A/N: Welcome back! Ready to really delve into this? Read on!

Chapter 1: Castle of Confusion (and Anger)

And that brought Oswald back to the present, where he realised he had tears flowing from his eyes. He sniffed and wiped them off, and with a sigh, set the photo down next to him. He opened up one of the ancient books next to him, one of his favourites, and turned to the crusty creased page he was on once again. It was about someone who was in a very similar state that he was in, who he could relate to… an abandone–

FWOOSH! Oswald's ears swivelled around as he jumped out of his chair with much difficulty, looking around. He waddled out to the window, partially still in shock and partially dizzy from sitting too long. He looked out of the window and– No. It couldn't be, he thought. But there they were, descending from the sky. There was the Blot's second-in-command, the Shadow Blot, and he was sure he saw him swallow… "It's not possible. It can't…"

But he had seen it himself. And it had landed in the castle.

He turned away from the window, and ran to the door, not far from his throne. He halted in his tracks, and quickly turned around and went back to the throne. He picked his book up, popped in the grimy, half-torn bookmark, and ran back to the door. He jumped out the door, and rubbed his foot for luck as he fled down the many steps of his junk mount. Once, he had been named "the lucky rabbit", a play on the lucky rabbit foot. And that had been true. But it seemed his luck was a dim dream amongst the bright stars in the Toon World, ever since he lost Ortensia.

He flew over to his second home, Dark Beauty Castle, where he once watched over his land in peace. He wished his world could be as peaceful as it used to be. But disruptions like this would never stop happening. He rushed in through the front door, remembered that the Shadow Blot was there and tiptoed out the main corridor. He peered over the corner and his worst fears were confirmed: The mouse was here.

There he was, trapped with metal wrist-locks. Ha!, he thought, now he'll understand how I feel. But under his bold words, something that told him that this was bound to get worse. He watched carefully at his expression when all of a sudden, the table started rotating. Oswald silently climbed up the steps nearby and jumped behind one of the machines he had once used for parties and firework events: his attempt at making their world colourful. He'd enjoyed the fireworks more than the parties, especially after… "Focus", he muttered.

He peered over the corner and stood ahead of him was his ex-best friend. "How? I thought I'd changed all the codes here… Something ain't right." he murmured, narrowing his eyes. "What are you up to?" He could see the Mad Doctor at work, and he was trying to… exterminate him? No, it wasn't. A large multi-tool pen leaned down, and out popped an aquamarine eye. As the Mad Doctor scrolled through his 'wheel of doom', he saw from it emerge a pair of scissors… then a drill… and a chainsaw? "Is he trying to get rid of that… thing?" he grumbled. Even he didn't agree with death (mostly). Then he saw a skull and crossbones. What was it?... A plunger? Really? But as it hit the mouse's chest he realised only too late what his plan was.

When the Mad Doctor betrayed Oswald at the Dark Beauty Castle, he wanted Oswald's remote, which had control over all the mechanical aids they had built together. They were known as Beetleworx. As he fought to get it back, they were left standing high up on the roof, balancing upon the dim blue tiles, struggling to get the remote out of the other's hand. Only when his love had swatted it out of the Doctor's hand had an element of peace come. Until, that is, he vowed vengeance on them all and turned to the Blot's side. To get something for a trade of power. Only now did he realise what he was talking about.

The Mad Doctor started trying to take his Heart out, but then the mouse resisted. Well, he thought as he smashed through the locks on his arm, I thought he was all bones. He watched on as he rose up, walked over to him and picked up… Oswald yelped. "The BRUSH?! How is this possible?" Oswald felt a sense of worry rise up, yet he could also detect a sliver of hope. The Brush was the tool used by Yen Sid to create Wasteland. It could paint and thin, or put simply, put into and erase out of existence, practically anything here. But… Why were those two things here?

He silently observed as the mouse whom he wanted nothing to do with looked what he would call 'courageous' (to anyone else except the mouse.) He pointed the Brush at his foe… The Shadow Blot took off as the Mad Doctor looked up in astonishment… and as he fled, Mickey's eyes turned to see Oswald.

After the first time he saw him in that mirror he'd made sure to never let him or anyone ever make him feel weak ever again. Ever since that day, he had always silently prepared to face him. He knew it was inevitable, whether he would like it or not, and had prepared the following words to say, "So, mouse, how does it feel to have the popularity I deserved?"

But, for that one moment, when he looked into his eyes, he didn't see any hatred for him present. Only confusion clouded the room, and for that one moment, after all the years he'd waited for this inevitability… He recoiled in shock. Oswald turned away and jumped to where the Doctor had escaped.

He frantically tried to escape using the lever he observed the Mad Doctor using. However, he must have pulled too hard, as the knob of it came out in his hand. The eye swivelled around and faced him, its bright blue iris a terrifying scarlet. He screamed in terror, and ran towards the exit, dodging the mechanation's tools of terror.

He jumped through the doors, and slammed them shut. He dared himself to look back, and with one final glance, turned around and ran for the exit, travelling through the corridor.

He knew the pain the mouse caused would grow, and he needed some time to tend to it. The rodent couldn't take what he loved, no matter how broken or torn apart it was, ever again. Oswald felt some purpose hidden away in him grow again. His home, well, it was where he, Ortensia, his family and friends had lived their lives happily together. He stopped halfway in the corridor, and heard the smash of electronics.

"Not happening today, mouse. You and I are two different people. This is what you've done to me, but I've made it my own paradise, so leave me alone! And go away!" He continued through the path ahead of him, running back, but not in retreat…