Chapter Text
It was a week after Valentine's Day. That late morning, I chose to go to my home's basement. I don't even remember exactly what brought me down there.
When I got there, it was mostly dark, with the exception of the single dim light by the staircase to the living room. Ahead of me were two curtains, gray in color, and I could barely see a door knob behind those curtains.
Curiously captivated by the oddity, I tilted my head. I let myself slowly walk closer to the sight. I soon reached out and got hold of the knob. It was definitely in the shape of Mickey's known emblem. Upon moving the curtains aside a little, I could then see that the door was almost completely gold. The patterns upon it were patterns I couldn't recognize. I was slightly hesitant.
I ultimately chose to let my curiosity get the better of me. I turned the knob as the door then started glowing a brighter gold color. I walked through the curtains and the newly opened doorway.
I suddenly found myself in this oddly dull room. There were wooden desks, almost reminding me of the specific desks from my science classes throughout middle and high school, and there were hardcover books placed almost freely on top of those wooden desks. There were some glass containers, almost like science beakers, as well as smaller journals. Then, there was the main desk, where a very special seat was placed. It almost reminded me of a royal throne chair. This entire new room looked almost familiar to me as I looked around. I even looked out the tall window past the right side of the main desk. I thought I recognized the outdoor environment….
A door quietly came open.
"Ah, Emily." A kind but deep voice noticed me.
I swiftly turned around, only to find the kind sorcerer in blue entering the room and placing his blue sorcerer's hat upon his head.
"M-Master Yen Sid….this is your place?" I guessed.
"This castle is where I reside, this room where I do my most important work. It seems to me like you've finally found the passage to it and me." Yen Sid confirmed.
"You mean that gold door in my basement?"
"Precisely. Once I learned about your moving into Mickey's hometown, I placed the door in your home. The easiest access I could give you whenever you need my help, or if you simply aim to visit." Yen Sid said as he sat down in his main chair.
"Wow….thank you, Master." I walked over to the desk, standing in front of Yen Sid, and I bowed respectfully.
"It is my pleasure, my friend. However, I am quite pleased you came. I was hoping you would."
"Why? Is something wrong?" I was more than willing to listen.
"No. There is just something you've yet to explore. Did Mickey ever tell you he has always been able to travel about the worlds of Disney?"
"He's mentioned it a few times, yes." I tilted my head a little.
"Now, you can, too. Originally, magical doors had been placed all over the town for Mickey to come through as he wishes. However, nowadays, there are so many, they could overtake the entire town. So, deep in a northern forest outside, there is a house filled with those magical doors to each and every world of Disney. You will reunite with old friends, make new friends, and see those worlds unlike any way you have before." Yen Sid explained.
"R-Really?...." I was increasingly intrigued.
"Why don't you go see for yourself? You have all the time in the world to do so, do you not?" Yen Sid suggested.
"I mean….I do. Thank you so much, Master." I bowed again. "I must be off, then."
"Happy travelling, Emily. I know you will have fun." He wished as I started heading back to the door I came through.
When I got back to my basement, I quickly covered up the door with the curtains like before, and I raced upstairs.
I was changed into a loose purple t-shirt, an unzipped red jacket over it, denim jeans, and my regular brown leather heeled boots.
I was soon out and about in the town of Hot Dog Hills. People were commuting about like usual.
"Okay, so the Master said something about a northern forest outside town….but which way is north?...." I was confused with my sense of direction.
I scratched the back of my head.
"Aw man…." I was a little embarrassed, to be honest.
"Oh! Emily!" I heard a woman's familiar voice call me out.
I turned, and I saw Clarabelle coming toward me.
"Oh, hey there, Clarabelle. What's up?" I asked her.
"Are you lost? You kinda look so." She asked, concerned.
"Well….yeah, I'm kinda lost. Which direction is north from here? I'm trying to find a certain forest I've heard about."
"Oh? Well, north is generally that way." Clarabelle pointed in the direction behind me. "That forest you mentioned isn't very far outside the town."
"Thanks, Clarabelle! You rock!" I then turned back around and ran in that given direction. After some running steps, I summoned my angel wings, and I took off.
"Gee, she's in a hurry. Wonder where she's goin'...." Clarabelle wondered.
It took me a little flying time, but I did eventually find a rather dark but very green forest north of Hot Dog Hills. I came down and landed with ease. And I walked around a little.
"Master Yen Sid also said something about this house or building that holds all those portals or whatnot…." I looked around the best I could, fidgeting with the hood laces of my red jacket.
It felt like an eternity of walking around in the cool forest, but it was very relaxing. All of a sudden, the path at my feet slowly started showing wisps of golden magical dust, much like my own magic. It caught me a little off guard, but I looked ahead…..
That was when I saw this huge and colorful house in the middle of the forest, surrounded by the magic dust, colored pure gold. I think the part of the house exterior that stuck out the most was the playful red roof. Just as red as Mickey's iconic shorts.
I slowly approached the house.
"This must be the place…." I thought out loud.
I came closer to the door, and it opened on its own, as if someone had answered and allowed me inside.
"Hello?!" I called as I slowly walked inside. "Anyone here?! Mickey?!"
Nothing. My voice only echoed through the house.
The interior was even more colorful than the exterior. It reminded me of childhood playrooms. There were some pillars that seemed to be filled with blue water, letting up some small bubbles and adding more interesting colors to the main room.
Awestruck, I just closed the door behind me, and I took some steps further inside. My heeled boots easily echoed with every step. It was actually calming for me to hear that.
A long flight of stairs then started forming from the same golden magic from outside, and they led up to the floor above.
"Wh-Whoa…." Increasingly awestruck, I slowly started going up those very stairs. They formed as I approached, all the way up to the second floor.
As I walked upwards, the ceiling suddenly expanded and opened up, revealing floors full of doors, all looking the same: a plain brown wooden door. That was the odd part for me. The rows and floors of doors spun as the ceiling was now expanded.
I came up to the second floor, and the spinning then came to a stop. Given they all looked exactly the same, I couldn't choose which one to get to at first.
I eventually found a random door, and as I approached, I could see that all of the doors had a doorknob the shape of Mickey's symbol. A black silhouette of his head, ears and all.
Once I touched this particular door knob, I watched it slowly change from this brown wooden door into these blood red curtains. The door knob even faded from my grip, replacing itself with the red fabrics.
I walked through the new passageway. As I did, my entire attire changed like the door itself.