Fantasia Crisis
By Lord Akiyama
Inspired by "Crisis on Infinite Earths" by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez
Chapter Seven
---
"They have successfully destroyed one of my influences," Chernabog said to The Firebird. "And the true powers of The Spring Sprite are beginning to surface, my servant. I suggest you change your methods of action the next time I send you on a mission." The Firebird narrowed his eye, yet nodded to the words of his master.
"May I remind you that Yen Sid sent another group when The Firebird made his attack," Maleficent said. "And we are still having great difficultly locating them upon the world."
"I have sent the vizier and the Hun, my dear Maleficent," he responded. "Even still, this appears to be quite a delicate situation that has baffled even me. The master of masters seems to have figured out how to deal with this and has become successful in masking it."
"Do you suppose their strikes are becoming harder for us to counter?" she asked.
"Perhaps," he said. "We will have to resort to some special tactics. The Horned King shall continue his search for The Black Cauldron. You, my dear, will have to begin summoning some of your special mystical powers."
Maleficent smiled. "If you say so," she said. "This will no doubt become quite an adventure for the twelve."
---
"I was hoping for the best when I heard I was summoned by the master of masters," Beast said. "It was as though the possibility of returning to my normal self was at hand. Then they reminded me that they cannot interfere with a curse like mine."
"I'm sorry to hear," Simba said.
"Well, one good thing came out of it," he began to chuckle. "At least I don't have to end up like the four that went on the second mission."
"I was wondering where they were," Simba said, looking around. "Who went and where are they?"
"They needed to go to ol' Merry England, my friend," Robin chuckled. "In the words of Yen Sid, 'An England in the modern age I'm afraid, Robin.' Then I found out the special thing that had to be done to the bunch before they left."
"I still think Aladdin and Hercules looked cute," Ariel giggled.
"I must have missed something great," Simba began to chuckle along.
"Oh yes indeed," Amelia said. "Helga, Mulan, Aladdin, and Hercules had to be transformed by Merlin into mice."
---
"I still don't know how I let myself get talked into this," Helga muttered under her breath.
"You're not the only one," Aladdin said, still checking himself from top to bottom. "This is the kinda thing I'd expect Genie to do."
"At least I still have my God-like strength," Hercules said, holding a basket full of apples over his head. "Well Helga, you're the leader. Where to?"
"How should I know," Helga grumbled hopping down off of a large crate with a delicate ease. "Things look a little different from down here. That wizard doesn't exactly know how to give good directions."
"Well, we better start figuring something out soon," Mulan said, looking up into the sky. "I think it's about to start raining." Everyone looked up into the sky and drops of rain began to fall. In their normal size, it would not be much of a problem. Being a lot smaller, their perspective changed.
"Just great," Helga growled, though it came out as more of a squeak as she jumped out of the way of a large drop. "This way!" she called as her eyes fell on a tiny doorway their own size along the wall of a brownstone building. What it was she had no idea, but it was something.
The others shrugged and quickly followed Helga as they ran to the tiny doorway. They watched her knock on the door. Moments later, the door flew open and a pair of arms began to quickly pull them into the house. They flew to the floor, against some cushioned chairs that would seat someone their size.
"Shhhh..." a figure said, his face up close to them. Like them, he too was a mouse. Oddly, he was wearing a robe and seemed like he had been resting. "Don't tell me, you are all lost. You have no idea where you are and you have found yourself in a strange new predicament."
"It talks..." Helga's eyes widened a bit.
"Ah, an even stranger predicament for you," he said, sounding very eccentric. "Yes, yes. You are all Americans... NO! No, you're not. Only one of you are. The others... you are all from different lands. Yes, this is quite intriguing..."
"Uh, sir," Mulan began to say, "we just wanted to--"
"Wait, wait," he said, nearly scaring Mulan as he faced her. "Don't tell me. You are... you are searching for something. Yes... you are searching... searching for something big... big as in... you are all looking for the statue of the queen!"
"Just who the ... just who are you?" Helga narrowed her eyes, remembering her etiquette at the last minute.
"Me?" he said. "Oh, my goodness. Where are my manners? I must apologize. My name is Basil. Basil of Baker Street." He extended his hand out for the others to shake.
"Charmed, I'm sure," Helga replied drolly. "You're wrong though."
Basil's eyes shot wide opened when he heard her last sentence. "Wrong?" he said. "Well, I'm not perfect, but what detail could I be missing? If not the statue of a queen, then..."
"Is there something wrong with him?" Aladdin whispered to Hercules during all of the blabbering.
"I'm not sure," Hercules whispered back. "It's like he's obsessed with something."
"... No, no, that can't be right," Basil continued to babble. "There must be some other explanation for--"
"MR. BASIL!" a female voice sounded, causing him to freeze in place. He slowly turned his head, with a nervous smile on his face, to the doorway leading to the kitchen. "I dare say, where are your manners? The poor girl is chilled to the bone and you haven't even offered them as much as tea."
A nervous chuckled escaped Basil's lips. "Where are manners indeed, Mrs. Judson?" he said.
"And you haven't even asked for their names," she said, her hands upon her hips. "I'll return with some cheese crumpets, my dears," she said to the guests, her tone turning from sour to sweet before closing the door behind her.
Basil still had the nervous smile when his gaze turned back to the four. "Well then," he coughed. "Might I ask for your names then?"
"You might, but you still haven't answered my question to my full satisfaction," Helga folded her tiny arms. A bit of a smirk sat on her lips as the balance of power shifted back in her favor.
"Question?" Basil said with an arched eyebrow. "Your only question, my dear, was who I was and I answered. Basil of Baker Street. Now then, shall I be honored with your names?"
Mulan shrugged. "My name is..." she thought for a moment, not sure if she should use her real name. "... is Mulan," she finally decided.
"Mulan, eh?" Basil said. "Truly the name of a child of China. I've seen quite a few of them around every now and then."
"My name is Henry," Hercules lied. "This is Alan," he said, nudging Aladdin. Aladdin smiled a little nervously and nodded quickly.
"I see," Basil said, eyebrows arched. "Henry and Alan. As for you, my dear?" he asked Helga.
"And I say again you have not answered my question," Helga insisted. "I asked who you were, that does not necessarily translate to a name. Obviously you think yourself some kind of detective, and you've already made your assessment of us, though off on a few of the details, but would you mind telling me how you arrived at your conclusions and just why you have taken it upon yourself to become so familiar with our business?" She set her lip defiantly and lifted her chin just a little to let him know he wasn't going to dance around the issue again. Not with her.
"Oh, he is a detective," Mrs. Judson said, reentering the room before Basil could let out a sound. "A good one, though he can a bit... shall we say, talkative."
"Mrs. Judson," Basil said through clinched teeth.
"He's never been known by any other name than Basil, my dear," Mrs. Judson said, handing each of the guests cheese crumpets. "Smart fellow, just not smart enough to use his head." She giggled as Basil stood behind her with narrowed eyes. "Now eat up, sweetie," she said to Mulan. "I have tea boiling on the stove and will return shortly." She returned into the kitchen.
Basil sighed. "Now, as to how I arrived at my conclusions," he said. "Looking at the clothing you were, you seem to be quite dressed with shall we say a little warmer whether. And the patch on the pants 'Alan' is wearing looks very out of place." As he talked, he walked over to a chair set before the fireplace and retrieving his violin. "Your tone of voice, one who refrains from naming herself, is similar to that of Americans who so often come about these parts. You appear to be searching for something because of that little device upon your wrist, my dear."
"Close, very close," Helga nodded satisfied at least to a degree. It would appear from the violin and the pipe resting on the table their little friend had a Sherlock Holmes complex. "My name is Lieutenant Helga Sinclair and you very nearly had it," she said sauntering closer to the fire. "I did live most recently in America, but I have lived in many other places before that."
"Military woman, eh?" Basil said as he started to play his violin. "Don't see those very often. I should have guessed from your unique body structure, but I wasn't certain. Your friend 'Henry', on the other hand, has quite a physique. I must say, old chap, it must be mighty impressive to be able to lift objects many times heavier than you."
"Uh, thank you," Hercules said, looking rather confused. Mulan was happily munching on her cheese crumpets, paying little attention to what was being said.
"Now then," Basil said, "I appear to be wrong about what you are searching for. Perhaps maybe you are searching for something for someone. May I ask who this someone is?"
Helga stared hard at him, balancing carefully exactly how much she should tell him, if anything. "The identity of our employer is not of any importance," she responded brushing aside the fur that drifted in front of her eyes. "We were told to look for the city's biggest resident for the influence. No doubt you have some theory on the matter?" She arched her eyebrow in an almost challenging way.
"Biggest resident, eh?" Basil said, still playing his violin. "Well, those who have lived there lives in this city will answer that quite easily. It doesn't take a detective to know that the biggest resident of the city is Big Ben, the large clock tower in the heart of London. This influence, however, is quite new to me. And now I'm becoming quite interested."
"Really, you? I never would have guessed," Helga returned with a smirk. "Obviously, Big Ben does fit the 'large' stipulation, but as far as influence goes, I think it's largest influence might be in letting people know it's teatime."
"Hmmm... what exactly is this influence, if I may ask?" Basil said, slowly beginning to stop playing his violin.
"I couldn't say with any absolute certainty," Helga replied cautiously. "We have our suspicions, but our instructions have been what you might call notably vague."
"I see," Basil said, placing his violin back down on the chair. "Well, I can offer transportation if you wish to get there as quickly as possible. From the tone of your voice, Ms. Sinclair, I'd say you wished to do whatever you were sent to do swiftly."
"She's not the only one," Hercules said.
"There's never any point to wasting time unnecessarily," Helga nodded. "I assume from your tone of voice, Mr. Basil, you'll be wanting to join us then?"
"Very much indeed," Basil said, removing his robe and retrieving his coat and hat. "I believe tea will have to wait, Mrs. Judson!" he called. "I believes our guests and I shall be leaving shortly!"
---
"I wish I could do this with Little Brother," Mulan giggled. They were riding upon Basil's canine companion, Toby, who trotted quickly toward Big Ben. They close they got, the louder the beep on the device upon Helga's wrist. Basil ignored the beeps, his eyes on the road.
"I usually prefer more stable means of transportation," Helga replied, "but we are getting closer."
"I can only imagine what else we have to endure," Aladdin whispered to Hercules. "First we get turned into mice. What could be next?"
"If we have to turn into insects, I'm walking out of here," Hercules whispered back. Toby continued to trot along until they reached Big Ben. All looked up as most of the them was looking upon the building for the first time in awe.
They hopped off the dog and Basil told Toby to stay. "The entrance is this way," he said, leading the group to a door their size.
Helga followed Basil's lead, but hung back a little bit. "We still don't know how much we can trust this guy," she whispered to the others. "Just stay alert."
"There's something wrong here," Basil said quickly. "It's not everyday you find gun powder upon the floors. It seems an evil plot is afoot."
"Just great," Mulan sighed. "It's bad enough we might have to climb to the very top of this thing to find this influence. Now there's gun powder."
Helga's hand instantly went to her hip out of pure instinct, but instead of her gun, found only air. "That's right," she muttered under her breath. Her eyes drifted to the dark abyss above them and her breath quickened just a little subconsciously. Shaking her head, she forced herself back to the situation at hand. "Spread out," she ordered. "We need to find out just what's going on, but I don't want anybody playing hero." Her eyes shifted about knowing well the group she was dealing with. "You find something, you report back before taking any chances, understood?"
"I think we just did," Aladdin said. Everyone looked up to see various other creatures surrounding them from all around, many of them snickering.
"I should have known," Basil said. "If any one would dare have gun powder, it would be that dastardly villain."
"Please, Basil," a voice said behind them. "Your compliments are so dull and uninspiring that I cannot possibly bare to listen to another word." Basil turned with a look of determination as he faced the figure approaching them.
"And your compliments are just as bad as the slime and scum you surround yourself with every day, Ratigan," Basil said.
"My point proven ever so delightfully," Ratigan said with a grin. "And what have we here? Basil has brought along little friends of his own." He turned to Helga and began to chuckle.
Helga's eye's narrowed as her lips formed into a snarl. What she wouldn't give for her gun or any weapon for that matter at this particular moment. "Since you two are obviously familiar with each other, would someone mind filling me in?"
"Why of course my dear," Ratigan said, stepping closer to her. "You see, with every great detective there must surely be an even greater criminal mastermind."
"It's too bad there wasn't any and you had to suffice," Basil said.
"Much like the absence of a great detective, Basil," he said, eyeing Helga as he walked around her. "Poor Basil here has done every little thing that he could to foil my plans, and yet I am always one step ahead of him. And that is why I am the greater criminal mastermind."
"And yet for all that, it would seem that since he's still here, you haven't been what one would call entirely successful," Helga lifted her chin as she spoke, trying to take assessment of just how many men... mice... whatever he had with him and if she had an opening to strike. Hercules would certainly be able to handle more than his share, and she had no doubt the others could as well, but they were standing on a powder keg so to speak. Where was Santorini when she actually had use for him?
"I consider it blind luck," Ratigan said, "just like any other time he so happens to stumble upon my plans. But no matter. I will still have the last laugh and this time he will be dealt with. As for you my dear," he said to Helga, "I just may have some other plans for you."
"Ugly is hitting on Helga," Mulan muttered to herself quietly. "I think I'm going to be sick. This is worse than seeing all those naked men."
"Funny, I was thinking the same thing..." Helga growled crouching down slightly before springing forward with a high kick.
The kick knocked Ratigan off the ground and flying against the wall. Ratigan slowly stood up, growling low as he locked his eyes upon Helga. "Kill the others, leave her to me!" he commanded.
Just as his men began to move, an explosion is made that shook the entire building. Everyone began to look at one another in confusion when another explosion is made.
"What's going on?!" Ratigan yelled. "Who's setting off the bombs?!"
"Those weren't ours, boss," one of his henchmen called. "It's coming from the very top of the building." A third explosion was heard, this time accompanied by falling debris.
"What is this, some kind of convention?" Helga shouted. "Hercules, Mulan, take care of the guests down here. Basil," she turned quickly to the other, "do you know the fastest way up there?"
"There's a lift we can take," he said. "A little risky, but it will get you up there fast." He led the way as Helga and Aladdin followed. "Through this door," he said as he opened it. There was a make shift lift inside. He closed the door behind the other two and he pulled the lever down hard, causing the elevator to shoot upward.
Helga held on tight to keep from lifting off the ground with the speed they were going. "Just who was that creep back there and do you have any other friends we should be watching out for?" she tried to ask over the din of whirling machinery.
"Professor Ratigan," Basil responded. "Criminal mastermind whose plans have yet to show their true purpose. Who knows what he wanted to do with Big Ben, though I think we all had an idea what he wanted with you."
"Don't remind me," Helga shuttered. "Just my luck with men. Of course I'd like to see him just try. He'd be picking his teeth off the ground or worse."
Another explosion was set off, almost slowing the decent. After a moment, the lift stopped. "From here on, we have to navigate through the actual machinery," Basil said. As he opened the door, they saw bolts of lightning shooting all around. In the center of the room floated a giant black figure. "God save the queen! What the devil is that?!"
"I don't know," Helga hissed, "but I think it's one of our friends unfortunately." She started to move forward and made the drastic mistake of looking down. Something clutched at her chest again, only this time, she realized with disgust it was actually fear. This was ridiculous, she wasn't afraid of anything... flashes of a volcano shot through her mind and she clenched her teeth for a minute, forcing them away. "Come on," she said at last. "I don't think we have much time."
Aladdin quickly followed Helga with Basil behind. The black figure shot more lightning bolts at various directions, one of them almost knocking Basil off the gear. "Remind me never to travel inside clocks ever again," Basil said, quickly catching up to the others.
"Any plans?" Aladdin asked, looking around for something to use as a weapon.
"I'll keep that in mind," Helga glanced at Basil. "First we need to figure out just what that thing is," she added turning her attention back to Aladdin. "If it's an electrical creature, we might be able to short it out with some water, but I doubt we'd be that lucky and in any case, we don't have any water."
A bolt of lightning was fired again, causing an explosion that severely trembled the inside. The rumble caused all three to be knocked off the gear and land in various places away from one another. Basil was knocked unconscious in the process.
Helga rubbed her sore head as she forced herself up. She lifted her eyes just in time to dodge out of the way of a large crushing gear. She muttered a few explicative words as she looked around for the others.
Aladdin ran about, continuing to look for something that would act as a weapon. Clipped pieces of metal became the only thing he could rely upon, waving one around as though it were a sword. He ran up the gears and grabbed hold of a chain link moving swiftly upward.
Helga caught sight of Aladdin moving upwards fast. "Be careful! We don't know what that thing is yet!" she shouted. "Damnit," she muttered. "Basil!" she called out looking around. She finally saw the other on a slowly turning gear, but he didn't appear to be moving. "Oh this just keeps getting better and better," she mumbled.
Whatever that black thing was, chances were it was one of the evils that Yen Sid spoke of, but how did he expect them to fight it at this diminutive size? One thing was certain, they had to get it out of Big Ben now. The structure couldn't take much more damage and if that thing was trying to destroy it, they had to save it. If there was a way they could lure it away...
"Hey! You!" Helga shouted at whatever that thing was. Maybe she could at least distract it long enough for Aladdin to get a shot in.
As the figure turned to the direction of Helga's shouting, Aladdin stopped high to the top. He was far enough up high to jump on to the figure. He took a few steps back before me made a running jump. He hoped to God this would work. With both hands gripped on the metal, he slammed it hard into the figure.
He hung there for a moment, waiting for it to react. Nothing. He began to pull himself up when the metal began to cut downward. He looked at it when it cut down again. Look down below, seeing nothing but a series of endless gears. He gulped as the metal began to slice down. When the metal had nothing more to cut, he began to scream as he started to fall.
The figure began to shake about as a light pierced through the cut opening made. After violent shakings, it exploded. In the mist of the explosion, the gears began to piece themselves back together. Aladdin was still falling when suddenly he seemed to have stopped in mid-air.
"I got you, kid," Hercules said, one hand gripped on Aladdin's tail. Aladdin shook a little bit before sighing with relief and nearly passing out.
Helga shielded her eyes as the light erupted. She ran to the edge of the gear to see where Aladdin had fallen, but saw quite thankfully that Hercules had caught him. Slowly she let out a deep breath. Disaster was averted for the moment at least.
Hercules pulled Aladdin in as Mulan ran up the gears to join Helga. At the same time, Basil was beginning to come to. "Ow... what did I miss?" he muttered.
"Ugly and his gang ran away during one of the explosions," Mulan said. "The last one also caused the gun powder to explode, but Hercules and I were within the... uh... thing that took us up. Any way, it's blocked down there."
"Well, that's two problems eliminated for now," Helga nodded. "Though I am a little disappointed the professor got off so easily." She let out just a small sigh. "Now we just have to figure out what that thing was after and what we're supposed to be looking for here."
Hercules climbed up the gears to join the others, still holding the tired Aladdin by the tail. "Well, looks like you've had yourself quite an adventure there, pal," he said. "We caught your little jump onto that thing. Quite a remarkable--"
He stopped in mid-sentence when he noticed the device on Helga's wrist began to glow. Everyone began to turn their eyes to the glowing device. "Maybe that means the mission's complete," Mulan shrugged.
"But... why?" Helga arched her brow skeptically.
"Perhaps that thing was the influence," Aladdin managed to say. "I mean, it was trying to take control of this place."
"He's got a point, Helga," Hercules said. "Destroy the influence, that has been the main focus so far. Just touch the glowing button when you think we're ready to go back."
Helga looked at the device on her wrist. What was so important about these places? She still didn't really understand all of what was happening, but then, she didn't have to understand it to do her job.
"Thank you for your help, Mr. Basil. I trust you'll give the professor our regards next time you see him?" Really, she'd have loved to have the time to take care of him herself, but unfortunately, that was not a luxury they could afford at the present. First the kid in tights, now this rodent... this was all becoming very frustrating.
to be continued...
Thanks to GoblinQueeen, who provided the dialogue and some action for Helga.