Author's Note: Hey, everyone. Sorry about the recent lack of updates; I've been busy for a few weeks. But now I'm not, so…here's a new chapter for you all! Happy reading! ;)-AMX
Chapter 5: Traverse Town, 2nd Visit part 1
"So what now?" Abby asked Ed and Double D.
"I say we head back to Traverse Town," said Double D. "I'm sure one of the Senshi will know something about these Gummi Blocks we keep finding."
"You mean the Gummi Blocks that don't look like any of the others we have?" asked Ed.
"Indeed," said Double D. "I thought I had at least some knowledge about everything that goes in a Gummi Ship. I guess I was wrong."
"Say it isn't so, Double D!" Ed exclaimed.
"Yes, Ed," said Double D. "I was actually wrong about something."
"Hey…Double D?" Abby asked.
"Yes, Abby?" asked Double D.
"Can I pilot?"
"What? Of course not."
"Come on! Just for a minute?"
"NO! Abby, you don't know anything about…HEY! Be careful with those controls! Those are sensitive!"
"London Bridge is falling!"
"Ed, you're not helping…!"
---
Meanwhile, back in Traverse Town, Sailor Chibi-Moon was exiting the Accessories Shop, having just finished talking to the four Guardian Senshi.
At that moment, a thoroughly charred Abby, Double D, and Ed decided to burst through the front gate. Double D was in the middle of lecturing Abby about why he was never letting her fly the Gummi Ship again.
Sailor Chibi-Moon ran up to Ed, who was watching the exchange with interest. "Hey, what happened?" she asked.
"Abby nearly crashed the Gummi Ship," said Ed. "Say, do you know what these Gummi Blocks are for?" He held one up for Sailor Chibi-Moon to see.
"Hmm…nope," she responded; at this point, Double D had stopped yelling at Abby, and they were both listening to the conversation. "But maybe Tuxedo Kamen knows. He and Sailor Moon are in the Underground Waterway. They've been training down there for a while now…"
---
After getting directions from Sailor Chibi-Moon, the trio found themselves in the underbelly of Traverse Town, wading through knee-deep water.
"Ugh…" said Abby. "I didn't know there was an underground passage in this town."
"Neither did we," said Double D. "Though I can understand why this area would be used for training. I highly doubt that any Heartless would bother coming down here…"
"But what about the mutant gators that lurk in the dark depths of the sewers?" asked Ed.
Double D sighed. "Ed, somehow, I think that's the least of our worries…"
Just then, the trio caught a glimpse of something yellow in front of them. When they got a little closer, they realized that the yellow thing was blonde hair.
It was Sailor Moon.
"So…you found the Keyhole?" the Senshi leader asked the trio without even looking at them.
"What?" Abby asked, momentarily confused. Then, she remembered the situations in both Foster's and Jump City. "Oh…yeah. The Keyblade locked them automatically."
"Good," said Tuxedo Kamen; the trio realized that he had been leaning against the wall, a few feet away from Sailor Moon.
"Every world that exists has a Keyhole," Sailor Moon further explained. "Each world's Keyhole also leads to that world's heart. I wouldn't be surprised if Traverse Town also had a Keyhole."
"What do you mean?" asked Abby.
"This was all in Galaxia's report," Tuxedo Kamen clarified.
"The Heartless enter through the Keyhole, and then…they seem to attack the world's core somehow," said Sailor Moon.
"When that happens…" Tuxedo Kamen paused. "…The world disappears altogether."
"What?!" Abby, Ed, and Double D asked.
"That's what makes the Keyblade so important," said Sailor Moon.
"Abby, you need to find the Keyholes on the other worlds and lock them," said Tuxedo Kamen. "You're the only one who can do it."
"Me?" Abby asked in disbelief. She summoned the Keyblade, and gazed at it. "Wow…I'm not sure…"
"Seeing those other worlds would probably be in your best interest," Sailor Moon reminded her.
"That's correct, Abby," said Double D.
"We still need to find your friends, Abby," said Ed. "And King Eddy!"
Images of Mick and Galleria flashed through Abby's mind. "I guess you're right…" she said. "Okay…I'll do it!"
"Yay!" said Ed.
"Oh, I almost forgot!" said Double D. He took out one of the strange Gummi Blocks. "We found these Gummi Blocks on the different worlds. You two wouldn't happen to know what they're for, do you?"
Neither Sailor Moon nor Tuxedo Kamen gave an answer.
"So is that a yes?" asked Ed.
"I've never seen anything like that before," Sailor Moon finally answered. "But I think Sailor Mercury has been doing research on Gummi Ships. You should ask her."
"Also…" Tuxedo Kamen took something out of his pocket. It was a red, dull rock. "I think you guys should take this with you. It might help you out."
"Okay," said Abby, taking the rock. "How does it work?"
Once again, there was no response.
---
"Maybe we should have just gone here in the first place," said Double D. "It would have saved us some running around."
The trio was currently heading back toward the Accessory Shop.
"But then we wouldn't have gotten that cool rock!" said Ed.
Abby gazed at the rock that she was still grasping in her hand. "I just wish we knew how it could help us," she said.
"Well, maybe the girls have an answer for that, too," said Double D.
By this time, the trio had made it to the shop's front door. They entered, and walked right up to the front counter; Sailor Mercury was behind it, her face buried inside an open book. Double D placed the two mystery Gummi Blocks on the counter, catching the blue-haired Senshi's attention.
"Oh?" Sailor Mercury put her book down. "Gummi Blocks?"
"Can you tell us what they're for?" asked Ed.
"Wait…" Sailor Jupiter, who was in the aisles restocking accessories, spoke up. "You mean you guys are flying a Gummi Ship and you don't even know about Navigation Gummis?"
Abby, Ed, and Double D's expressions all showed obvious sheepishness.
"Sheesh," said Sailor Mars, who was also restocking. "You do realize that Interspace isn't some type of large playground, right?"
"It's not like we have a choice," said Abby, who was slightly offended. "The Gummi Ship is the only way we can travel to other worlds."
"That's a good point," said Sailor Venus, who had just emerged from a back room. "It's a good thing Mercury's been reading all those books on Gummi Ships!"
Sailor Mercury smiled. "Basically, Navigation Gummis allow you to travel to even more worlds. If you want, I can install them into your ship for you."
"Cool!" said Ed.
"Oh please, do," said Double D.
"It's no problem at all!" said Sailor Venus. "But while you're here…you guys can do something for us!"
"Uh…okay," said Abby. "What is it?"
Sailor Venus pulled out a book, and handed it to Abby.
"That old thing?" Sailor Mars asked. "I'm surprised we were able to restore it at all."
"Oh, yeah!" said Sailor Jupiter. "It belongs to that guy living in the Third District. If you could deliver it for us, it would be a big help."
"We should have your ship ready by the time you get back," Sailor Mercury added.
"Okay, we'll do it," said Abby.
"The man lives in the Third District of the town," said Sailor Mercury. "Just look for a wooden door with a flame on it."
---
"What do you think, Abby?" asked Double D.
Abby stared at the door currently in front of them. It was a large, wooden door on a seemingly empty house, with a large red flame on the front of it. It perfectly matched Sailor Mercury's description.
"I'd say this is it," the psychic girl replied.
"So how do we get in?" asked Ed.
"I think I know how," said Double D. He pointed his Magician's Staff at the door. "Fire!" A burst of flame shot out of the top of Double D's staff, effectively getting rid of the wooden door.
"Cool," said Ed.
Abby said nothing, but kept this new Magic technique in mind for later.
Behind the wooden door was a cavern, which housed a seemingly empty house. There was a large hole in the side of the house, allowing the trio entry.
There was no light in the house, making it difficult to see anything inside. However, it wasn't what Abby saw that caught her attention; it was what she suddenly heard.
"There's just something about this musty old place…"
Abby whirled around. On the other end of the house was…Mick! He was just walking through the interior of the house!
"Doesn't this remind you of our secret place back home?" Mick continued.
"…Mick?" Abby asked quietly.
"Abby?" Ed asked, touching the psychic's shoulder.
Abby turned back to Ed and Double D; didn't they see Mick?! But…one look at their confused expressions confirmed her suspicions. They didn't see Mick. She turned back toward her friend to get his attention, but found he was no longer there. Was it just her imagination?
"Hello there!"
Abby, Double D, and Ed all turned toward the new voice. A little boy wearing a blue, grey, and black outfit, a blue hat, and glasses was stepping out of the dark side of the house. There was someone else with him.
"Hmm…you three have arrived earlier than expected." The other person was an older man, wearing a gray pinstripe tuxedo and a top hat. He also had long, gray, curly hair, a monocle, and a large nose.
Abby was confused. "You…knew we were coming?" she asked.
"Are you a Heartless?" Ed suddenly asked.
The old man smirked. "Yes," he said. "Yes I am."
Abby, Ed, Double D, and surprisingly, the little kid, snapped to attention.
"Wh-what?!" asked the kid. "You're a Heartless, Doctor? Is that true?!"
Suddenly, the old man's smirk became an almost childlike smile.
"Just kidding, Kedo!"
The little boy, Kedo, looked crushed. Meanwhile, Abby, Ed, and Double D were just relieved.
"I should have known," said Double D. "He certainly doesn't look like a Heartless."
"Sorry, I'm afraid that was just a joke," said the old man. "My name is Dr. Riddles. I'm the marvelous doctor who knows everything! And this…" He paused to gesture toward Kedo, "…This is Kedo, my Mamodo partner."
"Your…what?" asked Double D.
"What's a Mamodo?' asked Ed.
"Oh, don't worry about that," said Dr. Riddles. "You'll find out more about that later. I've been traveling with Kedo for quite a while now. Sometimes it's nice to stay in one spot. Anyway, I know who you are. Your king has requested assistance from Kedo and myself."
"King Eddy?" asked Double D.
"Indeed," answered Dr. Riddles. He looked at the knight and the wizard. "You two must be Ed and Eddward." He turned to Abby. "And who might you be, young lady?"
"Uh…I'm Abby," the psychic answered.
"Ah yes, the Keyblade wielder," said Dr. Riddles. "Hang on a second." He walked over to a switch on the wall and flicked it on. Light bathed the inside of the house.
"What did the king ask you to do?" asked Ed.
"The king asked us to help you with your magic!" Kedo spoke up. "If you guys bring us any magical items, we can teach you how to use them."
That's when Dr. Riddles noticed the old book that Double D was holding. "Oh, you brought the book back to us," he said. "Actually, I'm not too sure about that book myself. It appears to be quite the mystery…quite odd, since I do know all. It was greatly damaged when Kedo and I found it, so we asked those nice young ladies as the Accessory Shop to fix it for us. I believe this book holds a great secret. Whenever you want to look at it, it will be right here."
While Dr. Riddles talked, he walked over and took the book from Double D. He placed it on a podium that was against the wall, beside the hole in the house.
It was then that Abby noticed something: there appeared to be a strange energy emanating from the book.
"Hmm…" she said. She suddenly turned to Double D. "Would you hold this for a moment?" she asked him, holding out the red stone.
"Oh…of course," said Double D, taking the stone.
"What are you doing, Abby?" asked Ed.
Abby walked up to the book so that she was standing in front of it. Suddenly, both the book and Abby began to glow with a bright light. When the light cleared, Abby was no longer there.
Double D's jaw dropped.
"Did the book just eat Abby?" asked Ed.
"Hmm…interesting," said Dr. Riddles. "I knew there was something special about that book."
Meanwhile, Kedo's attention was drawn to the red, dull rock in Double D's hand. "Hey, that's…"
Mobius, part 1
While all that was going on in the house, Abby found herself inside the pages of the book.
"Well…this is different," she said.
Abby noticed that on the pages of the book, there were two colored pictures of two different areas. One of the pictures was of a large, green meadow; the other was of what looked like a large workshop. Abby decided to enter the meadow first. As Abby approached the picture, there was another flash of light.
The next thing Abby knew, she was standing in the green meadow. She looked around. The meadow was huge. It looked like the perfect place for playing.
Suddenly, Abby was caught off-guard by…well, it looked like a large, blue blur, speeding past her.
Suddenly, the blue blur stopped, revealing…what looked like a blue hedgehog. He was wearing red and white running shoes, and looked like he came up to about Abby's waist. He appeared to be looking for somebody.
Abby took a few cautious steps forward. "Hello," she said. "Are you looking for something?"
"Huh?" The blue hedgehog turned around so he was facing Abby. "Oh. I don't think I've ever seen you before. But…yeah, I'm looking for something. Someone, actually. It's really strange…"
"Well…I can help you if you want," Abby offered.
"Really?" asked the hedgehog. "Well, I guess at this point, I could use all the help I can get." He nodded. "My name is Sonic the Hedgehog. I'm the world's fastest hedgehog!"
Abby smiled. "It's nice to meet you, Sonic," she said. "My name is Abby. So…who exactly are we looking for?"
"Abby, huh?" asked Sonic. "Well, actually it's not just one person. All my friends seem to be missing. I've searched every place I could, but they're just…gone. It's weird…"
"Well, maybe they're back by now," said Abby. "Have you double-checked anywhere?"
"Hmm…not yet," said Sonic. "I guess I could try looking by my tree again. You can see a lot of places from up there. Hey, I'll race ya there!"
Before Abby could give a response, Sonic was off like a rocket. Abby presumed that the tree was in the general direction that Sonic was going, so she followed the cloud trail the hedgehog left behind.
---
Abby was gasping for air by the time she caught up to Sonic. He was standing under a large tree on top of a hill.
"What took you so long?" Sonic asked.
"Sorry," Abby panted. "Running was never really my strong suit. Can you really see better from up here?"
Sonic looked around. He began to squint. "This whole thing just keeps getting weirder and weirder. First, everyone disappears, then it looks like areas of Mobius are disappearing!"
Abby looked, too. The meadow was still huge from their viewpoint, but anything beyond that…well, it was just a bunch of white. That's when Abby spotted something else. It was the same workshop from that other picture she saw.
"What about that building over there?" Abby asked, pointing at it.
Sonic looked. "Hey, that's Tails' workshop!" he exclaimed. "Maybe that's where he is." Then, without another word, he dashed off.
"Sonic!" Abby exclaimed, taking a few steps forward. But it was too late; Sonic was gone.
"I suppose you want to know what happens next."
Abby was surprised by the new voice. She looked up into the tree, and found another hedgehog. He looked a little like Sonic, but there were some big differences. This hedgehog was black, with red streaks in his quills. He also wore different shoes than Sonic.
"You look like Sonic…" said Abby. "But you're definitely not Sonic."
"At least someone knows the difference…" the hedgehog mumbled, just loud enough for Abby to hear. "My name is Shadow. I'm the world's Ultimate Life Form. That's all you need to know."
"Uh…okay," said Abby. "How exactly do I go on?"
"You need to go to the next page, of course," said Shadow. "But it looks like a lot of them are missing. That's why you can't see anything right now. It looks like the only other place to go is Tails' workshop. I'd go to that page next, if I were you."
Abby nodded in understanding. She began walking toward the workshop.
---
The workshop was much bigger up close. Abby looked around; there was no sign of Sonic (which was strange), or anybody else.
Suddenly, a noise that sounded like a large motor sounded above Abby's head. She looked up; a large, blue airplane sailed above her. It began to fly down lower, until it made a nice landing a few feet away, behind the workshop.
Abby ran up to the blue plane, only to see someone jumping out of the pilot's seat. It was a little orange fox with…two tails.
"Excuse me…" Abby said, taking a few steps forward. "Are you Tails?"
The fox turned around, and jumped when he saw Abby. "Y-yes…" he said nervously. "Who are you?"
"I'm Abby," said Abby. "I'm Sonic's friend."
"Sonic?" asked Tails. "You know where Sonic is?" He turned to the plane. "I just used the Tornado to see if I could find him, but I didn't see him. It was hard to see anything for some reason…"
"Tails!"
Suddenly, Sonic ran up to Tails and Abby.
"Oh, Abby," said Sonic. "You got here fast. And you found Tails, too! This is great!"
"Sonic!" said Tails. "Do you have any idea what's going on? It's like areas of Mobius have just…disappeared!"
"I've noticed it, too," said Sonic. "I can't figure it out."
"Well, maybe I have something in my workshop that can help us," Tails suggested. "Come on!" He ran up the stairs into his workshop.
"Are you coming, Abby?" Sonic asked.
"Actually, I think I should stay out here and look some more," said Abby.
"Okay," said Sonic. "Let us know if you find anything. See you later!" He followed Tails into the workshop.
Once Sonic and Tails were inside, Abby heard someone walking toward her. She turned around, and sure enough, there was Shadow.
"I take it I'm going to need to find more pages," said Abby.
"If we want everyone to come back, yes," said Shadow. "Not that I want them back, or anything…but this book needs to be fixed. If you find the missing pages, be sure to bring them back here."
"I'll remember that," said Abby. With that, she concentrated on leaving the book. Before she knew it, she was once again enveloped in a white light…
