Note: A small ditty here, even if it's going to be multiple chapters, though said chapters won't be long at all.

Some context here: I got Kingdom Hearts-The Story so Far for my birthday, and I've been playing the crap out of it, and thus, I've finally got the chance to play Birth by Sleep for the first time. I knew of the game beforehand, as well as the nearly added world of the Jungle Book. As one of Disney's most successful movies, and being the origin of one of its more famous characters (Baloo), I thought it was sort of a shame that it wasn't included anywhere (personally, I'd rather have it than Frozen, but that's probably because I can't stand the movie now or anything relating to it due to oversaturation). Personally, I'm more than fine with there being a Lion King world or a Nightmare Before Christmas world, yet I would like more of the lesser talked about movies to have a world as well, something they did with Alice and Wonderland and Pinnochio (not that their unknown, but in comparison to the likes of Lion King, they do fall behind). Like, some I get, such as the princesses' worlds and Neverland, but did we really need to visit Hercules three different times in three different games (haven't played Chain of Memories yet, so correct me if I'm wrong), and this is just me speaking, but I feel that Frozen is vastly overrated and not that good at all.

Thus, this is where this came from.

This'll go in chronological order, in that it'll go from who arrives first, then to the other of the three (Ventus, Terra, and Aqua) and vice versa. This is inspired by Stuff3's take on it, albeit with differences. And I was worried about whether or not I'd be able to include everyone, yet I think I found a way without it feeling too cluttered. Plus, there's also the fact that this takes place ten years before the events of the first game, so that'll also come into play with the events here. It won't be just a cut and paste of the movie with the BbS characters thrown in (that's one of my big pet peeves when it comes to Kingdom Hearts and Disney fanfics in general).

Also, while there is a boss, it'll be one that all the characters face off against, yet it's only with the last one that it'll finally be defeated.

With that, hope you enjoy!

© of Square Enix and Disney

Aqua Part 1

Aqua ran her hand through her blue hair, releasing another huff. Heavens, it was hot here. How anything could stand this heat baffled her. Still, she wasn't here out of her choosing. Master Eraqus' task still remained, as well as finding the whereabouts of both Ventus and Terra.

Her mind couldn't help but dwell on the two boys. Well, one was a boy, the other was more akin to a young man. And while the latter could surely hold his own against whatever foul creature that might've lurked in here...well, Ventus was no pushover either, yet still, the young woman found herself worrying over the younger boy's current status. Terra and she had been given an assignment whilst Ventus had just up and left, and now, aside from the brief amount of time they had crossed paths in the Castle of Dreams, she hadn't even seen Terra at all. And Ventus was long gone when she had escaped the dungeon with Prince Phillip in the Enchanted Domain.

Once again, she was alone.

Stopping for a moment, Aqua heard the sound of running water and immediately rushed over the source. A river flowing at a slow, steady pace lay past the thicket she had to trek through, and upon seeing it, she wasted no time in going over and taking water into her hand and to her mouth. It was so unbearably hot! How could anyone, let alone anything survive? At least without going crazy first. It wasn't as if she had on heavy clothing either, yet still, it seemed that the heat was determined to make every inch of her soaking wet with her own sweat. It must've been the dense collection of trees and plants all around her, containing it in a pocket that coursed through the entire area.

Ventus and Terra...the latter had begun to worry her as well, not in the same way she dwelt on former. She didn't wish to believe it, but before her arrival to the Castle of Dreams, word of mouth had been heard of some...unfavorable things that the young man had apparently done in other worlds. That witch Maleficent even reported such deeds, yet she and Ventus refused to believe it. After all, the demoness herself proclaimed to possess the powers of hell itself, so why wouldn't one such as herself take pleasure in deriving pain from others? She...she was wrong. She had to be lying. She had to be. She had to…

But...what of Master Xehanort seemingly looking for the Princess' of Heart? For what reason would he have to look for them? Yes, with the Unversed, it was clear that they, and perhaps several other worlds were in danger, yet still, Aqua couldn't deny that such news brought a sense of discomfort with it. As well as more worry for Terra and Ventus.

Wait a moment...the hairs on the back of her neck stiffened. She was being watched.

She called out her keyblade and whirled around, only to see a blur of black pass over her head, she just barely caught it. "Well, it seems that you're not completely without means of defense," a voice spoke, male and smooth, but bearing a sternness to it. Truthfully, Aqua found herself being reminded of Master Eraqus. "But that still raises the question as to what you're doing here." the blue haired young woman turned to see not a man, yet a large, black feline with a sturdy chin and piercing, golden eyes. Those eyes bore into her own, as if he were literally searching her very soul, he then began to circle and study her. "What business do you have here in this jungle?" the cat questioned, voice still firm, yet Aqua couldn't detect any hostility in it, just caution. "Where do you come from, man-cub?"

"Well," the young woman began. "Let's just say I'm looking for...wait." she paused. "What did you call me?"

"Man-cub." the cat repeated. "That IS what you are, yes?"

"Um...well, I'm a hu-man, but I'm not a man. And I'm not exactly a cub."

"Hm...no, I suppose not." the cat responded. "Yet that still doesn't explain why you're here."

"I'm here looking for some friends." she answered him plainly.

"Friends?"

"Yes, friends." Aqua repeated. "They're like me."

"Oh no." the cat sighed. "MORE man-cubs?" he then looked to her. "Or...do you mean those foul creatures?"

"Foul creatures…" Aqua thought aloud. Could he mean- "Huh?!"

Suddenly, small masses of shadow formed on the ground, numerous Floods materializing out of thin air. "It's them!" the cat cried out, bracing himself. Aqua also got into a fighting stance, the two then looking to each other. It seemed that these two strangers would have to cooperate with each other.

One of the deep blueish creatures dashed forward towards the young woman, only to receive a slash from her weapon, said weapon tore its corporal form in half and it dissipated soon after. The cat slashed its claws, taking the head and a good chunk of a torso out of one as well. It felt a sharp pain on his tail and realized that another, larger creature of blue had ahold of the appendage. He tried to whirl around, yet the being held firm and using it, propelled itself further up, its claws raking over his back, tearing out clumps of fur from it. Aqua heard and saw his current predicament and leapt to his aid, the smaller Floods nipping and scratching at her calves in an attempt to keep her attention off of its larger comrade. Still, she persisted, holding her keyblade high into the air and bringing it down on the head of the Scrapper, the end essentially chopping through the Unversed's head and splitting it clean in two. It stumbled back a bit before its chest and waist where sliced through, it disappearing in collections of smoke. The smaller ones were easily dispatched of, and when it was over, both Aqua and the cat looked to each other.

"Are you all right?" the blue haired young woman asked, the black feline nodding, albeit he winced a bit due to the scratches he received.

"Nothing that I haven't had before." he assured. "And I've had much worse too." he looked and observed her body. "Looks like you've received from damage as well."

"I've had much worse too." she chuckled, but then reached down and scooped up some water in her hands, letting the cool liquid drop on the cat's back. Normally, he'd outright avoid water if he could, yet right now, the water felt heavenly. Then, she felt something on her arm. It was somewhat rough and moist, yet nonetheless, comforting. She looked to see that the cat was licking one of the wounds she had received. "Oh, thank you."

"Thank YOU." he replied. "It seems I've misjudged you. Please forgive me. It's just that times have been tense these past few days. What with those creatures roaming about."

"I'd imagine." Aqua answered. "It's fine, don't worry about it." she assured him. "But, if you can tell me, when did they show…" she paused. "Oh, I'm sorry. I got so caught up that I didn't even introduce myself."

"Neither did I." the cat replied. "Again, I apologize."

"No, it's ok." she said. "I'm Aqua."

"Greetings then, Aqua." the cat told her. "I am Bagheera."

Bagheera. It was unusual, yet Aqua couldn't deny that it bore something of a regalness to it, a sense of dignity and refinement. Fitting for one such as himself. "Well, hello, Bagheera."

Bagheera nodded in acknowledgement. "Now, if I may be so bold, my dear, what DOES bring you here?"

"Well, I'm looking for my friends." Aqua said. "I don't suppose you…" she paused. "No, you probably haven't. I mean, you seemed kind of surprised when you saw me."

"Indeed." the panther admitted. "And while I haven't seen any others such as yourself, this jungle is vast. Do you know where you saw them last?"

"Well, it was some time on another-" she stopped herself.

"Another?" Bagheera questioned.

"Another...jungle. Far away." she told him. "And I haven't seen them for awhile." from what Bagheera could see, she was steadily growing uncomfortable. "And...well, I don't want to admit it, but...I think that one of them, or maybe both, are in trouble."

"Trouble?" the panther quirked a brow. "From those creatures, perhaps?"

"Maybe." Aqua told him. "See, me and one of my friends are investigating why they were appearing, and the other went off on his own without either of us knowing. Now, we're all out here, trying to find each other, I guess." she grew quiet. It was clear she wasn't telling the entire story, yet the panther didn't dare pry any further, especially given how much distress recounting it seemed to cause her.

It was clear what he had to do. "Well then," Bagheera began. "If you're from a…'jungle' far away, then you would surely not be too familiar with this one, yes?"

"Huh? What are you-"

"Then rest assured," the panther continued, giving Aqua a small bow. "I shall be your guide."

Note: If all goes according, I'm thinking of separating each of the three characters' journeys into three parts at most, as the worlds in general are rather short for each character's own story. Still, I will try to make them all feel connected to each other. That said, I hope you enjoyed this first part of Aqua's journey and I hope to see you all for the next part!