“I DON’T MEAN TO BE RUDE,” said Zeke as he stepped up to Mattie, “but this entire arrangement is being made on your behalf. We’ve all gone to a great deal of trouble to rescue you. And yet, here you are, in no need of rescue. I, for one, need an explanation—and possibly, along with my friends here, an apology.” He motioned to the league of Disney characters.

Mattie’s lips parted, her mouth opened, but before she could speak a word, she just shook her head and stepped through Zeke like a phantom. The man spun around, brushing his front as if he’d spilled something down himself. He looked thoroughly and utterly confused and frightened.

“Sorry,” Mattie said. “It seemed easier to show and not tell.”

“You too?” Nick said, hurrying over to her.

“I’m in there,” Mattie said, pointing to the Tower. “My real self.” She took in all the characters, astonished and impressed, and asked Nick, “Why are they here?”

He explained the plan to her.

Mattie addressed Mickey and Cinderella, and spoke reverently. “I don’t think I can even explain how I’m feeling right now, but I want you to know I’m a huge fan.” She gave them a wide, warm smile, and then turned so everyone could hear her. “Of all of you! I can’t believe you would do this for me.”

“For you and for Mr. Garlington!” Mickey said.

Mattie looked quizzically at Nick, who said, “I’ll explain later.”

Mattie’s DHI went solid as she hugged Mickey. She curtsied—quite well—to Cinderella, who nodded at her regally. “Again,” she said, “thank you all for being here.”

After a short huddle between Zeke, Mattie, and Mickey, the plan was settled. Mulan, Flynn, and Kristoff, along with Dillard and Nick inside, would divide into two teams.

Mattie pulled Zeke aside and explained. “The Barracks Fairlies’ leader, a guy named Humphrey, assigned me to…” She didn’t have time to explain her ability. “To ask Kim Irvine for the location of a park master key.”

“She won’t tell you that.”

“I can be persuasive. Let’s leave it at that. I was being watched, monitored, but I managed to let her know what I was doing—who I was doing it for. I assume she let Joe know and that’s why you’re here.”

In fact, Mattie had reached the thought, planting it into Kim Irvine while simultaneously reading the woman for the location of the park’s master key. “She knew someone was going to try to steal it. The attempted theft was prevented, and security might have caught the Barracks Fairlie, except it was Minara, a shape-shifter who turned herself into a snake and got out of there before they figured out what had happened. Are you following this?”

“I am. You provided inside information and someone you’re calling a Barracks Fairlie nearly got caught.”

“I’m being heavily supervised. They can’t prove that I had anything to do with Minara almost getting caught, but they’re suspicious. They don’t want to let me leave the tower, even for work. If I escape on my own it will look one way. If someone rescues me, it’s something different. That’s about all I can say.” Mattie pointed to the Tower of Terror. “And that’s why you’re here—at least I think so.”

“You’re in trouble,” Zeke said, “and Joe wants you back.”

“The thing is, you won’t catch all of them. No way. They’re Fairlies. It’s not going to happen. I think Joe’s probably using characters to help out so that it doesn’t look like security is involved. He wants it to look more organic.”

“I wouldn’t know about that,” Zeke said.

“Look, Joe doesn’t know what he’s up against. These particular Fairlies have been brainwashed, the same way we all were, but even more so. They’ll hurt the characters, maybe worse. Mattie noticed a change in the man, the look of a major realization overtaking his face. “Something I said?”

“The Disney characters will guard the exit and entrance. That’s all. That’s how Joe wanted it. Nick’s assigned to find you and get you out.”

Mattie nodded thoughtfully.

“You have a problem with that,” Zeke said.

“Joe sent Dillard’s DHI as backup. That tells me he knows it’ll be rough going for Nick. I want out of there at some point, don’t get me wrong! And Joe wants it to look like two of my friends are trying to rescue me. I get that.”

“But…” Zeke said.

“But it’s dangerous.” Mattie hung her head. It wasn’t a move she’d modeled for the computers, so the motion was jerky and disconcerting to Zeke. “I have another plan, the only real way I think we can stop these guys. And yes, I need to be rescued in order for it to work.”

Mattie paused, thinking of Nick. He was a little too animated for her liking. She understood that being in the presence of real, living Disney characters—ones that walked, talked, and were now joining him as allies in a possible confrontation with wayward Fairlies—was a lot to process, especially for the first time. He was bubbling over, running at the mouth like a rock star’s fangirl.

It made sense. This was Nick, a boy who’d devoted years to researching the threat posed to Disney by the Overtakers and Amery Hollingsworth. Nick, who now realized the stories were true. In his time working with the Keepers, he’d met some mean kids inside Cars Land. But Mickey Mouse? Anna? Not the costumed variety, but the real things?

Mattie excused herself and moved over to Nick. “Are you sure you’re up for this? You look a little freaked-out.”

“A little freaked-out? Yeah, for sure. But I’m okay,” Nick replied. “Zeke gave me this lecture already.”

“It’s not a lecture. The Fairlies in there,” Mattie said, “I know what they can do. It’s weird but extraordinary stuff. Like being a supernaturally fast runner. There’s a kid who can overheat energy sources, like lightbulbs. Explode them. They’re freak shows. I oughta know. But remember, Nick, most of their abilities are more thought than action. I’ve never fought them. I wouldn’t want to. If they try to fight, distract them. Their abilities require extreme concentration. Don’t give them any time for that.”

“If that was supposed to be a pep talk, it failed miserably,” said Nick.

“I’ve got this,” said Dillard, listening in. “I can do what he can’t.”

“What makes you think so?” Mattie asked.

Dillard waved his arm. It swiped through Mattie’s hologram.

“That’s nice at parties, but it won’t help Nick unless you can channel it. Look,” she said, “the giant spider that messed up everything over by Thunder Mountain? That was a girl named Minara. The shape-shifter. The blackout in Tomorrowland? Santiago, the one I was telling you about, the guy who can mess up energy sources. Fairlies don’t do party games. Jess, Amanda, and me, when we were at Barracks 14, we knew the grown-ups were lying to us. They said we were under government observation. Sure! I’m sure they made it all up, made so many of us feel special. Made us feel important to someone. Anyone.” She paused and took a deep breath, her eyes suddenly distant and searching. “Somebody tell me this: Why do we always want to be different? What’s so special about that? Because I’m telling you, when you’re as different as I am, all you want to be is like everyone else.”

Then Mulan moved toward them with the gracefulness of a dancer. “We are all set,” she said.

“Getting in there won’t be easy. They have guards posted all over the place,” Mattie said.

“Nick?” Zeke asked. “Any secrets about the ride?”

“Sure, but you’re not going to like them,” Nick said. “Have any of you heard of the pit?” He won blank stares from the group. Addressing Dillard, he asked, “Can holograms climb?”

“Light as air, fast as light,” Dillard said, beaming.

“Yeah? Well, not me,” said Nick. “I’m going to need some help.”

“Why?” Mattie asked.

“There are cameras all over the place, including the elevators, and a security room with a bunch of screens on the ground floor.”

“These Fairlies will know that,” Mattie said. “They’ll be monitoring.”

“Exactly! The stairs are out because of cameras. And anyway, the doors on the ground floor are locked,” Nick said.

“So?” Mattie was clearly annoyed with Nick. “There is or is not a way in?”

“Fun fact: the doors on the upper balconies are not locked.”

“And you know this for sure?” Zeke asked.

“I do. One of our two teams can get in by climbing the outside of the Tower to a balcony. The other team…it’s a little tricky, but doable. I’ll take that group.”

Mulan spoke up. “Kristoff and Dash will join us. This gives us both speed and strength. And I will have my bow,” she said, reaching over her back and hoisting up her weapon.

Zeke touched her bow in wonder, but then motioned her to put it away. “No one is shooting anyone tonight.”

Mulan seemed disappointed. She signaled Kristoff and Dash, who both joined the group.

Mattie focused on Zeke, who looked at Nick. “We need two plans,” Zeke said. “Two teams. If we fail, it puts Mattie—the real Mattie—at serious risk. Divide and conquer. Double our odds.”

Nick blinked and swallowed. “Mattie, I’m going to need some insider information. Fairlie stuff.” He took a deep breath. “You’re not going to like this.”