You know what fuels me, review and/or comments. I'm running low on fuel, don't let this engine die out :(
Chapter XLV-100 Acre Woods (Part 3)
With Cid working on the ship, Koga suggested to Sora to return the remaining pages to Pooh's storybook. While Kairi was sleeping the two of them snuck away to Merlin's house, careful to avoid the Heartless prowling the streets.
The old wizard greeted them, complimenting how they've improved their magical abilities. After spending some time chatting the twins hopped right into Pooh's book.
Koga and Sora walked across the dirt path of the Hundred Acre Woods until they came upon a river with a wooden bridge. Past the bridge was a bluff with a lone oak tree on its top, a swing hung over one of it's branches. Pooh and Piglet were at the bridge.
To the side they saw Rabbit inspecting a tiny lean-to house made of sticks next to a female Kangaroo. Owl was flying around the area.
"Hi Sora and Koga." Rabbit greeted. "I don't think you've had the pleasure of meeting Kanga here."
The Kangaroo turned the boys and smiled with a motherly warmth.
"Hello Sora and hello Koga. My name is Kanga. I heard about how you two have been helping everyone around here. Thank you."
"No problem ma'm. " The twins said politely.
"Oh I wish I could show Roo to you boys, but he went looking for Tigger. Hopefully he is alright."
"I'm sure he is, maybe we'll run into him eventually." Koga said as the two made their way to Pooh.
As the two boys approached the bridge, the bear and pig were looking over the railing into the water.
"Hey Pooh!" Sora cheerfully.
"Hello Sora and Koga. How are you today?"
Koga shrugged. "We found our missing friend, we were hoping we could help find yours."
"Look Pooh. Something is floating this way." Piglet said pointing to the water.
"I think you're right, Piglet. What could it be?"
There, drifting across the river current was a grey sad looking donkey with black hair running down it's spine.
Pooh smiled at them. "Why, it looks like Eeyore!" He waved at the donkey. "Hello, Eeyore, if it is you."
"Hello, Pooh. Yes, it's me." Eeyore said, head sticking out of the water as he tried to stay afloat. "Could you pull me out? That is, if it's not too much trouble. Of course, you don't have to if you don't want to."
Koga hopped into the water, it only reached up to his waist. He scooped up the stuffed donkey with ease and carried them onto the shore. Eeyore shook himself to get the water off of him.
"Thank you, other you." Eeyore said sadly, but something tells them he's always like this. Pooh, Sora, and Piglet gathered round them.
The starry eyed boy scratched his head awkwardly. "Actually, the name's Koga and the other kid is my brother Sora."
"Those sound like nice names... you know as I was drifting through the water I felt like something was missing. And something is still missing."
Piglet gasped pointing at the Donkey's rump. "Eeyore, your tail is gone!"
Eeyore turned to look at his backside. "Yep, lost it again. Wonder where it went this time."
"This time? This happens often?" Koga asked confused.
"Yep, happens all the time." Eeyore said sadly. "It's not much of a tail, though I'm sort of attached to it. But, I don't know why anybody's look for it. Probably won't find it anyway..."
Koga looked sad for this poor depressed donkey. He just wanted to hug it and tell him everything will be alright. If finding it's tail will make him feel better, then he will at least try.
"Don't worry Eeyore, we'll help you find your tail." Koga said rubbing the donkey's head. "Right guys?"
The other's nodded.
"Of course we will." Sora agreed.
"Lost something?" They turned and saw Owl as he perched himself against the railing of the wood bridge.
"Hey Owl, can you fly around and help us find Eeyore's tail?"
Owl shook his head. "I'm afraid my eyes aren't what they used to be. Too much reading, you know." He pointed his wing towards the bluff. "Why don't you take Pooh over there, you will have a good view from there."
Sora and Koga nodded as each took Pooh's hand and led them towards the bluff. The other's stayed behind and searched the ground. Pooh skipped happily as they made it to the top of the hill and sat right on the swing.
Koga leaned over the cliff and scanned the area. "Hmm, maybe if I can get a little higher..." He turned to Pooh and got an idea. "Hey Pooh, want me to give you a push?"
"Why yes, I would like that very much Koga." Pooh said. Koga gave him a push and the bear swung around a little bit. Pooh tried to look around but found nothing. This went on for five minutes before Koga started getting impatient. He suddenly pushed him with extra strength.
Pooh went flying off the swing and onto Eeyore's stick house. It broke apart all the sticks. The other's gathered around the destroyed house.
"Pooh!" Koga gasped landing on his feet as he used magic to glide off the bluff towards the others, Sora following him. He looked at Pooh with deep concern and worry. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry I didn't mean to toss you. And Eeyore, you're house- oh this is all my fault!"
"Oh, I'm alright." Pooh said dusting himself off. "I seemed to have landed on a fluffy and soft stick." As he turned around the group saw something attached to his rear. It was a thin grey strap with a nail on top, a tuff of hair and pink bow on the bottom.
"Is that..." Rabbit asked.
"Hm? That looks familiar." Eeyore said, gazing at the strap.
"Um, 'scuse me Pooh." Sora said before yanking it off, making the bear yelp slightly. He summoned his Keyblade and used the hilt as a hammer to fasten it to Eeyore's backside.
"Yep, that's definitely your tail."
Eeyore turned around and swished his newly found tail. "It's not much of a tail, but it's mine." He turned to them and gave the saddest but genuine smile. "Thank you everyone."
It took all of Koga's self restraint to not hug Eeyore.
"So now what?" Sora asked.
"Now we go on to the next page." Koga replied, breaking the 4th wall momentarily.
"You know, this is more fun than I thought!" Sora laughed. They found their way to Tigger's bouncing spot much to said tiger's delight. It was a clearing in the woods full of tree stumps.
Tigger was found hopping along the stumps next to Kanga's son, Roo. They were a baby kangaroo with a blue shirt. Sora was hopping alongside them. Koga was climbing up a hollow tree that Pooh and Piglet were inspecting.
"Nothing beats bouncin!" Roo agreed
"Come on Sora-buddy, let's see how high you can bounce!" Tigger encouraged.
"I wonder if there is any honey up there." Pooh said.
"Or maybe some haycorns." Piglet said rubbing his tummy.
Koga was getting closer to the big hole on the top, something glinted inside.
"Almost got i- whoa!" Koga yelped as he fell through the hole and out the one on the bottom. He coughed up sawdust as he looked up at Pooh and Piglet. "Golly..."
"Oh bother, no honey, just a Koga." Pooh said. He noticed something shiny next to the boy's hand. "What is this?"
"It's a megalixir, it's used to heal big injuries."
"Like a bee sting?"
"Uh, yeah. Something like that. Anyway, next page!"
"Hey, where'd everybody go?" Sora asked. He and Koga wandered off for a few minutes and all of a sudden Pooh and his friends are nowhere to be found. They looked everywhere and couldn't find them.
They made their way to a small ravine with a mud pit inside it. Koga nudged his brother pointed towards a thicket of branches. Pooh was wandering around the mud in a big circle.
"Pooh, what are you doing?" Sora asked.
"Shh. Quiet, or they'll get away!" Pooh lightly scolded.
"Who?"
"The people who took everyone away. See their footprints?" Pooh said, pointing to the footprints on the ground that circled the thicket. "We were all sticking around to make sure no one got lost again. But then I saw some footprints that needed following. So I did. Suddenly, everyone was gone. Bad people must have taken them away!"
"Actually, Pooh, I think those footprints are.. um..." Sora could bring himself to break the news that Pooh was following his own footprints.
"Oh, I wonder if it was a Heffalump, or a Woozle, or worse a Jagular!"
"Don't worry Pooh, we've helped you find your friends and we'll do it again." Koga finished.
They searched around the mud pit for the others. The first one they found was Eeyore who was hiding in the thicket trying to make a new house for himself. Hopping on a log they found Tigger who lost sight of Pooh when he bounced too high. Near an empty well they found Rabbit who said they were following Owl who flew off to another part of the ravine. They then found Kanga around the edge of the ravine looking for Roo. Roo himself was on top of a large branch looking for Kanga, the two were happily reunited. Finally they found Piglet hiding in a tree.
It took awhile but eventually everyone is found.
When everyone was found they all decided to gather around the tree on the bluff. By that time the sun has already set and it was nighttime.
"I'm so glad we're all together again." Piglet said as they all sat down by the tree. "I didn't know what to do when I was all alone."
"Aw, Piglet, you gotta be brave." Tigger replied happily.
"You weren't lonely at all?" Piglet asked.
"Lonely? Are you kidding?" Tigger bounced in place. "I'm a Tigger! And as I always say, the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is that I'm the only one! But I do admit, friends are awfully fun too!"
"Friends are the best! I'm glad I found mama too!" Roo said from Kanga's pouch.
"And we all have Sora and Koga to thank for it." Kanga added.
"Yeah, thanks Sora and Koga, no one would help me on purpose. But I'm still obliged. Thank you." Eeyore said.
"Think, think, think." Pooh said to himself poking his head. The brothers turned to the bear curiously.
"Hey, Pooh, what are you thinking about now?" Sora asked.
"Oh, well, I'm just thinking about what to think about." Pooh said innocently.
Koga chuckled and pulled Pooh to a side hug. "Silly old bear." This world, like it's inhabitants, was so pure and innocent. He then remembered about the threat of the Heartless, if they ever find this book they will be in danger.
"Well Koga, I think it's time we head off." Sora said sitting up. Koga sighed sadly but agreed.
"Sora, where are you going?" Piglet asked nervously.
"We got to go back to our other friends, they're waiting for us." He replied.
"Bounce on back again!" Tigger said.
"I hope you will come back one day." Piglet said.
"Safe travels boys." Owl said.
"Don't forget to take care of yourselves." Kanga said.
"A-And eat plenty of carrots too!" Rabbit added.
"I might be forgettable but it would be nice if you don't forget about me." Eeyore sighed.
"Bye Sora, bye Koga!" Roo waved excitedly.
"Bye guys, we'll come back one day, I promise." Koga said as the two walked off the bluff, stopping at the bridge and giving a fist pump to the sky. The resident's of the Hundred Acre Woods waved back.
"Sora, Koga, don't forget." Pooh said as he watched the boys disappear into the woods out of sight. "We will always be here... If you would like to visit again that is."
When Sora and Koga appeared back in Merlin's home, they looked back at the book. The cover has a new image on it's face. It was a simple drawing of Sora, Koga, Pooh, Piglet, and Tigger. They were walking across a dirt path, each of the boys taking Pooh's hand. Winnie the Pooh was written on the cover as the title.
"That book is something special." Merlin said, calmly sipping his tea.
"Yeah, it is." Koga then noticed on the book's lock a keyhole, the Keyhole of that world. He pointed his Keyblade and sealed the Keyhole. "And no Heartless will ever harm this whimsical story."
I always thought the Keyhole being on the book lock was a clever idea. Hope you enjoy this Simple and Sweet filler.
Remember to leave a comment if you like what you read.
HAVE FUN!