Arriving in Fantasyland, Silver and Marian hopped off of Maximus, readying their weapons for any sign of an attack. Soren flew over them, looking for wherever the key would be. "I think I see something over by Storybook Circus!" the Jaquin called.
"Then let us be off," Marian nodded. The quartet made their way to their destination, having to stop a few times to defeat Cast Bots that jumped out to fight them. These were more elaborate than ones they met before, wearing costumes themed to knights, merry men, and other fantasy-based professions. It was clear that Hex had more influence here than any place the team had ever been before.
"…And we're… Here…" Silver said, stopping at the gates to the circus. The group looked in wearily as the normally happy and whimsical circus from Dumbo was more like something out of a Goosebumps book.
"If Hex thinks he can scare us away, he's wrong," Marian said, standing strong.
Soren shook his head and smiled. "Yeah, we can face anything he can throw at us!"
"Just watch out for pink elephants on parade," Silver said, laughing nervously. Maximus nudged his partner, urging him to take the lead into the circus. "Okay, I guess the best place to look would just be the big top tent."
As they wandered through the circus, all of the Cast Bots they encountered were themed around dumbo: fireman clowns, carnival workers, and the big guys were dressed as the infamous pink elephants. One of those robots almost got the drop on Silver, but a new face suddenly came in with a sword and cut the robot down.
"Watch out there!" said the man, going back-to-back with Silver and smiling.
"A-Anthony!?" Silver sputtered out.
"Hey there, Silver," Anthony replied, using his sword to defeat the rest of the robots.
"What are you doing here?" Soren asked.
"I got the call, same as the rest of your friends," Anthony explained.
Marian pulled Soren over to the side and whispered. "I sense something off about this boy. We need to keep an eye on him."
Soren nodded. "Hey guys, shouldn't we go into the big top now?"
"You're right," Silver said. "Good to have you at our side, Anthony."
The knight nodded, following the group as the entered the big top. Once they got inside, the lights shut off, with a spotlight appearing the middle of the arena. "Step right up and face your demise, humans," said a voice, with a familiar face stepping into the arena.
"Brooklyn!?" the heroes shouted in surprise.
The red gargoyle look at his friends with glowing green eyes, a blank stare that signaled at something was off. "Oh, that's Brooklyn all right, but he's been put under new management," Hex said, appearing in front of the team and locking them in the big top. "If you want te key from this place, then you'll have to stop Brooklyn from turning you to mincemeat. But uh oh, he's under the Grimorum Aranorum's spell, and you don't have that magic book with you. Too bad, looks like you'll have to take him out to win."
"I don't think I understood a word of what he just said," Soren admitted, sweating nervously.
"It's a magic book that the evil Gargoyle Demona once used to control Goliath," Anthony explained. He got in front of the group and blocked Brooklyn as he attacked.
"Wow Anthony, I didn't take you as a Gargoyles fan," Silver admitted.
"It's medieval and gothic, two of my favorite things," Anthony said.
As the human and gargoyle batted in an intense sword duel, more Cast Bots came in to fight the heroes. Soren and Marian focused on them, letting Anthony battle Brooklyn while Silver and Maximus figured out a way to save Brooklyn. The team leader looked around. "Any ideas, guys?"
"Not really," Soren said.
Marian looked at Anthony and voiced her opinion. "I think it's strange that Anthony just happened to appear here. Could he be part of this in some way?"
"Like a fake Anthony created by Hex?" Silver gasped. "Anthony, is that true?"
The knight looked to Silver as he clashed swords, shaking his heads. "I don't… think so? I remember the double date we had with Adam, and being turned into a frog by Trader Sam. But after I met with Doctor Strange to turn me back my mind goes blank. I only remember waking up in New Orleans Square after that and getting the message you guys sent out."
"Maybe Hex kidnapped him and did something to his memories, like he did to Jasiri," Soren suggested.
"Then we should jog those missing memories back," Silver said. He held up his magic remote, sending out electricity and changing the spotlight to focus on himself. "How about we sing our signature song, Anthony? Marian and Soren, you guys can join in too!"
"As long as it also helps us stop Brooklyn from trying to skewer us," Marian said, dodging an attack from the gargoyle.
Silver smiled then used his remote again to turn on the speakers in the big top. Music swelled up as he started to sing out.
Silver:
I'm not a stranger to the dark
Hide away, they say
'Cause we don't want your broken parts
Brooklyn moved in to try and attack Silver, but the boy pulled out his magic paintbrush, creating his own sword (a rapier) to push the strike away.
I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars
Run away, they say
No one will love you as you are
Silver looked to Anthony and smiled as he sang the next part.
But I won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us
For we are glorious
Stepping up next to his partner, Anthony sang the next line, the two of them continuing to parry Brooklyn.
Anthony:
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
The two smiled as Soren, Marian, and Maximus defeated more Cast Bots, the room starting to glitch as Hex's technology was being affected by the music.
Look out 'cause here I come
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
The two sword wielders sang out as the music swelled, finally managing to knock Brooklyn's swords away. The gargoyle pulled out a laser riffle to blast them, but Marian used her bow to grab his attention.
Marian:
Another round of bullets hits my skin
Well, fire away 'cause today
I won't let the shame sink in
Soren then flew down, using his dice to make fireworks that caught Brooklyn off-guard.
Soren:
We are bursting through the barricades
And reaching for the sun
(We are warriors!)
Yeah, that's what we've become!
Marian and Soren shared a high-five as they stood tall, shining in the light as they sang with all their hearts.
Marian & Soren:
Won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us
For we are glorious!
The five heroes all clapped, lighting up the big top as Hex's grip slipped further out of his control, turning the circus back into a happy and cheerful place.
All:
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
Gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me
Their combined magic made them untouchable to Brooklyn, pouring out of the tent and restoring the rest of the circus as well.
Look out 'cause here I come
And I'm marching on to the beat I drum
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me
Silver stood up smiling as he let the magic surround him, changing his clothes into a flashy dress.
Silver:
And I know that I deserve your love
There's nothing I'm not worthy of!
Silver took Anthony's hand, the spotlight focusing on them as he sang.
When the sharpest words wanna cut me down
I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out
This is brave, this is bruised
This is who I'm meant to be, this is me
The two kissed, bringing back the lights as Marian kept the song going.
Marian (& All):
(Look out 'cause here I come)
Look out 'cause here I come!
(And I'm marching on to the beat I drum)
Marching on, marching, marching on!
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me!
Silver and Anthony borke their kiss, both blushing but smiling as they joined back in the song.
(Whenever the words wanna cut me down
I'll send the flood to drown them out)
I'm gonna send the flood, gonna drown them out!
With a fist in the air Silver sang the last line.
Silver:
This is me!
Brooklyn shook his head, going in to attack them once more, only to fall over on his face as Maximus wacked the gargoyle in the back of the head with a frying pan.
"Great plan, you guys," Anthony commented. "Distracting Brooklyn so Maximus could sneak in and knock him out."
The heroes all looked at each other and shrugged. "Yeah, sure, that was the plan."
"Nice dress, Silver," Soren giggled.
"Well, he is the princess in the relationship," Marian laughed.
"Guys," Silver said bashfully. "I can rock any clothes I want!"
"I think you look great," Anthony said.
With a groan, Brooklyn stood up, the green magic fading from his eyes. "Oh man, that stung worse than one of Xanatos' robots," Brooklyn said. "Oh, hey guys, what's up?"
"Hex cast a spell on you, but we managed to free you from it," Soren explained.
"Yeah, that sounds about right," Brooklyn sighed. "He got me, Kairi, and Lena held up in his base. If he sent me to fight you, then he probably did the same to them as well." He looked over at Anthony in surprise. "Wait, Staghart, what are you doing in your human form?"
"Huh?" Silver said in confusion.
Anthony then floated into the air, golden magic swirling around him like at the end of Beauty and the Beast. The human form fell away, replaced by the strong deer-like body of the gargoyle Staghart. "I… remember," Staghart said. "Silver, I remember everything!"
"WHAT!?" everyone but Brooklyn shouted.
"I knew something was off about him," Marian said. "Anthony didn't smell human at all."
"But him being a gargoyle is a twist I didn't see coming," Soren said.
"Anthony- or is it Staghart?" Silver said in confusion. He looked at the gargoyle and shouted, "What the heck!? We met back at the Tower of Terror and you didn't say anything about knowing me!?"
Staghart scratched his head. "Well, you see, awhile back I asked Puck to turn me into a human, but he decided to have some fun and made me forget that I was a gargoyle. That's when I became Anthony and met you. After the whole frog curse thing, Dr. Strange turned back into a gargoyle, but then I forgot my time as Anthony."
He shook his head. "When we were fighting to get the Haunted Mansion back, I was blasted out of the house and right into Dr. Facilier's shop. One spilled potion later and I was Anthony once more. It took true love's kiss to break the spell, but I guess it was a bit delayed since we were in the middle of a music number."
"So, you remember everything now?" Silver asked.
Staghart picked up Silver in his arms, kissing him once more. "Does that answer your question?"
Marian and Soren giggled as Silver blushed as red as Brooklyn. "Uh-Huh," he muttered, smiling goofily.
Brooklyn picked his weapons back up and gave the group a serious look. "Well I say it's time for us to give a little payback to Hex." He looked down to see that a key was hanging around his neck. "I'm guessing this wil help us get to him."
"Yep! That's one of three keys to open the barrier," Soren replied.
"Then let's go meet the others!" Brooklyn said, raising a sword and running towards the castle.
Marian, Soren, Maximus, and Staghart all followed him, while Silver was still stunned from the kiss. "Come on, lover boy!" Staghart laughed, picking up his boyfriend and flying off.
Author's Note
Lots of revelations here. The three people that Hex sent out are the rest of Gabriel's team, and all of them under his control to boot! Luckily the power of music and a frying pan managed to get out gargoyle friend back in the right mind.
The song "This is Me" is from The Greatest Showman, not a Disney movie but it is in Dinsey+, so it counts. I think it fits Silver, and he got his Disney Princess moment as well (though Marina and Soren did get a laugh out of it).
And how about that Anthony/Staghart twist? I wanted to do a "human turns out to be a character" twist in this story, and Anthony provided a great opportunity to do so. Plus now Soren doesn't have to choose between his two potential boyfriends: they were the same person the whole time!
See you back on Wednesday for Logan and Anthony to get their key in Tomorrowland.