One portal back to the Magic Kingdom later, and the team found themselves back in front of the Partners statue, with their friends all standing over many defeated Cast Bots. "Oh, you're all back," Brooklyn said, sighing in relief. "So, did you complete whatever Hex had in store for you?"
"Yeah, it went well," Gabriel nodded.
"We solved the mystery and rewrote history," Jasiri giggled.
"I understood that reference!" Lena commented.
Holding up the magic keys, Gabriel smiled as they shone like the sun, before releasing the trapped heroes inside. Minnie, Daisy, and Goofy all looked around, a bit confused before Donald gave them a big hug-tackle. "You're back!" the duck said.
"Donald!" Daisy cheered, giving her boyfriend a kiss on the cheek.
"Gawrsh, that was a strange nap," Goofy said, rubbing his head.
"Oh, but where's Mickey?" Minnie asked.
"He's still up the castle," Kairi said.
"Then that's where we should go next," Adam said. He turned around to face the castle, only to go wide-eyed as he saw the state it was in. "Uh, guys? I think we might just be witnessing the end of the world here."
The other Dream Keepers turned to see that the entirety of Disney Castle was overshadowed by a giant storm cloud, with red lighting sending out corrupting glitches around it. Hex was visible, now in a giant form that almost looked like a mech of some kind. "Bare witness to the end of the age of the Mouse, and the rise of a new world! It's a Hex world after all!"
"Please don't start singing that song," Logan sighed. "I don't need those dolls in my nightmares tonight…"
"Are we going to have a big mech fight against Hex?" Soren asked. "Because if we do, I call the head!"
"Sorry Soren, but I don't have that kind of magic," Rachel said.
"Yeah, I think Hex at this point just stalled us for time so he could make that giant evil cloud," Silver noted. "But if we don't try, then he'll just erase everything, including us!"
"We need Mickey," Gabriel explained. "And I think he's been hiding under our noses the entire time!" The raven boldly pointed at the Partners statue. "Hex thought he was clever, but after he trapped Donald back in Rio, I thought about how the best place to hide Mickey would be in the most obvious spot: in plain sight!" Gabriel turned to the other Fab Five members. "You four are going to have to be the ones that free Mickey. Hex probably locked you away because you're the only ones that can do it."
"You got it!" Goofy and Donald said, saluting and summoning their weapons, a shield and staff respectively. Minnie clasped her hands together and started to perform a Light spell, while Daisy did the same with her own powers.
"I don't think so!" Hex shouted. Lighting rained down, striking the Cast Bots and bringing them back to life.
"Oh great, more of these guys," Sisu sighed.
"And we're already pretty tired out," Jake said wearily.
"Then look alive, because help has arrived!" called a strong voice. From all around the heroes, their allies from before came to join in the final battle.
"You guys can't leave me out of this one!" Mia shouted, casting some fire magic. "Logan, Rachel! I've been training for this moment to help you guys out!"
"Thanks for all the training, Mr. Deadpool!" Ana shouted, pulling out taco bombs that actually functioned as food and weaponry. "My sister and I are here to help!"
"It's time for the big finale dance!" Double D sang, doing a breakdance kick through the crowd. "We can't mess up now!"
"Even the villains will stand by you in victory!" Chris said, his fiery yo-yos making short work of the enemies. "Let's give it our all!"
"The battle of the Haunted Mansion has been won!" Phantasm stated, bringing with him many of the Happy Haunts. "Let our victory not be in vain!"
Aline, still in her cat form, hopped over to the Dream Keepers and gave a bow. "I want to help to, so I called in to all of Gabriel's friends, and I mean all of them." The looked up and smiled. "I want to apologize for being a jerk to all of you in the tournament. Can we try being friends after this is over?"
Soren was the first to reply, giving a playful nod to his fellow feline. "Sure we can! Just don't put us to sleep with those weird dreams, okay?"
Soon portals started opening, with characters pouring out as more Cast Bots were summoned by Hex. Luz and her friends of the Boiling Isles, the Lightfoot Brothers, the Hyena clan and both Lion Guards, all of Clan Wyvern, Robin Hood and the Merry Men, the birds of Rio, Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps, The Rescue Aid Society, Hades, Captain Jack Sparrow, the entire McDuck family, the Aristocats, Elena along with the other princesses, Ms. Marvel and the Champions, Ladybug and Cat Noir, The Mandalorian, Mr. Cat, and last but not least Jake the Space Cat.
Soon, even the friends of the other Dream Keepers came to help. Anne and the rest of the Amphibia gang, The Incredibles, Ashoka and the Rebels of Phoenix Squad, Athena and the Tomorrowland kids, Black Panther along with the other Avengers, Jim Hawkins, and too many others to name. Basically, the entire battle looked like a glorious combination the final fight of Avengers: Endgame and Kingdom Hearts.
"Talk about an ambitious crossover," Logan joked.
"Let's get some music going!" Gabriel shouted, floating above everyone. He let the Fantasia flow out of him, reaching everyone as he started conducting it. "We're doing this for Mickey, for all of us, and for the Magical World. How's with me!?" The raven conducted the music with all of his might, starting off the song himself.
Gabriel:
Who's the leader of the club
That's made for you and me?
Adam and Double D did a spinning electric attack together.
Adam & Double D:
M-I-C
K-E-Y
M-O-U-S-E!
Phantasm led the Happy Haunts in scaring some of the Cast Bots away.
Phantasm:
Hey there, hi there, ho there!
You're as welcome as can be!
Rachel and Mia did a magical girl power blast together.
Mia & Rachel:
M-I-C
K-E-Y
M-O-U-S-E!
Chris used his yo-yos to do a trick shot, setting some of the Cast Bots on fire.
Chris:
Mickey Mouse, Mickey Mouse
Forever let us hold our banner high!
(Hey-Hey-Hey!)
Taking a page out of Donald's book, Mia summoned fireworks that blew some Cast Bots away.
Mia:
Come along and sing a song
And join the jamboree!
Goofy and Donald gave each other a high-five as they battled to protect Minnie and Daisy.
Goofy & Donald:
M-I-C
K-E-Y
M-O-U-S-E!
Logan and Destiny did a tag-team wrestling move, striking a pose after doing so.
Logan:
Here we go a-marching
And a-shouting merrily!
Silver and Gabriel, both being musically inclined, guided the various Disney animals into battle with their song.
Silver & Gabriel:
M-I-C
K-E-Y
M-O-U-S-E!
Soren laughed as he and Skylar defended the airspace above the team.
Soren:
We play fair and we work hard
And we're in harmony!
Despite their differences, Logan and Phantasm made a surprisingly good team, with the former's magic fire sword complimenting the ghostly nature of the latter.
Phantasm & Logan:
M-I-C
K-E-Y
M-O-U-S-E!
Going into full princess mode, Silver smiled as he sang from the heart, he and Staghart defending each other back-to-back.
Silver:
Mickey Mouse, Mickey Mouse
Forever let us hold our banner high!
(Hey-Hey-Hey!)
Aline jumped on top of the Cast Bots, playfully making them "accidentally" run into each other, defeating them.
Aline:
Boys and girls from far and near
You're welcome as can be!
Minnie and Daisy sang along, but still focused on casting the spell to free Mickey.
Minnie & Daisy:
M-I-C
K-E-Y
M-O-U-S-E!
"Come on, you all know this part!" Gabriel called.
All:
Mickey Mouse Club, Mickey Mouse Club!
Mickey Mouse Club, Mickey Mouse Club!
Soon everyone, even those that weren't great at singing, joined in the song to power the spell.
Mickey Mouse (Hey!), Mickey Mouse (Hey!)
Mickey Mouse (Hey!), Mickey Mouse (Hey!)
The stone around Mickey slowly started to crack from all of the music.
We'll have fun
We'll meet new faces!
We'll do things
And we'll go places!
Light shone from the statue as Gabriel gave it his all.
All around the world
We're marching!
Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey!
Mickey Mouse Club!
In a burst of magic Mickey was free, Keyblade already in hand and ready to battle.
"Heya everybody! It's great to be back!" Mickey cheered.
"The let's give it our all, M-Meister!" Double D said, striking a pose.
Double D:
We know who our leader is
So say his name with me!
Soren dived through one of the fire rings Chris created, dropping pranks on the Cast Bots below.
Soren & Chris:
M-I-C
K-E-Y
M-O-U-S-E!
Ana giggled as she dodged around the Cast Bots.
Ana:
The one who's always strong and bright
With so much energy!
Not to be outdone by her twin, Berry picked up Aline as they sang around their enemies, putting them to sleep.
Berry & Aline:
M-I-C
K-E-Y
M-O-U-S-E!
Rachel held up Fatal Crest, smiling at Poe before pointing her Keyblade forward into a charge.
Rachel:
Mickey Mouse, Mickey Mouse
Let's raise up all our voices as we sing!
(Hey-Hey-Hey!)
Adam and Melanie lead the adventurers in another charge, meeting up with Rachel's group in the middle.
Adam:
Come and join our party
There's so much for you to see!
Everyone cheered as the last of the robots was defeated.
All:
M-I-C
K-E-Y
M-O-U-S-E!
"Wait, how is this possible!?" Hex gasped in confusion.
Who's the leader of the club
That's great for you and me?
"Time to end this!" Mickey called, pointing his Keyblade at Hex.
M-I-C
K-E-Y
Mickey Mouse Club
Yeah!
A beam of light shot out of the Keyblade, piercing Hex right through the chest. All of the Cast Bots suddenly froze up, sparking as their controller was attacked. Hex let out a scream of agony… that went on for a bit too long was honestly really overdramatic.
"You know, I thought he would be like, dead or something by now," Logan scratched his head.
"Maybe he'll turn good and get a redemption arc?" Silver speculated.
"I'm not in charge of him if that happens," Soren piped up.
"That's weird, his readings are exactly the same," Adam said, looking at his screen.
"I sense something off as well," Rachel said. "The magic isn't moving at all. If anything it's coming… back at us? Everyone, get down!"
Hex suddenly stood up, red lighting shooting across the beam of light and striking Mickey and friends away like flies. The hacker then reached over, slamming a hand down on Gabriel. "Gotcha! I just had to play this up for the drama!"
"Hex, let him go!" Jasiri called, only for her and the other Dream Keepers to be scooped up in his other hand.
"I planned this out from the start," Hex explained.
"Here comes the villainous monologue," Lena sighed.
Hex glared at her before continuing. "I was going to use your friends here, Gabriel, to weaken your spirit and make you easy to capture. Unfortunately that pesky lucky rabbit got to you first, and you got your other friends to help you instead. So I moved over to Plan B: stall you out for time to build up my power. The Disney Castle sits on a fountain of pure magic, where all dreams come true. Gross! The only dreams that matter are mine!"
"Gabriel, now seems like a good time to give this guy a lesson!" Sisu called.
The raven didn't get to respond as he was covered in glitchy code. "I don't think so! Time to take away what makes you special, Dream Keeper!" Hex laughed as all the color was drained from Gabriel, leaving him in black and white with a pained look on his face.
"The heck? He drained his color!" Kairi noted.
Hex chuckled, a dark aura pulsing out of him, forcing everyone around him to fall to the ground. "Yes, the Fantasia is mine! Now you're all done for, as the power of musical numbers in on my side!"
Hex:
Gabriel
The Dream Keeper
Has lost all his magic!
Hex dangled Gabriel in a cage, throwing the other Dream Keepers inside as well.
Read my lips
And come to grips
With reality
Logan and Rachel held up their swords, but Hex kicked their weapons aside.
Yes, your greatest hero has lost
Your fighting here was for naught
So you might as well just give up your magic now!
"We'll never back down!" Adam called. Hex looked the cyborg, then with a snap of his fingers turned Adam back into a normal human.
"Adam!" Melanie shouted, only for Hex's magic to turn her into a regular human as well.
"Oh boy…" Soren said, cowering in fear as Hex looked at him. "I'm… No, I have to be brave, for Gabriel!"
"Yeah, but with Fantasia being held by Hex, this isn't looking good," Silver said, standing by the Jaquin.
"Gabriel…" Jasiri said, comforting her boyfriend.
The raven tried to speak, but grabbed at his throat as he realized his voice had been stolen as well.
Gabriel
Now gets to be
A mute little loser!
"That's offensive to actual mute people!" Silver shouted, before quickly running away as Hex forced the heroes to scatter.
Just a con
Need I go on?
Take it from me
Hex held the cage high above his head.
His personality flaws
Give me an adequate cause
To send him packing on a one-way trip
So his prospects take a terminal dip
His assets frozen!
The venue chosen!
Into oblivion! Bye-bye!
Hex opened wide, his mouth turning into a void as he ate the cage whole.
"GABRIEL!" everyone shouted.
So long!
To the Dream Keepers!
Everyone stared in shock as Hex laughed maniacally, confident in his victory as their biggest player was taken off the table.
Author's Note
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…
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The version of the "Mickey Mouse Club March" I used is based around the instrumentation of the Japanese cover. Go look It up on YouTube if you'd like.
…
…
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Hex sings a version of the "Prince Ali" reprise for his victory over the heroes.
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Next Week: The fate of the Magical World is decided.