Chapter Twenty Four

Christmas Eve

It was Christmas Eve at the House of Mouse. Anybody who was anybody was there, so that's pretty much everyone except The Outcasts, who were excluded and weren't considered people or individuals. It may have been the holidays but that doesn't mean that people's ideas changed because of it.

But we didn't mind, we didn't care if we were hated, so we threw our own party in the back lot. The wreathes and garland were hung with care, stockings made of old socks lined the fence line. We even had a Christmas tree, it was small, missing some pieces and smelled of alcohol, but when you have close to nothing, anything is an improvement.

But even with all of this, I felt that something was missing. There was merriment to be sure, but it was lively. No, this merriment was forced for the sake of the holiday. I could see it on their faces, I could feel it inside of me. Every move I made was forced for the sake of everyone else.

"This is perhaps the worst Christmas ever" Oliver sighed as he put on a small scarf on his neck, Dodger ruffled the cat's fur on his head, "Hey, cheer up" he said, "It could be worse. We have food, shelter and friends. What else could we need?" Oliver stared out in space, "I miss her Dodger" he was crying now, "I miss Jenny" Oliver then began crying in full swing. All Dodger could do was embrace him and let the bitter tears flow down in the snow. "I know" Dodger answered, "I miss her too" Now he was close to crying, and Dodger never cried about anything.

I was sitting next to Quasi when I saw them both crying their eyes out, "What's up?" I asked, trying to get a better idea of the situation. Quasi then leaned in and began whispering, "I don't know all the details" he said, "but apparently, Jenny was Oliver's owner." I looked towards Oliver and Dodger, they never looked more broken. Esmeralda chimed in, "The poor girl. She was hit by an oncoming car, didn't even make it to the hospital."

Walking over, I tried to consolidate them, but before I could do anything, Dodger turned my way, "It's best if you leave us alone" I nodded in understanding, but still found myself talking, "Was she good to you?" Dodger was laughing, the laugh that people would give when remembering the best qualities about a person who was dead, "Was she good to me?" he answered, "She was the only human who even came close to caring about me." he then got right in my face, "I was this close to living with her full time" Dodger paced up and down the lot, "But when the car hit..." he trailed off, never finishing his sentence, ending the conversation with a barrage of tears that seemed endless and void of all feeling. The tears you cry when you're still grieving over something that has long passed, the thing that you wished you could change. The empty feeling of guilt that comes along with it only making the pain worse, until ultimately you break down completely, all of your walls are knocked down and the world sees what you've been hiding either loving you or hating you for it.

Lefou motioned over for me to come over, "It's best if you don't talk about it" he said, "They were close. Very close" I nodded in agreement, "So he told me. But what about the kid?" I pointed Oliver's way, Lefou only shook his head. "There's a reason why Dodger takes it harder than Oliver. He caused it"

Oliver walked over, having heard our conversation, "It was an accident..."

Jenny was walking down the street with Oliver and Georgette coming back from the library. She was considering going to high school a year early, that way she could go to college to study animal sciences. Just as she was crossing the street, Dodger accidently came up from behind, knocking Jenny straight into the path of an oncoming car. All three of the animals tried to move to save her, but before they could react, Jenny was already dead.

Dodger wasn't seen in town for three months. No one was sure where he had gone or even if he was alive. When he did come back, something was different. His whole outlook changed, he started a fund in Jenny's name, and even spent some time at the library, something that he swore he would never do.

When the gang confronted him about his behavior, the only answer he would give was, "I'm washing my hands" they didn't realize that he was talking about blood, and so left even more confused than when they came.

Dodger stared up at the moon, he was tired of having the guilt hang over him this way. He wanted to let go with all his heart, but just seeing Oliver made him remember what he had done. Dodger knew that he couldn't leave, for Oliver would be all alone, but then it wouldn't be considered a family if he was alone. That's what The Outcasts were-family.

"Alright" he said, turning towards the group, "I'm sick and tired of us having to sit here while everyone else is having the time of their lives." Beast and Lefou cheered, Esmeralda and Oswald nodded in agreement. It was time to take action. Dodger took command of the situation "I say we go over there and show them who we are!"

Everyone was in agreement, so we headed over to the House of Mouse. It was Christmas after all, so maybe they would show a little compassion. To be fair, we all looked like we rolled around in shit, the only person who was decent in the slightest sense was Lefou, so it's saying a lot. With snow and dirt in my feathers and bags underneath my eyes, I flew over to the front of the building.

The red carpet was rolled out. I saw the last of the Royals enter the building, then I saw the Sidekicks. Gurgi, along with some other lesser known characters exited a limo. Gurgi was wearing a small black bowtie and had the fur on his head combed back. I don't exactly what Gurgi is to be honest, I think he's supposed to be a small bear, I don't think he even knows what he is. I guess it doesn't matter.

Gurgi was a friend to everyone, Heroes and Villains alike. I don't like he considered himself an Outcast, but he did show support, which was enough to get me to talk with him. "Hey Gurgi" I said, causing him to turn my way, "Hey Iago" he answered in his high pitched and somewhat scratchy voice, "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be dead?" I laughed, I hadn't made my public appearance since I returned to Agrabah, so I was still considered dead by most. "Not quite" I replied, "You can thank Yen Sid for that" Gurgi nodded, having had personal experience with Disney Deaths and the absurdity that it happens because of the willpower of the hero. It's Yen Sid, it's always been Yen Sid and it will always be Yen Sid. There's no Disney magic there, in fact, Disney magic in general is mostly because of Yen Sid. So the only magical thing about Disney is Yen Sid, everything else is just parlor tricks compared to controlling life and death forces of everything. Yen Sid, people, it's not that hard to accept. If I just killed your childhood fantasies, I'm telling you now that Iago the parrot, me, doesn't give a shit about your childhood or your fantasy. Disney isn't as magical as you think, although we all go along with it anyway under penalty of death by, you guessed it, Yen Sid.

Gurgi pulled out a flower and handed it to me, "For luck" he said, "Give the others my best" I nodded and tried to slip out as soon as possible, but before I could escape, Pinocchio, who was accompanied by Jiminy recognized me, "Hey Jiminy isn't that-?" Jiminy shook his head, "Can't be. His kind don't get resurrected" I turned around, "Excuse me?" I flew over, "What do you mean my kind?" Jiminy, Pinocchio and everyone else around them did a double take. "Y-y-you're alive?" Jiminy stuttered, I picked up the cricket and got right in his face, "Yeah, I'm alive. You surprised?"

Dodger and the others appeared from the corner of the building and came next to me, "What are they doing here?" The Blue Fairy answered, pointing towards us with her wand, "They should be in chains. Locked up like the animals they are!" Dodger, Oliver, Beast and I each took offense to this, for we actually were animals, and since Quasimodo considered himself half human at times, he also fell into this category. "Stay strong guys" Lefou whispered in all of our ears, "They can't hurt us if we stick together" We all nodded our heads simultaneously and began to take out stand.

After sitting Jiminy down, I was selected to be the spokesperson, so I commanded the attention of those that were gathered, "Listen up" everyone turned towards me, "We are the Outcasts" A stray bottle hit the awning about us, I ignored it and continued, "Can you find it in your hearts to show a little charity?" Silence. "Please" I flew above the heads of some of the taller people in the crowd so that everyone could see me, "we're not asking for money. All we want to have a little bit of food, drink and have a good time just like the rest of you."

I could tell that no one was going to budge. Gurgi stared at me and tore up his ticket into the House of Mouse, "Gurgi won't go in" he said speaking in third person like he sometimes did, "Gurgi won't go in until Outcasts go in"

At that moment, Mickey came out and hurried everyone inside, the crowd forcing Gurgi in with them. Mickey then turned in my direction, "Merry Christmas" he pulled out a wreath, threw it and closed the door. Standing up, I flew up to the front door and banged on it, demanding entry. When the door opened, I was relieved to find that Daisy was at the door and not Mickey, "Can I help you?" she asked, "Yeah" I answered, "let us in" She looked at the others and then back at me, "Okay. But I'm doing this for you not them" I smiled, "Sure you are Daisy" I winked, I knew that she supported us from the beginning, she just didn't show it.