DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING EXCEPT THE PLOT AND MY ORIGINAL CHARACTERS!
A/N: Well, I have returned - with Chapter 41! Hip-Hip-Hooray!
Okay, I know I do not seem as excited about releasing This Chapter. That is mainly due to 2 reasons.
(A.) The number of Views on This Story have dropped significantly. Ever since Chapter 40 was posted not too long ago. I have not told Amemi about this, yet I have the feeling she and Sora are NOT pleased! I Hope neither or them decide to quit due to this sudden lack of Views/Reviews alike. If this happens, the story shall have to be either postponed or it may end up being cancelled altogether.
In fact, at the rate Reviews have been posted, there is no way the Review Goal shall be reached by the time Chapter 69 is posted. Should this happen, I am either going to just complete This Story and its sequel and cancel all the other KH Stories I have planned (including the Prequel I started last year), or I might just skip the sequel and all the other stories with it, making "'Kingdom Hearts - Season OF Light'" my last KH Story on here.
(B.) I have been dealing with a LOT of problems in my daily life as of late. I cannot and will not discuss any of it with anybody. The details are strictly confidential! All you need to know is that it has caused me to not be as enthusiastic about posting Chapter 41.
As it is, I was under the impression you were alright with "'Musical Segments'"; Chapter 40 had at last 3 such segments. Since that chapter did not do so well, I have the feeling nobody truly enjoys those parts. Therefore, this may very likely be the Last Disney-Based World in all my KH Stories to feature "'Musical Segments'".
So, with all that aside, I... I decided to postpone the Trivia I originally had planned for This Chapter for Chapter 42.
In other words, GO AHEAD! READ TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT! AND PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO REVIEW, TOO!
CHAPTER 41
The Coming Darkness Storm
The wind blew gently through the treetops. She smiled brightly at the dragon sitting beside her. His messy, purple hair seemed to stand out against his green, scaly skin.
"I look in your eyes and you whisper sweetly," she sang to him. The dragon chanted along, "Bop Bopbopbopbop! Bopbop Bop! Bopbop Bop! Bopbop Bop!"
"We don't match in size, but we fit so nicely."
"Bop Bopbopbopbop! Bopbop Bop! Bopbop Bop! Bopbop Bop!"
"It's nice waking up when you're close beside me, humming in my ear."
The dragon muttered something into her ear. She hugged the creature. "Remember the night when you first confided? Things went so right that we both decided."
She let go and turned to gaze into the distance. A long, dirt road led down towards a large coastline. A town could be seen down below with a lighthouse on the cliffs on the other side.
"Now we're together and life is perfect," she said, turning back to the dragon. "I'm glad I don't have to be alone."
The dragon started singing aloud. She smiled all the more. "Your voice is the sound of an angel singing, music I wait to hear. I love you, too, Elliott."
The inside of the wagon was the busiest it had been all day. Ever since the Heartless had shown up in town, the local population had started to panic and rushed to Doctor Terminus for help in defending themselves and their property against the vicious monsters. People were lined outside, eager to receive remedies for their injuries and anything to help keep the creatures from striking again.
Terminus and Hoagy had to work extra hard to keep up with everyone. Mortimer and Cinnamon Teal had decided to wander around the town in the meantime. After all, with everybody waiting in line, the local shops, hotels, and other public places were practically empty. Surely nobody would complain about seeing a tall mouse with a long snort and a duck-woman with black hair and hypnotic eyes strolling about.
As he strode down the street, Mortimer tucked his gloved hands into his pockets and leaned back. He started to whistle. Seconds after, Cinnamon Teal slapped her hand over his mouth.
"You are tone-deaf," she stated in irritation.
Mortimer groaned in annoyance himself. "Whatever, toots! Let's look for that 'Tome of Prophecies' Maleficent wants."
The two approached the nearest shop. Through the window, Mortimer noticed a shiny necklace. It seemed to be made of gold and was shaped like a crown. He scratched his head. Why did this piece of costume jewelry look familiar to him?
The sound of a rickety wheel stole his focus. He looked to the left and tapped Cinnamon Teal on the shoulder. He pointed down the road. A wooden wagon was making its way along, pulled by a donkey. Four people were crowded in the vehicle. The sight of them made Mortimer want to hold his nose. They were old, all had long hair, and were wearing dirty clothes expected from someone who lived in the poor side of town during the days of the pioneers.
At least, as far as the anthropomorphic mouse was concerned. One of them was a rather large woman. She sat up in front next to an older man, who was driving with the reins. Two young men were in the back; one had an oily-looking hat.
The group approached Dr. Terminus's wagon. Hoagy was outside, gesturing to the next person in line to enter.
"Say," the older man in front said. "Have you seen anything of a mean, fresh kid?" he gestured with his hands to indicate someone's height. "'bout yea big? Answers to the name of 'Pete'."
"Half of the kids in this town answer to the name of 'Pete'," Hoagy answered with a smile. "Other half don't answer."
The young man with the hat clenched his fists. "Let me break his bones, Pa!" he demanded.
The older man held up his hand. "Just a minute!"
"This particular 'Pete'," the large woman said. "He's always talkin'… to his big, hokey-pokey, uh," she snapped her fingers, struggling to remember. "Uh, whatchamacallit, uh…. "
"Dragon," the other three said for her.
"Dragon," she repeated, completing her sentence.
Hoagy seemed a bit astonished. Mortimer sighed, knowing the red-haired man had somehow given away they knew about the dragon that had attacked the schoolhouse not long ago.
The woman turned to the older man. "Merle, this here's the place," she told her husband.
"Right ya are, Lena," Merle acknowledged her. He glanced at the two young men in the back. "Come on, Willie, Grover."
Willie (the one with the hat) and Grover both grunted in comprehension. The wagon continued down the street. Mortimer and Cinnamon Teal watched as it headed into the direction of the lighthouse. As it rolled along, the two also saw a swarm of Heartless rising from the street and giving chase.
Mortimer knew what this meant. That family of what appeared to be hillbillies had dark intentions. He wondered if there was a way to use this to his, Cinnamon Teal, Terminus, and Maleficent's advantage.
He headed for the wagon and pushed his way to the entrance. Several people shoved back, yet the taller mouse prevailed. When he got to the front, he found Terminus working with a middle-aged man. The latter was seated on a type of contraption that seemed like something straight out a book about torture chambers. A clasp was attached to the man's jaw and connected to a heavy weight on the other end of the gizmo.
Mortimer had to grimace at the display. This was a sickening sight, even for some of the things he had watched Maleficent do here and there. He knocked onto the side of the wagon. Terminus glanced at him and looked away. "It would be unethical of me to leave my patient at a time like this," he stated.
"This's important," Mortimer declared. "It's about that dragon."
Terminus's eyes lit up. He turned to his patient and helped place the man's feet onto a pedal on the machine. "Put your foot on there," he instructed. "Now, don't move, stay tense, or that weight will fall, that clamp will break your jaw, tear your gums apart, and go through your cheek."
He followed Mortimer outside the wagon. The latter pointed to the wagon heading for the lighthouse. "See that wagon?" he indicated. "They were asking about the kid and his dragon."
Terminus frowned. "I knew there'd be competition."
Sora grabbed a piece of cloth and wiped his forehead down. He looked up at the lighthouse. The building's paint job was finished. In fact, the place appeared a lot nicer than it had two hours and forty-seven minutes ago when they had started working. The white color seemed to glow in the mid-afternoon Sun's rays.
He looked around. Donald, Goofy, and Launchpad were largely covered in paint. As Goofy stepped away from the structure, his foot landed into Donald's bucket of paint. The knight stumbled over and his own bucket went flying. Sora stared in surprise as the bucket soared through the air and headed straight for Indigo.
"Indigo!" he called. "Watch out!"
The angel turned in time to see the paint bucket tipping her way. With a rather shrill-ish scream, she ducked with her arms over her head. The bucket splashed down on her head, sending white paint spilling all over her.
Sora raced over and helped to remove the bucket from her head. Through his peripheral vision, he noticed Nora, Pete, and Amemi doing the same for Goofy, only under Donald's orders.
He sighed, knowing they had quite the mess to clean up. Messes always seemed to follow him wherever he went. Even his own bedroom was a nightmare to his Mom. At least Amemi knew had to keep things tidy.
Same with Kairi. Sora had visited her home a few times with Riku. If the fact she lived in the Mayor's Mansion was not enough to make him marvel, the size of her bedroom was plenty. He recalled how lavish it had looked, all the spotless carpeting, the tiled flooring in her own bathroom, the high ceiling, even the velvet curtains. The sight had always made him wonder if that was the way luxury liners had once been back in the early 1900s.
"One, two, three," he yanked onto the bucket with all his might. The container popped off Indigo's head. Sora's eyes grew and the bucket slipped from his hands. It bounced and rolled away after hitting the ground.
There was Indigo, covered in white paint. Her torso and arms were largely drenched in the sticky substance that seemed to stand out against her indigo color. Her hair was soaked in the paint and her antennae were drooping over her face. Even her wings had been hit, causing them to droop.
"Yucky!" she grimaced, shaking the still-wet paint off her hands. She frowned at Sora. "Thank you for warning me, yet I do not know if this paint shall be removed from my clothing."
Sora shrugged. "Can't you get another dress?"
Indigo's frown became a scowl. "This dress was made by my Mom. It cannot be replaced."
Sora felt a little stupid. Why hadn't he considered where the angel had gotten what she had? Then again, he never pondered over such stuff — until now. An idea lit up his mind. "How about you wash it off?"
Indigo stared at him. "How shall I do that?"
Sora paused, unsure how to answer. He glanced over at Nora and the others. His smile returned. "Ask Nora. She should know what to do."
Indigo shrugged. "I suppose."
She strolled away from the seventeen-year-old Keyblade wielder. She stopped and looked back. "If this does not work, you shall owe me a new dress."
She continued on her way. Sora remained where he was. As Indigo spoke with Nora and went inside the lighthouse, the spikey-headed young man stepped to the edge of the cliff and sat down. He looked out across the ocean. The waves far below seemed far off, yet still close by. He could see some seagulls flying through the air, too. And a girl on a broomstick with a black cat. [2.9]
He shook his head rapidly and looked again. The girl was gone. He scratched his head. Where had that girl come from? Was it all in his imagination? Whatever the case, he was glad to be at this spot. The sound of the waves. The squawking of the competition of the seagulls. The smell of the salt spraying high into the sky.
It all reminded him of his home back on the Destiny Islands. He closed his eyes, trying to picture the seashore. The Sun shining down. The fish in the sea. The waves washing all around him.
He really wished he could be home in time for Christmas. This was the Holiday Season, and here he was busy fighting the Heartless, dealing with villains and villainesses aligned with Maleficent, and ultimately trying to save the worlds from the Heartless once more. If only he could finish all this up in time.
If only he could….
In the meantime, at least he was spending more time with his friends. Donald and Goofy had always stuck by his side despite any problems between them. He knew he could always count on them. Launchpad might not be the smartest one around, yet he seemed to help keep their spirits up with a laugh here and there.
As for Amemi, she was showing a side of her personality Sora had never really noticed before. Her adventurous style had caught him completely unprepared. Of course, her desire to explore unknown places had sometimes gotten her into danger. Thankfully, he had been able to rescue her regardless of what happened. Even if it meant facing a fearsome foe to do so.
Then there was Indigo. Other than her strong Light and self-determination to help, Sora was not sure how helpful she had been so far. Then again, she was the newest member of their team. He probably just needed to pay more attention to her actions in the numerous situations they ended up in.
Overall, he was glad to have his friends by his side. Maybe he would end up celebrating Christmas Day with them for a change! That was one of the things he had longed for since bringing down Organization XIII almost a year ago. Being able to spend time with his pals over the yearly holidays. It seemed his wish had been granted. Now, he just needed to get this quest over with so there would not be too much to worry about during such an important occasion as Christmas.
"Sora," a voice said. Sora opened his eyes. Someone was looking down at him. Their sandy hair and shiny blue eyes stood out. Sora flipped over in surprise. He turned around. "Give me a break, Amy!"
"Sora," Amemi's arms were crossed and she was shaking her head. She smiled. "What am I going to do with you?"
Sora shook his head and smiled. He pounded the side of his chest with his fist. "What'd you expect?"
The two started to laugh. The sound of it carried all the way to the lighthouse. Donald, Goofy, and Launchpad all turned to see what was going on. "Sora's done it again," Donald rolled his eyes.
"A-Hyuck! Yeah," Goofy chuckled. "That's our Sora!"
"And his sister's just like him," Launchpad remarked. "Even though she's a 'she' and he's a 'he'."
The noise of a rickety wagon wheel rumbling down the road filled the air of the vicinity of the lighthouse. Donald turned his eyes to the dirt roadway leading up to the top of the cliffs. His light-blue eyes grew in surprise at what was coming.
An old wagon pulled by a horse. Four people were in it. One older man, one older woman, and two young men. All were dressed in filthy clothes and had long hair. All of them gave off such a foul stench, the duck was already holding his nose.
The wagon stopped when it reached the end of the road.
"Well!" the older woman declared with a filthy smile. "If it ain't our own little Petey!"
Pete, Nora, and Lampie all turned their attention to see what was going on. Pete's eyes widened in alarm and he gave an audible gasp. "The Gogans!" he declared.
Moments later, Sora and Amemi had darted over. Sora had his Keyblade in hand and was lowering it to his fighting stance, ready for a fight. He knew that name. Pete had stated the Gogans were his abusive foster family. Not only did they stink from sweat and other filth, he could detect a strong sensation of Darkness coming from them.
Now he wondered if they were the reason why the Heartless had suddenly shown up in the town earlier. Donald stood at the brown-haired young man's left, his wand out and ready for some action. Goofy was on the right, his shield in hand. Amemi held out her slingshot and stood between Donald and her brother. Launchpad stepped to Goofy's right and held up his purplish gas-gun. With the exception of Indigo (whom Sora knew was inside cleaning up after the paint incident), their entire team had formed a wall of defense against the Gogans.
"Well, you look so nice and clean, and those new clothes," Mrs. Lena Gogan commented. "I guess all those good manners I taught you done paid off."
Mr. Merle Gogan grinned when he saw Nora standing behind Sora and beside Pete. Lampie stood off to the side, next to the lighthouse. He gazed at the group, unsure what to say or do. "Who's that pretty lady you're with, little Pete?" he asked.
"Yeah," both Willie and Grover shouted at the same time. "Introduce us."
"I'm Nora," the young woman stated, a stern look on her face. "And Pete is staying with me."
Lena Gogan cackled. "Why, boys, I believe she and those other's tryin' to break up our happy little family."
Pete sighed and turned to Nora. "Elliott went to look for Paul," he informed her. "I wish he were here."
"Don't worry," Nora reassured him. "They won't get you."
"Yeah," Sora nodded. He held his weapon firmly. "Not as long as we're here protecting you."
"I guess we're gonna take him back now, miss," Lena Gogan added. She extended her hand. "To his own home, sweet home."
Nora gently moved Pete behind her. "You won't be taking him anywhere!"
Lena Gogan frowned. Sora sensed something dark coming from her heart. He knew that feeling. Darkness. Strong Darkness. His feelings of dread were true. The Gogans were up to no good. They very likely could have brought the Heartless to town with them. If so, it would not surprise him. The Heartless tended to follow anyone with strong Darkness in their heart.
He had already seen multiple hearts succumb to it — several on this quest alone! Rourke had tried to manipulate the Heartless into helping him steal the Atlantean heart, which had nearly caused that world to be lost to the Darkness. Judge Frollo's heart had proven very susceptible to such power and had fallen to the Darkness itself after falling from the cathedral of Notré Dame. Forté's heart had also given in sometime before Sora's team and the Beast had been forced to bring him down before he destroyed the castle. Even that infamous poacher, McLeach, had thrown in his lot with Maleficent and the Heartless, and the result was his doom at the base of that waterfall in The Outback.
Now, it seemed the Gogans might be the next ones to lose their hearts to the Darkness. Either way, Sora knew he could not allow them to leave with Pete.
"You're not taking him!" Amemi stated.
"Okay," Mrs. Gogan scowled. "We're gonna take him whether you like it or not. That boy is ours!"
The Gogans hopped out of their wagon and approached the line of defenders. Goofy raised his shield, just in case someone threw something at him. Amemi aimed her slingshot, just in case.
Lena Gogan held up a piece of blue paper. The writing on it was difficult to make out. Nevertheless, Sora thought he saw the words "BILL OF SALE" inscribed across the top. "We got a bill of sale right here," she stated. "That says he belongs to us!"
"We bought him fair and square last year," Willie and Grover grumbled. "And we own the little cuss!"
Merle Gogan pointed to the paper's text. "Look here. Read the writin', that gives us a legal claim!"
"We got a bill of sale right here," Mrs. Gogan stated again. "With dear little Petey's name!"
Nora shook her head. "I don't believe it!" he snapped defiantly.
"Lady, if ya don't budge," Willie and Grover seethed. "We'll pick ya up right where ya stand and bring ya before the judge!"
The two young men marched forward. Sora glared at them and swung his Keyblade. The blade smacked against the pair and sent them rolling to the edge of the cliff. They came to a stop near the foghorn, both lying on the ground. They struggled to get back up on their feet.
"You can't have him," Nora stated. "You don't love him. All you've done up to now is break his heart. You'll abuse him and just use him. Watch out, or I'll take you apart!"
"We'd like to see you try it," Mr. Gogan barked. "We got a bill of sale right here that says he belongs to us!"
Willie and Grover came marching back over from the direction of the foghorn. "Fight all ya want. Won't do no good to holler and fume and fuss!"
"Leave town," Nora ordered. "Keep on goin' before I can count to five!"
The Gogans approached Sora, Donald, Goofy, Launchpad, and Amemi's line of defense. The five prepared to fight. At the same time, Sora's eye caught sight of something crawling on the ground beside the Gogans's wagon. A shadowy creature. He knew what it was in the blink of an eye.
A Heartless. There was the evidence he needed to prove the Gogans had brought the Heartless with them. It now seemed the so-called "dragon", Elliott, had nothing to do with the creatures being in town after all. Clearly, he now owed Pete an apology.
A loud booming sound filled the air. It took Sora a few seconds to realize it was the foghorn blasting for a second time.
The Gogans were so startled, they lost their balance and bumped into one another. They turned to flee, only to keep pushing into on another and run in the wrong direction. They missed their wagon and instead tumbled over the cliff to the sandy beach below. The horse took off, pulling the wagon back down the road to the town.
Sora had to smile at the sight. At least those troublesome people were gone. The foghorn stopped. He wondered how the machine had started up again. Who had hit the switch this time?
All eyes spun to the lighthouse. The door opened. Out stepped Indigo. Her whole body was dripping wet with water. Her wings sagged behind her and her antennae drooped low on her head, although not as low as Sora had seen Violet's fall.
"Indigo?" Sora said in surprise. "You turned that thing on?"
"I saw those people outside," Indigo explained. "When I sensed their Darkness, I knew they would be trouble, so I did what I needed to do."
"Good move," Nora smiled.
Pete ran up and gave the angel a hug. "Thanks, Miss Indigo," he said.
Indigo seemed a little out-of-place for a moment. She then smiled and hugged the young boy back. Sora was astonished at the display. So, did this mean Indigo was alright with receiving hugs? He knew from repeated scolding that Violet hated being embraced.
Now he was really confused at what made someone an angel!
His mind started to wander. That was normal, considering he often had his head beyond the clouds and drifting in outer space much of the time. This was especially true when he was stuck in school all day. He was looking forward to the day when he could finally take online classes like Riku did.
Something shiny entered his mind. That golden, crown-shaped necklace from the shop in town. He suddenly remembered what he had been wanting to do once the paint job was finished.
Amemi put away her slingshot and headed over to Indigo. "Let's get you dried off," she suggested.
Indigo beamed as she and Pete separated. "Alright."
Sora knew his sister would be busy for a while. At home, there were times where she would spend long periods of time locked in the bathroom getting ready for the day. Who knows what she was doing in there all that time? One thing was for sure, she would be preoccupied with Indigo for the next several minutes or so.
He turned to Donald and Goofy. "Hey, wanna go back into town?" he questioned.
The mage and knight looked at one another. They shrugged and turned back with smiles. "Sure," Goofy nodded.
"Yeah," Donald grinned.
"Great!" Sora jogged towards the road into town. "Let's go!"
The three started down the road. "Sora!" a voice called, causing them to stop and look back. Amemi and Launchpad were standing at the top of the road's incline near the lighthouse. "Where are you going?" the sandy-haired teenager inquired.
"We're going into town," Sora replied. "There might be more Heartless around."
"Let me come with you!"
Sora shook his head. "Sorry, but," he swung his head rapidly back-and-forth between Donald and Goofy. He threw his arms around them and yanked them in close. "It's just for us boys!"
Amemi crossed her arms and started tapping her foot. Sora knew that look, too. It was similar to the one his Mom made whenever she was getting suspicious of his behavior. Just like when he, Riku, and Kairi had worked to construct that raft nearly two years ago.
Then again, it might have been two years ago! Sheesh! Time sure flew by — even without wings!
"Then, what am I supposed to do?" Amemi stated.
"Look after Violet!" Sora returned.
"And Launchpad!" Donald speedily added.
The duck-pilot shrugged. "Why can't I come along? I'm a boy, too!" he paused as he strode down the slope. "I think. Come to think of it, I don't know what I am. Having webbed feet, a beak, and feathers and wearing clothes. I feel like a duck-man!"
Donald smacked himself in the face. "Aw phooey!"
Sora, Donald, and Goofy turned and headed down the road towards the town. Launchpad started to run after them. By the time the duck-pilot had caught up, the group was well down the hill and started to step into the town's main street.
The town square seemed rather deserted for a change. Fishing boats were secured to the piers in a forest of masts. It was easy to look down one end of the street to the other and not see anybody about.
Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Launchpad shifted their field-of-visions this way and that as they strolled through the square. Lots of noise was coming from the local tavern. Same with a few other public buildings.
Sora was a little surprised. No one about. This was the exact opposite way this place had looked when they had first arrived in this world. He recollected how many people had gathered around him and his teammates to accuse them of causing mischief. Now, the town seemed to be turning into a ghost town.
"This is weird," he muttered.
Donald, Goofy, and Launchpad all turned their focus to him. "What is?" the former questioned.
"This place was so lively earlier," the spikey-haired seventeen-year-old explained. "Now, it's quiet."
"Too quiet," Goofy agreed.
Launchpad licked his finger and held it up in the air. "And I feel wind coming from the sea. Maybe a storm's on the way."
Either Sora did not hear the pilot's statement, or his mind was preoccupied with what he was doing. Whatever the case, he headed into the shop where he had first noticed that necklace on display. Donald, Goofy, and Launchpad stepped up to the window and peered through.
There was Sora, speaking to the cashier. He pointed to the necklace in the window. Donald did not have to see more. He turned and stepped away. Goofy and Launchpad swung their attention to see the duck marching off.
"Where ya goin', Donald?" the knight inquired.
Donald did not answer. Deep down inside, he wanted to find something like that necklace for Daisy. At this rate, it seemed his cousin, Gladstone, would have a better present for her instead. And it was all because of this stupid, dragging-on quest!
He scowled at a piece of driftwood. With a fit of anger, he kicked the wood away. It flew through the air and landed beside the wagon parked on the other side of the square. The one with all those bizarre posters covering it. And that sail. Why would a wagon even need a sail? It looked just plain ridiculous!
A figure standing outside entered his view. Donald's mind froze. It was a female duck sporting short, black hair containing periwinkle-colored patches along with a pink flower. Her long-sleeved, dark-magenta, kimono-shaped dress felt familiar. So did her black, high-heeled shoes.
When he saw her light-blue eyes with their half-closed, purplish eyelids, Donald gulped and tugged at his collar. Drops of sweat began to form on his face. He knew this duck, for she had hypnotized him long ago, back when he was in the navy.
Goofy and Launchpad came walking over. Goofy saw Donald's shocked reaction and turned his head into the same direction. One look at the duck woman and the knight stared in marvel. "Gawrsh!" he muttered aloud. "Ain't that there lady the one thuh King banished for doin' thuh 'eye thing' to Queen Minnie?"
Donald nodded. "Yeah," he gulped again. "And she hypnotized me into stealing something from Uncle Scrooge's experimental submarine!"
Launchpad squinted, trying to make out who the "stranger" was. "Heh, she ain't Maryland Quackroe," he commented. "But she's the loveliest thing I've seen now."
Donald wanted to grab the duck-pilot's beak and yank him down to eye level to scold him for such a comment.
The door to the shop opened. Sora came strolling out, a plastic bag in his hand. He looked around and found his companions standing in the middle of the street. He stepped over. "Hey, what's up?"
Donald pointed at the duck-woman. Sora shifted his focus into said direction. One look at the figure and he tilted his head. Why were they staring at this… duck? For some reason, he thought she resembled a taller version of Donald Duck, only as a girl. He did not know how else to describe what he was looking at.
He turned to Launchpad. "Is she… your girlfriend?"
Launchpad waved his arms in front of his face and shook his head. "No way! I may be dumb, but I'm not stupid!"
"Say!" Goofy spoke up. "Now I remember! That there's Cinnamon Teal!"
"Yeah!" Donald approved.
Launchpad's large hand landed on his flight-cap-covered head. "Yeesh! And she never smelled like anything sweet."
Sora was perplexed. "Who?"
"She was a sorceress who was banished," Donald explained, slurring nearly every word in his line.
"And then she tried to hip-no-times Queen Minnie," Goofy added.
"'Hypnotize'," Donald corrected.
Goofy chuckled. "A-Hyuck!"
"And she was banished."
Sora's eyes widened. The last time he had heard of somebody being banished from Disney Castle was when Donald, Goofy, and him had first encountered Pete at Master Yen Sid's tower. Goofy had revealed Pete's banishment by stating the large cat-man had been causing trouble for ages. Now, it seemed this duck-woman, Cinnamon Teal, had also been banished for doing something terrible to Queen Minnie Mouse.
No wonder she had been exiled!
Of course, this also led Sora to wonder if Cinnamon Teal was also aligned with Maleficent, similar to what had happened to Pete. He wondered how many others had been forced out of Donald, Goofy, King Mickey, and Launchpad's world for wrongdoing.
"Has anyone else been banished?" he decided to ask.
Donald held up his hand, showing three fingers and his thumb. He held up one finger on his other hand. "Five."
"Yup," Goofy gave a nod of confirmation. "King Mickey and Queen Minnie have expelled five others from our castle," he started to count on his fingers. "Pete… Cinnamon Teal… Mortimer Mouse… Thuh Beagle Boys… Thuh Phantom Blot…. "
Donald waved his hands around. "No! No! The Phantom Blot was not banished! He left on his own!"
Sora was lost now. Perhaps now was not the time to ponder over such stuff. Besides, they had more important things to do. Such as… he looked into the bag. The golden, crown necklace seemed to shine despite the fact the Sun was frequently being swallowed by the clouds above.
…Getting this trinket to who he believed was its rightful owner. Sora gestured for his friends to follow. Goofy and Launchpad took off rather quickly. Donald remained where he was for a few more moments before he, too, also followed.
Heartless after Heartless crossed their path on the way back up to the top of the cliffs. Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Launchpad had to clear a path through the hordes. Sora was careful not to let anything happen to the bag in his left hand. He recalled the time he had accidentally battled some Heartless while still holding the bouquet Goofy had just purchased for a Moogle's Shop. Flower petals had been sent flying through the air every time he had swung the Keyblade.
At least, this time, he did not have to be concerned about spreading parts of plants every-which-way. Rather, the bag swung about. At one point, a Heartless's claw swiped towards it. Sora had to spin around and slice his weapon clear into the enemy to keep them from getting it.
At long last, the four reached the lighthouse. It seemed rather quiet outside the building. Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Launchpad approached the front. They stopped in their tracks.
There was Amemi, outside the lighthouse. She was hopping up and down at a regular, steady rhythm. It took Sora a couple moments to realize she was using a jump-rope. Up and down she went, over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.
The sight was plenty to make Sora feel a little dizzy. It did not help when Goofy rushed over to join the sandy-haired girl. Launchpad was next in line. Before long, Goofy and Launchpad were each holding an end of the jump-rope and swinging in while Amemi hopped in the middle.
"Cinderella," Amemi chanted. "Dressed in yellow, went upstairs to kiss a fellow! By mistake, she kissed a snake! How many doctors did it take?"
As his sister started counting with each leap, Sora found himself watching the display. It had been a long time since he had last seen her so happy. Just playing around and having fun. Lately, she had been busy with other things. At home, she spent much of her free time on the internet or talking to someone or other on the telephone. It often felt like she had lost her childlike-wonder state.
Only now, it seemed it had not been lost. Just locked away until something came along to release it once more.
He and Donald continued to watch for a minute or two. Something crossed his mind. Where had Amemi gotten ahold of a jump-rope in this world? He stepped closer. "Amy, where'd you get that jump-rope?"
Amemi turned her eyes to him, although she was still leaping in time. "Nora gave it to me a long time ago," she answered.
Sora's eyes lit up. His left hand opened. The bag fell to the ground and clinked when it landed. He knew the necklace would be alright. It was one, tough piece of jewelry. He crossed his arms. "I get it now," he said. "You've been to this world before."
As the words left the brown, spikey-headed youth's mouth, Donald, Goofy, and Launchpad all stared at him. Goofy and Launchpad lost track of what they had been doing and dropped the jump-rope. Amemi fell to the ground, her feet tangled in the rope.
Sora looked down at her. "Why didn't you say so when we first came here?"
Amemi started untangling the rope from her feet. "There are some things better off left unsaid," she stated. "It wasn't a pleasant experience. You should know why. It was the night the islands were torn apart, remember?"
Sora felt his mind nearly freeze in place. That fateful night. When the Heartless had attacked the islands. The night he had gotten the Keyblade and watched Riku and Kairi disappear.
It was the same night!
He recalled how he had been transported to Traverse Town during that terrible storm. It was then he had met Leon, Cid, Yuffie, and Aerith. Later, he had helped Donald Duck and Goofy bring down that gigantic Heartless in the purple-stoned plaza and joined forces with them.
Apparently, at the same time, Amemi had been transferred to the world of Coastal Town during that very storm. Well, at least she had not been home when the Destiny Islands had been lost to the Darkness!
Still, there was one thing about this that bothered him. Sora crossed his arms. "It wasn't safe for you to be on your own," he told his sister.
"I wasn't alone," Amemi argued. She freed her feet from the rope and rose to her full height. "A dragon named 'Elliott' helped me find my way here to Passamaquoddy. I met Nora and Lampie, and they looked after me until the islands returned."
"'Elliott'?!" Donald and Goofy were equally shocked.
Amemi looked down. A tear or two slid down her face to the ground. "Sora, I know what you're saying," she looked her older brother in the face. It had turned into one of anger and hurt twisted together and smeared. "You still don't trust me!"
She raced for the lighthouse, rope in hand. Just as she reached the doorway, it opened. Indigo came stepping outside, all dry and her wings and antennae in their "proper" places. Amemi shoved her way past the angel and into the building. She slammed the door behind her.
Indigo looked as startled as Sora now did. She turned and leapt into the air. Her wings guided her (a little unsteadily) over to where Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Launchpad were standing around. "What?" she could hardly find the words to say. "What took place?"
Indigo landed onto the ground with such grace, Launchpad had to rub his eyes to believe it was real.
Sora gave a deep sigh. He turned to look at the plastic bag beside him. He bent down and grabbed it from the top. He returned to his full height and sighed again. "I just don't want anything to happen to her," he reached into the bag and took out the necklace. He held it up into the air. The item shimmered a little in the now-starting-to-set Sun.
Indigo stared at the necklace in awe. "Spectacular!" she remarked. "I have never seen a piece of jewelry sparkle so much!"
He clutched it tightly, similar to how he had seen Milo Thatch hold the crystal the late King of Atlantis had given him. He nodded and took a deep breath. "I made a promise to my mom — I'm going to keep it."
Although Indigo and Launchpad were showing signs of mystification, Donald and Goofy both knew what the young man meant. He had promised to protect the things that matter.
And that included his sister, Amemi Hikari.
In the distance, out over the ocean, clouds began filling the sky at a slow, yet still faster-than-normal, rate….
Cinnamon Teal gazed into the sky. The expanse was gradually filling with clouds. The Sun was frequently being blotted out by the passing puffy, sometimes wispy, clouds. The wind picked up a little. A flag atop the town hall flapped about. The boats tied to the piers started to move slightly as the water began rippling a little.
She knew these signs, having observed such long ago. That had been back when she was still studying the weather as an adolescent duckling.
A storm might be on the way. Unless it changed course, the waves were going to get higher and possibly crash against the coast in spectacular fashion. She could make out some large Shadow Heartless wandering about the town's streets. This sure did not seem like an ordinary storm. No wonder everyone had abandoned the line when the atmospheric conditions had changed!
The canvas opening on the wagon behind her opened. Cinnamon Teal glanced back to see Doctor Terminus, Hoagy, and Mortimer were stepping out. Terminus had an enthusiastic grin on his face. Mortimer's grin looked sneaky. Hoagy's smile looked a tad hesitant.
Mortimer signaled for her to join along. Cinnamon Teal did not have to nod. She calmly followed suit. The four headed for the nearby tavern. Lots of voices, some shouting or singing terribly, could be heard from just outside.
Hoagy was the first one to the door, so he opened it for the others. The group marched inside. They all stopped just on the other side of the doorway. Terminus swept his eyes across the space. To Cinnamon Teal, the place looked particularly busy. Nearly every table was taken by someone or a group of people.
In one corner near the back, a group of four people were gathered around a large table. All of them were shivering and one was sneezing a little here and there. They seemed like they had fallen into the sea and gotten soaked to the bone.
One look at them and Cinnamon Teal knew exactly who they were. For some reason, she had detected their identities after they had stopped by the wagon earlier, looking for a boy named "Pete". They were the Gogans — Merle, Lena, Willie, and Grover.
"It's downright dangerous, getting all wet like this," Merle grumbled.
"We done had our bath in May!" Willie complained.
Mrs. Lena Gogan sneezed. "Bless you, Ma," Willie and Grover said together.
Terminus grinned some more when he saw the family. He calmly strode over to the table without a second thought. He sat down in a chair across from the Gogans and continued to grin. "Excuse me, folks," he started to say. "I witnessed what happened today, and I'm completely sympathetic with you. I'm Doc Terminus. Like to talk to you."
Cinnamon Teal found herself walking over to the table with Hoagy and Mortimer. The three of them stood behind Terminus, their eyes trained into the Gogans.
"Oh, Doc," Mrs. Gogan cried. "I got this here 'poomonia'!"
Merle Gogan grunted as he tried to sit back up. "I got this terrible ache in my back!"
"Good," Terminus declared, knowing he had the family's attention. "What's rightfully yours is rightfully yours. Now, you want Pete, right?"
"Right!" the Gogans agreed in unison.
"I want… the dragon."
"The dragon?!" The Gogans all started to laugh. Merle Gogan stopped chuckling long enough to say, "You really want the dragon?"
Dr. Terminus nodded. "Very much. Mm-hmm."
"Well, then, what are you willing to give for it?"
"The help you need getting Pete. I'll need the same kind of help getting the dragon."
The Gogans burst out laughing once more. Terminus stared, no longer grinning. For a moment, Cinnamon Teal thought the villain appeared to have been insulted. When Hoagy started to laugh along, all it took was one stern look from Terminus to make him stop.
"Have we got a deal?" Mortimer inquired, stepping forward.
"Sure," Merle Gogan approved. "We scratch your back, you scratch ours."
Cinnamon Teal knew it was her turn to speak. "The boathouse at sunset," she stated. "Do not be late."
Terminus rose from his seat and turned to leave. "Uh, Doc," Mrs. Gogan spoke up. "What you gonna do with a dragon?"
Doctor Terminus turned back. "Oh, maybe put him on a ranch, breed him. Hmm?"
He turned to leave and headed for the door. Mortimer and Cinnamon Teal were not too far behind. Hoagy turned to the Gogans as he left. "Big stud fees," he told them.
Just outside the tavern, the group came across some fishermen near the piers. They were a mixture of ages and busy working on some old nets.
Terminus did not hesitate to approach the men. "How would you like to make the fishing good again, hmm?"
One of the fishermen crossed his arms. "How do we do that?" he asked in a rather deep voice.
"Catch that dragon! Set a trap for him, throw a net over him, and drag him away. Good-bye, Elliott, hello, fish. Sunset, the boathouse. Spread the word, hmm?"
Cinnamon Teal opened her eyes wider. "Look into my eyes," she told the men. They turned their focus to her. "You will help us catch the dragon."
The fishermen murmured in agreement. She gave a smile, knowing she had these men under her control.
As the Sun vanished below the horizon, Sora continued to gaze out the window. The clouds were getting thicker and thicker, darker and darker. The wind had picked up, causing waves to begin piling against the cliffs. As the water rose, he felt more and more concerned.
The last time he had seen such a sight was that night of fate, the evening when the Destiny Islands had crumbled apart and disappeared into the Darkness. He certainly hoped that was not was he was seeing here now!
A handful of worlds had nearly fallen to the Darkness during this quest alone. Ancient Empire's Light had started to fade when Rourke and the Heartless had taken the Crystal away from the city. When it had seemed war was going to break out in Jamestowne, the world had become quite shaken, indicating the Darkness had been spreading and gaining power. It had become quite evident of how much danger La Ville de Sonner Les Cloches had been in when the sky had become filled with the smoke of the city's fires. Once Drakken's robotic giants had been launched with the Heartless throughout Middleton, it became clear that world was about to be lost, too.
Four worlds had almost collapsed and vanished from the Realm of Sleep — never to be seen again. If Sora and his team had not gotten involved, who knows what might have happened?
Having lost his home world to the Heartless once before, the brown, spikey-headed young man knew he could not allow another world to be consumed by the Darkness! If it did happen again, there might not be a way to restore it like there was before. No Sleeping Worlds. No Door To Darkness to seal. No way back.
No way would he allow such a fate to befall Coastal Town!
"There's a storm comin'," Goofy remarked as he gazed out the window himself. "Gawrsh."
"And it's gonna be a bad one," Donald pinpointed.
Indigo's antennae were vibrating at a steady pace. "I sense a Darkness Storm," she announced.
Sora, Donald, and Goofy all swung their attention to the angel. "Huh?" they said together.
"A Darkness Storm is not your typical storm," Indigo explained. "When the Light and the Darkness inside a world's heart becomes unbalanced, such an event could take place."
She turned her eyes to the window. "I watched several worlds get swallowed by the Darkness during Darkness Storms. Trust me — this is a very serious situation."
Sora knew she was not kidding around. His own world had been lost. It might have been a Darkness Storm, too. The thought of watching another world fall to Darkness made him want to race out and strike down every Heartless in sight.
Pete came marching into the room. Everyone turned their eyes to him. "Do you know where Nora's at?" he asked.
"I think she's up in thuh light-room," Goofy answered, pointing to the stairs.
Pete nodded and headed upstairs. Curious what was going on, Sora hurried after the boy. Donald, Goofy, and Indigo stayed downstairs, watching the apparent storm get closer and closer.
At the top of the lighthouse was a (somewhat) circular room. Eight, long windows formed the walls, making an octagon-like shape. In the middle of the space was a large, oil lantern with a pair of glass mirrors that could rotate.
When Sora reached the top of the stairs, he found Pete had just gotten there. Nora and Lampie were there, preparing the lantern in anticipation of the coming storm. Amemi was also in the room, her back turned to Sora. He had the feeling his sister was purposely disregarding his presence.
"Nora! Nora! Good news!" Pete declared with excitement. "Elliott found Paul, and he's on his way home!"
Nora and Lampie seemed to stare at him. "Pete," Nora sighed.
Lampie frowned. "I wouldn't say anything like that if I were you."
Sora's ears had perked up at the mention of the name "Paul". He recalled Nora revealing that was the name of her true love. According to her story, word had gotten out that his ship had been lost at sea about a year before. No one was known to have survived. Now he understood why Nora and Lampie did not want to hear such a name mentioned.
"But it's true," Pete stated. "Elliott said."
Nora turned to him. "Please. There's been enough talk about Paul, and Elliott, too," she sighed. "Both of us have to be… realistic. Paul's ship went down. He's not coming back. And I have to adjust my life to it."
She placed her hand on Pete's shoulder. "You have to make a big adjustment too. You have us now. You don't have to make believe your only friend is a dragon."
Pete seemed startled. "But I'm not making believe."
Amemi sighed deeply. To Sora, it appeared this was also affecting her. He knew why. Based on what she had said earlier, she also believed Elliott was real.
"That's what I mean by 'realistic'," Nora continued. "There are no dragons."
"Except for Elliott. He's real," Pete argued. He turned to the lighthouse keeper. "Lampie, you've seen him, haven't you?"
Lampie looked as though he was at a loss for words. "Well, I… I thought I saw him."
Pete frowned. "Wait till Paul gets here. Then you'll know how realistic Elliott is."
Lampie paused, which told Sora he was thinking deeply about how to respond. "Okay," he said after several moments had passed. "Until that time, let's try not to talk about it. How about filling the reserve oil can?"
Pete smiled. "Sure."
Amemi handed Nora the cleaning cloth in her hands. "I'll help you," the sandy-haired girl decided.
She and Pete headed past Sora and down the steps. All the while, Amemi did not even acknowledge Sora's presence. She followed Pete down to the first floor of the building.
Once they had left, Nora turned to her father. "Well," she commented. "At least one of us is entitled to have illusions."
It was then Lampie noticed Sora was standing at the top of the stairs. "Something wrong?" he questioned.
Sora shook his head. "No," he replied. "At least, nothing either of you can help with."
He headed back down the stairs. He really wished he could make up with his sister. This was not the first time he had had a fight with her. In fact, the two had squabbled numerous times over the years. However, this was the second fight they had endured during this quest. Okay, it was the second major fight they had had. Still, he was not sure what to do about this one.
He had promised his Mom when Amemi was born that he would not allow anything to happen to her. He could not let anything keep him from upholding that promise. Even if it meant he could not trust his only, little sister to take care of herself.
By the time he reached the first floor, he was looking down at his oversized shoes. He heard a loud thunderclap echo from outside. He jerked his head up. Donald, Goofy, and Indigo were still looking out the window.
"Gawrsh," Goofy muttered aloud. "That sure sounded close."
"That's not how you calculate the distance lightning is," Donald stated.
"He is correct," Indigo broke in. "It sounded close by. I also sense a strong Darkness somewhere close by."
Sora came stepping closer. The three turned to him. It did not take long for the seventeen-year-old to catch up his friends on what had happened upstairs. When she heard about Nora trying to be "realistic", Indigo looked down. "Sometimes, you cannot hold Hope any longer," she said. "As the Angel of Hope, I cannot help someone whose Hope has vanished."
Sora sighed deeply. Lost Hope. He was positive there was nothing worse than it. He hated giving up. Just the thought of losing made him tense and uncomfortable. Just like a ship lost at sea with no survivors.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was one such ship he knew about where no one had survived. And after being swept up in the worst storm ever to hit that particular region of the Great Lakes. What a tragedy! And a song had been composed to honor all twenty-nine of those crewmen who had gone down with their ship, which had once been nicknamed "The Titanic of the Great Lakes".
He wanted to bring back that Hope. Yet, if Indigo did not know how to restore Hope once it was gone, he was at a loss. It now seemed this might be the reason why the world was on the verge of being lost to the Darkness….
At least, that was what it appeared.
The front door banged open. All eyes swung around. Launchpad came strolling inside, his scarf blowing against his chin due to the forceful wind outside. "Guys!" he exclaimed. "Something strange's going on in town!"
Donald grew cross. "Where did you hear this one?!"
Launchpad gestured to the doorway behind him. "That doctor guy was just here. He said some guy named 'Elliott''s in town, tearing everything apart. Amemi and Pete went with him to see what's going on. And those Heartless guys are outside trying to get in here!"
"Doctor Terminus?" Sora asked. "What was he doing here?"
"I am not sure why he would make such a claim," Indigo said. "Yet, I sensed a strong Darkness growing inside Doctor Terminus when he and his assistant stopped by earlier today."
Goofy looked surprised. "What does it mean?"
"Are you saying there's a connection?" Donald added.
Sora crossed his arms in contemplation. Perhaps there was a connection! He remembered how Dr. Terminus had come around asking about Pete's dragon, Elliott, and had seemed upset when he was turned down. It had been not long after that when Pete's foster family had shown up. Then, Donald and Goofy had pointed out Cinnamon Teal, who had been banished from their world long ago. To top it off, it had seemed the Heartless were starting to run rampant in this world, even though they had been absent when Sora, Donald, Goofy, Launchpad, Amemi, and Indigo had first arrived here.
By putting everything together like a mixed-up puzzle, Sora suddenly realized what was really going on. These were not all scattered coincidences. They were linked! And he believed he knew how and why.
"Of course!" the seventeen-year-old Keyblader declared. "Maleficent's Council!"
Donald, Goofy, Launchpad, and Indigo all whirled their focus to the young man. Seeing all their blank looks, Sora knew he needed to elaborate, even though it was not his strongest point. "Dr. Terminus and Cinnamon Teal must be part of Maleficent's Council. Don't you remember? Thistle told us about that group."
"Oh, yeah!" Goofy suddenly recollected.
"And they're trying to use the Heartless to take over this world."
"I'm not surprised," Donald muttered to himself.
"And they're trying to get their hands on Pete and his 'dragon', Elliott."
Indigo gave a nod. "That shall be our cue to chase those evildoers down," she stated.
Sora gave a nod in turn. "Yeah! Let's go!"
The group hurried through the doorway and had to immediately summon and take out their weapons. Lots of Heartless were waiting outside, just as Launchpad had claimed.
After clearing their way through at least thirty or so Heartless or various varieties, Sora turned his eyes toward the town. Flashes of lightning and peals of thunder could be seen and heard. No rain was falling. The wind was starting to get stronger and stronger. The waves were getting higher and higher. The lighthouse's beacon was shining out across the ocean, providing just enough light for one to see where the shoreline was located.
"This is too weird," Donald murmured aloud.
"Yup," Goofy affirmed. He held out his hands and looked up at the clouds high above. "This looks like a storm, but there sure ain't any rain comin'."
"Aw gee," Launchpad complained. He folded up the umbrella in his hands. "I took this out all for nothing…. "
"This is not a typical storm," Indigo announced. She stepped out a few yards away from the lighthouse and looked into the distance at the town. She pointed straight ahead. "This is a Darkness Storm. Look over there!"
Sora gazed into the direction the angel was indicating. His pupils grew to the point it seemed they would flood his eyes and burst them apart. A large ball of Darkness was forming above the town square. It could mean only one thing.
Coastal Town was on the verge of being lost to the Darkness.
He gripped his Keyblade tightly in his hands. "Not on my watch!" he shouted with determination. "C'mon! This world's counting on us! We've got to do something!"
He charged down the road to the town. Donald, Goofy, and Launchpad were directly behind him. Indigo was about to follow when something else seized her attention.
A ship. Drifting in the waves not far from the coast. Its sails were torn into complete tatters. As she watched it, a humungous wave suddenly crashed into the cliffside and rose even higher. The water became high enough to slam straight into the top of the lighthouse. Indigo ducked, fearing the water was going to hit her in turn.
She looked again. She was still dry. The wave had missed her, although the land only inches away was wet. She stared at the lighthouse again. The light was no longer shining. She realized the wave must have doused the flame. Her focus swung back to the ship approaching the shoreline. Without the lamp, the ship would surely crash into the rocks and sink. Who knows what would become of its crew in the midst of this Darkness Storm?
"Sora," Indigo said out loud. "Sora can relight the lamp. I have to tell him — fast!" She flew off in the direction of the town's square as swiftly as her wings allowed her to move against the gusts of wind. She noted how the ball of Darkness was still growing, and now it appeared all the clouds above it were spiraling into the sphere, similar to a tornado's formation.
She knew only time would tell this world's fate. And now, time itself seemed to be running out.
The study seemed rather quiet. Even though King Mickey and Master Yen Sid were talking to one another behind the latter's desk, Niccole had managed to tune them out. She was gazing out the crescent moon-shaped window, looking at the stars.
One of the distant stars began blinking rapidly. She stared in alarm. This same display had happened a few more times before. Thanks to her Keyblade training, she knew what it meant. She crossed her fingers. "Please don't let it happen," she whispered.
A/N: YIKES! THIS DOES NOT LOOK GOOD! IT CANNOT BE GOOD!
IT SEEMS ANOTHER WORLD MIGHT BE ON THE VERGE OF BEING LOST TO THE DARKNESS!
Well, the ONLY way anyone is going to determine what shall happen next is if enough Views/Reviews are obtained throughout all 41 Chapters so far! That, and then - ONLY THEN - shall Chapter 42 be posted! AT LEAST FOUR/4 REVIEWS Per Chapter Throughout This Entire Story Shall Ensure The Goal Is Met! If Not, I shall reach the conclusion none of you are very serious about wanting to see the next story come to life, let alone all 10 of the KH Stories I have in mind to tell!
Now, can I go over a few more things?
(1.) The song Amemi was singing as she jump-roped was one I have heard lots of people sing as they play.
(2.) The sequence involving Donald remarking about Cinnamon Teal is based on the "'DuckTales'" Episode, "'SPIES IN THEIR EYES'"!
(3.) I am not sure what else to say. I actually was surprised by how self-explanatory This Chapter turned out.
Therefore,... I have no clue what else to say now.
In that case, I Shalt See-eth You Sometime In The Future! In the meantime, I shall continue writing Chapters on both This Story and My Original One! Yet, I will not be posting the KH Story ones as soon as they are complete, like I tend to do for a majority of the time.
So Then, I'll See You Next Time!
In other words, PLEASE DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT REVIEWING! THE FATE OF THIS STORY DEPENDS ON IT!
REMEMBER THIS - A MINIMUM OF 214 IS REQUIRED FOR THE SEQUEL! IF 240 ARE POSTED, I WILL INCLUDE A "SNEAK PEEK" FOR THE SEQUEL ITSELF! HOWEVER, THAT/THOSE GOAL(S) MUST BE MET BY THE TIME THE-SECOND-TO-LAST-CHAPTER IS POSTED! THAT WAY, I WILL HAVE TIME TO ANNOUNCE WHETHER OR NOT EITHER GOAL WAS MET!
This Is SoraLego278 Saying, "See Ya Later, Keybladers!" Plus, "Have A ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH DAY!" In Addition, "Fly With You Later!"
[2.9] This is a reference to the Disney-Studio Ghibli movie, "'Kiki's Delivery Service (1989/1998)'"!