Chapter 2: Visiting Emperor Kuzco

Once Mickey drove blocks away from the House of Mouse, he had purchased a ticket in order to take a ship that would sail all the way to South America. He would first pay a visit to Emperor Kuzco and talk some sense into him to find out if his absence had anything to do with the start of the Save Disney War. It was a long way to South America, but he had to see the missing characters, even it took him a whole year to set things right with them. Sure their movies might not have been popular with most critics, executives, or the public, but to Mickey and friends, none of that mattered. Like the Blue Fairy and Cinderella's Fairy Godmother, Mickey saw into the heart of the five, just as he does with everyone in his family. He had seen the goodness they had done in their movies out of bravery and unselfishness that not many people did.

"ALL ABOARD!" The sea caption shouted as a final warning to all other passengers who were still boarding.

Minutes later the ship was under way at last.

Hours later

It was indeed a long voyage to South America, but it finally managed to reach the docks of the marketplace under Kuzco's palace.

"Oops s'cuse me, pardon me, comin' through here," Mickey said, trying to push his way through the busy crowds.

When he was able to walk all the way up the palace steps, two guards painted in red and blue stood in his path at the gates. For some odd reason, they wouldn't let him through.

"Sorry sir, you can't come in," said the right guard. "The emperor gave the strictest orders not to be disturbed."

"He's been having some kind of depression syndrome lately," the left guard whispered to Mickey's ear. His shoulder was then punched by the other guard. "Ouch!"

"You weren't supposed to tell anyone," he whispered through gritted teeth.

"But I must see him," Mickey insisted. "It's been too long since he stopped showing up at parties and stuff. And it's time for me to take action to about this. Now are you going to let me through, or are you just going to deny the wishes of Mickey Mouse who's only here to help the emperor?"

The guards looked at each other for a moment and turned their backs to Mickey to whisper in hushed tones that lasted for ten seconds. Mickey could not make out what they were saying, but he guessed it had something to do with him. Then they turned their attention back to Mickey and opened the gates to allow him to pass.

"On second thought, go right on in. It's just straight ahead."

"Gee, thanks fellas," Mickey said as he entered the palace. From inside the palace, everything looked the same as he saw in the movie. Nothing else seemed to be missing, except he did notice the lack of singing and dancing that used to go on in every hallway. Now it was all nothing but empty silence. "Huh, don't tell me Kuzco stopped dancing and grooving. I don't hear any music at all. And it would be nice if something were playing to brighten the day."

This situation seemed more serious than Mickey thought, even if he had just arrived here to see that the cheeriness that once surrounded this palace had now disappeared.

From inside the throne room, a discouraged and sullen Kuzco sat slumped on his throne chair with a bowl of purple grapes nestled on his stomach as he stuffed his mouth with a bunch. He was beyond discouraged. He was depressed. All this time, he had never even known that the shareholders at the Disney board had suddenly lost faith after his film had flopped at the box-office. It wasn't until the start of the Save Disney War when he learned about it in a newspaper article, several weeks ago. But when Kuzco heard a few Pixar executives mention that his film and all the other flops could never compare to their movies, it gave him and the other four movie characters the idea that even the Pixar guys don't accept them. Why couldn't they? As Kuzco prepared to stuff another bunch of grapes in his mouth, a knock on the door interrupted.

"I'M NOT HOME!" Kuzco shouted, annoyed that someone would dare bother him when he specifically gave orders not to be disturbed. The knocking repeated itself again. "GO AWAY; CAN'T YOU SEE I'M EATING!" Kuzco was becoming more annoyed. When the knock came a third time, the emperor stood up from his chair, threw the grapes aside and marched toward the gates hoping to give this pesky intruder a piece of his mind. Opening the gates aside, he threw his fist in the air. "I SAID GO…" he stopped to realize that no one was standing in front of him, until he peered down to find that Mickey Mouse was standing below, taken aback by his shouting. "Oh, oh Mickey it's only you. I thought you were…sorry. I wasn't expecting you to show." Kuzco now felt ashamed.

"It's alright Kuzco," said Mickey calmly. "I know you don't wanna be bothered, but I really need to speak with you. I hope you didn't mind me using a little persuasion on the guards to let me pass."

"I'll let it go," Kuzco stated in a sad tone. "I suppose if we're gonna talk, why don't we go over to the dinner table and discuss it?"

"Fine by me."

Mickey agreed as Kuzco escorted him into the dining room for some lunch. Even if the emperor did not want to see anyone, part of him felt glad to see Mickey instead of more bad news from delivery men on the streets. With Kronk as the chef, he served a tray of his special made spinach puffs, salads, cooked salmon, and a dessert of lemon pie. Staring at the food, Mickey wasn't really hungry, but he didn't want to disappoint Kronk who seemed desperate to impress him. So he tried a few bites.

"Will that be all Mr. Mouse?" Kronk asked.

"For now Kronk," Mickey answered.

After Kronk left the dining room, Mickey looked over at Kuzco who apparently had not spoken a word all through lunch. Due to his depression syndrome, he nearly lost his appetite. And he wanted to wait until Mickey was finished, or else he might not have understood him talking with his mouth full.

"Um, as I was saying," Mickey began, pushing his unfinished plate aside. "Me and my friends are really concerned about your lack of attending parties, festivities, and celebrations. And ever since Roy E. Disney has been trying to fix things, you haven't shown up at the House of Mouse since. We would really like to have you back sometime."

"Is that what this is all about?" Kuzco stared at Mickey as if he had bees swarming around him. "I was almost hoping it would be good news, like the chairman finally being stripped of his position so he'll never use toons as his puppets again." He sounded upset.

"Look, Roy is doing everything he can to settle things with Michael," Mickey replied. "But I'm not here to give you bad news. I'm only here to help you. Why, because you're apart of the family, like everyone else. And unless you tell me what else is bothering you, I won't know how to help. So please don't leave me in the dark about these things. And if it makes you feel any better, I solemnly swear not to tell anyone else about this after I leave this palace."

"You promise?"

"Cross my heart," Mickey answered, crossing his heart.

Those words caved in to Kuzco as he sighed sadly, clearing his throat. "Well…it's just that…how should I put this?" He scratched his head for a second. "It's just that…ever since the start of that war to save our company from a falling landslide, sometimes I think…maybe I never deserved those good reviews to begin with. There I said it. I mean if I'm such a failure to those executives, then I've already lost the rhythm to groove down the hallways like I used to. I mean it's not that I don't love grooving anymore, I still do." Kuzco sighed once more, and maintained in a softer tone. "But I just don't see any point in doing it."

Mickey stared at Kuzco pitifully when his question to the silent hallways had been answered.

"I see. But why haven't you tried talking to your friends about this? I'm sure they would have helped you."

"It's no good," Kuzco replied shamefully. "They're as downhearted about this whole thing as I am." He threw his hands down on the table. "Call me crazy if you want, but sometimes I wish I could march up to that office over there and give that good-for-nothing boss a piece of my mind. It seems no matter how good you are with making others laugh or smile, there is no pleasing someone like him." He crossed his arms over his chest hesitantly. "You pour your whole heart into everything you work for, and for what?"

Mickey saw that Kuzco's face turned to a sad frown. But he refused to shed tears, feeling it was too embarrassing for him, even in front of Mickey. Whenever someone in his family ached on the inside, it made his own heart ache as well. So he hopped off his chair to walk over to Kuzco.

"Aw, Kuzco, don't let those guys getcha down. You saw how many people liked your movie and started laughing."

"Yeah but it went out of the theaters…" Kuzco snapped his fingers. "…just like that! I don't wanna be left outta show business!!" Just then Kuzco could not hold it in any longer as he started crying hysterically.

Mickey ponders for a moment, and then snaps his fingers. "Say I got an idea. Why don't I see if I can straighten things out for you?"

Kuzco rubs his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"Well, maybe I can talk to the producers and see if we can put you and all the other toons back in the spotlight. You're not the only one who's been feeling left out lately, and I can't say I blame them."

But Kuzco was unsure of this. "I don't know Mickey. I tried talking to the main man myself last time, and I didn't even get to see him."

"Well I am Mickey Mouse, but don't worry Kuzco. You're still the King of the World in my book." That made Kuzco smile. "Oh and if you're feeling up to it…" Mickey takes out an envelope and hands it over to Kuzco. "I think you'll really wanna see what's in store there. Until then, I gotta go. But I hope you'll make up your mind by then."

"Thanks Mickey!" Kuzco called out the moment before Mickey was out of the dining room and waved back to him.

Soon Kuzco was all alone in the dining room. He opened the envelope to read the invitation.

Dear Guests, you and your friends are cordially invited to attend a special dinner party at the House of Mouse next Friday on May 20th, 7pm. Please come. We will be celebrating some honored guests for their dedication to Disney. Love, Mickey Mouse.

Reading the letters on the invitation over and over, he felt something inside his heart that he hadn't felt for so many long months since the company fell in dark times. He was suddenly feeling delight. It just occurred to him all of a sudden, after Mickey's arrival. Eisner may not have liked his movie, but that didn't mean Mickey never cared about him and his friends. Mickey Mouse, the most beloved cartoon icon had come here not only to give him an invitation, but to remind him that everyone, including Kuzco, was important, no matter who you are.

"OH YEAH, BOOM BABY YEAH!"

Kuzco jumped from his seat and started grooving in excitement. He felt so excited that he wasn't even the least bit surprised by Kronk's sudden appearance.

"What happened, what'd I miss?"

Kuzco held up the invitation sign in front of Kronk's face to answer his question.

"Kronk my good man," he said happily. "Get ready next Friday cause we're going to the House of Mouse. YEAH BABY YEAH!!"

The emperor dashed out of the room to get his guards to turn on the music. And everyone seemed surprised and glad at the same time to see Kuzco acting like his old self again.

There was however, one familiar feline that had been hiding in the shadows of the palace the whole time. And she was the only one that had taken pleasure in seeing Kuzco in agony. But now that he was back on his feet, she pulled on her fur, gnashed her teeth, and clawed at the pillars. Yet no one paid any attention to this. They were all too busy dancing and grooving.

All the way from the docks, Mickey could have sworn he heard music playing all the way from Kuzco's palace. He turned his head and smiled.

"Well it looks like my work is done here for now."

His first mission was complete. But there were four more to go. Hopping back on the ship, Mickey now turned his mind on his next mission; to go see Milo Thatch.

AN: I would like to give credit to yensid365 for helping me out with Mickey's words. Thanks to you. Did I capture Kuzco's personality alright? This is the first time I've included him in a Disney fanfic, so the story is still a bit challenging. But I won't let anything stop me from writing and trying. Once again, this story is not being made for fingerpointing or anything at anyone. I'm only writing at least what I've learned while I was once still a member of Save Disney. Once again, had to make a few small corrections here.