"It'll be alright, Jason.", Mulan told him as she took him into a hug. "At the rate of things… this war might be over very soon.".
Jason smiled softly, "I hope so, but Frollo is patient while Scar is deviously smart.", and Mulan chuckled, "But they don't know me.", with a smirk.
Jason laughed heartily, "That I can agree with!", as he followed Mulan as they started to walk, and they made it to the balcony soon after, seeing the Martag waiting. Mulan sighed heavily, "Well, here we are.".
Jason reached out to tilt Mulan's chin, kissing her so softly on the lips, and looked at her, "This is the first time I'll ever say this, but I love you, Fa Mulan.".
"I love you too, Jason.", Mulan sighed as she held her arms around him. "Try not to get yourself killed, will you?".
"I'll promise if you promise me the same.", Jason said.
Mulan nodded firmly, "I promise, Jason Valkara.", before kissing him passionately, and Jason relished into the kiss equally before they broke up for air, and Jason left her slowly with their hands leaving inch by inch before turning around to walk up to the Martag and climb up into the backseat, strongly stopping the urge to jump off and run to Mulan, stay with her forever.
The Martag revved up with the driver starting it up, whirred to fly into the air, hovering off the balcony, and Jason watched the speck of Mulan get smaller and smaller as they flied further away, and he held his blossom flower necklace reverently in his hand as it rested against his chest, whispering to himself, "It's not forever, my beautiful blossom.".
"Report." Scar growled as he looked out from the stronghold that he made Pride Rock to be. Of course, he knew better than that to know he was safe, after word reached of the battle that end Tremaine's life. The south was now fully overrun in terms of the forces that opposed him. Between what he had gained in the Congo; which was a total mess of guerilla warfare, and what he shared between Frollo and himself, that was pretty much it. If the two of them were gone; then the war would be over.
"As you wish...", the lackey responded. "As you may have been aware; it appears that Mickey's forces are preparing some sort of large push soon, especially if what our scouts' report are true about General Mulan's return after the brief leave of command.".
Scar raised an eyebrow, "Have you found out the reason behind the brief leave of command?", and the lackey shook his head, "No, we haven't since it turns out that Captains Phoebus and Helga with their respective squadrons, they had kept it out of the armies' ears. Even with Captain Shenzi and her brothers leading their own squadrons distracting King Mickey's armies, death hasn't even spilled out the reason.".
"Pity. Tell Captain Shenzi to come to Pride Rock in an hour's time. I am sure her brothers will keep patrolling.", Scar growled lightly. At least Zira and his children is safe back at the base in the mountains.
The lackey nodded, and bowed, "Understood, sire.", leaving him, and Scar narrowed his eyes, "You cannot fool me when I am sensitive to dark magic, shadow magician.".
Out of the shadows walked out a man of dark skin, purple coloring in his clothes next to black, with his eyes gleaming purple with a black afro on his head, and the man chuckled, "Wow, when Frollo told me about the bad news everywhere, I didn't even expect this. Name is Facilier, Dr. Facilier. You may have heard of me, General.".
"Perhaps... I've met too many lowly conjurers of tricks.", Scar scoffed as the doctor smiled wickedly, "Ah, but I am not some simple conjurer, I am so much more.".
"I've heard that before.", Scar raised an eyebrow with a sneer. "So...", Facilier chuckled. "Having issues with those so-called Talons?".
"For now... they've been a bit too quiet for my liking and few of our scouts have seen them...", Scar scowled with a growl.
Facilier smiled wryly, "Than it's time to turn the tide. Have you heard of Pleasure Island? I have a proposition for you. My shadow minions, by their ability to use nighttime shadows, will steal away any of your enemy's armies who dares cross the border into Pride Valley at sunset and beyond, and the Coachman on the other side, will turn them into donkeys right on Pleasure Island, permanently, thanks to an excellently devious woman called Yzma, and she's skilled with potions, through everyone says that she's scary beyond all reason.".
"I would think you're full of it." Scar shook his head. "It doesn't matter those armies; they're not even needed when that little force of the Talons is destroying everything in their path at the size of a scout party!", Scar roared as Facilier took a step back, "Temper, temper..."
Scar sighed deeply, "Still, Pleasure Island is advantageous for us, and I can see a point in decreasing General Mulan's soldier numbers, and if they see their comrades disappearing, there will be confusion, despair, fear, shock, denial, and most of all, loss of hope and faith.".
"Exactly.", Facilier chuckled. "But I wonder... would this work only on Mickey's pathetic forces... or could those annoying Talons finally be stopped by meeting their doom here, conjurer?".
Facilier replied, "Frollo has told me of Clayton's death due to the leader of the Talons. And since Clayton came from the Congo himself, no doubt the Talons would think of going to the Congo, and if you distract them up there, I can take care of Mickey's forces with my shadow minions at the same time.".
Scar looked thoughtful, "True...If they are looking to stop trouble, I could cause trouble with the rebellions. After all, Frollo wanted me to be up there to canvass the Congo for an ultimate takeover...".
Scar went into thought. While it was tempting to cause untold horror with the armies, he knew that they wouldn't make much of a difference if the Talons came straight for him. Then again, they might be quick to run straight into a trap if word spread of the vast armies vanishing...
Facilier waited patiently with a coy smile, watching Scar for a few moments, and then he faced him with a sly smile, "I'll take your proposition, Facilier. How soon will you be starting?".
"Oh, I took the liberty of starting for the past few weeks. Just very small numbers here and there... but can easily up the numbers by quite a bit now that the kinks have been worked out.", Facilier kept his sly grin to Scar's surprise.
Scar exhaled, nodding, "I have underestimated you, then, Dr. Facilier. I will not underestimate you again. One of my captains is on her way here. After I am finished talking to her, I will head for the Congo tonight with some lackeys of mine.".
Facilier bowed before Scar, "I appreciate your time, General. Have a good journey, and you'll be glad of the report next week. Ta-ta.", smirking widely as he slipped away into the shadows, leaving Scar alone once more.
"Speak.", Scar waved in the messenger that he knew was also listening into the conversation. Scar allowed it since there was no way he would trust being truly alone with someone like Facilier.
"Forgive my eavesdropping, sire...", the lackey bowed, humble yet careful. "But do you trust that he can do the job he's saying?".
"I'd rather wait to see the results fully... but at this moment; anything might help. The tide has rapidly turned back away from us...", Scar growled.
The lackey nodded, "Yes, sire. And you believe what he has said of Frollo?", and Scar sighed, "Frollo may be many things, but he's not blind to our troubles, and if Facilier is one of the solutions to our troubles, so be it. That's why I am having Captain Shenzi keep an eye on things here, to report Facilier's successes and failures.".
"Do you think it wise to leave at this moment?", the lackey asked. "The Congo has been too much of a stalemate for too long a time; it's time we end the rebellion there... and lead the Talons into a trap there. I know they're on the move again now for sure, if that word of General Mulan is true.", Scar said.
The lackey exhaled, understanding what Scar meant by that, and bowed once more, "I'll see to Captain Shenzi to hurry up if she hasn't already. The sooner you talk with her, sire, the sooner you'll be in the Congo, the sooner the Talons will be dead with your brilliant trap, the sooner we will be rid of our enemies.".
Scar smiled deviously, "Precisely. You may go.", and the lackey nodded, leaving Scar to chuckle, "Good to know that I am not surrounded by idiots.".
Elsewhere, on horseback, along the river border between Andalasia and the Congo in the eastern-southern part of Andalasia, is the United Talons; the original team, along with Adam, Jasmine, and Silver. They have left Atlantis only a few days ago, leaving the children of Emma and Silver under the care of Emma's father, Greg, along with Jim and Eilonwy, in the protection of the kingdom upon Queen Kida's orders.
As it's spring, the river is fast-flowing, and it's passable for boats, but only at weak points of the river. They have decided to head north to the midway point, which is Mount Olympus, with Queen Kida having told them if one of them gives a gift to the gods, the gods will open a magical bridge from the base of Mount Olympus over the bridge to the cliff shore border of the Congo, and the team can make their way into the Congo without wasting time heading further up north to the beach shores of the river.
"So, is there still no real word on what we could expect in those jungles?", Pippa asked as the group continued their journey. Most of the talk had just narrowed down to how to properly prepare to combat and finally liberate the jungle once and for all.
"We'd be going in fairly blind. Who knows really where both sides are or who's in command? At least with Clayton before, you knew, but now...", Adam sighed.
Zuri replied, "And the magic mirror is not able to search deeply either. The jungles are too condensed to have a real look.", with a resigned nod. When she heard the news about Eric and Ariel from Jason, she was beyond horrified and sad. She really felt sympathy for Eric and King Triton, but never pity.
Emma commented, "And we can't afford to be seen in our dragon forms otherwise who knows what they'd do to the prisoners and all?", and Haku nodded, "Even when it's five dragons now, and one incoming with time, thanks to Jason, the jungles can't afford to fit all of you.".
"Yeah, last thing we'd need is to burn down the whole jungle.", Jason sighed. "I'm honestly surprised Clayton didn't resort to that after a while."
"Don't put it against anyone else to try it... after so much trouble it's caused them; Scar or Frollo might decide to do just that.", Jasmine said.
Logan nodded, "I could see that happening, alright.", and John commented, "All the same, if they dare burn the whole jungle down, we must do everything to save all who occupy it including King Shere Khan and his offspring, and the prisoners including King Tarzan. Before the whole war and the murder of their queen, Jane Porter, the kings of the jungle have been fair and loyal to their people, and quite open-minded to opportunities of trade.".
Zuri replied, "Couldn't agree more, Silver. We must bring hope and liberty to the rebellions and return Kings Shere Khan and Tarzan to their rightful place in the Congo throne.".
"Won't be easy though... hard to know where to look and where we could really crimple the occupation.", Logan said.
"Well, we know where we can make a good start... find a few of Scar's captains that have moved in and work them over. They'll crack if we can get our hands on them.", Adam nodded.
Emma smiled wryly, "Or our claws.", glancing at Pippa, who blushed and winced at the same time, "Don't worry, I'll hold off. Garn was an exception.".
Jason nodded, "Good to know, Pip. I never blamed you back there, by the way. Garn deserved it anyway.", and the others murmured in agreement, nodding.
Pippa looked relieved, "Thanks, guys.", and Haku asked, "Hey, Emma, I know we're riding hard, you think we could be at Mount Olympus by tonight?".
Emma sighed, "Possibly. We can rest at the base and hand over the gift we're supposed to give to the gods. They can make the bridge in the morning.", and Jasmine frowned, "Yeah, but what kind of gift?".
"I think it's better you wait and see with this...", Emma admitted though that certainly wasn't making anyone else feel better.
And so, the United Talons kept riding on through the day, and soon, they were able to make out the sight of Mount Olympus. It's as large and tall as it was in the movie, with the clouds enveloping the high points of the mountain, and within it, floating on powerful magic laid the god/goddesses' home.
They soon made it to the base within an hour of the sighting, and there, right before the river laid a console table made of wood and stone, and holding the table up is a magnificent sitting griffin with its wings propped up against the table.
Next to it is a standing flat stone in scripted Greek writing, and Jasmine nodded, "I'll read it out loud.", leaning down to look closer and line the writing with her finger so she won't miss, "'Here lies the place where the bridge across the Peiros river starts at. Offer a gift one of the gods or goddesses can have and use. If the gift is accepted, the bridge will appear for all who wish to walk over the river to the border of the Congo. All who doesn't offer a piece to the gift is forbidden to walk on the bridge. The forbidden ones, if they abuse the bridge or the gifting table, is forever cursed. So, all who reads this, is forewarned, and take care to consider the gift carefully. -Zeus, the King of Mount Olympus.' ".
"Well, at least Zeus doesn't sound totally out of the ordinary here.", Jason said to himself; much of the Talons at the same time, all had much of the same thought considering what they heard from Greek legends and just how total monsters the Gods like Zeus could be on mortals.
"So... how do we work this, Emma?", Haku asked her as he walked next to her. Emma hummed lightly, "All of us has to be involved in this gift...It has to be familiar yet unique to them up there...".
Jason looked thoughtful before smiling, "How about a hanging hammock chair? You know, with the metal studs/stand holding it up?", and Haku looked at him, "But that wouldn't fit on the gifting table.".
Jason grinned, "Not if I can shrink it down, and put a letter to the gods that when they touch it to unshrink it, it can be full size then.".
"Do you think Zeus would appreciate something like that though? I don't know, feels a bit... underwhelming for a gift to a god.", Pippa pointed out.
"A gift's a gift, and not like it simply something you could just pull out of your pocket. There is some thought to it.", Jason defended.
Emma looked at Jason, "You think you could show what you want with your conjuring ring?", and Jason nodded, "I could try. It's been over a year since we last saw the internet and all, but I could draw the image out in my mind.".
Jasmine frowned lightly, "But what about the goddesses? I mean, if your Earth invention sounds like something to be used in the gardens, what about something else for their homes?".
Logan pointed out, "She has a point. I mean, there's not just Zeus, but Hera, Apollo, Hermes, Hercules, Megara, etc.".
"So, what, you want me to conjure up like a furniture warehouse for them or something? Actually, that's not that bad of an idea...", Jason chuckled as Logan patted him on the back.
"No, but surely you know what most girls would like at least... if it works for most girls, who's to say the same can't apply to goddesses?", Logan chuckled with a smile.
Zuri smiled brightly, "How about a painting of all the elements that the goddesses are about? Love, animals, books, fertility, the moon?". Jason whistled, "That'd be a big painting then...".
"Well, you can easily do it, Jason.", Adam assured him. "And besides, it's not like you have to actually paint it.".
"Which is good because he sucks.", Logan laughed. "He was a terrible artist with watercolors!".
John piped up, "We can get the wood from the forest, and the metal from any of the swords we don't need. You heard Zeus, all of us have to be involved, and if we work together on those two gifts, one meant for the gods, and one meant for the goddesses. If they like them, maybe they could make more for the others in the congregation of Mount Olympus with their powers. After all, they are powerful.".
Emma nodded, "And if they like them, then we can get the bridge crossing! All right, troops! Boys, you get the wood while us girls get the unneeded swords, hear?!". The team echoed, "Heard!".