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The Journey’s End

Down within the remains of the battlefield in front of Bald Mountain the heroes were dealing with the aftermath of what seemed like a hollow victory.

The remainder of the armies gathered by Alice had either surrendered or fled, and given their numbers the heroes allowed those that did to run while keeping a close eye on the others. Some opted to make back for the ships while others didn’t really know what to do. So much had depended on the victory of Merida and her group, which seemed to have happened, yet no one had any idea what would come from it.

And for others it didn’t matter. They were still dealing with the heaviest of losses from the fighting. Walking among them Elsa could see all those who were severely wounded, some who likely wouldn’t make it by morning, those who were slain and worst of all those she knew. The fairies all hovered about, joining in with everyone who was mourning over the hefty loss.

Adam, still as a beast, laid in a peaceful manner after his men had found him. All were grieving over his loss along with the Blue Fairy. Peter Pan and Tinkerbell stood with the sobbing survivors of the Lost Boys as those who didn’t make it were covered with sheets; the sight of his teenage friends crying forcing Peter to shed a tear despite his efforts not to. King Fergus, who was wounded around the chest and left arm, and the other men of the Highlands gave final prayers to the remains of Lord MacGuffin’s men; his son being among them. And throughout all the slain Elsa, who’d been wandering about and looking over the devastation, could see a reindeer in the distance giving a sorrowed cry over a slain blonde-haired soldier from Arendelle.

Seeing this herself had forced a choking in her throat, tears streaming from her eyes. The Ice Queen had found Sven and Kristoff in all of this and, for once, was glad that Anna wasn’t here to see. As she tended to the reindeer she looked over and could see others who were dealing with a soon-to-be lost friend.

Mickey, standing with Donald, Max and Scrooge looked down at the severely wounded Captain Pete. His wife sat by his side trying not to cry as it was clear he wasn’t going to make it. Men from his crew and the remainder of Mickey’s Musketeers were present as well; all bowing their heads after removing their hats. Pete had a bandage over his head while his shirt was off, revealing how more were applied to his stomach. The healers had did what they could, but it wasn’t enough given the way he groaned and looked as though he would soon pass.

Reaching over and taking his wife’s hand he said “Awww. Don’t look so glum, Peg. I don’t…..like seeing you like that….”

Holding his hand with both of hers she said “Petey-Pie, I’m…. I’m so sorry. Sorry for everything that-”

He quietly shushed her before saying “Wasn’t your fault, Peggy. You know that.” He gave a weak little smile to her before finishing with “Take good care of the kids….okay? Keep Pistol out of….trouble. And let P.J. know…what his old man did today…”

The whole time he gave her his last wishes Peg nodded while crying and rubbing her cheek against his hand. Tears kept pouring from her eyes and she chocked and sniffled. After the way the two had acted before, it was hard to imagine how much they truly cared for each other until now.

Turning his look to the front Pete had called “Hey, Mickey.” Gaining his attention. “Guess this…makes up for your pal, doesn’t it? Got what you wanted….”

Shaking his head Mickey responded “No, Pete. This isn’t what I wanted. Not anymore.”

With a little huff Pete, with a smile on his face, finished with “Then… I guess I’m sorry I always disappoint you, runt. But….at least… I’ll tell him you all said…. ‘Hi’.”

And with that Pete had given his last few breaths. Some looked away while others lowered their heads. Peg fell onto his chest and wept while Mickey gave a long, sorrowed stare. Max, standing next to him, put his hand on his shoulder to comfort him, showing as much as he may have hated Pete for what he did even he had found room to forgive him. Even if it was too little too late.

Turning away Mickey found his sight looking towards the fortress on Bald Mountain, up to the area where the Black Pearl had crashed. Even from where he stood Mickey could make out the vague shape of those who were up there, especially the figure of Merida who was looking down at where he was. Even from so far both could tell the other could see them.
With a small sigh Mickey held his hand up, signaling that all was well; or at least as well as it could be.

********************

From her spot up within the fortress Merida, seeing Mickey, raised her hand in response to his to signal all was well on her part too; or at least as close as they could be.

Looking over the remains of the grand battle Merida could see as much pain as there was loss. Knowing what could come from Mary Poppins’ plan the princess knew that it would mean none of this would ever have happened, and yet a part of her began to doubt. What if this little spell that involved Rapunzel didn’t work?

“Try not to think like that.” She heard Jack say as he walked over to her.

“I….didn’t say anything.” She responded in a confused tone.

“No, but your face did.” He pointed out. “Might as well be pacing all around the place and asking ‘what in the name of all that’s good and gracious am I doing’.” Merida looked away and sighed before he patted her shoulder and said “Just remember, Merida.” This being the first time Jack had ever called her by her name, making her look to him. “Despite whatever may come, you did your best.”

A little reassuring smile from the good captain had been enough to make Merida smile back. He had made a fair point that she’d done anything and everything she could up to this point. Now the fate of the world, or worlds rather, rested on the shoulders of Mary Poppins’ plan for Rapunzel.

Speaking of which, Mary Poppins had soon called to them with “Merida! Captain Sparrow! Come. Join us. You may want to see this.”

Immediately the two walked over and joined everyone, who were currently standing around both Mary Poppins and Rapunzel who were kneeling next to the still knocked-out Alice. When they came close enough they could see that Alice’s body was wrapped up in Rapunzel’s long golden locks of hair, not so much to bind her as only cover her. And while Jack questioned if she had woken up at any time Eugene had confirmed she had not but had a frying pan he found on the wreck of the Black Pearl in hand; just in case.

“So how does this work exactly?” Aladdin asked, basically speaking for everyone.

Rapunzel was quick to explain “Well when I sing my hair can heal people. That’s why I had to let it grow, or else if I cut it then it loses power.” Eugene confirmed this for Aladdin as well, being that he knew enough about it first-hand. She followed up, however, with “But I don’t think it can do the same thing for someone who has someone else inside their head.”

“That’s because you’ve not had the right song to sing.” Mary Poppins explained while pulling something out of her jacket pocket. Revealing it as a sheet with lyrics the nanny handed it to the young princess while saying “Take a moment and look it over.”

While Rapunzel and her mother looked over the sheet, Pascal reading it from her shoulder, Mulan had to ask “How is singing and magical hair supposed to help?”

Mary Poppins gave a little sigh before standing up to everyone’s level and starting with “It’s a little hard to explain, but I suppose while we wait it’s best to try.” Fixing herself a little she continued with “When it comes to the nature of magic, in either this world or the many that are meant to be, there is one crucial rule: any spell, no matter how great or small, can only be stopped from the source. And the source, in this case, is whoever cast the spell.”

Thinking on it Eugene said “Lord Arawn then.”

“Only he wasn’t real.” Merida retorted. “He was just a made up person. So basically another spell….made by Alice.”

When Mary Poppins confirmed this Eilonwey realized “Then the one we have to deal with is Alice.”

“Well yes. And no.” Mary Poppins answered. “While Alice’s body may have performed the movements, it was not the will of her mind. If anything she was merely a puppet for the one truly responsible.”

“The Horned King.” Merida grimaced.

Mary Poppins confirmed again before Lilo asked “But how does that change anything? It was still technically Alice, right?”

“Not in the sense you may think, dear Lilo.” Mary Poppins went on. “While Alice’s body had to cast the spells, it was not by her own whim. Spells are connected by the will of someone. Think of it was wanting something, but instead of you going to get it you order someone else to. Does that mean the one who was sent wanted it as well, or only did so because they were told?”

Abu squeak and screeched for a moment before Aladdin said “Oh, I get it now. It’s like when the captain tells us to stay and ‘keep watch’ while he finds a safe route out during a heist before forgetting to tell us.”

All of Jack crew who were present shot him an annoyed look, he giving an awkward smirk and shrug before responding with “In all fairness I am completely lost on the whole matter. Best not to try pulling me in any further, aye?”

Mary Poppins cleared her throat, bringing attention back to her, while saying “In any case, once Rapunzel is ready we’ll use the spell and hopefully force the Horned King out of dear Alice’s mind. Expelling him and destroying him once and for all.”

“And that will fix everything?” Mulan asked. “That will change everything to the way it should be?”

The nanny gave a little nod and answered “I certainly hope so.”

“You hope so?” Eugene asked. “You mean you’re not even sure if it’ll work?”

There was a look of great concern from everyone now. Mary Poppins had always been so assured and so certain of things up to this point, but now to hear her have a little doubt in her own plan was a shock. The look on her face practically confirmed it for them that was her concern.

Addressing them all as best as possible she said “I cannot lie. I am unsure if this will work. A spell like this, to force all the worlds together, has never been done before. I’m not so sure the nature of this spell will be the same as others. So for all I can know for certain is that this will, at the very least, destroy what’s left of the Horned King and free Alice. But we will still be trapped within this world and its history.” With that disheartening news a lot of them looked worried or sad by this, only for her to add “There is hope, however. Aside from this plan there’s another currently in motion. Though whether or not you would call it better or worse is another matter entirely.”

“What do you mean?” Merida asked before thinking on it. “Wait….is other plan involve you letting Chernabog out?”

Aladdin, being one of the few present who remembered him, have a shocked look before asking the nanny “You let that big scary demon got loose? Why?”

“For the very same reason I’m hoping Rapunzel’s powers will work.” She answered to both of them. “He has the power to break this spell as well, only his method will not be as ‘comfortable’ as mine.” Seeing the odd looks everyone gave she sighed and added “The best word I could use.” Before regaining herself and explaining “Instead of breaking magic with magic Chernabog will instead use raw force to spate the worlds. And while I have no doubt he will succeed, I fear the outcome of what it will mean. To break a spell with magic is one thing, but to force it apart is a harsher solution. Some worlds may be destroyed. Some of us might wind up on the wrong worlds, forever trapped. And some of us may never exists in the end.”

Everyone’s hearts sank at this revelation before Jack Sparrow asked “And you thought THAT was a good idea?”

“You don’t understand.” Mary Poppins almost snapped at him, surprising some of them. She sighed, calming herself, before continuing with “You need to realize that this world, all of it, cannot exist. There needs to be many worlds. Many stories. Many heroes.” She sighed again, seeing as they didn’t understand, before finishing with “Please. Just trust me.”

Merida, speaking for all of the, sighed before asking “Alright. So when’s the big demon bloke supposed to start work on his plan?”

As if on cue everything began to shake violently. Everyone could fell it to the point where some fell down or stumbled. It was felt outside in front of Bald Mountain and well. But the shaking spread much farther than that. All the way to Castle Disney. Far in the kingdoms of Arendelle and Corona. To Tortuga and even under the sea in Atlantica. The shaking had caused great ruptures all around.

When they eventually stopped everyone looked around, confused and frightened by this, before looking to Mary Poppins who in-turn looked to Rapunzel and asked “Are you ready?” The little princess told she needed a little more time before the nanny insisted “Please hurry, princess. We won’t have much time.”

Merida, looking back down to the still sleeping Alice, kneeled next to her and asked “What about Alice? Will she be alright?”

“I’m not so sure what will happen to her.” Mary Poppins answered. “Rapunzel’s song will help, but even Alice will need to do her part.” When Merida questioned what she meant Mary Poppins explained “Whatever piece of her that still survived inside of her mind. So, in truth, this next fight will be her own.”

Starting to understand Merida looked back at Alice with a concerned look. While she may not have known the real her very long Merida still worried about Alice. She was still a friend deep down, only this time she wasn’t there to help; as least not in her usual sense. All she could do was sit and wait with everyone else and hope and pray that things would work out.

All the while she wondered what the real Alice, the piece of her still trapped in her mind, was doing against the influence of the Horned King.

********************

The child continued to weep as they hung in the darkness all alone.

Still dwelling on the words of her keeper, the mysterious power behind the voice that always taunted them in this place, the child was trying to understand what the ‘Master of Worlds’ meant. How was it that they were this person? It sounded like someone important, yet they could not recall ever being considered important. And why did that warrant being trapped in this place of nothingness?

Even trying to think back to the cat and the table they’d seen the child was still lost and confused on the whole matter. Even when an inkling of who they really were had presented itself the voice was always there to snuff it out; as if it were afraid of them knowing.

As they continued to cry a sudden rumble had come about the blackness, scaring them even as they felt it while being trapped in the air. The child panicked, trying to break out, before hearing the distant sounds of screaming. It was the voice, or the power behind it, either in pain or furious about something. It was hard to tell.

Are you alright? a different voice called in the child’s ear. The voice of whoever or whatever it was that helped her before. Are you alright?

Looking around the child said “Please help me. It’s angry! I think…I think it’s going to hurt me.”

No. He won’t. It said, calmly. And he never will. That’s why he’s afraid of you, Alice.

The child went silent as they felt their heart skip a beat. The voice, the friendly voice, had given them a name. Their real name. They were Alice. They were a she. She was a girl. She now knew who she was.

“Is…is that my name? Am I…Alice?”

Before the friendlier voice could answer the other voice, the evil and ancient voice, had given a thunderous NNNNNOOOO!

A loud crash of thunder sounded before Alice looked away, feeling some violent force seem to make its presence around her. When it calmed she looked only to be greeted by the horrifying sight in front of her. A dark shadowy figure stood before Alice, so tall its eyes could reach her even in the air. Whatever this dark presence that had spoken to her was this was the first time it had actually taken a form and presented itself to her. A figure of nothing but shadow and two large red lights where its eyes were supposed to be. And stop its head were two jagged looking horns.

Who? Tell me! it demanded her. Who speaks to you? Who’s telling you and showing you these things? Who?

Alice gave a timid “I….I don’t know. I swear.” Unsure of what was happening.

The shadowy figure only hissed in anger before yelling You’re lying! Tell me! How do you know who you are? How do you remember?

Alice didn’t answer, only quivering for a bit while looking away. This angered the shadow, making it growl before turning and walking a little bit away from her. Now that it was away from her Alice seemed a little bit safer. It was only ever when it was close that she was too afraid to look at it.

“Why?” she called. “Why are you doing this to me?”

Because you are nothing. it answered, not turning to her. A mistake and nothing more.

“No.” she stated, trying to build a little courage in her heart. “I’m not nothing. I have a name. I have friends. People who care about me!”

The shadow turned to her now, she sensing burning rage in its eyes. It moved towards her, almost sliding through the air without any motion at all. It stopped in front of her and made Alice shrink away again, feeling the heat of those eyes burning through her.

Really? it hissed. Then tell me, ‘Alice’, where are your friends now? Why don’t they come and save you? Why aren’t they here?

“Whoever said they weren’t?” the friendly voice had called, only now both Alice and the Horned King could hear it.

Both looked back to see who it was. A figure began to walk out of the darkness. It was a man, clad in blue robes and wearing a long grey beard. His burning bold eyes stared at the shadow as he calmly stood before him.

For a moment the child didn’t know who this was. She only recognized him as the friendly voice that had been helping her this whole time. But as she could fully see him in person now, the memory began to come back. The face, the figure, the beard. All of it had sparked in her mind.

In a hushed voice she said “Master Yen Sid….”

The shadow, however, turned to the old sorcerer and hissed You! How? How are you still alive?

With a coy smirk Yen Sid answered “I don’t claim to be. At least not in the general sense. You should know. After all, you’ve managed to cheat death as well, Horned King.” The shadow wavered for a moment, the name sounding familiar to Alice, before Yen Sid insisted “Come now. No pointing in hiding it. Drop your visage and face me like a man. Or…whatever you are.”

Alice watched as the shadow wavered a little more before starting to take truer shape. It shrank down a little as it did, its black figure becoming red. It became clearer that the shadow was in fact wearing a cloak that covered its head, yet the two horns still managed to stick out from the top. When the figure of the Horned King now stood there Alice began to remember him, though the memories brought both pain and horror to her heart.

“You’ve been living in the dark for too long.” Yen Sid began. “You’ve caused far too much pain in this world and the others. It’s time for you to answer for your crimes.”

“Do not think you have power over me, old man!” the Horned King barked. “Even hear I am the one who rules. I am the king, even in death!”

“No. You’re nothing but a parasite.” Yen Sid retorted. “You’ve been living off the life of another just to keep your own alive. No more. The only one who truly rules here is her.” He pointed to Alice.

As she watched, confused by all this, the Horned King spat “She’s not real! Just the remnants of a person long gone.”

With a coy smirk Yen Sid responded with “I believe that implies more to you, my friend. Not her.” He then looked behind him and said “It’s alright, Alice. You don’t have to be afraid. Not anymore. He can’t hurt you.”

“Can’t I?” the King retorted, his eyes bringing again. “Pray tell why not?”

“For the same reason that you’re still here.” Yen Sid said, still looking and speaking to Alice. “You’re that one piece, Alice. That one piece of who you really are. The small remain of your mind. Your soul! A part that nothing can ever touch. That nothing can ever destroy. And that’s why he’d been afraid of you.”

“I fear nothing!” the king hissed, hating that Yen Sid was ignoring him and speaking to her instead.

Yen Sid, still in a calm voice, told Alice “He’s been keeping you in the dark so you couldn’t remember. That’s how he’s taken over your mind and body, by making you forget who you are. Telling you you’re nothing. But you’re right. You’re not nothing. You’re Alice.”

The more he spoke the more Alice began to remember about both Yen Sid and the Horned King. But even more she began to remember the people she meat through them. The places and things she’d seen. The memories brought a tear to her eye.

Seeing this the Horned King growled before shouting “NO!” raising his hand and firing a blast of energy that struck Yen Sid hard in the chest. As the old wizard fell to his knees the king declared “I will not be defeated by an old man and a girl! I am a king! And I will be a god! I will allow you to…to…”

The king stopped as a sound began to slowly build in the air. Alice could hear it too, looking up and hearing as it grew. It was soft at first but it slowly started to build, echoing all about in the darkness. It was singing. She didn’t know who it was, only knowing it was a girl’s, but to Alice it was beautiful.

“What…..what is that?” the King looked around, more annoyance in his voice than confusion.

On the ground Yen Sid began to pick himself up while answering “It’s hope.” The king looked back at him as he explained “Merida and the others. Even now they’re fighting against you. That song they sing is for me…for Alice. And even for you.”

As the song began to grow louder the Horned King shrunk away from it, trying to cover his ears. The notes brought pain as he could feel them trying to break into his very being. They were using magic, one intended to dispel him from Alice’s mind. He tried resisting it, and in his struggle the spell that kept Alice in the air slowly fade. She fell to the ground and landed on her hands and feet. As she recovered Alice could see the Horned King still tried to fight against the music and the power behind it.

“I….will not….be defeated!” he declared, a sudden shock going throughout the void. “I will not let a child’s song destroy me!” looking to Yen Sid he shouted “You’re pitiful attempts will fail, just as you’ve all failed! You cannot kill me!”

Standing with a defiant look in his eyes Yen Sid said “Not alone, I cannot. But someone else can.”

Yen Sid looked behind the Horned King again. He turned seeing Alice stand now, free but still looking afraid of being seen by the figure of the Horned King. He sneered at her before looking back to the sorcerer.

“You expect a child to destroy me? Fool!”

“The only fool is you.” Yen Sid retorted. “You are the invader here.” Looking to Alice again he said “But you can stop him, Alice. Force him out. Show him the true power you have.”

Alice only gave a shied looked, unsure of what to do, only for the King to declare “Enough of this!” before blasting energy at Yen Sid again. As the wizard fell, yet again, he said “I will not allow you to ruin what I have created! Do you hear me?” he loomed over Yen Sid and continued to release energy at him while shouting “I WILL NOT ALLOW IT!”

Alice watched, scared by the sight of Yen Sid being bested by the Horned King. Even with the music still resounding throughout the area Alice’s focus was still on how powerful the King seemed. Instead of standing up to him she only coward.

********************

Everyone watched and listened as Rapunzel continued to sing, her hair glowing all around Alice’s body.

Everyone held their breaths and watched as she sang, unsure if it was working. As they did everyone could feel the earth shaking again, a sign that Chernabog was still working on forcing the worlds apart. It was still unclear how long it would be until he finished, but if he did the heroes would either be for better or worse. That was the chance that they had to risk with Rapunzel now.

Despite the shaking Rapunzel, her eyes closed, continued to sing while being assured by Mary Poppins and her mother that everything was fine. While the princess sang there didn’t seem to be any change in Alice, an uneasy sign for everyone.

Suddenly Mary Poppins joined Rapunzel in signing, as if some hope that it would help. She was soon followed by the Queen of Corona, and then Eilonwey and Lilo. It was a symbol for all of them. Some means of helping even if it wasn’t. Sure enough Mulan, Eugene, Aladdin and Belle had joined as well. Only Merida and Jack were silent, she because she was still watching Alice and Jack for his own reasons. He only kept his arms crossed and watched while feeling the ground start to shake again.

As Merida watched she could see Alice’s face start to react. Her eyebrows twitched and her mouth quivered a bit. It soon turned into little murmurs and unsettling whines. The more she did the more it became clear to Merida what was wrong.

“She’s afraid….”

Knowing this Merida felt as though Rapunzel’s spell wasn’t fully working. Something about Alice being afraid was keeping her from fully fighting off the remains of the Horned King in her mind. She had to do something. Part of her wanted to try and get inside her head, standing with her to help yet she knew she couldn’t. There was, however, something she could do.

Holding Alice’s hand as it stuck out from the cocoon of hair Merida leaned down next to Alice’s ear and tried to speak to her.

********************

Alice. a voice spoke to her as she still coward from the sight of the Horned King attacking Yen Sid. I don’t know if you can hear me, but I’m here to help you. I’m Merida. I’m a friend.

Hearing the name Merida tried to remember. She was sure that, within her memories that she regained, a girl named Merida wasn’t one of them. And yet that name seemed so familiar. Perhaps not from her own memories but from when the Horned King had control over her body. Before she’d been completely trapped within this prison. Still Alice could tell whoever she was, she was kind and truly wanted to help.

Just try and listen to me. she continued, neither the Horned King nor Yen Sid hearing her voice. I know you’re afraid. You’re worried you’re not strong enough. But you don’t have to be. Because you’re not alone. You’re friends are here for you. Aladdin. Belle…. Master Yen Sid. Am I’m here too. You don’t have to be afraid, Alice, because you’re not alone. But he is.

Those words had not only comforted Alice but they had given her a sudden revelation that Merida was Merida had made clearer than ever. The Horned King WAS alone. He didn’t have the one thing she had the thing that was keeping her alive and trying to save her even now. The thing that he tried to deny her while keeping her trapped within her own mind: friends.

Knowing that Alice stood and turned back to the Horned King, still looming over the injured Yen Sid. Even those she was shaking she stood as tall as possible before raising her hand. Trying to mimic the Horned King’s own power she thought of an energy pulse like his shooting from her hand and striking him. And much to her surprise, and relief, it worked.

After being struck in the back he yelled before looking back to her, his eyes blazing as he shouted “What do you think you’re doing?!?”

Standing boldly in his face she said “G-Get away from my friend. This instant!”

Angered the Horned King came towards her, only force Alice to hold both hands up and fire again. They struck and caused the Horned King pain as he stumbled back. He fell to his knees and looked down, seeing as his cloak was burned. He looked back to see Alice walking towards him, her hands still in the air and shaking.

“Stop!” he ordered. “I command you to-”

“No!” she shouted back. A tear ran down her cheek as she said “You don’t get to make the orders anymore!” Another blast struck him, Yen Sid getting to his feet, as she said “I remember now. I remember everything. I remember my sister reading to me while I played with Dinah. I remember falling down a rabbit hole and finding myself in a wonderland from my dreams. I…I remember being captured and held prisoner by you and the villains before. And I remember being saved by my friends. And oh, how I remember my friends. King Mickey. Donald. Goofy. Peter Pan. Ariel. Cinderella. All of them! I remember everything now. And I remember you most of all, Horned King. I remember hearing your voice as I slept. Clawing your way inside. I remember everything going dark one day and being trapped in this place forever. No more! This is my body. My mind. My home.” As the Horned King coward before her Alice, raising her hands up to his face, had declared “Time for you to disappear.”

Her hands began to glow brighter than before and then, in one grand flash, the Horned King screamed as the darkness was broken by blinding light. Everything was lite up thanks to Alice, the empty void starting to fill with the light from her hands.

********************

As she continued to watch Merida could see Alice give a large gasp of air while still sleeping.

Everyone continued to sing, unsure if it was working, while Merida could see as Alice clamed. She wasn’t whimpering or the like anymore. It had worked. At least her overcoming her fear had worked. Whether she managed to defeat the Horned King or not was unclear as the One World still existed.

While the group continued to sing the world began to shake again, growing more and more violent with each passing minute.

********************

It was hard to describe exactly how Chernabog used his own power to spate the One World.

Not only because no one was there to see it for themselves, but because it would’ve been hard to comprehend in the most practical sense. The best was to describe would be to imagine Chernabog reaching into the One World with his hands and slowly trying to push it apart. The all the power and strength of the demon lord of Bald Mountain used to rip the One World apart into many.

Such a sight unseen by mortals yet felt by all on the One World. And while he knew the consequences of what would happen Chernabog still continued to push. He did not have much hope in Mary Poppins and the others, but even a small part of him had hoped he may be wrong.

********************

Within her mind Alice’s surroundings had changed after defeating the Horned King.

Instead of an empty void both she and Yen Sid now stood within beautiful garden within the middle of what seemed like a lush and dense forest. Beautiful flowers of different shape, size and color were growing all about and seemed so natural despite being in the middle of a forest. This was the imagination within Alice’s mind coming back, along with her memories and control of her mind.

As the sorcerer looked over the scene he turned his gaze to Alice, standing before him, and smiled before nodding “Well done, my dear Alice. Very well done.”

She sighed with relief, looking around as well, before asking “Is it over?”

As he looked around Yen Sid caught sight of something within the nearby brush. The feint sight of something in red trying to crawl away. Knowing what it was Yen Sid gave a deep breath before turning back to Alice.

“It will be.” He said with a reassuring smile. Kneeling down and holding her shoulders he said

“You’re going to wake up soon, Alice. And when you do this will all seem like a bad dream. I promise. However, when you do, please…tell everyone how proud I am of them. And…that I am sorry.”

Confused she asked “Wha….What do you mean?”

The old sorcerer sighed and answered “I cannot explain. Just promise me. Please. My only request for you, my dear.” When she agreed he smiled and, to his little surprise, was pulled into a hug by her. As if sensing what was about to happen Yen Sid returned her hug with a warm smile and said “Oh how I will miss you. How I will miss all of you.”

After they finished he patted her cheek and stood before walking off towards the brush. Alice only watched as he disappeared, knowing deep down that something was going to happen. Something that meant she would never see him again.

It didn’t take long for Yen Sid to find the Horned King, or what remained of him, crawling on the ground as if trying to find somewhere to hide. His cloak was torn and dragging through the ground as he crawled like a creature without legs. And it seemed as though he didn’t, given that Yen Sid didn’t see any shape of them underneath. One of his horns was broken and when he turned to Yen Sid he could see one of the King’s eyes was scarred to the point of being shut.

As he looked up to Yen Sid, stopping, the Horned King groaned “Do you…see? Do you see…old man? I am….eternal! I will….never stop!”

Yen Sid shook his head before saying “Nothing is eternal, I’m afraid. Only death. Something that you’ve tried to hide away from all this time. No more.”

“You may have won this battle….but…I will return. I will not stop until…. I have what I want!”

“What you seek is something no mortal should ever have. The power of a god. All power can ever do for people like you is corrupt.” He walked over and kneeled down next to him and added “It’s over. It’s time for all of it to end. All of the suffering you’ve caused since your return is put to rest today.”

He tried to back away, to no avail, the Horned King saying “If…if you do this…you’ll die too.”

“I know.” Yen Sid said as he reached out and grabbed the Horned King’s collar. “And that’s the most painful part of this. But in doing so, I know I’ve saved so many from you. Perhaps this is what is best. For all our sakes.”

The Horned King, realizing he had no way out, for the first time gave a timid response of “Please….I…. I’m afraid.”

Hearing this Yen Sid’s grip loosened before he moved his hand up onto the King’s shoulder, giving a stern yet sympathetic “As am I.”

With that Yen Sid closed his eyes and began to work his final spell. The hand on the Horned King’s shoulder began to glow bright blue, as did the rest of Yen Sid’s body. His whole body became pure light before slowly breaking apart and flowing into the Horned King’s body. Feeling as it burned inside the Horned King yelled in pain.

In one final flash both the Horned King and Yen Sid were gone.

********************

The One World continued to shake as the heroes stopped singing, Rapunzel’s hair going dark.

They all stopped and looked as Alice began move, her chest going up as she took one great deep breath. Her eyes suddenly opened when she gave one final gasp of life, freed from the Horned King’s influence.

Almost as soon as everyone realized what had happened the blinding blue light erupted from Alice herself, expanding outward until everyone nearby was consumed. It light spread further and further out. Soon Bald Mountain and everyone standing outside, everyone who’d seen the light, was covered in it. Further and further it went out, going beyond the sea and the skies and reaching all the way to castle Disney and the other kingdoms and areas around the world.

Even as Chernabog had final managed to rip the One World in two the bright light from the spell finally breaking had consumed him. Even in that brief instant Chernabog had to give credit to the mortals for proving him wrong.

Within an instant the entire One World was covered in light before, ever so slowly, began to split from one into many.

********************

When everything cleared Merida found herself standing in the familiar sight of the ballroom of the Haunted Mansion.

It took her a moment to realize that she was wearing the same clothing she’d worn before the One World spell had taken effect. In fact, as she checked herself, she realized that her wounds were gone. Even more so the white strands in her hair from Elsa were gone as well.

The princess gasped as she looked around, seeing who else was around. Mary Poppins was there, shaking her head as if waking up from a bad sleep. So was Max Goof and Scrooge McDuck, only the latter was wearing the same robes he wore before when he was just another mage and not the grand enchanter. Anna as there, along with Olaf, only she wasn’t the younger version of herself Merida knew from the One World. And look over near a suit of armor she could see P.J. and Pistol Pete peeking out from hiding to try and see what exactly had happened.

Looking over Merida remembered that, when last she was here, Lord Arawn, still under the guise as the Master of Worlds, was about to use his spell. Only now not only was he gone but all the Alpha Beings that had been captured were no long contained within magical bubbles or the like. The Spring Sprite, Mushu. Rapunzel along with Pascal who scurried over to her, and the bag of wisps from Merida’s world. Among them were the artifacts such as Jafar’s lamp and a crystal ball containing the voodoo spirits.

As Merida started to piece together what happened Olaf, looking around, asked “Uh….was that what the spell was supposed to do? Just make a big flash and have him disappear? I mean it’s nice and flashy but still not as horrible as I thought.”

“Yeah, not going to lie.” Anna added. “I thought it would be something else.”

Merida gasped and said “Holy….it… it worked! We’re back!”

“Back where?” Scrooge asked.

“Here!” Merida exclaimed. “We’re here again! Everything’s normal!”

********************

The heroes and villains outside the Haunted Mansion all stopped after “awakening” from what seemed like a blur of memory.

Everyone looked around, from Mickey and Donald and Goofy to Elsa, Kristoff, Sven, Eugene, Maximus the horse and Stitch. Even Pete and Peg, who stood at the doorway, looked around oddly before realizing something was wrong.

The Headless Horseman, who was standing in the middle of the graveyard where the heroes were, looked just as confused as the others; though even without a head they could tell. He seemed more uncertain of what he was doing or why, eventually dropping his guard and merely getting back on his horse and trotting away. With him gone the spirits that inhabited the Haunted Mansion, and who’d been attacking the heroes, all subsided and disappeared.

Looking around Pete asked himself “What the heck just happened?” scratching his head.
As she and the others looked around as well Elsa asked “Did…did they do it? Did they stop the Master?”

Mickey was the one to answer “I…I think so. Maybe…” he stopped and realized something. “Where’s Yen Sid?” The others realized he was gone as well, Mickey calling out “Master? Master!”

********************

Hearing Merida Mary Poppins asked “My dear, what exactly do you mean when you say ‘everything’s normal’?”

Looking around to her and the others Merida asked “What? You mean… you mean none of you remember?”

“Remember what?” Max asked. “All I know is that the Master of Worlds tried to use his spell but it didn’t work. And now he’s gone.”

“Maybe he just transported away to someplace else.” Scrooge suggested.

“No!” Merida tried to explain. “It did work. And we were all in another world. All of us! And you were all different.” Looking to Mary Poppins she commented “Well….some of you at least.”

Before anyone could ask, Max, noticing a door starting to open nearby, called “Heads up! Something’s coming.”

Everyone stopped and looked towards the door, seeing as it slowly swung open. Once it was they were surprised by the sight of who stepped through. Alice was there, and in her hands she carried the ball containing the spirit of Madame Leota.

“Alice?!?” some of them said in surprise, Scrooge following up with “What the blazes are you doing here, lass?”

The little girl scratched her head and answered “I…honestly wish I knew. I just woke up and this odd woman in the glass ball told me to come here. She said you’d all be here.”
Hearing this Mary Poppins hummed in her throat before saying “Curious.”

Merida, however, walked up to both Alice and Madame Leota, asking “Are…are you alright, Alice? Are you…you?”

She answered with an odd look before saying “Of course I am me. Unless…am I not who I think I am? A curious notion I suppose.”

Merida sighed with relief before suddenly hugging her, not caring about the ball in her arms. Alice was a bit surprised but smiled and returned the hug with one hand. Everyone else basically stood there confused by everything before some of them checked on the Alpha Beings who’d been held by the One World spell’s preparation.

Looking down to her Merida asked Madame Leota “Don’t tell me you can’t remember either.”
With a smile and a wink she answered “On the contrary, princess. I think you and I have quiet the story to tell them.”

Merida sighed with relief before Anna asked “Uh, look, I don’t mean to sound rude or anything, but just what exaclty is going on?”

Turning Meirda gave a small giggle before saying “You might want to wait until everyone else’s shows up. ‘Cause believe me, it’s a long story. And one I don’t think I want to have to tell twice.”