Chapter Seventeen: Realm D2010
It was a surprise attack that the captain and his fellow
palace guards would never forget when they regained consciousness. While
roaming through the forest in their search for Flynn Rider with the captive
Stabbington Brothers in tow, they were ambushed by an unspeakable creature.
Tall, green, and muscular, it took the guards down without giving them any
opportunity for defense. The Stabbington Brothers watched the green man – at
least that was what it looked like to them – in terror; never before had they
witnessed something so inhuman. While the creature stood over the injured
bodies of the guards as they were sprawled over the ground, a group of men
appeared out of nowhere and freed the brothers from their shackles.
(Marvel Note: The term "inhuman," used to describe the Hulk, is in fact an unintentional reference to another Marvel superhero team known as the Inhumans. They are a race of super-powered beings who inherited their powers through genetic experimentation conducted on the human race millions of years ago by the Kree race. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has introduced a few Inhumans, including primary character Skye, in its second season. A film adaptation is scheduled for release on July 12, 2019.)
One man with a top hat and shadowed by a muscular man with
an angry brunette in his company and a short, obese man had approached the
identical twin brothers. Tipping his hat to the Stabbingtons, he said, “Afternoon,
gents. Facilier’s the name. As you boys can see, I have quite the company.” The
brothers’ eyes went to Facilier’s green monster. “Don’t worry about the Hulk.
He’s harmless…to us, at least. But if y’all were to join us in our cause, then he’ll keep his distance.”
The brothers looked to each other with caution of this
sudden deal. Only the brother with the mutton chops and green attire spoke up:
“What’s your cause?”
“We’re after our greatest desires.” Facilier stated. “You
gents look like you’re after some desires yourself. So tell us…what ya want?”
“We want Flynn Rider.” The brother in green, who appeared
to be the more talkative one, immediately answered. “He’s got somethin’ we
want, and we’ll kill him just to get
it.”
Facilier grinned. “I admire your passion. But is it really just Rider you’re after.”
“We want the crown, too.”
“Ah. The crown that y’all stole from the palace.”
Facilier’s awareness shocked the brothers. “How did you
kn—?”
“You boys can have more
than just some worthless crown. I can provide you with enough wealth to make ya
kings of your own world. A world
where you can rule with iron fists dipped in gold.”
The Stabbington brothers considered Facilier’s deal with
a hint of doubt. “That’s a pretty big offer comin’ from one guy.”
Facilier shrugged. “Too bad. You two got some
good-lookin’ faces. It’s a shame my green friend here’s gotta mess them up even
more.” He snapped his fingers and the Hulk reacted to the sound like a dog
acknowledging his master’s signal. His green eyes centered on the Stabbington
brothers, who he quickly began to advance on.
(Marvel Note: The Hulk spends the majority of the story as an antagonist - Facilier's mind-controlled muscle. As such, he is more of the savage version of himself, due to Banner no longer in control of him. The "Savage Hulk" has been seen in The Avengers, during the rampage on the Helicarrier, and will appear again in Avengers: Age of Ultron, which looks to be under the same circumstance as his state of mind in The Marvelous World.)
“Alright! Alright! ALRIGHT!” The brother in green cried
with intense fear.
Facilier snapped his fingers again, and the Hulk stopped
just less than a foot away from the cowering Stabbington brothers. The voodoo
bokor gawked back at the brothers, who looked more agreeable. “Smart boys, you
are.”
--------------------------
Pocahontas looked around at the “new world” that she, Steve
Rogers, and Sheryl were brought to by Gigi. She was slightly bemused to see
that nothing around her looked any different than where she was previously. “This is the new world? Nothing has
changed. It is all still a forest.”
(Narrative Note: The presence of Pocahontas, Facilier, Gaston, Belle, LeFou, and Gaston's mob in the Tangled realm is the most Disney characters that have ever stepped foot together in an opposite Disney World by far in the series.)
Rogers spotted something ahead of the group’s path and
smiled. “Are you sure about that?” He
pointed for Pocahontas, and she saw a strange place with an equally strange
name, “The Snuggly Duckling.” The sight of the setting caught Pocahontas by
surprise, but it was certainly the confirmation she needed to see that she was
in fact within another world.
“That’s where Stark is, isn’t it?” Sheryl deduced.
Gigi nodded. “Yep. And if what I’m sensing right now is
correct, he’s totally wasted in there.”
Hearing that news, Rogers sighed in aggravation. He
stormed his way over to the Snuggly Duckling with Gigi, Sheryl, and Pocahontas following
close behind. As they got closer to the entrance, they heard what could only be
singing and dancing from inside the restaurant. Rogers casually opened the door
for himself and his female companions. Together, they witnessed the bizarre
scene of singing and dancing barbarians with an intoxicated Tony Stark in the
midst of it all, along with Rapunzel and Flynn Rider.
(Marvel Note: Tony Stark's bout with alcoholism has been the focal point of the "Demon in a Bottle" comic book story arc, which saw his drunken misuse of the Iron Man armor lead to submitting his status as Iron Man to James Rhodes and losing control of his company. This story arc is credited as being a defining element of Tony Stark's character. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it has only once been visited from the party scene in Iron Man 2. Shane Black, the director of Iron Man 3, intended to focus on the storyline for the film, but it was revoked in Disney's favor of keeping it family-friendly.)
As soon as the group entered the scene, everyone except
for Tony stopped singing and dancing, looking directly upon them. “Hey! I’ve gotta dream! I got to dream! Deep
down inside, I got to…” Stark ceased his singing and dancing as soon as he
discovered that everyone else had. He followed their gaze on Rogers and
appeared delighted, in his drunken stupor, to see his fellow Avenger. “Heeeey,
Cap! Captain American!”
“Are you done here?” Rogers harshly queried.
“I…I…” Stark looked around at the large group of
cutthroats surrounding him. “I don’t know what
I am here. I’ve been here for well over three hours, waiting for a way out or
somebody to come rescue me, or whichever came first. But, hey! You showed up!” He caught a glimpse at
Rogers’s companions. “And you brought ladies!” He then turned to the cutthroats
and said, “Now the party really gets
fun, guys!”
The thugs laughed over Stark’s comment, which was the
last straw with Rogers. The legendary WWII hero furiously knocked the mug in
Stark’s hand away, causing its contents to splash all over the floor. “Playtime’s
over, Tony! Let’s go!”
(Marvel Note: It is no secret among comic book fans of the love-hate relationship between Tony Stark/Iron Man and Steve Rogers/Captain America. Their rivalry has been in the central theme for the seven-issue "Civil War" series, which saw both heroes on opposite ends of a Superhero Registration Act that Stark was for and Rogers was against. The series will be adapted to film for the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2016, with Robert Downey, Jr. reprising his role as Iron Man and Chris Evans returning as Captain America.)
“Hey!” The hook-handed thug approached Rogers with a
scowl on his face. “Mister Stark leaves when he wants to leave.”
Sheryl snickered. “Mister
Stark?”
Tony calmly patted the hook-handed thug on the shoulder.
“It’s cool, guy. Captain Party Pooper’s just looking out for my best interest.”
“Do you have any
idea what we’ve gone through to find you?” Rogers rhetorically questioned.
“Banner’s now missing and could be in trouble.”
“What kind of trouble is he in?” Stark asked.
The exchange was brought to an abrupt halt just as
everyone heard a monstrous roar from outside the Snuggly Duckling. Stark,
Rogers, and Sheryl instantly recognized the register of the roar as that of the
Hulk. Everyone else, especially Rapunzel, stood confused and even frightened by
the animalistic sound.
“W-What was that?” Rapunzel asked, tightening her grip on
the frying pan she carried around with her.
“That’s Banner, isn’t it?” Gigi questioned to Rogers.
“Man! I’m picking up some wild senses on him. I’m not sensing the same guy that
I met back in the base.”
“That’s because he’s not
the same guy.” Sheryl said. “He’s over seven feet tall, big, and green right
now. He’s not Banner…he’s the Hulk!” Her eyes grew more distressed. “And from
what I’m sensing right now, he’s been
enchanted.”
“The Hulk’s in love?” Stark drunkenly assumed.
“No, man.” Sheryl remarked. “I mean that somebody’s put
him under a spell…got him under control.”
Rogers began to follow on her analysis and came upon a startling
realization: “That means Banner’s no longer in…”
Before Rogers could have finished, the roof of the
Snuggly Duckling suddenly imploded, scattering everyone inside. A large, green
figure soon landed directly inside and roared madly, shaking the very
foundation of the restaurant. Chaos soon erupted as the cutthroats lunged upon
the Hulk, only to have been tossed around like ragdolls. A petrified Flynn and
Rapunzel dashed out of the restaurant with Stark, Cap, Gigi, Sheryl, and
Pocahontas. Once outside, the group ran as far into the woods as possible.
In the midst of their escape, Sheryl wondered aloud, “Why
are we running when we can just poof
out of here?”
“Because we’re not
leaving Banner or the Hulk behind.”
Gigi answered.
“You mean you want to help
that monster?” Sheryl questioned in surprise.
“He’s no monster.” Gigi contradicted. “I can still sense
a good man in there. Whomever or whatever enchanted him didn’t take him
completely.”
The fleeting group was soon brought to a halt once a
crowd of strangers in the woods suddenly appeared in their path. Flynn saw the
Stabbington brothers among the other group and nervously uttered, “Uh-oh. Uh,
h-hey. I’ve been searching everywhere for you guys since we got separated. So,
uh…” Flynn eyed the other men that accompanied the brothers. “Started your own
gang, eh?” The brothers didn’t respond, putting more awkward silence between
them. “Yeah, well, I imagine you both are thinking about that crown right now,
but I assure you that it’s someplace real
safe. In fact, we can…”
“We’re not interested in the crown anymore, Rider.” The
brother in green said.
Flynn began to feel even more nervous upon hearing that.
“Well, uh, if not the crown, then…what is it you guys want?”
“We want to see the green guy make you suffer.”
The Hulk’s roar could be heard in the distance; it was
soon followed by the sinister laughter of the group of men that accompanied the
Stabbington brothers. Gigi glared upon one man, the leader of the group.
“Doctor Facilier,” she uttered his name with much distain.
“So the great Guardian does know me.” Facilier conceitedly said. “I’m honored.”
“You’re crazy.” Gigi retorted, taking notice in
Facilier’s gang of thugs. “You have no idea what dangers you’ve put this
universe in by taking these people out of their worlds.”
“Oh, I’m aware of the dangers, sistah. But we have that
issue rectified.” Facilier assured. “My friends on the other side have shown me
a way to get around that nasty lil’ end-of-the-world thing that happens when
our worlds cross. They’ve shown me the secret pathways to allow anyone, myself included, to go in and
out as they please. Bet the old wizard didn’t tell you about that, did he?”
(Authorial Note: Halfway into writing this chapter, with so many characters from other worlds present in one, Livingston realized that he had to provide some reasoning for the Tangled realm not tearing itself apart, much like the Aladdin one did in World of Disney. This is why Facilier is the character who gives the explanation, as it is in the nature of a villain to explain his or her plans.)
His reference to Yen Sid only infuriated Gigi. “What do
you want?”
Facilier moved in closer to her. “I want your power. I
want the hat, the magic, the whole get-up, if ya catch my drift.”
“Good luck gettin’ it, dude, because no one but those who
are pure of heart like the Guardian can wear it.” Sheryl told Facilier.
Facilier eyed Sheryl with great interest. When he brought
his focus back on Gigi, he pointed to Sheryl and asked, “She still hasn’t told you who she really is?” His inquiry made Gigi look
curiously to Sheryl. Fueling on her curiosity, Facilier excitedly exclaimed,
“Ah! She hasn’t? Aw, yeah. This is gonna be good right here.”
“Shut up!” Sheryl defensively yelled.
“Don’t worry. I won’t spill on your secret.” Facilier
guaranteed. “Y’all got much more to
worry about.”
The roar of the Hulk sounded again, only it was much
closer than the last time, signaling to Gigi’s group that the green behemoth
was there. The Hulk dropped in unexpectedly from above, forcing them to scatter apart. Cap hurled his shield at his brainwashed fellow Avenger, connecting it
directly with his face. Iron Man then stepped in and fired his repulsor blasts
at full power, knocking the Hulk into some trees that tumbled under his massive
weight and buried him under them.
(Marvel Note: Tony Stark has a specialized armor designed to physically combat the Hulk called "Hulkbuster," which was introduced in Iron Man vol. 1 #304. The armor raised maximum strength at the cost of reduced versatility and mobility, capable of a lift capacity of 170 tons. It will make its debut in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Avengers: Age of Ultron.)
Gigi looked back over to Facilier, who remained idly
standing where he was, along with his men. Only Belle appeared fidgety under
Gaston’s grip, due to the unsettling appearance of the monstrous Hulk. Glaring
at Facilier with glowing white eyes, Gigi threatened, “This isn’t over.”
Facilier didn’t appear to be fazed by the threat or her
ghostly white eyes and instead issued one of his own. “You and your
S.H.I.E.L.D. buddies better be on your toes because we’ll be comin’ for the real world next.”
(UP NEXT: Real world, real problems!)
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