sultal's note: Re-read chpt 11 "The Prophesy" for references of the last fantasian king and the Wishing Star.

Chapter 97: Mickey The King

"Ariel. Wake up."

Ariel blinked. Ice crystals stuck to the corners of her eyes. With difficulty she opened them.

Wart was standing over her. Sunlight lit the snowflakes in his hair. A diamond crust had formed over his eyelashes. He looked worried, worn, and somehow much, much older.

Ariel shifted. Aladdin's magic lamp dug into her hip. Painfully she pushed up onto her shoulders. "Yeee-ouch."

Quickly Wart knelt. He pressed a hand to Ariel's temple. It was bleeding. Ariel looked down, the snow was dotted with her blood.

"What happened?"

Wart fisted a clump of snow. Gingerly, he placed it against Ariel's head. "You fell. Er…we fell."

Rubbing the snow over Ariel's skin, Wart gestured over his shoulder. A line of blood trailed from a frozen waterfall, perhaps a twenty foot drop. "Probably wasn't a good idea to travel in the dark. I tried to wake you sooner but…sorry."

Ariel grabbed Wart's wrist. "Sooner? Wart, how long have I been out?"

Wart bit his lip. Guiltily, he glanced at the setting sun. "All day."

"All day?"

Ariel scrambled to her feet. She half turned, looking for her trident before remembering that it was gone. Squeezing her hair, Ariel looked to the sky. The black vortex was overhead, a cavity in the sky. The sun was a prick in the west, the light wavering shyly between the trees.

Growling, Ariel started to run. Her head was spinning, throbbing at the temples but she ran harder, pushing through the pain.

"Faster!" she called to Wart, wrenching her legs through the snow. "Faster! We only have until sunset! Sunset on the third day!"

"Ariel!"

"That's when Maleficent is going to kill our parents! Our families!"

"Ariel!"

"We have get there first!"

Ariel!"

"We have to find Headmaster Mickey!"

"Ariel! Stop!"

"Wart!"

Ariel fell. Snow stung her cheeks as Wart rolled over her, tackling her to the ground.

"Wart!" Ariel hissed, kicking him off. "Wart! Are you crazy – "

"Ariel!" Wart whispered, pushing her shoulders down. His eyes were wide and urgent. "Ariel! Look!"

Ariel turned. Brushing away snow, she peered through the trees. Sunlight shifted through the black nettles and clawed branches. Suddenly, she saw what Wart was pointing at.

"Graves." Wart whispered, sinking into the snow. Holding her arm, he breathed a long icy breath. "Graves. We made it. Ariel…this is Petrified Forest."

Ariel held her breath. Above, the vortex constricted, blackening the sky.

"Come on." Ariel whispered, raising her head. Ears pricked like a fox, she stepped into Petrified Forest. "We have until sunset."

The way was dark. And short. Like the blade of a dirk. Creeping from tombstone to tombstone, Ariel and Wart wove through Petrified Forest.

Wart held his breath. Ariel bit her lip until it bled, afraid to make a noise.

It was quiet. And calm. Deathly calm.

Then, they heard it.

The laughter.

But it wasn't laughter as they knew. It wasn't laughter that lifted spirits to the sky then settled like peppermint hot chocolate in your heart.

It was mangled, shrill, insane laughter that razed the silence with blood curling shrieks. It was excruciating, high, and made you shiver against the maggots slithering under your skin.

It was the laughter of villains.

And as Ariel and Wart hid in the forest, shrinking from the green fire, they saw exactly what the villains were laughing at.

A lion – Simba's father – the majesty of the Southern Sector roared. His mane ignited in the setting sun he battled a second lion with acid green eyes split by a white scar. Far below, surrounded by heckling minions, watched Maleficent. Sweetly she smiled, fingering her serpentine staff as the lions fought. Flanked around her, cursing at the golden lion were Maleficent's equivalents. A lord of the dead. A red genie. A hag monarch. An Italian puppeteer. A deep throated tiger. A queen of hearts. A mad witch. A horned king.

Together, they raised the green flames, spitting all the powers of Hell at the lion king.

Smiling, Maleficent raised her hand.

Her crow sliced into the sky.

And suddenly, the lion king – the great Mufasa – fell. His powerful body cracked down, scraping across the cliff. Savagely, the scarred lion pounced, flexing his claws and gouging them through Mufasa's paws.

"Long live the king." Maleficent hissed as Mufasa was flung off the cliff and into the green flames.

Ariel and Wart screamed. Simultaneously they sprinted forward but stopped as their voices were overpowered by another.

"NO!"

The villains turned. The forest was silent, muffled by the empty thud that killed Mufasa's roar.

Ariel trembled. Holding Wart, she sunk into the snow. Biting back tears, she looked through the villainous army at the small figure with round ears and a pointed hat, stepping from the shadows.

Headmaster Mickey.

"Well." Maleficent rose. Her shadow stretched over the snow, touching Headmaster Mickey's toes. "Well. Well. If it isn't…." Mockingly, Maleficent bowed. "…his majesty. The last ruler of Fantasia." Grinning a wide red smile, Maleficent raised her magnificent headdress. "King Mickey."

Ariel gasped. Startled, she looked at Wart. King? King Mickey?

Mickey – Headmaster or King – said nothing. His eyes flicked up, and Ariel's heart somersaulted, swearing they flickered in her direction. Then, without regard for Maleficent, he went to Mufasa.

The villains lurched, stabbing forward with sneers and snarls.

Mickey paid them little heed. Resolutely, he knelt by Mufasa. Closing his eyes, he laid a tender hand on the lion's head.

A moment passed. Mickey's mouth moved imperceptibly in silent prayer. Then, he spoke.

"Broken." Mickey lifted his eyes. They were angry and black. "Your deal has been broken. You promised the parents would live…until sunset on the third day."

Maleficent smiled. Pointing her sharp chin, she laughed. "The sun is setting, is it not. And the Chosen One has not been surrendered unto us." Swirling her black robes, Maleficent swept over the graveyard. She stopped, grinning at the little mouse. "You were merely too late. Your majesty."

Mickey gazed at Maleficent. Then, bowing his head over Mufasa, he signed. "But I am here Maleficent. I am surrendering."

"And it would be unwise – " Mickey added, raising his voice. "—for anyone…anyone…to stop me. For worse…."

Ariel caught her breath. She felt Wart's heart beating as Mickey looked straight at them. "…or for better."

The villains growled. Spoiled in offense and confusion, they surrounded the mouse.

"We asked for the Chosen One…" Maleficent purred, eyes glowing like a dragon's throat. "…not itsy…bitsy…ancient Fantasian King."

Mickey stood. Raising to his full height, he lifted his eyes proudly to mistress of all evil. "But…don't you remember…I was the Chosen One."

Ariel's heart stopped.

Mickey's declaration was interdicting. The villains stalled, curses dispelling into uncertainty.

"I was the Chosen One." Mickey said, little voice firm and still. With every word, the headmaster that Ariel and Wart knew died, and another mouse resurrected in his place. "I was the Chosen One that wished for two Wishing Stars. I was the Chosen One that broke the Wishing Star with a single wish. I was the Chosen One that watched evil souls kill my people and take Fantasia apart. I was the Chosen One that was sentenced to death. I was the Chosen One that wished for the Wishing Star to be mended. I was the Chosen One that wished all evil away."

Stepping forward, Mickey pushed the villains away with an invisible shield. Sunlight glittered across his brow like a golden crown.

"I was the Chosen One that broke the Wishing Star. I was the Chosen One that wished it back together. Yes! I was the Chosen One…and the last Fantasian King!"

Mickey stood, sunlight streaming over his shoulders. "And I…the last Fantasian King. The Chosen One of old…surrender unto you, Mistress of all Evil."

Laying his fingertips upon Mufasa's lifeless mane, Mickey bowed his head. "Do not kill anymore. Let the Fantasians live."

Maleficent stared. Lifting her chin, she deliberated Mickey's bequest.

Then, she opened her arms. Green flames gathered around the villains like dust.

"Why surrender…" laughed Maleficent, "…without a fight!" Maleficent slashed her arms. The green flames swirled around Mickey, swinging him into the air. The villains cheered as he fell, rolling to the base of a towering, forgotten grave.

A sword in a stone.

"I will make you a bargain." sneered Maleficent. The green flames licked the sword. The blade caught the light, casting a sharp shadow over Mickey's face.

"The sword in the stone." Maleficent hissed, drawing the flames near. "Neglected since last you held it. You know its power. You know the fate of those that bring it free."

Mickey rose. The Magic Bag of Tricks hung from his head, dirtied with snow. Green light sparked across his eyes as he stared at the sword in the stone.

"If you can pull it…" whispered Maleficent, villains reaching around her. "…then I will believe you. I asked for the Chosen One. In exchange for the parents and families of Fantasia. I cannot believe you are the Chosen One. But...if you can free the sword in the stone…I will believe you to still be the King of Fantasia. I will believe…"

Maleficent raised her staff. The cry of a serpent filled the air. "…your sacrifice can break the Wishing Star….if your life is worth the life…of the Chosen One!"

Mickey gazed at Maleficent.

He turned, one hand holding the Magic Bag of Tricks between his ears.

He closed his eyes.

Then, he climbed the grave.

The villains roared. They screeched. They pound their chest. Gnashed their teeth. They chanted, mocked, and cursed as Mickey Mouse slowly curled his hand around the hilt of the magical sword…

…and pulled.

Ariel reached.

Wart clenched her arm.

They stared through the green flames.

And Mickey….

…Headmaster Mickey…

...Mickey the King...

…bowed his head against sword.

The sword…that once sparkled to life beneath his fingers….

…was now was cold…

…cold…and frozen…as stone.

"Long…live…" Maleficent hissed. Hugely laughing, she threw back her head into the setting sun. "…the king!"

Maleficent lowered her arms.

And set the villains free.

"NO!" Ariel screamed. She rose, Wart rising beside her…

…but in one second…

…it was over.