Fantasia Crisis

By Lord Akiyama

Inspired by "Crisis on Infinite Earths" by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez

Chapter Twenty-One

---

Robin jumped onto the boat and quickly grabbed a cup of water Marian was holding for him. "Well, there's a little good news in store for you, Helga," he said.

"What, you're sending me in to deal with a snake?" Helga threw back rather disinterested. "Wait, I know, you found a large stock pile of cheese and you saved it all for me."

"I was thinking more along the lines of finding the lab that made the potion that turned you into a mouse," he replied. "Not to mention a potion that will turn you back into your human form."

Helga's ears perked up at attention instantly. "Where is it?" she insisted bluntly as she pulled out her pin-sword.

"It's where I found Mulan," Robin replied. "But it's not going to be easy. Both getting her and the potion. For one thing, this place is guarded by those brutes who tried to prevent me and the others from retrieving Merlin from our first mission."

"Do they have her?" Simba asked.

"Thankfully, no," Robin said. "She's actually hidden from them. In a very peculiar place."

"That's lovely, what about this potion..." Helga tried to get Robin's attention.

"For one thing, it's underground," Robin said. "For another, it's being held by someone. Some big rat. I think you guys mentioned him when you came back from you along with Aladdin, Mulan, and Hercules were mice."

Helga began muttering several expressive phrases under her breath as she thrust her make-shift sword deep into the wood.

"Even better, this all takes place in a very grand city," Robin added. "If you ask me, it the kind that's ahead of my time."

"Planes, trains, and automobiles?" Amelia said.

"Is that what they're called?" Robin said with a shrug.

"Well, this certain made things just the more interesting," Simba muttered.

"Interesting?" Helga quirked her eyebrow. "I don't think interesting really covers it, do you?"

"So what's the course of action?" Beast asked.

"Well, I guess I'm out of this one," Simba said. "Besides, we need speed on this one and that I don't really have. I take it you're more than willing to go for this one, Helga?"

Helga grumbled a few more choice phases. "I'm in," she muttered at last, "but I think I'm going to need a bigger sword..."

"For when you get bigger, is that right?" Amelia said. "I'll carry your sword. So how am I going to lead this rag tag bunch on this one, great lion?"

"Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt for a little separation," Simba said. "Do you mind if Tarzan helps you out on your problem, Helga?"

"I meant to hold off the giant rat..." Helga mumbled through clenched teeth. "A revolver would be nice, but I suppose that's too much to ask for."

"I'll take that as a yes," Simba said. "Tarzan and Helga will be getting the potion while Amelia, Robin, and Beast go after Mulan. Any questions?"

"One," Helga turned to Tarzan. "How good are you with rats? Big ones?"

"Used as bait," Tarzan said. "Why you ask?"

"Oh, no reason," Helga sighed.

---

Robin opened the door as quietly as possible. He pointed Amelia and Beast to the set of stairs they had to climb. They dropped on all fours and quietly and swiftly moved up the stairs. They got back onto their hind legs upon reaching a door. Robin nodded and opened the door as it made a small squeak.

"Pongo, someone's in the house," a voice whispered.

"It's alright, darling," another voice spoke. "It's that Robin fellow. He said he would be back, along with a few friends."

"Nice to see you again as well," Robin whispered to them. "Amelia, Beast, meet Pongo and Perdita. The faithful Dalmatian companions of the house residence and proud parents of 99 pups."

"99?" Amelia whispered.

"Well, it's quite a long story," Perdita whispered with a light giggle.

"Unfortunately, we don't have time for that," Robin whispered. "Is the book still here?"

"Resting the chair as you left it," Pongo whispered. "A few of the pups are already waiting for you within."

"Within?" Beast whispered. The appearance Beast rather startled the two dogs for a moment. "That can't be right. How can someone be within the book."

"Rather hard to explain," Perdita said. "As I understand it, the book is enchanted. Our companions rarely look at the book, and the children were curious as to what it was about. Then they vanished into the book."

"Did they ever get out?" Amelia asked.

"All you have to do is say, 'The End,'" Robin whispered. "You'll appear out of the book and back here."

"So Mulan is in there?" Beast asked.

"I don't know how she got there, but we don't really have much of a choice," Robin said.

"What's the book about, any way?" Amelia asked.

"A stuffed teddy bear," Robin replied.

---

"Strange water," Tarzan said as he stepped into the sewer water, which came up to his waist. He held Helga in one hand.

"I hardly think this can really be called water anymore," Helga replied.

Tarzan walked through until he saw the hole in the wall Robin mentioned. There was lights coming out and some music and chattering. "Must be it," he said.

"Swell," Helga sighed. "Alright, set me down and I'll try to scout it out. Try to stay out of sight, though. We really don't want to do anything until they're asleep. I'll get back to you once I know the layout."

Tarzan did as he was told and looked around to find a place to keep out of sight. Helga crept along the shadows, peering cautiously around the doorframe before slipping inside. Helga ducked quickly into the shadows of a large pile of coins, jewelry and other worthless junk, but it quickly became apparent there was little need. The entire room was empty. But if that was the case, where had that noise been coming from unless... she had to get out fast.

"SURPRISE!!!" a round of voices echoed as various mice jumped upon her, quickly to tie her up. They laughed about as the completed this and bagged her head, throwing her into a small fountain of wine. Helga sputtered trying to keep her head above the liquid, though it was easier said than done when it was hard to tell which way was up.

"Well, well, it had to happen one day, Basil," a familiar voice sounded. "I mean, you would truly have nothing better to do than to try and disrupt whatever brilliant plan I had."

"Brilliant hardly describes this scenario," Helga thought to herself as she struggled to try and break through the ropes, but the longer he didn't realize who she was, the better.

"Well then," came a chuckle, "let's see that wonderfully surprised face of yours." He laughed as he removed the hood. His laughter shifted to shock of his own. And then a grin came upon his face. "My, oh, my, is this the biggest present I could ever be given. Oh, you boys are such the generous bunch."

"A little too generous if you ask me," Helga fairly growled. "Alright, vermin, here's the deal. I have a rather large friend outside and if I don't come back, he's going to tear this place to pieces, so it would be in both of our best interest for you to untie me right now, give me whatever 'potion' you have stashed down here and we'll all walk away still able to breath."

"Is that so," Ratigan chuckled. "Well then, I'll just have to let you go. Unless, of course, I have a rather large friend of my own outside with him."

Tarzan began to sniff about, sensing something very wrong in the water. Bubbles began to run along toward him. Tarzan pulled out his spear and prepared for the worst. Emerging from the waters was one head, then two. Then three. And four. Tarzan raised an eyebrow as he saw a hydra emerge from the waters before him.

"Look, whatever little pet store reject you have running around down here, I don't think it's going to pose much of a problem to a human that grew up in the jungle," Helga glared. "They probably know some of the same people."

"Oh, I beg to differ," Ratigan laughed, running a finger down her wine soaked cheek. "Even if you live in a jungle, it's not everyday you face a creature with an almost limitless number heads that keep growing and growing and growing."

Helga seized the opportunity to bite down hard on his finger. Ratigan clinched his teeth from screaming before he successfully pulled his finger away. His clinched anger turned into a grin. "Feisty little girl, eh?" he chuckled.

"You know, the more I hear that, the more it seriously pisses me off," Helga shot back.

Before anything else could be said, there was a rumble all about them. Moments later, the passed out head of a hydra burst through the wall. Nearly everyone began to panic, causing frustration in Ratigan.

"I figured you guys would need my help," the familiar chuckle of Hercules sounded.

"You were saying?" Helga arched an eyebrow as she managed a sly grin to the overgrown rat. "Now, about my earlier proposition..."

---

"I could only imagine what Helga would be saying if she had to be here," Amelia mused, looking about her surroundings. "Quite a rather cheery place for Mulan to be."

"It's a great place to play in," one of the pups said, running around the three. "Maybe she came here to do that."

"With what's been going on lately, I kind of doubt it," Amelia said. "Do you happen to know where she is?"

"I know exactly where she is," Robin said, nodding his head to the direction of a path. The others followed him until they came upon Mulan sitting at the foot of a tree with a yellow teddy bear. She was also wearing unusual clothing. It wasn't everyday either of them saw someone wearing a short sleeve shirt, knee high socks and a knee length skirt. They both appeared to be thinking.

"Think... think... think..." they both said.

"You're kidding," Amelia said. "This is becoming a bit like Tarzan."

"Tarzan was brain-dead," Robin said, "Mulan doesn't remember even a pebble. Combine that with short-term memory loss and we're in a bit of a trouble."

"You're in trouble," a voice said. "I'm the one who's supposed to be her guardian. I can't even get her to notice me!" Appearing before them was a small red creature that resembled a lizard.

"And you are..." Amelia said.

"My name is Mushu," it said. "I'm a dragon. Travel size for her convenience. I finally find her after she just went up and disappeared with some figure claiming to be the master of masters two years ago. And now look at her!"

"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Mulan asked.

"See what I mean?!" Mushu shouted. "She's as cookie as chocolate chips!"

"What about the teddy bear?" Beast asked. "Is he the same as her?"

"Oh bother," the teddy bear spoke. "Even at my thoughtful spot, we can't seem to find it."

"Find what?" Amelia asked.

"Her name," he replied. "We can't find her name."

"Doesn't anybody in this nut house listen to me?!" Mushu shouted. "Her name is Mulan! Moo-lan! MULAN!!!"

"And do you know your name, sir?" Amelia asked the teddy bear, quickly ignoring the shouting dragon.

"Oh, I know my name," the bear smiled. "My name is Winnie. Winnie the Pooh. Pleasure to meet you."

As all this was going on, Beast noticed something out of the corner of his eye. There was a small figure that quickly disappeared behind a tree. Curious, he walked over to the tree. He examined it for a moment. Then, he quickly reached behind and grabbed something soft. Lifting it up, he held a shivering pig in his hand.

Beast raised an eyebrow. "And who might you be, little one?" he asked.

"Uh... uh..." the pig began to mutter in fear. "M-My name is... uh... P-Piglet..."

"Piglet, eh?" Beast said, cracking a grin. "You can call me Beast."

"Uh... w-whatever you say... M-Mr. Beast..." Piglet muttered.

Beast chuckled. "Just Beast is fine," he said, placing Piglet on the ground. "You seem afraid, little fellow. What's wrong?"

"Uh... uh... it's just... that... well..." Piglet started to mutter. "I mean... well... I mean... it's not often you meet someone... someone... like you..."

"Monstrous?" Beast added, to which Piglet quickly nodded. Beast lightly chuckled. "I don't blame you. I do look rather like a monster. But then I met someone, someone I care for so much, who taught me something. She told me to look in the mirror for what you see may not be what others see. In fact, what you see is who you are inside. So when I see my reflection, do I see a monster? Before I met her, I would have said yes."

"If you don't see a monster," Piglet began to ask in a shy manner, "what do you see?"

"Well, that's something I like to keep to myself," Beast chuckled. "But it goes to show how people tend to react quickly when they see something different. How before they ever have the chance to know someone, they run away because of what they see. I look like a monster, but am I a monster?"

Piglet began to think about what was said. He fell into a seated position and continued to think. "So, if I run away," Piglet started, "I wouldn't have known if you were actually a nice person." Beast nodded in agreement. "I run away from any one different. Maybe they're friendly, but I wouldn't know."

"You really don't know a person until you actually sit down and talk to them," Beast said with a smile on his face.

"I guess there really is a heart underneath all that fur," said a voice. Beast turned and saw Mulan standing there. "And here I thought you were just another hulking monster, but I guess I was wrong Beast."

"Mulan!" Mushu cheered. "You're back to normal!"

"Oh, stop it Mushu," Mulan laughed. "You're embarrassing me in front of my friends. I hope he wasn't too much of an annoyance to you guys."

"Hey!" Mushu pouted. The others began to laugh.

"Well, I guess we fixed our problem," Amelia said. "Thank you for being so patient with us, Mr. Pooh."

"Your very welcome," Winnie said.

"You think we can go home now?" Mulan asked. "Not to mention some decent clothing."

"At least keep wearing it for a few more minutes," Mushu snickered. Seconds later, his face was met with a thrown rock.

---

"Thanks for the clothes," Mulan whispered to the dogs.

"You're quite welcome," Perdita said. "Our companions won't be needing them." The others made their good-byes before leaving the room.

"We quietly make our way out of the neighborhood so we don't get spotted," Robin said as the group began to tie toe down the stairs. "Are you sure you can keep your mouth shut, Mushu?"

"Why does everyone think I'm a loud mouth?!" Mushu whispered. Mulan shoved him deeper into her coat pocket. They quietly opened the door, everyone stepping out one at a time, before the door was closed. They looked around before walking down the sidewalk and then sneaking into a dark alley.

"Keep to the shadows and we're home free," Amelia whispered.

"I highly doubt that," a voice said above them. In a state of panic, they looked up and saw a grinning figure with a falcon resting upon his forearm.

"Shan Yu..." Mulan said.

"I must apologize," he said. "But I'm afraid you won't be going any where." Emerging next to him upon the roofs seemed like an endless line of men.

"Oh, blast it all!" Amelia hissed.

to be continued...

Thanks to GoblinQueeen, who provided the dialogue and some action for Helga.