Hello readers! I would like to thank Kingdom Infinite for reviewing the previous chapter! Thank you very much! I really appreciate it!
This chapter was requested by Kingdom Infinite. He came up with the world's name. I hope you enjoy it! (:
Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of Pokémon, Kingdom Hearts, or Sitting Ducks. They belong to their respective owners. The dialogue of the characters from Duck Town belongs to the episode 'Duck Lover'. I only own this and every other story I have.
Axel shook his head. "You don't know how important trust truly is."
"Where did that come from?" Roxas queried, brow quirked.
"You can't survive without it here or anywhere."
The Pokémon crossed her arms. "Taa? (Care to elaborate more on what you're saying?)"
The pyro nodded. "Nobody can do everything at all times, right?"
"Right..."
"And who do you think you have to rely on when you can't?"
The blond held his chin. "...your partner." Realization dawned on the boy. "Is this what you're talking about: how we have to rely on others if we're in a pinch?"
The elder hummed. "Basically. After all, you have to have faith in your savior to make it out of that situation, no?"
"Taaja. (He's right, and you also have to have trust even when you work with multiple people.)"
The redhead smiled. "Yeah, you got it!" He congratulated the ivy snake. "In order for a team to cooperate, they have to believe in each other's potential!"
"Like what we do?" Roxas questioned.
"Ta. (Yeah.)"
"We wouldn't be able to survive our deadliest missions without our combined efforts, right?" Number VIII pressed.
"...right." His head sharply rose. "So we use trust to survive on a daily basis?"
He smirked. "Yeah, about time you got it."
"SHUT UP!"
Tsutaaja chuckled. "Jaa! (You can only trust Roxas to not mangle you right now!)"
"That's right..." The mentioned drawled, fingers curling in a constricting motion.
Axel bursted out laughing. "I know you won't actually mutilate me; we're way too close."
Roxas smirked. "Are you sure about that?" He then proceeded to strangle the elder who couldn't do anything to fight back.
The serpent groaned in frustration. "Taa. (It's up to Roxas if you survive at this point.)"
The attacker grinned. "Yeah!" He then released the other's neck.
The assaulted smiled. "I knew you wouldn't truly hurt me; I trust you."
"Shut up." His cheeks flushed red.
The Pokémon sighed. "We would be nothing without trust."
"Another day of toil."
The boy snickered. "Don't complain Axel; the time that we use to go to different worlds allows Tsutaaja to experience new cultures while spending time with us!"
The ivy snake nodded in agreement. "Ta! Taaja? (Yeah! By the way, what missions do you guys have today?)"
The speaker cleared his throat before beginning. "Roxas is going to Duck Town to break jars while I'm leaving for Popstar to defeat another giant Heartless."
The serpent quirked a brow. "Taa? (Why are you guys given such difficult goals to accomplish so often?)"
The assassin sighed. "Because we have no other choice; Saïx is the one who distributes our tasks after all."
"And even if he chooses simpler work for us," the blond seconded, "he can't give us easy jobs all the time because of two prominent reasons: recon does not always need to be done and he wants us to 'apply' ourselves out on the field. Besides, the former is Demyx's specialty and Number VII doesn't want anyone to slack off."
The Pokémon grunted. "Ja. (I guess that makes sense.)"
"Then let's go." The samurai declared as the group split up to depart for their respective destinations.
The benefactors of light were transported to a lush field dotted with trees all under a bright, blue sky. A white avian characterized by a narrow head sporting tiny orbs above a wide flaxen beak all over a plump body adorning a red ribbon near humanoid arms sprinted on webbed fulvous feet on a path along a fence towards a stone wall that allowed only the road to pass through as it was dotted with warning signs.
"Ta? (Where are the jars?)" The serpent queried as the duo stood behind a cedar.
The blond shrugged. "I don't know, but we'll find them; for now, let's watch the native conflict unfold." The ivy snake nodded in agreement before the two returned to the scene at hand.
A boisterous squawking could be heard up ahead, halting the fowl and causing it to hide behind a pine to observe three bipedal alligators who bore scales of differing shades over strong limbs, muscular tails, and long snouts which connected to bulging eyes.
"Quack, quack! Quackety-quack quack!" The crocodilians mocked as they wagged their limbs in a manner similar to a bird's wings and laughed.
The arrival turned to see a lighter-skinned reptile flee into a chalky mountain filled with boulders on each space. "Aldo..."
The mossy one laid itself down. "You know, we've never had a duck-lovin' gator in Swampwood before."
"Yeah," the mantis male agreed, "and I say it's time to put a stop to it!" He declared while gesturing to himself. "Let's get rid of his favorite little duck."
"That'll straighten Aldo out faster than anything!" The moderate added in.
The poultry gulped as he overheard the conspiracy.
"Then we should pick off his friends and neighbors off for desert!" The lightest suggested.
"Let's raid Duck Town at midnight!" The medium declared while waving his arms, the three bursting into laughter.
"That's a good idea!"
"We'll remind Aldo how to treat ducks!" The darkest announced.
"You mean...how to eat ducks!" The trio cackled up at the blatant statement.
The feathered being rushed toward his home after he had heard the final stage to their horrific plot.
The samurai turned to his partner. "Let's follow him."
The party entered a bustling city filled with apartments, advertisings, and multitudes of businesses. Their target had disappeared into his house.
"Nothing's happening right now; let's go search for the urns."
The duo hunted for their objectives until the sky had darkened. The team followed heated murmurs to a gathering of aves assembled under a verdant tarp covering twin emerald doors to hear the bowed preach.
"Aldo has never hurt a single duck in Duck Town but these gators mean business! They want him to pay for being our friend!"
A figure clad in a lime beret and azure shirt unbuttoned to reveal his chest was the first to speak up. "Um, Bill...he's mostly your friend."
"No! Aldo's been a friend to us all!" He descended the stairs to confront a chubby individual. "Waddle, didn't he teach you to slam-dunk?" He then approached a tall figure. "And Ernie, what about the time Aldo chased off all those poaching gators that almost got your boys?" He then stepped up to be in front of a female who wore a cap that resembled leopard skin above crimson glasses and a mouth accented with lipstick. "And Bev, isn't Aldo one of your best customers at the café?"
The crowd buzzed with agreement at the lector's words.
"Yeah!"
"He's right!"
The pontificator ran into the middle of the street. "Now who's with me?"
"Huh?" A pounding of feet resounded behind the speaker, him turning around to find that the audience had evacuated; the only other movement came from a sheet of paper tumbling in the wind as a line wolf howled. "Aww."
At the stroke of midnight, the civilians covered their windows as three hid in separate trash cans, disappearing into them as a mass of shadows collected behind the sole rebel. The male placed his hands on his hips, tapping a toe before turning around to make eye contact with a group of crocodilians. The leader snarled as his prey attempted to escape, snatching him by the head and bringing him up to be level with the leader's muzzle.
"Where's your alligator buddy now?" The victim grunted as he thrashed, struggle in a vain effort to break free.
The quarry then pointed to his captor who glared back. "If you're going to eat me, here's something else for you to chew on; ALDO AND I ARE BEST FRIENDS AND WILL BE BEST FRIENDS FOREVER, NO MATTER WHAT!" The troop grunted in disapproval before the head spoke once more.
"That's amazing; standing up for Aldo right 'til the end!" The carnivor's eyes drooped. "Aww, maybe I should let you go." Hope dawned in the avian's eyes, lips curling into a genuine smile before the hunter picked him up again. "Only kidding." The platoon burst into heated laughter at the twisted joke. The alpha held onto his catch with both hands, widening his jaws.
"Let him go, Alan!" The one in question glowered before turning to the one they had taunted.
The newcomer strode determinedly to the platoon, the hostage beaming. "Aldo! Good to see you! Where have you been?!"
The endotherm narrowed his irises. "I've been to see a llama, but I'm back...and I've got something to say!" He took his friend back before directing his gaze to the complexes. "So everyone better listen good! I was born a gator; that's who I am."
The head grinned. "Prove it! Eat the duck!" The emerald swiveled on his heel to grimace at the smug bunch. He loosened his fingers on the bird's neck before clutching it. "Do it!" The darer gestured with his mandible to the morsel.
"Eat the duck!" A fowl in the midst of a triad behind some bushes exclaimed before clasping his flaps in realization as his acquaintances gasped as the trio in the bins quivered at the sight.
"You didn't let me finish." The supporter rebuked before touching his heart. "I was born a gator and nature is nature, but if you spent any time getting to know these ducks, you wouldn't be so quick to eat them." He scowled as a quack escaped a citizen's throat. The consumer made a scary face, the individuals shaking in fear. "And you ducks have to respect me because I am a predator and I'm proud of my alligator roots." He then refocused on the members of his species. "Now go home! This. Is. Over!" The boss growled before pushing past the protector, allowing his army to advance.
The sound of metal upon metal reverberated, catching the antagonists' attention to the trinity who now used the lids as shields, a mob that wielded brooms and other appliances below helmets consisting of pots, and a quartet of fighters set in a battle stance.
"THAT MEANS EVERYBODY!" The reptiles conversed amongst themselves before finally retreating.
The remainder lowered his stare to his companion. "Thanks Aldo. We almost stood up to them tonight!"
"I heard what you said about us being friends." The pair began walking.
"Yeah? Well I meant it." The feathered brightened. "Hey, what do you say we play some bucketball in the morning."
"Sure, but with one rule."
"What's that?"
"If I win...I eat you."
Bil chuckled before reaffirming his beliefs. "Uh, you're joking...right?"
"Maybe..."
Roxas smiled as the comrades passed by before hardening his features. "Time to go; the events officially ended and we must utilize the rest of the time we have here to search for the jars."
"Ta! (Right!)"
The duo spotted the pottery on the roof of tallest edifice in the city, lain perfectly in tow.
"Wait here." The Nobody instructed as he approached a urn and proceeded to shatter it. A Living Pod materialized in front of the agent as he pointed his weapons at it.
The Pokémon quirked a brow. "Taaja? (They really are the Organization's favorites, huh?)"
"Yep." The blond responded as he zipped to another vase. "Keep all that appear at bay until I finish!"
"Ta! (Roger!)" The serpent mega evolved into her final form, roaring as she reached completion. A dark aura emitted from the Regal's eyes, causing a shadowy replica of the Heartless to manifest. The duplicate swiped at the original, knocking a huge portion of its health away. The former snake followed it by vanishing into thin air before reappearing in front of the ghost and using Shadow Force. She then chomped fiercely on the decaying flesh, killing it in an instant.
"Look out!" Five sets of three ghouls appeared before the dragon as the samurai joined her. The flier beat her wings, issuing a maroon wind that encompassed her foes. The current then returned and swirled around its origin until it disappeared.
The advanced partially grinned. "Jarou. (Ominous Wind deals damage and also has a chance of increasing my attack.)"
The keybearer grunted before dashing ahead. "Now!" The samurai declared as he enveloped his dual swords in light, conjuring a laser ray that created orbs of radiance before he slashed at the enemies. Each was horrifically mutilated as the brilliance collided with their undead bodies.
The semi-grass type shrieked, manifesting a Night Shade that crippled its victims and confronted them as they plummeted to the ground. A spirit threw its claw as the Regal approached, but she smiled smugly and dodged the projectile before throwing a violet fist at its skull, eliminating the zombie. The Pokémon turned to the closest denizen straight afterwards and diced it with a Night Slash, decapitating the monster. Mega Jarouda then exhaled a deadly Dark Pulse as her orbs emitted an onyx wave, obliterating the last of the Living Pods.
The two regrouped as the creature reverted into her original state.
Roxas smirked. "I hope we didn't keep Axel waiting too long."
Heartless: Living Pod
Moves used: Foul Play, Shadow Force, Crunch, Ominous Wind, Night Shade, Sucker Punch, Night Slash, Dark Pulse, Night Daze
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