Kingdom Hearts
Ch. 39
Deep Jungle
Vengeance for a Loved One
Tarzan swung through the trees gaining great speed. Sora, Donald, and Goofy ran by foot trying to keep up with him. "Hey, wait up!" shouted Sora holding his arm up trying to get Tarzan's attention.
"How do you like it now?" said Donald following behind him. Sora ignored the remark trying to keep up with Tarzan. The ape man took a quick right turn disappearing behind a giant tree.
Sora and company followed making a 90 degree turn from the trunk of the tree. Sora brushed away some jungle leaves from his face before running into a clearing. They saw a crowd of gorillas circling around something. "Oh, good everyone is safe," said Goofy in relief.
The apes turned towards the three friends. Looking straight at Sora they began to shiver and back away. "Hey what's wrong? We're Tarzan's friends. We're not going to hurt you."
The apes moved aside to show them what has happened.
Tarzan was standing in the middle of the family with his Mother collapsed on the ground. He spoke something softly in ape tongue. But Kala would not budge. Tarzan remained silent bowing his brow shielding his eyes from everyone.
"Sora look," said Donald figuring out what's going on.
Sora saw Kala's body and ran over to Tarzan. The other gorillas kept their distance from the young man. What he feared has come true. The gorilla is gone. "Tarzan are you—Is?" he said stumbling to form sentences.
"She was my Mother. She cared for me even though I wasn't her own," he spoke quietly. His voice began to increase in volume speaking, "She was the only one who ever cared about me. The only one I could talk too. The only one Tarzan had."
The sound of bullets began to echo through the forest catching Tarzan's attention. "CLAYTON!" he said loudly. Tarzan grabbed his spear rushing off towards the sound of the gun fire.
"Oh, poor Tarzan," mumbled Donald. Goofy rubbed his nose after hearing what happened.
Sora said silently, "Back on my world, we did eat meat. We did kill animals for food. But that's all it ever was. We never killed something unless we needed too. But to end an animal's life and not using its body is a taboo among my people. Killing animals for sport is wrong. Killing is wrong."
Sora tilted his head up screaming loudly, "HE'S GOING TO PAY!" Sora ran after Tarzan summoning his keyblade.
"Sora stop, wait for us," called Goofy and Donald before running after him.
Tarzan moved through the trees like a gust of wind following the damaged forest floor created by Kerchak's rampage. He made his way to the cliff where the trail ended. After running out of vines he let go and leaped as far as he could. Landing on his feet positioning his spear for an attack.
He surveyed the area not to find Clayton but instead Kerchack's body still standing up right. Tarzan slowly made his way towards their former leader whom he believed was still alive. Tarzan touched Kerchak's shoulder lightly not trying to startle the beast. But when he did his leader did not move. Upon touching Kerchak's fur light blue static energy swirled around Tarzan's fingers. A faint jolt of static coursed through Tarzan's body. Tarzan brushed it off as he was used to pain. Kerchak's body then toppled over laying softly on the ground.
Tarzan jumped back saying something in ape tongue. "Ah my fine friend. It was only a matter of time before we finally met again."
Tarzan turned around pointing his spear towards Clayton walking towards him. He was wrapping bandages around his wounds. He cleaned the blood off his face with a handkerchief. "Clayton!" said Tarzan pointing his spear directly at Clayton's neck.
"Oh, Tarzan you wouldn't kill your own family, would you?" said Clayton.
"Family you are not Tarzan's family. You killed Tarzan's Mother. You killed my family's leader," said Tarzan.
"Tarzan, Tarzan don't you see those pitiful creatures aren't your family. Why, you were born under the proud house of Greystoke. Your real Father's name was John Clayton and your Mother's name was Alice," said Clayton.
"What?" said Tarzan.
Clayton continued, "Yes, back during Britannia's original pioneering days over 20 years ago the King sent out three prototype aircrafts into the outer world to discover new lands among the stars. I was quite young at the time no more than 5 years old. Two air ships returned bringing with them marvelous stories and specimens of these other worlds. But one did not return. Homeland lost contact with the third airship and they were assumed lost in the vacuum of space. Among the passengers was the proud son of the House of Greystoke. With him was his newly pregnant wife. They were declared dead by the state as no wreckage was ever found. But what do you expect when the first models were made mostly of wood? Anyways while I was exploring this world. I came upon a mysterious tree house. It was man made and for a moment I thought I discovered proof of intelligent life on this world. But after looking through the belongings I realized that these items looked like they were made in Britannia. After investigating what this home was made out of, I discovered that the tree house was made of wood like that of The Baskerville Forest back on home world. I searched everywhere I could to figure out who built this place. In time I found a journal with records by the same people who built that place. The writing was in English and stamped on the front page was the seal of Greystoke."
Clayton reached into his pocket grabbing the notebook holding it up to Tarzan. On the page was a stamped seal depicting two lions facing each other in combat. Clayton went on, "This right here is proof this is the world that the third airship travelled too. Because of the asteroid field surrounding this world the air ship was no doubt torn apart. The colonists were stranded and they had no way to get home. But from reading this it seems that the only survivors were the Lord Greystoke and his wife. It talks about the two trying to survive through the conditions of this world. How John built the tree house for his wife and her new born son named John Clayton the Third. After a few more months of the baby being born the journal stops like it was never finished. No doubt that the poor couple met a tragic end. By looking at the dates it seems they didn't even survive a year out here. I don't know how they died but what's clear to me is their son survived and is pointing a spear at me right now. "
Tarzan couldn't move he didn't know why but he was still trying to process the information. Clayton put the journal back in his pocket speaking again, "You were quite lucky. There would have been no way a child could survive without his parents let alone in this hell. But somehow the gorillas took a fondness towards you and made you one of their own. Raising you as their own. But they were never your real family cousin. After John went missing his younger brother Mordecai Clayton took over the family house. My Father. That makes us cousins. We are family."
"Stop!" shouted Tarzan. "So, what you murdered the one who raised me. My Mother the one who saved me is dead because of you. I refuse to believe that we are family. My Mother was the only one who ever cared about me. And now she's gone."
Clayton spoke back with a flicker of darkness scattered around his body. "People come and go all the time. Some just leave sooner than others. My family died on me too. My Father passed away after being diagnosed from an incurable disease. It nearly destroyed my Mother who was pregnant with my sister at the time. In order, to live up to the Greystoke name and keep us from losing our wealth and status. She volunteered for several body enhancing experiments with the kingdoms top scientist Doctor Pinkmen. Out of several subjects she was the only one who survived. It gave her a special ability that allowed her one eye to determine where everything is in a surrounding area. Thus, making her a master marksman within a few weeks of training. In time, she met her end due to an unfortunate hunting accident. After that I decided to follow in her foot steps and trained to become an Elite. I achieved the rank of an Elite after slaying a dragon in the first world I ever voyaged too. I was declared the greatest hunter in all the world. As my sister grew up she decided to become an inventor with her husband. While testing a new model air car she invented. An accident occurred and the aircraft failed to remain in the air. She fell to her death after that. Beside my niece I was the only member of the Greystoke family left until today. Well why don't you come back with me cousin. I'm sure home world will be excited to see the last survivor from one of the original voyages."
"No!" someone shouted from the jungle. Sora rushed out of the brush running towards Tarzan.
"Tarzan!" said Sora noticing the body of Kerchak. Donald and Goofy followed.
"Clayton what do you think you're doing? You killed them. They were Tarzan's family, how could you?"
"Come now boy. I'm a hunter. And hunters kill their prey. It in the job description. Besides this matter doesn't concern you. This is about the sons of Greystoke. Well, what do you say John don't you want to return to your home?"
"Home is & ," said Tarzan placing his hand over his chest.
"What?" asked Clayton confused. "Home is & ,"
"I see you still can't let go of the little grudge you have against me. Fine then suit yourself you can stay here and rot for all I care." Clayton turned around and was prepared to leave.
"Where do you think, you're going?" asked Sora.
"Back to camp, my colleges are waiting for me. Unfortunately, I have a lot of explaining to do back home about Ralum. Poor fool didn't stand a chance against the King of the Jungle. One must never underestimate an opponent even if it's just a dumb animal." Tarzan gave a scowl. He lifted his spear and threw it at Clayton. The hunter sensed the incoming projectile stepping to the side just missing the spears pointed end. The spear managed to scratch him on the cheek. Clayton rubbed the wound Tarzan gave him. Darkness surrounded him. He brought out his rifle transforming it into a shot gun. His face remained expressionless.
"Not Clayton," said Tarzan. He spoke in ape tongue the same word he spoke before. "& , Not Clayton."
He aimed the gun at them before the cliff behind them exploded. Tarzan rushes forward, but is knocked back by an invisible creature. It calls out and Clayton mounts it, reloading his rifle and aiming it at them again. Sora attacks the creature, causing it to shed its invisibility. The great green chameleon like heartless stares at them through wild spinning eyes. "The Stealth Sneak."
It sends out beams of energy before jumping up to a high ledge, and Donald calls down a Thunder spell, while Tarzan climbs the vines along the wall towards it. He stabs it with his spear and it reels backward, knocking Clayton from its back.
Clayton ran off into the jungle. His equipment was damaged during his battle with Kerchak. He removed it from his waist to lighten the load. He ran into the forest disappearing into the shadows of the trees. Tarzan took his spear and ran after him. "Tarzan No!" shouted Sora running after him. The young keyblade wielder was thrusted back after getting hit by an invisible force. The Stealth Sneak has returned to its see-through self. Disappearing and waiting for the right moment to strike.
Goofy held up his shield in a defensive stance. He held the shield out covering most of his chest. He circled around trying to find the creatures whereabouts. The invisible monster did not make a sound. It made its way behind Goofy and shot its tongue like an arm and fist hitting Goofy on the back. "Yahoo!" he screamed being knocked to the ground.
"Fire," cried Donald pointing his staff in Goofy's direction. He tried to calculate where the heartless was. He shot fire magic towards the creature. It maneuvered a bit towards the left dodging the attack.
"Goofy are you alright?" shouted Donald.
Goofy got on his knees speaking, "I'm fine Donald."
Sora looked around trying to see where it has gone. "Goofy throw your shield around the area. Donald, watch it. If the shield ricochets off the monster use your fire magic. The smoke from the flames will give us an idea of where it will move to next."
Goofy did as he was told. "Goofy Storm," he sounded throwing his shield like a frisbee. It hit a tree bouncing off it changing its direction. The shield swiftly maneuvered around the cliff area hitting anything in its path. Donald kept his staff up pointing it at anything the shield hit. Goofy's weapon hit the side of the cliff but it did not bounce back. It lost its momentum falling to ground.
"Donald now," shouted Sora.
Donald reached out his arm sounding, "Fira." A small yet fast fire ball shot from the wand flying towards the wall hitting and invisible force. The Stealth Sneak became visible again falling to the ground. Sora raised his arm to the side pointing it towards the monster. He charged at the heartless holding the key in one hand. Goofy summoned back his shield following Sora's actions. Donald stayed behind shooting Ice magic at the heartless to slow it down. "Bizzara," he sounded. The ice magic passed Sora and Goofy in between them. It scattered around the heartless's torso freezing its legs forbidding it from moving.
"Key Slash," sounded Sora coming into swinging range of the heartless. Goofy followed suit lifting his shield behind his head. He swung his shield in the same fashion slicing at the monster's chest. The Stealth Sneak raised its head in the air protruding its tongue. Swinging its back and roaring fiercely. Its eyes glowed yellow. It lowered its head to hunch over. It held its arms next to its head. The Stealth Sneak shot a beam attack. Each eye shooting a yellow ball like beam thrashing about at the gang. One went towards Goofy who held up his shield guarding himself from the attack. The beam hit the weapon hard. It practically exploded throwing Goofy back across the field. He thrusted back like he was being pulled by a rope but he would not fall over. He slammed his back into the wall hard causing pebbles and dirt from above the cliff to fall on the ground.
"Goofy are you okay?" shouted Sora turning towards his friend. "I'm fine that attack was quite something you kno-. SORA watch out?" said Goofy pointing behind Sora.
Sora turned his head to see the second beam attack ready to hit him. In a split-second reaction, Sora jumped in the air having the yellow ball beam pass under him. Sora was always recognized for his quick reflexes as well as his strong feet. In one leap, he could hop 6 feet in the air with little to no effort. The beam grazed his yellow shoes passing beneath him. The beam lost its course going off in a random direction. Sora came down with a thump.
After a second of relief the Stealth Sneak turned invisible shooting its tongue at Sora. It hit his back knocking him on his face. Sora slammed face first into the dirt. "Ow cheap shot," he muttered.
"Cure!" sounded Donald casting his healing magic. Green magic showered over Sora easing his pain. Sora smiled giving Donald a thumbs up. Donald giggled graciously.
Goofy brushed off the dirt on top of his clothes till he looked over to Donald. His pupils shrank. He gritted his teeth. He dashed forward shouting to his friend. "Donald move."
The little white duck noticed something was coming from his side. The yellow ball beam has not dissolved yet. Goofy threw his shield Donald's way hoping it would give him a little bit of protection. But he was too late. The yellow beam touched Donald exploding giving him the full force of the attack. The force of the blast was strong enough to push Goofy's shield back in his direction. Donald was thrown from ground. Launching in the air with his staff. He fell to the ground landing on his stomach. His staff went away the moment it hit the ground. His face gave off a grave and hurt expression. He seized to move.
"DONALD!" they both shouted in horror.
The heartless made its move while the other two were distracted. It came behind Sora lifting its invisible hand preparing to crush him. Goofy caught on to the heartless maneuvers shooting his shield in the air keeping the string mechanism attached to his wrist. The shield shot straight into the air at a perfect 90 degrees. The Great Knight of Disney Castle sounded his strongest attack. "Goofy Zig Zag."
He slid the shield through the air with the blue light streaking behind it creating a Z out of it. His weapon slammed in the dirt with a nice clean cut. The light printed itself on the heartless thus ensuring the attacks veracity. Though the shield did not touch the monster this technique hit the Stealth Sneak twice as hard if Goofy were to do a similar attack. The creature retreated from its invisible form. The move did its toll. Sora heard the heartless step back.
He saw his friend Donald in a defeated state and rage came over him. Sora turned around staring at the creature head on. They'd see eye to eye if the chameleons eyeballs would stop moving around. He held his Keyblade like a spear in his right hand. He sounded loudly, "Key Barrage."
His right arm began exchanging blows at a fast rate striking at the creature's heartless insignia. He forced the monster back towards the hole in the cliff that the Stealth Sneak has made earlier. His arm would not slow down but kept striking blow after blow at the monster. He forced the Stealth Sneak towards the edge of the cliff. When the heartless reached the end, Sora stopped hitting it. Yet he kept his keyblade near the creature's chest. Goofy came behind Sora and jumped above him holding his shield in the arm position.
Goofy sounded, "Goofy Punch." Sora sounded, "Key Pistol."
Goofy sucker punched the heartless in the face while Sora slammed his keyblade in the monster's chest pushing it over the cliff. The Stealth Sneak fell a great height smashing on top of the forest trees below. The heartless lay twitching among the dense trees in the lower level of the jungle. Its body of darkness faded leaving only a heart floating away from its chard remains. It flew into the clouds disappearing from sight. The two friends looked on through the land to see the jungle has finally gone quiet. They ran towards Donald lying unconscious moving ever so slightly signaling he's alive.
"Donald hold on," said Goofy running towards his friend falling to his knees. Sora follows giving a disturbed face while looking at Donald. His feathers were rustled his beak was burnt a little on the tip.
Jiminy came out of hiding jumping onto Sora's shoulders quietly speaking, "Oh Donald." He took off his hat in respect.
Goofy sniffed a bit, "Donald's the only one who knows healing magic. But his abilities with it is limited. If only we had a cleric to heal him.
"A cleric?" asked Sora.
"A mage that specializes in healing magic," answered Jiminy.
"Then I'll do," said Sora raising his head confidently.
Jiminy spoke rationally, "Sora, healing magic isn't just something anyone can learn on the spot. Even if you know the basic offensive magic spells. The Cure class of spells is a horse of an entirely different color."
Sora brought out his keyblade proclaiming, "It doesn't matter. I either succeed or I fail. Even if its hopeless. It's still a shot that worth to be taken." He took his keyblade hovering it over Donald.
Goofy heard some rustling in the trees. Out of instinct he phased into his more aggressive mind set. He lifted his shield in front of his head as something came flying at him. A projectile reflected off his shield.
"YAAAAAAAH!" Sora yelled. He threw his arm up to his shoulder grasping it tightly. He yelled in pain falling to the ground. He fell on his back holding his shoulder tightly. Goofy and Jiminy looked shocked as they saw Sora fall in pain. Blood dripped from his clenched shoulder.
"SORA!" they both shouted.
Through the dense forest where the shot was fired. Clayton and Tarzan stood in front of the other. In Clayton's hands was a rifle pointed towards the group of friends. Clayton looked out towards the sound of screaming saying, "I missed. Now that's not right."
Tarzan snarled at Clayton. Sora laid down on his back staring at the bright blue sky. The sight of the sun shined into Sora's eyes abstracting his vision. For what he could make out he saw blurrily figures resembling Goofy and Jiminy crying. He shut his eyes shielding them from the blinding sun light.
