I only own Bethany.
"What?" asked Bethany softly, her green eyes wide with shock and her blood freezing in fear. I…I didn't just hear…they can't be…
"Ah, we've wasted enough time!" exclaimed Mikey as he rushed towards Bethany and grabbed her arm. "I'll explain everything on the way! Just get on my back and let's go!" Bethany, even though she was still in shock, understood and nodded. Without another word, Bethany got on Mikey's back and before she could say Jackalopes are real, they were out of the window and jumping across rooftops.
"So what happened?" asked Bethany, finally coming out of her shock. "I mean, I know Wakko, Dot, and the others were kidnapped but…why were they kidnapped? And why were Timon, Big Mac, and Max seriously injured?" Kidnappings…intent to murder…it's…last year all over again…
"I don't know why," admitted Mikey as he jumped to another rooftop. "And Leo, Mickey, and the others don't know why either, unless they figured it out while I was gone. We only know that in the middle of one of Genie's storytelling sessions, the Cobra just attacked them without warning. Timon, Big Mac, and Max tried to stop them from kidnapping Genie and the kids but unfortunately…they didn't succeed."
"Have you guys called Rapunzel?" asked Bethany, her gut twisting like it was a boa constrictor. Cobra…why? Why now?
"Yakko, who happened to be taking a quick break from Genie's story with Pumbaa, called her when they got back and found the three of them dying. But apparently she's on a boat trip with Eugene and we won't be able to contact them for at least a week."
"What?!" cried Bethany as she readjusted her grip on Mikey's back. "But…can't Batman or somebody just fly over the sea and get them back?!"
"Even if we did, it wouldn't be of any help. Because after Leo stabilized them with his healing Ninjutsu ability, we took them to a hospital and called for Steven Universe, who luckily answered and arrived rather quickly."
"Then why…"
"Because even though poor Steven tried to heal them several times, his healing spit wouldn't work. Like, at all."
"But I thought Steven's spit was supposed to heal just about anything!" cried Bethany as they got closer and closer to Central Park. "So why…" Right then, a thought popped up in her mind, making her gasp with cold realization.
"Roger," she mumbled. "They were hurt by some of his weapons…weren't they?" After the battle and the happy reunions were over, it was quickly discovered that some of the animated people's wounds just wouldn't get healed by magic. Even Rapunzel's tears had no effect. Batman investigated into the matter and found out that Roger had created special weapons that would inflict wounds that could only be healed by natural means. In other words, magic couldn't heal them.
"That's what Batman and Gandalf think," confirmed Mikey. "I guess we didn't destroy all those stupid weapons after all." Bethany placed her head down on Mikey's shoulder and sighed, completely ignoring the breathtaking sunset above her. Roger…even when you are dead, you keep on hurting people…when are you going to stop?! And Cobra, how do you guys still have those awful weapons of his?!
"At least Leo was able to heal them…somewhat," said Mikey, a bit of his usual optimism coming back. "Probably because it isn't exactly magic but just strong spiritual Ninjutsu stuff…"
"Or maybe it was because Leo didn't learn how to heal till after Roger died," suggested Bethany, her face still on Mikey's shoulder. "So Roger didn't bank on that when he created those blasted weapons and gave them out to his allies."
"But now do you see why we need you?" asked Mikey as Central Park finally appeared in front of them. "You're the only one who can undo Roger's spell and heal them. I mean, the hospital that they're at is doing their best but…"
"They still might die," finished Bethany, who had lifted her face a moment or so before. As they sneaked into Central Park since they were still people about, a mixture of anxiety and dread filled Bethany's soul. It wasn't that she had no doubt that she could save her friends, both kidnapped and injured. But Bethany was afraid that she and Mikey would arrive too late to save Timon and the others from going to the Underworld.
While Bethany didn't know what exactly happened in the Underworld after an animated person dies, but she did know it was a place of mental and emotional suffering. And that was enough for her to be anxious about trying to save her friends. Timon, Big Mac, and Max got more than enough trauma from the war last year…they definitely don't need any more pain. And even if the Underworld didn't scar people, I still don't want them to die.
But if that wasn't enough, Bethany was also afraid that she wouldn't save the Warners, Genie, and the other poor kids in time. Because while she knew that she could imagined something that could reveal their location rather quickly, she didn't know what was happening to her captured little friends in the meantime. The Cobra could be hurting them right now…Wakko, Dot, Genie, and the other kids don't need to be traumatized any more either…
"Almost there," said Mikey with Bethany on his back, even though the unanimated girl could run on ground better than jumping across rooftops. His voice, while full with fierce determination and hope, was tinged with fear.
"It's going to be okay Mikey," assured Bethany quietly. "We will get there in time, I will heal Timon and the others' wounds, and I will be able to create something that will help us find Wakko and the others. We will then save them and everything will be alright again."
Mikey didn't say anything but he did give a small genuine smile which made Bethany slightly better. But not much. She sighed inwardly as the tree the portal was in was coming up in the distance. Bethany hoped with all of her heart that her words will come true but she couldn't help but feel that saving all her friends wasn't going to be that easy. That all of this was only the beginning.
AiC
"BETHIE!" Right after Bethany had went through the portal, a small black creature jumped himself at her and hugged her tight. Even though she was a bit startled, Bethany held the creature tightly as she looked down. It was Yakko, who was now clutching onto Bethany like she was a floating log in a stormy sea.
"T-They got Wakko and Dot…" he told her as tears fell out of his eyes. "And Uncle Timon, Maxy, and Big Mac are still in danger of d-dying…you're…you're going to fix all of this right?!" Bethany's heart hitched as Yakko looked up at her pleadingly. Yakko…
"Of course I will Yakko. Soon, everything will be alright again," she stated with conviction, even though she still felt anxious and dread inside. But Bethany kept it hidden since she wanted to lift Yakko's hopes, not bring them down even further. And besides, no matter what, she will fix this. She had to.
"So they are still alive that's good," said Mikey behind her with relief.
"But I'm afraid not for much longer," replied a familiar deep face. Bethany looked up and saw Leo, Mickey, Batman, and Aladdin standing there, all of them wearing a grim expression.
"I wish that we could greet each other but we don't have the time for such pleasantries," continued Batman. "We need to go now." Bethany inwardly sighed, wishing that she could at least say hello to her friends. But Batman was right, lives were hanging in the balance.
"Right," she agreed with a nod. "I'll get my teleporter." Not long after the battle last year, the imaginer female had created a bag and put all the items she had created in Cartoonland in it. Bethany then put the bag near the portal to her world, so that she could grab it as soon as she visited this magical dimension.
"Here's your bag nee-san," Leo said as he held up the said brown satchel.
"How did you find it aniki?" asked a surprised Bethany as the blue-masked turtle, in his 2012 form, walked towards her. "I made it so that it would be invisible to anyone but me."
"I had a lot of time," was all Leo said as he handed the satchel to Bethany, who grabbed it with one hand, the other still holding Yakko. Then he gave a small but warm smile. "You're looking well."
"Thanks," she said, also with a warm smile as she pulled the single strap over her head and put it on her shoulder, so that she could look in the bag with one hand easier. "Though I will feel better once Timon and the others are healed and we rescued Dot and the others."
"How in the world did they managed to capture Genie...?" mumbled Aladdin, worry etched on his face.
"Don't know bud," said Mickey as he patted Aladdin's leg in a comforting manner. "But we will find out. As well as find out why the Cobra did this in the first place."
"So they haven't asked for a ransom or anything?" asked Mikey, sounding slightly anxious as he came up to his brother's side.
"Nothing little bro," answered Leo as he pulled Mikey into a side hug with one arm. "It only has been a few hours though. They may yet issue a ransom or demands."
"Got it!" exclaimed Bethany as she took out a small, round dark blue object with a small, round dark purple button.
"Good, now let's go!" cried Yakko, still hugging Bethany tightly. "They're in the hospital in Mickey's town!" But then, before Bethany could demand the teleporter to take them to that specific hospital, there was a loud cry of a bird right above her head. On instinct, the woman looked up just in time to see a green emerald necklace with a gold chain falling towards her. And before she could react, the necklace landed on her in such a way that it was hanging around her neck, like Bethany had decided to wear jewelry before coming to Cartoonland.
What just happened? So...what do you think? Were the cartoon characters acting OCC or not? Were there any glaring grammar mistakes? PLEASE tell me so I can be a better writer! Or if you just want to write your reactions to this chapter, then that's good too! I will update next week and till then, Happy Thanksgiving!
