HI.
Sorry it took so long for me to update. I should have done this long ago but life... is life.
Hope people enjoy this now that we are getting along with the main plot.
As of note, about Donald's speech, it will get clearer as time goes one, but since I am trying to convey this in Sora's perspective, he doesn't get Donald right away. Plus doesn't want to understand Donald. Don't worry, in a few more chapters it will clear up.
As always, please enjoy.
Finally, the trio reaches a brand new world. With the world itself is a maze of confusion and twists and turns, the group's own lack of experience began to dwindle the already low teamwork. Hopefully, they will find what they are looking for here?
x
A Fragment of a Fragment
By True-InTha-Blue
Chapter 9
Enter Wonderland
x
It took a week for Sora and the others to recover. Leon and the gang had been bombarded with numerous of Soldiers and Shadows while Sora and those Disney's were fighting the big one.
Both parties were banged up badly. But a feeling of peace had come over to the town unlike before Sora had gotten there. It seemed lively in all three districts and further now, people now a little less afraid and a bit merrier going about their lives.
Something sparkled in their eyes. Hope. It was small, but it seemed more numerous for those who knew what to look for.
Despite injuries, Leon and Sora were making up for the lost time to train. However, progress was slower than either of them would like. But Sora learned to dodge better and use his momentum with the keyblade.
Sora keeping his biting remarks back was a bit difficult. His temper was at a low simmer, pressure building up on the clamped lid that was starting to become loose.
His 'Darkness' was quiet, but Sora took refuge in that as he didn't really enjoy talking to the guy.
He'd read enough stories to not trust 'the dark side'. It was in every myth and legend the Islands had.
Patiently Sora tried to eke out as much progress as he could, but as noted, it was slow. Even with the healing magic of Aerith, it could only do so much. They explained it as 'his body not being used to magic'. Whatever that meant.
Yet even that time could be spent learning magic from the lady in pink.
It… it was hard.
Magic wasn't like learning how to use a weapon. It took focus and time, neither of those Sora was particularly good at all the time. He could be patient, and he could be focused. But his nerves have been jitter to find his friends, dreaded scenarios popping up in his mind, and the haunting image of Kairi from the islands embedded itself into his vision when he closed his eyes and his gut churning and sinking with heavy weight of dread.
Still learning magic was useful (along with neat as everyone wanted to use magic! Who wouldn't?). Fire was something he seemed to get the most, or at least 'understand' the most.
Aerith said she was teaching him Willed Magic, magic that did not need spellbooks or wands or formulas. It was hard to master but handier in a pinch. Saying that he seemed the type of person to rely on his emotions in a fight.
At this point, all Sora could do was manage a small fireball.
Still, he was angry at how slow he made it.
Didn't help when he heard the duck try to hide a snide chuckle at him at his small pitiful attempt.
The week passed, and everyone was fairly up to standard. Leon's gang was all ready to defend the town from whatever small amount of heartless popped up and Sora was ready to leave and find his friends.
They couldn't leave right away. They needed to gather supplies for what they called 'The Gummi Ship' for the journey.
The boy trained with Leon in the second district while Donald and Goofy went to get supplies. Best get a bit more training in before heading out.
"You don't trust them," Leon said suddenly after a sparring session.
"Huh?"
"Those two. Donald. Goofy. I can tell you don't trust them," Leon began to realize just how much the boy was like him.
Sora gritted his teeth. Was it that obvious from the narrowed eyed glances he been sending behind those two backs?
"I don't blame you," Leon said, surprising Sora. "It's hard, especially in your situation." He swung the gunblade over his shoulder and walked towards the fountain.
Sora dismissed the keyblade. He was learning to summon and dismiss it at will, though it still required attention to do so.
"I go with them, help them find their king, fight heartless, and find my friends. What else is there?" Sora asked not expecting an answer.
"You know what... I don't know," Leon said fulfilling the expectations.
A sigh came from the boy.
"You're a good swordsman's Leon but you really tank at giving advice," That got a dry laugh from the older man. "At least you're happy."
"For the first time in a while... I feel like I have hope. Of course, it might be a bit better if you actually seemed dedicated to using that keyblade."
Sora considered the words. "Why me?" He said, re-summoning the keyblade. He turned to Leon. "What makes me qualified to use this thing? Just slay heartless. As I said, didn't come with an instruction manual," The closest thing he had was that one dark dude and even then…
Leon shook his head. "I think that's something you have to discover on your own. Then again, you said I don't give good advice."
That got an unamused look from Sora. Leon reminded him of a cross between his dad, Riku and Riku's dad. Stern men who never tolerated his rowdiness and matched it with their own.
"Hey, you two! They're ready!" Yuffie said from the walkway.
Leon patted Sora on the back. "You ready?"
"As I'll ever be," Sora said.
They headed towards the first district where his ticket to find his friends were at.
Through the ledge, he spotted Donald and Goofy. He was not too sure what to think of them. Neither did the Traverse gang know much about them, so he had no one to really talk to. Once again he hadn't been able to go into his heart and speak to the other there about it. He didn't know what to think of that guy either... But out everyone, he seemed to know the most. Somehow. Or at least seemed to.
All he could do was go forward and see what happens.
"Howdy there, Sora!" Goofy greeted with a big friendly grin and wave. "Are ya ready for adventure?!"
"Uhm..." Sora paused seeing the overly excited face of Goofy and the sour face of Donald. "Yeah? Got everything we need?"
"We'll let's see here—" Goofy began to tick of his fingers. "Food, water, clean clothes, bathroom supplies, good blankets and uhhh, oh yeah! Lots of medical stuff. Those moogle guys sure are nice. And Cid really helped us as well."
Jiminy Cricket popped out from one of Goofy's vest pockets and onto his shoulder. "I got a list of our stock and supplies all right here, and I'll be sure to go over what we use."
Cid just then walked up holding a pouch. "Here!" He tossed it to Sora who fumbled trying to catch it. "That's the munny you earned up while working for me. Can use it in any world as it will change into that form of currency. Use it well kid," He offered a thumbs up.
"Thanks." It had a hefty weight to it. He wondered what munny turned into in other worlds.
The boy turned to his newest companions.
"Let's go," He said seriously.
"Now, now," Donald wagged a feathery finger. "You can't come along looking like that."
"Huh?" Look like what? Was it his clothes or something? His hair?
"Now frowning. No sad face. Okay?"
Sora looked absolutely baffled. Were they real? "Seriously?" Should he start regretting this?
Goofy leaned close to Donald. "Yeah, ya gotta look funny, like us!" Donald pushed him away.
"This boat runs on happy faces," The bill stretched to a wide grin.
They were serious, weren't they? Briefly Sora wondered what other chances that another world traveling vessel will come anytime soon.
Not likely.
He tried to grin. 'Tried' being the keyword, his blue eyes were scrunched up, the brows pressed tightly together, and face was cracking into a lopsided grimace with his teeth showing far too much.
"BAAAAWAWAWAWAWWAWAWAW!" Donald cried at the sight! "NO! NO! NO!" He began to wave his arms erratically. "THAT LOOK WILL CRASH OUR SHIP!"
Goofy always the problem solver came up with a middle grown. "Then looks like we'll just have to help ya learn how to smile. Finding your friends will help I bet!"
"He's right," Jiminy pipped in. "We gotta find the ones we care about. That will perk us up."
Sora nodded putting his face back together. Kairi always said he had a nice smile.
Yuffie, Aerith and Leon also joined in.
"Good luck you three," The lady in pink encouraged.
"We'll be rooting for you!" The ninja cheered.
"Don't die," The gunblade user grunted.
One of these things didn't match the others.
"Hold on," Leon called before they turned around. "Remember those Dalmatians in the house?" Sora nodded. "I've heard reports from others that there are spheres with puppies sleeping in suspension in them. 99 in total. The Spheres have a keyhole, so if you can, I would like you to rescue them."
"Aw! Leon!" Yuffie cooed. "Even you have a soft side."
"Shut up."
"... I'll try," Sora said thinking about how in the worlds he could find 99 puppies. Then again... how did two dogs have 99 puppies?
Soon enough Sora found himself walking into a large bright red and yellow striped ship outside the town walls.
He felt awed. It was just like one of his plastic models! The ones he built back at the islands! He would construct them and paint them, carefully place the stickers on him and then play with them. Epic space battles would take place in his room and... His parents would tell him to quiet down, and he would have to be careful when Riku came over to play with him... Kairi would ask him how to put them together...
He felt hollow.
"Sora?" Donald asked noticing the boy had stopped on the ramp.
Sora snapped out of his stupor. "Oh, Sorry. All of this is... so new,"
"You'll get used to it in no time!" Goofy encouraged as they walked into the main cockpit. Most of the ship's bulk was armor, however, the cockpit part itself contained the control room, bedrooms, a relaxing space, a bathroom, and a small kitchenette. It was just like a long voyage ship they used at sea back...
...Home...
The control room was large with two seats, but from the floor, another one rose for him
"Buckle up! We're about to take off!" Donald said taking the front seat and wheel.
With a gulp, the boy felt the rumble of the engine, a deep shaking like rocks inside your ribcage and a bass going off from a speaker.
He was glad he didn't eat before leaving. The sky began to get closer and the land began to get father. It was then something truly strange happened.
The sky began to warp, as although it was gelatin being pierced. It began to twist, and colors melded until suddenly those colors took the form of streams and ribbons and the stars gleamed brightly in clouds of twisting hues. Matter itself took the forms of all geometrical shapes and hexagons rippled in the sky.
It was more than anything he could imagine with those stars feeling closer than ever.
...
Were Kairi and Riku staring at these stars?
Were they even able to look at the stars?
Apparently, in certain places of the Inbetween Realms, there were concentrations of 'heartless ships', made of the same material as theirs but apparently heartless possess them to take down any travelers. These were called 'Dark Alleys'. They appeared when there when stars seen through the lanes were dimmed, that meant there was going to be an attack.
For something seemingly as mindless as heartless, they were resourceful.
They had not reached the darkest part of the Alley so it was a safe time to catch up on rest. Sora was escorted to a small little cabin area where a bed was built into the wall. The mattress and blankets were unnaturally poofy and soft. He thanked Goofy for taking him here and promptly fell asleep.
Cool glass met his face.
"Hmmm...ph... "He didn't want to get up. He didn't want to talk to anyone.
"Is my company so unpleasant? Out of everyone you have met, I'm quite sure I provide one of the more engaging conversations," A pernicious chuckle. "You're going to need it considering your bunking with a duck and a dog."
A single blue eye opened to stare at the masked boy sitting in front of him. "What do you mean?" Sora mumbled.
Another bark of laughter. This guy seemed very amused with everything Sora said, if not mocking. "You honestly think they are going actually be of use? Please. You saw how they were with that heartless, and that... is still probably small fry to what you will face later on," He got up and began to lightly pace.
"In the end... you are only going to rely on you and only you!" He said with a clenched fist.
It was then Sora got up. "Then... where do you come in? What do you get from this?" He asked skeptically. He still didn't know what this guy wanted.
His... darkness? What did that even mean? Then again... what did heartless even mean? Sora knew he wasn't the type to think too deeply about certain matters, but boy did he wish he could right now.
Vanitas tilted his head at the boy. His host and hopefully his future vessel. Hard work and much time and careful consideration had been spent crafting Sora. It was best to approach his questions in a manner to get Sora to trust Vanitas.
Sora must be melded into a perfect being of dark and light, better than what Ventus offered. Powerful enough to handle Vanitas merging with him and to defeat his ex-master, should the old fool ever show up.
Undoubtedly he will.
"What's in it for me? I am you after all. Surely, we benefit from the same thing," The figure countered to Sora.
His host did not look convinced. Time for the next phase. "Regardless of what you think and what others have told you, I would rather not have your heart consumed by those heartless," He gestured around like it was obvious. "After all, why would darkness... want more darkness?"
He never understood the old fool's fascination of being a hundred percent darkness. Nothing good came out of it. Speaking from personal experiences... Vanitas didn't remember if the guy even asked his opinion.
Probably not.
"Why?" Sora asked now going more curious, though his eyes narrowed in suspicion. He didn't know much but heartless, embodiments of darkness, craved the darkness inside people right?...
But did that mean the darkness inside people wanted to become a heartless?
"What you want, is your friends," The dark beings foot tapped the ground drawing attention to the platform. Between him and Sora were two circles, one with the image of Kairi and the other was Riku. "Those precious people who give you such joy and happiness. Filling your heart to the brim with warmth and comfort. Why would anyone sane deny such things?"
Sora hated to admit it, but everything the guy was saying made sense and rang true. He felt completely lost without Kairi and Riku.
The figure continued. "You want them back right? Having power, exploring the worlds, and using that keyblade are possibly your greatest chances of finding them," He said with a flourish. "Like I said before. Use others."
He took a step closer to Sora but still stood tall above the boy.
"Use me."
That took the keyblade user aback. "Huh? You?"
Vanitas' voice was that same cool quietness he used when talking to Ventus. Leading someone to do exactly what he wanted.
"I'm your darkness. I am part of your heart," He pointed to the keyblade which was always held by the boy whenever he entered this glowing dive. "The keyblade and you grow stronger the more your body AND heart develop. So... Use those good memories of your friends to reach your innermost self. To reach for that which gives you that light... And use your anger to destroy those who get in your way. Use me to help you obtain both."
The world faded for Sora before he could reply.
Vanitas watched as Sora went back to his slumber, dreams or nightmares, the fragment did not care. Both would serve ends to fuel Sora's desire for happiness or fuel his anger for those who took away.
He felt like things were going too well. Then again, nothing in his short pitiful life ever really went his way. So maybe it was normal to be paranoid.
Vanitas felt tired, as he always did when conversing with Sora... but he felt good right now. And wanted to dwell in the sensation longer.
Maybe gloat?
Definitely!
He traveled the faded and worn path to his sleeping light half. All the color dimming and the fog growing more intense. A place that resides deep, deep in Sora's heart, nigh unreachable in probably to even the host himself.
Vanitas suspect the only reason he was able to reach here was that he was still tied to Ventus...
Unfortunately.
"You know Ventus, it really does feel nice to finally get something good in your life," He began to walk around the impenetrable sphere that was the only thing that kept the boy from being strangled alive. "This boy we ended up in. The fact that you're asleep and I'm awake? Not only does he have a strong heart, but also somehow he got a keyblade! I don't know if it is because of either of us or a keyblade really did choose him, but I don't care! And he's already a better potential vessel than you ever been!"
Ventus remained asleep with that small smile on his face.
A fist tightened.
"You're a terrible conversationalist. Always have been those lame excuses. Ticked me off so much, I just wanted to kill you- Then again-" He thought about it. "Whenever you opened your mouth I got the urge to kill you. So moot point."
It was refreshing to converse with someone though. Those talks with the boy were almost exhilarating.
Was he... actually looking forward to his talks with Sora? Well, those were chances to manipulate the boy. So yes, in that regard.
Tapping the sphere and heard that little chime noise. A reminder that Ventus was completely unaware of the events surrounding him. That Sora would soon be following Vanitas' will, to finally be the vessel of both light and dark he so craved.
To be complete.
"There is nothing you can do about it," Vanitas whispered softly. "You can't call upon your friends here and hide nor hair has been seen about any of them. They've been forgotten," He turned away from the sphere.
"Good riddance."
Sora heard the horrific yell of Donald even before he opened his eyes. It was one heck of a wakeup call.
"BATTLEPOWSITIONSHEARTLESSWIPSRUPONUWS!" Came the cry from the hallway as the flippers patterned away towards the control room.
How did anyone understand that duck?! What did he say? What?. Something about battle. Seeing really that there was nothing else to do and the rumbling the ship was currently going through was a cause for concern. Up on deck it indeed was a cause for concern because outside the dome window were other ships, all bearing that heartless emblem. Donald took the controls from Autopilot and began to use a small little gun to blow up the opposing ships.
There was a wide screen that showed the outside and a cursor that can be directed. Several controls appeared on Donald's chair as they slowly moved forth and the duck began to shoot down the ships that appeared along with the occasional debris. The gummi ship rocked and trembled and rattled teeth in the gums whenever the ship was shot.
Once.
Twice.
Five times.
Twelve times.
In total. Each time was a nerve-racking shake that left bits of the ship flying off into space past the window.
Finally, after a dozen anxious riddled moments did the stars brightened and the ships of the heartless seemed to no longer come for them.
A squabble sigh emitted from the duck. Goofy was wiping his brow and Sora himself felt his hands slowly pry off the chair handles.
Everything seemed to slow to a crawl now, everyone was silent, as though waiting for another attack.
Something.
A beep emitted from the radar sending all ship inhabitants flying off their seats with Donald screeching loudest.
"Approaching World Sphere. estimated time: 30 minutes."
The computer noted them calmly as though nothing happened.
"Damage calculations: 30% damage to the hull. 10% damage to engine. 30% damage to wings. 15% damage to cockpit. Suggestion: Dock and await for bay to send repairs"
"OH! Gosh dwarn it!" The duck slammed his hand against the console.
Goofy looked at the screen as well, a frown on his muzzle. "Well gwarsh. Suppose we'll just have to wait at the next world until Chip n' Dale to send the teeny ships to help repair ours."
Donald did not seem too pleased with this. In his mind, waiting anywhere was less time searching for the king.
The boy they had with them was rather confused by the terminology. Everything was hurtling along without any know or how. From what he could tell... they were stuck. He wanted to frown and protest on why Donald allowed their ship to get so many hits, but a small little voice whispered in his mind.
["Search..."] It was weak and barely audible. If the cockpit hadn't been so quiet Sora was sure he would not have heard it.
Search...
Search?
Search for what?
His friends?
Crossing his arms the chosen boy began to think about what has happened. They would have to wait at a world...
Search the world...
For his friends?
"Sora!" Donald barely feasible voice broke through the thoughts.
"What?!" Sora asked harshly.
"WAK! Listen!" A feathery finger jabbed in his direction. "We gotta dock on another world! You!" Another jab. "Don't wander arwound!" He said firmly before stomping towards the console to put in the command.
Ignoring the fact, he was given a warning just like the teachers did back the islands, Sora tried to peer at the screen to see what Donald was doing. All he knew was that the ship was damaged, and some guys, named Chip and Dale were supposed to send over something called Teeny Ships for repair...
What did that all mean?
Goofy noticed what the keyboy was doing and thought it was best to inform Sora on the situation. "We gotta wait at the other world until our Gummi Ship engineers can send us new blocks to repair it. It's quite easy to do so," He explained with a bucktooth grin.
Sora could only stare at all these things happening around him. Another world. They were going to reach another world.
And regardless of what Donald said, he was most definitely going to 'wander' and try to find his friend.
"Is... that... a world?" Sora asked when they came across a mass of land floating in space. Heart-Shaped patterned floors, a large maze, and castle, and house stood oddly at it. The image itself flickered occasionally as hexagonal ripples shined through it. It was like an 2D picture than an actual object.
Goofy was as always helpful to explain. "That's a World's Glimpse. It's uh... kinda like a... summary of what we're in for," He scratched his head. "I don't really get it myself but it sure can be useful I'd imagin'."
One couldn't help but wonder what sort of place that could be summed up in some fantastic scenery could be like up close.
Donald was quick to put down any adventurous thoughts. "We're only there becwause of repairs. Nothing else! Interfwearing will ruin the world order. So, we cwan't just go around bwothering people!" The duck warned somehow with steel in that scratchy voice. The ship began to get remarkably close to the World Glimpse; the surrounding space around began to warp and twist just like when they left Traverse Town. The torrent of cosmic colors and swirls of stars began to fade out and replaced with bright blue skies that seemed to almost be painted on a surface. Clouds almost seemed too poofy and the sky itself, too saturated.
The gummi ship seemed to know where it was going when it headed to a large tree with a hole in it, going to park the hole when it suddenly got dark.
It seemed to be their stop.
Of course, when looking out of the bay doors, Sora wondered if this was a good place to stop. It seemed to be a large hole that went down and down and down with no bottom in sight.
"Uh?" He looked at Donald and then to Goofy who was looking down it all the same. "Is this a world?"
"Lesson Number 5 in Adventuwing. You'll never know unless you go." Donald said sternly. "Beswides, we gotta see there is any of our ship parts fell here." With that said the duck and dog proceeded to walk out in open air, stay there for a little while, and then fall.
Blue eyes watched as the duck and dog let out their respective signature screams as they descended into the hole.
...He had the ship now to himself... Those eyes looked back the steering wheel, debating.
However... the slight chance that his friends could be on this world was what made Sora jump into the hole as well.
And while the whistling winds of the initial plummet did send his heart in his throat, the slow descent that happened became a very welcome change. Somehow he caught up with the two others as well.
Donald upside down and Goofy slowly twirling in the air; if that wasn't strange enough, it was the assortment of common day items that floated along with them.
Somewhat common anyway. Globes with shifting weather patterns, paintings that moved, clocks that turned to dust when their hands rapidly spun around at an invisible speed. Down and down they went until a small little room greeted them to a narrow corridor where the walls and decor warped around as a drill was twisting them.
"Phew." Donald heaved a sigh of relief when their feet touched the ground. To be honest, he was not too sure what was going to happen when he and Goofy left the ship, but he had to seem like he was in charge, especially with the 'key' master being so rowdy.
His majesty most certainly did not mention anything about an attitude with the key in the letter.
"Alwight." Donald said turning around, eyes closed like he had everything together. "We set up a satwion here to get shwelter and wait for Chip and Dale to send the repwairs. Sowa do you-" When he opened his eyes, the Magician noticed LACK of Sora next to Goofy.
"Wha-! GOOFY!"
Goofy smiled at Donald. "Hyuk, yes Donald?"
"How cowme you didn't stwop him?!"
"Stop who, Donald?"
"SOWA!"
"Oh." Goofy thought about it. "I was supposed to stop him?"
The duck let out a yell of frustration before running off to the only direction the boy could have gone.
"Wait for me Donald!" Goofy followed shortly behind.
They found Sora looking at a doorway that had already been open. Many doorways within doorways in fact.
"Hold it!" Donald said catching up. The boy ignored him and headed into the doors and found himself in another room with a table, bottle, a key, and the floor was very wet for some reason. There was also a brick stove, flowerpots, and small little counters. A mouse hole was on the side.
On the wall was an exceedingly small door with a large brass doorknob.
"I SAID WAIT!" Donald was heaving breaths from behind while Goofy had casually strolled along through as well. "We're supposed to stay in one spot!" He demanded of Sora.
The boy in turn frowned. "And I want to find my friends. So, there is no way I won't look for them!" He turned back to the door wondering how in the worlds he was supposed to get through it.
"BWAKI!" Donald was slowly turning red. "NOW LISTEN-"
"Will you all quiet down? I'm trying to get some sleep here." A voice came from nowhere. This caused the trio to look around worriedly, did someone sneak upon them?
"Uh guys?" Goofy was pointing at where the door was.
The doorknob was talking! The keyhole stretched to be the mouth and the knob was the nose. Tiny eyes peered from the raised ridges.
"Would you mind? I was sleeping," It said with a drowsy voice.
Sora and Donald were taken aback by the sentient inanimate object. Goofy and his unique perspective took it along with stride. "Good morning."
"Good night." The Doorknob did not seem to appreciate it. "After that girl coming through here, I can't handle more drama."
That caught Sora's attention. "Wait! A girl? She passed through here?" His heart instantly hoped it was Kairi. Maybe if he thought with his head, a girl could have been anyone, already this world was defying logic so why bother?
Irritated and wanting to get this over with the doorknob answered. "Yes, yes. Rather distressed, tears EVERYWHERE!"
Sora looked hopeful, could Kairi be here? He needed to get to her.
Donald narrowed his eyes, wondering. "Is a king here?" For no one could be kingly in this place.
A small yawn escaped from the keyhole. "If I tell you would you leave me be?"
"Is there?"
"I believe there is a king," Another yawn. "Don't know why you would bother though..." And with that, it went back to be a normal doorknob.
"Golly! Ya think the king is here?" Goofy turned to Donald in a much quieter voice to be polite.
"Must be!" Donald said excited.
Sora considered what they were saying. "Then that means it's good to explore this world," He said standing up. "If they're here, what are we waiting for?"
Goofy nodded but Donald was quick to notice a problem. "WAK! HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO GET IN?!"
That was a problem they realized. The door was set on sleeping, and even then it was small. Everything else seemed normal size.
"Thwere's gotta be a clue." Mumbled Donald as the others searched the room. Any clues at all.
It seemed like nothing was changing until Goofy saw a small bottle with a label that said: "Drink me".
Goofy considered it, and then remembered he was thirsty. And then acting like it was complete common sense to follow strange instructions, drank it.
"GOOFY!" Donald cried seeing his friend trying it.
Goofy seemed rather satisfied at whatever he just had. "Why! It tastes like blueberries. Ya gotta try this Donald." He said handing the small bottle over.
Donald snatched it turning his back to his friend as though admonishing the action. Those eyes darted back and forth before taking a drink as well.
"This taste more like Birthday Cake!" The duck exclaimed.
It was Sora who noticed Donald holding something. "What's that?" He said swiping it and not asking for permission. It smelled like... his mom's... breakfast biscuits. Nostalgia made the boy take the sip, finding the flavor both familiar and foreign.
It was then the boy realized Donald and Goofy were nowhere in sight. "Whe-" Everything then zoomed up like a magical beanstalk, growing like crazy.
When Sora found himself next to Donald and Goofy with the furniture now being proper for giants.
"Huh... Guess that there drink shrunk us," Goofy said realizing what happened while the other two were in shock.
There was a sense of frustration for carelessly not taking caution in this new environment.
Things took a turn for the worse.
Rising from the floor and appearing in those red and black portals. The Shadows, Soldiers, and now an even larger type of heartless with a huge round body.
Heartless were here! Without even calling to aid, the keyblade appeared as though it knew enemies had come.
Sora was quick to act. Heartless were a great way to vent one's frustrations.
"SORA LOOK OUT!" Goofy cried just as the one huge heartless that had jumped near and slammed itself on the ground. It sent shock waves coursing through the floor to send the boy back.
While Soldiers and Shadows could be handled a bit, Donald and Goofy slowly adapting to how these heartless fought; unfortunately to find the large one seemed immune to all attacks!
They were slowly being backed towards the wall as the Large heartless swung its arms madly around. It was easy to tell that one hit from those would spell bad news for any of them.
"Nothing's working!" Donald cried after he blasted another fireball towards it. Sora wasn't doing magic as he couldn't focus enough. He looked around, someway or some advantage that Leon drilled into his head while at Traverse Town.
Jiminy who had taking to reside in Sora's hood as it was easier for him to write down the journey spotted something. "Look there, fellas!" He spotted the mouse hole. "Over there! Hurry!" Sora ran past to the two gunning towards the hole. The Disneys quickly followed. The hole in the wall turned out to be a hole in the floor and once again they were falling and falling and falling until falling sideways out a log they shouldn't have all fit in and shot out like a cannon.
Sora slammed into a tree, Donald was splashed into a pond and Goofy was sent tumbling into some branches.
"Ow."
Sora felt worse than he got hit in the head with three coconuts in a row. He slowly got up noticing the change of scenery. "A forest?" He scanned the area.
"Geez." The voice from his ear sounded dizzy. "Why that was some ride," On his shoulder was Jiminy Cricket.
Sora still dazed as well asked the chronicler something that has been on his mind since they got here. "Are... all worlds this... crazy?" He certainly hoped not. Traverse Town seemed at least some semblance of normalcy despite being completely different from the islands.
The tiny guy shook his head. "No... I don't believe so. At least, the ones I have been to so far," He then considered something. "Well, can't say that was much but I am very sure this is one odd pickle of a world we find ourselves in."
They were in a forested area where the trunks reached for the sky and yet were too thin to seem stable. "Sora. We should find the others," The cricket said.
Did he have to? With a roll of his eyes, the boy got up to see where the walking talking animal people were.
Though... where the dark corners were... it felt like someone was watching him...
Heartless?
He called forth the keyblade in his hands ready to go on offense. It took a moment before Goofy and Donald noticed him.
Sora felt a pang of annoyance. How slow these guys were? They were a king's guard? Have they ever fought someone before?
Then voices spoke.
"They are not like those."
"Nope! Not at all. Those are indeed not them."
Heartless or not, Sora did not like anyone hiding. "Come on out!"
"Yeah!" Donald also quipped towards the voices. "Shwow your swelves!"
How was anyone supposed to understand Donald, the boy did not know.
The two in hiding didn't so much walk but bounced towards the trio. Two near-identical... short guys with flags on their caps. With each bounce, a honk was released until the two presented themselves.
On their collars were the names 'Tweedle Dee' and 'Tweedle Dum'.
The three paused unsure what to make of these two.
"Ya really can't greet a person like that!" Tweedle Dee bumped the other one who honked.
"See ya got it backwards. Instead of shaking a sword you shake hands!" Tweedle Dum honk while thrusting his hands forward. The two shook hands with each other instead of the new group, and then grabbed Donald and Goofy and danced around with them calling out how to shake hands.
Sora began to leave.
"Wait!" Jiminy cried out. "Sora!" He scolded the boy for leaving his companions. There was no need to as the two bouncing men blocked the path.
"Ya can't just go like that!" One said causing the boy to halt.
The other did the same. "Not when ya can't even trust the shadows," Both shook their head. They began fisticuffs, each hit was a honk from each other.
Donald and Goofy caught up from their daze. "Shadows?" Goofy asked seeing that they needed to gather information.
"Aye the Shadows appear even when the shadows are not there. And then make more shadows."
"Ya can't even hide in the shadows from these Shadows. All ya can do is make sure there are no Shadows around."
The leaned forward, eyes almost glass and unfocused. "Ya best do the same," They said at the same time.
And then they began to sing.
"Oh, the shadows, the shadows, they won't stay put."
"And stepping on them, you'll lose ya foot."
"Your hair may turn white-"
This time the trio was leaving in tandem, two oddballs caught up in their song to notice.
The trio was perturbed, not because of potential heartless, but the residents of this world. A squabbled noise emerged from Donald. "Why would the king be here?" He asked while his eyes scanned the forest area for any other oddballs.
"Well we won't know until we see him," Goofy said straightforwardly.
Sora grunted. "We can't afford to get distracted like that." Everything seemed to set him on edge. Even during Traverse Town, without the sound of waves from the ocean or the scent of salt, nothing was familiar.
Trapped in his thoughts and now suspicious of each dark area, Sora found himself once again trailing behind Goofy and Donald.
He still didn't trust the two of them. Well, maybe Goofy on pure principle that the guy didn't seem to have a malicious bone in his body.
On the note of not understanding what he was saying, Donald was the more questionable guy. ...Maybe it had something to do with the fireball to the back that caused Sora's dislike but that was not just all of it!
Donald reminded him of all those adults back at the island who always doubted him. Just because he was a 'troublemaker'. He never really done anything that bad! Sure a few pranks here and there.
Yeah, he often beat up the jerks who insulted him and his friends. Yeah, he was rowdy and refused to listen to people who didn't have his respect. Yeah, he and Riku more often than not left things torn up when they spared. But they always put things back into place... eventually.
His gut told him, and that was usually right, that no matter what he did or was going to do, the duck would not be too pleased.
Oh well. Either way, Sora agreed with that guy in his heart, he needed their ship and whatever little information they had about other worlds, so for now until something better came along, he would use them.
"Owver thwere!" Donald cried towards a clearing. Quaint was a word to fit it. A decent-sized garden was the field in front of the thatch roof cottage.
It would be if the cottage didn't look like someone had tried to turn itself inside out. The stone foundation was almost rubble, the roof looked worse than Sora's bad bed hair on a Monday morning. The banded wood had been stretched like taffy and the whole house itself was tilted awkwardly.
In the front was a large pile of random wooden household items, mostly broken and beyond repair. But like most things the three were quick to discover in this world was that it was the residents who more often took the prize for being the strangest thing on the scene.
A cream-colored bird with an oversized beak and wearing clothes that looked like a colonial sailor back from the history books.
From what it appeared, he was trying to set the big bundle of wood and debris on fire the old fashion way.
Struggling almost. There was a warm ember glowed that didn't want to go anywhere.
Goofy was the first to speak, looking at the situation in his own unique perspective. "Gwarsh, is this house really so damaged that ya need to burn it down?"
His companions looked at him, not in scorn but considering his words.
"No No! Not at all!" The dodo blustered while rubbing the wood against the other in attempts to ignite the small spark. "Why! I'm trying to smoke the monster out in this house! Can't have them about, see here."
In a world full of so far questionable inhabitants that monster could possibly only mean...
"Heartless!" Donald said with affirmation. "I'll handle them!" Readying his wand, the duck proceeded to march in the house, determined to put them out of sight and out of mine. Whether this was meddling or not, no good could come from heartless.
This left Sora, Goofy, and Jiminy Cricket outside with the odd Colonial Dodo fruitlessly trying to light the house on fire.
What a day.
"You two!" The dodo realized that he had had company. "Would you happen to have a match of sorts? Speed this task right along."
Sora thought about it. "Not a match..." He had fire magic... And he had been itching to try it out more... Then again... burning a house down is something his mom probably would not approve of...
'Mom...' Thinking anything about home hurt. He'd wish it would stop. He kept thinking about home over and over and each time it just kept hitting a nail into his chest.
"Do ya really think it's a good idea to burn the house really?" Goofy said out loud. His mind just couldn't wrap his head around it. "Even beat up, it seems like an awfully large waste to let it all go." He loved quaint nice places like this.
"Can't just leave those monsters about! Oh no! That would not do at all," Declared the Dodo. "Not very gentleman like to have them roam when young girls are afoot!"
That got Sora's attention. Like someone took ahold inside his chest and yanked it towards the subject.
"A girl?" He asked feeling the beat in his chest rise like a sun. "Was she here?"
The Dodo kept trying to get the spark. "Oh yes! Wandered right along here into the flowers. The size of a flower herself. Suppose the reason that's why she didn't have a match. Hopefully, monsters about don't get to a small thing like her."
Small? Size of a flower? ...That wasn't good. No matter what, that wasn't good. Whatever destroyed this house was probably still around and those large heartless... He had to find whoever this girl was.
If the slight chance she was Kairi...
But they had to shrink down more?
"Oh darn!" Donald's garbled voice came out of the broken doorway. "Fwond nothin' but thwis!" The duck was holding an overly large top stub of a carrot. Most of it having been bitten off by teeth larger than most of their torsos.
Sora could only guess that Donald didn't encounter any heartless and instead found that... He thought the duck said something like that.
Goofy went over to observe the oversized vegetable. "Didn't know heartless liked carrots," He and Donald were looking at it as some kind of riddle.
Sora wanted to go off to that flower patch when a little voice talked in his ear.
"Well... let's take a good look at that Sora," Jiminy said urging the boy to get him nearer. "This might be a clue."
Jumping on the palm of Sora's hand, the little guy explained his idea. "Listen Fellas. According to what I have written down so far, whatever ate this... must have shrunk down. If they got bigger we would have obviously seen or heard someone stomping about." He pointed at the teeth ridges that cut so cleanly through the orange root. "As we have seen, drinking something caused us to change size or maybe eating something does the same. So... what if that monster or whoever it was, ate this, and went into that flower patch? After that girl, the Dodo mentioned."
That caused the main trio to pause to consider it.
"So..." Sora began to piece it together. "We should take a bit of this... and chase after the monster?"
"Donald didn't see anything in the house, even though it was completely wrecked by something large. So, it might have gone small to chase after the girl who the Dodo said was the size of a flower. Maybe the girl shrunk herself in the first place to hide away from it."
It was sound logic, at least to Sora whose mind was already commanding him to get going and stop staying in one place. Urgently he reached and snapped a piece of the carrot. "What are we waiting for?!" Sora challenged them before biting into it.
Well, it tasted like a carrot. And before he knew it, Donald and Goofy were towering over him as giants.
"Try and keep up!" The tiny voice of the boy called from the ground before running towards the flowery part.
"You just don't wait before you leap," Jiminy said in Sora's hood.
This of all things halted the boy. "Wait... how did you get small? You never ate or drank anything." Sora said bluntly.
"OH! That!" The cricket chirped hopping down to the hand. From the sleek black jacket, he pulled out a light blue glowing pin. It was in the shape of a crescent moon.
"Before I got to Disney Castle, the Blue Fairy gave this to me. Said it would keep me safe so I could complete my duty. That's why, despite you tumbling around and all the heartless about, I'm perfectly safe. It's like I am a ghost, think of an outward observer."
Sora kind of wished he had that power but then again, not like he was defenseless like Jiminy. "Do you think that Blue Fairy could help me find my friends?"
Sadly the Chronicler shook his head. "I don't think she works that way Sora. But I will try my best to keep my eyes on the details while you keep defeating those awful heartless. I can't forgive them for harming innocent folk like my friends from my world."
Looks like Sora shared some common ground.
Deep within the confines of Sora's Heart, Vanitas awoke in that dark little shack on the dreamlike beach.
He had to rest after talking to Sora so much. Every conversation and most especially trying to communicate with the boy while conscious was draining. Like water evaporating in a desert sun, that was the rate his energy drained.
Strange considering he really didn't have a body or much of a will; the nature of the heart was a strange one.
His existence was maintained by Sora, as well as, unfortunately, Ventus. Yet Sora was not aware of the complete nature of either of their existences.
His old master would probably weave some over the top confusing philosophy using words no one else really understood... or used if he ever saw this situation.
But Vanitas only made sure to pay attention to his ex-master's facts. Not words or metaphors.
In his world, in his eyes, only concrete facts mattered. The only thing of use to him was action.
His boots made the crunching noise against the fine sand; footprints faded only a moment after.
The beach was odd, slightly overcast in the sky while mist drifted from an oddly still ocean that glimmered between blue and silver.
This dream-like version of the Island often reflected Sora's mood. Or state of heart.
It has been like this ranging from a storm, red still mornings that gave way to blustery afternoons and calming but dark days such as this.
Yet the places of shelter like the huts and shacks had warmth in them, signifying that the light in the boy was still very prominent despite the constant worry for his friends.
It would serve Vanitas.
But now it was time to twist the boy to his plans. It would be a small twist. More of a nudge than anything. But it would lead to many more.
In the Dive, finding the right memories was tricky. They never appeared in the same place and finding the right one among fragments and fragments of slightly forgotten ones or ones that are not at the forefront were hard to get a glimpse at.
Getting to them was another story. You could find a memory but trying to get a closer look and finding a path to it was difficult.
Vanitas had watched Sora grow up, yes, yet, he was not privy to everything Sora experienced. And there was one innate problem.
He had a hard time understanding Sora's emotions.
The positive feeling of the boy's light that flowed and illuminated the heart seeped into Vanitas but that was just it. A positive feeling, specific emotions were elusive... after all... this light was not his.
'Yet.' Vanitas thought with venom and steel lacing it. All he needed to do was somehow find get Sora's heart to be willing to merge with his. Strong as it may be... it needed to be stronger! More worthy to be a keyblade wielder, so the boy could withstand his heart merging with Vanitas' blackened incomplete one.
Then, Sora's light would be his own. And then, as one, Vanitas could be whole. Finally! Finally.
Be whole.
Have Light.
Be whole.
Have Light.
Be whole.
Be complete.
He got a taste of it, a tiny little fragment. It may not be his, but he could at least feel it bath across his being. He could see it.
He wanted more!
He wanted to call it his own.
He needed to.
He could be patient.
All Sora had to do... was grow strong in himself.
And Vanitas knew how to drive the boy.
Ironically, what could increase Sora's darkness, was to make the boy hunger for more light.
Just.
Like.
Vanitas.
And the more Light and Joy the boy obtained, the more he desired to protect his friends and keep them happy, the more the boy's hatred and anger grew at those who dared threaten it.
It was an incredible twisted plan.
But it was working.
For the past 10 years, it worked.
Tiny little urges and nudges to take more... aggressive approaches, feeling more fear and dread when those he loved were not happy.
Now... it was time to up the ante.
Fear of the unknown fate of his friends to cause uncertainty, panic, and worry.
The threat of the heartless and what they represented to stir the boy into strife and hatred.
And precious memories and the longing of his islands and friends to make him crave that same joy and love.
Hope to make him shine.
Anger to make him destroy.
Ah... here was a perfect memory to speed the process along. This should get Sora kicking into high gear.
Behind the mask, yellow eyes watched the memory and while not knowing the emotion itself, he knew Sora would be a slave to.
End of Chapter 9