"Alright, the next world is dead ahead" says Mushu before yawning rather loudly. "Can't wait to get out of this cramp ship and stretch my legs too. Having to be in here with stinky old feather duster here isn't no picnic either."
"What did you say?" asked Donald, his head turning so he could glare at Mushu who sticks his tongue out at him. "Why don't you go back into your gem form and give the rest of us some room...and some peace and quiet along with it."
"And deny everyone my majestic presence? Surely you jest" retorts Mushu, leading into another round of bickering between the two.
"Here we go again" says Goofy, sighing and wondering how many times they had done this since leaving Traverse Town. After leaving Wonderland an hour or two before, they had been glaring each other down over this or that more times than one could count with their fingers.
Jiminy sighs as well, wondering if there was something he could say to lighten the mood, but his eye locking onto a depressed looking Roxas draws in his attention. Getting up from his chair, he hops on over to Roxas and jumps up to stand on his lap. "You OK, son?"
"Yeah...I guess" says Roxas though it was said halfheartedly.
"Still thinking about Alice, huh?" asked Jiminy.
"What happened to her?" he wondered. After the card guard had returned and alerted them to Alice's disappearance from her cell, the queen had ordered a full search. The Cheshire Cat had then appeared and told them of Alice's fate; having been taken by the darkness beyond Wonderland's borders. The queen had then tasked them with finding her and bringing her back home safely.
"We'll find her. I'm sure of it" says Jiminy, getting a halfhearted smile from Roxas.
"Um, fellas. Maybe you should take a look outside" says Goofy suddenly, his attention towards the back of the ship.
"Not now" yells both Donald and Mushu, butting heads again which meant Donald had let go of the controls, meaning the ship was flying itself. Roxas and Jiminy look back and see what Goofy had seen.
"HEARTLESS" they both shout.
"Heartless? Where..." asked Donald before the ship shakes violently from the sudden impact as a Heartless ship crashes into them, sending the Gummi Ship spinning out of control towards the world barrier. "Quack, we're all gonna die..."
"This isn't my fault...I swear" cries Mushu before the ship impacts the barrier, passing through it and sending everyone flying as the cockpit flies open from the manner of entry...
Realm Hearts
chpt.24: These Strangers Like Me
The world was fast approaching him, spinning wildly and making him feel disoriented. Despite this, Roxas kept his cool as he calls forth his Keyblade. Through the spiraling images assaulted his mind, he could just make out a structure standing out among the unending sea of trees. He had one chance at doing this. Casting Aero, but not on himself, he instead blast it out away from him, altering his course so he was heading towards the structure then casting a second just before impact to slow himself down, though not enough to stop him from crashing through a window and rolling across the floor before being stopped by the far wall. He remains there for a few moments, stunned from the landing before his mind snaps back into action and he quickly picks himself up, looking around.
The place he was in appeared to be well made but was in a state of disrepair. Obviously, it hadn't been attended to for quite some times; years most likely. Seeing an open door that hanged partly unhinged, he moves over to it and push's against it, making it open slightly before breaking off its hinges and falling forward, off the edge of the wooden walk way. Moving to the edge, Roxas could see nothing but trees in all directions, going on forever. Looking down, he saw a large net that had obviously been placed as a just in case anyone fell from the walk way, evident by the sight of the wooden door that had fallen laying on the net now. Below the net was the tops of trees. While he wasn't completely sure, it was likely very high off the ground and was lucky he had landed where he did. But what about the others?
"Donald? Goofy? Jiminy, Mushu?" he yells out but getting no response save for the squawking of birds taking flight from above him. He sighs, shaking his head, and says to himself "Please don't tell me this is gonna happen in every world we visit", meaning he being split up from the others.
The sound of thunder rumbling above gets him to move to his right, allowing himself a better view of what was going on behind the wooden tree house. Dark clouds were fast approaching with burst of lightning already making the clouds glow with each flash. From the looks of the clouds, it was likely gonna be a serious storm and he knew, from his time living in a sea side town, when not to be out in the storm, especially when in unknown territory. Heading back inside, he finds some cast off blankets inside a make shift cabinet which he lays out to make a bed of sorts. He then braces himself for the storm, hoping this structure wouldn't be sent crashing down on him.
(later that night)
The brown cloak wearing figure stood before a shoddily made crave with the words "Clayton" written upon a wooden cross behind it. The figure lifts up his right arm which begins to glow as he places it upon the rocks that made up the grave proper. "In a world unconnected, time is oh so short. So, I will make the time I will need..."
(the next morning)
Sunlight shined through the hole above, waking Roxas from what had been, for the most part, a rough nights sleep. He had been kept awake due to the sheer loudness in the thunder and having to move his bed into better positions as the wind was causing the rain to fall onto him through the hole in the ceiling and the glassless windows. Stretching and rubbing his eyes, he gets up and yawns while rubbing his hungry stomach. Looking outside, he decides it was time to find the others...after finding something to eat of course.
But, from the low growl he hears from above, he wasn't the only one looking for some breakfast. He looks up and sees the source of the growling; a leopard with its fangs bare to him. "Uh...nice kitty?"
The leopard leaps down, landing near him and slowly turns to face him. Immediately, Roxas notices something was odd about this jungle cat. One, there was rough looking patches on its fur and even a few bald spots. From these spots was a blackish smoke rising into the air. And then there was its eyes, dull and lifeless like. There was a feeling of wrongness coming off of this beast.
The leopard charges at him suddenly, leaping into the air with its claws out to bring him down. Roxas is faster though, pulling out his Keyblade to stop the attack from landing on him, then pushing it off of him, sending it crashing back into some wooden beams. But this doesn't seem to either hurt or faze the leopard as it picks itself back up and comes at him again, this time dodging under the Keyblade's swing at the last second and swiping at Roxas, sending him flying back and rolling onto his back with the beast quickly getting on top of him, then growling loudly as it prepares to finish off its prey.
"Stop" comes a voice, yelling out, as Roxas sees a blur of motion from above enter into cabin. The leopard quickly looks around at hearing the voice only to be hit by a swinging spear that bats it through the air like a base ball. It recovers in time to adjust itself and push off the wall back at the rescuer who repeats his previous attack, this time sending the leopard flying through a glassless window. Roxas knew that last move must have sent it falling pretty far down to the trees base, meaning he was safe for the moment unless his rescuer wasn't a friendly person either.
Roxas gets back onto his face and brush's himself off. "Thanks for the save back there. For a second, I thought for sure I was a goner." He then gets his first chance to really look at the person who had save him and sees he was rather muscular in build with shoulder length brown hair. He was also rather naked save for a furred loin cloth keeping him covered; a real jungle man it seems.
"You're not from around here. That much is obvious" says the man as he returns the spear to its hold on his back. "What has brought you here, stranger? Are you a friend of Jane's?"
"Jane? Sorry, I don't know anyone by that name. And no, I'm not from around here either" says Roxas, glad he could understand this man. He then digs through his pockets, pulling out two pieces a paper; one of which he unfolds and shows to the man. "Have you, by any chance, seen anything like this?"
The man looks at the picture depicting a key hole design. "It could be any size and may blend in with the surrounding environment. It may also have a glow either coming from around it or from within it."
The man looks at it, then shakes his head. "Sorry, this design is unknown to me."
Roxas folds that piece of paper up and unfolds the other. "What about these creatures? Have you seen anything like them wandering around this jungle?"
The man looks at the Heartless drawings for a moment then shakes his head again. ""Sorry, but these creatures are unknown to me. Maybe Jane may know about these things."
"Could you take me to her then?" asked Roxas.
"I can as I need to head back to check in on both her and her father anyways. Follow me" says the man before walking to the front door which Roxas is quick to follow.
"Thanks for the help. I'm Roxas by the way."
"Tarzan" returned the man, hopping down onto a net beneath the house.
"By the way, have you seen anyone else not native to these jungles?" asked Roxas. "I came here with some friends of mine but we get separated from each other. One is..." Roxas stops as he realizes that describing Donald, Goofy, Jiminy, and Mushu would be weird as they were a duck, dog, cricket, and dragon in body and some would look at him like he was crazy...if not everyone.
"Only you" says Tarzan. "Maybe Jane or her father may have seen your friends."
"I hope so" says Roxas. He then says to himself "I hope that leopard is gone for good though."
"Sabor" says Tarzan, getting Roxas attention. "A dangerous beast, one I thought I had finished off months ago. But somehow, it has returned from death and is hunting again."
"So that leopard was dead then?" asked Roxas, getting a nod from Tarzan. Now that Roxas thought about it, the beast did indeed appeared to be dead based on its appearance and smell he sniffed when it had been on top of him. The look in its eyes was also of a lifeless thing. But then there was the smoke he saw around it. Could it be that the body had something within in, reanimating it? Roxas is drawn from his thoughts when he feels Tarzan, who had stopped walking, stopping him as well.
"Quickest way to get to the camp" he says as he points to some vines. "Hope you are a good swinger?"
"...Sure, I think I can swing it...yeah" says Roxas though he wasn't quite so confident. Tarzan either didn't notice his doubt or felt it unimportant as he leaps at a vine and begins swinging till he reaches a nearby tree then stops as he waits for Roxas to join him. Gulping a little, Roxas prepares himself and says "Well, here goes nothing." He then leaps and grabs the vine, swinging from one to another till he reaches Tarzan.
"Not bad" says Tarzan before continuing onward. Roxas, feeling more confident now, follows after him and finds himself enjoying the feeling of swinging through the air. He even finds himself wanting to try more daring swings and jumps from one vine to another. So into this now was he that he can't help but say how he felt in a sort of sing song way.
"My name is Roxas, here in the jungle. Swinging from tree to tree. These vines are fine, this is such a great time..."
"Roxas, watch out for that tree" yells Tarzan, making Roxas snap out of his moment of enjoying himself only to realize he hadn't been paying attention to where he was swinging and that it was already to late to stop himself from impacting a large tree in front of him. After the collision, he loses his grip and starts to fall till Tarzan catches him and then continues on towards the camp.
"George of the Jungle, I'm not" says Roxas which makes Tarzan chuckle.
(Donald and Goofy)
Goofy walked forward carefully as he made his way through the lush, dense jungle. Since waking up in the branch's of a tree next to a waterfall earlier in the morning, he had been searching for the others but so far having had no luck.
"Donald? Roxas? Jiminy? Can anyone here me, A-hyuk?" he yells loudly. He then stops and scratches his head when he notices some familiar looking rocks. "Ya know, I think I might be going in circles."
He then hears sounds coming from a nearby path, though it wasn't a familiar one to him. He decides that it may be a good idea to hide but can't decide on where would be a good place to do so. The owner of the voice then comes into view; an elephant packing a ton of bananas on its back and a fair amount being held in its nose.
"I hope these are enough for Terk" says the elephant, breathing heavily a little as he wasn't use to doing much physical labor. That, add the fact he was never one for exercise or being in top shape, was making this task a rough one. "Man, I need to start exercising...ow..." The elephant bumps into something and adjust the position of his trunk out of his line of sight, assuming it had been a tree.
"Howdy there, fella" says Goofy cheerfully, being the thing that the elephant had bumped into.
"GAAAHHH, MONSTER" cried the elephant, sending all the bananas it had gathered scattering over the ground before turning tail and running as fast as he could, which was surprisingly quick for such a bulky guy. But he then tries to do something stupid and climb up a tree forgetting that such a thing was rather impossible for one such as he.
"Gawrsh, I don't think you can climb that tree" says Goofy.
"Stay away, save me someone" cries the elephant before gravity kicks in and he ends up falling onto his back. Goofy then runs over to him, making the elephant say "That's it, I'm done for. Please, at least be kind and finish me quickly before eating me will ya."
"I'm not gonna eat ya there, pal" says Goofy, coming to one side of the elephant then pushing against him. "Here, let me see if I can help ya roll over back onto your feet, A-hyuk."
"You're not...and your trying to help me?" asked the elephant before becoming teary eyed. "Thank you. I should have known you weren't a bad man. You have such a nice face and all...um...who are you?"
The elephant, realizing this guy wasn't getting much success in turning him decides to help by rocking back and forth, each motion bringing him closer and closer to fully rolling right side again. "My name's Goofy. Glad to meet ya there, pal." After one final push, Goofy finally gets the elephant rolled back onto his stomach.
"Goofy, huh?" says the elephant as he finally stands again though he needs a few moments to let his wobbly feet regain their strength. "Funny, you look a little goofy. Anyways, my names Tantor. Sorry about before. I'm a little skittish and paranoid."
"Oh, that's alright" says Goofy. "I'm known for being absent minded and clumsy myself, A-hyuk."
Tantor smiles and has a feeling he and Goofy will probably get along well; an elephant and...well, what ever Goofy was. "So, where did you come from, my new friend?"
"From another wor...land" says Goofy, correcting himself. "Me and my buddies are on this mission and we got split up upon arriving here. Have you seen anyone around here that isn't from here?"
Tantor thinks about it, then shakes his head. "Just you. Maybe Tarzan and his human friends may know something or we can ask Terk and the gorillas...oh crocodiles, the bananas." Tantor then begins to run around, recollecting all the bananas and hoping they had been damaged or else Terk would chew him out for being so careless.
"Gawrsh, you think you can take me to them?" asked Goofy.
"Sure thing, buddy" says Tantor as he finishes up collecting the scattered bananas. "I was just on my way to see a Terk now and..."
"ACK, GET ME DOWN FROM HERE" comes a voice, screaming through the jungle loud enough to freak Tantor out again, once more making him spill the bananas everywhere before trying to hide himself behind Goofy...not that such a thing was possible.
"That voice. It was Donald's" says Goofy as Donald's voice is heard again. Goofy then runs into the direction he had heard Donald's cries in while Tantor follows after him, yelling out "Don't leave me alone." The elephant forgets about the bananas due to the excitement.
After a few minutes, they find the duck mage stuck high off the ground; tangled in vines and trying very hard to free himself though it was obviously not working out well for him. "Hey ya there, Donald. Watch-a doing way up there?" asked Goofy, finding the scene to be a little bit funny.
"What do you think I'm doing, ya big palooka" yells Donald. "Get me down from here."
"One of your friends, I take it?" asked Tantor, finding the duck to be rather scary sounding.
"Can't ya cast a fire spell and burn the vines away?" asked Goofy. His eyes then notice Donald's magic casting stave lying on the ground, likely because Donald had dropped it while trying to cast the spell in question. "Just shut up and do something already" yells Donald.
"Hm, what can I do?" wonders Goofy aloud before an idea hits him. Goofy holds out his hand, making a rounded shield appear which makes Tantor stare at him with wonder. "Hold tight Donald" yells Goofy before chucking his shield like a boomerang which slices through the vines before circling back and returning to Goofy. Donald, meanwhile, falls hard onto the ground.
"Yeah, that really work, A-hyuk" says Goofy before another idea hits him. He then holds his shield up and says "Ya know, this could actually make for a good attack."
He then notices Donald laying on the ground, fuming slightly. "Say, you OK down there, Donald."
"Oh yeah, just peachy" growled Donald, wondering how he could hurt...I mean, thank Goofy for saving him. He picks himself up and dust himself off before grabbing his stave and walking over to Goofy. "Say, who's the pachyderm there?"
"This is Tantor" says Goofy who then turns to look at Tantor and says "This is Donald, one of my traveling buddies." Goofy looks back at Donald and says "He's gonna help us find the others."
"Good" says Donald. "The sooner we finish up here, the better if you ask me."
"Well, we better hurry and go find Terk then" says Tantor, leading them through the jungle. As they walk, Goofy shows Tantor the picture of the Heartless and the key hole and ask if he had seen anything like these around to which Tantor shakes his head no to.
Soon, they arrive at the spot Tantor was suppose to to be meeting Terk at. "Hey, I'm back Terk."
It doesn't take long for a response to be given. "Yeah, I can see that, chubs. So, where are the bananas at? Don't tell me you ate them while coming back." A second later, a large female ape comes down from above and walks over to Tantor with an annoyed look on her face.
Tantor realizes he had left the bananas behind after his second scare. "Um, I sorry. You see, there was these scary things and I met these two and..."
"Two who?" says Terk, looking back behind Tantor and seeing Donald and Goofy. Her eyes go wide at seeing Donald, reshaping themselves into hearts, which she also sees floating around the duck who, in her mind, looked dashing and rogue like. A real hunk for this punk gorilla.
She quickly moves to his side and leans in close. "Say there, short, white, and feathery. How about you and I go someplace private and split a banana?"
"What?" quacks Donald, suddenly feeling very scared of this gorilla who was giving him googly eyes.
"Gawrsh Donald, I think she likes ya, A-hyuk" chuckles out Goofy.
"WHAT?" cries Donald, trying to back away now but Terk remained glued to his side. Just then, footsteps are heard coming towards them.
"Hey, looks like we have another visitor" says Tantor. "Maybe another one of your friends?"
"Ya think so?" asked Goofy.
"Probably Tarzan" says Terk before realizing she was hearing boots and not bare feet. "Or perhaps Jane or the professor..." She doesn't finish as the person coming towards them is finally seen, making the elephant and gorilla go pale. "Oh, this can't be good..."
(Roxas)
Tarzan had finally brought himself and Roxas back safely onto the ground before a large bamboo made fence. Tarzan then leads him around till they were standing outside a large arch with a wooden door within it and a sign above that said Porter residence.
"So, this is where you're friends live?" asked Roxas as Tarzan opened the wooden door. Inside was a large wooden house similar in design to the one Roxas had stayed in the night before, but in much better shape. There were several other, smaller structures placed around the camp ground as well.
"Why would I bring you here if they didn't?" asked Tarzan as he leads Roxas inside the camp, his eyes immediately falling on the young woman who was currently placing laundry on a line to dry in the sun.
"Jane" says Tarzan.
The girl named Jane turns back and smiles as Tarzan walks up to her. "Tarzan...and who's this?" she asked, seeing Roxas walking up to her as well.
"I'm Roxas. It's nice to meet you." Roxas then bows respectfully to Jane.
"I found him at my parents old place" says Tarzan. "He came here with his friends but they got split up from what he told me."
"Oh, then you must be one of the companions that odd fellow was speaking of" says Jane.
"Wait, so one of my friends is here then?" asked Roxas.
"I can't say as I don't know you or those you came with" says Jane before pointing to the main building. "But the one who arrived is speaking with my father right now so feel free to go in and see if he is one of your misplaced friends."
"Alright, thanks" says Roxas as he turns and runs to the house. Jane and Tarzan follow, although the choose to walk instead. Roxas enters the house, quickly hearing talking coming from a room to his left which he runs into and finds it to be a dining room in its design.
In this room, sitting at a table was an older man with balding white hair and rather short in appearance and sitting opposite him, using a small carton as a chair and a thimble as a cup, was Jiminy. "I say, old chap. That is quite a peculiar and queer story you just told me."
"And it's all true, I assure you" says Jiminy before taking a sip of his drink, likely tea.
"Utterly fascinating, truly. Though one would naturally be hesitant to believe such a tale, the fact it comes from a talking cricket who speaks and dresses like a gentleman adds truth to the telling" says the man, also taking a sip from his cup.
"Jiminy, it really is you" says Roxas, moving over to the table.
"Roxas" says Jiminy, looking relieved to see a familiar face. "I was worried sick about you, son. Are you OK?"
"Apart from a rough landing and a run in with a rather nasty local, I'm good" says Roxas, deciding to leave out his little vine swinging mishap which was rather embarrassing to recall. Tarzan and Jane finally enter the house and join them.
"And Donald and Goofy?" asked Jiminy.
Roxas shakes his head, then says "You're the first one I've found since coming here."
"Then they may be with your ape family, right Tarzan?" asked Jane.
"Perhaps, though I can't be sure. We should go see them anyways and ask." Tarzan then steps forward and extends a finger which Jiminy takes and shakes with both his tiny hands. "I'm Tarzan."
"Jiminy Cricket, at your service" says Jiminy. He then looks at Roxas and says "It seems you've already met miss Jane Porter. This here, sitting with me, is her father."
The older, small man stands and walks over to Roxas, extending a hand to him. "Professor Archimedes Porter, at your service my boy."
"I'm Roxas. It's an honor to meet you sir" says Roxas before reaching out and taking the professor's hand. Once the hand shake was out of the way, Porter leans in and says "Mr. Cricket here tells me you have a talent that allows you to summon forth a giant key. Would you mind showing me?"
"A giant key?" says Jane. "I would very much like to see this as well."
"Sure, I guess I can" says Roxas as he hols his right hand out. A second later, Kingdom Key appears in a flash of light, making the Porter's gasp and even Tarzan, who hadn't seen the weapon being summoned before, blink in amazement.
"Incredible" says Jane, leaning in for a closer look. "Most astonishing" agreed the professor. "It really is like a sword in its size. Tell me my boy, just what is this marvelous thing used for."
"The Keyblade can be used to unlock or lock things such as doors or treasure chest or just about anything that has a lock on it. It can also destroy creatures called Heartless, reverting them to their true forms as hearts that have been cast off into the darkness by darker forces" says Roxas.
"A charming power it is" says Porter as Roxas allows the Keyblade to vanish. "So, any luck finding this key hole of the world yet?"
Roxas shakes his head. "To be honest, I haven't even started looking for it yet as my first priority was to find my friends. I've been able to reunite with Jiminy here, but there's still Donald and Goofy..."
"You don't suppose the gorillas might know something? What do you think Tarzan?" asked Jane, looking at her love. "Perhaps their friends may have been found by them?"
"I was planning on taking Roxas to see mother and ask her if she knows anything about these matters. Besides, I need to warn them about Sabor somehow returning."
"Sabor? You mean that leopardess you told us about once. The one who had been hunting the young-lings of the tribe who you had managed to kill at last just before meeting us?" asked Jane.
"Can you be sure it is the same beast and not another of its family?" asked Porter.
"I'm sure as it has the wound I inflicted upon it that brought about its death" says Tarzan.
Porter scratches his chin at hearing that. "Such an odd affair. If it was dead then how is it now back to cause terror again. Has it been turned into a zombie perhaps?"
"Could those Heartless you spoke of be the reason for its return?" asked Jane, looking at Roxas.
"If they are somehow responsible for this Sabor's revival, then its a new power from them I have yet to encounter" says Roxas as an idea pops into his head. Could that brown robed person they saw back in Wonderland be behind this somehow?
"We can worry about that later" says Jiminy, hopping from the table onto Roxas shoulders. "For right now, we need to go find Donald and Goofy."
"Right" says Roxas, then turning to look at Tarzan. "Can you take us to see the gorillas?"
"If it can help you, then sure. Come, let's hurry" says Tarzan as he heads for the door. They follow and exit out into the yard. But no sooner than the reach the fence, they hear a low growl and look back towards the house and find Sabor having arrived, blocking any retreat back to a safety of the home.
"Oh my" says Porter before taking a good look at the large cat. "It does look rather peeked, doesn't it. And that pungent smell to boot. It must be dead and yet still moving like some sort of zombie."
"Tarzan?" says Jane, slowly moving to stand behind him.
Tarzan had already pulled his spear off his back as Roxas calls forth his Keyblade, the sight of the weapon making Sabor's eyes glow as the dark smoke around its body becomes more vicious in its release. It then emits a chirp like growl before lunging at them.
Tarzan uses his spear and spins it around, catching Sabor in the rotation and sends it flying to the side but the beast manages to right itself before landing on the ground, then it bounds at him again. Tarzan also runs towards it, wanting to finish this battle, and Sabor, for good. Sabor then does something unexpected as it opens its mouth and sends its tongue shooting out a good two feet, wrapping it around Tarzan and pinning his arms to his body.
"Tarzan" yells Jane as Sabor begins to retract its tongue, pulling Tarzan closer to it.
"First date..." yells Roxas, coming in with Retro Wrecker and slamming it down on Sabor's tongue, making it howl in pain as it releases its hold on Tarzan. "...No tongue" adds Roxas as he sends Retro Wrecker flying at Sabor with a Strike Raid attack, clocking hard and sending it flying back. Roxas then takes it up an notch and uses Sonic Raid while Sabor was still airborne and stunned. The blow is so powerful that Sabor is sent flying back, crashing through the wooden fence, leaving it laying motionless on the ground outside.
Tarzan steps up to Roxas and places a hand on his shoulder. "Not bad, friend."
"Good show, young chap" agreed Porter as Tarzan carefully approaches Sabor, poking it with his spear and getting no response from the act. Roxas joins him and leans down, making Jiminy ask "Wait, what are you...?"
"There's something I need to confirm" says Roxas, placing his hand on Sabor's fur. Roxas then closes his eyes, letting his senses take over to find what it was he wanted to confirm. Tarzan joins him in this act and says "No pulse...and this feeling...this stench..."
"Yeah" agreed Roxas. "Sabor is indeed dead. Has been for sometime now..."
"But then how is it able to still move and attack us?" asked Jane.
No responds and Roxas tries to sense even more and then he finds it. "Heartless" he says as Sabor's eyes suddenly light up and takes a swipe at them, making Roxas and Tarzan jump back as it gets back on its feet. It then prepares to attack them again but a whistling sound being heard by all makes it stop and look up before turning and running off.
"Come" says Tarzan, already giving chase. "We can't let her escape us. She might go after the gorillas." Roxas nods and follows after Tarzan as do the Porters though they wonder if it would be safe for them?
"Are you sure it may go after them gorillas?" asked Roxas.
"While I don't understand what has revived Sabor like this nor do I understand this Heartless business, I still don't want to take a chance here" says Tarzan. But he finds himself coming to a stop as he hears a familiar voice calling out for him.
"Tarzan? Tarzan? Where are you?" comes Terk. Tarzan yells out to Terk, leading the female gorilla to show up before him after a few moments with Tantor following after along with several other familiar faces.
"Donald, Goofy" says Roxas while Jiminy adds "We've been looking for you both."
"Same with us, A-hyuk" says Goofy as Donald ask "Where have you two been? You'll never believe what has happened to me...us."
"No time for that, handsome" says Terk. "Tarzan, we have a big problem."
Tarzan nods, saying "Yeah, I know about Sabor. We're chasing after her right now."
"What? Sabor's back too?" says Tantor, practically freaking out.
"Man, that beast on top of the hunter guy coming back" says Terk. "Just what is going on here?"
"Hunter guy..." says Tarzan till he realizes who Terk was talking about. "You mean Clayton?"
Jane and her father were speechless from shock at hearing their former guide and protector was also back from the dead. Terk nods and says "That's his name. He didn't say anything but its obvious he's still wanting to hunt us down."
"Then he must be heading to the mating grounds then. We need to hurry" says Tarzan before breaking into a run again, realizing that the direction Sabor had run off to was also in the direction of the mating grounds. He just hoped they could get there in time.
At the mating ground, the gorillas backed away in fear at the entity walking towards them. Kala, the clan matriarch was the closest to Clayton was keeping herself in between the human who had killed her husband and her family. On her face was a glare of anger and fear; she was confused as to why she was seeing this man again considering he had died by hanging a few months back.
"Why are you here?" she asked, sounding as powerful and menacing as she could.
Clayton didn't respond with words, his eyes empty and lifeless. His response to her though was to take aim at her with his double barreled shot gun, aiming it right at Kala's heart. Behind her, the other gorillas tell her to run, not to do anything to hurt herself.
Just as he pulls back on the trigger, Tarzan comes swinging in, slamming his body into Clayton and sending him flying, the gun being flung from his hands. Tarzan looks at him as he lays on the ground for just a moment, still stunned at seeing Clayton still alive before turning back and running over to Kala. "Mother, are you alright? Has he hurt you or the others?"
Kala shakes her head, saying "No, not that he wasn't planning on hurting us. What's going on, Tarzan? I thought he was..."
"He was...is...should be? I don't know what's going on. Sabor has also been roaming around alive like nothing happened" says Tarzan, hearing a clicking sound which makes him and Kala looks back and see that Clayton had gotten back onto his feet and was now again aiming his weapon at them.
"Son..." says Kala, worried.
"Not to worry, mother" says Tarzan as he breaks away from Kala and begins walking towards Clayton. "After his...you know, Jane and her father took and destroyed all his bullets. He may still have the gun but it holds no danger unless he uses it like a club."
Or that's what Tarzan assumption at least as Clayton pulled back on the triggers, releasing two bullets of dark energy that slam into Tarzan, sending him flying back. Kala cries out as she rushes to Tarzan's side and helps him to sit up. Looking himself over, he finds he wasn't hurt as bad as one would assume, especially seeing as he had been hit by real bullets during their last exchange though that had just been a flesh wound. But he did have two dark bruise marks on the spots he had been hit at with dark smoke rising from them as well. "Although he may still have a trick or two up his sleeves."
Clayton aims at Tarzan again, this time with the gun being aimed at his head. "Not so fast there, fella" comes Goofy as he sends his shield flying at Clayton. "Shield-a-rang." The attack slams into the gun, smacking it from Clayton's hand while damaging the barrel. Roxas then lands in between him and Tarzan, with Keyblade in hand as he rushes in and swings the weapon hard, batting Clayton back hard into a tree. "You OK?" asked Roxas,looking back at Tarzan.
"He's not done yet" says Terk as Clayton gets back onto his feet.
"Oh yeah" says Donald as he releases a volley of Fireballs at Clayton. Clayton doesn't try to move, not that he needed to as Sabor suddenly arrives and takes the attack itself, it's body arching before being consumed by the flames.
"Is she dead...again?" asked Tantor, peeking out from behind a tree, not that he was well hidden.
"Looks like it to me" says Donald, already charging at Clayton. "Lets go, guys" he yells.
"Right behind ya, Donald" agreed Goofy.
But something was off here, that much Roxas could tell as he was feeling the darkness in the area growing stronger. "Guys, wait..."
To late were his words as something unseen hits Donald and Goofy, sending them flying back hard; Goofy impacting several of the gorillas and Donald being caught by Terk, which sends the both of them crashing into even more gorillas. Clayton's gun is sudden lifted into the air by the unseen force and brought back over to him, his touch seemingly repairing the damage done before he climbs onto the invisible foe which then makes a similar chirp like growl Sabor had made before.
"What's going on?" asked Kala. "He's floating on the air."
"No, he's riding on something we can't see" says Tarzan as he moves to stand beside Roxas.
"It must be whatever had been inside Sabor's body, controlling her" says Roxas. "But neither it or whatever is controlling Clayton's body is pretty smart seeing as we can tell where it is from him being on it."
"Agreed. Lets go" says Tarzan, already running towards Clayton with his spear weapon at the ready. He comes in low at first then leaps into the air but the same unseen attack that had nailed Donald and Goofy before now hit him, sending him flying back though he grabs a vine with his free hand and uses it make it quick recovery.
Roxas had followed right behind him though he had remained grounded when Tarzan had jumped. He notices a shadow being cast on the ground despite the Heartless being invisible, indicating it stood a bit above the ground. He then senses an attack coming and makes a judgment call, going into a slide directly forward as the ground behind him shakes ans cracks from a sudden impact. Roxas finds himself sliding in beneath this unseen Heartless and he knows he has just moments to act. "Fire" he yells while thrusting the Keyblade upwards, releasing several blast of flames directly into the gut of the invisible foe, blasting it upwards and causing it to finally appear, it's true form being a large green yellow skinned lizard. Roxas then rolls clear as the creature comes slamming back down onto the ground, knocking Clayton off its back.
"Good work" says Tarzan, tackling Clayton as he gets back onto his feet again. "I'll deal with him. Can you deal with that thing?"
Roxas looks at the Stealth Sneak, then back and sees Donald and Goofy had finally recovered and were running to join him. "I'll manage" says Roxas, giving Tarzan a smirk which is returned.
Stealth Sneak, having recovered from the stun inducing landing, stands up on its hind legs and screeches out again as Roxas tightens the grip on his Keyblade and runs at it. The large eyes on the Heartless jerk in the direction of of Roxas, making the giant beast spin around as it attempts to knock Roxas off its feet. Roxas jumps over the tail swipe, seeing that the Heartless had also extended its long tongue out as well and swinging it around with a time delay and a little higher up, this one assured to land a hit.
"Not so fast there, fella" shouts Goofy, having lept into the air and passes by Roxas quickly to ram into the tongue, pushing it off while also being pushed back. Roxas does a upward swing with his Keyblade, making contact with Stealth Sneak's lower jaw, making it jerk up violently. Goofy then uses his Shield-a-rang technique and sends the attack slamming hard into the Heartless stomach, knocking it back a few steps before it falls back onto its back.
"My turn" comes Donald, getting a little boost from some of the gathered gorillas as he's sent shooting upwards, firing off Fire spell after Fire spell down at the downed Heartless, each hit making it spasm violently and making its head jerk back and forth as it screech's out in pain. Donald lands on a tree and looks down, waiting for the smoke created by his attacks clear away before he makes another move as he doesn't want to set the jungle on fire by accident.
From the smoke, the Stealth Sneak's tongue comes shooting out fast and direct, catching Donald off guard and unable to move clear in time. "Hold on, handsome" yells Terk, throwing herself into Donald and sending them both into the clear of the attack with Donald landing first and Terk atop him. They look each other in the eyes as Terk blushes and says "Ya owe me a date for that, ducky hunky." The weird thing was Donald was actually having an sudden moment of attraction towards her...for a second or two before Daisy's face appears in his thoughts and he once again finds himself hoping she didn't find out about his actions since starting this journey or else she would likely kill him.
"Guys, watch out" yells Goofy as the Stealth Sneak rights itself and goes charging at them. He tries to catch it using Goofy Rocket, but the Sneak swings its tail and send Goofy flying and slamming into a tree. It then sends its tongue at Donald and Terk and they have no where to run, especially with Terk still on top of Donald, kind of crushing him with her greater weight. "Second date..." shouts Roxas, swinging in and around to them intercept the attack by vine swinging, then aims his Keyblade and releases a Blizzard spell that hits the tongue, freezing it solid. "...still no tongue allowed" he adds as Kala suddenly appears with a large rock in hand and uses it to shatter the frozen tongue, tired of standing around and seeing her family in danger.
"Thanks, ma'am" says Roxas as he runs past her, now feeling more assured a victory here now that it's main weapon had been destroyed. He leaps into the air to avoid its other attack, it's tail, but Stealth Sneak varnish's at the last moment and his attack hits the ground. Goofy is quick to join him and Donald a moment later, after getting Terk off him and they stand back to back with each other, looking for any sing of the enemy. "So, any ideas on how to find it?" asked Donald.
"He's a chameleon" says Jiminy, poking his head out from Roxas's leg pouch. "He can't actually become invisible. Rather, it's blending in with the environment. Look for any distortions in the air and we'll find it."
"Sounds easy enough" says Goofy. Roxas, meanwhile, finds himself recalling some of the things he learned during his time with the Organization; during that day he had to spend time with the group. While his memories of those days had been tainted by the things he had learned in his final days with them, the things he had gained was still important. And besides, it's possible that not everyone had been against him, been his enemy. He certainly didn't think Xion was his enemy now, just being brainwashed and controlled by Xemnas. Maybe the same was true for the others, some of them at least. He closes his eyes and allows his senses to expand outwards, feeling the vibrations in the ground, the feel and smells in the air. He was one with the world around him, he knew that well.
His eyes shoot open as he says aloud "THERE", he spins around and sends out a Strike Raid at an angle, instantly slamming the Stealth Sneak right between the eyes which makes it reappear. A second later, Donald and Goofy were on it, using their best attacks to keep the pressure on so it couldn't disappear on them again and Roxas was right behind them.
Tarzan was keeping himself moving around, never staying in one spot for more than a moment as he faced off with Clayton...no, against the force that was inhabiting Clayton's corpse. The real issue here was the weapon. Unlike before, when Clayton was still alive, the gun now fired pellets of darkness from its double barrel's instead of iron balls that didn't seem to need reloaded. While they didn't have as much damage potential as the iron balls did, these pellets of darkness could still hurt and the effect it could have on the body was unknown apart from them leaving patches of dark welts which seemed to have different effects depending on where they hit at. The previous hits he had been exposed to, also being the first, had been on his chest and left shoulder which had left his shoulder numb and his breathing a little more difficult. The gun is fired again and Tarzan spins to avoid the hit which lands against a tree, the effect of which seemed to make the trees leaves turn a sickly looking color.
'I need to get in close' thinks Tarzan, knowing that weapon wasn't as useful in close quarters though it could still be used. But long range wasn't the right option as the Clayton zombie could still attack him but he couldn't attack it. Making his decision, Tarzan burst forward, running with speed no human could normally achieve though he was hardly normal. Clayton takes aim and fires several shots in succession, all of which Tarzan dodges by either moving to the side, rolling, or leaping over them. Clayton then jumps back himself, taking aim as darkness begins to be pulled from the air into the double barrels, being released with a powerful explosive blast which would be difficult to dodge at such a close range. Or, it would have been had Tarzan not already been leaping into the air before the shot had been released. He grabs onto a vine and starts swinging around, making note of this new addition to the guns abilities.
Clayton, showing no sign of emotion on his face, raises into the air; flying. He then zooms after Tarzan, now shooting at him with even more intent. One shot hits the vine Tarzan had been holding onto, snapping it and sending him falling though he manages to grab onto another and uses it to make it to a lengthy tree branch and begins to tree surf as only he could do so well. Looking back, he now knows this couldn't be the real Clayton as he never had a power like this before. He then comes up with a strategy, a risky one, but it was his best chance at winning this confrontation. Several more shots are fired but missed as Tarzan loops around then leaps into the air and grabs a vine, sending himself into a hard swing heading right at Clayton. What happens next was fast enough that blinking would lead you to miss the results. Tarzan takes aim and lets his spear fly just as he reaches Clayton who also takes aim and fires a shot that nails Tarzan in his abdomen, sending him falling onto the ground. He tries to get up but finds himself hunched over in pain and unable to move at the moment as Clayton comes to hover before him, once again taking aim at Tarzan's head. Instead of being afraid, Tarzan simply smiles and ask "Notice anything missing?", then he shows Clayton his empty hands before looking up.
Clayton looks up, following Tarzan's gaze and sees it, though to late to act, as the spear weapon comes sailing down and penetrates the hunter right between the eyes. For a moment, he just stands there before his arms go limp and the gun falls onto the ground which Tarzan makes a quick grab for. Clayton, his body beginning to crack with a dark energy shining from within turns to make a grab for Tarzan when Tantor comes stampeding in, shouting "I won't let you hurt my friend." Tantor's impact sends Clayton flying through the air and landing on the ground hard. He tries to get up, but the sudden appearance of Stealth Sneak stumbling back as Roxas, Donald, and Goofy land their final attacks on it ends the battle as it falls onto Clayton, the impact accelerating the cracking effect and it's explosion also destroying Clayton's body once and for all. From the blast, a large heart appears floating into the air. "We did it" says Goofy as Roxas and Donald give each other a high five.
"Well done, warriors" comes a familiar voice, making them look and see the brown cloak wearing figure they had met back in Wonderland appear before them. "That was even better than last time."
"You again?" yells Donald. "Want do you want with us?"
"To test you, to make you become stronger" says the figure.
"For what purpose?" asked Jiminy.
"A purpose of importance to me, one you'll need to figure out on your own" says the figure. "By the way, sorry to hear that girl from the last world went missing and all."
"Gawrsh, are ya saying you were the one who took her?" asked Goofy.
The hooded figure shakes his head. "It was not I. Though I may yet claim her at some point in the future from her current captors should a need for her arise. But for now, I will leave peacefully. But we shall meet again, sooner before later." The figure begins to disappear, but Roxas steps forward which makes him linger a moment more.
"Two questions before you go" he says. "Where is Alice and who are you exactly? Is it you, Xemnas?"
"Xemnas? A name not familiar to me yet it feels familiar all the same" says the figure with a chuckle. "Where Alice is concerned? Find the land where villains vale themselves in shadows and you'll find her along with other such girls as her. And as for a name for myself?"
He then disappears from sight, taking the massive heart released from Stealth Sneak's defeat with him, but his final words are heard all the same. "I am Seeker of Darkness."
"Seeker of Darkness" repeats Roxas, his face becoming serious in look and tone. "We'll get you."
"Tarzan" comes the voice of Jane as she and her father finally arrive on the scene, finding Tarzan being helped back over to them by Tantor. His darkness wounds hadn't faded like you would have thought with Seeker of Darkness's departure. Instead, they were starting to grow in size, causing him pain. Jane takes hold of him, letting him lean back against her as she says "Are you alright?" in a worried tone.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. I...AAAGGGHH" he cried out suddenly as a pain explodes within him.
"This doesn't look good" says Terk as Kala walks up to Porter and ask "Can any of your human medicines help him?" Of course, she had spoken in gorilla but Tarzan had managed to teach him and Jane to speak the lingo. Porter shakes his head, saying back "I don't even know what's inflicting him so I can't be sure if anything we try will help him or make it worse."
"But we need to do something" says Tantor as Terk looks at Donald and ask "Do you have anything?"
"Well...?" says Donald though he wasn't really sure. "Say, maybe we could try an elixir or a potion?" offered Goofy. "That's worth a shot?" agreed Roxas. Donald nods as he goes to pull out a vial of elixir when Jiminy interrupts, saying "Say, what's with the glowing in your bag, Donald?"
"Huh?" asked Donald, pulling his bag off his back and opening it. "It's coming from the spell book Merlin gave me" he says as he goes to touch it, but the moment of contact sends new knowledge pouring into his mind, teaching him a new spell. "Donald, are ya alright?" asked Goofy.
Donald, who had been in a trance as a result of the learning process, snaps back to reality and says "Yeah, perfect even. And I know how to help Tarzan now too. Just watch." He then pulls out his stave and holds it out before himself, over Tarzan. "Cure" he yells, making the stave glow green white as a light moves from it to Tarzan, flowing into him. In an instant, his coloring improves as the darkness patches fade from his body and the pained look fades from his face. He sits up as Jane ask "Tarzan, are you...?"
"I feel fine, great even. I've never felt more better than this before" he says, then looking at Donald and adds "What did you do, friend?"
"Ah, nothing special" says Donald, feeling an air of pride in himself at having learned another useful spell. He's then left frozen speechless as Terk suddenly lays a kiss on his billed lips. "My hero" she says shyly, making him quack laugh nervously. Daisy would never forgive him now, he thought. "Thanks, my friend" says Tarzan. "To all of you" he adds, speaking to Roxas, Goofy, and Jiminy.
"Yes, thanks indeed" says Kala, stepping forward. "Is there anything we can do to repay this kindness you have shown us, strangers like Tarzan and the porters?" Roxas and the others easily understood her thanks to Donald's magic translating the gorillas language into their own and vice versa. "Well, there is something..." says Roxas, pulling out the picture of the Keyhole.
(one hour later)
Kala led the way, passing into an area of the jungle that was impossible to access on foot and thus was only known to the gorillas. Following her was Tarzan who was holding Jane in his arms. Behind him was Terk who had insisted on carrying Donald, not that Donald ever had a choice. Then there was Roxas and Goofy and professor Porter, each of who were being carried by gorillas as well. The only one not joining in this little jaunt was Tantor. Just how many gorillas would it take to carry a full grown elephant? Far more than were willing to carry him, obviously. Not that Tantor minded much, though he did want to go, learning they would be heading to a place high off the ground and him having a fear of heights had led him into staying behind.
Kala passed through a dense foliage of tree leaves and stopped just beyond, waiting for the others to catch up. When they had all joined her, they saw a sight that was, safe to say, absolutely breath taking. Before them was a massive lake with a large waterfall on the opposite end, casting an amazing rainbow at its base. "That's where the light you call a key hole can be found" says Kala before continuing to lead them forward.
"Beautiful" says Jane, in awed by the sight. "Have you ever been here before, Tarzan?"
Tarzan shakes his head and says "Never. I didn't even know this place existed. Just where have you brought us, mother?"
"To the most sacred place we hold dear, my son" says Kala, saying no more till they had arrived at the waterfall and, moving a ways up it, finding a path carved into the stone face behind the falls which led to a cave. "Our mating grounds."
"Fascinating" says Porter. "To be allowed to see such a sight is truly an honor, madam."
"Then I hope you'll keep the existence of the place secret then" says Kala as she leads them into the cave. Within, they found rocky pathways with smaller waterfalls here and there. And they moved upwards till they found themselves reaching a second cave. She looks back and nods which makes the other gorillas release their holds on the others. "In here, you'll find what you seek."
"Thank you" says Roxas as he steps into the cave with Donald and Goofy following. Tarzan and the Porter's follow them with Kala and Terk bringing up the rear while the other gorillas remain behind to guard the entrance. After passing through a short tunnel, the emerge into a small glade with the trunk of a large tree at its center. Flying around this trunk were butterflies with wing of rainbow patterns that seemed to glow in this darkened hall were the sunlight could barely pass into, adding the most dazzling of illumination. As Roxas approaches the tree, his Keyblade appears in his hand without being called, pulsing due to the close proximity to the keyhole.
"It's here" he says, holding it out before him. This causes the butterflies begin flying wildly as they began to flutter dance in a most odd way, the mass of them shaping like a keyhole and, in doing this, making a light appear upon the tree trunk. "It's the keyhole" says Donald.
"It truly is a beautiful sight" says Kala, recalling seeing this sight when Kerchek had first brought her here long ago but it had never looked like this.
"What are ya waiting for, Roxas. Let's hurry up and seal it, A-hyuk" says Goofy.
"Yeah" nods Roxas, taking a step forward and thrusting the Keyblade forward, the act releasing a beam of light that makes contact with the light on the tree. The butterflies flutter and dance around Roxas as he focus's on the moment while the light grows more intense and a locking sound is heard. And like that, it was over. The Keyblade disappears from his hand as he looks back and gives his friends a thumbs up. "Two down, one to go."
"Oh boy, we did it" yells Donald triumphantly, dancing around joyously which makes Terk laugh.
"So, does that mean the weird things that have been happening around the jungle like Sabor and Clayton coming back from the dead has ended?" asked Tarzan.
"For now..." says Roxas though he knew that it could happened again someday unless he could find a way to safeguard the worlds forever.
"I say, what is that?" asked Porter, making them all look back as something was passing through the dimming light on the tree. "Is that...?" says Roxas, recognizing the item. He steps forward quickly and catches the item before it could fall onto the ground. "This is...another piece to Ventus's Wayfinder." No sooner than that is said, Roxas finds himself going into a trance as he finds his mind being filled with a new set of Ven's memories. He stands there for just a moment before Goofy places a hand on his shoulder.
"Ya OK, Roxas?" asked Goofy.
Snapping back to reality, Roxas nods and says "Yeah, I'm...feeling fine."
"So, what happens now?" asked Kala.
"Well, we'll be leaving as we still have a mission to do" says Jiminy.
'Do you really have to go so soon?" asked Jane. "We haven't even really gotten the chance to get to know any of you yet."
"Sorry, but it's a very important mission" says Donald, becoming nervous as Terk grabs hold and says "No, you can't leave me, handsome. We haven't even had a date yet."
"Don't worry" says Roxas, getting Terk's attention. "We'll come back and visit soon."
"Roxas, don't say that" says Donald while Terk says "You will? Well then, that's fine then. Please stat safe till you return, my handsome hunk-a-duck." Donald becomes embarrassed at the name which makes the others laugh.
Tarzan walks up and shakes Roxas hand, saying "Stay safe out there, my friend."
"Not a problem with us" says Roxas, then realizing a little detail he had forgotten about. He looks at Donald and Goofy, asking "By the way, do any of you know where the Gummi ship is at?"
"No, but we can find it with this" says Goofy, pulling out a little tracking device. "It'll lead us right to it" adds Donald.
"Then we better get..." says Roxas, but Jiminy interrupts him by saying "Wait, aren't we forgetting something important?" This makes the others think, each saying "no" or "I can't think of anything?" And then it hits them all at once, that missing voice and person owning that voice.
"Mushu!"
In another part of the jungle, the small red scaled dragon was running for his life as he was being chased by a pack of raging howler monkey's who didn't like an unknown intruder coming into their territory. "Why does no one love me? Why do they always leave me alone...?"
To be continued...
Upcoming Chapters: (don't read if you want to be kept guessing on this and that)
Chpt.25: Let it Go While getting in some training in while the Gummi ship recharges, Roxas suffers a little misshap that triggers a repressed memory of Ven's, involving a trip to a world during his recovery time. What will this memory reveal? Also, the second Memories of Ventus moments.
Chpt.26-28: Zero to Hero Roxas and gang must enter the big games in order to find the location of the Keyhole but Hades has plans for them that will allow him to break free of Maleficent and her schemes. Expect Cloud, memories turned enemies, and Titan revivals galore...as well as a heart of Valor stepping up to fight the darkness. Also, a segment revealing what's currently happening back in Twilight Town.
Chpt.29: Mirror Town and Reaper Games Having returned to Traverse Town so Cid can upgrade the Gummi ship, Roxas gets sucked into Mirror Town, Traverse Towns shadow and meets a group of youths who are trapped here. In order to help them and escape together, they must win the Reaper Games, but time is not on their side and their opponent is not one to be taken lightly.
Chpt.30: The Trials of Yen Sid Having arrived at last at Yen Sid's tower, Roxas, Donald, and Goofy get split into different rooms, each having to pass a trial in order to meet with Yen Sid. What must they face and overcome in order to advance? Also, Olette begins her own journey to reunite with her beloved Roxas.
Chpt.31: Secret's in Oblivion Riku finds the place DiZ has had him searching for and braves the unknown castle where memories are as fragile as glass. What will he find within and will he be able to escape when the Organization comes calling? Also, a dangerous enemy from the past will finally return and begin his own mission, hunting the one he is bound to once again.