Author's Note: I do not own Kingdom Hearts or anything affiliated with it. The rights to it belong solely to their respective owners.

Well, it seems you liked last chapter, huh? Thank you for all the reviews, and I apologize for the late update. (My internet's screwing up and I need to call someone) But I shall keep going, and give the next chapter to you all!)

Ch.41 Neverland

After Sora and the others had finished accepting that I was a Heartless, we all sat back down in the control room of the Gummi Ship and resumed our flight. As we did though, a huge ship appeared before us. I blinked; hadn't I seen that ship somewhere before? "Uh, that ship is catching up to us," Goofy said. "Quit gawking! It's a pirate ship!" Donald said. A pirate ship? Now I was positive I had seen this thing before. Maybe it was in- "It's going to ran us!" Sora suddenly called. I looked up to see that the ship was indeed speeding at us, and I called "Everyone, hold on tight!" We all strapped ourselves in, and the ship crashed into ours with a huge BANG! While I was strapped into my seat the seat was ripped from the floor, and I cried out. The other were also sent flying, and I hit my head on something sharp.

Then the world went black.

When I awoke it was a second before I opened my eyes. The ground beneath me was shifting slightly, and I could smell the sea. Was I on a boat? Then I remembered how that pirate ship had crashed into us, and my eyes snapped open. I sat bolt upright and looked around, seeing the unconscious form of Sora behind me. "Sora!" I said, and I quickly ran over to him. Dropping to one knee I cast Curaga. His body was suffused with a warm green light, and Sora groaned before standing. "Dexal? What's going on?" he asked. I was about to answer when suddenly we heard a very familiar voice say "I didn't think you'd come, Sora, Dexal." We both spun around and saw that standing at the helm of the ship... was Riku. Sora gasped, and Riku smiled. "Good to see you again," he said.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, while Sora said "Where are Donald and Goofy?" "I'm here because of something important. And instead of asking about them or me, you should be asking about her," he said. He moved to side and I saw that sitting against the wall was Kairi. "Kairi!" we both called, Sora out of shock and me out of concern. Despite the fact that she was here Kairi looked like she was in bad shape, her body unmoving and her eyes half-open. "That's right. While the two of you were off goofing around, I finally found her," Riku said. Sora and I tried to move forward, when suddenly we were blocked a squadron of Heartless. And behind them were two people I very much recognized. "Smee! Captain Hook!" I said. Hook glared at me. "Dexal, it's been a long time. If I never had to see your bilge rat of a face, I would only be too soon," he said.

I grunted. "The feeling's mutual, you codfish," I said. Sora looked from Hook to me. "You both know each other?" he asked. "We met once a long time ago. And in that encounter, I nearly lost my other hand to a crocodile," Hook said angrily. I scowled but didn't reply. Hook looked back at Riku. "Not so fast. No shenanigans aboard my vessel, boy," he warned. "Riku, why are you siding with the Heartless?" Sora asked. "The Heartless obey me now, Sora. I have nothing to fear," Riku told him. I looked at him in alarm. Had Riku really mired his heart that deep in darkness? "You're stupid. Sooner or later, they'll swallow your heart," Sora told him. "Not me. My heart's too strong," he replied confidently. "Riku..." I said. He ignored me, and said "I've picked a few other tricks as well. Like this, for instance."

With that Riku stretched out his hand, and suddenly two Shadows appeared in front of me and Sora, taking the shape of our bodies. "You can go see your friends now," Riku said. As he spoke a trapdoor opened beneath our feet, and I shouted as we both fell through. The door closed, and with us gone Riku turned to Hook. "Let's get underway, already. And keep Sora and Dexal away from Kairi until we're ready to land," he ordered. He left. Captain Hook growled. "That scurvy brat think he can order me around!" he said. "What shall we do, Captain?" Smee asked. "Nothing! The hold is crawling with Heartless. Let them keep an eye on the brats," he replied. "But Captain, you-know-who is also down-" Smee began. But then Hook gasped, looking around. "Shhh... Did you hear that, Smee? Oh, that dreadful sound!" he said. "No, Captain," Smee told him.

Shaking his shoulders, Hook said "Are quite sure? Did I imagine it? Oh, my poor nerves..." Smee repeated that he had heard nothing, and the two of them walked off. Down in the hold I was leaning against a wall, while Sora told the others what had happened above deck. "You don't say?" Goofy asked. "Yeah, it was definitely Kairi. I've finally found her," Sora said, grinning. "Then let's get out of here and talk to her," I suggested. "Yeah!" he said, while Goofy said "Let's go!" "Sounds great. Okay, but first... how about getting off!" Donald yelled from beneath the two of them. "Oh, sorry," Sora said, and the two of them got off. "So Dexal, any ideas on how to get out?" Donald asked.

I shook my head. "Sorry, but no. The last time I was here I stayed well away from Hook's ship. I have no idea as to its layout," I said. "Well, then we're just going to have to look around for a way out," Goofy said. We all nodded, and I used a Blizzaga spell to blast open the door. Inside the hallway we were immediately set upon by a pack of Heartless, this one consisting of two Shadows and three Pirates. I grunted and drew Stormfell, calling "Come and get some!" and charged. Sora and the others were right behind me, also crying out as they ran. I swung down and one Pirate blocked my blade with its, sparks flying. It tried to push me away but I ducked, disengaging and stabbing it in the stomach.

The monster faded into darkness while Donald cast Thundara, zapping both of the shadows at once. They went stiff from the voltage and didn't move, giving Goofy the perfect chance to hit them with Tornado. They were both sent flying by the attack and hit a wall, dissolving into darkness on impact. Now that just left the other two Pirates, one of which Sora froze with Stop. The other he called "Force!" and hit with Gravira, flattening the Heartless. Sora promptly stomped on it and the beast was destroyed, and the Sora turned and hit the last Pirate with Fira just as it unfroze. It caught flame and the Heartless ran around in a panic, trying to rid itself of the flames. But eventually it found at the hard was that didn't help, and collapsed to ground to be burnt to ash.

"Well that didn't take long," I said, dismissing Stormfell. I was disappointed; I was hoping to have an actual fight. "At least now we can get back to looking for the exit," Sora pointed out. I nodded, but just then we heard a voice called "Ahem! How ya doing down there? Looking for a way out?" We all looked up, as that was the direction the voice was coming from, and a very familiar someone flew down to us. Yeah, flew. I smiled and called "Peter Pan!" Peter stopped once he was in front of us, hovering a few inches above the floor. "Hey, it's you, Dexal! Long time, no see!" he said, smiling. I smiled as well. "Same here. You don't look like you've changed a bit," I said. Indeed, Peter did look the exact same way I saw him ten years ago. He wore green tights, a light green tunic, brown pointed shoes and a brown strap around his waist, which held his dagger. He had short orange hair mostly covered by a green cap that had a feather in it, and beneath dark eyebrows his brown eyes gleamed with mischief against his pale skin.

Peter smiled and crossed his arm, leaning back in the air. "Well, what did you expect? Like I said, you'll never grow old in Neverland!" he said. I thought about that. I had heard Peter when he had said that before, but I hadn't really lent a lot of credence to it. Never aging no matter how much time had passed sounded like a fairy tale. But now I had to conceded that this was Neverland- anything was possible. "So, uh, you know him too, Dexal?" Goofy asked. I nodded. "I also met Peter when I was in Neverland before. Unlike Hook, the two of us became good friends," I explained. "Yeah, and we sure did manage to show that codfish a thing or two! That reminds me, how come Ven's not with you?" Peter asked curiously.

I froze at that, looking away. "He... He had some... some other things to take care of," I said. All was silent for a moment, before Peter shrugged. "Oh well. Hope he gets it done soon though, so he can come back and see all the treasure chests we've filled up. We haven't gotten a hundred, but we're making a lot of progress!" he said. At that my smile grew wider; so he had remembered. It was heartwarming to know that someone could keep such a promise after so long and not forget about it. "Okay. But what are you doing aboard Hook's ship anyway?" I asked. "Me? I'm looking for Wendy, a girl who Hook kidnapped. But I can't hope to find her without-" he began, before suddenly a bright light flew down from above and stopped in front of Peter. I knew who it was, and said "Tinker Bell!"

"What? You mean that's some- Whoa!" Sora said, looking and actually seeing the fairy. Tinker Bell was a fairy about the size of my hand, with a short green dress, blonde hair and bright blue eyes. Tinker Bell leaped back above us in surprise once she saw me, before flying around my head at high-speed. I laughed. "I missed you too," I said. "What took you so long, Tink?" Peter asked. She flew back and landed in his hands, talking to him. As usual I couldn't hear a word, but Peter did and nodded. "Great job. So you found Wendy?" he asked. She replied, and he said "Hold on. There was another girl there too?" She nodded, before saying something that made Peter frown.

"Are you crazy? There's no way I'm gonna leave Wendy here!" he said. "Aha. She must be pretty jealous," Donald commented. I stopped and looked back at him. Did he really just say that? While he was laughing Tinker Ball flew up in front of him. She swung her leg back before giving him a vicious kick to the face, which hit him so hard he became dizzy. Tinker Bell crossed her arms and flew off. "Come on, Tink! Open up the door!" Peter called, but she was already gone. He sighed, before turning back to us. "Well, the best to do now would be to let her cool off. Oh, and before I forget, who are your friends?" he asked. I stepped back and allowed them to make the introductions. "Hey there. My name's Goofy," Goofy said. "Donald Duck," Donald said dizzily. Sora extended his hand and said "I'm Sora."

Peter was about to shake his hand, when suddenly he drew back. "Okay, we're in this together, but only until we find Wendy," he said. I shrugged; typical Peter. "Good enough," I said. "Well then, let's start looking!" Goofy said. We all nodded, and ventured outwards.

The journey of Neverland has begun, and Kairi has finally been found. With Riku here though, will they be able to reach her?

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