldier: What the hell?

Ratcliffe: You fools. He's tricked us!

Megamind: You were right.

With the watch, Megamind transforms into the form of Ratcliffe.

Ratcliffe (Megamind): It is a very good morning. Muhuhahahaha!

Now he is free to walk away. Megamind, disguised, dancingly strolls out into the open air, as guards pour into the facility around him. He salutes the guard at the end of the path, and waits as the invisible car pulls into view. The window opens and there is his friend, Minion, driving it.

Minion: Well, hello good lookin'. Need a lift?

Ratcliffe (Megamind): Certainly do you fantastic fish, you.

Minion: Get in the car, you.

Minion drives the invisible car away from the facility. Megamind drops the disguise, being himself again.

Megamind: Nice work sending me the watch, Minion!

Minion: You got it, Boss!

In the meantime, the Turtles find Bus buried beneath some garbage, but they brush them off so it can see them all.

Donnie: So this is the Magic School Bus?

Raph: Looks like just a bus with eyes to me.

Mikey: Yo, check it out!

Mikey comes over with all of their weapons under his arms.

Mikey: I've found our weapons. So… now we can get outta here, right?

Raph: Not yet, doofus. We still have to wait for-

Leo: There they are.

Wolverine comes over with the prisoners. Saber pries open the door, but then, the alarm blares loudly that alarms the entire facility. The prisoner recoil in fear. Wolverine takes out binoculars and looks through it to see a large, red dragon with swirling eyes flying and breathing fire at the quarry.

Wolverine: Shit. I should've told that girl to wait a little longer.

Langstrom: Sir, what's going on?

Wolverine: Don't worry. Saber, the Porta-Shrinker.

Saber walks in to open the glove compartment and takes out the Porta-Shrinker to zap most of the prisoners into the size of toys. The Turtles pick them all up and walk into the bus, while the others come in as well, and everyone fastens their seatbelt.

Ashley: Um… is something going to hurt?

Saber: Don't worry. We do this a lot. Wolverine, we're ready.

Wolverine: Hang on, everyone.

Driving the bus, Wolverine pushes a button and pulls the red lever. A helicopter rotary wing retracts from the back, and it flies up into the air.

Act Nine

In the meantime, the soldiers rush to the main gate and open fire at the approaching dragon. But the dragon is unharmed, and fires back with its fire breath. Preacher arrives at the scene, looking at the dragon's side with his binoculars, and he sees some people marching with guns.

Preacher: It can't be. [to walkie-talkie] Preacher to Ratcliffe, come in. Sir, do you read me?

[static sound]

Preacher: Damn it! Keep firing, men!

Inside, Ratcliffe is banging on the cell door, trying to get out, then a soldier walks in to free him. Even the Baduns, who are now fully dressed, arrive at the scene.

Ratcliffe: What's going on?

Jasper: We're under attack, sir. And right before we'd have breakfast or something.

Horace: That ain't fair, Jasper.

Jasper: Shut up, you!

In the woods, the Eds, Zoe, Shoutmon and Kero are all still walking to find shelter, but they look exhausted.

Shoutmon: I can't take it. We've been hiking like this for days. We've got to find someplace to stay for good.

Edd: Oh, I concur, Shoutmon. But we haven't seen a single place that would suit our tastes, or something like that.

Zoe: If I hike for one more hour, I'm going to hack up-

Kero: Wait. Look over there.

Kero leads the group out of the woods to a cliffside, where they get to see the battlefield. They see the dragon attacking them, and they react in shock.

Eddy: A dragon!

Ed: A dinosaur!

Kero: Hey. I've seen that before. It's Sakura's Create Card.

Zoe: You mean… we're not the only ones?

Kero: Nope. But I had a feeling Sakura would use her cards to protect yourself eventually. They weren't all designed to be just free, you know.

Shoutmon: Yeah? Well, let's not let them have all the action. Bellow Blaster!

Shoutmon uses his mic to amplify the energy of the heated emotions blazing within its chest, then bashes the facility's main gate. That grabs the soldiers' attention. Some of them fire at the cliffside, but Kero changes into his true form to breathe fire at them. Ratcliffe comes over, giving orders.

Ratcliffe: Charge up the warp cannon and get ready to fire! I want every man to have a weapon! Shoot!

Horace picks up a rocket launcher, as he tries to charge but he trips over a rock. He almost shoots Ratcliffe at his genitals, but is lucky it flies past to hit a watchtower.

Ratcliffe: Them, you idiot!

Meanwhile, Cobalt manages to enter Frollo's office. He looks around, seeing Frollo is nowhere to be seen, but he discovers his War Machine suit on the wall.

Cobalt: There it is.

He walks over to get it, not knowing that Frollo has a dagger as he sneaks up on him. As Frollo raises it to stab him, Cobalt sees the shadow of the dagger. He turns and struggles with Frollo only briefly, before wresting the dagger from Frollo's hands and backing him into a corner.

Frollo: Now, now. Listen to me, Mr. Wilson.

Cobalt: Don't ever say it's business, because it is personal that you're just killing all of the infected out of your own means of concern. You never thought that maybe this pandemic could be handled medically, but instead of finding a more suitable way for others, you just take matters into your own hands. This is why nobody looks up to people like you.

Cobalt opens his suit and he steps in for it to fit him, walking out with his wrist-mounted assault rifles pointing at him.

Cobalt: Welcome to the 21st century.

But when he opens fire, nothing happens. His guns are emptied.

Cobalt: Dammit!

Frollo grabs a sword, and Cobalt runs out onto the balcony. Frollo follows, but when he gets outside, he sees nothing but gargoyles and gun turrets. After looking left and right, he looks out over the edge and finds Cobalt hanging there.

Frollo: Leaving so soon?

He swings his sword, but Cobalt dodges the blow by swinging to another spot. Frollo goes to swing again; Cobalt swings off again, just narrowly missing Frollo's sword. Finally, Frollo gets Cobalt cornered, but Cobalt draws his new sword, Dragon Marauder, and they two of them fight.

Down on the ground, Zoe and the Eds look up to watch Cobalt.

Zoe: Up there! It's Cobalt!

Edd: By George, he's in trouble! Kero, up top!

Kero: What's up top?

Kero looks up to see Cobalt dealing with Frollo on the balcony.

Kero: Oh yeah. Hang on, I'm coming!

He flies to help Cobalt, but Preacher fires his crossbow at him. Kero is forced to change back into his borrowed form, but he is carried by Sakura who is flying with the Fly Card.

Kero: Sakura?

Sakura: Kero.

With joy, she hugs Kero tight in her arms.

Sakura: Thank goodness you're alright.

Kero: Great. Now let's get out of here.

Sakura flies away with Kero in her arms, avoiding all the fired bullets.

Just then, the warp cannon begins to charge up massive energy in the barrel, and it fires at the dragon, but no luck as it keeps going.

Preacher: Sir, the target's impervious!

Ratcliffe: [horrified] Sorcery. Release the beasts!

By his command, the Velociraptors all burst out of their kennels and they charge in for the attack, but they all get shot by the attackers, killing them off.

Back on the balcony, Cobalt and Frollo are still having their sword fight, but Frollo has a trick up his sleeve. He swings his cape, covering Cobalt's head. But as he tries to throw Cobalt off the balcony, the panicking Cobalt pulls Frollo off as well. Now Frollo is hanging onto Cobalt, who is hanging onto the balcony railing. Frollo throws his cape around a gargoyle, and pulls himself over. He stands up and is about to swing at Cobalt. But Cobalt kicks the gargoyle Frollo is standing on, and he falls down below.

Cobalt: Some guys got it and some don't.

But then, the railing breaks off and he falls down, ending up on to the dump. Cobalt groans in pain; he tries to regain his bearings, but Frollo jabs his sword into his wrist, pinning him. He takes out a spray can and sprays it at Cobalt's helmet, which begins to melt like acid, forcing him to remove it.

Frollo: It was fun while it lasted, Captain. Now, it's time to end this crusade.

Frollo carries a gun and aims at Cobalt's face, ready to fire. But then, his smile fades when he sees Blue standing right beside him.

Cobalt: Blue?

Frollo: Clever girl.

With a roar, Blue pounces on him. The gun blasts, but wildly, and the raptor's claw slashes through Frollo's midsection. Frollo screams and Blue viciously mauls him to death, as Cobalt pulls the sword out of his wrist. When Frollo is done, Blue comes over to Cobalt, checking on him.

Cobalt: You made it too.

[Blue chirping]

Cobalt: Come on, let's get out of here.

Act Ten

Back on the battlefield, the dragon is still walking towards the facility, until the sun rises and the colossal beast disappears without a trace.

Horace: The dragon's gone. Now, let's get 'em all!

With a club, Horace is ready for an attack, but he hits Jasper on the head by accident.

Jasper: Oof! Oh, you clumsy clod!

He kicks Horace off to the side. Then, Cobalt and Blue both show up to face off the pair.

Cobalt: I'll teach you clowns to douse me in water!

During the fight, the Eds, Shoutmon and Zoe come over to Sakura and Kero who are taking cover behind the boulder.

Eddy: Go get 'em, girl!

Shoutmon: Yeah, show them who's boss!

Sakura: No, Kero's hurt. We have to retreat.

Edd: Retreat? Oh, yes, I concur. Retreat! Retreat!

Ed: On the hurry, Eddy!

Sakura leads the group out of the battlefield. Back at the main gate, the battle rages on as Blue grabs Horace's trench coat with her teeth and blinds Horace with it, while Cobalt tugs on Jasper's pants suspenders.

Horace: Help, Jasper, Jasper! Get me out of here!

Jasper: Hey, now, you're fighting dirty!

Cobalt lets go of the suspenders, causing Jasper's pants to fall down, exposing his pink boxers. Horace is still blinded by his trench coat. As soon as he steps on a carpet, Blue bites on the carpet and yanks on it to send Horace landing in the fire.

Horace: Hot-hot- HOOOOOTT!

He hits his head in the fence and bolts away, as he puts out the flames on the seat of his pants.

Horace: BLAZING HOT!

Just then, a huge fireball flies over the sky and hits the warp cannon, destroying it, but it is falling down to the facility.

Cobalt: Blue, with me!

Cobalt and Blue both bolt away from the gate, finally leaving the facility before the warp cannon crashes down on it. They meet up with the Magic School Bus in the woods, before everyone gets out to cheer for their freedom.

Cobalt: Nice work, Logan.

Wolverine: Always a pleasure to help.

Ed: Jack!

Out of nowhere, the Eds arrive at the scene and hug Saber in a group hug. Then the rest of the survivors show up, hugging him too.

Saber: I knew you made it.

Eddy: Oh man, we were worried. But don't leave us like that again, man.

Saber: Sorry, but it was in case of emergencies.

Sakura: [giggles] Oh, it's so good to see you again.

Zoe: I'm not one to brag, but you were really courageous out there, Sakura.

Sakura: [dense] Oh. You mean it?

Zoe: Absolutely.

Shoutmon: Yeah, it's not everyday a former schoolgirl would show up in the face of danger.

Kero: Well, for Sakura being the Cardcaptor, trouble could just be everywhere, even in her cosy bedroom.

Sakura: Kero!

Cobalt: Whatever the case, we're so glad most of you made it. But more importantly, who'd you fight with?

Then, much to Cobalt's surprise, there are Agents K and J, from Men in Black: the series.

K: Thought we might assist you.

J: We've got your back.

Cobalt: [sighs in relief] Thank God, you two are here.

K: We won't be if we stay any longer. Follow us, we'll take you to HQ.

Cobalt: Got it. You heard the agent. Back to the bus.

Everyone gets back on the bus, and the agents drive their LTD so they can all drive away.

Back in the destroyed facility, all of the soldiers gather around to look at the dead body of Frollo, who was mauled by Blue.

Preacher: Minister Frollo… is dead. Another member of the Top Ten. Now what do we do?

Horace: I guess this means… we should surrender?

But then, Ratcliffe shows up with fury on his face with his chest up in pride.

Ratcliffe: I'd never allow anyone of us to surrender. Not even when we were all so close to our goals. Of course, most of the damages here was caused by Judge Claude Frollo, but I won't point fingers. It was he who said about imprisoning the two remaing Resistance soldiers in order to crush their spirits. I told him it wouldn't work, but he insisted on it, and look at what it's gotten him. But now I say we shall avenge our fallen and motivated comrade.

Jasper: Hold on there. Who died and made you boss?

Ratcliffe: Perhaps you haven't heard of the Top Ten's motive. When one member dies and his or her army is left behind, another is to be selected or volunteered to do the honours.

Preacher: It's true. Plus, Frollo was a Minister, and Ratcliffe's a Governor, so he's the right candidate for the leadership.

Ratcliffe: Thank you, Preacher. Now everyone, follow my orders. Salvage all you can find that's still capable of fighting or shooting. At night, we start marching to find their new base. And we do, WE ATTACK!

All Alpha-Omega soldiers, including the Baduns, roar in cheer to agree with Ratcliffe's orders, so the Governor's quarrel with the Resistance is not over yet.

To Be Continued