Disclaimer: I don't own any of the copyrighted material in this episode. This has been edited on January 24, 2022

Episode VI (6): The Trial of the Stepmother

(Play The Pelican Brief by James Horner)

Danyal was perched looked at the floor, the woman was sobbing on the floor and she noticed a silver light under the floorboard. She turned to the sky to see three birds looking at her.

She was worried that the birds would not understand her given that she was a magpie.

Danyal asked the three birds, "Can you understand me?"

One of the birds who was a mother wearing a green shawl on her feathered head stated, "We can understand you."

Danyal clarified, "All right. I need two of you to bring my new friend up here. He's a big black rat with brown eyes. Also make sure that he has a knife with him."

The second bird wearing a magenta hat and vest asked, "What is the knife for?"

Danyal answered, "I need to investigate the glowing on the attic floor."

She turned to one last bird that was red and she stated to the red bird, "I need one of you to get two dogs up here. You have Bruno, but there is a small Cairn Terrier/Lhasa Apso Mix who can cover Bruno. We don't have much time so get moving."

The red bird cried, "Yes ma'am."

The birds began to fly to get to their objectives!

Danyal looked at the young woman who was drying her face and she turned to see a small magpie bird that asked in a girl's voice, "Excuse me, do you know how to use a knife?"

Cinderella asked, "Yes, why do you ask?"

The bird answered, "I need you to cut the floorboard, there's a silver glow under the floor."

Cinderella looked down at the floor and she spotted the glow.

The birds began to lift a big black rat up. The rat was clutching a knife in his paws and when he landed on the floor, Cinderella took the knife from the rat and she began to cut the floorboard and when she removed the wood slate, she saw a silver bow that had two footprints of a white tailed deer on either sides where the handle would be and she spotted a quiver of powerful arrows and when the bird touched the bow with her wing, the bird was transformed into a girl who had dark brown hair and brownish green eyes wearing a light lavender dress.

The girl said to Cinderella, "Thanks for your help. The only problem we have now is how do we break this door down?"

Cinderella replied, "There's a deadbolt on the that keeps it in place."

Danyal started to stab the wood between the deadbolt, and she began to try cutting the door open!

She began to hear a dog barking and it was Wizard and he brought with him, an old dog with brown fur named Bruno! Wizard began scratching the door causing the wood to break apart and the first layer of wood was torn off like paper! Zander noticed a small hole for him to crawl through and he gave a descending whistle as he saw the damage Wizard had done on the door and he turned to see three mice heading to him.

Three mice began to take a key that they had stolen from Lady Tremaine to the top of the stairs. One of them was slender dressed in red, the second mouse was obese wearing a yellow shirt and a green hat, and the third mouse had brown fur and blue eyes with a grey trench coat.

The brown mouse cried, "Pick up the pace and get that lead out! If the Grand Duke leaves this house, I doubt the ending will be a happily ever after."

Zander scurried over and took the key from the two and he stated, "Here's a helping hand. Don't worry. I'll take this to her."

The cat, Lucifer looked at the rat in a manner of a predator and he took the cup in his paw that he had stolen from the kitchen.

Just as Lucifer was about to stop the rat carrying the key across the floor, he began to hear growling from two dogs, and he looked at a snarling Wizard and Bruno who started barking at him!

Lucifer began to run down the stairs frightened by the two dogs, and he began to scratch Drizella causing her to scream in pain!

Lady Tremaine took her cat off her daughter and Lucifer ran away terrified.

Zander rushed into the hole in the door and gave the key to Cinderella who took it and unlocked the door and ran downstairs.

Just as the duke was about to leave Cinderella cried, "Your grace, please wait! May I try it on?"

Lady Tremaine cried, "She's just an imaginative child, she's a scullery maid."

The Grand Duke said, "My orders were every maiden. Since you have lied to me about how many people who were in this household. I will discuss with the King to have your title stripped and you and your daughter will be shipped to the Americas on the first available boat."

He requested to have the slipper brought over while Cinderella was being seated. The footman rushed with the slipper in hand, but Lady Tremaine stuck out her staff and tripped him.

The glass slipper shattered into pieces as it fell towards the duke. Just when he thought it was hopeless and the king would have his head; Cinderella revealed that she had the other slipper in a pocket of her apron. It was placed over her foot and fit perfectly.

The moment the glass slipper touched Cinderella's foot, another glass slipper appeared on her foot and the dress Cinderella was wearing changed into a light blue dignified dress and each shoulder of the short sleeves had a dark blue decoration that was shaped like a stylized droplet.

"This is impossible!" Lady Tremaine protested. "How could one of the purest of elements choose you after you deceived us?"

In a fit of rage Lady Tremaine slapped Cinderella in the face causing her to fall off the stool.

As Anastasia watched Cinderella's awakening and her mother's outburst, a new feeling came over the redhead. Of course, she was just as shocked as her mother and sister, and at first, she was jealous, but that jealousy quickly turned into something else, something she had never felt for her stepsister before. Was it a sense of understanding? Whatever it was, she felt she had to do something.

Without thinking, Anastasia cried out, "Mother, stop!"

Lady Tremaine looked at her daughter. "This does not concern you, Anastasia."

But the redhead wasn't going to listen to her mother this time. "Mother, I'm just as upset about this as you are and of course, I want what she has just as you do. But Cinderella deserves it more than we do; especially after all we've done to her."

Jeanette couldn't believe what she was witnessing. Anastasia was actually standing up for Cinderella instead of hurting her.

Danyal came down the stairs to see Cinderella in a new dress. She knew what it meant; it meant an element chose Cinderella.

The girl noticed that Lady Tremaine was begging the Grand Duke to arrest Cinderella on false charges.

Lady Tremaine begged, "She's an imposter, your grace."

"No more than you." Jeanette snapped. "The only dishonest, insincere, woman is you, Tremaine."

Lady Tremaine cried, "How dare you! I am more sincere than that imposter who deceived the element of Sincerity to cheat her way into power."

Jeanette smirked. "You do realize you're talking about yourself, don't you?"

"What?"

"Cinderella is more deserving of the element of sincerity than you are because she has a good heart," Jeanette was saying. "While being forced to work every day like a dog - which you, by the way, are to blame for, Cinderella remained kind and true and never gave up hope. You, on the other hand, have never worked for anything and instead resorted to go through elaborate measures to make sure everything you wanted was just handed over to you."

Danyal agreed, "Therefore Lady Tremaine, you are a liar, liar, dress on fire hanging from a clothes wire."

She drew an arrow and fired causing Lady Tremaine's hair to turn into a broken heart and complimented, "Suits you like a glove. Good luck dealing with the Walt Maiden of Sincerity."

Jeanette noticed her pumpkin pistol started firing projectiles and the pieces turned into platforms and podiums of courtrooms.

Lady Tremaine asked, "What is all this?!"

Jeanette commanded, "You are on trial. So, all rise if able for the honorable Walt Maiden of Sincerity, Cinderella."

Cinderella took the seat of the judge, but not before praying, "In nomine Patris, et Filliius, et Spiritus sancti. Amen."

Cinderella asked Jeanette in a kind voice, "Would you do the honor of reading the charges against them?"

Jeanette stated to Lady Tremaine, "You, Lady Tremaine, are charged with hindering an investigation, negligence, and discrimination. Your daughter is charged with accessory to count one on the hindering investigation charge."

"What are you talking about?" Lady Tremaine asked.

"I refer to you: locking Cinderella in the tower to keep the Grand Duke from asking her to try the glass slipper," Jeanette said. "But I must commend you for this: you were clever enough to realize that it was Cinderella who was dancing with the prince at the ball last night. That's why you locked her in the tower."

Lady Tremaine kept her composure as she remarked. "A brilliant assumption, but you have no evidence to support your claim."

Jeanette wasn't finished. "Why else would you trip the servant when he was rushing over to Cinderella with the slipper? You were willing to do anything to prevent Cinderella from getting what you wanted. You decided if you couldn't live a life with the royal family, then no one should!"

Lady Tremaine was about to lose her patience. Trying to keep calm, she accused Jeanette, "Such an imaginative child you are."

"It's not my imagination," said Jeanette. "You're clever, Lady Tremaine, but not clever enough. You see, there was one fatal flaw in your plan."

"What are you saying?"

Jeanette grinned and said, "If you had taken the time to consider the possibility that Cinderella had the other slipper, you would have taken it and destroyed it before locking her in the tower."

Drizella was furious and she asked Cinderella, "Cinderella, why? Why did you do this to me? You are not true! You scammed someone for that element? Who did you lie to?"

Lady Tremaine grinned at her daughter. "Be calm, Drizella. I can handle this." She looked at Jeanette. "I must say, child, your level of thinking is admirable. You figured it all out."

"Mother, what are you doing?" Drizella asked.

Even Jeanette didn't like seeing Lady Tremaine like this. How can she still be so calm when she knows she's lost the battle?

The evil stepmother smiled wickedly. "You seem surprised, child."

Jeanette narrowed her eyes. "What are you up to, Tremaine?"

"Nothing," she replied. "As a former Dark Master, I think I should at least have some dignity in the situation I'm in."

The heroes were shocked to hear that. Even Cinderella was baffled. "Stepmother, what do you mean, a former Dark Master?"

Lady Tremaine knew there was no point in lying. She figured she may as well enlighten everyone. "I mean as I say. During the time the creator was still alive, I was once a Dark Master; second to Grimhilde."

Natius was shocked to hear Grimhilde's name. She was a Dark Master too?

Lady Tremaine testified, "By the way, Grimhilde was my colleague. In 2005, I asked her if she retrieved a rodent who's descended from the first Walt Maiden of Kindness Snow White."

Natius asked, "What rat?"

Lady Tremaine answered, "You, Ignatius Quinton. You were supposed to be brought to our domain."

Natius asked, "What are you saying? Are you saying that nightmare about being attacked by Grimhilde actually happened to me?!"

Lady Tremaine answered, "Yes."

Jeanette didn't want this to go on anymore and Cinderella stated, "It's time for my verdict. I hereby find both of you guilty of all charges and strip you of your status."

Cinderella looked at Jeanette and she stated, "Step forward, child."

Jeanette stood with her pistol ready to fire and Cinderella announced, "By the power vested in me as the Walt Maiden of Sincerity, second only to Snow White, the Maiden of Kindness; I hereby sentence the both of you to a life of servitude. You have failed to read Aesop, 'Those who have plenty that want more will lose all they have.' You Lady Tremaine have not only forfeited your rank and power as a Dark Master, but you also have forfeited your freedom."

"Wait!" Drizella cried. "What about Anastasia? She's not so innocent in what she's done either!"

"Perhaps not," Cinderella admitted, "but she realized how wrong her actions were before it was too late for her. As such, I believe she deserves a chance at finding her own happiness."

Anastasia was happy to hear that she was spared from being punished. Jeanette was amazed to see her ancestor showing forgiveness.

Drizella begged her mother, "Mother, do something! I don't want to be a scullery maid!"

"Do not worry," she assured her daughter. "The Dark Masters will help us."

"I doubt it," said Natius. "Even if you used to be one of them, I don't think any of them will vouch for you."

Lady Tremaine stated, "Yes they will. Grimhilde will convince them to appeal my conviction and the Dark Masters will punish you for your interference and punish Cinderella for tricking someone into giving her the element that she doesn't deserve!"

Natius grinned. "I'm afraid there are two problems there. One, the element of sincerity chose Cinderella. It was not given to her like a present. The second problem is Grimhilde is dead and therefore, unable to vouch for you and your daughter." He smiled mischievously and added. "I think the Dark Masters would only take you back to be their servants."

Lady Tremaine hated the idea of that. Her pride was wounded enough when she was forced to step down and it got worse when she began to be mocked and scorned by the other villains.

But Cinderella didn't like that idea. "No, Ignatius. I will not allow my stepmother or stepsister to be punished in such a way."

Natius was baffled. "But after everything they've done-,"

"They are still my family and Anastasia's," she justified. "For a long time, I had sincerely hoped for us to be a real family and I still do. Even now, I hope after my stepmother and Drizella have served their time for their punishment, we will still have a chance to be a true family. For that reason alone, the Dark Masters are hereby forbidden from ever rescuing you." At that moment, the mark of sincerity appeared on Cinderella's hand.

Lady Tremaine didn't want to believe that Grimhilde was gone and suddenly the platforms Drizella and Lady Tremaine were standing turned into human sized bird cages!

Natius commented, "Those cages will magically transport you two to your proper place. Don't worry, your clothes will be changed to those that would suit you the most."

Lady Tremaine yelled at Natius, "Grimhilde was so close to getting you!"

Natius asked, "What?"

Lady Tremaine recalled the last conversation she had with Queen Grimhilde, "Yes, when Grimhilde last spoke to me years ago, she told me that she almost had you Ignatius. Had she brought you to the Forbidden Castle now, she would've booted Turbo out of her throne and restored my rank, while I would kick Frollo off my throne. He would often argue with him like an old colleague."

Natius stopped smiling. So, Lady Tremaine was replaced by that prejudiced minister and the Evil Queen was replaced by a pathetic cheat.

Lady Tremaine looked at Danyal. "Oh, Danyal, I've got a message for you from Frollo."

Danyal cocked her head to the side in curiosity.

"He said you are a mentally unstable magpie." Lady Tremaine said hatefully.

Danyal rolled her eyes in annoyance as she replied, "Real mature Tremaine. Real mature. If Frollo wants to call people names, then here's my message to that pitiful bigoted misogynistic twit. Frollo is nothing more than an absolute disgrace to the Cross on which Christ died upon for the sins of humanity and a disgrace to the Catholic religion. He should be excommunicated for his lust. You, Lady Tremaine are a lazy sloth!"

Lady Tremaine asked, "What did you call me?"

Danyal answered, "A sloth, Tremaine. You are lazy! You never worked a day in your life. However, that will change thanks to your crimes, and now that you have been convicted of those crimes. Tremaine, you have become a slave of the law."

"All the more reason for you to be sentenced to servitude." Jeanette stated.

Lady Tremaine looked at her stepdaughter. Cinderella shook her head in sadness. "I'm truly sorry that it has to be this way, Stepmother. And I do pity you and Drizella. But I'm sure in due time, the both of you will have my forgiveness. And when the time comes, we can be a family like I had hoped."

"Never," Lady Tremaine growled.

Cinderella gave one last look of shame. Then she ended the trial by tapping on the circle with a pumpkin stemmed gavel, declaring the sentence to be carried out. Then the cages holding Lady Tremaine and Drizella disappeared.

Natius was still thinking about what Tremaine had told him.

Cinderella noticed Natius had something on his mind; and she stated, "My element has granted me the ability to see that you're troubled. You can tell me. My power has set up a barrier to prevent the Dark Masters from eavesdropping, so you can feel free to tell me what is troubling you. That goes for you, Danyal."

Zander asked Cinderella, "Excuse me, can you forgive Danyal for bringing her small dog? I saw a huge hole on the door to that tower and he ripped of a layer of wood with his strong paws."

Danyal said to Cinderella, "I'm so sorry about that, your honor. Terriers have strong paws notorious for ripping gardens."

Cinderella smiled gently. "You don't have to apologize. I understand it was to rescue us out of the tower." She looked back at Natius. "Now, tell me, Natius. What's the matter?"

Natius stated, "I was thinking about what Tremaine had told me."

Cinderella thought about the things her stepmother said, but unfortunately, she didn't understand much of it. "I'm sorry. I wish I could help, but truthfully, I can't make much sense of what my stepmother was talking about."

That was when the Fairy Godmother appeared. "You should seek Princess Aurora. She might be able to help."

"Why her?" Natius asked.

"Princess Aurora is the last Walt Maiden," the Fairy Godmother explained. "She also represents the element of dreams. Help her to awaken as the warrior of her element and she may be able to help you."

Nausicaä begged, "But I need to find my brother. I don't want to lose another family member after losing my older brother to addiction."

Natius agreed. "We can help Nausicaä first before we look for Princess Aurora."

The Fairy Godmother admired Nausicaä's determination and opened a portal and she warned, "This portal will lead you to the village where Belle would live."

Bianca asked, "But why? Belle is not a Walt Maiden."

"Perhaps not, but there is an element dormant within her," the Fairy Godmother stated. "To find your brother, Nausicaä, you must help Belle discover her element."

"And the Beast who lives in the castle?" Nausicaä asked.

"Yes, there is an element for him to discover as well."

Mahad cried, "We don't have a second to lose especially if that boy is in a similar situation as us."

The heroes were about to pass through the portal, but the Fairy Godmother stopped them. "Hold on. You need to know this, Nausicaä. While finding your brother, you'll find other children trying to discover their own elements as well."

Bianca asked, "What is this?"

"What's what?" Jeanette asked her.

Bianca heard what the Fairy Godmother told Nausicaä and she asked, looking at the portal and she asked, "Why is it that I haven't changed back yet?"

Danyal stated, "Calm down bunny girl. At least you can pull of an attack like that rabbit from Monty Python."

Jeanette looked at her weapon. "When I got my pumpkin pistol, I changed back into a human. Maybe you have to go through the same thing and find something that will change you back too."

Mahad asked the Fairy Godmother, "Are those children from that world or ours?"

"They are from your world," she answered, "but from other countries."

Bianca asked, "What is this? An intercultural club or something?"

"Bianca," Mahad snapped.

"That's enough," Natius said, not wanting there to be any arguments. "Let's hurry to the hidden part of France and find Nausicaä's brother."

The heroes agreed and began passing through the portal.

As soon as Cinderella was married to Prince William Henri Cendrillon she rose to the rank of a princess.

When the wicked stepmother and her daughter opened their eyes, they found themselves standing in front of a laundry room and in the presence of a superior. A woman who resembled a much older and more serious Cinderella, but with long dark hair that was in a braid and blue eyes came walking down the stairs. The woman was dressed in a simple long black dress that reached to her ankles and a dark blue veil. Around her neck was a dark blue rosary depicting the crucified Christ. Her name was Eleanor Anna Woods she was the majordomo of the royal family, and she was also the royal supervisor for all the scullery maids of the castle, and she had a reputation of being kindhearted to good and honest servants, but she had a notoriety for being harsh on servants that had to pay for criminal offenses. Especially if the servant was convicted of any charges pressed against him or her and sentenced to a term of servitude for the rest of their lives, she would give them difficult chores to ensure that the convicted servant would not attend any events of festivities.

Eleanor looked down at her two new employees in a stern and disappointed tone as she had read what the two had done in an article about the princess's cruel treatment by the two that were standing before her shrewd and firm presence.

Eleanor demanded in a cold and firm voice that had a slight Spanish accent, "You two donkeys need to wash the tablecloths for the royal banquet that's tonight in honor of the newlyweds and you're not invited or going. Ever. I on the other hand have been invited with my family! After you washed the tablecloths, you can start on the napkins."

Eleanor pointed to the cloths that were coming from a vat of lye water while she continued with her order as she pointed to the other direction towards another servant, "and move those over there. By the way, we're on a very tight schedule, so I would suggest that you get started on your chores. Now! If you don't, I will make you an example for any future convicts forced to work in the palace as punishment for criminal offenses and you do not want to know what the punishment would be."

Drizella noticed that her ears were that of a mule's and she looked at her mother and saw donkey ears on her head and her legs were the legs of a mule. Their clothes consisted of green long-sleeved dresses and light blue veils were on their heads, but they barely cover the mule ears.

Drizella noticed her mother walking away from the objective at hand and she asked, "Where are you going? You heard the woman."

Lady Tremaine replied, "Yes, but I'm management."

Drizella back talked as she walked in front of her stamping her feet like an angry spoiled brat, "No you're not! You're just the same as me, a big NOBODY!"

Lady Tremaine argued, "How dare you speak to me that way! I'm of noble blood!"

Eleanor not one wanting anymore arguments shouted, "And you both are getting on my nerves!"

She smacked the two newcomers with a heavy laundry sack which made the two women fall into a vat of red dye causing the two to have very deep purple veils and their dresses were now brown due to the red dye much to the amusement of the other servants that began laughing at the pair.

Eleanor ordered as she chuckled at the two, "Heh heh heh. Now get to work!"

Lady Tremaine fumed in a fit of jealousy and anger over her predicament. Drizella on the other hand, broke down and started crying uncontrollably over the new predicament that she was in.

Lady Tremaine couldn't believe she had been reduced to this; a sentence of servitude looking like a mule. Her pride had been wounded even more and she felt like she had lost whatever dignity she had left. If the Dark Masters were to see her like this, she'd suffer from even more mockery and humiliation and be mocked and scorned even more by the lesser villains.

"I was close," she told herself. "So close to regaining my position."

Drizella scoffed as she got herself out of the vat. "Even if you had become a Dark Master again, you'd still have to work hard to prove yourself deserving of being leader."

She didn't want to admit it, but her daughter was right. "Still, I would have gained some satisfaction in taking back my throne from that disgraceful minister. And I had the perfect incentive for wanting him removed too."

"What do you mean?" Drizella asked.

Lady Tremaine smiled wickedly. "Before I left the Forbidden Castle, I heard some rumor that while he was in his world, he was seen battling a group of strangers from another domain."

Drizella asked, "Why did you bring that up?"

"I wanted to give Maleficent a reason to revoke that man," she answered.

"Well, it doesn't look like she'll be interested in anything you have to say any time soon," her daughter scoffed. "The way I see it, the Dark Masters don't care about us. They didn't even come to help us, and I doubt they will."

Lady Tremaine asked herself, "Why did you guys abandon us? What did we do to deserve this treatment?"

Back at the Forbidden Castle, the Dark Masters looked down at Grimhilde's cauldron and saw what had become of Lady Tremaine. While the others were laughing and jeering, Maleficent said sadly, "I'm sorry it had to be this way, Tremaine."

Turbo laughed, "Served her right. She failed Grimhilde."

Jafar placed his arm over Maleficent's shoulder. "It's not a total loss. You get to keep your position as leader, and I stay second." Normally, he hated the concept of being second, but he admitted it was better than having to move down a rank.

"Way to look on the bright side," said Turbo.

Frollo asked Jafar, "Did you forget to describe what that rodent boy looked like to Tremaine before she left?"

Jafar retorted, "I thought she was clever enough to figure out who he is."

"She did," Maleficent said. "She told him of the time Grimhilde attacked him."

Frollo commented, "To think, if Grimhilde had brought that rodent boy in this chamber back then, she would've been ordering me to conduct an experiment to test two strange potions that Dr. Hawkins found cleaning out his cabinet."

"Potions?" Turbo asked.

John Hawkins walked into the council room, and he knelt to the Dark Masters.

John answered, "I acquired a small cabinet to store any toxins from different domains so I could see if they could help. I had to make sure it was empty before using it, and I came across two potions. One was as black as shadows covered in a dark aura. The other potion is a light blue color covered in a white aura. I am going to test the two potions on some rodents first before I would test it on those kids."

"Very well," Maleficent said approvingly. "Be sure to inform us of the results of your experiments." John nodded and dismissed himself.

"Where are the children off to now?" She asked her comrades.

"To a small village in France," Jafar answered. "There's a castle in a hidden area said to be ruled by a beast."

Maleficent had heard of this castle. She also knew it was under the protection of an Enchantress. "Send for Gaston and inform him of their arrival."

Turbo groaned. "Come on, the swine?"

"It is his world," she informed him.

Jafar asked, "What about those brats? That man with the Nemean Shield may have paralyzed us, but it tampered with a boy's memories."

Maleficent stated, "Leave them."

Jafar asked, "Why? We were so close getting a werewolf as a servant."

"If those children end up having to go to the castle of the beast, they'll be under the protection of the Enchantress," she answered.

The goblin escorting Gaston was telling him about the situation, and he clarified to Gaston, "A few weeks earlier, we were attacked by Aeson Olympios. He used his lion shield and took three children from this castle and transported them to your world. "

Gaston asked carelessly, "What does that man have to do with the situation?"

"I'm giving you a fair warning," the goblin said. "It's likely he'll be protecting those children and if he sees you, he'll know you're affiliated with the Dark Masters."

Gaston asked the Dark Masters, "Why did you bring me here?"

"We have a group of children we need you to deal with," Jafar answered.

"The ones the goblin was just talking about?"

"No, you pungent fool," the sorcerer snapped. "The flame brat Natius and his friends; the ones descended from the Walt Maidens."

Gaston yelled, "I'm not pungent! Can't I just bring back the three prisoners?"

Turbo argued, "No."

Gaston protested, "Why not? They will increase my reward."

"Mind your attitude," Jafar warned. "Or you'll end up with a lowlier assignment like cleaning the stables."

Gaston scoffed. "I'm a hunter, not a swine."

"Could've fooled me," the sorcerer muttered. Frollo covered his mouth to prevent himself from laughing at that remark.

Maleficent ordered Gaston, "Those three are failures, so don't focus on them."

Turbo composed himself and cleared his throat. "Keep your sights on the flame brat and his companions. Do not allow yourself to be distracted by that oversized ego of yours."

Gaston asked, "Can I still go after Belle?"

Maleficent raised her brow. "I beg your pardon?"

"It's just, I've got great plans," he was saying. "I can only imagine what a great reward I'll get if I succeed. And I plan to use it for the future I have planned, making Belle my wife, owning the grandest house in the village-"

"Enough!" Maleficent shouted, not wanting to hear any more of his gloating. "Your pride and ego are beyond intolerable, and both will lead you to your demise." She rose from her throne and approached him. She got as she wanted and gave him a clear warning. "If you lose your way and stray from the objective, your defiance will be seen as an act of betrayal on our end." She narrowed her eyes. "You know the penalty."

Seeing the wicked fairy and the other Dark Masters glare at him warningly sent chills down the man's spine. He had a prideful nature, but he was intimidated by his bosses. And he did know the penalty. "Yes, Maleficent," he said in a scared voice.

"You've been warned, Gaston," she told him. "Do not defy us or you will be slaughtered like the swine you are."

Gaston muttered, "Don't worry Maleficent, I'll prove to you that I'm the fearless hunter among your court of jesters."

Turbo heard him and asked, "How? You've proven yourself to be the butt of jokes among villains."

Jafar agreed. "Everyone's always making fun of you and insulting you behind your back. I wouldn't be surprised if those brats would do the same thing."

Turbo stated, "Also one of the brats has a dog."

Gaston laughed, "That animal's harmless."

He began to walk away from the foursome who were trying to get his attention.

Jafar sat down. "We should have left him to work in the stables. A pungent job for a pungent fool like him."

"He's a swine," Turbo jeered. "What'd you expect?"

Frollo crossed his arms. "Maleficent is right, though. His sin of pride will lead him to his demise."

Turbo began giggling at the idea of what a little dog would do to someone like Gaston.

Frollo asked, "What's so funny?"

Turbo snickered and said, "I just thought of something hilarious."

Jafar raised his brow. "Like?"

"The many possible things those brats could do to humiliate that swine," he said.

Jafar and Frollo looked at each other, then back at Turbo.

Turbo stated, "Like I said one of them has a dog, so there are plenty of ways of how the animal would humiliate the swine."

The two of them began imagining the possibilities. Some ideas seemed pretty funny. It gave them the idea to keep an eye on the man using Grimhilde's old cauldron, partly to make sure he wouldn't do anything defiant and also to watch in case he would suffer from anything humiliating.

Maleficent softly sighed and whispered to herself, "I'm surrounded by idiots."

Unbeknownst to them, a mysterious figure was watching from the shadows, and he was intrigued.

Meanwhile in the middle of the night in a room within a dark castle that used to be a shining one, on one end of the table was a small, hooded figure and on the other end of the table sat a hooded figure was with an older figure hooded in a dark night blue cloak.

The first figure said in a voice of a young man, "I don't usually come to this part of the castle, but I heard you have something worth my time."

The other figure placed a bag of gold in front of him and he said, "I'm all ears."

The figure said in a male vibrant, but booming voice, "Okay. It's like this, there are kids who have managed to go through the gate, and I need you to keep an eye out for them."

He took out the pictures of the six teenagers and he said, "I promise you this, you will find out who you were before you came here if you see them."

The other figure said as he examined the pictures, "The gate has not been opened since the death of the Creator in the mortal world nearly 46 years ago. Besides I don't see them as a nuisance as long as they are showing their respects and not interfering with events not in their control."

"The point sir is that one of them is trying to interfere with the World Order." Said the other figure.

"So, you want me to find these guys and they can help me figure out who I was?" asked the figure.

The taller figure answered as he opened a portal, "I assure you young boy; you will find out the truth."

The man disappeared into a dark portal to return to his tower.

The figure walked out of the room carrying the bag to hide and he was encountered by a girl with golden blonde hair in a braid and blue eyes. She was garbed in a green dress and simple shoes. Her name was Vandela Olsson.

She asked in a thick Swedish accent, "How did it go?"

The figure said, "Good Vandela, but I need to help me put this somewhere where the master won't find it."

She said, "Anakin, are you sure about this? I heard that one of them has the Firebird spirit. Master Ashman is not going to be very happy about what you're doing."

"Hey! What makes you think you're going to pull this stunt without me knowing?"

The voice was from a boy of eleven years with golden-brown hair and amber eyes. He was wearing a red buttoned shirt that had long sleeves that extended to his wrists, dark blue jeans, and brown boot-like shoes.

Vandela cried, "Toboé Talbot!"

The boy now known as Toboé Talbot said, "We need to tell Master Ashman about this."

Vandela asked, "Are you sure that's okay? He might be disappointed with us."

Toboé replied, "Not if we be completely honest with him and tell him that was Master Yen Sid."

Anakin asked, "As in the former Keyblade Master?"

Toboé nodded, "That's correct. Master Ashman should be familiar with that name. Come on, we need to inform him."

Los Angeles 615 S Broadway St. December 11, 2012 10:00 am

A man who had dark hair and brown eyes dressed in a security guard uniform. His name was Omar Hakim Ababwa. He was Mahad's older brother.

Omar was driving to work; he worked as a security guard in the Los Angeles Theatre movie theater to prevent little kids under 17 from entering the movie theaters that show R-rated movies, he loved his job especially when making sure that people who step out of line in theaters get kicked out. Just as he was about to take a turn to check in to his boss a portal appeared right in front of him that was invisible to others' eyes, he tried to turn away, but the portal magnetized the car and Omar vanished without a trace.

Author's Notes: Looks like the heroes are going to need some help! What will happen to Omar? Find out next time!

Eleanor Anna Woods is my original character who was named after Eleanor Audley, Eleanor Roosevelt's first name was Anna and Ilene Woods.

The man in the blue cloak is Master Yen Sid from the 1940 film Fantasia.

Vandela Ollson is my OC who was inspired by Hotaru from .hack/Legend of the Twilight Bracelet,

Toboé Talbot is my OC who was heavily inspired by Toboe or Tōboe from Wolf's Rain and Larry Talbot from The Wolf Man.