Disclaimer: All Disney works are the property of The Walt Disney Company. All other characters and settings are the property of their respective legal owners.
Author's note: Originally posted by Anon e Mouse Jr. on 2020-07-04. This is the second of two chapters posted today.
Disney/Kingdom Hearts Loops, Chapter Forty-Two
42.1 (Boohoooo!): [Pair of Kings]
Mikayla Makoola blinked as she Awoke at the Kings' first day on the Island of Kinkow.
"What the- Where's Boz?! Why are we celebrating the Kings coming here the first time?!" The Warrior demanded.
"...Because It's our first time here?" Boomer stated awkwardly.
"And who the heck is Boz?" Brady added.
"Wha- He's your brother! And you left!" Mikayka insisted.
"Why would I lea- Wait, brother?!" Brady began, his eyes widening.
"She's obviously crazy! It's scaring me!" Boomer whispered to his brother. Mikayka looked annoyed as Mason put a hand on her shoulder.
"Honey, maybe you should go rest. You're speaking nonsense." Mason advised. Mikayka frowned and went to do as told. She hopes this was just a byproduct of the stress and excitement...
Okay, no WAY this could happen twice! Someone HAS to be messing with time! Mikayka mentally hissed, investigating every nook and cranny.
She'd get to the bottom of this!
42.2 (Boohoooo!): [Pair of Kings]
After the 5th time restart, Mikayka burst into Lanny's room with a machete, making the Wannabe King scream girlishly.
"What the heck, you she-beast?!" he exclaimed.
"Cut the garbage, Lanny! I know you've been messing with time!" Mikayka exclaimed angrily.
"What are you going on about?! Time Travel schemes are wayyyyyy too risky and complicated." Lanny explained.
"Seriously, Lanny, knock it off!" Mikayka snarled.
"I'm not doing anything!" Lanny insisted. Mikayka glared intensely, but realized she had no evidence. She stormed off, making an 'I'll be Watching You' Gesture. Lanny promptly fainted.
42.3 (Boohoooo!): [Pair of Kings]
"Ugh... This is getting ridiculous!" Mikayla whined to herself at the 7th restart... as a Laugh Track played.
"Gah! What the heck was that?!" Boomer exclaimed.
"I don't know my Kings! It's quite bizarre though!" Mason exclaimed as a Bazaar opened up behind him, triggering more laughter.
"Knock it off!" Brady snapped, accidentally knocking over a vase, leading to more laughter. Everyone screamed... except Mikayka.
"Great... a repeat of the 3rd restart..." she murmured.
42.4 (Anon e Mouse Jr.) / (The One named Light): [Monsters Inc.] / [Beauty and the Beast]
Lost in Scaradise
It was a nice, balmy day in Monstropolis and the energy plants were slowly chugging to the tune of screaming children. Belladonna Condon-Sullivan, Belle as her friends called her, and her husband Adam toiled hard as the top two Scarers of Monsters Inc.
"Another job well done, Monsieur," the octopus-esque Cogsworth congratulated to his master. "Always one to show little Jimmy how it's done, are you?"
"Cogsworth, he's studying up in MU, have a taste more faith in my younger brother," reassured the brown ram-like Beast. "He's doing well at Oozma Kappa, you know..."
"Pfthahahahaaa... of course!" Cogsworth smiled back, "That's to be expected from a Sullivan!"
"You should see the Mademoiselle in action, Cogsworth!" reminded the dapper looking flame elemental Lumieré. "She's receiving her next door now!"
Lumieré was not wrong as a door was swooping in from the vault and sliding into place for Belle to analyze for a spell before walking through what the debonair selected for the beastly beauty. "Wish me luck." She blushed with a hint of worry, having just Awakened that day as a top scarer with Adam and had hidden doubts in her scaring expertise throughout the hours she'd leaned on her in-Loop memories for added skill.
Creaking the door open and closing it as soon as she entered it, Belle looked around the room as the small child inside stirred awake in the bed and opened her eyes, unaware of the monster that had snuck inside... or was she?
"Kitty?"
Belle lunged forth and snarled at the child before catching a glimpse of her screaming face in the moonlight of the outside world. The beastly beauty looked to the girl and realized something was quite familiar about the girl, recognizing her from the resident Anchor's Baseline. "Boo?"
She indeed sported the same short pigtails and pink nightie, but that could have been any other two-year-old toddler, could it?
Just then, there was a loud banging on the room's door. "Hey, shut up in there, ya brat!"
Belle looked up, and ducked under the bed in time to hear someone come storming in. "Get back in bed and go to sleep, you little..." the same adult voice from before snarled. Then she heard some loud stomping, and a door slamming.
Creeping out from under the bed, she found the little girl in tears, and scooped her up. "Shh... shh... it'll be okay," she whispered as she tried to comfort Boo. Then, glancing at the Door, she confirmed it was white with pink flowers, just as it was in Baseline. Making up her mind in an instant, she headed for the closet Door, Boo in her arms, and shut it behind her as she walked out.
Later that dusk, Belle drove to Oozma Kappa where her brother-in-law (for the Loop at least...) was hanging around with his closest friend.
"And may I ask why must we see James at this time of night?" Adam questioned his wife, having been dragged along for the ride.
"Because I found a certain someone that needs to see them as soon as possible," Belle answered.
"What kind of someone?" asked the Beast.
"A friend of theirs..." Belle refocused her gaze to the road as she drove up the fraternity block in search of Oozma Kappa. Spotting a humble suburban home with an OK in front, Belle went to park the car and honked for the Anchor and his friend. "Sully!"
Words could be heard from behind the walls, voices wondering aloud what their guest wanted from them, and footsteps came ever closer to the front door as Belle walked up and gave a little knock before Sully opened the door to find his cousin's brother's wife with a new daughter wrapped in a pink blanket. "What's all this then?"
"Something that requires some private time," exclaimed Belle as she held the child abreast in her sprint to Sully and Mike's dorm. "So if you'll excuse me, I need to borrow your room for a spell. Not literally, of course, but it will need a few minutes to gather ourselves for the plan that needs to be engaged." Belle dashed through their door, unPocketed a doll for a child, and emerged with a smile. "Right this way."
"She's probably offering to clean our room." Mike scoffed. "Princesses..."
"Mike, you know what happens when you just assume out of the blue," Sully reminded him before looking to Belle. "You wanted to see us?"
Belle showed the human hand beneath the thick pink blanket to the horror of the two monsters that Belle immediately calmed out of screaming by the sight of the face that accompanied the hand. "Boo?"
The little one giggled: "Kitty."
The big blue bear-like beast reached out for the child as Mike locked the door. "How is this even possible?" Sully asked. "This is before you were born!"
"Oy, must've been an early bird this Loop," the one-eyed Anchor remarked as he walked forward. "What's really bugging me is why Mrs. Beast here nabbed Boo from her bedroom when her parents must be worried sick about her!"
"Not to mention how terrifying humans are to the common folk in our Branch," added Sully.
"And all this when you could have gone to an orphanage to adopt a little sun spot if ya wanted to be a mommy and it'll likely go as smoothly as you went with tall, dark and brooding out there." Mike reminded to Belle. "And you expect to pass her off as one of us?"
"You're not falling to Sakura Syndrome, are you?" the blue furred beast asked.
"No!" Belle was appalled. "It's not even about being a parent, Mike! It's about getting her out of there..." She cuddled the toddler. "Listen, I know Yggdrasil wouldn't normally handle a Looper whose baseline age doesn't progress any further than the terrible twos. But even if she won't activate from this... you weren't there," she said. "You didn't hear the things I did. She's safer in a world of monsters than with the other monster I heard."
Mike and Sully exchanged looks, then looked at her.
"Belle..."
"Please!" Belle demanded. "I'll do what I can to keep up the facade as I raise her, just give me this one chance. You might not get it again."
Sully tilted his sight back with a look of lament before focusing on Boo. "Are you sure you're willing to raise her to the end of the Loop?"
"For as long as I am here, yes." Belle asserted.
"Sully, what about the expansion?" questioned Mike. "What if it goes forward in our lives to when Boo's old enough to have a more concrete personality?"
"Well, then this could be our sneak peak at the kind of girl Boo's going to be." Boo giggled with excitement as Sully spoke to the princess. "We'll help you with coming up with her disguise."
"Thank you." Belle smiled back before holding Boo to her cheeks. "Do you hear that, Boo? You get to stay with us."
"Breathe in that Monstropolis air, kid," smirked the spherical cyclops to his Looping peers. "This'll be your new home for the next decade or so if my boyish good looks are to believed."
"And it will be a very long time, your entire childhood and then some!" Belle smiled to the toddler as she cradled her in her currently beefy arms. "Welcome to the multiverse, little one. I promise I will not let you down."
"A daughter?" The CEO of the plant eyed Belle. "Why, I didn't even hear a word of your rookery."
"I do hope you understand my oncoming absence, Mister Waternoose." Belle bowed to the six-legged bigwig. "My little tapeworm just hatched this morning and I had to hang up my hard-hat for the time being so that I can raise Mary in the best way that I can."
"Quite the heart, milady," sighed Waternoose, stroking his beard as he looked to the frowning monster in Belle's arms. "I'm sort of a family man myself, what with this company being a part of the family for three generations now."
"And we Sullivans are the same way, Henry." Belle looked to the five-eyed afroed gentlemonster. "I will miss working alongside Adam at this fine plant of yours."
"And I await your return when little Mary leaves the nest." Waternoose smiled back with a salute. "Best of luck with your daughter, Belle."
"I promise, she'll be well-raised under my care, Mr. Waternoose." Belle waved to the arachnoid. "My little baby-boo's going to be a good girl, won't she?"
"Boo!" the girl giggled and hugged the beastly beauty as she walked off to her car.
Looping comes to Bonds that grow the strongest
Two worlds, One family
Trust your heart, let fate decide
To guide these lives we see!
Time elapsed: Three days. Boo's age: 2 years, 7 months, 3 weeks.
42.5 (wildrook): [Kingdom Hearts]
Sora couldn't tell what was more horrifying: a mellow Donald or Donald the Rage Monster.
He just had the bad luck of dealing with both.
"Your Majesty," Sora muttered, "what happened?"
"Well, I made the mistake of sending Donald to get his rage extracted," Mickey muttered, before noticing the mellow Donald all over him. "Well, you found him. Now where's his anger?"
"That way," both Sora and mellow!Donald said, pointing towards the trail of destruction.
Sora blinked. "This can't get any worse," he muttered.
Then he noticed a dark portal come in, revealing Isa... nearly Norted completely.
"So that's the power of Rage," he muttered. "Such rage would be perfect for..." Unfortunately, he didn't expect a Keyblade to the face... before it spawned in Mickey's hand.
"We'll deal with you later," Mickey said, completely annoyed. "Sora, help me subdue Donald's anger."
"I would," Sora muttered, carrying Mellow!Donald, "but I've got my hands tied."
Mickey groaned. "Why..."
At least he wasn't singing the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse song.
42.6 (Boohoooo!): [Pair of Kings]
Mikayka blinked in worry as she Awoke. In this restart, Lanny had rigged Boomer and Brady's transport with explosives, killing them before they even arrived.
'A competent Lanny? Terrifying...' She mused.
"...And I want ten thousand ice cream sandwiches!" Lanny cackled.
"...Nevermind." Mikayka muttered to herself, going to get said treats. This restart was going to be EXHAUSTING...
42.7 (Boohoooo!): [Pair of Kings] / [Men In Black] / [Wacky Races] / [Boot to the Head glitch]
Mikayka blinked as she Awoke to see Lanny in chains.
"You must face the Ultimate Punishment... BOOT TO THE HEAD!" Boomer roared with tears in his eyes.
"...What?" Mikayla and Lanny both Blinked. With that, Lanny was repeatedly hit in the head with a boot.
"...I hate these restarts..." Mikayla sighed.
K and J had just finished stopping the Worms from robbing a Starbucks.
"Now, to erase their memories with the Boot to the Head!" An UnAwake J nodded.
"...What?" K blinked. J then Awoke.
"...What the hell was I going on about?" J sighed.
"I have no idea, partner." K sighed, pulling out the Neuralizer... which was now just a boot.
"...Screw this." both Agents deadpanned in unison, walking off.
Dick Dastardly and Muttley wailed as they were chased by Red Max, who was throwing Boots at their heads.
"WHAT IS HAPPENING?!" Dastardly wailed. Muttley shrugged as the two fell off a cliff, a boot hitting their heads upon landing.
"...Ow... I hate the Loops..." Dastardly groaned.
42.8 (ThanatosTiger): [Percy Jackson] / [Order of the Stick] / [Boot to the Head glitch]
Despite Waking up, Magnus knew he was dreaming. Loki lounged across his Uncle Randolph's desk, his lip scars, creepily glowing eyes and Red Sox jersey easily identifying him.
"Death was an interesting choice, Magnus."
Magnus tried to calm his pounding heart. He beat Loki in a flyting contest, put him in a nut, and the gods reimprisoned him. But the sheer difficulty of his quest, the memories of Loki freeing from his bonds and his hate in his voice when he talked about Baldr didn't help.
A boot the size of a Pontiac striking Loki in the face did the trick.
Vidar stood over the sprawled form of Loki, his rubber/Uggs/steel toed boot shrinking down. He turned to face Magnus and signed Boot to the Head.
The dream faded, and Magnus woke up to Samirah carrying him once more to Hotel Valhalla.
Despite his best interests, Shojo turned to the deva he summoned. He didn't want to get an actual being from the Upper Planes, nor continue the trial, but with Eugene failing and the Lawfulness of his people, his hands were tied.
"Oh great being of Law and good, you have heard the arguments of both sides of the case. Are you prepared to render your verdict?"
"I am. On behalf of the Upper Planes and the cosmic forces of Law and Good, I declare the Order of the Stick guilty. Their punishment: A Boot To The Head! Phil, please hand me your Comically Oversized Boot."
The lawyer did so, taking the time to stick his tongue out at his colleague.
"Sorry Roy, I didn't expect helping the lawyers out with their verse would lead to this!"
"As good as it would make me feel, I'm not blaming you Elan. This seems a bit too far out of left field, even for you."
Yeah, it smells a bit like a running gag, but it's not something Berlew came up with. Maybe one of the Admins did something ridiculous, and it spread through Yggdrasil?"
"If that's the case they'd be just as bad as the ones in our Baseline, which wouldn't surprise me. At least Belkar won't show up for a while."
With that said, one of the windows was smashed to bits, Miko crashing through with Belkar impaled on her sword.
"May the Boot To The Heads commence!"
42.9 (Boohoooo!): [Pair of Kings] / [The Suite Life of Zach and Cody]
Mikayla sighed as time restarted for the umpteenth time (she had given up counting).
"This suckssssssss... I've exhausted every possibility!" Mikayla moaned.
Zach and Cody then fell from the sky, screaming, which obviously interrupted her complaining.
"...Ow." The twins groaned. Mikayla promptly pointed a machete at them.
"Great going, Zach! Now we're gonna die only three hours after Waking up!" Cody glared.
"Don't blame me! The Loops are out to get us at times!" Zach glared back.
"Explain these Loops! Are they why time is restarting?!" Mikayla demanded.
"Well, hottie, put away the big knife and I'll explain!" Zach smirked. Mikayla punted him out the castle window, his screams and a thud being audible. Cody sighed and began the explanation.
One Welcome to the Multiverse Speech later...
"That's... That's a lot to take in..." Mikayla mused.
"Agreed." Cody sighed.
"Can I get a doctor now?" Zach called. With a sweatdrop, the duo got Zach a doctor. Mikayla sighed happily. She finally had an explanation!
...She should probably free Lanny.
...At some point.
42.10 (Anon e Mouse Jr.): [Power Rangers Dino Charge] / [Sleeping Beauty]
Prince Phillip the Third, Graphite Ranger and heir to the throne of Zandar, brought his horse to a sudden stop as he Woke Up and, after a moment, took stock of his surroundings.
It appeared to be a vast forest, and if his memories were anything to go by, it wasn't far from his kingdom... which, though his Loop memories told him it was still Zandar, it was clearly not the Zandar of his time period. Nor was it Prince Colin's era; that had been in the 1200s, about a hundred years before his current now. In fact, if he was remembering right, Prince Colin had been his immediate grandfather, rather than being several generations removed from him.
Checking his Pocket, he was relieved to find that he could still access it, not that it held much more than his Graphite Energem and a few Dino Chargers. Still, it told him this wasn't a Null Loop, something Heckyl had previously warned him about.
Just then, he heard the sound of someone singing in the distance, and prodded his horse. "Let's go, Samson," he told the animal. "I want to find out who that is."
As Samson reluctantly turned around, Phillip let out a Ping, and got one back in return. Nodding to himself, he urged his mount on, heading in the direction of the voice.
It took him some time before he found his way into the clearing, and was amused to see a young woman dancing with an owl, a squirrel and a pair of rabbits, each wearing an item of clothing: the owl had on a cloak akin to his own, while the squirrel was in a hat just like the one he wore, and the boots, hopping around with a rabbit in each, were again identical. Watching them silently, as her song came to an end, he finally coughed politely, catching her attention. As she turned to see him, her face brightened. "Phillip!"
Prince Phillip looked at her in surprise. "You know me?"
"Of course - wait." The woman approached him and looked more carefully. "You're not my Phillip..."
"Perhaps not, but I am still Phillip." He bowed. "Prince Phillip the Third of Zandar, at your service."
The woman looked amused. "Briar Rose, of this forest. At least, for now - my aunts and I are leaving tonight."
"A shame," Phillip replied. "This place will be poorer without your beauty."
"Flattery will get you nowhere except in trouble with my fiancé," Briar Rose replied. "I've been waiting to meet Phillip again for a long time, and even if you share his name, I doubt he would be pleased if he found another man flirting with me."
"Very well then." Phillip bowed. "But before I go, might I ask something? You see, I have come to this forest in search of an Anchor. Have you seen one?"
"That all depends on how Loopy you're feeling," Briar Rose replied.
Phillip broke into a smile. "I take it you're the one for this Branch then." He held out a hand. "I really am Prince Phillip the Third of Zandar, by the way. Latest Looper from my own Branch."
Briar Rose accepted his hand. "Princess Aurora, local Anchor," she said as she shook it. "I've got less than a day until Maleficent gets desperate and turns to extreme measures to enact her curse."
Phillip bowed again. "Thank you, my lady. And, ah, Maleficent?" he asked. He'd swear he'd heard that name somewhere before.
"The wicked fairy who cursed me at my christening," Aurora replied. "It's supposed to take effect before the sun sets on my sixteenth birthday, and if I stay out of her sight until then, she can't enact it." She scowled. "Of course, she can always work up a new one after that, but I'd just as soon avoid such a fate altogether."
"Certainly understandable," Phillip told her. "And in which case, my lady, would you object if I escorted you back home and remained there until sunset, in case she comes after you directly? I pack quite a punch in battle, if I do say so myself."
Aurora hesitated. "I'd say yes, except my aunts have always warned me against strangers," she said carefully. "And I'm not sure how they'd react to you - they aren't Awake this Loop, as far as I can tell."
"I was chosen by a great power to wield it against evil," Phillip said. "I think they might be willing to accept me."
"Very well then." Aurora smiled. "Let's be off, shall we?"
Needless to say, Aurora had been right. Flora, Fauna and Merryweather had not been happy, and were currently scolding her over her decision. Judging by the faintly annoyed look on her face, she wasn't happy with them either, but she was clearly holding it in.
Finally, Phillip felt the need to speak up. "My ladies, if you don't mind-"
The fairy in blue turned to him. "You stay out of this, young man!" she said fiercely. "If you'd just kept away from our niece, we wouldn't be having this discussion with her right now!"
"And if you will listen, you would know that I am no ordinary young man," Phillip replied. "I am-"
Before he could say anything, the door blew in, and a creature covered in black feathers stalked through it. "Princess Aurora! You're coming with me!"
The three fairies gasped, and Phillip frowned. "Spellbinder..."
"You've heard of me," the creature said as it turned to him. "Yes... I am Diablo the Spellbinder, servant of the great Maleficent. And she always gets what she wants! Goons!"
A horde of ugly creatures crowded through the door, and Phillip rose. "So it's a fight you want..." His fists tightened. "Then it's a fight you'll get!" Throwing himself into battle with a whirl of kicks and punches, he sent the creatures flying every which way, while Aurora ducked behind the table, reaching for something.
"Oh no you don't!" Spellbinder waved a hand, and a set of ropes appeared around Aurora's wrists. A moment later, the golden pendant on his chest swung open, sucking her in.
"Princess!" Phillip looked up from the last Goon he'd been pummeling. "That does it. Dino-"
He was hit in the chest with an energy blast and went flying backwards, looking up in time to see Spellbinder flying away.
"The princess!" the three fairies gasped, then turned to him.
"I knew you were trouble," Merryweather said with a scowl. "Now look what-"
"It's not his fault," Fauna interrupted her gently. "Maleficent would have come after the princess even if he hadn't crossed paths with her. Though..." The green fairy eyed him. "You seem familiar, young man..."
Phillip rose to his feet and bowed. "I am Prince Phillip the Third of Zandar, my ladies."
At once, the trio gasped. "You... you're King Hubert's son!" Flora whispered. "Oh my goodness..."
Merryweather's own face reddened. "I am so sorry, your highness," she apologized. "I had no idea it was you... our dear child's fiancé..."
"All is forgiven, my lady," Phillip replied. "But now we must rescue the princess. The question is, where would she have been taken?"
The three fairies exchanged glances. "We don't know," Fauna admitted. "But I have my suspicions. Regardless, we must find her soon..."
"And I'll have to take care of Spellbinder," Phillip said grimly. "Though I'm not sure how he could have absorbed Aurora like he did... from what I've been told, he only displayed that power when he was a part of Spell Digger."
The fairies looked at him curiously, but shook it off. "Either way, we need to get Aurora back," Merryweather said firmly. "Quickly!"
"Urrgh!"
Having been released from Spellbinder's prison, but her hands still bound, Aurora glared up at Maleficent as the dark fairy stood before her in the throne room of her castle.
"Did you really think you would escape my curse?" Maleficent asked coldly. "It is foolish to resist, child."
"You won't get away with this," Aurora hissed. Loop after Loop of dealing with the dark fairy had worn on her; while she had no true hatred for her enemy, she found these Loops where Maleficent gained the upper hand to be very annoying. If she could reach into her Pocket to get out one of her four Dress Up Keys and her Princess Perfume, that would be one thing, but Spellbinder's magic ropes kept her from being able to so much as twitch a finger.
"Oh, but I already have." Maleficent waved her staff, and a spinning wheel appeared. "Come, and meet your fate..."
Aurora tried to resist, but as a second rope appeared, this one connected to the bindings she already had and spinning her around, she was forced to move backward. Finally, her finger was in the right place, and she felt a prick.
Then as the window suddenly blew in, she fell, and knew no more.
"Maleficent!" four voices roared, and the dark fairy looked up, a snarl on her lips.
"You!" she yelled. "How did you get here so fast?"
"Because good always prevails!" Merryweather snapped. "Flora, Fauna! Get Aurora!"
"I think not!" Maleficent raised her staff, and a number of fireballs shot from it, only to be intercepted by Merryweather's wall of air.
Meanwhile, Phillip had charged Spellbinder, and was matching his blows. Finally, sending him back far enough, he reached into his Pocket. "'Tis morphing time!" he called. "Dino Charger, ready! Energize! Hah! Unleash the power!"
As his suit formed around him, he held up his fists. "Pachycephalosaurus! Power Ranger, Graphite!"
Spellbinder's eyes widened. "What the blazes are you?"
"Your worst nightmare." Phillip charged, and the pair began trading blows, until Phillip had again sent Spellbinder flying back. "Pachy Punch!"
Leaping into the air, he delivered a charging headbutt straight at the monster, who let out a startled cry as his amulet fell to the ground in pieces. "No!"
Under his helmet, Phillip grinned. "Yes. Now, take this!" Corkscrewing his hand, he built up a charge around it. "Royal Dino Punch!"
The spiked energy construct smashed straight into Spellbinder, who let out a startled cry before he fell and exploded.
"Monster extinct," Phillip said to himself as he turned to see Maleficent still waving her staff and sending fire and lightning at the three fairies. He also noted that Aurora had been successfully moved out of the battlefield, though he wasn't entirely sure where she'd gone to.
"Now," he said as he strode towards Maleficent. "To deal with you."
Maleficent turned to him and for a moment, he saw a look of pure, unadulterated hatred at him. "You... you will pay for what you did to my beloved Diablo!" As green and black flames enveloped her, she began to cackle. "Now shall you deal with me, oh prince, and all the powers of Hell!"
As she proceeded to metamorphose into a gigantic dragon, Phillip grimaced. "What I wouldn't give to have my Pachy Zord here right now..."
Then he pulled a Dino Charger out and clicked it. "Might as well give it a shot. Activate Pachy Zord!" Throwing the Charger away, he waited.
He was rewarded with a loud roar, and moments later, the Pachy Zord burst through the walls of the castle, smashing straight into Maleficent.
The three fairies quickly flew over to him. "What manner of creature is that?" Fauna gasped.
"Don't worry," Phillip replied, still looking at his Zord. "It's on our side."
And as they watched, Phillip silently thanking the Admins that Zenowing must have also been here this Loop, the Pachy Zord unleashed its wrecking ball tail, slamming into Maleficent before delivering a fierce headbutt to her, knocking her off her feet and into the wall.
"Pachy Zord! Let's take her out together!" Phillip called. "Have to thank Heckyl for showing me how to do this," he muttered as he inserted a second Dino Charger into his morpher, spinning the cylinder on it. Leaping into his Zord's mouth, he called out, "Dino Morpher Blast, final strike!"
As the Pachy Zord's roar sent him flying at Maleficent, an energy projection of its head shot from the morpher, chomping down on the dragon's head and exploding, taking its target with it.
"And that's that," he said confidently as the last traces of the dark fairy vanished.
Demorphing, he waved to his Zord one more time as it departed, then turned to the three fairies. "Well. That's taken care of."
"Yes... but poor Aurora's still in her enchanted sleep," Fauna said sadly. "Only true love's kiss can bring her out of it... and since you're her fiancé, it's up to you."
Revealing the comatose princess, she laid Aurora down where Phillip could reach her. He gazed at her for a moment, then nodded. "I shall do my best."
Hoping that the local Prince Phillip would forgive him this trespass, he laid his lips against hers in a kiss, then stood up.
Nothing happened.
"Oh dear," Flora whispered.
The four were in a somber mood as they brought Aurora back to King Stefan's castle, the fairies flying ahead to speak to the King and Queen to inform them of what had happened. When Phillip entered carrying the unconscious princess several minutes later, the two were decidedly unhappy as they laid eyes on their daughter for the first time in sixteen years.
Laying her on a bier that had been set up, he turned and approached the King and Queen, then knelt. "I am sorry I failed you," he said. "I will accept whatever punishment you deem necessary."
King Stefan seemed somewhat taken aback, but bowed in return. "It is not your fault," he said sadly. "I suppose it just was not meant to be... at least you were able to bring her back to us, and from what Flora, Fauna and Merryweather have told us, you have ensured that Maleficent will never trouble this kingdom again."
Next to him, Queen Leah sniffled, then rushed down the stairs, past Phillip. "Oh my darling daughter," she whispered as she laid her head against Aurora's, gently kissing the young woman on the forehead.
A moment later, Aurora's eyes fluttered, and she opened them to look up. "Mother?"
Queen Leah let out a wordless cry of joy and wrapped her arms around her daughter as Aurora sat up. Still standing on the dais, King Stefan's jaw dropped in disbelief. "How..."
"It would seem that Merryweather's gift did not necessarily define true love's kiss as being of a romantic nature," Fauna said as she watched the happy reunion. "A mother's love is just as true."
The other fairies nodded, and then watched as King Stefan rushed down to join his wife and daughter.
Nearby, Prince Phillip was speaking to his father, who had also been in attendance. "So, it seems that Princess Aurora and I are not quite the match you were hoping for," he said. "Nevertheless, she is alive and safe, and that is what matters the most."
King Hubert nodded. "Quite right, my boy."
"Quite." Phillip looked at him. "I don't suppose you'd mind us remaining just friends, do you?"
"Er, well..." King Hubert looked a little dismayed. "Well, I hope you'll find someone to give me grandchildren with at some point."
"We shall see, father. We shall see." Mentally, Phillip apologized for the lie, knowing full well that he'd never be able to grant the old man's wish thanks to a certain Patch.
Several hours later, when everyone had retired to their rooms for the night, Phillip and Aurora sat together.
"So, this Loop will be ending soon," he said. "I still can't believe I didn't recognize you. Then again, I never did watch too many movies - always busy learning how to run Zandar once I grew up." He smiled. "I'll have to take a night off to watch this one, and the others you gave me, as soon as possible."
Aurora nodded. "I'm sure it'll be an experience." She paused for a moment, then looked up at him. "I know we've only known one another a short time, but I must say, it's been good to know you, Phillip." She clasped his hand. "Friends?"
"Friends," Phillip told her. "And tell your actual fiancé that I said he's a lucky man."
Aurora smiled. "I will," she said. "And thank you for everything."
"You're very welcome," he replied. Smiling, he looked at her one more time.
Then the Loop ended.
The next Loop...
Prince Phillip the Third, Graphite Ranger and heir to the throne of Zandar, came to a sudden stop as he Woke Up and, after a moment, took stock of his surroundings.
To his relief, he saw he was in the Amber Beach Dinosaur Museum, and as his guards started to move ahead, he held up a hand. "Hold, gentlemen."
"Sire-" one started to say, but cut himself off when Phillip gave him a look.
"Return to the limo," he ordered them. "I will handle things on my own. That's an order," he added as he saw one of them start to protest.
The guard nodded. "Yes, your highness."
Once he was certain the guards had gone on, Phillip found an empty seat and settled in to listen to Kendall's lecture about the Stone of Zandar.
Some time later, when the presentation was complete, Phillip approached her. "Excuse me, miss..."
"Kendall Morgan," she replied. "I'm the director of the museum. And you are?"
"Prince Phillip the Third, of Zandar," he said with a bow. "I quite enjoyed your presentation on how one of our national treasures came into my ancestor's possession. But I believe you are missing a part of the story, and I would be willing to fill you in. Downstairs, if you don't mind."
Kendall looked at him curiously. "Downstairs?"
"With the rest of these." UnPocketing his Energem, Phillip showed it to her.
Kendall smiled in relief. "You're Awake then..."
"And more than willing to help free Sir Ivan as soon as possible," Phillip replied. "Also, I have quite the story about my last solo Loop to tell you and Heckyl, if he's around."
"He is," Kendall assured him.
"Excellent." He glanced around. "Shall we?"
Kendall nodded, and led him downstairs. They had work to do.
42.11 (Boohoooo!): [Billy Dilley's Super Duper Subterranean Summer] / [Transformers]
Waspinator sighed as he flew for his life from Anaximander, said Anchor trying to eat him after Waspinator was transformed into an actual wasp.
"Why Yggdrasil hate Wazzzpinator?" Waspinator sighed.
"Buddy! Wait! That's A Looper!" Billy wailed, trying to stop Anaximander from eating the Visitor.
"Should we help out?" Marsha asked, concerned.
"Nah, this is too amusing." Zeke shrugged.
42.12 (The One named Light): [Beauty and the Beast] / [Brave - setting only]
"So you came all this way, eh?" The harridan huffed to Belle as she and Adam walked through the door into the workshop. "What can this old woodcarver help ya with?"
"Well, you did say that you're an expert in changing fate, did you not?" Belle pondered.
"Yes, and I also moonlight as a songwriter for a musical I've been toiling over for decades now." the elder woman took a cane and sang: "Good News! It's Dead! The end without end is Dead!" Belle let out a giggle to this little ditty. "Oh, come now... This isn't the only bit I've got planned, there's going to be more to this."
"But what even is this?" Adam asked the harridan.
"A musical about the slums of the heavens!" chimed the seemingly senile senior to a deadpan-faced Belle.
The hot-tempered prince eyed the harridan with contempt and said: "Just show me and my wife how to shape-shift."
42.13 (Black Omochao): [Kingdom Hearts] / [Yo-kai Watch]
"This place seems fine," Sora admitted as he and Riku exited the gummi ship, into the new world which looked like a modern day Japanese town, the UnAwake Donald and Goofy not far behind the two Looping Keyblade wielders. "No signs of Heartless, or anything..."
"Well, Heartless won't necessarily just pop up as soon as we show up. If we were led here there's something we need to do," Riku stated calmly.
"Enough talk! Let's find the Keyhole and get out of here, fast!" Donald exclaimed, waving his staff around, the others looked at him strangely.
"Gawrsh Donald, what's the hurry?" Goofy questioned.
The magic-using duck's eyes shifted a bit. "Nothing... this place just gives me the creeps is all..." Donald shivered, glancing behind himself.
"Heartless will be showing up any minute now, I just know it," Riku stated as the four walked around the town carefully.
Sora smiled. "You sure about that? Nothing's seemed out of place so far?" he pointed out cheerfully, of course it wasn't more than ten seconds later that a ring of Shadow Heartless appeared around the group, who all immediately took offensive stances.
"What was it you just said?" Riku questioned plainly, Sora simply let out a chuckle before both summoned their keyblades, Donald and Goofy held their staff and shield out respectively as the team prepared for battle.
"Hey! Stop! No!" the voice of a child suddenly rang, the group looked over in surprise as a brown-haired, eleven-year-old boy approached.
"Hey, kid! Stay back, it's dangerous!" Sora called out, but the boy ignored him, approaching and giving the group of heartless a glare.
"Leave them be! That's not how we greet people around here!" the younger boy scolded, the Heartless backed off, lowering their heads in what seemed to be shame.
"...What just happened?" Sora asked slowly, none of his companions had an answer.
"There, see? When we greet someone new, we need to show them proper courtesy." Keita petted some of the Heartless as they moved around him, their antennae twitching animatedly.
"What are you doing!? Do you have any idea how dangerous those things are!?" Riku exclaimed at the ludicrous sight, after taking a moment to regain the use of his voice.
The local Anchor waved his hand. "Nah, these guys are harmless," Keita dismissed, scratching under the heartless chin, "Aren't you? Yes you are! Yes you are!" Sora and Riku just stared, unsure if what they were seeing was real, or hearing for that matter, as it started to sound like the heartless was purring!
"...Well, it looks like he's got this under control, so let's say we get something to eat, huh guys?" Sora offered, managing a smile.
"Oh, I know a good burger place!" Keita spoke up, still surrounded by docile Heartless.
Riku and Donald just kept their blank expressions.
"...I could eat," Goofy admitted.
42.14 (Masterweaver): [Phineas and Ferb] / [RWBY]
"...Kali?"
"Yes Ghira?"
"There is a roller coaster in our backyard."
"Oh, yes. I should have told you first, dear, but the visiting loopers have their little... traditions." Kali put a tea tray down on the table. "Generally speaking, they prefer a suburban backyard for their shenanigans to start in, but here on Remnant suburbs aren't really a thing. Villages come closest, but Menagerie is a touch more equipped, so I offered to let them do their thing here."
"...Which involves building a roller coaster?"
"That's mostly tradition, but from the way the boys described it it's also an accurate way to judge the relative resources they have to work with in a particular world."
"Yeah," said the boy stepping in, "this is actually one of our smaller coasters. Not even three kilometers." He scratched his red hair. "I mean I guess it makes sense, almost everything runs on Dust and advanced tools are precious resources... honestly considered cheating with loop powers a bit. Hey, where do you think a good place is for us to put the coaster anyway?"
Ghira blinked. "Put it?"
"I mean we have to clear out the backyard anyway for our next project. Our usual methods aren't going to fly here-unless you have any mad scientists?"
"We do have a smattering," Kali mused. "Doctor Merlot, Doctor Watts... Doctor Polendina is also sort of one, but he's usually saner, and almost always good. Actually, Doctor Watts is a very level-headed mad scientist, dry and deadpan. I would say Merlot's your best bet, if he had any moral redeeming qualities..."
"What is their loop like?" Ghira asked.
"It's pretty zany," the boy admitted. "Out pet platypus is a secret agent and we don't know that in baseline."
"There's also the inexplicable giant floating baby head," said the green-haired boy outside.
Kali snapped her fingers. "Mistral! It's built into a mountain. Add a few stops, and your roller coaster could become a fun and affordable public transport system-especially for the poor."
"Hmm." The redhead looked up at the construct. "It's certainly tall and windy enough. Okay, sounds good! Thanks for letting us borrow your backyard, missus Belladonna!"
"It was no trouble at all, Phineas. Oh, and the tea is ready Ferb. It's not british-style, is that alright?"
The boy gave her a thumbs up.
Ghira sighed. "Kali, I understand you're trying to be a good host, and I would have willingly agreed to this, but... I do like to be kept in the loop at least a little bit."
"Oh! I'm sorry, I just..." Kali chuckled awkwardly as the boys walked past her. "I guess I got used to the idea of being the one running the house..."
"It's fine. Honestly I'm mostly worried about the reactions," Ghira admitted.
As if on cue, the rollercoaster's cars screeched to a stop with four teenage girls.
The blonde one turned to the one sitting next to her with a smirk. "Sooooo?"
"Holy cow." The girl was clutching her bar, a crazed grin plastered on her face as her skin shifted rapidly through purples and greens and pinks. "Oh my god, that was just, I can't-this is, wow, I, WOW."
"And here I remember you saying rollercoasters seemed like a waste of material and effort."
"I can't believe I ever said that. I've been converted, Yang. I'm a believer now, I've seen the light."
The catgirl in the rear seat leaned forward with a chuckle. "It is a Phineas and Ferb coaster, Ilia, top of the line best of the best. You might have to temper your expectations for other ones."
"Blake, don't ruin this for me I am on a serious adrenaline high right now-"
"It's actually on the low end for them," said the orange-haired one with a long neck. "My brothers usually go all out."
Ilia spun around. "Wait, there are coasters better then this?! AND YOU GET TO EXPERIENCE THEM ALL THE TIME?!"
"When my neuroses don't kick in, yeah."
"Hi Candace!" Phineas waved. "We're thinking of converting the coaster into a public transit for Mistral!"
"Sounds about right. Hey, has anybody seen Perry?"
Ozpin stared at the bound-and-gagged Salem in the middle of his office, and the unassuming teal monotreme in a fedora standing next to her.
"...I... missed something, didn't I?"
The platypus chortled.
42.15 (Anon e Mouse Jr.): [Classic Disney] / [DuckTales, 2017 variant]
"Yeah. Right. Cheap old Scrooge probably bailed as soon as it put a dent in his Money Bin," Dewey spat disgustedly.
"I did no such thing!" Scrooge bellowed as he suddenly Awoke.
Four sets of eyes looked up to stare at him, and Scrooge sighed. This again... curse me kilts, why is it that I'm the only one who's ever Awake in this Variant? Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he looked at the four youngsters.
"When your grandparents died," he began, "I took Donald and your mother in, vowed to raise them like me own children. Losing Della that day was... well, it broke me heart, like I had lost me little sister Hortense all over again." His fingers tightened around his cane. "But even after we were cut off, I had faith in her. I knew she wouldn't just give up, and neither could I. So I spent more money on that one project than I ever had before. Built over a dozen more rockets, trained more astronauts. All so they could go out to find her and bring her home, or even just some evidence of where she might have ended up. But, as time passed with no results... finally, those vultures on the board of directors had had enough. They didn't care about my family. All they wanted was to make money. So they literally dragged me away from the project, ordered it all shut down because they felt it was drivin' me into bankruptcy on what they called a wild goose chase. Said Della was gone, there was no point." He grimaced. "If I could have fired them all that day, I would have... but their contracts kept it from happening." He grimaced again.
"Despite that setback, I privately vowed to make enough money that I could restart things without their involvement. And I swore that when the time came, I'd find Della and bring her home, even if it cost me my own life." He looked down. "If I had to go back and do things over again, I would have... well, I've have made sure Della wouldn't have been able to get into the Spear of Selene until I was ready for her to do so. Like after you boys were old enough, so the six of us could go up together. And definitely after I was sure it was safe."
The boys' eyes were wide. "You... you mean it?" Dewey finally asked. "You never gave up on her?"
"No lad. I didn't. I still haven't." Scrooge looked at them. "Just in case, I kept the communications equipment all set up and running in me mansion. Hoping to pick up some signal from her and her ship. Hoping for some sign that she's still out there... some evidence that what I know in my heart is true. That Della Duck lives, and that she'll be comin' home some day."
The triplets stared at him, and then rushed around the box to embrace him in a hug. After a moment, Scrooge waved, and Webby came over to join them, Scrooge happily accepting her into the group.
After a moment, Huey spoke. "Um, you said 'Mostly'. Doesn't that mean there's another reason?"
Scrooge gave him a wry look. "Truth be told, lad, there is. The other reason... is because if I passed without making sure your mother was safe and home, your grandparents would never forgive me. So I'm putting off that meeting for as long as I can." He gave something of a grin. "Especially since... well, Hortense and Quackmore had tempers to match your uncle's, and I am in no hurry to be on the receiving end of that again."
"Yeah..." Louie chuckled. "Can't blame you there."
"Well." Mrs. Beakley looked at them. "I am glad that you are able to get all this out into the open, Scrooge. But perhaps now we should focus on saving our lives."
"Absolutely, Beakley." Scrooge looked at the four. "Kids, back in your seats. Beakley, go to the cockpit. Launchpad! Keep this thing steady... I'm going outside again."
"Mr. McDuck!" Mrs. Beakley began to protest.
"Not another word, Beakley. I got us into this mess, and by all my ancestors, I will get us out of it." Scrooge's eyes gleamed. "I've got an idea."
The next day...
"So, that's everything," Scrooge concluded as he watched Donald for a reaction. After a moment, the younger duck sighed.
"Why did you never tell me, Scrooge?" he asked. "Della was my sister!"
"And it was my fault," Scrooge replied. "I felt I had to make things right myself... besides, back then you were more ready to hit me than hear me out. I hoped that if I could get Della back before we met again, it would help out."
Donald sighed. "You're right. It might have." He slammed his fist on the arm of the chair. "But you still could have at least sent someone to pass on a message or something!"
"Aye, lad. I know better now." Scrooge rose. "So, now you know the truth... what say we get to work on things again, together?"
"Together." Donald reached out, and the two shook hands.
Then the Loop ended.
Scrooge snapped Awake again, and found himself in the back seat of his limo.
"I hate it when these Loops end right when things are getting better," he grumbled.
"Uh, gawrsh, Mr. Scrooge," a voice came from the front seat as a familiar face turned around to look back at him. "What are 'Loops'?"
There was a sudden squeal of tires, and a frantic "Eyes on the road, lad!" from Scrooge.
"A-hyuck!" came the response, as the driver turned back forward.
If only he were Awake... Scrooge grumbled to himself. Then he'd probably be just as crazy a driver as he usually is, but at least I wouldn't be alone again!
Ah well. Even if it was an unAwake Goofy driving him instead of Launchpad this Loop, there was one good thing about it: they were in his own comparatively safe limo and not that hunk of junk from that Loop where Max was Anchoring. He'd experienced that car a few times, and it was not something he enjoyed.
42.16 (ThanatosTiger): [Percy Jackson - Magnus Chase side]
The Escafil Device, a blue box that allowed her to transform into any animal as long as she touched it first.
The Omnitrix, a futuristic wristwatch that could transform into any living creature in its memory banks.
Maui's Fishhook, a hook made of bone that could transform the weirder into various animals.
It was a sparse collection, and one Samirah felt guilty for even owning.
With Alex's help, she was able to ignore Loki's commands, make it so her father couldn't control her.
But it was a big tree, and there were plenty of ways to shapeshift, so what was wrong with indulging her curiosity?
She wasn't scared.
42.17 (wildrook): [DuckTales, 2017 variant]
Scrooge was shocked. "Do you boys know how close I was to dropping this?" he asked Huey, Dewey, and Louie, holding a pizza slice.
"That was Uncle Donald's reaction when he heard us the first time," Louie replied.
Dewey nodded. "We actually had to see it for ourselves," he muttered, "then I remembered that there was a moment when you were still okay and on the Moon, and Della's best friends with Selene... so she might be involved."
Huey shook his head. "It shouldn't be physically possible," he said, "and I'm still trying to wrap my head around this, but we think there might be a chance. She didn't show up in the castle in ghost form, after all."
There was a bit of silence at their declaration, which meant that even Webby (and known to the others, Magica de Spell in Shadow Form) was in shock.
Webby blinked. "You're telling us that it's possible that she's..."
"Yeah, Webby," Dewey replied. "Mom is still alive!"
Scrooge gave out a cackle. "Then I think I know what we're going to be doing for a while," he said. "We need to make preparations, boys! Not just for the trip ahead, but any other factor that may occur. And believe me, there's going to be PLENTY of shocking swerves."
Especially since Scrooge would know that someone from his past might disrupt said preparations. And for once, Scrooge McDuck was full of hope. Hope in which Della's accident was just bad timing on her part.
42.18 (wildrook): [DuckTales] / [Legend of the Three Caballeros] / [Kingdom Hearts]; / implied only: [Epic Mickey] / [Goof Troop] / [Darkwing Duck]
Donald had his usual mood when it comes to Loops that combined everything he and Goofy went through.
And by usual, he means outright furious.
For starters, when it wasn't his Nephews and Webby being the ones in distress, it was Daisy's Nieces, April, May, and June.
To add to it, Scrooge McDuck's enemies found out about HIS. This time, Magica de Spell teamed up with Lord Felldrake (although they're clearly about to backstab each other) and decided to put them in Mt. Vesuvius. Again.
Then there's the Heartless, Nobodies, and Unversed that pop up, which means Xehanort's in the background with his convoluted plan involving thirteen darknesses and seven lights, which put him on guard because Huey, Dewey, Louie, Webby, April, May, and June were possible targets.
So in short, Donald Duck was having a bad day.
"So, have you considered the terms of surrender?" Felldrake asked him, showing Daisy's nieces in chains. "Hand over the Number One Dime and the golden book, and we'll consider letting them go."
Donald then growled as he noticed the placements of the three caged ducks. He'd let them go, alright, but not into freedom.
"And I was hoping you'd go after the Pinata of Destiny," he said, trying NOT to go into rage mode.
"The Pinata of what?" Magica asked Felldrake.
"This is news to me, too," he replied. "What is the Pinata of Destiny?"
"Something I picked up during my old adventuring days," Donald replied, looking up as he saw the "pinata" wheeled down. "Its history is that those who are lucky enough would get untold riches or power if they could get it open."
Then Sheldgoose, taking control of his body, stared at Donald. "If that was the case, then why didn't you try to smash it open?" he asked him.
Donald gave him a blank stare. "Do I look like Cousin Gladstone to you, Sheldgoose?" he retorted. "I'm not exactly the luckiest duck around."
"It's true," Magica muttered. "I was hanging around McDuck Manor for a while and got a very good look at him. He's not a lucky duck."
'Calm down, Donald,' Donald thought. 'This only helps you in the long run.'
Felldrake, however, wasn't convinced. "So why is it still intact?" he asked him. "I would have been under the impression that someone would try to destroy it."
"Many have, and only a few of them managed to live to tell the tale," Donald answered. "Besides, it wouldn't be a magic artifact if it didn't have any self-repair magic. I only kept it intact because I knew I would be one of the few that wouldn't make it." He then gave them a stare. "Although you two are luckier than I am...why not give it a shot? You might find what you're looking for in there."
Then Sheldgoose decided to take control. "Let me have a swing!" he yelled, grabbing a bat.
"Hold on a minute!" Magica yelled. "If it's true, then who knows what would happen!"
"But it's a Pinata! There's usually good things in there!"
Felldrake growled as he regained control of the body. "You fool, it could be a trap," he said, growling.
Then Sheldgoose resurfaced. "We don't know unless we try, and I'm feeling kind of lucky!"
"WAIT!" Donald yelled. He then blindfolded Sheldgoose and Magica. "Okay... now you try to swing it."
"Why you..." Magica yelled as she tried to blast a spell at Donald. Knowing Donald's luck, she'd strike him even when blindfolded.
As for Sheldgoose, he was trying to swing the pinata while Magica was trying to shoot Donald. Considering his big stature and how the Pinata had been moved upward, he was having trouble hitting the thing. As to be expected.
"So that's where Lena got her powers," Donald muttered, reflecting a spell. "You're not going to join in the fun?"
"I'm savvy enough to not even try my luck with an artifact like that," de Spell replied. "If it is an artifact in the first place. Why tempt me with its power when I can take the dime from your corpse and seal you in it?"
Donald dodged another spell that she fired. "Why do you even need the Number One Dime when you have your body back?" he asked her.
"It's not about the body. I want it because it makes a good prison for Scrooge McDuck as he watches everything he loves die in front of him."
"Figures you'd be stuck on that." He then reflected the spell back at her as she dodged. "Worth noting that you're not the only magician here."
Magica rolled her eyes. "You're a Red Mage, I'm proficient in the Dark Arts. I could take you on blindfolded." She then realized what he put on her. "Would you like me to demonstrate?"
Donald charged a Firaga spell as she countered with a Dark Firaga. Sheldgoose was unaware of the spell-off as April, May, and June were flabbergasted.
"When did Uncle Donald get good at magic?" April asked the other two, who shrugged.
Amidst the chaos, none of them noticed a troop of Goblins that had sneaked into the volcano, undoing the locks on the nieces.
"Shh," the head Goblin muttered. "We friends of Donald Duck. Keep quiet."
While it took time, Donald put himself into position as Magica fired a dark spell. Seeing where he was, he dodged, and it hit the pinata, smashing it open.
Magica smirked. "Looks like I'm through with that," she muttered, unblindfolding herself. "Now, to see to... the..." Then it hit her... it wasn't Donald she hit... but the Pinata.
It did not take her long to realize the implications.
"You're as shrewd as your uncle, Duck," she muttered. "But it was a mistake to come alone with nothing but a pinata."
However, much to her surprise, Donald was smirking. Sheldgoose, removing the blindfold, was shocked at what was in there.
"Ah, Mt. Vesuvius," a voice said, showing Scrooge McDuck. "It's not surprising that you chose this place again. Thanks for that. It was getting stuffy in there."
"Scrooge McDuck," Magica muttered. "I should have known!"
"Wait, stuffed?" Sheldgoose asked him. "You mean..."
Donald smirked. "I brought enough for a party," he said.
And that's when gunshots rang out, disarming both Sheldgoose and de Spell, as a rooster in cowboy garb and a sombrero came out.
"Party for one million Heartless courtesy of Scrooge McDuck and Party Planner Panchito!" the Rooster yelled. "And several guests, por favor."
"Can we even party inside a volcano?" a rabbit in blue shorts wielding a paintbrush asked the parrot.
"We've had crazier adventures, Your Majesty," a green parrot replied.
And it kept increasing as not only did Donald bring in the other two Caballeros, Oswald, and his Uncle, but his Nephews, Webbigail (who unnerved Magica), Goofy, King Mickey, Beakley, Duckworth, Fenton (in the Gizmoduck Suit), Launchpad, Sora, Kairi, and Riku came out of the broken "Pinata of Destiny", armed and ready for an ambush.
Felldrake growled. "I'll deal with you later," he muttered to Sheldgoose as he retook control. "Magica, release the..." He then noticed that the nieces are missing. "...hostages?"
Magica gave them a glare. "There's no way you could have teleported them into and out of the Pinata," she said, looking at Donald, "so how..."
"I'm friends with a lot of Goblins," Donald replied, smirking as he regrouped with the others. "Sorry if it took a while, guys."
The parrot gave out a smile. "At least you managed to buy them time, my friend," he said, smiling as he brought out his umbrella. "Now, what should we do?"
"Well, if it's a party you want," Magica said, opening a Corridor of Darkness, "then let me bring in a few extra guests!" Said 'guests' happened to be gigantic Heartless of both Shadow and Emblem design. And some of them resembled the tougher fights Sora and the others had.
"Well, at least there's proof that she's involved with Maleficent," Sora replied.
"Never underestimate Magica when it comes to how far in the Dark Arts she can go, Sora," Scrooge said. "It was tough just to keep the pinata intact as it is."
Felldrake gave out a smirk. "I assumed you were going to use those against me?" he asked her.
"Even if you had a few of your own, Felldrake," she replied before turning to the army Donald sneaked in. "I'll have to remember your Trojan Horse ploy for later, but for now, good luck making it out of the volcano alive!" She and Felldrake then took a corridor out as the group found themselves approached by Shadows.
"What's the plan, Mr. McDuck?" Riku asked him.
"For starters, no Blizzard spells," Scrooge replied. "They clearly expect us to make the volcano erupt during our fight. Second, focus all priorities on getting OUT of the volcano. Once we're clear and they end up following us, then you can let loose."
"Figures that they would have intended this place to be our deathbed," Donald muttered.
"We're getting out of this alive, Donald," Mickey replied, before realizing the circumstances. "Well... intact, but you know what I mean."
"I hold no offense to that remark, Your Majesty," Duckworth said to the Mouse King. "In fact, I agree. No one must be left behind."
"Aye, Duckworth," Scrooge said. "The moment we find an opening in this place, we take it. If we can't find an opening, we make one."
"Easier said than done," Sora muttered.
Then the small Heartless charged, forcing everyone to take a defensive position as they fight their way out of the volcano. In fact, Donald was glad that he got the current Goblin King to make paths earlier.
42.1: The start of a new Looping branch.
42.2: And so they continue.
42.3: More of this.
42.4: Boo's too young to really have a developed personality, so she can't Loop yet (unless there's an expansion where she's older). But she can still appear.
42.5: An angry Donald is a thing to fear. His pure anger unleashed, without his rational mind to hold it back, is a thing to run screaming from.
42.6: More of these guys.
42.7: One of those glitches again.
42.8: And again!
42.9: And finally, they get the Speech.
42.10: Part of an ongoing series of Loops about the Dino Charge setting (Heckyl is Anchor). Given the shared names, one Prince Phillip Replacing the other was inevitable.
42.11: Poor Waspinator.
42.12: Yep, Adam and Belle ran into another of those problems.
42.13: And that was a thing.
42.14: Yes. Yes, you have, Ozpin.
42.15: This was written very shortly after "The Last Crash of the Sunchaser!" aired and before the season 1 finale. Wish Scrooge had done it in canon.
42.16: Given where the original variant comes from, I don't blame you for wanting alternatives, Samirah.
42.17: Indeed.
42.18: Donald's having one of those days again.