CHAPTER 1 - Chapter 20

Minnie, from her cage, could see them approaching, fast down the river. At first Minnie wasn't sure what it was, but as it drew closer, her breath caught.

For on the river, heading straight for them, was the original, uncorrupted Steamboat Willie, moving in, creating a a large wake of water in its wake (for redundancy's sake).

And climbing up behind the wheel was Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.

Oswald took his place to address his crew, a small assortment of brave toons from the reaches of early cinematic history, ready to take on the menace to their legacy that was The Mickey Mouse.

Oswald took a deep breath and began. "I know our time in the Public Domain hasn't always been easy, abandoned by our Copyright holders, cast out to face whatever whims the world has put upon us, but I've learned over the past few... days?(" Actually, he'd quite lost track of how long this story had been going on, and I, as the author certainly am not going back to check, I got better things to do like write this next Chapter. ")...That it's not all darkness that awaits us on this other side. I've been able to make friends and acquaintances on this journey I'd never have been able to under Copyright, explore worlds beyond my own; You Wobbly, and my Good Friends Minnie Mouse and Felix the Cat," He took off his h̶a̶-̶ ears in a moment of silence - Fanny and Sadie grabbed eachother's hands in their newfound sisterly solidarity - "But there is a friend who is still in trouble in that Screamboat over there who I am not going to turn my back upon. We have come here today to write a new story, one where we get a chance to choose the outcome." He took a breath, his voice going soft, "But we can't forget this is much bigger than that, for it is time not just to reclaim our legacy in the Public Domain, but also a friend: Mickey Mouse."

Truer words had not been said, and a cheer rose upon that boat that day; even the horrible Pete the Cat had found the heart to support the Mouse he had tormented so dear, raised a fist and gave a loud bellowing holler!

With all being said, Oswald turned back to the wheel and pulled a lever. "Full steam ahead," he said quietly, allowing the nervousness he felt built up inside to show for just a moment.

Steamboat Willie flew down the river, hurtling toward Screamboat Willie. Oswald tapped his foot with nerves as he adjusted the wheel. He couldn't help but picture the Mouse at this wheel, could almost feel his presence, just as he had been 95 years ago at the beginning of their world, whistling his tune like there wasn't a care in the world.

Oswald felt a smile rising on his mouth. That was who they had been, hadn't it? Jolly, free-roaming souls, the entirety of cinematic history laid out before them, open to become whatever they made it to be. That history had been set, but there was still the future, as open as a book as ever, an endless frontier, ready to be shaped by the decisions of today.

He felt Mickey's tune turning contagious, felt himself whistling along. At first it started weak, unsure, but started to grow strong with certainty as the merriness of the rhythm began to overtake him; Oswald the Lucky Rabbit as unrestrained as he had been in the days of old.

And so he stood at the Wheel, a mirror image of the Mickey who used to be, whistling to the Steamboat Bill melody, a new battle cry careless and free; nothing was going to hold this cartoon back, not even a horror; the world had become his oyster.

...

Or something else that conveyed a more pleasant image than what an image of an oyster conveyed. I dunno, perhaps Oswald liked Oysters. Didn't matter, the oysters in this river were about to hear the performances of a century.

Oswald finished his verse and turned back to his crew, full of energy, "All together!"

And they did, each and every one of them, voices rising as one, the tune of Steamboat Bill reverberating upon the river in a collective cheer, all standing for the future of the mouse whom they believed could overcome the darkness aiming to consume him.

There was definitely a lot of fanservice going on here. Too bad you can't hear it; if this was a movie, the whole theater would be cheering with overwelting happiness :)

Over across the river, Minnie, sitting in her cage, felt a tear building in her eye. It was unlikely they were even aware she was still alive, but there support for the one she loved filled her with a hope she hadn't had since she had awoken in this cage.

But that spark of hope was perhaps a little too premature, because that hurtling Steamboat was hurtling awfully close, and it didn't seem to have any intent on slowing.

It was a bold move, a beautiful move, but it was a deeply flawed move all the same. Oswald could see how little he had thought this through far too late; the Screamboat was mere meters away. Stopping his whistling in horror, he tried to pull the break, but there was no stopping this ship.

And then the dread of instant regret filled him.

Minnie's eyes went wide with panic; gripping the sides of her dangling cage, she braced herself for impact.

Nothing could prepare her body for the shock of the deafening CRASH!