The Dark Side of Disney
Episode 14: Disbanded
The Resistance is on the verge of being shut down by the State Department for committing missions without oversight. With no other options, Direwolf makes a plan to infiltrate Disneyworld to end the war for good.
The chosen one who as destined to stop the Dark Side is now ignored, no longer anyone's concern to fight them on the first of June. But at the same time, Disney's dark secret will be revealed.
On their mission, Direwolf and his team rounded up some rebels from Disneyworld, shortly before they're trapped by HYDRA. What will become of them now?
Act One
Monday, May 30, 2022 1325 hours
Cobalt, Proto, Direwolf, Saber and Mickey's rebels are surrounded outside of the Magic Kingdom Maleficent and all of HYDRA, lined up a hundred yards apart. Red Skull walks over with Strucker and Rasoul flanking him, approaching the intruders.
Cobalt: [quietly] Mickey, stay close behind us.
Mickey: Okay.
As the rebels stay behind the four li-acs, Red Skull gets close enough to chat with them.
Red Skull: I see you've snuck your way in behind enemy lines without your armies. Valiant of you. Ill-advised, but valiant.
Direwolf: You infiltrated our base during Christmas, so we thought we might… return the favour.
Red Skull: So it would seem, General.
Rasoul: General? Ha! That's laughable. What kind of a soldier who commands an army would endanger civilians, break into a theme park without a permit, and make the security guards feel embarrassed during a fight just like a common street rat?!
Cobalt: Everyone was overjoyed when Aladdin slipped through your fingers.
Rasoul draws his sword at Cobalt's neck as a reaction to that comment.
Rasoul: You've brought Mickey Mouse and his rebels with you. Good. Because they were itchin' to be part of your army, so I'd want them to watch you die.
But then, Red Skull places a hand on Rasoul's arm, beckoning him to stand down.
Red Skull: Calm yourself, Rasoul. [to the trio] Look around, gentlemen. I've brought all the warriors of HYDRA to your sights.
Strucker: You can still save yourselves.
Red Skull: I have two wishes. If you grant them, nobody will die. First, you must give the rebels to us. Second, the Resistance must submit to my command, and I promise you, the Dark Side will be a problem to you no more.
Direwold: I can always agree with the first option, but you want me to look upon your army and tremble? Well, I see them. I see 50,000 men brought here to fight for one man's greed.
Red Skull: Be careful who you insult, General. My mercy has limits.
Direwolf: And I've seen the limits of your mercy, and I tell you now: no member of the Resistance will ever submit to an ex-Nazi or anyone else with a god complex.
Red Skull: Then every Resistance member shall die by your words.
Saber: Or we could use another way: a single fight. Your champion against our own, one on one. The winner goes home, and the loser admits surrender. That way… we can settle with this conversation.
Strucker: A brave offer, but not enough.
Rasoul pulls Strucker aside and speaks to him out of the others' earshot, except for Red Skull.
Rasoul: Wait. Maybe we should give it a shot.
Strucker: We didn't come here for your vendetta.
Rasoul: It's not that. I just had to fight one of them, see what they're made of, and just kill him off.
Red Skull: On the contrary Baron, he has a point. These four men are closer to each other. Which means if one of them dies, they will mourn for the latter's demise.
Rasoul: While your men can just shoot them with their guard down.
Strucker: [realizing] Oh yes. With the General gone….
Red Skull: The Resistance will be leaderless.
They nod to each other. They rejoin the others to inform something.
Red Skull: On second thought, we agree with this idea. We shall have a challenge. A one-on-one battle to the death.
Cobalt: Alright. But who are we fighting? Crossbones?
Proto: Crossbones is dead. Died of Covid.
Rasoul: I'm fighting, and I challenge… him.
Rasoul points at Saber, indicating who he's challenging, much to the trio's shock.
Saber: Me?
Cobalt: No! He's only a-
Red Skull: Ah-ah-ah! You had your speech, now let us have our own.
Cobalt: [to Direwolf] Sir, he's only a scout. He's not combat-ready.
Direwolf: If the enemy's planning something, they'll want us to let our guard down, even if we debate. I'll give him Stormbreaker and he'll have enough to defend himself.
Cobalt, reluctant to accept this, helps Saber into his helmet and speaks quietly to him.
Cobalt: Listen. He doesn't have the stamina he once did. Make him swing and miss. He'll tire.
Saber: Cobalt, I just-
Cobalt: Hey. Think about your opponent, his weapon, and nothing else.
Now ready, Saber walks toward the center of the field, where Rasoul waits with his sword in hand. Cobalt and the others stand back to join with Mickey's team, and Red Skull returns to Maleficent's side with Strucker.
Maleficent: What did they say?
Strucker: We have voted for a one-on-one battle, your ladyship. Either they win and escape, or lose and serve us.
Maleficent: Ah, I see.
Red Skull: [to the duelers] On my mark…. Begin!
Rasoul charges at Saber and swings mightily, trying to knock the scout's head from his shoulders. Saber manages to duck beneath the flashing blade. He steps away and tries a thrust, but Stormbreaker is proving to be a little heavier for him to fight with, swinging a little slowly. After another blow, Rasoul smashes Saber on the side with the hilt of his sword, knocking the scout's helmet off and he falls.
Cobalt: [quietly] Get up…. Come on.
Rasoul swings at the fallen scout, but Saber is able to block the blow with Stormbreaker's handle and scramble to his feet. Mickey and his rebels look at the scene in worry.
Mickey: Oh, he's going to be killed.
Goofy: What do we do?
Rex: This is a one-on-one fight. We can do nothing about it.
Baymax: I have scanned Jack. He only has a minor fracture on his left cheek bone, but he will survive.
Saber swings clumsily and Rasoul manages to catch his wrist. The captain of the guard grins and raises his sword for the kill. Saber lashes out with his free hand, punching Rasoul hard in the jaw.
Baymax: On a scale from one to ten, how would he rate his pain?
Rasoul grunts and shoves the scout away before he spits out a tooth.
Maleficent: [giggles] This is more amusing than I thought.
Then Rasoul bores in again, blow after blow. Finally his blade bites into Saber's thigh. Saber staggers backward, blood flowing down his leg.
Baymax: On no.
Baymax makes his walk to aid Saber, but Proto steps in his way to block him.
Proto: No, no, no, no. He has to do this on his own.
Saber swings desperately but Rasoul parries, knocking Stormbreaker from Saber's hand.
Rasoul: Please. You don't have what it takes, boy.
Saber stares at his fallen axe, five feet away, and he falls down from being succumbed to his wounded leg. Rasoul is close enough to draw his sword at Saber's throat, ready for the final blow, but then Saber retreats to his friends.
Rasoul: [to Direwolf] IS THIS WHAT YOUR ARMY IS ABOUT?!
Saber runs to Cobalt, gasping for breath. He falls to his knees before his older brother. Cobalt stares at Saber and then at Rasoul, who is chasing him.
Rasoul: Come on! Fight me, you coward! Fight me! We have a pact! Fight!
Rex: [to himself] Fight him, son. Fight him.
At HYDRA's side, Red Skull begins to give the order.
Red Skull: It looks like they are quitting. Prepare to fire.
Cobalt looks from his brother to the enraged Rasoul.
Rasoul: You call this freedom fighting?! He's not even military worthy! If he doesn't fight, you are doomed.
Cobalt: Saber.
Saber: [trembling] No…. No….
Cobalt: The fight is over, Rasoul.
Rasoul: It's never over until someone dies. Now back away, or I will kill you both at once!
Cobalt: He is my brother.
Rasoul charges, sword raised overhead. In one motion, Cobalt draws his own sword, Dragon Marauder, and plunges the point through Rasoul's chest. Rasoul's momentum carries him forward, until his chest touches the hilt of Cobalt's sword. With his eyes wide open, Rasoul stares down at the blood which now begins rushing down his body. He looks up at Cobalt, who pulls his blade out, and Rasoul falls to the ground, dead.
Act Two
But all the HYDRA soldiers on the front lines are aiming the intruders with their Tesseract-powered weapons.
Red Skull: You may fire when-
Voice: [through speakers] Yo-yo-yo!
Everyone directs their attention to the source of the voice: Conner Reese/Boomer, speaking through loudspeakers.
Boomer: Get ready to party, folks. Because this will be a blast.
Much to everyone's surprise, the song Wannabe by Spice Girls is played from the loudspeakers, before Draco swoops down and blasts the HYDRA soldiers with his fire, saving Direwolf's team.
Strucker: Ambush! Counterattack!
During HYDRA's counterattack, Cobalt takes the limping Saber to Baymax.
Cobalt: Here, take him to the bus. We've got a mission to carry out.
Baymax: Yes. I will treat him.
Donald: What's with that song?
Direwolf: Boomer's with us. He does psychological warfare.
Proto: He once used this on the Telmarines.
Rex: Let's go, we've got the upper hand.
Rex fires his blaster at the HYDRA front lines, followed by Proto as he fires his minigun. During the gunfight, Direwolf rushes over to grab Stormbreaker and slams it on the ground, decimating the front line. And then, the Hotshot Hornets are flying over to the scene, which grabs Cobalt's attention before he takes off into the air.
Cobalt: [on comm. link] Hotshot, you copy?
Hotshot: [through speakers] Copy, Colonel.
Cobalt: We've got a few toons with us. Keep all firing ranges on HYDRA only.
Hotshot: Yes, sir.
Flying on his LTV A-7 Corsair II, Hotshot and several F/A-18 Hornets fire their nose-mounted M61 Vulcans at the ground. But when Maleficent appears on top of the Railroad station over the main gate, she motions her staff to summon vulture droids and TIE fighters to engage the Hotshot Hornets.
Cobalt looks over in the air to see the battle, when Red Skull hovers over with his Iron Man suit to confront him.
Red Skull: Personally, I would have wanted to have our fight to the death. To see if the eldest grandson of the famous late Harold Wilson is as cunning as I was told.
Cobalt: I may be wearing the War Machine Mark I, but it's been through a lot more battles than your suit or you'd ever been.
Red Skull: I believe that. But you have never engaged me.
Red Skull takes out Count Dooku's lightsaber, much to Cobalt's surprise, but the Colonel draws Dragon Marauder and they both engage in an aerial, sword fight.
Back on the ground, Strucker is ducking behind a boulder to avoid Draco's fire blasts, but he makes contact.
Strucker: Get the Hammer Drones in the air!
The Hammer Drones break their way through the main gate. The Air Force Drones take flight to go after Draco, firing their air-to-air missiles, and he avoids them one by one. But for the ones on the ground, the Army Drones fire their 25mm shoulder-mounted M242 Bushmaster autocannons, and the Navy Drones launch dual shoulder-mounted surface-to-air FIM-92 missile pods three at a time, but Draco still evades them.
Draco: Normally I wouldn't say this, but I'm getting too old for this bullshit.
Back with Direwolf, he rushes over to take cover behind the Magic School Bus, until he sees rhino-guards from Robin Hood charging at them with their halberds pointing at them.
Direwolf: Company. Phoenix, Position Beta!
Phoenix: Yes, sir. Boys! Ring of fire!
The Fiery Fifteen circle around the bus and everyone near it, as they load themselves with LPO-50 Flamethrowers. As soon as the rhino-guards arrive, the team ignites their flamethrowers to fend them off.
Inside the bus, Baymax is spraying Saber's injured thigh.
Baymax: This antibacterial spray will sustain the wound until you are placed into a more suitable location.
Saber: Okay. But… we'd have to hurry.
Back in the air, the Hotshot Hornets are fighting the flying battle droids. Bulldog gets hit by a TIE fighter's missile, and it destroys his A-10 Thunderbolt's rear end.
Bulldog: Mayday! Mayday! I'm coming, Elizabeth!
Bulldog crashes onto the ground before his jet explodes. Lt. Commander Jimmy 'Silverwing' Coleman informs Hotshot.
Silverwing: We've lost Bulldog.
Hotshot: Roger that. Torpedo, Yurei- cover Thunderbolt.
Torpedo and Yurei, both flying A/F-18 Hornets, cover Thunderbolt
Cobalt and Red Skull are still fighting with their weapons, which is taking them to where the Hotshot Hornets are fighting the flying battle droids.
Red Skull: You should've accepted my offer. I was willing to spare you and the others if you joined HYDRA.
Cobalt: My grandpa would never forgive me because you Nazis once hunted him for being a Jew.
Cobalt fires his tri-barreled de-atomizer, but Red Skull dodges before he fires his repulsor blast at the shoulder-mounted weapon, destroying it. But just before he can fire again, Draco flies in between them, luring some of the Air Force Drones to impact on Red Skull, but Cobalt slashes the rest of them with his sword.
Back with the Fiery Fifteen's ring of fire, the team is well protected, but Maleficent appears from green fire before them.
Direwolf: Maleficent!
Maleficent: It's no use. It's futile to try and escape my power.
Direwolf: Don't be so sure. You're all that's left of the Dark Side.
Maleficent: See for yourself-all the powers of hell!
Green flames shoot up around Maleficent, turning her into her next form, but it is very different. Much to Direwolf's shock, Maleficent's dragon-self resembles the one from Reign of Fire.
Direwolf: Oh no, not this dragon again!
Hercules: I got this.
Hercules courageously starts towards her, until Maleficent breathes fire. Luckily, the moment the fire is about to hit him, Hercules' body gets a godly aura that protects him from getting hurt.
Proto: [stunned] Hercules? You…?
Jiminy: Yes. He still has his godly-protecting glow. He only uses it to protect others than himself.
Mickey: But… we're going to be surrounded.
When Proto looks at the advancing HYDRA troopers, he takes out a grenade to grab their attention.
Proto: Don't make me use my Iceberg Grenade!
He tries to open it, but he gets a hard time trying, struggling with it.
Proto: Damn… child-proof caps.
HYDRA trooper: Shoot them!
All the HYDRA troopers fire their weapons, and the team takes cover behind the bus. Maleficent is about to breathe fire, until Cobalt swoops down to punch her in the face, knocking her out. He fires back at the HYDRA soldiers, until he sees Maleficent regaining her bearings. She rears back and breathes flames, but the bus gets in Cobalt's way to save him, and it gets destroyed.
Cobalt: BUS!
Maleficent breathes fire again, separating Cobalt from the others. She bites at Cobalt while he swings his sword at her, forcing them both to go to the Railroad station. With another powerful flame blast, she blows his War Machine suit, nearly destroying it.
Back on solid ground, Direwolf desperately takes out his walkie talkie to contact someone.
Direwolf: Doc? Doctor Strange? Open a Sling Ring for us! We're getting hammered!
As Maleficent bursts out laughing and prepares to finish off the now defenseless Colonel off, Cobalt firmly holds onto Dragon Marauder, and he immediately throws the sword at the dragon's heart. She screams in pain and at the same time, Draco reacts like he's been hit by something, and falls down.
Cobalt: Draco!
Maleficent collapses onto the station, attempting to devour Cobalt for the last time, but he dodges. Upon impact, her enormous weight causes the railroad to crumble, sending her tumbling down and dissolves into a purple colouring dark smoke. Cobalt looks down to see what remains of Maleficent, to see nothing more than her shredded cloak on the ground, plus Dragon Marauder, still embedded in the cloak.
By the time a Sling Ring portal opens beside Direwolf, Proto finally gets the cap off the grenade.
Proto: Got it!
Direwolf: All units, retreat!
Proto pulls the pin and throws it over the advancing HYDRA soldiers. As soon as everyone with Direwolf flees into the Sling Ring portal, the grenade explodes into an enormous blizzard all over the place.
At CityWalk, everyone has successfully gotten through the Sling Ring portal, where Strange conjured for them, and it closes before some parts of the blizzard can get through.
Goofy: Gawrsh, that was cold.
Phoenix: Well… I've had softer escapes.
Direwolf regains his bearings, shoving Donald off of him, and he looks at the sky to see the blizzard from afar where it activated at Disneyworld. Looking at it, he grows a smile on his face.
Direwolf: Did we…?
Strange: I saw the whole thing. Maleficent was stabbed by Cobalt, and most of HYDRA is still in that ice storm.
Direwolf: Then…. We did it. We've won. [cheerful] THE DARK SIDE OF DISNEY IS FINISHED FOR GOOD!
Phoenix: Let's hear it for General Direwolf!
Everyone cheers for Direwolf's success for vanquishing the Dark Side of Disney, but he finds out that Cobalt is depressed because of what happened back then, so he walks over to his side.
Direwolf: I'm sorry about the bus. I know how much it meant to you.
Cobalt: [sighs; smiles warmly] You know… he knew the risks. Even Draco. And we all do. We've dealt with this before, even before last November.
Direwolf: Yeah, but… let me get you a drink at Moe's. It'll be my treat.
Act Three
At Moe's Tavern, the whole pub has been reserved for the Resistance members who were fighting at the Magic Kingdom, which includes Mickey's rebel members. Cobalt is at the bar with Proto, Donald, Rex and Goofy, drinking together.
Rex: I have seen battlefields before. But never have I seen anything like a grenade that can trigger blizzards.
Proto: Well, it most likely contains a blizzard, but it was a success.
Donald: [proudly] And I was pretty good too, back in the House of Villains.
Goofy: Yeah. Ayuck! Mostly because you were flying like crazy.
Cobalt: But what's more important… is that Maleficent is out of the picture.
Direwolf is seated at the booth where he chats with Mickey and Hercules.
Mickey: So when you couldn't answer our calls, we thought it was because you didn't care for us.
Direwolf: Well, when we've been fighting only the Disney villains, it was natural that we would assume it to be a Trojan Horse to just hack into our systems.
Hercules: But you found us just in time. Because some of the toons were being infected by Covid, robbing them of their voices, then… Frollo gave the order to kill them off, and anyone who stands in their way. However, with my godly blood, I can barely get infected, but I will not brag about it.
Mickey: So… why here of all places?
Direwolf: [quietly] Watch this.
Direwolf takes out his phone, and gives a call to Moe, who answers it.
Moe: Moe's Tavern, Moe speaking.
Direwolf: Hello is Jack there? Last name Hoff.
Moe: Hold on, I'll check. Jack Hoff, Jack Hoff! Hey everybody, Jack Hoff!
Proto: Do it yourself.
[everyone laughing]
Moe: Why you little bastard! If I ever get a hold of you, I'll string you up by your neck and carve you into mulch with a chainsaw!
But in Saber's house, he flinches as the Terminator, using needle and thread, stitches his leg wound, and Baymax is treating his bruised face.
Saber: I…. I need to ask you guys something. Do you… think I'm a coward?
Terminator: I don't know what you mean?
Baymax: Jack is referring to his fight with Rasoul around midday.
Saber: [depressed] I am a coward. I knew he would kill me. Baymax was watching. And so was… my brother. I fell to his knees, right in front of everyone else.
Baymax: It is alright to be afraid. Courage is always made from those who are afraid of something. You accepted a man's challenge for a fight to the death, and that took courage.
[door knocks]
Saber: It's opened!
Cobalt and Ashley both enter the room. Ashley rushes over to hug Saber in a worried tone.
Ashley: Thank goodness you're alright.
Cobalt: I told her what happened.
Terminator: The stitching is done. He can walk again, but he will be needing crotches.
Saber: Cobalt… I'm sorry about that scene I did. I didn't attempt to….
But Cobalt grips Saber's shoulder, silencing him for his speech.
Cobalt: I know. Rasoul was a brave man. He seemed to think he worked and lived to fight for all he's loyal to, but he didn't know the risks that we learn for warfare: never underestimate your opponent. You might've made an embarrassing scene, but the point is, you made it back safely. That's all that matters to us now.
Ashley: He's right. Here, let me cook you something to eat.
Ashley helps Saber back on his feet, and takes him across the room to go out the door, leaving Cobalt alone with Baymax and the Terminator.
Terminator: Your brother was describing himself as a coward, but we did not find it logical.
Cobalt: I wouldn't believe it either.
But then, Cobalt's communicator starts beeping, and he takes it out to answer it, revealing it to be a hologram of Zed.
Cobalt: Yes, Zed?
Zed: Secretary Harvey is here. She wants you, Proto and Direwolf in my office.
Afterwards, Cobalt, Proto and Direwolf are in Zed's office, with Zed, Gandalf and Nolan. Miss Harvey, on the other hand, looks at them, disgruntled.
Harvey: Care to explain yourselves? You were caught in the action in the Magic Kingdom where you destroyed a house, created a blizzard on Main Street, and killed a toon in the public eye.
Direwolf: We were on a mission. Our goal was to infiltrate Disneyworld, find the House of Villains, and just burn the place with every surviving member of the Dark Side in it. Thanks to Cobalt, he's successfully killed Maleficent-
Harvey: Is that this is all about, hmm?
Nolan: Curtis, I don't think you looked around yourselves while it was happening.
Gandalf: Zed, if you please….
Zed presses on a few buttons, and it shows the trio the aftermath of the battle on a big screen. Most of the Magic Kingdom is covered in snow, many people are frozen solid, and most of the tourists have to be hospitalized.
Harvey: This is exactly what I was talking about! You're carelessly fighting toons and li-acs who have crossed into our world, and treat it like it was a game without the nerve of looking around yourselves.
Direwolf: That is so not true. There's nothing careless about what we do. We fight back Disney for going too far with all its evil deeds, and we do it for everyone else.
Harvey: Maybe you just couldn't see it, which you haven't, because from what I can tell, you're not very functional when you commit battles with Disney, which is all the time.
Direwolf: I don't think so. I've been functional since I've matured much, and we just-
Harvey: I find it hard to believe.
Proto: Miss Harvey, the blizzard was my doing, but HYDRA was there. They do their work covertly all over the world. In fact, we've found out that they can weaponize the pandemic. If we haven't been there….
Direwolf: They would go "bombs away" with it, and we'd all be burning up with fever-deaths.
Harvey: Watch your mouth. Everyone's too concerned for Covid-19. A talk like that would cause a planet-wide panic.
Direwolf: At least it would get people to think about other than just Covid!
Harvey: Okay, Curtis. You want us to start thinking? Well, here's a thought: you're discharged!
Direwolf widens his eyes and gasps to hear that has been discharged.
Harvey: You will drop your dog tags right here on the desk.
He reaches into his shirt and takes out his dog tags that he wears around his neck, where they show him his given name and callsign. But as Direwolf looks at them, he hesitates, and puts the tags back.
Direwolf: No. I've worked through blood and sweat to get this team up and running. I am not giving up anything that I made and earned.
Harvey: So be it.
With a snap of Harvey's fingers, two security guards grab Direwolf and slam handcuffs on his wrists.
Harvey: John Curtis, you're under arrest for reckless endangerment of citizens, oversighted enlistment and missions from the government, and you'll be sentenced to thirty years in prison.
Direwolf: [struggling] Get off me!
Harvey: As for the rest of you, you will drop your dog tags here, pack up your things, and return your equipment to their rightful owners. The Resistance program has been terminated as of now!
Cobalt: You can't do that. The Department of Defense calls the-
Nolan: Dieter. [pauses] It was already decided by me. It's time to pull the strings and resign.
Cobalt is hesitant about this, but he takes out his dog tags and pulls them off of his neck before dropping them on Zed's desk. Proto does the same, before he and Cobalt both march out the door, and Direwolf is being dragged out the other door by agents.
Meanwhile, Red Skull and Strucker are in an underground garage, with all that is left of HYDRA loading their vehicles to depart for somewhere.
Strucker: Our spies have told us that the Resistance has been disbanded.
Red Skull: And at the same time, we will go to our secondary base. Are the Hammer Drones ready?
Strucker: We have lost all of the Air Force Drones, but the Army and Navy models are recharging their batteries.
Red Skull: But most importantly, we must be back on schedule and prepared for the deadline in two days.
Baron: But… what about the rest of the world? If they discover our secrets….
Red Skull: They think that everyone from the Dark Side of Disney was killed in action, Baron. Our spies must keep it that way.
Red Skull looks up to see Maleficent's raven Diablo perching on a truck's side mirror, then he flies away to go somewhere else.
Act Four
In the late afternoon, every member of the Resistance is at CityWalk, where they're dropping their dog tags on desks and their equipment to a pile for return.
Barker: [through speakers] Right this way, resignation has been decided. Every toon and li-ac who has been given a membership of the Resistance must turn over their dog tags and equipment to the government. Don't crowd, and get packed up for departure, everyone.
Dieter (no longer going as Cobalt) brings over his damaged War Machine suit, and gives it back to James "Rhodey" Rhodes/War Machine (Don Cheadle). He takes one last look of his helmet, and places it with the rest of the suit.
Rhodes: You know, you can always keep it, Dieter. I can allow it, since I don't really need it anymore.
Dieter: Thanks Rhodes, but I think it's been through enough battles already.
Rhodes: No, I mean it. I mean, you took care of it. You cleaned it after every battle, you reloaded it immediately, you upgraded it, which was after you said you didn't want another one, and you treated it like it was a tuxedo. But most of all… it actually looks good on you. It might be damaged, but it can be set for display in your house.
Dieter: I don't think so. I've worn this only to have my dealings with Maleficent, and I did. She's no more… so again, I won't be needing it.
Rhodes: If you insist. But just remember, I can always have it ready for you, in case you'd change your mind.
Dieter shakes hands with Rhodes to thank him and bids farewell, before he takes his leave to meet Seamus (no longer Proto).
Seamus: Well… I guess this is goodbye, right?
Dieter: That's what it is. But I can text you my address, if you want to visit. But where's John?
Seamus: He doesn't want to say bye. He's… shutting himself from us.
Dieter and Seamus shake each other's hands, and hug to bid farewell.
Seamus: Stay in touch, Dieter. I'll be waiting.
At his home, Jack (no longer Saber) starts packing his things, while the Eds are watching him with sadness.
Eddy: Well… I guess this is goodbye, right?
Edd: I concur, Eddy. Although, Jack might have a change of heart about staying with us.
Jack: I can't. Since the Resistance is disbanded, I can't live here anymore. I'm going with Dieter and Ashley to stay until I… find a new home.
Ed: [tearfully] Say it isn't so! [cries]
Jack: Ed, calm down. I can always come back, honest. Take care, Eds.
Edd: You too, Jack.
Outside of Ashley's apartment, Dieter waits for her to come out, which she does, and Jack comes over just in time. But before they can leave, Zed comes over with K and J.
Zed: Before you go, we thought you should have this.
Zed gives Dieter some paperwork, and he looks into it to see it's a book report of Disney's autobiography.
K: The twins had the whole afternoon to look it up. They told us we should give it to you to read.
Dieter: I'll check on it some other time. But I must ask. I need you to watch over Disneyworld for me. See if they're… going back to normal.
J: Sure thing, bro. We'll watch over it 24/7.
K: But in the meantime, take care of yourselves.
Dieter nods his head, and shakes hands with the three agents one by one.
Dieter: It was an honor to meet you and serve with you.
Zed: The honor was all ours. Good luck, son.
Dieter: Come on, Jack. Let's go home.
On top of the wall, Taser and Boomer are standing together to watch the scene.
Taser: Boomer, maybe I'll let you play one last song.
Boomer nods, presses on his boombox, wired to the loudspeakers, and it plays Hallelujah by Rufus Wainwright.
During the played song, Dieter, Jack and Ashley walk together through CityWalk, going up the escalator. They look to the side and see John (no longer Direwolf) loaded to a police truck before it drives away. By the time the trio reach the top, Jessica stands by the exit waiting for Dieter. The two of them quickly share a kiss.
Dieter: I'll come back for you. I promise.
Jessica: Please hurry.
Dieter leads Jack and Ashley on the moving sidewalk, and it takes them to the parking lot, where Doctor Strange and other sorcerers are using the Sling Ring to send the people back home.
Strange: Where to, Mr. Wilson?
Dieter: Washington DC.
Strange opens a Sling Ring portal, and the trio walks through it to Washington, where they see the Wilson house dead ahead. Dieter opens the door, and he is greeted by his old toon friends: Asterix and Obelix.
Asterix: Welcome home, boys. But… who's the girl?
Jack: Her name's Ashley. She's with us.
Obelix: Oh, just in time. I'm making some roast boar for supper.
Asterix: But before it's ready, just drop your stuff in your rooms.
Dieter: I'll do it later. I'm going to the movies tonight.
Dieter takes his leave out the door. But Jack leads Ashley up the stairs to his old bedroom, which is spacey for them both.
Ashley: Your old room?
Jack: Until we could… get you your own, that is.
Meanwhile, Seamus is riding a city bus to go somewhere else, and he is depressed about the team's dismemberment. He takes out an old photo of him and John together from back when they were kids. But when he sees the next stop, he quickly gets out and walks down the sidewalk. He sees the local newspaper stand, where the front page talks about the Resistance disbanded: "Loser Soldiers Discharged". But Seamus just looks away to ignore it, uninterested in looking at it.
In the meantime, John is being escorted by a guard across the cells, where he is pushed into one of his own. The guard locks it up behind him before leaving. Now that he's alone, John walks over to his bed and slumps on it, depressed for losing too much, especially the Resistance. So depressed, he breaks into tears.
Back in Washington, Dieter makes his way to Landmark's E Street Cinema. He gets himself a ticket, some snacks, and he goes to sit down where he watches Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. He enjoys the movie, but he keeps his face sulking.
Dieter: Yeah…. It's all over…. At least we've won the war. [smiles warmly]
At night, everyone at home is asleep. Dieter walks in through the door, and closes it quietly, until he sees Asterix and Obelix glaring at him.
Dieter: What?
Obelix: I thought you'd be back for supper.
Asterix: Don't say it was losing track of time, because we know what it looks like when you do. Whenever you say you've lost track of time, you were gone for a friend's party.
Dieter: I'm sorry, Asterix. But I was-
Asterix: Let's talk in the living room.
Later, Dieter is in the living room where Asterix and Obelix are having a chat with each other.
Asterix: We all heard the news, Dieter. About the Resistance… disbanded.
Obelix: But that doesn't mean it's the end of it.
Dieter: It does. The war's over, so we're no longer needed to serve the Army.
Asterix: No, I don't think that's what Obelix meant. It's you, downhearted because you're separated from John and Seamus. The three of you have always been a dynamic team, and without each other, Maleficent would've been the master of everything.
Dieter: We were needing each other to stop the Dark Side, and we did. Even if there's going to another war from either Disney or another studio, the rest of the world can handle it without us.
Asterix: You still don't get it, do you? We're not talking about reassembling or waiting for another war to come. We're talking about the three of you getting back together again.
Obelix: We didn't want you to go to war, because we were afraid your parents would get worried that you'll never come back. But over time, you and the other two have made it back because you've got each other's back, to go through everything the world can throw at you.
During their conversation, Ashley is walking out of the bathroom, until she hears the talk coming from downstairs. She tiptoes to the stairs and eavesdrops on them.
Asterix: And in case you don't remember our movies, every Gaul in our village has always been like a team against the Romans for years to come. We trust each other to do their parts, and that's what being partners is all about. Just like in any sports team, counting on someone is the best way to win. So instead of waiting for another war, just get in touch with your friends and plan to be together.
Dieter: And that's where I gotta chime in. If I wanted to stay in touch with them because they're my friends, it makes me think about being with them. But I can't. Because Seamus is still in Florida, and John's in prison for three decades.
Asterix: Only until someone could… bail them out. [pauses] Look, just try to stay positive for the rest of the night, and I'll make sure that Obelix didn't eat the last boar that can be your lunch tomorrow.
Obelix: I haven't touched it, Asterix.
Ashley hears it all clearly, and she looks sympathetic about Dieter's feelings, before she walks back to bed.
Act Five
The next morning, Asterix and Ashley are making breakfast. Obelix stretches his hand over their shoulders to get a taste of the bacon, until Ashley smacks it with a wooden spatula.
Ashley: Ah-ah-ah! Don't even start.
Obelix: Oh, I was just gonna….
Asterix: Obelix, you heard the girl. No eating until everyone's down, okay?
Obelix: Well, I need to know if they're okay.
Dieter is resting on the sofa, with the TV on. He looks at it, and the news is talking about the Dark Side's 20th anniversary. The reporter is covering a protest of toons and li-acs against the upcoming event.
Reporter: I'm standing here live at the front gates of Disneyland, where it appears to be the center place for whatever remains of the Dark Side of Disney to prepare for their anniversary. We have an angry mob of protestors who are offended by the upcoming event, but on the other side is another mob that supports it. With Maleficent gone, the surviving members of the Dark Side are just thrilled about it anyway, because they commented on the Resistance, said to be the only team that can uphold them, has been disbanded by the State Department for overseeing missions and reckless endangerment on citizens. It is unknown if the Dark Side could either continue their duties or forfeit. In sports-
But then, Dieter shuts off the TV with the remote to forget about it.
Dieter: Who the hell cares? It's over now.
When Jack comes to the kitchen, he looks at the news app on his phone.
Jack: [to Dieter] Hey, Max and Roxanne are married, and about to have a baby girl.
Dieter: Really? I should call Goofy about it. He'd be thrilled.
Sneaking up behind him, Ashley hugs Jack from behind and kisses him on the cheek.
Ashley: Good morning, Jack. I hope you're hungry today. I've cooked up a storm to get bacon and eggs ready.
Obelix: [excitedly] Oooh-oooh. I am!
Asterix: [peeved] Obelix! Not you!
Later, everyone has eaten their breakfast, enjoying every last bite of it.
Asterix: Wow, you weren't kidding when you said you cooked up a storm.
Obelix: [sighs] I just wish he had a whole chariot-full of this stuff.
Dieter: Hmmm! That hits the stop.
Asterix: So Dieter, now that you're not in the Army anymore, what will you do?
Dieter: I was thinking of getting a job back at Universal. They might need my expertise on the Jurassic Park dinosaurs there, if the State Department will allow it.
Jack: He's only going back there for Jessica Rabbit.
Obelix: Who?
Asterix: That toon from Who Framed Roger Rabbit? But isn't she married?
Dieter: It was all an act for the movie, Asterix. She has the same last name as Roger, but neither of them are married to each other.
Jack: But… what about Seamus? Wouldn't he need some-
[doorbell rings]
Ashley: Oh, it's Sakura and Kero. Coming!
As Ashley takes her leave, the other four stay in the kitchen for a chat.
Asterix: But Dieter, you should try to give them a call. Call Seamus if you must, but you also have to do the same for John.
Dieter: Asterix, we've been through this before. If I call either one of them, it makes me feel like I want to hang out with them.
Jack: But you can and Seamus could always visit John in prison. There's no rule against prisoners having visitors as long as they're behind bars, is there?
Dieter: [pauses] No. I guess there isn't.
Meanwhile, Ashley is in her room where she chats with Sakura and Kero together.
Sakura: It's sad that the General's gone to prison. I just hope he's okay.
Kero: I hope so too. But prisons are not as bad as you think it is. Sure, it's where all the arrested criminals go, but they stay there until they're bailed out or wait until they're ready to redeem themselves.
Ashley: That's what I called you here for. I feel bad for Dieter and the others for them being… separated like this. He wants to hang out with them both, but I don't know what to do.
Kero: Well, what did you want us to do? Use the Star Cards to break John Curtis out of prison? Because that would work.
Sakura: Kero, no! We can't just break John out with magic. We'd get arrested too.
Kero: It was a joke, relax. But Ashley, there is a way to make it right. If you want the General freed, you should talk to Secretary Harvey about it. She's been viewing the Resistance to be irresponsible for their actions, but with you as one of the key witnesses, you could change her mind.
Sakura: Yeah. I mean, you've- [pauses; weary] Wait a minute.
Sakura stares at Ashley, who seems puzzled about it, and she reaches out to touch her arm. It makes Sakura feel something inside of Ashley, and she gasps as a reaction.
Ashley: What's wrong?
Kero: What is it?
Sakura: Ashley…. [to Kero] There's something odd about her.
Kero: What do you mean?
Sakura: I've never felt this before. When I touched her, she had a normal feeling inside of her. But now… it's another feeling like… it's the same as me when I have magical powers, only bigger.
Curious, Kero puts his paw on Ashley, sensing that feeling. He gets an aura from feeling something, and he withdraws himself.
Kero: [shocked] Oh man, you're right! I never thought it would happen like this!
Ashley: What? What's going on?
Kero: Um… how should I explain this? [beat] You have magic growing inside of you, Ashley?
Ashley: [stunned] I…. I am?
Sakura: Yes, but it's different. Because when I forgot that I have magic, it was a strong feeling for me. But for you… it's something else.
Kero: Listen, Clow Reed, the maker of the Clow Cards, was a powerful magician until the day he died. When Sakura came along, she had the same measure of magic as he did, even above the Li-kid, who was a direct descendent of Clow Reed. And you, Ashley…. It's way beyond what we've sensed before.
Ashley: How so?
Kero: Like… twice. But it's growing by the minute, so that means you're being more powerful than any other spellcaster. Even surpassing Dumbledore with his Elder Wand.
Ashley: Really?
Sakura: We should tell the others about this.
Sakura makes her way to the door, until Ashley pulls her back to stop her.
Ashley: No! No, please, don't! No one has to know!
Sakura: Why not?
Ashley hesitates as she looks at her hands, but she finally explains it.
Ashley: Because of… what happened to Jafar. When I touched him, he was… turning to dust. It was so awful, I…. I didn't know what to do.
Kero: Here, lemme see.
Kero touches Ashley's forehead, feeling the magic inside of her again, only to find whatever it is that turned Jafar's hand to dust. And then, he finds it.
Kero: Ah-ha, there it is. Well… it's not a bad sort of magic.
Sakura: But what is it?
Kero: It's defensive magic. Ashley, you said it turned Jafar's hand to dust when you touched it, right? That's when it happened, but it's not as bad as you thought it would be. There are many kinds of defensive magic spells. Some that are made by the owners' will, and those that do it themselves. Your magic does it on its own, but… it only works on people who use dark magic, so it's useless on everything else.
Ashley: [sighs in relief] Thank goodness. And I was so worried back then.
Sakura: So now I can tell them?
Ashley: Actually, no. I would like to tell them myself. But for now, I'm taking Kero's advice, and convincing the State Department to change her mind about John.
Sakura: Well, okay. But be quick, okay.
Ashley: Don't worry. You guys just hang out here, and I'll be back. Seeya.
Ashley takes her leave out of her room and down the stairs. She puts on her shoes, then she dashes out the door to the State Department.
Act Six
All the way in Florida, Seamus is with a bunch of other toons, standing in line for the Isekai Door to go home to their own worlds, and he is on the phone with Dieter.
Seamus: I'm with the toons who are wishing to go back to their worlds, now that the war's over.
Dieter: [through phone] Is Goofy there with you? Because I want to tell him that he's going to be a grandfather.
Seamus: Yeah, he's here. I'll tell him the news for you.
But then, Seamus hears a cry from Daffy, running away with a huge diamond on his arms from Hassan with his scimitar.
Daffy: HELP! HELP! HELP! SAVE ME, PAL! SAVE ME! HEEELP!
Hassan: HASSAN CHOP!
Daffy: HELP! Waaaaa! SAVE ME!
Seamus: [annoyed] Augh. I'll call you back.
By the time Seamus ends his phone call, Daffy runs to hide behind his back.
Seamus: What'd you do this time?
Daffy: [quivering] I can't help. I'm a greedy slob. It's my hobby. SAVE ME!
Hassan: HASSAN CHOP!
But before Hassan can swing his sword, Seamus stops him by putting his cyborg hand at his face.
Seamus: Get back in line like everyone else.
Hassan sulks as he walks away, then Daffy takes a peek at him.
Daffy: Is he gone?
Seamus: For now, but stay put.
Back in Washington, Dieter is looking through the book report he was given by the MIB, and Jack walks over to his side.
Jack: What does it say?
Dieter: There's a lot of stuff I missed out during yesterday's mission. It says here… Disney made a short film about the apple of Eden that whoever eats it is granted incredible magic powers. [beat] Strange. He has come up with classic fairytales and regional settings for his cartoons, but none of them talks about the… Garden of Eden or the Forbidden Fruit.
Jack: You think it was made in secret?
Dieter: I think so. But why?
Before anyone can answer, Asterix and Obelix enter the living room with Sakura and Kero.
Asterix: What's all this about a fruit?
Kero: We kinda overheard what you said, Dieter. About Disney making a short film about something.
Dieter: Even though it's over, I still need to know more about the past. Every bone in my body keeps ringing to me about this Doctor Klark McCam, and I feel like I want to know more about it. But at the same time, there's something about Disney that he couldn't share with the world.
Sakura: How can you be so sure of that? What makes you think Disney has anything to do with some other guy you don't know?
Dieter: Because my grandpa was a close friend to Walt Disney himself. The two of them founded the Crossover Resource Committee, in which every life who has gotten through the Isekai Door is allowed to cross over and share their findings and knowledge to our world. And… in the last year of his life, my grandpa had a strand of hair from Disney… to clone him, with Dr. McCam's help.
Jack: Hey, wait. You think the chosen one, the Canadian who turns twenty tomorrow, may be a clone of Disney?
Dieter: That… could be a possibility.
Obelix: Then that's the case. It's Disney's clone, you've found it.
Jack: No, that wouldn't work.
Kero: He's right. If they find someone, it has to mean they really found him, by knowing who he is and where he is.
Dieter: And that's what we need to do. But the problem is… only this Klark McCam would know since he created it, and… we can't turn back time. I wish I still had the bus with me.
Sakura is thinking of a plan, and she gets an idea.
Sakura: Wait. Maybe I got one. The Return Card. It can take me and anyone around to go backwards in time. So with that, it can take you to that time.
Kero: Yeah! That's a brilliant idea!
Jack: Smart one, girl!
Jack and Sakura do a handshake together, while Dieter nods his head in agreement.
Dieter: Yes. That just might work.
Sakura: But sadly… it won't be that easy. It has to take enough amounts of magic to help with that, and I mostly use it on the magic cherry tree back in my world.
Asterix: So… you can't do it?
Obelix is thinking of an idea, and when he looks at his belly, he gets one.
Obelix: Hey. What about me? I mean… I fell into a magic potion when I was a baby, and I've been super strong ever since. So if I may have some magic in me, I could help with that, however it is.
Dieter: You know what? I was thinking of the same thing too. Smart thinking, Obelix. Sakura, think you can…?
Sakura: I will try. Here it goes.
Sakura takes out her Return Card, hesitating about this hypothesis, but she has no other options to do this.
Sakura: Return. Take us to the one born on the first of June 2002.
She activates the Return Card, getting some of the magic from Obelix. With Dieter, Jack and Sakura together, the three of them are glowing with auras, and magic forces pull them into Obelix's belly, making Jack lose one of his shoes. Asterix, Obelix, and Kero get confused, but shocked at the same time because they all got sucked into the big Gaul's belly.
Obelix: They…. They got inside me.
Asterix: What kind of spell is that? If they got killed-
Kero: No, the card doesn't kill anybody. It takes them back in time for a bit.
Asterix: But where?
Act Seven
In a tunnel of light, Dieter, Jack and Sakura scream in thrill for being dragged further down into the tunnel. Ahead of them is a white ball, which they go in through. They fly down from the sky and crash down onto the ground, ending up in downtown Hull. Now they're on solid ground, the trio regain their bearings.
Dieter: We're…. We're back?
Jack: I lost my shoe!
Sakura: Wow. Obelix's idea worked. I never knew he had it in him.
Jack: But… we're at the right spot, are we?
Dieter: Sakura said to take us to June 1st 2002. That's the first anniversary of the Dark Side… and the birthdate of the chosen one. We just need to know….
But then, a truck drives towards him, and Dieter screams with fright. But it phases through him like a ghost, leaving unharmed and untouched.
Dieter: Holy shit! [to the truck] Why don't you watch where you're going?!
Sakura: [laughs] None of this is really happening, Dieter. It's only the past.
Jack: Oh yeah. It's like the shadows in A Christ- Grandpa?
There is Harold and Klark together, at an open-air command centre, where they have a view of war-torn Ottawa across the Ottawa River. The trio are invisible to them, so they don't notice them.
Harold: Report, Major.
Major: [through walkie talkie] It's bad. The city's become a battlefield. All the Card Soldiers have taken the industrial section. And the hyenas have expended their hold on the west side. We're losing ground to all fronts.
Technician: Colonel? The Resource Committee is having an emergency meeting right this minute. It doesn't look good. They think this whole mess was caused by your discovery of the Isekai Door so long ago.
Klark: You don't believe that, do you?
Harold: What's in the past is done. Right now, Maleficent's forces are assaulting the capital. She's looking for something, and I believe it's the hidden lab, but she has no idea where-
Just then, Parliament Hill is struck by black lightning, and the whole place crumbles down into the river, much to Harold and the others' shock by the sight of it.
Harold: Parliament Building…. And the Peace Tower…. Gone.
Then, a woman scientist walks over to Klark's side, grabbing his attention.
Woman: Klark? It's time.
Harold: Time? Time for what?
Klark: The specimen. It's ready.
Harold follows Klark and the woman to go down the stairs to a hidden room. Dieter looks at it, beckons Jack and Sakura to follow him, and they go down as well to check it out themselves. They are now in a secret lab where they see a baby in a sensory deprivation tank filled of water.
Dieter: [surprised] It's him.
The woman scientist looks at the baby in awe, and she's so pleased, she holds onto Klark's hand.
Harold: It's done. You've done it, Klark.
Klark: Yes, I did. And I wanted to do it from the start. You see, my wife's incapable of pregnancy due to drug testing in our youth, and she was devastated to find out about it. But now… we have our own child. She's been given the DNA from Disney's hair, but she has the complete genomes of the both of us, so she is officially our daughter.
Sakura: Wait…. The chosen one is a girl?
Dieter: Shhh. We have to hear more.
Harold looks at the baby in the tank, placing a hand on it, and he looks at it with a smile. But then, his smile fades to a saddened look.
Harold: I just hope I know what I'm doing. It was Disney who tried to make things right, and he was… the only one who could foil Maleficent's plan.
Klark: I know what you mean. But if anyone finds out that we made a clone of Disney, they'll find some resemblance.
Woman: So we engineered her to be a female to hide the resemblance. But most of all, I wanted my first born to be a girl.
Harold: That's not what I meant. I was… talking about my family. My son, his wife, and their two boys. I once made a promise to myself that I would give my eldest grandson a trip, but that was before the invasion. I just hope I was… doing the right thing.
Klark: Harold. You helped them evacuate to avoid being killed. That signifies that you love them, and they should know it. So many Canadians who stayed here did what we have to do: to protect our country.
The woman presses on a button, a waldo reaches in to hoist the baby out of the tank, where it begins to spring to life. Holding a blanket, the woman raises her arms up as the waldo lowers down, and she carries the baby, wrapping in the blanket. She looks at her with a bright smile, and the baby opens her eyes to see her mother.
Woman: [tearfully] She's beautiful.
Harold: But now… where will she be?
Klark: I own a cottage in Gatineau Park. We will be safe there.
Harold: But not for long. She's far better off growing up away from everything we know… until she is ready.
Klark: [pauses] Understood. But… I wonder what we should call her.
Woman: I think I've got one.
But before the woman can say something, the whole scenery disappears and the trio get sucked into a black vortex.
Act Eight
Back in the present, Asterix, Obelix and Kero wait for the other three to return. Then Obelix's belly begins to glow, and Dieter comes popping out landing on the floor, followed by Jack and Sakura one at a time.
Asterix: Hey, it worked! I guess I owe you an apology.
Kero: Don't mention it. But it looked like Obelix was giving birth. [chuckles]
Obelix: That's not how babies were born. Or… is it?
Asterix: No, that's a chestburster, Obelix.
Dieter regains his bearings, groaning in agony because of the landing.
Dieter: What happened? We were so close.
Sakura: It ran out of time. There was some magic in Obelix's body because of the potion he fell into, but the Return Card just… ran for a limited time.
Kero: Yeah, despite how powerful the cards are, there's always a limit to everything. But did you find out what you guys needed to know?
Dieter: Just as much as we needed. It turns out… the chosen one, the Canadian we've been looking for, is a clone of Walt Disney himself, and it's been altered to be a girl.
Sakura: But it was June 1st 2002. The very date it was meant to be born. We just didn't get to hear the name of-
Jack: Ashley. [pauses] Her name is Ashley.
Sakura: Pardon?
Jack: Ashley McCam, that's who the baby was. She was born on the 1st of June 2002. She has the medical card to prove it.
Dieter is puzzled about how Jack would know that, but then he widens his eyes in realization.
Meanwhile, Ashley is on a city bus, waiting for her next stop. The moment the bus stops, she dashes out to go to the State Department, and her phone rings, but it's on silent so she can't hear it.
Back in the Wilson house, Dieter holds his phone to wait for Ashley's call, but no answer at all. Maleficent's crow Diablo appears in the opened window, and spies on the interior to listen in.
Dieter: Goddamn it. She's not answering.
Jack: Dieter, hold on a second.
Dieter: [angry] "Would you protect me from anything"? This is what you meant?
Jack: I can-
Dieter shoves his brother backwards. The others watch in awed silence.
Dieter: You knew all along and you never told us! Do you know how many years we've been waiting for this moment?!
Jack: She didn't want to fight. She was afraid that she was cursed, and feared it would-
Dieter: Why would you care?! Why keep it a secret from me until the last minute?! I'm your brother, and I stood up for you!
Jack: [beat] I love her.
Dieter: [groans in frustration] I don't believe you. You've been nipping on my ankles from time to time, begging me to let you join the Resistance, even though I said you couldn't for your own good. When we thought we lost everything, you encountered a girl, and you think you know something about love. What about your family's love? You spat on their graves when you kept her secrets from me. What about the love for your team?! You'd let the Resistance fall just for one person?!
Jack is about to say something, until Dieter silences him by pointing a finger at his face.
Dieter: Don't say another word.
Sakura: Wait a second, Dieter. He's telling the truth. She didn't want anyone to know about it anyway. But when I sensed it inside of her, it wasn't as bad as she thought it was.
Kero: Ashley found out that she almost turned Jafar to dust when she touched him during Sakura's mission. But when I felt it, knowing it was only a defense magic power, she was relieved.
Asterix: Okay. Problem solved.
Dieter: No. It's not that simple. If Ashley McCam is the chosen one, she has to fight the Dark Side of Disney on her birthday, and it's tomorrow! But right now, HYDRA is in control.
Jack: Let me speak. [beat] We've all been telling the truth, even you. I've made a mistake. I've kept her birthdate to myself, but she asked me not to, and I gave her my word. Now there's no point in hiding it. If she knows she's alright and she has to fight, be my guest. But I go with her.
And then, when Diablo hears enough, he flies away from the window.
Dieter: Against HYDRA? They'll kill you.
Jack: Then I'll die fighting.
Dieter: [laughs bitterly] That sounds both heroic and stupid at the same time. To die fighting. Maybe you don't remember, but you did it yesterday, and you almost DIED from it.
Jack: Last time I was sloppy. Unprepared, unready, but next time I will.
Dieter: Then tell me: have you killed someone?
Jack: Yeah.
Dieter: Ever seen someone die in combat?
Jack: Sure I have. I fought alongside you.
Dieter: [sternly] Well, guess what? I've done it longer than you have. There's a huge difference. I've killed men, I watched them die, heard them dying, and I can still smell it on me! There's nothing glorious about it, nothing poetic!
Asterix: Stop! Stop! Dieter, don't behave this way! Jack was doing what he thought was okay until it was over. He's learned his lesson, we get it, but life is about learning lessons.
Dieter: Asterix, this is a matter between-
Then Asterix slaps him on the face to shut him up.
Asterix: This is a matter for all of us! Obelix and I have been friends of the family since you were a baby. We tried to help you to grow up, we assisted you on building the Resistance, and we volunteered to the government as your legal guardians, so don't even think about saying that we don't matter to you both.
Obelix: Yeah. Because you know what happens when I really, really, REALLY LOSE MY TEMPER!
Dieter: Okay, okay, you made your point! [pauses] I'm sorry. It's just….
Jack: Dieter, I get it. I miss them too. But Asterix is right about growing up. I just feel like I can do it by joining the Resistance, and I felt like I did. It's now gone, but I'm asking you to just treat me like I'm old enough. I'm not a kid anymore.
Asterix: Come on. What would Harold say?
Dieter looks at his little brother, bearing deep in thought about everything he was told about, and he slowly grows a smile on his face, coming to terms with it all.
Dieter: He… would say… that I would be a better man if I was more… open-minded. Thanks, guys. [to Jack] Alright. We'll go get her… together.
Kero: Ashley's going to the State Department, so it wouldn't be that hard to find.
Dieter takes off with Jack, Sakura and Kero out the door, going to find Ashley, while Asterix and Obelix stay behind in the house.
Asterix: [to the others] Good luck out there!
Obelix: But… how come we can't go?
Asterix: We're retired, Obelix. And besides, one of us is on probation for eating all the turkeys last Thanksgiving.
Obelix: Hey, that was one time, okay?
Act Nine
At the Harry S Truman Building, the headquarters for the US State Department, Secretary Harvey is sitting on her desk, having a phone call with someone.
Harvey: Yes, sir. It's all been taken care of. No, Curtis is in prison right now, and the Department is making plans of reassembling the Resistance as a full-fledged task force in servitude to the United States government, if we're intending to keep history from repeating itself. Thank you, Mr. President. Bye.
As soon as her phone call ended, her intercom on the desk beeps and she presses on it.
Harvey: Yes? What is it, Baxter?
Baxter: [through intercom] We have a young woman who wants to meet you in person.
Harvey: Does she have an appointment? If she doesn't, send her away.
Baxter: No ma'am, but she claims to be a friend of the Resistance.
Harvey: Oh, I see. [pauses] On second thought, send her in.
The main doors open, and Ashley comes into the office.
Harvey: And you are?
Ashley: Please forgive me, but I'm Ashley McCam. I'm a friend of the Resistance.
Harvey: Yes, as Baxter put it. Now, put up a chair and sit down. Let's talk.
Ashley grabs her chair and sits down on it, facing Harvey at her desk.
Harvey: So… what can I do for you?
Ashley: First of all, I think you're misjudging the Resistance too greatly, and I'm here because I want you to change your mind about disbanding them.
Harvey: Well maybe you haven't heard, but it's been decided. Mr. Curtis was getting out of hand with his private dilemma over Disney, claiming it to have gone too far, but most of all, commencing operations without oversight and never counting the cost. He was discharged for it, and because of his stubborn behavior, he got himself arrested for it.
Ashley: I know very well what's happened. But what I need to ask is if he can be bailed or put into trial even if he's given a thirty-year sentence.
Harvey: You want him out of jail? Young lady, haven't you heard me? It's already done. I don't care if anyone would just pay a million dollars to let someone out or take him to the highest court in the States. Not even if President Joe Biden has anything to do about it.
Ashley: But ma'am, not everything you said about them is true.
Harvey: And would you know that?
Ashley: Because the three founders, Dieter Wilson, Seamus O'Neal and John Curtis, are best friends. They have done all kinds of things together since they were twelve or thirteen years old. To Dieter, meeting them was the best thing that's ever happened to him. When you disbanded the Resistance, no one was more depressed or… downhearted than he was. He really needed them, and he still does, not as some paramilitary… but a gang of BFFs.
Harvey stares at Ashley with a stern look, but she looks at her with interest to hear more.
Harvey: Okay, Miss McCam. Let's hear more about what you have to say.
Ashley: I've been with them since mid-November. They never asked me to join them and I never wanted to. They respected my decision. I maintained a life as a citizen, just like most of the people who stayed in Universal Studios, but that's not the case. The point is… we've been alone for so long, me and my parents back in Canada. We stayed hidden in the woods and we… fought off toons, which I was afraid of since I was so little. My mother died years later, and then my dad had Covid, ending his life… so I've always been by myself. All I ever wanted was not to be alone anymore, and I got my wish when the Resistance showed up. I was able to make friends with toons, no longer afraid of them, and no one was more happy than I was. The Resistance was not just a paramilitary or some gang… it was like a family to me, so if you just keep three founders apart, it will be like taking my family away. Is that what the Whitehouse wants to hear?
[5 second silence]
Harvey: You're not a good actress, but a good spokesperson. Everything you've said was reasonable, but I cannot-
Then, a hand suddenly appears out of nowhere with a neuralyzer, and it flashes light at Harvey's face, stunning her. But the hand is revealed to be Zed's when removes the Invisibility Cloak off of him.
Zed: You will put John Curtis into court tomorrow morning, respect this young lady's speech, and never think about any more acts of keeping the three Resistance founders apart.
Harvey: [beat] …Okay.
Later, Zed escorts Ashley out of the office to go down the hall, where they see Dieter, Jack, Sakura and Kero rushing to them. Relieved, Jack hugs Ashley, who hugs him back.
Jack: Thank God, you're alright.
Dieter: Next time, don't put your phone on silent. I called you twice today.
Ashley: I'm sorry, Dieter. I thought I had to. I didn't want my phone to disrupt everything I had to say to the Secretary.
Sakura: Really? You talked to her?
Zed: She had a little change of heart. The young lady told her you're family to her, and I… convinced her a bit.
But when Dieter sees the neuralyzer in Zed's suit pocket, he knows otherwise.
Dieter: [smugly] You used the neuralyzer, didn't you?
Zed: Only when Secretary Harvey was about to say no. In fact, I've managed to hear everything she's said during her phone call. She plans to re-establish the Resistance program to a task force serving the government.
Jack: Really?
Kero: If that were to happen, the former General would lose all credibility for being the one who founded it all.
Dieter: Okay, but what's more important… is that Ashley is…. [whispers] you know what.
Ashley: Dieter… I'm sorry I never told you guys. I just didn't want to-
Dieter: Say no more. I get what you mean. But now that we know, it's only a matter of time before HYDRA finds out.
Zed: Agreed. But that's why I'm here, son. I'll take her back to Universal, and in the meantime… you and Mr. O'Neal will have to attend your friend's court tomorrow morning.
Kero: Tomorrow morning? Tomorrow's the first day of June, Ashley's birthday.
Sakura: But I thought she was twenty when we met her. I mean, didn't she say her dad made her a doll for her twentieth birthday?
Ashley: He did, but… that was before he was infected with corona. So when I was… exploring around, I found it in the closet, which was meant to be for my next birthday.
Dieter: Okay. That would make sense. [to Zed] Take her back to Universal, if you must. But most importantly-
Zed: Nothing to worry. My agents will keep her safe until further notice. Good luck, boys.
Zed takes his leave with Ashley, on their way back to Universal. And then, Seamus arrives with Mickey, Donald and Goofy following him, and Jiminy hops over to perch on Dieter's shoulder.
Jiminy: We had Zed's call and asked us to come.
Seamus: So is it true? Ashley's the one?
Dieter: The very Canadian we've been looking for all these years, Seamus.
Mickey: Well, it's all okay then. Now that we've got all you need, the prophecy will be fulfilled.
Jack: Not yet. First, we have to wait for John's trial tomorrow.
Donald: Oh yeah?
Jiminy: It is the law, Donald.
Kero: Yeah, even I know that.
Sakura: Excuse me, guys. I have to go to the washroom.
Sakura walks over to the ladies' room, leaving the rest of the gang to be with themselves for a conversation.
Goofy: Hey Dieter, I appreciate you calling about Max's great news. I just hope… his new baby would make things right for him. I mean he's going to be a father, you know.
Dieter: To be honest Goofy, I wouldn't say you were a role model for Max, but you're still a good dad to him, and that would make you a good grandfather.
Goofy: Gawrsh. Ayuck!
Donald: But still, why would Ashley keep her birthday a secret from all of you?
Jack: She didn't. She just… shared it with me. I promised her not to tell anyone.
Donald: But why?
Kero: Because he loves her, and she feels the same way.
Jiminy: [concerned] In love? Oh, this is terrible.
Jack: Why? I may be five years older than her….
Jiminy: It isn't that, son. If she's the chosen one who's supposed to fight the Dark Side, what will she do? Will she step in, fight them off and fly back without a scratch like Superman, or… will she have to… give her life to save the day?
Dieter: Not gonna lie, Jiminy. It sounds like a fair question, but how would you know about that?
Jiminy: Well…. Disney had many secrets he kept from the world.
Dieter: Like that time he gained magic from his own short film?
Act Ten
In the ladies' room, a flushing sound is heard and Sakura walks out from the toilet to go wash her hands at the sink.
Sakura: Boy, they sure kept those toilets clean. And now, I could-
Suddenly, the lights flicker off, and that startles her a bit. But a glowing green orb floats near the wall across the room, and when Sakura notices it, she looks like she gets hypnotized by it. She follows it across the bathroom, the orb creates an opened way through the wall, and they go through it.
Outside the washroom, the others are sitting down on chairs, still talking.
Seamus: Really? She said we're like a family to her.
Mickey: Aw, that's nice. Ha!
Donald: Ah, phooey!
Dieter: But… I don't know how we can handle the Dark Side now. There's still a lot about Disney we don't know.
Jiminy: I know you're confused as well, but he would have his reasons.
Seamus: Maybe we should just think about the court.
Kero: Well, who's going to be his lawyer?
But when Dieter looks at the eerie green glow coming from the ladies' room, he is alarmed.
Dieter: Wait. The ladies' room!
Kero: Sakura?
The gang enter the washroom finally seeing the hypnotized Sakura walking away.
Mickey: Oh no!
Seamus: What the hell is-
Kero: Sakura!
Kero and Donald run for Sakura, but the wall reappears and they both crash on impact, making them fall to the ground. Everyone else tries to open the wall, hoping to open it, but to no avail.
Seamus: Wait. Stand back!
With his cyborg arms, Seamus is able to break open the wall to reveal a hallway where Sakura might have taken.
Kero: Sakura!
The gang runs into the hallway, desperately seeking their friend.
Jack: Sakura!
Dieter: Sakura, where are you?!
Donald: Speak up!
Elsewhere, Sakura follows the orb up the stairs, still hypnotized, and it leads her all the way to a hidden room.
Kero's voice: Sakura!
Back with the others, Dieter finds the stairs that go up, and he runs up with the others following him.
Seamus: Dieter, what's going on?
Dieter: I don't know what the hell's going on, but I have a bad feeling about this.
Goofy: Hey, doesn't this seem… familiar to anyone?
Donald: Not now, Goofy! Keep going!
Kero: If anything happens to Sakura….
Jack: Don't be! We'll get her!
In the hidden room, the hypnotized Sakura keeps following the orb, that turns into a spinning wheel, and she reaches out to touch the spindle.
Kero's voice: Sakura!
Dieter's voice: Don't touch anything!
Sakura, regaining some of her conscience, withdraws her hand a bit farther from the spindle.
Voice: Touch the spindle. Touch as I say.
By the time the gang shows up in the hidden room, Sakura touches the spindle that covers the whole place in green fog. But when everything clears up, the gang sees a shocking figure: Maleficent, still alive.
Everyone: [stunned] Maleficent!
Maleficent: You poor, simple fools. Thinking you could defeat me! Me, the mistress of all evil! [pauses] Well, here's your little witch.
She uncovers the sleeping Sakura from under her robe, and laughs sinisterly as she disappears into green flames.
Kero: Sakura!
The gang rushes to Sakura's aid, and Jack puts his fingers on her arm, feeling her pulse.
Jack: She's still alive.
Kero: [ashamed] This is terrible. I'll never forgive myself! I was supposed to protect her!
Kero begins banging his head on the wall, until Mickey pulls him back
Mickey: Kero, calm down. We'll find a way to wake her up.
Seamus: But Dieter… I thought Maleficent was dead.
Dieter: So did I. I…. I stabbed her heart.
Meanwhile, as it begins to rain, Zed is in a limo with Ashley sitting beside him, driven by an MIB driver.
Zed: You did the right thing, Ashley. You stepped up, told her the truth, and you didn't make a fuss about it when she was about to say no. Those were all signs that you're maturing yourself.
Ashley: You think so? Because… my father once told me, you can't be so childish forever.
MIB driver: Chief? We've got Stark in front of us.
Zed: Tony Stark?
Zed opens his door to look out the limo, and he looks ahead at Iron Man floating fifty yards away and ten feet off the ground. But he looks at it, wearily.
Zed: Stay in the car, Ashley.
And then, Iron Man fires a repulsor blast in front of the alarm.
Zed: Counter attack!
The driver and other MIB agents step out and fire their weapons at Iron Man, who dodges their blasts. From both sides, some HYDRA soldiers with Tesseract-powered weapons ambush them by shooting them and the limo.
Sakura, back in the hidden room, wakes up in sweat, which alarms the others, and she breathes heavily in shock.
Jiminy: Sakura? You're awake.
Goofy: Oh boy. But are you alright?
Sakura: What…? What happened?
Mickey: You were hypnotized. No one was more worried than Kero.
Sakura: I…. I saw an attack.
Dieter: It's alright. It's over… for now.
Sakura: No…. I saw… the MIB, attacked. Zed and Ashley….
Jack: What do you mean? Maleficent just….
Jack is trying to figure out something. But he realizes that maybe Maleficent's sudden appearance and putting Sakura to sleep was a diversion.
Jack: She knows. Kero! Fly me out!
Kero changes to his true form, allows Jack to mount him, and they both fly out the window.
Dieter: Jack, wait! You don't know what's out there!
With Jack on his back, Kero flies through the pouring rain and crackling thunder, desperate to find Zed's location. Then he finds smoke coming from behind the trees.
Kero: There!
Kero goes through the canopy, and finds the MIB limo, destroyed and sawed in half.
Jack: Ashley!
Jack runs to the limo, trying to find Ashley, but he can't find her in there or anywhere else.
Jack: Ashley? ASHLEY!
He finds Ashley's phone on the ground in a puddle, and he picks it up before the screen shows a picture of him and Ashley together. Dieter arrives with Seamus, flying with rocket feet, carrying him, and they both land at the crash site, investigating. Then, Dieter sees Zed, pinned under one half of the limo.
Dieter: Zed!
He aids Zed urgently, and Seamus uses his cyborg arms to lift the car off, showing a huge cut on Zed's torso.
Zed: Dieter…. You're… in time. [coughs]
Dieter: What happened?
Zed: [weakly] HYDRA… happened. They… ambushed us.
Dieter: Something's not right. Maleficent's still alive.
Zed: I know… but listen…. This war… is not what it seems. It's not what it seems.
Jack: Why is that? Where is Ashley?
Zed: Ashley…. Ashley…. [coughs] He's… got her.
And then, Zed shuts his eyes and draws his last breath. Seamus scans him with his wrist-mounted device, indicating Zed's life, which reads zero. He lowers his arm with his head hanging down.
Seamus: He's gone.
So depressed, Jack kicks a piece of debris away, and falls to his knees while he screams.
Jack: AAAAASHLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYY!
To Be Continued
