Walt's Princess: Chapter Twenty One

Rachel continued on through the hallway towards the far end where the door Yen Sid mentioned was. Just as she was about to stop in front of it, more ghosts came out of the walls riding on horses. One or two of them took off their heads and threw them at her and missed. The other three got off their horses and charged at her with their lances and swords. They thrust them at her sides, but Rachel dodged their every move. Wielding light in her fists, Rachel made some punches on each of the ghost’s faces and they were all damaged badly from it. All of the ghosts fled except one; the one of the ghosts who threw his head just now. With a spear in both hands, the soldier ghost raced to the girl pointing the spear out to stab her. He would have done it if it hadn’t been for getting from something that fell right on top of him.

Wood from the ceiling crashed onto the ghost when a boy in green clothing was falling from above and onto the floor. The only thing that remained of the headless ghost so far was some of his ectoplasm. Rachel recognized immediately who the green clothed boy was and grinned.

“Agh!” Terrance shouted while rubbing his behind, “I probably won’t be able to sit or lie down for a week.”

“Terrance!” Rachel exclaimed.

“Rachel!” The two friends hugged each other with great relief. Terrance, on the other hand, was very much enjoying the pleasure of her warm heart of very few hours of not being with her. He held her tightly, he could heartbeat, he wanted to kiss her but he resisted…for now. Gently, he said, “You don’t know how glad I am to see you’re safe.”

“Not being safe is almost kind of fun, I’ll have to admit.” said Rachel, “Kind of makes me feel more powerful and free.”

“I don’t like the ‘not safe’ part, but I can understand the feeling. You’ve got to remember, though, that when you’re in danger you’ve got to be quick with your mind otherwise you can never get out.”

“And end up dead.”

“I wouldn’t want you to end up that way. At least not in here.”

“Thanks. So, what are you doing in here?”

“I came to get you out and Mickey out of here.”

“Mickey? Mickey’s here?”

“You mean you didn’t see him?”

“No, only Yen Sid and I are here.”

“Yen Sid? Where is he? Is he in the mansion?” Terrance asked.

“I don’t know.” Rachel replied, “We were only able to get me inside and he said he would find another way in. You think Mickey might be with him?”

“If I know Mickey, he probably would. Anytime he’s in trouble, Yen Sid always comes in to solve the problem.”

“Like that moving ectoplasm for example?”

Rachel pointed to the goop that slithered into a puddle away from Rachel and Terrance. It began to form into shape back to the way the soldier ghost looked before only his head was backwards. It twisted its head back into place and glared at the two mortals. He took a broken spear that was just lying around and charged at them. Terrance stood his ground and blasted a beam of light at the ghost. The soldier exploded and its ectoplasm spewed all over the walls and the floor. Some of it got on Terrance and hardly any on Rachel’s jeans, but at least it was gone now.

“Now that that’s over, we have to get out of here now!” said Terrance.

“No! I have to go to Retlaw!” said Rachel, “There are some things I have to talk to him about.”

“Well, I’m sure you two could talk on the phone. Let’s go!”

“Terrance, stop! I’m not liking this whole situation that Retlaw has got in store for him. Why do think he cast that seal to shield the mansion in the first. Obviously, he’s hiding something and I don’t like the way it sounds.”

“So it was Retlaw who cast the spell.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“And you’re here to find out why?”

“Yep.”

“I guess that makes you and Mickey. Do you even know where to find Retlaw?”

“Yen Sid said through that door, but behind the painting it a lever that switches the directions of where the would lead you into. If we pull the lever down, the door will take us down below to another hallway and go to the farthest door at the end and we would find Retlaw in the mirror room. I’m not stopping no matter what’s going to come at me.”

“Then I’m coming with you.” said Terrance, “It’s my job to protect the princess.”

“Should I guess which that princess would be?”

“You can if you want to.”

“Mmm…nah!” Rachel giggled.

“Silly.” Terrance scoffed, “So what about that lever?”

“Oh right. It’s behind the painting.”

Rachel and Terrance head to the painting next to the door and just as Yen Sid told her, the lever was behind the painting. There was a secret compartment that was box-sized that kept the lever in. Rachel grabbed hold of it and tried to pull it, but it was stuck. Then Terrance grabbed hold of the lever along with Rachel. He could feel her hand trembling and that was to be expected here. Rachel wouldn’t be blamed for being just a bit frightened since she’s in a haunted mansion fighting ghosts. They pulled together until the lever finally budged.

Terrance opened the door first and kept Rachel behind him for protection. It was pitch black inside. He took a small step forward for flooring. There was only a foot of floor before him and stepping down the floor was getting lower. This had to be the staircase they needed to find. Now Terrance was trembling a little bit along with the princess. He took her hand and the two of them began climbing down the stairs. It was irresistibly much darker and more frightening than anywhere else in the mansion. They guessed that’s the way Retlaw likes it.

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The front door was open. Yen Sid and Mickey Mouse were able to get inside no problem now that the seal is broken. They enter the main lobby where everything was quiet. Nobody was around; just some puddles of ectoplasm, a broken door, and a couple of burn marks. It’s evident to know what’s happened here.

“It looks like Rachel’s already passed through here.” said Mickey.

“Indeed.” said Yen Sid, “And by the looks of all the goop and the burn marks on the walls and the woodwork, there must have been quite a few ghosts in here. Perhaps almost more than Rachel would handle. She’s become far more impressive than I thought.”

“Look, the door at the end of the hall is open!”

The door Mickey pointed out to was probably the most damaged area from the battle. The painting was taken down, the lever was pulled, and the door was still opened revealing a pitch-black rectangle and nothing else.

“Leave it to Rachel to follow my instructions precisely and wisely.” said Yen Sid glancing his eyes to the side at Mickey.

Mickey understood what he was talking about and said, “Can we please let that go? It was a long time ago.”

“I wasn’t just referring to that day. Hmm…something’s not right.”

“What? What is it?”

“These burned streaks are made with different light.”

“So?”

“Being a silver spirit, Rachel’s light is much powerful and very effective on the transparentness of the supernatural. Ghosts for instance. These are her marks, but look at the lighter colored ones. Unless Rachel was trying to go easy on these ghosts, these lighter streaks could not be hers.”

“Gee, do you think someone else came in and helped her with the fight?” Mickey wondered.

“Either that or Retlaw must have sent in one of his own advanced fighting ghosts.” Yen Sid theorized.

“Then I guess that ghost didn’t have a chance against her, ha ha.”

“Come, Rachel should be down there by now.”

“Does it really have to be down there?”

“Do you want to learn more of what’s happening or what?”

“I guess. You go first!”

“Mickey! Why don’t you go first since you’re so eager?”

“Age before beauty.”

Yen Sid shot a mean look at the little mouse for saying that. It’s not likely that he ever hears Mickey say those things. In fact, he’s never heard them from him at all! Perchance Mickey might still be upset over what Retlaw has put him threw throughout the day. Still, Yen Sid was not going to tolerate with Mickey’s poor behavior.

“Listen to me, Mickey.” Yen Sid started, “I know you are having a rough day and I know losing him before was hard, but that does not give you the intention to act so harshly on your friends, your fans, and more importantly your family. When we arrive in the mirror room, would you at least try to not to sound so irrational?”

“Irrational?” Mickey yelled, “I’m irrational? What about him? I’ve been woeing over that day for so long for almost nothing up to today where I finally find out who Retlaw is? If anyone was being irrational, it’s him!”

“Mickey, please. I did not mean it like that. Sure, he hasn’t been here for…you know, but I’m sure he has a reason.”

“You know the reason!”

“No, I surprisingly do not know. Even after all this time, he’s never told me why he’s back here.”

“Liar!” Mickey’s voice boomed throughout the mansion.

He started crying. It became tortuous for Yen Sid to see. He has never seen Mickey this way even since the time Walt Disney had died so long ago. Yen Sid knelt down to Mickey and spoke softly to him.

“Mickey…my little apprentice. Are you scared to see him?”

“I’m…I’m so scared and angry and upset I…I…”

Mickey couldn’t finish his sentence. Instead he just pushed Yen Sid away and ran down the stairs and into the dark. He can hear his master call to him as he kept going down. Yen Sid formed a sphere of light on the palm of his hand and continued calling for Mickey to come back. But Mickey wouldn’t come back. He wasn’t going to let anything hold him behind anymore. Not this time. He needs him.

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“Did you hear that?” Rachel asked.

“I believe so.” said Terrance, “I hear…crying.”

“You think it might be one of those ghost brides?”

“No, this cry sounds a little high pitched in a masculine tone. It’s coming from upstairs. Rachel, get behind me!”

Rachel did as she was told, partially. She half-stood behind Terrance in hopes she might a chance in the fight, if there’s going to be one. Terrance formed a sort of pink aura on his hand, ready to strike whatever’s coming toward them. And when it did, it was not what they expected. Mickey tripped and fell right on top of Terrance and Rachel and they all fell down the end of the staircase!

“Ow!” said Rachel, “What just hit us?”

“Look here!” Terrance smiled despite the pain he’s gotten, “It’s Mickey!”

“Rachel!” Mickey exclaimed, “Terrance? What are you doing here?”

“Looking for you and Rachel.” said Terrance, “Is Yen Sid with you?”

“Yeah, he’s right behind me. I feel so terrible, though.”

“That makes three of us.” said Rachel indicating the fall.

“No, I mean me.” said Mickey, “I was so upset about realizing who Retlaw is I just…I pushed Yen Sid away, literally, and then I came running down here and landed on you two. I’m sorry for tripping on you.”

“It’s okay.” said Terrance, “It is pretty dark in here.”

“Is that why you’re down here, Mickey?” Rachel asked.

“Yes.” said Mickey, “I’ve got to see if whatever I saw in there was real or fake. And believe me, I’m really wishing it’s fake.”

“Mickey!” called a voice from behind. “Mickey, I am much too old to be treated this way.” Yen Sid came running from upstairs after Mickey. “Ah, Rachel. You’ve made it down here and- Terrance? What are you doing here?”

“Looking out for Mickey and Rachel.” said Terrance, “You know I take my job seriously.”

“Indeed, I do. I see that you three are fine?” Yen Sid said while glaring at Mickey, “Now then, have you seen Retlaw yet?”

“Not yet.” said Rachel, “Apparently, Mickey decided to ‘drop in’ on us.”

“By accident, of course.” said Mickey.

“Where did you say Retlaw would be?” Terrance asked.

“He should be at the end of the this in the farthest door.” Yen Sid replied, “That is where the mirror room is.”

“Alright then, let’s head over there!” Rachel insisted.

“Hold on, Rachel.” said Terrance grabbing her arm. “It’s a long way from here.”

“Terrance, it’s only a hundred steps away. You think I might break my toe on the way or something?”

“That’s not what I mean. With that long of a distance it’s likely enough that something could happen. Another ghost might try to stop us on the way only much harder to beat.”

“Well, there are four of us here. Two grown men, one woman, and one mouse to we all there is to know on how to use magic. I think we can take them on together without a problem.”

“Yeah,” Mickey exclaimed, “nothing can stand a chance against us! Right?”

“Alright, but I’m going up front.” said Terrance.

Everyone crowded together keeping Rachel in the middle for her protection. They slowly started walking through the hallway fully equipped with sparks of magic in their hands. Taking consideration over everything Terrance mentioned about what could happen in the hallway on the way to mirror room has made Rachel quite nervous. Her fingers would twitch, her spine would tingle a little, and her shoulders would tremble. Despite that, she remained in place.

They get to the door and so far nothing’s happened. That was strange in Yen Sid’s perspective. He’s been here so many times it’s unlikely for nothing to happen. Terrance calmly reached for the doorknob, but then Yen Sid noticed something different about the door and just snatched Terrance’s arm away.

“Hold on!” said Yen Sid, “Something is not right about this door.” Yen Sid quickly scanned the door in front of them. To him, it’s not like the door he usually sees whenever he used to come to the mirror room until Retlaw kicked him and Mickey out. “Stand back.”

Rachel, Terrance, and Mickey took a few steps backwards giving Yen Sid some space. Yen Sid took out his wand, he pointed it at the door, and shot a small streak of light at the door finding it to be flinching. The door moved rapidly and even growled and roared at the four. It jumped at Yen Sid trying to lock him inside itself, but Yen Sid wouldn’t let the door close on him. Terrance and Mickey ran to their master to help. Terrance shot light at the door letting go of Yen Sid and casting him to the wall. Mickey shot some fireworks from his fingertips at the door and it caught on fire! Rachel went for Yen Sid to aid him, but the sorcerer was fine. The two of them shot more light magic at the door along with Mickey and Terrance until the door finally fell and burn to ashes. But that was only the least of the problems they came to solve. All of the doors came to life and started to attack Rachel, Terrance, Mickey, and Yen Sid! There were only six more to handle, which made the group outnumbered. Rachel shot some fireballs at two of the doors, but missed one just barely. Terrance shot a door with electrokinesis causing it to burn up! Mickey kept kicking the doors, but that only hurt his feet and then the doors starting playing catch with him until Yen Sid stopped them by throw balls and darts of light at each one and breaking Mickey free. There were only two doors left now, but there was a problem: Terrance is missing!

“Wait a minute! Where’s Terrance?” Rachel asked.

She turned around only to see two doors towering over her! She formed a sphere of light and was ready to fire at it. But before she could, one of the doors punched the other door and blasted it with a plasma ball! The door that got shot incinerated into ashes and left the door that still stood, Rachel, Yen Sid, and Mickey. The door turned to Rachel and began walking up to her. It grabbed her wrist and as it kissed her hand, the door began morphing into a human boy! His dark brown hair, his green clothes, and his smile showing his clean teeth.

“Interesting what I can do, huh Rachel?” said Terrance. But instead of winning a chuckle from Rachel, she just slapped him in the face! “Ow! What the heck was that for?”

“Making me believe that you were a live door that wanted to hurt me!” Rachel shouted, “Why do you keep doing this to me?”

“I thought you would laugh at it!”

“So I should laugh at your joke after thinking one of those doors would’ve closed shut and lock you in forever? You’re unbelievable!”

“Oh, pardon me for trying to lift up your mood after thinking that about me!” Terrance yelled, “I take that you think fighting bad guys is all in fun for you no matter where you go instead of being relieved to take a breath.”

“I don’t like fighting because I end up hurting a lot of people whether or not they deserved it! You think I wanted to fight ghosts in here?”

“You tell me.”

“Fine. I hate fighting ghosts, I hate hurting people, and I do enjoy a quick breather when I get the chance! Does that satisfy you?”

“A bit I guess, but that still doesn’t recover my face from you slapping me!”

“I guess red isn’t really you favorite color?”

“It isn’t. I hate red! And I don’t really like that color on you!”

“What’s wrong with me wearing red?”

“It’s too mature for you unlike you’re attitude!”

“Aw! I’m immature? You’re the one scaring me half to death with your disguises! And as I recall, psychics tend to become more psycho in the noggin’!”

“Look who’s talking!”

“You-You son of a-”

“Enough!” shouted Yen Sid. “I am not likely, nor will I ever be, in the mood to see you two rant and bicker over such nonsense! This is not the time for it nor should it ever be!”

“Yeah, we’ve still got to see Retlaw and find out what’s going on.” said Mickey, “You think you two could just shake hands and let it go?”

“…Fine, fine.” Rachel and Terrance said together.

“But I’m not shaking his hand.” said Rachel, “I don’t think anyone wants to know where it’s been.”

Terrance growled and almost ripped out his hair with rage before Yen Sid stopped him.

“Alright then. Let us be going now.” said Yen Sid.

Everyone walked up to the real door that would lead into the mirror room. This will become of moment of truth for everybody, both the group and Retlaw. Finding out what will happen will definitely unlock the secret to Retlaw’s identity and what his deal is after almost half a century! Just as Terrance was to open the door, a voice came within the other side saying, “I only want Rachel to come in alone first.” It was Retlaw’s voice. Why would Retlaw only want Rachel first? Rachel was too upset to think it over since Terrance kind of flipped her top.

Rachel enters through the door to the mirror room. It was dark and it was almost a little nerve racking. The only light she sees are the fires from the torches that hung on the wall with a large mirror in between. But that wasn’t the only thing she sees. A dark silhouette stood in front of the mirror. Retlaw began to speak.

“I’m impressed with your tactics. You’ve improved.” said Retlaw, “Either that or perhaps I didn’t push you hard enough.”

“Retlaw, what’s the big deal here?” Rachel asked, “Last night, you invite me to dinner and now today you try to keep me and everyone else out!”

“I didn’t intend on keeping you out all the time. I needed to keep everyone other than the ghosts that live here out of the mansion until I was ready to tell you all what was on my mind.”

“Is that exactly what you did earlier today?” she asked, “The same way you did to Yen Sid and poor Mickey? What exactly did you show Mickey that time?”

“Something that should have been since the time I first came here.” he answered, “Something I should have told you last night. Let me tell you a history lesson. Once upon a time, I was once a man with great magic and I used it to spread happiness to the world and bring families together. But more than anything, despite what I was able to do, I was a family man. I was a father to two beautiful girls will still always be my little girls. I had a lovely wife and a wonderful family. I had almost everything going my way. However, the strike my company once had became one of the most crucial and tragic moments of my life. It was the longest running strike in the history of business. The strike had been nothing more than a slap in the face for me after all the accommodations I had given them out of the goodness of my heart. It got put to rest after all those weeks, but I lost that battle. It changed a whole different perspective on things in my company. But all in all, my whole mortal life had been nothing but an adventure! In every way, I’ve wished I could’ve quit my bad habits and lived longer to see everything else happen. But that was before I realized I could…for a price I wasn’t so aware of. I’ve had certain quotes you probably know of today. Because of one certain quote I’ve said, I died and remain here alone today in this world while my family got to go up to heaven without me. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy living here with my Disney character family and I feel regretful for sending Mickey and Yen Sid away like that. My little Mickey Mouse. He’s always been my pride and joy next to my family and if Olin or anyone else ever laid a hand on him, I’d never forgive myself. Not that I’ll be able to forgive myself for hurting him all on my own.”

“…Retlaw, how long did you say you’ve lived here for?” she asked.

“For forty-five years.” he answered.

“And what would you say who long it’s been since Walt Disney died?”

“That was also forty-five years ago.”

“Then tell me something about Walt: Where is he?" Retlaw didn't say another word to the girl, which made her say, “…You’re him…aren’t you?”

Retlaw turned and walked to Rachel slowly. He shook at every step. He was scared and so was she. Retlaw stared at her scared brown eyes and he felt her cheek. Could Rachel be dreaming? The hand that’s touching certainly did feel like a hand that belonged to a father, but not her father. The man’s eyes behind the mask looked straight at her without them tilting in any other direction. She has never met those kinds of eyes, but she knew of them and they only belong to one man. Realization washed over her like a tidal wave.

“It really is you, isn’t it?" she said.

“You want to see for yourself?” he asked.

Rachel lifted her hands just slightly and slowly until she finally had the courage to bring them to Retlaw’s mask. She untied the ribbon that held the mask in place and pulled it away from his face. Her eyes widened, her breath was quickening, and her mouth dropped at the sight. The face she was seeing before her was one so recognizable even a baby could memorize it. He had brown hair, his mustache was not so thin nor bushy, his eyes were light brown like hers, his haircut looked like he just got out of the barber shop and his eyebrows looked very well animated enough. He looked young, but living after his death could not betray him of his age. The words ‘no, it can’t be” echoed in her mind, but she could no longer deny seeing who she is seeing. It couldn’t be true, but it is. It was him!

“I am Walt Disney.”