Kingdom Hearts
Ch. 28
Deep Jungle
Tarzan of the Apes
Sora slowly regained consciousness opening his eyes. Upon doing so, he saw a hole in a ceiling with some leaves falling through. One landed on Sora's face resting over his mouth and nose. Sora to dazed to move just blew the leaf away. He sat up and rubbed his head noticing a big bump on the left side. "Man, that was one heck of a fall," he thought to himself while standing up.
He looks around, "Donald? Goofy?" he called. He found himself in an old abandoned home.
Out of the rafters a claw appears. Sora looks up in time to see a leopard pouncing in his direction. Sora leaps up and blocks with his Keyblade. He jumps back as the leopard lands on the wooden floor and knocks Sora away. The leopard roars and tries to claw at him, but he slides away and strikes with his Keyblade, sending it flying across the room. After a tough struggle, it lies on the floor, tricking Sora into coming closer. Suddenly, it leaps up and roars as someone else enters through a hole in the ceiling. He spins around the rafters and leaps to the floor. As the leopard pounces at Sora, the man blocks its bite with a spear. The leopard struggles wildly, its jaws clamped around the spear. The man knocks it back, glaring at it, and it snarls before leaping out a window, sending shards of glass flying everywhere. The wild man puts away his spear and addresses Sora.
He had long brown dreadlocks and wears a loincloth over his toned body. He stands low, his knuckles touching the ground like an animal. "Sabor, danger," he said.
"Um...thank you," said Sora gratefully.
The ape like man slowly repeated the young keyblade wielder. "Thank you."
"Huh? Uh, what is this place?" Sora asked looking around. The building he woke up in seems to be an abandoned building in a forest. With broken stairs and plant life invading through the buildings many openings.
The man moves closer to Sora, awkwardly invading his personal space. "This place, this place," he repeated a second time.
"Okaaay... Where did the others go?" He gets no response from the wild man. Sora hopelessly try's to communicate with this strange person with no avail. "Look, I got separated from my friends. Have you seen them?"
The man looks confused. "Friends..." said Sora drawing it out. Tarzan began mimicking what Sora said again, "Friends!"
"Right, my friends! There's two of 'em. The loud one is Dona—." He stops, remembering the fight on the ship. "You know what? Never mind. I'm looking for my friends, Riku and Kairi."
"Look for Riku, friends?" the man repeated.
Sora nodding replied, "Right!"
In a beam of light shining in from the rafters behind the man, Sora sees an image of Kairi.
"Kairi, friends?" spoke the half-naked man.
"Uhh...right..." answered Sora. He looks at the man, then back at Kairi, who walks away.
While the man speaks again, "Friends here."
"Really!?" said Sora surprised.
The man speaks something in Mangani. "Huh?" said Sora confused.
The man repeats "Friends here."
"Not sure I understand but show me! Take me to Riku and Kairi!"
The man introduced himself, "Tarzan. Tarzan go."
Sora pointing to himself, "And I'm...Sora. Tarzan go, Sora go, go!"
The two new friends walk out the front door of the house. Sora looked in amazement discovering the building they were in was a massive tree house high in the air. Located in a giant rain forest with treetops as far as the eyes can see.
Sora went on to ask Tarzan how far is a city. Upon doing so Tarzan looked confused not knowing what he's talking about. Sora went on to explain what a city is like. "Well it's where a lot of people live. With buildings and stores," he explained to the ape man.
Upon finally getting through to Tarzan, the ape man responded, "People, Bamboo thicket." Pointing out through the forest.
Tarzan climbed on the railing of the deck and turned to Sora "Follow Tarzan." He then jumped off the railing landing on the net surrounding the tree house. He then again jumped dropping an even greater distance into the forest disappearing from site. Sora quickly followed him effortlessly. "Maneuvers like this are a breeze to Destiny Islanders," Sora thought.
Sora made his way down until he saw Tarzan again. The ape man was waiting for him by a hollow tree trunk dipping downward. Sora landed on his feet and walked up to Tarzan. "Grab tight," said the ape in broken tongue.
He turned around and bent his legs. "Wait you want me to grab on to you. Why?" he asked politely.
Tarzan pointed out to the vines and tree bark. "Traveling that way. Too slow if walk."
Sora understanding what Tarzan means to do asks, "Wait you mean we're going to get there by swing on vines?" Tarzan nodded.
After getting the conformation Sora smiled and remarked, "Don't worry I'll be able to keep up. The place I'm from is a lot like this here. I'm pretty good with acrobatics. I probably could make there before you if I really tried."
Sora remembered back to his home of Destiny Islands were he first learned his skills.
Destiny Islands
2 Years Ago
The latest generation of islanders was between the ages 10 and 11. This was the day that all students must undergo several rigorist tests. An instructor will take the students to Jabber Jabber Island. The land mass in the middle of the ocean contains a giant forest completely uninhabited. In order to pass, students must remain on the island for three days straight. Before heading off the students first must meet at school early in the morning.
"Oh my baby's growing up. I'm so proud." Sora's Mom hugged her son tightly.
"Mom not in front of my friends," he said as they have already reached the school. His sister stood behind them staring blankly like any normal child would do.
"I'm sorry. This experience is one of the most important and life changing events you will ever have. Why I remember when I took my exam 20 years ago." His Mother explained as a lone tear fell from her eye. She twirled around like a ballerina while speaking. "The bonds you'll make there are forever bound."
Hikari looked up at her Mother. "Mommy isn't this where you and Daddy met." Their Mother's giant breasts swayed up and downs while her hair flowed in the wind. "Why yes my darlings. It is where we first fell in love."
"20 years ago, on that island I was swinging on some vines until one broke and I fell. Of course, I survived. But I was still hurt. Your Father picked me up and placed me in a deserted cave till I got better. For the next 24 hours he took care of me and brought me food. Then 10 years later we both decided that we should tie the knot. We ate our paopu fruit at the wedding ceremony beginning a long and happy life together.
"You bet it was babe," called a familiar voice. Sora's Dad walked over and flexed his giant muscles. He slapped his giant man hands on his wife's shoulder. "Hard to believe 20 years. Half of our lives are already over."
They both looked at each other and began kissing. "Ewwwww," said Hikari grossed out from the sight of smooching.
"Cut it out guys. I've got to go soon," said Sora blushing. The parents separated and giggled.
They made their way to the classroom. Sora's family wished him luck before they left. Sora met with Riku and Kairi in the classroom. They greeted each other before sitting next to one another. They conversed with each other agreeing to stay together when they get to the island. Tidus, Wakka, and Selphie were close by speaking of the same thing. The room was full of children from all over the islands. Kids of multiple different skin colors and an equal presence of gender.
At 5:01 AM exactly a black woman covered in scars all over her body jumped in through the window giving everyone a shock. She jumped on the desk and shouted, "Hello generation 7,893. How ya doing. Are you prepared to die or survive?" The kids in the room had no idea how to react. A brief cough could be heard among them. The lady who was off her rockers was bare foot and had dreadlocks. She wore short shorts and a tiny strapless top. She spoke in a deep Jamaican accent. You could probably figure she's Wakka's Mother as he was the only one not surprised with her little entrance. He's probably used to it at home.
She was a top survivalist the best on the island. She was a shoe in when she applied. Her name was Jamila. When she took her test on Jabber Jabber Island she was mistakenly abandoned when the test was over. She was left behind as she lost track of time and didn't make it to the boats. She had to fend for herself on the island all by herself for a whole year. She hoped someone would come back for her but no one did. She had spent a whole year on the island alone till next year when the next group of kids came. Only to find a little girl who has become an expert in the art of survival.
She first met a boy who was a bit of a bookworm. She helped him out over the next three days. After the test was over she went back with the other kids to the main island. Upon arriving home news spread fast. She reunited with her family and was rewarded a medal of great achievement by the mayor. Eventually the bookworm that she befriend ended up falling in love with her. They eventually married and shared the paopu fruit together.
"Okay everyone this test is designed to help you become stronger and resourceful. To build character. All citizens of the island must take part in the exam when they come of age," she explained. She went on about the rules of the trial.
Selphie slept through the entire speech. Tidus twilled his thumbs while Wakka tried to avoid getting his Mom's attention. After she finished, the students all exited the room. Jamila led them to a fairy which will take them to their destination.
The ship set sail with all the students on it. After 2 hours the ship came upon the gigantic island. Sora ran up to the side of the boat and looked at the island. There was a giant rain forest with plants he never seen before. A island of nothing but deep jungle.
Destiny Islands
Tarzan went ahead while Sora followed. They jumped through the hollow trunk and slid down the wood like a slide. At the end of the tree was an 80 foot fall. But instead of falling the duo leaped immediately at the last moment possible. Sora was behind Tarzan trying to catch up. They grabbed the tree vines hanging from the thick branches. Sora trying to stay focused swung across the forest in blistering speeds. He grabbed ahold the upcoming vines only to see Tarzan leaving him in the dust.
He kept swinging until they came across branches shaped like rails. He saw Tarzans land on the branches and began surfing on the trees. "Why didn't I think of that," he thought. Sora mimicked Tarzan's move beginning to grind on the branches.
"This is awesome," he shouted loudly.
Tarzan quietly repeated him, "Awesome." Upon coming across smaller branches in his way. Sora summoned his Keyblade and knocked the hazards out the way. Tarzan led Sora to the edge of the forest. Ending upon a bamboo thicket. Tarzan landed on the ground with Sora not far behind.
"People here," he said. Sora walked with Tarzan over to the giant row of bamboo. It was so tall you could not even gaze over it. Tarzan removed the bamboo to show Sora where other people were supposed to live.
What the young keyblade wielder saw was something he was not expecting. He looked in awe as a large brush of bamboo has been pressed to the ground. Sora gapped his mouth as he laid eyes on a giant space ship that has crashed landed. It was made of gummi blocks like his ship. But it was big enough for almost over 1000 passengers. Sora looked down with no more than 100 yards away was a camp. There were tons of people everywhere. All the people had pale skin and dressed in strange yet high quality clothing. Every woman wore a distinct style dress and hat with their own unique colors. Some carried umbrellas to shield their skin from the beating sun.
Sora looked over to Tarzan who has placed himself a few paces in front of the young keyblade wielder. "People. Camp. City," he said walking towards camp. Sora unable to make anything of it decided to follow and investigate.
Meanwhile, Donald and Goofy wake up on a mound in a Bamboo Thicket. "Gawrsh, where are we?" He looks to the sky and says, "I sure hope Sora's okay."
Donald sits up, "Aw, who needs him? We can find the king without him." He feels something soft on the edge of the mound while reaching for his magic staff.
"Huh?" he says looking down and comes face to face with a young gorilla. They both scream loudly. He and Goofy hear a rustling in the jungle. As the gorilla runs away, it leaves a gummi block behind. Donald looks over and sees it shining on the ground. The rustling continues and the two swallow hard in fear as a tall man carrying a rifle enters the thicket.