This fic is a collaboration between Poseidon7 and GWAtti. All plot is written by Poseidon7 with GWAtti acting as consultant and editor. Poseidon7 and GWAtti do not claim ownership to any characters or plot points derived from either Digimon or Kingdom Hearts. Poseidon7 does claim ownership of any original characters or story lines introduced."
Chapter 1
Realm of Darkness, Dark Margin
A young, blue haired girl strolls sullenly along the shore, waves crashing to her left as she moves sluggishly alongside the sea. Her eyes droop from exhaustion and her feet drag, leaving lines in the sand as she moves forward. Her mind wanders: Ventus, trapped in an endless sleep within Castle Oblivion until she can find his heart; Terra, possibly lost forever to Master Xehanort all because she wasn't strong enough; Master Eraqus, unable to give her further guidance. She sighs to herself and continues to trudge along, to her surprise eventually reaching a rock upon which sits a cloaked man.
"Who are you?" she asks as she approaches, gripping her keyblade tightly.
"Why hello. It's not often I get visitors," the cloaked man responds.
"Please, sir. Call me Aqua. Why are you sitting here all alone in the realm of darkness? How did you end up here?" the girl asks.
"Well… I can tell you this is my second time on these shores, but unfortunately, much like the first, I do not remember who I am or whence I came. Everything was washed away in whatever currents carried me here," he replies as he looks out across the vast, dark sea.
"That's too bad," Aqua says as she sits in the sand beside him. "I know I've been here a long time, wandering through the endless hours… Unable to escape…"
"You wish to return to your own world?" he asks, shifting his attention to her.
"It's my friends. I promised I'd be there for them."
"Your friends?" the man asks as he once again shifts his gaze to the horizon. "Somewhere in the scraps of memory I have left, you remind me of a boy I once knew. He is very much like you: True to his friends, and kind. The boy travels to many worlds and fights to keep the light safe."
His words grab Aqua's attention and she asks, "Keep the light safe? I've been away too long. Did something happen out there? Are the worlds in danger?"
The hooded man looks down. "Sad to say, they nearly fell to darkness more than once." He looks up at Aqua before continuing, "But at every turn, that boy arrived with keyblade in hand to save the day…"
"Huh?" Aqua perks up upon hearing the word "keyblade". "Wait a sec… Is his name Terra? Or Ven?"
The man looks away again. "Neither of those, I'm afraid."
Aqua pouts and turns her own gaze toward the ocean. "Should've known…"
After a moment or so of silence, the man speaks again: "How long has it been since I met him? At least a year now. Perhaps more… Back then, my heart was clouded with vengeance. I did terrible things…both to him and his friends. I brought unhappiness to more lives than one, even sadness and pain to a group of children in a mysterious world of digital creatures… I allowed them to be caught in the crossfire of my plan and sent a girl spiraling into depression, nearly resulting in another world falling to the darkness."
He ceases to speak as he notices a great tentacle writhing out at sea. Fog billows around it and it soon leaves their sight, prompting the man to look down once more before continuing: "I felt something must be done. Was that why? A means of clearing my conscience? Or perhaps it was out of a sort of scholarly instinct? While the boy slept his long sleep, I hid the results of my research inside him, transplanting the data to where it might best serve a purpose. In fact, I would like to believe… Maybe he can set things right. A boy like him who touches so many hearts… He can open the right door, and save all those lives I managed to ruin. So many are still waiting for their new beginning; their birth by sleep. Even me…and even you…"
"What's this boy's name?" Aqua asks.
"His name…is…"
Waves smash on the shore in front of them as Aqua sheds a single tear, recalling the two young boys playing on a beautiful beach at sunset. She looks out to the horizon, smiling for the first time in a long time. "Sora…" she states happily. One day, Sora… I hope you can save us. All of us…
"Darkness rules your heart. It gives me control." In a dark void, an old man gloats as he stands across from a brown-haired youth. "Muscle and sinew that once obeyed you now rebels against you. How you can remain here at all confounds the mind."
"It's still my heart," the youth responds. "You think you can just come in and take over? I'm not gonna sit by and let that happen."
"Hmph. Don't even entertain any notions of escaping me, boy. In the end, your heart shall be engulfed by mine forever." He waves his hands about, while his aura flares, easily outshining his counterpart's.
"Wrong," the youth answers with a sly grin. "You're gonna get shown the door, old man."
"As I recall," the old man rebuts, "you couldn't even handle your own darkness. How, then, will you triumph over mine?"
The youth lets out the slightest chuckle. "You'll find out soon enough."
The old man squints before his eyes widen momentarily before returning to their prior smug look. "Oh? So that's how it is, is it? Someone else has set foot in your heart. Eraqus, you sly fox…"
"I'm not afraid of what the darkness holds now," the youth states confidently before placing a hand over his heart. "Even if you do wrest control from me, even if you cast me into the deepest, darkest abyss, you'll never sway me from the one cause that pushes me to keep on fighting. Whatever the cost, I'm ready to pay it."
The old man maintains his smug demeanor and answers, "Brave words, to be sure. But I am a patient man. We can take as much time as we need to settle this little property dispute. However, know this… You are just one of many roads that I might choose to take." The young man furrow his brow in anger, causing the old man to smile wider.
"Trust me; I made certain of that…" he adds with a chuckle.
Th Masuki bakery
The brown haired boy awakens, putting a hand to his head to try to make sense of his bizarre dream. Between the stained glass depictions, the strangers, and those dark, digimon-like creatures, he isn't able to discern more than just simply it was weird.
"Food! Food! I want food!" The boy looks down at his red saurian friend, who is practically tearing the room apart. "I can smell it! The bread is calling to me!"
"Alright, Guilmon! Calm down! We can go get some bread!" the boy shouts, drawing his friend's attention.
"Takato! You're finally awake!" He rushes his tamer before he hardly has time to step down the ladder from his bunk. "You kept tossing and turning, but you looked really sleepily. I didn't mean to wake you."
"It's ok boy. I was just having a weird dream is all," Takato assures his frantic partner.
"Oh? I had a funny dream too, Takatomon. It was about this big bread monster, and…"
"Takato! You better not still be sleeping!" the shrill voice of a woman calls out.
"No mom! I'm up! I'm coming!" he shouts back before quickly throwing off his pajamas and dressing into his usual beige pants and blue hoodie. He opens the door and Guilmon zips past him, rushing down the stairs towards the bakery below. The sound of a clang followed by the sound of Takato's father shouting, "Guilmon! Take it easy!" lets Takato know Guilmon had found his breakfast. As he reaches the bottom of the stairs, he sees Guilmon munching through as crate of old bread while his parents shake their heads and look on.
"Morning mom. Morning dad," Takato says to announce his presence. His father looks over at him and nods, saying, "Good morning, Takato. Are you ready?"
I guess so," Taakto replies with a shrug. "I'm supposed to meet Henry and Rika in the park later though. Can I go?"
"As long as you finish your chores," his mother interjects. There's breakfast in the kitchen for you, so eat quickly and then get to work stocking the store shelves and cleaning up Guilmon's mess. We're supposed to be opening in thirty minutes." Guilmon makes a slight face upon realizing his name had been mentioned, swallows the food stuffing his snout, and says, " Oops… Sorry."
"Yes, mom," Takato replies, giving his mother a slight and respectful bow. "Guilmon and I will get right on it, won't we boy?" Guilmon gives his tamer and vigorous nod and dashes over beside him.
"Alright. He can clean the kitchen, but you stock the shelves. I'd like some bread to make it to the storefront for us to sell today." His mother turns and leaves, his father soon following, but not before giving a quick smile and wink to his son.
"Alright, Guilmon. Let's get this done and then finish whatever other chores mom has for us. We don't want to make the others wait for us."
"Ok, Takatomon," Guilmon answers cheerily before using his tail to sweep debris into a pile and begins to put things back in their proper place.
Wong's place
A blue haired boy sits at his desk, calmly reading a novel, as a long-eared cream-colored creature jumps up and down on the bed next to him. "Come on, Henry! It's no fun watching you do your homework! Can't we go out? Get some fresh air? Please!"
"Terriermon…" Henry groans, taking his attention away from his book for a mere moment to reply. "We're going to the park later to see Takato and Rika. Can't you wait until then to get your 'fresh air'?"
"But I'm bored!" Terriermon complains, ceasing to jump. "I'm so bored, I'm even considering going to hang out with Suzie and Lopmon!"
"So go," Henry responds, returning his focus to his book. "I've gotta make sure I finish this before the start of school. High school is a lot harder than middle school, you know."
"Uggh! Rika is right: you are such a nerd!"
"Yes. Yes I am. Anything else to add?"
"Henry and Alice, sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N…"
"Terriermon!" Henry shouts while blushing profusely. Terriermon scurries out of the room, giggling to himself as he goes. Henry shakes his head before chuckling mildly and returning to his book.
After a short time, there is a knock on his bedroom door. "Come in," Henry says without looking up. The door swings open, revealing Janyuu Wong, Henry's father. "Hey Henry. Getting your summer reading done?" Upon hearing his father's voice, Henry stiffens slightly before looking up and giving slight nod.
"Any plans for the day?"
"Yes," Henry responds simply before continuing to read his book. Janyuu sighs before turning and closing the door. "Henry, I'm trying to reach out to you. Please stop pushing me away." Henry seems to ignore him, keeping his attention on his book. "How long do you intend to give me the cold shoulder?"
"I don't know. How long has it been?" Henry responds without looking up.
"Two years."
"I mean since we got the digimon back after you sent them back," Henry quickly corrects.
"Henry… I told you I was sorry. I only did what I had to so as to protect you…"
"You didn't know what would happen," Henry quips back, finally looking up. "For all you knew, we would never be able to bring them back!"
"The D-Reaper was destroying everything," his father replies in an attempt to appease. "It was the only way…"
"We would have found another way," Henry insists.
"Henry, they belonged back in their world…" Janyuu continues.
"No. They belonged here," Henry responds quickly. "Terriermon and Guilmon nearly got deleted when you sent them back. Lopmon would very well have been lost if not for the protection of Azulongmon and Zhuqiaomon. Then let's not forget that without Ryo, Cyberdramon went on a rampage, without which we would never have even found a way back to rescue them. You were willing to sacrifice our best friends without telling us, and that's not something I'm ready to forget."
"You have your digimon back now. All of you…"
"Not all of us…" Henry mumbles, looking away.
"Henry… I'm sorry…"
"I gotta go," Henry mumbles, standing up and closing his book. As he opens the door, he pauses and looks over at his dad. "Maybe one day, when you really understand what you did to us, I'll be ready to talk to you about it; maybe even forgive you for what you did to my friends and me. But right now, you can't look me in the eye and truly say that you regret what you did or that you would do it differently."
"You're growing up Henry," his father answers. "You'll see that sometimes difficult decisions have to be made. I did what I had to so as to protect you and the others. You have to believe that. I love you. I just…want to be a part of your life again. I'm not going to stop trying."
"I know…" Henry takes his leave, walking down the hall to Suzie's room. "Come on, Terriermon. We should get going."
"Finally!" Terriermon cheers, leaping up from his spot on the floor to scurry up to his tamer's shoulder.
"Where are you going, Henry?" Suzie asks. "Can I come?"
"I'm just meeting my friends in the park and aren't you supposed to meet mom and Jaarin at the salon today?"
"Oh yea! I totally forgot I had an appointment for my nails!" the girl squeals excitedly, prompting Henry to leave as she begins talking to Lopmon about how wonderful a manicure is.
As they exit through the front door, Terriermon asks, "Shouldn't we bring some snacks? I know Takato usually handles that, but I'm not so certain I trust Guilmon not to eat everything before they even get there."
"I'm sure Takato will make sure he doesn't," Henry replies as he starts walking down the hall. "Have a little faith."
"In who? The Goggle-headed Doofus or the Bread-snarfing Doofus?" Terriermon asks with humor clear in his tone.
"You're really incorrigible, you know that?" Henry asks as he presses the button for the elevator.
"Hey! He's your friend. You tell him," Terriermon quips back.
"I don't think there's anything wrong with Guilmon's weight and I happen to trust Takato completely."
"Sure you do…" Terriermon coos with a sly grin.
Ryo's home
Monodramon quickly scarfs down stacks of pancakes and waffles as his tamer looks on, trying to not to puke. "I seriously don't see how you can eat that many pancakes or handle that much syrup…"
"It's delicious!" Monodramon responds, slurping down another. "Besides Ryo, don't you want me to digivolve again?"
"Considering the last time you became Cyberdramon, it took me a whole two months to get you back under control, I'd prefer if we kept you this size for the majority of the time," Ryo answers as he crosses his arms. "At the very least, could you slow down? You're starting eat faster than even Guilmon and I don't know how to do the Heimlich on a dragon."
Monodramon swallows the food in his mouth and licks his chops before saying, "Sorry. I'll eat a little slower."
"I swear: if this is what it's like to have kids, I never want to have any…" He checks the clock, letting out a sigh before saying, "We will need to get going soon if we're going to make it into town to meet the others."
Monodramon scarfs down the last of his massive stacks and then slurps down a glass or orange juice before asking, "What are we doing with your friends today?"
Ryo gives a shrug. "I don't know. I've gotten out of the habit of asking, seeing as no matter how hard I try, I can't say no to Takato. After so long alone in the Digital World, it's nice to have friends who always want to meet up. Maybe it's just because I like having Kazu and Kenta fawn over me… or because I know my Wildcat will be there too…"
"So what are we waiting for?" Monodramon asks, jumping to his feet. Let's go!"
"Umm, perhaps you'd like to clean up that mess, buddy?" Ryo asks, pointing at the plates surrounded by crumbs and syrup stains.
"Right! Clean up the plates, then we go!"
In the road of ShiJu
Kazu walks down the street, Guardromon clunking behind him while passers-by eye them warily. Every so often, he looks back to see if his bespectacled friend, Kenta, had picked up his pace to catch up, each time finding him further behind. "Kenta! Let's go! Not even Guardromon moves this slow!"
"Sorry!" Kenta shouts. "MarineAngemon just keeps stopping whenever he smells something. We overslept, so we didn't get to eat breakfast!" Kazu face-palms. I swear…am I the only normal one here?"
"Statistically speaking, that couldn't be true, Kazu. Being the only one would mean you were abnormal," Guardromon replies.
"That was a rhetorical question, you lug-nut!" Kazu grumbles at his partner. Kenta and MarineAngemon finally reach their friends and Kenta asks, "We still have some time. Can't we stop and let me get him something?"
"Dude, Takato's bound to bring some bread to the park. Just have him wait till then. Besides, we still have to get Jeri. You know Mr. Katou doesn't let her out without someone escorting her."
MarineAngemon lets out a few chirps. "He does seem rather cranky today, doesn't he?" Kenta agrees.
"I'm not cranky!" Kazu whines.
"He's not cranky," Guardromon adds in support, causing Kazu to face-palm yet again.
MarineAngemon chirps once more and suddenly starts to flutter away. "Well, maybe we could just meet you at the park?" Kenta asks as he starts going after his partner. "Sorry Kazu!"
Kazu releases a heavy sigh. "Gotta do everything on my own…" He turns to continue his walk, suddenly finding himself face-to-face with a tall, slender, yellow fox-like digimon. Kazu squeals loudly before leaping into the air and landing in Guardromon's arms. "When did you get there?!"
"She's been standing there waiting for you to finish talking to Kenta," Guardromon replies.
"What? You knew she was here? Why didn't you say anything?"
"You were busy talking to Kenta," Guardromon answers as Kazu clambers down from his grip.
"Where's Rika?" Kazu asks, looking around.
"Close by," Renamon responds plainly. "We were on our way to the park when I heard you squabbling and decided to investigate. I must say I'm disappointed in the lack of wild digimon to cause you're yelling."
"Who asked you anyway?" Kazu asks, trying to act tough, but a simple glare from Renamon quickly causes an adjustment in his attitude. "We were just on our way to get Jeri and MarineAngemon's choosing now to develop a craving for miso soup."
"Perhaps you should not whine over something so insignificant," Renamon suggests before outright vanishing. "Ill whine about whatever I wanna whine about! You can't stop me!" Kazu says as he shakes his fist at the empty air in front of him. "Man she annoys me almost as much as her tamer does…"
"Shall we continue our quest to escort Lady Jeri?" Guardromon asks, trying to be helpful and move Kazu's attention away from Renamon.
"Yea, yea. I didn't forget. Let's go."
A short distance away, Rika continues her walk, Renamon appearing and falling into step with her. "Have your fun, Renamon?" Rika asks without even looking at her partner.
"Yes, Rika. I'm hoping he won't be as much of a headache at the park…"
"Really have to wonder why Gogglebrain wants us all to meet. This better not be something stupid, like a team day in the park or something."
"I thought you liked spending time with Takato?" Renamon asks. Rika makes an exasperated gesture before replying, "Yea, he's fun to hang out with and poke fun at, but that is only entertaining for so long. I get enough of him and the Braniac at school to last the whole year."
"I see," Renamon responds emotionlessly.
"It's just so boring. I really wish something would happen. It doesn't have to be an invasion of parasimon, but at least something to get this need for a fight out of my system. That's not so much to ask, is it?"
"We can spar with the others," Renamon suggests.
"Boring. I could beat them easily…"
"All of them? At once?" Renamon asks, hiding the slightest of smirks on her muzzle.
"What do you think?" Rika asks, returning the smirk.
"Master Yen Sid? Have you figured out where this 'other' is?"
Yen Sid opens his eyes and scratches his beard. "Not just yet, Mickey, but I'm sure I am close. Have you anything new to report?"
"Yes, master. I think we're finally close to figuring out where Ven's heart is," Mickey responds.
"Is that so? Then that leaves only Terra."
"Right, and we've gotta save all three of em."
Yen Sid nods and scratches his beard once more. "Hmmm… The question is: What does Xehanort intend to do next?"
"Xehanort?" Micheky inquires. "But his two halves are gone. There was Ansem, who commanded the Heartless, and Xemnas who commanded the Nobodies. Didn't Sora defeat them both?"
"Correct," Yen Sid replies. "Those two met their end. However, there in lies exactly our problem. The destruction of them both now guarantees the original Xehanort's reconstruction."
"Huh?" Mickey utters in confusion.
"Xehanort's heart, once seized by his Heartless half, is now free. And his body, which had become his Nobody, has been vanquished. Both halves will now be returned to the whole. In short…this means Master Xehanort will return."
"And you think…you think that maybe he's going to try to do something?"
Yen Sid scratches his beard in thought once more. "A man like Xehanort will have left many roads open…"
"Well, it doesn't matter what he cooks up. Me and Sora; we'll be ready! And Riku too!" Mickey states confidently.
"Yes, they are indeed strong. But…not true Keyblade Masters, like you. Tell me…would a single one of you suffice if what you faced was not a single one of him?"
"What?" Mickey asks, confused again. "What do you mean?"
"Mickey, please summon Sora hither. Riku as well," Yen Sid orders, sitting back in his chair and closing his eyes.
"Of course, but why?" Mickey responds.
"To show us the Mark of Mastery. Whether there is another Keyblade wielder out there or not to assist us, we cannot rely on it. We must be ready to face Xehanort with what we can muster now."
In the Digital World
Yen Sid's and Mickey's images vanish from the crystalline ball between them and eleven figures squint with displeasure. "It seems they are already preparing for the Final Battle," one remarks.
"Indeed," a deep, monstrous voice replies.
"It matters little. The ones called Sora and Riku will never be sufficient to defeat the Master," a third chimes in.
"But they have King Mickey and may very well find the girl and the boy's heart," a fourth warns.
"Let them struggle as much as they like," the first replies. "They shall never find Terra. We know that much."
"No, but what of this new wielder? Whoever it is might become a problem unless dealt with now," the fifth chimes in.
"Patience brother," a sixth one speaks up. "No one even knows where there this new wielder is. We can wait until they make their move and then take them by surprise."
"We don't have room for mistakes here," a seventh threatens. "The board is not quite set yet, and we must be careful not to allow the Light to get the jump on us. For all we know, my former student could have found his way to them by now. If he warns them of our plan…"
"You worry too much. I for one am not concerned," an eighth states confidently. "Darkness will prevail."
"Of course it will…" The ten turn to see an eleventh towering figure beside a young man. Each of them bows their heads as he enters the room to place himself at their center. "What's this of a new wielder I hear?" the new figure asks.
"Yen Sid sensed another," a ninth answers. "No one knows who or where he or she might be."
"It matters little," the new figure replies, touching the crystal ball. Images of four creatures appear: a great, long, bearded dragon, a fiery bird with an engine on its back, a two-headed turtle, and a fierce tiger. "Once we move forward with our plan, it will too late for them to find this new wielder."
"What are your orders, sir," the tenth asks.
"You're going on a little trip," he replies. "Not long ago, several humans came to this world. We're going to show them just how powerful a digimon can be." He looks back into the crystal ball, the image of a goggle-wearing teen appearing. "You will go to the human world and capture these so called tamers. Bring them before the sovereigns: show them what they are dealing with. Then perhaps, they will understand what they must do…"
A brunette girl's eyes blink open and she stretches out and yawns. A small white digimon on the end of her bed begins to stir and she chuckles inwardly before running a hand over his head, grinning mildly to herself. She bends off and places a kiss on his head before sliding carefully out of her bed.
She pulls on a bathrobe and begins looking through her draws for an outfit for the day. She stops as she stumbles upon a small white device with a yellow ring around its static-filled screen. She merely stares at it for a moment or so, images of a fierce and muscular lion-man digimon flashing through her memory. Pulling out the outfit she wants, she closes the draw and exits the room, heading down to the hall to the bathroom. She pulls off the robe as well as her pajamas and steps into a warm shower.
Oh Leomon… I miss you so much… I wish you could be here… See everything that's happened… She hugs herself as the warm water streams over her, trying to both comfort herself and shove the longing feeling she has out of her mind. At least I get to see Takato today… and the others too. I wonder what we're meeting about.
She turns off the water and steps out, putting the bathrobe on and opening the bathroom door, only to find Calumon waiting on the other side. "Good morning Jeri!" he says very cheerily.
"Good morning Calumon. Are you hungry?" The white digimon nods vigorously. "Alright. Why don't you head downstairs and start on breakfast and I'll be right down. I just need to go change."
"I'll go with you!" Calumon shouts jubilantly, causing Jeri to sweat drop. "Uhh, Calumon. Do you remember how we spoke about privacy when I need to get dressed?" Calumon puts a tiny hand to his chin, as if trying to think or remember and Jeri merely sighs. "Just head downstairs and I'll be down in a bit, ok?" Calumon ceases his attempts at thought and opens his ears. "Ok Jeri! I'll make sure Masahiko doesn't eat all the breakfast!" The white digimon zooms off and, after a moment or so, Jeri continues to her room and gets dressed for the day.
As Jeri heads down the steps, her father looks up from his morning paper and says, "Good morning Jeri. Slept in a bit, did you?"
"Yea, I guess," Jeri says, rubbing the back of her head.
"Doing anything today?" her father asks.
"Ummm. Yea. I'm supposed to meet Takato and the others at the park." Jeri's father stiffens slightly and looks up. "Is Takato coming to get you?"
"I think so," Jeri responds. Her father nods before returning to his paper. "Alright. When he gets here, you can go then."
"Dad, it really isn't that far. I could walk my…"
"No," he states simply.
"But dad, there haven't even been any bioemergences in so long, and Calumon could come with me. I'll be fine."
"No," her father repeats. Jeri lets out a dejected sigh before taking her place at the table and nibbling on some toast. After some silence, her father lets out a sigh and lowers his paper. "I know you think I'm being a little too over the top, but this is for your safety. I can't bear to have something happen to you again."
"Dad, the D-Reaper is gone…" Jeri moans.
"But there's still more danger out there. There was that train that showed up about a year ago, with all those eyeball things. Who knows when another major catastrophe like that will hit."
"I'm not afraid of it, dad. Takato and the others can protect me if needed."
"Yes, which is why I'm telling you to wait until one gets here to escort you." Jeri releases yet another dejected sigh. I really wish I still had Leomon…
The doorbell rings and her father rises to answer it. The door swings open, revealing Kazu, flanked by the bulky metallic Guardromon. "Hey Mr. Katou. Is Jeri around?"
Mr. Katou eyes the boy warily, squinting slightly at him, but turns and calls to Jeri, "One of your friends is here for you."
"Kazu?" Jeri asks as she reaches the door. "What are you doing here?"
"Just figured you'd need an escort to the park."
"Isn't Takato coming?" she asks, somewhat bewildered.
"I doubt Takato is even up yet himself. We can just call and tell him I already got you. I want to get this whole meeting thing under way.
"He is not a very patient man," Guardromon adds, causing Kazu to elbow him. "So you coming?" Kazu asks. Jeri gives a warm smile and nods. "Sure. It probably doesn't matter who walks with me and its been awhile since I've hung out with you." Kazu gives a thumbs up before gesturing for her to follow. "Let's get moving then.
Disney Castle
A small colorful ship zips into a hangar and docks, before opening its ramp to allow a frenzied Mickey to dash off. He runs up the spiral staircase and through the gardens, reaching the hallway that leads to his study before being confronted by a dog-like humanoid in knights armor and a duck in wizard's regalia.
"Good morning, your majesty," the duck shouts as he sees him. "What's the rush?"
"Yea, did something happen with Master Yen Sid?" the dog knight asks.
"Talk later!" Mickey shouts as he dashes past them towards the throne room. The duck and dog look at each other before dashing after him, entering the library and heading back towards the king's study to find Mickey already dabbing a quill in ink and starting to write.
"What's going on?" the dog asks again.
"Master Yen Sid is concerned about Xehanort," Mickey responds as he tries to write. "He wants me to bring Sora and Riku to him right away."
"But didn't we defeat Xehanort?" the dog asks, placing a hand on his chin in a gesture of thought.
"Yea, what's the big idea?" the duck asks. "I though we was just focused on finding those friends of yours. Umm…what were there names…"
"Terra, Aqua, and Van," Mickey says as he finishes his letter. "And I am still focused on finding them, but we might need Sora and Riku's help regardless."
"Your Majesty! Come quickly!" Mickey turns to see a small cricket-like individual wearing a hat jump into the study. "It's the Queen!"
"Minnie! Aww no! Here guys. Get this message to Sora right away!" He hands the duck the note he had just written and dashes off after the cricket.
"Do you think the king is ok, Donald? He sure seems pretty antsy about all this," the dog asks.
"I don't know Goofy… I know we defeated both halves of Xehanort already, so I don't see how the king is concerned. We better just do what he says and get Sora."
"Well on the bright side, we get to see Sora again," Goofy says as he follows Donald out.
Mickey dashes into the Queen's private study, finding brooms, a yellow dog, a female duck, and Minnie standing there waiting for him. "Minnie, Daisy, what's going on?" Mickey asks. The brooms part, allowing Mickey to see that Minnie and Daisy are tending to a small, white dragon-like creature with a red cape, which lies upon the table at the center of the room.
"He seems to be hurt, Mickey. I've done everything I can to nurse his wounds, but…"
"Who is he?" Mickey asks as he steps up to observe their charge. The creature seems to twitch from pain and his bodily form shifts, pixelating before rippling and re-stabilizing. He quivers, even as Minne strokes him to comfort him. "Where did he come from?" Mickey asks.
"He seemed to just appear," Daisy replies. "Fell from the sky right into our garden." Mickey gives a quick nod to her before moving closer to the stranger and asking, "Who are you? Where do you come from?" It quivers before him without answering and Mickey tries to give it his warmest smile. "It's ok. I'm a friend. I want to help. But you gotta tell me how I can."
The creature shifts slightly to face him better before meaning to say, "…Huckmon."
"And how did you get here? Where are you from?" The creature's form destabilizes and shifts again before regaining stability and he answers, "…I don't remember…"
Review ok, no flames, Flames will be used to Punish Craniamon