Sunday, December 13, 2015

World of Disney 3 - Epilogue (w/ Commentary Notes from the Author, Sean Livingston)

Epilogue: Left Behind
Muppet Theater – 1982
(Editorial Note: World of Disney 3 was officially completed August 21, 2015 on FanFiction.net. That is approximately eight months and ten days of writing two hundred and five pages and twenty chapters, including the prologue and this epilogue. Comparing it with the first two World of Disney installments, which you can view here and here, its time of production is longer than The Marvelous World: World of Disney 2 but shorter than World of Disney, its amount of chapters is the shortest of the trilogy, and it is the longest story in the trilogy.)
            The hours passed since the enigmatic arrival of the teenage blonde, whose name Joanie found out to be “Sierra.” She locked herself, along with Vanessa, into the middle dressing room at the upstairs landing. She never made it clear exactly how she would heal the redhead of her life-threatening wounds, only that she needed the necessary space to do it. Of course, the theatre residents – particularly Joanie – could venture a guess from the eerie golden/rainbow glow that shone through the crevices of the closed dressing room door.
(Narrative Note: These are reincarnation colors shining through the door, which suggets that Vanessa has changed forms within the dressing room. We will meet her successor in the events of Tales from the Battlefront.)
            Night gave way to morning. Everyone was too keyed up about the circumstances occurring around them to sleep. So Joanie, Diana, Kermit, Robin, Gonzo, Fozzie, Scooter, Bunsen, and Beaker took the opportunity to share the story of their adventure in 1977 to Ashley, Rizzo, and even Animal, who lost interest halfway in and left.
            Diana had the Swedish Chef, who arrived to work bright and early that next morning, whip them up his finest blueberry pancakes when the story got as far as Joanie’s mind being warped into believing she was Ariel.
(Narrative Note: This occurs in Chapter Nineteen of World of Disney.)
            Eventually, once they reached the conclusion, Ashley and Rizzo found it all difficult to believe. “You’re telling us that you gained superpowers from this whatchamacallit that you banished to some alternate universe five years ago, which you discovered earlier in the hands of the bad guys from that ridiculous space movie you love so much?” Ashley made it all sound even crazier from the condescending way she recounted the details.
            “Whadda bunch of baloney,” muttered Rizzo, followed by a loud belch of satisfaction from the huge stack of pancakes he nearly finished. “Speakin’ of, can Chef get some fried bologna wit dis?”
            Joanie, sitting beside Tomas at the foot of the stairwell to the dressing rooms, was slightly offended by their disbelief. “Don’t believe me?” She chuckled. “Just watch.”
            “Joanie,” Diana whispered, lingering on the last syllable of her name in that reprimanding manner. She worried of the boastful showmanship her daughter was capable of, especially with that magic of hers. And Diana knew more than anyone else how intoxicating those abilities could be, having worn the hat herself one Christmas since the events of 1977.
(Narrative Note: This account took place in one of the four tales told in A World of Disney Christmas. It was the only time someone other than Joanie, her reincarnations, or those of Sean Thomas has worn the sorcerer hat and been a Guardian. In this occasion, it was done to teach a lesson for Joanie never to abuse her power for showing off.)
            Joanie gave a reassuring wink to her mother before proceeding to demonstrate. She placed her right hand over her empty plate and motioned it up by a foot. The eyes of Ashley and Rizzo opened in conjunction with their mouths, seeing the foot-high stack of fried bologna on her once-empty plate.
            “Whoa!” They both exclaimed.
            Handing the steaming plate of bologna to Rizzo, the rat dug into the magically conjured meal right away. After a dozen bites, he jubilantly admitted with a mouthful of bologna, “It’s real! IT’S REAL!”
            For the first time in her life, Ashley smiled with a hint of pride for Joanie. “You really are a wizard,” she said in response to her cousin’s otherworldly gift.
            Joanie modestly smirked. “I prefer ‘sorceress,’ actually.”
(Factual Note: The actual female term for "wizard" or "warlock is "witch." One of its synonyms is in fact "sorceress," in addition to "enchantress," "necromancer," "Wiccan," and "pythoness.")
            “I prefer ‘meal ticket,’” Rizzo uttered, recognizing the dirty stares he garnered from that remark. “Hey, I meant dat as a compliment. Sheesh!” Sensing the hostility, he picked up his half-finished plate and left the backstage area to eat elsewhere.
            Soon after Rizzo was gone, Ashley brought her attention back to Joanie: “So what else can you do?”
            Joanie considered her answer. “Well…so many things, really. I can travel through time, travel between dimensions, change my hair color, change my whole appearance…” She glanced to Tomas, as he scooped the last bits of his pancake off his plate and into his mouth. “…and give myself a baby.”
            A loud gulp was heard out of him. He swallowed the last bits of his pancake just as he heard Joanie end her short list on that astonishing detail. He looked to her, seeing that growing smile on her face, which just confirmed his suspicion. Diana, Ashley, Kermit, Robin, Gonzo, Fozzie, Scooter, Bunsen, and Beaker were just as stunned as he was, hearing this news Joanie so casually exposed.
            “Wah…W-We’re…We’re going to have…a baby?” Tomas eagerly stammered.
            Joanie nodded and smiled, overjoyed.
            Setting his plate aside, the equally elated Tomas jumped from his spot on the staircase and cheered in Swahili. He lifted his wife up from the stairs to twirl and embrace her, exchanging a happy kiss to the congratulatory applause of those around them.
(Narrative Note: It is intended for Joanie's pregnancy to be one of the focal points in Tales from the Battlefront.)
            “How ‘bout that, Diana,” Kermit said, “You’re going to be a grandmother!”
            The joy Diana felt for her daughter and son-in-law dropped instantly, daunted by the reality Kermit just laid on her. “And here I thought having a great-great-grandchild made me feel old,” she sulked. Thankfully, Joanie was there to help lift her spirits again, hugging her beautifully youthful mother.
            It seemed as if nothing could take away this exuberant moment for the residents of the Muppet Theatre…
            …until they were distracted from a bright golden light that flashed near them.
            Their eyes turned to the source, seeing a small child who bore a six-year-old resemblance to Tomas in the eyes of Diana, Ashley, Kermit, Robin, Gonzo, Fozzie, Scooter, Bunsen, and Beaker. Joanie and Tomas, on the other hand, recognized this child to be Benji, their future great-grandson.
            He stood alone in the spot that he teleported upon in the backstage area. This concerned Joanie, who rushed to Benji immediately. Kneeling to his level, she could see the lost, frightened look on his tear-soaked face. “Benji,” she softly said, “what’s wrong, sweetheart? Why aren’t you in White Mountain?” She knew it didn’t matter where he was, so long as he was safe from whatever war that undoubtedly erupted on Fantasia, following her departure.
            “Where’s Granddaddy?” Benji asked, noticeably shaken.
            Joanie warmly smiled. “Oh, honey. He’s…She’s right up there.” She gestured to the visible upstairs dressing room. “What do you say we go up and see her?” Benji nodded, prompting Joanie to take her great-grandson by the hand and lead him up the stairs, with the others following.
            “That’s Benji?” Robin whispered, amazed.
            “Yeah,” Scooter replied. “Joanie’s great-grandson, and Diana great-great…”
            “I think he gets it. Thank you, Scooter,” Diana sharply told the gofer.
            Nearing the locked door to the middle dressing room, Joanie noticed the crevices no longer glowed as they had in the last hours. It possibly signified the completion of whatever healing process Sierra practiced on Vanessa. If that was the case, why hadn’t Sierra or Vanessa walked out?
            Joanie knocked. “Hello? Sierra? Is it alright to come in now? There’s a special little visitor here who wants to see Vanessa.”
            There was no answer.
            “Maybe they’re asleep?” Gonzo presumed.
            As plausible as the weirdo’s guess could have been, Joanie refused to take any chances. Pointing her right index finger towards the lock, she magically picked it to permit herself, Benji, and the others to enter.
            To their surprise and confusion, the room was unoccupied.
            Diana frowned. “Where on earth did they go?”

            “Might wanna rephrase that question,” a disconcerted Joanie told her mother. “Because I’ve got a bad feeling they aren’t on Earth anymore.”


World of Disney 3

(THANK YOU FOR READING WORLD OF DISNEY REVISITED! BE SURE TO READ PREVIOUS AND FUTURE WORLD OF DISNEY STORIES HERE!)

Saturday, December 12, 2015

World of Disney 3 - Chapter Twenty (w/ Commentary Notes from the Author, Sean Livingston)

Chapter Twenty: We Are Here to Change the World
(Authorial Note: Other than for another obligatory Captain EO reference, I picked the subtitle for this final chapter as a callback to Chapter Fourteen, in which the actual song was sung by EO and his band. Here, it's meant to establish a sense of irony from th events that will occur.)
            From Emperor Palpatine’s throne room on the Death Star, Fantasia loomed in its majestic white splendor. His view of the planet, the armada, and the Sphere came from the observation dome at the top of a tower placed directly next to the station’s superlaser. The platform served as Palpatine’s watchtower in order to view the laser’s firing demonstrations. His chamber could only be reached through a massive circular doorway with a large metal beam that rotated to unlock the door. In the main chamber, his throne was elevated above the floor by a short staircase, flanked by his Royal Guards and Imperial Senate Guards. There were numerous control consoles surrounding the throne. Throughout the room were decorations of large statues made of black stone.
(Star Wars Note: This version of the Emperor's throne room is based from the one featured in the 2008 video game, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, during the final boss fight with the Emperor himself. The player at this point in the game had the choice of whether to fight Palpatine or Vader, the latter decision triggering an alternate timeline where the hero - Starkiller - becomes apprentice to Palpatine after killing Vader. As of 2015, this game is no longer considered canon, though this throne room was still featured in this story as an homage.)
            Fantasia was in excellent trajectory of the superlaser, just as the Emperor desired.
            He sensed the turning tide of the battle on the planet, angered in the particular failure of Vader against a mouse and two would-be Jedi.
            It was as the blue-haired woman warned him – Fantasia could not be taken so easily. But he was prepared to take drastic measures nonetheless.
            “What is our next course of action, Your Majesty?”
            Tarkin was nowhere close to being as in tune with the Force as his emperor was, but he was certainly aware of how their efforts – despite how quadrupled they were – dwindled in this war. Reports from the other ships came through fast of the heavy firepower and necromancy that the sorcerers on the planet carried, picking off their troops rapidly.
            “This world we sought to conquer must now be destroyed,” Palpatine asserted, his displeasure evident in his tone. “Governor Tarkin,” the Grand Moff stood at attention of his next order, “have the superlaser primed and ready to fire on my command.”
            Tarkin bowed to his ruler. “Yes, Your Majesty. It will be done.”
            He made haste in his departure. Time was of the great essence.
------------------------------------ 
            Fighting Yve Ette head-on and bare-handed was a mistake that Taryn, regardless of the Guardian power both she and Marcia possessed, started to see. The physically advantageous Yve Ette had the fight in her favor. She hardly needed her bizarrely structured lightsaber to beat the life out of them both. Taryn in particular found herself strained and exhausted, lying face down in the dirt after a hard and swift roundhouse kick to the face. She only had this new body for a day; there was still a lot to get used to. One thing was for certain: it could definitely take punishment well.
(Narrative Note: This is the first time a reincarnation of Joanie has teamed herself with an amalgamated reincarnation of her son. In The Marvelous World: World of Disney 2, she teamed with an alternate version of him from the Marvel Universe. Both of these pairings are callbacks to when their original selves worked as a team in the events of World of Disney.)
            She felt herself yanked off the ground by the back of her crop top. Dribble flew from her mouth as her head whipped from the rough-handling. Once again, she was facing Yve Ette, that vicious, bloodthirsty smile on the corrupted reincarnation’s countenance. She did not waste any time in throwing punches. Her fist was like a blur until Taryn could see the lines on the knuckles before everything fleetingly went white and her brain rattled in her skull. She counted ten hits before they stopped all of the sudden.
            Through hazy, doubled vision, Taryn could almost make out what looked to be Marcia holding Yve Ette’s arm back, drawing attention to herself. Taryn felt the grip on her top drop, along with herself, as Yve Ette centered her onslaught on Marcia. She became more of a victim to Yve Ette’s quick feet than her hands from the Bruce Lee action she brought on her.
            A knee to the face sent Marcia reeling back and down to the ground. She made an attempt to get back up, only to be pinned by a big heavy boot planted firmly between her breasts. She could not get up any less take a breath from the immense pressure. She saw Yve Ette standing proud atop of her, her special-made saber flaming above her head. It was clear this fight, as well as Taryn and Marcia themselves, came to an end.
            “No weapons and no brains,” ridiculed Yve Ette, half-turning towards Taryn in her address. “I expected more from you, Joanie! You’re always full of surprises!” She focused on Marcia again. “But this one…she’s a poor excuse of an abomination that’s just waitin’ to be—”
            POW!
            From the left, a fist unexpectedly flew in and clocked Yve Ette, knocking her off of Marcia and wobbling back while her lightsaber fell out of grip. It was not so much as a powerful punch, just a measly love tap to distract her. Judging from the register, it was not Taryn that threw it. She turned her head to face her attacker and laughed once she noticed it to be Katie.
            The blonde carried the impressive height and muscle definition to look imposing to any mere mortal, but Yve Ette was nothing of the sort. She tried everything in her power not to laugh too hard at the foolish woman, who danced in place like a boxer in a ring, especially with her red robe bouncing along to her rhythm. All she needed was a pair of gloves.
            “C’mon, you bully!” Katie challenged. “I ain’t afraid to show you who’s boss!”
            Yve Ette grinned with vindictive glee. “And I don’t need no lightsaber to kick your big butt!”
            She was all too keen to prove this straightaway. However, something kept her from taking another step. Her eyes searched below to see the cause of her immobility, discovering the startling sight of her feet molded to the ground.
            “What the—?”
            Before she knew it, she was tackled from behind. The charge came so fast and hard that she was knocked right out of her boots, which remained meshed to the ground. As she hit face-first into the dirt, her right cheek momentarily skidded over the gravel. The linebacker was Brandon, who had one large knee embedded in her back, putting all his weight into it to keep her pinned.
            “Honey Badger,” he yelled to Katie. “Get her weapon!”
            “Honey Badger?” Yve Ette groaned in the dirt. “Seriously?”
(Biographical Note: "Honey Badger" is the actual pet name that Brandon Cordner, the man who inspired the "Brandon" character, refers to Katie Mackintosh in their real-life relationship.)
            Quickly, Katie followed her lover’s command and bolted for the disengaged lightsaber hilt lying uselessly on the ground.
            Brandon kept eyes between Katie and Yve Ette. He suddenly felt his knee drop and hit the ground, looking below him to see Yve Ette no longer there. Swinging his head back to Katie, he screamed, “LOOK OUT!”
            Katie froze the second her eyes met with Yve Ette, following a successful teleport from underneath Brandon to where she retrieved her saber. Her heart beat out of her chest as she stood face-to-face with the sinister woman – that cold glare in her ice blue eyes penetrating the courage Katie showed against her only seconds earlier.
            “I have to commend you both on your foolish attempt,” Yve Ette said, “but, in the end, that’s all it was…foolish!”
            Katie’s eyes darted to Brandon, who could only kneel helplessly where he was as Yve Ette stared down Katie, ready to slay them both with her lightsaber.
            She switched it on. Nothing happened.
            Glancing to her weapon, Yve Ette suspected something different. For one, the usual heft in the hilt was absent; it felt light – really light – as if all the components within it had been emptied. Then there was the glaring inscription she found near the end of it: “Made in China.”
            Yve Ette’s fiery eyes grew wide. “This is a toy!
(Disney Note: Although not an intentional reference, readers can look at this line from Yve Ette as a subtle variation on Woody's line to Buzz in Toy Story, a Disney/Pixar film that has had a presence in the first World of Disney story.)
            A sharp, knifing pain shot through her back and migrated through her chest as a familiar blade made of fire and lightning protruded right before her eyes. She was impaled by her own weapon, the evidence there between her breasts. The pain was overwhelming; breathing no longer a luxury.
            She heard a voice whisper close from her right, “It’s incredible how fast I can shop at Toys R Us during a warring invasion.”
(Pop Culture Note: The toy lightsaber switched with Yve Ette's real one is part of the "Bladebuilders" line from Hasbro. These plastic-made sabers are customizable with light and sounds that simulate the lightsabers used in the films. Most of these are actually sold in retail stores, including Toys R Us.)
            Anne-Marie. She orchestrated this diversion, using Katie and Brandon to buy time to switch the specialized, Guardian-killing saber with a common knickknack. It should have infuriated Yve Ette, but even she had to admit the genius of it. Anne-Marie was a reincarnation two tiers above Yvette, which placed her as the second most experienced and powerful Guardian beside Genevieve. To have underestimated her was a mistake Yve Ette subconsciously kicked herself for.
            The blade switched off, leaving Yve Ette’s twitching body to collapse to the ground. This twitching soon transpired into convulsing. Her eyes and mouth glowed red, until that glow seeped out in the form of a ghostly blood-red mist – the spirit of the entity known as “Dawn” that possessed and corrupted Yvette for many years. It howled in defeated anguish, fading into oblivion.
(Character Note: This is the last "Dawn" is seen in the World of Disney series, as this tale brings her story arc - which began in Tales of the Disneyverse - to an end. There is a chance the character will be referenced in The Disney Access, but as the original version, based from a cosplay by Joanie Mars, introduced in the first World of Disney.)
            Freed from Dawn’s hold over her, Yvette stared into the heavens with content eyes, the red glow no longer plaguing their usual crystal blue hue. Unfortunately, the content turned to suffering, her body twisting from the gaping, bloodied hole in her torso.
            Anne-Marie went to her immediately, kneeling beside her. She knew the one risk of purging Dawn’s spirit from Yvette’s body with that lightsaber was in turn ending Yvette’s life cycle. It was what the weapon was designed to do, and there was no way of stopping it.
            “Hold still,” she calmly instructed Yvette. “It’ll be alright.”
            There was much regret in Yvette’s tear-flooded eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m so very sorry for all I’ve done.”
            Anne-Marie forgivingly shook her head. “It was never your fault, sweetheart.” She heard the gravel around them shift and glimpsed up to see Taryn, Marcia, Katie, and Brandon watching on. Their faces registering compassion.
            “I wished I could’ve lived a better…longer life.” Yvette’s voice was close to a whisper, fading. “There’s so much…good I could’ve…done…so…much…”
            Her eyes slowly closed, permitting herself to pass on.
(Character Note: World of Disney 3 marks the death of Yvette, but she is planned to return in flashbacks from other World of Disney installments, before her corruption by Dawn.)
            Anne-Marie hung back, tears in her eyes. Together with Taryn, Marcia, Katie, and Brandon, she watched as the body of the reincarnation “Yvette” gleamed in a gold/rainbow hue and broke down piece-by-piece into a pile of dust, the leather attire Dawn had her wear as “Yve Ette” all that remained with it. Soon after this process, Anne-Marie waved her right hand over the remains, conjuring a spell that transferred the dust to another plane of existence, awarding Yvette’s successor – Buohler – a better atmosphere to be reborn into.
---------------------------------
            “He’s so cute,” Walter exclaimed, getting acquainted with Benji. “He looks so much like a mini version of Sean.”
            The display of Walter and Benji standing at eye level with each other delighted Genevieve, Victoria, and Natalie as they witnessed the exchange. It was enough to take their minds off the nightmare happening outside the White Mountain fortress.
            Benji was intrigued by Walter, lightly stroking his foamed skin and patch of brown hair, as if he were a cat. “You’re a Muppet,” he observed with excitement.
            “I sure am.” Walter pleasingly acknowledged before he was warmly embraced by the enthusiastic six-year-old. The gesture drew a collective “aww” from Genevieve, Victoria, and Natalie. “I love you, too, buddy.”
(Authorial Note: I based this interaction on the classic Sesame Street segments that featured conversations between children and Muppets, with the former often making adorable comments that evoke hilarious reactions from the Muppet characters.)
            As touching as this moment was for everyone, Genevieve could not help but feel distressed for Walter. “I’m so sorry you’re mixed up in all of this,” she told the Muppet.
            Walter separated from Benji, directing his focus to Genevieve. “Oh, it’s alright,” he said with a hint of optimism. “Sean promised me that I’ll get back home as soon as this Penz comes back.”
            “Speaking of which, where is she?” Natalie questioned. “She should’ve been back here by—”
(Character Note: Penz's absence will be fully explained in the "World of Disney Christmas 2" mini-tale, currently posting on Wattpad.)
            Natalie let out a deep gasp, as did Victoria.
            Both women experienced a sudden panic attack that brought them to their knees.
            Genevieve, Walter, and Benji looked on them, concerned and baffled.
            “What’s the matter with you two?” Genevieve asked.
            Natalie fought to breathe as much as she did to speak: “I-It…It f-feels like…my heart…a-and lungs…are…t-trying…to jump…outta m-my…mouth!”
            “S-Same here!” Victoria concurred.
            The attack passed as suddenly as it came, relieving the two women of the tormenting pressure to their internal organs. Genevieve and Walter helped them to their feet just as a bright golden hue shined at the corners of their eyes. Their eyes squinted from the illuminated figure standing close by.
            “Adrienne?” Genevieve managed to identity the visitor.
            From what she could make out, it was not the young Padawan she recalled seeing back at the castle-mansion. This was the older one – the one who helped her save the Disneyverse from a world-eating dimensional rift in time and space not very long ago. Her entire body shimmered, her clothes were a ragged combination of those of her past and present selves, and her eyeballs were replaced with orbs that sparked in a mixture of gold and rainbow, giving them a chillingly alien presence.
(Authorial Note: This scene is the last for the "Adrienne" character, as she will reincarnate into a new, never-before-seen form in the Tales from the Battlefront spin-off story that takes place after the events of World of Disney 3. Her alien appearance here is an "in-progress" reincarnation into the new form; it is much different than other reincarnations, due to the unorthodox method that triggered it.)
            “My god,” Victoria murmured, shocked by this frightening change. “Adrienne, what have you done to yourself?”
            “What was necessary for my survival,” she answered in an echoed voice. “I’ve fused my past with my present, creating this ultimate form you see before you.”
            Genevieve’s heart skipped a beat. “What? Do you realize what you’ve done? You’ve endangered not just your timeline but all of ours as well! You could wipe us all out of existence! You know that?”
            Adrienne frowned. “I have control over all of time and space, distilling all paradoxes. I see the universe as it is – every living microorganism.” She raised her arm, pointing her right index finger to Genevieve. “Including you.”
(Pop Culture Note: The basis for Adrienne's "ultimate form" comes from the "Bad Wolf" entity featured in Doctor Who. In the episode "The Parting of the Ways," the Doctor's then-companion, Rose Tyler, looked into the heart of the TARDIS and the Time Vortex filled her to become the entity. From this temporary power she possessed, she wiped out a fleet of Daleks and resurrected Captain Jack Harkness from death, turning him immortal in the process.)
            The tip of her fingernail sparked with the same gold and rainbow colors that her new eyes did, an energy emitting out of her body and towards Genevieve. It slithered in through her mouth and nose, overwhelming her entire body until her eyes ignited in the gold/rainbow hue. Her head titled back and her arms outstretched, engulfed in the glow. Within seconds, she atomized and dispersed in thin air.
            “GRANDDADDY!”
            Shocked by the sudden unnatural combustion of Genevieve, Benji tearfully hugged Victoria’s hip, burying his face into it.
            Walter, Natalie, and Victoria herself were just as appalled.
            “How could you do that in front of him?” Victoria scolded. “You killed her!”
            “She’s safe.” Adrienne reassured. “She will reemerge someplace much safer than here, I promise. You all will.”
(Narrative Note: That "someplace" is in a New Mexico desert in the year 2044 of the Muppetverse, where Genevieve emerges from Adrienne's impromptu transportation spell. This occurs in the first chapter of The Disney Access. It is revealed that Adrienne not only transported her there but restored her to Guardian form once again.)
            This did not sit well with Natalie. “We can’t leave Fantasia. Not when it’s still hot at war with the Empire.”
            “I am bringing this conflict to an end here…tonight,” Adrienne declared.
            Victoria shook her head at this abomination. Benji still clung onto her, soaking part of her tunic in his tears. What Adrienne did to Genevieve and the effect it had on the child was unforgivable. “This power you’ve gained for yourself…it’s too much power,” she stated. “It’s going to corrupt you!”
            The orbs in Adrienne’s skull fixated on Victoria; the sparks in them intensified. “You know, I’ve never liked you – not since the day of the rift! For once, I’m saving your butt, and you’re being ungrateful? Why am I not surprised?” After a long pause, she raised both of her arms, the glow of her body brightening. “None of what has transpired here and now will be remembered by any of you. I cannot risk you coming back to Fantasia.”
            “Now wait just a minute,” roared Natalie, who began to feel just as angry as Victoria. “It’s not your place to change our fates!”
            The echo in Adrienne’s voice reached godlike quality: “I have the power to do whatever I choose to! I’m not a slave to time and space anymore! They are slaves to me! I’m the anomaly they have nightmares of! Like it or not, change is happening!”
(Pop Culture Note: Once again, a Doctor Who reference is made in this line of dialogue from Adrienne. Whovians will note how these words sound very similar to the Tenth Doctor's "Time Lord Victorious" declaration in the episode "Waters of Mars.")
            Between Natalie’s retort and Adrienne’s manic declarations, Victoria came to a shocking conclusion: “It’s you. You are the singularity Anne-Marie spoke about.” Her fears in this “ultimate form” enhanced from the revelation. “Adrienne, listen to me…”
            “I am done listening, especially to you!”
            Adrienne waved her hands. Victoria, Natalie, Walter, and Benji vanished.
(Narrative Note: The turning point of events in this chapter, as well as the epilogue, significantly splinter into installments of the World of Disney series that connect back to here. This includes the current installments The Disney Access and Tales of Fantasia, next year's Defenders of the Disneyverse, and Tales from the Battlefront, which debuts later this month.)
            Alone in Deborah’s fortress, she proceeded in stepping out onto the summit, facing the breathtaking view of Auda City and the rest of Fantasia as it fell at the mercy of the invading Imperial ships. Stretching her arms out, she let out a shriek heard from all over the planet. The attacking TIE fighters erupted in simultaneous explosions above the city and everywhere else in the skies.
            In her shrieking, her glowing, shimmering body lifted high above the mountaintop.
            She blazed like a sun in the eyes of the Auda City defenders, becoming hotter and brighter to the extent that she overtook the planetary atmosphere.
            The blinding visage could be observed from space, even within the Emperor’s throne room on the Death Star. He questioned the unnatural glow that engulfed the entire planet. Was it some sort of counterattack? Not wishing to take any chances, he reached for the comlink button to give Tarkin the order he waited for.
            Before Palpatine could so much as utter the word “fire,” a series of explosions redirected his attention back to the window. A fiery wave of energy spread out into the armada, disintegrating every Star Destroyer and TIE fighter orbiting the planet. It crossed through the Sphere, cracking it in half before it also disintegrated from space, but not before unleashing a multicolored shockwave that shot towards the Death Star.
(Narrative Note: After three installments that it was featured prominently in, the Sphere finally meets its structural demise in this tale; however, it is not entirely destroyed from the inside, with its central core still intact when it is discovered in The Disney Access.)
            The Emperor howled in sheer terror, witnessing himself and the battle station he occupied become the meal to the hungry, destructive shockwave.
            Nothing remained thereafter – no ships, no Death Star, no Sphere, and no Fantasia.

(UP NEXT: A Prelude to Tales from the Battlefront!)

Friday, December 11, 2015

World of Disney 3 - Chapter Nineteen (w/ Commentary Notes from the Author, Sean Livingston)

Chapter Nineteen: The Fantasia War
            The “medicine room” was what Yen Sid referred it as. A large, winding area filled with shelves-upon-shelves of a variety of potions, kept in small vials under an assortment of colors and labels. It was like every other room in the castle-mansion: gray stone walls, lit torches pitched on towering chalk-white pillars, and wood-made furnishings. One particular worktable at the furthest point of the room was reserved for the battered, unconscious Mickey to lie on until Yen Sid found the necessary potion to revive him.
(Authorial Note: Though the medicine room is based on many medieval medicine rooms seen in various media, I had the Disney-ABC program Once Upon a Time in mind when I came up with this description.)
            As soon as he did, he brought it to the worktable and poured the contents into his apprentice’s mouth. The clear blue liquid quenched the parched tongue and throat of the mouse, as he intuitively swallowed it. Its magic coursed through his weakened form, rejuvenating him instantly. He awakened, gasping and coughing.
            “Easy, my apprentice,” Yen Sid calmly instructed. “Slow breaths.”
            Marcia and Taryn gathered by them, along with Captain EO and his Ragtags, welcoming the courageous mouse back to health.
            Not far from the group, sitting in the nearest corner, was Walter.
            Sean spotted him there, looking ever so frightened. He felt sorry for the little Muppet that did not deserve to be caught up in the chaos happening on Fantasia. And it seemed as if Natalie felt the same way, her incorporeal form sitting lotus style next to him. She looked on with her luscious green eyes filled with as much pity as he had for their friend.
            The urge moving him, Sean went to Walter, sitting down in front of him to get his attention. “How did you get here, Walt?” He asked.
            “I-I was kidnapped by this woman who was so big and muscular with long dark hair and cold blue eyes that glowed red.”
            Natalie glanced to Sean; she recognized this description. “Yve Ette,” she disdainfully muttered. “She’s the one who used him as bait, that bi—” She stopped herself. Sean could feel her anger bubbling within him. It soon gave way for sorrow when she turned to Walter again. “He shouldn’t be here. Being caught up in another interdimensional mess? I thought he was safe back in the theatre. If there’s one person I was glad not to have brought into this, it was him.”
(Narrative Note: In Marvel Mayhem, Natalie accidentally brought Walter to the Marvel Universe from her transportation spell, traveling from the Muppetverse to the Marvel realm. Still new to using her abilities in an amalgamated form is what created the mishap.)
            “How’s Natalie?”
            It was as if Walter sensed the pity she felt. There was no possible way for him to hear any of what she said.
            A small smile developed on the face of Natalie. She was touched to hear him concerned for her. “My sweet lil’ buddy,” she whispered.
            “She’s fine,” answered Sean, Natalie’s smile showing through his face.
            Walter then grew heavily anxious. “Oh, gosh! Christina and the baby! T-T-They disappeared from the theatre just like Genevieve and Natalie did! A-Are they okay? W-Where are they?”
            His concern for Sean’s wife and newborn daughter was admirably deep.
            “Walter, they’re fine. They’re just fine.” Sean eased his anxiety. “In fact, Christina gave birth to our new baby girl right here in this castle.” He saw how relieved the little Muppet was. “We named her ‘Brandy.’”
            Walter smiled. “Wow. That’s...Thats a beautiful name.”
            “They’re both safely back in the theatre, too.” Sean added.
            At this, Walter sighed with relief. “Oh, that’s good. Now that just leaves you and me. When can we go back home?”
            “As soon as Penz gets back from returning Christina and Brandy, I’ll be sure to have her take you back.”
            “Oh, thank you. Thank you. Just, uh, one question…who’s Penz?”
            The foundation of the castle-mansion wavered again, alarming those within the medicine room as they were reminded of the war erupting outside the walls. Walter flinched and whimpered from the quake, prompting Sean to place a comforting hand on his Muppet friend’s shoulder.
            “We must take up defense,” declared an intrepid Yen Sid, “or else risk losing the only sanctuary for the people of Auda City.”
            Mickey vigorously bounced back to his feet. “I’m all rarin’ to go, Master!”
            “No, my apprentice,” Yen Sid denied. “You still need the time to heal.”
            “B-But the potion!” Mickey stammered. “It’s got me back to one hundred percent! I’m ready to fight for Fantasia!”
            Taryn boldly moved in beside her brave friend. “So am I.”
            “Same here,” Marcia said. “We’re all ready to defend this castle and Fantasia.”
            “That goes for us, too.” Their eyes turned to Captain EO, who stood with his Ragtags. “We’re obligated to protect any world at any cost, and this one is no exception. So we’re automatically in this fight. Right, guys?” His team roared with enthusiasm; only Hooter gave a hesitant “Hoo-rah.”
(Disney Note: Not much is known of "The Corps," the agency that Captain EO and his team are assigned missions by, other than the name of their superior, Commander Bog. Their purpose is undoubtedly for good, as their only known assignment was bringing a gift to the once-evil Supreme Leader that saved her planet.)
            Humbled by the brave souls standing before him, Yen Sid nodded in approval.
            “I am proud of you all,” he said. “But, if we should all fight, we must not for glory but for survival. If the battle is not in your favor, do not delay the option of a retreat. Return here and help however many you can escape before it is too late.”
            “You can count on us, Master,” said Mickey, whose words reverberated to his fellow warriors.
            “What about Adrienne?” Taryn questioned, surprised of how easily they all forgot the woman who was in dire agony down the hall. She made sure to elaborate on which Adrienne as she added, “The injured one, I mean.”
            “I will do whatever I can to prolong her reincarnation enough to fight,” Yen Sid assured. “But, otherwise, we must allow her alien biology to do what it must for her.” The old sorcerer frowned in despair. “If Fantasia falls, the Guardian is our last hope.”
(Authorial Note: The line "If Fantasia falls, the Guardian is our last hope" almost did not make it into the story, despite having been featured in promotional images for World of Disney 3. I was so caught up with finishing the story at this time that I neglected to remember to integrate it into a scene featuring Yen Sid, who was intended to be the one to say it.)
            Taryn smiled. “Well, it’s good that we have more than one Guardian on our side.”
            Unfortunately, her sense of positivity did nothing to ease Yen Sid’s grim outlook.
            The group dispersed. Mickey, Taryn, and Marcia departed from the medicine room, with Captain EO and his Ragtags following close behind. Sean, Walter, and – technically – Natalie were the only few that remained with Yen Sid.
            “We’ve gotta take Walter to White Mountain.” Natalie suggested to Sean. “He’ll be safer there.”
            Sean nodded. “I agree.”
            “Agree to what?” Walter asked, not having heard the deal that was made.
            “Natalie’s going to take you someplace where you’ll be safe.” Sean clarified.
            He proceeded to stand at his full, impressive height and yield himself to the excruciating metamorphosis that occurred thereafter. His body contorted and shifted, altering in places that looked rather painful to Walter. In seconds, Sean Thomas no longer stood in front of the Muppet. It was the ravishing Natalie in his place.
            Brushing her long raven locks away from her face, she smiled to Walter. “Ready to go, lil’ buddy?”
            Still spellbound by the insane mutation between man and woman, Walter nodded in open-mouthed awe. Natalie giggled at his expression, kneeling to close his mouth with one finger and channel the space between them to trigger an immediate transport out of the medicine room.
            With the area all to himself, Yen Sid commenced on concocting another healing potion for Adrienne before there was another massive explosion – this one from inside. This undoubtedly alarmed Yen Sid out of his work, fearing that the Empire’s forces already breached.
            He sensed the explosion to have come from the master bedroom where the two Adriennes were left to themselves. Quickly, he rushed down the hall and opened the door.
            Another step and he would have fallen forty-seven feet to the ground.
            The master bedroom no longer existed. It was completely destroyed. Nothing remained other than a gaping hole that granted him view of the nightmarish invasion unfolding over Auda City.
--------------------------- 
            Deborah’s crystalline fortress within White Mountain had the makings of a million-dollar mansion.
            There were four levels: the first housed the foyer, which came complete with a statue of Deborah’s human form doubling as a fountain, as well as a swimming pool further in; the second was an incredibly large library with crystal-made books that glowed in a variety of colors and floated in the air – no shelves to hold them; the third appeared to be reserved for lounging with a kitchen adjourned to a living room area where a crystal throne faced a large, wide wall; and the fourth contained the largest and widest space of the fortress, seeming to be reserved as a sleeping quarters for Deborah’s dragon form, as it had an open ceiling, with a glorious view of the heavens above Fantasia, for her to fly out through.
(Authorial Note: Elsa's ice palace had much inspiration in the depiction of Deborah's fortress, even though it is made entirely of crystal and not ice. Much similar in the way that Yen Sid lives in a fusion of a castle and a mansion that dominates over Auda City, I wanted Deborah's place to feel a bit more powerful in its indestructible crystal structure. In retrospect, this is a way of telling how much power Deborah has compared with Yen Sid.)
            Genevieve, Anne-Marie, Victoria, and Deborah stood in the living room, while Benji – at Deborah’s behest – sat on the throne, watching a “live feed” of the war happening over Fantasia via holographic images projected on the crystal wall. The images revealed armies of Auda City sorcerers combating with Imperial ground forces led by Yve Ette, who fought relentlessly and savagely with her special-made lightsaber, and Darth Vader, who was more inclined to use the dark side of the Force to crush their enemies.
            The sorcerers stood greater defense against the TIE fighters that attacked from the skies, picking them off either by use of magic or turret guns that were conjured up to blast them away with an endlessly powerful golden energy beam.

(Authorial Note: The idea for the Auda City sorcerers to conjure weapons, such as turret guns, from magic is inspired by the DC Comics superhero Green Lantern and the Green Lantern Corps, who are able to conjure weapons from their rings.)
            Then there were special fighters such as Hercules and Elsa, who entered the fight with their equally supernatural abilities. Herc managed to take down an entire fleet of Stormtroopers and Imperial walkers by pounding his fist to the ground, dropping all of them into a massive sinkhole. Elsa trapped several into durable blocks of ice and caused the two-legged AT-ST (“All Terrain Scout Transport”) walkers to slide and fall on sheets of ice, crashing headfirst into a fiery demise. The two Disney heroes then combined their powers, with Elsa working to freeze the hands of the Stormtroopers and their laser rifles, permitting Herc to step in and punch them into submission, shattering their helmets to pieces.
            This war was not without the influence of the Ghost crew either. Kanan and Ezra supplied their Jedi skills against the Stormtroopers and walkers. Zeb and Sabine’s tactical brute force helped them to gain the control of one AT-AT walker, using its remarkable firepower to turn the tide of the war. In the skies, Hera and Chopper dealt with the fighters, assisted by temporary co-pilot Launchpad McQuack.

(Star Wars Note: Zeb and Sabine's theft of a walker to use against its own forces is based on the same tactic by Chewbacca and a couple of Ewoks in the Battle of Endor from Return of the Jedi. The only difference is that Chewie and the Ewoks took control of the two-legged AT-ST walkers, whereas Zeb and Sabine got hold of the four-legged AT-AT walkers, which have greater power.)
            Midway through the conflict, Taryn, Marcia, and Mickey joined in with Captain EO and his Ragtags, the latter using their music to fuel the Captain’s own special ability of “influencing” some of the Stormtroopers to fight alongside them. Mickey once more dueled with Vader, only this time he was abetted by Kanan and Ezra, making it three-on-one – odds that the Sith lord did not appear to have much of a problem with. Taryn and Marcia did what they could against Yve Ette, although they did not stand much of a chance with her special-made saber used as a defense against them.
            Deborah and Anne-Marie observed the violent, anarchic footage like football coaches studying the plays of a rivaling team. Meanwhile, Genevieve and Victoria watched the images in heartbreak, standing at opposite sides of the throne where Benji viewed from.
            Through her heartbreak, Victoria was able to find hope. “We’re winning,” she softly indicated. “We got them with Queen Elsa and some of our people fighting side-by-side.”
            Genevieve gave a discouraged sigh. “Nothing about this is any different from the many other versions of this same war.”
            Victoria glimpsed at her, puzzled. “What do you mean?”
            “What I mean is that the same people fighting in this have fought in other alternate timelines, and the outcome’s exactly the same – Fantasia is lost.”

(Authorial Note: The recent miniseries, Tales of Fantasia, will feature the alternate outcomes of the Fantasia War and the different reincarnations that took part in them, including Jacqueline and Sheryl - the earliest incarnations of Sean Thomas.)
            Genevieve’s doubt encouraged Victoria to harken back on her earlier exchange with Anne-Marie. She felt it was the necessary moment to bring up a crucial part of that discussion. “Change,” she murmured.
            “What?” Genevieve’s ears perked beneath her black locks.
            “Anne-Marie…she spoke about change in the outcome of this timeline. I didn’t know what she meant by it then, but after hearing what you said, I—”
            Victoria stopped once Deborah and Anne-Marie approached.
            “Having seen the horror these cretins have brought to my home, I will not let them take her from us,” Deborah declared.
            “Victoria,” Anne-Marie called attention to the young Englishwoman. “You stay here with Genevieve, and the both of you keep an eye on Benji. He’s an even bigger priority than Fantasia itself right now. If anything happens, you make sure to get him away immediately.”
            Genevieve and Victoria acknowledged their order with nods before Anne-Marie and Deborah departed from the fortress. This left them with the privacy needed to continue their interrupted conversation.
            “Now, what was it you were saying about ‘change’?” Genevieve inquired.
            Victoria opened her mouth to speak, but a sudden flash of light distracted her from speaking. She and Genevieve turned, discovering Natalie standing in the room. Yet it was the small Muppet accompanying her that brought the most disconcert out of Genevieve and Victoria.
            “Walter?” They both screamed in their surprise.
--------------------------------
            It was a firework show above Auda City. Several TIE fighters erupted in spectacular fashion under the fire of both the ground turrets and that of Ghost. The starship soared in and out of the clouds, catching the other pilots off guard from behind to unload heavy laser fire that decimated them. Some were only so lucky to have met their end in midair; others crashed and exploded into the unoccupied skyscrapers, toppling them.

(Authorial Note: I was strongly urged to include the Rebel Alliance in this battle sequence, feeling that this fight was too overwhelming for the heroes involved. Standing firm in my decision to feature more Star Wars villains than heroes, I purposely kept the Alliance out of the fight. Ultimately, the tension of this battle works for the story.)
            Despite her expert piloting being in their favor, the enduring dogfight took its toll on Hera. It would have greatly facilitated her strain if there were more starships fighting by Ghost’s side. Unfortunately, it was the only one standing against the armada of fighters that threatened the city and the entire planet. The powerful turrets down below were all she could depend on to have their back, as long as the TIEs did not wise up in taking them out.
            It also did not help having a loudmouth for a co-pilot in Launchpad, who appeared to have enjoyed the ride-along rather too well. “I can’t believe it,” he cheered. “I’m flyin’! I’m actually flyin’!”
            “I’m doing all the flying!” Hera argued to the duck. “You’re just pressing buttons – including mine!”
            “Oh, eh, sorry,” said McQuack, before whooping over the takedown of another TIE fighter. He heard Chopper beeping and whistling behind him, prompting him to ask Hera, “What did the little guy say?”
            “He wants to know how crazy you are,” Hera heatedly translated.

(Authorial Note: Launchpad co-piloting Ghost with Hera was what I call a "Disney Infinity Moment," when two characters of two Disney franchises, sharing similar qualities, are paired in the rarest of circumstances. It's a fun idea, particularly so if it could come to life in the Disney Infinity video game via figurines or Power Discs.)
            The ship was rocked by laser fire brought on by three tailing fighters. Heavy damage was sustained, evident from the emergency alarm that sounded in the cockpit.
            Hera groaned. “There go our shields! One more blast like that and we’ll blow right out of the sky!”
            Hearing this, Launchpad’s excitement dissipated. “Eh, I wouldn’t mind bein’ back on the ground now,” he sniveled.
            “In a few seconds, we’re going to be…but in pieces!”
            Her witty remark was not much help in quelling the fear of her co-pilot.
            An ear-splitting roar resounded outside the ship, followed by three huge explosions. The resonance was intense and loud enough to drown out the blaring emergency alarm.
            From out of nowhere, a majestic dragon soared into their view, shocking Hera.
            “What is that?” She yelled, never seeing a more bizarre creature before.
            Launchpad was in tears of joy. “I-I-It’s the Dragon of White Mountain! We’re saved!”
-----------------------------
            She was a figure that brought much hope to the fighting spirits below.
            The Dragon of White Mountain bolted across the blackened sky, her glistening white winged form like an avenging angel as it tore through the invading TIE ships, clamping her mouth down on a few and breathing out streams of white fire that eviscerated most others.
            The defending sorcerers of Auda City battled with much rigor than before in response to the arrival of their greatest savior. Among the defenders was Scrooge McDuck, who stood on a huge chunk of rubble and shouted to his allies, “Don’t let ‘em leave here without knowin’ who they’ve messed with!”
            They worked in spells that caught the Stormtroopers by surprise. One such involved the multiplication into a larger militia, so that when the Stormtroopers fired on a replica, it would only disintegrate, permitting a real copy to attack from behind. Scrooge unleashed a particularly favorite spell of his that solidified the Stormtroopers and walkers into gold statues.

(Character Note: Scrooge's gold spell is known as "Midas's Curse," named after the king of Greek mythology who could turn everything he touched to gold.)
            “More for me collection,” he said with a victorious guffaw.
            The giddy old duck soon took notice in the nearby swordfight Darth Vader engaged in with Mickey, Kanan, and Ezra – a fight the heroes were critically losing. Vader hurled Mickey and Kanan into each other, leaving him only with Ezra to deal with. Through the dark side of the Force, he pinned Ezra against a stone wall and manipulated the young would-be Jedi into bringing his own blue-tinted lightsaber to his throat.

(Star Wars Note: Vader uses these exact moves against the same opponents, sans Mickey, in the Star Wars Rebels episode "The Siege of Lothal - Part One," which aired as a one-hour movie on Disney XD a few months before this chapter was published.)
            Scrooge knew to act fast, not willing to let the boy die to the dark villain.
            “Hold on, lad! I’ll save ya!”
            He outstretched his arms, twiddling his fingers. Golden sparks emitted from them and onto the left forearm of Vader – the one that gripped his ignited lightsaber. He felt a slight twinge and then the arm went stiff. Looking down, he realized that it turned entirely gold.
            “WHAT?”
            The distraction was just what was needed to release the invisible hold he had over Ezra, who slumped to the ground and fought to regain his breathing. After his momentary relapse, he lunged at the unfocused Vader, slashing off his solid gold arm. Metal and electronic parts flew from the mechanical stump. The Dark Lord of the Sith was reduced to one knee in his agony.
            “Ezra! Move!” He heard Kanan yell to his apprentice.
            Ezra dashed away while Kanan and Mickey, fully recovered, used a combination of the Force and sorcery to bring down the stone wall over on Vader. The landing of the enormous structure boomed with a monstrous thud. There was zero movement from the dark figure buried beneath it.

(Spoiler Note: It is revealed in the first tale from Tales of Fantasia that Vader survived this, although it brings dangerous consequences after the events in the final chapter of this story.)
            Gathered by Scrooge, Ezra graciously smiled to the old duck. “Thanks for the save back there.”

            “Thank you, lad,” said McDuck, finding Vader’s severed golden arm littered on one area of the ground, still gripping his ignited saber. Without a second thought, he carefully retrieved it, a greedy grin manifested on his face. “I’m puttin’ this next to me Number One dime for sure!”

(UP NEXT: Meet the New and Improved Adrienne!)