Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
"Some may think the rain is a sign of bad fortune, but I think it's a blessing," The King said, smiling at his wife comfortingly. The Queen nodded and placed her hands in her lap, "I know it is a blessing. But, that doesn't mean it isn't frightening."
The King, with a concerned glance, patted her, "Don't worry. The rain cannot harm you. You're perfectly safe with me. Soon, we'll be in the palace and you won't have to worry anymore about it."
The Queen still looked really scared, so the King hugged her close, "Look, whenever you see the rain or think of the rain... Just let me drift into your mind. I'll never let anything happen to you."
The Queen nodded and smiled, "Thank you, Mickey. That's what I'll do."
"Promise?" The King asked with a smile.
"Promise," she said.
"Your Majesty!" Someone knocked on the carriage from the forward end. It was the driver. "Your Majesty! There's something in front of us! It looks like somebody's being attacked! Shall I stop the carriage?"
"Yes! Immediately!" The King said in earnest reply. The carriage rolled to a stop, and the King flung the door open wide. Before the Queen could protest, the King closed the door and was off along the dusty road.
From what he could see, it looked like heartless. They were attacking someone on the ground. With a sudden burst of speed, the King summoned his keyblade and leapt forward - eliminating the heartless with just a few strokes. Then, he knelt down and inspected the injured being. It was a rabbit - about the same size as him, but he looked dirty and beaten up.
The King signaled for the guards to come forward, "Get this individual into one of the carriages, please. When we arrive at the palace, I want you to escort him to the infirmary. He needs immediate medical attention."
Arriving at the palace, the guards carried the very injured rabbit to the infirmary.
The Queen grasped Mickey's arm, "What happened? Who is that?"
Mickey shook his head slowly and patted her hand, "Don't fret. I think it's just a lone traveler that has lost his way. Once he's nursed back to health, we'll ask him a few questions." With the rain still pouring down into the courtyard, the King and Queen walked into the palace without another remark.
The next day, the King and Queen were in the palace library, when a guard knocked upon the door.
"Come in," The King said, laying a book on the table.
The guard entered, saluting, "Your Majesty, our guest is now fully awake and functional."
The King nodded, "Please send him in."
After a minute or two, the doors swung open and their guest, the rabbit, walked through the doors.
He looked a lot better from the last time the King set eyes on him. With a bow, the rabbit said, "Your Majesty, I am honored to be in your presence. My name is Oswald - Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, if you please."
The King nodded, "Nice to meet you Oswald. Please, have a seat."
They both sat down and the King offered, "Do you need anything? Anything at all?"
Oswald shook his head, "Nothing of the sort, Your Highness."
"Alright," He said, "So, how did you come to be attacked by the heartless, Oswald? Where did you come from?"
"That's actually what I'm trying to figure out, Your Majesty. I don't know which world I came from or how I got to be here. All I know is that I'm a mercenary."
"A mercenary? And, you have no idea which world you are from?"
"No, not at all. And, I need employment. I have nowhere else to go."
"Well, I could offer you an entry into my military here if you would like. At least until you figure out where you came from."
"Oh, that would be great! I appreciate it, Your Highness! Thank you!"
"You're welcome, Oswald, but don't forget that you're still a guest of mine. All of the residents of this castle are. I treat each and every one with equal respect. We work together in one big community here. So, don't be shy if you need something, okay?"
"Most certainly. Thank you very much." Oswald said, getting off his seat and walking to the door. Before he left, he turned around and said, "Umm, Your Majesty, if you would be so kind as to have someone give me a tour of the palace - I would greatly appreciate it."
The King got up off his seat, "Of course." He motioned for Donald to walk forward, "Donald, could you please give our friend a tour of the palace?"
Donald harumphed, "Why me?"
The King replied with a glower, "Donald..."
With a sigh, Donald walked forward and motioned, "This way." Oswald smiled at Mickey, "Thank you." With that, Donald and Oswald left to tour the castle.
"Curious character, isn't he?" Minnie said, stepping beside the King.
"He just wants to be familiar with his surroundings. I don't blame him. I would want to be, too, if I was in his position. It's also beneficial for being a mercenary as well."
"True," Minnie said and then walked to Daisy, Donald's wife, "Shall we go take a walk in the courtyard, Miss. Daisy?"
Daisy smiled, picking up her cup of mint tea, "Yes, I would like that very much, Queen Minnie."
The King watched them take their leave and then decided to finish his studies. After a few hours, the King walked out and decided to circle the perimeter of his castle. The day was rather nice. The birds were chirping and the sun was shining brightly. It was the kind of day that made you want to go have an adventure of some sort in a far away land.
"This castle is rather large," someone said behind the King.
Mickey turned around to see Oswald standing there. The King nodded, "It sure is."
Oswald smiled disarmingly and picked an apple from an overhanging tree out the window and polished it on his arm, "I would imagine... it has many secrets within? Hmm? Am I correct?"
"What do you mean?"
"Secret compartments... rooms... stories, perhaps?" Oswald said, taking a bite from the juicy apple.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Oswald, but that knowledge is classified."
"Ah, no biggy. Sorry for intruding. I was just curious. This palace of yours is so large and beautiful. What I wouldn't give to own something of such a vast value..."
The King shook his head, "It's alright. And, thank you. This castle means a lot to me, but the people who dwell within mean a great deal more."
"Understandable," Oswald said, tossing the apple core out the window. "I don't know how you handle it all. I mean, you must get attacked by jealous clans. This castle's beauty is hard to surpass."
"No, not at all. The only ones that would dare to attack us are the heartless. But, they're kept away."
Oswald was quick to respond, "By what?"
The King smiled whimsically, "That's also classified."
There was a long pause before Oswald said, with a laugh, "Oh, I get it. You don't trust me."
The King's brows pulled together thoughtfully, "No, it's not that I don't trust you, Oswald. I'm just looking out for the safety of my people - my kingdom. Surely you can understand that I cannot just give out secrets to any old passerby that resides in my castle."
"That's wise of you, Your Majesty," Oswald said, "I can tell you're a noble king. From the moment I set my eyes on you, I knew that you were... inimitable... Where did you come to be so wise?"
"That would be my master, Yen Sid. He taught me everything I needed to know about being a king and the ways of the keyblade."
"I see. And this keyblade... I bet you're very skilled in wielding it."
"I have to be. If I wasn't, I wouldn't be able to protect the castle if there ever was any attack."
"But, there won't be... Because of a certain thing of which you will not tell me?"
"Yes, something, anonymous, is protecting the castle. It would be irresponsible of me to give the information out to just anybody."
Oswald smiled and sauntered away, "Maybe in time you'll learn that you can trust me. Cheerio, Your Majesty!"
The King watched him turn the corner and then languidly walked into the throne room of the castle.
Later that night, when everyone was resting, a disturbance woke the King up. He heard some sounds outside his room and decided to investigate.
Silently, the King opened the door and took a peek outside. Someone, dressed in black garments, was moving about the hallway like a shadow. It looked as if he was looking for something based on the fact that he was knocking on panels of the wall and touching different objects. Mickey opened the door and the intruder stopped. "Who are you? What is your business here?"
Without responding, the shadow took off down the narrow stretch of hallway. The King took off after him in pursuit, but the shadow was just as swift and agile as the King.
With a sudden turn of speed, the figure jumped out the window into the black night. The King looked out the window, but there was nothing to be seen. Had the intruder fallen, he would've ended up in the courtyard; however, there was no sign of him. Just then, somebody said, "What's going on, Your Majesty?"
Mickey turned to discover Oswald, standing there with a look of concern.
"Somebody was here. I didn't know who it was, but they took off and I chased him. He jumped out this window and disappeared."
"Shall I arouse the guards and search the castle?"
"Yes, please do. I will not have any sense of danger threaten my kingdom. But, please try to keep this quiet. I don't want anyone becoming afraid over this."
"Most certainly, Your Highness. Right away."
"Wait," the King said.
"Yes?"
"What are you doing awake at this time?"
"Oh, sentry duty! Gotta have someone walking around the perimeter to keep a tab on things, right?"
"Are you the only one on sentry duty?"
"No, I believe there are a few others."
"Okay," the King said with a nod. "You may go."
With a nod, Oswald walked down the stairs and was lost to sight. The King stared out the window once more and narrowed his eyes, looking down into the courtyard. Who was this infiltrator? What did he want?
LOOK FOR PART 2 COMING SOON...
Any hurtful comments, opinions, or jests will be reported if necessary. This is my fanfiction, which I write freely.
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