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Familiar Faces

Merida was doing her best not to upright hug Mickey right then and there, her thoughts still reminder her this was not the same mouse she knew.

After both she and Mary Poppins returned his bow Mickey said “I hope the trip over wasn’t too rough for you, princess.” He then looked over and asked “I don’t think we’ve met before, Miss….?”

“Mary Poppins.” She answered. “And I would prefer to be called as such. No misses or Madame or the like involved.”

Mickey chuckled a bit and said “As you wish, Mary Poppins. In that case you can just call me ‘Mickey’.”

“I’d prefer commander, if you don’t mind.” She said. “After all, you did earn the title.”

In response Mickey smiled, shrugged and nodded in that order before Merida suddenly asked “Uh pardon me, Mickey, but I need to ask: do you….recognize me at all?”

Mickey gave her a questioning look before saying “Well we haven’t actually met before but I do know about you, princess Merida. I’ve met your parents once or twice, and you do have look a lot like your mother.” He chuckled a bit and added “But you managed to get your father’s hair, if you don’t mind my saying.”

“You mean you’ve NEVER met me before? At all?” she asked, trying to see if anything would spark his memory. When he denied yet again she asked “And…what about your friends? Donald? Goofy?”

Yet again he looked at her oddly before asking “How do you know about them?”

Trying to think of a decent answer Merida scratched her head before finally saying “Well my parents mentioned meeting them before. They said you three all used to live in a village together before helping to take down a giant. Isn’t that right?”

Now not only did Mickey looked confused but Mary Poppins, and even the nearby musketeers, all looked confused by her statement. It wasn’t until she saw this that she realized that this was something else that had changed due to the One World spell.

In the previous history Merida recalled the story told to her about how Mickey had risen from a simple farmer from a poor kingdom into the king of Castle Disney and the lands around it. She remembered being told that he and his friends, Donald and Goofy, had come across magic beans that created a large beanstalk that took them up into the clouds where they faced against a deadly giant and managed to defeat it. It was this heroic act that the three joined the musketeers where Mickey and Minnie had met. From there he’d managed to save her from being assassinated which eventually led to their marriage and thus his rise to the crown.

Seeing that this wasn’t the case, and she sounded a bit mental for saying otherwise, Merida quickly said “Well…..they heard it from someone else is what I mean.”

Mickey, still looking confused, began to answer “Well I don’t know who’s be telling these stories, but I’ve never actually killed a giant. My town was plagued by one but we were saved.”

“Saved?” Merida asked. “By who?”

Before he could answer one of the musketeers mentioned “Sir, we do need to hurry with the preparations.”

Mickey, realizing this, nodded before saying “We’ll have to finish up some other time. Sorry for that. But if you’ll excuse me for. Hopefully I’ll see you both at the party tonight.”

As he bowed and began to leave, Mary Poppins the only one retuning it again, Merida tried to protest. Mary Poppins however held her shoulder and kept her from making a fool out of herself by saying anymore. As he walked off, however, Mickey did glance back twice while thinking on what Merida had said. He dismissed this however as he met with King Fergus and Queen Elinor along with the rest of the highland lords.

As Merida sighed from another failed attempt at trying to reach another friend, Mary Poppins suddenly said “It was Hercules.” Merida turned to her and asked what she meant before the nanny explained “The story you were telling didn’t involve Mickey. Not in this history, I should say. The one who’d killed the giant was the hero Hercules, the same who’d helped cleanse this world of a number of dangerous beasts that proved too great for any common hero to defeat.”

Merida took a minute to think on this, repeating the name, before saying “Oh, Hercules!” she quickly pulled out her list to double-check before saying “Now I remember him. He was a hero in his world too. I remember them saying how he had great strength and speed because he was apparently part god.”

“The correct term is ‘demi-god’.” Mary Poppins stated before saying “And indeed, may believe he was.”

Merida, suddenly realizing what she’d said, asked “Was? What’s that supposed to….oh no.”

Mary Poppins sighed as Merida began to realize before saying “One day….a monster from the stars appeared. And, unfortunately, the mighty Hercules had finally met his match.” After seeing how hurt Merida was to learn this Mary Poppins added “I am sorry, princess.”

Merida sighed with sorrow before saying “I wonder how many others are…”

After she stopped herself Mary Poppins stood in front of her and stated “It is best not to think that way, princess. Right now you should consider how many are still alive. Nothing more.”

Merida looked up to her, seeing how serious Mary Poppins was with her advice, before looking back to the list still in her hand. She asked for a pen from the nanny, one which she produced from her carpet bag, before crossing out Hercules’ name. One hero was gone but there were still so many who could still be alive or unchanged. She just hoped enough of them were to help.

Mary Poppins, seeing that Merida’s parents were readying to enter the castle, said to her “Come along now, princess. Spit-spot.”

Merida picked herself up and started walking with her before saying “Mary Poppins….I’m glad you haven’t changed a bit.”

She smirked but huffed at this before retorting “I may not know how the Mary Poppins of your history was, but if I am anything like her I can only hope we finish this sooner than later.”

Merida smiled at this before both she and Mary Poppins regrouped with everyone else before making their way into Castle Disney.

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

In her private quarters Queen Minnie was listening as her closest friend, Daisy, went over the preparations for the royal party to come.

Both of them looked more or less the same as compared to their original historic selves as Merida would remember. The only real differences were that Minnie’s crown was larger and she had a small tuff of hair sticking out from the front that reached her forehead.

Daisy had been droning on and on about the small necessities to the point where Minnie had said “I think I get the idea, Daisy.” Before giving a slight giggle and finishing with “Thank you, though.”

She’d finally stopped before noticing the queen give a small sigh to which she asked “Everything alright?”

She shrugged a little as she walked to her bed, sitting on the edge, before saying “I’m not so sure about this year’s party, Daisy. I’m not really sure what it is….but every time we hold one I always have this odd feeling. As if something’s…..missing.”

Daisy looked a bit concerned before asking “Have you talked to Uncle Scrooge about this?”

“Talked to Uncle Scrooge about what?” a voice suddenly asked from the doorway.

Both looked to see the old duck wizard standing there. Again, much like Minnie and Daisy, not much had changed about him other than his wardrobe. He wore long flowing blue robes while his staff he used for a walking stick seemed bigger, like a mage from a fairy tale would us. The one major thing however was that he wore the hat of Master Yen Sid and not Donald as before.

As he walked up Daisy had answered for Minnie, saying “Apparently Minnie’s not feeling up to going to the ball tonight.”

With a flabbergasted reaction he asked “Don’t want to go? But your majesty half of the guests are already here. And the rest are arriving today. We can’t just tell them to hop on their ships and be on their way.” While Minnie shied away from this he began to ask “It’s nothing to do with…well you know.”

She perked up and said “Oh no. Nothing like that. It’s just….I have always seem to have this uneasy feeling whenever we hold these events.” She stood from her bed and walked towards the nearest window, looking out to the sea, as she explained “Every time I see all the lords and ladies, whenever I see them together, I always feel as though there’s someone I’m supposed to be with. Someone who should be next to me….someone who I love.”

Both Daisy and Scrooge looked at each other, confused, before the former asked “Who?”

Before Minnie answered she noticed a silhouette caste from the light in the hallway and someone standing in the doorway. She recognized it, especially the round shaped ears. She could swear she knew who it belonged to and yet felt it was something from a dream. When she turned she realized who it was, Commander Mickey.

The others turned to see him before Scrooge declared “Ah! Commander Mickey. Good to see you, my boy.”

With his hat already in his hands Mickey bowed before saying “Sorry to interrupt, your majesty, but I just wanted to let you know all of the guests have arrived and are accounted for.”

Minnie gave a little nod before saying “Thank you, Commander.” Before looking away and asking “Master Scrooge? Since we still have time, would it be possible for us to…well…”

Knowing what she meant Scrooge perked up and said “Oh yes! Of course, your majesty.” He then looked to Daisy and said “Would you be a dear and escort the commander downstairs. I’ll make sure the queen is ready for the ball in time.”

Daisy nodded before walking out of the room and indicating Mickey to follow. He looked as Minnie and Scrooge began to discuss something as he slowly closed the door, both of them exchanging a quick glance before being out of each other’s sight. Mickey hurried for a moment to reach Daisy as she’d already been walking down the hallway. They both pasted a few servants, both normal and living broom alike, all busy with their duties.

Eventually Daisy noticed Mickey glancing back to the queen’s room before asking “What’s got you so curious all of a sudden?”

Looking back to her he quickly said “Oh nothing, ma’am. It’s just…what does the Queen and Master Scrooge do when they’re alone?”

Daisy only looked at him with an annoyed tone before saying “Not my place to say and not yours to question.” Mickey cast his head down and apologized before the two continued walking silently. After a few moments she finally spoke up and asked “Have you heard from your friend, Donald, at all?”

He perked up before saying “Donald? Uh, no. He’s still busy at the Magician’s School. In fact he sent a letter a week ago saying he could it make it for the ball tonight.”

Daisy looked at him and asked “Is that it? Nothing else?”

Mickey looked oddly at her before answering “Nope. That was all of it.” She looked away, seeming a bit upset, before he asked “Is there something wrong?”

She only bluntly said. “Nothing at all.” When they came to a fork in the hallway she started walking the other way saying “Excuse me. I need to go and break something. You can find your way from here.”

Mickey stopped and watched as she walked away, looking confused as ever as she did. He was starting to think either she was crazy or Donald, his friend, had done something to upset her. But as far as he knew both of them barley knew each other. He merely shrugged and started to walk off before he noticed a friend of his coming from the other side.

“Good to see you, Commander.” Max Goof said, dressed as a musketeer like Mickey, as he reached him and shook his hand.

“You too, Lieutenant Max.” he said, shaking back. “Anything to report?”

The young musketeer nodded before saying “Just checked with the men. Everyone’s more-or-less ready.”

“Let’s make sure they’re all ready.” Mickey noted. “You know how the Queen will want everyone on their toes tonight.”

Max nodded before asking “Was that the queen’s handmaid who just left?”

“Oh, you mean Daisy? Yep, that was her. She seemed upset about something when I mentioned Donald, though.” He laughed a little before saying “I think your father was right about both of them having some little secret affair.” Both of them laughed at this before Mickey asked “Have you….visited him today?”

Max answered “Dad? Yeah. This morning. Told him I’d make sure the band played his favorite song at least once for him and mom.”

Both smiled at this before Max looked saddened as he thought on it, making Mickey hold his arm and say “I miss him too, Max. You know he was as much my friend as he was your dad.” Max sighed before agreeing with him, making Mickey said “C’mon. Let’s not let this ruin tonight.”

He nodded before walking with his commander towards the ball room. As they walked Mickey seemed a bit distressed over something, even to scratching his head and looking at people as he passed by them in an odd way.

Noticing this Max asked “You okay, Commander?”

Mickey didn’t notice at first but stopped and said “Huh? Oh! Sorry, Max. It’s just…something’s been bothering me.” When asked Mickey said “Well I ran into the princess from the DunBroch lands this morning. Merida. You know her, right?” When Max confirmed he only knew the name Mickey continued with “It was funny. She said something about hearing a story where me, your father, and Donald all slayed the giant that was stealing from our home.”

“You mean where you guys all first came from?” Max asked. “THAT giant? But that was Hercules, wasn’t it? Everyone knows that.”

Mickey nodded and said “I thought maybe she was just a little uneasy in the head or something. But…then I remembered a dream I’ve had a couple times.” Mickey found a nearby bench and walked over to sit on it before continuing “In it we DID actually slay the giant. All three of us.”

Max scratched his head before saying “That’s weird. Do you think….maybe she had the same dream? Even as crazy as it sounds, it would make a little sense that’s where she got the idea.”

Mickey shrugged, saying “Maybe. But, then again….it’s one of those dreams that doesn’t feel like one. You know what I mean? More like…a memory.”

Max was quiet for a moment when Mickey mentioned this before saying himself “Yeah. I’ve had those before. Some with…well with my dad. Me and him. And you, Donald, Minnie, everyone. Even Master Yen Sid.”

Mickey huffed at this before commenting “I wish he was still here too. He probably could have made more sense about all of this.”

Max agreed before saying “We should really get going. Only have another couple of hours until the party starts.”

“Good point.” Mickey said, waving everything else off and hopping off his seat. As both of them walked on he said “Maybe this is just anxiety kicking in for tonight. I’m sure it’ll be one party no one will ever forget.”

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

Later into the evening of the day, the royal ball was held in the grand hall of the palace and Merida had her eyes peeled the entire time.

The hall itself was a familiar sight to the princess, both in size and design. Banners and all other decorations were stung all over to give a more elegant look to the room. Tables were set for seating and for food with a number of the near hundred guests already gathered around. A band was set to the side, already playing music that people merely listened to but not danced to as of yet. And from the door leading in was a red carpet that all the guests walked up to towards the throne where they were met by Queen Minnie, who bowed to them before they walked off to either watch or mingle.

A servant stood to the side and called out each person who approached, calling “Announcing King Fergus, Queen Elinor, and the lords of the highlands!” when Merida and her group arrived.

While her mother, father, brothers, and the other highland lords, were basically dressed the same, minus a few added fur sashes or belts, Merida was dressed in a slightly more proper version of her usual green dress. Aside from an added gold lining design around the rim of her skirt and the collar its sleeves where puffed out around the elbows.

Mary Poppins, who was counted among the group as well, wore a different, outfit which surprised Merida as she’d only ever seen her in her black coat and her usual attire. Now she wore a red jacket which was open at the front to reveal her petticoat and large pink bow she wore. Along with black stockings she had brought pink heels on as well. Finally she only carried her umbrella with her, her carpet bag secured in her room.

Once they were introduced the DunBroch group spread out to mingle among the other guests. Merida moved her way to the other side of the room, trying not to be too distracted by her family, as she tried to scope out the other guests to see who was present. Mary Poppins stayed closed to her brothers to keep them in line during the ball.

As Merida browsed through she kept looking back to Queen Minnie and those around her. She saw Daisy, another familiar face, standing nearby her. On the other side was the wizard Scrooge, who she was glad to see but questioned why he was dressed similar to Master Yen Sid. Finally there was Mickey off to the far right side, obviously just there to stay close enough to Minnie to keep her safe. This obviously made her question where Donald, Goofy and Master Yen Sid were, only making her fear the answers.

Eventually Merida made her way to where food was being served, taking a plate and asking for one serving after another. Now-and-then she heard mention of someplace called the “Hun Lands” and how the people there were apparently preparing to invade another land. The name was unfamiliar to Merida, but she worried about who would be in danger because of this and hoped it would be resolved once the worlds were restored. As she looked to those who served she’d hoped to see Naveen or Tiana, remembering both of them had a restaurant they owned in their world and history. However when she came to one girl she stopped, realizing something about her that looked familiar.

The girl was a foreigner to the lands of Castle Disney that much was certain. She wasn’t an animal like Mickey or the others but a human, with dark tan skin and black hair that was tied in a bun. But then there was her face which, after looking long enough, reminded Merida of an old friend.

This made her ask aloud “Lilo?”

The girl looked to her, her face almost going pale, before she asked “How do you know that name?” Merida, unsure if this was actually Lilo, stammered to answer before the girl asked “Have you seen her? Have you seen my sister?”

Merida, shocked, realized that this was the sister Lilo had spoken of before. Given her reaction she realized something must have happened to her, making her worry about knowing the answer as well as trying to explain how she knew.

Thankfully another servant arrived in time and said “Nani! They need you in the kitchen, now.” She began to protest before the servant added “Don’t argue, just go. Unless you want to be fired from another job.”

Nani took one final look at Merida before walking off, the princess almost stunned by all of this. Even with one small question answered many more had taken its place, and now she feared what had happened to her young friend in this new world. Was she gone too or did something else happen in this altered history where she was in danger?

A short while later Merida found herself at a table close to the center of the room where she watched all the royals who arrived one after the other. Some looked familiar, others she’d never heard of or from smaller lands or royal estates. She picked at the remaining food on her plate as she listened to the caller announce each royal guest, she looking a little dulled at this point by everything she’d learned.

“Lord and Lady Porter of England….the prince Charming and princess Cinderella of the Enchanted Kingdom….Prince Philip and Princess Aurora of the Magical Domain.”

While she’d never met them, the Porter’s she knew were Jane and her ape-man husband Tarzan. Bother were dressed in proper English attire for such a celebration, making Merida assume that Tarzan either never stayed in the jungles where he was discovered or was never there at all. The others all seemed normal and the same but Merida knew they wouldn’t recognize her the way she did them.

As minor lords and ladies and the like were introduced Mary Poppins found her way back to Merida and sat down nearby. Merida looked to make sure her family was still mingling with others, meaning they had time to speak alone.

“So?” Mary Poppins asked. “What have you discovered so far?”

Merida’s first answer was “That this whole world is crazier than I thought it would be.” She sighed before explaining “See those two over there?” she pointed to a king and queen who sat at another table, both looking a bit sad over something “They’re the parents of Rapunzel, a princess from my history.”

Seeing them Mary Poppins said “Ah, yes. The lost princess of Corona. Everyone’s aware of that.”

“Except in my reality she was found and rescued.” Merida explained. “She was married to a thief named Eugene. And then over there.” She pointed to another saddened looking royal couple. “There from Maldonia, a place where prince Naveen is from. Only apparently he died while visiting New Orleans, where he was supposed to meet a girl named Tiana and the two were supposed to be married. And there.” She pointed at a prince speaking with some of the lady guests. “That prince is married to a princess named Snow White where I come from. But here she hasn’t been found yet, somewhere lost in the forest either with the dwarves or sleeping in a glass coffin waiting for someone to wake her up.” She sighed before finally adding “And I ran into the sister of a friend of mine who’s apparently missing somewhere in this world as well….”

Mary Poppins could see how frustrated she sounded by all of this before seeing Merida pull out her list and a pen. She scratched out a few more smalls before dropping the pen and resting her head in her hands. She looked exhausted and sad at the same time by all of this.

“I need to fix this.” She said, both to herself and Mary Poppins. “All of this is wrong and it has to be fixed.”

Mary Poppins then asked “Have you attempted trying to help any of the others remember?”

She shook her head before saying “What’s the point? It didn’t work with you and it didn’t work with Mickey. I’m starting to think nothing will!” She sighed again before saying “How could this get any worse?”

Just then both of them herd the caller call out “Announcing the rulers of Arendelle.” making Merida perk up with anxiety to see the ones she knew from that land, only to have her heart sink when he finished “King Hans and Queen Gabriella.”

Merida looked to confirm it was true, the man she’d heard of known as prince Hans was a king in this history and the ruler of Arendelle. It was made even worse by the fact that he was not wed to either Anna or Elsa as Merida assumed but some new girl.

As she began to deny herself from believe this the caller then said “Announcing the Sultan of Agrabah, Jafar. And his wife, Jasmine.”

And there it was, another horrific slap to the face for the princess as she saw the villain Jafar dressed in Sultan robes while walking with Jasmine, who was dressed in finer clothing then she was usually seen in. Jasmine herself look a little too calm and complacent about this, making Merida question what had happened while still reeling with shock at what she was seeing.

Mary Poppins, seeing her expression, asked what was wrong before Merida stammered a little while answering “T-Th-Those two. I know them. They’re villains. Both of them!” She then quickly explained “That one, Jafar, he tried to find the genie’s lamp and rule over the world. And him, Hans. He almost killed Anna and Elsa and tried to take Arendelle for himself.” She then shook her head and looked angered before saying “No. No they can’t have won. I have to do something!” She then slammed her hand on the table while almost shouting “They can’t get away with this!”

“Calm yourself, princess.” Mary Poppins said as she stood to stop her from moving. “Control your temper or you’ll likely make things worse. Now calm down, spit spot.” She waited a moment, until Merida started to settle before adding “Now deep breath.” She started taking a breath before Merida, reluctantly, followed before both released. “There. Now take a moment to realize things are different in this world. You said so yourself, some may be evil but then some may be good as well.”

“I doubt it with those two.” Merida said, narrowing her eyes at Jafar and Hans as they began to mingle.

“If I may explain, princess.” Mary Poppins began “While I cannot say many pleasant things about Sultan Jafar, prince Hans had come to Arendelle in a time of great need and managed to save it.”

“What about Elsa and Anna? Where are they?”

Mary Poppins sighed, showing how tough it would be to answer, before finally saying “Princess Anna disappeared when she was very young. And the former queen Elsa died from a fatal disease sometime during the winter after her coronation. Oddly they’ve been harsher since then.” Seeing how upset Merida was to learn about more friends now gone she said “I am sorry, princess, but you must accept that this is the world you are in now. But that does not mean it will be the same if you manage to change everything to the way it was.”

Merida sighed at this before perking up and asking “Wait, you said the winters are harsher? Why?”

She shrugged a bit before saying “No one is certain. They say it’s a curse upon the land.”

It took a moment for Merida to think on it, taking that clue into major account, before saying “Elsa’s alive.” Mary Poppins obviously questioned this before she said “She’s alive and Hans did something with her.” Mary Poppins questioned again before Merida explained “From what I remember, Elsa kept her power to create ice and snow a secret all her life. Anna was the reason she was revealed but because of whatever changes happened now Hans is on the throne. But if the winters are bad in Arendelle then Elsa has to still be there.” With a more intent look she declared “I need to find her.”

As the princess stood again, Mary Poppins held her wrist and said “Stop right there, princess. You can’t rush into this without thinking it through. Now look at me.” She waited until Merida did before saying “You cannot just walk up to Hans and accuse him of imprisoning a woman without evidence. Same for any of the others who you plan to implicate. Now please, sit down and think for a moment.” With a deeper sigh Merida sat down before the nanny continued “If you do plan to take any sort of aggressive act against them, we still need allies. And that means trying to remind people of who they are if possible. Can you not think of anyone else whom we could call upon? Any, for instance, like me who could possibly swallow your story easier than others?”

Merida huffed a little before saying “To be honest, Mary Poppins, there wasn’t anyone like you. And there still isn’t.” She giggled a bit at this, Mary Poppins only smiling, before she continued “But I don’t know. I think the only one who we could try would be Master Y…”

She stopped when she looked to a nearby wall and saw something. Something she’d not noticed before and that made her heart sink even deeper than it did before. On the wall was a picture of Master Yen Sid, sitting in a chair and looking boldly forward. Merida walked over, pushing past a few people and with Mary Poppins following after, to take a closer look. At the bottom of the picture was an annotation that read “In memory of Master Yen Sid. The wisest and bravest mind of the land.”

Merida looked more shocked at the picture just as Mary Poppins stood behind before saying “No….not him too….”

Mary Poppins, seeing this, asked “You knew Master Yen Sid in your history?”

She nodded her answer before saying “He was dead in that one too, only he’d come back. As a ghost or spirit of some kind. I really don’t know.”

Merida suddenly perked up and looked back to ask the nanny, who’d already anticipated it and answered “No, princess. His death was, unfortunately, rather final.” Merida sighed with grief, looking back to the portrait, before asking how he died. “Do you recall the monster from the skies that had slain Hercules? The one I told you about this morning? Well he wasn’t the only hero to try and stand up to it. Master Yen Sid, as powerful a sorcerer as he was, knew that anything that could defeat Hercules required aid. So he and another skilled magic user attempted to slay the monster. They succeeded…but only one returned.”

As she stood there, still brewing in the knowledge of another friend’s death, Merida asked “Who was the other one? The other wizard who went with him?”

Before Mary Poppins answered the caller announced “The rulers of the land of Prydain.”
Hearing that she pointed out “That will be him now, actually.”

Merida turned to see for herself, since she recognized the land of Prydain’s name. That was where the young knight Taran and the Princess Eilonwy, along with their furry friend Gurgi, were from. She also remembered that it was the place where the villain known as the Horned King, the one responsible for the previous war that brought all the heroes from all the worlds together before, had originated from. This made her question who from that land could’ve been skilled enough to help Master Yen Sid.

Her answer came when the caller finished his announcement with “The Lady Eilonwy, and the king and hero of the land, Lord Arawn!”

People began to clap when his named was announced, but Merida took a closer look at this Lord Arawn herself. He was an older man, far older than the young Eilonwy who was no more than eighteen years or so. He wore fine clothing and robes while his long grey hair was styled in a small ponytail. It matched with the mustache on his face. His robes were black, or dark colored at least, even down to the shoes he wore that stuck out underneath. As people clapped he held his hand, smiling, while thanking them, and right then and there Merida knew who he was.

“That isn’t Lord Arawn.” She said, her heart nearly jumping into her throat when she told Mary Poppins. “That man is NOT a hero. That’s the man responsible for all of this. His face is different but I know that voice……that’s the Master of Worlds!”