Chapter 12: A Tear Drop Away

~Far, Far Away: Dark Forests~

Bubble Bass cowered in fear as he traversed through the dark, frightful forests, looking around cautiously at the world Vicky had sent him to. His mission was to find the whereabouts of Kioku, Spongebob and Patrick to eliminate them, or if he couldn't find them—unleash the Heartless anayways and let them do the work. Of course, he was quick to send the Heartless off to cause trouble. However, he had been in Far, Far Away for almost a whole day and he still couldn't find the three in the forest, even checking near an old, dirty swamp for clues. After searching to no avail, the large fish found himself standing in front of a pub that sat in the center of the woods. Desperate for clues, Bubble Bass entered the pub in hopes of finding out anything. Upon walking in, the pub's patrons turned an eye to his presence, looking the outsider up an down with a skeptical eye. Which made the fish even more intimidated.

Bubble Bass approached the bar, taking a seat next to a headless man and cleared his throat. "U-Um, excuse me miss." He coughed, trying to get the attention of the female bartender standing behind the counter. The woman turned around, revealing her rather ugly-looking face, making Bubble Bass recoil in disgust. "What can I do for ya?" The woman spoke in a deepened, masculine tone.

Stammering, Bubble Bass had immediately cut to the chase, "You wouldn't happen to know anything about a boy with a Keyblade traveling through here, would you?" The fish asked, earning an odd look from the ugly woman. She shook her head, "Why—you need him taken care of?"

Bubble Bass jumped, quickly nodding his head. "Oh yes, yes! I do—he travels with two other-"

The woman pointed to the back, "The guy you wanna talk you is back there. He can deal with stuff like this." She informed.

Bubble Bass stood up and chuckled, "Thank you kindly, miss." He bowed, walking back towards the room she showed him. He entered, being greeted by a pitch black room and a set of green cat-like eyes peering through the darkness. A set of boots were resting casually on the desk, and Bubble Bass had stammered again, "H-Hello?"

"Who dares speak to me?" The person asked, the eyes and boots moving as a reaction.

"I-I'm told that you can take care of a problem for me.." Bubble Bass smiled slyly. The eyes closed, implying that they nodded. "Yes, but only for a good price that is." The person replied in a smooth accent, tapping the heel of their boot on the desk. Bubble Bass snapped his fingers and a bag of Munny appeared in his hand in a poof of smoke. He set in on the desk in front of the boots. A laugh had erupted from the darkness and the swipe of a rapier had sliced open the bag, the golden Munny chiming melodically as it spilled out from the slit of the bag. "Now, that you have engaged my service—who is this person, or pppersons." The figure purred.

"Their names are Kioku, Spongebob, and Patrick." Bubble Bass explained. "Kioku uses a powerful weapon called the Keyblade, so he is far from a pushover." The fish warned. "Just keep those guys out of the way, I have other plans to take care of."

Another purring cackle came from the boots, "Don't worry, my client. This, Kioku, will be no match for me."

~The Next Morning~

~Far, Far Away: Guest Bedchamber~

Kioku, Spongebob and Patrick slept soundly inside of a guestroom on the end of the corridor, two doors down from Fiona's room. They decided to get some rest for the night before heading out into the kingdom to search for Yoru and the King. However, the three were abruptly woken up by the sounds of three ear crunching knocks on their door, which made them scramble about the Queen-sized bed they all had shared. Kioku rolled and slammed onto the floor, he gritted his teeth with irritation. "Who...the hell..." He cursed as he climbed up to his feet, stomping towards the double doors. Spongebob and Patrick both sat up and shook their heads, waking themselves up. "Who could that be?" Spongebob asked sleepily.

"Who in the hell is knockin' like the—royal guar—" Kioku ranted as he opened the doors, jumping back as Shrek's face had startled him, making the teen spring his arms up comically. Kioku exhaled and put a hand to his chest, "Dude, what the heck is the deal, it's like early in the morning!" The teen shouted in a whisper, angry at the ogre for waking him up.

"Get your shoes on, Kioku," Shrek said with a calm smile, he pointed a thumb behind him. "Donkey and I are meeting with Fiona's dad for a fishing trip out in the wild, he asked you to join." He explained.

"Wait," Patrick interrupted, rubbing his eyes as he approached the door. "When did you and the king become all buddy-buddy, all of a sudden?" He asked, skeptical of the situation. Shrek shrugged, "He just woke me up, apologized, and offered to take us out to fish."

Kioku lowered his eyes and yawned, "Well, I guess it'll kill some time before we go search the kingdom." He turned to Spongebob and Patrick. "You guys in?"

The two nodded, "Sounds like an adventure!" Spongebob cheered happily. Donkey pranced up to Shrek, "Did they say yes?"

Shrek groaned. "Yes, Donkey!" he answered.

Kioku rubbed his face again, still half asleep. "Can we get breakfast first?" He asked as his stomach growled savagely. Shrek nodded down the corridor, "There's a Friar Boy restaurant down the street, I think they're open at this hour."

~Far, Far, Away: Forest Grove~

After getting breakfast, the five of them set out to meet Fiona's dad far out into the forest for a... fishing trip? The king had given the party a rather odd, and skeptical set of directions that had ended up getting them lost in the woods. Kioku smiled and bit into his breakfast burrito, which had contained chopped up fried mutton meat, with sour cream and veggies. The tortilla was cooked to a golden crisp, and for it being the first thing Kioku has eaten in a while, he savored the taste gratefully. But in the midst of his breakfast, the boy looked around with uncertainty of their direction. "So, you guys mind telling us where we are?" He chewed. Shrek grumbled angrily and looked down at Donkey, who had been the one instructing the group. "I have no clue because DONKEY of all people, doesn't know where to go, either!" He ranted.

Donkey jumped in defense, "I'm tellin' you, the king told us to head this way—past all the scary trees and stuff!" He explained.

Spongebob sipped his orange juice, "Yeah, this definitely is a bit creepy." He said, looking around the forest oddly.

Shrek sighed, "The only chance I get to make things right with Fiona's dad and I get lost in the forest with you." He huffed at the donkey.

Kioku barged in, "Hey, hey! Shrek, he's only trying to help, so chill!" He took a bite out of his burrito again and held it out to the ogre. "Wanna bite, it's fried mutton." Kioku smiled graciously, trying to lift the angered ogre's spirits.

Shrek chuckled and grabbed it, "Look, I know he's trying to help—I'm sorry, lads." The ogre apologized. "I just can't mess this up again, it'll mean a lot to Fiona."

Donkey nudged the ogre, "It's alright, I know we're all a little cranky from a few Heartless ambushes—but we'll all be okay." He cheered.

Kioku shoved his hands into his pockets and sighed, "C'mon—let's just hurry and meet up with him." he said, still annoyed by the two's bickering.

Hiding deep within the trees nearby, a black coat had lurked far into the shadows, observing the five of them as they traveled on. In a flourishing spiral of black and gray thorns, a single long katana appeared in his hand. A calm aura soothed his body and he lowered himself and crept forward. "Number XIII...Ikkxou.." he muttered lowly, in a hollow tone. "I'm not sure whether to test your strength—or slay you here, as a favor for your tyrannical 'friend'." He laughed softly, his body shaking as he was filled by a maniacal sensation. A sensation of excitement for killing Kioku all for the irony, achieving his goal in the end. He touched the dull gray blade with his black glove, his eyes sharpening as his eyes focused on the teen, who was walking alongside his friends...and another target. He huffed and readied himself.

The sound of a purring cat suddenly crept over the black coat, sliding across his shoulders before pouncing off and flying towards a tree branch. "Ngh! What the..!" The black coat exclaimed in confusion.

The purring figure flipped to another tree, then another, getting closer to the group stealthily. Kioku looked down at Donkey, and folded his hands behind his head. "Jeez, I know you're trying to be the sentimental one in the group—but tone down the purring, will ya?" The teen said, rolling his eyes with a smirk. Donkey shook his head, "Kioku, donkeys don't purr. Besides, I'm wasn't purring to begin with!"

"Gonna give me a hug instead?" Kioku laughed, making the Donkey trot forward.

"Donkeys don't purr. So I don't purr—besides, I ain't no—"

THUD!

Landing on it's feet in front of the party was a orange cat, donning a cavalier's hat with a yellow feather. On his tiny feet were large black boots that reached all the up to his knees. He wore a black belt around his waist with a rapier tucked on the side and a black cape on his back. The cat stood on it's hind legs with its boots and drew it's little rapier. "Ha HA—fear me if you dare!" he shouted with a thick, noticeable accent.

Kioku paused in his tracks, looking at what he saw before him and his friends with a deadpan expression. He squatted down to the cat's level and tilted his head, "Awww...it's someone's stray I bet." Kioku mewed with an excited smile. Shrek laughed, "Look at it's wee little outfit, Halloween hasn't come up yet, y'know." The ogre mocked. The cat growled under his hat, resting a paw on his rapier.

Donkey gasped in fear and ran behind Shrek, "You two better watch out, he's got a piece!" he shouted cautiously.

Kioku turned to Donkey and scoffed, "It's a cat, what harm could it do?"

The cat hissed and drew his rapier with a quick swipe, "You'll regret making a mockery of the Puss in Boots." He meowed just before pouncing towards the party. Kioku giggled, "Puss in Boots?" He said in a childlike-tone. "Is that your nam—" He grunted as the cat delivered and swift roundhouse kick to his chin and sent him flying into a tree beside him. Puss had then spun his rapier rapidly and swiped away at the group, causing them to disperse around the cat. The cat then turned his attention back to Kioku and tossed his sword at him, making the teen flipped up to his feet and spin out of the way of the speeding rapier. The sword lodged into the tree, and Kioku was quick to grab and send it back towards the cat with the same energy, but the feline had caught the blade with ease.

"Okay." The teen nodded and summoned his Keyblade, "I tried to be nice about this, but I'll just get right to the point." He got into a stance as the rest of them gathered around the front lines, "Get the hell out of our way."

(INFORMATION: Chase away the cat!)

(Battle Theme: Rowdy Rumble)

The cat dashed towards Kioku again and swung it's sword, but the boy had quickly parried the attack and retaliated with a stronger one of his own, which had flung the cat into the air instantly. He launched himself into the air and bashed the cat with multiple aerial strikes, circling around the animal and returning him to the ground with walloping slam from his Keyblade. Shrek moved in and dashed into Puss and grappled him as he came speeding to the ground, attempting to toss him into Patrick for another attack, but the cat had used it's claws to latch onto Shrek's arm, making the ogre cry in pain and gallop around the forest.

"GAAAHHH! Get it off me!" Shrek cried, waving his arm around in an attempt to throw Puss off. Kioku jumped onto a tree branch and climbed back onto the ground, quickly running towards Shrek and the cat with his Keyblade at his side. Puss had then grabbed his rapier and kicked off of Shrek, pouncing towards Kioku again in a quick motion. The teen had then came to a halt and tossed his Keyblade up into the air, and then opened his arms as Puss came flying towards him. Just as the cat came close enough, Kioku grabbed onto him and spun his body, lifting both himself and the cat up into a backwards arch and crashed into the ground with a great slam, landing right down on Puss' shoulders. The boy rolled up to his feet as his Keyblade came spinning down towards Puss' head with a clunk, knocking him out.

{KIOKU LEARNED: Dark Step/Dark Slide}

Dark Step: This ability allows Kioku to quickly slide around the enemy just before their attack hits. The screen will darken and Kioku's attacks with grow in speed, while also stunning them.

{Party: HP and MP UP}

Kioku turned the others and waved, "It's alright, I didn't kill 'im."

Spongebob marched past the boy, looking down towards Puss in slight pity, "It was still a bit much." he raised his staff up into the air, a bright green aura with earthly accents washed over Puss' body, healing the bumps and bruised from the brief scuffle. The cat mewed, blinking his eyes a few times before looking up at the party surrounding him. "Uh oh.."

Kioku dismissed his Keyblade and picked the cat up by the skin on it's neck, holding it up into the air to meet face to face with him. "So, what should we do with the hairball?" the teen asked in a devious tone, his eyes flaring up like a hellion. Donkey picked up the cat's rapier with his mouth, "Let's neuter him."

Kioku smiled, "Sounds great."

Puss hissed and shook around, "W-Wait! Please it was nothing personal amigo!" The cat cried. "I was only doing it for my family, a big man named Bubble Bass asked me to do it—please just don't hit me again!"

Spongebob gasped, "Bubble Bass is here? He's gettin' awfully lazy."

"Sending a cat to try and kill us?" Kioku snickered, "Guess he's following in his master's footsteps of recruiting local muscle—only Bubble Bass sucks at it."

"Your skills are admiring, amigo." Puss said in a genuine tone. "So please, let me down already." he begged.

Kioku rolled his eyes and dropped the cat with a thud. "Alright, now get lost."

The cat picked up his hat and brushed it off, "Very well, but just to let you know—I wasn't the only assassin out here in this forest."

Spongebob flinched at the cat's statement, "You mean there's another bad guy around?"

Kioku looked down at the cat, summoning his Keyblade with a hand in his pocket. "Who else is here?" he asked in a low voice, hoping that he wouldn't have to lay a second beat down on a cat. Puss threw his paws up in defense, "Th-They aren't with me, senor! They were dressed in a black cloak, and they were lowered into a stance, like a predator stalking it's prey."

The teen spun around a soon as the words 'black cloak' graced his ears, "These guys too?" he muttered. Suddenly, a series of blades appeared above the party in a spiraling poof of black and white thorns and dropped at an accelerated speed. Spongebob looked up, gasping at the blades, he quickly summoned a Reflect orb around them all, repelling the blades as they came crashing down on them. After a few seconds, the magic barrier burst around them, and Kioku got a glimpse of a black figure slithering from the forest and had started towards them. The boy spit on the ground and tossed his Keyblade up into the air, making an immediate dash towards the black cloak. Upon approaching the sword wielding figure, Kioku ducked his body under his enemy's arms and grappled his torso. He quickly circled around with with impressive speed and latched onto him again, this time tossing the black cloak over his own body, sending him into the air. The black cloak recovered himself in the air and landed on the ground with a skidding halt. The Keyblade came spinning down towards it's master, in which he caught with his dominant hand.

The black figure adjusted itself and huffed, "XIII, it's been a while."

Kioku picked himself up from the ground, "'A while', I've never seen you before.." The teen stood up and sized the tall figure up.

The figure then let down it's hood, revealing his feminine-like face with long, dark brown hair with bangs that nearly covered his crimson red eyes. The cloaked man waved casually. "It's Xilom, number VII?"

Spongebob quickly interjected, "Stop messing around! What's the Syndicate doing messing around in Far, Far Away?" he interrogated boldly.

Xilom chuckled, "I was just doing a little recon and I started..overhearing things." He said with a light drawl.

"Things like what?" Patrick asked, readying one of his shields in defense. Xilom paced back and forth, "Oh y'know—eliminating fiances and their meddling house guests—for...the kingdom, was it?" He explained, biting his bottom lip as he clenched his blade.

Kioku rested his Keyblade on his shoulder, "What the hell? You don't mean—"

Xilom nodded, "Yes, the King asked me to get rid of you guys—for the sake of the kingdom that is." He said, moving around eccentrically. He put a finger to his chin, "And I thought—'this idea could work out in the Syndicate's favor'—I could bring back Ikkxou, while also recruiting our big, green fella over here." He explained, gesturing to Shrek, who gave the man a look.

"Wait—you want me to join you?" Shrek asked, pointing to himself and then at Xilom. The ogre laughed, "Yeah right, like I'd join a couple of glorified mortuary corpses." He said, bluntly insulting the Nobody.

Xilom shrugged, "You put on a tough front, ogre. Behind that scary exterior lies a hurt, rejected heart longing for acceptance." He said, the playful demeanor absent in his voice. "You'll find yourself wandering on the correct path soon." The Nobody opened up and corridor of darkness and smiled.

"Sayonara, XIII. I've spared you, the least you could say is 'thank you'." Xilom teased, making the teen flip him off.

"Piss off already." Kioku cursed at the man, "Next time we meet, I'll be standing over your disintegrating body." He said threateningly. Xilom rolled his eyes and flipped his hood back on before disappearing into the portal before it closed. Shrek sighed and turned away from everyone in shame, "So much for daddy's blessing." he moped, walking over to a boulder before resting on it.

Donkey trotted up to his friend, "Aw cheer up, Shrek. Almost everyone you meet wants to kill you."

Patrick rubbed his chin, "Maybe if he looked like some sort of handsome prince, Fiona would like him more." He babbled,

"And Fiona knows that you'd do anything for her." Spongebob added, scratching his head in thought.

Shrek sighed and rubbed his face, "It's not like I wouldn't change if she asked me to. I wish there was a way we could work something out."

"Wish...wish—wait a sec!" Suddenly, a light went off in Kioku's head and he quickly dug into his pants pocket. He pulled out the glittery business card Fairy Godmother had given to them and held it up. "Happiness is just a teardrop away, right?" Kioku smirked. He then summoned his Keyblade in flash and turned to Donkey, who had backed up skeptically.

"W-wa-wait, what's going on here?" Donkey asked frightfully.

"We're gonna need you to cry in order for this to work." Kioku explained calmly, aiming his Keyblade at Donkey's leg. "I'm only gonna sting you bit."

And before the Donkey could argue, Kioku had sent a quick jolt of magic into Donkey's leg, making him yelp and hop up in pain. "GAAH! Kioku now why would you go and—" The donkey murmured as a single tear droplet came sliding down his cheek. The teen wiped his tear with the card and a emerging from it was a sparkling bubble, which had started to grow in size as it flew up into the air. The bubble hovered, and an image of Fairy Godmother appeared from within it, smiling at the party.

"This is Fairy Godmother, but I am currently away from my desk or with a client—" The image of Fairy Godmother was then replaced with one of a cottage, which was attached to a large factory. "If you come by the office, I'll be happy to schedule an appointment. Have a Happy Ever After!" A with a poof of pink glitter and sparkles, the bubble has disappeared, with Spongebob, Patrick and Donkey gawking in awe.

Shrek nudged Kioku with an elbow, "Whaddaya say lad? You ready for a little adventure?" He asked, making Kioku nod happily. "I'm down for it!" He bounced eagerly. Donkey trotted, "That's what I'm talking about! Five stalwart friends going on another whirlwind adventure!" He had started to sing as they started off to Fairy Godmother's factory. The Puss in Boot called out to them, "Wait!" he voice causing the party to stop and turn around.

The cat held onto his hat, "Please, let me come with you. I'll be able to assist you against those mysterious figures, like Xilom." He plead, looking on at the gang with a persuasive, adorable look. Kioku's glare had slowly drooped into a empathetic frown, slowly approaching Puss as he continued to give them the look. The teen folded his arms, "Aww man,"

He then scooped up Puss in his arms, "I'm sorry for suplexing you." He apologized, petting the cat's fur as it purred in response. Donkey shouted at the boy, "Kioku!"

Kioku whined, "But Donkey, look at his boots and his little hat! He just looks sooo cute!" He hugged the cat, "Plus he can fight Heartless with us! let's keep 'im!" The party all groaned at Kioku's childish behavior, but indefinitely agreed that bringing Puss along would be extra help, especially if they were to run into the likes of Xilom or any other Syndicate member for that matter. All six of them were setting out to find Fairy Godmother's factory, and seeking help from her could be the key to saving Shrek's withering relationship with Fiona and her parents. However, would it be enough to stop the darkness that was approaching them ever so quickly?