I am so excited for this chapter. I can honestly say that as I was writing it, I began crying... actually I had to stop writing for a bit because I was crying so hard. The feels will be felt… just warning you ahead of time. Please review afterwards; remember I'm shooting for fifty reviews by chapter 20.

I would like to thank shadowmwape, JohnCenaWWEGirl, and BlazingEdge for favoriting; and BlazingEdge, shadowmwape, Mallobie, and darkhunter99 for following!

I own nothing!


Chapter 12: Devil's Bayou

The group landed in a dark smelly swamp. "Well this is just great!"

"Hey guys look," Goofy exclaimed, "We've shrunk!"

Ven groaned, "I hate it when this happens." They now were all the size of mice. "Everything's harder when you're smaller!"

Kairi pushed aside some reeds, "Hey guys! Look!" They peeked through the reeds and saw a small hut. Outside were five figures. One was a large tan mouse with a blue bonnet and a pink apron; another was a skinny brown mouse in a white shirt and a large gold hat that covered his eyes. Beside him was a smaller grey mouse in a red shirt and red beret, and last there was a white mouse with a purple bow around her neck and a purple ushanka.

They were watching as two huge alligators came by followed by a woman on a swamp mobile. The group came out of the reeds, "Uh, hi." The four turned about sharply.

"Who are you?" asked the white mouse.

"I'm Riku."

"I'm Sora and this is Kairi."

"My name's Goofy and this is Donald."

"This is Ventus, but he like to be called Ven, and I'm Lea got it memorized?"

The white mouse smiled, "Hello, I'm Miss Bianca from the Rescue Aid Society, and this is my co-agent Bernard. These two are Ellie Mae and Luke."

"Nice to meet you," Sora said as they came closer, "What are they doing?"

Suddenly behind them came a rustling noise, they all peeked through the grass and saw the two alligators come into the open. One of the gators was carrying a teddy bear in its mouth, while the other had a little girl that it was holding up by her dress. "Oh no!" Kairi covered her mouth, "What are they doing with her?"

"Oh it's that young 'un, she tried to run away again."

Lea was shocked, "Run away?"

"That woman is holding her prisoner."

"That's terrible!" Ven said, "We've got to follow them, and find out where they're taking her!" The Keyblade wielders and mice followed.

"Get a boat and we'll meet up at their hideout," Lea exclaimed. The heroes summoned their Keyblade gliders and zipped through the swamp after the alligators. Soon they came upon a large houseboat with all the lights on. The heroes went up to the window and saw a large man with glasses in a yellow suit over a white shirt and black tie. His was orange and reminded Riku of Larry's hair from the Three Stooges.

"Bring her right on in boys." Now they could see the little girl better; she had auburn hair in two short pigtails. She was wearing a white blouse under a blue overall dress, grey stockings, and black shoes.

"Put me down Brutus!" She yelled, and the gator dropped her. "Freaky little dragon!"

Kairi was scared, "She's so little; we have to help her!"

"We will!"

The man patted the alligators, "Nice work… good boys." But the over-grown lizards growled and snapped at him, making the man retreat atop a couch.

The little girl grabbed the teddy bear from the other alligator, "There, there Teddy, I won't let them do that to you again. Don't cry."

"Oh, Teddy, Teddy, Teddy, Teddy. Poor Teddy," Mocked the man, "All she ever thinks about is that simple bear. Now you behave or I'll let Nero and Brutus have your old teddy bear." He threatened.

"You will not!" she yelled, "Besides, I'm not scared of 'em like you are, Mr. Snoops!"

"Ah, don't you sass me!" Snoops snapped back. He looked over at the alligators, "Uh, boys, take this naughty little girl to her room."

He pushed her towards the stairs but she stopped and held her chin up high, "I can go by myself. Thank You!" She then walked up the stairs.

"Well, she looks perfectly capable of handling that man, but someone should go after and watch her."

"Lea's right," Ven nodded, "Two of us should follow her while the others wait for Bernard and Bianca. I volunteer to follow the girl."

Kairi held up her hand, "Me too."

The rest of the group climbed down to the ground and looked for the two mice; Ven and Kairi climbed upwards to where the girl was. It took longer because of their size. But before they got too far up they heard, "Where is she? Where is she?" The two Keybladers looked back through the window and saw a woman with unkempt red hair and a long sleeveless v-neck dress the same shade as her hair.

"Uh, oh, where is she…" Snoops back away nervously, "Oh, I, I sent her up to her room."

The woman was furious, "Why did you let her escape? What is your alibi this time, nitwit?"

"Well, we know whose behind all this," Ven growled.

"Nitwit?" Snoops began pulling off her boots, "Well, don't blame me, Medusa. Those leather-headed lizards of yours… they're supposed to be patrolling the island. They let her get away."

Medusa wrapped her arms around the alligators, "Ha! My precious pets. We know who caught that ungrateful little brat, don't we? Hmm?"

The others had come back with the mice by now, so Ven and Kairi left for the girl's room.

"Well, it was your brilliant idea to use the little girl for this caper." The two mice and the rest of the gang used a large pipe on the side of the boat for entry. Though they could still hear the conversation. "If you had left it to me…"

"Snoops, you're not thinking."

Donald rolled up his sleeve, "Let's bash them and rescue the girl."

"Oh, poor little Penny."

Sora looked over at Bianca, "Penny? That's the little girl's name?" The white mouse nodded.

"She's the only one small enough to squeeze down the black hole," Snoops continued.

"What 'black hole'?"

"We'll find out soon enough."

"Yes," Medusa continued, "But why can't she find my big diamond?"

Snoops shrugged, "I don't know, but it… but just look at these beauties that she brought up from the cave." The man held up a large handful of gems, pearls, and gold, enough to make Donald drool. "Oh they'll sell for a lot of cold cash." Medusa swung a cane and knocked them out of his hands, "Ow! I wish you wouldn't do that!"

"She's insane," Bianca commented, "Utterly mad."

Lea shook his head, "Greed… all she cares about is a big diamond. She doesn't care if Penny gets hurt or killed while getting it."

Riku nodded, "I hope Ven and Kairi can help her out."

"I want that diamond." Growled Medusa, "I've got to have the Devil's Eye. You didn't leave the girl down in the cave long enough."

Snoops was frantically trying to stay her wrath, "She won't take orders."

"You are too soft."

"But the water was rising, and the tide was coming in… and all she did down there was fuss about her teddy bear getting wet."

"Snoops," Medusa said in a dangerous calm, "You don't have a way with children. You must gain their confidence… make them like you."

"How would you ever manage that?" Lea whispered.

Snoops had the same idea, though he put it differently, "Yeah? How do you do that?"

"You force them to like you, IDIOT! At the next low tide… I'm going to put her down there, myself… and keep her there… until she finds it. And it is as simple as that."

Snoops finally got it, "Oh, it's as simple as that, is it? Hmm. Well, you're the boss, uh, boss." He left, as did Medusa, who was as happy as a cricket.

"We gotta get Penny out of here tonight." Bernard led the group out.

Riku nodded, "If she gets put down that hole they mentioned, she could be killed." Though the people left the gators remained and came rather close to the group. Suddenly one smelled something, strong.

"Uh oh. Bianca, they smell your perfume."

"Oh, snap!" The smell drew the reptiles right to their hiding spot. One managed to grab Bernard by his red shirt; as it drew him out Goofy jumped on it's head and bashed it with his shield. The group ran as the two giant lizards chased them around the room; they barely managed to get into a hiding spot in the pipes of a large organ. But the large reptiles were very smart and began playing the organ, causing the group to fly out the tops of the pipes.

"This sucks!" Lea yelled as one of the alligators barely managed to miss him with its jaws.

Sora shot out another pipe, "You said it!" The alligators nearly caught them every time. The music the gators caused drew Medusa into the room. With a loud burst of sound, Riku and Bernard were blown out of a pipe and into the mouth of one of the gators.

"RIKU!" Out of nowhere Medusa came into the room.

"Brutus! Nero! Stop that infernal racket! I mean now!" She banged the gator on the head, causing the two in his mouth to come out. Medusa saw them and screamed, "Snoops! Snoops, mice! Oh, kill 'um! Kill 'um!" She clambered up on a chair. Snoops grabbed a broom and began bashing the two with it. When the woman saw the full group she screamed all the more, "There's more!" Now Snoops, Nero, and Brutus came after them. The broom wasn't doing much damage, but when he tried stepping on them, they ran much faster.

Out of nowhere Medusa grabbed a shotgun and shot at the group. "SHE'S GOT A GUN!" Donald squawked as he kicked it into high gear. The shooting made everyone in the room find cover.

Finally the gun jammed, "Ooh! What is wrong with this thing? Snoops, what's wrong?" The group now made a dash for the open door.

"I don't…" the gun went off again, taking a piece of his hair off and knocking the gang off the boat.

When came up out of the water they summoned their gliders while a dragonfly brought over a leaf boat for the mice. "Are you all right, dear?"

Bianca rung out her hat, "Gosh! She tried to kill us! That… that… that terrible woman! Oh! If I was only a ten-foot mouse, I'd show her."

"If we were our normal sizes we would show her," Sora grumbled as he shook water from his hair.

Riku looked upward, "That poor girl, stuck there with that mad-woman. I hope Ven and Kairi made it to her."


(With Ven and Kairi)

The two finally made it to the top of the boat, where they could see Penny putting on her night gown. Then Medusa called out, "Penny, dear!"

"Great, more following," Ven groaned. They slipped in the window and followed her to Medusa's room.

The girl went into the room and the two Keybladers jumped in the vent and watched from there. "Did you wanna see me, ma'am?"

"Why, yes, my dear. Don't be so shy," Medusa was acting very kind now, "Now, I am going to let bygones be bygones. Do you know what would make Auntie Medusa very happy?"

Penny nodded, "Yes, you want me to find that diamond."

"That's right, dear."

"But I've tried as hard as I could, Honest!" Penny looked kind of scared.

"Of course, you have," Medusa cooed, "But we must try harder, mustn't we?"

Then Penny said something that made Ven jump, "Then please, will you take me back to the orphanage…like you promised?"

Medusa looked at her, "Penny, don't you like it here? A big beautiful boat all to yourself."

"But if I don't get back to the orphanage… I'll never get adopted."

Kairi gasped, "Oh poor thing." She looked over and saw that Ven was tearing up. "Ven?"

"Adopted?" Medusa said in false kindness, "What make you think anyone would want a homely little girl like you?"

Now Penny began to cry and so did Ven. Penny went back to her room and the two followed through the vents. "Ven, what's wrong?"

"She… she ran away from the orphanage and got mixed up in something that could hurt her. Just like… just like me."

"What?"

Ven sat down, "Why do you think I would just leave my home and family to train and never go back? I don't have a home or a family, I never have!"

"Oh Ven, I'm so sorry… but I though you lost your memories when Vanitas was formed."

Ven nodded, "Some of them came back over time, like…" He broke out in tears. "Like the memory of finding out that my parents didn't want me and just left me on the steps of an orphanage when I was two days old. All the homes that took me in but then sent me back because they didn't want me. Or me finally giving up on finding anyone who would want me, so I ran away."

Kairi wrapped her arms around Ven, tears now filling her eyes, "I am so sorry, I'm so sorry Ven." She wiped her face. "You have Sora, Mickey, and the rest of us now, and we'll find your other friends." She stood up and held out a hand, "Now, how bout we help Penny and maybe she can get the family she's always wanted."

"Kairi…" Ven took her hand and she pulled him up, "Thank you." They walked into Penny's room at about the same time that the others showed up there. The girl put a little nightcap on Teddy's head.

"Goodnight Teddy, sleep tight." She put the blanket over the bear, blew out the light, and then stopped, "Oh! We almost forgot to say our prayers." She folded the bear's arms into a praying position; she knelt and clasped her hands together. "Please bless Rufus and Teddy and all the kids at the orphanage: Jennifer, Bobby, Mary, Julie. And please let someone find my bottle. There's a message in it, because running away isn't working. Amen." She grabbed her bear as the tears returned. "Don't worry, Teddy. We'll… We'll be… all right." She sobbed as the entire group came together on her bed; Ven began to sob again.

Bianca slid down the pillow and the others followed suit, "Penny? Penny?"

She looked up at them, "Yes?"

"Penny," Sora put a hand on hers, "Don't cry we're here to help you."

The girl wiped her face, "Hi, where'd you come from?"

"We found the bottle," Bernard explained, "With your message."

Donald smiled, "We're here to rescue you."

"Did you hear that, Teddy? Our bottle worked!" Then she looked at them again, "Didn't you bring somebody big with you? Like the police?"

"Sorry kid," Lea said, "It's just us. But you'd be surprised what two mice, a tiny duck, a tiny dog, you, and five tiny people can do. Just have a little faith!"

Penny smiled happily, "That's what Rufus said, 'Faith makes things turn out right'."

"That's right; all of us working together we can get you outta here."

Bernard climbed back up her pillow, "Penny, I know it's late, but we have to escape tonight… right now."

"But I just got caught by Brutus and Nero."

Kairi went up to the window and reported, "Yeah, and they're still down there guarding the gangplank."

"Oh, those vicious monsters! They ought to be locked up in a cage."

Penny's eyes lit up, "I know! I know! Come on, I'll show you." They went outside her room and she pointed, "See there? The elevator."

"It's perfect! All we have to do is get them in there."

Kairi asked, "What can we use for bait?"

"Oh they'll eat anything."

"OH… we know," Sora assured.

Bianca had an idea, "I've got it! My perfume, remember? They'll follow the scent right into the elevator."

"And I'll slam the door!" All the talk of escape had Penny excited. "And will that make Medusa mad." She grabbed a broom and began mocking her, "Brutus! Nero! Did you let that little brat escape again? You're too soft. Wap! Wap!" With each 'wap' she pretended to bring the broom down on either the alligator's and/or Snoop's heads.

Ven, finally cracked a smile, "That's not too bad."

Penny strutted away like Medusa, as Bianca added with a smile, "That's exactly like Medusa."

The girl wasn't finished, "Track her down, boys. Bring her back."

"And by that time, we'll be long gone," Ven exclaimed.

"Wait," Riku though aloud, "What about her swamp mobile?"

Penny was ready, "We'll swipe it! I've always wanted to drive it." She began to make engine noises and pretended like she was actually driving it.

"But that thing's so noisy it could wake the dead," Kairi pointed out, "We'll need to stall them somehow."

"How about Mr. Snoop's fireworks? We'll shoot 'em off in her bedroom. That'll keep her busy."

Riku laughed, "You are one devious little girl… perfume, crocs, swamp mobiles, fireworks. It could work!"

"It's our only chance. But we're gonna need help."

Bernard was about to go when Medusa yelled, "Snoops! Snoops! Get down here!"

"Uh, what's up, Medusa?" the man tumbled down the stairs, "What's going on?"

The group moved closer so they could hear. "Oh, shut up! High tide or not…"

"I bet those two are up to something," Penny looked very frightened, "Gee, I don't wanna go down that awful black hole again."

Ven put his hand on hers, "We'll try to get you outta here before then, but if not, we'll go into the hole with you. We're here to protect you."

Penny picked him up in her hands, "Thank you, Oh, I you never told me your names!"

"I'm Sora; this is Donald, Goofy, Lea, Riku, and Kairi."

"My name is Miss. Bianca and this is Bernard."

She looked down at the blonde boy in her hands. "I'm Ventus but you can call me Ven." She smiled.

Bernard went over to the edge of the boat and shouted down to the dragonfly that had brought them here, "Evinrude? Up here." The insect flew up. "We need help. Go get Ellie Mae. And Hurry!" The insect took off and the group went back to Penny's room.

The little girl changed into her other clothes and they waited. Finally she fell asleep, as did most of the others.

Kairi lay on the top of the pillow as sleep took her. The Garden of Dreams, as she called it, was different; the colors that were usually very vibrant and happy, were dulled and melancholy. Naminè sat with her back to Kairi, and the Princess could hear sobs coming from her Nobody. "Naminè, what is it?"

The Nobody turned, her face stained with tears, "I'm sorry Kairi, its just… I feel so bad for Ven."

"You know him?"

"Yes," Naminè nodded, "When I was repairing Sora's memories, I discovered him. I could talk to him inside Sora's heart; we became friends. Actually, I've kind of missed him, but now I get to see him all the time!"

Kairi giggled, "You like him… don't you?" Her Nobody blushed. "That's what I thought! Hey, do you want me to say hi to him for you?"

"That would be great!"

"Alright I will!" Then the colors around her grew happy and vibrant again, like Kairi's mind was now at ease.


(The next morning)

Medusa came into Penny's room early and pulled her out of bed; the gang made sure to hide so they wouldn't get shot at again. "Time to go Penny, dear."

They all barely managed to get in the little girl's dress pockets before Snoops grabbed her and pulled her off. Snoops brought her to a small island with an old gnarled tree. Over one branch was a rope holding a bucket. Sora peeked out and saw below that was a deep dark hole, that only Penny was big enough to fit through.

"All right you little brat," ordered Snoops, "Now, you are gonna go down in that hole and you are gonna dig till you find me the diamond. You understand that? And no sassing me."

Medusa cut him off in her kindest voice, "Ah-ah-ah… Snoops. That is no way to speak to our little Miss Penny." The woman pulled the girl into a hug, much to Penny's distaste.

"Ok, boss. Ok." Snoops got the bucket ready.

"Now, my dear," she took Penny's face in her hands, "You're going to find the big shiny diamond for your Auntie Medusa, aren't you?"

She looked down the hole and backed away, "Teddy doesn't like it down there. He's afraid. Aren't you Teddy?"

"Aw. Tsk-tsk-tsk. Poor Teddy." She swiped the toy from her. "I'll just keep him up here with me, where he'll be safe."

"Give me back my teddy bear!" Medusa pushed Penny back with her foot. "He's mine! He's mine!" The girl nearly fell down the hole.

All kindness was gone from the woman's face, "You get down there and find the big diamond or you will never see the teddy again!"

"All right. All right." Penny stepped into the bucket and it began to lower, "I'll go."

Ven growled as Snoops laughed, "Boss, you've really got a way with kids."

"Don't worry, Teddy. I won't be gone long. I'll find her old diamond." The group climbed out of her pockets and into the bucket as they went lower into the darkness.

Penny took the lantern they had given her and stepped out of the bucket. "Oh! What a dreadful, frightening place, "Bianca stuttered.

"Yeah, it used to be a pirate's cave."

Sora gave a small smile, "And how do you know that?"

"Him," the girl pointed to a skeleton in the corner; a sword stuck out of its chest and old rags clung to what was left of him.

Lea nodded, "Ok then."

There were dozens of smaller diamonds around but they weren't what Medusa was looking for. Out of nowhere there came a deep rumbling sound and the gurgling of water. "What in Kingdom Hearts is that?"

"That's where the water comes in." further back in the cave was a huge gaping hole. "Ooh! I'm afraid to go over there."

Sora thought for a moment, "I've been around pirates and I think that might be where they hid that diamond, the Devil's Eye wasn't it?"

He and Bernard went over and looked down; Bernard backed up, "Uh, come to think of it if I was a pirate, I wouldn't hide anything back there."

"Sora look," Donald pointed across the hole, "I see something."

Bianca ran over to the side of the hole, "Let's see what it is."

"Hang on Bianca. We'll take you over there." The Keybladers summoned their gliders and they all went to the other side, leaving Penny behind with the lantern. Suddenly there was another rumbling and a stream of water shot out of the hole and hit the back side of Lea's glider; Riku barely managed to catch him before he fell.

"What are you doing down there?" Medusa called down.

"I'm looking!"

"Well look faster!"

On the other side of the hole there were and old sword and a skull, but it was too dark to see anything else. Penny raised the lantern and suddenly a bright light came from the skull. "Wow!" Multicolored lights reflected everywhere until Penny lowered the light. Bernard yelled, "Penny, hold your lantern up again." She did, and inside the skull was the biggest diamond any of them had ever seen.

"By Kingdom Hearts! That's it!"

"The Devil's Eye! Penny we found it! We found it!"

The girl ran back to the opening, "Medusa, I found it!"

The group got into the skull and tried to shove it out the eye sockets. But again the rumbling came and an even bigger stream of water came out and filled the skull halfway. But the eventually got it to the hole except it wouldn't go through.

Kairi sighed, "We can't get it out!"

"What's taking so long?" Medusa asked.

Penny answered, "It's stuck tight!"

"Stuck tight? You get that diamond or you'll never see daylight again!"

Ven heard and muttered, "What happened to the teddy bear scheme, you witch?!"

"Ven! Calm down!" Sora was amazed at his friend's anger. Then he saw Penny trying to climb around the big hole in the ground. "No, no! Back! Back, Penny!"

"Penny no! You'll fall!" Again the rumbling came and the water shot out. But the water was enough to get the girl across the hole. "Forget the diamond let's get out of here before we drown!"

The girl didn't listen; she tried prying open the skull with her hands but she wasn't strong enough. A huge wave shot out the hole and pulled Penny back. "The water's coming in!" she begged Medusa, "Please, pull me up!"

"Not until you get the diamond."

Ven looked around and saw a pirate sword, "Penny, the pirate sword. Use the sword!" She pried the skull's mouth open until the group could shove the gem out. Penny grabbed it just as another wave hit, this one putting out the lantern. The girl made it across the hole with most of the others, but Ven, Bianca, and Bernard were being sucked in by the hole.

"PENNY! PENNY HELP!" Leaving the others on the bucket the girl went after them. The whirlpool took her under but another wave shot them back out.

She put the mice and Ven in the bucket along with the Devil's Eye. "I've got it! I've got it! Hurry! Pull me up!"

Snoops hoisted them up as fast as he could. The girl hold the diamond above her head. The woman ripped it from her hands, "At last! The Devil's Eye!"

Snoops pulled Penny way high yelling, "It's worth millions!"

"Mmmm, just look at it filled with power for its owner."

Snoops was excited too, "Let me… let me look at it." Medusa held it up and the flashed him a quick glance at it. "I get… hey, that wasn't a very good look." He dropped the bucket's rope, causing Penny to fall. The bucket and rope fell back into the cave; luckily the others had gotten back in Penny's pockets. The adults didn't care about her now. "But I know there's enough there to cut it into two equal shares."

"YOU IDIOT! Cut up a perfect gem? And it's mine! It's all mine!" She laughed heartily.

"All yours?" Snoops was angry, "Well, half of it is mine, you double-crossing crook!"

While they were arguing, the alligators came and grabbed Penny again. "Put me down, Brutus!" They carried her back to the boat. The mice and Keybladers tumbled out of her pockets when they reached the boat.

Suddenly they heard, "CHARGE!" Up the gangplank came Ellie Mae, Luke, an owl in an undertaker's outfit, a rabbit in overalls with a straw hat, an tortoise in a blue hat with a cane, a mole in overalls with a miners helmet, and…

"YOUR MAJESTY?!"

"MICKEY?!"

The King of Disney Town came up the gangplank, "No time to talk now fellas, we need to save that girl!"

Bianca, Bernard, Riku, and Ven snuck over to the room where the three were; Snoops was still fuming about the diamond, "Welsher! Swindler! Chiseler!"

"Shut up, Snoops, and don't move." Medusa was in there with her former partner and Penny at gunpoint. "If either of you try to follow me you'll get blasted!"

Penny approached her but was held back by a foot, "You give me my teddy bear. You promised."

"Teddy goes with me, my dear. I've become quite attached to him." Riku cast a Vinega spell across the doorway; Medusa back up and tripped over the vines. The gun went off and the teddy bear flew out of her hands. Ven could see something bright in its back.

"Riku she put the diamond in the bear!"

Medusa yelled, "My diamond! My diamond!" Snoops ran out the door towards the bear. The greedy woman grabbed his leg and tripped him but Penny managed to run over and grab the bear. The man and woman chased her, tripping each other along the way. When Medusa tripped again the swamp animals, Donald, and Goofy began attacking her. But her gunshots soon had them running.

Then they were confronted by Brutus and Nero. In the elevator, Bianca sprayed her perfume like crazy, while she Bernard and Riku sat on a large fishhook. Riku whistled, catching the alligator's attention. The three on the hook waved in a taunting way. The reptiles came running.

The swamp dwelling rabbit had the fishing rod, ready to pull them up. "Now!" The rabbit didn't pull and the gators got closer. "Now! Now!" Right before Nero's jaws snapped on them, they were pulled up and the overgrown lizards were trapped.

Kairi, Ven, and Sora were with Penny as she tried to start the swamp mobile. "Look out!" Medusa shot at them and hit the glass window, not two inches from the little girl's head. Mickey jumped on Medusa from above and gave her a nice beating.

She pointed her gun at him, but the owl shoved a lit firecracker into the barrel and it literally blew up in her face.

Sora and Bernard were down in the engine of the swamp mobile trying to get it started. "Advance the spark!" The horn honked in Bernard's face, "Not the horn! The spark lever. Sora hold this." He handed the boy a wire as Sora also held onto a metal prong in the engine. "It's that doohickey on the steering wheel."

Ven pulled it and an electrical current shot through the engine and through Sora.

At the same time, the rest of the swamp folks and Keybladers were lighting the fireworks cache. Medusa and Snoops were pinned down by fireworks from every angle.

All had gotten down to the swamp mobile but there was another problem. "We're not getting any gas!"

"Fill 'er up, Luke." Ellie Mae's husband began dumping a little of his whiskey into the tank, "Hurry! All of it!" The vehicle started and they were off.

"Look out!" Kairi saw that Medusa had come down and grabbed onto the mooring line before they were too far away. She frantically pulled herself in and reached for the teddy bear; Kairi summoned her Keyblade and gave her a good swat on the hands.

Medusa fell back but caught the line again and this time Brutus and Nero were under her feet helping her glide along behind them. "I won't let you take my diamond!" Darkness surrounded her and the gators; it cleared to reveal a large Heartless that had once been Medusa.

The Gem Reaper Heartless had dark green scaly feet with yellow eyes and alligator mouths; it's body was red and scaly like a snakes it had pale pink arms with black batwings under them, it's face was obscured by a red hood, but it's yellow gem-like eyes shone.

"Wh…what's happened to her?"

Riku summoned his Keyblade, "Darkness has taken her heart." The Heartless inched closer and closer as they drove. "We've got to get her off!" He summoned his glider and took off as Sora leapt up onto the back.

Kairi ran down the rope between the Heartless and swamp mobile. "Let's see how she likes this! WARRIOR FORM!" Light engulfed the Princess but when it faded she wasn't in Warrior Form. She was in a green turtleneck with a loose collar that had metal blue wires winding around her torso and upper arms, blue fingerless gloves that went up to her elbows, tight blue shorts under a green flowing skirt that only went off to one side, blue knee socks, and short green combat boots. Her Keyblade was covered in light, had a more definite shape, and was under her feet like a skateboard or surfboard. In her hands was a long sword, completely made of light.

"Whoa!" Sora blushed as they flew by.

Riku swerved, making his best friend snap back into reality, "You can compliment her looks later, we've got a Heartless to destroy." The other Keyblade wielders used their gliders while Kairi floated around on her Keyblade.

"Firaga!" The spell hit the Gem Reaper in the face, causing it to roar in pain. Kairi smiled, this new form upgraded all spells to their maximum strength. "Take this! She flew by and slashed with the light blade and ripped through the Heartless's arms. "That's it! Boys, attack it's arms!"

Spell after spell, attack after attack, the Heartless finally had enough; it let go of the rope, but one person wasn't finished. Ven flew up high and dove straight down towards the Gem Reaper's head, "THIS IS FOR PENNY!" As his glider ripped through its face it began to disappear, releasing a heart into the sky.

Penny stopped the swamp mobile and waited for them to get back on. "We did it, Bianca!" Bernard shouted.

"Hooray!" There was cheering from everyone, even Penny. She picked up Ventus in her hands, "Thank you everybody!" Then she whispered, "Don't worry, you'll find your family soon."

Ven's eyes grew wide, "Thank you Penny." She hugged him as best she could without hurting him.

Suddenly Teddy lit up and lifted into the air. Sora bowed to Mickey, "Your Majesty, would you do the honors?"

"Of course!" Mickey sealed the Keyhole.

Penny looked sad, "Does that mean you have to go?"

"Sorry but it does."

"Ok… thank you so much for saving me!"

Ven smiled, "You're welcome Penny!"

"Goodbye," Bianca said.

Bernard put something into Ven's hand, "Here you can have this."

"Thanks, goodbye!"


(On the Gummi Ship)

"So Mickey, why did you come to that world?"

"Well Riku, I…"

Kairi came running in, "You guys have to see this!"

They came into the cockpit and saw a news report from the world. A reporter was saying, "And because of a courageous little girl named Penny the world's largest diamond, the Devil's Eye is now in the Smithsonian Institute." The picture changed to the orphanage door, where a man and a woman came walking out with Penny. "But what's even more important, folks this little orphan's dream has come true. Today, she's being adopted." Everyone was smiling when they heard this; Kairi turned back and saw Ventus grinning from ear to ear and with tears in his eyes. "And here she is with her new mother and father." The other children of the orphanage were singing to Penny and her new family. The picture changed again to Penny talking to the reporter. "Penny, you are a brave little girl to do what you did all by yourself."

Penny smiled, "Oh, I didn't do it all by myself. Two little mice from the Rescue Aid Society and a bunch of tiny warriors helped me."

"Mice? Rescue Aid Society? Tiny Warriors?"

"Yes! They rescued me." She asked the reporter, "Uh, could I say hello to them?" She waved at the camera, "Hello, Bianca! Hi, Bernard! Hi, Sora, Riku, Kairi, Lea, Donald, Goofy, and Mickey! Hello, Ven!"

The reporter was confused, "You can talk to these little mice and warriors?"

"All the time. They can talk like anybody. Didn't you know that?" The group all laughed.

"Well, I didn't," the reporter stuttered, "But I do now, Penny." The TV screen shut off.

"Good for her!"

Goofy laughed, "I'm so glad she got some parents now!"

"Yea," Ven mumbled, "She can live out both her dream, and mine." Ventus took out his Keyblade, which now had the Keychain from Bernard on it. It had a guard that was diamond shaped and colored, its shaft was a pirate sword, the blade itself was a large diamond, and it's Keychain was a teddy bear. "It's called Devil's Eye."

Kairi looked back at him sadly; suddenly she remembered something. "Ven." She went over and whispered, "Naminè says hi."

The boy's face turned pink and he smiled again. Sora saw this and was very confused. "Kairi, what did you tell him?"

"Sora… I just told him that Naminè says hi. Stop being silly."

Mickey cleared his throat, "I'm sorry to have to break this up but I've been searching for you guys for a while. You are needed back in Radiant Garden, something's going on there."

"Alright then," Riku sat down in the drivers seat, "Next stop Radiant Garden!"


Oh, the feels! Tell me what you though of Ven's back-story… I know it's sad. Ok and to warn you ahead of time starting next chapter, this story will be a Final Fantasy mad-house in places. Please review!

Now for the trailer… The gang returns to Radiant Garden only to find it full of new faces. One face appears that is familiar to some of the gang, but does this person bring help or hurt. Next time in… Radiant Garden!


Rescue Me

As usual the Keyblade crew ended up in the right place at the right time. This time is was a perfect opportunity to save a little girl in trouble. It seems that this always happens to them, but is it a coincidence, or not?

God can sometimes put in in the right place at the right time, and we can be the rescuers. In Acts 22 and 23, the Apostle Paul was arrested by Roman troops. Not for doing anything wrong, he had been preaching when the Jews rioted and tried to tear him to bits. This drew the Romans to them and Paul was arrested. The Romans found him guilty of nothing and were going to move him to another location, but the Jews plotted to kill Paul along the way.

Paul's life was saved by his nephew. He happened to be in the area and overheard the Jews plot. He went and warned the Romans and they were able to keep his uncle safe from harm.

Sometimes God can put us in situations that can allow us to be the rescuers for someone else.