Chapter 27 (Hidden Origins 2)
Traverse Town. A safe haven for those who have lost it all. And Scrooge wanted to invest in it. Not to make more money. He actually cared about helping people. After the disaster that was DisneyLand, Scrooge had to be more cautious. And he had to keep an eye out for his teenage ward, Donald Duck. Why couldn't he be more sophisticated like that kid Daffy Duck?
"We're in Traverse Town! Get your head out of the clouds and come back to reality nephew!" barked Scrooge.
"Uncle, are we really going to invest money in helping the poor? Don't you remember what happened at…" Donald was saying.
"Do not mention that to me! Not to me!" Scrooge once again said aloud.
He and his nephew got off the train and walked into town. It was all so quiet, yet the people who lived there were busy with their markets and such.
"I like this town. It's so serene and very peaceful. You should learn a thing or two from this place dear nephew." said Scrooge.
"Just shoot me already." said Donald.
Scrooge then slapped Donald, out in public. Again.
"Don't test me. I have a lot to do here and you will not ruin this for me, not like you did when I tried to make a deal with the ambassador from the Galactic Federation." said Scrooge.
"Okay!" said Donald angrily. He gritted his teeth underneath his beak and had to endure his Uncle's lectures. Scrooge and Donald entered a pub in town that looked almost abandoned. However, inside it was clean and very welcoming. The barkeep, who was a Dinosaur nodded at them as he was wiping off a mug.
"Earl Sinclair. Been a while old chap. How's Kermit?" asked Scrooge.
"Still in hiding. After what happened at the park, I'm surprised you were brave to show your face here." said Earl.
"What happened was not my fault." said Scrooge.
"Oh sure. And I'm the Queen of Hearts." said Earl.
"Really Earl, is HE here?" asked Scrooge.
"He'll be here in a moment. Sit down, let's catch up." said Earl.
"How is your family?" asked Scrooge.
"Well, Fran is at home with Robbie. He's just getting his teeth out. And come this spring, we will have our baby girl." said Earl.
"How many children do you plan on having?" asked Scrooge.
"Just two. Two is enough, believe me." said Earl.
"Imagine if you do get a third one. That would be something to see." said Scrooge.
"I had a nightmare where one kid was hitting me with a frying pan." said Earl, shivering at the thought.
"How is your nephew?" asked Earl.
"Donald? He's over… Donald? Donald!" Scrooge yelled out. He then realized Donald was not there. That brat escaped again! How did he?! And now of all times?!
…
Donald got up from bed and stretched. Daisy, who was in bed smoking a small cigarette, smiled as her funny pink lips made a kissing sound.
"That sure was fun." she said softly.
"It was. And you know the best part? I managed to get away from my Uncle." said Donald.
"Scrooge yes? Said Daisy as she started to get dressed.
"Yep that's the one. And you know what that means right?" asked Donald.
"That we can finally get married and leave?" asked Daisy.
"Yes! Just wait until my uncle kicks the bucket! Once he dies, which will be very soon, I will have his money and we will marry and you and I will live in luxury!" cried Donald.
Daisy at first smiled at the idea, but then she shook her head slowly.
"Donald, there's something I meant to tell you." she said.
"Yes my love?" asked Donald.
"Dumbella spoke with me. She's convinced me to join the Mouskateers." said Daisy.
"My sister? Mouskateers? NO! You can't be serious!?" cried Donald.
"I know your uncle is part of the Mouskateers too. Don't you see Donald? We are in danger. It doesn't matter where we run. We could go hide in the outskirts of Montressor or even far off Monstropolis, but we'll still be discovered." said Daisy.
"I don't get why everyone is so scared of old man Xea.. whatever the heck that old man's name is. He can't be as bad Disney." said Donald.
"No. He's worse. And DisneyLand was only the beginning of something far darker. Della showed me proof and…" Daisy was saying.
"Della? Now you're calling her by her nickname now? Since when have you two become buddies?" asked Donald angrily.
"No, don't do this. Don't act like a kid!" said Daisy.
Donald stormed off the room and Daisy was shaking her head in disapproval.
Sometime later, Donald was out in the street, with his hands in the pockets of his shirt. As he was walking, he angrily recounted some events that happened a couple of weeks ago. The park. The "incidents." Then the mouse. That mouse! How the heck did he form a resistance group in such a short amount of time. As Donald's head began to spin with so many questions, he heard gunshots.
He looked up and saw a cowboy and a tall young "dog" like man next to him, shooting bullets at glowing robotic soldiers.
Donald had seen those things before. At the park.
"Goofy, they have us surrounded! Pull a Trigger Happy ability!" cried Yosemite Sam.
Goofy did as he was told and pulled out two guns. He then fired a rain of bullets on the glowing soldiers.
"That will keep these digital creeps away for a while." said Yosemite Sam.
Goofy didn't put his guns away. He looked around the area. "There are more coming. Sark must have sent them from the hellhole back in the main computer room." said Goofy, with a slightly more mature voice.
"As I thought. So the intel from Alice and the Chesire Cat was correct. They were coming from there." said Yosemite Sam.
"Bugs Bunny said that Traverse Town is the next target. We need to find some way to block these guys from entering town." said Goofy.
Yosemite pulled out a small comlink from his pocket. A weirdly highly advanced contraption thought Donald, as he was watching from afar.
"George Jetson. Are you there? Yes. Okay, tell Bugs we'll stick around town. Sark sent more of his glowing goons here. What? McDuck is here?! Geez that old man! Where is he? At Earl's? Good, we're on our way!" said Sam.
"McDuck? The billionaire?" asked Goofy.
"He's here alright. We need to rendezvous with him." said Sam.
"Wait a moment." said Goofy. He jumped high into the air and before Donald knew it, Goofy was right behind him, pointing one of his guns at Donald's face.
"Who sent you? Why are you watching us?" asked Goofy. Donald looked straight in the eyes of the boy next to him. He was about the same age, only with spiky black hair and he was wearing a grey beanie. He was also very tall. Donald didn't stand a chance.
"Did the Mouse sent you?" asked Goofy.
"What? No! I'm McDuck's nephew! I'm Donald Duck!" cried Donald.
"Don't lie. You were watching us while we were fighting. I ask again, who sent you!? If you don't answer, I'll blow your brains out." said Goofy.
"Enough Goof, he's telling the truth." said Sam, walking up to them.
"He could be one of Sark's cronies. Or worse." said Goofy.
"This kid is shaking like a maraca. And he looks like the typical spoiled and unlikable rich kid you see in movies." said Sam.
"What's that supposed to mean?!" cried Donald angrily.
"Goofy, at ease." said Sam.
Goofy put his guns away. "Take us to McDuck." said Sam.
A short time later, McDuck was waiting for his contacts. Sam, Goofy and of course, Donald was there. No doubt they found him fooling around and had to take him back to his uncle.
"Where in heaven's name were you?" asked Scrooge.
"I was in town. Shopping." said Donald.
"No. You were with a woman." said Goofy.
Donald felt like a record player was scratching. Earl almost dropped a mug, Sam awkwardly stood there and gave Goofy a sharp look.
Scrooge was not surprised nor was he impressed.
"I can see that. Lipstick marks are still visible on your face and neck. If you removed your shirt, I will find more evidence of her lips on you. Who was it? Was it that girl Daisy? I told you never to see her again! She's a bad influence on you!" said Scrooge.
Donald turned around and punched Goofy in the stomach.
"You idiot! Why did you have to say that out loud!" cried Donald.
Goofy stood up. "It's the truth. Mickey said once that the truth is a good thing." said Goofy.
"Mickey? You knew him?" asked Donald, surprised.
"I did. I was there. I was at the park." said Goofy.
"How come I didn't see you there?" asked Donald.
"We were mind controlled, remember?" said Goofy.
"Huh." Donald said.
"And thanks to that young brave mouse, you came home to me and to Sam. Now that we are together, we might as well talk a few things." said Scrooge.
The four of them sat in a hidden room in the bar, reserved only for meetings. Goofy and Donald sat across from each other. The boys had mixed feelings. They just escaped DisneyLand, and now they were there, in the bar with their mentors. It was as if their futures were being decided.
"So, I heard that a large amount of money was taken from your accounts." said Sam.
"Indeed. I lost a quarter of everything. But Disney is not here to enjoy the money he took. There is another menace, one that has secretly hacked in the banking accounts and taken the quarter for himself." said Scrooge.
"I know. Xehanort." said Sam.
Scrooge nodded. "Aye. That villain Xehanort. According to the Jetsons, Xehanort plans on opening a large boarding school for the world. He calls that place Oblivion High School."
"A school? That's it?" asked Sam.
"Yes. But if Xehanort is as secretive as they say he is, no doubt he will make that school into a maze and hide secrets in there. Think of it as a church, reeking with secrets in its walls." said Scrooge.
Sam and Goofy nodded. Scrooge continued. "What really offends me and gets me feathers ruffled is the fact that he is using MY NAME to build the school." said Scrooge.
"Yes. ToonTown newspapers say you are co founding the school with him. What a bunch of bull poop." said Sam.
"Yes. They are all lies! I would never side with a heartless man like him! But you know what happens to those who say no to powerful individuals in this world. I'm lucky I'm still alive. Disney would have easily hired somebody to take me out. Xehanort would have done the same or he would have done so himself!" said Scrooge.
"What makes you think Disney wouldn't have killed you personally with his own hands?" asked Sam, puzzled at Scrooge's statement.
"There is a difference between Disney and Xehanort. Disney would clear his name out of everything and got away with things. But Xehanort on the other hand likes to get his hands dirty and he's not afraid of letting people know he's evil." said Scrooge.
One of Goofy's ears lifted up and he heard noises. Blaster noises.
"Their here!" he snarled.
"Sark's men?" asked Scrooge.
"Goofy, get ready." said Sam.
"You gotta fight or hide like a hunted duck?" asked Goofy to Donald.
"I-I don't know how to fight! I never learned and I'll die if I fight!" complained Donald.
"Don't be useless. The time of fighting is now! We both survived Disney. If you survived that, you can survive this!" cried Goofy. He handed Donald a gun.
"You know how to use one?" he asked.
Donald shook his head, but McDuck slapped Donald.
"Focus boy! You will fight! Do as Goofy says!" ordered McDuck.
Earl opened the door and grabbed a rifle from a hidden wall. "There is an underground tunnel under the pub. Just follow me." said Earl.
…..
Sora opened his eyes when they bumped into something on the road. He found that he was not on the ground, but sleeping in a soft bed of hay. He rose a little to see Donald and Goofy on top of some horses, pulling a cart with hay. Next to Sora was Vanitas, who was soundly asleep and Kairi was a few inches away from the boys.
"Gwarsh, what was that?" said Goofy. He sounded nothing like his youthful self in Sora's dreams. Goofy had the voice of somebody who didn't know war or any fighting. Almost as if he always had a happy life, without a care in the world. Donald on the other hand was much more mature and likable. Much more likable than what Sora just saw.
"Rocks on the road. I did say this road was going to be tough." said Donald.
"Have you ridden through here before?" asked Goofy.
"Once. With Daisy on our honeymoon." said Donald.
"I wonder what Sora is dreaming about this time?" asked Goofy.
"You're interested in his dreams?" asked Donald.
"I always found them interesting. Almost like seeing movies." said Goofy.
"You watch a lot of movies. And you easily like the bad ones." said Donald.
"The last Pigs in Space was good!" said Goofy.
"Yeah right! Miss Piggy's role in that movie was horrible! And Link should have married her!" said Donald.
"Well, yeah but you gotta admit the effects were…" Goofy was saying.
"The CGI left much to be desired! It was watching old PS2 graphics!" complained Donald.
Sora chuckled softly. Were these two really the hardcore young men from his dreams? Were they really on the run, and fighting for their lives? What changed them into the people they were now? He was hoping for more answers. He closed his eyes, but he was not tired at all. The time to wake up was now. He decided to pretend that he just slept.
"Morning sunshine! We'll stop at that there diner in a couple of minutes." said Goofy.
"You slept like a rock. Your brother was getting scared." said Donald.
Sora looked at Vanitas. He was wearing a sleeveless black shirt. It was then that Sora realized that he had Vanitas's flannel as a blanket. He must have put it there for him when he slept. Sora softly put the flannel on Vanitas.
"Thank you." he whispered.
Kairi also woke up. "Morning everybody. Where are we?" she asked.
"Just a couple of hours and we'll be in Traverse Town." said Goofy.
"Traverse Town?" asked Kairi.
"I know that place. I had a dream about it." said Sora.
Goofy and Donald both stopped the horses. They turned to Sora instantly. Sora then realized that he had to tread carefully. Both Donald and Goofy looked kinda spooked when Sora mentioned he saw the town in a dream.
"The dream I had…I was there. I woke up with Pluto, Mickey's dog. He woke me up, and I walked into town and I met you guys! You were sent by Mickey to find me because of my weapon." said Sora, remembering a dream he had a long time ago.
Donald and Goofy both smiled. "Really?! Cool." said Donald.
"Pluto was there? Funny!" said Goofy with laughter.
Sora wiped some sweat from his brow, and so did Donald and Goofy, only that they did it in secret.
But Sora knew that one day, he will have to tell them what he dreamt, and what he saw. Like always, Sora had some answers, and a lot more questions. But things were a bit clearer now. Scrooge McDuck never co founded Oblivion. He never worked for Xehanort at all. Where was he now? In Duckburg perhaps? And then there was this mysterious incident at "DisneyLand."
Just the name itself brought both excitement to Sora, and some dread.