Stunned that after all this time, Mickey was ecstatic at the fact that he had finally made it back home. If it were not for Sarah's own selflessness, by this world lush green earth, he would never had seen Minnie again. Minnie was his Queen who had always stayed by his side even in the darkest of times… At once when she was told of the news of the great known eagle soaring over the walls, she tore away and ran despite her servants worrying over her. In her time of grief and toil, she barely left her quarters unless she was seeking council with Yen Sid or the Three Good Fairies for reassurance and every question she had asked she was told that he was held in the hands of a rescued human child, among a group of heroes. The moment she had received word, she was well on her way by running through the darkened halls of the castle. The poor Queen was exhausted from seemingly endless sleepless nights and only wore a simple night gown, but nonetheless… when Mickey turned to her voice when she cried, the two were a swirl of emotions when they both embraced tightly. The guards, Robin and Quasimodo set themselves aside for their sakes as tears were coursing down the poor Queen's face.
Sarah watched this other mouse who resembled him so closely and sadly smiled. She stayed by Quasimodo as they were about to be guided inside the castle.
"Mickey!" Minnie cried, sobbing into him as he was in the midst of shock and tears himself. "Micheal Theodore Mouse, you fool!"
The stating of his full name left the Troupe in surprise, yet they knew that she was just as panicked as they felt most of the time. Mickey held her so tightly that it would seem that they would never be apart, ever again. He certainly was too happy to care that she just blurted out his whole name, simply because he was in a state, just like her.
"Minerva… I-I love you so much. I-I thought I'd never see you again." he softly told her, sniffling.
At his words and the fact that he shook from his own sobs, she began to peck him with kisses, over his cheeks, eyes and nose, so joyous that she was able to hold him in her arms again. Tearfully, as she still hugged Mickey, Minnie took Sarah's hand in deep silent thanks to her and this group of heroes she was with. Just as she had discovered during the first flight, Sarah was still at awe at how different things were here from home. What Robin had previously quoted Merlin that love was the most powerful thing, it was speaking of something terribly literal, in a way. There was war going on, bringing danger to all, from the bravest to the most innocent and it was starting to leak into her own world.
As the night wore on in Anaheim California, those who worked late to clean up the property began to notice very eery happenings within both parks. Fantasyland was the center of all of it, as each attraction had ceased their functions, even there was no sign of strangeness in their inner workings. Nothing was broken in these rides. Even the power was still on, but the rides would not function. When Sleeping Beauty Castle would sparkle at night, it was strangely darkened beginning at the towers, like a blanket was slowly draping over it as minutes passed. News was already about these happenings and the fact that many families and parents had expressed with great disdain that they had wasted precious money for tickets and that the management was failing. All in one day, complaints were beginning to fly in. A few characters were abused during the frustration, having one of the Pluto actors getting injured by being kicked in the leg by a couple disgruntled teenagers. One of the Mickey actors sadly resigned due to the stress from certain guests…. Again, all this happened all in one day.
Meanwhile, as one of the janitors hurried his way into one of the break rooms where many of his co-workers were barricading, somewhat, he had noticed something else that was moving around the paths and concrete of the center star that sat between the entrances of both Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure. When he stood by it, the poor man witnessed it glowing oddly along its outline, from gold to that of purple and sickly green. The tiny red bricks around it were starting to crack and loosen from this strange black root that was trying to worm through from somewhere underneath. In a panic, the man ran off to speak of this to the others. Yet something was following him… in the form of a shadow. It shot out from the darkness, as fast as lightning. A yell could be heard through out the vacant strip of Downtown Disney.
The Troup had no knowing that Sarah's world was just starting to witness signs of Maleficent's touch, and so soon. Now they were safe within the Magic Kingdom, fully housed in what was known as the King's Keep. They managed to get there on the back of a giant eagle… far away from the pain and the fear that tortured all eight of them. It sure felt like a breath of fresh air to Sarah and she continued to guide Bing Bong and the fawns with her. The guards kindly led them along this long corridor that was lightly lit up by many torches before they came to a brilliant courtyard. Bing Bong, being a rather curious spirit, tilted his head in a way when he saw more grass and colorful flowers with even more light ahead. With that his ears perked up, his green eyes brightened. His bright smile no less brought some ease to her heart before he glanced at her and excitedly took her hand.
"Jackie! Do ya see that!? Come on!" he cheered as they were followed by the two happily prancing fawns.
Looking at Woody who followed, Sarah was tugged along in such a playful manner. When they ran through the great tunnel, there happened to be a familiar face right at the end. A doe. The one doe who was there with them, fighting with Pete. Gurri… The fawns were ecsatatic to see her and she cried in joy while running up to meet them. She danced around them before playfully tugging at Bing Bong's ear, making him laugh.
"You've made it! You all have made it here! Look at you!" she cried, happily nuzzling the unharmed fawns prancing at her feet.
"Oh, we missed ya, Gurri!" Bing Bong expressed, genuinely glad. "I was really scared for you… Where were ya?"
"How did you get out of those woods…?" Sarah asked, shocked.
"All's well, Bing Bong…" the doe warmly replied. "I worried for you too, all of you… How happy was I to witness you flying away on that eagle. Geno told me to flee, to find our herd… Little did I know that they were in the closest meadow, but it was close to being claimed… Someone was there…"
"It couldn't have been Maleficent, was it?" Woody prodded.
"She couldn't have been there…" Bing Bong worried. "Please, tell us it wasn't her…"
"It couldn't have been her. At first we thought it was, but their mere presence was pushing that darkness away and helping the air be tolerable to breathe again. If Robin did not come to us, I believe we would not be here at all…"
"There are two wizards…" Woody began to hopefully smile. "One is allied with the King of England and the other is… well, he should be here."
"We've gone such a long way already…" Sarah wondered as she trailed eyes from the beautiful garden to the highest towers of this brilliant place. "I hope…"
The garden looked like a thick forest, with hilly nooks and crannies, with thick oak trees and their roots taking over these little hillsides. Little poppies sprouted in numerous places, in colors of red and white and sometimes blue. Sparkling streams shined by the thick stones and rocks among these thick trees ultimately led to gentle dirt paths which then led back to the corridors. The birds sang from the canopies and flew about, playing.
"My father had told me to return here, to guide you… Master Yen Sid agreed that I should stay." the doe finished. "Also to keep an eye on you two." she cheerfully spoke to the excited little fawns. "Until our homes are safe again."
Sarah sat down on her knees, joining in on their little tag game before they decided to get the Imaginary into the game. Bing Bong felt someone pull at his tail and he tried to catch Jumper, who pranced away fast!
"Bing!" Jumper spoke, to all of them for the first time. That word made Gurri's ears shoot forward.
"Yeah?" the elephant paused, surprised.
"Bing!" Jumper said again, jeering at the Imaginary, wagging his tail.
"He's trying to say your name!" Woody came forth.
"Oh! Well, would ya look at that!" Mickey's voice joined in.
"What a charming sight." Minnie smiled, walking up to the Troupe.
Seeing all the attention he was getting from just saying his first word, he lowered to the ground before pouncing at Bing Bong so boldly. Giving a yell, Bing Bong ducked as Jumper leaped over him and then started to run. As the two started to play among the poppies and the grassy hills, other inhabitants started to take notice of this particular newcomer. One was indifferent as the other was overall thrilled about one fact. In a light, child's English accent, another elephant shaped creature gasped in happiness.
"A heffalump! It's another heffalump!" he whispered to a young bear cub, trying to climb on his head to see over the wall that separated the two gardens. "Koda! Do you see?"
"I can see, stop movin'!" Koda groaned as he got to the top of his friend's head. "You looking at that pink guy?"
"Yup!"
"He looks a lot like you…"
"We are a brightly colored species, you know." his friend stated quite proudly.
His friend moved which made the bear lose his balance and he fell into a patch. "I thought you all were purple!"
"We can be whatever we want! Come on then, help me up!"
"Lumpy, you're too big!" Koda grumbled as he tried to get under the heffalump as best he could.
"We can bounce up then. Get on!"
Koda was grabbed by a trunk and was plopped onto Lumpy's back. "Bounce!?"
It was slowly getting close to the time when Mickey and the Troupe were to meet the Wizard as soon as he would return from the trials of battle. Nonetheless, that did not mean that spies were about. Meanwhile, the one courtyard full of enchantment could be fully seen from a distance upon one of the distant hills away from the castle. Right when Quasimodo and Robin came in after the play started, someone seemed to breathe heavily out of frustration from the top of this one hill. Quasimodo began to speak to the young lady as he knelt beside her. It seemed that many bonds had been formed already yet was that good news or was it terrible? Many young children and souls were brought here to be safe from the terrible battles and attacks as it was seen from this very spot.
"... At ease... be calm, dearest mine. for the time being, we are to only observe…" calmed a voice towards this restless other.
The other continued. "...this will be our end if we continue with this, master. I spy that thing... That thing she wants." another voice seemed to quietly hiss.
"Ah, such an honorable end it would be then..." retorted the deep voice with a hint of sarcasm* "We are not alone, there is nothing we shall fear,"
"Hark. We are not even supposed to be here. All this was your idea, no doubt..." the other voice spoke, as if taunting.
"Well, indeed, my friend, indeed. I have to be sure all of them arrived unscathed, all and each…"
A deep groaning hum of acknowledgment was the soon response.
Down within that beautiful court, these two souls continued to watch for a time. Bing Bong was so giddy along with the fawns, so much so that he was blind to the fact that another elephant was running up to him. A playful laugh got his attention before he was suddenly tackled by another youth, who was just his size.
"Oh gosh!" Bing Bong yelped in surprise after he had fallen with a great weight on his back.
"Hehehehaahah!" laughed the spirited voice from the other trunked creature, who was soft and round also. "I got you! I got you!" he started to dance around.
Bing Bong was struck with pleasant surprise before he smiled at this new friend that happened to have tackled him. "Hey- hey! Who are you?"
"Now you catch me!" this other tempted as the fawns joined in. Bing Bong looked determined and sprung.
"Aw no ya don't!"
"They are safe," spoke the one spy after a time of silence. "... that is most crucial. Much like a child, it is…"
"You have spoken the truth" sighed the deeper voice. "They are safe, for now. It is not over yet. Oh, just look at them. So joyful and lively around it, even when the world is crumbling. Yes, it is just like them. A child. Innocent and pure. A light of hope."
Those voices soon died off as if they were just from a sort of dream… No matter. It seemed as though more protective eyes were watching over this fondly Troupe. Quasimodo certainly whispered something to the girl, in regards of meeting the Wizard and that he was going to be their escort along with Robin.
"How do you feel about that?" Quasi asked.
She felt the kindly hand over her shoulder as she watched her friends play out there. "I don't know. Do you think we're ready? I-I mean, I really do want to know where my parents are. But I'm scared to find out if something horrible happened to them." the girl expressed herself openly.
"You're a brave child. And you're not alone, dear." the man encouraged.
"Thanks… Quasi. I don't know if we would have made it without you and Libertas."
"I am not agreeable to just about everythin' you said, bud." Gammy expressed, overall nervous.