Spark Four: Hanging In the Balance

Chapter 1: A Rivalry To Sort

As Oswald landed back onto Bird Island, he fell back onto the all-too-familiar sand on the beach. Propping himself up, he spat out the particles from his mouth, and walked up to the hut. He knocked on the door, and readied himself to announce to everybody what he'd just figured out. He still had a small fear of being around others, having been stranded in his castle in Wasteland for years.

All his confidence was swept to one side, however, when he saw who answered the door, and an old hatred boiled within him once more. Mickey Mouse.

Oswald gasped. "You."

Mickey had no clue about what was going on. "Er, yeah, me? You're that rabbit I kept–"

He shoved past the mouse, through the doorway, and faced the others, asking, "What's he doing here?" He shuddered at just mentioning the pronoun. Tails opened his mouth, but didn't have a clue about what to say, so closed it. Then, something came flying up to him.

"Oswald! Where were you?" asked the gremlin hovering in the air. No reply came, as the rabbit simply stared around, awaiting an explanation. Silence was lingering in the air like fog, so thick none dared to try moving away. Oswald had not meant to seem ruthless, but if it meant getting answers, then it was worth doing.

The mouse argued in his head whether to answer or not. But after a while, when nobody replied, he spoke up, and nervously said, "Well, we teleported here when we went in your rocket…"

Oswald screamed in shock. "MY ROCKET?!" This was the final straw for Oswald. "Ok that. Is. It. You and I are settling this once and for all!" He started rolling his fists, and taking a boxer's stance. Amy was about to jump in between the pair, but there was a cough. Oswald turned around and saw a red feather pointing to the door.

"Outside, please," interjected Red. "We've got enough to do as it is, without more bickering." Everybody nodded with agreement, and out went the pair, even though Mickey was shaking his head so hard, it looked like it would fall off.

"Will they be alright?" asked Tails, as everybody went back to Silver for help on how to get back to their home universes. They were on the beach, looking like they were preparing for the fight of their lives. Or at least, Oswald certainly was, as Mickey tried to back away.

"Best case? They work together on this. Worst? I don't even want to know." said Sonic, putting his arm over Tails' shoulder. They sighed, and silently prayed they'd put their rivalry aside. For now, they had to deal with a massive problem, of the worlds that were being drained of their colour, and if there was still a way back home. If the Blot was actually here.

Mickey looked at the rabbit nervously, and said, "Uh, why're we doin' this again? We have other problems to attend to, y'know…" The rabbit was busy stretching his limbs, and getting ready for what he imagined would be the ending fight.

"Are you gonna prepare or not?" he replied.

"Uh…"

"Well, you had your chance. Here goes!"

He shook his body up one last time, and started by trying to give him a blow to his chest. But the mouse jumped, and just about managed to dodge. Then the rabbit started trying to kick his shin. Mickey didn't want to retaliate, so tried running around in a circle in an attempt to lose him. Oswald wasn't going to let him get away. He threw his arm towards his opponent's leg, and managed to trip him up. He slid through the sand, and the mouse's head ended up half buried in the sand.

"You…" he said, walking up to the mound in the ground, "you stole everything I ever had in the Toon world. You replaced me! I lost my heart because of you!"

A groan rose up from the sand, and Mickey stood up. Dusting off the particles, he said, "So that's why you kidnapped me! To take my heart!"

He reached behind his back, and took out the Brush. Slightly agitated, he sprayed some thinner at the ground under him, just as the rabbit jumped up and started flying. As the rabbit laughed at his missed move, Mickey jumped up, and spun around, paint flying at his face. He managed to dodge, by a hair.

The rabbit shouted, "No, I did not! That was the Mad Doctor! He wanted your heart to give to the Blot, so he'd become the ruler of Wasteland." He hit the mouse's shoe and managed to trip him up.

The mouse fell to the ground. Clutching his head in pain, the rabbit pointed down at him and shouted, "If it weren't for you, I would be with Walt still! You took him all for yourself! Even now, you still have him."

Mickey gasped in realisation and shock as Oswald jumped down to the ground, muttering with emotion, "I wish I'd gotten to see Walt before I was forgotten. Just one last time." He stared at the mouse as his voice hardened, growling the words, "But you still have him. I never understood why he wanted you more, but he just did. I hope he's happy back home, knowing at least one of his two sons isn't a failure!"

Oswald took a small breath. He didn't actually mean that, but it was too late to alter his words. He kept going, saying, "Do you know how hard it was, to be all alone for one hundred years, with nobody else with you? My wife is gone because of the monster in Wasteland that attacked her. You've only been facing the miniscule while I've battled the real deal! If we weren't forgotten, then maybe she wouldn't…" Oswald went silent, and just looked at Mickey solemnly.

Mickey was in shock, but just about managed to form the words, "Oswald, Walt… he's…"

"Yeah, I know, he's happy that he's got you! What else is new?"

He sighed and tried again. "No. Look, time must be really slow, down in Wasteland…" Oswald nodded slightly, listening, "but s-some time ago, w-well, he… he…"

His face started crumpling. And Oswald finally understood.

"Wha… h-he's… he's… gone?" His breath was shaky as he said those words. He looked into the mouse's eyes and saw that face again. The one that had no anger against him. That just was… kind, accepting, loving almost, yet saddened this time around by painful memories of the past. "B-but… how? When?"

"Well, his habits of, ya know… it led to cancer and… (sniff) from there…" Mickey broke off, sobbing into his hands now whilst sitting on the ground. Oswald finally understood something. He had heard the news from the Toon world in forgotten newspapers, but he'd denied it. He was already in shock after the loss of Ortensia, and couldn't take any more. That must have been why he'd never been able to come to terms with it, and now, learning it really was true… the rabbit recalled something. His world had shattered when he'd lost Ortensia, but losing their father? That was even more painful, as he'd created them. No matter what, he'd always been there for him, and the same must have been for Mickey. The mouse had, from face value, seemed to be living the life, but maybe he wasn't as perfect as he seemed.

Oswald looked at Mickey on the floor. He was sobbing violently now. Nobody could have expected what followed, as Oswald groaned at the sight of him. Looking at him felt sickening, but that feeling, after years, seemed to be washing away. He'd lost friends and family, just like he had. He must have been feeling sympathetic, as he proceeded to offer him a tissue

Mickey jumped at this motion. He was crying as well, but very lightly, and certainly not as much as he was. Eventually, the pair relaxed a bit, and started sobbing together, crying out the miseries that had been cooped up inside of them for too long.

A/N: FINALLY MADE OSWALD AND MICKEY MEET! This is a warped version of when they meet atop Mickeyjunk Mountain. It should be interesting enough. And their personalities feels so perfect for testing through so many situations! They're definitely in my top 10 favourite characters.

If you wanna know my top 10, I could include it sooner or later in my profile. Review for more chapters, as I'm gonna wait a bit to see if there is any interest again, and go through some A/N's