There was a bad feeling in the air as it fell almost too quiet to everyone to bear, as even the sky went devastatingly dead silent and still. When it seemed as though no one was around, that one security guard who once saw the magic fall apart up front and center, went searching on his own to get to the bottom of this craziness, coming too close to Its a Small World, thus reaching a dead end. Was he inside some convoluted dream from overstressing of working in this dead-end job in this industry? For a good while, he had to retreat from this to at least try to wrap his head around this. Of what could have been happening behind the scenes, the least expected to spot someone else come out from the dark and run across the road. It looked like a small person or a doll… A doll! A great mass of them!
After the fall of one of these devious Villains, it would have been considered crazy to run after them, but Jeffrey didn't care at this point. Buzz was first to see the man take after them.
"Woody! We gotta move, he just saw us!"
"None of that matters now! Only that we have to get those kids out of here!" Woody replied.
Right when he said that Sarah bumped right into the security guard during her fray. He was very surprised that a child happened to be in this place at such a time but that was not as important as the one following her. This was a man, shockingly, wielding what looked like a sword but this was no pirate either! Jeffrey did what he could in this situation and tried to shield the girl but she squirmed out of his grasp.
"Stop! He's with me!" she warned him, seeing that sword at the ready.
"Huh? Young lady, It is my— AGH!" the man found that his gun was gone and that his arm was grabbed by the armored man as he was swung aside away from the child. Surprised at a single man's strength, he was commanded by this man to mind his distance from her and the group of Toys in a seriously deep, gentle baritone voice.
"Fine, you got it! Y-you wouldn't strike an unarmed man…"
"It would be a shame should you make an unwise decision, boy." this Knight replied, darkly.
"Sir Frollo, it's a-all right. I think he just meant to help…" Sarah told this Knight while gently pulling his arm to lower the blade, much to Jeffrey's relief.
"What the Hell?" Jeffrey let out, uncontrollably.
"Hold your tongue!" this Knight did not take those chosen words lightly. "Especially during this dreadful time… Speak your name." was the sudden silky command.
It was a very strange scene set before him, seeing an actual girl among these technicolored character icons, minus the Knight. He didn't have a clue who he was but that voice stuck out.
"Jeff. Please, I only mean to help. I don't what the heck is going on? But… wait… you know this guy?" Jeffrey then asked the child.
"Kind of…" she answered until something caught her eye in the bushes behind him.
There happened to be a light colored striped Persian cat, one that was different from the occasional strays that usually roamed the Parks freely at night, that came out of hiding as if obediently going straight to her. At first, the feline went surprisingly to the Knight, beginning to rub against his leg, purring happily before going to Sarah who picked him up carefully. She looked absolutely relieved as she held him close, whispering words as the cat's green eyes seemed to long stare at the swordsman while he cuddled against the girl's face. The Knight did not expect to be given such pure thankfulness, but when the cat rubbed against him, he felt a wave of reassurance, then motivation. Thankfulness.
"I was so worried~ I'm so happy you're all right…" she whispered before looking up at the Knight. "He says thank you, sir…" she sweetly told him.
That was a humbling message to him before he took his helmet off once again when someone caught his eye. Who was known as Judge Claude Frollo, one of the worst when it came to the Villains, looked so ill and beat up from his own journey. It even left the Guard agape for a moment.
"You are surely welcome." was Frollo's amazingly warm reply.
There happened to be a group finally reuniting after a too long of a separation. There was a sobering moment when this Hunchback finally made his way to them on the back of this brilliant black horse and got down from him to greet the child and her friend. Something was going on though when Frollo's eyes landed on the deformed younger man. There was silence between them while this young man hugged the girl as she shared the same.
"Quasimodo…" Frollo's voice dragged on with so much pain and anger. Stating that name, he was practically begging for the younger man to look at him.
Oh and how Quasimodo did look at him, with eyes sporting daggers, for one. Robin Hood soon came as well, leading the rest of the group with Mickey to this one spot to stay out of sight. The stallion softly nuzzled Frollo who caressed him back so closely especially when he found that there were no injuries on his loyal steed. Not one.
"My Snowball, my dearest~ How you come to me this way, untouched?"
"An Imaginaries magic can go beyond our own…" Robin answered.
Even to the Hunchback, this sign of pure regret and tears flooding over his former Master's face was a bit jarring, to say the least. In all honesty, he had no clue of how to respond… to see this man so differently for the very first time. The last sight of him was him wielding a sword over him and Esmeralda as molten lead boiled and fell below them. He tried to have him stabbed in the back as he was in a bad state of mind… and he dared even show his face to them and the Imaginaries. Frollo took this to heart…
"If you are inclined to not speak, then so be it…" Frollo told the young man, coldly. "For the time being, we are, henceforth… unwilling allies."
"I do not want to fight." Quasimodo so hoarsely replied to Frollo's statement. He rose from inspecting the child. "… but our mission remains the same."
"Quite so…"Frollo replied, making doubly sure that his sword was at hand.
Quasimodo though did not know what else to think, only that his trust had greatly lessened since that horrid morning. But for the time being, he couldn't let that hinder him since so much was at stake. The more help there was… the better. Dreamer could see and feel the anxiety and anger between the men and so did Sarah. The two friends still had a lot of hope. For everyone…
Much to their dismay even though they all very well expected it, there was a great sound. It sounded nothing like thunder but more like it was mixed with an angry scream. A woman's scream. Speaking or even exchanging glances had to wait later if there ever was a 'later'. The group all scattered leaning towards the topiary's shadow for a small ounce of safety. Which did not do very much when the ground began to crack beneath their feet, ruining the once sparkling clean walk… twisting it into dirt and rubble as this gnarled claw of a bramble shot out from it and did all it could to tie down the heroes. Sarah gave a scream at the lashing vines, recognizing them at once. The cat who she held so closely in her arms warped away into a cloud of dust as she swept the toys up with her into the bag once again. Feeling something soft cuddle in the back of her shirt collar against her neck, she was gleeful to make a full run for it. The others did their best to distract the intruding curse as a path was lying before the girl and her Imaginary. Back towards Tomorrowland one of the dwarfs once again took her hand… It was the entire troupe of them, all seven! Trusting them, she let her guide them just as one shot up from under their feet, attempting to scramble the little men away from the girl. They swung about like tentacles, whipping at them and trying to throw them aside like dolls.
Grumpy attempted to press Sarah away before getting caught with a thorn slashing against his arm. Although she was told to flee by them and Quasimodo, she couldn't just leave the poor General there, hurt. Grumpy landed in a heap by her and Dreamer saw this, instantly getting an idea. Before it could even happen again to the other Dwarfs, when a brambled attempted to whip at them it struck an invisible force. A flash of pink erupted in the air at where it hit and felt like it hit a wall which made it retreat in pain. Happy and Bashful both looked on in shock at what just happened to the vine but they bravely continued the fight against them.
This new defense stretched out to Quasimodo was almost struck down and they whirled around his legs to drag him. He was strong enough to get one leg free but had to slice the other vine with his dagger in order to free himself before Frollo was close to sharing the same fate. Frollo's blade was still sharp enough to slice right through them able to create a path that lasted long enough for them to sneak through the deathly garden.
As the latter made their escape Mickey made sure the Dwarfs got their chance and magically took on the cursed assault all alone at first. His wand was like that of a paintbrush when it purely spewed an enchantment over the branches and thorns, covering them in a silky blanket that seemed to hurt them enough for them to simmer down and sink back into the cracked ground. This wasn't the end of it, no matter how much juice he put into it. One shot out at the Mouse to capture him only to strike the air painfully. Mickey knew this was something protecting him and made a quick decision of vanishing as an entire slew of these manic things came shooting forth to engulf the streets. Trying this new magic out though began to give Dreamer back those strange headaches, the very same ones he felt when he met Sarah whenever he tried to remember things. This time they began to feel worse than before. He was hiding with her, but soon his concentration stopped and he became visible right by her side again.
"What's happened!?" Happy asked in a panic of seeing him.
"Dreamer! You gotta hide! She's here!"
"I'm sorry! I… I tried to do it~ But it hurts so badly!" the poor Imaginary explained.
To everyone around, trapped and fighting… that center star that was tortured and mangled began to crack and disintegrate from the power erupting beneath it like a volcano. Figment heard the wish and watched them together from a lamp post. He knew what had to be done to get close enough to the Dark Fairy, but it wasn't going to endanger his friends any further. Dreamer hugged the dear girl, frightened out of his mind. She actually noticed one physical change, spying a single teardrop leak from her friend's eye leaving a trail upon his sugary cheek. It was common that his tears would only be of candy….
In her shock, she could only wipe it away with her thumb. This was going to be over and done and everything will be as it should be. No one deserved any of this… all because of just one awful ambition? She took that bag the held that Villain held inside from him.
"Come on, Dreamer… We can get through this. We're all going home. Today." she promised, keeping that wish fresh in her heart. "You can't be seen— Figment too!"
Dreamer tried to think as everything else seemed to become a fog and chaotic. One of his most cherished memories was one of his first friends he made on this journey which was Gurri and those two little fawns. Upon seeing so many of them right here and now, he had one idea that would give him and his friends a good amount of time. He was to change himself into a fawn. He would slip right under their noses with this mask. For now, they were hidden together under the vigil of the once mysterious Knight and Quasimodo keeping the fight farthest away from them. Someone was overhearing and he looked over when he was on his way to find her again. Before Jeffrey could even comprehend it, there was a fawn standing right beside the girl with lavishing with pink over its fur before it settled onto a lightened brown with milky spots. She cautiously took it into her arms.
"I really don't know how long I can hold this…" Dreamer nervously expressed to Sarah.
"Just try your best! And don't talk—"
Suddenly one trademark of a maddened cackle erupted from the distance. Sarah quickly stowed that marble away into her pocket. That one wish had created her own spell which would be of great help to Mickey and the Wizards. She was carrying in her arms one of the most powerful forms of magic that she couldn't imagine being in the hands of… someone as angry as her, whose magic she can plainly see pushing its way out. Catching onto this plan Figment joined the two, secretly transforming into a tiny ornament, latching onto a loop on Sarah's jeans. Although she didn't realize this, Sarah was horrified of her surroundings.
A brilliant pillar of light and cloud in the distance mystified her. Dreamer would horrifying look on with teary eyes knowing the capabilities of this presence that had been hunting for them all along. It was now or never.
Every single character that had broken free from their own portals from the hearts of their attractions all knew that it was someone else's turn and she was as angry as a thunderstorm. Mickey Mouse, followed by the Dwarfs and the Heroic band all the gathered with looks of absolute horror and heartbreak. Quasimodo shared a look at Frollo who barely had enough strength to be stoic. One last message was spoken to them though… which was the downtrodden yet beautiful voice of the Blue Fairy.
We need to hold vast during these few hours…
She cannot feel that she is outmatched.
Remain humbled.
"This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard so far…" Woody whispered before seeing Sarah start to run with a fawn by her side, right across the cracking street. "Guys, I gotta make sure they stay out of trouble! Buzz, do ya think you can convince Libertas to stay low for a while? I think we're the only ones who might slip past her eye…"
"You be careful, Cowboy…" the Spaceman replied with concern while keeping his blue eyes locked on that deathly bright pillar of light before them.
"We're gonna need her later, especially when we get Dreamer back. Remember, guys… lay low."
If he thought being swept into a bag was annoying enough (he could even sympathize with Jafar on this one…), nothing compared to a moment like this knowing the worst of the worst was well on her way. The sooner he caught up with the Imaginaries and Sarah, the better since he knew her more than others. Following the words of the Blue Fairy sounded like an insane notion to him because they were in obvious trouble and he sure as heck didn't know what to do!
First of all, after consulting with his fellows Woody just booked it. Following their shadow across from Tomorrowland, into that of Adventureland where it was most likely easier to hide. He was small enough to keep in shadow until he honestly had to
yank one of Sarah's shoelaces.
"We need to finish what we started, kid!" he yelled up at her. "Where the heck are you going?"
"Oh, Woody! We did as she said, but I-I think we need a plan—"
"You don't have any ideas yet!?" the Sheriff warned, beckoning her to follow him to underneath the thick trees next to the entrance to one of the more thrilling attractions. The Indiana Jones Adventure where he questioned the fawn that was random to them. Although he beheld the same feeling he had whenever he was beside Dreamer… or even Figment for that matter. A tremendous power of hope. Inspiration! It came in spurts! "…well, one down though. I guess we're not too much of a lost cause. Shoot!"
Lightning struck one of the branches off one of the trees in efforts to trap them. Sarah ducked behind the wall of the Bizarre while accidentally letting the fawn fall from her grasp. At the distant sound of Bambi's own, Woody had the fawn look down at him as he realized that it was his friend under that mask. It was a darn good one to boot. This had to stay a secret. It was also known that Figment was among them as well, but the issue was that they were after Sarah for she was probably known to have one Imaginary bonded with her. That meant that Maleficent's power could only go so far still. Imaginary magic surpassed hers, they learned that much.
"You're gonna think this is crazy but it's got to work." he ushered them. "Maleficent needs you to get her out, Dreamer. Jackie, you're the boss of him—"
"Woody, please!"
"We got this far, haven't we?" he looked her straight in the eye.
"But if she gets out," Dreamer spoke in a different voice. It sounded just like a child's. " … she's gonna try to pull the same trick Jafar tried on me… I-I don't want that."
"You have a good point, but it won't be for long. Yen Sid needs your help too, Dreamer. The both of you! So that he can push her back before she pushes us too far." Woody explained. "You're what she really wants~"
Something sparked in the Imaginary's eyes that gave away the fawn's mask almost instantly.
"I don't like where any of this is going… but I trust you. I trust her. We have no other choice." Sarah spoke in tears.
Woody's heart crashed to the ground. The fawn couldn't bear to see her that way. Not again. After he nuzzled her though, he got a burst of courage which then was spread to Woody. Much to Sarah's shock, Dreamer just shot away with not a word! All that looked like to the trapped castmembers was just a tiny fawn making a run for Main Street. Sarah was too horrified to even act at first and fought against her friends to go after him. Figment flew away in the same pursuit. For the girl though, it was no use. Someone had caught her in time before her leg was caught by something strong. The two were caught by one shadow that took the form of a snake for a minute. As Sarah tried to grab Woody back, she was smacked down back against the ground, striking her head onto the stony cement. Right then, all her thoughts went out like a light.