This world it wasn't Shibuya. It was dimmer and dare he say more primitive. Though it did vaguely remind him of Traverse Town given it's similar setting and aesthetic. But the problem was that they were assured they'd left that place behind for Shibuya, yet here they were now in neither and a new world all together. Worst of all they were separated from each other again.
Neku glanced around the darkness to see just enough light from the dimly lit lamps on the cobblestone streets and rustic little houses lining them. Realizing he could not sit here idly, he began to walk down it, to the sound of his fleet clip clopping as he went. His face hidden behind his brushed up collar and though his headphones were always over his ears and used as a great deterrent, he still was able to listen. And he heard something now.
He heard an innocent little laugh and perked up at the sound of it. Strangest of all, the laugh sounded like one he recognized.
Knowing he could do nothing standing still he decided to move his feet to follow where it came from. Going further down the street, it grew louder as he approached the corner.
He rounded the corner to come under a bastion of light from the lamppost that stood there. Stopping to look, he saw a large colorful horse drawn cart settled on the edge of the road. There was a window cut out of the center of the cart and a large man in a dark green vest was leering over out of it, his long black beard flowing off of his face. A gleam in his eyes as he starred downward. For before the cart and under him was a small very amused girl.
It wasn't Eri as he remembered but Shiki as he knew her. A mop of dark hair and glasses with an innocent look. She looked on very amused as her stuffed animal danced before her very eyes. She clapped off key to its little motions as it bobbed about before her, charmed by the motions of it.
Neku looked on skeptically. His eyes on the dancing stuffed kitten trailed up towards the gargantuan-by comparison- Gypsy leaning out from a cart over her. One hand propped himself up on the window as the other he held high above his head a wooden cross and it swayed this way and that and beneath him Mr. Mew followed his motions with only a moments delay. Leaning over the puppet masters long black beard hung over and it was more noticeable than the strings he and Shiki pretended weren't there.
From the wall beside him, Neku saw a face starring at him. Neku's head glanced over to see that it wasn't a person, but a poster. Looking at the poster, the face he saw bore the likeness of the puppet master before Shiki. He was at the top with arms spread wide across it, with one puppets below each of his hands filling out at the bottom. And between himself and his puppet was something centered on the poster. His name was written grandly across it.
"Stromboli." Neku read aloud. Turning his head back he saw more of Shiki's delight. Stromboli seemed to be taken in himself given the look in his eyes and smile creeping out from his beard. From the looks of his cart, it seemed he had recently made a lot of money and had used it to great effect.
Neku then walked his way over. As he did, he heard Stromboli singing off key against her laughter.
"I got-a no strings on Me." he sang in a thick voice and followed with a hearty laugh. Shiki did as well, before she glanced something out of the corner of her eye and saw Neku approaching.
"Neku!" Shiki cried excitedly when she saw him "You made it too!" she announced and waved as he stopped before her "And look." she pointed over "He made Mr. Mew dance!" she told excitedly.
Dismally Neku turned his head to see up close the puppet master at work.
"I got-a no strings on Me." Stromboli smiled and moved the stuffed animal about even more. As confident as Stromboli was and as elated as Shiki seemed to be, Neku didn't share the sentiment. His face hardly changing from when he first arrived.
"I doubt it." Neku said dryly.
Stromboli's smile which already seemed more like a leer curled up in disgust at his sudden disapproval.
"Eh?" he let out sharply "What's this?"
"I can see em." he said. Neku reached forward to pluck one if the dangling strings as if it were a guitar. In reaction to that, there was the sudden slam of a fist against the counter was hurled, and Stromboli began to lash out violently at him with his words and waving his arms.
He may have been speaking another language, but as far as Neku could tell it was all gibberish. He stood there placid the whole time.
"Neku!" Shiki nagged beside him, though he understood her, he still didn't stir.
"What?" he asked "I'm not wrong."
"Ah so there you are." another voice called out from behind them. One that was more familiar to them. And therefore even more out of place in this world.
They turned around to face the dark cobblestone streets, putting heir backs to Stromboli in his cart in the process. Something that did not sit well with him at all.
"Eh? What's now?" Stromboli's face curled up angered even more that they now ignored him. "Who dares interrupt the Great Stromboli?!" he declared violently, repeating what was written on the poster before his demeanor changed suddenly "That's-a me." he suddenly said more humbly as he introduced himself with a small roll of his arm and a bow. Neku and Shiki, however, were concentrating on Stromboli because were surprised by what they saw. Or rather who.
Walking up to them, a hand in his pocket and a look on his face like he had all the answers, but not a care in the world was none other than Joshua. Cooley he stopped before then.
"Joshua." Neku and Shiki aid his name once they saw him and wasted no time in getting to the heart of matters. "Where are we? Where have you been? where going on? Where are the others?" they asked speaking over each other.
Joshua put a hand up to wave it "If you'd like to settle down for a second. I'll answer your questions one at a time." The two were silenced. "Now that's better." He said putting the hand back into his pocket.
"Joshua..." Shiki began.
"What's happened?" Neku asked finishing it.
"Why we're here of course." he answered the obvious.
"Yeah but," Neku began.
"Where's here?" Shiki finished this time.
"Well, not Shibuya for one thing though you probably guessed that already. " Joshua answered more directly this time. A grumble escaped from Neku's collar "Don't worry," he insisted casually "we'll get over this." he paused reassuring them before continuing "As for where I am. I'm here with you right now. As for where I've been.." he paused and smirked "let's just say I was in the belly of a whale and leave it there." he seemed intent to do just that. And while the other two agreed as they had more pressing matters to attend to they couldn't help but share a strange sideways glance to the other "As for the others," he said getting their attention only to paus again as if collecting his thoughts "well it's why I'm here now." he said. Neku and Shiki looked to each other before back to him. "And you two better come with me." he said. "They need our help, and there's a lot of catching up you two have to do."
Neku nodded and spoke without hesitation "You got it."
"Just tell us what we need to do." Shiki said matching his determination.
"Well, then grab on." Joshua held out his arms as Neku and Shiki stepped up and took it.
Then miraculously two great white wings sprouted out from Joshua's back, brightening up whatever darkness was around them. They opened fully before they flapped lifting Joshua off the ground and with Neku and Shiki holding onto him, them too.
While it wasn't so strange a sight to them, watching from his cart the puppet master Stromboli was in awe. His mouth wide open among his black beard he slapped a hand to his bald forehead in disbelief. The thick sound of the 'slap' echoing from his head.
"Oh!" Shiki let out startled. She reached a spare hand off from Joshua to grab Mr. Mew who still ranked from the strings from Stromboli's hand. Yanking him, the strings were plucked off, and she turned back to Joshua nodding happily "Ready." she said holding close.
Stromboli's was too stunned to even move.
"Hold on tightly or you'll fall." Joshua advised calmly before flapped he took off into the sir with Neku and Shiki holding on as their feet were lifted from the ground and they ride high into the air.
From below jutting from the window of his cart Stromboli retreated into lashing out inside before erupting out of the back door.
"Wait!" He called stumbling into the street before hurriedly steadying himself to gaze up at them as they flew away. Looking up at them, he shouted and waved "Wait!" He called into the sky "Flying boy! Little flying boy come back!"
Neku looked down as the plump puppet master disappeared beneath them but his voice still followed them the higher they went. He could see all of the town now. Some were still black pockets while others were colored and shown through the lights along the street. But seeing it like this only re-enforced the memories that they were as far away from Shibuya as they were in Traverse Town. That and the thought that they would have no problem jumping from rooftop to rooftop or sliding along railings.
Eventually, they stopped going higher and began flying ahead over the town, heading through the sky.
"Wow!" Shiki said astonished as she looked down to the dark town sprinkled with lamp lights "it's looks so pretty from up here."
"Hm." Neku let out unimpressed.
"What's wrong Neku?" Joshua asked as they hung onto him "I thought you enjoyed looking down on the world." he laughed though he seemed very unamused.
The flapping continued on as they passed the town beneath them. Eventually, the cozy little nighttime town gave way to a wide open ocean. It was flat and listless on top the water in the night was black like the town.
Yet as Neku looked below, he could see an even darker, blotchier patch darkness along the water. No light seemed to reflect off of it now the dark spot seemed to signal a great foreboding presence. It continued growing larger and larger taking the form of a great whale's shadow beneath the surface of the water. And not only was he growing, but he was following them. The sight of it unnerved him as he hung in defended from Joshua's hand.
"Uh Joshua." he said hiding his emotions behind his collar.
"Don't worry about that." Joshua said statically as he kept his eyes ahead "I don't think we'll have to worry about that old blowhard," Neku didn't seemed convinced. As if sensing that Joshua spoke again "because here we are now." he said, and Neku went from looking down to up. He was so focused on the whale he hadn't noticed the island they were approaching.
An island came into view. As dark as the whale was in the water only it was jutting out from it, looking as high as he was wide. Looking ahead as they floated towards it, it looked more like a mountain pass blocking anything from coming in or out. Neku and Shiki's eyes trailed up and down the towering black mass.
"Look!" she called and Neku moved his gaze to where she pointed with Mr. Mew. A large black hole at the base of the island where water flowed freely into.
"That's where the boat is." Joshua's voice told from above.
"Huh?" he let out as they turned back up to him, though his gaze was ahead as it had been this whole time.
"The docks through there, that's how they got all of them here." he told.
'They? Them? Here? Just what was this place?' Neku wondered to himself.
Whatever way they took it seems they weren't destined for it. Instead, Joshua flew higher rising up over the black rocks. As they rose through the air Neku looked back to see the shadow in the water dimming as the whale dived back down the depth of the ocean to wait and sleep. Seeing even an outline of him, Neku could understand how he could travel through space all his own.
But despite the fact he left the dark presence didn't leave with him. It only felt like they had avoided one danger for another. Which must be on this island.
Neku turned his head back to see what was in store for them.
Buildings of shattered glass stood next to fully functioning Ferris wheels. Though it seemed out of commission now as did all the other rides. Popped balloons and confetti littered the streets. Half eaten food, broken bottles, ashed cigars, and any trash imaginable littered the ground. Footprints either bare or with shoes were all over the ground. Buildings had graffiti written all over them, those that weren't broken down or burned that is.
Shiki held her nose "It smells like smoke." she said nasally as she kicked the ashy cigars by her feet.
"Strange." Joshua said aloud "It was so much different when I left. All the lights, colors...boys." he paused gravely. "But what does it mean?" Before he pondered further or the other two could ask what he meant the strangest thing was heard. Looking around further Neku saw two large wooden doors, yet there were sealed shut. Considering they arrived from overhead, he knew that meant they were sealed tight. If only they had a Keyblade. Yet they didn't. And they were no closer to finding out what happened here.
Suddenly a voice echoed through the streets.
"JOSHUAAA!" it cried out.
Everyone darted their heads around trying to see where it came from.
"I know that voice." Neku said as he looked one way and Shiki the other "it's Rhy-"
"Ah!" Joshua let out looking down the alleyway "There she is now."
Amongst the carnage of this place, they saw a young girl running up to them. One they knew quite well.
"Joshua!" she called out and ran to them as they landed on the ground.
"Rhyme." he said her as she stopped before them. Despite how dreary this place looked it or how bad Joshua made it seem Rhyme still carried a warm smile on her face.
"You gotta come quick!" she urged them.
"As quickly as I left," Joshua said as he waved his hand "and I brought help." he motioned to Shiki and Neku who Rhyme was relieved to see.
"Great!" She hopped your and down "I'm glad you're all here now."
"We are," Neku stated dryly. The group was almost reunited, but there was still one missing "but where's Beat?"
"That's why I asked Joshua for help." Rhyme said looking over and up to him.
"It's weird." Joshua pondered aloud with a hand to his chin "I thought they only took stupid little boys to places like this." he brought his head and his hand returned to his pocket as he looked to the others "And while that certainly explains why Beats is here." he turned his head to focus on Rhyme "I wonder how you got here all the same." he said looking to Rhyme.
"I wonder how we all got here and not Shibuya." Neku grumbled to himself thinking of the larger picture. His grumbling however, was a little too loud than he intended for someone heard him.
"All in good time." Shiki raised a reassuring hand to him before bringing it back to cradle Mr. Mew.
They then focused back on Rhyme as well as she tried to answer Joshua's question.
"Well..." she began pondering. Her head rested upwards looking at all the bright stars in the otherwise black blank sky "I guess you could say I'm his conscience." she smiled as bright as the stars above them.
"Hm." Joshua let out. Shiki laughed and clapped. Even Neku smiled though it was hidden behind his collar. "I can see that." he nodded focusing on her more "Fitting for this world I'd say." " Joshua agreed "Now. Let's get back on track." he said "Where is beats?"
Rhyme pointed back the way she came, down the dark unlighted road.
"He's back this way." they all looked to where she pointed but saw only the dark streets "Come on I'll take you to him." she said before turning back to go the way she came. Following close behind were Joshua, Neku and Shiki.
Rhyme lead the way walking through the desolate street. Joshua strolled behind her as Neku and Shiki walked by side. They eyed their environment warily. From each pillaged house, to ransacked smoke stand, derelict rides, it seems no stone was left unturned towards whatever mayhem ensued here. Whatever the town they left had in common with Traverse Town, neither compared to this.
They descended a small flight of stairs as they scanned the area around them.
"What is this place?" Neku asked aloud. Since they were so short on answers, he wasn't expecting one.
"Pleasure Island." Joshua's voice called ahead. Looking at him, Neku saw that he didn't even bother to turn his head back at him but kept it forward.
Neku took another look around as they passed by a giant 8 ball of a building. "Doesn't seem worthy of its name." he said skeptically.
As he did, Rhyme stopped before them and the others stopped with her. The path lead nowhere now but a broken archway his complete darkness.
"Beats!" Rhyme called and her voice echoed but they heard no reply. "Beats!" She called again. She received no answer, but the small trotting if hooves could be heard shuffling in the darkness before stopping abruptly. "We're here to help!" she added but heard no reply once again. Now Rhyme while not angry was losing her patience "They came all this way got you!" The Trot was heard abruptly again before stopping. Everyone peered in to listen, but couldn't hear anything else. "Daisukenojo Bito!" Rhyme stomped her foot "You come out here right this minute."
"Yo!" The familiar voice of Beat cried echoing down to them. A rustling was heard in the darkness as if he was moving about and now coming towards them. Yet as they listened, they could not hear any footsteps. No, instead, they heard the distinct sound of trotting hoods against the ground.
Then all of a sudden something sprung from the darkness. Shiki shrieked and jumped behind Neku, but peered out when she saw what it truly was.
A donkey. But not any donkey for this one wore clothes.
Above it's front left hoof was a black wristband. Over its body was a white sleeveless shirt with red trimmings. Nestled between the donkey's ears was a distinctive black cap with a bright white skull on it. A black pendant dangled from its neck. Strange as it was it was as if someone dressed the donkey in Beats clothes.
Yet the most telling thing was about to come.
"I told you not to call me that yo!" the Donkey spoke! In clear words and in Beats voice!
Shiki crept out further not amused as she was with the puppet, but confused. Neku raised an eyebrow himself but said nothing. But slowly a conclusion was being drawn from what they saw. They had all been separated, each encountering villainous rogues of their own. But it seemed whether it was a greedy puppet master or a large whale, somehow Beats got the worst of it.
Beats stomped his hoods against the ground and snorted. The four circled around the Donkey as he huffed and stomped before them.
"What happened to you?" Neku asked.
"I think" Joshua began getting his attention "someone might've had a bit too much fun here." he chuckled at him expense. From a staircase behind them, a large shadow moved at the top, tall and large like it's owner and it dripped down the stairs towards them.
"It's not funny!" Beats stomped a hoof angrily.
"Aha!" a voice suddenly let out above them evil, menacing and taking them by surprise.
They looked up and behind to see a tall man standing at the top of the stairs they descended. He wore a large red coat and had a round fat face under a hat. His hands were on his hips, yet one distinctly held a whip.
Surrounding him on the stairs seemed to be several large black shadows that moved all on their own. They had beady white eyes that stared down at them. They looked like they could perhaps pass as Heartless, but they could tell that they were something else entirely, though they couldn't say what.
"Yo!" Beats exclaimed "That's the guy who tricked me here!" Beats said looking over his friends.
"Tricked?" the man atop the stairs asked, his voice calm and agreeable, yet they sensed an underlying hint of malice to it. "No sir, not me." he brought a hand up to wave it before bringing it to his chest. Nestled between his thumb and pointer finger they saw a pipe. "You came here all on your own." he brought the hand up and pointed to him with the stem of the pipe shaking it with each word he said. Each point making them shudder at the sight, as if he'd drawn a sword on them.
"Yeah-well..." Beats stammered as the Coachman put the pipe in his mouth and then brought a match to light it. "It's still messed up since you brought us here!"
The Coachman puffed and the red light reflecting off from the flame gave him an uncomfortably demonic look that flashed with each flicker of the fire.
"That I did." he admitted waving the match to turn the flame to smoke. He flicked the match away "And you made quite the jackass of yourself." his voice began to change, growing deeper and darker with each new terrible word he said and revelation they came upon them. To finish it all off he began to laugh evilly and his body rumbled unnerving the five more.
Neku broke rank and stepped forward.
"Change him back!" Neku demanded pointing a finger to him.
"Change him back?" The Coachman repeated taking the pipe from his mouth "Can't do that. "he said, his voice turning calm again "You see," he began "once you come here you never return as Boys!" he peered towards them as his face curled up revealing a hideous grin and horrifying laugh. "Now!" He said finally bringing his other hand up raising the whip and then cracking it. "It's the salt mines for you!" He cracked it again.
"What kind of game is this?" Neku asked.
"You're worse than the Reapers!" Shiki pointed up to him.
"This game ain't no fun." Beats huffed behind then and embarrassingly brayed afterwards.
"Games and fun?" The Coachman replied "You had your fun. Now pay for it!" he turned his eyes into the others "As for you four." he settled on them, but didn't say anything else. The shadowy figures beside him began to move, making their way down the steps towards them as long black arms protruded out from their shadowy shapes. The Coachman didn't stir at all, but watched on content as the four went back to back as his shadowy minions stepped out creeping closer to them.
"What do we do now?" asked Rhyme as they huddled together going back to back.
Beats scrapped a hoof against the ground ready for action "Don't worry. I'll protect you."
"We have no choice but to fight it seems." Joshua said as they were being encircled.
"And then what?" Shiki asked holding onto Mr. Mew. "Where do we go from here?"
"Hopefully..." Neku spoke up dryly, but with a sense of hope and longing in his diminished voice "Shibuya."
Character Appearances: Neku, Shiki, Beats, Rhyme, Joshua(The World Ends with You), Stromboli, Monstro, the Coachman and his Henchmen(Pinocchio)
