Only Second Rate
Down the rafts of the river he went and Jafar could already feel himself getting sea sick. Stuck in a lamp, all the powers of the universe, and yet there was nothing he could do about it. He had spent so much of his time now stuck in the basement of that accursed Dipper Pines, having to hear all sorts of whining and complaining about his sister, that girl Wendy, and of course all the other oddities of youth. Such as what were those red marks appearing on his skin and if he was getting facial hair. Why were mere mortals so into such pathetic things.
Jafar shivered at this thought but tried to keep that out of his mind. The once mighty vizer had scene worlds. Conquered an entire Kingdom, was once the most powerful sorcerer in the world. Now though, now he was trapped in a tiny lamp, humiliated, undone. Granted that seemed to be his lot in life. Always playing second rate to those who were clearly his inferior. First it was to the sultan, and then it was to the witch Maleficent, and then it was the Pines family.
Curse them, curse them all. He had worked so hard to get to where he was and now it seemed like it was all going to be for naught. The last days of his life, or perhaps the first days of his new eternal one would be trapped in a lamp, with no one to find him. All the powers of the universe and he couldn't even unleash them let alone use them to free himself from his own prison. He had no pawns, no plans, no nothing
Those thoughts came to an end when he felt himself being kicked around, something was going on with his journey down the river.
Finally things eventually calmed down, and he felt nothing, although he could smell, a lot of smell bad. Really bad. It stank.
Great, now the mighty Jafar, genie, vizer, now was stuck, in a stinky place. A stinky place in a small unattainable lamp perhaps trapped forever without any hope of rescue. Oh the maddness it was going to be. Maybe he'll go insane, and then regain his sanity, only to go insane again. He was already starting to get stir crazy when he was in the lamp, but at least he had people to talk too from time to time. Now he had nothing. All he had was time and his ability to wait and watch.
So he waited.
Waiting.
Waiting.
"Curse you Pines!" A new voice came, young and high pitch, "Picking up garbage, ugh, why does it stink so much...This is so beneath me..Me...GIDEON GLEEFUL!"
Another person who hated the Pines family, something they could agree upon. Perhaps Jafar could pray upon this, at least find someone to get him out of this lamp. He could hear footsteps moving around him, but he didn't know if they were close but far. Listening closely he could hear the steps of garbage getting louder and louder, indicating that he was near by.
Salvation at last.
"My boy….Did you say pines" He said trying to sound as unimposing as possible.
"What, who said that?" The voice said, Jafar tried to see who it was using what little magic he could.
The boy in question was chubby looking, with white puffy hair. He looked almost like a very large and yet ugly baby. Still Jafar could tell he might be what he needed in order to get out of this mess once and for all.
"Hello!" The boy called, "Creepy voice, that ain't you Bill"
Bill? He heard that name before, still it didn't matter'
"Over here boy" Jafar called out, a bit more annoyed then he probably meant to sound "In the lamp...I am in the lamp"
"Lamp? I could use a bit of extra lighting for my cell" The boy said looking around, it took him a moment before finding the lamp and picking it up, "Oh, fancy looking, wonder if I could sell this on the black market or something"
Jafar felt himself becoming giddy. He was so close to freedom. The young boys arm was so close to the context of the lamp. Slowly ever so slowly it was just only a matter of time...
He rubbed it.
Finally!
Red smoke started to rise from it, growing higher and higher into the sky. The boy's eyes looked up in horror, as a loud maniacal laugh began to echo all around, the smoke growing along with the volume until finally a monstrous red menace with yellow eyes and goatee emerged. Human in nature, but also mythical. Jafar could feel the power rush through him now as he went into full Genie form. The excitement taking over him now, finally, he was free of his lamp, once again able to see the world, and better yet...Conquer it!
"I AM FREE!" He boasted, feeling the surge of power running through him. Lighting formed from dark clouds that he was able to conjure."FREE TO EXACT VENGEANCE UPON HE WHO IMPRISONED ME!"
It was good, finally freedom at last, no longer confined to that itty bitty living space. Now it was time to seek revenge against all those who dared wronged him. This child had done his job now it was time to fly off and…
"What?" Jafar felt himself get stuck, his golden cuffs glowing, "What is happening"
He looked down the lamp that was still in Gideon's hand. Then it hit him.
"Of course...The curse of the lamp" How could he forget, "All the powers of the universe and I am bound by the rules of the GENIE! Which means, I can't kill that boy Sora and friends...Unless, I have someone arrange it for me"
Jafar could tell though that Gideon looked horrified, probably had never been in the presence of a Genie before. The fact that he was massive didn't seem to help things either. As he closed in he could see the young boy just muttering and bubbling to himself about something as he stepped back, looking as if he was about to squee like a pig. Perhaps he was a bit bold for his limited mind.
With his magic he restored himself to what he was a human, robd in black and red cape, he still held this majestic golden snake staff in hand as he walked towards Gideon smirking, "Perhaps I am bit little less overwhelming now"
"Your uh...What are you?" Gideon asked.
"A Genie" Jafar answered, "But that is a minor formality, from what I heard, you too have a hatred for a certain Pines family...correct?"
"You are astonishingly perceptive," He snarled. This Gideon definitely gonna be easy to manipulate, if a bit difficult for getting him on the uptake "I am Jafar, and I am an all powerful genie! But also...A possible friend.
Gideon was shaking in his boots, "F-Friend?"
"Yes, a friend? You see my boy, I could not hear your mild ...disagreement and I am aware that you are not a friend of the boy Dipper Pines correct?"
Jafar could tell he was starting to put two and two together, the anger and want for revenge overtaking the fear of having an all powerful Genie right beside him.
"Y-Yes!" Gideon nodded, head shaking, "I don't like Dipper Pines? I don't like him at all. He's the reason I'm stuck here. I used to be this town pride, joy and most trusted friend...Now everyone hates me. I mean sure I spied on them and wanted to use the town to gain absolute power over the world. But hey, growing boys gotta have ambition right".
"Indeed," Jafar said, not really caring what he thought.
"Good, for you see, he has allied with a foe of mine, someone I'm afraid is key to the one who encased me in this lamp...I desire nothing but revenge on him. But I'm afraid as a Genie I am bound to this lamp..The lamp you own".
Gideon paused realizing something and smirking, "So...You need me" his smirk wideon, "Sure, I'll help...But uh...I want my wishes".
Without warning Jafar outstretched his hand as Gideon began to feel the breath leave his lungs. His throat began to tighten. The eyes of the snake staff glowing a bright red as the air continued to slowly squeezed.
"I wouldn't play games with me child" Jafar said, his voice hissing like a snake. "I may be bounds to the rules of the Genie...But rules are made to be broken," Jafar said, he kept calm, yet a sinister nature was clearly present, "For example, my Genie powers cannot harm you...But i have more in my arsenal then that"
"W-W-what do you…."
Gideon looked around as he continued to chook, from the ground various dark creatures began to arise and surround him. Bug like creatures with yellow glowing eyes, all surrounding him now.
"Now listen, we can have what we want, I know of you Gideon, I know the Pines have said of what you are capable of and I know you could be of use to me. So join me in a alliance, I will grant you wishes and more if you help me with what I desire as well. All you have to do is join me ...That's it"
"O-Okay...I'll join, I'll join".
Upon hearing that Jafar let go of Gideon who breathed a loud sigh of relief, "Very good..I know you were a smart lad".
"T-Thanks," Gideon coughed getting up, "So...W-What do you actually want?"
"The same thing that you want, revenge"
"Yeah but what kind, I say we tar and feather them in there sleep"
Jafar rolled his eyes, "Perhaps we should think bigger my simple minded friend, it's not enough that we simply destroy or in you're case...tar and feather are enemies...after all...There are things so much worse than death".
Slowly Jafar began to chuckle, the sheer confidence of him made Gideon grin with wicked glee as the laughter grew and intensified.
It was time for the return of Jafar
It was time for Revenge.
-000-
"Mabel" A voice echoed in her ear.
"Mabel" It echoed again, this time a bit louder than before.
Mabel's eyes began to open, a soft moan leaving her lips as the aches and pains of her body began to feel once again. Her memories were a bit hazy, for she remembered little except for seeing some strong teen looking dog creatures run straight toward her only for the two to bump heads straight into one another. A million images playing right through her head. Everything had happened so fast that it was hard to remember what was what.
All she could remember was that there were two Riku's and that one might have been fake. She couldn't remember. She also remembered her brother was about to something incredibly stupid with Jafar's magic lamp. A bit of anger rose in her as she thought of the stupidity of her brother, but only for a moment before worry about what happened after she got knocked out.
Her head was throbbing, and her muscles ached. She felt something soft against her head. As her eyes fluttered open she began to feel her conscious come back to her. The voice in her head still rang as she slowly began to remember what had transpired before.
"D-D-Max!" Mabel jot up seeing the big Goof's nose right in front of her, she wacked it causing him tos tand back.
Max was standing by her bed to make sure she was waking up and smiled. "Hi, um...Your back home"
"W-What happened," Mabel said rubbing her head, "Last thing I remember, me and Dipper were fighting and then Riku showed up and...RIku ...RIku attacked us!"
"No, no, no…" Max quickly interjected, "That wasn't Riku that was his Replica"
"His what now?" Mable blinked.
"Replica, an evil clone pretty much" Max explained, "I know, really strange...Didn't even know Clone's were a thing...Actually wait, maybe I did, could have sworn Scrooge mentioned having one a few years back...But whatever, year, Clones! Evil! Bad thing!"
"Really?" Dipper groaned rubbing his head, "Evil clone...I mean I believe it, but still, seems cliche if you ask me
"Guess it's better than it actually being the real Riku" Mable insisted.
Dipper looked taken aback, "You seem to believe that story pretty easily"
Mable shrugged, "Eh, I'm not gonna fall for the whole misunderstanding trope, I think I can be a bit more faithful in Riku then that. Besides once I have evidence then we can decide what to do with him if he really did turn evil on us"
"Well anyway he went hunting for it" Max explained, "Honestly, you two are taking this way more calmly then I would have imagined"
"Evil Clones aren't honestly something new" Dipper groaned as he stood up, "So I can easily believe that, what I can't believe is the fact you lost me that lamp...Mabel!"
"Good riddance if you ask me!" Mabel huffed, "That lamp was evil and probably would have corrupted your dorky brain if I hadn't gotten rid of it"
"I was going to use it for important reasons"
"Yeah, that would have blown up in your face" Mable muttered under her breath.
"How do you know!" Dipper argued, standing up now looking really upset, his face was red and eyes bulging "Really? How do you know, we never tried, we never did anything, for all we know if you had some faith in ME...Huh...Me your brother and not dumb stupid Sora, maybe we wouldn't be in this mess"
"What mess!" Mabel argued, "We aren't in a mess!"
"Yeah we are, we have an evil clone of Riku running around Gravity Falls," Dipper yelled, "If that's even true, which...It probably is but I still wanna be paranoid about it!"
Max looked uncomfortable, "I'll just go outside and wait okay" he got up and slowly left the room leaving the two twins to themselves.
The two twins just looked at each other glaring. Mabel was so mad at her Dipper right now. Giving into an evil genie lamp. Granted a genie's lamp in itself would have been cool, she would have wished for a giant hamster ball or a never ending summer so she could stay in Gravity Falls forever and forever, but an evil genie's lamp, that was a bit too far even for her at the moment. Some lines were just not worth crossing.
Mable just couldn't figure out why Dipper was so negative about everything. They were safe, the great darkness they had to deal with was over. Sure their were a few weird things happening but nothing that Gravity Falls was used to before. If only he would just have some faith that Sora had won that battle against the Heartless and that all of this was over for good. Instead of having to constant causing more and more trouble for himself and everyone else around her. She just wanted to scream and yell at him to finally calm down.
"Hey uh, kids," Stan arrived breaking the deadlock, causing Mable to lose all anger.
"Grunkle Stan" They both said in unison as they saw he had a bandage on his head.
"Are you okay Grunkle Stan?" Mabel asked.
Stan nodded, "Yeah, I'm good, hey um...So...I've been thinking about all these guests we've been having over lately and uh…."
"You don't want them to leave do you?" Mabel asked, looking sad.
Stan just sighed, "Yeah, I mean, they've been causing nothing weird trouble, and not the normal kind of trouble. I mean look at you Dipper, don't think I don't notice you've been going nuts because of my dorky brother"
"But Grunkle Stan, he left us those notes for a reason" Dipper said, looking almost desperate to make a point "I mean come on he comes back only to vanish again...All that hard work down the toilet, tell me you don't feel it a litte weirded out by it"
"Well I uh…" Stan seemed unsure, "I mean the guy vanishes all the time, he's a little to into himself, okay"/
"Yeah but if the worlds were restored then everyone should have come back, he didn't...Why?"
"I don't know, I don't even understand half the stuff that goes on only that it's dangerous, weird...and probably…."
A knock at the door finally ended the conversation. Mabel couldn't help but feel a little relieved. This situation was becoming too tense as it was already.
"Ugh, what now!" Stan went downstairs as Dipper and Mabel followed him, Max was in the living room watching T.V but seemed more interested on what was going on. As Stan opened the door he stepped back in amazement as Gideon of all people stood there with a wicked smirk.
"Gideon!" Stan glared, "Aren't you supposed to be like, in prison or something"
Entering the main store, there saw Gideon Gleeful, no longer in his prison uniform but in his full on pale blue physique suit. Hair clean, with a wicked grin on his face as he stood there in pure confidence.
Dipper just sighed, "What are you doing Gideon"
"Quite Pines!" Gideon shouted, "I'm in command now, you thought you saw the last of me, well ha's to you...I ha you...Ha!"
"Yeah, well we've taken your ha's before and kicked it to the curve" Mabel declared, raising her fist in the air.
Dipper nodded with a glare, "Yeah, I've slapped you to the curve"
"Oh yeah," Gideon chuckled the sinister look darkening, "Well I've got some help on my side"
"Who ...Jail thugs" Mabel taunted.
Dipper actually became a bit nervous by this, "Actually they could probably kill us"
Stan shrugged looking unconcerned, "Eh, I could take them"
"Worse" Gideon hissed, "Watch"
Slowly red smoke began to form in the center of the room separating Gideon from the Pines. It began to swirl like a vortex growing in thickness and in size as it swirled higher and higher into the air. The Twins and Stan all looked in horror wondering just what sort of monstrosity their enemy had unleashed upon them this time. As the vortex continued to form a familiar shaped figure began to emerge from behind it, a man, tall thin and snake-like with black robes and turban attached to their head, bony fingers holding tight along a gold snake staff.
"J-Jafar!" Dipper said in shock as the smoke cleared and he got a clear view of the figure.
The evil vizier merely laughed, "Yes...While I believe that's me"
Without warning he unleashed a magical prephila of all sorts of Genie magic upon them. Spells, enchantments and things that could twist one's mind. All the while he laughed and laughed, and could not help in relish in the torute and pain that he was unleashing upon the family that had imprisoned him for so very long. Magic started overcoming them all over, spells, enchantments, and illusions. It was an array of darkness the likes of which even Mable had never seen.
What's was worse, it seemed as if he was starting to sing.
I must admit
Your parlor tricks
Are amusing
I bet you've got a bunny
Under your hat
Now here's your chance
To get the best of me
Hope your hand is hot
C'mon clown
Let's see what you've got
You can try to slam me
With your harder stuff
But your double whammy
Isn't up to snuff
I'll set the record straight
You're simply out of date
You're only second rate
You think your cat's a meanie
But your tiger's tame
You've got a lot to learn
About the genie game
So for your education
I reiterate
You're only second rate
Men cower
At the power
In my pinky
My thumb is number one
On every list
But if you're not convinced
That I'm invincible
Put me to the test
I'd love to lay this rivalry to rest
Go ahead and zap me
With a big surprise
Slap me in a trap
Cut me down to size
I'll make a great escape
It's just a piece of cake
You're only second rate
You know your hocus-pocus
Isn't tough enough
And your mumbo-jumbo
Doesn't measure up
Let me pontificate
Upon your sorry state
You're only second rate
Zaba-caba-dabra
Granny's gonna grab ya!
Alakazam-da-mus
And this thing's bigger than the both of us
So spare me your tremendous stare
You look horrendous in your underwear
And I can hardly wait
To discombobulate
I'll send your back end packing
In a shipping crate
You'll make a better living
With a spinning plate
You're only second rate!
"Ugh, my head" Dipper looked sick as he was still dealing with Jafar's magic.
Mabel however still looked defiant, a bit battered and bruised in places but alive. She held her first high at the evil vizier, unaware from upstairs Max Goof slowly came downstairs to see what was happening only to see what was happening.
"Hey!" Max ran up to them holding his own fists in han, "I don't know who you are, but you better stop or- um…."
Mabel just watched with disappointment as Max slowly lost his confidence and ability to make a good comeback, "Wow ...That's sad"
"Yeah, really" Stan said, looking confused as well, "I mean who is he, and why can't he make a good comeback? Don't tell me he's a boy you snuck in here Mabel"
"This is Max' Mabel explained, "He crashed landed here using some sorta magic thing".
Jafar just smirked, "Good a hostage"
Using the power of his staff, whose eyes glowed a blood red, he clenched his fist to get him in a choke hold. Max tried to grab onto his throat to release the magical force but it was fruitless. The wizard continued to lift him higher and higher into the air as he struggled.
"Max!" Mabel yelled, she'd seen evil before but this was scary on a massive scale, mega scale evil.
"Hey, let the kid go I ain't getting sued," Stan yelled as he charged towards Jafar, "Why you!"
Jafar just blasted Stan with his staff and in a puff of smoke he vanished.
"Grunkle Stan!" Mabel yelled.
Dipper looked horrified by the power Jafar unleashed. "I-I read Genie's can't kill"
"You be surprised what you can live through". Jafar said forming a wicked grin, "Beside I'm merely choking him, should he run out of air and die that is hardly my fault, I can't completely bend the laws of nature now can I. Unless it was wished"
Mabel didn't care right now, "W-Well him let him go!"
"Oh we will" Gideon said snickering, enjoying what he was seeing, "But first we want those Journals"
"The Journals!" Dipper gasped.
"Yes," Jafar explained as he continued to choke Max as if it was of little concern, "They seem to hold many secrets and magical endeavors that could be useful in my needs of the future. Master Gideon will have the pleasure of unleashing a vengeance upon you and this world. A mutual alliance if I do say so myself"
Mabel didn't care what Gideon and Jafar were planning at this point. All her attention was on the fact that Max looked like he was running out of air..
"Dipper" She hissed a sense of urgency in her voice.
Dipper seemed unsure "The journals"
"Someone's life is on the line" Mabel yelled.
"One life isn't worth that" Dipper shrieked.
Mabel gasped and then became firm. She had made her choice.
Without warning to everyone, especially her brother, Mabel rushed off towards the main store and opened up the secret entrance to the Ford's laboratory. With a quick pace she grabbed the journals and returned back to the others. Dipper looked mortified but Jafar and Gideon seemed quite pleased.
"Well, that was easy-" Jafar tossed Max aside causing him to land right next to Mabel, "I suppose I found a weakness in the two of you. Master Gideon was right, you do have a weakness, you have a heart, and one I will continue to exploit"
"You said that" Mabel glared at Gideon, "Jerk"
"Now, hand over the journals" Jafar declared, "And the Uncle will come next"
"Right, right-"
"M-Mabel-" Max said, taking her by the shoulder, "D-Don't…
"I have no noise,"
Mabel noticed though that Max's pocket started to light up, it began to glow, Jafar and Gideon unsure what was going on.
"Dipper!" Mabel called out, trying to reach for him, "Dipper!
"Mabel!" He ran towards her trying to reach.
It was too late though the light took both Mabel and Max leaving Dipper alone in the shack. Leaving him alone to the mercy of Gideon and the evil genie. Great darkness had been unleashed, and there was nothing to stop it.
The last sound Mabel heard was Jafar shouting in defeat, at least the journals were not his.
-000-
"Dipper!" Mabel shrieked before finding herself tumbling down the forest.
It took her a moment before straightening herself. Standing, she saw that she was standing in the middle of the town far away from the shack. The sun was still up, and rising, thankfully it was still the day. People thought they were walking along minding their own business and didn't seem to notice two strangers teleporting to the middle of town. None of that mattered to Marbel though, right now all her thoughts were focused on her brother. Quickly she picked up the remaining two journals and held them in her hand.
"Oh no, oh no...Oh no…." Mabel was entering a panic, "Dipper! What do I do, what do I do"
"Woah, woah, calm down," She felt something touch her shoulder and flinched to see Max standing behind her, "Mabel, it's okay, I'm still here, will help your Grunkle and brother okay"
"Ugh, this is all my fault!" Mabel yelled, "If I hadn't accidentally tossed the lamp in the river Gideon wouldn't have it and none of this would be happening right now"
"Yeah well we have more important problems"
"If I just had kept my hands off it, maybe trusted Dipper…Had faith in him like he said
"Mabel" Max interjected
"Of course I had to be an idiot and take the lamp into the woods, should have thrown it down the bottomless pit…
"Mabel" Max said again, a bit louder.
"Or maybe found a way to destroy it first"
"MABEL!"
"What?"
Max frowned, "Well I don't know anything about that, but right now we don't have time for self pity. My dad always said if you make a mistake then you have to live with it and make it right. Right now we're stuck here in the middle of this town, with now plan and a clearly evil person running amok, we need to take action"
"What should we do?" Mabel sighed, looking defeated.
"I don't know, I barely know this place, what do you suggest we do, this is your town. Who should we go too fast.``
Mabel paused, he was right though this was her town, if anyone knew who could help she would. Still she would have to think carefully about it. The police were never any help, Robbie or the other teens probably weren't going to be much use, and she didn't know where Wendy and Soos were at the moment. She needed someone who was just knowledgeable in the weird and strange. Sadly that other person was Grunkle Ford and he was gone again after the Heartless thing. However thinking of her Grunkle it did lead her to the other person.
"To the dump!"
Taking Max by the hand she dragged him all the way to the local dump. The place still smelled as always but that didn't stop her from seeing the flies of Old Man McGucket working on something near an old truck tinkering with it. They looked all over the place, inside large mountains of garbage, under tire tracks, even inside a small box where a pair of racoons were. They searched and searched yet to no avail. Mable was starting to get worried that maybe the Heartless might have scooped him up, or worse.
"Old Man Mcgucket, we need help!" Mabel called finding a backpack nearby. "Oh good, I can put the journals in here"
He turned around and gasped, "I didn't do it, the racoons! There plotting i tell yuh, they are plotting!"
"What? No, no...Old ManMcgucket it's me Mabel" She said, "We need your science wisdom on how to fight Genies"
"Genies?" Mcgucket pondered for a moment, "Nope, sorry, no nothing about Genies, now if it were poltergeist that's different, you need soy sauce and mustard. But genie's don't know much about them"
"Well that's great" Max muttered, "So much for that plan, looks like-"
He paused, tugging at Mabel's shirt.
"Um Mabel?"
"Yeah?" Mabel looked up.
The sky was darkening a bit, clouds started appearing around the town. These clouds didn't look natural either forming in a circle. A cold wind started to come down across the town until black ooze started to form. Mabel looked closer to see the ooze had several tiny yellow dots, pairs of eyes. This was no ooze at all, it was Heartless...Heartless were coming into town.
"Oh no!" Mabel cried
Max gasped, "Are those -Heartless?"
"Yeah. Have you fought any"
"No, but my dad told me enough about them to recognize them, and they are bad news"
Mabel's eyes narrowed, "This must be Jafar".
"How are we going to fight them?" Max asked, sounding horrified, "Only the Keyblade can take them on, or at least that's what dad said. Even then, not like we have any weapons or anything"
"Heartless weapons! Good thing some Black Coated guy came to me with them" Mcgucket said as he took out a giant laser, "Good thing I have some! FIRE IN THE WHOLE!"
With little warning Mcgucket fired a giant laser at an incoming storm of Heartless shattering all of them. However more just appeared in their place as they began to scatter around town, swooping up random people, destroying several buildings, while others landed in the middle of the streets and began heading out.
"Wait Black Coated guy" Mabel seemed nervous, "Um, w-why did he give you them"
McGucket seemed confused, "Well, uh ...Maybe, I don't know ...It was all weird...He was a black coated guy and said that other bad black coated guys were doing bad stuff, but he was a good one...I didn't get it. Said he trusted me to do the right thing with them...Or at least not blow something up to valuable, except Heartless, it was okay if I blew up"
"Well, uh...What was-"
"No time!" Max said as he pointed to see more Heartless coming around.
"Don't worry kids I'll save yuh, save yourself"
"Okay, we gotta get outta here" Mabel said.
McGucket got in front of them, "Get to the woods, they'll have trouble finding yuh their. I'll hold them off like I did that swarm of squirrels...There also plotting you know!"
"Sure thing old man McGucket!"
As they entered Gravity Falls forest it was thankfully quiet for now. This would allow Mabel and Max to rest, at least for a while. They tried to get away from the town as best as possible, more and more Heartless were starting to overcome the area now. A dark sense of unease over creepy them, but also the atmosphere. The one peaceful looking sky now began to blanken again.
Mable started to get worried that something worse was about to go down. Everything had happened so quickly, at least she had someone by her side instead of being alone. Still she wished it was her brother.
Taking a deep breath, Mabel finally was able to calm her mind and try to think about a plan for what was next. An evil Genie had Dipper hostage, Heartless were back and roaming around town, and she was alone with Max in the middle of the woods. All in all, not very good odds.
"Okay, we gotta think here" Max muttered pacing and forth, "What would do?"
"What would Sora do?" Mabel sighed, "I wish he was here"
"Yeah well he isn't" Max snapped causing Mabel to jump, "Everyone keeps relying on Sora to save the day, why can't we huh? I mean heck, I bet Sora himself is probably tired of people relying on him all the time".
"Because he's the Keyblade Master and he's the one who can beat the Heartless" Mable argued
Max rolled his eyes, "Yeah, but didn't you see that old wack guy, he had some sorta...Anti-Heartless...Thing….He stood up to them, not sure if he's even ...well ...you know…
"McGucket" Mabel seemed nonchalant about it, "Oh he's fine, the guy's survived worse...Trust me"
"Then see! If he can stand up to them, why can't we!"
Mabel was unsure how to respond and thought it over. Perhaps Max was right, maybe she was just trying to not do anything and let Sora or someone else handle it. This was her town after all, she loved it more than most. She would defend it no matter what. Still, she really had no idea what to do and having a little help would still be nice.
Dipper normally had a plan, he was the brains of the operations while she was the chaotic spirited heart. That's how she liked it, but now, there was no Dipper, just her and Max. While she liked him for sure, she didn't know him, didn't really know how he worked or what where his strengths and weaknesses at the moment.
"Riku-"
"Huh?"
"Well, we still need help and Riku right now is probably the best person we know who could help" Mabel said a plan coming together, "I say at least we find him"
Max paused, "Well, um ...Yeah, that's probably not a bad idea"
"He's no Keyblade Master but he's the next best thing, so come on, let's go"