Chapter 2

"I feel awkward just standing around in the parking lot," Ortensia whispered as she stared back at a man leaving his car for the studio.

"He said he'd be here any minute now," Mickey offered, stealing a glance at his phone.

"But if we're waiting for a normal taxi, aren't they gonna think it's strange?" Oswald asked.

"There he is," Mickey said, ignoring Oswald's question as he pointed to a black and yellow van pulling into the parking lot.

"To Flip Taxis?" Oswald read off the side of the van. "Couldn't come up with a better name?"

"They're always asking for people to do better," Mickey said with a laugh. "I think Tails came up with this name a couple of years ago. Stands for Transportation for Our Friends who Live in Ink and Pixels."

The van pulled to a stop in front of the three as the sliding door opened. A man in his sixties turned in the driver's seat to look out the door as he exclaimed, "Mickey Mouse, as I live and breathe! When dispatch said the caller was you, I had to do this trip in person."

"Morris, didn't expect to see you still driving," Mickey said as he led the couple into the van.

"I'm not, stopped driving years ago," Morris admitted. "These must be Oswald and Ortensia, glad to finally meet you."

"Good to meet you too," Ortensia offered, taking the middle seat beside the brothers.

Morris turned back to face the wheel and pushed a button on the ceiling to close the door. "So the paperwork said you three needed to go to Universal?" Morris asked as he took the van out of park and started taking them out of the studio parking. "How you're not jumping ship-shoot! I hope nothing like that ever happens."

"No, nothing like that," Mickey threw off with a laugh. "Just some stuff we need to clear out."

"Right, Universal used to own your rights," Morris said, glancing up to look at the couple in the rear-view mirror. "Hey, Mickey, you won't know when the next big crossover'll be? The humans don't give my company enough business."

"Maybe if you didn't sound like you were a real estate company?" Oswald said off handedly. Ortensia gave him a glare, getting him to defend, "What? To Flip makes me think they flip houses."

"Hey, if you've got an idea that doesn't scream to the world we transport toons but shows we're still a taxi service, I'm all ears."

"Wacky Taxi?" Oswald offered.

"Already had that name," Morris said. "If we had never lost the rights to Ajax Taxi, that was the best name we ever had."

"Who owns the name?" Ortensia asked.

"Some airport taxi service in Canada," Morris said with a sigh. "People got confused by us being here in California and it ended up with both of us getting complaint calls. They sued us and we didn't have the money to fight."

"What about Acme Taxi?" Ortensia offered.

"Too many companies have that one," Morris said.

"So you're just stuck with To Flip Taxis?" Oswald asked, eyeing the back of the man's head.

"Until someone comes up with something better," Morris said with a shrug. "I do like the acronym idea that kid with Sonic came up with."

"Wait, like Sonic from Sega?" Oswald turned to Mickey and added, "That Tails?"

"Yeah, the three came to the studio when Sonic needed to record his bit for Wreck-It Ralph," Mickey explained.

"How'd I miss him!?" Oswald asked, his ears dropping.

"I think that was while your second video game was being worked on," Mickey realized.

"Wait, Oswald, are you a Sonic fan?" Morris asked.

"The kids got me into his games," Oswald admitted.

"Well here's Universal studios, where do you need me to drop you off?" Morris asked as he was let through the gate.

"Lot six," Mickey offered. "There should be a car waiting for us."

"One day I'm gonna get through all the legal junk so I can pick you up from one toon town to the next," Morris grumbled as he kept an eye out for the lot Mickey needed.

"Yeah, instead of us needing three taxies in all the same state," Oswald said.

Morris pulled up to the side of the street and put the van in park. "This is it. Good luck with everything you gotta do," he said as he pushed the button to open the side door.

"Thanks Morris," Mickey offered as the three got out of the van. The mouse turned around and added, "It was nice to see you again."

"You too, Mickey," Morris offered as the door closed.

The three watched as the To Flip van turned around and left before Mickey turned to face the lot.

"Oh yeah, this really doesn't look shady at all," Oswald said as they realized no one was in the vacant studio lot.

Mickey pulled out his phone only to let out a sigh. Pocketing the device once more he looked around and pointed towards the shadow of the building beside them. "Let's go wait over there."

"So is it a Universal taxi we're waiting on?" Ortensia asked, pulling close her jacket as they lost the warmth of the sun.

"I'm not sure, he said he'd get someone to pick us up here," Mickey admitted, keeping an eye the way they had come.

"Who?" Ortensia asked.

"Casper," Mickey offered, turning to look at the two. "He owes me a favor."

"Who would've thought the mouse saves favors," Oswald said with a laugh.

"Normally I don't," Mickey said, rubbing the back of his neck.

The sound of an engine caught their attention as a cartoon taxi cab pulled into the lot.

The driver side window rolled down to show a haggard man in his forties chewing on an old cigar. He leaned his elbow out the window and asked in a New York accent, "You Mickey Mouse?"

"I am."

"I was only told I was picking up two, who's the doll?" the man asked, pointing his stogie at Ortensia.

"Hey! That's my wife, bub!" Oswald exclaimed, stepping in front of the cat block her from view.

"Whatever, get in." The man put the unlit cigar back in his mouth and rolled the window back up.

"I already miss Mouseton," Oswald said as he opened the door. "Go ahead, Mick."

Mickey gave a nod and slid into the backseat, over to the passenger side so Ortensia could sit in the center seat.

Oswald pulled the door shut behind himself, signaling to the driver they were all in. "Is it Friendship you're heading for?" the driver confirmed as he headed out of Universal Studios.

"And I thought Mouseton was a stupid name for a town," Oswald mumbled to his wife who gave him a smile.

"Yes, thank you," Mickey offered, ignoring Oswald's comment. He glanced out the window to see the world around quickly turn from inert to ink.

"So Mac-"

"Mickey."

"There's no way you're the real Mickey," the cabbie said with a laugh. "You wouldn't happen to be the Air Pirate's Mickey, would yah?"

Mickey glared at the back of the man's head. "No."

"Air Pirates?" Oswald asked, giving Mickey a look.

Mickey shook his head, silently wishing the rabbit not to ask only for a new bought of laughter to come from the cabbie.

"Oh man, you don't know about the Air Pirates!?" the driver asked. Without needing an answer he continued, "They started up in the 70s. First comic they used the mouse's likeness. Stole most of the 30s comic cast from what I hear. The old man would've flipped in his grave seeing his all-important son in those comics!"

Mickey crossed his arms and pressed his lips tight to prevent words from leaving him.

"Man, now you've gone and made me wanna find that thing again," the cabbie said, taking a turn a little too sharp as the three were pushed towards the driver side. "It was that comic that gave me a crush on Minnie."

"I should've told them I wanted every one of those comics burned," Mickey grumbled as he pushed himself away from Ortensia.

"Oh right," the cabbie let out a laugh. "You think yur the real Mickey. Here we are, Friendship Township," the cabbie said as they passed the town sign. "Where you want me to drop you off?"

"Here's fine," Mickey said, noticing an old one room school house coming up on the right.

"You sure, Mac?" the cabbie asked as he pulled over to the side of the road.

"Yeah." Mickey reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet to pay the man only to be stopped.

"Don't bother, I was already paid," the cabbie informed. "Though if you wanna tip me?"

"Not after that ride, he shouldn't," Ortensia said, motioning to Mickey to open the door. "Maybe next time don't treat your passengers like potatoes."

"Maybe you all really are from Disney," the cabbie said as Oswald was the last one out. "Yur too soft."

"I'm glad I'm not Universal anymore if you're proof of the company," Oswald said before closing the door.

The three stood on the sidewalk as the cab drive shook his head before driving away.

Oswald looked at Mickey, about to ask more about what the cabbie was talking about but kept silent as he took in the fuming mouse.

"I don't normally sue, but they went too far. I got used to others using my likeness but not Minnie's," Mickey said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Not like that."

"When are you gonna marry her?" Oswald asked, placing a hand on Mickey's shoulder.

Mickey smiled at the rabbit, dropping his arms to his side.