Not waiting for the Heartless to strike first, the warriors jumped into the crowd of Heartless. Goofy's shield spun like a top, while Donald's magical lightning strikes sizzled through the air. Sora and Robin's blades sliced through the ranks, and within minutes, the crowd had dissipated. Sora sliced through the last one before breathing a sigh of relief.

"Let's get going," said Robin, throwing his disguise on once again, "before more of those things show up."

The four made their way around the town of Nottingham, delivering small bags of gold to the peasants. Sora's heart went out to these poor people. Here they were, with next to nothing, while their ruler had so much. Yet, the prince seemed to not be content until he had taken what little they had.

The last stop was a widow's home. As they approached, they could hear singing from inside.

"Sounds like a party in there," said Goofy.

"If I remember right, it is one of the young one's birthday today," replied Robin. "I think I'll surprise him."

Robin was about to start for the door when the sound of someone approaching could be heard.

"Hide," Robin whispered.

The others ducked behind a nearby log just as an overweight wolf approached the home, Robin entering the house a minute after him. They were a bit too far away to hear what was going on in the house, but the wolf left shortly thereafter, whistling a tune.

"Who do you think that is?" asked Donald.

The others shrugged.

Shortly thereafter, a few children emerged from the house and rushed off, one of them carrying Robin's bow and hat. Robin followed shortly after them. As he approached, he motioned for the others to follow him. When they reached the woods, they made for the hideout.

"So who was that wolf?" asked Sora.

"The sheriff," said the fox. "One of Prince John's loyal lackeys, he does most of the tax collecting in town. So, as you can imagine, no one likes him."

As the four made their way back to the bandits' hideout, Sora could not help wondering about the Heartless they had encountered.

"Who sent them?" he wondered. "Or did they come on their own?"


Later that day, Sora awoke from a nap to the smell of cooking. He yawned and sat up.

"Must have fallen asleep," he thought as he leaned back against a tree.

On the other side, he heard Little John and Robin.

"Hey lover-boy, how's that grub comin', man? I'm starved," asked Little John, his head buried in a basket of clothes.

Robins seemed to be ignoring him as he hummed to himself.

"Rob? Robin? Roberre? Hey!" Little John seemed to be getting irritated.

"Hey what? What did you say?" asked the fox.

Sora peeked around the tree, taking in the scene.

"Oh forget it, you're mind's not on food. You're thinking about somebody with long eyelashes, and you're smellin' that sweet perfume."

At that moment, an acrid smell entered Sora's nostrils, causing him to cough.

"Hey whoa! It's boiling over!" exclaimed Robin.

"You're burnin' the chow," Little John as he pulled the pot away from the flames.

"Sorry Johnny, I guess I was thinking about Maid Marian again. I can't help it. I love her, Jo–" Robin noticed Sora. "You heard that, didn't you?"

Sora nodded as the fox sighed. "Her name's Marian, the king's ward. She's been away in London for a long time, but…I've never stopped caring about her."

Sora placed a hand on the fox's shoulder.

"I know how you feel," he said.

"Hey, sorry to interrupt," said Little John, "but shouldn't your friends be back, Sora? They left to see there were any of those, er, Heartless, or whatever around."

"When did they leave?" asked Sora.

"Almost an hour ago," said Robin.

"They might be in trouble," said Sora as he rushed into the woods.

"Wait for me," called Robin, as he grabbed his sword and chased after the boy.

Within a few minutes, the pair could hear the sounds of battle.

"This way!" Sora exclaimed.

They crested a hill and saw Donald and Goofy surrounded by Heartless.

"Hang on, guys!" cried Sora.

He rushed down the hill, Robin close behind him. The keyblade and Robin's sword flashed through the air as they dove into the Heartless' ranks. To reach their friends, the pair stood back to back, becoming a whirlwind of blades. Magic, swords, and shields clobbered the Heartless.

As the last Heartless fell, Donald bent over, putting his hands on his knees.

"Thanks guys," he said. "They almost had us."

"Our pleasure," said Robin, as he threw the duck's arm over his shoulder, helping him up. "Let's get you two back to camp."

"I wonder where all these Heartless are coming from?" wondered Goofy.

"Knowing our luck," said Sora, "we'll find out pretty soon."

As the four arrived back at the hideout, they saw Little John talking with a plump-looking badger.

"Tuck!" called Robin.

The badger turned and waved to the fox.

"Robin, just the person I was looking for," he said. "And who are these?"

"Friar, meet Sora, Goofy, and Donald. Fellows, meet Friar Tuck, a good friend of mine and my eyes and ears in town."

"That I am," said the friar, shaking the adventurers' hands.

"So what brings you to our neck of the woods, friar?" asked Robin.

"Well, it's sure not your cooking," quipped Little John, handing out bowls of the newly salvaged stew. "If nothing else, they should arrest you for unnecessary roughness on vegetables."

The others laughed.

"Alright, laugh you lot, but there's gonna be a big to-do in Nottingham tomorrow. Prince John is holding an archery tournament."

"Archery?" asked Little John. "Ol' Rob could win that standing on his head."

"Thank you, Little John," replied the fox, bowing elegantly, "but somehow, I don't think we're invited." He accepted a bowl of stew from the bear.

"Yeah, well, there's someone who'll be very disappointed if you don't come."

"Uh huh," chuckled Little John, "old bushel-britches, the honorable sheriff of Nottingham."

"No," said Tuck, as he sipped at his stew, "Maid Marian."

Robin's bowl dropped to the ground as a shocked expression crossed his face. "Maid Marian!" he whispered.

"Yeah, hehe, she's gonna give a kiss to the winner," chuckled the friar.

"A kiss to the winner! Oo-da-lally!" His face became one of elation, as he leapt into the air and began to do cartwheels. "Come on, everybody, what are we waiting for?"

"Hold on, Robin," said Sora, concernedly. "Won't the prince's guards be all over that place?"

"You could get arrested," said Goofy.

Robin leapt onto a nearby platform. "Ah, but remember, faint hearts never won fair ladies." He drew his bow and fired an arrow.

"Fear not, my friends," he said as he let loose. The arrow ricocheted off a hanging pot and into the air. "This will be my greatest performance."

Robin tossed his hat into the air, just in time for his arrow to pass through it. It landed on his head as a grin crossed his face.

"Well, knowing Rob here," said Little John, "once he sets his mind to do something, he does it. No sense in letting him go off on his own."

"I'll help," said Sora.

"Count me in, too," said Goofy. "After all, what are friends for?"

The others turned to Donald, expectant looks on their faces. The duck slapped his hand against his forehead and dragged it down over his face.

"I just know I'm gonna regret this," he muttered.

Rousing cheers rose from the small crowd as they set about getting ready for their next adventure.