Donald,

Sorry to rush off without saying goodbye, but there's big trouble brewin'. Not sure why but the stars have been blinking out, one by one. And that means disaster can't be far behind. I hate to leave you all but I've gotta check into it. There's somebody with a 'key' - the key to our survival. So I need you and Goofy to find him and stick with him. Got it? We need that key or we're doomed! So go to Traverse Town and find Leon. He'll point you in the right direction.

P.S.

Could you apologize to Minnie for me? Thanks, pal.'

The bottom was signed with the King's seal to show it was him who wrote it. Donald had explained what happened to Goofy, Daisy, and Queen Minnie, followed by reading the contents of the letter Pluto gave him in the throne room. While Pluto slept peacefully in his little bed beside the King's desk, the others looked toward the letter with glum expressions. They couldn't believe their leader had just left them without telling them, and with only a letter to explain things.

"Oh dear. What can this mean?" Daisy asked with a worried frown. King Mickey was gone, the stars were disappearing, a mysterious key, what were they to think about this?

"It means... we'll just have to trust the King." Minnie said, trying to stay strong. She was distraught as well but as the co-ruler of the world, she needed to keep herself together. Surely Mickey had a good reason for his actions. So for the sake of the one she loved and trusted more than anybody else, she would not despair, but keep faith in him.

"Gawrsh. I hope he's alright." Goofy said, trying not to think his king...no, his best friend was out there all alone without anyone to help him in this time of crisis.

Donald was equally trying not to assume the worst, but he smiled and did his best to assuage the queen's worries. "Your Highness? Don't worry. We'll find the King. And this 'key'."

An appreciative smile touched the Queen's face when she looked to her Royal Court Wizard, appreciating the attempt at relief. "Thank you. Both of you." she said softly.

If the King needed them to find the one with this 'key', then find him they would. Looking toward Daisy, Donald gently asked her, "Daisy, could you take care of the-"

"Of course. You be careful now. Both of you." Daisy immediately said. She would take care of the castle and the Queen for as long as it took to find the key and the king

"Oh! And to chronicle your travels, he will accompany you." Minnie said, gesturing to Mickey's desk. Donald looked at the desk, not seeing who she was talking about.

"Over here!" A soft, lightly accented voice rang out from a tiny figure hopping up and down on the desk. It was a little grinning cricket in a tip hat, tailcoat, and formal pants. "Cricket's the name. Jiminy Cricket at your service." he said, bowing like a showman.

With their little team assembled, the Queen gave a final well-wish to them before their departure. "We hope for your safe return. Please, help the king." Donald stood straight and serious as he could, with his hand upon his chest. A show of reassurance to the Queen, his beloved Daisy, and...Goofy who saluted him.

Wait a second! The King's letter specifically stated..."You're coming too!" Donald said, grabbing Goofy by the arm and pulling him along. There would be none of that tomfoolery while the King and everyone else was counting on them!

Making their way down a spiral staircase with lanterns lining the sides of the walls, Donald and Goofy made their way down to their destination. The underground basement of Disney Castle where their vessel, the Gummi Ship, was docked. Jiminy was with them, riding on top of Goofy's helmet as they conversed.

"Gawrsh, Jiminy. Your world disappeared, too?"

"It was terrible. We were scattered," Jiminy said with memories of when his world was lost to the darkness. What was more devastating was how he lost somebody precious to him. "And as far as I can tell, I'm the only one who made it to this castle."

"Goofy?" Donald said when looking back at his friend. There was an important rule he remembered and hopefully his friend did, too.

"Oh, I got ya. You mean while we're in other worlds, we can't let on where we're from. We gotta protect the world border." Thankfully he remembered the rule...just not the phrasing.

"Order." Donald said in a corrective manner as they approached the bottom of the stairs.

"Oh, right. World order." Goofy said before laughing. Donald sighed while rolling his eyes. Goofy was undeniably loyal and one of the nicest people Donald knew, but he unfortunately wasn't the sharpest blade in the armory. Sometimes he wondered how a guy like him rose to the rank of Captain among the Royal Knights.

Though there must have been SOME kind of brain in in his head considering what Goofy said next. "I guess we'll need new duds when we get there?" If they were to blend in to the worlds as much as possible, they couldn't be seen wearing their royal work attire. Thankfully, Donald had a spell just for that for when they left.

Beyond the door were many gears, cogs and other machinery parts like the inside of a clock. One big red ship with lasers and cannons was kept at the center. This was how they'd go to Traverse Town and begin their quest to find the 'key' their King spoke of. "Hello up there? Donald Duck to launch crew," Donald said when speaking into a device that would reach the higher up workers for their gummi engineers.

"Any time you're ready!" On the other side of it, the two workers, the little chipmunk twins Chip and Dale went to work. Chip saluted affirmatively as Dale dashed toward a nearby lever and pulled it. A pair of giant mechanical gloved hands rose up in response, reaching down and picking up Donald and Goofy...in a most ridiculous, undignified upside down manner. Goofy was fine dangling, but Donald was not having it. As they were plopped into the cockpit of their colorful looking red, orange, and yellow ship, Pluto suddenly dashed into the hangar, making himself the last minute fourth member as he jumped inside the open cockpit.

With the crew of the Gummi Ship securely in the cockpit, the ship rose up, lining up with the royally emblazoned hangar bay doors, they were at last ready for takeoff. One final look from the royal ladies of Disney Castle at the pair who held their hopes in their hands. Daisy looked up at her dear Donald whom gave her a thumbs up and a wink, wordlessly assuring her that they'd be back. Now it was time to go. The gummi ship's engines revved, the ship shuddered as if eager to get out there as the ones driving it, and the heroes were ready to find their king. "Blastoff!" Donald announced, pointing toward the opening of the hangar.

...only for the landing pad to open up below them, and the gummi ship to plummet downward.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAK!"

"AAAAAHOOHOOHOOHOOEEEE!"

A pair of comedic yells rang out from the court wizard and captain of the guard. This departure was nothing short of ridiculous. After a moment of falling, the ship came to a stop as it fell right out of the bottom of the world, finally out where it needed to be. With that silliness out of the way, Donald and Goofy righted the ship's positioning and finally ACTUALLY blasted off into space. Off they went, to find the king, Traverse Town, the key and save their worlds.