Chapter 3: Worlds Connected, Fate Unbound
(Disney Castle)
In the great halls of the Fantasy Kingdom, the Royal Court Mage Donald Duck strolled through the halls passing by some magic brooms carrying buckets of water. After a few minutes, he came upon a massive door standing several meters high. He knocked at the door and entered. Donald then entered a massive room with chalk columns on both the left and right of the room. He then approached a massive throne and saluted.
"Good morning, Your Majes-" Donald began before noticing that the throne was empty. "What?!"
The Court Mage frantically looked around the throne room. Then, he noticed Pluto walk from behind the throne with a letter in his mouth. Donald reached for the letter, opens it, and began skimming through it. In an instant, Donald rushed out of the room to inform his right-hand pal.
Meanwhile, in the Courtyard's Royal Gardens, Goofy was taking a relaxing nap near a bush. Donald made his way through the Gardens and found the Loyal Captain snoring. I forgot how loud he snored, Donald mentally noted.
"Goofy, wake up! This is important!" The only response he got was, "Mhh, fresh cuts, and bacon." Donald then tried shaking his friend awake, but that didn't work. The mage suddenly lost his cool and dropped a bolt of lightning on him.
The Thunder Spell surprisingly woke Goofy up. He did a little stretch and replied to Donald, "G'morning, Donald. Lovely weather today."
"Goofy, we've got a problem." Donald then showed Goofy the letter left behind by the King. He took a glance at his left and right before leaning in, whispering, "But you can't tell anyone."
"Minnie?" Goofy asked.
"Not even the Queen."
"Daisy?"
"No! It's top secret!"
"Oh, g'morning ladies."
Donald questioned who Goofy was referring to, only to turn around and see both Minnie and Daisy with their hands on their hips. Donald could only chuckle sheepishly.
…
(Destiny Islands)
Kyle and Sophie both walked home from school after their last exam.
"All right, Summer Vacation finally begins," Kyle said while stretching and balancing on a guardrail simultaneously.
"Yep," Sophie replied. "Didn't expect final exams would be that hard. By the way Kyle, do you have plans for the summer?"
"Yep. I'll be participating in the Summer Games."
Sophie gasped, "I almost forgot about that. It's been a while since we last held it."
"Qualifications begin next week, while the main tournament begins in mid-June," Kyle explained.
"You were close to first place two years ago."
"Yeah, but I only ended up in second by just a few seconds."
"Yeah, your mentor got first. But, Second is still good."
When Kyle reached the end of the guardrail, he threw his backpack in the air and backflipped to the next rail, catching his backpack when he landed. He pumped his fist in the air before proclaiming, "But this year I'll get 1st place for sure. I'll train like there's no tomorrow."
Sighing, Sophie answered back, "Well, good luck with that."
As they continued walking, Kyle asked, "You know, you could come along with us. To the Other Worlds, I mean."
"I'm okay, actually," she answered. "I'm not as adventurous as the rest of you, so I prefer the calm and simple. Plus, exploring other worlds- not my passion."
As she finished explaining her reason, a Paopu fruit was passed to her. She turned and noticed Kyle was giving it to her, noticing a hard blush on his face. She took the fruit and then Kyle pulled out his Paopu fruit.
"W-well, if me and the others do find the other worlds, will y-you be m-my light back home?" Kyle then stretched out his fruit to Sophie. To his surprise, Sophie stretched her fruit back, crossing their arms with each other.
"What kind of question is that? Of course I'll be your light, just like you are with me."
His blush lightened, and they both took a bite out of each other's star-shaped fruits. Their fates, now forever entwined.
After walking for another 30 minutes, they reached Kyle's house.
"Before I forget, there's going to be a big storm tomorrow. At least according to the weather report."
Kyle took out his phone and looked at the report. "You're right. There's going to be a huge one in the late afternoon. I'll have to let the others know so we can tie down the raft. Thanks, Sophie."
"Just be careful, okay?" She said with a hint of concern.
Kyle simply flexed his right arm and gave off his classic smile. "Don't you worry. I'll be fine."
With that, the two parted ways. As Kyle began unlocking the door, he hear a faint echo.
Kyle.
Kyle.
He began to look around but couldn't see who was calling him.
Kyle.
Kyle. Follow my voice.
Wait, have…have I heard this voice before? As he was thinking, his body began to move all on its own. He dropped his bag and began following the voice as if he was being possessed. M-my body. What's going on? I'm…losing…focus….
And soon, Kyle's world faded to black…
…
(Disney Castle)
"Dear Donald,
Sorry I rushed off before saying anything, but big trouble's brewing. Not sure why, but the stars have been blinkin' out, one by one. And that means trouble can't be far behind. I hate to leave you all but I've gots to go check it out. There's someone with a 'key'- the key to our survival. So I need you and Goofy to find him and stick with him. Got it? We need that key or we're doomed. Travel to Traverse Town and find a man named Leon. He'll know what to do.
P.S. If you see Minnie, would you mind apologizing to her for me? Thanks, Pal."
The group of Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Minnie, and Daisy were all in the Throne Room after reading the letter out loud.
"Dear me, what does this mean?" Daisy questioned.
"I guess it means," Queen Minnie replied, "we'll just have to trust the King's decision."
Goofy soon got worried. "Gawrsh, I do hope he'll be ok."
Donald soon stepped forward, taking charge of Mickey's decree. "Don't you worry, Your Highness," he began. " We'll find the King and this 'key'."
Minnie replied with gratitude, "Thank you. Both of you."
Before they left, Donald asked Daisy, "Hey Daisy, could you take care of-"
"No worries, Donald," she replied. "You be careful now, to the both of you."
"Oh," Minnie almost forgot, "to chronicle your journey, He will accompany you." She gestured her hand to the nearby desk.
Donald was confused as to who she was referring to until a small voice cried out to him.
"Over here. Down here." The voice came from a small cricket dressed like a gentleman. "Cricket's the name. Jiminy Cricket at your service." He took off his top hat and bowed down.
"We hope for your safe return. Please, help the King," Minnie asked.
Donald saluted in respect, knowing he won't fail. Goofy also saluted but completely forgot that he was supposed to go as well. This kind of annoyed Donald. "You're coming too." He then dragged Goofy along to begin their search.
(The Gummi Hanger)
The trio of Donald, Goofy, and Jiminy all boarded the readily prepared Gummi Ship with two chipmunk engineers prepping the ship for launch.
"A'hoy there, Donald," the chipmunk known as Chip greeted through the intercom system. "All systems ready for take-off."
Donald nodded and started up the engines. Meanwhile, Chip and his brother Dale activated the hanger's pickup function and positioned the ship to an external launch tunnel.
"BLAST OFF!" Donald pointed to the launch tunnel, expecting to launch from it. What he didn't know was that that tunnel was just for show, and the Gummi Ship suddenly plummeted beneath them. Donald and Goofy both let out cries in hilarity and surprise. Not long after, the ship popped out from underneath Disney Castle and headed off into space. It's destination: Traverse Town.