Kingdom Fairy Tail

by TheSavageMan100

Fairy Tail meets Kingdom Hearts in this re-imagning of the widely-popular game series! When the worlds are in threat of destruction by the Heartless, Wendy Marvell is chosen by a mysterious weapon known as the Keyblade. It's now up to Wendy, Donald, Goofy, and the heroes of Disney and Fairy Tail to make things right again!

36. 100 Acre Wood II: Storybook Ending

Author's Note:
This chapter is dedicated to Genzo Wakayama, the Japanese voice actor of Ansem the Wise and Zeus, who passed away at the age of 88. May your heart guide you to your final resting place. We love you, Wakayama-san. Now then, let's begin the chapter!

---

Story Map

"Alright, where to next?" Not long after the events of Rabbit's house, Wendy searched the map for a new location based on the next restored page. This time around, it was found on the exact opposite end of the book from where she stood. The third page contained a medium-sized bluff next to the meadow, standing above a running brook and crossed by a wooden beam bridge. On top of the bluff was a stout tree overlooking the river, with a swing hanging from a branch.

Wood: Hill

Once Wendy entered the scene, she saw Pooh and Piglet standing over the bridge's railing, examining the brook down below. She couldn't tell how they ended up here before her, but decided not to ask. Across the brook was Rabbit standing by the same tiny, tent-shaped lean-to made of sticks, and Tigger was seen bouncing along the bluff.

"Look, Pooh. Something is floating this way," Piglet noticed.

"I think you're right, Piglet. What could it be?" Pooh wondered.

"Hi, Pooh. Hi, Piglet. What's up? Are you two looking for something?" Wendy joined them on the bridge.

"We just found something, d-down there in the river," Piglet answered, pointing down at the brook.

"Whatever this 'something' is, it looks strangely peculiar," Pooh stated, never taking his eyes off the stream.

"Peculiar?" Wendy echoed, and she shared the pair's gaze.

Floating downstream along the currents was a rotund grey donkey with a light grey underside and mouth, long floppy ears, and a thick fringe of hair lining the top of his head down to roughly halfway down his back. Judging by the glum expression on his long face, he had no idea how he came to be drifting aimlessly in the brook, but he did hear Wendy speak out her findings, "It's a donkey!" He looked up to see the Sky Dragon Slayer leaning on the railing to get a closer look at him, although he didn't seem to acknowledge her concerns.

"Why, it looks like Eeyore!" Pooh recognized, before waving at the donkey. "Hello, Eeyore, if it is you."

"Hello, Pooh," Eeyore answered in a very low and pessimistic voice. "Yes, it's me."

"What are you doing down there?" Wendy asked.

"I sort of fell in here, and as you can see, I can't swim," Eeyore implied. "Could you pull me out? That is, if it's not too much trouble. Of course, you don't have to if you want to." He idly drifted under the bridge and across the river like no one wouldn't care.

"Poor guy..." Wendy felt sorry for the donkey.

"Oh, d-d-dear. How will we get him out? I'm too small to swim!" Piglet worried.

"I'm on it!" Wendy jumped into the brook and pulled Eeyore by the legs, dragging him out of the water. Pooh and Piglet joined them on the riverbank as soon as the girl brought the donkey back to the surface.

"Thank you, Pooh. Thank you, other you," Eeyore addressed them. "You know, floating along out there, it seemed like something was missing..." Piglet looked behind the donkey, and was surprised at what he saw... or rather didn't see. "And something's still missing."

"Why, Eeyore's tail is gone!" Piglet exclaimed.

"How did your tail end up missing?" Wendy wondered.

"Let's see..." Eeyore turned his head to get a glimpse of his tailless backside. "Yep, lost it again."

"Again? You mean this isn't the first time you've lost it?" Wendy blinked.

"I've lost count of how many times," Eeyore admitted. "Wonder where it went this time. It's not much of a tail, though I'm sort of attached to it. But I don't know why anybody'd look for it. Probably won't find it anyway..."

"Wendy, why don't we all look for Eeyore's tail?" Pooh asked her.

"If it helps cheer him up, sure. Let's go look for it," Wendy agreed. She was rather curious of what the tail looked like, and more importantly, how to reattach something like it.

"Lost something?" A familiar voice was heard, and the group noticed Owl flying in from above. "Searching from a high place is the quickest way to find it!"

"Owl, can you help us find Eeyore's tail from up high?" Wendy asked.

"I'm sorry, Wendy, but my eyes aren't what they used to be," Owl confessed. "Too much reading, you know. But I can offer good advice! Of course, you don't have to if you don't want to."

"No, it's okay," Wendy chuckled. "I don't mind getting some ideas, especially the crazy ones. I'll do anything to help someone in need." She looked at Eeyore with sympathy, "I mean, look at him! He doesn't deserve to be down in the dumps like that. He needs his tail back, and we're gonna find it for him."

"Of course, Wendy. After all, what's an Eeyore without his tail?" Pooh smiled.

"Such profound determination from you both, like my dear Uncle Albert," Owl admired. "That's the spirit!"

"Thanks for being so kind, Pooh Bear. You too, other you," Eeyore was still glum, though if one could look deep inside, he felt almost touched by their resolve.

"Call me Wendy," the young Keyblade wielder corrected with a giggle.

"Alright. Good to meet you, Wendy," Eeyore confirmed.

"Good to meet you too, Eeyore," Wendy nodded. She turned to face Owl, "So what do you have in mind?"

"You see that swing over there?" Owl motioned towards the tree at the top of the bluff. "Take Pooh there. You're a bit too big for the swing, but Pooh should fit nicely. I'll tell you when you get there." With that said, he flew up to the swing and perched himself on the branch above.

Wendy led Pooh up the hill, noticing and avoiding random honey pots along the way, as they would end up slowing them down. However, Pooh happened to stop by a honey pot near a bush, though Wendy saw no reason to interrupt his meal; he looked so cheerful and happy when he enjoyed his honey, and that certainly pleased her. Upon arrival, Pooh took a seat on the swing.

"Here's what to do," Owl instructed. "First, get ready to push."

"Like this?" Wendy held out her right hand and pushed the swing gently. Pooh swung back and forth, giggling to himself all the way.

"Yes, that's it," Owl approved. "Now you just have to push before he swings back to the bottom. If you time it right, Pooh will swing higher and higher. Push too soon, he won't go any farther. Push too late, he'll go too high."

"How is this going to help find Eeyore's tail?" Wendy asked.

"It's much more preferable to rely on someone else's eyes other than mine," Owl suggested. "As I told you, they aren't what they used to be." He sighed to himself, "Why must my vision be a heavy burden upon me..."

"I understand. Just leave it to us," Wendy smiled, then turned to Pooh. "Ready, Pooh?"

"As I'll ever be, Wendy," Pooh complied.

Wendy gave Pooh the first push on the swing, sending him in the air to and fro, and pushed again at the right timing to swing him higher. She kept doing this a few more times, building up plenty of momentum with every push, and in one last shove, the swing flew so hard that it shot Pooh out of his seat! "Oh, no! Not again!" Wendy exclaimed, thinking she may have caused another accident like she did at Rabbit's house. She watched Pooh fly high above, and then he came crashing straight into the house of sticks, startling Rabbit and knocking Eeyore over. Wendy winced and covered her eyes from the collision, but opened them to see if no one got injured. She saw Pooh standing up and dusting himself, as though the fall didn't rattle him, much to her relief. "He's okay..."

At that moment, Eeyore discovered something under the pile of sticks. "Hm? That looks familiar..."

Wendy jumped down from the bluff to meet up with Pooh and Eeyore, and it wasn't long before Piglet and Tigger came in. "Is everyone alright?"

Pooh responded, "Ah, Wendy. Look what we've found." He pointed to the ground, and she followed his direction. Among the sticks was the focal point of their search— a tail with a black tuft on the tip, and a pink bow tied below it.

Wendy picked the tail up and scanned it. "That's got to be Eeyore's tail!"

Rabbit brought along a hammer and a nail. "Wendy, would you mind putting it back for us? He loses his tail from time to time, if you must know."

Wendy received the hammer and nail in one hand while she held the tail in the other. For some reason, it reminded her of a certain game that was played during birthday parties. But putting similarities aside, she knelt down and pinned the tail onto Eeyore's rear, gently banging the hammer on the nail to stick it in.

Pooh asked, "How's it looking?"

Seconds later, Wendy had already finished her work. "There, good as new." She stood back up, "What do you think, Eeyore?"

Eeyore looked into his reattached tail, swinging it around. "It's not much of a tail, but it's mine. Thanks, everyone." He forced himself a smile in spite of his lack of enthusiasm, then turned to face Wendy. "You've helped me so much, Wendy. I'd like to give you something as thanks..." His small grin quickly faded, "...but I probably left it in my house, and now it's broken." He motioned to the mess on the ground.

Wendy's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, that was your house?"

Eeyore nodded, "Yep. That was mine."

Wendy's face paled. The swing may have unveiled the location of Eeyore's missing tail, but she had no idea it would come at the cost of wrecking his own home! Her self-consciousness kicked in, and she started to panic. "EEEEEEEEEK! Oh, my gosh! I'm so sorry! I didn't know it was your house!" She closed her eyes and bowed her head, "And I didn't mean to break it, either! I'm so sorry, Eeyore! Please! Please forgive me!"

Eeyore shrugged, "Eh, no harm done. Happens all the time. My house can always be fixed. It's all sticks, you see. Not much of a house. Just right for not much of a donkey." He grinned again, "Otherwise, a dream house. Thanks for your understanding, Wendy."

Wendy felt a lot better hearing those words of assurance. "Y-Yeah, it's no big deal. At least you've got your tail back, right?"

Eeyore stated, "Not much of a tail, but I sure do like this tail." He swished it around to make his point.

Wendy beamed, "I'm happy for you, Eeyore. I really am. And thank you."

Eeyore nodded, "Much obliged."

Pooh smiled warmly, "Oh, isn't this grand? My friends are coming back fast. I wish we could put the Hundred Acre Wood back the way it was, too!"

That statement made Wendy more determined than ever to restore the storybook to its rightful glory. She placed a comforting hand on Pooh's shoulder and said, "It'll happen, Pooh. I just know it will. I have a feeling the next part's coming back soon." His smile widened as he stared back at her, before she gave her own smile.

Piglet repeated, "C-Coming back soon? H-How do you know?"

Wendy feigned ignorance and answered, "Oh, uh... Just a hunch."

Tigger interjected, "Here's hopin' my usual bouncin' spot is back in busy-ness! Hoo hoo hoo hoo!" He bounced his way out of the area, excited to find out if his own hunch was correct. Pooh, Piglet, and Rabbit also left, leaving Eeyore alone to admire his tail and then rebuild his house of sticks. Wendy was following behind, all the while Owl observed her departure from the tree branch, rubbing a wing around his feathered chin with intrigue and hope in regards to her role in the story.

Story Map

As Wendy returned to the storybook map, the reinstituted page suddenly glowed, and out of the light emerged a Stop Magic Orb. "Alright! More Magic Orbs!" Wendy cheered, and as the Magic Orb fused with her Keyblade, thus upgrading her Stop spell to Stopra, the remaining particles of light that once composed the item shot upwards, leading her to assume that they would add to Donald's own time magic.

---

Meanwhile, outside the book, back at the Magician's Study...

"Rainbow Fireball!" Romeo tossed a multicolored fireball at six floating bullseyes hanging from the ceiling, blasting them all at once...

"Fira! Thundara! Gravira!" ...while Donald cast various magic spells against a couple more that were positioned next to where Romeo hit his mark. As another means of passing the time while Wendy was trapped in the storybook, the royal court wizard and the Rainbow Fire user were practicing their magic on a collective of magical targets set up by Merlin. Goofy and Carla were having a cup of tea with the Fairy Godmother, watching the two party members hit target after target.

"Good! Very good! You two are getting the hang of this shooting gallery game I've prepared for you!" Merlin praised. "The game's maximum score has been 280: I expected you to go beyond that, and so you have!"

"Well, what do you expect? I'm improving my aim!" Romeo replied, wiping sweat from his forehead when his Magic Energy reserves ran low.

"Don't get cocky, Romeo. It takes years of practice to be at my level!" Donald boasted, pounding a fist on his chest proudly.

"Pride always comes before a fall, Donald," Merlin advised. "You never know when it could lead to..." Before he finished his sentence, Donald attempted at casting Blizzara on a multitude of targets, only for the spell to accidentally bounce off the wall, and it ended up encasing him in a prison of his own ice. "...that."

"Talk about your bad karma," Romeo shrugged with a sigh

"I couldn't have said it better myself," Carla muttered, sipping from her cup of Darjeeling tea.

"Nice one, Donald!" Goofy chuckled at the duck's backfire.

"Hey, uh, what's Sherria doing again?" Romeo asked.

"She's arguin' with the owl over which underwear's the best underwear: briefs or boxers?" Goofy answered, taking a bite from a sandwich. True enough, Sherria and Archimedes were seen having a heated exchange on said topic.

"Briefs!" Sherria shouted.

"Boxers!" Archimedes barked.

"BRIEFS!"

"BOXERS!"

"BRIEFS!" Sherria screamed in front of the owl's face, holding up a pair of underpants.

"BOXERS!" Archimedes pulled the feathers from his lower body, revealing he was wearing yellow boxers with green hearts. That elicited reactions of shock from Romeo, Carla, and the Fairy Godmother, each of their faces burning red. Goofy, however, wolf whistled in admiration for the owl's sole piece of clothing.

"Has he no sense of decency?!" Carla exclaimed as she turned away, knowing how wrong this was.

"Oh, my. Archimedes looks like he wants to show off," the Fairy Godmother noted, trying to hide her face behind her hand but peeking behind her fingers.

"Does he have to do that here? It's like I'm seeing another Vulcan Party Underwear in my dad's room!" Romeo cried, clearly flustered at the sight.

Just then, a radiant light emitting from the storybook caught everyone's attention, and Archimedes had to pull his feathers down to cover his underwear. A stream of magical specks sprung from the book's covers, and zoomed past the frozen fringes of Donald's ice to become one with the staff in his hand. At the same time, the merging process melted the ice around Donald, and he shook from the cold while feeling the power of time that came with the Magic Orb. "My Stop spell! It's been upgraded to Stopra!"

Merlin nodded, "Yes, a very useful spell, if I do say so myself."

Romeo guessed, "Wendy must've found a Magic Orb somewhere in the book." His eyes grew wide in realization, "So then..."

Carla beamed, "She's alright! I knew she wouldn't be gone!"

Romeo cheered, "Yeah, we all knew! She's okay in there!"

Goofy added, "That Magic Orb poppin' outta that book is the proof!"

Donald smiled, "Wherever you are in that book, Wendy, thanks for the upgrade!"

Sherria asked, "I wonder what else she can pull this time?" They all looked to the book in the nightstand, unaware at first that Wendy had already entered the second-to-last mended page in the story.

---

Back in the Hundred Acre Wood...
Tigger's Bouncing Spot

Wendy arrived at a clearing in the middle of the woods, crowded with tree stumps and a seesaw based on a log. An immense honey pot sat on the center-most stump, and giant brown nuts hung from the surrounding trees. Wendy walked over to the seesaw, where Tigger practiced his bouncing alongside a new face: a baby kangaroo with light brown fur and two strands of hair on his head, and dressed in a sky blue long-sleeved shirt.

"Hiya, Wendy girl!" Tigger caught wind of the Sky Maiden's approach as he bounced up and down the seesaw while taking turns with the kangaroo. "And just in time, too! Let me be the first to welcome you to my bouncin' spot! And do you know what we do here, hmm?"

"Let me guess. You bounce around all day?" Wendy said playfully.

"Exac-tically!" Tigger smiled. "Nothin' like bouncin' to brighten up the day." He turned to the young kangaroo, "Ain't that right, Roo?"

"Yep, nothing beats bouncin'!" the kangaroo agreed. "By the way, I'm Roo. I'm Tigger's friend. You're Wendy, right?"

"He must've told you all about me," Wendy confirmed. "And yes, that's my name."

"Tigger's been talking about you all day," Roo stated. "He told me you two played a game at Rabbit's house, and you won. We thought nobody could keep up with Tiggers, but since you're a friend of his, that makes you a friend of mine, too." She added with a grin, "Say, Wendy, you wanna do some bouncin'? It's lotsa fun!"

"Yeah, Wendy, you wanna go bouncin' with us?" Tigger beamed. "On account of bouncin'..."

"...is what Tiggers do best," Wendy finished with a smile. "It's not that hard to guess, is it?" Tigger and Roo couldn't help but laugh at her intuition, and she laughed along with them. "Okay, sure! I'll bounce with you!" She faced Tigger, "I owe you another game back at Rabbit's house, didn't I?"

"Hoo hoo, you remembered!" Tigger cheered. "For starters, why don't we bounce from stump to stump?" He thrust his arm to gesture at the tree stumps around the area. "A challenge worthily of non-Tiggers, because from us Tiggers, you gotta learn from the bestest." He growled daringly, "And you're just the non-Tigger I was waitin' for, one who's eager to go bouncin' with yours truly."

"Bounce from stump to stump..." Wendy stared at the stumps in front of her. "I don't think it's as hard as it sounds."

"Oh-ho! Playing a bouncing game, I see..." Owl made his descent onto the seesaw and landed in the middle. "To bounce with the finest, you'll need some pointers from the finest."

Roo pointed out, "But Owl, you don't bounce around like we do. All you ever do is fly around."

Owl sighed sadly, "I'm afraid you're right, Roo. I'm made for flying, not for jumping. I can't master everything, I suppose." He flew away, leaving Wendy to ponder what his reasons were for coming here in the first place.

Tigger beckoned, "Bounce this way, please!" He jumped onto a nearby tree stump, and Roo followed him. Wendy moved to the same stump and joined the duo, facing the course of stumps before them. "Here's a little warm-up. Watch and bounce!" Tigger and Roo hopped along the stumps, each one taller than the last, all the way to a cliff at the other end of the clearing.

Wendy thought to herself, "They want me to keep up... The way I see it, it's more of a test to see how good my jumping is. If I used my Sky Magic to fly, I'd be just like Owl, wouldn't I?" She shook her head, "No... I don't always to rely on flying to get through anything. There are other things I can do besides flying." She looked ahead with determination, "Let's just hope it pays off. To be honest with myself, I wanna see if I can jump well enough..."

Tigger called out, "Wendy! Over here!"

Roo encouraged, "Try and keep up!"

Wendy replied, "In a sec..." She backed away from the edge towards the center of the stump, taking a deep breath as she prepared herself. "Here I go!" She raced forward, then took a powerful leap to the first stump. She didn't even give herself time to stop before twisting her body and then jumping over to the next stump. She kept up the pace, following Tigger and Roo in the same pattern until she reached the cliff.

Roo cheered, "Way to go, Wendy!"

Wendy took a moment to catch her breath, then grinned, "How did I do?"

Tigger remarked, "That was some good bouncin', Wendy girl. Now it gets tricky!" As the three returned to the original stump, Tigger and Roo bounced along a different pattern, which involved three stumps forming a triangle, the next set forming a square, double-backing to the triangular stump formation, and then the cliff.

Roo urged, "Now it's your turn!"

Wendy nodded, "Alright!" Having memorized the pattern carefully, she made her move. Unlike the first course, she did stop once in a while, making sure she landed on the right stump before proceeding onward. Eventually, the Sky Maiden triumphed again.

Tigger admired, "You're doin' fantastical!"

Wendy panted, "Wow... This is one game no one less my age could keep up with. But I did good again, right?"

Roo nodded, "You said it. You did very good for a non-Tigger."

Tigger announced, "Now, this'll be the last one." Once they all returned to the first stump, Roo jumped over to the seesaw, followed by Tigger. The kangaroo bounced on his side of the seesaw, sending the tiger up into the tree above them. Tigger bounced from the tree onto the stumps down below, then back across to the cliff.

Roo informed Wendy, "Hop onto the seesaw and I'll launch you up the tree."

Wendy replied, "Got it!" She stretched her legs before taking a running pounce onto the vacant end of the seesaw, and was launched high in the same manner as Tigger. Upon reaching the tree, she followed the exact same pattern that was implemented on the stumps, and in the end, met up with Tigger on the cliff.

Tigger bounced with joy at how impressive her jumping ability was. "You've gotten mighty good at bouncin', Wendy!" He turned to Roo, "What do you say, Roo boy?"

Roo joined the two as he responded, "She's really amazing!"

Wendy giggled with a blush, "Aww, it was nothing. I just did my best to keep up with you two. It's kinda obvious that you're better at bouncing than I am. Still, it was so much fun getting to bounce along with you."

Tigger agreed, "I know, right? Fun is what Tiggers are all about. Hoo hoo hoo!"

Wendy stated, "Oh, and I've also learned a lot from this bouncing experience. Thanks to this, my jumping is now better than ever." She looked down at her legs, which had long since gained a fair amount of strength from the bouncing exercises. "I needed that."

Tigger chuckled, "You sure did. Keep it up, and you just might be as bouncily as a Tigger."

Wendy giggled again, "Maybe I might be."

Roo told Tigger, "Hey, Tigger! I think she's ready for the big one!"

Wendy repeated, "The big one?"

Tigger nodded, "Oh, I think she is." He faced Wendy, "You think you're up for the big one? It's the grand fin-allie!"

Brimming with confidence, Wendy answered, "I'm ready!"

Tigger grinned, "Well, there's only one way to find out! Wait right there." He bounced into the giant honey pot at the center of the clearing.

Wendy asked, "Alright, so what do I do?"

Roo explained, "Tigger's gonna toss some nuts from that big pot over there." He pointed at the pot, "Try bouncin' 'em back."

Wendy complied, "Okay, then. If that's how it works." She jumped onto a stump, ready to play Tigger's final game.

Roo raised a hand to give the signal. "Ready?" He chopped the air as he bounced, "Go!"

From inside the massive pot, Tigger began tossing nuts at Wendy. In response, she whacked them back at the pot with her Keyblade, causing the object to tilt slightly. The more nuts she deflected, the pot suffered a few cracks, and was showing signs of breaking down. In one last whack, it exploded into a million pieces, prompting Tigger to bounce out of the smoke and clay with a jolly chortle. "Hoo hoo hoo hoo!" He landed in front of Wendy, sporting an energetic grin. "Congratulations, Wendy! You've won the big one!"

Wendy raised an eyebrow, "I've won the big one? But I thought this last game is the big one. Or do you have something to give me as a prize for winning?"

Tigger replied playfully, "Nope!" He rubbed Wendy's hair fondly, and the two erupted into a second round of joyous laughter, even as Roo met up with them. It certainly was an enjoyable moment among friends, especially when there was bouncing involved, and they would treasure it in their hearts. Wendy most of all, since it reminded her of the happier times she spent with her friends from outside the world of the book.

While the Sky Maiden spent most of her time playing with Tigger and Roo in the bouncing ground, she also happened to discover hidden items here and there, whether at the base of a hollow tree or a wooden plank in the ground. The items ranged from rare materials to gummi pieces and even the rare nuts that were grown on the trees, which she traded with Owl for more items. The rest was all fun and games until Wendy decided it was time to investigate the final page.

---

Story Map

As soon as Wendy returned to the map, the last white haze to vanish from existence was on the bottom left-hand corner of the left page. The next location appeared to be a winding, muddy forest trail, and she walked over there to see for herself.

Muddy Path

The bottom-most portion was a small moody ravine underneath the tress, with a small hollow thicket of brush as its middle. At the end of a glen was a well from which very strong winds blew, adjacent to several burrows. Above the well was a hollow log connecting the sides of the ravine, each blessed with several patches of geraniums. As Wendy landed on the mud, paying no mind to the engrossing mire on her shoes, she found Pooh Bear wandering in circles around the bramble bush, his footprints trailing him in the soil. "Pooh? What are you doing here?"

Pooh pressed a finger to his lips, shushing her. "Quiet, or they'll get away!"

Wendy asked curiously, "Who might get away?"

Pooh explained, "The people who took everyone away. See their footprints?" He pointed to the mud, "We were all sticking together to make sure no one got lost again. But then, I saw some footprints that needed following. So I did. Suddenly, everyone was gone." He started to feel worried, "Bad people must have taken them away!"

Based on the footprints' size, Wendy was quick to deduce that they belonged to Pooh. Conversely, he was a bear of very little brain, so he had no idea the footprints he followed were his own. "Actually, Pooh, these are your... Uh..." She paused, unsure if Pooh could listen to logic, before deciding to change the subject. "N-Never mind. Anyway, I'll help you look for your friends."

Pooh was relieved to hear that. "Oh, thank you, Wendy. I knew I could count on you."

Just then, a deep sigh resonated from the bramble bush. Wendy walked over there and opened it to discover a certain donkey inside. "Eeyore?"

Eeyore greeted in his usual monotone voice, "Hello, Wendy."

Wendy questioned, "What are you up to?"

Eeyore answered, "Lookin' for sticks to build my house... again."

Wendy chuckled sheepishly, "Sticks... right." It was hard to forget the accidental demolition of his house of sticks when she and Pooh searched for his missing tail. "Speaking of which, this place already feels like a safe house." She inspected the wide area within the thicket; the brambles were tall enough to serve as walls, and the interior had more than enough space for Eeyore to rest comfortably in. As a matter of fact, it looked like everyone she met throughout the storybook could fit right inside. "It seems like a great spot to gather the others here." Now knowing what must be done, she faced Pooh. "Come on, Pooh. Let's go find everyone else."

Pooh encouraged, "Lead the way, if you please."

Wendy nodded, "Okay!"

Thus did the two wander around the muddy path in search of Pooh's other lost friends. First of all, they jumped on the well, the blustery wind lifting them into the air and tossing them to the top of the cliff. There, they spotted Tigger bouncing along the log. "Oh, there you are, Tigger!" Pooh called.

"What are you doing over there?" Wendy asked.

"I saw Pooh walkin' away, so I bounced after him," Tigger explained. "Then I bounced a bit too high, and I lost sight of ol' Pooh Bear. Hoo hoo, I guess I should've watched where I was bouncin', then I'd be stickin' with buddy bear all the way..."

"Don't worry, he's with me," Wendy gestured to Pooh, who dreamily looked about the place. "Why don't you go wait in that big bush over there?" She looked to the bramble bush, "We'll go find the others."

"Alrighty, then. Catch ya on the flip side! Hoo hoo hoo!" Tigger complied, and he bounced his way to the thicket, where he joined Eeyore inside.

Later, Wendy and Pooh looked up to see Roo on top of a tree root. "It's Roo!" Wendy indicated.

"Hey, you two!" Roo hopped down to the duo. "I tried bouncin' as high as Tigger. I was so busy tryin' to bounce, I forgot to watch where I was bouncin'." He rubbed the back of his head in slight embarrassment, letting out a light chuckle. "Sorry to worry you. Maybe I should've kept my eyes peeled a little longer."

"It's okay. I guess you two are in the same boat," Wendy giggled. "We're looking for the rest of your friends. Let me take you to the safe house." She left Pooh behind for a moment to escort the kangaroo to the bush to join the others. "Don't go anywhere till everyone's gathered here, alright?"

"Alright!" Roo nodded, and the Sky Maiden climbed the cliff again to rejoin Pooh.

Resuming the search, Wendy and Pooh ended up noticing Owl landing nearby, surrounded by bushes. "I thought I'd better have a word with Roo about his bouncing. The next thing I knew, quite to my surprise, I was lost, too!"

"That's weird... I thought you'd know your way around because you can fly," Wendy mused. "Anyway, the others are waiting in the big bush. You'll find them there," With that, Owl flew off to the area she spoke of, adding to the number of recovered friends.

Wendy and Pooh soon came across a patch of geraniums; he sniffed the flowers before plucking out a few. "They smell rather lovely." This action lured in a group of butterflies, which carried him up to the top of the cliff. Upon arrival, Rabbit was seen running in and out of holes in a burrow nearby.

"Rabbit! How did you end up here?" Wendy asked.

"Owl looked so intent on something; well, I just had to follow him!" Rabbit admitted. "But then Owl flew off into the sky, and there I was, all by myself. I ended up hiding; I was fearful of what might come at me."

"Well, I know a better spot. You'll be safe there," Wendy informed. She guided Rabbit to the bramble bush, where Tigger, Eeyore, Owl, and Roo expected him.

Lastly, Wendy led Pooh over the log to the cliff on the other side of the ravine, knocking down a bee's nest in the way, and up to the tree where a frightened Piglet hid in a hole at its base. "Hello, Piglet," Pooh waved at the little character.

"P-P-Pooh! W-Where are we?" Piglet stuttered.

"I don't know where we are either, Piglet. But if we go back the way we came, we should find home," Pooh suggested.

"How did you end up all the way here?" Wendy wondered.

"I-I'm not sure," Piglet answered timidly, as he emerged from his hiding spot. "One moment, I was with everyone. The next, I was all alone. I got s-scared when everyone d-disappeared, so I hid."

"Don't be sacred, Piglet," Wendy knelt down and graced Piglet with a warm smile. "Everyone's okay. We'll take you to them." The little guy was the last to join the group in the bramble bush; he almost tripped over Eeyore's foot by the time he met up with the others.

Pooh was absolutely delighted to see the rest of his dear friends in one place. "Everyone's here!"

Wendy likewise felt the same way as she looked over the storybook characters who rejoiced at their reunion. "That's great! You're all together now!" At the same time, though, she couldn't help but wonder how they got so lost. They acted as though the events of the story played out spontaneously. She wondered if this had to do with the fact that the torn pages had only just reconnected with the book. She couldn't figure it out, but seeing the happiness on the faces of Pooh and his friends brought her joy and relief, and all seemed well.

"Wendy, would you mind if we head somewhere where we won't get lost?" Pooh asked.

"Hmm... How about the hill by Eeyore's house?" Wendy suggested.

"Sounds like a great place for us to come together! Let's all go there!" Tigger agreed.

It was unanimous; Wendy and the residents of the Hundred Acre Wood left the muddy trail together.

---

Wood: Hill

It was nighttime already, and the full moon covered the environment that composed the third mended page in its luminous glow. Wendy, Pooh, and their friends assembled at the top of the bluff, relaxing on the grass and gazing at the twinkling stars above. They began reminiscing all the events that occurred from Wendy's first meeting with Pooh to how they reunited the whole bunch, and especially all the fun and interesting tasks they had the pleasure of doing amid the time they shared. They laughed at the funny parts, they groaned at the worrisome bits, but all in all, it was a momentous occasion.

"I'm so glad we're all together again," Piglet chuckled. He then looked down as he recalled his past experiences. "I didn't know what to do when I was all alone."

"Aww, Piglet, you gotta be brave," Tigger said encouragingly.

"You weren't lonely at all?" Piglet asked.

"Lonely? Are you kiddin'?" Tigger grinned, making a small bounce and posing proudly. "I'm a Tigger! The most wonderful thing about Tiggers is I'm the only one! But I do admit, friends are awfully fun, too. Hoo hoo hoo!"

"You've been a great help, Wendy. Thank you!" Owl smiled at the Sky Maiden out of gratitude for her role in restoring peace and tranquility to their world. "You helped Pooh get honey from the bees, protected Rabbit's carrots, found Eeyore's lost tail, bounced along with Tigger and Roo, and found all of us when we were lost." He motioned to each of the characters, who nodded in agreement. "We can't thank you enough. This is from all of us in the Hundred Acre Wood:" He reached behind him to take out a glowing sphere in his left wing. It bore the unique mark of a ring made out of dots of multiple colors, and displayed an ambiance that was all too familiar to Wendy. "The Ragnarok Ability Orb! I'm not sure what it is or what it's for, but I'm quite certain it's meant for someone as capable as yourself. For everything you've done for us, I want you to have this as a token of our collective gratitude. Please, take it! It's for you!"

"For me? Oh, thank you so much!" Wendy cheered. By touching the Ability Orb, it burst into a stream of light that bonded with her body, and thus she acquired the new Keyblade technique.

"Bravo, Wendy! Once again, you have our thanks. Bravo, I say," Owl clapped his wings.

"Well done indeed. I never would've made that carrot top juice to slim down Pooh if you hadn't stepped in and defended my carrot patch," Rabbit admired.

"And I never would've gotten back my tail. Not much of a tail, but still a tail," Eeyore mumbled, swinging the aforementioned appendage for emphasis.

"And for a very big person, you're so kind and caring to a very small animal," Piglet remarked.

"It's no trouble at all," Wendy smiled. "You know I can't think of anything better than helping a lot of people. Who am I to refuse?"

"You could say that again, Wendy," Piglet laughed slightly.

"You've been a big help since you arrived," Rabbit beamed. "You're so helpful, I'd like to have you as my gardening assistant!"

"Or you can be the next generatin' Tigger!" Tigger interjected. "Can you imaginate such a thing? Why, two Tiggers are better than just one Tigger!"

"Next generatin' Tigger..." Roo chimed. "That would be so great! And we'd all be bouncin' as a team!"

"Now, whoever gave you that idea?" Rabbit retorted. "One Tigger is bad enough for me, but two more? Oh, no! Two would be nothing short of a total mishap!"

"Oh, you guys..." Wendy barely stifled a chuckle at the frisky argument. "You don't have to ask much from me... I just did what I had to do to help you all out. And I'd do it again if it makes you feel happy some more."

"With gardening?" Rabbit asked hopefully.

"With bouncin'?" Tigger and Roo added simultaneously.

"A little of both. Whatever's good for you," Wendy smiled.

"Oh..." Tigger, Rabbit, and Roo confirmed.

"Wait, what?" Rabbit asked confused.

"Think, think, think." Pooh murmured, tapping his head in a manner much like how he first met the Sky Dragon Slayer.

"What are you thinking about this time, Pooh?" Wendy asked him.

"Oh, well, I'm just thinking about what to think about," Pooh replied.

"Silly old bear..." Wendy giggled at this, and Pooh did the same.

The dark blue-haired girl looked back up at the stars; the glimmering night sky reminded her of the importance of enjoying every moment to the fullest with her closest friends. It also brought up the past times she and Kaze watched the stars from the comfort of Grandeeney's nest— at least according to the memories she recalled so far. If it was possible, maybe there was a chance she would relieve those blissful times. Wendy stood up from the grass, as she decided to stick back to the most important part of her journey. "I should be on my way now."

Piglet asked, "Wendy, where are you going?"

Wendy walked to the edge of the hill, then looked back at the group. "I have to go. My friends are waiting for me somewhere, and I'm gonna go look for them."

Tigger cheered, "Then we'll be seein' ya! Bounce on back again! Hoo hoo hoo hoo!"

Roo beamed, "I can't wait to bounce with you some more, Wendy!"

Eeyore urged, "Take all the time you need."

Piglet encouraged, "I hope you find your friends!"

Rabbit advised, "Be careful out there!"

Owl assured, "You're welcome to visit us anytime, dear!"

Wendy was touched by their kindness and their understanding. "Thank you, everyone. I'll never forget the times we've had together. They've been amazing. I'm looking forward to seeing you all again soon." She jumped off the hill and walked down the path. But just before she neared the exit, she stopped to take one last glance at Pooh and his friends, who moved to the edge of the cliff to get a better view. They were a bunch of loveable characters, almost akin to a family just like hers, and it warmed her heart to see them together.

Pooh reminded, "Wendy, don't forget, we shall always be here. If you'd like to visit again, that is."

Wendy nodded, "I will, Pooh! I promise!" She happily waved at the group, "Bye, everyone!"

Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Rabbit, Eeyore, Roo, and Owl cheerfully waved back. "Bye, Wendy!" Not long after they said their goodbyes, a shooting star streaked across the night sky, signaling the young girl's departure from the Hundred Acre Wood in a glittering of magic... and the story's final chapter.

In accordance with the story's completion, the front cover of the book had drastically changed. Together with the title that read Winnie the Pooh, there was a picture of Wendy walking hand-in-hand with Pooh and Piglet as Tigger bounced along with them. The lock on the book's fastening latch shone and made a clicking sound before vanishing, as though Wendy had already found a Keyhole somewhere within the book's pages. As promised, she collected all the torn pages and brought Pooh and his friends back together. A happy ending.

The tale may be over, but Wendy knew this wasn't truly the end. One day soon, she may return to the Hundred Acre Wood, and maybe play her first game of Pooh sticks with her newfound friend, Winnie the Pooh.

---

Back at the Magician's Study...

While Romeo, Sherria, Goofy, Carla, and the Fairy Godmother awaited Wendy's return from the book, Donald and Merlin were in the midst of playing a game of poker at the table. The Disney Kingdom's royal court magician cast one more glance at the sack of munny he was wagering— it was huge and almost the size of a closet, while Merlin's was nowhere close to that size. The old sorcerer sweated nervously as he looked to the set of cards in his hands, then the anxiety was quickly smothered to make way for confidence. "It would seem your aim and artistry in magic has improved from playing my little game. Let's see how well you can handle this level of profession!" He shoved his stash of munny towards the middle of the table, "I'm going all in! Double or nothing!"

Donald snickered, and did the same with his. "Are you kidding me? You're facing an all-around experienced card player! Uncle Scrooge taught me everything he knows about this game, and that's exactly what I need to win. I have nothing else to say except good luck. Because you're gonna need it!" He sat back, staring at his cards. "Okay, let's see..."

Merlin laughed triumphantly as he slammed his cards onto the table, showing three diamonds, three clubs, three spades, another three clubs, and six hearts. "I have a good hand this time! A full house!"

Donald commented on something off topic, "That was a good show. I especially liked the guy who did the impressions. But there were too many hugs and lessons to be learned." He paused to notice everyone looking at him funny. "Oh, right! A full house. Sorry." He eyed Merlin with a cocky expression, "So, you think you have me beat? Well, check this out!" He placed down his cards, which were formed into an ace-high straight flush. "Royal flush!"

Merlin's jaw dropped in total shock. "ROYAL FLUSH?!"

Donald said excitedly, "Jackpot, baby!" He grabbed Merlin's sack of munny and dragged it over to his side. "Donald Duck wins again! I win, you lose!" He laughed out loud, "That's what happens when you go press your luck against me. You thought you could beat me without even realizing that I hold all the cards!".

Merlin banged his fists on the table indignantly. "This is outrageous! You've swindled me for the sixth time in a row! You must've cheated!"

Donald gasped, appalled at what he just heard. "Cheated? Me? For your information, I never cheat! I just believe in the heart of the cards!" As he stood up, extra cards fell out of his sleeves, drawing Merlin's ire and the party's dismay. The duck started to panic, realizing that the jig was up. "Wak! H-How did they get there?!"

Sherria raised an eyebrow, "Heart of the cards? More like cards in the sleeve!"

Goofy gulped, "Uh-oh! Looks like you're in the fryin' pan!"

Merlin growled and brandished his magic wand. Donald backed away, his muscles shaking with fear. "Uh, hey... Um... Can't you take a joke?"

The sorcerer bellowed, "I'M GOING TO TURN YOU INTO A FROG FOR MAKING A FOOL OUT OF ME!" His wand sparked.

Donald screamed as he tried running for the exit, but it was too late; Merlin had already cast a spell on him. When the smoke cleared, he had now turned into a small white frog with only his beak intact.

This time around, it was Merlin who laughed. "As young lads tend to say, 'Serves you right!'"

Sherria ended up laughing as well. "Hey, this is actually pretty funny!"

Goofy laughed together with the Sky God Slayer. "Who knew Merlin's got some moxie?"

Romeo barely suppressed his own urge to laugh. "He turned Donald into a frog with a beak!"

Carla only chuckled slightly. "Oh, how embarrassing for you, Donald. Truly, it is."

From the birdhouse, Archimedes guffawed at the sight below. "Now that's comedy!"

Donald was utterly humiliated by Merlin's act of revenge as a result of his dishonest strategy, not to mention the laughs directed at his expense. He glared at the old wizard and demanded, "Change me back!" He then spotted a fly buzzing around the room. Because he got turned into a frog, he couldn't resist the impulse to devour the insect. He jumped onto the bed and stuck his tongue out, drawing the fly into his beak before chewing on it. It didn't take long for the poor duck to grasp the severity of his action, and he crumpled onto the floor a sobbing wreck. "No! I don't wanna eat flies! Change me back! Please, change me back! Pleeeeeaaasse!" He stopped crying, and had to eat another fly anyway.

Merlin and the party members continued to laugh, except for the Fairy Godmother, who faced the sorcerer with a stern expression. "Alright, you've had your fun. Now change him back."

As soon as he caught his breath, Merlin wiped a tear from his eye. "I'm sorry, Fairy Godmother. I just couldn't help myself. But as you wish... Alakazam!" He waved his wand, and Donald changed back into a duck. He was on top of the book pile, and he fell off of it, landing on his head while scattering a few books.

"Ow!" Donald cried in pain before standing up and rubbing his head. "I guess I kinda deserve that." Sherria, Romeo, and Goofy snickered to themselves, while Carla rolled her eyes in amusement.

"I accept your apology, Donald," Merlin said jokingly. "Would you like a hug from me to show there's no hard feelings between us?"

"No!" Donald quacked in refusal, unwilling to suffer one more aggravation from Merlin.

At that moment, the book of Winnie the Pooh started to rattle across the nightstand. Its pages flew open and a portal of light cracked through the bindings. Wendy appeared from the portal, the magic dissipating from the open book in her wake.

"Wendy!" Romeo, Donald, Goofy, Sherria, and Carla exclaimed joyfully, and they ran up to her.

"By George, the young lady has completed her quest in the world of the book!" Merlin smiled.

"And it appears she has learned a lot from her time there," the Fairy Godmother remarked.

"Wendy, you came back!" Donald cheered.

"Just as we knew you would!" Romeo beamed.

"Safe and sound, too!" Goofy added.

"We were so worried about you, Wendy. We thought you'd be stuck inside that book forever," Carla breathed. "We tried pulling you out, but none of our attempts seemed to work."

"But then you showed up. You made it back like nothing bad happened to you," Sherria noted. "We had a feeling you'd pull through somehow!"

"Sorry, guys," Wendy apologized, folding her hands behind her back. "I know I was taking too long. But I didn't want you to worry, either."

"Hey, it's no big deal," Romeo assured, placing a hand on Wendy's shoulder. "Just as long as we know you're alright in there. Even after the book sucked you in, we haven't lost hope. Neither have I." He added playfully, "Would you, though, if I was in your shoes?"

"Of course not!" Wendy giggled at the comment. "I know you still believe in me, and you knew I'd come back sooner or later. I guess this makes us even."

"Pretty much, yeah," Romeo chuckled. "You know, seeing you back here with us makes it worth the long wait, Wendy. We made the best of it the whole time you were gone."

"Thanks, Romeo. I'm glad you haven't given up on me," Wendy smiled.

"Nothing to it. Just doing my part, is all," Romeo blushed with a slight grin. "I mean, we opened each other's minds back then... haven't we?"

"Yes... We have..." Wendy couldn't hide her own blush, for the two hadn't forgotten their promise to put their trust in one another and stick through the times ahead.

"Oh, and there was the Magic Orb that came out of the book you were trapped in!" Donald informed Wendy, causing the redness in hers and Romeo's faces to fade. "We found out you received your own Stop upgrade, and by extension, I received mine." He raised his staff, "That Magic Orb was the proof we needed that you're nice and safe inside that book."

"I see," Wendy confirmed. "And for the record, I wasn't exactly trapped in the book. It allowed me to come back here after I've spent my time there."

"The book actually let you go? But how?" Donald questioned.

"Sounds like you've been busy there," Goofy stated.

"What about you? What were you guys doing to pass the time?" Wendy asked.

"Well, Donald and I played a shooting gallery game that Merlin made, and I went with Goofy to this great stand at the Second District for tacos," Romeo explained.

"Though I think I overdid it with the hot sauce," Goofy admitted, before letting out a 'A-hyuck!' mixed with a small cough of red smoke.

"Here, have a taco. They taste really nice," Sherria handed Wendy a taco, which she took a bite out of.

"Mmm... So good!" Wendy savored the sweet taste of the Mexican food, and began eating the rest. "I'm glad you took care of things while I was away."

"So tell us, what were you doing while you're inside the book?" Romeo asked.

"Have you discovered anything of vital importance about the world within? Anything at all?" Merlin questioned.

"Please, start from the very beginning," Carla suggested.

"Alright..." Wendy cleared her throat. "Inside the book, there is a world called the Hundred Acre Wood. I met a new friend named Winnie the Pooh, who missed his friends ever since they went away. It turns out the missing pages held his lost friends and other places he knows. So to return the book back to normal, I had to help Pooh reunite with his friends."

"So there is a world of sorts within the book's confines," Carla confirmed.

"It took me a while, but I finally brought Pooh and his friends back together," Wendy finished. "Everyone's happy now. At least it's the best way I knew how to fix everything."

"Wait a minute. Did you just say Winnie the Pooh...?" Merlin's eyes widened in surprise.

"Yeah. What about it?" Wendy asked.

"Winnie the Pooh..." Merlin murmured the title character's name with curiosity, before repeating it in an excited shout. "WINNIE THE POOH?! Why didn't you say so?!" He rushed over to the nightstand and grabbed the book to read it. "Yes... Yes! It's finally clear!" After less than a minute of studying its contents, he turned around to face the group with glee. "Just as I assumed! This book is a bottomless collection of stories based on one of the most cherished characters in fictional history, Winnie the Pooh!"

"You know what it is?" Wendy gasped.

"Yes, dear. In fact, I remember what this book truly represents," Merlin nodded.

"You remember? What do you mean by that?" Donald blinked.

"I suppose I should start from the beginning," Merlin explained. "Fifteen years ago, before I made my residence here in Traverse Town, I happened to come across this book. Though I've never seen it before, I left it in my house for safekeeping. For a time, I held onto the book, but as the years flew by, it started to fall apart. Even the cover illustration faded away. During my many travels, a few pages like the ones you recovered ultimately scattered across the worlds. And I surmise the locales and the characters tied to the pages went away, correct?" Wendy nodded. "I brought the book to Cid to repair it, but the world inside could only be restored by returning the missing pages."

"Wait a minute!" Donald snapped. "You said you know all about the book, but all of a sudden, you forgot?!"

"Oh, silly me," Merlin chuckled sheepishly. "I suppose it slipped my mind amid my travels. I must've forgotten about the book's story the moment I settled in. I couldn't even remember the title. Apparently, it took Wendy's mention of Winnie the Pooh to jog my memory."

"Slipped your mind? How does anythin' slip your mind?" Goofy questioned.

"Forgive me, but being the representation of great wisdom in spite of age isn't what it's cracked up to be," Merlin confessed.

"You're a weird old loon, don't you know that?" Donald raised an eyebrow.

"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?!" Merlin raised his wand furiously, about to cast another spell at Donald.

"WAK! N-Nothing, sir! Nothing!" Donald stammered, waving his hands defensively.

"Hmph! I thought so," Merlin frowned, putting down his wand.

"Gawrsh, he's just about as mad as his owl!" Goofy sweated.

"Add one more to our list of guys you shouldn't tick off," Sherria affirmed.

"Now, where was I? Ah, yes!" Merlin flipped the book's pages to find pictures of Wendy together with Pooh and his friends, and presented them before the group. "It appears Wendy mended the book from the inside to ensure the story had a happy ending." His smile widened as he looked at Wendy, "You did a wonderful job!"

"I did? Oh, thank you! I knew I could do it!" Wendy beamed.

"Why couldn't you, child? You were just doing what you do best," Carla chuckled.

"That's Wendy for ya. Always wanting to put smiles on people's faces, especially in a storybook world!" Sherria grinned.

"Didja see the pictures? It sure looks like she's havin' fun!" Goofy pointed out.

"It's almost like she's become part of the main plot!" Donald agreed.

"Took her long enough to take care of that book," Romeo smiled.

Merlin closed the book to examine the new illustration in the cover. "With the Hundred Acre Wood properly restored to its original state, this book will once again serve its purpose of inspiring joy and imagination in the hearts of children everywhere." He turned to Wendy, "And it's no small feat that you're a character in the story, Wendy! You have my gratitude for completing the book, even though it's not mine to begin with. You not only saved the world inside it, but the lives of children who are dying to read its stories. I don't know how to repay your efforts."

Wendy smiled, "No need to repay me, Merlin. You know I can't turn down anybody who needs help, even if they're just characters in a storybook. Pooh is my friend, and he's just about as important as everyone else." A different thought crossed her mind, "Oh, and I found this new Summon Gem while I'm in the book." She pulled out the item from her pocket.

The Fairy Godmother smiled, "Ah, another wandering soul waiting to be awakened! Let me take a look at it." As Wendy handed her the gem, the kind fairy took time to inspect the brilliance and the spirit that lay dormant. "Interesting... This Summon Gem called Naturespark contains the spirit of Bambi, a spirited young fawn and the son of a great stag who ruled the forest. His home world may have been destroyed, but his innocence and purity persisted in the deepest darkness, and has long since been preserved in this gem."

Donald uttered, "Bambi?"

Goofy asked, "What does he do?"

The Fairy Godmother advised, "Please keep in mind that Bambi is a very gentle creature. He's still young, and not much of a fighter. However, he does more than make up for his lack of combat by providing items that restore your health and magic in the heat of battle. The more foes you defeat, the better the items become. The type of items he gives varies depending on the area."

Romeo confirmed, "In other words, Bambi's a support type of summon."

Sherria beamed, "That sounds helpful! When Wendy summons Bambi, he keeps us active and healthy while we fight enemies!"

Wendy agreed, "I think we just found a new friend who uses support magic like I do!" She grew curious, "Or does he use support magic?"

Donald pointed out, "Considering we haven't seen him in action yet, we have no clue what he does."

Goofy grinned, "We'll get the chance, though. Anytime you feel up to it, of course!"

Wendy affirmed, "The Fairy Godmother said that by summoning Bambi, he gives us items to restore our health and magic, right? I might as well call on him in case we get into a whole lot of trouble."

Carla agreed, "Most definitely. You should hold onto that Summon Gem, and use it if you really need to."

Romeo smiled, "Two support magics can be better than one, don't you think?"

Sherria corrected, "Make that three support magics. Wendy isn't the only healer, you know."

Wendy giggled, "Right..." She looked at the Fairy Godmother, "Okay, I'm ready to get the new summon."

The Fairy Godmother raised her wand and pointed the tip at the Naturespark. "It's time we set the young prince of the forest free. Here we go! Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!" As soon as she spoke the magic words, the Summon Gem glowed, and the noise of rustling leaves being blown in the wind filled Merlin's house. The Naturespark's crystal shell broke apart, and out came a magical orb of the same emerald color with the symbol of a young fawn with an innocent expression. The orb fused with the Keyblade not long after, cementing Bambi's induction as Wendy's fourth summon.

Sherria quipped, "And like the wind, it rides and finds a new home in Wendy's Keyblade."

Donald wondered, "Which reminds me, how come I hear leaves blowing in the wind?"

Goofy nodded, "I hear 'em, too. Is it the fall season already?"

Merlin interjected, "I have something of my own to give you. Not only for repairing the book, but for making excellent progress in both your magic and abilities as well." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a new Keychain, which had a gold lobster clasp with a rusty chain attached, and a green spellbook as the token. "I call it the Spellbinder Keychain. Attaching this to your Keyblade will significantly enhance your magic and summoning power. I also added a bit of my magic to spice up this trinket. Use it wisely!" With that said, he presented it to Wendy.

Wendy graciously accepted the Keychain into her collection. "Absolutely!"

Romeo remarked, "We keep getting new Keychains. Is it me, or are we just lucky today?"

Carla stated, "Whatever the case, they'll each benefit Wendy somewhere along the line."

Sherria nodded, "And more Keychains means more amazing Command Styles to unlock."

The Fairy Godmother urged, "If there's nothing else for you to do here, you better move along now. You still have much work ahead of you!"

Merlin advised, "Keep growing in mind and in body, and you are sure to succeed on your grand quest. We're all counting on you, young ones!"

Before Wendy could respond, the entrance to the study erupted into a cloud of flame, the deafening bang drowning out the startled screams of every person inside.

Merlin panicked, "Oh, no! I just had that front door redecorated!"

Romeo shouted, "What was that?! We didn't see or hear that coming!"

Sherria peered through the receding smoke and ash to see the silhouette of a person trodding his way inside. As she looked closely, her eyes widened in surprise. "Uh, guys... That's..." The person who entered the study was Alzack Connell, moderately injured and barely clinging to the gun in his hand. He coughed as he collapsed to the floor, dropping the weapon and breathing heavily.

Wendy and Romeo exclaimed, "Mr. Connell!"

Donald, Goofy, Sherria, and Carla cried, "Alzack!"

Alzack wheezed, "Hey, kids... Sorry to barge in like that. Agh!" He flinched at the wound on his shoulder, forcing him to grab it.

Carla insisted, "Save your strength! You're in no condition to move right now."

Sherria offered, "Here, we'll heal you." She knelt alongside Wendy as they lifted up their hands, activating their Sky Magic.

In the midst of the Sky Sisters' healing, Wendy asked, "What's the matter, Mr. Connell? Did something bad happen?"

Alzack nodded, "You guessed right... It's the Alliance of Evil... They're attacking the Second and Third Districts. Dark guilds are everywhere!"

Wendy and her friends' reactions were of complete shock. "Dark guilds?!"

Alzack continued, "The others are holding them off now. As for me, I got careless on the way here and ended up getting blasted by one of their magic bombs. But I'm still kicking when all is said and done, so there's no need to worry." He chuckled a bit, "I hope Bisca and Asuka don't see me like this..."

Sherria breathed, "Be thankful you didn't get blown to smithereens, or they'd be so upset. How are they holding up, by the way?"

Alzack replied, "Asuka's in the First District. Levy and Aerith are keeping her company while me and Bisca are out, so she's safe."

Sherria understood, "That's good. And Bisca?"

Alzack stated, "I went with her, along with Elfman and Lisanna, to the Third District. For a time, we kept the dark guild forces at bay. But realizing how many numbers were stacked against us, I had to go get help. When we heard you went to Merlin's house, I got there as fast as I could. And then, well... That's how I came here at the right place, but at the wrong time."

Wendy asked, "Is Mrs. Connell still in the Third District?"

Alzack nodded, "Yes, with Elfman and Lisanna. They probably have better luck handling the enemy out there than me." He grew worried, "Then again, I don't know how long they can hold out. My wife knows she can't do most of the woodwork without me. I can't just leave her alone." He clenched a fist and banged it against the floor, "Damn... I should've dodged that bomb faster, or I wouldn't be blown to bits. That way, I could've helped out some more..."

Wendy gasped in realization, "The others are in trouble!" She stood up urgently, effectively halting her healing spell. "We gotta go help them!"

Sherria mirrored her friend's action, but not before handing Alzack a Hi-Potion. "Take this! That should patch you up in a jiffy!"

Alzack accepted, "Thanks!" He hastily drank the Hi-Potion, and in an instant, his stamina was fully restored. Picking up his gun, he stood back up to his feet. "The dark guilds are running loose around town. We need everyone's help in this."

The Fairy Godmother proposed, "We'll stay here and compensate for the damage. We'll be fine. Don't worry about us. Now go, Wendy! Your friends need you!"

Wendy nodded, "Okay!"

Alzack thrust his arm to motion towards the exit. "The Third District's just outside! Hurry!" They wasted not a single second racing out of Merlin's study in a desperate attempt to help the Fairy Tail residents quell the dark guild invasion.

In the meantime, Merlin observed the damage done to his front door with a sour look. "Well, I better go clean up again..."

---

Third District

True to Alzack's words, the tranquility of Traverse Town had devolved into a warzone, a disaster much worse than Lantern Viscera's furious rampage in their previous endeavor to capture the Keyblade master. At the moment, Bisca and the two Strauss siblings were putting up a decent effort against the hordes of dark guild wizards overrunning the Third District. Considering that Lucy, Gray, Juvia, and Cana already went with Leon and Yuffie to contain the spiking surge of enemies in the Second District, it was up to the three to hold their ground there. Bisca gunned down thirty dark wizards with her dual magic machine guns, Lisanna crushed twelve under Animal Soul: Bunny, and Elfman bashed fifteen using Beast Soul: Weretiger. However, several more dark wizards of various magic styles and guild affiliations quickly filled the gaps, much to their consternation.

"You're kiddin' me..." Bisca breathed, her Guns Magic nearly running out of juice. "Dealin' with Heartless in the streets is one thing, but dark guilds? To think it was a total pain fightin' many more like 'em in Tarzan's world..."

"Hey, blame the fools in charge, not us!" Elfman shouted, socking a brute the size of a Large Body in the face, before punching away another to his left. "If it weren't for this Alliance of Evil, those unmanly clowns wouldn't have outnumbered us twenty to one!"

"We just have to hold them off. For the town and all our friends, we can't give up now!" Lisanna insisted, hopping in the air to execute an oversized rabbit stomp that blasted away a surrounding gang. "But you've got a point there, Big Brother Elf. We might as well be in hot water if they keep this up..."

"Argh, c'mon!" Bisca was starting to get exasperated as she turned towards the door with the fire sign after shooting a couple of strays. "Where's our backup when we need it?!"

"They're worn down!" the dark wizard commander announced. "This is our chance, men! Let's finish them!"

Bisca, Elfman, and Lisanna braced themselves as the next squadron of dark wizards charged at them. When suddenly...

"Strike Raid!"

"Rainbow Fireball!"

"Sky God's Wave Attack!"

"Thundara!"

"Goofy Bash!"

"Guns Magic: Tornado Shot!"

A combination of Wendy, Romeo, Sherria, Donald, Goofy, and Alzack's special attacks flew past the trio and swept away the dark wizards, eliminating them in short order. They were surprised and relieved to find Wendy and her friends arriving on the scene. "Sonic Blade!" The young Keyblade wielder rushed towards another incoming squad and struck them down at breakneck speed.

"It's Wendy! Donald and Goofy, too!" Lisanna cheered.

"Son of a gun! The manly gang's all here!" Elfman smirked.

"About time you showed up, hon!" Bisca huffed.

"Sorry, Bisca. Had to take a minute to recover," Alzack confessed.

"Either way, we've here to even things up!" Romeo declared.

"Damn straight. Your timing couldn't be better!" Elfman agreed.

"What are they all doing here?" Wendy questioned.

"They came just recently," Lisanna stated. "It's been an hour after you left for Merlin's house. We saw their ships flying above us, and the next thing we knew, they started dropping bombs on the Second District! The streets are on fire, and the townsfolk are in a panic. Right now, we're doing our hardest to protect everyone and drive the dark guilds back."

"Truth be told, we've never seen an army on this scale before," Bisca admitted. "This is even worse than the jungle or fighting three dark guilds in a museum! So Alzack, Elfman, Lisanna, and myself decided to split 'em up by lurin' half of their forces here to the Third District. It worked like a charm. Not so much, though, given there's only four of us against all of 'em..."

"We thought we had it under control, but they keep coming at us like a pack of hungry wolves," Elfman noted. "Drawing their attention was a great idea, and awful at the same time."

"Is that why everything's been burning up?" Donald asked jokingly, pointing a thumb at the rising flames that overtook a few sections of the Third District, no doubt resulting from the recent skirmish.

"From the explosions and the ships we've just thrashed? Yep," Bisca replied nonchalantly. Sure enough, a mountain of scrap from a ruined gummi vessel lay beside the fountain. "Anyway, Alzack went to Merlin's to come pick you up. And seein' as you're all here, we've got a chance to turn it around. Let's just hope we make this count!" She glanced at the remaining dark guild forces, prepared for battle in spite of their contemporary losses.

"It can't get any worse, right?" Goofy asked.

WHOOSH! A powerful gust of wind and a loud humming noise, which came from an imposing 916-0-13 Gummi Dreadnought class Daredevil soaring above the district, was a clear indication that their troubles were only just beginning. Wendy and the others looked up in awe to see the huge craft making its presence felt.

"Oh, I think it can get worse," Lisanna tensed.

"It's so huge..." Wendy muttered.

As the hatch opened from the bottom of the Daredevil, a battalion comprised of four different dark guilds sprung from the ship's cargo hold to unite with the dwindling army of evil wizards on the surface.

"Wizards from the Tidal Terror guild!" Alzack recognized the first batch, made up of magicians dressed in yellow and black outfits, and bearing the mark of three terrified faces swept up in a tidal wave. "It's no surprise we're running into them again!"

"Blitz Bone!" Bisca glared at the second batch, which consisted of people donning fashionable sports attire, and bearing the mark of an arm bone being broken by a speeding round ball. "What in tarnation is this, an Onibus reunion?"

"Selfish Jumprope, too?" Romeo identified the third batch, formed into a squadron of grown men dressed in kindergarten clothing, and bearing the mark of a frowning face with a jump rope spinning above and below it. "I thought we already beat them at the museum!"

"Apparently, the ones that attacked the Kingdom Exhibit were only a minor fraction of their combined forces," Carla guessed.

"I'm bettin' this ain't the whole unified army," Bisca confirmed.

"They must be here to settle the score with us," Alzack frowned.

"And Cloud Flatline, no doubt!" Sherria indicated the last batch of dark wizards, dressed head to toe in white and yellow armor and armed with magical staffs. The tips of each staff held the round symbol of a cloud literally flattened into a straight line under a foot. "A dark guild of holder-type wizards masquerading as knights in shining armor, and former servants of Angel of the Oración Seis. Who would've guessed they'd throw in their lot with the Alliance of Evil, much like every other guild has before them? The list keeps going."

"Hmph, so there's more where that came from?" Elfman huffed.

"There's no telling what they'll do... Keep your guard up!" Carla beckoned.

Wendy gasped, suddenly looking up to the Daredevil. "Someone's coming!" It didn't take long for everyone else to share her gaze.

The last to descend from the gummi dreadnought's open hatch was a thin figure with black tendril-like hair. He wore a dark violet tight-fitting jumpsuit with a long-sleeved purple coat, yellow shoes, a pair of porcelain masks located on his hips, white gloves, and frayed blue and pink cuffs. His blue eyes were veiled with thick black eye shadow, his lower face was covered in white powder, and his forehead was decorated in red markings with the center marking a dark crimson diamond. The figure floated a few feet off the ground, surrounded in an aura of ruby magic. He spoke courteously, "Our sincerest apologies, wizards of Fairy Tail. The Master would be most displeased to find hostilities between both sides escalating further."

Romeo asked suspiciously, "And just who the heck are you?"

The figure turned towards Wendy with a dignified bow, though she wasn't sure if he was truly trying to be polite during the ruthless attack, or if it was just a sarcastic gesture. "Wendy Marvell, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Crane, a representative of the Sleepy Hollow guild, and I lead this invasion force. We're here on behalf of Master Viriniam."

Wendy felt her muscles quiver at the mention. "Kaze..."

Romeo narrowed his eyes. "So she ordered the hit on the town?"

Elfman boasted, "Ha! Called it! What's that crazy broad up to this time?"

Lisanna wondered, "Has she sent you to recapture us?"

Crane clarified, "The Fairy Tail wizards who stowed away to other worlds in the aftermath of Earth-land's destruction are of no concern to us. That is not why we've come here. You see, the purpose of our arrival is to arrange an audience with the Keyblade master, should we encounter her. And speaking of which..." He turned to face Wendy, "We won't waste your time, young lady. We're here to make a proposition."

Wendy glared, "I know what you're gonna say. You wanna hand me over to Kaze, right?"

Sherria scowled, "It's obvious she wants another round with Wendy! Hasn't she learned her lesson after we escaped from Monstro?"

Carla huffed, "Obviously, she refuses to give up! Her obsession for Wendy continues to grow. It must be the unknown connection that ties their pasts together. But what could possibly be the driving force behind that obsession?"

Donald groaned, "Typical Kaze. She just doesn't know when to give up!"

Goofy sweated, "How desperate is she? She wants Wendy all to herself that badly?"

Wendy wondered, "Has she started to remember it all before I do? Or maybe..."

Crane remarked, "Hmm, so you know our intentions. But let's cut to the chase and do this the easy way." He looked back at Wendy, "I'm passing on this message from Master Viriniam. She requests your presence at the world of Neverland."

Wendy echoed, "Neverland? Isn't that the world where the last Princess of Heart is rumored to be found?"

Carla recalled, "Captain Hook, one of the leaders of the Alliance of Evil, conducts the search. He travels via his ship, the Jolly Roger."

Romeo muttered, "Natsu, Happy, and Mirajane are aboard that ship. If there's even a one percent chance we'd run into them, then..."

Crane informed, "If it pleases you, the Jolly Roger has already landed on Neverland. Captain Hook is presently searching the world for the last Princess."

Wendy gasped in shock, "They're here already?!"

Romeo exclaimed, "The Jolly Roger's at Neverland?! So Natsu MUST be there! We get to see him again!"

Lisanna cried, "Yeah! Mira and Happy, too!"

Elfman grunted, "For a band of dark guilds and otherworldly villains, you sure have a habit of letting classified information roll out of your mouths. I expected better!"

Crane questioned, "Are you planning to go to Neverland to stop Captain Hook? Or perhaps you remain focused on saving the rest of the Fairy Tail fodder? Regardless, our concerns take priority over the Keyblade master's at the moment. Now, Miss Marvell, you are to meet with the Master at Neverland immediately. If you surrender and come with us peacefully, we will postpone our attack on this town. The citizens will be spared. You have my word."

Wendy asked warily, "You want me to stand down just so you could bring me to her?"

Crane nodded, "Yes. She is expecting you. The Master's wishes must be obeyed without pause. Such is the duty of us who belong with Sleepy Hollow. And rest assured, she requires that you be kept alive for the duration of your encounter." He paused to observe the stern look in Wendy's eyes, "What's wrong, child? Summons from Master Viriniam. You will stand down and come!"

Wendy shot back, "If I'm gonna face Kaze, I'm doing it my own way. So forget it! I don't need help from any of you!"

Alzack glared, "You heard the girl. You can stuff your false promises."

Bisca snarked, "Surely you fellas can come up with somethin' nicer, right?"

Crane sneered, "You refuse? Then we have no choice but to take you into custody."

Carla frowned, "Leveraging innocent lives in order to force Wendy to surrender? Your wiles are expected, Crane."

Sherria implied, "You're keeping her under your thumb until your boss thinks she's ready for their next slugfest. Nothing new under the sun..."

Wendy stated, "I didn't say I couldn't go along with it. But I have to see Kaze myself, in person. Tell her that's exactly what I'm doing, okay?"

Crane retorted, "Sleepy Hollow does not negotiate with simple-minded plebeians. If you don't comply, then prepare yourselves for righteous chastisement!" With a thrust of his arm, the unified dark guild forces prepared their weapons and magic in response. Only then did the Sleepy Hollow messenger disappear in a massive pop, scattering a shower of red flakes that floated adrift. The wizards of Tidal Terror, Blitz Bone, Selfish Jumprope, Cloud Flatline, and other illegal guilds were left to deal with the heroes, the Daredevil still hovering above the district.

Sherria shrugged, "Well, so much for the negotiations."

Goofy shook his head, "Nope, doesn't look like they wanna make friends with us."

Donald affirmed, "Fine by me! I'm looking forward to busting some more bad guys!"

Alzack nodded, "So am I. Normally, a professional and sound approach would be to discuss terms with the enemy, but that's not how we do things. If it's a fight they want, all they have to do is ask!"

Bisca smirked, "Read my mind, darlin'. What's a hoedown without a Fairy Tail posse?"

Elfman boasted, "They can't mess with us! We're the best manly wizards there are!"

Lisanna determined, "We have to help the townsfolk and our friends in any way we can!"

"ATTACK!" The commanding dark wizard signaled the army; they raised their arms and let out a vigorous battle cry before charging towards Wendy and company.

Romeo warned, "Heads up, guys!"

Wendy cried, "Here they come!"

Carla urged, "Let's move!"

At the start of the battle, Wendy and her friends split up in different directions, dodging and running past the ferocious barrage of enemy strikes while knocking out a few strays along the way. The Sky Maiden ran up the wall, looking over her shoulder to see a group of Tidal Terror insurgents chasing after her by casting water spells. She flipped backwards, blasting the baddies away with Sky Dragon's Claw before landing on her feet. Wendy then proceeded to total a second Tidal Terror squadron with various Keyblade combos. Next, she deflected an incoming Unison Raid with Stun Impact, froze a small Selfish Jumprope unit with Blizzara, scorched a few Blitz Bone attackers with Fira, decimated two additional squadrons with Sky Dragon's Wave Wind and Sky Dragon's Wing Attack, electrocuted a minor Tidal Terror force with Thundara, and subdued ten Selfish Jumprope wizards with Gravira.

Later, Wendy glanced at a combined legion of Tidal Terror and several unnamed dark guilds approaching from the left. She thought for a moment before considering her options, "Now's a good time to try out these new Keyblade techniques. Here goes nothing!" She turned to face the enemies head on, the Olympia firmly gripped in her hand. "Ars Arcanum!" The Keyblade was enveloped in a golden aura, and she assaulted the dark wizards rapidly; sparkles of energy burst in the wake of each landed blow as she ravaged one rank after another. The last attack was a jumping downward hammer slice that literally cleaved the ground, demolishing everything in its path. With one half of the battalion destroyed, Wendy was ready to activate her second new Keyblade ability. "Ragnarok!" She floated in the air, delivering a 5-hit aerial combo on a Tidal Terror wizard who attempted to strike her, all the while charging magic into a massive sphere from the tip of her Keyblade. She released the sphere into a fusillade of rainbow-colored projectiles that homed in on the encroaching foes. The bullets detonated upon hitting their mark, and the remaining ranks were instantly eliminated.

By the time Wendy hit the floor, she witnessed a flock of Cloud Flatline wizards casting Thunder and Blizzard spells at her. "Aeroga!" She encased herself in a barrier of swirling winds, softening the barrage and even deflecting a few spells on contact. "Stopra! Strike Raid!" She froze the Cloud Flatline wizards in time, then executed a series of spinning Keyblade disc attacks. "Judgment!" The last toss knocked them out as soon as the time spell wore off. Wendy turned her attention to the next batch of dark guild wizards; she was on her way to assist Donald, Goofy, and Carla when a Selfish Jumprope grunt tried to attack her from behind, only to be knocked out by a Purple Fire Fist from Romeo, who joined up with the Sky Dragon Slayer not long after.

In the midst of casting Thundara to zap seven Blitz Bone wizards, Donald quacked, "This is nuts! Heartless are so easy to squash than dark guilds. I'm gonna need a snack after this!"

Carla backflipped and knocked a Tidal Terror wizard upward by the chin. "Don't lose your nerve, Donald!" She assaulted five more with her kicks, "The safety of this town is at stake, as is everyone else here!"

Goofy bashed the skull of a Selfish Jumprope wizard with his shield. "Gawrsh, it's a carnival of crazies comin' 'round the place!"

Romeo hurled a Blue Fire to force back an advancing group of Cloud Flatline wizards before joining the three. "I suppose the carnival's got space for one or two more partygoers? This town ain't big enough for more than ten dozens!"

Wendy followed suit after casting Sky Dragon's Claw and Sky Dragon's Roar to smash the right flank. "Sorry to keep you waiting! Let's take 'em down!"

As the five heroes gathered, a surrounding force of Cloud Flatline wizards pointed their staffs and unleashed a volley of random elemental spells. They wasted no time avoiding or deflecting the magic before bludgeoning their foes with standard melee attacks. As reinforcements came pouring in, Wendy slashed them in a mixture of Keyblade attacks and Sky Dragon's Crushing Fang, then switched to performing Ars Arcanum in cutting down more droves. Romeo cast Purple Net to ensnare the Cloud Flatline troops before scorching them with Yellow Fire, Donald overpowered ten with Blizzara and Gravira, Goofy whacked seven with a Goofy Tornado, and Carla delivered a White Moon to shove the last one into a minor Blitz Bone squadron.

While Wendy's team held off the extending dark guild army on the right side of the square, Sherria, Alzack, Bisca, Elfman, and Lisanna were doing the same on the left, albeit to less strenuous effect. Thanks to the Sky God Slayer's magic, which had grown significantly more powerful from her battle with Hercules, defeating a unified Blitz Bone and Selfish Jumprope legion was no small feat. "Sky God's Bellow! Sky God's Boreas! Sky God's Windmill!"

Bisca whistled, "Hoo-wee, Sherria's gettin' good! We all know she's a God Slayer and everythin', but I didn't know she'd be THAT tough... She's a lot stronger now than she used to be."

Alzack smiled, "Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea why."

Sherria took a moment to examine the sheer strength of her magic while the amassing dark guild battalion fell back. "Whoo! That battle with Hercules really did wonders for my magic. I'm not just the average God Slayer anymore— I'm the definite package!" All of a sudden, two Cloud Flatline wizards trapped her by crossing their staffs between her chest. They forced her on her knees before electrocuting her for a short period of time. "Sky God's Tempest!" However, because her Sky Magic allowed her body to regenerate, she easily broke free with a mighty hurricane uppercut. "Sky God's Rising Storm!" She conjured up a black whirlwind that consumed an incoming dark guild force in seconds. "Yep, I think it made my point."

Bisca realized, "She fought Herc at the tournament in Olympus Coliseum... and won! Whoa... That explains a lot." She couldn't contain her astonishment, "She actually did it... She beat a god in real life!"

Alzack praised, "Attagirl, Sherria! You've finally achieved your dream of defeating a god! You did great out there!"

Bisca grinned, "Too bad we missed out 'cause we've got our hands full with this town. If it were up to Alzack and I, we'd be takin' our little girl to watch you up close and personal on the first row!"

Sherria smiled, "Trust me, I wasn't born a God Slayer yesterday. I've grown and learned so much from fighting Hercules at the Cup he was named after, and look where it got me now."

Three frightened Selfish Jumprope wizards taking shelter from behind the wreckage of a gummi vessel couldn't believe their eyes and ears. One of them exclaimed, "A God Slayer?! For real?!"

The second wizard shivered, "D-Did you see that? S-She mopped the f-floor with our combined dark guild forces! S-She t-t-tore us down like it was n-n-nothing!"

The third wizard panicked, "She really does have the magic of a god! Ruuuunn!" With that, the three cowards raced away from the battlefield, not wanting to be anywhere near Sherria again.

"Heads up!" Alzack spotted a small group of Tidal Terror wizards getting the jump on Bisca, and immediately drew his pistol. "Spark Shot!" He fired a multitude of electrical bullets, striking the wizards airborne before their bodies hit the concrete. "Guess they didn't come here to get Sherria's autograph."

"Not that there's plenty of time and room for a meet and greet, anyway!" Bisca grunted, requipping into her shotgun. "Wide Shot!" She shot a single bullet that split into several dozen magical blasts in a wide area, blowing up a team of twelve wizards from Blitz Bone.

"Sky God's Wind Slice!" Sherria swung her arms, summoning crescent blades of black wind to tear down a entire Selfish Jumprope squadron. "They're certainly not fans of the big team who took out their fellow dark guilds at the Coliseum Games. That, and they don't like us very much, especially me!"

"Hey, less chatting, more brawling!" Currently in his Beast Soul: Weretiger, Elfman was in the middle of crushing and tossing around several Cloud Flatline wizards like ragdolls. "And that's more a man's style!"

"So you say!" Transformed into Animal Soul: Harpy, Lisanna knocked out several dark wizards with her wings and talons. "Anybody who disagrees don't feel like following you in your 'manly' way of life, do they, Big Brother Elf?" Morphing into Animal Soul: Cat, she scratched six dark wizards using her claws, then delivered a tail whip to distract about seven more before finishing them with melee strikes.

"Not gonna be a problem!" On that note, Elfman sent a hard punch to the chest of a Cloud Flatline wizard, crashing him against a dark guild minority.

The violent struggle dragged out for less than a hour, and neither side showed no signs of relenting. As time passed, however, Wendy and company were starting to lose steam; squad after squad of dark guilds kept rushing in from the Daredevil dreadnought, swarming the Third District like locusts.

Romeo panted, "There's so many of them... They just keep coming..."

Donald snapped, "Oh, you think?! We're fighting a whole army the size of that huge ship high in the sky!" He pointed to the Daredevil above, "So why else can't there be many of them?"

Goofy noticed, "Fellas, they're comin' from that ship up there! We oughta bring it down so they wouldn't bother us no more!"

Carla approved, "That's an excellent idea! But the problem is, they keep getting in the way. We can't simply approach the ship without getting past them."

Wendy proposed, "I know just the thing that can help!" She glanced at the Keyblade for a while, then faced the approaching next wave of dark guild wizards. "Olympia Command Style: Stonebreaker!" As the namesake Command Style activated, her body was illuminated by the same radiance as Hercules's godly magic, and a stream of floating rocks encircled her. "God Stones!" Thrusting the Olympia, she hurled the rocks against the onslaught of dark guilds, immersing them all in a shower of bone-crushing earthly might! Spines were fractured, teeth were aching, and heads were bloodshot. The God Stones struck their targets like flaming meteors, as evidenced by the magic flowing through their solid exteriors, which added a more explosive effect. The deadly vortex of solid rock swept the dark guild forces along the district, the battered and bruised bodies of wizards quickly piling up. And just before more reinforcements surged from the Daredevil's open hatch, Wendy turned her attention upward. "Command Style Critical Art: Olympus Fist!" She assembled the God Stones together to form a giant clenched fist with a golden magic circle revolving around it. She shot the stone fist from the magic circle into the sky, straight at the Daredevil before it punched its way through! BOOOOOOM! The gummi dreadnought lost its altitude, explosions bursting across the hull until it gave out a massive burst that lit up the air. With its destruction, the threat of the dark guilds no longer hung over the Third District, and the heroes had won.

Romeo quipped, "And that's how we end it with a bang."

Donald nodded, "You said it! It's like watching a fireworks show at night."

Goofy added, "Only bigger when you bring in the big ones!"

Carla admired, "Well done, Wendy. The Third District is now secure, thanks to your help."

Romeo beamed, "Awesome Command Style. You literally rocked their world!"

Elfman remarked, "Can the cutie's new special power be any more solid than gold?"

Lisanna pointed out, "Well, we did see the rocks glow with magic that's colored gold."

Sherria guessed, "Like that divine aura Hercules uses to power himself up? When she activates that Command Style, her body glows up, just like he does!"

Romeo grinned, "What do you know? Your new Command Style must've taken a page right out of Herc's book. The light show, the big rocks, that giant fist thing..." He balled his right hand into a fist for emphasis.

Wendy smiled, "Well, as long as any Command Style is helpful, I don't mind. They're my trump cards, after all. And there's a few I haven't even used yet."

Romeo asked, "You mean the new Keychains? They'll be worth discovering when you give them a try. Take your time and use which Command Style is best."

Sherria grinned, "Good things often come one at a time, as they say."

Goofy informed, "You've got plenty of Command Styles that come with your Keychains, Wendy."

Donald suggested, "Give it your best one when you face even tougher enemies!"

Wendy nodded, "I will!"

Bisca looked around to assess the damage throughout the district. "Alright, that takes care of 'em. No more dark guilds in sight."

Alzack stated, "This time, we have Wendy to thank for helping get rid of a problem here in town when we couldn't do it on our own. What else is new?"

That respite was cut short by a sharp rumbling coming from upstairs, compelling the party to take a glance at the gate. Carla recognized, "The Second District!"

Goofy worried, "Dark guilds are still on the loose?"

Donald complained, "Don't tell me we have to fight more of them out there!"

Wendy indicated, "That's where Leon and the others are! Something tells me we should check things out on their end... We better get going!" She and her companions headed for the gateway, hoping to get to the bottom of this present situation, and contain it if possible.

---

Second District

As expected, the dark guilds continued to prowl the streets, even with virtually one half of their invasion forces wiped out. But the other half appeared to amass more numbers than Wendy and her friends originally thought, which spelled trouble for the heroes who pledged to defend the Second District. Three gummi battleships, identical to the one that was destroyed in the Third District, loomed over the sector. Dark guild wizards by the hundreds filled the roads and blocked the exits, backing an injured and unsettled group of Lucy, Gray, Juvia, Cana, Yuffie, and Leon against the walls of the gizmo shop.

"This... could be problematic," Leon sweated.

"Aww, come on! We're supposed to be fighting at least less than half!" Lucy whined.

"Apparently not! And I thought splitting up their forces was a brilliant idea! I have half a mind to file a complaint with Alzack in case we survive this!" Juvia exclaimed.

"Sucks that this might not be the advantage we were hoping for. But I'd be damned if we let a whole army of scumbags do us in!" Gray growled.

"I don't know about you guys, but I might as well go out in a blaze of glory. Let's at least take as many of these punks with us!" Yuffie breathed, brandishing three shuriken stars in her fingers.

"There's worse ways to go. The party's getting a bit crowded. Then again, I like it if a party gets wild!" Cana smirked, holding her up set of cards.

"If this is gonna be our last day in town, I have no regrets whatsoever," Leon panted, gripping his Gunblade.

"No one's going down today. Not until this is over and done!" Gray declared, putting his hands together for an Ice-Make spell.

"I'll keep on fighting until the end. Natsu and Wendy would do the same thing!" Lucy affirmed, fastening her hold on the Fleuve d'étoiles.

"Whatever happens, I am honored to fight alongside my beloved Gray!" Juvia boasted, a halo of water swirling around her waist.

"All forces, prepare to charge!" the commanding dark wizard ordered. The first wave made a dash for the cornered group of six when a streak of magical explosions abruptly shot out from the alleyway and blasted the advancing guard to pieces. Wendy, Romeo, Donald, Goofy, Carla, Sherria, Alzack, Bisca, Elfman, and Lisanna arrived just in time, their weapons and magic drawn against the rest of the dark guild army, a few wizards stumbling back upon their emergence.

"Wendy!" Leon exclaimed, as he and the others expressed their relief over the main party's arrival.

"About time you guys showed up!" Yuffie voiced with a bright smile.

"We almost had our butts handed to us!" Gray nodded.

"Boy, am I glad to see you!" Lucy smiled.

"Sorry we're late. We were a bit occupied," Romeo admitted.

"But don't worry, we're here now. Help has arrived!" Sherria announced.

"It's Wendy Marvell! The Sleepy Hollow guild has made her capture our top priority. Surround her!" the lead dark wizard shouted, and the next battalion was poised to attack.

"To think Kaze would go to such lengths merely to have Wendy all to herself," Carla scorned.

"Whoever gave her an idea like that, we should beat 'em with a stick," Donald remarked.

"Uh, I don't think they gave her the idea, Donald. She came up with it herself! She's so obsessed with Wendy that she's willin' to put everybody in danger!" Goofy pointed out.

"All the more reason we have to stop her!" Carla asserted.

"If we can, that is..." Donald mused.

"It's worth a shot!" Goofy suggested.

"I see you took your time holding them back while we're away," Alzack told Leon's group.

"We'll take it from here. Or do you still have some fight left in ya?" Bisca asked.

"We've been through worse, so yeah. We can still fight," Leon responded.

"Like hell I'm gonna miss out all the fun. I'm just getting started with them," Gray retorted.

"We won't stop until we drive them out of town. We can't let them destroy it!" Lucy determined.

"It'll be a lot easier if we all work together. What do you say to that?" Yuffie offered.

"We very much appreciate it if you lend us your assistance!" Juvia nodded.

"No problem! Let's all team up and roast these jokers!" Romeo grinned.

"You're sayin' my language, kid! It's man-up time!" Elfman shouted.

"Leon, Yuffie, everyone, stay behind us. We'll take them while you rest up a bit," Wendy informed them.

"You can try and help out if you've recovered enough strength to fight back!" Sherria stated.

"We would if we could, but what difference would it make? They'll just keep attacking us. More will come, no matter how many we take out. I don't think we have plenty of time to recover at this rate!" Lucy moaned.

"That's not fair! Can't we get any more seconds of rest?!" Juvia complained.

"More seconds..." Wendy paused to observe the poor state Leon and the others were in, and at that instant, she knew what must be done in order to turn the tide of battle. "Sounds like a job for my new Summon Gem!"

"New Summon Gem? Alright!" Romeo cheered.

"Time to bring out the big boys!" Sherria declared.

"Do what ya gotta do, Wendy!" Bisca urged.

Wendy faced back the dark guild infantry with a resolute expression. "Summon Gem: Naturespark!" Taking the Fairy Godmother's wisdom to heart, she channeled the innocence and purity of the selected Summon Gem into her hand. She pointed the shining tip of her Keyblade towards the ground, then hoisted it upward, tossing the orb of light into the air before it touched the floor next to the Sky Maiden. The orb sprouted into a small luminescent field amid a trail of fluttering leaves, and at the center, which had evolved into a grassy field of flowers, was Bambi— the young prince of the forest himself. He had an orange fur coat, wheat spots, an underbelly with a brown stripe that ran from his head down to his tail, a grey stripe on each side under the top row of his spots, black hooves, and a fuzz on his head. By the time he was called forth, the young fawn energetically jumped and trotted along the street.

Both sides were nothing short of awestruck at what they just beheld. Wendy's new summon happened to be a cute, innocent, adorable little woodland creature! Even the dark wizards dropped their jaws, their eyes widening at how unbearably captivating Bambi was! And then, as if an alarm clock had been set off, everyone (minus Carla, Leon, and Gray) exclaimed in a fit of comical adoration for the fawn, "SOOOOOOOOOO CUUUUUUUUUUUUUTE!"

Yuffie cooed, "Aww! Isn't he the most wonderful thing you've ever seen?"

Romeo beamed, "Whoa! That's Bambi? He looks bubbly and sprightly for a baby deer!"

Goofy chirped, "Look, fellas! Wendy's got another cute summon! Ain't he cute?"

Elfman shuddered, "He makes my muscles tremble! Why must he be so adorable?!"

Cana adored, "He's like a cuddly stuffed animal brought to life!"

Donald smiled, "He's so cute, I wish I could have one like him as my pet!"

Lucy grinned, "He's just as much of a cutie patootie as Plue!" Hilariously, her pet Celestial Spirit made a cameo without being summoned from his Gate Key, waving at the screen (he's breaking the 4th wall for comic relief, so look it up!).

Sherria cried excitedly, "First Zero, then Dumbo, now Bambi... The cuteness overload NEVER ENDS!" She faced Wendy, "You have not just an impossibly loveable new friend at your beck and cell, but another mirror to your impossibly cute image!"

Wendy asked, "What makes you say that?" She and Sherria glanced at Bambi, whose cheerful prancing kept the violence in the Second District on hold for a moment. Neither side moved a muscle, not wanting to disrupt the fawn's personal tranquility.

Sherria answered, "If I'm being honest, your new summon is like a version of Marco the Baby Antelope from the comic book series Wildstyle Wonders, but with your sweet face and your innocent nature. And he doesn't appear to be down in the dumps after his world disappeared."

Wendy beamed, "So he's just like Dumbo, unafraid and ready to do anything. That's great! And since I've summoned him, I'd like to see how he helps us with his items that restore health and magic."

Sherria nodded, "Same here! But exactly what kind of items? Potions? Ethers? Elixirs?"

Romeo suggested, "Anything is fine, so long as they benefit us in the long run."

Wendy agreed, "Right. I have no doubt that they will. And..." Her cheeks suddenly flushed as she recalled Sherria's earlier statement at how both hers and Bambi's adorable personalities were very much alike. "It's strange to think that we often run into people just about as cute as me. Not that I hold anything against them, it's just... I can't help but feel fond of them. Like I want to make friends with them. It feels like I'm a small part of one big group!"

Sherria grinned, "Of course cuties can be friends with cuties. What else do you need to befriend a cutie other than a kind and gentle heart? Or maybe it's because your cuteness is backed by your generosity, other cuties end up getting attracted to you. It's like you're a goddess of cuteness or something."

Wendy asked in surprise, "I am? Really?" Sherria and Romeo laughed at the comment, and she soon joined in.

In the meantime, the dark guild forces continued to stare at Bambi with fascination. "Call me crazy with a capital 'C', but I'm starting to take a liking to that fawn!"

"Yeah, me too! I can't take my eyes off the little critter!"

"We can't bring ourselves to hurt such a innocent little creature! He's too adorable to kill!"

"Whoa, man! That baby deer's working his cuteness on me, man! His irresistible cuteness! Stop it! Wrong! Wrong! Knock it off!"

"Me neither! My knees get weak with the thing of cute! I can't take it!"

"HE'S TOO CUTE!" Most dark wizards covered their eyes in embarrassment at the mere sight of Bambi.

"Uh, aren't we supposed to attack?" "Yeah, I mean, isn't he with the enemy?" Some wizards, on the other hand, were rather perplexed and unsure on how to respond.

Bambi started to trot around Wendy, brimming with relief and enthusiasm. "Oh, thank you! You set me free! I thought I was done for!"

Donald, Goofy, Romeo, and Sherria gasped, "He talks!"

Leon commented, "I didn't know a fawn can talk."

Yuffie rolled her eyes, "Well, duh! He's from another world!"

Wendy asked Bambi, "You expected me to bring you out?"

Bambi explained, "I've been wanting to get out for a while now. I haven't had a bit of fresh air ever since my world went away. I was playing with my friends one day when black creatures came into the forest. I forgot what they're called, though. I think Mother called them the Heartless or something?"

Wendy nodded, "Yes. And..." She grew curious, "...you know the Heartless?"

Bambi answered, "Mother said the Heartless are very bad because they eat hearts. She told me to hide in the thicket so they wouldn't get me. And then I saw the sky falling down. I didn't know how long I stayed in the thicket, but I knew it was long. When I looked out, everything's gone." He hung his head in sadness, "My friends, Mother... They're not with me anymore. The forest is all gone."

Carla confirmed, "I see... Much like Dumbo, Bambi is well aware of what happened to his home world after the Heartless invaded."

Sherria worried, "That's horrible! How could someone so innocent endure such hardship?"

Bambi perked up, "But for some reason, I'm still alive. I don't know how, but I didn't feel afraid of the dark and everything around me. It all felt so... normal. And I remembered something Mother told me: if you have a strong heart, the darkness can't touch you. I think that's why I turned into a Summon Gem. My heart is what kept me going. It saved me from being lost out there."

Romeo asked, "He knows he's a Summon Gem, too? That's fast."

Carla mused, "So it's not just a coincidence..."

Sherria admired, "How very brave of him!"

Bambi asked Wendy, "You brought me out, didn't you? I'm Bambi. What's your name?"

Wendy smiled, "I'm Wendy. It's so nice to meet you, Bambi."

Bambi smiled back, "It's so nice to meet you too, Wendy. I'm very grateful that you saved me. I might not be very strong and I can't fight, but I'll help you out by giving away items while you fight. It's the least I can do to repay you."

Wendy complied, "Okay, Bambi. We'll take some of your items..." She gestured to the massive army of dark guilds, "...in case they're too much for us. Either way, this should be a piece of cake."

Romeo agreed, "You bet. We'll take care of it with no sweat!"

Bambi laughed cheerily as he encircled the Sky Maiden. "I'll do my best!"

Wendy laughed back as she smoothed her gentle hand around his head, giving him a hint of warmth and making him chuckle some more. "We're counting on you!"

Sherria said passionately, "We all are." Holding her hands together, she put up a cute expression at the tender moment between the Keyblade bearer and the prince of the forest. "Awwww!"

"Awwww..." Donald, Goofy, Romeo, Yuffie, Lucy, Juvia, Alzack, Bisca, Elfman, Lisanna, and Cana were clearly touched by the sight (many of the dark wizards in attendance included) while Leon, Gray, and Carla merely smiled. It ended when the heroes looked at the dark guild forces with fire in their eyes.

"Hey, uh, why are they lookin' at us?" a wizard asked confused.

"GET 'EM!" Donald quacked furiously, and they all rushed forward for a unified assault.

"Forget the fawn! Focus on the enemy!" the commanding wizard yelled. "Attack! ATTACK NOW!" The battalions wasted no time preparing for battle, and in that instant, war once again grew rampant on the streets.

As Wendy and her friends exchanged blows with the dark guilds, Bambi provided aid using Paradise, a special ability which involved him bounding across the field and dropping large quantities of HP and MP orbs in the middle of the fighting. The heroes didn't hesitate to grab the items that lay scattered all over the place in order to rejuvenate their health and Magic Energy, thus giving them a slight advantage over the enemies numbering in the hundreds. The more dark wizards they defeated while Bambi was active, the more orbs he dropped. And by taking down a sufficient amount, the fawn would make a great leap and produce a special item, which was normally dependent on each world during this process. Repeating the cycle would make Bambi drop a rare item specific to a certain world, whether they be helpful at best or useable for a later time. Thanks to Bambi's Paradise ability, Wendy and her companions quelled the raging storm for a time, but not for long— with each battalion that was destroyed, more wizards filled the empty spots; they continued to infest the district from the comfort of their three gummi battleships towering above the buildings. Sometime later, the defenders of Traverse Town found themselves overwhelmed by the sheer strength in relentless numbers, despite Bambi's seemingly endless provision of healing items.

Leon swerved past a squad representing the All Guns Blazing dark guild, leaving a trail of flame from his Gunblade that scorched them in glorious fashion. "Just how many of these creeps are there?" He jumped to avoid a bomb from a Thunder Bonnet wizard perched on a rooftop, with four others ready to attack. Before they could act, Yuffie's enlarged, magic-boosted shuriken star zoomed forth and slashed the Thunder Bonnet grunts across their chests, knocking them off the roof.

Yuffie stood with Leon and Romeo side to side as she said, "That's gotta be a least more than six hundred, and who knows how many more to go." She then groaned in frustration, "This is getting annoying! As if the Heartless could ever be more harder to squash than cockroaches!"

Romeo shouted, "You're telling me! They just don't know when to stop!" He tossed a Rainbow Fireball that blew a platoon of Troll Organ wizards to smithereens.

Alzack pointed out, "The numbers are way bigger than what we fought in the Third District!" He eliminated at least twelve from the Tiger Balm guild with a Tornado Shot.

Bisca huffed, "And we thought it had more where the varmints came from!" She released a Homing Shot to take down eleven En-Jin wizards.

Donald panicked, "At this rate, they'll swarm us! We don't know how long we'll last!" He cast Thundara to electrocute five from Spectacle Grind, Aero to deflect gunfire from Apple Burner, and Gravira to suppress seven from Dingo Dart.

Goofy worried, "Need I say the same for Wendy's new summon buddy?" While using Goofy Charge to push back a group of Numbat Entropy wizards, he looked over to Bambi, who kept prancing around and dropping healing items for as long as he could before his time limit ran out. "If he goes, there goes our backup, and this is the part where our goose is cooked!"

Wendy nodded, "He's right. My summons have a time limit! We can't expect Bambi to heal us forever, can we? And even if my Keyblade Magic regenerates and I summon him again, they'll keep coming at us until they wear us out. They'll capture me, and then deliver me to Kaze. They're not gonna stop. Unless..." Up in the starry sky, the low hums of engines caught her attention, and as she saw the gummi dreadnoughts, the pieces clicked together. "The ships!" With that idea in mind, she addressed her teammates, "Take out the ships! If we bring them down, it should stop them for good!"

The others confirmed the idea with hope and consideration. Romeo spoke, "Like before, huh? Got it!"

Sherria quoted, "Where there's a will, there's a way!"

Yuffie smirked, "Take out the chain of command, right? Sounds like a strategy to me. And I could get behind one myself!"

Lucy suggested, "Any kind of strategy is better than having our butts backed to a corner by an entire army of illegal guilds!"

Donald mused, "Unless that strategy stinks like bird poo. And I mean the pigeon!"

Goofy reasoned, "But we can't give up now. The whole town's countin' on us!"

Juvia agreed, "Goofy's right. We mustn't waste any time. This won't end, not until this invasion is dealt with quickly!"

Gray asked, "So what's the game plan?" He motioned towards the dark wizards, "They can't let us get to their ships without getting past 'em."

Leon stated, "That's the game plan. We cut down the ones that matter, then run through. Don't bother going after all of them; just push forward until we're closer to the ships."

Carla affirmed, "We can expect them to set up a defensive perimeter. They won't hold anything back."

Wendy determined, "Neither will we!" She switched the Olympia Keychain for the new one given to her by Merlin; by attaching the Spellbinder to the hilt, the Keyblade assumed a different design. The handle was dark blue, and the guard encircled it like a squat teardrop, where the top of the guard was shaped like a white heart. There were two dark blue arches with a hole in the center of each, one on each side of the guard. The shaft consisted of two separate blue poles that ended at the teeth, which resembled one half of a gear mixed in dark and light blue. Finally, the top of the shaft was a six-pointed star within a light blue circle.

"You have in your hands the Spellbinder Keychain. It greatly enhances your magic and summoning power. Activate its Command Style, and those who stand in your way will feel its majestic sorcery."

Wendy barely had time to inspect her Spellbinder Keyblade once the change was completed; she focused on the increasing number of enemies, ready to attack at any given moment. "I'm gonna make use of this present you've given me, Merlin. I won't let you down!" As she confronted the approaching wave of dark wizards, she began focusing her magic. "Spellbinder Command Style: Spellweaver!" In a fashion akin to the Metal Chocobo's Chocobo Stomp, the only alteration was her body enveloped in bright light. Under Spellweaver, the Sky Maiden would hover the Keyblade in midair to deliver short-to-long range strikes boosted by sorcery as old as time itself, while the Command Style also enhanced her magic capabilities. The standard combo was an elegant dance of magic-fueled swipes, the finisher being a ball of light shot from the tip. With this new Command Style, Wendy easily demolished scores of dark guild wizards, letting loose large puffs of magical dust in each successful hit. At the same time, the Spellweaver made it simple for the party to cut their way through to the gummi dreadnoughts.

"GO!" Leon gave the signal, and the others made their vigorous advance, defeating their own share of dark wizards using their respective special abilities.

"Purple Net!" (Romeo)

"Sky God's Wave Attack!" (Sherria)

"Blizzara!" (Donald)

"Goofy Tornado!" (Goofy)

"White Moon!" (Carla)

"Ice-Make: Geyser!" (Gray)

"Star Dress: Taurus Form! Earth Wave!" (Lucy)

"Card Magic: Silver Lightning!" (Cana)

"Water Nebula!" (Juvia)

"Guns Magic: Blast Bullet!" (Alzack and Bisca)

"Animal Soul: Penguin!" (Lisanna)

"Beast Soul: Lizardman!" (Elfman)

"Come and get it!" Yuffie jumped and threw a barrage of homing shuriken stars at a multitude of Tobacco Sewage fighters.

"Get this!" Leon executed a wide spin slash that dealt searing damage to a surrounding group of Kraken Skull grunts before they had a chance to react.

Later, Wendy and her friends stopped where the three gummi battleships cast their shadows over the fountain, looking up to find more dark guilds descending from the open hatches. The ships were made up of two 916-0-21 Dreadnought class Ahrimans on the left and right, and a 916-0-22 Dreadnought class Garuda at the middle.

"Hey, you bums! You better get outta town now..." Yuffie yelled.

"...while you still can!" Leon finished, raising the Gunblade high and gathering clusters of magic around it. As soon as he accumulated enough, the weapon grew a few inches longer and sported an astral blue glow. This was the confirmation that he went into Limit Break mode, the same extreme he almost resorted to when he was overpowered by Wendy (only because he held back, since he had no intention of harming her at the time) during their first encounter.

"I'll take the one in the middle!" Wendy offered.

"Same for me!" Romeo nodded.

"I'm in, too!" Sherria elected.

"I'll follow!" Carla spread her wings.

"Donald, Goofy, and I will handle the ship on the left!" Lucy announced.

"Okay, so that leaves Leon and myself with what's on the right," Yuffie confirmed.

"I'll help you two with that. I'm looking to freeze those humongous pieces of junk outta the sky," Gray interjected.

"We won't stop you, Frosty. Feel free to join us," Leon smirked at Gray, who responded with his own cocky grin.

"Alright, so the rest of us will stall their ground forces," Juvia nodded.

"Don't worry about us! We'll be just fine, so long as the little critter keeps pumpin' us up," Bisca assured. She pointed a thumb at Bambi, who was still providing the party his bottomless bounty of HP and MP orbs.

"Until he gives out, at least. It won't last long, so you better make it fast!" Alzack urged.

"Give 'em hell, kids! Light up the sky with some fireworks!" Elfman boasted.

"Please end it for us, Wendy. We have faith in you and the others!" Lisanna pleaded.

"We toast when it's done?" Cana quipped.

Wendy looked up to face the three gummi dreadnoughts, holding firm to her resolve in ending the dark guilds' invasion once and for all. "This is it! Let's take these ships out!"

The others voiced their approval, "Yeah!"

Putting their strategy into motion, Wendy, Donald, Goofy, Romeo, Sherria, Carla, Lucy, Gray, Leon, and Yuffie pushed forward. Juvia, Elfman, Lisanna, Alzack, Bisca, and Cana elected to hold off the ever mounting hordes of dark wizards, their efforts made easier with the backing of Bambi's Paradise. Amid the turbulent scuffle, Wendy called out to Sherria, "Give us a boost!"

Sherria swirled her arms as they pulsated with black wind. "Sky God's Dance!" She released a whirlwind around herself and the main force that propelled them up towards the three battleships; Wendy's team shot for the Garuda, Lucy's team for the Ahriman on the left, and Leon's team for the Ahriman on the right. The gummi vessels immediately opened fire with their lasers and missiles, though the heroes were quick and nimble enough to careen past the colossal firepower until they approached the ships.

"This one's for the townsfolk! Goofy Tornado!" Goofy spun his body around while deflecting countless missiles back at Ahriman #1 with his shield, resulting in the main deck suffering some major damage.

"Here's a present for ya! Thundara!" Donald unleashed a lightning storm that immobilized most of the dreadnought's artillery, all the while exacerbating the damage it sustained earlier. "Fira!" He shot fireballs into the cannons' turrets, blowing them up from within. "Blizzara!" He froze solid the ship's stern with a flurry of ice, then shattered it with a single whack of his staff.

"Hate to step on your moment, boys, but that's pretty much our job! We're not letting you get away with the destruction you've caused! Here I go!" Still donning her Taurus Star Dress, Lucy channeled the celestial spirit's magic into her whip, causing it to burst into a mass of golden light. "Golden Bull Earth-Shattering Finale!" She slapped the energized weapon across Ahiraman #1's body, plunging deep through the gummi materials that composed it. Flashes of light erupted all over the ship in the wake of each crack, followed by a series of explosions. The celestial wizard and her two teammates returned to solid earth, just in time to witness the Ahriman sink and then go off before it made contact with any of the buildings. BOOOOOOM! Swelling with confidence, Lucy turned to Donald and Goofy. "One down, two to go. Great work, you guys!"

Donald winked and gave her the thumbs up. "You too, Lucy!"

Goofy chuckled and wiped his nose with a finger. "We sure brought the fireworks, didn't we?"

"Ice-Make: Gungnir!" Gray conjured a gigantic ice block in the form of a lance and launched it up to the bow of Ahriman #2, creating a hole in the gummi casing for himself, Leon, and Yuffie to sneak inside. In contrast to Lucy, Donald, and Goofy's prior assault on Ahriman #1, they preferred to take the direct approach by destroying the ship's power core. Upon entering the interior, Gray, Leon, and Yuffie laid waste to every line of defense on their way to the generator room. Less than a minute after, they arrived at their destination.

"I'm sure you must've had a long trip coming here," Yuffie quipped, as she charged her shuriken with magic to make it grow larger. "Too bad Traverse Town's off limits to lame-os like you!" She threw it against the tubes that pumped energy to the core, completely severing them.

"So we're gonna have to ask you to leave!" Leon jumped up and brought down his enhanced Gunblade for a hammer slash, splitting the core in two.

"Lights out, dark guilds! Ice-Make: Ice Cannon!" Gray sculpted an ice cannon and fired a powerful blizzard that smothered the core's remains in ice. Soon enough, Ahriman #2 began to self-destruct.

"Better move!" Leon urged, and the three hastily evacuated from the unstable gummi warship, bouncing out of the open hole before it finally exploded. BOOOOOOM! As they hit the ground, they looked up to observe their work.

"Did that get 'em?" Yuffie asked.

"Looks that way. Those ships are the reason this district's full of dark wizards, so taking them out should do the trick," Leon confirmed, then turned to face Gray. "Not bad, Frosty. What a way to finish the job with your ice powers."

"Nothing this Ice-Make wizard from Fairy Tail can't handle," Gray grinned, crossing his arms. "And you're not so bad yourself, Leon." The Gunblade swordsman simply chuckled in kind.

"Looks like Squall's found himself a new buddy," Yuffie thought to herself with a playful smile.

The Garuda was the only gummi battleship left, and Wendy's team pledged to remove it from the equation to ensure Traverse Town was no longer threatened. When the Garuda's vast artillery proved inefficient to stall the heroes' aerial approach (while mistakenly shooting down some of its own ground forces below), it switched to opening its pointy bow and folding it into a huge cannon charging a neon green particle laser.

"Looks like they're getting serious!" Sherria noticed.

"That much energy from that cannon could level the district!" Carla indicated.

"Not if we can help it! Carla, fly me straight at it!" Romeo compelled.

"Understood, Romeo. I certainly hope you know what you're doing!" Carla grabbed the Rainbow Fire wizard's back and flew him towards the particle cannon amidst its energy charge.

"Wait for me!" Sherria followed the two, her God Slayer Magic surrounding her arms and feet giving an extra boost to her flight.

"Rainbow Fireball!" Romeo merged his colored flames into a single large multicolored fireball before throwing it at the cannon's barrel.

"God Slayer Secret Art: Gathering Clouds of Heaven!" Sherria unleashed a barrage of black feathered wings of wind, combining with Romeo's Rainbow Fireball to strike directly at the cannon's core. That resulted in a massive overload that spread throughout the Garuda, explosions occurring in nearly every section of the ship. Sherria remarked, "Well, that's a shocking development."

Romeo smirked, "We got 'em on the ropes." He turned to Wendy, her Spellweaver Command Style still intact. "Go for it, Wendy!"

Wendy answered, "No need to tell me twice!" She faced the Garuda, the malfunctioning gummi vessel on the verge of crashing down. "Command Style Critical Art: Spellnado!" Hoisting the Spellbinder with its tip pointed upward, she spun around repeatedly like a ballerina, gathering magic to form a mighty tornado. It swept up the Garuda and any unfortunate dark wizard in its path, only lasting until the Sky Dragon Slayer forged a massive ice crystal above her head, which she then shattered to freeze everything within her surroundings. BOOOOOOOOM! The ice that encased the battleship turned to fire as the last of the invasion fleet ignited in a furious blaze. The remaining dark guild forces fell just as quickly as Wendy, Romeo, Sherria, and Carla landed back on the streets— and soon, violence was no longer prevalent in the district.

"Wendy's incredible Command Styles save the day again!" Sherria cheered.

"Another awesome performance from the cute little Keyblade master. You definitely live up to the title with those flawless techniques, Wendy!" Yuffie approved.

"Thanks! You know I'm just the right size for the job, don't you?" Wendy chuckled.

"Well, if I was your age and just about your size, I'd do a better job than that," Yuffie joked, and she ruffled Wendy's hair, prompting another giggle. "But I don't mind much."

"You've become even more than the little girl I met outside Cid's place," Leon grinned, giving a friendly pat on the Sky Maiden's shoulder. "Keep it up."

"You know I always do," Wendy smiled. "I keep getting stronger for my friends."

"Have we defeated all the dark guilds in this district?" Carla assumed.

"Considering we took out their ships, that's pretty much the whole bunch," Gray confirmed.

"Phew! That's a relief! As if dealing with a stampede of rampaging Heartless isn't tiring enough for this poor girl..." Lucy sighed deeply.

"Either way, we brought down the last of their ground forces," Alzack stated.

"Hmph! They don't stand a chance," Elfman dusted his hands.

"It's about time they stopped hassling us. Somebody get me a barrel!" Cana breathed.

"Thanks for gettin' those aerial doohickeys off our backs," Bisca smiled.

"No prob. Just doing our part for the winning team," Romeo nodded.

"Impressive gummi ship models, but not impressive enough," Donald huffed.

"Still, you can't help but wonder what other kinds of gummi models they'd be cookin' up. Like those ships we saw in outer space!" Goofy pointed out.

"My darling Gray would've done better at destroying that last ship..." Juvia murmured.

"Well, I guess that's the end of it. We won!" Lisanna beamed.

"HOORAY!" Wendy, Sherria, Donald, Goofy, Lucy, and Yuffie shouted joyfully.

"We did it! We did it!" Bambi cheered, prancing around in celebration.

As the party gathered to admire the sight of the dark guilds being defeated once again, Wendy, Romeo, and Sherria turned to face Bambi, whose body glowed bright green— a clear indication that his time was up. The fawn stared at his own hoof to see it flickering with light, and knew exactly what it meant. He said, "I have to go now, Wendy. I'm sorry I couldn't stay with you for long..."

Wendy beamed, "It's okay, Bambi. Having you alongside us makes it all worth it. I'm grateful for your help. We all are."

Romeo remarked, "If it weren't for your healing items, we'd be exhausted out of our muscles, and we would've wasted our Potions, Ethers, or Magic Energy fighting those dark guilds."

Sherria grinned, "You're not just a whole bundle of woodland charm, Bambi, but a remarkable support character as well. Heck, we could even call on you whenever we face huge armies like the one we've just totaled! In case of emergencies, of course. Oh, and by the way, your cute and cuddly appearance distracting the dark guilds for us to make the first move was a stroke of genius. We could use some of that, too."

Bambi blushed, "Aww, you say too much. I just did what I could to help everybody, that's all."

Romeo admired, "And you did great at it! Your healing items took the cake."

Sherria cooed, "Oh, Bambi... What else do we expect from someone as incredibly adorable and unbearably loveable as you?" That comment increased Bambi's blush.

Wendy smiled, "I'll call you again if we need you, Bambi. And thanks a lot!"

Bambi cheered, "Alright, I'll see you later! Goodbye, Wendy!" The last they saw of the young prince of the forest was him excitedly kicking the air with his hooves, before his spirit returned to the Keyblade.

Wendy waved at Bambi's departure. "See you later!"

Romeo grinned, "I don't believe I've ever seen a more lively fawn like him in the woods."

Sherria agreed, "You bet. Wherever he comes from, I'd like to pay him and his roots a visit."

Wendy nodded, "Me too."

Just when everyone thought they could spend the rest of their time relaxing after a long battle, a portal of crimson darkness suddenly appeared from the ground, catching their attention. Out of the portal came Crane, the Sleepy Hollow wizard sent to spearhead the invasion on Kaze's supposed behalf. "Impressive. I expect nothing less from the Keyblade master, along with Fairy Tail's finest and a few refugees from other worlds."

Wendy exclaimed, "Crane!"

Romeo glared, "You've got some nerve showing your face here!"

Donald groaned, "Great. Now we gotta mop the floor with this freak?"

Leon questioned, "So you're behind this invasion, huh?"

Yuffie scolded, "You've caused enough trouble for this town, pal. Unless you don't want things to get ugly, you better hightail it outta here!"

Lucy nodded, "Yeah, that's right! Just leave us alone for once! We've had enough from you as it is!"

Crane scoffed, "You hardly scare me. Though I may not be as strong as the Headless Horsemen, I've faced many foes as dangerous as you. But I have no intention of dealing with the lot of you. I've come only to relay this message from Master Viriniam to Wendy Marvell."

Wendy recalled, "I know she's expecting me. At Neverland. You just told me." She narrowed her eyes, "But I told you, I'm not going with you. I'll confront her myself. If you're in my way..."

Crane guessed, "You'll fight us?"

Wendy snapped, "Why wouldn't I? This has always been between Kaze and me since it all began. I can't just ignore it! My lost memories of Kaze are the only clue I have about her. I still can't remember who she is, or why we're connected. I don't even know why I forgot her. That's why I... I..." She struggled to make her words come out, before her heart urged her to cry, "I have to discover it on my own! I have to figure out this thing between us! It has to be ME!" She caressed the slightly throbbing pain in her chest, and tears already formed in her eyes. "I must find her. She has to know something! I don't know if it gets me any closer to the truth, but I'll have to try..." She finished with a resolve that helped her ignore the pain, "...even if it means fighting the likes of you!"

Goofy sniffled and wiped a tear from his eye. "Beautiful...!"

Sherria shed her own tears. "So brave..."

While the others looked with sympathy, Romeo put a comforting hand on the Sky Maiden's shoulder, silently agreeing with every word she said. In a sense, they were both driven to look into the memories of their forgotten pasts, and their hearts urged them not to stop; such was the vow they made with each other. She looked over her shoulder to see his hand placed on it, and smiled warmly at him. He smiled back.

Crane acknowledged, "Hmm... Well, Keyblade bearer, it seems you are making your intentions plain. You wish to confront Master Viriniam on your own terms, instead of letting us escort you."

Wendy wiped her eyes from tears, then replied with a nod. "Yes."

Crane replied, "If that is your choice, I will respect it. My apologies for forcing this on you." He bowed humbly, "However, just to show there are no hard feelings, I can at least leave you with a gift." He swiped his hand, and a magic flat-screen projection with a keyboard materialized in the air.

Lucy began, "Hey, that's—"

Gray recognized, "Archive Magic!"

Crane typed several buttons on the keyboard, and the screen presented an image of the party's Gummi Ship with a loading bar positioned above it. The bar filled up in a matter of seconds, and as soon as it reached 100%, he swatted the projection away.

Goofy gasped, "Gawrsh! Is that our Gummi Ship we just saw on the screen?"

Sherria examined, "It looks like a perfect match."

Donald snapped at Crane, "Hey! What did you just do?"

Crane explained, "I downloaded the coordinates to your ship's system. Follow them, and you'll reach Neverland, where Master Viriniam awaits."

Wendy's eyes widened, "You're allowing us to go there?"

Crane nodded, "Yes. I said that I'll respect your choice."

Wendy said defiantly, "I don't know why you decided to let me go to where Kaze is, and I don't care. If she's at Neverland, then it's a chance I'm willing to take."

Romeo asserted, "I'm taking that chance, too. You said the Jolly Roger's at Neverland, right? That must be where we'll find Natsu! I'll do anything— whatever it takes to get my bro back home with us!"

Lisanna suggested, "We might rescue Mira there, too! We've been waiting for an opportunity, and now that it's come to us..."

Elfman shouted, "We finally get to save our Big Sis! I wouldn't give up this chance to reach that unmanly pirate ship and then turn it upside down!"

Lisanna asked, "Second thoughts?"

Elfman shook his head, "Not a bit. I'm just getting pumped up. I'm going to Neverland. That's where Mira is, and I'm gonna rescue her."

Lisanna clarified, "No, we're gonna rescue her. I'm worried about our sister as much as you are, Big Brother Elf. We're taking her back. The two of us. Our family depends on it!"

Elfman shrugged, "Can't stop you there. But don't worry, I've got your back. I can think of some Heartless and dark wizards whose asses are grass if they even think about harming you."

Lisanna giggled, "Thanks, but I can hold my own too, you know!"

Donald wondered, "So these two are coming with us?" He gestured to Elfman and Lisanna, who were ecstatic at the prospect of reuniting with their elder sibling.

Sherria stated, "The Jolly Roger is where Mirajane is currently abroad, so why shouldn't they want to come with? She's their big sister, and they miss her badly. They want to see her again."

Goofy beamed, "Well then, let's bring 'em along! If they wanna see Mirajane again, we'll help 'em with that. And no harm done gettin' some extra Fairy Tail hands here in town. Any Fairy Tail wizard is welcome to join our trip!"

Donald smiled, "Why not? Recruit a few from the Fairy Tail bunch living in Traverse Town, which adds five percent to our team's sixty percent chance of winning? I'll take that bet!"

Sherria commented, "They wouldn't say no if there's a friend or family situation involved. It's one of the many joys of being a Fairy Tail wizard; they never leave their own members behind."

Carla stated, "Happy was with Mirajane during her time as a hostage. We might even..."

Crane cracked a smile. "So you're all going to Neverland, hmm? Don't expect a warm welcome when you get there— you're all going to learn why no one defies the will of Sleepy Hollow and its Master. You'll hear from us." He faced Wendy, "Master Viriniam will personally delight in the time you'll spend with her. Enjoy your future hours together... Keyblade master!" With an eerie snigger, he charged ruby electricity around his body, then zipped downward like a lightning bolt, back into the portal from which he appeared. Then the portal closed off, vanishing without a trace.

Donald grumbled, "That lousy goose. I should've bonked him on the head before he left."

Carla pointed out, "Kaze seems more determined than ever to fight Wendy. But why would she send a messenger to submit her demands when she couldn't act on her own this time?"

Sherria guessed, "It must be part of a new elaborate strategy she's setting up. She ordered the hit on the town with Crane taking the lead. She sent him to capture Wendy and then hand her over to his boss; he would resort to hurt the townspeople as a means of persuading her."

Gray scoffed, "Big deal! It's more of a cheesy strategy than elaborate. Maybe next time, Kaze should try something more original, like coming here herself so she can have all the 'quality time' she wants with Wendy. Is that so hard to do instead of letting her lackeys do the work for her?"

Donald blinked, "She didn't come today? What's the matter with her? Is she tired of going out after what happened in Monstro? Or is she just a sore loser?"

Gray smirked, "You know, I think we should add the words 'sore loser' to her description."

Donald chuckled, "Yeah, maybe we should!"

Sherria suggested, "Like I said, she must be planning a different tactic from behind the scenes. A new approach, something to make Wendy fall right into her hands."

Goofy checked his wrist watch to report on the Gummi Ship's current status. "Fellas, we just received some coordinates to a new world!"

Wendy echoed, "A new world?" She and the others gathered round to observe the new location displayed on the Gummi Ship's map system through the watch's mini-screen. Around the same time, the name of the location itself was written below it. "Neverland!"

Goofy confirmed, "Looks that way. I think whatever Crane did must've sent these coordinates to our map so we'd know where to find it."

Lucy remarked, "Whoa... I never imagined that Archive Magic could also work on machines, like spaceships and such."

Yuffie quipped, "It's amazing just how much you can do with different kinds of magic. Crazy stuff, neat stuff..."

Romeo questioned, "But why show us where Neverland is now? It's almost like Crane wants us to go there..."

Wendy thought out loud, "I know Kaze's waiting for me in that world. And I also know it could be a trap to draw me out." As thoughts of her rival filled her mind, she felt a strange yet familiar sensation crawling beneath her skin. "Still... I feel like... she's calling me out there. She keeps calling to me, even now, as if she wants to see me again... But..." Her voice grew strained, "But I do, too... I want to go there... To see her... again..."

Leon asked in concern, "Are you alright, Wendy?"

Wendy stuttered, "U-Um, I..." She briefly inspected where Crane had gone off, then looked up to the sky. She couldn't tear her mind away from the challenge that was issued to her, a call to a new fight taking place somewhere in the heart of space. She knew that Kaze was waiting for her in the next battleground, calling her to fight, to settle the score between them. It was only a moment before she pulled herself together, and she told Leon, "I'm going to Neverland. Crane said that's where Kaze is. Which is why I'm going there to see for myself."

Romeo interjected, "I'll go, too! Kaze must be in the Jolly Roger by now, joining Captain Hook in finding the last Princess of Heart. She knows what happened to Natsu, and I'm gonna get the truth out of her. I will save him, no matter what!"

Lisanna stated, "Big Brother Elf and I decided to come aboard your Gummi Ship. Because it's for Mira! She's holed up in the Jolly Roger with Natsu and Happy, and we can't just sit back and wait. It's our problem, too. We want to bring her back. We want to bring them all back!"

Goofy beamed, "Your sister and those Natsu and Happy fellas are all members of Fairy Tail, so of course we'll help bring 'em back! We're about to head off in search of more from your guild, anyway."

Donald added, "Hey, if it's a little sparks and metal you need from the Disney Kingdom's finest, we're your guys! And the engine lounge is open to all."

Elfman cheered, "Alright, NOW we're talking! Time for a manly rescue operation! For Mira and all of Fairy Tail!"

Lisanna smiled, "We knew we could count on you two. Honestly, we don't know what we'd do without Mira. She's not just our sister by blood; she's basically a big sister in the guild, besides Erza. Since this whole situation began, she's provided useful information through this communication lacrima while she's a prisoner." She held up the lacrima as a reference, "And now that we know where she is— the Jolly Roger, at least— it's our turn to return the favor."

Gray shrugged, "Geez, that pryo's a lazy dog. What's he ever gonna do without me? If Natsu's in this Jolly Roger pirate ship, and Crane says it's at Neverland, then that make it my business. I gotta go drag his sorry self out of whatever trouble he's gotten himself into..." He added with a deep sigh, "...again."

Lucy affirmed, "I'm also worried about Natsu, so obviously, I'm going to Neverland with you guys. He's gonna need all the help he can get!"

Gray questioned, "When was the last time Ash-for-Brains was the dude in distress, anyway?"

Donald blinked, "'Dude in distress'? Don't you mean 'damsel'?"

Lucy clarified, "No, I think 'dude' is an alternate word for 'damsel'."

Goofy raised an eyebrow, "Oh, really?"

Juvia stood next to Gray with hearts popping in her eyes. "If you're playing the knight in shining armor who's going to save the Dragon Slayer in distress, can I at least be your sidekick?"

Gray sweated nervously, "Oh, uh... So long as you stay out of mischief, you can tag along."

Juvia crushed his body in a tight hug. "Oh, my beloved Gray! You can count on me to safeguard you from harm! I won't let you down!"

Gray winced from the embrace. "S-Sure, why not?"

Lucy rolled her eyes, "It's obvious she'd like to tag along..."

Wendy couldn't help but admire her friends' insistence on traveling to Neverland; not only was she concerned about Kaze, but also of the Fairy Tail friends held hostage in the Jolly Roger. Those priorities made her all the more determined to get to the bottom of these circumstances, and it would begin in the next world. "Okay, that settles it. We're all going to Neverland to confront Kaze and save our friends!"

Donald, Goofy, Romeo, and Sherria cheered, "Yeah!"

Lucy, Lisanna, and Yuffie approved, "Right on!"

Carla nodded, "Absolutely."

Gray smirked, "Figured you'd say that."

Elfman boasted, "It's MAN UP time! We're comin' for ya, Big Sis!"

Wendy informed Leon, "Sorry, Leon, but I have to go to Neverland. Kaze and some of our Fairy Tail friends could be there."

Leon asked, "Going after this Kaze Viriniam character? We all heard your story about the strange connection between her and you. She might be up to something that involves you, and I doubt it's anything good. Keep your guard up."

Yuffie advised, "Expect a big surprise should you get there. You know Kaze won't let you go so easily. Then again, you don't mind surprises, do you?"

Wendy admitted, "I know it's risky, but it looks to be the only way. I'm a part of Fairy Tail, so any risk is worth taking, especially when you help others." She added bravely, "I didn't come all this way just to back down from all this! I'm not giving up! None of us are!"

Romeo agreed, "She's right. We're in this together!"

Sherria smiled, "After all, what's an adventure without taking on danger every now and again? Because that's just how we roll!" The rest of the party chattered positively in unison.

Leon smirked, "Heh, I shouldn't be surprised."

Yuffie smiled, "Never a dull moment with the most adorable heroine on the block."

Wendy giggled, "So you noticed... Don't worry, Leon, Yuffie. You can count on me."

Donald and Goofy added, "You can count on us!"

Yuffie nodded, "Always. And best of luck on your trip to Neverland. But before you go, you should stock up your supplies and form the best members on your team. You never know what's gonna happen on your way there. For all I know, a certain event is bound to make an impact that could change your life forever, and you'd never see it coming. You may not even go back to the way things were."

Wendy sweated, "You make it sound as though something awful is about to happen..."

Yuffie brushed off, "Oh, forget it. Don't try to take this too seriously. If it's bothering you, just keep your eyes on the prize and do what you do best."

Wendy understood, "Oh, okay. I will. Thanks again." She had no idea how right Yuffie was if she ever encountered Kaze once more; she felt a slight shiver down her spine, as though a part of her wished she hadn't found out...

---

First District

As Leon and the gang focused their efforts on restoring peace and order to the districts, our heroes spent the rest of their time filling up their item stocks and assembling their team for the journey to come. The team of Wendy, Donald, Goofy, Romeo, Sherria, Carla, Lucy, Gray, Juvia, Elfman, and Lisanna would take the Gummi Ship to Neverland, while Alzack, Bisca, Levy, and Cana chose to remain in town and help Leon's crew with the rebuilding. The Fairy Godmother was also in the First District with the Fairy Tail residents, as she took it upon herself to oversee the state of things following the dark guilds' invasion.

"Alright, so you're all ready to head off to the new world," Alzack confirmed.

"Yep! We're fully loaded, the day's still young, and we just had our lunch," Sherria quipped.

"But we haven't eaten anything yet!" Donald pointed out.

"She means we rested up from the fighting and refilled our supplies," Romeo corrected.

"Oh, so that's what you meant," Donald understood.

"We just about finished gatherin' items and team members for the next big trip. We're good to go!" Goofy informed.

"That's great!" Levy smiled.

"Well, looks like it's up to us few Fairy Tail wizards to hold the fort again. You kids better come back with Natsu and the others, or at least anybody from the guild," Bisca encouraged, holding Asuka in her arms. "We'll be rootin' for y'all from here. Get out there and break some eggs!"

"Go, Wendy! Go, ducky! Go, doggie! Wheeeeeeeeee!" Asuka hollered excitedly.

"Aww, ain't you the sweetest thing? Yes, you are, Asuka. Yes, you are!" Goofy adored, tickling the young Connell from chest to arm.

"Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee-hee! Funny doggie...!" Asuka found it hard to contain her laughter from the mischievous act. Seconds later, Goofy stopped tickling her, allowing her to catch her breath.

"We'll come back as soon as we're done with Neverland. Don't you stop bein' all adorable while we're out, ya hear?" Goofy suggested, tapping a finger on Asuka's nose.

"Come back soon, please? I wanna play with you, Mr. Doggie!" Asuka beamed.

"So long as you keep listenin' to your mommy and daddy. Okay?" Goofy bargained.

"Yaaaaaaaaay!" Asuka cheerfully waved her arms around.

"Y'know, we could have Goofy as a babysitter for our little girl anytime he visits the guild," Bisca told Alzack. "If we somehow brought it back, that is."

"I'm thinking the same thing," Alzack grinned. "She likes him very much at first sight. And she's feeling a whole lot safe and warm with him around."

"Hey, what about me?" Donald interjected. "I can be her babysitter, too! You should know that I'm good with kids!"

"We'd like to, but... we're thinkin' more of pairin' her with Goofy," Bisca said innocently.

"Not me? Why?" Donald asked in surprise.

"Don't take it personally, it's not that we don't trust you. You see, my wife and I think you're just... not cut out for the job," Alzack confessed. "Because, well... We all know you're a little bit..." He cleared his throat, "...off. But on the bright side, she likes you, too. She called you a ducky just now."

"What? So you can't trust me to do this one, simple good deed of looking after an innocent little girl like Asuka? Is that it?!" Donald whined. "I told you, I'm good with kids! It's part of my job as a royal official! The kids love me! I love kids! Even the little ones! When have I ever been so harsh to kids?"

"Hey, don't get the wrong idea. You're still a good guy. We know you like kids. We're just talkin' about your short fuse," Bisca pointed out.

"One false move, and you'd throw a temper tantrum around Asuka. You don't want to scare her or even harm her by accident with that kind of behavior, do you?" Alzack implied.

"I'd never do anything to make her feel bad. Honest, I won't—" Donald accidentally stepped on a nearby banana peel, making him slip and then fall on his back. That seemed to hit a nerve as his face steamed bright red, before he jumped back to his feet and quacked furiously, waving his arms around like a lunatic. "STUPID FLOOR! WHAT'S THE BIG— WAAAAAAH!" And at that instant, the redness dropped like a thermometer upon noticing the sour looks on the Connells' faces. Asuka, on the other hand, was unfazed by the duck's brief rant, and only giggled. Having calmed down, Donald smiled apologetically at Alzack and Bisca. "Sorry."

"There you have it. Sorry, Donald," Alzack shrugged.

"But no harm done. At least you meant well," Bisca grinned.

"Silly Mr. Duck!" Asuka chimed.

"Yes, he is!" Sherria added playfully.

"You both agree that I'M silly?!" Donald exclaimed comically.

"Don't be so down in the dumps, Donald," Sherria smiled. "Even people can be loved just for looking silly on the outside. Or the inside, maybe?" She, Goofy, and Asuka laughed to themselves at the joke. A flustered Donald turned away, mumbling something incoherent out of earshot.

"This Kaze Viriniam is in the next world, right?" Cana asked, to which Wendy and her companions nodded. "I'd love to give her a piece of my mind for all the trouble she's put us through, but all this fighting in town kinda wore me out." She stretched her arms wide, "Ahhh, what a gas! Helps makes up for lost time, though. Better than spending all day in the VIP lounge doing nothing but drink bottle after bottle."

"Yeah, sorry we left you behind when we entered Atlantica and Halloween Town," Romeo chuckled. "We should've checked the lounge first. At least you watched us fight in the Coliseum. And if you didn't feel like coming along..."

"Nah, it's cool," Cana assured. "Watching you kids wrestle Heartless and gods in classic Grand Magic Games fashion was a pretty good gig, but beating dark guilds in the streets was more than refreshing. A little action in the great outdoors was just the thing I needed. Plus, the ninja and the dude fight pretty good." She smirked a bit, "And by dude, I mean the tall guy with brown hair, black jacket, and a sword mixed with a gun. He looks hot. I've been single for too long, and I'm starting to get the urge, if you know what I mean."

"Oh, so you're asking Leon out for a date?" Sherria guessed.

"I would if I could, yes. Depends on how he treats a lady," Cana replied.

"Well then, good luck!" Sherria beamed. "And if you don't feel like Leon is the one for you, never give up! There is always someone out there who is just perfect for you. Just follow your heart, Cana. Do it..." She added passionately, "...for love."

"Love? What does that have to do with her?" Donald asked confused.

"Ooooookay... That's some words of encouragement. Whatever you say, girl," Cana sweat dropped.

"We figured you'd feel right at home with the Connells, just like it was in the engine lounge," Goofy smiled.

"Sure! Company from Levy and the Connells, a little beer, and hanging out with otherworldly characters don't hurt nobody," Cana quipped. "My luck is changing already. Oh!" A different thought came into mind as she looked at Wendy, "Speaking of luck, there's something I have to tell you, Wendy."

"What is it, Cana?" Wendy asked.

"Recently, the cards have spoken to me," Cana stated, holding up a card with a unique design. "Apparently, you're destined to partake in a certain event. One that will change the course of your life for better or for worse... and that involves dark, forbidden secrets of the past."

"T-Today? You mean... now...?" Wendy stuttered. Cana's cryptic prediction seemed to add more chill, as did Yuffie's foreboding piece of advice. And the part about dark, forbidden secrets of the past sounded especially disconcerting. "H-How bad can it be?"

"Can't say for sure. It's just a fortune," Cana admitted. "The future is hard to predict these days. It may or may not come true, but I just thought you should know, so you'd be more careful out there."

"Alright..." Wendy nodded, though some semblance of apprehension still lingered in regards to her fortune. She thought she was more resolute in confronting Kaze and unveiling more of their shared past, but her mind begged otherwise. Could the truth be too much to bear if she knew it all? Was there really no turning back when that time came? It actually troubled her.

Overhearing the conversation and seeing through the conflict in Wendy's response, the Fairy Godmother looked downcast towards the ground, her fallen face unseen by everyone present.

"They're looking for the last Princess of Heart in Neverland," Levy mused. "It's the only thing they need in order to complete their master plan. But no matter how precious they may be..." She turned to Wendy with an adamant expression, "...they can't be worth all this chaos and bloodshed. Even our Fairy Tail friends! We must stop the Alliance of Evil, Wendy!"

"You never know what to expect, so you must be well prepared. Only if you keep trusting in your dreams will you find the answers you seek." When the Fairy Godmother spoke, she did her best to smile in an effort to mask her concern for Wendy. "We have faith in you, child!"

"We'll stay here and take care of things while we wait for your safe return," Levy offered. "Best of luck to you all!"

"No worries, Levy. We've got this!" Gray assured.

"We won't let you down," Lucy nodded.

"Don't sweat about what's on the cards, kid. Things happen for a reason," Cana told Wendy. "Just do what you gotta do. If not for you, then for the guild and all the friends in other worlds you've made."

"Thank you. I promise I'll make things right for everyone. We'll be back soon!" Wendy smiled, her resolve returning in full force. For now, her only respite from her slight anxiety was found in the next step of her journey. Neverland was just around the corner. With that thought in mind, she turned to her fellow party members. "Everyone ready?"

"Yeah!" Donald, Goofy, Romeo, Sherria, Carla, Lucy, Gray, Juvia, Elfman, and Lisanna cheered in response.

Not long after, Wendy and company said their farewells to Levy, Cana, and the Connell family before taking the main exit where the Gummi Ship was parked. It was only after they had gone did the Fairy Godmother's torn expression return. Judging by the look on her face, she seemed to have shown sympathy and pity for Wendy's reaction to Cana's prediction. Or perhaps even more than that... She wanted to offer her own comfort for the Sky Maiden's dilemma before she left, but felt she had no desire to.

"You're starting to remember your past... I suppose it's only a matter a time before the haze clears completely... There truly is no going back for you, isn't there? Forgive me, Wendy. You'll probably resent me if you found out... that I was complicit in what happened to your cousin Kaze... long ago." She sadly looked up to the sky, "Oh, Grandeeney... What would you do...?"

---

ELSEWHERE...

"Did she get the message?"

Having emerged from a dark red portal in Captain Hook's personal quarters in the Jolly Roger, Crane answered whoever spoke to him, "Yes. Though she refused to come with us, she is on her way now to Neverland as we speak."

"Like clockwork! She's always so eager to see me, just as I always knew she'd be. The Horsemen would've simply brought her over right then and there, but that would be overkill, wouldn't it? No, I very much prefer she comes to me personally. Adds a lot of flair to the invitation, y'know."

Crane bowed in respect, "Regardless, I thought you would appreciate the reception I've left for her at Traverse Town. And as you predicted, she appears to be growing stronger."

"Any problems?"

Crane shook his head, "No. I simply sent the invitation. It was quick."

"Good work, Crane. Everything is in place for the big party. Our guest of honor is sure to arrive soon. She's gonna love it!"

The person Crane spoke with appeared to be a fully healed and revitalized Kaze Viriniam, who sat at the center of the room relaxing her legs on the table, her hands behind her head.

Crane nodded, "Yes, Master Viriniam. The sooner we capture the Keyblade master as planned, we'll proceed to the next phase."

Kaze chuckled, "I know it's ambitious for a plan, but I never could've predicted that Wendy is coming to Neverland... At least, not without a little help from somebody. Guess I have her to thank for this one important lesson— sometimes, if you wanna keep the engine running... you gotta check for some loose screws!"

On that note, she lifted her legs from the table and reached down to her right, yanking the hair of a person next to her on the floor. It was Mirajane Strauss, beaten and bruised horribly, wrapped in chains with a gag around her mouth! Happy was beside her, a wrecking ball chained to his tail, his body bound in ropes, and gagged as well. The two hapless Fairy Tail members tried to get themselves free to little avail, and that served to amuse the young guild master of Sleepy Hollow.

Mirajane couldn't believe this; she was tearing apart the Alliance of Evil from within, then all of a sudden, Kaze had to make a comeback and ruin everything. How did it all fall apart so quickly? She thought her secret rebellion could go off without a hitch, only for Maleficent's apprentice to see through her deception the second she deserted her inside Monstro's belly. She thought Wendy defeated Kaze, only for the latter to make a complete recovery before storming the Jolly Roger. In the end, Mirajane found herself captured like a fly in Kaze's web. Terror and confusion filled hers and Happy's minds as they were uncertain of whatever grim fate awaited them, now that their cover was blown.

Kaze put a hand on her chin, observing Mirajane in her ruined state while retaining a hold on her white hair. "You should really watch your words until you know for certain you're free to carry out that pathetic excuse of a betrayal. Although in this case, the words aren't really your fault. What's that you said again? 'You're about to find out the hard way, Kaze?'" She air quoted with her free hand, "Well, I'm thankful that I did. You tried to make me look like a mule eating manure in a farm, and now the stink of humility is gonna splash right in your face!" She gave a stinging slap across Mirajane's cheek before letting go of her hair, watching the eldest Strauss sibling collapse before her feet. "I thought we had something special. I even had the guys design a 959-4-25 Lucifer with a bumper that spells out your name. I even considered you a friend!"

Standing up from the table, Kaze towered over Mirajane, who tried to crawl away. "After all the time we spent together, you decided to take the easy route? After all Maleficent and I have done for you, this is how you repay us? We gave you a home, we made you the commander of our dark guild armies, we promised the safety and protection of your guild in exchange for your allegiance, and THIS is how you show your gratitude?" She picked Mirajane up, "Geez, you're never one for manners, huh? Lucky for you, I'm good at teaching... RESPECT!" Kaze set about beating the fallen S-Class wizard senselessly; rage and bitterness fueled her blows as they landed from chest to face. Happy cowered from the brutal punishment, while Crane watched casually. The beating only stopped when Kaze thrust her knee into Mirajane's skull, knocking her to the floor. She knelt before her downed victim with a sly look on her face. "Well, it was fun while it lasted. But that last game was honestly the best we ever had between us. Satisfied much? You abandoning me in the belly of the beast added up to the assumption that you had no intention of following Maleficent's orders. You're giving yourself way too much credit for exposing your own attempt at rebellion." She grabbed Mirajane's chin and raised it, "As I figured, the brainwashing didn't work because your Take-Over Magic somehow made you immune. That should've been a monkey wrench in this whole operation, and I never would've found it if you hadn't slipped your tongue back then. Yeah, that's right... I owe it all to you, Mira!" She playfully pinched her cheek when she felt a slight nudge on her left foot.

Kaze stood up and looked to see Happy repeatedly bumping his head below her legs in a futile act of defiance. Tears stained his angry eyes, his voice muffled by the gag in his mouth. She cooed at the display, "Awww! And who could forget Natsu's little kitty buddy?" She snatched the Exceed by the head and lifted him up so she could look him in the eye, "Still miss your fire-breathing friend? Don't think you'll be able to set him free with claws and whiskers alone. But don't worry, we're still looking for Natsu's heart. It's not like we're leaving his husk in the trash. We need him for our big plan. We need pure dragon fire— his magic— to break the seal once the nine are gathered to reveal it. The only problem is, he can't use his magic so long as his heart is missing. But hey, we're still looking." She raised her finger, "So if you wanna see him alive again, you'd better behave. I don't want anything to spoil the reunion party. I'm a sucker for reunions, you dig? Oh, and by the way, since Wendy's coming, her cat must be coming along, too."

Happy spoke with his mouth still stuffed, "Carla...?"

Kaze continued, "If I was to ship you with a girl cat, it would be Blueberry's cat. I can already tell that you two are meant for each other." That caused his face to turn red. "But enough about my part-time hobby as a love doctor. Let's talk war games!" She dropped him beside Mirajane, "You and Mira just got yourselves VIP seats in the Neverland Club. Sit back and enjoy the show, 'cause when the going gets tough, the tough shop for hot stuff." She knelt down to coil her arms around the two, "This is it, gang. The show's about to begin any moment now. Your friend Wendy may have outsmarted me again, but this time will be different. She was already my favorite playmate before any of this..." She added with a sinister grin, "...but wait'll she gets a load of my new tricks!"

All of a sudden, a powerful gust of dark purple color erupted around Kaze by the time she rose from the floor. The winds combusted upward and took the shape of a feathered dragon. She growled viciously as her eyes glowed red, trembling with anticipation. "This time... This time I WILL win! And no one's gonna stop me!"

Happy and Mirajane could feel the stagnant malice intoxicating the air through Kaze's growing magic. While the blue Exceed was nothing short of terrified, the elder Strauss sibling sweated nervously. The shape and mass of Kaze's magic merely paled in comparison to the sheer destructive force that backed it. A force Mirajane had the displeasure of witnessing firsthand sometime ago. A force that led to her quick and utter downfall. A force she recognized all too well... "Sky Dragon Slayer Magic! The same magic as Wendy's... There's no doubt about it..." Her acknowledgment added to her growing fears, "This isn't good. Not at all. If they're going to fight again...!"

Crane cleared his throat, "Pardon the interruption, Master, but it might be possible that Wendy will attempt to obstruct the Neverland operation. She could discover the location of our base in Hollow Bastion, and that could set our plans back for months."

Kaze stopped channeling her magic. "Then we'll just have to make sure she doesn't." She gestured to Mirajane and Happy, "Would you be so kind as to escort these two to the brig? They've got a big part to play in the opening remarks."

Crane smirked, "With pleasure." With a wave of his arm, Mirajane and Happy fell through a red portal beneath them, their muffled screams drowned out by the surge of magic before they disappeared.

Kaze added, "Oh, and Crane? Have Hook and Scuttle Edge sort out the decorations while you're at it, will you? I want the party to be a blast before she comes."

Crane nodded, "Yes, Master." He exited the room through a portal he conjured behind him.

Left alone, Kaze looked out the window, crossing her hips. "I've prepared for this. I've rested, recharged, and rarin' to get back in action!" She laughed and clenched a fist, "Blueberry won't know what hit her!" As she stared into the night sky, she slowly recalled how it all came down to this— her miraculous recovery and subsequent ending of Mirajane's uprising these past few hours, and the moment she took control.

Outside, the Jolly Roger lay still in the ocean... with an entire armada of gummi battleships hovering in the atmosphere above it— an amalgamation of all the dark guilds in the service of the Alliance of Evil, with an imposing naval vessel painted green and purple taking the lead.

It would seem that once Wendy and her friends arrived, all-out war would be inevitable.

---

Author's Note:
And voila! The Hundred Acre Wood arc is finished! This chapter took a bit longer than I thought it would be, but it was a complete success! I hope you enjoyed the action sequences after Wendy completes her quest in the storybook world; thought it would be a perfect time to showcase two Command Styles of her two new Keyblades, Olympia and Spellbinder. Expect Lady Luck and Wishing Star to come soon! Plus, do you notice the Birth by Sleep reference with Wendy's Spellweaver as Spellbinder's Command Style? I imagined they fit well since in this universe, Command Styles are secret arts exclusive to a Keyblade's current form. Just think, Wendy and Aqua meet sometime in the future and be friends, because, you know... blue hair and they're girls with Keyblades? Ha ha ha ha ha ha! I also hope you enjoyed the comedy, the heartwarming scenes, the new OC character Crane from Sleepy Hollow, and especially the Fairy Godmother giving hints of having knowledge of Wendy and Kaze's shared past. Ooooooh... she has something to hide from Wendy, who's not gonna be happy if she remembers it all. As Yuffie said, there's no turning back, and as Cana predicted, Wendy is destined to partake in a fateful event that will change her life forever.

At last, the calm before the storm has passed. Now it's time for non-stop action! But this isn't the start of the Neverland arc just yet. The next chapter will be another side story that details Kaze's recovery from the Monstro affair, her confrontation with Mirajane over her betrayal, and her subsequent overpowering at the hands of the Sleepy Hollow guild master. The title will be called Side Story: Heart of Satan. That's right, in this side story before the start of the Neverland arc, Mirajane and Kaze are about to duke it out for control of the Alliance of Evil's armada of dark guilds! Surely this will more than cover up the real storm that is to come and keep you fans satisfied! The She-Devil of Fairy Tail vs. the Dark Vixen of Sleepy Hollow. Who will be the victor? Find out next time on Kingdom Fairy Tail!

Until then, this is TheSavageMan100, signing off. Don't forget to fav, follow, and review this story and my other stories, and stay tuned for more updates. Love you!