TN: Sorry about the time again. Had some medical issues I don't wanna talk about right now.

TUH: *silence*

TN: So, I like Toy Story over Oz.

TUH: Everyone likes Toy Story over Oz.

TN: So, anyone excited for Riku at chapter nine?

TUH: *silence*

TN: Well, we don't have much to say other than to enjoy and review!

DISCLAIMER: We don't own anything you see but the plot, OCs, and I'ltorien.

Chapter VII

To Infinity and Beyond

ToyWorld
July 29, 2010

"Why are we toys!?" Merideth exclaimed, looking at her plastic body, shining in the light. Kairi and Sora were also plastic. Though they were plastic, he noticed that they were still malleable and moveable. Sora gave a experimental stretch, adjusting to his new body type. He had went through odd transformations before, like in the Pride Lands and in Atlantica, bu this was just weird. His body still moved like normal and he still had nerve endings, or else he would be able to feel the draft blowing on him. That was when he noticed that he was on a twin bed, and that meant he was in a bedroom of some sorts.

It looked like something right out of a western world. All around the room were posters, drawings, décor, and more of western themes and cowboys. One in particular as it looked like: Sheriff Woody. He was plastic, so it looked like a child's toy of sorts. He wore a bright and happy smile with his hat and attire. A pistol was at his side and he had bit topped boots, ready to take on the world. Sora was gazing in silent wonder when he was tackled to ground, um, the mattress. He felt a heavy body on him and voice yell from another person by his side.

"Who are you, soldier?!" Sora glanced up and saw a plastic army man looking back at him. Before Sora could respond, another voice, one with a western drawl to it, resonated.

"Let them up, Sarge!" He was apparently talking to the Sergeant army man. The weight shifted of Sora. He sighed in relief as heard the same from Kairi and Merideth. He also heard Roxas and Naminé, assuming they had materialized for the world. Sora shook his chocolate spikes before looking around himself. He gasped as he was staring at numerous toys, all gathered in a circle around him and his friends. He saw a child's piggy bank, a interchangeable potato, a tyrannosaurus rex, a slinky dog, and many, many more. Approaching him was the one he thought to be Sheriff Woody. He approached Sora cautiously.

"Hello, I'm Sheriff Woody," the doll named Woody said, slowly pacing forward. Sora's friends had gathered to him.

"Hi, I'm Sora, nice to meet you," Sora replied calmly, looking right into Woody's eyes. Woody's eyebrows arched.

"Where are you from? You're not one of Andy's toys," he stated. While that was true, Sora couldn't break the world order to tell him.

He seems to be the leader. I think you can tell him and trust that he assures the others, Roxas suggested.

Yeah, that seems to be about the only way to go with this.

"Can I talk to you, alone?" Sora asked. Woody eyed him suspiciously before nodding and motioning for them to walk to the headboard of the bed. They heard a tense silent from behind them. Sora glanced over his shoulder to see the toys' eyes drilling into Woody, waiting for an resolution. Woody ran his hand down his face, furrowed his eyebrows and pinched the bridge of his nose before facing and looking down at Sora. He was much taller than Sora.

"Okay, on other days, I wouldn't be as paranoid of your all's appearance, but what are you doing here, why and how?" Woody asked him in a calm, but stressed voice. Sora took notice that this man had some experience with dealing with problems, otherwise he wouldn't be so calm.

"I can trust you not to tell anyone, I mean anyone else?" Sora asked gravely, yet stoutly. Woody eyed him a bit more suspiciously.

"Well partner, that depends," he answered smartly.

"Well, here it goes," Sora breathed. After about ten to fifteen minutes of rigorous talking and interrogation from Woody, Sora finally explained everything to him that would gain his trust. He even had to show Woody his Oblivion, which scared him and earned a loud and collective gasp from the other toys, fear imminent. Sora stood silently, letting Woody reel it all over in his already stressed mind. Finally, he looked back to Sora.

"Okay, you all can stay here and find this 'keyhole' if that's what you want. You have to promise me that you abide by our rules of this house and this 'world' as you call it. To even imagine that. . ." he trailed off in his own thoughts on that last part.

"So we have to let humans see us as toys? Not animate?" Sora asked. Woody nodded to him and led him back over to the toys and his friends. He stopped Sora halfway over and dropped his voice.

"If these Heartless things show up, it's up to y'all to take care of them, ya hear?" he said in that drawl. Sora nodded. Woody smiled and walked back to the group.

"Okay! Meeting in five down in the normal spot. Hop to!" he ordered with a clap of his hands. He walked past Sora and that's when Sora noticed it, a drawstring. The child in Sora couldn't resist.

"Hey, what the—?" Woody exclaimed before a mechanical voice, identical to his own emanated from an unseen speaker.

"There's a snake in my boot!"

Sora doubled over in laughter, falling onto the soft mattress.

"SORA!" Kairi screamed at him, marching to him. She stopped, muttered an embarrassed apology to Woody, and then continued to Sora. She kicked him in his side. He grunted but continued to laugh as he slowly got up.

"What's the matter with you?! You just don't go and do something like that to a total stranger that just accepted us!" she berated him. He cringed a bit in her anger.

"Sorry, Kai, I couldn't resist," he said, and then added this little pout to his lips. It worked all the time with her, knowing she couldn't stay mad at him like that. She faltered and then smiled a bit. He smiled in triumph.

"Just don't do it again, okay?" she said as they climbed down off the mattress like the other toys.

"Cross my heart," he replied as all five of them gathered with the other toys, which were still wary of them, but not as much. He explained to them Woody's rules about being toys as they walked there. Woody had stepped up to an elevated pedestal and was looking at everyone gathered. He motion for Sora and his friends to come forward onto the book they were using as a platform.

"Okay everyone this—" he stopped. "Mike! Mike, where are you!?" he shouted. Sora watched as a toy Microphone set waddled its way over to the platform. A Rocky Gibraltar wrestler toy lifted him up onto the book, Roxas helping in the process, his Two Become One at his side. Woody reached and took the mic, which gave off a horrible and ringing feedback. He motioned Mike to backup some to get rid of the effect.

"Okay, now that's better. Anyway, hello everybody! Big day today, ain't it?" Woody said nervously. Sora noticed that the t-rex was shaking and then it suddenly burst out.

"Are they replacing us, Woody!?" he shouted, indicating Sora and his friends. Replacing?

"No, just calm down Rex," Woody placated. Rex, as his name was, tried to cover his eyes with his arms, but they were far to short. His shaking did not alleviate.

"No, these nice people here aren't replacing us, nor are they even Andy's toys!" he exclaimed. This shocked everyone in his crowd, they listened intently.

"Okay, guys, let me introduce you all to them," Woody said, walking towards the teens. "This is Sora, Kairi, Merideth, Nami— oh yeah, Naminé, and Roxas," he said respectively indicating each as said.

"They are here to look for something bad in Andy's house that could hurt it. They are being followed by something called Heartless, but we do not need to fear, for they will protect us with those weapons that you saw before. They are friends and I expect all of you to be friendly and let them feel welcome while they are here," he explained articulately. They all gave Sora and the teens friendly eyes, ones that weren't forced. They obviously respected this Sheriff and what he had to say.

"Now for the big news!" he exclaimed into the mic, his voice amplifying out of Mike. All the toys went back into nervousness.

"Okay, let's get on with the staff meeting today, shall we?" Woody said in a hesitant voice. It seemed faltering, but able and sound deep within.

"But first! Has everyone picked a moving buddy?" he asked them. All the toys moaned.

"A moving buddy, seriously?" the piggy bank asked.

"Yes, Hamm, seriously" Woody responded. Hamm just snorted which sounded more like a disgruntled oink and plopped down on his belly, the change inside of him jingling.

"Do we have to hold hands?" the interchangeable potato asked, waving one of his arms out of its sockets. The other toys laughed at that, including Sora.

"Oh haha, Mr. Potato Head. You all think it's a big joke, but it's not! I don't want any toys getting left behind, so if you don't have a moving buddy, get one!" he ordered, before chcking his notepad for the next issue.

"Okay, Tuesday night's Corrosion Awareness meeting went very well, so let's thank Mr. Spell for that!" he said. Mr. Spell spelled out the words: "You're welcome." He checked his notepad again.

"Oh yes, and one more minor note," he then dropped his voice to a whisper, "Andy's birthday party has been moved to today. Next we have—" The toys all broke into hysterics and mass panic at the mention of their Andy's birthday.

"What?! What do you mean his party's today? It ain't until next week. Has Mom lost her marbles?" Hamm asked, while Rex was crying.

"Hey, hey guys. I'm not worried and neither should all of you!" Woody told them.

"Yeah, easy for him to say. Woody's been Andy's favorite ever since kindergarten!" Mr. Potato Head exclaimed.

"Oh come on now," The slinky dog said, "Woody's never turned us wrong before." Mr. Potato Head took his mouth off and mimed it kissing his own butt. Sora chuckled at that. Sora looked over to Kairi and dropped his voice while Woody talked to the toys.

"I like these guys, they're funny," he told her. She smiled at him.

"Yeah, they are, just don't go messing with their mechanics," she replied with a giggle. He stuck his tongue out at here and returned his focus to the toys.

"Hey guys, remember, it's not how much we're played with," Woody said, jumping down from the platform, "it's about us being here for Andy whenever he needs us, right? Isn't that what we're made for?" Sora took that question to heart, even though he wasn't one of Andy's toys. Then Hamm burst out from the window.

"Um, pardon me, I hate to break up the staff meeting, but. . . THEY'RE HERE! Guests at three o'clock!" he shouted. Everyone panicked again and stampeded over Woody, heading for the window. Sora and his friends jumped down. Sora helped him to his feet as Woody muttered: "Meeting adjourned" in a shaky voice. They made their way to the window where the toys were speaking hurriedly.

"Would ya look at all them presents?" Hamm said as the kids walked into the house. "Yes sir, we're next garage sale's fodder for sure."

"Are there any dinosaur shaped ones?" Rex said, shaking and on the verge of crying.

"Of for cryin' out loud, they're all in boxes, Rex," Mr. Potato Head exclaimed.
"They're getting bigger!" A doll of Bo Peep exclaimed in an alluring voice that Sora was not expecting from her. Woody seemed to eye her.

"We're doomed!" Rex shouted as they saw a massive present. The other toys screamed and it seems Woody was at his breaking point.

"Alright, ALRIGHT!" he shouted, silencing them at once. They looked at him nervously yet hopefully.

"If I send out the troops will you all just calm down?" he pleaded.

"Yes, we promise!" Rex said.

"Sheesh, just save your batteries," Woody said as he hopped down and went over to a bucket. The bucket said ARMY MEN in all caps on the side.

"Sergeant!" Woody said. The same army man Sora had seen earlier popped out of the bucket.

"Set up a recon downstairs. Code Red. You know what to do," Woody ordered.

"Yes sir!" The army man saluted and then began filing his soldiers up. The soldiers busted out and gathered equipment, which was string and a walkie-talkie. They filed out of Andy's room and into the upstairs hallway.

"Now we just wait," Woody said as he drug the matching talkie to the staff meeting platform. He turned it on and waited with the rest of the toys. That's when the Heartless appeared.

"Heartless!" Roxas shouted. Sora's Keyblade flashed to his hand as well as the others. All the toys cowered behind them. An RC car zoomed from the Heartless, around the bend of the bed which was hiding them from view.

"Come on guys," Sora said, but was stopped with a hand on his shoulder. Kairi had held him back while the other three had ran ahead.

"What is it, Kai?" he asked hurriedly, wanting to get to the fight.

"Let us handle this world, okay, Sora?" she asked seriously, no trace of anything in her voice.

"Wait, why?" he asked, a tad hurt.

"Well, in Oz, you barely let us do anything. How are we going to grow otherwise? The others and I talked about this already and we want you to lay back and relax. Let us find the Keyhole here and take care of the Heartless, okay?" Sora looked down into her violet eyes, cropped by that beautiful red hair and couldn't help it.

"Yeah, sure, just be careful, okay?" he said with a sigh, dismissing his Keyblade. He didn't want to do this, but she made a valid point. He had noticed that they needed to advance in combat, even Roxas. How else could they?

"Thank you, Sora." And with that she ran off to help the others. He sighed again before sitting with Woody. He heard the clash of battle and it sounded as if it were going well. The end of the fight was signaled as the teens walked around the corner, looking tired, but accomplished.

"How was it?" Sora asked Kairi and the others.

"It went well. Naminé got a cut on her arm, but Merideth healed it right up. She needs a lot of work, but we all do, except for you, Sora," Kairi said as they sat around the talkie, waiting for Sarge. Then, static emerged on the talkie and Sarge's voice cut in.

"Come in Mother Bird, this is Alpha Bravo. Come in Mother Bird!"

"Alright this is it," Wood said to the toys, quieting them down some.

"Okay, Andy's opening the first present. . . and it's a. . ." he paused as Andy was unwrapping it.

"Mrs. Potato Head. Mrs. Potato Head," Mr. Potato Head chanted. He looked at those eying him oddly.

"What, I can dream, can't I?" he answered.

"It's a lunchbox!" Sarge said into the talkie. The toys cheered in joy at there not being another toy. They all went quiet again to let Sarge continue. And so it continued, and there were no more toys revealed. There had been bedsheets and a board game of Battleship.

"See now? No one had worry. The troops did their job and there aren't any toys replacing us," Woody assured, easing the group. Just as they were about to set up and return to their normal lives, the static crackled and Sarge's voice came over the talkie, and he sounded frantic. Sora had just been relieved for the toys, even though he had nothing to do with them. He listened earnestly.

"Mom has just brought a secret present out of the closet! I repeat, there is a secret present!" Al the toys went into a panic, and Sora felt himself hoping it wasn't a toy. He didn't understand why, but he always felt like he needed to be with the friends he made on other worlds and support them.

"I- I can't see what- what it is!?" Sarge exclaimed. The anticipation was causing a visible tension in the air.

"Oh my lord! It's a—" The transmission cut off.

"It's a WHAT!?" Rex shouted, shaking the platform. The talkie fell over and onto the hard wood floor, causing the batteries to spill out. Hamm tried putting them back in, but his hooves wouldn't let him and when Mr. Potato Head tried, he got the positives and negatives backwards. Woody finally had to jump in and do it himself. The talkie broke back in with Sarge screaming.

"RED ALERT! RED ALERT! ANDY IS COMING UPSTAIRS!" The toys panicked and ran around the room. They all went to preordained spots and the room and pretended to be inanimate. Sora took his friends under Andy's bed and did the same. They watched as many kids burst into the room, obviously marveling in what new and surprise thing Andy had gotten. There was a plop behind them and they saw Andy crawl towards them, his hat askew. Andy's mother yelled up at them that it was time for games and they left the room. The toys gave it a minute before heading towards Andy's bed.

"I wonder what it is?" Sora said in excitement. They emerged and climbed the blankets.

Buzz Lightyear.

There in the middle of the bed was a space age action figure. He stood nobly on the bed. He came to life and began looking around the room, not noticing Woody, Sora, and his friends. Sora liked the looks of him, but he was afraid that he might replace one of the other toys.

"Buzz Lightyear to Star Command. Buzz to Star Command," he muttered into his toy communicator. Of course, there was no reply. He then was startled at the sight of his packaging.

"Ah! My starship!" he exclaimed, running to it. Sora laughed on the inside. Did this toy really think he was a Space Ranger, as his box indicated?

"Urgh! This will take weeks to repair!" He started talking to Star Command again.

"Um, hello?" Woody said, taking a cautious step forward.

"AH!" Buzz screamed, flipping backward and ending in a fighting stance, aiming a toy laser at Woody. He also tried aiming at Sora and his friends in turn.

"Oh, hey, did we frighten you? Well, sorry, we didn't mean to. I'm Woody, howdy!" Woody said, walking towards the apprehensive Spaceman toy.

"And I'm Sora. This is Kairi, Merideth, Roxas, and Naminé," Sora said. He walked forward confidently with Woody.

"Ah! Local law enforcement!" Buzz said happily, walking towards the group. He then went on to explain all his dealings with Star Command, his mission, his current "predicament" here in Andy's room. Suddenly, he aimed his laser beyond the group.

"Halt! Who goes there?" Buzz demanded. It was the other toys peeking up over the bed.

"Calm down there Buzz. These are friends," Woody exclaimed. Sora walked over and helped some of them up onto the bed.

"Why thank you, you strong and handsome man," Bo Peep said in a quiet voice. Sora blushed violently before walking over to Roxas and the others.

"It's a good thing Kairi didn't hear that," Roxas said.

"What are you—?" Sora was cut off by Buzz.

"I am Buzz Lightyear, I come in peace!" he said to them all.

"Okay, thank you all for giving Andy's toy a big welcome!" Woody said.

"Toy?" Buzz queried. He still didn't believe he was a toy.

"T-O-Y, toy. Got it?" Woody said impatiently.

"I think the word you're looking for is Space Ranger," Buzz said, slightly annoyed.

"You're not a space ranger. You don't fight evil or. . . or fly!" Woody exclaimed.

"Excuse me?" Buzz snapped. He pressed a button on his suit and wings popped out of the back of it. All of the toys let out sighs of awe. Sora even felt impressed by this toy in denial. He watched wit hungry eyes, waiting for what would be next.

"What!? These are plastic! He can't fly!" Woody said, near frantically.

"I can fly!" Buzz argued. They argued back and forth and Sora didn't know which one to believe. He was just about to break them up when Buzz stopped Woody himself.

"I CAN and I'll prove it to you all!" he declared. Everyone went silent, including Woody. "Even with my eyes closed. Stand back everyone."

He went to the end of the bed and everyone, including Sora and his friends, made their way to the side to watch. He climbed on the bedpost and looked down. He closed his eyes.

"To infinity and beyond!" he shouted, plunging forward toward the floor. He bounced off a ball, rolled on a car in a loop, and he was off! He flew around the room majestically, yet powerfully. He did quite the show with flips, power, and speed. He zipped around the room and finally landed with a flip onto Andy's bed. All the toys cheered and surrounded him. Sora was smiling and laughing. He looked over at his friends. They were smiling, too.

"Well, I guess we should start looking for that Keyhole, then," Kairi stated.

"Yep. How long do you think it'll take to find?" Roxas asked, putting an arm around Naminé's slim waist. She giggled and put an arm around his broad shoulders.

"Not too long, right Sora?" Merideth asked.

"Well, in a world like this, it shouldn't take more than three hours. Five hours at the most," he answered, being serious for once. There was a world he wanted to revisit after here, and he was eager to go there. The quicker they found the Keyhole, the better.

"But remember, Sora. Leave this to us. If you see Heartless, just yell for us. We need this world to train," Naminé reminded him. He sighed and nodded his head. Then he was just going to play with the toys for a while.

"Okay then. See you guys in a few hours!"

HoL:TS

I'ltorien
July 17, 2010

One cracked her neck as she rose from her bed on the sleeping quarters she had been assigned too. She did not like the fact that in her four bed room she was the one and only living there, but she had gotten through it… or had she?

They really don't trust you, now do they, Sunshine? Again with that voice.

I know what you did yesterday. . . One whispered back in her mind, feeling happiness exude from the being.

Thank me later, her inner voice replied with a condescending tone.

You almost got them to reject us! They saved us! One protested against it, her comments finally getting a negative reaction from the being.

For what?! From what I saw there, they were going to treat us as an "it" again. And as much as I like the fact that I exist due to what they did to you, I'd rather not have us spend the rest of our days as lab rats as we did until now!One took a mental step backwards at this. She was right. That one blonde man had talked to her as if she was an object, and that was what made her snap, nothing else. You see now? I'm just the part of your emotions and thoughts you repress. You can't blame ME!

You are no such thing! One denied, getting no answer, as they had fought over this for hundreds if not thousands of times in the past years already.

So, you gonna make us take the bait? One wondered briefly what was the "bait" referring too. A sigh of frustration later, her other side added: You do realize they are probably just slobbering over the idea of "number one" fighting for them, don't you? One admitted, she had her suspicions about how quickly they suggested her entry, but she saw it in a different light every time that she remembered the people she had met the day before.

Maybe some of the higher ups are. . . but I can't see the others doing so. They were so nice to me; even some of the higher ups were. Elincia had no reason to, but she almost opposed my naming due to thinking it demeaning. And the commander was also understanding and kind. Clinching her hand to her chest, she tried to supplant the bad memories of the day before with the bountiful good ones. One could consider this burying her head in the sand, as her other side very visibly accused.

You aren't seriously going to disregard all evidence on those claims? Who says they weren't faking it?! Now this simply hit the wrong chord. A very, very sensible wrong chord.

They wouldn't! One exclaimed, conviction staining this comeback. I won't let you stand there and criticize the only people that were nice to me in the last two years! And no, YOU don't count! I know why you're clawing at any chance to destroy my confidence in them. It's because you are afraid you'll just vanish when my mind doesn't need you anymore, isn't it?! she exclaimed, pushing back the resounding noise with sheer force of will. The thing just cringed and spat back one last set of thoughts before vanishing deep into her subconscious:

Fine. Trust them. I'll clean up when they try to use us like dolls again. I already know how easy it is to simply swipe away control as it is.

One was left to think in the darkness, pondering if her other side had really just threatened her. Sure, they never truly got along, but they had accepted they were still two halves of a whole. One wouldn't harm the other intentionally, but apparently it wasn't so on the flip side. Her thoughts were interrupted when someone knocked on the door.

"May I?" the voice she quickly recognized to be Elincia's questioned. One gasped but told her she could, the girl walking into the small room with a tray of seemingly still hot food. She greeted One with a curt and warm smile as she laid down the tray on a nearby table, pulling it to the bed where One sat, sitting on the other side.

"You overslept so I had the cooks make a special portion of lunch just for you. It's not much, just some meat, rice, bread and water, but we rarely get the funds for more. . . or the sellers for it," she said, pointing at the filled-to-the-brim tray with said condiments, all of them prepared with far more care than most of the soldiers ever had, One had no doubt. Was she trying to doll her up? No. She wasn't. One knew what a fake smile was. Most of what she had ever seen were those. And that one wasn't it. That was a rare, at least for her, true and honest smile.

"Oh, I know how much you ate last night. Your appetite was quite something. You even impressed Ike, who actually eats more than our horses. As in, plural." One squirmed in embarrassment as Elincia giggled some more. Still, she ended up taking up the old fork and started to eat.

As she did, she noticed Elincia was just staring at her, almost. . . in a motherly fashion. One knew for a fact she could not be that much older than her, but she also knew she, herself, was basically a child when it came to the outside world. It was justified and. . . oddly comforting.

"Elincia, may I ask you something?" she questioned as a thought crossed her mind. She gulped down her food while Elincia nodded slowly, somewhat taken by curiosity as to what she meant.

"If this. . ." One waved her fork around, she meant the whole initiative. "If this fails, what will become of the people in here? What will become of you? And this world?" Elincia's face became unexpectedly gloomy. One wondered what she was going to answer. She had a Pegasus, maybe she could run? Did she even think she could run? Or was she just going to grovel for mercy? Maybe even push away any accusations of having ties with them?

"Well now, I must say, I'd not live to see what would happen first. I even doubt I'd see it fail," Elincia said, releasing a soft, sad chuckle while she clutched to her chest. "You see, I'd probably be dead by then. I'd die like any other soldier. The people in here are my family. I'd sooner see myself die than let them die alone. That is my answer. I'm sorry I couldn't be of help with the world, but I've only thought about myself and the others." Something clicked at that response. Elincia heard the fork hit the table and looked up to see One walk out of the room, plate somehow completely clean.

She could be playing you. Are you going to fall for it so easily? Oh, so now she was back. Not that it mattered, One had completely tuned her out.

A single person. That's all she needed. She had done some despicable things in the facility, she had taken people's most prized possession various times, and she had done it for herself. She could not deny there was something in her burning with vengeance, but that, along with what she did, haunted her. However, as long as she was doing something to protect another; another person who truly deserved it, she did not care. Those were not the words or eyes of a liar. This whole organization could be rotten to the core for all she cared. Elincia wasn't. Their goal wasn't. And their goal coincided with her own. For now, there was nothing more to it. This world needed help, and whatever they could get was good enough.

In mere minutes, she had descended onto the training grounds.

"One?" Ike questioned, seeing the girl swiftly walking into the center and drawing a sword.

"Oh, I think I understand her," Stefan said, cutting in between the two and drawing his violet katana. "Will you be the one to break my sword?"

"Really now, she's coming?" the commander asked in the reunion table, his blue eyes centering on the one person that had come this night. The sandy-blonde haired woman called Amalia.

"If what Elincia told me is true. . . then yes," Amalia told him, trying to sound disinterested but even she seemed to be anxious for the reply. She dealt with it by scrolling through papers furiously until a particular one crossed her gray eyes. "About this though. . ." she said, handing the paper towards her leader, who nodded as he read it. "We have him now."

"So, he's back again huh? Friggin' Wolfie's been giving us trouble every year," he said, shaking his head. "Well then, I have an idea for it," he smiled, slamming the paper on the table. "He's gonna regret ever stepping foot in that forest."

Just in time for it, One and Elincia landed on the balcony. One slowly took a seat after the commander waved at her to do so, Elincia matching her motion.

"Sooooo I take it you're here with the answer? I'm kinda surprised you actually decided this soon," he said, sitting back down and staring at her with his blue, slit eyes.

"Yes. . ." One began, looking at Elincia and back at him. "I accept to join you against the Empire." This sure surprised Amalia. Anyone could guess that she expected One to simply ask for refuge.

"Ooooh. . . so I wasn't wrong about you," the commander said, covering his face with his hand, only looking through the spaces between the fingers. "Those eyes. . . they may be kind, but they are ones of someone who stands for her beliefs. Why did you join then?" he asked, taking One off guard. She stuttered as the commander chuckled playfully, and then she answered:

"I know that you need me and I can't say I don't want to make them pay. . . but I'm not doing this for my beliefs. I don't trust most of you, I just can't either. I am simply doing this because I need to protect those who were kind to me. Elincia was kind to me and I trust her, so I'll help her. And I know that in the capital there may be a friend of mine, just struggling to get by. . . trapped in that cage. I have to get her out." The commander grimaced for a moment but then simply let out a jovial smile.

"Well then, that's noble. Here!" he exclaimed, throwing her a paper that she quickly grabbed. "There's your 'entrance exam'. Just read it up and meet at the entrance at sunrise. Sayonara!" he exclaimed, quite clearly pushing One out with his comments. Still, One did her best to nod and leave. For all she knew, she was accepted, even if the man seemed to have not liked the way she talked. As soon as she left though, Amalia ad to ask:

"You were. . . colder than usual," Amalia pointed out, to which the commander sighed and shook his head.

"She's closer to breaking than I thought. I can tell that she wants to do the right thing, in her mind and heart, but deep down, she wants revenge. She's bottling it all up. All that distrust for humans, all that pain, all that anger. I'm just not sure how she's going to deal with it. . ." He sighed, cringing his teeth as his sapphire eyes locked on to the Pegasus. "She's a ticking time bomb and we have to disarm it."

A day later.

Iltorien
July 18, 2010

"Okay One, we're ready for this. We didn't give the best impression yesterday, but we're going to change it today!" she told herself, trying to pump up for her adventure. Yeah, adventure. She clasped her hands and left the room, being careful not to wake up anybody with a shrieking door. She was shocked once she saw somebody already waiting for her.

"Elincia?" she gasped, the woman in orange smiling warmly.

"I just came to wish you good luck. I know Rex can be. . . strange sometimes, but he wouldn't have given you this chance if he doesn't want you near us," she explained, One noticing how she was clinging to a large, wrapped long object.

"Rex. Is that the commander?" she questioned, to which Elincia nodded, her eyes darting downwards.

"Well then, I suppose you should be going, but would you accept this?" she questioned, unwrapping the cloth to reveal a claymore. No, not a claymore. This was more like a normal longsword, just enlarged in both length and girth, a silver gleam coming from its blade, contrasting the golden handle that it possessed, both the blade and the handle decorated with various figures of mythical creatures.

"This is a Silver Blade. Stefan recommended it for you after sparring with you yesterday. It may be expensive, but think of it as a welcoming gift."

There were a lot of questions going around One's head at the time. First, how did Stefan know so much about her after just a few minutes fighting her? Second, just how much did that thing cost? It was probably made out of PURE gold and silver! Third, was she. . . getting a present? Her eyes almost tore up at the notion.

"Why did. . ." she questioned, biting her lip slightly, tightening it even more when Elincia slowly handed the blade over to her.

"Because we're friends."

That meant the whole world to One. Before she could know what she was doing, she had tackled Elincia to the ground and buried her head between her breasts, muttering 'thank you' over and over again. Not for the sword. That was nothing. But because of those three words.

"We are friends," she muttered again and again as she walked down the hallways into the entrance. She hadn't had a friend ever since. . .

"Hey. You're late." She was suddenly snapped out of her thoughts when the now familiar blue-haired mercenary leader called her from the entrance. His face was somewhat annoyed, but it only lasted for a second.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, Ike shaking his head.

"I was just pointing that out. Don't worry, it takes time to get used to it," he said, scratching the back of his head.

"What do you mean?" One asked, Ike shrugging.

"Life. I mean, you're not experienced on it, are you?" he asked, to which she could only nod in response. He was surprisingly astute for someone so blunt and rough.

"I guess you're right," she replied with a hint of relief washing into her as she followed Ike into the misty outdoors. She looked into her paper, the simple sheet simply saying:

Hunting Mission

The Lone Black Wolf

HoL:TS

Toy World
August 2, 2010

Few hours my ass! It's Friday morning and we're STILL looking! Roxas shouted at Sora, waking him up. Sora scratched his eyes tiredly, looking around Bo Peep's house's guest bedroom.

I'm getting sick and tired of this bullsh—

Roxas, shut the hell up for a moment, Sora yelled at him, trying to wake his tired limbs. He stretched in the bed. He sighed and contacted Roxas again.

Get the others for breakfast, Sora told him.

Whatever, Roxas grumbled.

"Ah, Sora, you're awake!" Bo Peep exclaimed, bustling into his room, wearing only her night dress. Sora blushed and looked away hurriedly.

"Um, I- I- uh, didn't. . . see anything!" Sora stuttered.

"What? Oh!" Bo Peep cried. "Okay, you can look now," she said. Sora did and she was wearing a bathrobe.

"Come on sleepy head, your friends are waiting for you," she told him. He grunted in acknowledgment as he stood up, stretching and yawning. As he emerged from Bo Peep's small house, he looked around and saw that barely any toys were "awake" yet. Buzz was working on his spaceship with a couple of toys while Woody sat moodily on Andy's bed. Andy must have been to school by now. He then found his friends, said farewell to Bo Peep and thanked her before heading to them.

"Hurry up, I'm hungry!" Roxas said. Sora clicked his toy transporter and they beamed up to the ship. Sora made them all breakfast. He had learned a thing or two from Goofy and was able to make quite delicious food. He served them all and they sat, talking.

"We've been here for five days, why don't we just leave?" Merideth asked angrily.

"Because this world has had more heartless than any I have seen," Sora said.

"I agree with Sora. We can't let selfishness get in the way of what is right," Kairi stated, Naminé nodding along with her.

"Well, I don't really care, but wouldn't we have found it by now?" Roxas said.

"Maybe it's outside the house?" Sora suggested.

"No, we've been in Andy's yard, there's nothing there," Kairi said.

"What if it isn't even on his property?" Merideth said.

"That's a possibility," Naminé said, eating her food quite quickly.

They continued to eat and discuss this. Sora had, the entire time, listened to their wishes. He had spent time playing with the toys, getting to know them, and listening to the tales of Buzz, who still believed he was a space ranger. Not only that, but Andy's room had gone under a transformation. What had once been cowboy themed was now space themed. He had been replaced, no matter what anyone wanted to believe. Sora felt sorry for Woody, but he was having too much fun with the toys to worry. And then he had seen the next door neighbor, Sid. He was a delinquent of a kid that found pleasure in destroying and torturing toys. Sora found this despicable. They finally finished their food and were ready to go back down.

"Come on, we better get back to looking. We have the attic to go to next," Kairi said. Everyone but Sora groaned as they approached the teleportation room.

"Hey, you all insisted that I didn't help. It's not as easy as it seems, is it?" Sora told them. They did not reply as they all beamed down, becoming plastic again. They searched, came up for lunch, went back down and searched some more. Well, they tried to after lunch, but something caught their attention. All the toys were surrounding the window. The teens made their way to the sill, curious like everyone else.

"What are you saying, Potato Head?" one of the toys said.

"I'm saying that Humpty Dumpty was pushed!" Mr. Potato Head exclaimed. He then pointed at Woody. "By Woody!"

"What's going on here?" Sora asked, making himself into the center of the toys.

"Woody here pushed Buzz out the window, didn't you Woody?" Mr. Potato Head asked, stepping towards Woody.

"Come on guys, it was an accident, you believe me, right?" Woody pleaded. Before Sore knew it, they had converged on Woody. The army men had sprawled all over him while the others tried to get him, but they all stopped as Andy thundered up the stairs. Sora and his friends hid behind an overturned globe while Andy went into his room. He was searching for Buzz, but since he couldn't find him, he picked Woody up and left.

"Sora, go get Buzz while we search, okay?" Kairi asked him, placing a hand on his arm. He took the transporter, gave it to her, and looked into her eyes.

"Okay," he simply replied. He walked over and jumped out the window without a second thought. He forgot just how far down it was and started to scream before he hit the thick and wiry bushes. He cracked against their branches, wincing in pain. He should have thought that one out a bit more. He hit the soft ground and staggered to his feet, clutching his head painfully. He saw Buzz.

"Buzz, come on, let's go back inside," Sora said to him. Sora noticed he was barely paying him any attention. Sora followed Buzz's gaze and saw that Woody was thrown into the van by Andy.

"Come on, Sora," Buzz ordered, and for some reason, Sora followed him. They jumped onto the back fender of the family van as it pulled out of the driveway.

HoL:TS

Kairi sat nervously at the window sill as the sun sank. Sora and Buzz had been gone for a while now and she was becoming worried.

"Maybe they went with Andy in the van?" Naminé suggested, sitting down next to Kairi. Kairi huffed, pulling her legs in and resting her chin on her knees.

"Yeah, they would have been here by now. We checked outside and nothing. Don't worry Kai, Sora will be just fine," Roxas placated, placing a hand on her shoulder before sitting with Naminé. She leaned into him and smiled.

"Roxas is right, he is resourceful and has been just fine before. Come on, let's go to sleep early," Merideth said.

"You all can go. I'll sit right here," Kairi said glumly. They tried to convince her, but to no avail.

"Be safe, Sora," Kairi muttered, her voice trailing with the evening wind.

HoL:TS

It was now nighttime at about seven o' clock. Sora and Buzz had sat quietly on the bumper of the van, waiting for it to stop. It finally did at a gas station. This was the cue for Sora and Buzz to go inside the van and talk to Woody. They walked over to the open sun roof and peered down.

"Buzz! Sora!" Woody exclaimed. They dropped down. Buzz stared angrily at Woody. Woody looked guilty and Sora felt awkward to be with them in this situation.

Oh, Buzz! You're alive. I'm saved! I'm saved! Andy'll find you, take us back, and then you can explain this was all just one big misunderstanding, right!?" Woody near pleaded, and weakly at that. It was evident that guilt was eating at him. Buzz made no response but held that angry glare.

"I'll have you know that we don't promote the idea of revenge on my planet, even though you tried to terminate me," he said through clenched teeth.

"Oh. That's good," Woody replied.

"But we're not on my planet, are we?" Buzz asked masochistically.

"Um. No?" Woody responded. With that, Buzz tackled Woody out of the van and onto the pavement. Sora reluctantly followed them. They rolled out and under the van, locked in combat. Sora tried to break them up, but it was useless. They kept fighting until the van door shut and it drove off, leaving the three of them there.

"Wait! Does he not know I'm there?" Woody asked, mainly to himself. Buzz had opened his wrist communicator and was taking a log.

"The local sheriff, Sora, and I are at some large refueling compound of some sorts. We have been stranded by Andy. Now we—" he was interrupted by Woody. But before Woody could continue, a large truck rolled over them, nearly crushing them. Sora just evaded one of the wheels while Buzz consulted his wrist again.

"According to my nava-computer, we're—"

"Shut up! Just shut up, you idiot!" Woody screamed at him. Sora just watched the transaction.

"Sheriff, this is no time to panic," Buzz said.

"This is the perfect time to panic!" he yelled back. Sora agreed with Woody, wondering how he would get back to Andy's house. Kairi had the transporter, and it only affected those within its radius. Sora just tuned back into what the toys were arguing about.

"And you, my friend, are delaying me of my rendezvous with Star Command!" Buzz shouted angrily.

Okay, this is getting old. He still believes this? Sora thought to himself. . . Thought! That's it!

Roxas! Answer me! Sora screamed in his mind.

Sora! Where are you!? Roxas answered back.

I'm at some gas station that has to be miles away. Andy left me, Woody, and Buzz here by accident. We're stranded, but don't worry and don't tell Kairi! Got it?

Got it, just be careful and quick! We had a Heartless attack just a few minutes ago. It was the worst one yet. There were new breeds Sora. New breeds from Maleficent, no doubt. They were even labeled. One type was a "Praetorian" and the other was a "Centurion". You need to hurry. They were very difficult and we barely took care of these new foes.

Okay, I'll try. Just take care of her, Sora said.

I will.

Woody was just staring blankly at Buzz.

"YOU ARE A TOY!" he shouted at Buzz, and it was as loud as he could. Buzz just looked back. "You're no space ranger! You're not the real Buzz Lightyear! You're an action figure! You're just a child's plaything!" Woody exclaimed, on the verge of hysterics. After that they walked in different directions, leaving Sora alone. Sora sighed and turned around. There was the answer.

"Guys!" he yelled to them both. They turned in response. "I found a spaceship that'll take us out of here!" They ran to him and he pointed to the Pizza Planet pizza delivery truck. "Come on! Andy's waiting for us!"

They all walked over and made their way into the back of the truck. Buzz went to the front seat where the driver could see him and buckled his seat belt. Sora and Woody were content to stay in the bed of the truck. Well, they were content for now. The truck came to life and was off to Pizza Planet.

It was now about eight o' clock and it was dark out, the stars were shining. The truck barreled into the lot, parked, and the driver left the car. Sora heard Buzz's voice from afar. He fell onto his face in pain. That had been a wild ride. He had been thrown and bashed around for nearly an hour, tool boxes and trash hitting him. The metal walls and floor made it all that much worse.

"Now I know how Riku felt," Sora grunted in the pain. He found Woody and helped him to his feet. Buzz jumped down to them, looking uninjured and fine.

"Come on, we have to go," he said. "The entrance is heavily guarded. We need to find a way in," he told them. They uttered in acknowledgment as they exited the truck and watched Andy enter the building.

"Well, how do we get in?" Woody asked.

Five minutes later.

"I don't know if this is genius or not," Woody said. Sora was walking blindly from an empty french fry container. Woody was in a cheeseburger box while Buzz was in an empty cup. They sneaked past the "guards" and made it into Pizza Planet. They discarded their disguises and stared in awe at the amazing place they had come to. It was all of his childhood dreams and fantasies come true. Games as far as the eye could see, toys and prizes, candy and food, soda, games, food, games, food, food. . .

"Sora! Snap out of it!" Buzz said, drawing Sora back to reality. Sora shook his head and followed them. While Sora and Woody were busy looking for Andy, Buzz ran off towards a claw machine that resembled a massive rocket. Sora and Woody mumbled in frustration as they missed their chance to follow him. They climbed through the toy exchange and into the main room of the machine. They emerged in a sea of small alien toys. They were all in awe of the newcomers.

"Who's in charge here?" Buzz demanded. They all looked and pointed up.

"The claaaaaw," they breathed in unison. Sora found them cute, yet creepy. Then, a hideous laughter echoed as Sid came into view.

"Get down!" Sora said as he tackled Woody and Buzz down into the sea of aliens. He pulled them back to the back hatch. Sid began working the claw and hooked an alien. Sora couldn't let that monster of a child take the poor toy. He leaped up and grabbed him, pulling him back. Woody and Buzz helped, but the other aliens forced them up, insisting that he had been chosen. Sora gave up and became still as they were taken up by the claw.

"Whoa! Triple prize!" Sid yelled. He greedily took the alien, Sora, Woody and Buzz. He shoved them in his backpack before he was called by a woman, his mother no doubt.

An hour later.

"Oh no, we're going to Sid's house. No toy has ever went in there and come back alive!" Woody cried out as the front door opened. They peered through his slightly open backpack and were greeted with a vicious Bull Terrier dog. His owner commanded him to sit and stay. Sid reached into the bag and grabbed the alien. The dog tore him to pieces. They ascended the stairs with Sid. He approached and angrily opened the door, entered and slammed the door forcefully.

They were trapped and salvation was just next door.

TUH: I had meaningful action in I'ltorien.

TN: Yes, I'm looking forward to One's next chapter. Bound to be full of action.

TUH: *silence*

TN: Well, readers, sorry for such a long wait. The next one should be faster and will finish up Toy Story. Then, we get to see Riku! Anyone excited? If so, leave it that box right down there!

May the Love of Anuwëy guide you when all Hope is lost

TorNathan
The Unknowing Herald