Hey guys! Just a reminder that each chapter is a floor. Sorry if the last one wasn't thee best I was kinda under some pressure here. But don't worry! Hopefully this one is better. I'm trying to upload these as consistent as possible but Uni work is getting the better of me. Anyway, I've decided that the poll will end before the Dream Drop Distance story arc. A heads up, a character will be introduced soon. Enjoy!
Poll: Who do you think Charlie should end up with?
Sora: 11
Ryan: 2
The author should decide!: 1
Neither: 0
Looks like Sora is winning. For those of you that prefer SorLie (Sora x Charlie) I have a question: Why DON'T you like SoKai (Sora x Kairi)?
A Quest to Find Missing Friends
The group make their way to the Fifth Floor. Goofy and Donald nod in sync before heading to the door as Charlie followed behind with a small hop in her step. However Sora stayed behind as suddenly something occurred to him.
"I remember!" Sora claimed.
Everyone halted in their tracks and turned to see the boy. Everyone questioned what he was talking about but Charlie secretly didn't want to hear it, especially if it was about this other girl. She couldn't even debate if it was either annoyance or it might just be out of jealousy.
"There was another girl!" Sora stated.
"What? A girl? Where? The only girl I see is Charlie." Goofy responded.
"No, no, I mean on the islands where I used to live. Besides Kairi and Riku, There was one other girl I was friends with. The four of us played together all the time." Sora explained.
"Sora… Seems to me that's the first time you've mentioned her." Jiminy climbed onto Sora's shoulder.
"Exactly." Charlie spat as she crossed her arms.
Sora explained that he must have forgotten all about her. He thought that she just suddenly went away somewhere when he was little. Donald asked him why he remembered her now only to have Sora respond that the memories have been coming back as the group continue their trek through the castle.
"Gawrsh, do ya remember her name?" Goofy asked.
Sora thought for a moment and his heart filled with guilt. He couldn't remember. Sora recalled the heroes said about not forgetting their friends, yet he doesn't even remember this girl's name. Sora lowers his head in shame. Even Charlie couldn't hold her strop when he was like this. But Goofy assured him. He told the group that if Sora's memories of her are coming back in pieces, then he will remember her in no time.
Charlie watched as he walked past. He really cares about this girl. Even if he doesn't really remember her. How can she be that important to him? What's so special about her? And why is it whenever she thinks of Sora and this girl it hurts her inside? The quicker she forgets, the better she will feel. But still…
Crack!
Sora holds up the next card to the next world. When the light faded, the group found themselves in a colourful area and Sora was quickly enough to point out it's also springy and soft. Goofy also stated it was nice and warm and was tempted to a nap. Charlie tested the comments and squished her foot to the ground claiming the statements to be true.
"I think you should be a little more worried."
The group search for the source of the voice. Donald asks who this mysterious person is and the voice tells the four that they are in a belly of the gigantic whale, Monstro. Charlie felt disgusted after hearing this.
Jiminy hopped off Sora's shoulder and onto the floor. He recognised the voice instantly. He asked if it was this 'Pinocchio' and told him to come out from hiding. Pinocchio stepped away from behind the wall and was surprised to see Jiminy again.
"He's a puppet…" Charlie muttered.
"Ssh!" Donald hushed her.
Pinocchio voiced his concerns and thought he would never see Jiminy again. The question was, how does Jiminy know Pinocchio? But this was explained when Jiminy reminded the puppet that he was his conscience. Charlie didn't know how but she just accepted it nonetheless. Pinocchio then stated that he's been a good boy.
Only to have his nose grow 3 inches.
"Uh – oh!" Pinocchio cried out.
"Well, for Pete's sake!" Jiminy cried out.
Pinocchio felt ashamed for he had lied but quickly changed the topic and asked the group how the ended up in Monstro in the first place. Sora was first to respond that they made their way here through a special way. Goofy added that it was sp special that they didn't know how they did it. Pinocchio had lost a little hope and explained that he was hoping the heroes would find a way out for him and his father.
"Well, I'll be! Geppetto's here, too?" Jiminy asked.
"Sure he is. Follow me!" Pinocchio instructed.
Sora received the Key of Beginnings card and carried on. Sora and Charlie walked side by side as it had become a norm for them recently. Sora watched as Charlie was in deep thought. Sora was to ask but Charlie spoke her mind anyway.
"Am I the only one that doesn't get the whole wooden boy and father concept?"
"Maybe we'll find out what's gong on later?" Sora responded.
The two battled Heartless and explored through the many rooms along the way. However, as the explored, the encountered a room with a lone Moogle. The Moogle offered a free pack of cards to the both of them. Sora and Charlie also brought a pack of cards each. Eventually, Sora and Charlie used the card to enter the Key of Beginnings room.
As they entered, the group found themselves in the mouth of Monstro. It was obvious but Charlie had realised that the water below, isn't water. It's saliva. Her faced contorted in disgust and stepped back only to have Goofy stop and held her shoulders. She smiled sheepishly as Jiminy called out Geppetto whilst on Sora's shoulders.
To the side of Monstro's mouth was a shipwreck. An elderly man stepped towards the side of the ship. The man had kind features as he greeted Jiminy. The man, Geppetto, asked how Pinocchio's conscience ended in Monstro, but Jiminy responded and asked how a clockmaker like Geppetto ended up here as well.
"It's a long story…" Geppetto began.
The group decided to board the inactive ship to hear the rest of the story. Apparently, Pinocchio went missing so Geppetto sailed out to the sea to find him. Unfortunately, Monstro had swallowed him up. Needless to say, Geppetto still managed to find the little wooden boy. That was the important thing.
"But now you can't get out, can you? Being stuck in the belly of a whale is awful." Sora stated.
"Not if Pinocchio and I are together. That makes everything a little bit better. There's nothing better than being reunited with someone you care about." Geppetto explained.
"Yeah… I know what you mean." Sora agreed.
"Same here." Charlie added.
It was true. Whenever she thought about him, she felt warm from the inside. Ever since he left her, she pictured how they would be together again. She would call his name and he would turn to her. She would have missed his sandy coloured, messy hair and his chocolate coloured eyes. A smile grew on his lips and he would run to her. He would have embraced her too tight to breathe but that wouldn't matter to her, she would just scrunch up his black jacked in her fist. Charlie blushed and snapped out of it when she realised she was missing half of the conversation with Geppetto.
"…He's such a good boy." Geppetto said.
"Well he still tells fibs. But with a little help from me…" Jiminy mentioned.
"Oh, Jiminy, you worry too much." Geppetto smiled.
"Sometimes, you have to lie to protect someone. Not all lies are bad…" Charlie muttered.
"Speaking of Pinocchio… Where is he?" Sora asked after he searched the ship.
"He was here a minute ago. Where's he gone this time?" Donald asked.
Geppetto suggested that he might have gone exploring again. Geppetto also said that he's ventured into every nook and cranny of the monster but doesn't explain why, just tells Geppetto that it's important. The clockmaker warns Pinocchio that it's dangerous but the little boy doesn't listen.
"That boy's a handful! Sora, Charlie, if you both don't mind…" Jiminy suggested.
"I know, I know. You want us to help you find him, right? C'mon guys, let's geet going!" Sora marched off after receiving the Key of Guidance card.
"How is it that we're always dragged into these things?" Charlie asked half-heartedly.
The group all learn High Jump before leaving. Sora and Charlie searched for the little boy as the two continued to find him. The teens knew that Pinocchio wouldn't run off just to play games. So whatever the reason, it must have been a good one.
"I hope he's okay…." Charlie broke the silence.
"I'm sure he is but we better find him quickly." Sora assured her.
They continued on and found the Key of Guidance room. The group find Pinocchio by himself in an area surrounded by green liquid. For some reason, Charlie should know what the liquid is but right now, their attention is on Pinocchio. The group rushed on over to the little boy.
"Pinocchio! What are you thinking?! You know Geppetto worried when you wander off by yourself." Jiminy scolded.
"Jiminy was worried, too!" Donald added.
"I'm sorry…" Pinocchi apologised.
Charlie stepped forward and knelt down to Pinocchio. Everyone else watched in surprised. Charlie bent her head down to Pinocchio's eye level and caught his attention. She smiled softly at him as she held his shoulders. She whispered to him that what's important is that he's safe. It's surprising for the boys to watch this scene before them. Charlie was known for her sarcasm and her sassy attitude. But this, this was a different side to her completely. It was motherly, something Sora would never imagine that Charlie could be. Charlie smiled again and stood beside him.
"What are you doing, anyway? Looking for something?" Sora asked, snapping ot of his prior thoughts.
"Um… yeah, I'm looking for teasure!" Pinocchio's nose grew for the second time.
"Pinocchio…" Charlie said disappointedly.
"Here we go again!" Jiminy was annoyed this time.
"But Jiminy…"
Goofy told Jiminy to no be so hard on him. Goofy then promised on behalf of the group they wouldn't get mad at him as he understood that this might be the reason the little boy was afraid to tell in the first place. Goofy assured Pinocchio that they would understand and that he should trust Goofy on this. Pinocchio was hesitant but finally revealed that he was looking for a way out of Monstro.
"Father says he's happy, but it's my fault we're stuck here. I shouldn't have run away from home. I want to help Father get home to the workshop. But he'll worry if I tell him what I'm doing." Pinocchio explained further.
"So that's why you thought you had to lie." Jiminy concluded.
Goofy also added, to make it clear, that it was because he loves his dad. Donald then assured Pinocchio that all he needs now is courage to tell him. He then explained to the boy that if he tells Geppetto how he feels, Donald thinks that he would help Pinocchio find a way out together. Sora also guaranteed that they will help, too!
"Really? You'll help us? Okay, I'll give it a try! Wish me luck, Jiminy!"
"No more keeping secrets, then. Have we got a deal?" Jiminy responded.
Pinocchio agreed and is willing to tell his father the truth and promises no more lies. Jiminy was proud and was about to tell him that if he tells the truth then his nose won't grow. But he was cut off as the ground starts to shake. No one had any clue what was happening. For his safety, Jiminy tells Pinocchio to run.
Suddenly, a creature jumps down from the top of the stomach and lands in front of Pinocchio. The creature was fuchsia in colour but with blue tentacles. Sora called to the wooden boy but the Heartless, the Parasite, opened its bar like teeth and swallowed Pinocchio.
"Help! I'm trapped!"
"What?!" Sora asked.
"It's okay, Pinocchio. We'll get you out of there!" Charlie assured.
Sora and Charlie summoned their Keyblades and the ground beneath them started to move. The ground split into four small platforms floating on the green liquid below. The platforms move in clockwise and as the Sora had gotten close to the Heartless, the boys performed a mid-air combo. The creature swiped Sora into the green liquid. Suddenly, Sora's feet started to burn.
"Ow!" He yelped.
Charlie turned and pulled Sora to a platform. It suddenly clicked. The two were in the stomach meaning, the green liquid is stomach acid. She warned Sora about it and continued on attacking. Charlie had stacked two Thunder cards and an attack card; making a Thundara attack.
Charlie then felt the platform beneath her begin to topple. She jumped across to another one and watched the previous sink. This wasn't good. There can only be two platforms to each person before they all sink. Sora was unaware of this fact but if he stopped moving, he would find out the hard way.
Sora continued hacking and slashing at the Heartless until he performed a Card Break, making a Mickey Card appear. Charlie dashed and retrieved it. She used it immediately and the acid, as well as the platforms, disappeared and stood on the floor of the stomach.
Charlie stacked three different Attack Cards and her Keyblade started to glow. She quickly sprinted and sliced the Parasite Cage. She rushed and sliced again and again. She smirked at how satisfactory the Sleight, Slash and Dash, caused so much damage. While Sora himself had a Sleight himself. He hurled his Keyblade multiple times at the Heartless.
Charlie had then picked up a Goofy card and saved it in her deck. Sora continued to physically attack the Parasite Cage but the creature countered, swinging its tentacle like arms at the boy. Even though the teens had to hop from one platform to another, thee fight was still tedious. This annoyed Charlie greatly.
Charlie grunted. She fished in her pockets for Goofy. She summoned the Captain of the Royal Knights and he suddenly appeared. Goofy threw his shield while Charlie had casted Fira as the shield was airborne. The shield exploded on impact. This was called Goofy Burst. Goofy then vanished.
Charlie was growing tired of this. She betted that Sora must be feeling the same. Beads of sweat fell from Sora's forehead. Was it the heat of the stomach or frustration? She didn't know. Either way, Sora was putting all his strength into his attacks. Charlie stacked two Thunder cards to perform Thundara.
Eventually, The Parasite Cage had fallen unconscious. But Pinocchio could not escape. No matter how much Pinocchio pushed against the monster's teeth, the wooden boy was still trapped. Pinocchio shook with fear. He told the heroes that he was scared.
"Pinocchio, be brave!" Sora instructed.
"You can do it!" Charlie cheered.
"How?" Pinocchio asked.
"Don't give up! Try fighting your way out!" Sora suggested.
The wooden boy hesitated at first. He repeated Sora's words in a whisper before heaving a deep sigh. He begins jumping up and down, and even side to side. The Parasite Cage's reflex forced its mouth open and Pinocchio slowly climbed out. The Heartless vanished and was replaced with a heart. The heart ascended and vanished.
"Pinocchio, are you alright?" Jiminy asked.
"Don't worry, I'm okay. Just a little sticky…"
Pinocchio eyes lit up as an idea had popped into his head. He explained that because the Parasite Cage had spit Pinocchio out when he fought back, Perhaps Monstro will do the same? Sora, Charlie and Donald agreed that it was worth a shot. The heroes would explore deeper inside Monstro and attempt it. The Pinocchio chimed in as well. But Jiminy wasn't keen on the idea.
"No, it's too dangerous." Jiminy reasoned.
"Aww, c'mon…" Pinocchio argued.
"You should be with Geppetto. No use of escaping Monstro if you two get separated again!" Jiminy explained.
"He's right, Pinocchio." Charlie agreed.
"Leave this to us." Sora smiled confidently.
Pinocchio agreed and left. Sora received the Key to Truth card. The teens continued their trek through the giant whale. Charlie was miles ahead of Sora. Not just because she wanted to help Pinocchio and Geppetto, but she was actually sick of being inside Monstro. She found the idea revolting.
"Hurry up!" She called to Sora.
She stood by the door to the Key to Truth Room. Sora finally managed to catch up. He bent over and rested his hands on his knees while waiting for his breath to return. He looked up at her and she gave a cheeky smile at him. He then punched her slightly on her shoulder before he used the card to the next room.
When they entered, the realised the group had found Monstro's throat. It was as far as the group could go. Sora asked the others if they were ready to shake things up. The heroes summon their weapons and prepared themselves.
"It would be easier if we had someone to fight…" Donald stated.
As if by cue, several Shadows appeared and spooked Donald. The fight began and it was a relatively easy one. Charlie and Sora didn't even hesitate when deciding on which card to use as it became instinct to them. When the Heartless were defeated, the ground started to shake.
"A-hyuck?!"
"It's working! Monstro's gonna sneeze!" Jiminy stated.
"Brace yourselves!" Charlie warned.
Monstro sneezed, forcing everyone to be sucked up like a vacuum. The group landed in Monstro's mouth. Donald and Goofy had already regained consciousness while Sora was coming to. He rested on his hands and knees and commented how likely it felt to be shot out of a cannon just now. He looked over to see an unconscious Charlie.
"I feel like I've lost a few brains cells just now." Charlie groaned as she clutched her head.
Sora walked over to her and offered his hand. She took it and he helped her to her feet. She scratched her head as the pain started to die down. Goofy then asked, to no one in particular, on the whereabouts of Pinocchio and his father. Jiminy concluded that since they aren't here, they must have escaped safely.
"Without you, Jiminy? I thought there was no escaping your conscience!" Sora said worriedly.
"I don't mind being left behind, as long as they're both safe. Maybe Pinocchio doesn't need me at all."
"Jiminy…" Charlie muttered.
Sora didn't understand so he asked what Jiminy meant. Jiminy explained that Pinocchio used to find it difficult telling right from wrong. But now, he's come a long way. Perhaps Pinocchio has a conscience of his own? Maybe he doesn't need Jiminy anymore.
"Don't you remember what Geppetto said? 'There's nothing better than being reunited with someone you care about.' I bet Pinocchio's counting down the days till he can see you again." Sora assured him.
"Every day of being a part, is a day closer to them." Charlie smiled and Jiminy hopped onto Sora's shoulder.
"Well, what do you know… You guys might be right." Jiminy admitted.
Goofy and Donald nodded in agreement before leaving. The teens climbed up a ladder and stood in front of the door. Charlie turned around and stared off into the distance. She remembered what Sora had said to Jiminy. But what bothered her was what she said. All this time she was desperate to be with them again. She should be excited to see their face lit up when they see her. She shouldn't have been moping all this time.
"You okay?" Sora asked.
"Yeah, let's go." She smiled.
The group finally left the world and returned to Castle Oblivion. They continue to walk until Donald stops and asks Sora if he remembers anything else about that other girl. Charlie had given up with the strops at this point and felt she needed to listen.
"Hmmm… just bits and pieces."
"Maybe you could try tellin' us some stuff about her. Who knows? It might even help ya remember other things." Goofy suggested.
As Charlie thought about it, there was a girl that kept popping up in her memory as well. She tried to deny it as she wanted to focus on Ryan. As Sora described about this other girl, it wasn't the same girl Charlie was thinking of. This girl was rude and obnoxious. But the question is: Why was Charlie thinking about her now?
"But… that's all. I still don't remember her name." Sora concluded his memories.
"Oh, I bet you'll remember it in no time!" Donald assured him.
"What about you, Charlie? Do you remember anything new?" Goofy asked.
"Well… I'm not sure. Someone keeps popping up in my mind but they weren't really important to me. In fact, they are quite the opposite actually."
"Why's that?" Sora asked.
"I don't like them." Charlie gave a cold stare.
Jiminy popped out of Sora's hood and concluded that Sora and Charlie may remember things instead of forgetting them. He then theorised that forgetting memories may be the way to remember important ones.
"So we should forget in order to remember?" Goofy asked no one in particular.
But Charlie didn't want to remember this girl. Perhaps she didn't like this girl so much that she tried hard to forget about her in the first place? And if she needs to forget in order to remember, does she need to forget about Ryan, too? And what about Sora? Does he want to forget about the people he cares for?
"Like those guys said… 'Our most precious memories lie so deep in our hearts, they're out of reach.' All that stuff about finding being losing and losing being finding… I didn't get it at first, but maybe this is what they meant." Sora concluded.
Goofy stated that he might have been a little jealous of Sora and Charlie. Only the teens are remembering things yet the others aren't. Donald then hurried his Disney companion so they can forget memories faster.
Charlie didn't like this idea. She didn't want to forget anything in the first place. She can't forget about Ryan! Or her home for that matter. Her family. Charlie wonders what they are doing now? Are they worrying about her? How would she get back to them in the first place?
A hand was found on her shoulder. Charlie turned to see it belonged to Sora. He smiled at her before grabbing her wrist and puller her to the exit of the floor. She was so confused. She didn't know what to feel anymore. She was so angry at this other girl Sora couldn't remember, she loves Ryan, yet… Sora was constantly on her mind. Maybe she loves Sora, too? Kairi would hate her for this…
Meanwhile…
In a floor higher up, Larxene and Axel watched what happened below from the crystal ball. Specifically Sora and Charlie. Sora was desperate to find out who this girl is. While Charlie was struggling with her feelings for Sora and remembering someone she didn't want to.
"Just as we intended." Larxene said.
"We'll continue with our plan. Let's see how far this group will go." Axel suggested.
Axel turned and began to leave but Larxene intervened by saying that he had fun on the First Floor, it was her turn. Axel tossed a card at Larxene and she kissed it before giggling. She then crept over to the man and held his face.
"I'm not just going to give it to them." She smirked.
"Don't break them." Axel warned.
"Well… Do I detect a soft spot? I'm not going to break the toys. I'm not dumb." She spat.
"Don't forget. Soar and Charlie are the keys. We need them if we're going to take over the Organization." Axel reminded.
Larxene placed a gloved finger on his lips. She pointed out that she knows that he's part of the plan. She told him to keep quiet until the time is right. She waves and leaves in a Corridor of Darkness. Axel smirks.
"You would have been wise to have done the same, Larxene."
OOOH! So another girl is bothering Charlie. Who could she be? You might find out soon...
See you in the next chapter x