Kingdom Hearts: Re: Chain of Days.

By: Karma's Slave

Disclaimer: I do not own the Kingdom Hearts Franchise.

Trying to get back to Days, as fast as I can.

"Well this was definitely one place, I didn't want see again." Thought Aqua as her eyes gazing around the insides of the beast whale known as Monstro.

"What a weird place! Everything's kinda springy and soft." Said Sora as he was tapping his foot on the soft floor.

"Nice and warm, too. I'm starting' to feel like a nap" Goofy said as he stretched out his arms and then yawning. "Bet you wouldn't say that if you knew you were in a whale's digestive system." Aqua mused in her head

"I think you should be a little more worried." Spoke a young boy's voice.

Donald looking around, "Who's there?"

Pinocchio is hiding behind a wall; "You're inside the belly of Monstro the Whale". Jiminy jumps to the ground "Why, I know that voice... Pinocchio? Pinoke, it's you! Come on out!" Jiminy calling out to his young charge.

Pinocchio went jaw dropped as he saw his small friend; "Is that you, Jiminy? Gosh, I thought I'd never see you again!" spoke the wooden boy.

"Gee Pinocch, there's no way you wouldn't find me again. I'm your conscience. And your conscience will always be your guide. Remember?" the cricket reminded the wooden boy.

"Sure, Jiminy. And I've been a good boy, promise. I didn't tell a single lie." Exclaimed the puppet. Pinocchio's nose grows longer "Uh-oh!"

"Well, for Pete's sake!" Sighed Jiminy.

Pinocchio had a sorry expression on his face, "Oops! But...how did YOU end up inside Monstro, anyway?"

"Through a creepy magical castle" Aqua thought comically in her mind, which was habit that she was growing accustomed too.

Sora wasn't sure on how to explain it to the wooden boy. " We, uh, sort of used a special way..."

"It's so special, we don't know how we did it!" Goofy added on for Sora.

Pinocchio looked sadden by Goofy's comment. "That's too bad... I was hoping you could help me and Father get out of here."

Jiminy jumping up, "Well, I'll be! Geppetto's here, too?" he asked his charge.

Pinocchio nodding his head up and down. "Sure he is. Follow me!" They follow Pinocchio.

Aqua and the others came to a ruined ship inside Monstro's mouth, where Geppetto currently was.

Jiminy putting his small hands to the sides of his mouth "Geppetto!" he called for the older man. Geppetto walks to the ship's edge

Geppetto looked happy at the site of his son and his living embodiment of right and wrong. "Bless my soul, it's Jiminy Cricket and some others I see, How in the world did you get here?" asked the clockmaker.

Jiminy jumping over to the older man, as we came closer to the wrecked ship. "You tell me! How does a clockmaker wind up in the belly of a whale?"

Geppetto sighing "Well, it's a long story..." Geppetto tells them the story, Donald cuts off the clock maker. " So you sailed out to look for Pinocchio..."

" ...and Monstro swallowed you!" Goofy finished for Donald, Aqua was beginning to see that this world was similar to the first time she meet the puppet and clockmaker; "I wonder, will a Riku manifestation will appear? Into this copied world?" Aqua asked herself, then wondering why her other apprentice hadn't made a appearance in the other Traverse Town.

Geppetto went from a sad expression to happy one, "Yes, but I found my son. I would do anything for my Pinocchio." Said the old man looking at his son; the wooden boy smiled.

Sora looked at father and son, "But now you can't get out, can you? Being stuck in the belly of a whale is awful."

Geppetto softly smiled at Sora and the others," well it would seem that way; 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." Spoke Geppetto.

Aqua felt Geppetto's words were a painful hit to her heart, a hand going to the charms around her neck; turning her attention away from everyone.

Sora looking at the floor of the damaged ship, "Yeah... I know what you mean" Sora said aloud. Geppetto shrugging his shoulders, "I don't care if I'm trapped here, so long as I have Pinocchio. He's such a good boy."

Jiminy looking to the clock maker "Well, he still tells fibs. But with a little help from me..." Cutting the cricket off, "Oh, Jiminy, you worry too much." Spoke Geppetto

"Wait a minute" Sora looking around the area "speaking of Pinocchio... Where is he?"

"And here we go" thought Aqua.

Donald also looking around for the puppet. "He was here a minute ago. Where's he gone this time?"

Geppetto with a disappointed expression his face; "I expect he's off exploring. That boy has been poking around just about everywhere inside this monster. He won't tell me why it's so important. I tell him it's dangerous, but he won't listen." Explained the clock maker.

Jiminy sighed, "That boy's a handful! Aqua, Sora, if you don't mind..."

"So what will we be facing here again? Riku? That parasite heartless?" Aqua questioned herself.

Sora nodded his head "I know, I know. You want us to help you find him, right? C'mon, guys, let's get going!" he said to Donald and Goofy whom of which were nodding their heads.

Pinocchio seeing us as we finally found him "Oh!" Aqua, Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Jiminy find Pinocchio in another area of Monstro.

Jiminy on Aqua's shoulder "Pinocchio! What are you thinking? You know Geppetto worries when you wander off by yourself."

"Jiminy was worried, too!" added Donald.

"I'm sorry..."

Sora had his arms behind his head, "What are you doing, anyway? Looking for something? As he asked the young puppet.

Aqua watching the puppet as he looked for an excuse. "Um...yeah, I'm looking for treasure!" His nose grows longer

Jiminy sighed at his charge "Here we go again!"

Pinocchio looked at Jiminy with not so happy expression. "But, Jiminy..."

"Now, don't be so hard on the little fella, Jiminy. We promise not to get mad, Pinocchio. Is that why you're afraid to tell? No need to fret. Tell us the truth; we'll understand. Put your trust in Goofy!" Goofy told the boy, being a parent himself, does give him some experience in handling someone like Pinocchio. Goofy going over to the wooden boy placing a hand on his shoulder out of support.

Pinocchio looking up at goofy. "...I was looking for a way out. 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."

Jiminy was filled with relief, "So that's why you thought you had to tell a lie." Pinocchio nodded.

"You did it 'cause you love your dad!" said Goofy

"Now all you need now is courage!" added Donald Duck.

Pinocchio was confused, "What?" Donald shook his feathered head, "Telling Geppetto the truth. With a little courage, you can do it! If you tell him how you really feel, I bet he'll help you find a way out."

"And we'll give you a hand!" Exclaimed Sora. Aqua nodded her head in agreement as she scooped the area as If she was excepting Riku to pop out at any given moment.

"Really?" asked the puppet; "You'll help us? Okay, I'll give it a try! Wish me luck, Jiminy!" Pinocchio added on.

"No more keeping secrets, then. Have we got a deal?"Jiminy spoke very firm.

Pinocchio enthusiastically nodding his head. "Sure! I'll be brave and tell Father how I really feel. No lies this time!" Jiminy found it believable. "Great! Then your nose won't..." The ground begins to shake.

"and Here comes the heartless" Aqua muttered as she tried to regain her balance.

"What's happening?" screamed Sora.

"I got a bad feeling about this! Yelled Donald.

"Pinocchio, run for it!" Jiminy screamed to the scared boy. Pinocchio runs away but a Parasite Cage Heartless falls from the ceiling. Aqua summoned her Keyblade. And then using one of Ven's old moves, "Strike Raid' tossing her keyblade like a boomerang.

"Sora" she screamed to her student, "Summon your keyblade. Now" she told him. as Aqua ran to fight the heartless.

Sora summons the kingdom key, "Pinocchio!" he screamed as the foursome and Jiminy watched the boy get captured by the heartless.

Pinocchio is trapped inside the Heartless "Help! I'm trapped!" Sora and Aqua fight the Parasite Cage. After the fight, the Heartless is knocked out, but Pinocchio is still trapped inside

"Help me! I'm scared!" said Pinocchio.

"Pinocchio, be brave!" Sora trying to encourage the kid.

Pinocchio wasn't sure, "How?" he asked the keyblade apprentice.

Sora told the boy "Don't give up! Try fighting your way out!"

Pinocchio look somewhat determined "Be brave" he muttered to himself "... Okay, I'll try!" he told the foursome. Pinocchio jumps up and down and the Heartless releases its cage and Pinocchio climbs out. The Heartless is destroyed and it releases its heart.

Jiminy going over to the young boy. "Pinocchio, are you all right?"

"Don't worry, Jiminy I'm okay. Just a little sticky..." He gets up. "But I have a great idea! That thing spit me out when I started fighting back. Why don't we try the same thing with Monstro?" spoke Pinocchio.

Sora looked as if it was a big revaluation, "Of course! If we're lucky, Monstro might cough us up!

"Good thinking, Pinocchio" Aqua told the wooden little boy.

"Great idea! Let's go deeper inside and try it!" exclaimed Donald.

"I'm going, too!" spoke the wooden boy.

"No, it's too dangerous." Jiminy told the boy.

Pinocchio begged the cricket "Awww, c'mon..."

Jiminy kept telling the wooden boy 'no', "You should be with Geppetto. No use escaping from Monstro if you two get separated again!" with that being said, Pinocchio finally got the hint.

"It's better this way, Pinocchio; and you'll be making your father proud either way." Aqua said to the puppet.

Sora stepping in, "Leave this to us."

Pinocchio finally understood and perked up, as he set out to join Geppetto. "I guess you're right. Be careful, everybody!" Pinocchio said to us as he ran back to his clock maker father.

They all leave, heading off to the throat of the whale.

Aqua, Sora, Donald, and Goofy enter Monstro's throat.

"Looks like this is as far as we go." Said Aqua, Goofy nodded in agreement.

Sora putting his arms behind his head taking his usual stance, "Ready, then? Let's shake things up!" exclaimed an almost excited Sora.

"As much as I enjoy the enthusiasm Sora, how do you suppose we get a whale to sneeze" Aqua said to the island boy, as she crossed her arms while Sora was defeated by his master's natural wit.

Donald with an hand under his beak; he stood their thinking on what they could do."It would be easier if we had someone to fight..." he said to the others, as they were kind of stumped. After all being ingested by homicidal whales wasn't a regular occurrence for them.

Sora was the first to see the heartless appear in Monstro's throat. " We've got company!"

Aqua smiled, summoning her master's blade "Perfect timing" she said. Several Shadow Heartless surround them. One spooking Donald from behind.

They defeat the Heartless after a matter of mere seconds since the shadows were the weakest of the heartless. "And that takes care of that." Aqua spoke dismissing her keyblade. The ground is beginning to shake. "It's working! Monstro's gonna sneeze!" the foursome didn't have time to brace themselves, only thing they had time to do was scream for lives.

Monstro sneezes. The group is risen out of the throat. They land in Monstro's mouth and somehow managed to be scattered and land away from one another.

"Ow..." Sora rubbing his head, "Now I know what getting shot out of a cannon feels like." Sora added.

Aqua was disgusted as she saw that she was the only covered in some type of saliva, "Ew!" she muttered, " I must be near a gland or something...this so gross" as she walked over to Sora.

Goofy was the first to notice that Pinocchio and Geppetto were gone, "Hey, Fella's Where's Pinocchio and his dad?"

Jiminy jumped out of his hiding place, "They're gone. They must've gotten out safely." The journal keeper had a small smile on his face.

Sora turned to the cricket, "Without you, Jiminy? I thought there was no escaping your conscience!" "I don't mind being left behind, as long as they're both safe. Maybe Pinocchio doesn't need me after all." Replied

Jiminy with another small smile but said 'Happy...but'

Sora was little confused by the statement, "What do you mean?" Aqua knew what Jiminy was talking about, it was a feeling that all parents and or teachers in Aqua's case, felt or even would feel at some point. A feeling that you would recognize as proud that your student is finally achieving accomplishments on a level without any form of guidance. It was something that parents dreaded but embraced by a mentoring figure, Aqua wondered if she would be ready to let Riku and Sora go as fully realized masters; when that time came given if they were to meet a again anytime soon?

Jiminy looking up at Sora, "That little puppet used to have trouble telling right from wrong. But he's come a long way. Maybe he doesn't need Jiminy Cricket anymore. Seems like he's got a conscience of his very own.

"Don't you remember what Geppetto said? "There's nothing better than being reunited with someone you care about." I bet Pinocchio's counting the days till he can see you again." Sora said to cheer up the journal keeper.

Jiminy jumps back on Sora's shoulder. "Well, what do you know... You might be right." Donald and Goofy nodding in agreement while Master Aqua had given an assuring smile.

They leave Monstro and enter into the 4th Floor Exit Hall

The foursome kept going all was silent among the group as they traveled the 4th hall. Sora was lost into his thoughts as he kept feeling like he was forgetting something...or was it someone. It was really driving the young mad. He wanted to talk about it with Master Aqua to see if she knew anything but something was holding him back from talking to his keyblade mentor.

Sora was the first to break the awkward a silence. "Who could that have been before in my memory?" he said aloud, Aqua froze. Sora was really racking his brain on this one as he kept thinking hard on the matter. "It wasn't Kairi... But another...girl? Maybe...I think her name was..."

"Sora!" Aqua conscientiously breaking Sora's train of thought, "it's better if he can't think on it; then it won't be real." she told herself in her mind.

"Aah" Sora being surprised by his master.

Donald butted in, cutting off Aqua before she could say anything else, "Let's go! You want to find Riku and the king, don't you?" Sora's eyebrows came together as he made an odd expression, "Um, sure." And then threw his arms into the air. "Ah man. It was right on the tip of my tongue..." cried Sora.

They leave the fourth Exit Hall.

The girl in a white room. She's drawing a picture in her sketchbook of Sora, Kairi, herself, and Riku holding hands. The girl looked nervous and afraid.

Sora and the gang enter the Fifth Floor. Goofy and Donald nod as they walk toward the door.

"I remember!" Sora randomly shouted out, Donald and Goofy shared a mutual, "huh?" while Aqua looked a bit worried lightly moving her head side to side as she chanted 'No' over and over in her head; strangely enough the others didn't notice.

"There was another girl!" said the brunette boy,

Goofy looking around the white hallway expecting to see another person. "What? A girl? Where?"

Sora shaking his head, "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." Explained Sora as he could almost picture his younger days.

Jiminy popped out "Sora... Seems to me that's the first time you've mentioned her." then said the cricket.

"This can't be the work of the castle; it's to specific. No doubt it's the outside force and only effecting Sora that just confirms it even more." Aqua thinking to herself. "I don't know, what I should be doing; this isn't my area of expertise" her mind added. "I can't stand here, pretending I have some masterful plan that'll unfold at the end."

Sora taking use usual stance, "Yeah...I guess I forgot all about her. I think...she just suddenly went away when I was still really little." He said.

Donald then asking Sora, "What do you think made you remember that now?"

Sora quirked an eyebrow, " I'm not sure. But it's been coming back in pieces as we go through the castle." He said with a smile. Aqua looking at her pupil, she had to...No she need to say something and now"

Goofy smiled at Sora, "Gawrsh, do ya remember her name?" Sora was overcome with a sad expression. "I don't remember. I feel kinda dumb. We said we weren't gonna forget our friends, and well now... I can't even remember her name." Sora puts his head down, ashamed.

"It's feeling to real to him! Something must be done and quick" Aqua decided in her mind.

"Aqua" a old familiar voice began to call out to the bluenette master. "Master Eraqus"

"Sora, is there anything else you remember about that other girl?" said Donald.

Goofy butting in, "Awww, you shouldn't be worryin', none! If it's been coming back to you in pieces... You're sure to remember her name just like everything else!"

"Hmmm...just bits and pieces." Answered Sora. "Maybe you could try telling' us some more stuff about her. Who knows? It might even help ya remember other things." Suggested Goofy, "Well, uhh..." Sora tried to begin.

As Sora talks, his memories play inside his head; "She was quiet...and always drawing. When we'd go to the beach, she'd draw a picture instead of swimming. Sometimes she'd draw us, too! She was really good. I remember Riku and I fighting over who she'd draw next. But one day, she was gone, just like that. I think the grown-ups knew the reason. They might even have tried to explain some of it to me. But I was little. I probably didn't understand what was happening. I remember crying after she was gone."

Sora's memories in his head end "But...that's all. I still don't remember her name."

"Oh, I bet you'll remember it in no time!" said a hopeful Donald. Sora smiles and nods.

Jiminy pops out and sighs, "Sora, isn't it possible that, Aqua could known this girl's name?" asked Jiminy.

"What now?" Aqua focusing which ended breaking the private conversation she was having with her own Master. "I said, maybe it's possible that you know this girls name, Aqua." Jiminy repeating himself. Finally her chance to say something, to break the illusion this outside force was creating. Aqua looking right at Sora, she opened her lips to speak and then she felt something overcome her like she was puppet and someone was speaking through her, but it was her own voice, "No, I don't remember. I'm sorry Sora, but everything about the island is fuzzy to me." Had come out of Aqua's mouth.

"Okay, Now I'm pissed!" her mind screamed. "Aqua, calm down. You'll give yourself away." the voice of her Master calling out.

Jiminy was looking rather concerned on something, "I must point out that's Sora keeps remembering things instead of forgetting them. It seems to me forgetting things may be the only way. To reach the memories buried deeper down inside each of us." Said Jiminy.

Goofy trying to make sense of his confusion, "So we should forget in order to remember?"

"Well like those guys said... "Our most precious memories lie so deep in our hearts, that 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 looking like he finally understood.

Aqua watched her student, she sighed; something bad was coming the keyblade master could feel it in her heart.

Goofy scratched the back of his head, "Gawrsh, Sora, I think I'm a little jealous of ya. How come me and Donald, Aqua and Jiminy aren't remembering' more of the stuff from our memories?"

Donald took Goofy's arm and started dragging him to the next coming up door. "Come on, Goofy! Let's get going. We've got to forget things faster." Goofy nods. And the foursome leave the Exit Hall.

Axel and Larxene tore their eyes away from the large crystal ball.

"Just as we intended." Spoke out Larxene as a sadistic smiled came out to play on her lips.

Axel nodded to the female blonde "We'll continue with our plan. Let's see how far this group will go."

Larxene gave Axel one of her smiles, "You had your fun on the first floor. So this time, it's my turn." Axel shakes his head as tosses her a card. She kisses it and giggles. She then walks over to Axel and touches his face

"I'm not going to just give it to him." said Larxene.

"Don't break him." Axel warned Larxene.

Larxene smirked, "Well-Well... Do I detect a soft spot? I'm not going to break the toy. I'm not dumb."

Axel began speaking some more, "Don't forget. Sora is the key. We need him if we're going to take over the Organization." Cutting Axel off with her finger, Larxene touches his lips. "I know that you're in on it, too... But keep it under your hood at least until the time is right." She waves goodbye and vanishes. Axel smiles "You would have been wise to have done the same, Larxene."

End Chapter.