Back in Traverse Town, at the Third District...
"That was a close one," Wendy chased away the drops of sweat protruding from her forehead, proud of her accomplishment in defeating the Guard Armor Heartless. Donald, Goofy, and Carla, who had witnessed the young girl effortlessly total the Heartless with her first Command Style, the Skyward Wing, were impressed at how powerful she was. Wendy stared down at the Keyblade with a glimmer of hope, "I won't lose. Not as long as I have the Keyblade. And the Command Styles, too." She turned to the three, "Thanks for all your help, everyone. We worked pretty well as a team."
"Aw, shucks," Goofy humbly rubbed his foot in the ground. "It was nothin'. But you're the real winner."
"You were amazing back there!" Donald remarked. "When that Heartless tried to lay a finger on you, you disappeared like magic, and then you attacked with those crystal wings of yours!"
"Oh, you say too much," Wendy giggled with a blush. "I had to do something to help. It's the least I can do."
"Anyway, let's get down to business," Donald changed the subject. "We're here to tell you that we've been looking for you. And it's nice to meet you."
"Huh?" Wendy blinked in confusion, remembering how excited Donald and Goofy were when they found the Keyblade. She curiously motioned a hand to herself, "You two were looking for me?"
"Uh-huh," Donald and Goofy nodded at once.
"A friend of ours named Aerith told us that those two have been seeking the wielder of the Keyblade," a voice spoke from behind, and they turned to see Leon with his arms crossed. Yuffie was there alongside him, knuckles on her hips as usual.
"Leon! Yuffie!" Wendy beamed. "I'm glad to see that you're alright. What happened out there? Did you encounter the rest of Halloween's Circus Troupe?"
"The Lantern Viscera guild, you mean," Carla corrected.
"Oh, right. That one," Wendy confirmed.
"You mean the band of dirty clowns that appeared in the Second District?" Yuffie replied. "I was able to hold off the squads and airships' gunfire for a few minutes, until Leon gave the assist. Together, we brought down every single one, and no reinforcements came, meaning it's the last of them. That's a relief."
"We came here and watched the whole thing at the square. You handled it pretty well," Leon gave an impressed look, before he drifted to his own thoughts, "She's a lot stronger than I thought she was. I'm glad I didn't get to face her at that level, or I'd have my body flying all over the place, even if I gave my all."
"You rocked that ringmaster and his Heartless with style," Yuffie complimented. "You're definitely the right girl for the job."
"Hey, now that we found you, why don't you come with us?" Goofy offered. "We can go to other worlds on our vessel."
"You mean it? Wow!" Wendy grew enthusiastic at the proposal. The next minute, the excitement died down with her facing downward in sadness. It sounded like a good idea to take a vessel and explore other worlds, but she began to think about her fellow Fairy Tail wizards, who disappeared into the unknown that fateful night. If she could, then maybe there was a chance for them to reunite. Once again, she was standing on the edge of uncertainty, a choice between leaving the town or staying behind. Wendy muttered, "I wonder if I can find my Fairy Tail friends while I'm out there? Natsu, Romeo, Lucy, Erza, everyone..." Leon closed his eyes, understanding what the dark blue-haired girl was feeling.
"Sure we can!" Donald smiled in assurance, and Wendy looked up with hope. "We don't know who your friends are or what they look like, but we'll lend you a hand. We're happy to help you find them if you can join us."
Goofy whispered to Donald so that no one else would hear, "What are the chances of us finding her missing pals?"
"Who knows? We might," Donald whispered back, as he pointed a thumb at Wendy. "But we need her to come with us to help us find the King."
"Wendy, go with them," Leon encouraged. "Especially if you want to find your friends."
"I guess you're right," Wendy said halfheartedly. "I've got nowhere else to go."
"What do you mean? Of course you've got everywhere to go! There are lots of worlds you haven't seen yet!" Donald grinned. "You've got the key in your hands, our best bet against those ugly Heartless."
"C'mon, you gotta come with us!" Goofy said cheerily. "A-hyuck, with that there Keyblade, everybody's gonna think you're the bee's knees."
"I don't want to be the bee's knees, okay? I don't want to be any kind of knees!" Wendy protested. "I just want to be a normal girl with normal knees."
"What's with you?" Carla wondered. "You don't seem enthusiastic to go to other worlds."
"I'll say," Yuffie quipped. "You sound just like an antisocial student enrolled early at a big school who's too shy to present herself in front of the class."
"Please don't say that," Leon raised an eyebrow at Yuffie.
"It's been your dream to explore new territory and meet new people," Carla stated. "To see rare sights, to broaden your horizons, and to grow into a strong and capable wizard. Isn't that what you always wanted?"
"I do. It's just..." Wendy confessed with a sigh. "It isn't the same without our Fairy Tail friends. Without Natsu, Lucy, Romeo, and the others, how am I suppose to move on? How can I be a part of this new super-dangerous adventure? And besides that, I'm still a kid. I'm too young to be a hero. Maybe I'm even too young to wield the Keyblade. I don't want people to think I'm special or anything..."
"But you are special!" Carla boasted. "You're special in your own way. It doesn't matter how young you are; what matters is the potential and talent you have. You've done so many great things in the past, and contributed to a lot of endeavors. For instance, you destroyed the lacrima supporting Nirvana, aided the Dragon Slayers in defeating the Dorma Anim, went with Natsu, Lucy, Gray, and Erza to challenge Master Hades, fought Sherria Blendy to a draw, held back the dragon invasion, and tore down a Face weapon! And let's not forget your performance at Shirotsume, your duel with Kaze Viriniam, and your exercise with Leon. How is that normal?"
"Carla, I..." Wendy felt touched at those words. "I don't know what to say."
"Age doesn't stop you from becoming who you want to be," Carla smiled proudly. "You are Wendy Marvell, the Maiden of the Sky, adoptive child of the Sky Dragon Grandeeney, and a true wizard of Fairy Tail. You can do whatever you put your mind to. It was your determination, your compassion, and your strong heart that made you the perfect choice. Even the Keyblade saw you fit to be blessed by its power. So whenever you're ready to stop moping around and go out there, a friend will be there for you."
"Your cat friend is right," Donald agreed. "There's no way we can let you come along looking like that." He wagged his finger, "Understand?" He displayed a frown to show what he meant, "No frowning..." He then put on a sad look, "...no sad face." He put on a regular expression, "Okay?"
"Yeah!" Goofy interjected, putting his face in Donald's way to try and help the situation. "Ya gotta look funny, like us!"
Donald pushed Goofy's face out of the way, "Speak for yourself." He turned back to Wendy with a grin, "This boat runs on happy faces. Smiling keeps you going."
"He has a point," Carla nodded. "If you keep displaying that kind of attitude, it would be a dull experience. Do you remember what you last said before you and I joined Fairy Tail? Everyone in the guild is like a bluebird of happiness. When they're happy, you're happy as well. You wanted to be happy all the time, don't you? Then be happy. Can't you at least show these two a happy face?"
"Happy?" Wendy asked quietly.
As everyone looked on, she bent down and stuck her head out, revealing a rather adorable smile, a smile so bright and cute that it was capable of warming the hearts of any person who bare witnessed. The Sky Maiden looked back at Donald and Goofy, noticing that they hadn't responded to her adorable face except with blank expressions, and she stopped awkwardly. For a brief moment, everything was silent, until Donald and Goofy cried out, "Awwwwwwwwww!"
"That's one cute face!" Goofy pointed a finger. "The cutest face I've seen in years!"
Carla, Leon, and Yuffie laughed lightly to themselves at the whole situation. Then, as if a time bomb was set off, Wendy burst into laughter, and Donald and Goofy joined in. The three were laughing so loud that it almost woke up the neighborhood, not that it mattered. Wendy needed it most of all. It felt so good that her diaphragm shook rapidly at the joy of the moment. She was reminded that as long as she remained strong and happy, there would be nothing to worry about. Laughter was always a good thing to break the tension, and out of it came regained confidence. The chance of finding the Fairy Tail guild was slim, but if Wendy kept smiling, the adventure would be a pleasant one. Soon, everything died down, and the three stood back up.
Feeling a lot better, Wendy gladly took her new friends up on the offer, "How could I say no after something like that? Okay, I'll go with you guys. The three of us will make a great team, and together, we'll find our missing friends. This is going to be so exciting!"
"Indeed," Carla affirmed. "The road may be perilous, but teamwork and cooperation is the key to success. I will happily offer my generous assistance."
"Donald Duck," Donald introduced himself, holding out a hand.
"Name's Goofy," Goofy did the same and put his hand on top of Donald's.
"My name is Carla," Carla added her paw on top of Goofy's.
"I'm Wendy Marvell," Wendy was last, and she put her hand on top of the pile.
"All for one, one for all," Goofy declared.
Four hands were placed together as a symbol of newly forged friendship. Leon and Yuffie smiled, knowing that they could count on the four new heroes.
"Looks like things are gonna turn out fine after all," Yuffie remarked.
"Still, it's a bit strange how the Heartless and those clowns are working together, especially the one in blue," Leon said suspiciously. "I'm getting the feeling that someone is watching us..."
He had no idea how right he was.
Unbeknownst to anyone in Traverse Town, in a room full of darkness, they were all being watched on a projection magic circle. A group with a handful of different people, each brimming with equally dark intentions, gathered around with their eyes fixed on the image of Wendy, Donald, Goofy, and Carla on a round table. The first in the group was a being with blue skin, blue flaming hair, yellow eyes, sharp teeth underneath his unnatural black mouth, and clawed fingers. He wore a dark grey shirt underneath a black toga, which seemed to be held up by a small skull pin on his right shoulder.
"That little squirt took down Halloween and his Lantern Viscera guild, along with that Heartless!" the Greek god of the Underworld known as Hades exclaimed. "Who'd have thought a kindergartner would pull it off?"
Hades looked over to a tall man with black thinning hair and a pencil thin mustache, with a hunter's attire mixed in dignified English style. He used the barrel of his shotgun as a support beam.
"It doesn't explain how a little girl is capable of such expertise. But I must admit, I'm quite impressed," the veteran hunter named Clayton stared at the image with an amused expression. "Her privileged training reminded me of a safari I led down the Zambezi. Yes, lots of hunting and lots of experience. That's when I knew I was born for the wild, and the wild was created for good sport."
The third person next to Clayton was a thin man with a twisted black goatee and a faint mustache. He was dressed in extravagant red and black clothing, followed by a distinctive black turban with a ruby set in the front and a bright red feather placed just above it, and a scepter with the head of a cobra with ruby eyes was held in his hand.
"Such is the power of the Keyblade," the evil sorcerer Jafar pointed out. "The child's strength is not her own."
Next to Jafar was an obese cecalia with short stark white hair and lavender skin. Her lower octopus half was pitch black and reached up over her chest to resemble a nightgown, with the underside a bright violet color. She wore various forms of makeup, including purple nail polish on her pointed nails, a light blue eyeliner, a dark purple eye shadow, bright red lipstick, seemingly penciled-on black eyebrows, and a beauty mark near her chin on the left side of her face. The woman gazed down cunningly at the image, water dripping off her many tentacles.
"Why don't we turn that girl into a Heartless? Or better yet, make her an addition to my little garden!" the sea witch Ursula cackled evilly. "That'll settle things quickly in the snap of a finger."
The fifth person in the group was a thin man with curly black hair draping over his shoulders, a large hooked nose, and a thin black mustache. He wore a frilly white shirt underneath a red coat with golden lining and maroon cuffs, an orange sash over his right shoulder holding the scabbard of his rapier at his left hip, maroon pants, white knee-high socks, and black shoes. His most notable feature was that his left hand was replaced by a silver hook.
"Not to mention, the brat's friends are the lackeys of King Mickey!" the pirate Captain Hook piped up. "Swoggle me eyes, they're all bilge rats by the look of them."
The sixth person next to Hook looked like a rotund figure in a grey burlap sack with stumpy legs and fingerless arms, and his eyes and the inside of his mouth were featureless black holes.
"I bet you see that everyday looking in the mirror!" the villainous bag of bugs known as Oogie Boogie laughed at his own joke.
"Shut up!" Hook yelled, brandishing his silver hook in a threatening manner.
"Enough." A seventh voice rang in the room, its tone much sinister than the ones present in the room. All six figures turned to see the leader of the group, a fair and green-skinned woman with shining yellow eyes and red lips. Her head was topped with a black-horned headdress, and she wore a tattered black robe with a purple trim and maroon edges. In her hand was a staff with a glowing green orb at the tip. The figure gazed through narrow eyes at the image of the table, her green skin echoing its pale light. She spoke, "The Keyblade has chosen her. But the question remains whether it will be she who conquers the darkness, or the darkness swallowing her." She smiled darkly, "Either way, she could be quiet useful." She turned over her shoulder and called out, "What do you think?"
"She does have a lot of potential, Maleficent. There's no doubt about it," Kaze Viriniam emerged from the shadows and stood alongside the figure. Sharing the villains' observation, the leader of the Sleepy Hollow folded her arms, "Hats off to you, Blueberry. You've done a great job putting the breaks on the circus. I'm very impressed. But that was only the opening act. The best is yet to come." Her lips flashed a cocky smirk, "Go ahead! Entertain me more! Give them a performance they won't forget! And then, I'm going to join in and have more fun with you personally..."
"Patience, Kaze," Maleficent eased with a gentle motion of her hand. "You are so eager to test the full extent of your power with the young girl. You will have your time soon enough."
"Oh, I think I will," Kaze chuckled lightly.
The villains continued to stare at the identity of the one holding the Keyblade. They knew she was the only one that could stop their plans, and they would have to stop her by any means necessary.
Meanwhile...
Leon and Yuffie led Wendy, Donald, Goofy, and Carla back to the First District, the Sky Dragon Slayer having used the Keyblade on the lock next to the double doors in the Third District to unlock them. The group was given a chance to converse with Leon and Yuffie before their departure, and Aerith joined them.
"So you're the Keyblade's new master," Aerith observed. "My name is Aerith."
"I'm Wendy. It's nice to meet you," Wendy introduced.
"My name is Carla," Carla added in. "I see you've already met Donald and Goofy."
"Yes," Aerith nodded. "They were with me before the Heartless came."
"Make sure you're prepared for the journey ahead of you," Leon reminded. "We don't know how far the Heartless have spread, so watch yourself out there."
"There are so many shops around here to choose from," Yuffie added. "You're sure to find some pretty neat stuff."
Aerith took out a bag filled with five hundred munny and handed it to Wendy, "This is from all of us. Spend it as you see fit."
Wendy admired the bag she received, "Wow! Thanks!"
Aerith also handed her an Elixir, "And this is from Leon, to show there's no hard feelings."
Leon simply looked away, not trying to show anything for it. He did have a reputation to think about.
"Is there anything else?" Carla asked.
"Nope, that's it," Yuffie shook her head. "We wish you the best of luck!"
"I was told you were looking for your friends," Aerith added. "Good luck finding them, too."
"Look out for each other. Keep your spirits up," Leon advised. "It'll help you guys in the long run."
"I hear you," Wendy appreciated. "Thanks for the heads up."
"Don't mention it," Leon acknowledged. "By the way, have you heard of two Dalmatians named Pongo and Perdita living in the Second District?"
"Dalmatians?" Wendy wondered. "Are you talking about those dogs?"
"I take it you've met them?" Leon crossed his arms.
"It was the first time Carla and I came into the Second District," Wendy explained. "They looked very sad and lonely."
"It's because they've lost their puppies," Leon replied.
"Their puppies?" Wendy gasped.
"Pongo and Perdita's original world was destroyed by the Heartless," Aerith explained. "In addition, their ninety-nine puppies were scattered to other worlds in the chaos."
"So that's what happened!" Wendy exclaimed. "They lost their puppies. They're worried sick for them, but no one seems to help."
"Actually, some people care," Yuffie clarified. "The Dalmatians' dilemma spread like wildfire, and the locals are kind enough to build them a house suitable for their needs." She gestured to Leon with a playful grin, "Squall can't stop worrying about them—"
"Call me Leon," Leon cut her off.
"Huh?" Wendy raised an eyebrow at Leon. "Do you have another name?"
"Um, details aren't important," Leon shook his head. "Next time."
"Oh, okay," Wendy confirmed.
"Anyway, we're wondering if you could find Pongo and Perdita's puppies," Yuffie offered. "I heard they'd give you a reward if you do. The more puppies you collect, the more rewards you'll get."
"Really?" Donald beamed.
"Big rewards?" Goofy added.
"Sure!" Yuffie nodded.
"It would be much appreciated if you gathered them all," Aerith pleaded. "Please, find the puppies for Pongo and Perdita. They're worried sick without them. Most of all, Leon."
"Help them out," Leon said simply.
"Don't worry," Wendy assured. "We'll find the puppies for you."
"You will?" Aerith asked hopefully.
"Of course!" Wendy smiled. "I was about to cross other worlds, anyway. And a Fairy Tail wizard never takes 'no' for an answer."
"What's a Fairy Tail wizard?" Yuffie raised an eyebrow.
"Details aren't important," Wendy giggled. "We'll bring the puppies back to Pongo and Perdita. I promise."
"Thank you," Aerith smiled. "I knew we could count on you. Leon will be so glad."
Leon said nothing, except that his eyes translated a plea for Wendy and the others to return with all ninety-nine puppies.
"Squa— I mean, Leon..." Yuffie whispered mischievously. "He's really cute sometimes."
Wendy and her friends couldn't help but laugh quietly to themselves.
"Alright, I think that's all," Yuffie stretched her arms happily. "See ya later!"
After the two groups said their goodbyes, Wendy and Carla walked over to Donald and Goofy, who seemed to have intentions for the one holding the Keyblade. The Sky Maiden and her Exceed friend looked down to notice an anthropomorphic cricket on the ground, conversing with the royal duo.
"This is her, Jiminy," Donald pointed. "The Keyblade master."
"You must be Wendy Marvell! I'm obliged to meet you," Jiminy smiled. "Cricket's the name, Jiminy Cricket. I've been assigned by Queen Minnie to keep record of all the happenings in this adventure."
"Queen Minnie?" Wendy asked. "That's the name of the co-ruler of the Disney Kingdom. Her husband is King Mickey, the name of the person Donald and Goofy is looking for."
"I see you've been studying a lot, young lady," Jiminy chuckled.
"Donald and Goofy told me the whole story," Wendy replied. "I was amazed at how those two got wonderful jobs, like Donald being the magician of the royal court, and Goofy being a brave captain of the guard. They're like the best team ever."
"And I take it you know my name as well?" Carla added.
"You're Carla, Wendy's guardian Exceed," Jiminy answered. "Isn't that swell? That Wendy's growing into a brave girl because an Exceed is her guide? It's like you're her conscience!"
"In a way, yes," Carla shrugged. "Wendy has grown much since then. I often give her advice in such situations."
"Interesting... I'll keep that in mind," Jimmy flipped open his book and took out a tiny pencil from his pocket. "It will be a pleasure to travel with you and chronicle your journeys, Wendy."
"Thank you," Wendy smiled. She looked to Donald and Goofy, "What's next?"
Donald motioned over to the double doors behind him, "You see that gate? The Gummi Ship is right outside."
"Wait, what did you say?" Wendy asked in surprise, the mention of 'gummis' catching her attention.
"The Gummi Ship," Donald repeated. "That's our ship. We use it to travel to other worlds."
"You'll feel just like an astronaut," Goofy chimed. "Wait 'till you see it!"
"No, no, no! You said something about gummis!" Wendy cried, shaking Donald's shoulders. "What about your ship? Is it made of gummis?"
"Well, duh!" Donald rolled his eyes. "The Gummi Ship's made out of gummis, rocks you collect from outer space and use to build lots of neat stuff..."
"Oh, my gosh!" Wendy cheered. "I get to see a machine made of gummis for the first time!"
"You know gummis?" Goofy asked.
"I learned about it from the field trip at the museum in my world," Wendy explained. "Gummis are extremely rare minerals from artificial meteors, and can be used as energy sources or building blocks."
"Are you some kind of bookworm?" Donald asked dryly.
"Nonsense!" Carla scoffed. "Knowledge is a part of experience. It's only natural that we need to expand our minds."
"Forget I asked," Donald groaned.
"And I learned that Earth-land used to have a history with gummis," Wendy continued. "Our ancestors discovered gummi blocks from the meteors, and they used them to build wonderful machines. They haven't been used in my world for a long time, and no one knows why. What about you? How did you get to use gummis?"
"Save the stories for later. We gotta keep going. We'll tell you along the way," Donald suggested. "But before that, we have a few things for you, Wendy." He reached into one of the pockets of his blue jacket, and out came a glowing red orb. "If you fuse this orb with the Keyblade, you'll be able to use magic, just like me."
"Does that mean I can use magic from the Keyblade, aside from using my Dragon Slayer Magic?" Wendy asked hopefully. A nod answered her. "Alright!"
"In other words, you're granting her the power to use magic from a weapon, without wasting the Magic Energy in her body," Carla pointed out. "A very interesting alternative."
"Fuse this orb with the Keyblade and see what happens," Donald urged. "Go on, give it a try!"
"So, I'll have to mix them together?" Wendy asked curiously, to which Donald and Goofy nodded in assurance. She took the red orb from Donald's hand and inched it closer with the Keyblade, until they made contact. And then, the orb popped into wisps and light and transferred into the steel of the blade, which glowed upon completion of the transfer. "Now what?"
"The red orb I gave you is a Fire spell," Donald stated. "All you have to do is point the Keyblade and say Fire."
"Okay..." Wendy took a deep breath, taking her new friends' advice to test out her new abilities. Like the Command Styles, magic spells were among the Keyblade's hidden practices. The more she discovered those practices, the stronger her power may be. A few seconds passed, and Wendy summoned the Keyblade and aimed it at a random direction. She cried with a loud and clear voice, "Fire!" And just like that, a fireball popped from the tip of the Blue Mistral, shooting straight ahead until it connected to a nearby candle in the café. The collision resulted into a small explosion, and the smoke cleared to reveal the candle lit with a small flame. Wendy turned to her friend with an eager expression, "How did I do?"
"You see? It wasn't so hard!" Donald beamed. "Now you can use magic, just like me."
"Hooray! I did it!" Wendy cried happily. "Did you see that? I shot a fireball, and it looked just like Natsu's Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!"
"Correction, it's a very wise alternative," Carla smiled. "You've learned well."
"Aww, thank you," Wendy blushed. "It means a lot."
"Your Sky Dragon Slayer Magic is now paired with magic from the Keyblade," Carla advised. "Use both wisely, and keep your Magic Energy reserves high at all times."
"I'll keep that in mind," Wendy nodded. She turned to Donald, "You're the greatest, Donald. I can fight even better thanks to this. I think I'm going to call this second type of magic... Keyblade Magic."
"Keyblade Magic, huh?" Goofy grinned. "A-hyuck, not a bad name."
"You've learned from the best," Donald chuckled. He looked at Goofy, "Okay, Goofy. Give her that other thing."
"What other thing?" Goofy asked, dumbfounded.
"You know!" Donald snapped.
"Oh, right!" Goofy confirmed. He reached into one of the pockets of his baggy pants and pulled out another magical orb, this one depicting a circle surrounded by two arrows, one curved up and pointing left, and the other curved down and pointing right.
"What's this?" Wendy asked.
"It's called an Ability Orb," Goofy replied. "When you touch 'em, they let you do all sorts of cool abilities. This one is called Cartwheel. Touch it, and see what happens."
"Okay," Wendy obliged. By the time her fingers made contact with the orb, which popped into light and flowed into her body, she felt something taking over her senses. In a flash, she performed a super fast circular sideways handspring with her arms and legs extended, the two hands touching the ground with the rest of her body upside down, until she was back on her feet. Wendy looked over her new changes in astonishment, "Whoa! That was amazing! How did I do that?"
"When you touch an Ability Orb, it causes a reaction in your body and makes you do neat things," Goofy explained. "Guess we should look for 'em along the way, huh?"
"If that's all you had for me, let's get a move on," Wendy urged.
"Not 'til we're ready!" Donald smiled.
"Yup, we need to get some items first," Goofy agreed.
"We must be prepared for the journey ahead," Carla added.
Jiminy wrote down a few entries and said to himself, "Well, I see big adventures coming their way! Looks like it's up to me to keep track of it all in my journal!"
Item Shop
As the group entered, Donald was surprised to see who was there. "Boys?!"
"UNCA DONALD!" Huey, Dewey, and Louie quacked in unison to have seen a familiar face.
Wendy was extremely shocked. "UNCLE?!"
"What are you doing here?" Huey asked in surprise.
"What a surprise! Unca Donald's here to see us!" Dewey grinned.
"Yeah!" Louie chimed.
"Hi, boys!" Donald greeted back. He descended the stairs proudly, swinging his arms at his sides as he led the way into the shop. The others trailed behind him, with Wendy in a mild daze. "How're ya doin'?"
"Huey, Dewey, and Louie are Donald's nephews?" Wendy blinked in disbelief. "How does that even work?"
"Well, life comes with all sorts of surprises," Carla mused.
"Ya don't know Donald's an uncle?" Goofy turned to Wendy.
"Yeah," Wendy nodded. "He didn't tell me he had three nephews."
"He doesn't really seem like an uncle type," Carla shrugged.
Donald stopped over the counter and glanced over his shoulder to Wendy and Carla, "Lemme introduce you guys. These three are my nephews from the Disney Kingdom. They're—"
"Huey, Dewey, and Louie," Wendy cut him off. "We met them the first time we came here."
"Wak!" Donald exclaimed. "You know Wendy? Is that true?"
"Yep!" Huey nodded. "The first time she came in here, she was munny-less."
"Why didn't you tell me?!" Donald asked in shock.
"Relax, Unca Donald!" Dewey eased. "We had no idea Wendy's your friend. And we have no idea you and Goofy have been on a top secret mission to other worlds."
"I met Huey, Dewey, and Louie, before I met you," Wendy pointed out.
"Anyway, it's good to see you both," Louie smiled. "Buy a bunch from us!" He gestured proudly towards the items on the shelves, "We've handpicked everything on these shelves. We carry only the best."
"Really?" Donald asked, a mischievous grin appearing on his face. "The best, huh?"
"So, Wendy, you've come back with all the munny you've earned?" Huey asked.
"Yeah. We got all the munny we needed," Wendy nodded.
"Sweet!" Dewey beamed. "What's it going to be?"
Wendy looked over the shelves, and after a minute, she reached a decision. "We'll take five Potions, five Hi-Potions, and five Ethers."
"Coming right up!" Louie walked to the shelves and got everything Wendy asked for, put them on the counter, and rang up the register. "That'll be fifty munny."
"So, what are you fellas doin' with the munny you earned?" Goofy asked Huey
"We're gonna earn enough munny to go on our own adventure," Huey answered proudly. "And it's for that reason that we had to open a shop here in Traverse Town." He then turned to Donald, and added with a sly smile, "Sorry, Unca Donald, no family discounts."
Donald spun around to look at Huey, his jaw dropped. "Huh? Not even a little bit?"
"No can do."
"But I'm your uncle!"
"No family discounts."
"But I'm your favorite uncle."
Huey's smile stretched, "That's what you think."
"Aw, phooey!" Donald narrowed his eyes. He was going to have to resort to blackmail, "I'll just have to send you back to your Great-Unca Scrooge's place!"
"Like we'd complain about that," Huey chipped.
"Yeah," Dewey continued. "Unca Scrooge takes us on adventures."
"Like you even know where he is now!" Louie joked. "For all we know, he's out there in another world, making a transit system!"
Wendy, Carla, and Goofy began to laugh heartily at Donald's expense. The duck fumed slightly, making a mental note to yell at the three later. Huey, Dewey, and Louie grinned at each other, pleased with their own resilience.
"Aww, let's just pay them, Donald," Wendy smiled, pulling out the bag of munny Aerith gave her before. "I'm sure we have enough."
Fifty munny was handed to the register, and all the supplies were complied into one bag. Huey waved, "Thank you for shopping, Wendy. Come back anytime, Unca Donald!"
"Thank you!" Wendy replied.
"See ya later!" Goofy waved.
"Yeah, thanks," Donald muttered under his breath. "Unca Scrooge would be proud of your stinginess."
Wendy, Carla, and Goofy had already departed from the Item Shop, and when Donald was the last to exit, the three boys each raspberried their uncle in unison, making a loud noise as they did so. The duck turned on them, spinning around almost immediately. From the open door, Wendy couldn't help but giggle at the speed of with which the triplet pranksters returned to what they had been doing. Donald eyed them suspiciously before turning around to leave again, muttering something threateningly under his breath.
Accessory Shop
"Hey, Wendy!" Cid waved, noticing Donald and Goofy behind Wendy. "Who are these fellers?"
"This is Donald and Goofy," Wendy pointed to her news. "They're my new friends. Guys, this is Mister Cid."
"Please, call me Cid," Cid grinned. "So, they're the famous Donald Duck and Goofy the three little ducks in the Item Shop keep talking about."
"You've heard of us?" Goofy asked.
"Are you kiddin'?" Cid chuckled. "Ya hafta be the wackiest, hare-brained characters I've ever heard of."
"Aww, nuts," Donald grumbled. "They're sharing my secrets with a total stranger."
"I'll say," Carla giggled. "It's probably going to take a while before you'll live this down."
"Anyway, mind if we buy a few things?" Wendy asked politely to Cid.
"Help yerselves," Cid answered. "I've got rings and bracelets that boost your attack and defense power. Everything ya need, I've got it."
A few minutes of decision making, and the group selected the right materials. Cid rang up the register, "That'll be thirty munny." Wendy took thirty money out of her bag and gave it to Cid. After that, he handed the accessories in a bag. "Enjoy!"
Goofy took the bag, "Thanks."
Soon...
Wendy, Donald, Goofy, and Carla went through the large doorway to the exit of Traverse Town. There were no lights on the other side, except for two lamps that hung on the walls near the doorway. Not much could be seen through the darkness, and the lights could only manage to illuminate a ten-foot radius. Here, the ground was not paved the way it was in the town; it was left as rocks and pebbles that crunched and grounded together underneath one's footsteps. There seemed to be some trees and other foliage near the doorway, but other than what little could be seen beneath the starry sky and the two lights on the wall, there was only darkness beyond.
One thing that was definitely seen under the dim lights was the Gummi Ship, Donald and Goofy's vessel. It was huge, and its red, orange, and yellow design reminded Wendy of drawings of spaceships seen in science fiction books. A small set of turrets was stuck to the bottom of the ship, and the cockpit was covered by a large glass dome.
"Well, Wendy?" Donald asked eagerly. "Whaddaya think?"
"It's beautiful!" Wendy could hardly help but smile at the sight of the ship. "I love it!"
"You ain't seen nothin' yet," Goofy smiled. "Wait 'til you see the inside!"
An entrance began to appear. Bright white light seeped through newly opened cracks on the ship's surface, outlining the doorway. The outlined shape popped out of the surface of the ship and lowered towards the ground, creating a sort of ramp. Air rushed into the interior of the ship as the door opened, and light exploded from inside. Wendy and Carla had to shield their eyes until the light dimmed slightly. Donald and Goofy grinned at each other, and began to pull Wendy and Carla into the ship. As soon as they adjusted to the brighter light and were able to see, Wendy and Carla's eyes went even wider in wonder, their jaws dropping visibly.
"WHHOOOOOAAA!"
The interior of the Gummi Ship was bigger than it looked on the outside, and it seemed to have a lot more room than was probably necessary. There were three mechanical white-gloved hands attached to the ceiling that were moving in separate directions. Giant tanks, engines, and gauges of various gummi materials lined up the walls. The entire room hummed with the sound of engines revving up. There was a small cupboard on one side near the entrance, and whatever walls were available had at least two pictures, posters, or signs. The far side of the room was split into two parts: One part of the room was filled with various furniture; couches, tables, and plentiful beds fit for a slumber party. On the other side was one long couch that seemed perfect for lounging or napping on. Right in between the two halves was a ladder leading upwards to the cockpit, with an arrow pointing up.
"A-hyuck, roomy, isn't it?" Goofy grinned.
"Welcome aboard the Gummi Ship, Wendy!" Donald introduced with a large gesture of his hand, winking proudly.
"Very impressive," Carla remarked. "The interior of this ship is outfitted into a lounge fit for First Class."
"This is also the engine room," Goofy stated. "The tanks and engines keep the ship goin' like a beatin' heart. We also keep extra gummis to fix and upgrade our ship. Chip and Dale gave us the instruction manuals."
"Who's Chip and Dale?" Wendy asked.
"They're our gummi engineers," Goofy replied. "You'll get to see 'em sooner or later."
"It makes me feel like I'm taking a vacation," Wendy breathed. She was excited that she was not only going to cross into other worlds in a spaceship constructed out of artificial meteors, but a spaceship that could rival a cruise ship. Yes, most children have at least one point where they pretend they're astronauts or a science fiction hero. Here, Wendy was going to live it.
"Don't count your stars until it's dark," Donald reminded. "We still have to blast off first."
"Remember, Wendy, it's not all fun and games," Carla noted. "We have to find our friends and their missing king."
"Then let's hit the road!" Wendy said eagerly.
"Roads?" Donald smirked. "Where we're going, we don't need roads."
"Wait a minute!" Wendy interrupted, before Donald and Goofy could climb the ladder to the cockpit. "Where's Jiminy?"
"Here I am!" Jiminy's voice answered, bouncing along on Wendy's shoulder.
"Eeeek!" Wendy yelped at the cricket's unexpected arrival. "Y-You're here!"
"Of course I'm here! I've been in your pocket the whole time. Why wouldn't I be?" Jiminy grinned.
"You were in Wendy's pocket?" Carla raised an eyebrow.
"I need to find some place to fit in," Jiminy explained. "I wouldn't miss it for this or any world."
"Well, it's okay," Wendy smiled slightly. "Glad to have you with us, Jiminy." And with that, she was flown up by Carla, following Donald and Goofy up into the cockpit. She could hardly wait to see what it was like.
Inside...
The cockpit wasn't as exceptionally large as the engine room/lounge, but the mere idea of being in the control panel of a spaceship was thrilling. There were three chairs lined up in front of the switches, gauges, buttons, and monitors spread across the control board. Goofy sat in the chair on the right, and Donald on the left, which meant that Wendy was going to have to sit in the middle, with her arms fastening around Carla.
"Exactly three chairs..." Wendy commented, as she took her seat with Carla. "Were you expecting me or something?"
"Well, there's usually three of us," Donald replied. "I mean, we..." He let his voice trail off, as his face took on a thoughtful, sad glaze. It wasn't long before Goofy shared it, and Wendy understood what those expressions meant.
"It's King Mickey, isn't it?" Wendy guessed.
"Yep," Goofy nodded. "The Gummi Ship's originally the King's personal vessel. He entrusted it to us before he disappeared from Disney Castle. This was the King's seat." He sighed sadly, "I never thought we'd reserve it for ya when it should've been the King's..."
"So that's how it all started," Wendy said thoughtfully. Her face then turned cheerful, "But we'll find him, and my Fairy Tail friends with him. I'm sure of it."
Donald put his hand on the lever and pulled it forward, and the engines began to roar loudly. He turned around to look at Wendy and smiled, "Haven't forgotten anything, have you? If not, fasten your seatbelts. We're taking off." She and Carla didn't need to be told twice, and they did as they were told.
Donald gripped the handles of the steering wheel and leaned forward, his eyes piercing through the endless beyond.
"BLAST-OFF!"
The take-off was so sudden that Wendy and Carla had no time to react. All they really knew was that they were suddenly pressed into the cushion of their seat by the sheer force of the movement. Their ears rang with the sound of the engine, the change of pressure, and the sound of Donald and Goofy's excited whoops. It took longer than Wendy would have expected, but the pressure soon lifted off her, and she and Carla popped out from the seat cushion. A few moments had passed, and the Gummi Ship was now floating in the vastness of space.
"Oh, my..." Carla moaned, clutching her sides. "I feel like a part of my stomach has left me."
"We'll get used to it..." Wendy shuddered. "Right?"
"Uh-huh," Donald and Goofy nodded in unison.
"Wendy, look outside," Jiminy pointed out the window.
From the glass of the cockpit, Wendy and Carla looked in awe at the wonders of inter-dimensional space, the place she and the rest of Fairy Tail might have eventually found if such a trip ever happened. "Look at all the stars," Wendy exclaimed. "It's beautiful." However, her feelings soon turned to sorrow, "But Fairy Tail isn't here to see this."
"Don't worry," Carla tried to cheer Wendy up. "They'll enjoy it as much as they want when we find them."
"Yeah," Wendy agreed.
Donald pressed a button, and the monitor screen displayed the worlds visible on the map. He pointed to one on the left, "In several minutes, we'll arrive at our first destination."
"Since we'll be arriving at the next world in a few minutes, I thought it would only be right for me to ask you for your side of the story," Jiminy adjusted himself on Wendy's armrest. "You know, just to pass the time?"
"You want me to tell you everything that's happened to me so far?" Wendy asked, to which the cricket nodded. She tilted her head to one side and shrugged, "It's a long story..."
The Sky Maiden never began her story, as a red light flashed in the cockpit, paired with an alarm sounding off.
"What's going on?" Carla wondered.
Goofy looked at the radar and pointed to a few blips, "We've got Heartless ships approaching!"
"Heartless ships?!" Wendy and Carla exclaimed in unison. Out the window, they saw that indeed, spaceships with the same red and black emblem were aiming to attack them.
"I didn't know Heartless could operate vessels," the white Exceed marveled.
"There's still a lot we don't know about the Heartless yet," Jiminy stated.
Donald tightly held the controls, "Buckle up, crew! IT'S GONNA BE A BUMPY RIDE!"
And a bumpy ride it was going to be. Cue the epic music!
9 Doors Empire
by Boom Boom Satellites
The Gummi Ship sped up and fixated its turrets on the enemy ships. They fired a barrage of lasers, incinerating a fair amount of Heartless vessels, while avoiding a few catching up. It was a fine way to kick off a galactic dogfight.
Bring it down for you
Feeling like a whole new world
Roll it all over
Excuse me while I check your neck
All the pain that we can't see
Soaking up your shame again and again
Find some bodies to serve
The freedom I always abuse
Sleep through the day into the night
I hold the key, unlock the door
Up all night, dancing on the wire
We are getting higher
We're living in empire
Build it higher and higher
We're living in empire
Build it higher and higher
We're living in empire
Build it higher and higher
We're living in empire
Build it higher and higher
My enemies all know my name
Realize it, sell out your soul
Come closer, enough to bite
One step pushing down so hard
Say your prayers tonight
All you have to do is take 'em all
Gimme more or I'll take your soul
Well now, I look at your back
You can choose your victimes at random
Even better than the other side, right?
Welcome to the paradise in my hands
Your heat is on
We're living in empire
Build it higher and higher
We're living in empire
Build it higher and higher
I can't get your blood back
You know who's the liar
I can't get your blood back
Fill it with desire
Roll it.. Roll it over
We gotta roll it over
Roll it over
Bring it down for you
Feeling like a whole new world
We're living in empire
Build it higher and higher
We're living in empire
Build it higher and higher
I can't get your blood back
You know who's the liar
I can't get your blood back
Fill it with desire
Roll it.. Roll it over
We gotta roll it over
Roll it over
At the last moments of the interstellar battle, the resulting explosion of the last Heartless ship caused everyone in the ship to cheer. Donald gave a look of victory and superiority as the song faded out.
"Everyone doing okay?" he checked on the rest of the group.
Goofy gave them thumbs up, "A-okay, Donald."
Wendy cried in relief, "That was too close!"
Carla dreaded, "How... delightful."
A few minutes of peace had passed, before Goofy spoke up again, "New world dead ahead!"
Donald joined in, "I see it!"
Wendy beamed, "We're here already?"
The new world itself was a sphere draped in a carpet of hearts, covered around with a castle made out of chess pieces, a heart-shaped arch, hedges possibly forming a labyrinth, a forest of giant flowers, and a big house. It was at that moment when the Gummi Ship arrived in front of its destination, when the monitor screen flashed open with Chip and Dale, the Gummi Ship engineers, waving their hands.
Chip cheered, "Heya, guys! How ya doin'? Ya found the guy with the key?"
Donald corrected, "Actually, it's a girl."
Dale chimed, "Girl, huh?" He eyed the figure of the Keyblade master with much intrigue, "I don't know why a little girl has the key, but she sure looks cute as an acorn."
Goofy laughed, "A-hyuck, never judge a cutie by her looks! You should've seen her in action!"
Chip sighed, "I wish..." He then straightened himself, "Anyway, we're super glad to hear that you've brought the key guy."
Donald said dryly, "Girl."
Dale smiled confidently, "With you guys workin' together, findin' the King and savin' all those worlds is gonna be like nuts stored for the winter!"
Chip continued, "By the way, we didn't catch your name, miss. I'm Chip."
Dale added, "And I'm Dale. What's yours, key guy?"
Donald said in annoyance, "It's a girl!"
Ignoring the minor rant, Wendy introduced herself, "I'm Wendy. Glad to meet you. You're the Gummi Ship engineers, right?"
Chip nodded, "Yup! We're not just the mechanics in charge of Gummi Ship maintenance, but we're also your navigators!"
Dale stated, "From the Gummi Ship Control Room, we can ghost worlds a billion miles away, starting with the one you've just arrived at. It's called Wonderland."
Wendy and company asked simultaneously, "Wonderland?"
Chip analyzed, "Wonderland's a nonsensical, bizarre world full of houses with foldable furniture, tea parties without guests, forests of talking flowers and big plants, and white roses painted red."
Dale explained, "This world is ruled by the stroppy Queen of Hearts and her magical playing card soldiers. She runs the place like the back of her hand, but she also has a fiery temper. Get her steamed up, and it's off with your heads!"
Wendy remarked, "That sounds interesting. And scary. Do you think King Mickey and my Fairy Tail friends are in there?"
Carla replied, "There's only one way to find out."
Chip cheered, "Good luck out there, Wendy!"
Dale cried, "You too, Donald and Goofy!"
Both waved in unison, "We're counting on you, key guy!"
Donald shouted impatiently, "It's a GIRL!"
The monitor screen blinked off.
Wendy was startled at the outburst, "Donald! What's wrong?"
Goofy giggled, "He's upset because Chip and Dale called you a 'guy' instead of a girl."
Donald protested, "No, I'm not!"
Carla insisted, "Everyone, focus! We must investigate this world and find any leads on our friends."
Wendy nodded, "Yeah. We're going to Wonderland and continue our search there."
Donald sighed, "Okay, if you say so. First, we're gonna land this baby."
The Gummi Ship landed slowly as they began to disembark for the world known as Wonderland.
In the heart of a large forest riddled with green, dozens of dark wizards had fallen over the dirt, beaten and unconscious. Each of them wore different clothing: some wore casual wear, others formal. The two things that linked them to each other was the red and white jester's hat around their heads, and the guild mark resembling a jester holding a person by the neck. Perhaps if they had fought hard enough or had been more attentive, they would have recognized the gusts of black wind dancing along the grasslands.
The black wind retracted to the silhouette of a female blending with the trees, and she let out an unamused yawn. And while it was hard to see for the less conscious dark guildmates to see from far away, the petite young girl had amaranth hair tied up in two short pigtails with orange bows. She wore a pale blue mini skirt, a pink sleeveless top with a dark blue center and a folded collar with yet another orange ribbon tied around it, a heart emblem on her left breast, and an "X" on her right. She wore short white gloves coupled with orange wristbands on top of a longer pink fabric that reached her upper arms, and was kept in place by armbands that matched the ones on her wrists. For hosiery, she had long black stockings and white leg-warmers atop black shoes. The mark of her guild was located on the right side of her right calf, and it somewhat resembled a mermaid.
"You guys..." the girl muttered. "Why don't you give up and go straight? I just want the oolong leaves for the tea." She picked up the aforementioned herbs from strands of grass nearby, and looked over the pile of beaten wizards with a wide smile. "I'll be on my way for a very merry unbirthday."
