Thank you, thank you, I only got positive reviews from that last chapter,
seems like you guys are really Jung Ho for some action (why didn't you tell
me?). Well, this chapter will be the last one lacking it, hopefully, I
have been known to eat my words, but I'll try hard. This chapter basically
tells what the poems mean, and why they are important. REVIEWS ARE ALWAYS
WELCOME!
One Prize
By: Catty Engles
"Weapon, Heart
One and the same
Find them apart
Then only a bane
Use the key to find the prize
The girl waits
In darkness lies
Tested and failed
Tested and passed
Boost your defense
For strength you lacked
Fateful ties
Broken, lies
Darkness bides
But fate decides"
Daisy's voice, once layered with the grating and harshness, returned to normal, "It's okay Donald, I'm all right." Donald had edged to Daisy's side as she spoke these words, he remembered her weakness after the first episode, and it had scared him. Imagine if the last thing he did to her was joke around with her emotions?
"I think you're getting stronger, like the poem says we should." Mickey had his eyes screwed up in concentration but he spoke in a level tone, masking his raging emotions. How does this tell me where Minnie is?
The poem had etched itself on their memories as the last had. Burning questions danced on each of their lips. Goofy voiced his first, "But tested? When were we tested?" Mickey had a hunch, but he let Donald answer for him.
"The garden." Donald's voice was barely audible; he clenched his fists and banished the memory.
Dandin was serious, but very confused. "Um, the hotel, um, there are enough rooms for everyone, I think. I'll go see what we have for dinner."
Everyone's stomach growled at the mention of food and Dandin perked up a bit, regaining some of his natural cheerfulness. "I guess I better get going!" He dashed up the stairs, kneeling next to Thistle and murmuring in her ear for a moment before he coaxed her shakily to her feet. They entered the hotel together and proceeded to the blue room.
Goofy turned back to his friends and hugged them, his lanky arms squishing Mickey, Donald, and Daisy against his narrow chest. They laughed and Goofy let go eventually, smiling toothily. Donald started toward the stairs and Daisy followed. Goofy and Mickey blew past them both, speeding to the food.
As the sprinting pair rounded the corner Donald turned back to Daisy. "Um, I'm, uh, sorry. I'm stupid."
Daisy lazily watched Goofy squeeze through the door before Mickey, batting him aside with his shield as Mickey playfully brandished the keyblade. "Yeah, I know." Daisy airily brushed of the heartfelt apology and raced after Mickey and Goofy, her staff glinting in her hands. Donald stared at the empty doorway, and then at his own staff, completely lost for words.
***
Dandin gazed at the once full platters that had been set before the adventurers. All but one was empty. It held some meat loaf. He smiled to himself, they were playing a pivotal role in the survival of the universe, but they were still teenagers. "Well, now that you've been fed and watered, Thistle and I will show you to your rooms. Girls in green, boys in red."
Thistle motioned to Daisy, and she followed willingly. "Ah, bed." Daisy's last words were muffled by the heavy coverlet that she rolled into face first.
Thistle plopped down beside her and smoothed the velvet bed sheets. "There's a trundle, if you help me pull it out I'll take it."
Daisy, on a normal occasion, would have argued- but a bed! She squirmed with eagerness and jumped down to help Thistle pull out the trundle.
In the red room Dandin was helping Goofy do the same as Mickey made a makeshift bed from sheets for Donald on the floor. Mickey had been forced to take the bed. None of the others would relent, and he was guiltily thankful that they didn't.
I'll be in the blue room if any of you need me, bathrooms down the hall. Donald left immediately. Dandin smirked and edged toward the door intoning in a singsong voice, "Sweet dreams, don't let the bedbugs bite!" Mickey threw a pillow at him but Dandin closed the door too quickly, it dropped harmlessly to the floor.
Goofy and then Mickey took a turn in the bathroom. Donald and Goofy were asleep before Mickey made it to bed. He sighed thankfully and looked at the ceiling, lost in thought. That poem, what did it mean? He tossed and turned in the bed, he felt suffocated by the small room. Mickey shut his eyes tight and lay still, willing himself to sleep.
Dandin lay spread-eagled on the bed in the blue room. His mind raced with questions. Ideas chased themselves around his head until he had exhausted all methods and willingness to get to sleep. Over dinner, Mickey had explained everything as best he could. Daisy and Donald gave different descriptions and points of views, Dandin felt entirely up to date, but he still didn't understand the poem.
A quiet knock sounded on his door. He righted himself and beckoned, "Come in." Thistle slipped through the doorway and into a chair by the bed in one fluid movement. She blinked her big amethyst eyes at him and smiled a soft smile. Dandin grinned and lay on his side, he propped his head on his hand.
"All right Dandin, I couldn't sleep and by my guess you couldn't either," he shook his head slightly, confirming her suspicions, "we are going to crack that poem."
"Well, I have sat up half the night thinking about it, why not give it a go?" Just then another knock softly echoed around the room, Daisy walked in before being invited. She dropped onto the chair next to Thistle.
Daisy looked from one surprised face to the next, "Well?" She began. The two looked away, and Thistle vainly tried to justify the uncomfortable silence when another knock, louder this time, was heard. Mickey stepped in, followed closely by Donald. Both looked vaguely surprised to see Daisy and Thistle already there. Donald disappeared for a moment, and then returned with Goofy, still rubbing sleep from his eyes. The boys took a seat on the floor.
Dandin cleared his throat and pounded the bed, "Order, order, I hereby pronounce this midnight meeting in session, first matter of importan-" Pillows from all sides silenced the shameless jokester. While Dandin was untangling himself, Thistle took over.
"This 'meeting's' purpose is to get to the bottom of those poems. I know you said something about a different poem can you recite it Mickey?"
Mickey complied,
"One Warrior
One Maid
One Mage
One Friend
One Betrayer
One Prize
One Battle
One Victor
One Heart
Find one in the place without time
The heart that withers with no grime
The entrance, the exit, the barrier, the mask
The same to all but rests on their task
It is not your decision to choose or be chosen Face destiny with friends, fate interwoven Time will tell Fate will fall Hearts will swell Acts reveal all"
Donald explained his theory, "See how it says something about tasks? I bet that each of us has one and those are them!" He was met with pensive silence.
After a moment Daisy stated matter-of-factly, "Well, that would take care of the first half, the second, Goofy, Donald, and I figured out. It has something to do with the heart shaped pool in the garden that Mickey used to come here."
"I think that poem is solved then, the last bit looks like jumble just to throw us off." Dandin stated with a smile.
"I sure hope so. The next poem, first line, 'Weapon, Heart' doesn't tell us much on it's own, but when it says 'One and the same, ' well, maybe it means that our weapons are," Mickey paused, not sure how he knew, "embodiments of our own hearts."
Daisy, Donald, and Goofy all looked at the weapons that they had instinctively kept close to hand. Mickey, noticing that he didn't have the keyblade, became frantic. He was about to yell out loud, but he swallowed the shout as the keyblade reappeared in his hands. All of the occupants jumped at the sudden appearance.
"How did you do that?" Everyone chorused at the same time, Goofy a beat late.
"I, um, don't know." Mickey answered honestly. He willed the keyblade to disappear again, and it did. "Hold it, yes I do, you just have to think to it, almost ask it to go away or come back."
The rest tried it, and to their great pleasure, all succeeded. Dandin and Thistle waited patiently as they tried out their newfound power, well at least Thistle did.
"Okay, okay, enough, can we get back to the poem now?" Dandin interjected.
"'K" said Daisy, dismissing the staff once again. Dandin sighed in exasperation. "No, really we can." Daisy let her hands fall to her lap, somewhat reluctantly. Donald, Goofy, and Mickey followed suit.
"Third and fourth line, 'find them apart, then only a bane' good that's simple, I bet it means the weapons will only work properly if they are with the correct heart, so I'm assuming that they can only be used by the initial owner, right?" Thistle fired this off rapidly, she had obviously been thinking hard about the poem.
"Yeah, sounds right. Next stanza, this was the one I have thought about a lot. 'Use the key to find the prize' Minnie must be the prize and I'll have to use the keyblade to find her wherever she lies in darkness, like the next line says." The rest of the room nodded solemnly, it made perfect sense.
"We already figured out the next lines, gawrsh, I sure hope we've gotten stronger." Goofy gulped visibly and shuddered.
"The rest is just jumble, like the last poem, it says stuff that we already know kinda stupid really." Dandin leaned back on the headboard of his bed and was assailed with another bout of pillows. A muffled, "What I say?" was heard from under the pile. Thistle uncovered Dandin's nose and tweaked it hard.
"Back to beds, dawn is only an hour away and I want to find out more in the morning so I suggest you guys get some sleep." She was met a stifling pile of pillows, "What I say?" This time Dandin tweaked her nose, but not as hard.
"We're all up, and I don't know about the rest of you but I'm not going to be able to get back to sleep, so let's make the most of it. Who's up for pancakes?" Dandin shouted over his shoulder as he ran down the stairs, Thistle right behind him, "No really, what I say?"
***
That was a long chapter, longest yet, maybe it was the poems, oh well, Thanks again to the reviewers, you guys really keep me going. I sure hope that the poems aren't very confusing now, oh and the prize, as stated in the story, is Minnie. I revel in the light of author-hood. Continue to R&R. Toodles.
One Prize
By: Catty Engles
"Weapon, Heart
One and the same
Find them apart
Then only a bane
Use the key to find the prize
The girl waits
In darkness lies
Tested and failed
Tested and passed
Boost your defense
For strength you lacked
Fateful ties
Broken, lies
Darkness bides
But fate decides"
Daisy's voice, once layered with the grating and harshness, returned to normal, "It's okay Donald, I'm all right." Donald had edged to Daisy's side as she spoke these words, he remembered her weakness after the first episode, and it had scared him. Imagine if the last thing he did to her was joke around with her emotions?
"I think you're getting stronger, like the poem says we should." Mickey had his eyes screwed up in concentration but he spoke in a level tone, masking his raging emotions. How does this tell me where Minnie is?
The poem had etched itself on their memories as the last had. Burning questions danced on each of their lips. Goofy voiced his first, "But tested? When were we tested?" Mickey had a hunch, but he let Donald answer for him.
"The garden." Donald's voice was barely audible; he clenched his fists and banished the memory.
Dandin was serious, but very confused. "Um, the hotel, um, there are enough rooms for everyone, I think. I'll go see what we have for dinner."
Everyone's stomach growled at the mention of food and Dandin perked up a bit, regaining some of his natural cheerfulness. "I guess I better get going!" He dashed up the stairs, kneeling next to Thistle and murmuring in her ear for a moment before he coaxed her shakily to her feet. They entered the hotel together and proceeded to the blue room.
Goofy turned back to his friends and hugged them, his lanky arms squishing Mickey, Donald, and Daisy against his narrow chest. They laughed and Goofy let go eventually, smiling toothily. Donald started toward the stairs and Daisy followed. Goofy and Mickey blew past them both, speeding to the food.
As the sprinting pair rounded the corner Donald turned back to Daisy. "Um, I'm, uh, sorry. I'm stupid."
Daisy lazily watched Goofy squeeze through the door before Mickey, batting him aside with his shield as Mickey playfully brandished the keyblade. "Yeah, I know." Daisy airily brushed of the heartfelt apology and raced after Mickey and Goofy, her staff glinting in her hands. Donald stared at the empty doorway, and then at his own staff, completely lost for words.
***
Dandin gazed at the once full platters that had been set before the adventurers. All but one was empty. It held some meat loaf. He smiled to himself, they were playing a pivotal role in the survival of the universe, but they were still teenagers. "Well, now that you've been fed and watered, Thistle and I will show you to your rooms. Girls in green, boys in red."
Thistle motioned to Daisy, and she followed willingly. "Ah, bed." Daisy's last words were muffled by the heavy coverlet that she rolled into face first.
Thistle plopped down beside her and smoothed the velvet bed sheets. "There's a trundle, if you help me pull it out I'll take it."
Daisy, on a normal occasion, would have argued- but a bed! She squirmed with eagerness and jumped down to help Thistle pull out the trundle.
In the red room Dandin was helping Goofy do the same as Mickey made a makeshift bed from sheets for Donald on the floor. Mickey had been forced to take the bed. None of the others would relent, and he was guiltily thankful that they didn't.
I'll be in the blue room if any of you need me, bathrooms down the hall. Donald left immediately. Dandin smirked and edged toward the door intoning in a singsong voice, "Sweet dreams, don't let the bedbugs bite!" Mickey threw a pillow at him but Dandin closed the door too quickly, it dropped harmlessly to the floor.
Goofy and then Mickey took a turn in the bathroom. Donald and Goofy were asleep before Mickey made it to bed. He sighed thankfully and looked at the ceiling, lost in thought. That poem, what did it mean? He tossed and turned in the bed, he felt suffocated by the small room. Mickey shut his eyes tight and lay still, willing himself to sleep.
Dandin lay spread-eagled on the bed in the blue room. His mind raced with questions. Ideas chased themselves around his head until he had exhausted all methods and willingness to get to sleep. Over dinner, Mickey had explained everything as best he could. Daisy and Donald gave different descriptions and points of views, Dandin felt entirely up to date, but he still didn't understand the poem.
A quiet knock sounded on his door. He righted himself and beckoned, "Come in." Thistle slipped through the doorway and into a chair by the bed in one fluid movement. She blinked her big amethyst eyes at him and smiled a soft smile. Dandin grinned and lay on his side, he propped his head on his hand.
"All right Dandin, I couldn't sleep and by my guess you couldn't either," he shook his head slightly, confirming her suspicions, "we are going to crack that poem."
"Well, I have sat up half the night thinking about it, why not give it a go?" Just then another knock softly echoed around the room, Daisy walked in before being invited. She dropped onto the chair next to Thistle.
Daisy looked from one surprised face to the next, "Well?" She began. The two looked away, and Thistle vainly tried to justify the uncomfortable silence when another knock, louder this time, was heard. Mickey stepped in, followed closely by Donald. Both looked vaguely surprised to see Daisy and Thistle already there. Donald disappeared for a moment, and then returned with Goofy, still rubbing sleep from his eyes. The boys took a seat on the floor.
Dandin cleared his throat and pounded the bed, "Order, order, I hereby pronounce this midnight meeting in session, first matter of importan-" Pillows from all sides silenced the shameless jokester. While Dandin was untangling himself, Thistle took over.
"This 'meeting's' purpose is to get to the bottom of those poems. I know you said something about a different poem can you recite it Mickey?"
Mickey complied,
"One Warrior
One Maid
One Mage
One Friend
One Betrayer
One Prize
One Battle
One Victor
One Heart
Find one in the place without time
The heart that withers with no grime
The entrance, the exit, the barrier, the mask
The same to all but rests on their task
It is not your decision to choose or be chosen Face destiny with friends, fate interwoven Time will tell Fate will fall Hearts will swell Acts reveal all"
Donald explained his theory, "See how it says something about tasks? I bet that each of us has one and those are them!" He was met with pensive silence.
After a moment Daisy stated matter-of-factly, "Well, that would take care of the first half, the second, Goofy, Donald, and I figured out. It has something to do with the heart shaped pool in the garden that Mickey used to come here."
"I think that poem is solved then, the last bit looks like jumble just to throw us off." Dandin stated with a smile.
"I sure hope so. The next poem, first line, 'Weapon, Heart' doesn't tell us much on it's own, but when it says 'One and the same, ' well, maybe it means that our weapons are," Mickey paused, not sure how he knew, "embodiments of our own hearts."
Daisy, Donald, and Goofy all looked at the weapons that they had instinctively kept close to hand. Mickey, noticing that he didn't have the keyblade, became frantic. He was about to yell out loud, but he swallowed the shout as the keyblade reappeared in his hands. All of the occupants jumped at the sudden appearance.
"How did you do that?" Everyone chorused at the same time, Goofy a beat late.
"I, um, don't know." Mickey answered honestly. He willed the keyblade to disappear again, and it did. "Hold it, yes I do, you just have to think to it, almost ask it to go away or come back."
The rest tried it, and to their great pleasure, all succeeded. Dandin and Thistle waited patiently as they tried out their newfound power, well at least Thistle did.
"Okay, okay, enough, can we get back to the poem now?" Dandin interjected.
"'K" said Daisy, dismissing the staff once again. Dandin sighed in exasperation. "No, really we can." Daisy let her hands fall to her lap, somewhat reluctantly. Donald, Goofy, and Mickey followed suit.
"Third and fourth line, 'find them apart, then only a bane' good that's simple, I bet it means the weapons will only work properly if they are with the correct heart, so I'm assuming that they can only be used by the initial owner, right?" Thistle fired this off rapidly, she had obviously been thinking hard about the poem.
"Yeah, sounds right. Next stanza, this was the one I have thought about a lot. 'Use the key to find the prize' Minnie must be the prize and I'll have to use the keyblade to find her wherever she lies in darkness, like the next line says." The rest of the room nodded solemnly, it made perfect sense.
"We already figured out the next lines, gawrsh, I sure hope we've gotten stronger." Goofy gulped visibly and shuddered.
"The rest is just jumble, like the last poem, it says stuff that we already know kinda stupid really." Dandin leaned back on the headboard of his bed and was assailed with another bout of pillows. A muffled, "What I say?" was heard from under the pile. Thistle uncovered Dandin's nose and tweaked it hard.
"Back to beds, dawn is only an hour away and I want to find out more in the morning so I suggest you guys get some sleep." She was met a stifling pile of pillows, "What I say?" This time Dandin tweaked her nose, but not as hard.
"We're all up, and I don't know about the rest of you but I'm not going to be able to get back to sleep, so let's make the most of it. Who's up for pancakes?" Dandin shouted over his shoulder as he ran down the stairs, Thistle right behind him, "No really, what I say?"
***
That was a long chapter, longest yet, maybe it was the poems, oh well, Thanks again to the reviewers, you guys really keep me going. I sure hope that the poems aren't very confusing now, oh and the prize, as stated in the story, is Minnie. I revel in the light of author-hood. Continue to R&R. Toodles.