Title: Crossed Trails ( 2 / ? )
Author name: Ari Powwel
Author email: eight_muses@hotmail.com
Spoilers: Kingdom Hearts (duh! lol)
Summary: Could there be uncharted worlds up there? My curiosity never ceases to grow. Sora and company failed to mention all the different people they met on their quest . . .
Random quotes from this chapter:
     ' . . . the fabric-covered face that ducked back inside quickly.'
     'This is serious!'
     'Blast off!'
     'Go with them.'
     'You must not be seen!'
DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by various publishers including but not limited to Disney Interactive and Square Co., Ltd. The characters of Sara, Lara, Lia, and Simone belong to their respective owners: Ari, Sue, Kaylee, and Rocky. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author's Notes: Second chapter. Short, but it had to be done. And amazingly enough, it took awhile to write. Damn WBIT . . . ((Writer's Block In Training))
But, yes, enjoy! There's a new character introduction in this chapter ((two if you read carefully, though you should be able to spot them both straight off!))
Terribly sorry about how late this was posted, I've been playing Kingdom Hearts two ways – by taping the cut-scenes ((this is with sue and rocky, we're fighting Ursula as I type)) and in Expert Mode **ominous thunder** which I'm on Agrabah on. I just haven't had any time to play today!! x.X
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Chapter 2: Castle

A small duck walked through the halls of a giant castle, humming a quacky song to itself. He wore a blue 'jacket' and a wizard's hat perched on his head. However, this was no ordinary wizard's hat. This one had a square-shaped spiral on the top, showing that he was the Royal Mage in the castle.

Donald approached a set of gigantic doors, a normal person would have wondered how a duck such as himself could open them. He cleared his throat and knocked. A smaller door opened. Donald walked through, pleased with this morning's events. 'Good morning, Your Majesty. It's nice to see you this mor –' a slight yell was the next thing that escaped his mouth as he realised he was speaking to an empty room.

A yellow dog came out from behind the throne, an envelope between its jaws. Donald rushed up to him and grabbed the letter. He ripped it open, quickly scanning the contents. He let out an awful shriek and flew outside. Outside, he caught sight of Goofy, a figure dressed in knight's armour, sleeping outside of a castle-shaped bush.

He didn't notice the fabric-covered face that ducked back inside quickly.

'Wake up, Goofy, wake up! This is serious!' Donald squawked angrily. When Goofy didn't respond, he quacked again, pointing to the sky. A lightning bolt shot down and hit Goofy, waking him up. He sat up, looking around. 'Hey there, Donald. G'morning!'

'We've got a problem, Goofy! But don't tell anyone . . .'

'Queen Minnie?'

'Not even the queen.'

'Daisy?'

'No! It's top secret!' Donald was getting steamed, now. 'You can't tell anybody!'

Goofy seemed to look past Donald. 'G'morning, ladies!' he called.

' . . . what?' Donald slowly turned and spotted the Queen and Daisy standing a small ways away. A nervous laugh escaped him, and he looked around for a means of escape.

*        *        *

Donald,

Sorry to rush off without sayin' goodbye, but there's big trouble brewin'. Not sure why, but the stars have been blinkin' out, one by one. And that means disaster can't be far behind. I hate to leave you all but I've gotta go check into it. There's someone with a 'key' -- the key to our survival. So I need you and Goofy to find him, and stick with him, got it? We need that key or we're doomed! So go to Traverse Town and find Leon. He'll point you in the right direction.

PS. Would ya apologise to Minnie for me? Thanks, pal.

'Oh, dear. What could this mean?' asked Daisy, a duck, like Donald.

The Queen stepped forward, a mouse with a crown. 'It means we'll just have to trust the king,' she said, her decision final.

Goofy scratched his head. 'Gawrsh, I hope he's alright.'

Donald looked to Minnie, instead. 'Don't worry, Your Highness. We'll find the king, and this 'key'.'

'Thank you. Both of you.' the Queen answered him.

'Daisy, can you take care of –'

'Of course.' Daisy cut Donald off smoothly. 'You be careful, now, both of you.'

Donald nodded and turned to leave, but the Queen spoke again before he was halfway out. A pained expression crossed his face as he listened to her words: 'Oh, and to chronicle your travels, he will accompany you.' Donald turned, looking at the desk with that pained expression. A small figure was jumping up and down on the desk.

'Over here!' he stopped jumping. 'Cricket's the name. Jiminy Cricket, at your service.' Donald groaned.

'We hope for your safe return. Please help the king,' Daisy said.

Donald nodded. Goofy, who was standing in line next two the two ladies, saluted. 'You're coming, too!' Donald quacked, grabbing his arm.

'Gawrsh, Jiminy, your world disappeared, too?' Goofy asked. Jiminy sat on his shoulder. Donald was leading the group down a flight of stairs, trying to ignore the cricket.

'It was terrible. We were scattered. And as far as I can see, I'm the only one who made it to this castle.'

Donald couldn't ignore this part. 'Goofy?' Goofy looked confused for a moment, then caught on.

'Oh, right! I gotcha. While we're in other worlds, we can't let on where we're from. We've gotta protect the world border.'

'"Order."'

'Right. World order.' They stepped off the stairs, walking through a low corridor. The only light came from the glowing seals on the walls. 'I guess we'll need new duds when we get there.' The doors in front of them opened, revealing the garages.

Donald walked up to a pipeish means of communications. 'Hello, up there? Donald Duck to launch crew! Anytime you're ready!'

Two chipmunks appeared in the window. One pulled a lever, which deposited Donald and Goofy into their ship's cockpit. Donald flipped the switches, firing it up. The chipmunks were counting down –

'Blast off!' Donald shouted. A portal opened beneath the ship and they dropped through it, through a tunnel and out into space. Donald fired the engines, and they were off!

Queen Minnie stood at the window, watching as Donald and Goofy left to find the Keybearer. She turned to see a small redhead, standing with one hand stretched across her body to grasp the other arm. 'Go with them, Lara.' the Queen told her. 'They aren't ready. Neither are you, so keep out of sight.' The girl nodded, and a sad smile crossed the Queen's face. 'There's a Gummi ship waiting for you in the second garage. And remember, you must not be seen, at least not by Donald or Goofy. You must not be seen!'

The girl nodded and left the library, unaware of the girl that had been listening at the doors, who had heard about the second Gummi ship, who had already crept down to the garages . . .

A few minutes later, another ship, smaller, flew out of sight. Minnie smiled, and raised her hand, wishing Lara a safe journey.

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The seals I was talking about is the Mickey Mouse emblem . . . we've decided that it's the royal seal lol

Please remember to review; it's what keeps me working!

Thanks to the following reviewers!

~ Me ~
This is Rocky/Libby . . . **shakes head** I told her not to sign as her character, and she thought I meant not to put her name.
ANYWAYS, what were you doing? 'I loved it so much being a fan myself that I saved it'? Honestly, people are gonna think I forced you to say that . . . ¬_¬;;;;
Hope ya liked this chapter **coughhack**

~ Sue ~
. . . the Eight Muses will get a turn to rant every five chapters . . . I'm not spoiling the story with their mindless drivel. **nods** ((and yes, I realise I was dissing myself there))
I doubt I'll drop the fic . . . for fear of you and Rocky and Kaylee and everyone else here . . .

~ DClick ~
Novelisations . . . boring . . . finally inserting a bit of differences in this chapter!! W00t! And wait til chapter 8, I think it is . . . that's when it starts getting really different **nods**
Hope ya likes!

~ HaraBaby ~
Here's more! I love Kingdom Hearts too, and yes, Riku is the cutest . . . **stares at bishie**

Look out for the next chapter ((storm)) next Wednesday!!