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Oathkeeper
Chapter Eight: Mission Improbable
He was captain of the guard, and though Donald was sometimes proud and sometimes loathe to admit it, Goofy truly deserved the position. He was a simple being. Easy going. At times he seemed like a cadet, joining up because he 'felt like it'. Other times, he was still simple. A one track mind that wasn't easily deterred in times of crisis. Loyalty and a sense of duty. Dedicated to protect. He was 'The Shield of Disney Castle'. That face of Goofy wasn't one that was seen often, as they didn't have to put up with constant attack. Or even occasional attack. In fact, they hadn't been attacked for quite a while. Peace welcomed whole heartedly. So, as such, Goofy had no need to take charge and lead troops.
And so, his sleep went undisturbed. And Donald wondered again how the knight kept his station so long. Nevertheless, this was a time of crisis. And so, he needed to awake. Donald considered dropping a bolt of lightning on him... but unfortunately, dropping a bolt of lightning on him, while he was encased in conductive armor was probably not a good idea. Could lead to injury, and if Donald put power into the spell, a possible heart failure. He was a vindictive duck at times, but he was not cruel. So, he settled for several static shocks jumping to the knight's skin from the breast plate. The snapping and popping was audible, and so was the yelp of surprise as the guard finally snapped awake and surveyed his surroundings with a confused eye. It gave the impression that he forget exactly where he fell asleep. Finding everything normal, he turned to the court mage that was Donald Duck. His feathered friend's brow was currently furrowed in irritation, something far from uncommon. Best to find out what went wrong.
"Well good mornin' Donald. How are ya?"
"Good afternoon. It's two o'clock! Why are you sleeping at a time like this?!"
"What's so special about right now?" He had missed the point again, but this time, there was something that needed his attention.
"The King's missing!"
"Are ya sure? Kings have an awful lot to do. He could be anywhere."
"He left a letter and left!"
"Oh. Well if he gave you a letter, why didn't you ask questions?"
"He didn't give it to me!" The duck garbled, still in the midst of panic. "He gave it to Pluto!"
"Oh? Where's Pluto then?"
"That's not important, I have the letter now!"
"Oh good. What's it say?"
"I can't open it yet!" And he realized just how loudly he was exclaiming the situation to any who would hear. Knowing the King was gone would result in nothing but complications. And that rat Mortimer would probably try to usurp the throne again... He dropped his voice to a whisper. "We need to handle this in the utmost secrecy. Top secrecy. Nobody can know the King is gone aside from the two of us."
"Would you mind if Daisy and her majesty, the Queen knew?"
"They especially can't know."
"Oh... well... how do you plan to make them forget?"
"Wha...?" Goofy extended a finger, and pointed behind Donald's back. He whirled around to see Daisy and Minnie, both quite curious at the contents of the letter that Donald had produced. The ever gracious Queen Minnie cleared her throat.
"Perhaps... we should move to the study, before discussing this further?" Goofy smiled and got up, dusting himself off from his comfortable bed of grass. Donald sighed in resignation, and glanced apologetically to Daisy, before following out of the courtyard.
The contents of the letter weren't as enlightening as the occupants of the room were hoping. So far, they gathered that the King had launched an investigation of the heartless, and had left instructions to be followed. Minnie, was to assume temporary power, while keeping his leaving a secret. She was free to use any means she deemed necessary. It was clear the letter was meant to see her eyes as well. It also ordered Donald and Goofy to embark on a potentially dangerous mission. They were to find a key, of some sort. The King noted that they would know it for sure, after they saw it. He could offer no more information as he had little himself. After finding this 'key', they were to seek him out. That was all. A simple mission to be sure. One that would be completed, the court mage and knight captain both vowed to their Queen. They were to be dispatched immediately. So Minnie wished them both good luck, and Daisy merely told her sweetheart to 'Be careful, and mind your temper!'. Donald learned long ago not to remark on how her temper was just as volatile as his was. Goofy learned long ago not to remark on how this might've been what drew them together in the first place. Donald specialized in ice spells. He wasn't above encasing the subjects of his ire in small icebergs. The following morning, they moved discretely to the gummy-ship docking bay, lead by two small chipmunk mechanics.
"Your clothes and supplies have been prepared, as ordered." One chipmunk, named Chip, reported in a rather high voice.
"We'll be takin' ya to meet your pilot first!" The other remarked in a somewhat deeper voice, at least compared to Chip's. This one's name was apparently Dale. "He's waiting on the ship. All your luggage is in the cabins already. We're all set for launch!"
"Good work." Said Donald, as their footsteps clanked off the metal stairs to their finest ship.
"So, what kinda guy is our pilot?" Goofy asked, curious for good reason. They would be spending quite a lot of time with this new friend.
"He's... a little odd." Chip said. "He doesn't speak. But, you should understand him well enough."
"How can we if he doesn't speak?" Donald asked, while thinking refusing to say a single word was ridiculous.
"He's awesome at charades." Dale answered ...Well it wasn't half as ridiculous as that. The side door of the ship opened, and the four stepped inside and made their way to the bridge.
"He's in here." Chip chirped. And sure enough, there was someone in the bridge. And... at first glance, he certainly was odd. For one thing, there didn't seem to be any person on the bridge. There was instead a white dog. A beagle, Donald would find out later. Said dog though, was not curled up on the floor awaiting a master like normal. This beagle was definitely asleep, but in lieu of the floor, it opted instead to sleep on the steering wheel. Perfectly balenced, on it's back, it was sleeping on the steering wheel. Soft snores echoed in the quiet room. Donald gaped in disbelief.
"This is our pilot?"
"He's very capable. Best pilot we have actually." How could he be the best pilot when he slept on the job like that?! It was unethical!
"How often does he sleep on the job?!"
"He never falls asleep at the wheel... well... at least he doesn't while the ship's flyin'."
"C'mon Donald. Not like sleepin's a bad thing. He'll just be well rested is all." Well of course Goofy wouldn't see a problem.
"Well... wake him up already! We have to get going!"
"Uh... Hey, Snoopy! It's time to get up! The mission's starting!" The beagle twitched. And then opened his eyes. Noting that it was indeed time to stop sleeping, he shifted his weight ever so slightly, and landed on the floor as the steering wheel spun him off. Not wasting a beat, he then walked right past the other occupants of the bridge, and over to the coffee maker in the corner. It made sense, Donald supposed, to go for a cup of coffee. But something about the picture just seemed... abnormal. Goofy broke the silence.
"So, how did he become a pilot?"
"Oh, he ended up here after his world broke. After that, we started taking care of him, right before he took a gummy-ship for a joy ride." Chip recounted. Dale walked off to get a few sips of coffee for himself, and was gladly offered the caffinated drink in a thimble placed beside the coffee maker for just that purpose. After a few gulps, Dale continued.
"We later found out that he wanted to go out and search for his friends. And since he flew so beautifuly, the King enroled him in the academy and he passed with flying colors!" Dale took another sip. "And he makes a mean cup of joe. We don't know how he does it, but he's great at everything he does. His name is Snoopy, by the way." Goofy walked over and offered a hand.
"Nice to meet ya Snoopy. Name's Goofy." Snoopy happily shook the hand in greeting, and then poured a cup for the knight. "Mm... this is good." Donald still wasn't convinced.
"How do we know he's qualified?"
"He's the best we have. And we can't get anyone else right now anyway. The mission's top secret."
"Well... if we're stuck with him, then let's get flying already! We've wasted enough time!"
"If you say so. Snoopy! Goofy and Donald here will be your commanding officers on this mission!" Snoopy's eyes opened wide at this, and he tossed back what coffee remained in his mug. After washing and replacing the mug at lightning speed, he sprinted over to the pilot's chair, and opened a glove compartment. From within, he retreived a leather helmet, a pair of green goggles, a red scarf, and a pair of leather gloves, all of which he immedetely donned. Turning on his heel, he stood at attention and saluted. Sora, after meeting Snoopy, would compare his appearence to something right out of World War II. His stance would make a general proud. 'Reporting for duty' was the unspoken message. Neither Donald or Goofy had any doubt. He was easy to understand.
"Me and Dale will be in the engine room. Call us if we're needed at all!" Chip left. Dale, not quite finished his coffee, followed after. Goofy had just finished putting his mug away when Snoopy jumped into the pilot's seet and pressed a button underneith the left arm rest. The seat raised to an appropreate level, and Snoopy began flicking switches. Goofy and Donald both took places on either side of the beegle as he pressed a button, and a pinging noise went off. Donald looked up to realize that a seatbelt light had just turned on. Grumbling, he complied. Pressing another button, a terminal popped up on Snoopy's right, and the pilot immedetely began typing messages to the control tower. There was a sensation of the ship being lowered. A long dark tube stretched out before them now. And... the tube was now moving? Donald wondered if this was normal. He wondered this, because the beegle in the front seat was now chuckling as if to a private joke. Goofy didn't seem to know either, though he was tightening his seatbelt. Donald, now sensing some form of danger, did the same. Then sounded a noise that Donald recognised. The sound of one of the castle's defense cannons being loaded. A message sounded over the speakers.
"Preparations now complete. Please prepare to be launched. Thank you..." Oh no... Oh no...
The beagle laughed manically as it pounded down a very large, shiny, red button. The function of those buttons was both universal, and unmistakable.
"...and have a nice day." The only thing heard over the deafening boom of the firing launch cannon was Donald's garbled scream of pure, unadulterated, heart stopping terror.