Chapter 11: Ant Island Part 3

Sora fell asleep on a large leaf inside the Ant Hill's extra guest rooms. He dreamed again. This time, he was back in his heart. And no sooner did his heart skip a beat upon seeing not only Ventus, but Kairi as well.

"Sora! Your here! How is that possible?!" cried Kairi.

"I don't know. I just fell asleep and here I am. The question is, what are you doing here?" asked Sora.

"Her heart was sent over to this place, like mine did years ago." said Ventus walking up to Sora and giving him a hug.

"I now know who you are. Your my little brother." said Ventus.

"I had a feeling it had to be you. But why did Mom and Dad keep me from knowing you in the first place?" asked Sora.

Ventus began to laugh.

"What?" asked Sora. He then felt something twitch on his head. He realized he was still in his bug persona in Ant Island.

"I'm sorry. I can not take it seriously. You with the funny disguise." said Ventus.

"Haha, very funny. Smart alec." said Sora.

"Your in another world?!" cried Kairi.

"Yeah. I'm in a world inhabited by bugs. They speak and act like people." said Sora.

"That is nothing. I have been on worlds where dinosaurs still roam their world, where lost cities are found again, and even worlds within worlds. This world you found yourself in is part of a much larger universe. But it's unknown how they are all connected and how they can be traveled." said Ventus.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Sora.

"What did you travel in?" asked Ventus.

"By a rocket ship. My new friends, Donald and Goofy call it a Gummi Ship." said Sora.

"Is it made out of gum?" asked Kairi with curiosity.

Sora blushed just by looking at her. He still remembered the kiss she gave him on the cheek a day before the storm.

"No. It's made out of weird blocks." said Sora.

"Well, there is a world I went to once where Monsters use closet doors to travel. Friendly monsters, not bad ones." said Ventus.

"You have seen way too much!" cried Sora.

"And your journey isn't over yet. You need to find a way to bring Kairi's heart back to her body. I know it's out there somewhere." said Ventus.

Sora felt a cold shiver down his spine. "Your body Kairi? But that means... you can't be dead." said Sora.

"I'm stuck between alive and dead according to Ven." said Kairi.

Sora turned to his brother. "Is there more our parents kept from me Ventus? Why were you a secret?" asked Sora.

"It may have to do with Xehanort. That man is responsible for destroying our family. Also, Mom and Dad wanted to protect you from him and from knowing another sad truth. Apart from you and me, there is another. Vanitas." said Ven.

"What? Jeez, Mom and Dad sure did pick weird names." said Sora.

"Oh no, he's not technically our brother. He's me. Only a dark version of me. I know he's alive out there too. Watch out for him, and be careful. I sense a strong darkness in the world you are in." said Ventus.

Sora was about to speak more when he felt something tryhing to pull him away. He looked up at Kairi who tried to hug him, but Sora's view went dark.


"Sora wake up!" cried Donald.

"You have no idea what just happened!" cried Goofy.

"What happened?" asked Sora.

"The Circus bugs! They left! They were discovered and Flik was banished! It happened yestereday! You were asleep for a very long time!" cried Donald.

"What! But that can't be!" said Sora.

"And the Island is taken over!" cried Donald.

"What?! Then why didn't anyone wake me up?" asked Sora.

"We did everything! First we brought a bucket of water, then I slapped your face. And then after you were dry, a thunder spell." said Donald.

"Fellers! We need to leave! If we don't, we'll be Grasshopper chow!" cried Goofy.

"Grasshoppers? And what of the bird?" asked Sora.

"The Ants have been taken hostage by the Grasshoppers. They arrived just now!" cried Donald.

Sora got up. "How long was I asleep guys?" asked Sora.

"We don't know son. Maybe a day." said Goofy worriedly.

"A day? How did that happen?" asked Sora.

Goofy placed his hands on his shoulders. "Don't worry. Let's get off this world." said Goofy.

"But what about the Keyhole!?" asked Sora.

"Sora's right. We still need to find out how we can do it." said Donald.

As the three are about to leave, Hopper arrives. "Well what have we here? A couple of strangers from the outside?" asked Hopper.

"You. You must be Hopper." said Goofy in shock.

"Guilty as charged. And you must be Sora, Donald and Goofy, the failed clowns that old man Xehanort mentioned." said Hopper.

Sora's blood began to boil at the mere mention of that hateful man. "How do you know him?" he asked.

Hopper then punched Donald and Goofy used his sheild to block his other punches. "Sora, run!" cried Goofy.

Donald got up and fired a fire spell. Hopper then jumped high into the air and kicked Donald on the beak. Sora got his Keyblade out and tried to hit Hopper, but one strike on his body was not enough. He turned around and pushes Sora on the wall.

He turned to both Donald and Goofy with a wicked grin. "If you two make one move, I will crush this termite's neck."

Donald and Goofy had no choice but to surrender. Hopper then began to laugh as he had everyone in his power. The island was his, the Queen will die, and all will be under his rule.


That night, Sora and the others were taken to the other ants outside. Dr. Flora, the medical ant was helping Sora up after a grasshopper threw him in.

"Oh goodness. Are you okay child?" asked Dr. Flora.

"Hopper was trying to strangle me. I'm sorry. I wasn't strong enough to fight him." said Sora sadly.

"It's not your fault. Hopper was just stronger than us." said Goofy.

"Your not helping Goofy." said Donald.

Hopper himself was sitting next to Princess Atta and the Queen in a long and fancy bench made of leaves and flowers. There, Hopper was sitting where the Queen should have and the grasshopper were devouring the little grain the ants managed to find for the ungrateful brutes.

Just then, everyone heard some loud music coming from afar. In that moment, a large carriage that looked like two circus themed cookie boxes came rolling out and went straight to where Hopper was.

"Wait a minute! What's gonig on here?!" demanded Hopper upon seeing the strange looking and colorful insects on the circus like boxes.

"Yes, we were invited by Princess Atta as a surprise for your arrival." said Slim quickly.

Hopper was not convined. He then ordered the other grasshoppers to attack, that is until Tuk and Roll came out and began to make a dance in front of Hopper. Eventually, their dance turned into a small fight between the two and Hopper began to chuckle.

"Now that is funny. We could perhaps use some entertainment. Looks like you did something right for once Princess." said Hopper as he got his feet up on the flower. Atta shook her head in disbelief and disgust.

Sora angrily looked over at Hopper, but he couldn't shake the feeling something good was about to happen. He then noticed some of the ants making gestures to look up a the tree. There, he could fainlty see Flik climbing with other little ants following him up to where the bird was. Sora smiled to himself, but he knew he had to get up. Donald and Goofy helped him up and they whispered to eachother.

"Pass this along to the others. Once the bird flies, we all pretend to panic." said Sora.

"Panic?! We can't do that." said Donald.

"But think about it Donald. If the ants run all over the place, and with the bird in the air, Hopper will leave." said Goofy.

"It's worth waiting then." said Donald rolling his eyes.

Eventually, the circus bugs finally reached their final performance. Manny, the praying Mantis came up. "In order to perform this trick, I will need a brave volunteer!" he said.

Manny then reached for the Queen. "Why, your majesty." he said calmly, until Thumper, a menacing looking grasshopper barked at Manny.

"It's okay. Let her go. Maybe he'll saw her in half." said Hopper.

Manny, under Hopper's nose, managed to hide th Queen inside Dim's wings. With that a success, Manny performed his show and ended it with his wife, Gypsy flapping her wings back and forth.

Hopper then realized that the Queen was gone, knowing the show ended. "Wait a minute! Where is she!?" he snapped now knowing his was being played.

"I'm sorry, a magician never reveals his secrets." said Gypsy quickly.

"I said where is she! Heartless!" cried Hopper. Just then, the grasshoppers then morphed into dark beings with glowing yellow eyes, including the wild Thumper which turned out to be a Heartless as well.

"Now way! They were here!?" cried Sora.

Just then, a bird flew out of the tree and attacked Hopper. "Look it's a bird!" cried Hopper in a panic.

As planned, Sora, Donald, Goofy and the ants all ran into the field, pretending to be chased by the bird. However, this didn't last long. Eventually, a misunderstood flea from the circus set the bird on fire and it fell on the ground. Hopper noticed and growled in anger.

Once the fake bird crashed on the ground, the little ants that were in there ran out and went to Princess Atta. Dot was also coming out, until Hopper grabbed her from the head.

"Whose Idea was this!? Was it yours Princess?!" he snapped. Atta quickly put herself in front of the little ants.

"Get behind me girls it will be okay." said Atta.

Sora froze in place, not knowing what to do. He was scared. Terrified. He was living an entire story right before his eyes. Donald and Goofy however were about to go in to save the Princess upon seeing Sora hesitate. However, they stopped when they heard a brave voice coming out the bird.

"Leave them alone Hopper! The Bird was my idea. I'm the one you want!" screamed Flik.

Hopper let Dot go and then he angrily snapped his fingers. The Heartless that resembled his wicked pet, Thumper, attacked Flik and punched him to the ground beating him. Hopper then snapped his fingers once again and the Heartless backed away.

"Where did you get the gall to do this to me?" sneered Hopper.

"You were going to squish the Queen." said Flik. Everyone gasped in the crowd and the Queen held her breath. Dot looked up at Atta.

"It's true." she whispered.

Hopper rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers allowing the heartless to kick Flik across the floor.

"I hate it when someone spoils the ending. You are a piece of dirt Flik. No I'm wrong! Your lower than dirt! Your an ANT!" snapped Hopper. He then turned to everyone else watching and screamed.

"NOW LET THIS BE A LESSON TO ALL YOU ANTS. IDEAS ARE VERY DANGEROUS THINGS. YOU MINDLESS SOIL DIGGING LOSERS! YOU WERE PUT ON THIS EARTH TO SERVE US!"

"Why that mother fu-" whispered Donald to Goofy and Sora.

"Donald! Your blood pressure." said Goofy.

Sora wanted to go out there and have another go at Hopper. He wanted to charge against him, but something was pulling him back. Something that was already grabbing him from the start of his journey. And then, something amazing happened before everyone's eyes.

"Your wrong Hopper." said Flik weakly, yet determined to make a stand. He stood up with all his might, bruises, cuts and all. He even began to spit out blood on the ground. He then gave Hopper a very hard look.

"Ants are not meant to serve Grasshoppers." he said strongly. With that, Hopper gave him a threatening glare with hatred in his eyes, and he slowly walked towards Flik, determined to destroy him.

Flik continued despite the danger coming towards him. "I see these ants do great things. And year after year, they manage to pick food for themselves and you! So who'se the weaker species!? Ants don't serve Grasshoppers! It's you who need us!" he said loud and clear.

Hopper then stood in front of Flik, but he managed to hear the mumbling voices of the other ants, now speaking to eachother against Hopper.

"We are a lot stronger than you say we are. And you know it, don't you?" said Flik.

With that, Hopper punches Flik and throws him to the ground. As Hopper is about to flatten Flik, Princess Atta then flies over to save him.

"Hopper... look." said Molt pointing at the multitude of Ants. They were all looking at Hopper with anger, and they all braced their arms together in unity. The Circus Bugs did the same and so did Sora, Donald and Goofy.

"You see Hopper, nature has a certain order. The Ants pick the food. The Ants keep the food. And the Grasshoppers leave." said Atta. Just then, the multitude of Ants charged forward, smashing the Heartless on the ground and reaching for the bitter Hopper.

Eventually the Ants were about to claim victory until everyone heard thunder. And then, a rain storm appeared. "Rain!" cried Flik as everyone scattered in the field, trying to escape the chaos. But during this time, Hopper quickly escapes and grabs Flik!

Atta, and the Circus Bugs flew into the air to save Flik from Hopper.

During this time, Sora, Donald and Goofy were helpess and they went to the anthill to help with the group.

"That young ant was amazing. He was very brave." said Goofy.

"Yeah. I think he deserves the Keyblade huh?" said Sora.

"Well he does qualify for one, but right now we'll talk about it later. First we need to do crowd control." said Donald as he helped others into the ant hill.

With everyone in, it didn't take long for Atta and the Circus Bugs to return with Flik, alive and well.

"What happened to Hopper?!" cried one ant.

"Let's just say he was for the birds." said Flik happily, yet injured.

With it, the Circus Bugs all gave Flik a hug, and Atta gave him a kiss on his lips. Everyone in the ant hill began to cheer for their victory and for having their lives back.

With that, Sora then noticed something on the walls on the ant hill. A keyhole began to form. With that, the Queen walked up to Sora.

"Well young man. You found the Keyhole. Lock it with your Keyblade and our world will be safe from darkness." said the Queen with a wink.

"How did you know I was from the outside?" asked Sora.

"Please dear boy. I'm an old woman. I have known about the Keyblades since I was a little princess. My father was in fact a Keyblade Master himself, and he protected the world. But when he died, the darkness came into this world in the form of Hopper. We believed that one day, the Keyblade would return to save us all. However, little did I know that we didn't need a powerful weapon to destroy the darkness after all." said the Queen looking over at Flik.

"Well, the Keyblade in a way seperated my family. I don't deserve having this weapon. I have friends and family that I need to save, and I couldn't do a thing here." said Sora. Donald and Goofy were listening closely.

"I take it this is probably one of the first worlds you are visiting. You want my advice young man? Go out and see more worlds. Learn from these experiences and in time, you will find what you are looking for. My father, rest his soul, never learned how to wield his Keyblade. He had to teach himself. You on the other hand will have to find someone who would show you how." The Queen then handed Sora a leaf with words.

"My father wrote this journal entry and spoke of wizard that has helped many Keyblade Wielders. Seek him out and maybe he will help you." said the Queen with a smile. Sora nodded and then, as if automatically, the Keyblade then shot a ray of light and locked the Keyhole. Ant Island was now safe.