Disney Storybits 105

PLEASE READ THE DESCRIPTION BEFORE READING THIS STORYBIT!

The balcony outside of the princess’s room was fitted with stairs to the side, so if she wished, she could go into the wet gardens. Tonight she had no interest in such an activity, and instead kept her eyes on the wide moon up in the sky. When the moon was like this, the Moon Kingdom’s people believed that the Moon God, the wise Rabbit, could hear the prayers of its people. Until this point, Minnie had never prayed to the Rabbit for anything. What could she possibly want? She had her dear mother, a wonderful friend, and as a princess she was constantly provided for her. Before her birthday, she’d never needed to pray or want for anything.

But then her birthday had come, and now she wanted, and so now she prayed. Her hands were clasped tightly together, keeping the image of the handsome Prince of the Sun in her mind. No, she wouldn’t be as selfish as to pray for his love – as tempting the idea was – and only begged the Rabbit to let her see him again. Just one more time, she thought, and maybe her heart wouldn’t ache so heavily. Her greatest fear was that she would someday forget his image, even if it was currently impossible. She could clearly hear his voice, that high amused tone that talked so rapidly about his homeland – she could feel this touch, warmth that radiated from every string of hair on his body – and those eyes – those eyes –

Who was she kidding? She wasn’t going to be satisfied with one look. She craved more. She wanted to have long conversations with him, to see the exciting kingdom he hailed from, and her entire body slumped forward, since she knew these things were beyond even the reach of a god. Mickey had only come to her kingdom thanks to her birthday invitation, and getting that to him without her mother or anyone else figuring it out had taken all the miracles left in her life. Why would he come back? There were so many pretty girls in the Sun Kingdom, so much prettier than her, why should he bother with such a small, undeveloped little girl like her?

Perhaps, she thought, she should pray for these feelings to go away. She immediately regretted that train of thought, and shook her head hard, her long white hair smacking against her face. Since it was time for bed, her illustrious locks were allowed to stray down, creating a pool of marble around her. No, she would not ask that these feelings be removed. As tortuous as they could be, she did not want to forget Mickey. She did not want to forget their dance. She did not want to forget the way he had touched her cheek and chin, the quirky goodbye gesture from his land. She fondly touched her cheek, remembering how even when saying goodbye, he had seemed so cheerful, as if nothing could ever douse his flame.

With her elbows on the balcony’s edge, she dropped her head in her hands, allowing herself to stay lost in good memories.  Maybe she would go down into the gardens, before going to bed. Just for a little swim, so she could float and remember and pray… She looked down at the gardens.

And there Mickey stood.

Minnie stared so hard she wouldn’t have been surprised if her eyeballs rolled out of her head. She blinked hard, twice, three times, and yet there he was. He was in the driest part of the marsh-gardens, and even then he had gotten his shoes wet, much to his annoyance. He pulled his robe up – it was long and red, trailing back behind him for a while, leaving his chest and stomach exposed casually. The ends of his robe where getting soaked, and he gave up on trying to keep them away from the water.  The gardens were home to long stretches of streams, grass and mud a constant companion, and Mickey was lost.

Minnie quickly stood up straight, shaking in hard tremors. What was he doing there?! How did he get into the kingdom without being spotted?! Yes, it was night, and most of the kingdom were in their beds by now, but surely someone like Mickey would have stood out like a sore thumb, if only by his exposed skin alone. And speaking of exposed skin – Minnie was in her nightgown! Her hair was down! She wasn’t wearing any make-up! Good heavens!  She panicked in place, wondering what was most important to do – the make-up, the hair, or the attire. Why in the world have the Rabbit answered her prayer now?! Couldn’t it have waited until she at least had on one of her proper gowns?! What would Mickey think, seeing her so… so… bare?!

Mickey was currently thinking he might catch a cold, after being in these soaked clothes. It seemed with every new step he took, he was going to take a swimming lesson. Perhaps this was a challenge, sent to him by the god of the sun, the Phoenix. He wanted to be with Minnie, then he had to work for it. Well! Well well! Mickey was not one to be outdone so easily. He’d already made it this far, and he puffed his chest out, determined to see his dangerous mission to its end. Though as his eyes trailed over the incredibly large castle, he realized a much more difficult challenge was ahead of him. How was he supposed to find the princess without being caught in there? It wasn’t going to make him turn back, no no, but it was certainly going to be tricky. He looked for doors and windows, and found the balcony –

Praise the Phoenix!

Mickey saw Minnie, and Minnie saw Mickey looking at her, and time stood still, much like when they had first seen one another on her birthday. Happiness seized the breath in their throats, and meticulous time was taken to memorize how the other looked, and it was because of this deep and distant look that Minnie remembered her lack of formal wear. Her cheeks were conquered in red, and to make things worse – better? – Mickey’s face had turned into a great, wide, glorious smile. He was happy to see her. Even her constant doubt and lack of self-confidence could not deny this fact. He was happy to see her.

How long did she plan on standing there, shaking like a leaf? She couldn’t waste this chance, for who knew when it would come again? She was still in some disbelief it was actually happening. As she made her way towards the stairs, she recalled Jose Carioca’s advice –

“All men are hunters! They love the chase! If you give them what they want right away, they’ll lost interest right away… So let the chase begin! Make him run for you! Make him work for your affection! Don’t even notice he’s there, until he demands to be seen!”

It should be noted that this was terrible advice for many, many reasons. Of course Minnie had no way of knowing this, being new to love, and so she made her decision as she descended down the stairway. She’d ignore him, and test him. A tiny part of her said this was very rude, but the loudest voice in her head wanted to be sure, to be absolutely sure, that he was happy to see her.

Mickey was feeling a similar rush of nervousness as he watched her come down. Here came the big chance. If only he had thought of something to say to her! This entire night had been on a whim, and now there she was, dainty and delicate and perfect, and the most he could think to say was ‘hello’, and even that was a struggle. He chided himself on his cowardice – he’d been wanting to see her again for days, surely he could think of something better to say than just ‘hello’. Come on, think!

‘What’s a good-lookin’ girl like you doin’ in a kingdom like this?’ Oh, sure, if he wanted to start a war between the lands.

‘What a coincidence! I was just stoppin’ by!’ That would go down in the history scrolls of the most obvious lie ever spoken.

‘You look nice.’ An understatement… but it was a start.

Okay, he’d start with that. Girls liked compliments about their looks, right? And if he started on that, he had an endless list of things to say! Now brimming with confidence, he waited as she touched the last step, and…

… Walked along the castle’s edge, away from him, not even giving him a second look.

… Huh.

Mickey watched, dumbfounded at the brush-off. She saw him, didn’t she? Surely she must have seen him. What else would she have been looking at? He bit on his lower lip, and it was then he recalled Panchito Pistole’s advice.

“You must never give up, my prince! Love is a battle, and you must be the victor! If you want her, you go after her, and never look back! Chase her down until she can’t get away! Never stop chasing! Ignore the rejections, ignore the obstacles, just go, go go!”

It should be noted that this was also terrible advice for many, many reasons. Yet just like Minnie, Mickey was clueless about the rights and wrongs of love. If she didn’t see him then, she’d certainly notice him now! Ignoring the sloshing of the wet swampland around him, he began heading for Minnie, determined to get her attention.

Minnie heard his squishing footsteps and her heart almost exploded. He really was coming after her, just like Jose said! Now she felt the urge to see how far she could push this, and she walked a little faster, hands on her chest.  The very idea of Mickey chasing after her was making her blood race – he really did come here for her! He really was trying to get her attention! She swallowed down a delighted squeal.

Was it just Mickey’s imagination, or was Minnie picking up speed? How could anyone move like that in such murky grasslands? Was this another challenge from the Phoenix? Oh, he’d show that sun god, nothing would make Mickey give up! He tried to walk faster, and began to shout after his target. “H-Hey! Princess!”

He was calling after her! He was so determined! Minnie could die happy right then and there! She had captured his gaze and attention and his sole focus was on her and her alone! It wasn’t love, but goodness, it had to be something close. The urge to emit happy laughter was getting harder and harder to suppress, and maybe if she kept this up, he’d call her by name –

Instead of hearing her name, she hard a large splash, and Mickey making a shocked yelp. Suddenly concerned, Minnie stopped in place and turned around. Mickey had tripped and landed in a particularly deep part of a small stream, and he sat, up to his stomach in water. “What kinda place is this anyway?!” Mickey snapped to no one in particular, feeling foolish.

Minnie quickly came over, worry taking over for the moment. “Oh, dear, are you all right?”

Mickey took off his shoes, finding no point in them anymore. “Nothin’ hurt but my pride.” He paused, and then looked at Minnie – what do you know, there was, finally paying attention to him. “Didn’t you hear me yellin’ after you?”

Minnie hesitated, but she lacked the power to lie. “Y-Yes.”

“Then why didn’t you stop?!”

If he thought she was going to honestly admit why, he had another thing coming. Minnie couldn’t lie, but she could hold back the truth. “… I-it was very silly of me, I suppose.”

“I’ll say!” Mickey managed to pull himself out of the water, and sat on the grass. He looked at his shoes, floating in the stream, and the absurdity of everything that had happened in the last couple of minutes really hit him. Unable to help himself, Mickey began to laugh loudly, a bellowing sound that ripped through the air, as powerful as he was. It was infectious, and it didn’t take long at all for Minnie to laugh as well, though hers was quieter, composed of tremors and hands over her face. They laughed until they had no air, and when they saw Mickey’s wet floating shoes, they collapsed into laughing fits all over again.

It was Minnie who managed to compose a sentence first, now on her knees beside Mickey, her hands politely in her lap. “Th… thank you for coming. It’s an honor to have you here, your highness.”

Mickey leaned on his hands, going back. “Seein’ as I’m not supposed ta be here, I think we can drop the titles, Minnie.”

He did it! He called her by name! And he did it so easily, too! Even Daisy, Minnie’s trusted lady-in-waiting, was only supposed to call Minnie by her name in private, and there went Mickey, saying it as common as ‘this’ and ‘that’. “I… I… I couldn’t! We barely know each other, and…”

“That’s gunna change.” Mickey interrupted, wearing a cocky grin that Minnie adored. “I managed ta get here without anyone catchin’ me… so… I was thinkin’… we could meet up again like this! Y’know, our own little secret meetin’s.”

Minnie had so few secrets that the idea of having one between her and Mickey was agreeable right away. “Secret meetings… I can do that. I have a few secrets of my own.” That caused Mickey’s eyebrow to raise, and since she had his curiosity, she continued, feeling coy. “There are all kinds of old passageways in the castle… Daisy and I like to sneak out sometimes. Donald hasn’t memorized them all yet, so he always takes forever finding us.”

“You sneak out too?” Mickey could barely comprehend it.

“Only a few times…” Minnie squirmed in place. “Is that so hard to believe?”

“Well yeah, cause-” Mickey cut himself off right away, not sure if it would be wise to answer in full. Yet Minnie bore her eyes into him, and he couldn’t get out of it. “I… I just mean… you… don’t… seem like the type…”

“Then you’ve learned something new, haven’t you?” Minnie smirked, holding onto what little confidence she had, and she was rewarded by Mickey’s flummoxed face. Her self-assurance wouldn’t last long, it never did, but apparently it had the ability to entertain Mickey in new ways. She liked it.

Mickey gathered himself, sitting up straight. “That’s why I’m here, anyway! Ta learn! I wanna learn all about you… and your kingdom.” He added those last three words as quickly as his mouth could make it. As happy as he was to see her again, there was no need to jump ahead and admit she’d been on his mind forever. He hid his bout of shyness by making joking commentary, nose up. “It’s gotta be more fun than Horace’s old lessons. They’re so boring! I gotta memorize people who passed away a long time ago, and duties nobody cares about, and war tactics we’ll never use… I’ll tell you what!” Mickey slapped a hand to his leg. “When I become king, everything’s gunna be different! No more lessons, for starters! And then… I’m gunna tear down the forest.” He pointed from whence he came – between the kingdoms was the great forest, with trees so high you could see them from any point in either kingdom.

Minnie was impressed that he had plans for the future already. “You will? What for?”

“I’m gunna make a big path.” Mickey mimed it out, reaching wide and far. “So that our kingdoms will be connected! No more silly laws about forbidden contact… Everyone can visit either kingdom! And we’re gunna have parties every day! Why, I might just get rid of laws all together.”

“All of them?” Minnie asked, tilting her head. “What about stealing? And fighting?”

Mickey paused, his childish dream now poked with logical holes. “… All right, so I still got some kinks ta work out. But I’m definitely gunna connect our kingdoms, that’s not gunna change.”

Minnie was satisfied with that, and gave him a sweet smile. “That part sounds wonderful… I always thought it was silly that our kingdoms hate each other. How can I possibly be expected to hate people I don’t know?” She allowed herself to sit down, having long since forgotten her nightgown and all that it showed. “I’ve always wanted to learn more about the Sun Kingdom.”

“So it all works out!” Mickey declared, and he rubbed his hands together. “I wanna learn everythin’ about the Moon Kingdom!”

“… Where do we start?”

“How about… why’s this garden so mushy?”

Minnie giggled, and began her explanation on the growth of plants in the Moon Kingdom, and that there was so much water because it rained so much, which turned into the two of them exchanging daily weather occurrences, then how their buildings were made to work with such weather, and then the shapes of their buildings, and how their kingdoms looked, and on, and on, and on.

They talked long into the night, not needing sleep, and the world was at peace. A boy and a girl talked about their homes, about their traditions, about their holidays, about their families, and yet it still wasn’t enough. Mickey would act out the roles of his people, with strident voices, while Minnie stayed in place, using only her words to fill Mickey’s imagination. Minnie laughed at his jokes, and Mickey applauded Minnie’s kindness, and if it was possible, they fell deeper in love. It was even possible they could have stayed in the moonlit garden for days, only needing the words of the other, lost in stories and memories.

But time cares not for love, and the sun began to crawl up, hints of reds and oranges starting to silken the sky. Mickey saw the colors and he was surprised. How could the sun be up already? Surely they had only just started talking! And they still had so much to say! Yet the world was going to start without them, and things had to be done, and princes and princesses had royal duties to attend to. Mickey and Minnie both watched the ominous sun peek up, and they knew their time was up. It truly was a shame – they had started to exchange their favorite desserts.

Mickey began to reluctantly stand up, and Minnie emitted a squeak, wanting to grab him and have him continue his tale of hard candies that sparkled on your tongue. “Oh.” She sighed out. “W-when… will I see you again?”

“I dunno.” Mickey admitted, scratching his head. These sort of events couldn’t be planned outright. He had to time things – slipping past guards and his tutor, bypassing citizens, jumping through the trees, and hiding in the shadows of the Moon Kingdom’s stores… it all took time, and it had all been done on a whim. Could whims be so easily repeated? “… I suppose… I’ll just wind up here again, soon.”

Minnie understood that was the most that could be expected. She stood up, smoothing down her nightgown. “Then… I’ll wait at my balcony, every night. I promise.” She held out her pinky, and waited. Mickey looked at her pinky, confused at the gesture, and Minnie quickly explained. “When two people lock their pinky fingers, it means they agree on a promise.”

A glint flickered in Mickey’s eyes, and by now Minnie knew that meant an idea was coming. “… I like learnin’ about this place and all… but maybe we should come up with a few things… that are just between you and me.”

Minnie liked the idea very much, but she kept out her pinky on instinct. “Like… like what?”

Mickey moved forward, and for half a moment Minnie thought-hoped?-he’d kiss her, but instead he picked up the necklace she was wearing. He held it in his palm, and then took Minnie’s hand, and laid it flat on top – so that their hands covered the joined moon and sun bauble. “Like this. Whenever we make a promise, we’ll make it on the necklace.”

“That’s wonderful!” Minnie crooned, and it really was. Mickey was such a clever boy. “I promise, I’ll wait for you on my balcony every night.” She squeezed the necklace gently, not wanting to risk breaking it. It had been the best birthday gift she’d ever gotten.

Mickey returned the squeeze, able to feel Minnie’s fingers on his wrist. “I promise, every chance I get, I’ll come here.” One day, he thought, when he was king, he’d get her more necklaces like this, and bracelets, and rings and tiara, and everything she could possibly want. He’d strive for her happiness. Anything to see that smile that rested comfortably on her face, like the smoothest wave on a shore.

They parted, and they did not say goodbye, for they knew it was not the last time they’d see each other. They believed in each other, and they believed in the power of promises. They did not even bother to watch the other leave – one through the marsh, the other up the stairs. All they would have to do now was wait, and their patience would be rewarded.

Once Mickey was in the forest and beyond, energy struck through him like a lightning bolt. Joyous mirth spilled out of him, and for the rest of the day absolutely nothing could bring him down. He bounced off walls, hugged everyone he saw, even grumpy old Horace, and there was dancing and celebration and no one could get it out of him just why he was so darn happy – except Goofy, of course. And when Goofy learned of his prince’s accomplishment, he joined in the merriment, tossing Mickey up and down, hooting and hollering.

As for Minnie, instead of getting dressed or going to the dining room for breakfast, she landed on her back on her bed, and giggled deliriously, hands on her necklace. Daisy had to drag Minnie everywhere for the rest of the day, where she continued to giggle and slump in place, losing the ability to control her muscles, making her a puddle of glee for the day. Donald at times wondered if someone had slipped something in Minnie’s food to keep her sedated, which was fine with him if it meant she actually stayed inside while he was on duty. When Daisy managed to figure out the reason behind Minnie’s gaiety, she made up for Minnie’s lack of movement by jumping around hysterically, declaring Jose’s plan a surefire success, and that she reserved the right to catch the bouquet at the eventual wedding.

It had been a good night.