Book I: Serial Dilution
Chapter XXVI: The Last Automaton
THOOM!
Flynn Rider nimbly jumped away as he kicked off the back of one of the automatons…and dropped onto his own back with a grunt, failing to catch himself properly. The Automaton, meanwhile, crumpled to the ground with a loud crash, its music box broken and muted.
"Are you okay?" quacked Donald Duck, as he and Goofy trotted over to Flynn's side while the remaining members of the assault party continued to battle the rest of the Automatons. Flynn grumbled as the pair helped back up onto his feet.
"Yeah, just slight failure to be awesome," smirked Eugene, and flourished his weapon as he looked about the field and called out: "Alright! Who's next?"
BANG!
As if in answer, the sound of a door being flung open caught the attention of all. Even the Automatons stopped at the sound. All eyes marked the moment, as Rapunzel, Sora, the King, and the Queen all came dashing out of the old castle lab.
The trio was about to call out to the group…when they saw what was pursuing them to make them run so fast. With another terrible sound – the crumbling explosion of stone and wood – a huge, misshapen form stomped out of the laboratory, its great arms smashing through the obstacles in its path as it marched onto the scene. Donald and Goofy yelped, the duck jumping into the dog's arms in startled fright, as the massive machine – bigger than any of the other Automatons – loomed over them.
And behind the red window upon its "head," Varian's silhouette was plainly visible.
Flynn blinked…then smiled nervously and jabbed a thumb towards the other Automatons.
"Sorry, buddy, there's a line?" he chuckled.
Varian snarled within the cockpit, and responded by charging towards Eugene, one of the huge pincer-like limbs of the Mech raised high.
"BARRIER!" Donald cried out, with a swipe of his staff, and as the pincer came down – slashing at the trio – the grid appeared. Varian cried out in surprise as the pincer slammed into the electrified energy field…but with a growl, he tightened his grasp on the controls, and maintained his balance, moving the bot into a battle-ready, almost predatory posture.
"Nice try," he sneered, his voice echoing from the voice pipes of his machine. "But you'll need more than a cheap, simple trick like that to finish this!"
"How come I'm not more surprised?" sighed Flynn, then called up: "Look, kid, can't we sit down with a bowl of spaghetti, or something, and talk about this?"
"THE TIME FOR TALK IS OVER!" Varian snapped out, and flipped up a cover on one of the control levers. On it was a red button. He slammed his thumb down upon it with an evil snicker.
Suddenly, out of the back of the machine appeared two huge launchers. Donald, Goofy, and Flynn stepped back carefully.
"Eugene!" called Stan's voice.
"Keep the rest of them busy; take 'em out!" Flynn called back. "We'll deal with Varian!"
"Oh, you will try," smirked Varian in response, as he turned a pulley wheel, and – just inside the window – a target screen rolled up and moved into position, to help him aim.
Sora and Rapunzel stopped and turned back; they saw Varian's mech looming over Eugene, the dog, and the duck. Their eyes widened…then narrowed again as they glanced to one another. Seemingly out of nowhere, Rapunzel pulled her frying pan free, then placed Pascal upon Arianna's shoulder.
"Keep an eye on them, Pascal," she ordered.
The lizard saluted her with an affirmative squeak. Arianna smiled as she looked to her shoulder and gave the chameleon a tiny pat on the head in thanks.
"What are you going to do?" Frederic inquired, beard bristling.
"Stop Varian, Save the Kingdom," Sora smirked. "What else?"
"Stay here," Rapunzel pleaded, hugging her father close, then whispered: "I'll take care of myself. I promise."
The King smiled and gave her a squeeze.
"I know you will," he answered, faintly.
Rapunzel smiled wider…then, her expression became serious once more, as she gestured for Sora to follow her, and the two ran towards the group.
Varian was just about ready to activate the launcher when Sora and Rapunzel jumped onto the scene. Sora held his keyblade in a defensive position, while Rapunzel twirled her pan as if it were a baseball bat, ready to swing.
"You two should have run," Varian said, darkly. "You might have been able to escape."
"We never leave our friends behind," Rapunzel responded.
Varian's eyes narrowed.
"Yet here we are," he hissed.
"The game is over, Varian!" Sora shouted.
Varian's eyes widened…then, the mad alchemist broke into peals of wild laughter. It wasn't his usual, high-strung, nervous giggling, but instead a maniacal, convulsive, thoroughly deranged sound that tore into all of their eardrums like a set claws screeching on a chalkboard.
"HA HA HA HA HA HA! Ohhh, the game is only BEGINNING!" Varian seemed to nearly squeal back, and rubbed his hands together. "Now, time to see what this puppy can REALLY do!"
So saying, the alchemist slammed his fist down upon a large red button on the control panel.
"BOOM, BABY!"
The launchers opened, and two small spheres flew towards the group. They were filled with bright green fluid, which bubbled and fizzed as the orbs came hurtling towards them all.
Flynn's eyes widened as he realized what the spheres were filled with.
"Explosives!" he cried out. "GET OUT OF THE WAY!"
The whole group leapt in two different directions: Sora and Eugene dove to one side, while Rapunzel, Donald, and Goofy dove to the other. As the orbs hit the ground, they exploded in a flash of fire.
"Impressive, right?!" Varian called out with a cackle. "I always knew I could BLOW YOU ALL AWAY someday!"
"Oh, great…now he's making evil puns," sighed Flynn. "What is it with crazy bad guys and evil puns?!"
Varian rounded on the pair with a swing of his mech's pincers. Rapunzel lashed out with her hair, and wrapped it in a loop around the arm. With a jerk, she pulled it back…but Varian was quick to retaliate by moving the arm back further…and Rapunzel cried out, barely able to dodge the attack as the mech attempted to backhand her. Had it struck, it may very well have maimed her.
Goofy stepped back, narrowing his eyes as he reeled his arm backwards…then slung it forwards sending his shield spinning through the sky towards the mech. It banged against the shoulder of the machine, but hardly made a dent in it; Varian had armored it the same way he had his automatons.
"HEY!" Varian snapped. "Watch it! Do you know how long it took me to align these arms properly?!"
So saying, he flicked a switch on the control panel. The pincers opened up…and suddenly a jet of fire burst from them. Thankfully, Goofy's shield circled back in its boomeranging fashion just in time, and he held it up barely able to hold back the torrent of fire, and hissing as he felt his prized possession heat up from the blaze.
Donald smirked. If Varian wanted to play with fire, he knew just how to retaliate. With a swish of his Mage's Staff, the waterfowl wizard summoned what looked like four large icicles out of nowhere, which then rocketed towards the Mech, much as his fireworks so often did.
All four of the icicles struck the arm that was attacking Goofy…and as they struck, they exploded into snowflakes…and suddenly, the arm froze up, covered in frost.
Varian turned to look towards the interfering duck. Donald stuck his tongue out tauntingly, and waggled his fingers in a childish, mocking manner.
"HA HA! Take that!" he crowed.
Within the cockpit, Varian blinked boredly…then, with a flex of the Mech's limb – CRISHK! – the ice was broken, and he clamped the pincer indicatively as he shook off the frost.
Donald's mocking smile fell.
"Uh-oh…"
"Donald?" Varian purred. "Remember how I said I was cutting back on meat, and you were worried about us having roast duck sometime?"
Donald gulped nervously.
"Um…uh-huh…"
"Yeah, I think I'm gonna cancel that diet," Varian grinned. "Starting with One Duck: EXTRA CRISPY."
BANG-BANG!
Two explosive capsules flew towards Donald.
"WWWAAAAAAK!" cried Donald Duck, and barely had time to jump away from the resulting blast.
The alchemist soon took aim again, firing round after round, the grenades following Donald quickly, but always JUST missing him.
"STAND STILL!" Varian yelled, grinding his teeth in frustration. "Rrrrrgh, I KNEW I should've double-checked the calibrations on the targeting device…!"
While the unstable teen was focused on Donald, Flynn and Sora each decided to make their moves. Both ran side-by-side towards the Mech.
"Give 'em the ol' Bob-an'-Weave, Loyal Sidekick!" Flynn called to the keybearer.
"On it!" Sora chirruped with a wink, and each ran to opposite sides of Varian's machine. Flynn bounded around to the front and thrust his sword upwards.
"Hey! Hairstripe!" he called up. "Did I forget to mention that your ham sandwiches never tasted that great?"
Varian gasped, and then narrowed his eyes.
"Oh, it was on before, but now? It is ON-on."
With a snarl, the pincer swung towards Flynn Rider…but Eugene nimbly sidestepped the strike, then hopped up onto the mech's arm, before leaping clear onto the "skull" of the piloted automaton.
"GYAH!" Varian cried out, and his pincers snapped as he tried to get Flynn off.
At the same time, Sora swung between the Mech's legs, and banged the keyblade against the joints. Distracted, Varian cried out as the mech stumbled back…and he crashed to the ground with a sharp squeaking noise from within the cockpit.
Flynn smirked, as he stepped off and gave Sora a thumbs-up.
"Ha! Still got it; great job!" he congratulated.
"Thanks!" Sora smiled as he stood back up…but his smile fell quickly, and he cried out: "FLYNN, WATCH IT!"
Flynn Rider turned quickly…but not quickly enough. He let out a shrill, sharp cry as one of the pincers grabbed hold and wrapped around him tightly. Varian and his machine alike groaned as he stood back up.
"That," he growled icily. "Was a poor decision."
Then, with a furious shout, Varian pulled the Automaton's arm back…and then threw it forward, releasing the grip on Flynn Rider. Eugene was sent flying through the air…and thudded to the ground, rolling a few feet before skidding to a stop and lying still.
"EUGENE!" Rapunzel cried out and hurried towards her fiance's side…only to let out a shrill yowl as, suddenly, Varian's machine grabbed hold of her long, flowing hair.
"You know," came Varian's snide voice, "I'm amazed nobody else ever thought of doing this. That long hair o' yours is just as much a problem as anything else."
So saying, the alchemist swung the robot suit's arm around, and thus yanked on Rapunzel's hair hard. The pink-dressed girl yowled again as she was roughly tossed to the ground like a sack of potatoes.
"Rapunzel!" Sora cried, and tried to run towards her to help her up…when suddenly – FWOOSH! – a jet of flame stopped him in his tracks.
"It's too bad you didn't listen to me when you had the chance, Sora," Varian hissed, clacking the pincers of his mech threateningly. "But I guess I should be used to people not listening to me…"
Sora glared, and charged towards Varian's mech. The scientist smirked behind the blood-colored glass of his cockpit. He waited till Sora got closer…closer…closer…
"HA!"
THOOM!
Suddenly, he slammed both limbs down upon the ground, creating a shockwave. Sora was promptly thrown to the ground by the quake. With another wild laugh, Varian plunged the Mech forward, then lifted one foot high up.
"Poor, predictable Sora," he cooed. "Always so quick to get underfoot."
Just before Varian could attempt to squash the wielder of the Kingdom Key like an ant, Donald and Goofy – just as they had during the battle with the other Automatons – came sledding onto the scene.
"GRAB ON!" Goofy yelled, and Sora managed to clasp the dog's hand…
…And was pulled out of the way just in time.
THOOM!
Varian snarled, and rounded on the trio as they got to their feet and adopted battle stances.
"I thought you were my FRIEND, Sora!" Varian yelled.
"I was! I AM!" Sora insisted. "Varian, you need to stop! Please! We can still-"
"I'm not listening to you anymore!" Varian thundered. "I don't need you! I DON'T NEED ANYBODY!"
BAM-BAM-BAM!
Three of the explosive capsules flew from the launcher pipes. Sora charged forward. He bounced from one side to the other, dodging each of the three just in time, then leapt into the air. Varian tried to swipe at him with his pincers…but Sora front-flipped through the air and swept out his weapon in a wide arc…
…And slashed the launchers in half. They weren't as armored as the rest of the machine.
Varian turned towards Sora, eyes wide and feral behind the crimson glass.
"Ohhhh…oh, you REALLY should not have done that," he said, far, far too calmly, and lifted an arm to launch another jet of fire…
"HA-HA! EN GARDE!"
Varian screeched and stumbled back as a sword crashed through the glass, punching a hole in it and throwing him off guard.
Flynn Rider grinned as he landed with a dramatic flourish.
"If those launchers weren't as well armored," Flynn reasoned, "I figured your little peephole there wouldn't be, either."
Varian hissed like a spitting cobra; he hadn't been hurt – miraculously, not a speck of glass hit him – just very much startled. He aimed both pincers at Flynn…
Then cried out as he felt something tug at his leg. He turned to find Rapunzel had wrapped her hair like a lasso around the lower limb. With a jerk, the mech was thrown off balance once again.
"WHOA-OA-OA!" Goofy cried out, and he and Donald clumsily jumped out of the way.
Varian was knocked off of the control panel and banged into the back wall of his mech. For a moment, he lay still, catching his breath. He gritted his teeth, and clenched his eyes shut, trying to drown out the voices in his head.
They're making a fool of you.
You can't fight them.
Look at how easily they're beating you!
You're truly worthless, huh?
Varian. I'm so…disappointed in you.
The blue eyes flew open wide. The pupils shifted to pinpricks.
"NO MORE!"
With a banshee-like scream, Varian threw himself back on the controls. Steam billowed from the pipes with a rattling noise, and the Mech lurched back onto its feet.
The five fighters all gathered together, ready for whatever the alchemist threw at them…or so they thought.
You see, they did not expect Varian to suddenly whirl his machine about…and grab a boulder that just so happened to be nearby. With a snarl, Varian hoisted the huge, jagged stone above the Automaton's head, then hurled it at the quintet.
"EVERYBODY OUTTA THE WAY!" Goofy hollered, as all five leapt away in separate directions.
None of them were hurt, but they were a bit stunned. Before they had even gotten back onto their feet, Varian came charging at them. Donald and Goofy were the first to stand…and that was perhaps their undoing. Varian thrust out one of his mech's limbs…and the pincer-hand clamped down, snapping shut like a crab's claw around both the dog and the duck.
"Donald! Goofy!" Sora cried out.
Queen Arianna and King Frederic, who had been watching the action all the while, gasped in shock.
"Let them go, Varian!" Arianna demanded.
"Yes! Release them immediately!" Frederic blustered.
Varian turned to look at the King and Queen…then, without a word, marched towards them. Realizing their foolhardiness, and the danger they'd put themselves in, the Royal Family tried to run…but they were just a bit too late. Pascal jumped up on Arianna's shoulder in a protective stance…but naturally, there was little the lizard could do, and he yelped as he was thrown clear as the second pincer snapped around the two rulers of the Kingdom of Corona.
Varian smirked as he eyed his prizes, lifting them high. The other soldiers and Maximus all froze in horror as they looked to where the giant automaton mech stood: they had been dealing with the other bots, and now suddenly saw the terrible peril their allies and monarchy were in.
Varian turned to face his true opponents once more…
CLANG!
…And jumped back slightly in his cockpit with surprise…before scowling as a frying pan was thrown at the head of his Mech, making it jerk slightly.
Rapunzel stepped forward, with Flynn and Sora flanking her, their swords each held at the ready as she glowered up at the unstable alchemist.
"That," she sneered, "Is ENOUGH, Varian."
"More than enough," Sora agreed.
There was a pause…then came a dark, cold, icy laugh.
"Ha Ha Ha…Enough. Enough. Y'know something…I am getting SICK of people telling me when something is ENOUGH. Well, let me tell you both this…"
He grabbed hold of the controls, fingers fidgeting slightly as sweat smeared his brow.
"It's not ENOUGH," he growled through grinding, gnashing teeth, "Until you both endure the same amount of PAIN and AGONY I have!"
He twisted the lever handles. They turned easily.
GRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNCH…
An ominous grinding noise was heard…and Sora and Rapunzel watched in mortal dread as the pincers that held their family and friends began to tighten their grip. Donald and Goofy both yapped and kicked, while the Royal Family writhed and groaned, trying to break free…but the terrible clutches of the Mech would not loosen. One could almost swear they heard an ominous creaking from the bodies of Varian's intended victims, as the robot claws tightened more and More and MORE…!
"He-Help!"
"S-S-Sora!"
"Ra…Rap…Rapunz-zel…!"
"Stop…s-stop this…!"
Sora and Rapunzel both watched with rising horror, turning pale as their brains searched for a way to fix this, to stop it before it was too late…!
Then, just as the four were starting to gasp for breath, eyes bugging out as their chests were steadily constricted, as if in the grasp a pair of iron anacondas…Rapunzel's hair began to glow. Sora and Flynn looked towards it, eyes somehow getting wider than before.
"What's happening now?" Flynn muttered.
The answer soon came to him.
CRACK-CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!
The mysterious Black Rocks had returned. They came in a wave like pattern, just as they had before, the spires shooting up then sinking back, now in two parallel lines, which slowly tapered. They raced past Varian, who glanced with a confused sneer to either side, stalling his kill.
With a final CRACK-CRACK! two Black Rocks formed on either side of Rapunzel…and then…they stopped coming.
Slowly, Rapunzel looked to the rocks on either side of her…then back up at Sora.
Sora looked back to her. Both had a look of realization in their eyes.
"My dreams," she breathed.
"Your dad," Sora whispered.
"The which?" Flynn mumbled, looking rather left out.
Rapunzel gave him a smile, then looked back to Varian.
The alchemist's eyes widened as the Princess with hair like the Sun gave him a challenging stare.
"Alright, Varian," she said, dangerously. "If you won't listen to reason…"
She positioned her hands near the two rocks.
"…This is the only way."
Rapunzel closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Sora and Flynn looked to each other…then very, very carefully stepped back.
And immediately after…Rapunzel grabbed onto the Black Rocks.
The Princess of Corona let out a sudden battle cry, shutting her eyes tightly as power surged through her veins. The glowing hair flared up brighter than ever. So bright, it was blinding, and Sora had to lift an arm over his face to guard himself against its radiant glow. Varian released his controls as the blinding light caught him off guard…causing him to drop all four of his intended victims.
Thinking fast, Sora rushed forward and helped Donald and Goofy to safety. Flynn did the same for the King and Queen. They got out just in time, for a moment later, Rapunzel let out another loud cry, and a shockwave of pure, white light blasted across the field.
TWHOOM!
Varian, still squinting, leapt at the controls to his Mech; he dug the metal limbs into the ground, and kept it steady as it skidded back from the shockwave blast. As the light faded, Rapunzel still stood there, holding the rocks, panting slightly as she glared at Varian, her long hair whipping around her like the tentacles of a giant golden octopus.
Varian snarled. He was not going to be denied again! With a vicious sneer, he pumped at the controls, and the Automaton began to barrel towards Rapunzel.
The Princess narrowed her eyes, and focused on the power flowing through her. She arched back, gritting her teeth and clenching her eyes shut ith intense exertion…and, as Varian began his dash towards her, she summoned a series of Black Rocks to stop him in his tracks.
CRACK!
The armor of the Mech was tough, but the Rocks, it seemed, were even tougher. One sharp spire jolted up and cleaved off the machine's right leg. Varian didn't even seem to notice; the pipes belched up steam in an alarming quantity as he stared through the broken glass and kept his eyes on his prey. The lumbering behemoth continued on its path.
CRACK!
Another spike shot from the ground; it tore off the left arm. Varian gasped as the momentum of the strike caused his machine to go flying into the air…
CRACK!
Another spike shot up at the same time the machine touched down, smashing through the left leg. Momentum continued to carry the Automaton forward as it skidded across the ground on its belly. Varian snarled with determination as he drew closer to Rapunzel, who watched back with eyes like emerald daggers. He slammed the arm mechanism into work, lifting the right arm high, the pincers reaching out to clamp down and crush the princess…!
CRACK!
A spike shot up and caught the last remaining limb through its wrist, severing the pincer controls and stopping it just inches short of Rapunzel.
"GRRRRAAAARRRRAAAAGH!" Varian roared like a wild animal. He continued to frantically pump and jostle the controls. He had to get it to work! HE HAD TO GET IT TO-!
CRACK!
A final spike, larger than the rest, impaled the fallen Mech through its middle, breaking its machine engine. The steam sputtered to an end…and with a groan and a heavy "clunk," the Mech went dead, the lights behind the broken read glass fizzing out.
Rapunzel then released the rocks…and dropped onto her knees with a sigh. The Rocks themselves then sank into the ground, slowly, one by one.
For a moment, there was silence. Inside the broken machine, Varian could only stare through the busted window of his cockpit in shock. His mouth opened and closed a few times, but no sound came out…then, finally, he let out a sound between a sob and a roar – "NO!" – and collapsed across his useless control panel in defeat.
Everyone else sighed with relief. The battle was over.
Flynn rushed to Rapunzel's side.
"Hey," he whispered. "Sunshine?"
Rapunzel slowly opened her eyes…and smiled up at her beau…before kissing him on the nose.
"Hi!" she smiled, as if nothing had happened.
Eugene blinked…then blushed and chuckled.
"Well…no point asking if you're okay like that," he mumbled.
Sora, Donald, and Goofy all snickered with amusement. Flynn smirked as he glanced over the trio.
"You three," he called out, "We are DEFINITELY going to find better ways to spend your visits here."
"Maybe someday," Sora nodded as they drew closer.
Then, all paused, their victorious smiles falling, as a despondent sound reached their ears. They looked up towards the Mech…
…And Flynn held Rapunzel protectively, while Sora and the Princess watched with looks of solemn sadness.
There was no great celebration of triumph then and there from them, even as the guards cheered and Maximus neighed with victorious pride.
To them…the only sound they could hear…was the sound of Varian, crying bitterly while surrounded by the ruins of the monster he had built.
Somehow, Sora felt, there had to be significance in that.