Chapter 2 - The Egg Babysitter
. .. . .. .. .. . .. . . . .. . .. . . . . .. . . .. . . . .. .. .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . … . .. . .
"Aaaaagh!" The monstrous cat hissed as the light engulfed him. "What are you doing to me , you rat!?"
The colors circled around him, changing and contorting his body into a different shape. "Aggghh! You … ... you … … you rat!"
He became quiet as the transformation was complete. Left in his place was a blue gray egg, sitting in the grass. Mickey took off the hat, breathing heavily. He grabbed his robe and put it back on before grabbing the egg and holding it close to his chest.
Don't worry little fella, I'll find someone to take care of you … Mickey trudged through the forest, keeping for, grasp on the egg. Eventually he made it to a small clearing.
Sitting around were his family, the guardians of Toontown and Duckville:
His girlfriend and co ruler Minnie Mouse.
Their four pets Pluto, Fifi, Fluffy and Figaro (Who loved sneaking off into Italy on occasion when no one was really paying attention.)
His best friend and second in command Donald Duck with his girlfriend (and the second second in command) Daisy Duck, along with Donald's nephews Huey, Dewey, and Louie.
A general aide for guidance and a friend a little yellow cuckoo clock bird with a pink bow named Cuckoo Loca.
And finally another dear friend of his, and third in command Goofy Goof, who was currently bottle feeding his newborn son Max.
Mickey approached them, holding the egg out in front of them all.
"Gawrsh Mickey, what's that?" Goofy asked.
"Oooh! Ohh! It's an egg!" Cuckoo Loca said excitedly as she flapped her wings. She flew over and perched on the egg. "I'm great at taking of eggs!"
She cleared her throat and began to sing, "Little eggy, little eggy, sleep tight and sleep well. And soon you'll be dreaming, safe and sound in your shell."
Mickey smiled and patted her head gently with his finger tip. "Aww, you sure are sweet."
Cuckoo Loca giggled a bit. "So where'd you find this little guy?"
"You know how Circe made a sacrifice to us?" Mickey asked. "The evil that was festering inside Thackery Binx? I managed to turn it into this."
Cuckoo Loca pulled back in fear. "That thing's the evil stuff that was inside Thackery Binx!?"
"Ah don't worry, it's not going to hurt you now." Mickey reassured. "In fact it's completely harmless."
Cuckoo Loca eyed it curiously. "You sure?"
"Of course I am." Mickey said gently.
She frowned.
Mickey pet her under her chin. "I promise pal."
Cuckoo Loca smiled. "All right, I trust ya, but … ... Is this thing gonna hatch at some point?"
"Yeah uh … ... At least I think so." Mickey said. Eyeing the egg closer.
"And … ... what's going to come out of there?" Cuckoo Loca asked.
"Shucks I … .. I don't know … ... But I know it won't be dangerous." Mickey said.
"Oh Mickey." Minnie said as she went over to him. "Are we going to take care of it?"
"Gosh, I'm not sure if we have time to. You know with your bow boutique, your pet shop, the clubhouse, me, Donald, and Goofy's err … various businesses … .. And looking over all of ToonTown and Duckville, along with taking care of Max, I … .. I really don't think we can take care of it … .." Mickey said, shifting the weight of the egg.
"Then who can?" Daisy asked.
…. ….. … ….. …. …. … ….. …. ….. …. … ….. …. … …. ….. …. …. ….. …. … … …
Figment giggled in glee as he flew around in circles, spewing magic everywhere. He laid down on a pile of leaves with his hands behind his head, "Aaaah, this is the life!"
"Figment?"
He looked up from his leaf pile. "Mickey? Is that you?" He got up and ran over. "I haven't seen you in ages, how are you!?"
"I'm fine." Mickey said with a slight smile.
"So what brings you here?" Figment asked, walking over to a stone table and reached under it. He pulled out two glasses. "So, what can I get ya to drink?"
"I'm sorry but I don't really have time to stay." Mickey said.
Figment sighed as he went back to his leaf pile and idly twirled his tail with his hand. "Oh, you're always busy Mickey, can't ya just stop for once and have a little fun?"
"I'm sorry, but I … .. I just came to ask you for a favor .." Mickey explained.
"A favor?" Figment paused for a moment until a huge smile crept onto his face. "Of course! What do ya need buddy?"
Mickey placed the egg on the ground. "I was wondering if you could watch this for me?"
Figment was silent for a moment until he burst out into laughter. "You … .. you want me to watch that egg!? Wh … .. why would I do that?"
"Figment please." Mickey frowned.
Figment wiped a stray tear from his eye and leaned against his stone bar table with one hand. "Listen Mickey, I'm not really the fatherly type. I don't think I could do that."
"Oh please Figment." Mickey begged. "We're all just so busy right now, especially since Max was born and I .. .. I … .. I really need your help pal .. …"
Figment exhaled. "I can't raise a kid either, when that thing hatches I … I don't know what I would do. I don't interact too much with babies …. Their imagination level is pretty low at that age, so I … I can't handle one I'm sorry … ..."
Mickey thought for a moment. "How about this? You can take care of the egg until it hatches, and I can take the baby off your hands after that? By then I'm sure we'll be able to have made enough adjustments to accommodate another baby."
Figment was deep in thought for a moment before sticking his hand out to him. "It's a deal!"
Mickey smiled as he gripped his hand and shook it. "Thanks pal!" He put his hand down. "All you gotta do is keep it warm."
"Pfffft! No problem!" Figment said as he wrapped his tail around the egg. "I've got this all under control."
….. …. ….. ….. …. …. … ….. ….. …. …. … … ….. ….. …. … ….. …. …. … .
As the sun sank behind the horizon and the moon rose into the sky, the air gained a slight chill.
"Bbbbbrrrr!" Figment shivered. "I feel like an ice cube!"
He glanced over at the egg. "I bet your chilly too eh?" Figment gripped the egg and pulled it into his leaf pile, gathering as many as he could around it. "There!" He said as he wiped his hands together. "That oughta keep ya warm!"
Another burst of wind came by, sending a chill down Figment's spine. He eyed the leaf pile and got in. "Hey, scooch over, make some room for me!" He settled in next to the egg and examined its shell : a blue gray speckled with baby blue spots.
Figment touched the shell with one hand. "Boy, you're still cold?" He added his other hand, before deciding to pull it into a hug. "This feel better?" He wrapped his tail around it. "Not much of a talker are ya?" He chuckled. "That's okay, I like someone who can listen."
Figment yawned as his eyes started to flutter shut. "Night egg, see ya in the morning."