Author's Note: Here's another long-awaited chapter. This chapter has something different in it. It's important in this story that I add in a certain song. The song here is a parody of another. Different lyrics, but same music and rhythm. This is a small bit of the song; an extended version will be used for another chapter in the future, so keep this in mind. The song featured here is a parody of the first verse of "Solla Sollew" from the Seussical.
Any and all comments are welcome
"Okay, it's official." Tucker said in an upset tone. "This is the last time we let Caboose choose a destination."
The Reds and Blues took a moment to examine their environment. The dark, moist atmosphere had surrounded them in near darkness. Even the ground they walked on wasn't solid enough.
"Caboose," Simmons sighed, "Where did you send us?"
Caboose looked at the screen. "The screen thing says… we're in a bistro."
"A what?" Donald asked.
Grif looked at his own screen. "It doesn't say 'bistro', you idiot. It says 'Monstro'. We're in a place called Monstro."
"Monstro?" Jiminy Cricket asked as he jumped out of nowhere. "We're inside Monstro?"
"That's what I said." Grif replied.
"Uh, oh. That's not good." Jiminy said in worry. "We gotta get out of here."
"Why?" Sora asked. "Are you familiar with this world?"
"Monstro isn't a world. Monstro is a whale." Jiminy said. "He roams across the Multiverse devouring everything in his path. His inside is much bigger than his outside. That's probably why he showed up on Caboose's screen."
"Seriously?" Tucker asked. "We managed to portal our way into what is literally the belly of the beast?"
"I gotta admit, this is kinda hot." Sister said.
"How long can we stay?" Tucker asked in excitement.
"You know, they say whales have very nutritious insides." Sarge commented. "I wonder how a world-traveling whale is."
"Sarge, let's not try to provoke the whale monster." Simmons said.
"Oh, yeah? What's it gonna do, eat me?" Sarge gestured around the mouth they were all in.
"Guys, if Monstro isn't a world, then that means there isn't a keyhole here." Simmons said.
"Simmons is right." Donald said. "Let's get out of this dump."
"Hello?"
The childish voice stopped the conversation. The Reds and Blues looked up to see a wooden puppet boy standing above them; like, literally standing.
"That's a new one." Grif said.
"Hold on a second." Jiminy said as he looked up. "Pinocchio, is that you?"
"Jiminy?" the puppet responded. "It's you! Come on! Father's this way!"
"Pinocchio, wait!" Jiminy shouted, but it was too late. The puppet boy had already ran across the wooden bridge above the Reds and Blues, who were dumbfounded.
"What the heck was that?" Sister asked.
"That was Pinocchio, my assigned boy." Jiminy said. "Come on! We gotta find him!"
The cricket climbed up the scaffolding and followed the living puppet. The Reds and Blues followed.
"I hate this." Grif said. "All this climbing and narrow crosswalks… It's like I'm back in gym class."
"What kind of gym class did you go to?" Simmons asked.
"The kind that makes American Ninja Warrior look like hopscotch."
The Reds and Blues walked across the scaffolding until they made it to the top of a crashed boat where an old man waited for them.
"Father, Father!" Pinocchio shouted. "I found Jiminy!"
"Jiminy?" the old man asked as he turned his attention to the Reds and Blues. "Oh, hello. Who might you be?"
"We'll be asking the questions here!" Sarge said.
"Guys, behave." Jiminy said. "This is Gepetto, Pinocchio's father."
"Pinocchio's dad?" Grif asked.
"Guess he takes it from his mom's side of the family." Sister said.
"No, nothing like that." Gepetto said. "You see, I made a wish that Pinocchio was a real boy, and when I woke up later, he was alive."
"The fairy that animated him said he would only be a real boy if he could prove to be one." Jiminy continued. "I was assigned to be his conscience telling him right from wrong."
"Good job with that, cricket boy." Tucker said. "Your client ended up going the way of Jonah."
"When the Heartless invaded our world, I thought Pinocchio and his father were lost." Jiminy said. "The next thing I knew, I was at the king's castle. I never would've thought they'd end up here in Monstro's stomach."
"So what's the plan then?" Grif asked.
"Well, in the story of Jonah, all he had to do was wait three days until the whale spat him out." Simmons said.
"Great Abraham's beard, Simmons, this isn't the Bible." Sarge said. "Let's just take our fancy portal guns and get the heck out of this Shamu wannabe."
"We can't leave Pinocchio and his father behind." Jiminy said.
"Whatever." Tucker said. "We'll open a portal to Traverse Town and take them with us."
"Can we wait until after we play hide-and-seek with Pinocchio?" Caboose asked. He looked below at the living puppet who was running into a dark tunnel.
"Seriously?" Grif asked. "You know, you never have this problem with sock puppets."
The Reds and Blues went to the ground and entered the same tunnel as the puppet went. They kept going until they came across a fork. Two different tunnels went to different directions.
"Well, that's just dandy." Donald said.
"Where do we go?" Sora asked.
"Right!" Sarge said. "There's only one thing to do: split up! I'll go left, and the rest of you go right!"
"What?" Simmons asked. "You're going by yourself? Don't you think it'll be safer if…"
"Don't go all safety instructor on me, Simmons!" Sarge said. "As Lopez would say, adios!" He ran to the left tunnel before anyone could respond.
"At least he got one word of Spanish right." Lopez said.
"What's up with him?" Goofy asked.
"Who knows?" Grif asked. "Sarge comes up with crazy plans all the time."
"Well, we don't have time to find out." Tucker said. "Let's just find Pinocchio and get out of here."
The rest moved on to the right side. They met up with some Heartless there, but they were dealt with quickly. They went from one tunnel to another. Grif complained that it was like a "stupid labyrinth".
"Pinocchio! Where are you?" Sora called out.
"Marco! Marco!" Caboose shouted. "You're supposed to say 'Polo'!"
"Seriously, Jiminy, what's up with this walking toothpick?" Tucker asked.
"Ease up, will you?" Jiminy asked. "He's young and easily distracted. One time, he was supposed to go to school, and then, he followed a fox and cat who lead him to a marionette show."
"Come on, Pinocchio!" Sora called out. "This is no time for games!"
"But Sora, I thought you liked games," a familiar voice echoed behind them, "Or are you too cool to play them now that you have the Keyblade?"
The Reds and Blues turned their heads to see a certain teenage boy standing there.
"Riku?" Sora asked. "What are you doing here? I thought you'd be in Traverse Town."
"I'm just playing with Pinocchio." Riku said. "What, are you the only one who gets to have new friends?"
"What's gotten into you?" Simmons asked.
"Catch me and find out!" Riku challenged. Before anyone could respond, he turned around and escaped through another tunnel.
"Great!" Sister said. "Now, we got two eccentric kids to deal with!"
As soon as Sarge knew he was alone, he pulled out the black oil lamp he smuggled out of Agrabah. He gave it a quick rub to the side.
"Come on. Papa Sarge wants a brand-new Red!"
Suddenly, red smoke blew out of the nozzle, and the evil genie they fought before emerged from it in a red majesty. Jafar saw Sarge with the lamp and growled.
"You? You're the one who summoned me? Why?"
"Ain't it obvious?" Sarge asked. "Because you're red. Red team could always use a powerhouse, and now that I own you, you don't have a say in the matter."
Jafar raised an eyebrow before beginning to shrink. In just a flash of light, Jafar returned to his normal human form with the robe, the turban, and the snake staff.
"Let me get this straight." Jafar said suspicious. "You found my lamp that you helped trap me in, smuggled me out of Agrabah, and summoned me just because I'm red?
"Yep."
"And your compatriots are okay with it?"
"Actually, I didn't ask for their permission. They're just going to lecture me about how much this is a bad idea when it clearly isn't. I mean, what's so bad about taking a manipulative sorcerer who we just humiliated on extremely life-threatening adventures?"
"Are you even hearing yourself right now?" Jafar asked.
"Right! Now, to business!" Sarge said. "Genies grant wishes, correct?"
"Yes, three in total." Jafar replied reluctantly. He couldn't believe he had to answer to this idiot. "After that, I'll be sealed back in the lamp and rocket off to whoever finds me next."
"Okay! So as for my first wish… kill all the Heartless!"
Jafar raised his eyebrow again. "Excuse me?"
"Donut told us to kill all the Heartless, but Merlin said it was impossible. So now, we've got a shortcut. Clever, huh?"
"Brilliant." Jafar replied sarcastically. "Listen, sergeant, that's not how my powers work. As a genie, I have rules I need to follow, rules that I cannot break under any circumstances."
"What does that have to do with my wish?"
"The first rule is I'm not allowed to kill anyone, even though I'd really love to do it to you. That applies to Heartless as well."
"All right. Plan B: I wish for you to kill the Blues!"
"What?" Jafar asked. "No! Didn't I just tell you about the rules?"
"Your rules say you can't kill anybody, but the Blues aren't people! They're even lower than the Heartless. So, chop-chop."
"You're actually trying to command me to kill your allies?" Jafar asked. "As much as I'd love to end their lives as well, I cannot."
"All right then. Kill Grif."
"I have no idea who that is!"
"The big, orange idiot."
"He's on your team, you fool! And I can't kill him either!"
"If you can't kill Grif, then why did I even bring you?"
"That's what I'd like to know!"
Suddenly, the two stopped arguing when they heard voices. Sarge peeked around the corner to see the leader of the Heartless, Maleficent, confronting Riku.
"What are you doing here, boy?" the black fairy asked. "You should be on Captain Hook's ship."
"I know," Riku said, "But I heard that Sora was in this giant whale, so I thought I'd drop in."
"Why do you even care about that boy?" Maleficent asked. "I told you, he abandoned you and Kairi for the Reds and Blues."
"I was just messing with him." Riku said. "Look, tell the pirate I'll be back soon. There's something I'd like to try."
"Take care boy." Maleficent said as she walked through a corridor of darkness. "You might risk going over your own head." Riku scoffed at the sound of that.
Meanwhile, Sarge, who witnessed, and heard it all, couldn't believe it. "Sweet Benedict Arnold Cumberbach! The kid's gone turncoat!" He turned and pointed the lamp at Jafar. "Back in you go!"
"At least I'll get some quiet." Jafar said as he turned into red smoke and whisked himself back into the lamp.
Sarge hid the lamp away, pulled out his shotgun, and approached Riku pointing it at him.
"Gotcha, you teen dirtbag! Stop your dirtbagging right now!"
"Did you seriously just say 'dirtbaging'? Riku asked.
Just then, the rest of the Reds and Blues escaped a tunnel. The entered the room to find Sarge pointing a shotgun at Sora's "friend".
"Wait, Sarge!" Sora shouted. "What are you doing?"
Sarge took a moment to see Sora, then his shotgun pointed at Riku, and back to Sora… and repeat. "Okay, I know how this looks, but rest assured, I have a perfectly good reason for this."
"Is he serious?" Goofy asked.
"I don't know." Grif said. "I mean, this is Sarge we're talking about, and that doesn't usually mix with good reasons."
"Just hear me out." Sarge said. "This kid's one of the bad guys. I caught him rubbing elbows with Maleficent."
"What?" Sora asked. "That can't be right. Riku, tell us it's not true."
Riku shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry, Sora, but it's true."
"What?" Sora repeated even more surprised.
"Huh. Sarge was right." Sister said. "What a weird day."
"Riku, why?" Sora asked. "What about Kairi?"
"Why do you care?" Riku returned. "It's obvious you value your idiot friends over your old ones."
"This kid's messed up." Tucker said.
Suddenly, a loud yell was heard through one of the tunnels. While everyone was distracted, Riku took the opportunity to escape from Sarge's line of sight and run towards the direction of the yell.
"After him!" Tucker commanded.
They followed Riku to another part of the whale's insides. They ended up in a large room that was nearly empty. In the middle of it, Pinocchio was caged up, but not in a normal way. He was inside of a cage-shaped Heartless with bars over its stomach.
"Well, that's just gross." Grif said.
"This coming from the guy who keeps a slice of cake in the pantry for 'emergencies' since we moved to Valhalla." Simmons returned.
"For your information, I keep it in my pants now." Grif said.
"Where's Riku?" Sora asked as he looked around. There was no sign of the silver-haired boy.
"I don't know, and I don't care!" Tucker shouted. "Let's just gut this Alcatraz Heartless and pull the puppet out!"
No one stopped Tucker from leaping from the ledge, pulling out his laser sword, and swinging it to one of the Heartless' eyes. The Reds and Blues joined in firing their magic guns from above. Sora, Donald, and Goofy joined Tucker on the direct offensive.
"What do we do?" Simmons asked. "At this rate, the puppet kid's gonna be digested!"
"Hold on!" Grif gasped. "I got an idea!" He reached into his armor and pulled out something. He tossed it and it slipped right through the Heartless' bar-like teeth right behind Pinocchio.
"What did you throw?" Sister asked.
"You know that cake we just talked about?" Grif asked smiling behind his visor.
Suddenly, the Heartless had a gross reaction. It opened his mouth and spewed Pinocchio and the mold-covered cake out. Pinocchio landed right into a black hole that opened up in the middle of the room.
"Grif, did you just sacrifice a slice of cake for someone else?" Simmons asked.
"Meh, it was carrot cake." Grif shrugged. "Don't need veggies in my diet."
"Let's get down there!" Tucker shouted as he jumped into the same hole Pinocchio fell through. "GEROMINO!"
"PISKENWAY!" Caboose shouted as he followed. The rest fell in after.
The hole led the Reds and Blues right back to the main campsite where Gepetto was. Instead of finding the puppet boy, however, they came across Gepetto who stood at the edge of the site looking up at Riku. The silver-haired boy was holding an unconscious Pinocchio in his arm.
"Please, give him back! He's my son!" Gepetto begged.
"I don't think so, old man." Riku refused. "I need this puppet."
"Riku!" Sora shouted. "What are you doing?"
"It is strange for a puppet to have a heart." Riku said. "This might be useful for someone who's lost theirs."
"What?" Sora asked. "Are you… talking about Kairi?"
"Why do you care?" Riku asked as he turned around carrying him through another tunnel.
"Seriously?" Grif whined. "What's with these people and making us go through tunnels? I swear, if I get good cardio out of this, I'm ripping off Maleficent's horns and shoving them down her throat."
The chase led to another circular room. There was a safe area in the center where Riku and Pinocchio was. Most of the surrounding area was filled with green, steamy liquid. The Reds and Blues ran in nearly out of breath.
"Kid… stop… running… for goodness sake." Simmons said.
"Come on, Riku." Sora said. "You gotta let Pinocchio go."
"Why?" Riku asked. "Let me guess. Because he's alive? Because he has a heart? Because he has a name?"
"He does," Sarge answered, "And it's Pistachio!"
"Pinocchio." Tucker corrected.
"Tow-may-tow, tow-mah-tow." Sarge replied.
"Who on Earth says 'tow-mah-tow'?" Sister asked.
"This puppet lost his heart to the Heartless." Riku said. "If we can bring it back, then there's hope for Kairi."
"Uh, Riku, I hate to point out the obvious, but don't you work for the Heartless?" Grif asked.
"The Heartless are merely a means to an end for me to save Kairi." Riku said. "Once I conquer them, there'll be nothing I can't do for her."
"Dude, have you lost your mind along with your sleeves?" Tucker asked. "Maleficent's playing you for a chump."
"Yeah, even I know that's a bad idea." Caboose said.
Their argument ended when a growl was heard overhead. The cage-like heartless returned with a grim look on its face as it fell in between them.
"Oh, that's where it went." Grif said.
Riku immediately opened a Corridor of Darkness and ran right through. Pinocchio was accidently left behind.
"Get it again, men!" Sarge commanded as he started shooting the Heartless
"I don't think a poisoned cupcake is going to work this time." Tucker said.
During the battle, Jiminy hopped into Sister's hand.
"Kaikana," he said, "Get me to Pinocchio. I need to see if he's okay."
"All right." Sister said. "Anything to get me away from that walking prison."
Of course, she had to run around the Heartless while the Reds and Blues distracted it in the fight. When she got close enough, Jiminy hopped down in front of the drowsy, grim puppet.
"Pinocchio!" he yelled out. "Oh, no!"
"What?" Sister asked. "Is something wrong?"
"I'm not sure." Jiminy replied. "It appears that Pinocchio is in some kind of comatose state of depression. If it increases, he might end up losing his heart."
"So what do we do?"
"I honestly don't know. The best thing I can think of is something that can lift his spirits, but I don't know how to do that with him at this state."
Behind her visor, Kaikana Grif widened her eyes as an idea formed in her mind. It was based off a memory that she remembered fondly.
"Let me try something." She said as she got closer to Pinocchio. She sighed and started… to sing.
Sister:
I know clouds can darken days and suns always set
But the night is still beautiful
It's only empty darkness, so please, do not fret
Come what troubles may
Know what's on the way
A brighter daaaaaaaaaaaaaaay
A brighter day
A brighter daaaaaaaaaaaaaaay
A brighter daaaaaaay
During the song, Pinocchio's finger fidgeted. Near the end of the verse, Pinocchio managed to lift his head up and blink his eyes until they were wide open. He greeted Sister with a smile. Jiminy was certainly happy.
"Pinocchio!" he cheered.
"Jiminy!" Pinocchio greeted his conscience back in joy.
At that moment, the Heartless had taken enough damage to be destroyed by the Reds and Blues. They removed themselves from the fight and met up with Pinocchio, Jiminy, and Sister.
"Holy cow!" Tucker said. "I can't believe it!"
"What happened?" Grif asked.
"You wouldn't believe it." Jiminy said. "Your sister just sang a song, and suddenly, Pinocchio brightened up."
"A song?" Grif asked. "What the heck kind of song did you sing, sis?"
"Remember when we were kids and I kept getting night terrors that woke us both up?" Sister asked.
"Yeah, and Mom had to sing you a lullaby that made you feel better about slee…" He stopped himself for a moment. "Oh. Huh. Points for you, Kai."
"Thank you, ma'am." Pinocchio said. "What's your name?"
"Kaikana Grif."
"Kaikana Grif." Pinocchio repeated slowly. "I can remember that." That was when his nose grew a few inches. "Oops."
"What happened?" Simmons asked.
"Whenever Pinocchio tells a lie, his nose grows." Jiminy explained.
"Makes sense to me." Caboose said.
"Nothing's made sense since we left Earth." Simmons said.
"Sorry, ma'am." Pinocchio said with a frown.
"That's okay, kid. Just call me Sister. Most people do."
"Sister. Okay, that's a lot easier to remember." This time, his nose didn't grow.
"Thank you so much for saving my boy." Gepetto thanked.
"Think nothing of it, old timer." Tucker said.
"Are you sure you can't come with us, Jiminy?" Pinocchio asked.
"As much as I would like to, I'm afraid I have a responsibility to record the Reds and Blues' travels as well. Don't worry. When you enter Traverse Town, find a man called Leon. He'll hook you and your father up somewhere safe."
"I still can't believe Riku's working for the Heartless." Sora said.
"He's just a bit confused." Tucker said.
"I know the feeling." Caboose said.
"Don't worry, kid." Sister said. "I'm sure we'll find a way for him to get his senses back, even if we have to knock it back into him."
Sora laughed. "Thanks, guys."
Sarge sneaked himself back in order to get a glimpse of the black lamp he's been carrying. He then whispered to himself. "If you can't kill anyone, then I'm going to have to find some other use for you, but what?"
Simmons aimed his portal gun and opened a wormhole to Traverse Town. "There you go."
"And stay away from the termites." Grif warned.
Gepetto and Pinocchio waved goodbye before stepping through. The portal closed behind them. Right after, the Reds and Blues decided they didn't want to spend another second in the whale and escaped somewhere else. Somewhere more… nautical.