Hi, it's-a me, TonicShadow!
I'm really glad that a lot of people like this story, and it's my first original one too! :D
Here's chapter 4 coming at ya!
Chapter 4:
The Wizard and the Horseman.
The sun was shining as it was starting to set over the thick, lovely forest that had a long wading river going through it, in a place no one has ever seen before.
…until now…
KA-SPARK
KA-SPARK
KA-FLASH
Just then a ship appeared in a flash. It was the Starspeeder 1000 and it was heading towards the ground before it pulled up and levels off above the trees.
Inside we see Naruto with his eyes shut tightly as if he was waiting for something bad to happen, as that went on the robot pilot was checking that the systems are working fine.
["Alright kid, we've now arrived."] Rex called out before turning its head to Naruto. ["And I mean the dimension-…not the location."]
After hearing that Naruto slowly opens his eyes before blinking and looks around before sighing in relief. Tinkerbell then pops out of his coat and also sighs in relief and flies out and sit on Naruto's shoulder.
"That…was…insane." Naruto said before he glares at the pilot. "What the hell you tin can, where you trying to kill us?!"
["Take it easy, I do this kind of thing all the time."] Rex replied. ["Well actually this is the first time I've done this-…"]
"WHAT?!"
["But I still got us here. All safe and sound, and nothings broken."]
BOOM
The ship suddenly jerked and the systems on the control panel go haywire and warning sounds blare out, as it was hit by something.
"W-What was that?!" Naruto quickly asked.
Rex quickly turns to the controls and the scanning system as sees the warning flash on its screen.
["Uh oh."] The robot muttered.
"Uh oh? What do you mean 'Uh oh'?" Naruto quickly asked.
Rex turns back to Naruto before saying. ["Well, good news we're going to land…the bad news, we're about to crash."]
Tinkerbell gasps before flying back into Naruto's jacket and grabs it tightly.
["That's the right idea!"] Rex said seeing the fairy's reaction and quickly turns to the front and grabs the controls. [Okay, please keep your hands and feet inside at all times, make sure your strapped in tight because it's gonna be a bumpy landing!]
The ship still shakes as the ship loses its power and starts to go down towards the thick forest as Rex tries its best to keep it in the air. The control panel starts to spark and smoke escape from the back.
["Almost…got it…!"] Rex said as he pulls the wheel towards itself to try and keep it steady.
Naruto notices something glowing from the forest below and sees it quickly heading towards the ship…his eyes widen realising it. "Look out!" He called out.
["Huh?"] The pilot blinked as he sees the object as well…which turned out to be flaming pumpkin jack-o-lantern. ["…oh crap."]
BOOM
The pumpkin hits the front of the ship making a huge explosion which destroys the front of the ship, and the control panel. That made the ship loses its decent a lot faster, making the pilot start to panic and does it best to take back control…but it was too late.
Rex then turns its head to Naruto and shouts out. ["PREPARE FOR A CRASH LANDING!"]
CRASH
The ship crashes into the ground as it makes a large trench before coming to a stop.
The whole inside of the ship was a mess, power cables hanging from the ceiling, smoke leaking form the pipes, light flickering and sparks flying about, and Naruto still strapped in his seat…however a piece of rubble from the ship hit his head and making him dizzy.
Tinkerbell's head pops out of the ninja's coat to see what has happened before she looks at Naruto and quickly flies up to him to see if he was alright…which he was not.
Naruto lifts his head as his vision is burled as he tries to make out Tinkerbell. "…oh…my head…" He muttered out as he hold his head with is right hand.
CLANG
CLANG
A noise got both the ninja and the fairy's attention as they look to the door where the noise came from.
CLANG
CLANG
Naruto blinks as his vision starts to darken a little. Seeing his condition Tinkerbell makes bell sounds hoping someone outside could hear her.
CL-SH
And to her relief the doors start too open and light from the outside shines in and sees a figure looking in. Naruto also sees the figure but to him he couldn't tell who is was
"…s the boy alr…?"
"…ooks like it to m…"
"…ust hurry, befo…"
That was all he could hear before he completely falls unconscious and blacks out…
(Mindscape)
When Naruto opens is eyes again he finds himself back in the dark, damp sewers of his mind. Blinking wondering why he was here before he proceeded forward down the tunnels wondering what the damn fox wanted now.
He turned the corner and came up to the gates of the seal before he stopped. "What is this time, ya big fur-ball?" He asked before noticing that the Kyuubi was glaring at him.
"What the hell is going on out there?!" The fox roared out making Naruto flinch at the noise. "And why does it feel like we're not in the Elemental Countries anymore?!...or for that matter WHY DOES IT FEEL THAT WE'RE NOT ON OUR OWN PLANET?!"
"Geez! I thought you already knew?" He fired back. "Didn't you saw what happened?"
"Of course I didn't, I was taking a nap!" The fox replied making Naruto sweat-drop.
'Figures.' The ninja mentally said.
"NOW WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON BRAT?!"
"Okay-Okay calm down!" Naruto said using his hands gesturing for the fox to calm down. "Look, if you want to know then fine." He then takes a deep breath. "Okay so after I went through the door I ended up in some kingdom where I met an old man who turns out to be my dead Jiji from my Kaa-san side of the family." He takes another deep breath. "He then gave me a key which became real and drew a map to where my clan's home is which showed a secret passage to a room where a living statue told me about who my family is and a ship that we're on took me to another dimension." He takes another deep breath. "The ship got attacked and crashed landed in a forest and knocked me unconscious which is how I've ended up here now talking to you."
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…you actually met a livingstatue?" The fox finally asked.
The ninja nodded. "Yep. Oh, and also a fairy called Tinkerbell." He replied.
The fox stares at Naruto for a bit before blinking a few times before he lays down on the floor and closes his eyes. "I'm not gonna respond to that." It muttered.
"…really?"
"OF COURSE NOT!" The roared out as it shot back up with a comical anger expression. "TALKING LIVING STATUES?! FARIES?! SHIPS THAT TRAVEL TOO OTHER DIMENTIONS?! DO YOU KNOW HOW CRAZY THAT ALL SOUNDS?!"
"Well do you have any other explanation for all this?" Naruto deadpanned.
The fox freezes at the question…before sighing in defeat. "…no…no I do not." It muttered before he glares at Naruto again. "Why does everything so troublesome have to come from you?"
"If I knew I'd tell ya." He muttered back.
The fox scoffs before he lays back down and closes his eyes. "I've had enough of this, leave me be." He replied as he forces Naruto out of the mindscape and vanishes leaving the fox alone. "…another dimension huh?" He muttered before a grin forms on his face. "How interesting."
(Unknown Location)
Naruto groaned as he opened up his eyes only to realise that he was no longer in the ship…but someplace else.
The place he was in looked to be a small house, but it was covered with books, from the bookcase to the fireplace, the table and the chairs, all over the place. There were also book on the floor next to the bed he was on.
Turning his head, he sees Tinkerbell fast asleep on the pillow next to him, it looked like she hasn't left his side. He smiles softly at that before sitting up and using his finger gently shakes the fairies shoulder. "Hey…" He quietly said waking her up.
Tinkerbell yawns before blinking awake to get her baring's before noticing Naruto…he eyes widen before she flies to his face in joy and hugs his face surprising him.
"Ha ha ha okay-okay, calm down." He laughed as Tinkerbell rubs her cheek against his face. "I'm okay."
She lets go of her face as tears form in her eyes which she wipes away.
Naruto smiles back before he gets out of bed and notices the his leg was now fully healed before taking another look around the house…
"Man, this place is a mess." He muttered out as he walks to the table covered in books. "I've never seen this many books…except in a library."
"Well that's what you call a wizard who takes things too seriously." A voice replied.
Naruto blinks a few times hearing that before looked around to see where the voice came from…but all he saw a room full of books with a table, a fireplace, a chair, a large pot and a brown owl parched on the chair that was staring at him.
Naruto raises an eyebrow before asking. "Um…who said that?"
"Up here." The voice replied coming from…the owl?
The young ninja stares at the owl before blinking. "…you…you can talk?" He slowly asked.
"What?" The owl replied with a raised eyebrow. "You've never seen a talking owl before?"
"W-Well no…I've met talking toads, slugs, snakes and dogs…but not owls." Naruto answered that got a look from the owl.
"…huh, learn something new every day." The owl replied.
"Archimedes, who are you talking too?!" A voice called out from another room catching everyone's attention.
"The boy who we recused from the ship that crashed landed!" The owl now named Archimedes replied back.
"Really? Well that's splendid!" The voice replied in joy. "I'm coming though!"
Just then Naruto saw the door open to see an old man…carrying a large stack of books walking into the room.
'Really?' Naruto thought as he sweat-drops seeing this.
"God to see you awake my boy." The old man said from behind the stack of books. "Now um I…oh blast it, where is the bookcase?!"
"It's already full." The owl dully answered.
"What? Oh, right…what about the fireplace?"
"Also full."
"…the table?"
"It's already covered in books." The owl rolled its eyes. "The only place that not cover in the bed."
"Oh…well that will have to do for now." The old man said before he walks to the left side of the room.
"…wrong direction."
"Oh, r-right right of course it is!" The old man quickly replied as he heads to the right side of the room where the bed is and places the book on it. "There, that should do." He said before turning around to the boy.
The old man almost looks like Yen Sid, but a bit more…doddering. He had a flowing blue robe with a long grey beard and a pointed blue hat that was bent at the tip, and wearing a pair of small glasses.
"Well hello my boy, it's good to see that you're up and about." The old man said as he adjusts his glasses. "Oh, where are my manners, allow me to introduce myself, I am Merlin the Wizard."
"Naruto Uzumaki." He replied and shook his hand. "Uh, the ninja."
"Ninja hm?" He replied as he strokes his beard. "Never met any ninjas before, it must be a first. Now then what can I do you for?"
"…where am I?" Naruto asked.
"If you're talking about the location, then I would say in my house which is located in the forest a far distance away from the Magic Kingdom." Merlin answered.
"The what Kingdom?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow.
"The Magic Kingdom, it's that place where I would have to guess was what the ship you were in was taking you too."
"You thought it was going to Neverland until I told you that it was West from here." The owl said correcting the Wizard who blinks before giving the owl a small glare.
Merlin then sighs. "And as you can see, you have already met my friend Archimedes, a highly educated owl." He replied before he whispers to Naruto. "Some of the times."
"I can hear you, you know!" The owl called back.
"Oh do be quiet, Archimedes!" Merlin fired back. "Can't you see that we have guests?!"
"Of course I know we have guests." The owl replied as he flew to the table next to them. "Who do you think told you about them in the first place?"
"Well I…" Merlin started to say before he blinks as he remembers it. "…Oh. Oh yes, your right-…you were the one who found them."
Archimedes rolls his eyes before he turns to Naruto. "A great wizard he may be, but he forgets things now and then." He told the ninja.
Naruto nods silently agreeing with the owl before asking. "So you're the one who found us?"
"After the crash landing you guys made getting here? Who would have missed it?" The owl asked already knowing the answer.
"Oh yes, when Archimedes told me I made haste towards the ship." Merlin said as he adjusted his glasses. "When I did I found you and your little companion unconscious. SO with my magic I teleported you both here to recover."
"What about that metal puppet thing that got us here?" Naruto asked.
The wizard sighs sadly before saying. "Sadly when the ship crashed, the robot pilot-…which by the way that's what you call a metal puppet-…was physically connected to the ship. And when the ship loses its power…so did the pilot."
Naruto eyes widen hearing that in shock before they soften to a sad expression. "It…it sacrificed itself just to get me here…" He asked as Tinkerbell flies to his shoulder and does her best to comfort him.
"I'm sorry Naruto…but, however the pilots sacrifice was not in vain." The wizard answered making Naruto look to him. "I mean after all, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't have been able to find you and bring you here-…and Tinkerbell of course."
"…what about the ship? How did it crash?" Naruto asked the wizard. "When it was flying it felt like it was getting hit by something."
Merlin's expression become more serious. "That's the thing, when we found the ship it looked like it was under attack." He replied making Naruto's eyes widen. "I found impact markings around the ships engine, meaning someone was making sure that you wouldn't arrive to the Magic Kingdom."
"But why? And how?" The ninja asked. "I just arrived in this…dimension, how can someone already know me here?"
"The only way someone from here would know about you, is if they are a very strong wizard-…like myself." Merlin said puffing up chest in pride.
"Or someone with strong magic." Archimedes added which made Merlin blink before glaring at the owl. "It doesn't always have to be a wizard."
"Why you-…I know that Archimedes!" The wizard fired back. "I was about to tell the boy that!"
Naruto blinks as he watches the wizard and the owl continue to argue before he leans towards Tinkerbell. "Do they always argue with each other?" He quietly asked getting a nod in reply. "Right…"
Merlin then shakes his head. "Forget about this silly argument! We have more pressing matters here!" He replied before clearing him throat and walks to the table to grab a bag. "We need to get Naruto ready for his journey." That got the ninjas attention.
"What do you mean journey?" Naruto asked.
"Why to the Magic Kingdom of course, there was a reason why the ship was going there and I believe that reason for it is very important."
Naruto's eyes widen as he remembers what Yen Sid told him about the artefacts and the Overtakers. "Oh yeah, I'm supposed to find-…"
"That's not important!" Merlin waves it off. "What is important is that the last boat to the Magic Kingdom leaves tonight in an hour." The wizard answers as he puts some supplies in the bad for Naruto. "And if you miss it, the next one will be about a month away."
"A month?!" The surprised ninja replied as Tinkerbell looks on with wide eyes. "I can't wait that long!"
"Exactly my boy!" Merlin reply's as he grabs a map and puts it in the bag before turning to him. "Which is why you must hurry-…it will leave in about an hour."
"Which is about half an hour due North from here if you run." Archimedes added. "And with the mist rolling in you better hurry."
Merlin then guides Naruto and Tinkerbell-…who sits on Naruto head, to the door. "You must be careful thought, there are many dangers hidden in the forest, so you must be careful." He told him as he hands him the bag and a map. "Here are the supplies and a map to help guide you there."
"…why are you doing this?" Naruto quietly asked. "Why help me this much?"
"Because I believe-…no, I know that you will succeed on your journey." Merlin replied with a smile as he pat's the boy on the shoulder. "And I wish you the best of luck to find your mother."
Naruto stares at the wizard before he smiles back. "Thanks." He replied.
"Think nothing off it." The wizard said before opening the door. "Now hurry, you don't want to miss the boat."
Naruto nods before he quickly leaves the house and runs off into the mist. "I won't!" He calls out
With Naruto gone Merlin looks in the direction the ninja went as Archimedes flies on top of the hat.
"You really think the kid will help?" The owl asks.
"I truly hope so my friend…I truly hope so." The wizard quietly replies before closing the door to the house…unaware that something was watching in the shadows of the forest before turning where the young ninja went…before it quickly follows the ninja while keeping to the forest.
-: Moments Later with Naruto :-
As he ran in the misty forest with Tinkerbell-…who was flying next to him keeping pace. He noticed that the mist was starting to clear and he could see that the moon was going behind the clouds…which oddly enough looked like a clawed hand was grabbing the moon.
He starts to slow down to a walking pace as he takes a look around for any signs indicating that he was going the right way to go. He then stops as he notices a split in the road going the left which lead up hill, and the right going downhill, as well as a broken sign in front of him, so he made his way to it and picks the sign and as wipes the dirt off to see the writing better…only to find that it's been faded from age.
Naruto sighs as he throws the sign to the ground. "So much for that." He muttered as Tinkerbell hovers next to him and nods agreeing with him. He then takes out the map from the bag Merlin gave him and opens it. "Hmm…okay, it sez here that if we go down the right path…we'll get to the river where boat should be. Hm. At this rate we'll be there in no time." He then roles the map up and puts it back in the bag before turning to Tinkerbell. "And the good thing is that we haven't met anything dangerous yet." He then starts to walk down the right path towards the river with the fairy soon following after. "Maybe Merlin was talking about wild animals like wolfs and such."
WHO-HOO
That startled the two of them and quickly turn around with Naruto taking his kunai out ready to defend them too see…
…nothing…
Nothing but the think forest which made Naruto raise an eyebrow wondering what made-…
WHO-HOO
Naruto blinks and turns to the tree on his right where he heard the sound and sees an owl sitting on one of the branches.
He sighs in relief. "It's just and owl…I'm jumping at sounds now." He muttered before turning to Tinkerbell. "It's okay Tinkerbell, it was just an…" He trailed off as he noticed that the fairy was shaking in fear with wide eyes. "Tinkerbell? What is it?" He asked her.
Tinkerbell raises her shaking hand points down the left path making Naruto raise an eyebrow before he turned to where she was pointing. What he saw made him freeze in shock not sure what he was seeing.
On top of the hill shown in the moonlight was a horseman. Its house was black and it was staring down at both him and Tinkerbell with red glaring eyes, and the rider was dresses in dark clothing with black boots and gloves, a sword hanging from his waist, wore a dark purple and on his head…he didn't have a head.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…sooo I'm guessing that's the danger Merlin was talking about?" Naruto slowly asked Tinkerbell while looking at the horseman with wide eyes which said fairy quickly nods her head.
The headless horseman then raised its right hand and a flaming jack-o-lantern appeared in its hand making Naruto start to worry and takes a step back.
"Whoa…" He muttered out…before his eyes widen at the pumpkin and remembers that it looked like the same one that he saw before the ship went down. "It was you…" He then gets angry and glares at the horseman. "You were the one that made the ship crash, wasn't it?!"
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The horseman evilly laughs before throwing the jack-o-lantern at the ninja.
"OH CRAP!" He yelled out with wide eyes before quickly grabbing Tinkerbell and leap out of the way before the pumpkin could hit him.
The horseman then pulls on the reigns as with his horse runs down the hill towards the ninja with its sword drawn.
Naruto seeing the horseman heading towards him quickly gets up as he lets go of Tinkerbell. "This doesn't look good." He muttered.
Tinkerbell makes bell sounds as it points in the direction where the river is.
"If that means that we should run to the river then what are we waiting for?!" He replied before both him and the fairy quickly run to the river…with the headless horseman right behind them.
The ninja looks back and see the horseman quickly catching up to them as it laughs. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Oh you've got to be kidding me!" He yelled out. "How fast is that horse?!"
The horseman swings its sword at the ninja and ducks and dodges each swing that passes. "Hey, watch where you swinging that thing!" Naruto yelled at the horseman.
The horseman then made a jack-o-lantern before throwing it at the ninja making Naruto leap to the side to avoid it and rolls on the ground before getting back up. When he does he sees the horseman blocking his path and getting of its horse.
Naruto take out a kunai as the horseman makes its way towards him looking ready to fight. "Okay you headless freak, if you want a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get!" He called at before making a hand sign. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" He called out and in a poof of smoke, hundreds of clones appear surrounding the horseman ready to fight.
The horseman takes a step back in surprise at this as the clones each took out a kunai as the original Naruto takes a step forward. "HA! Not so scary now aren't ya!" He called out to the horseman. "How do you feel being outnumbered?!"
The horseman stays silence as it took its time to check his surrounding clones before it starts to laugh catching Naruto off guard. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Naruto blinks at that wondering what was so funny. "The hell…?"
"What the hell's so funny asshole?!" One of the clones called out.
The horseman then stops laughing and summons a jack-o-lantern and throws it upwards into the air.
BOOM
It then explodes making hundreds of jack-o-lantern that head at each Naruto clone destroying them.
When they are all destroyed Naruto looked on with wide eyes before he gulps. "Oh crap…" He muttered out.
The horseman then points its sword at the ninja. "If you think those tricks will save you…then you're dead wrong." It replied.
"…did you just talk?" Naruto asked dumbfounded. "You don't have a head…but you also can laugh-…how is that possible?!"
The horseman takes a swing at the ninja surprising him and leans back narrowly missing his neck by inches. The horseman keeps swinging its sword getting closer as Naruto dodges each swing as he moves back…until Naruto backed up into a tree from behind and quickly looks at the said tree for a moment. He was about to move put the horseman's tip of the sword was resting at his neck.
"Prepare for your death." The horseman darkly told the young ninja before it swings its sword cutting his head off as it drops to the ground before the horseman laughs. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
POOF
…before the head and he body turn into a cloud of smoke surprising the horseman, making it realise that it wasn't the real one but another clone.
"Huh?!" It said before it looked around to see where the real went disappeared too…before realising that the ninja escaped in the smoke screen and is heading towards the river! It turns to down the hill and see's the real one running to the river with Tinkerbell flying right behind him.
"ARGH!" The horse man yelled out before leaping onto its horse and chased after the two.
As he ran, Naruto looked ahead of himself as he soon saw the docks that were lit up by the lanterns on the wooded posts. As soon he was on the docks he stops and looks around for the boat in panic with Tinkerbell.
"Come on come on where is it?! How hard is it to find a boast?!" He cried out before hearing the sound of a horse and turns around to see the horseman coming towards the docks. "Does that guy ever give up?!"
DING-DING-DING
"Eh?" He muttered hearing the bell and looks to his right and his eyes widen to see a large boat hidden in the mist starting set off down the river.
The boat itself was very big and white, about three level stories high which was lit up by fairy lights around the railing, with two tall black chimneys sticking out near the front, and a large long wooden paddle at the rear end which was moving the whole boat down the river.
"The boat!" Naruto shouted and quickly turns the horseman quickly getting closer to the docks. He looks back at the boat seeing it getting further away from the docks before a determined look forms on his face. "Right."
He takes a few steps back making Tinkerbell look at him oddly. "I can't believe I'm doing this." He muttered…before Naruto runs forward towards the departing boat surprising her and quickly follows as the horseman arrives at the docks and chases after them both.
As Naruto runs closer to the edge of the docks with Tinkerbell not far behind him, the horseman gets closer than a hundred yards away.
90 yards.
Naruto narrows his eyes at the boat…
70 yards.
The horseman lifts his sword up to its side…
50 yards.
Naruto looks back as the horseman lifts his sword till it was above itself…
30 yards.
Naruto turns to the front to see that he was at the edge of the docks… 'Almost there!' He mentally yelled out.
10 yards.
The horseman swings its sword down at Naruto…
0 yards.
SWISH
…but misses but mere inches from Naruto neck as he leaps off the dock using his chakra for a big jump with the fairy flying after.
The horseman quickly pulls the reigns on its horse making it stop before the edge as watches the ninja and the fairy travel in the air towards the boat.
The young ninja reaches his hands out and grabs the railings on the boat…before pulling himself up onto it. Once he does he turns around to look at the stranded horseman on the docks with Tinkerbell panting before taking a deep breath. "HA! You missed ya bastard! Better luck next time-Dattebayo!" He yelled out with a cheeky gin of his face as Tinkerbell pulls an eyelid down and sticks out her tongue at the horseman taunting it.
The horseman looks on for a few moments before his gloved hands tighten into fists-…sword included-…and cries out in anger which echoes as it watches the boat flout away down the river, before it turned away and rode the horse to the forest, disappearing into the mist.
Naruto and Tinkerbell both watch on as the horseman disappears into the mist before they sigh in relief at the close escape they had before falling to the ground, back first, in exhaustion.
"That…was…close." He panted as he looks up to the celling on the boat. "I am never…doing that again!"
Tinkerbell nodded in agreement…before a huge shadow goes over both her and Naruto making them blink before they look to see what was making it…Naruto's eyes widen at what he saw.
"What…the…hell?" He muttered out in shock.
What he saw was a very large alligator that was walking on its back legs looking down on the two with a raised eyebrow…and what looked to be a trumpet in its right hand? "Well what do you know, didn't expect to have a couple stowaways on board." It replied…wait, IT TALKED?!
Naruto's jaws drop after hearing the reptile actually talk. '…what kind of place have I gotten myself into?' He mentally asked himself as he rode the boat down the river…and towards the next step of his journey.
-: To Be Continued :-
And that's chapter 4 done and dusted.
How do you like it, was it good? Please comment.
This is TonicShadow, sighing off!
