Fantasia Crisis
By Lord Akiyama
Inspired by "Crisis on Infinite Earths" by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez
Chapter Twenty-Four
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"Just over this little cliff and we'll be at the ship," Amelia said. "Luckily there is a path we can walk upon."
"Finally," Helga muttered with the same cheery disposition she had maintained the whole trip. "Not that it hasn't been an absolute lark..."
Stitch crawled past everyone before stopping in front of Helga. He grinned and threw a snow ball at her face. Laughing about, he started to make a run for the cliff.
"Why you little..." Helga murmured whipping the snow from her face. "Come back here!" she called taking off after him. "You're going to make a nice pair of fur lined gloves!"
Simba chuckled as much as he could. The cold environment was very unkind to him as it was unfamiliar surroundings to him. "I see everyone's as enthusiastic as ever," he said. "We must really be close to the ship by now."
"I'm still finding this quite confusing," Aladdin said. "Agrabah doesn't have anything remotely close to snow. Yet it began to snow just as we left."
"Part of the balance disruption, I guess," Beast said. "Many things probably got turned upside down. Snowing in a desert. Flowers grow on water. Things like that."
"The sooner we get this thing over with, the better," Hercules said. He looked up to see Helga blasted with another snow ball in the face. "I'm sure she'll agree."
"That's it..." Helga hissed grabbing a couple handfuls of snow. She choose her timing well, throwing out the first ball off target to capture his attention and nailing him in the back of the head with the second.
"Glad to see someone is awfully cheery," Amelia whispered to Simba with a grin.
Simba chuckled again. "Goes to show that we all seem to be coming together quite nicely," he said. He took another step on the path when he is suddenly stuck with something. He roared is surprise and pain as he was pushed into a pit with the figure that rammed into him.
"Simba!" Amelia cried, causing everyone to turn their attention.
"What's going on?" Helga shouted as she ran back over.
"Your eventual death is what is going on," a voice laughed above them. All turned to see standing upon the cliff was The Horned King. "Behold! My Cauldron Born!" Seconds later, skeleton creatures emerged from the ground clutching swords, battles axes, and every other form of weaponry from the middle ages.
Hercules swung his fist at one that was close to him. The creature slammed against the wall. However, he did not break upon impact. In fact, it appeared that Hercules, a demi-God, did not cause any form of damage to the creature. "Ok, this is new," he said.
"You..." Helga narrowed her eyes as she stared up at the robed figure. "You're the one that I saw back in Atlantis!"
"Quite right, my dear," The Horned King grinned. "But woe is me, we shall never have another kind of meeting ever again. I'm afraid you will all have to die at the hands of my invincible army."
Simba shook himself as he tried to begin to get to his feet. "Don't you ever learn, Simba," a familiar voice spoke. Simba's eyes shot open in strict horror and turned to the speaker. "After all, I only did what I could for the well being of my favorite nephew."
"No..." Simba whispered. "It can't be..."
"But it is," Scar grinned. Simba saw that he wasn't the same from he was last seen. His entire body was cold and dark. He no longer had eyes. There was nothing but empty darkness. "And this time, I will stand triumphant."
More Cauldron Born began to emerge from the ground, causing many of the heroes to be separated. Robin launched only two arrows before trying to find other methods to fight back. Helga was standing upon the path rather close to The Horned King.
Helga looked around her at the ensuing carnage. From what she could tell, it was like fighting Rourke. Whatever these things were, they weren't human.
"You're right, we won't be meeting like this again," she finally whispered pulling out her sword as she she looked back to the horned man, "but not how you think." Without another thought, she threw herself at him, blade at the ready.
The Horned King drew a sword from underneath his cloak and blocked her swings. He then gained the offensive, striking harder and harder with each swing. He eventually knocked her to the ground, almost causing her to fall off the cliff. "Did you really think I was but a pathetic old fool?" he laughed. "You have no idea who you are dealing with."
"I try never to judge on appearance, but in your case, I made an exception," Helga glared.
Simba struck his uncle in the face. He couldn't understand it when Scar just laughed and appeared not to have been harmed by the attack. "My turn," Scar said, whose strike was much harder than Simba had ever felt. Simba screamed as the forced drove him against a wall. Scar then leaped upon his nephew and continued his attack. The slashes and strikes are harder and harder, many times ripping into his flesh. Simba could only roar in immense pain.
Amelia heard the roar and looked about to figure out what to do. Barely anything was harming these creatures. Even Excalibur seemed to be useless as Ariel could not even damage them with the sword. She then looked up at the cliff to see Helga and the horned creature. She then noticed an object behind the figure. It was a cauldron.
"Cauldron..." she whispered. "Cauldron Born... Ariel! Toss Helga Excalibur! Helga! You have to destroy the Cauldron!"
"Oh, sure easy for you to say!" Helga called back. She took a moment sizing up her opponent, letting him move in a bit closer before she kicked upwards with her legs and as he fell back, crawled out of the way. "Get Hercules to throw the sword! " She shouted. "She'll never never make it this far!"
Ariel heard this and began to look around for someone to help her. All she could see where endless hordes of Cauldron Born. Then, Beast appeared from underneath a group and started fighting them. A familiar laughed was heard as Ariel turned just to have the sword taken out of her hands by Stitch.
Simba slammed hard against the ground, grunting in pain as he had never experienced. He heard Scar laugh at him from behind as he looked for a way to get out of danger. He noticed as spot in the wall and tried to make a quick run for it. Scar followed behind just as Simba dove into the opening. "You can hide all you want, Simba," Scar laughed. "I will strike you again."
Stitch ran as far up the cliff as he could before being met by Cauldron Born emerging from the wall. Stitch looked up and tossed the sword over the cliff before jumping on one of the emerging creatures, causing both of them to tumble downward.
Helga saw the sword in midair and swung around with a roundhouse kick before diving for it. The Horned King threw his sword to the ground and drew another, this one glowing, as he prepared himself to defend the Cauldron from the one who bore Excalibur.
Helga turned back around, sword in hand and a grim determination in her eyes beneath the dirt and sweat. "Last chance to just walk away," she whispered, her voice almost taunting.
"The same to you," The Horned King grinned.
"Thanks for the offer," Helga replied raising the sword, "but never have and I don't intend to now."
The Horned King blocked the swing successfully. His grin grew wider as Excalibur didn't make even a scratch upon his sword. "Not all your mythologies explain that there is a sword from my world whose power matches that of Excalibur," he said. He swung his sword, the force knocking Helga off her feet.
"Yeah, and not all of our mythologies explain something as ugly as you, either, but I let that slide," Helga shot back, rolling out of the way of his sword. She pushed her arms behind her, using the leverage to get back to her feet, then faked a blow to the left before making a break to the right.
"Then you haven't read that this sword knows when and where you're attacking me," The Horned King said, as the sword raised itself to block the attack to the right. He swung, the force much harder than the last, causing Helga to nearly slide off the cliff.
Helga planted Excalibur into the ground to keep from falling over the edge. "Well, I guess I shouldn't attack you then, should I?" she grinned slightly before diving again towards the Cauldron.
The Horned King leaped in front of her and knocked her back down to the ground. "I will not allow you the pleasure of victory, my dear," he laughed. "That is a fruit that I shall savor." He then took a swing at her with all his force.
"Didn't your mother ever teach you to share?" Helga hissed throwing up her sword to block his blow, but unfortunately not before the blade had scraped across her cheek. "I have a little news for you, too," she said striking out again with all of her effort. "I am not going to have the last thing my husband remembers about me being that I was mad at him." Her eyes flashed with determination as she stared the other down. "I don't care what it takes, I refuse to let you walk away from here." With a sudden burst of energy, she threw herself at him again.
Simba leaped over his uncle just as Scar bust through the rock that guarded him. Simba was too injured to land properly as he slammed against the ground. He continued to crawl until a paw struck his back. Simba roared so loud that everyone could hear his pain. Scar rolled his nephew over and stood on him.
"Now cracks a noble heart," he said, laughing as he raised a paw in the air. "Good night, sweet prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest."
Helga looked up as she heard Simba's roar. There wasn't anymore time, she had to take a chance. She dropped down to the ground, sliding underneath the legs of her opponent and threw herself at the Cauldron for all she was worth.
"NO!" The Horned King screamed, but it was too late. Excalibur had sliced through the Cauldron. An explosion was made, though it made no harm to Helga.
Scar stopped in place, as though he was frozen. He was not the only one as all the Cauldron Born began to freeze in place. Simba put forth all his strength to flip Scar. Scar landed against the ground, his body breaking him half. He screamed as he looked up to see Simba put forth whatever strength he has left to slam his paw upon his uncle's skull.
Hercules bunched one of the Cauldron Born, watching it shatter into dust. The others followed his lead as they destroyed whatever Cauldron Born remained. The Horned King watched on the cliff in strict horror. Then in anger. He pulled his sword and charged after Helga.
Helga turned back around and though out her sword in front of her just in time to catch him as he came at her. There was a slight pause as they both stood motionless before she looked down to see Excalibur buried to the hilt in the robes of her assailant.
The Horned King stared down in horror of the sword that was impaled in his body. He took several steps back, not realizing that was he stepping over the cliff. He fell out of view. Everyone looked over, all that remained was the sword sticking through a skeleton.
Helga knelt down in the snow, her body still tense with adrenaline as she caught her breath. "Is everyone alright?" she called out loudly. "Sound off."
Everyone began to sound off, until Amelia realized something. "Simba!" she cried, and rushed over to the pit. Everyone followed and saw Simba lying on the ground. He was a bruised and battered mess, yet he was still breathing.
"Hercules, get down there and help him out," Helga directed as she hurried over. "Tarzan, see if you can find something to help carry him." She in turn pulled off the loose outer shirt she was wearing and began tearing it up to cover some of the wounds.
Hercules lifted Simba over his shoulder as Beast jumped down and lifted the both of them out. Tarzan leaped around looking for anything when he stopped in place. "Trouble ahead!" he yelled, barely moving out of the way of danger. The screeching call of The Firebird appeared at the top of the cliff.
"Damnit! These guys never take a break, do they?" Helga cursed as she quickly bound a couple of Simba's wounds. "Where's Excalibur?"
All looked toward the sword, just in time to watch the path to it getting blocked by the lava flowing from The Firebird. The Firebird continued to flow as he created a gate surrounding them.
"I don't know about anyone else, but I have had it with these people!" Helga muttered.
"Ta... Ta... Tarzan..." Simba managed to whisper.
"Don't say anything," Ariel said. "It will only hurt you some more."
"Ta... Ta... Tarzan..." Simba whispered, clearly ignoring Ariel's plea. "Out... Out... Outside..."
Amelia quickly caught. "Tarzan can get to the sword," she said. "Tarzan! Get Excalibur!"
"Everyone be ready to move," Helga said tying the last of the fabric around Simba's paw. "And you," she added turning to the lion, "stay still or I'm going to have to make you by force."
"Watch... out..." Simba whispered before passing out.
"Simba...? Simba!" Helga called urgently. He was still breathing, but they still needed to get him out of there. "Move it, Tarzan!" Helga didn't heed Simba's words and was nearly hit by The Firebird as he zoomed by them. The intensity of the heat, however, was too much for her to take and knocked her unconscious.
Tarzan leaped as quickly as he could, using his feet to slide upon the cliff wall and some of the surroundings to avoid making contact with the lava. Tarzan used his hands to pick up speed as he made a timed jump over The Firebird and landing next to the sword. He picked up Excalibur and made his famous cry before slamming the blade of the sword upon the lava.
The Firebird cried at the immense pain of the sword. It then suddenly couldn't control his own lava as it began to revert back toward him. The Firebird began to shake violent while Taran rejoined the others. The Firebird tried to scream, but no sound could be made. Before everyone's eyes, The Firebird began to harden as though he was turning into stone. He wanted to badly to scream, but he couldn't. Moments later, he appeared nothing more than a statue.
"Thank Heaven," Robin sighed, falling to his knees. Everyone pretty much did the same except Stitch. Stitch nudged at Helga, but she wouldn't wake. A grin came over his face and dumped a pile of snow on her face. That would certainly wake her up.
Helga sputtered awake as she spit the snow away from her mouth. "What in the ... who ..." but before she finished her thought, she caught sight of Stitch still grinning. "Why you furry blue monster!"
"Save it for later, Helga," Amelia said. "Hercules, pick up Simba. We need to get on the ship as quickly as possible."
Helga pushed herself up quickly without a word, checking Simba again briefly. "Can I borrow your coat, captain?" she asked. "We need to keep him as warm as possible."
"No prob--" Before Amelia could answer, there was a cracking sound coming from the statue that was The Firebird. Everyone turned in sudden horror. Tarzan gripped Excalibur, waiting for the enemy to emerge. Suddenly, the statue exploded and a blinding light appeared before them.
Moments later, the light began to fade and before them was beauty. She was a little different from when they last saw her, and yet they knew it was her. It was the smile. It was so child like. The Spring Sprite had been reborn. She twirled around, turning what was snow into grass and flowers. She brought spring to a winter setting. She then floated up to the others and gave them a reassuring smile.
She then looked upon the unconscious Simba. She floated gently to him. With her hands, she brushed his mane before running her hand over his wounds. In a mere instant, the wounds were gone. Simba began to breathe easier and soon regained consciousness. He opened his eyes to meet the smiling face of The Spring Sprite.
"Thanks," he said, feeling a lot better than he was before.
Helga stood, her eyes still a little wide at what she had just seen. Really, nothing should surprise her anymore, but... it was very clear that there was more in this world than could be justified by logic, but none the less, was just as real as she was.
"You can put me down now," Simba said to Hercules, who quietly did as he was told. "Glad to see you finally came around to rejoin us."
"All it takes is a little patience," The Spring Sprite said.
"It talks?" Helga arched her eyebrow.
The Spring Sprite turned to Helga and gave off her innocent, child-like smile. "Did you ever doubt the thought?" she giggled.
"Yeah, if you want to get right down to it, I did," Helga replied indignantly folding her arms.
The Spring Sprite giggled some more before pulling everyone into one giant group hug. "Oh, I missed you guys too!" she giggled, hugging them tight.
"Yeah, and I'm going to miss breathing in a few moments if you don't let go!" Helga gasped trying to catch her breath.
The Spring Sprite continued to giggle as she loosened her grip on everyone before she began to float in the air. "We should head back now," she said, floating over the cliff and toward the ship. "The master of masters is waiting for us."
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to be continued
Thanks to GoblinQueeen, who provided the dialogue and some action for Helga.