Disclaimer: The Mad Doctor claims no ownership to the Kingdom Hearts franchise. It belongs to Disney and Square Enix.

Notes from the Mad Doctor: Greetings readers! Here's the first Disney world I've sent Kairi and Pluto too. And let me tell you, it's not going to be fun and games for her. Enjoy!

Chapter 8: Rough Start

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It wasn't too long after Kairi and Pluto left the Destiny Islands that the lifting sensation stopped, and the walls of light came down. Looking around, they saw that they definitely weren't where they started.

Kairi felt a little disoriented from the trip as her legs wobbled. "Whoa! What a ride! Really wish that woman who gave me the Wayfinder would've told me exactly what going to another world would be like."

Pluto barked in agreement. He too was trying to get his balance back.

After regaining her composure, Kairi did the first thing any adventurer would do: assess the surroundings. Looking around, they were apparently were in the middle of a lush, green jungle. Various animal noises were heard all around.

Though Kairi hadn't been to as many worlds as Sora, Riku and the others, she did recall the details of the ones that Sora had been to on his first adventure since she had been along for the ride within his heart. And from what she remembered, Sora, Donald and Goofy had visited a place like this in the past.

"Could this be Tarzan's jungle? It definitely feels like it. But then again, that world is unlikely to be the only jungle in the whole universe.'

Kairi also noted that she and Pluto hadn't changed into different forms. So, that meant that humans and dogs weren't going to be an unusual sight in this world.

'Although I probably will never understand why some didn't find Donald and Goofy's appearances unusual in the worlds they visited. You'd think to protect the world order, they would turn human in some worlds.'

Then Kairi saw what appeared to be sky a short distance away through the trees. That meant there was a break in the jungle just up ahead.

"Let's go over there, Pluto. Maybe we can get a better idea of where we are. But let's be careful. The Heartless and Nobodies may not have been seen since the Keyblade War. But we can't assume they won't show up. Also, if this place is the Deep Jungle or something similar to it, then there's likely to be predators around so be on your guard," said Kairi as she summoned her Keyblade.

Together, the two of them headed in the direction of the break. As they walked, Kairi kept her eyes and ears open for any sign of trouble. Pluto did too, as well as using his nose hopefully to pick up any scent of a possible foe.

When they finally made it out of the jungle, they emerged onto a beach. Kairi's jaw dropped as she beheld an amazing sight.

In front of her was a lagoon. And all around the lagoon in various places were mermaids.

The mermaids were all doing various activities. Some were just laying around. Others were fixing their hair and admiring themselves in the reflection of the water. One was even playing on a flute made out of a seashell. They were all engrossed in doing their own things that none of them had even noticed Kairi and Pluto.

'Mermaids? Could this be Ariel's world? That world seemed to be completely underwater, but Sora told me that there was a part of that world that was not.'

"Maybe these mermaids can help us, Pluto. You stay here on the beach," said Kairi as she dismissed her Keyblade and began to hop across some stones to get closer to where the mermaids where.

"Hello there!" she called out causing the mermaids to turn toward her. They let out a gasp of surprise.

"Who's she?" asked one with blonde hair.

"Where did she come from?" asked another with black hair and a hat made out of a lily pad.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your activities. My name's Kairi and I was wondering if you could help me."

The mermaids dove into the water and swam toward Kairi. Soon, all of them surrounded the rock that she was on.

"We can help you. But first you simply must join us for a swim," said a redheaded mermaid.

"Oh, thanks for the offer. But I really don't have the time. You see, I have something important to do. Also, I'm not exactly dressed for swimming," said Kairi.

"Oh. don't let that stop you and whatever you have to do can wait. Come on in!" said one of the mermaids as she leapt out and grabbed onto Kairi's skirt.

"Hey! Stop that!" shouted Kairi as she swatted the mermaid's hand away just as another one grabbed onto her ankle. "Let go of me!"

Suddenly, from behind her, a burst of water splashed Kairi. She turned around to confront the offending mermaid only for another splash of water to come from another behind her.

"Cut that out!" she shrieked.

The melee continued as the mermaids alternated between trying to pull Kairi into the water and splashing her while the Princess resisted. From his spot on the beach, all Pluto could do was bark angrily at the mermaids.

Finally, after she was positively drenched, Kairi had enough. She summoned Destiny's Embrace, pointed it to the sky and shouted, "Fire!"

A burst of flame burst from the tip of her Keyblade and shot skyward. The display of power finally got the mermaids to cease their attack and stare at her in shock.

"Now listen, all of you, I am not in the mood for this so back off!" she yelled.

The mermaids' shock wore off and was replaced by looks of annoyance. They immediately swam back to where they had originally been.

"What's the matter with her?"

"After all, we were only trying to drown her."

'Drown me? What's the matter with these girls?' thought Kairi.

"She's just as unpleasant as that Wendy girl."

"You would think Peter would bring someone to Never Land who actually likes to have fun."

The last mermaid's comment struck Kairi with a sudden realization. "Wait! Peter? As in, Peter Pan?" she asked.

The mermaids turned back to her and said rather snidely, "Why yes. Wasn't he the one who brought you here?"

'I'd better play along. Got to protect the world order as Donald would probably tell me if he was here. Also, maybe they can tell me where to find Peter Pan.'

"Uh yes. He did bring me here. But we got separated so do you have any idea where I can find him?" asked Kairi.

"Oh, he could be anywhere. He could be treasure hunting with the Lost Boys or fighting with Hook," said one of the mermaids.

"If you wish to find him, your best bet is to just wander around Never Land and hope he finds you," said another one.

"Now, if you don't mind, we have some important grooming and sunning to get back to so be on your way," said a third one.

With that, the mermaids just went back to their previous business and paid no more attention to Kairi which was perfectly fine with her. She'd had enough of dealing with them.

Hopping across the stones, she made it back to the beach. Pluto ran up to her and barked in concern.

"I'm alright, Pluto. A little water never hurt anyone. But as unhelpful as those mermaids were, we now know where we are and that there's one of Sora's friends in this world. So, do you think you could sniff out anything that may smell like a young boy? Because that could lead us to Peter Pan," she said to the dog.

Pluto nodded and began to sniff the air. After a few moments, his eyes lit up. He let out a bark.

"You got something?" Pluto barked again. "Good boy! Lead the way!"

Pluto walked along the beach while still sniffing the air. Kairi followed behind him. But before she left the lagoon, which she was only too happy to do so, she turned in the direction of the mermaids and stuck out her tongue out at them.

The mermaids gasped. "Well, I never!"

A short while later, Kairi and Pluto were still walking along the beach. Pluto continued to follow the scent while Kairi used an Aero spell to dry herself off.

'Next time I see Jiminy, I have something for him to add to his journal: there are mermaids in Never Land and they are nothing like the merpeople of Atlantica.'

Then she heard Pluto bark. She looked in his direction and saw that he was pointing his nose toward a series of stones leading across the water toward a large rock that was shaped like a skull.

"Is that where the scent is coming from, Pluto?" she asked. Pluto barked in the affirmative.

Kairi was a little hesitant. The rock didn't look like the most inviting place and she had no idea what could be in there. Still, if Pluto believed that's where the scent was leading them, then she had to trust him.

The two of them began to leap across the stones toward the rock. Soon enough, they arrived, and Kairi immediately noticed an entrance. Picking up the scent again, Pluto took the lead and Kairi followed.

Fortunately, it wasn't too dark within the rock, so Kairi didn't need to cast a Fire or Light spell to illuminate the area. But Kairi kept on her guard just in case they would encounter something dangerous.-

Finally, they entered into a large open area within the rock. And what was in the centre of it made Kairi's eyes open wide.

"A treasure chest!" she exclaimed.

Pluto walked over to it and sniffed it. He turned to Kairi and barked.

"You mean, this is what you were tracking?" asked Kairi. Pluto nodded. "Oh. I was hoping we'd find Peter Pan."

Then she started debating onto whether or not to look inside. She knew it didn't belong to her. But, at the same time, all she wanted was to look and she wasn't going to take anything from it.

Kairi then approached the chest and gripped the lid. It wasn't locked so she was able to open it. But what she saw inside was quite surprising.

It was not filled with gold or jewels like one would expect. Instead, the chest was filled with various weapons such as wooden swords, clubs, slingshots, tomahawks, and bows and arrows.

'Reminds me of the various objects Sora, Riku and I would hunt for around the Islands whenever we played pirates,' thought Kairi as a small smile came to her face briefly before becoming sad. 'What I would give to have those days back again.'

Kairi was about to close the chest and move on when she spotted something inside. Pulling it out, she found herself holding what would have been the last thing she expected to see in Never Land.

It was a Keyblade. Not a regular one though since it was made out of wood. It was also broken in two. But put together, there was no doubt the shape was that of a Keyblade.

But what was more shocking was the name carved into the handle: Terra.

'Terra's been here? He must have. There's no other way this Keyblade could've come here,' pondered Kairi as she wondered what kind of story the wooden Keyblade held.

"Hey! That's our treasure!"

Kairi jumped up in surprise and turned around. She and Pluto were no longer alone.

Standing before them was a group of six young boys. All of them were dressed in various animal suits and were all armed with weapons similar to those in the chest.

"You've got a lot of nerve trying to steal from us!" shouted the tallest boy who was dressed as a fox.

"No! I wasn't stealing anything! I just came across the chest and was just looking at was inside. I wasn't going to take anything," said Kairi.

"A likely story!" said two boys dressed as raccoons and who appeared to be twins.

"You're nothing but a no-good pirate!" exclaimed another in a rabbit suit.

"But she's a girl. I never hearded of a girl pirate before," said a chubby boy in a bear suit.

The one in the fox suit suddenly bopped the one in the bear suit on the head. "Of course she's a pirate! We caught her red-handed trying to steal Ven's keepsake out of the chest!"

The mention of Ven's name caught Kairi by surprise. 'Ven? He's been here too, and he's met these boys?'

"Listen! You said this belonged to Ven. Well, I know him!" shouted Kairi.

"Don't try to fool us. We know all pirates are lairs," said the one in the rabbit suit.

"Look. I'll just put this back and then I'll leave. There's no need to fight at all," said Kairi as she turned around to put the halves of the wooden Keyblade back in the chest.

But just as she put it back, a sudden pain hit her in the back of her head. "Ow!" she exclaimed as she turned around again to face the boys.

The culprit appeared to be the youngest of the boys who was dressed in a skunk suit and hadn't said a word since the confrontation began. He was holding a slingshot that he apparently just fired.

"That wasn't very nice!" she shouted causing the boy to hold the slingshot behind his back and pretend to be innocent.

"Boys, I don't want any trouble," said Kairi.

"Well, you sure founded it," said the boy in the bear suit.

"I think we've talked enough! Let's get her!" said the one in the fox suit as all of them charged toward Kairi.

Seeing no other choice, Kairi summoned her Keyblade while Pluto positioned himself in front of her with his teeth bared and letting out some vicious growls. They had no intention of harming their young adversaries. But they had to defend themselves in some way.

'First the mermaids and now these boys. Is there no one in Never Land that can be reasoned with? My adventure certainly isn't off to a good start.'

Notes from the Mad Doctor: Bet you weren't expecting Never Land, were you? There's a reason I chose this to be Kairi's first stop on the journey. Next chapter, the Boy Who Won't Grow Up will make his first appearance in this as will Disney's most famous fairy. How will they react to Kairi? You'll just have to wait and see. Reviews are much appreciated! Stay tuned!