Man, this one seemed to take forever!
But, here you guys go; another chapter!
I don't own Kingdom Hearts or Thumbelina.
Sora, the adorable half-breed he was, was happy as could be. It was a nice day, and the wind was being kind to him. He felt it pick up, giving his wings a boost. He grinned widely and started to hum a bouncy tune.
"Help! Please, anyone!"
Startled, the half-breed flapped his wings, his arms flailing as he tried to stop in mid-flight. He looked around, trying to figure out where the cry of help had come from.
"Who…who said that?" he called out.
Hayner, the poor dear, turned his head up at the sound of a voice, then felt relief when he saw a young, male half-breed; a swallow with crazy, brown, spiky hair and large blue eyes. He looked similar to Roxas, in a way. He waved a hand wildly, finally catching the half-breed's attention.
"Hey, there you are! Thought I was only hearing things." Sora laughed, and dove down to land on a droopy reed.
"Man, I'm glad you're here. I need some help, and-"
Sora eyed this stranger in camo pants and a black shirt (which Madame Rosea had given him), wondering why he wasn't a fairy or half-breed of any sort, then thought it didn't matter to him. He wasn't a normal half-breed.
Hayner was trying his best to explain, as well as look this animal boy. He was defiantly a swallow, with large, pointed blue wings folded behind him. He wore a simple outfit of black pants and a red shirt, a little black jacket over it.
"So, what's the matter? Are you having a bad day?"
"Yes, if were listening!" Hayner sighed. "See, I was just sleeping in my house, in my own room, waiting for Seifer to come back." He slightly blushed. "He said he would come back before morning because he loves me and-"
"He said that he loves you?" the half-breed interrupted with a gasp, his blue eyes sparkling. "That's so sweet, congratulations!"
"Thanks. Well, he didn't actually say it, but I know he does." Hayner blushed harder, smiling. Then, it turned into a frown. "But I was fucking kidnapped by Madame Rosea, who says I have to marry her son! And I-"
"Ew! Toads are gross!" the boy exclaimed, interrupting again. He stuck his tongue out in disgust. "That sounds like an awful day…um, what's your name, by the way? How rude of me not to ask."
"Hayner."
"Okay! And I'm Sora! So, how can I help you?"
"Well, I'm stuck on this dumb lily pad 'cause I can't swim, and I wanna get off it. But…" Hayner gave a heavy sigh and sat down. "…that's impossible."
"Oh no, Hayner! Nothing's impossible!" Sora said brightly. "You just have to think positive!"
With a wink at Hayner, he dove off the reed and into the water. Hayner was thoroughly surprised, to say the least, and was about to stand up. Suddenly, the lily pad began to move with the water's current, making him stumble.
"Voila!" Sora said when he surfaced.
"Damn, that was pretty easy." Hayner said with a grin. He stood on shaky legs, barely able to balance himself. "Now I just have to reach the shore before those freakin' toads come back."
Hayner glanced around for something, anything to help him, and was glad to find a stick passing him in the water. He grabbed it, then proceeded to try and use it as an oar. Sora, meanwhile, had gotten out of the water and was standing on a reed, drying himself. He was happy that Hayner's bad day was starting to finally turn around. Something caught the half-breed's eye, and he turned with a gasp.
"You mean if you can reach the shore before you go over the waterfall?" Sora cried, pointing wildly.
"What waterfall?" Hayner asked, too focused on standing upright.
"That one!" Sora shouted, flapping his wings nervously as he tried to get Hayner to look ahead of him.
Hayner's head snapped up at the sound of rushing water up ahead, and he cursed. He could tell that this waterfall would be dangerous to even try crossing. His heart began to pound, and he used the stick to get it to go towards shore, but the current was now too strong, and it failed. Panic was now settling in, and he turned to Sora in desperation.
"Sora, what do I do?!"
"Hold on!"
The boy flew down and grasped the edge of the lily pad, then pulled, his wings flapping hard.
"I'm trying, but I'm slipping!" Sora yelled, splashing while trying to stay in the air.
Water was beginning to go onto to the small floatation device, soaking Hayner to the bone. He shivered at how cold it was, and felt himself slide on the pad.
"Don't let go!" Hayner yelled, then slipped onto his hands and knees.
"Can you swim?" Sora asked, hoping he could.
"I told you already; no! I can't even float!" Hayner covered his face with his hands, seeing no way out of this situation. He didn't want to watch himself plummet to his death. "Seifer…help…"
"Help, someone! Please! We need help!" Sora shouted at the top of his lungs, knowing that Hayner was losing hope.
Below the current, two half-breed fish that were holding hands, heard the commotion above and looked up. The one with a blonde mullet gasped, and tugged at the other's arm.
"Zexy, we have to go help them!"
"But Demyx-"
"Come on!" Demyx said, and swam upward to help, "Zexy" right behind him.
Sora felt completely helpless, and screamed in fear as they zipped through a hollow log, going at an unbelievable speed. He spied two half-breeds eating a berry on top of the log.
"Help us!" he called out to them.
Hayner, defenseless and unable to do anything to save himself, finally dared to look, and instantly regretted it as he saw that the waterfall was right before him, a demise waiting for him, ready to destroy him.
"Hold on tight!" someone called out.
Hayner could only scream, then let out a pitiful sigh, fainting on the wet lily pad. Sora yanked at the lily pad, failing to get it away from the waterfall.
The many creatures that had heard Sora's cries of help came forward, all surrounding the lily pad and beginning to pitch in and help get it to shore.
"Pull, everyone, pull!" Sora said, then, with a gasp, slipped and fell back into the water. "Augh!"
The animals and half-breeds slowly, but surely, started to get Hayner away from danger and to the shore. Sora was doing his best to keep afloat while yelling out, "Yes, that's it!" Of course, the horrible current decided to pull the half-breed under, and he was only able to get out a "Yes –" before the water came over his head, forcing him to swallow a mouthful of water. He coughed and sputtered as he got another mouthful. Thankfully, Demyx noticed the drowning boy, and swam over to use his fin to slap Sora out of the water and onto shore. Sora, given no warning, screamed, but was shocked to find himself on land a moment later, and was simply glad to be safe, gasping for air while lying on his stomach.
The animals were able to get the lily pad to shore, and pulled the soaking pad out of the water. Hayner lay on his side, soaking wet and unconscious. Sora gave a great sigh, then stood up with a groan.
"Man, that was crazy." he croaked.
The creatures that had helped gathered around the lily pad, staring at the lovely stranger with no wings or any animalistic features. All of them were silently asking the same question: who was this beautiful boy?
"Who is it?" a bug finally spoke out.
"Yeah, who is it?" a half-breed said.
Suddenly, the boy stirred, a small moan escaping his lips. Everyone gasped, not sure if they should move away or closer.
"Leon, Cloud, look! He's waking up!" cried a young ninja girl, a half-breed raccoon.
Sora got up from the ground and went over, briefly giving the girl a hug before looking at Hayner.
"Hayner? You okay?" the boy asked gently, touching Hayner's shoulder.
Brown, hazy eyes fluttered open, and he sat up with a sigh, rubbing his eyes. Hayner felt soaking wet and cold.
"Other than getting soaked, I'm fine."
"Well, I'm glad you're alright!" the ninja girl squealed.
Hayner stiffened, then glanced around wildly, taking in the sight of so many animals and half-breeds that were around him.
"Wha…who-?!" he gasped.
"These are the Pride of Twilight." Sora chirped. "They saved you. Well, saved us."
"The…huh?"
"Hey, you're gonna marry the fairy prince, right?" the ninja girl asked as she leaned closer.
"Yuffie, knock it off. Quit being nosy." Leon, a half-breed lion, glared.
Hayner went bright red at the question, and modestly lowered his head. His hands fumbling with his wet shirt, he finally said,
"If he asks me to. He'll call for me at my house, which is why I want to go home." Hayner bit his lip. "Roxas is probably beating himself up right now. He's gotta be worried."
Yuffie sighed, her dark hair and ears ruffled in the wind. She glanced back at Cloud, a rare half-breed golden fox, then nudged Leon.
"Do ya' think we could help him and get a little adventure on the way?" she joked.
Leon only rolled his eyes; Cloud merely gave her a small grin, one that could be barely noticed if you didn't look hard enough.
"I wish I could find my way home…" Hayner sighed, glum as can be.
"We'll help ya'!" Yuffie said.
Leon, having been caught off guard, gave her a look.
"What do you mean, "we"?"
"Leon." Cloud whispered, putting a hand on Leon's chest. "Let's help."
Not wanting to deny those shining, blue eyes, Leon nodded and turned to Hayner.
"Nobody will hurt you, Hayner. Not while we're around." Leon said, and his eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Oh…uh, thanks, but… I don't think I'll be getting home. Ever. I don't even know where it is." the poor boy said, his heart sinking at the thought.
Sora went over and sat down beside the boy, smiling sadly. Hayner looked at him, sadness showing in his eyes.
"Hayner…you love the prince, right?" Sora asked.
"Of course I do! Why would you-"
"Then follow your heart, Hayner! It will lead you home, will lead you to him! Now," He bounced to his feet, pointing in two different directions. "Where does the prince live?"
"In the…the Vale of the Fairies, I think!" Hayner replied, then groaned in frustration. "But I don't know where that is, either."
"Don't worry, Hay'! I can help! I'll find it and bring him home to you instead." Sora giggled triumphantly.
"That's impossible." mumbled Hayner.
"Impossible? Ha! Nothing's impossible!" Sora flapped his wings and grabbed Hayner, yanking him to his feet before he burst into song. "You're sure to do impossible things, if you follow your heart."
"Come on!" Yuffie said, pulling Hayner's arm and dragging him along, doing the same to Sora, who took it in stride.
"Your dreams will fly on magical wings, when you follow your heart."
Yuffie skipped as she easily dragged Hayner and Sora behind her, then finally let go of Sora, who stayed where he was. Hayner was forced to sit on a rock, and Sora continued.
"If you have to journey far, here's a little trick. You don't need a guiding star; trust your ticker, get there quicker!" Sora laughed, waving Hayner to his feet. "You're sure to do impossible things, if you follow your heart!"
The little swallow boy flew into the sky, fluttering above them all. Hayner sat back down, but Sora wasn't having that.
"Come on, Hayner! You're going home, and Roxas is waiting for you! Get up, get up!"
Yuffie giggled, then gasped as a lovely half-breed, pink finch landed beside her. Before the woman could open her mouth to ask what was going on, the ninja girl ran at her.
"Aerith, you're back! Come on, sing with me!" she said, and forced her to move to where Hayner was.
"Wait, what's going on?" Aerith asked, her voice sweet and confused.
"Sora's inspiring someone again!" was all Yuffie needed to tell her.
"You're sure to do impossible things, if you follow your heart." Yuffie sang along with Sora, beckoning Hayner to follow Sora as he flew down and danced away. "Your dreams will fly on magical wings, when you follow your heart."
Sora suddenly stopped, turned, then danced back to Hayner, and the boy froze. He was still thoroughly lost as to what was going on.
"North or south, east or west; where you point your shoes?" Sora grasped Hayner's shoulders and began to spin him. "Which direction is the best? If the choosing gets confusing, maybe it's the map you're using."
He stopped Hayner, who had shut his eyes to stop the world from spinning. He felt nauseous.
"Sora, can you not-"
"You don't need a chart to guide you! Just close your eyes and look inside you!" Sora laughed again.
Hayner opened his eyes, and couldn't help but grin. Sora's smile was rather contagious. The two looped arms, and began walking together. Sora started up once more.
"You're sure to do impossible things, if you know where to start. Your dreams will fly on magical wings, when you follow – just trust the swallow – and always follow your heart!"
The animals and half-breeds, Yuffie and Aerith especially, began cheering as Sora hugged Hayner, who returned it.
"Now, get going! And don't worry, Hayner; I'll find the prince!"
Yuffie and Aerith yelled at Leon and Cloud, telling them to follow. The four raced after Hayner as he started walking through a large patch of grass.
"We're going with you!" Aerith said excitedly.
"Oh! I guess-" the boy began to say.
"Great!" Yuffie said, and turned around to wave at everyone. "Good-bye for now!"
"Bye, Sora!" Hayner shouted, then added, "Thanks for everything!"
Yuffie squealed happily, jumping in the tall grass so she could lead, but Leon pulled her back.
"Let Hayner go first. He's the one guiding us."
"Oh! Right!" she said.
Hayner glanced back one more time at the Pride of Twilight, and a smile came onto his face.
"I'm going home." he said, and spun on his heel to do just that.
Stupid waterfall, trying to kill off my Hayner! I mean, not my Hayner...oops...
Anyway, now you met Sora and the gang. Woo hoo~
Next chapter will tell what Seifer's been up to. :DDD
I know, I can't wait, either!
