Fantasia Crisis
By Lord Akiyama
Inspired by "Crisis on Infinite Earths" by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez
Chapter Sixteen
---
"You know, as much as I love being part of this peachy little group," Clopin said, "there isn't much we can do while we wait." He sat upon the edge of the table playing various simple card tricks, looking as bored as can be.
"Perhaps there is something we can do while we wait," The Fairy Godmother said. "I am quite worried about the companions they bring aboard the ship."
"That is indeed something we should be quite worried about," Fauna said. "Especially Robin's companion. She's been through quite a troubling experience if you ask me."
"What do you say, master," the apprentice asked. "Is there something we can do about the companions?"
The master thought for a moment. "I am sure the twelve would be quite concerned about the safety of their companions more so than all of us," he muttered. "But I cannot grant them stay in my mystical plane for I am still recovering."
"Could we not intervene should trouble arise?" Flora said. "The twelve can handle themselves, I am quite sure. Rather for the sake of the companions."
"Sound reasonable to me," Rafiki said. "No doubt more companions will come. Some in conditions unsafe for troubling situations." Rafiki sat upon on the top of a chair.
The master continued to think. "Very well," he said. "I shall permit those who wish to in providing safety to the companions should the situation arise."
"We might need to intervene as soon as possible," Merlin said, looking into a sphere. "I'm sensing trouble is about to collide with them in a matter of moments."
---
Simba tried not to make a sound as he yawned. Looked around and smiled a little seeing Robin and Marian sleeping comfortably together. He picked himself up and walked up to the deck. The laughter of Lilo and Stitch were heard as they were around about the deck, making him chuckle a little. He then saw Helga looking out upon the waters. He hadn't really talked to her that much. He wasn't sure why. He sighed and shrugged, trotting over to her.
"Clothes look good on you," he commented. "I take it the crew have already tried to strike up a conversation with you."
"Most of them know better, a few not," Helga replied tossing a glance over her shoulder to where Lilo was trying to pull Stitch out of one of the cannons.
Simba looked over and grinned at what Helga was seeing. "I take it she's one of those few," he said.
"The child has no fear," Helga sighed. "That's just not healthy."
"Oh, I'm sure she has fears," he said. "We all do. She probably doesn't express it as much whenever Stitch is around."
Helga shrugged turning back to the water. "It's really none of my concern except that I have to wonder about the logic of bringing joy riders into a dangerous situation."
"Where else can they go?" Simba shrugged. "No doubt all our homes have been altered greatly from the balance disruption and perhaps the Yen Sid has not recovered enough to take them to his mystical plane."
"So we find some safe place for them," Helga returned. "Do you really think they are going to be safe with us? I don't even know that we're going to be safe with us..."
"Something that has been troubling me the minute we brought Lilo on board with us," Amelia said, emerging from her cabin and join the two. "We could try to find a place for them to stay, but it will not be for another two days till we reach land. And if we are to heed the warnings of the apprentice, these waters will be just as dangerous."
"Swell," Helga muttered folding her arms. "As if we haven't had enough fun already."
"Well, since we still have some time," Amelia said, "I suggest we figure out possibilities in releasing the other five from lock. Granted we have no idea what situations they may be, it wouldn't hurt to come up with some strategies."
"What's worked so far?" Helga perked up a little at the possibility of a more strategical conversation.
"Robin is very keen on the idea of the heat of battle," Simba said. "With the person putting forth all their concentration on battle, it suggests that it will tamper with Maleficent keeping control on them. That's how Robin and Amelia got out."
"Ariel was sensitive and was easy to release," Amelia said. "All Simba had to do was speak fond memories to her. By simply seeing Lilo, Stitch was able to release his lock. You passed out for a moment, though we're not entirely clear on the details."
Helga gritted her teeth a little. She really hated be reminded of her weaker moments. "They probably had already given me up for dead," she muttered at last. "So when we find the others, you can try talking," she added with a glance to Simba. "Me, I'm sticking with the more aggressive plan of attack."
She paused for a long moment, looking at the water rather than those she was speaking to. "Thank you, by the way...for before," she mumbled.
"You're welcome," Simba said. "The problem we're going to face are three of the five. If anything, Hercules might be a tough one to release with his being a God."
"Beast literally is one," Amelia said. "And Tarzan adapts very quickly to whatever situation he finds himself in."
"I'm not worried about Tarzan," Helga sniffed indignantly. "I've come up on his type before. Beast, I could take down, though it would be in a more permanent fashion and I think that defeats the whole purpose, but you're right about the 'god' thing. That does pose a bit of a problem...."
"CAPTAIN!" a crewman yelled. "MONSTRO AT FIVE O'CLOCK!"
Amelia turned outward to the sea, catching the silhouette of a large figure. It was swimming toward them. "Blast it all!" she muttered. "ALL HANDS, SECURE LIFELINES! THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE PRETTY!" She turned her attention to the others. "If anything, this beast is going to swallow us whole. We have to think of something fast!"
Flashbacks to a large crustaceous creature with blue lighting flashed through Helga's mind as she jumped down to the deck. "Do we have any harpoons?" she shouted.
"Trust me, you don't want to fire upon him," Amelia said, running about the deck. "He's simply too big. His mouth is ten times bigger than this ship!"
"Oh trust me, I do!" Helga returned. "What else do you suggest then other that covering ourselves with salt?!"
"I suggest you sit back and relax while we do the work," a familiar voice said. They turned to see Merlin Standing there with a grin. "We got quickly bored of waiting for you to strike at Chernabog so we're here to help. Granted we're mostly supposed to help your companions, we're helping all of you nonetheless."
"We could have as easily left you alone to fend yourself," Merlin shot back, "and believe me that Monstro is just simply too big and too fast to handle."
"You keep saying we," Simba said. "Who else is with you?"
"A few good fairies," Merlin said. "Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather are their names. In just a few seconds, they'll have sped up the ship." There was a bump as every began to step back one. "There we go. We should be able to out run him at this speed."
"Sure we will," Merlin said. "As soon as it appears safe, we'll slow it down for you."
Ariel grabbed hold of a railing, looking out to the sea and noticed something ahead. "Oh my Goodness," she said. "Guys! We have trouble ahead!"
"So what's new?" Helga rolled her eyes before leaning over trying to see what Ariel was talking about.
"It's Ursula!" Ariel yelled!
"What the devil is going on here?!" Robin yelled as he emerged from below.
Moments later, a wave of water swept through the deck. Merlin picked himself up off the deck, coughing and damped. "This is the last time I take a ba--"
"STITCH!" Lilo cried. "Stitch, where are you?!"
"Robin?" Marian said as she came up from below. "Robin!"
The three fairies slowed the ship's speed and joined Merlin on the deck. "What's going on?" Merryweather said. "We speed this tug up and all of a sudden we're hearing screams."
"It's that blasted sea witch," Merlin said. "She washed the six off the ship."
"They're somewhere behind us?" Fauna asked.
"Oh, more than that," Merlin replied. "All six are inside Monstro."
---
The Horned King reached the top of the mountain and smiled. What was once the very place where the light touched the mountain became the resting spot of The Firebird. The creature rested, as though it were a rock formation to mask his true appearance. The Horned King smiled.
"Awaken, servant of Chernabog," he said. "Your master summons you to assist me."
The eyes shot wide open. The stench of flame and ash rose from his body before he moved himself awake. He stood in placed and screeched flame from his breath. The Firebird looked down upon The Horned King and narrowed his eyes.
"There is a particular item we are to retrieve," The Horned King said. "And where we are going, there shall be many lives you can take the life of."
The Firebird grinned at the thought.
---
Ariel slowly began to open her eyes. There was nothing but blue. And bubbles. Ariel began looking around and noticed she is underwater. She looked down and noticed her fins. She was a mermaid again. She looked further up, past the surface of the water, to see figures of the others.
"As you can see, my dear, your new friends can't help you now," said a familiar voice. Ariel turned to see the grinning face of Ursula, wearing her father's crown and holding the trident in her hand. "In a matter of seconds, the very water you are swimming in will fill the whale's mouth and those pathetic fools shall drown."
"What have you done to my father?" Ariel demanded.
"Oh, don't worry sweetie," Ursula laughed as she moved to one side. "Your father is being well taken care of." The sea witch revealed King Triton. No longer breathing, no longer alive. He was nothing more than a statue.
"Daddy..." Ariel whispered in sorrow. Quickly her sorrow turned to hate as she narrowed her eyes to the monster responsible. She looked around and noticed far to the ground was her sword. She began to dive for it.
"Where do you think you're going?" Ursula laughed. She waved her free hand, signaling her servants to attack. Flotsam and Jetsam did as their mistress commanded and dove after Ariel.
"It's no use, Helga," Robin said. "The witch got our hands locked in metal and we'll drown long before we could break them with through sheer strength. We have to think of some other way to get out of this and fast."
"Great, anyone speak whale?" Helga grumbled looking around for something they could use. "Because unless someone knows how to say 'spit us the heck out,' I think we're at a stalemate."
Stitch thought for a moment and started doing strange noises that caused the others to cringe.
"Ok, the imminent drowning is bad enough, do I have to go deaf as well?" Helga shouted over the racket, really wishing she could cover her ears.
Ariel took a lot of punishment from the two eels, but kept on swimming. She was determined to reach the sword. The eels even bit at her, yet she kept on swimming. She would often flip to avoid a particular attack, but it would cause her decent to slow. She outreached her arm as she neared the sword.
"Do I have to do everything myself?!" Ursula yelled. She aimed her trident downward and narrowed her eyes. "Say good night, honey," she laughed as she fired.
Ariel grabbed the hilt of the sword and swung her body. The blade connected with both eels just as it connected with the energy blast from the trident. As the sword continued to swing, the blast was knocked in the opposite direction. It missed Ursula and slammed against the top of the whale's mouth near Stitch. Stitch began to growl.
"A little more to the left..." Helga muttered in a disappointed tone.
"What the..." Ursula said in sheer shock. "No sword could withstand the power of the trident!"
"Except this one," Ariel said as she began to swim upward. Ursula fired again, Ariel knocking it back at her. This time, the black connected to one of the tentacles. Ursula screamed in pain, causing her to descend a little. Ariel swam faster toward the sea witch, determination firing in her eyes.
"No!" Ursula screamed, firing once more at Ariel. Once again, it was knocked back at her. The blast connected at her chest, causing Ursula to scream louder. Seconds later, she stopped screaming. She looked down to see the sword jammed in her chest.
"This is for my father," Ariel whispered before releasing the sword. Ursula screamed at her loudest before black smoke engulfed her. Soon, everything began to fade away. All that remained was the crown and the trident. As if it were planned, the crown fell upon Triton's head and the trident in one of his hands. Ariel swam over, feeling sorrow as she ran her fingers gently across her father's face.
"When Chernabog has been defeated, then he will be restored," a familiar voice said. Ariel slowly turned to face Yen Sid, who appeared to be floating in the water. Yet he appeared as though he was outside of time and space itself. "I have released the locks on the others and they will be able to breathe underwater," he added as splashes were heard above. The others began to float down to meet them.
"Talk about nice time," Simba said, unsure of what to think being underwater and able to speak.
"I don't know, it might have been nicer if he had gotten here before we were swallowed," Helga shot back.
Stitch was in a frantic state of panic before Amelia quickly grabbed him. "I take it the recovery is coming along nicely," she said to the master.
"In a way," he said. "The same can be said for Chernabog. I cannot transport you all back to the ship. It would take too much of the energy I am still recovering. I can transport you to a place for a small resting period until my apprentice returns from an errand I sent him on."
"As long as it doesn't involve being digested by a large sea mammal, I'm in," Helga nodded.
"Very well," the master said. He waved his fingers and began to mutter. Moments later, everyone was engulfed in a flash of light. When the light faded, the six looked around there surroundings. For Helga, it was all too familiar.
"Wait, no!" Helga's eyes widened enormously. "We have to get out of here now!" she said already taking a few steps back.
"What?" Simba asked, joined by the others with confused looks. "What's the problem with this place?"
"Did I ask if anyone had any questions or did I say let's move?!" Helga insisted without pause.
"Well, we would like to know before we actually do," Amelia said, arching her eyebrows. "What is--"
She was caught off when a series of people surrounded them, spears raised toward them. Robin quickly pulled out a few arrows, until he noticed flying vehicles above them. "What the devil..." he muttered.
Helga unsheathed the sword at her hip as she narrowed her eyes. "Explanation enough for you?" she muttered.
to be continued...
Thanks to GoblinQueeen, who provided the dialogue and some action for Helga.