*Author's Note: I can't believe I got this done so fast. I really do have a lot of time on my hands. Well, the mystery person in the last chapter was Mulan. (Sarcastically) No way! Congrats to Bloobear. Well, you know how the whole disclaimer thing goes by heart. =^-^=*

***

It was three hours since Erica and Brad had left Mr. Whitmore's. Brad tapped his foot impatiently on the cobblestone while retracing the orders in his mind given to him by the old man. "Wait for Donald and Goofy in the middle of the town. They will meet you there at 12:00 p.m. sharp." Well, it was 1:00 p.m. by his watch and they still weren't there. He glanced over at Erica who had a look of impatience in her expression as well. Of course, she always seemed to have that look. Suddenly, they both heard two voices that sounded as though they were arguing draw closer and closer. Approaching them, were Donald and Goofy. Erica's expression fell blank. She couldn't believe her eyes. A talking dog and duck? Now, she had seen everything. Goofy was dressed in long pants with a patch over the knee and a green peasant shirt. He had on a bit of clunky armor that looked a bit rusty and held a shield that seemed to have the symbol of a mouse on it. Donald had on a blue hat with a feather sticking out of it and a blue long sleeved peasant looking type shirt on as well. He then had a big compass hanging from his neck with the glass covering cracked.

"I told you we should've taken a right on Main Street." Donald Duck scowled Goofy with his raspy voice.

"Oh, you did not!" Goofy protested.

"Did to."

"Did not."

"Did to."

"Did not."

Brad rolled his eyes as the battle of the 'Did to' 'Did nots' ensued. He walked over to the two and clamped their mouths shut with his hands.

"Hey, Brad." They said with muffled voices through his fingers.

"What are the rules on this trip?" Brad asked through clenched teeth while trying to smile.

"Uh…Don't fight?" They responded.

"That's right. Now, let me introduce you to Erica. She is from the real world. Her family and friends were taken by the darkness which was sent by the villains."

Erica crossed her arms. "I don't have any friends. And I don't have much of a family either." She murmured.

"Hello, Erica. My name is Donald Duck." He said with a cheery voice.

Goofy did his famous strange laugh. "And my name is Goofy." He held his hand out and waited for her to shake it. But, she didn't make a move. She just stood there with her arms at her side with her eyebrows knitted together.

"C'mon, show us a smile." Donald suggested.

"No." she snapped.

"Garsh. Smiles make everything better." Goofy added.

She did an overdramatic gasp. "No really. I'll try to think 'bout that when I'm dead." She said sarcastically. If these weirdoes were planning on making her stay more pleasant, then they were wasting their time.

Brad pulled Erica to one side and whispered, "Erica…I'm not too thrilled about having these two come along with us either. But, at least you can attempt or maybe just pretend that you like them." Brad pleaded.

"You just tell those two bozos to stay at least five feet away from me." Erica fumed. "Or, you'll all pay." She shook her fist in Brad's face as a threat. He put up is hands as though to block himself from a blow.

"Okay, okay. I'll tell them." He assured her. Brad and Erica returned to Donald and Goofy. "Donald," he asked. "Do you know where the crystal is?"

"Of course I do. I have been doing a lot of research on it for a long time now. My research tells me that it is hidden in the heart."

"What heart?" Brad asked.

"Well, the heart of Kingdom Hearts, duh." He said knocking on his own head. "It's only logical."

"Are you sure you can get us there?" Erica asked looking the duck over with a judgmental eye.

 "Yeah. I'm my own navigating compass." He straightened proudly. "You may not know this already, but I'm a duck of all trades."

"Master of none." Goofy muttered.

"What was that?"

"Uh…I said faster than the sun."

Donald gave him a confused look. "What is that supposed to mean?" 

"It's my own little expression, Donald. Like it or lump it."

"Whatever. Brad, we need to leave now if we want to make good time."

"Right. Come along, Erica." Brad picked up his bag and followed the other two down a pathway surrounded by trees.

"Don't tell me what to do." She muttered under her breath. Then, she followed close behind them. 

***

Back in the realm of the Disney villains, Maleficent was speaking with a group of the dark shadows that attacked the real world.

"You mean to tell me that you allowed a mere boy escape with a weak little girl? What kind of powerful force are you? I told you to search that world for the crystal and to eliminate anyone who would get in your way. And you just let them slip through your fingers?!" Maleficent aimed her staff at one of the creatures and fired a green light at him. When the smoke cleared, nothing was left. "Anyone else?" she threatened.

The creatures frantically shook their heads. "Good. Now go! And don't come back until you have found that crystal!" With that, the shadows disappeared into the floor.

"You can't find good help these days." A voice from behind said. Three evil cackles followed. It was the three fates.

"Aw, the fates. Just the women I wanted to see. First off, how is that indoor plumbing business going?"

"Quite well, thank you." Future bowed to Maleficent.

"What is the reason for you calling us here?" Past asked pushing the magic eyeball into her socket.

"I need to know where the crystal is. If your powers are capable of doing so."

"Of course we are, crazy head! We are professionals."

Maleficent raised an eyebrow. "Crazy head?"

"It will be a piece of cake finding that crystal." Present declared as she grabbed the eye from Past.

"Good. Because I do not think that those imbeciles are going to able to do so."

Present held the eyeball out and it began floating into the air. They all chanted, "Eye of truth and of all the worlds apart, show us where we can find the crystal shield of Kingdom Hearts."

The eye glowed brightly and formed a picture. In it were Erica, Brad, Donald, and Goofy walking down a dusty road in the forest.

"That's the girl from the real world. Along with her rescuer Brad. But, where's the crystal?" Maleficent growled.

"It should be right there." Future said.

"Wait! What if the eye is telling us that these four are in search of the crystal?" Present suggested.

"They can't find it. If they get to it first, then we'll be right back where we started." Maleficent jabbed her staff on the wall.

"That would be a downer."

"Yes, it would. I'll have to send someone to stop them."

"But who?" they all asked.

"I have a few friends that could be of some assistance." She smiled devilishly.

***

The group had made camp as soon as the sun had gone down. With all the shadow creatures and attacks on other worlds, it was dangerous to travel at night. The fire whirled and crackled as the group snuggled as close to it as possible to stay warm from the freezing night air. Goofy had decided to tell one of his classic life stories.

"There I was. Stuck in the car with my son, Maxy. While Big Foot went through our luggage outside the ol' car." He paused and shifted his eyes from side to side. "All we ate was Alphabet Soup." An awkward silence followed.

"So, you've been a major loser since…forever?" Erica asked snickering.

"Erica!" Brad scolded.

"Well, he is. I mean, have you heard his laugh?" She imitated Goofy's annoying laugh. She got it precisely right too.

Brad and Donald chuckled a bit.

"Hey, whose side are you two on anyway?" Goofy said placing his hands on his waist.

"No one's side. But, you have to admit that she can do your laugh pretty good."

"Humph." He crossed his arms and looked straight into the fire.

"How long do you think it could take us to get to the crystal, Donald?" asked Brad.

"Well, if we don't stop for any distractions and we keep moving during the day, and we don't run into any bad weather, then we should be able to get there…" A look of guilt came across the ducks face.

"We should get there…" Brad encouraged him to continue.

"About two weeks." He said weakly.

"Two weeks?!" Without thinking, Erica jumped off the cold dirty ground where she was sitting.

"Well, yeah. I know that is a long time…"

"Ya think?! I can't be stuck here for that long! Especially, with some Duck that I can barely understand, a stupid dog who tells all these stupid stories about his stupid life, and a boy who needs a serious haircut and treats me like I'm a little kid!" Erica stomped off into the forest no where unparticular. Just some place where she could cool down. She left the boys with blank faces that were still focused on where she walked off to.

Goofy turned to Brad. "Well, she seems sweet."

"I think she's just a stubborn spoiled brat who loses her temper easily and is over dramatic." Donald said.

"Oh, and you're not?"

"Why I oughta…" Donald got up and shook his fists in Goofy's face while yelling incoherently as he always does.

"Would you two just be quiet and stop your useless squabbling?" Brad interrupted. "We're all going to have to pull together and try to get through this. I know that Erica is not your average girl next door. But, she has to stay with us. Who knows? Maybe she'll change before this journey is over."

Erica felt a twinge of regret for talking to them that way. Why did she have to be so selfish? She wanted to apologize, but couldn't. She had never done that before. The words 'I'm Sorry' had never left her mouth ever in her entire life. And they weren't going to now. She heard leaves crunching behind her and she turned to see Brad standing there with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

"I know you think I'm just being an overprotective messy hair guy, but you need to return to camp. It's not safe walking around here at night. Unless, you want to say hello to your ol' shadow friends."

"No, it's okay. I need to get some rest anyway."

"Alright. C'mon then." He turned to leave but Erica grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him around.

"Brad," she pursed her lips together and then spoke, "I just want to thank you for saving me."

Brad looked surprised "Oh, well your welcome, Erica."

Her smile broke into a frown. "But, don't think that I'm going to be all sweet and nice to you now. I've got a rep that I have to keep."

Brad shrugged. "You don't have to if you don't want to. Let's get back to camp. We've got a long way to go and we need to rest as much as we can. Oh, and thanks for saying something nice for once."

"Don't get used to it." Erica walked back to where the faint light of fire could be seen. Brad rolled his eyes and shook his head with a smile and trailed after Erica.

*I know! I know! Boring and short chapter. But, they can't all be winners. Maybe if I come up with something interesting to put in here, I will. In the next chapter there WILL BE ACTION!!! (Echoes off into the distance. Crickets chirp) Uh…Sorry. I guess I went flying off the handle again. But, I do promise a good action scene with a Disney villain. Actually, they're one of my favorite villains. So, till next time, see ya!!! =^-^=*