HOME | DD

Description
Ghosts of Oswald's Past
3. Freedom of bondage

The sun rose on a very cloudy day. Dark clouds rolled up above Ostown. Mickey stared up at the clouds as he waited for Ortensia to finish dropping off the Bunny Children at Clairibelle's house. He sighed as he thought about the day before.
" She is so much like Minnie. She worries about others. She's worried about Oswald, I wonder is Minnie is worried about me," he said to himself. Suddenly, Ortensia came up quickly.
" Sorry it took so long, the kids wanted to come with us but I convinced them to stay until we came back home," she said, catching her breath.
" It's okay. I had plenty of time to think about things at home while I was waiting," Mickey said, smiling a little.
Ortensia giggled," Well, lets go. At least the projector screen is operating here."
Gus appeared in front of them." Hello you two. I'm glad to see that you had a good nights rest," he said.
" We did," Mickey said.
" Well, the projectors are working again so we can easily get to Mickeyjunk Mountain. It took some work due to thinner damage," Gus explained.
" Come on, lets go. If Oswald is there, we have to hurry," Ortensia sighed before jumping into the projector screen.
" I take it she didn't sleep well?" Gus said, looking over at Mickey.
" She did. She's just really torn up over her husband being kidnapped," Mickey said to the gremlin, then he jumped into the projector screen
" So I see," Gus muttered before following the two into the screen.
On the other side of the projector screen, the storm had already broken and rain was poaring down. Ortensia had already take an umbrella out of her purse.
" Need one?" she asked Mickey and Gus.
" No thanks, I got a poncho," said Gus putting on a yellow poncho.
" I don't need one. I need a full range of mobility. Now lets go," Mickey said, as he headed off toward the base of the mountain.

The Mad Doctor watched the monitors all trained on the show room floor. He cackled as he couldn't wait to make Mintz dish out some strict punishment on Oswald. However, he was too preoccupied with his next evil move, he neglected to looks at the monitors at the base of the mountain. If he had, he could have had time to deploy the beetleworx, or use the lazer cannon, or deploy the trap doors. But he was too busy cackling at his evil scheme, like all cartoon villians are apt to do.

At the top of the stairs, the three were exhausted.
" You'd think they would put an elevator in this mountain," Ortensia panted.
" Or build everything on the ground floor," Mickey sighed.
" I think we should go out there," Gus said, pointing to a door.
The three toons walked over to the door. The second Gus opened the door, they were hit by a gale. It sent the flying back and the door stayed open because of the wind, which slowly died down to a mild gust.
" We arn't going out there, are we?" Ortensia asked.
" We havn't looked inside yet," Gus said, agreeing.
" No, we have to look out there first. I have a strong hunch that is where Oswald is," Mickey said defiantly. Ortensia and Gus groaned, but followed after Mickey all the same.

Oswald swung his sword at the Beetleworx, and sent it flying. It hit the wall and went limp. The sword was snapped in half. ' Cheap plastic' he thought exhaustedly. He was about to go have a seat when he was halted by the shout of the director.
" Oswald, stay where you are," said the mesured tone of Mintz. Oswald froze in a heartbeat.
After getting out the door, the three toons moved quickly behind the rows of camera equipment and crates of cables. They ducked down behind a row and peeked out over the crates.
" Look! There is Oswald," Gus said quietly. The tall figure in the suit stormed over to the rabbit who was petrified to his place.
" Oswald, what did I say about missing your mark yesterday?" Mintz growled.
" Not to miss it again, sir," Oswald whimpered, trembling.
" Yes, and you know what happened?" Mintz growled, picking Oswald up by his ear," You missed you mark by two seconds."
" I'm sorry, sir. I won't miss my mark again," Oswald whimpered.
" Maybe I wasn't clear the first time, Oswald. I think you need to be taught another lesson," Mintz growled.
" What can we do?" Ortensia whimpered," We can't let him beat him again."
" What we need is a plan," Gus said.
Suddenly, Mickey jumped over the crates and ran at the tall figure.
" Mickey, wait!" shouted Gus, but Mickey didn't hear him over the sound of the rain and wind.
" I warned you about missing your mark, Oswald! You know what comes ne-" Mintz growled, but he was knocked off his feet as Mickey plowed into his legs. Mintz dropped Oswald and the rabbit fell onto the ground, landing on his stomach.
Oswald picked his head up off the ground and looked back as a small shadow fell over him. The owner of the shadow had bright yellow shoes, red shorts with white buttons, and large round ears on top of his head. For a moment, Oswald didn't know who was looking down on him.
" Mickey?" he asked feebly, trembling from the cold and from fear.
" It's okay, brother. I'm here now," Mickey said, kneeling next to the fallen king. A sudden groan and a large shadow falling upon him made Mickey turn and stand. There stood Charles Mintz, his face twisted with rage. Lightning flashed and thunder rolled all around them. Mickey stood his ground, and he stared at the tall figure in the rain soaked suit, his red tie flapping in the wind.
" Get out my way, Mouse," Mintz growled.
" Mickey, please leave. He'll hurt you, little brother. Please," Oswald begged weakly, his voice trembling with fear. Mickey didn't move.
" Then I'll move you myself," growled the man.
Mintz came forward, reaching out for Mickey. Suddenly, Gus popped up behind him and with a mighty swing, clobbered Mintz in the right side of the head with his wrench. The tall figure collapsed to the ground. Mintz was down, but not out. He started to get up.
" Get out of here, Oswlad. I'll take care of him," Mickey said to the trembling rabbit.
" No! You can't beat him! He'll tear you apart!" Oswald whimpered. Rain mixed with his tears, and the bandages on his ears started coming off.
" I'm not going to let him hurt my brother," Mickey said, dragging the rabbit to his feet.
" But your my little brother. He'll hurt you worse than he did me," Oswald groaned, struggling to stand.
Gus appeared alongside and wordlessly helped the rabbit along. Meanwhile, Mintz had gotten up. Mickey took a look at the tall imposing figure and gasped. Oswald and Gus looked up and were just as shocked.
The right eye had shattered, revealing an robotic eye behind it, that glowed an angry red. Mintz growled low at them.
" He's a animatronic," Gus said quietly. Mickey just stood to face the tall figure.
" Come on, Oswald. The show must go on," Mintz growled, but it no longer sounded like the man who had tortured Oswald. It sounded like an electric hair clipper that had learned to talk.
" He's not going anywhere, you don't own him anymore," Mickey said defiantly.
The robot growled, and in a couple step he reached down and grabbed Mickey off the ground by his neck. Mintz held the mouse, at arms length, up a good three feet off the ground.
" I told you to stay out of my way," Mintz buzzed.
Mickey's face started to turn blue as the robot tightened it's grip. He struggled to get free from the tightening grip, but his strength was quickly running out. He gave a kick which hit the robot in the face, tearing some of its rubber skin off. The flap of torn rubber flapped down to reveal part of a metal skull beneath.
Suddenly, the robot fell to the ground as something hit its right leg, releasing it's grip on Mickey's neck. Mickey fell to the ground the same time as the robot. Gus flew in and helped the mouse to his feet.
" Get off me," Mintz buzzed. Oswald stood on the robots chest, glaring at it. It was hard to tell if he was crying or not cause the rain made that impossible. In his clutched hand, he held tightly on the Gus' wrench.
" I'm going to do something I should have done some time ago," the rabbit growled out. He swung the wrench, meaning to bury it in the robots face, but Mintz put up a hand and blocked it. The wrench instead buried itself in the left shoulder of the robot. An audible metallic crunch could be heard. Oswald let go of the wrench and gave some hard punches to the the robot's chest, a very perceptible dent forming. Oswalds rage and misery had mixed into a volitile cocktail that fueled his attack. Suddenly, the robots right hand slapped Oswald away, making him fly across the floor. Ortensia immediately ran to Oswalds side.
" Oswald! Sweet heart, are you okay?" she asked. Oswald gave a nod, suddenly he noticed the robot was charging toward them.
" MOVE!" Oswald shouted as he pushed Ortensia out of the way. He barely got out of the way himself as the robot charged past them. The robot didn't stop however, it charged right through the wall, leaving a nice Mintz-shaped hole. Mickey and Gus joined their side, staring at the hole in the wall. Suddenly the wall next to the hole exploded out. Mintz now looked totally different.
The force of running into the wall had torn almost all of the rubber flesh from the Mintz robot. The only flesh remaining was on the left hand and on the right foot, still in a polished leather shoe. The robot growled and charged at the four toons. If it had made it to the four, it might have knocked them all over the side of the mountain, and been splattered on the ground below. But the rain on the wet floor made for poor traction.
The Mintz robot slipped on its metal left foot, and fell to the ground. It slid along the ground, toward the four toons. Oswald and Ortensia leaped one way, Mickey leaped the other, Gus flew up, out of the way. As the robot came to a stop, it tried to get up.
" Who said you could get up?!" Oswald shouted as he charged forward and gave the robot a hard kick, sending it skidding along the floor to the edge. The robot slid over the edge and held on with it's right hand. It was trying to pull itself back up. Mickey stood above it, his foot on the robots left hand. Oswald joined his side, and looked down at the robot that had been his "owner" his torturer.
" Kick him off, Oswald!" shouted Ortensia.
Mickey moved his foot over and Oswald placed his foot on the robots hand, next to Mickeys. The two looked at each other and they kicked kicked the robot off the edge. Oswald watched as it faded from view in the mist. A very satisfying crash issued from below. Oswald then turned, then walked off toward the lab.
" Someone built that robot, and I have a good idea who," he muttered angrily.

The Mad Doctor ran down the stairs as quickly as he could. His plan had failed again. he had to escape the inevitable wrath of Oswald the rabbit.
" It was good while it lasted," he said to himself. He was soon at the bottom of the stairs, at the bottom of the mountain. As he was about to get out the other side of the door of the room he was in, gremlins appeared from all over the Wasteland.
" GET OUT OF MY WAY!" the Mad Doctor shouted at the Gremilns. They just stood there and floated in front of him.
" You know, we havn't forgotten who put us in those glass cages," Apollo said.
" I say we put him in a glass jar and see how he likes it," Marcus said. All the other gremlins agreed.

" I'm going to tear him apart!" Oswald raged as he stormed down the stairs. Mickey, Gus and Ortensia were far behind him.
" Your hurt, Oswald! Calm down before you do worse damage to yourself!" Ortensia shouted after him.
" She's right! Stop before you hurt yourself!" Gus shouted.
Oswald was so angry, all his pain momentarily forgotten. His feet pounded down the steps, making them groan as the bolts holding them to the wall strained. At the bottom of the steps, Oswald stopped dead in his tracks. The other three ran into him, all four landing in a heap.
" Why don't you signal when you stop?" Gus muttered from the bottem of the pile.
There, the Mad Doctor was in one of the gremlin cages. He banged on the glass and cursed but the gremlins just giggled as he could barly be heard. Gus and Mickey started laughing as wel;.
" Hey look Gus, its a glass lamp with a dim bulb in it," chuckled Mickey.
" It's a pity it can't be replaced, it would look so good attached to the ceiling," Gus said, laughing a little as he talked.
Oswald picked himself off the floor and glared at the Mad Doctor. He took a couple steps toward it before pushing it over on to its side.
" Now you going to feel my pain and suffering," Oswald said flatly before spinning the cage around and around.
" Stop it! I'm going to be sick!" the Doctor screamed from inside. Oswald gave a smirk. Suddenly he froze up, his eyes bugged out, his mouth gapped open in what appeared to be a silent scream.
" Oswald? Honey?" Ortensia asked her petrified husband. Oswald suddenly went limp and fell lifelessly to the floor.
" OSWALD!" Ortensia screamed as she kneeled by the fallen rabbit. Gus flew in and felt his wrist.
" It's okay, he's alive. The pain must have made him pass out, surprising how he could last so long like this," Gus said gravely. MIckey kneeled down and cradled his brothers head in his lap.
" Is there a way we can get him home, gently?" he asked the gremlin.
" We'll need a streatcher. Marcus, Apollo, and I will find the materials," Gus said, before flying off. Mickey and Ortensia looked at the fallen king. Ortensia held his hand while Mickey held his head.
" If only we had been sooner," Ortensia weeped.
" He's tough. Older brother usually are," Mickey said. But deep down he was thinking the same thing.

Description
Ghosts of Oswald's Past
3. Freedom of bondage

The sun rose on a very cloudy day. Dark clouds rolled up above Ostown. Mickey stared up at the clouds as he waited for Ortensia to finish dropping off the Bunny Children at Clairibelle's house. He sighed as he thought about the day before.
" She is so much like Minnie. She worries about others. She's worried about Oswald, I wonder is Minnie is worried about me," he said to himself. Suddenly, Ortensia came up quickly.
" Sorry it took so long, the kids wanted to come with us but I convinced them to stay until we came back home," she said, catching her breath.
" It's okay. I had plenty of time to think about things at home while I was waiting," Mickey said, smiling a little.
Ortensia giggled," Well, lets go. At least the projector screen is operating here."
Gus appeared in front of them." Hello you two. I'm glad to see that you had a good nights rest," he said.
" We did," Mickey said.
" Well, the projectors are working again so we can easily get to Mickeyjunk Mountain. It took some work due to thinner damage," Gus explained.
" Come on, lets go. If Oswald is there, we have to hurry," Ortensia sighed before jumping into the projector screen.
" I take it she didn't sleep well?" Gus said, looking over at Mickey.
" She did. She's just really torn up over her husband being kidnapped," Mickey said to the gremlin, then he jumped into the projector screen
" So I see," Gus muttered before following the two into the screen.
On the other side of the projector screen, the storm had already broken and rain was poaring down. Ortensia had already take an umbrella out of her purse.
" Need one?" she asked Mickey and Gus.
" No thanks, I got a poncho," said Gus putting on a yellow poncho.
" I don't need one. I need a full range of mobility. Now lets go," Mickey said, as he headed off toward the base of the mountain.

The Mad Doctor watched the monitors all trained on the show room floor. He cackled as he couldn't wait to make Mintz dish out some strict punishment on Oswald. However, he was too preoccupied with his next evil move, he neglected to looks at the monitors at the base of the mountain. If he had, he could have had time to deploy the beetleworx, or use the lazer cannon, or deploy the trap doors. But he was too busy cackling at his evil scheme, like all cartoon villians are apt to do.

At the top of the stairs, the three were exhausted.
" You'd think they would put an elevator in this mountain," Ortensia panted.
" Or build everything on the ground floor," Mickey sighed.
" I think we should go out there," Gus said, pointing to a door.
The three toons walked over to the door. The second Gus opened the door, they were hit by a gale. It sent the flying back and the door stayed open because of the wind, which slowly died down to a mild gust.
" We arn't going out there, are we?" Ortensia asked.
" We havn't looked inside yet," Gus said, agreeing.
" No, we have to look out there first. I have a strong hunch that is where Oswald is," Mickey said defiantly. Ortensia and Gus groaned, but followed after Mickey all the same.

Oswald swung his sword at the Beetleworx, and sent it flying. It hit the wall and went limp. The sword was snapped in half. ' Cheap plastic' he thought exhaustedly. He was about to go have a seat when he was halted by the shout of the director.
" Oswald, stay where you are," said the mesured tone of Mintz. Oswald froze in a heartbeat.
After getting out the door, the three toons moved quickly behind the rows of camera equipment and crates of cables. They ducked down behind a row and peeked out over the crates.
" Look! There is Oswald," Gus said quietly. The tall figure in the suit stormed over to the rabbit who was petrified to his place.
" Oswald, what did I say about missing your mark yesterday?" Mintz growled.
" Not to miss it again, sir," Oswald whimpered, trembling.
" Yes, and you know what happened?" Mintz growled, picking Oswald up by his ear," You missed you mark by two seconds."
" I'm sorry, sir. I won't miss my mark again," Oswald whimpered.
" Maybe I wasn't clear the first time, Oswald. I think you need to be taught another lesson," Mintz growled.
" What can we do?" Ortensia whimpered," We can't let him beat him again."
" What we need is a plan," Gus said.
Suddenly, Mickey jumped over the crates and ran at the tall figure.
" Mickey, wait!" shouted Gus, but Mickey didn't hear him over the sound of the rain and wind.
" I warned you about missing your mark, Oswald! You know what comes ne-" Mintz growled, but he was knocked off his feet as Mickey plowed into his legs. Mintz dropped Oswald and the rabbit fell onto the ground, landing on his stomach.
Oswald picked his head up off the ground and looked back as a small shadow fell over him. The owner of the shadow had bright yellow shoes, red shorts with white buttons, and large round ears on top of his head. For a moment, Oswald didn't know who was looking down on him.
" Mickey?" he asked feebly, trembling from the cold and from fear.
" It's okay, brother. I'm here now," Mickey said, kneeling next to the fallen king. A sudden groan and a large shadow falling upon him made Mickey turn and stand. There stood Charles Mintz, his face twisted with rage. Lightning flashed and thunder rolled all around them. Mickey stood his ground, and he stared at the tall figure in the rain soaked suit, his red tie flapping in the wind.
" Get out my way, Mouse," Mintz growled.
" Mickey, please leave. He'll hurt you, little brother. Please," Oswald begged weakly, his voice trembling with fear. Mickey didn't move.
" Then I'll move you myself," growled the man.
Mintz came forward, reaching out for Mickey. Suddenly, Gus popped up behind him and with a mighty swing, clobbered Mintz in the right side of the head with his wrench. The tall figure collapsed to the ground. Mintz was down, but not out. He started to get up.
" Get out of here, Oswlad. I'll take care of him," Mickey said to the trembling rabbit.
" No! You can't beat him! He'll tear you apart!" Oswald whimpered. Rain mixed with his tears, and the bandages on his ears started coming off.
" I'm not going to let him hurt my brother," Mickey said, dragging the rabbit to his feet.
" But your my little brother. He'll hurt you worse than he did me," Oswald groaned, struggling to stand.
Gus appeared alongside and wordlessly helped the rabbit along. Meanwhile, Mintz had gotten up. Mickey took a look at the tall imposing figure and gasped. Oswald and Gus looked up and were just as shocked.
The right eye had shattered, revealing an robotic eye behind it, that glowed an angry red. Mintz growled low at them.
" He's a animatronic," Gus said quietly. Mickey just stood to face the tall figure.
" Come on, Oswald. The show must go on," Mintz growled, but it no longer sounded like the man who had tortured Oswald. It sounded like an electric hair clipper that had learned to talk.
" He's not going anywhere, you don't own him anymore," Mickey said defiantly.
The robot growled, and in a couple step he reached down and grabbed Mickey off the ground by his neck. Mintz held the mouse, at arms length, up a good three feet off the ground.
" I told you to stay out of my way," Mintz buzzed.
Mickey's face started to turn blue as the robot tightened it's grip. He struggled to get free from the tightening grip, but his strength was quickly running out. He gave a kick which hit the robot in the face, tearing some of its rubber skin off. The flap of torn rubber flapped down to reveal part of a metal skull beneath.
Suddenly, the robot fell to the ground as something hit its right leg, releasing it's grip on Mickey's neck. Mickey fell to the ground the same time as the robot. Gus flew in and helped the mouse to his feet.
" Get off me," Mintz buzzed. Oswald stood on the robots chest, glaring at it. It was hard to tell if he was crying or not cause the rain made that impossible. In his clutched hand, he held tightly on the Gus' wrench.
" I'm going to do something I should have done some time ago," the rabbit growled out. He swung the wrench, meaning to bury it in the robots face, but Mintz put up a hand and blocked it. The wrench instead buried itself in the left shoulder of the robot. An audible metallic crunch could be heard. Oswald let go of the wrench and gave some hard punches to the the robot's chest, a very perceptible dent forming. Oswalds rage and misery had mixed into a volitile cocktail that fueled his attack. Suddenly, the robots right hand slapped Oswald away, making him fly across the floor. Ortensia immediately ran to Oswalds side.
" Oswald! Sweet heart, are you okay?" she asked. Oswald gave a nod, suddenly he noticed the robot was charging toward them.
" MOVE!" Oswald shouted as he pushed Ortensia out of the way. He barely got out of the way himself as the robot charged past them. The robot didn't stop however, it charged right through the wall, leaving a nice Mintz-shaped hole. Mickey and Gus joined their side, staring at the hole in the wall. Suddenly the wall next to the hole exploded out. Mintz now looked totally different.
The force of running into the wall had torn almost all of the rubber flesh from the Mintz robot. The only flesh remaining was on the left hand and on the right foot, still in a polished leather shoe. The robot growled and charged at the four toons. If it had made it to the four, it might have knocked them all over the side of the mountain, and been splattered on the ground below. But the rain on the wet floor made for poor traction.
The Mintz robot slipped on its metal left foot, and fell to the ground. It slid along the ground, toward the four toons. Oswald and Ortensia leaped one way, Mickey leaped the other, Gus flew up, out of the way. As the robot came to a stop, it tried to get up.
" Who said you could get up?!" Oswald shouted as he charged forward and gave the robot a hard kick, sending it skidding along the floor to the edge. The robot slid over the edge and held on with it's right hand. It was trying to pull itself back up. Mickey stood above it, his foot on the robots left hand. Oswald joined his side, and looked down at the robot that had been his "owner" his torturer.
" Kick him off, Oswald!" shouted Ortensia.
Mickey moved his foot over and Oswald placed his foot on the robots hand, next to Mickeys. The two looked at each other and they kicked kicked the robot off the edge. Oswald watched as it faded from view in the mist. A very satisfying crash issued from below. Oswald then turned, then walked off toward the lab.
" Someone built that robot, and I have a good idea who," he muttered angrily.

The Mad Doctor ran down the stairs as quickly as he could. His plan had failed again. he had to escape the inevitable wrath of Oswald the rabbit.
" It was good while it lasted," he said to himself. He was soon at the bottom of the stairs, at the bottom of the mountain. As he was about to get out the other side of the door of the room he was in, gremlins appeared from all over the Wasteland.
" GET OUT OF MY WAY!" the Mad Doctor shouted at the Gremilns. They just stood there and floated in front of him.
" You know, we havn't forgotten who put us in those glass cages," Apollo said.
" I say we put him in a glass jar and see how he likes it," Marcus said. All the other gremlins agreed.

" I'm going to tear him apart!" Oswald raged as he stormed down the stairs. Mickey, Gus and Ortensia were far behind him.
" Your hurt, Oswald! Calm down before you do worse damage to yourself!" Ortensia shouted after him.
" She's right! Stop before you hurt yourself!" Gus shouted.
Oswald was so angry, all his pain momentarily forgotten. His feet pounded down the steps, making them groan as the bolts holding them to the wall strained. At the bottom of the steps, Oswald stopped dead in his tracks. The other three ran into him, all four landing in a heap.
" Why don't you signal when you stop?" Gus muttered from the bottem of the pile.
There, the Mad Doctor was in one of the gremlin cages. He banged on the glass and cursed but the gremlins just giggled as he could barly be heard. Gus and Mickey started laughing as wel;.
" Hey look Gus, its a glass lamp with a dim bulb in it," chuckled Mickey.
" It's a pity it can't be replaced, it would look so good attached to the ceiling," Gus said, laughing a little as he talked.
Oswald picked himself off the floor and glared at the Mad Doctor. He took a couple steps toward it before pushing it over on to its side.
" Now you going to feel my pain and suffering," Oswald said flatly before spinning the cage around and around.
" Stop it! I'm going to be sick!" the Doctor screamed from inside. Oswald gave a smirk. Suddenly he froze up, his eyes bugged out, his mouth gapped open in what appeared to be a silent scream.
" Oswald? Honey?" Ortensia asked her petrified husband. Oswald suddenly went limp and fell lifelessly to the floor.
" OSWALD!" Ortensia screamed as she kneeled by the fallen rabbit. Gus flew in and felt his wrist.
" It's okay, he's alive. The pain must have made him pass out, surprising how he could last so long like this," Gus said gravely. MIckey kneeled down and cradled his brothers head in his lap.
" Is there a way we can get him home, gently?" he asked the gremlin.
" We'll need a streatcher. Marcus, Apollo, and I will find the materials," Gus said, before flying off. Mickey and Ortensia looked at the fallen king. Ortensia held his hand while Mickey held his head.
" If only we had been sooner," Ortensia weeped.
" He's tough. Older brother usually are," Mickey said. But deep down he was thinking the same thing.