It was quiet in the bayou as the sun slowly rose, but the peaceful silence was soon shattered upon four new arrivals. "Where are we?" Sora wondered as he looked around before noticing something different, everything around both Sora and Riku are a lot larger than usual– even Donald and Goofy. Goofy's entire body has been transformed into that of a terrapin turtle, with the exception of his head wearing a light green hat, while Donald has the most subtle change of all four of them. Looking down to see their webbed hands, Sora and Riku realized that they have been turned into frogs. The two frogs looked back at Donald– only for the mage to shake his head to deny using any magic, "Well, look on the bright side, Sora– You can be able to get first place in standing long jump." Riku stated with smirk and a teasing hint in his voice. "Real funny, Riku!" the brown frog said before a scream filled the bayou air.

~~~KH~~~

(Cue in combat theme: "Friends on the Other Side")

The four travellers tensed up as they quickly realized where the sound came from, "C'mon!" Sora decided to jump over Riku as they ran toward where the scream came from. As they got close to the bayou's shore, they quickly noticed a female frog trying to fight off the gators as she tried to work on a raft– only the gators' skin are darker than usual and they have blood red eyes, along with a symbol that cause the two frogs to realize that they're no ordinary gators. "Shadowrupt." Riku recognized before he and Sora leaped in between the female frog and the gators, "Stay back." The silver frog warned as the two frogs summoned their Keyblades and the duck and turtle summoned their weapons. The female frog nodded before hopping off.


(INFORMATION: Defeat all of the Shadowrupt!)

One of the gators tried to snap its jaws at Goofy, only for the knight to quickly draw in his head and legs and spun out of harm's way– only to get slapped away by the tail. While the Shadowrupt was distracted by Goofy, Sora did a few good combos before freezing its jaws. The coldness of the Blizzaga is effective enough to weaken the gator– enough for Goofy to spin at the Shadowrupt's side, reducing it to the black dust. Riku landed a couple combos on the second gator before it spun around, sending the two frogs flying. Without thinking, Riku whipped out his long tongue; and hitting the Shadowrupt in the head– stunning the Shadowrupt as stars began to circle around its head. "I got it!" Donald shouted as he cast Thundaga on the dazed gator, casting it into oblivion. Focusing on the last Shadowrupt, the four visitor surrounds it with Donald freezing its tail with a Blizzard spell before Goofy spun into it– shattering the ice and weakening it. Sora perform an Icebreaker attack on its jaws to further weaken it while Riku slid beneath the gator's belly and finish the job with a Shadowbreaker attack.

~~~KH~~~

("Friends on the Other Side" fades)

The two frogs, duck, and turtle have dismissed their respective weapon when the female frog came out of hiding and approached them, "I don't know where y'all came from, but I appreciate it." She said before noticing the damaged raft. "If only those gators hadn't ruined the raft…" The two frogs noticed the raft, realizing that some of the damages were from them when they were fighting the Shadowrupt. "We can help you, if you'd like." Sora offered, surprising the female frog. "Well, that's mighty swell of y'all…" she started before trailing off, realizing that she didn't catch their names when they fought the gators off. "I'm Sora." The brown frog introduced himself when he realizes it, as well. "And this is Donald, Goofy, and Riku." He gestured the duck, turtle, and silver frog, respectively. The female frog smiled, "I'm Tiana. And thanks again for the help." She said as she hopped over toward the raft.


It has taken a few minutes before the raft was repaired, "I thought the gators were gone when those three came by just as I was finishing the raft. Who knows what would become of me if y'all hadn't come by when you did." Tiana said, "Although I've never seen any gators like those, before." She added; saying her thoughts out loud. "Well, we're just glad you're okay." Goofy replied before Sora helped Tiana tighten a knot. "Tiana, did you see any other Shadowrupt around here?" he asked, confusing the female frog a bit. "The gators that attacked you…" Riku explained, only for Tiana to shake her head. "'Shadowrupt?' Is that what they're called? I don't think there are any others…" she answered before pausing a bit, "I figured there's something not normal about those gators… In fact– I thought those gators were something the Shadow Man had conjured." This confused the four visitors.

~~~KH~~~

"'Shadow Man?'" Donald asked, "He's a witch doctor that specializes in voodoo– and the reason why we're frogs." She explained. Seeing that her audience were– more or less– tilting their heads in confusion, Tiana continues. "I'm actually a human." This surprises the four visitors a bit, "Riku and I are human, too." Sora stated. Tiana looked at the two frogs, "I'm guessing y'all been messing with the Shadow Man as well?" she asked. "Actually, we're not exactly sure how we got turned into frogs." Riku stated, causing Sora to get an idea on how they were in their current form. Tiana look a bit before smiling a bit, "Perhaps y'all can come along." She said before grabbing an acorn nearby. "But first, we have to get Prince Naveen up…" she mostly said to herself before throwing the acorn, it sailed through the air before entering a knothole in a nearby tree– gaining an "Ow!" a brief second later. "Wow! She's got a good arm, there." Sora whispered to Riku, only for Tiana to hear the brown frog. "Thanks." She smiled before calling out, "Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty! The gators are gone."


Another frog peeked out, still half-asleep, "We gotta get back to New Orleans and undo this mess YOU got us into– Along with these poor gentlemen, here." Tiana said as she got herself a stick to paddle the raft with before gesturing to Sora, Riku, Donald, and Goofy. "Well, I was not the one parading around with a phony-baloney tiara." The frog prince said as he hopped on to the raft before snapping off a twig with a web on it and begin strumming on it like a ukulele, "Music to paddle by." Sora looked at Riku, causing the latter to shrug before hopping onto the raft with Sora riding on Goofy's shell as the turtle and duck swim along the raft. The female frog looked back at Naveen as the silver frog grab a stick to help her paddle the raft, "We could use a little help." Tiana said to the strumming frog as Sora, Donald, and Goofy decided to push the raft from behind, causing the frog prince to stop strumming and look at her surprised. "Oh! I will play a little louder." He said before playing an upbeat tune, causing Riku to turn around to face the prince. "I don't think that's what she–" he stop short when he notice a pair of eyes poking up from the water behind the raft, "Sora!" the brown frog looked back in time to see the snout emerge and make its way for the raft. Tiana looked back to tell the prince "How about a little less picking and a–", only to let out a gasp. As the creature opened its jaw, it came to realize that this is a real gator!

~~~KH~~~

"Look out!" Sora called out as it get ready to swallow the frogs, duck and turtle, Donald and Goofy got out of the way with their weapon drawn. A frightened prince grabbed Tiana and shielded her as Sora and Riku hopped in front and summoned their Keyblades, ready to fight off the gator with Donald and Goofy. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" the gator backed up a bit, "Didn't mean to scare y'all, but I know that tune! 'Dippermouth Blues!'" it then pulled out a trumpet and begin playing the same upbeat tune. Realizing that the gator hold no threat, Naveen dropped Tiana. "Play it, brother!" he then grabbed his twig instrument and start playing along; "Oh, yeah!" Sora, Donald, and Goofy began to dance as the duet continues. Riku helped Tiana up as the two frogs, duck, and turtle are enjoying the presence of the music-playing gator, with Naveen hopping onto the creature's head as their duet ends. The gator then spun the frog prince around as the latter befriend the creature, "Where you been all my life?!" the gator exclaimed as it set Naveen down. "Where did you learn to play like that?" the frog prince asked, amazed by the talented creature. "Why, the bayou's the best jazz school in the world– All the greats play the riverboats." The gator said before sighing, "Louis would give anything to be up there, jammin' with the big boys."

~~~KH~~~

Hearing this, Sora hopped over towards Louis. "Hey, you should go for it– If it's what you've been dreaming about, you should follow it." The brown frog said, "Yeah!" Donald agreed. "You are really good." Goofy added, "They make a good point, my friend. So why don't you?" the frog prince asked. "Oh, I tried once. But… it didn't end well." Louis answered, causing Riku to imagine what exactly happened as Tiana round up the others. "It has been a real pleasure meeting you, Louis. And thank you kindly for not eating us, but we best be on our way." She said as the resume with their journey on their raft, surprising the gator. "Where y'all going?" Louis asked, "To find somebody to break this spell." Tiana said, confusing the gator even further. "What spell?" he asked, "Brace yourself, my scaly friend. We are not frogs. We are humans." Naveen told the gator.


"Wha–" Louis burst out laughing, "Y'all serious?" he asked. "I am Naveen, Prince of Maldonia." The frog prince introduced himself, "I'm Sora. And this is Riku, Donald, and Goofy." The brown frog said before respectively gesturing to the silver frog, duck, and turtle. "And she is Tiana, the waitress." Naveen continues as he mentioned the female frog before leaning towards the gator, "Do not kiss her." Tiana caught what the frog prince had said, and stopped paddling. "Now, just a second." She began, "This goon here got himself turned into a frog by a voodoo man, and now–" Louis dropped his trumpet and tensed up. "Voodoo?! You mean like the kind Mama Odie do?" he asked, confusing his audience. "Mama who-dee?" Naveen asked, "Mama Odie– She's the voodoo queen of the bayou. She got magic and spells, all kind of hoodoo." Louis explained, amazing his audience– They need to get to Mama Odie in order to turn back into their normal selves. "Could you take us to her?" the four frogs, duck, and turtle asked at the same time, earning a gasp from the gator. "Through the deepest, darkest part of the bayou? Facing razor-sharp pricker bushes and trappers and hunters with guns? No." Louis then plopped down under the tree and began playing a soulful tune on his trumpet.

~~~KH~~~

"Gawrsh, what should we do now?" Goofy wondered in a whisper, "We need to find Mama Odie to turn us back into our original form." Riku stated. "I'm sure Nyra can kiss you back into your true form, Riku." Sora teased, causing the silver frog to turn pink. "I would say the same for you with Kairi." The Keyblade Master countered, causing a light pink blush to faintly dust across the brown frog's face; "What I'm saying is that this 'Mama Odie' sounds powerful– and she may know where we can find Nyra." Even though Tiana and Naveen didn't know what the four were saying, Naveen smiled and walked past. "Watch and learn." He said as the frog prince approached the gator, "Louis, it is too bad we cannot help you with your dream. If only you were smaller, less toothy, you could play jazz to adoring crowds without scaring them." Louis stopped playing at the last part. Naveen continues, "Anyways, enjoy your loneliness, my friend. Abinaza." And with that, the frog prince return to the others for the gator to think. "Cute, but it's not gonna–" Tiana began as Riku watched the gator's face, "Three…two…one…" he quietly counted down to himself as Louis got up and approached the group as Naveen stopped the female frog and pointed back at the gator behind them. "Hey, guys! I just had me a crazy idea! What if I ask Mama Odie to turn me human?" Louis said, getting excited. "Louis! You are a genius!" Naveen replied as he grabbed Tiana's hand and hopped onto the gator's head, "Hallelujah!" Louis celebrated as he jumped into the water before turning his attention the quartet.

~~~KH~~~

(Cue in field theme: "Down in New Orleans")

Noticing a few chests, Sora and Riku hopped over and opened them. The large one that Riku opened contained a map of the bayou, "This might come in handy…" the silver frog thought to himself as he and Sora finished opening the chests before approaching the gator. "We'll head out to Mama Odie whenever y'all ready." Louis stated before the two frogs, duck, and turtle climbed onto the gator's back. "All aboard the 'Gator Express'! Next stop, Mama Odie!" and with that, Louis begin swimming off.


New Orleans: Firefly Glen

As they journey through the bayou, the quartet learn of Naveen's lifestyle and plan to marry Tiana's friend, Charlotte La Bouff– along with Tiana's dream of owning a restaurant. "So this restaurant of yours, is it going to have étouffée?" Louis asked Tiana, "Jambalaya, gumbo– it's gonna have it all." The female frog replied. "I've always wanted to try red beans and rice, muffulettas, po'boys–" The sound of a stomach growling filled the air, causing the company to look at Sora. "Sorry… All this talk about food has gotten me a bit hungry." The brown frog said, rubbing the back of his head with embarrassment. A second and third stomach growls that occurs a few seconds later came from Donald and Goofy, respectively. "Stop, Louis." Naveen then turn to the gator, "You two are making me so very hungry– along with some of our friends, here." A swarm of mosquitoes flew past, causing the frog prince's tongue to flick a bit. "Interesting." Naveen then hopped off the Gator and began swimming stealthily toward the swarm, "What are you doing?" Tiana asked– only for the frog prince to shush her. "You are frightening the food." He whispered before trying to use his frog tongue to catch one of the insects in the swarm he stumbles backwards, "This is harder than it looks." Naveen said with a laugh before getting up and trying again on a mosquito on a small branch– only for his tongue to latch on to the branch instead, causing the branch to breaks off and hit him in the mouth.

~~~KH~~~

Tiana brought her hand up to stifle a giggle when a firefly flew by and landed on a nearby dandelion, causing her tongue to get that same reaction. "What?! Oh, no. No, no, no. There is no way I am kissing a frog and eating a bug on the same day." Sora noticed Tiana's dilemma and hopped over, "You all right?" the brown frog asked– only to narrowly avoiding the persisting frog tongue. "Sorry," the female frog helped Sora up before catching her tongue, causing Riku to quickly take notice of Tiana's situation and hopped over to sit her down onto a log away from the dandelion. "Tiana, I noticed a couple berry bushes back there– are they edible?" Riku asked; remembering the same berry plants, Tiana nodded. The silver frog then turn to face Sora, "We'll bring some back to you, Tiana." The brown frog offered as Riku get Donald and Goofy. The female frog smiled gratefully at Sora's and Riku's gestured, "That's very sweet of y'all. Thank you–" her tongue began to react again. "Please, hurry!" she said in a muffled voice as she tries to keep her persisting tongue contained. No sooner the two frogs have left to get the berries with Donald and Goofy, her tongue began to react more persistently. "No! No, no." Tiana said as she feel herself being dragged toward the dandelion.

~~~KH~~~

Naveen managed to free his mouth from the branch, only to notice a firefly sitting on a dandelion– the very same firefly. Failing to notice Tiana, Naveen closes in on the dandelion and shot out his tongue at the same time as Tiana– missing the firefly and ended up getting their tongues tangled with one another! The four travelers returned with an armful of berries for Tiana, only to see the sudden mess. "Hold still." The female frog said as struggles to get their tongues untied with the frog prince commanding her amid the struggle, "Stop moving! You are making this very difficult!" Sora, Riku, Donald, and Goofy rushed over to their side as Louis turn to company "Y'all find anything to eat yet?" he asked before trailing off upon seeing Tiana and Naveen tied up, "Oh, my… Hang on. Ol' Louis got it covered." The gator said as he tried to untie the two frogs– only to make it worst despite his good intentions. "No! Louis, don't!" Sora protested, "No, no…" Naveen pleaded in pain at the same time as Tiana's "Don't…"


By the time Louis set them down, Tiana and Naveen have a "rubberband ball" look– and even more tied up. "How's that?" the gator asked, causing the silver frog to facepalm a bit as he and Sora began to find this whole mess humorous. "This could be a little better." Tiana mumbled as Louis give a quizzical look, "You know what this needs? A sharp stick! Be right back." He said. The quartet looked at one another worried, but before they could stop Louis, the gator has already left. Tiana and Naveen began to struggle a little harder, "This is all your fault." The female frog told the frog prince. "My fault? My fault…" Naveen argued, "Let me tell you something. I was having a wonderful time until–"

~~~KH~~~

"Well, looky here!" a new voice rang up, causing the quartet to look back to see the same firefly that Tiana and Naveen tried to catch fly past them and approach the tangled frogs. "Girl, I guess you and your boyfriend got a l'il carried away. Am I right?" the firefly asked, causing the Tiana and Naveen to deny at the same time. "Oh, no, no! He's not my boyfriend!" Tiana said at the same time as Naveen's "Do not be ridiculous! I am the Prince of Maldonia!" Riku hopped over to the firefly, "Tiana and Naveen kinda got their tongues tied up– and a friend tried to help, only he end up making it worse. So would you mind–" He said before the firefly interrupts the silver frog. "Just let me shine a l'il light on the situation." He grunted, trying to turn his light on– only for it to flicker for a brief second before going dim as the firefly broke wind by accident. "'scuse me." The firefly sheepishly smiled, "One more time now." He tried shaking his butt, resulting a flash before dimming out again. The firefly sigh as he twist his rear end like a lightbulb; and sure enough, that did the trick with his light glowing radiantly.

~~~KH~~~

"That's more better." He said satisfied as he fly closer to the tangled frogs and noticed how uncomfortable Tiana looked. "It's okay, baby. I don't explode me. I ain't no firecracka! Just got my big butt glowin'! That's right! Women loves a man with a big back porch!" The firefly then noticed how tied up they are, "Lord… You ain't kiddin'. That friend of yours done this up real good, for sure." He stated to Riku as he flies around before noticing the tip of someone's tongue. "Now where this go to at?" the firefly muttered before grabbing it and flying it toward Sora. "You mind holdin' this while I find the other end? On my signal, pull on it." Sora reached out and hesitantly grab onto it, "Whose is it, anyways?" the brown frog asked– but the firefly already flown over to where Naveen and Tiana are. "Hang on, Cap'. Just gonna give a l'il twist here." He said before squeezing himself in between the two frogs, "We're gettin' to know each other now!" the firefly whooped from the inside before his light seeped out though the frogs. Riku can hear the firefly singing a tune, "Won't you catch a fish? Catch one, catch two. We're back in the bayou 'round fishin' time." As the firefly finishes his song, he emerged again with another end of the tongue. "Okay! Pull now." Sora pulled on his end the same time as the firefly, causing Tiana and Naveen to let out a yelp as they fall apart– free from their tangled state. The second Sora identified the tongue he's holding, he dropped it as the firefly let go of the other tongue and brushed his hands.


(Cue in "Laughter and Merriment")

"It's 'bout time I introduce myself." The firefly said before using his light to spell out his name, "My name Raymond, but everybody call me 'Ray.'" "I'm Riku. And this is Sora, Donald, and Goofy." The silver frog introduced himself before he gestured respectively the brown frog, duck, and turtle. "Pardon me, but your accent…it's funny, no?" Naveen pointed out, but the firefly doesn't seem offended at all. "I'm a Cajun, brah– Born and bred in the bayou." Ray said with pride, "Y'all must be new 'round here, huh?" "Actually, we are from a place far, far away from this world." Naveen said as he pick himself up onto his feet. "Go to bed! Y'all from Shreveport?" Sora and Riku looked at each other in confusion, what kind of world are "Maldonia" and "Shreveport"? "No, no, no. We are people." Naveen corrected.

~~~KH~~~

"Prince Charming here got himself turned into a frog by a voodoo witch doctor." Tiana explained, gesturing to Naveen. "Well, there you go." Ray said as the frog prince give off a careless shrug and smile, "And we were on our way to Mama Odie's. We think maybe she–" The firefly flew over toward the female frog, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Mama Odie?" the firefly asked, causing Tiana to nod. "Y'all headed the wrong directional, Chère. Now what kinda jumble-head told y'all to go this away?" he asked just second before Louis returned, "I found a stick!"

~~~KH~~~

("Laughter and Merriment" fades)

Everyone looked at the gator before Tiana folded her arms in a way that reminds Sora of his mom when she was about to give a lecture. "Louis… Ray here says you've been taking us in the wrong direction." She confronted, causing Louis to drop the stick and chuckle nervously before stuttering on his excuse. "I was– Listen, I was confused by the topography a-and geography… and the choreography and photography–" "Choreography is dancing, Louis." Sora corrected, "Yeah. And photography is taking picture." Goofy added as Ray flies over to Tiana and Riku, "First rule of the bayou– never take direction from a gator." He whispered before bring his hand up to whistle. "Why, me and my relationals will help show y'all the way." Ray offered as thousands of shining fireflies begin to fill the dark, bayou air. "Ashidanza…" Naveen exclaimed in wonder, "Whoa…" Sora breathed as Ray flies over to a group of fireflies, "Hey, Cousin Randy! You ready for a l'il bayou zydeco?" he asked before picking up his instrument. "Ready when you are, Cousin Ray." One of them replied before the four fireflies begin to play an upbeat tune, causing the fireflies to form a line and make their way through the dark bayou– lighting a path. "C'mon, y'all! Just follow the bouncing butt!" Ray called before joining the line, causing the party to follow the light.


New Orleans: Dr. Facilier's Voodoo Emporium

(Cue in "Villains of a Sort")

A man dressed as the witch doctor hesitantly approached the masks, "Friends, I know I'm in hock with y'all pretty deep already. But it seems our little 'Froggy Prince' lost his way, and I need your generous assistance getting him back." The masks scowl, causing the man to laugh. "I hear you! 'Now, what's in it for y'all?'" he pull out a little voodoo doll as he continues, "Well, as soon as I dispose of Big Daddy La Bouff and I'm running this town," he laughs maliciously as he replace the doll as he conjures the image of New Orleans, "I'll have the entire world in the palm of my hand– along with other countless worlds with the help from the Heartless; once we find the Twilight Princess, as well. And while the Heartless feast on the hearts 'til they're content, you'll have all the wayward souls your dark l'il hearts desire."

~~~KH~~~

As he blew across the 'worlds', images of souls flies towards the masks who breathes it in– while the Heartless that the witch doctor has conjured tries to desperately and greedily claw at the illusions of the hearts that separated from the souls. "Y'all love that, don't you?" he said with a laugh before brushing his hands together, "So, we got ourselves a deal?" the mask looked at one another before the largest one opens its mouth, unleashing demonic shadows as the man conjure up more Heartless. "Now we're cookin'! We're gonna find ourselves a frog!" He said eagerly, "Search everywhere! The bayou, the Quarter–" the witch doctor turn his attention to the Heartless. "Bring him back to me alive! I need his heart pumpin'… for now. Allez! Tout de suite!" And with that, the shadow demons slink away to begin their search with some of them following the Heartless into the bayou as the latter uses the scent of Naveen's heart as their guide.

("Villains of a Sort" fades)