Chapter 5: The Gift of a Second Chance

FWOOSH!

The once-lucky rabbit opened his eyes. Here he was again, in the space between dimensions. It was still the same colour, no less dim, but this time, he could see clusters of stars glowing nearby. They shook, trembling at the sight of Oswald. But for some reason, he could hear no sounds. Everything was lacking noise.

He searched around for the Guardian who had come to him last time he was here. He must have been here. He should…

A voice came from beside him. "Um, Oswald, where are we?"

Oswald gasped. He turned around, floating in the air, and saw the mouse hovering a few metres away from him. "We're in the space between worlds! Come over here." Mickey flapped his arms up and down, eventually getting close enough to Oswald.

The rabbit groaned slightly. His chest was hurting, but he couldn't figure out why. It hadn't hurt like this before. Well, not in a long while.

"You do not have long left, it seems."

Mickey turned around, as did Oswald, to see a blue blob with eyes facing him. Looking around for the source of the voice, Mickey was shocked when he heard a cough come from the blob. His eyes widened with realisation, as he finally understood it was the blob who had spoken, and his cheeks lightened with colour.

The blob turned its attention back to his brother. "Oswald, your heart is crumbling. You have tried evading the truth of your demise for such a long time. You will be forgotten again. You must be ready to leave now, I presume?"

He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by his posh voice continuing smoothly, "You hated the mouse beside you for years on end, and now you have the chance to finish him off. Satisfy that anger within you. Do it. Become the most popular toon again, and be at the centre of attention, like you truly deserve. You won't ever be forgotten or unloved."

Mickey shook his head extremely hard, but Oswald didn't look up. The Guardian's words had truth in it. He could very well soothe the anger that was cooped up within him. He'd be happy and popular. It was everything he'd ever wanted a few days ago. His life would return to continuing Walt's legacy, and being the rabbit he'd always been inspired to be…

But his life had gone through some massive turns as of late. And he'd learnt the mouse had meant no harm to him. But he'd still harmed his wife.

Then, he remembered. Ortensia had wanted him to be nicer. It may have made no sense to him back then, but he understood why now. He was holding on to grudges from so long ago. One hundred years. That was how long. The world had moved on, but he'd never tried to let that anger seep out carefully. Its pain had stabbed at his insides for too long, twisting him into somebody he wasn't. It wasn't something he wanted to choose on, but choose he did, and he did so wisely.

"No. I won't."

"And why is that?"

"Because… (deep breath) he's my brother."

Mickey gasped loudly, covering his mouth too late. He was considering slapping the rabbit around the head, then pouring a bucket of water over his head, then screaming until he woke himself up.

Oswald faced Mickey, and said, "I've hated him for years. Looking up at the sky, I always used to wonder why he got all the love and fame that I deserved. I wanted nothing to do with him. Throwing away all his junk, reshaping the statue of Walt… Even stopping any information about our link seeping into the Toon World!"

"But, looking at myself, I realised something. My fame, it wasn't stolen by him. I was just… lost. I know that Walt would never have wanted me gone forever. That's why Yen Sid made me my world. Walt and him knew that I was still important in their hearts. And, knowing our father, he'd never want us to have hated each other."

"So, I'm letting go of my anger. I don't love him, sure, but that's my own fault for staying angry at him for this long. The anger is still within me, but Iwillbattle it. I can't love you yet, Mickey. But I'm going to try to be nicer, no matter how long it takes. And I want to show the world that, whether or not you're forgotten… As long as somebody out there loves you, you never truly are."

The Guardian grinned, and said, "Wise words, Oswald. I hope you live by them." Oswald smiled, as Mickey gave him a fist bump. The pain hit him again, as Oswald made a face.

As if it could read his mind, the blob spoke, with a grin in its voice, "Do not fear, Oswald: you will not have to suffer the pains of your heart for long, as I shall grant you some relief for your battle. You two have done something so powerful together, that us Sparks and the stars wish to give you their most precious and powerful gift: a wish for whatever you and your heart yearns for."

"But, whatdidwe do?" Mickey questioned him, as Oswald frowned, content with not having to face his chest pain.

"You both have done something that could be called the bravest thing to ever happen. You gave each other the gift of a second chance. Giving that is as precious as stardust, of which there is little. As Oswald knows, the hardest thing that could happen is to let go of your anger, and sometimes, forgiving is even harder. But after seeing the worst in others, trying to give a person the chance to show that they deserve to be forgiven is one of the greatest acts of kindness and pair of you have done it with each other."

"Oswald, Mickey, you two have the power to see the light, where others see darkness. You two have the courage to make friends and enemies alike. But above all, you have the heart to care for those who need it. Never change that. Your destinies start here, and forevermore shall lead you to do great things. As destiny is not what you must be, but rather, what guides you to who you are." he concluded.

A/N: Sorry for the delay, everyone. Tad preoccupied. Here are the next few chapters!