The sun shone through the trees, and the sound of birds chirping could be heard overhead. A chipmunk was sniffing around the ground, looking for acorns, when suddenly, a trio of lights appeared before him. He let out a high pitched squeal as he ran for cover and watched from inside a bush as three creatures emerged. One appeared to be a yearling buck, with small horns atop his head and a mop of bushy hair between them. The others appeared to be a duck and a turtle, but something about them seemed slightly off. The chipmunk thought for a moment and took off. There was someone who needed to hear about this.
"Wow, look at us," said the buck, looking his companions over.
"This again? Does this mean there aren't any humans on this world?" asked the duck.
"It kinda seems that way," said the turtle.
"I wonder where 'here' is," said the buck.
"Well, let's look around," said the turtle. "Maybe we'll find someone."
"Good idea," said the buck.
The three struck out along what seemed to be a trail leading through the woods. Before long, however, they were greeted by a voice from within the trees.
"Halt!"
The trio turned to see a brown-furred stag approaching them. As he came closer, the three noticed an almost regal air about him.
"Who, may I ask, are you?" asked the stag.
"Well, we're not from here," said the young buck. "We're just –"
"Wait," the stag interrupted, "your voice – I know you."
"Ya do?" asked the turtle.
"Sora? Donald? Goofy?"
The trio looked shocked.
"How do you know us?" asked the duck.
"It's me, Bambi," he replied.
The three stood still for a moment before rushing up to the stag and tackling him. Laughing together, the four toppled over, sending up a shower of fallen leaves.
"Wow Bambi," said Sora, butting him playfully, "you've really grown."
"Well, it's been over a year since I saw you guys last," he replied, getting up, "but what are you doing here?"
"Well, we've been trying to find Riku and King Mickey," replied Sora. "Have you seen them?"
Bambi shook his head.
"Can't say I have," replied Bambi. "But you know who might know? Friend Owl. Hardly anything happens in the forest without him hearing about it. Come on."
The four trotted off through the forest. As they went, a number of other animals came out of their burrows to greet them.
"Good morning, young prince," said a mother quail, as she passed in front of the group.
"Good morning, miss," replied Bambi.
The four watched as the mother was followed by a line of chicks. Sora turned towards the larger deer.
"Prince?" he asked. "As in, you're a ruler now?"
"Yep," Bambi replied, "well, I will be when my father passes on the title. Though that won't be too long, it's customary for the prince to pass on the title when his son takes a mate and sires a fawn. And I've already got the first part down."
"You what!" asked Donald.
"Yeah, her name's Faline," said Bambi, a dreamy look passing over his face.
"Okay, there," chuckled Sora, nudging his friend, "you're taking us to Friend Owl, remember?"
"Oh, heh, right."
The four continued on, until a large grey rabbit hopped out into the path.
"Hiya, Bambi!" he exclaimed.
"Thumper! How are you, friend?" he asked.
"Never better, and who are these?" he asked, referring to the off-worlders.
"Guys, this is my best friend, Thumper, and Thumper, this is Sora, Donald, and Goofy."
"Oh yeah, I've heard about you guys," replied the rabbit.
"I hope that's a good thing," said Donald.
The others chuckled.
"We're on our way to see Friend Owl," said Bambi. "Care to come with us?"
"Sure, but let me check with the wife first," he replied, before dashing off into the thicket.
"People sure grow up a lot faster around here," thought Sora.
His thoughts turned to Kairi for a moment, wondering where she was, before Thumper returned.
"We're good to go," he said.
It was not long before they came to a clearing. In the center was a rather large tree with a hole a good ways up the trunk.
"Friend Owl? Hello?" called Bambi.
"Oh, what is it?" said a sleepy voice from the inside.
"It's Prince Bambi," he called. "Please, I need to speak with you."
A head poked over the lip of hole. The drowsy looking owl yawned.
"So it is," he tiredly pulled himself onto a limb. "What can I do for you, young prince?"
"Friend Owl, these are my friends, Sora, Donald, and Goofy. They're looking for a couple of their companions."
"Have you heard of anyone seeing a guy named Riku, or King Mickey Mouse?" asked Sora.
The owl sat for a moment, deep in thought. He then looked back at the others.
"I'm sorry, but I don't recall hearing anything like that," he said, apologetically.
He saw the others dejected looks.
"Though, I have heard about some strange creatures in the woods," he continued.
"You have?" asked Donald.
"Yes, they look – like that!"
The owl pointed behind them, and the animals turned to see a Heartless sitting near the entrance to the clearing.
"Heartless!" cried Goofy.
"Oh no!" exclaimed Bambi. "Not here!"
The Heartless sank into the ground and scuttled away from the group, out into the forest.
"Come on!" called Sora, as he rushed out to follow the creature.
Bambi turned to Thumper as Goofy and Donald took off.
"You'd better go get your family somewhere safe," he said, "and warn the others. Those things are dangerous."
"Okay, Bambi," replied the rabbit.
"And Thumper? Check on Faline for me, please? I don't want anything to happen to her."
"You got it, pal."
With that, the rabbit took off through the underbrush. Bambi paused for a moment, before taking off after Sora and others.
"Wait for me!" he cried.
Bambi caught up with the others just as the first Heartless emerged from the trees. The buck rushed it with his antlers, skewering the creature. Donald held his staff in his webbed feet, casting lightning, ice, and fire this way and that. Goofy was bounding around, thwacking Heartless with his shell, surprisingly spry for a turtle. Sora held his keyblade in his mouth, slashing at the dark creatures as they fell from the trees. Bambi saw one come up behind him and lashed out with his hooves. The Heartless dissolved in midair, and it was not long before the entire swarm was gone.
"I fin' das da ras o' den," said Sora, his keyblade still clinched his teeth.
"What?" chuckled Bambi, as the keyblade faded in Sora's mouth.
"I said, I think that's the last of them," he said. "Boy, I miss having hands."
The others chuckled.
"Come on," said Bambi, "we'd better go check to see if everyone's okay. If I remember right, those things can be pretty dangerous."
"You can say that again," replied Goofy, as they headed back through the forest.
The quartet stopped at dozens of places. The occupants of dens, burrows, nests, and thickets came out to greet them and assure their prince that they were alright. Finally, they came to a particularly large thicket.
"Hey guys," said Bambi, "I want you to meet Faline."
"Sure Bambi, we'd love to," replied Sora.
Smiling and nodding, the stag made his way into the thicket. There was a moment of silence, before Bambi started calling out.
"Faline?" he cried. "Faline, where are you?"
"She's not here?" asked Donald.
"No, she isn't," replied Bambi, emerging from the brush. "I wonder where –"
"Bambi!"
The four turned to see Thumper rushing towards them.
"Thumper, what is it?" asked Bambi.
The rabbit ground to a halt, his breath coming in gasps.
"Those creatures…they got Faline," he gasped. "I'm sorry, Bambi."
