Chapter 31

(The following chapter was inspired by a lovely Disney/nonDisney crossover video from YouTube entitled Stained. Made by xNightshadex, it is available on Youtube. Check it out to see the inspiration for this chapter!)

The monster truck stopped right in front of an old fishing village. This town didn't have a name. Not that Sora paid any attention. During the open road, Goofy was singing campy road trip songs while everyone either sang with him or cringed a little. Especially Max, who was the most embarrassed of them all. Sylvia clapped her hands with amusement while Kairi simply moved her head to the beat. Riku, Vanitas and Max were the ones who didn't really participate, and Sora was mostly asleep or looking out the window thinking about what they might come across.

"Bathroom break!" announced Goofy.

"Finally." grumbled Donald.

"We should pack on snacks if while we are here." said Sylvia.

"Snacks sounds good right about now." said Kairi.

Sora got off the truck and within earshot, he heard a bike. He turned to see a boy riding on one to town. The boy didn't look familiar. Sora didn't dream of anything as of yet. He wondered if those dreams would even come back except for the last one of himself.

He decided to go and explore the town. On his own. He was about to walk away when Riku stopped him.

"Where you going?" he asked.

"I-I'm going to scout ahead." said Sora.

"By yourself? Not a good idea." said Riku.

Vanitas stepped in. "It's okay. Let him. I don't think there are big evil threats in this town." said Vanitas.

Riku still was not convinced. "I'm not okay with this." he whispered to Vanitas.

"It's fine Riku. Besides, don't we have gummiphones now?" said Sora.

"We do, but… well okay. If you find something really cool, say a shoe shop or anything I like, let me know." said Riku.

Sora nodded and ran off. Riku turned to Vanitas. "I'm surprised you aren't over him." he said.

"I can't monitor him everytime. And he's pretty good at handling a few things." said Vanitas.

"Really? I couldn't tell." said Riku.

"You underestimate him dude." said Vanitas.

"It's just that I can't imagine him doing something very mature or something dangerous. Even when he started getting those dreams, I didn't think he would go far as to actually find a missing person!" said Riku.

"You mean Namine. Yeah. Geez, I have a lot of people to apologize too when this is over." said Vanitas.

"You and me both. I didn't leave in good terms either." said Riku.

"What did you do?" asked Vanitas.

Riku smiled. "Can't tell."

….

Sora was in town, looking around in his new surroundings. He didn't realize how close they were to a large river. The place itself was actually a fishing port. It reminded Sora of Destiny Islands, where he was born. He walked around some more when all of a sudden, his head began to hurt.

At first, he was annoyed. But deep down, he knew what this meant. The dreams. He had dreams about this place once! Instead of feeling irritated, he felt a rising sense of hope. Perhaps the dreams are coming back after all. And if so, does that mean that the other folk who had them were having them return as well?

As Sora kept on thinking, he spotted the boy from before. He was about to get on his bike when he saw Sora. The boy at first looked at him and was about to say something. But he stopped quickly and smiled awkwardly.

"Hello." said Sora quietly.

"Hi. I thought you were my brother." said the boy.

He got on his bike and kept on going. But as he did, something caught Sora's eye. The boy… he DID recognize him. A long time ago, he had a dream about a boy who was friends with an Iron Giant. It was a massive robot that was originally built to be a weapon, however, the boy somehow changed the robot, making it feel like part of his little family. The boy's name was unusual too. Sora had a hard time pronouncing it at first.

"Hogarth." he said silently. He was about to leave, relieved that he found someone familiar when he spotted something dark appear on a wall. Sora's eyes widened in terror. On the wall was a heartless shadow. Thankfully, it was small, but those long disgusting antennas and those beady yellow eyes were a dead giveaway. Sora realized he left his shield at the truck. The only way to get the shadow's attention was to make noise or hit the wall. But before he could do that, the shadow vanished. And then it reappeared on the floor, flat as a pancake and slithered to the ground. Sora realized then that it was following Hogarth.

He decided to follow it. With no weapon. Sora tried his gummiphone. Perhaps he could get Riku too… blast. He also left the gummi phone in the truck. Sora rolled his eyes at himself for being forgetful, and just followed the wretched beast.

Hogarth arrived at a diner in town and left his bike parked outside. He then got in, not as a customer, but as a family member. His older brother was there. Jim was busy putting plates away on a container ready for the wash.

"Hey Jim! You are not going to believe what I found in town! It was so exciting, you need to see it to believe it!" exclaimed Hogarth.

"I wish buddy, but I can't punch out in a normal time today. Mata fired the last bus boy and I'm stuck doing all the chores." said Jim.

"What?! Oh c'mon! Can't you at least leave a little early or tell the old lady that you're having a family emergency or something?" asked Hogarth.

Mata herself appeared and shook her head. The old lady walked next to Jim. "Mr. Hawkins, you have a few more tables to clear out. Also, Hogarth honey, if you want a table, wait to be seated or wait outside reading your comic books or whatever kids are into these days." said Mata, exhaling with annoyance.

After she left, Jim shook his head. "I'll see what I can do buddy. Wait for me a little okay." said Jim.

Hogarth sadly nodded and went outside. As he did, he saw Sora. He was looking around on the ground, trying to find anything that could resemble a Heartless.

"Hey. You're the kid from before. You lose something?" asked Hogarth.

"Hey, you okay? Nothing attacked you or anything?" asked Sora nervously.

"No." said Hogarth.

"Good. So no ugly shadow. Good." said Sora with relief.

"Ugly? You mean Mata?" asked Hogarth.

"Who?" asked Sora. Hogarth pointed at the window and Sora could see Mata's long stack of orange hair. Sora chuckled. The old lady Mata was also in one of his dreams. She was a hostess at a restaurant that served the foolish emperor llama Kuzco when he was in hiding.

"Hey, you wanna see something cool? I don't think my brother is going out of work anytime soon." said Hogarth.

Sora nodded. "Sure. What do you want to show me?" asked Sora.

Hogarth and Sora walked into town and he took him to a forest clearing. It surprised Sora to see so much beauty there was outside the fishing port town they were in.

"It's right over here!" said Hogarth as he lead Sora to an old car junkyard.

Sora went on with the flow and Hogarth pointed at a ditch. He looked down and his jaw dropped. On the ground, and in pieces was the Iron Giant himself. He looked as if he was asleep, although his body parts were all over the place. Sora knew there was a way to wake him, (he saw the dream like a movie and personally loved that dream), but he decided to let Hogarth take the lead there.

"This ditch was always empty. But last night, I heard a few crashes. I just had to see what was going on. And here it is! A giant robot in pieces!" cried Hogarth.

"Wow! Cool." said Sora. He was truly impressed seeing the Iron Giant in person, although in pieces for now.

"I don't know how this can be fixed! I don't know what to do to show this to the town! I might make money out of this and if I do, Jim and I can finally go and live someplace better!" said Hogarth.

"Jim?" asked Sora interested.

"Jim's my brother. He works at the diner busing tables. We both live in a rundown apartment in town, but he hardly makes money and we don't eat as much." said Hogarth sadly.

Sora observed Hogarth and indeed, he looked very thin. Almost malnourished. "When was the last time you ate?" asked Sora.

"This morning. Jim and I ate some breakfast before he went to work. He had enough for some pancakes." said Hogarth.

"So you ate today. Good. But… are you going to show this to the town?" he asked.

"I could. But at the same time, I don't feel like it either. It's just so cool to find a robot there. And it feels like something I found. I want to show it to Jim. He might like it. Maybe he'll know what to do." said Hogarth.

"You're close with this Jim huh?" said Sora smiling.

"Yeah. We've been together since I was a baby. You see, our parents were killed one night." said Hogarth.

"What?" asked Sora, baffled at what he just heard.

"One night, someone entered our home and killed our parents. We don't know why they were killed. Jim found them dead, but I was alive. I was in the room when it happened. I was only a baby." said Hogarth.

"That's awful." said Sora.

"Jim and I have been on the run ever since. He had to move mountains to get me a place to sleep. He's fought with people, he's dealt beatings, and he's even sacrificed meals for me. Jim always looks out for me." said Hogarth.

Sora listened and asked. "Then how did you and Jim end up in this town?"

"Jim was old enough to get a job at the diner. Sort of. Mata allowed him to work, despite him being only 15. I offered to work, but she didn't let me." said Hogarth.

"Then you guys have been here an year." said Sora.

"Actually yeah. But before we got here, we actually came from a very bad place. Have you heard of Oblivion High School?" asked Hogarth.

Sora nodded.

"We escaped one night after Jim saw devil worshiping happening in the hallway. We paid a boy with silver hair to get us out." said Hogarth.

Sora smiled. That was probably Riku. That may explain how he escaped Oblivion too.

"I lived in the dorms in secret. It was a good life, but Jim was spooked when he saw the headmaster dance in front of a giant gargoyle." said Hogarth.

"Best not to think about that. You and Jim have each other." said Sora.

"Yeah. But I don't know for how long. Jim has been getting weaker with each passing day. He's lonely and he's hardly eaten things." said Hogarth worriedly.

"Well, can I give you some advice?" asked Sora.

Hogarth nodded and Sora placed his hand on a shoulder.

"You are Jim's protector. You take care of him more than he does himself. You and Jim have each other, and you two will take on this world. I just know it. Your love is what will beat the darkness in this town." said Sora.

"The darkness in this town?" asked Hogarth curiously.

"Nevermind that. I'm being a little poetic. Whatever that means. Maybe that's what will help you two for now. Whatever happens, don't ever leave Jim." said Sora.

He pulled something out of his pocket. "I forgot my phone back with my brothers, but I haven't forgotten this. Take it." said Sora.

He handed Hogarth some money. "No way! You're giving this to me? It's a lot! I can't accept it!" cried Hogarth.

"Use it. You'll never know when you'll need it. Also… if you and Jim need a good place to live… I recommend Destiny Islands. There are lots of good jobs for guys like Jim and you get to live closer to the beach. Plus, the Paopu Fruits that grow there are to die for. You'll love it. Just a tip." said Sora.

Hogarth nodded nervously and Sora turned to leave. The shadow Heartless was looking straight at them from a tree. Hogarth stepped back, but Sora stood in front of him.

"Your misery is not welcome here. Their light is stronger than your hate." said Sora to the Heartless.

The little bug like shadow made a clicking sound in frustration and vanished.

"What was that?" asked Hogarth nervously.

"That would be the darkness I mentioned. Don't worry. It won't hurt you. It went away because it was afraid." said Sora.

"Afraid?" asked Hogarth.

"Yes. It's afraid of you and Jim. Just keep on loving Jim and the darkness won't hurt you." said Sora. He then walked into the woods and left.

"Where were you?!" asked Riku.

"I found something cool. But I left my phone." said Sora.

"I thought so. I texted you a few times." said Vanitas with a chuckle.

"Everybody ready?" asked Goofy as he started the truck.

"Hold on. Mom, can I ask you something?" asked Sora to Sylvia.

…

Sylvia went to the diner and observed Jim leave. She waved her small magic wand and instantly healed Jim with a cure spell. Jim didn't know it, but he felt much better physically. He thought it was something he ate, not knowing it was a little bit of light magic. Sylvia smiled warmly and went back to the others.

…

Jim arrived home and Hogarth was waiting for him. On the table was actual dinner. Two hamburgers for himself and Jim.

"What's all this?" asked Jim.

"Money that… a friend loaned me." said Hogarth.

"What? From whom?" asked Jim alarmed.

"Don't worry Jim. He's gone now. But he gave me some money." said Hogarth.

"What? No! Hogarth, don't ever take things from strangers!" cried Jim.

"What? But Jim… I got this food for you. For us." said Hogarth.

"NO! You could have been hurt!" cried Jim.

Hogarth felt like he wanted to cry. "What's the matter with you? You should eat…" said Hogarth. The strain was too much and Hogarth fell to the floor.

"Hogarth? HOGARTH!" cried Jim. He ran to his brother and helped him back into bed. All the excitement put a strain on Hogarth's health.

Watching from the shadows, the heartless shadow from earlier wanted to attack. It wanted to hurt Hogarth, now that he was defenseless.

"Not yet. Don't do anything yet." said the voice of the Horned King. He sensed Sora was there in town and he had to see if he was there or not. Sora was gone, but his influence on light. The stench of light was there. Jim and Hogarth may have had a fight, which in itself was darkness, but Jim helped his brother up and tucked him into bed. And before that, Jim kissed his brother's forehead. Love. Bah! Love actually beat darkness just now through that one simple act. Bah! Double bah!

Woe to light and love! Thought the Horned King. He hated love and he hated light. Forget Sora. Forget Chernabog! For now at least. Right now, he needed to break those brothers. He needed to watch them burn. He wanted to see them suffer!

To do that, he had to manipulate Jim. He silently moved his fingers into the air and dark clouds appeared on Jim's head. He could not see the clouds, but they were entering his brain. Jim saw images of his family, killed in the living room. And he heard voices. He realized that not far from this town was the house where it all began.

Jim never wanted to come to the fish port town. It was too close to their old place. But deep inside, Jim had to see that house. He had to see that place. And he left.

Now it was Hogarth's turn. The Horned King was now close to Hogarth's bed. And he said a few cursed words filled with hate and despair.

"This is the hardest part for you. You feel like you're breaking in. All you want. All you want is right here. Love doesn't live here anymore! Love is dead. Love is gone. Love doesn't live here anymore! Love doesn't live here anymore! Love is DEAD! Love is GONE! Love doesn't LIVE here anymore!"

Hogarth instantly stood up from bed. There was nobody there, but the dark and dreadful voice was still in Hogarth's head. And then he noticed that Jim was not home. He had to go find. And he heard the Horned King's voice in his head.

"Follow the trail he left for you."

Hogarth saw glowing purple spheres appear. "Jim." he said softly.

Hogarth then put on a jacket, grabbed his toy rifle and went outside to follow Jim.

In a few minutes, Hogarth caught up to Jim. He actually went into the forest and somehow found him. Jim was crying over an overlook, where a broken old house stood.

"Jim?" asked Hogarth.

"Hogarth! What are you doing here?!" cried Jim.

"You left! How did you get here? And why did you leave?" asked Hogarth.

"I should be asking you the same thing." said Jim.

"Jim, please come home. It's not safe for us here." said Hogarth, offering his hand to Jim.

He was about to hold his hand. He was about to. But then, Jim heard the dark voices in his head. He heard the words. Love is dead. Love is gone. Love doesn't live here anymore. And with that, the Horned King summoned dark thorns and separated the brothers.

"Hogarth!" cried Jim.

"Jim!" cried Hogarth on the other side.

The Horned King laughed in triumph. The boys could not see or hear the Horned King, but Hogarth knew this was the darkness his friend spoke of earlier.

Jim on the other hand grew scared. He saw the thorn's ugly darkness oozing from there. He saw images of his fallen parents, the evil bald man and his giant gargoyle from Oblivion, and Hogarth fainting because of Jim.

He started to cry and ran off afraid. Leaving Hogarth.

And that was when he stopped. He was leaving Hogarth. No. He couldn't do that! He wouldn't even dream of doing that. He turned.

"I'll find something to burn this! Stay put Hogarth!" cried Jim.

"Oh Jim." said Hogarth, starting to cry. His tears landed on the ground. Even Jim started to cry, his tears also falling to the ground.

And that was when it happened. Their tears and feelings for each other… those were feelings of being a family. And love. Their tears may have landed on the cold floor, but they were tears filled with so much emotion. It was a miracle that couldn't really be explained.

And that when the Iron Giant woke up. His robotic body parts came together and his eyes opened.

"Hogarth." he whispered in his metallic robotic voice. He too had dreams. Dreams that made him see things happen. And he saw himself with Hogarth in another life. And he had to save him. Any Hogarth was still the same Hogarth to him. He had to help not just him, but his brother as well. He wouldn't allow the darkness to get to them.

The Iron Giant put his hands on the ground and closed his eyes.

And the earth began to glow. "CURAGA!" boomed The Iron Giant.

A powerful ray of light then made the whole ground glow and right where Jim was running, trees burst out from the ground. Jim held on to a tip of a tree as he was flown up into the air.

Hogarth watched as the dark vines died, and he saw Jim holding on for dear life.

"Jim!" cried Hogarth.

"Hogarth!" cried Jim. But then more trees burst out from the Earth and Jim let go. He started falling into the trees. Hogarth watched helplessly as his brother vanished among the growing trees.

"Oh Jim." he said softly. He then sat down, crying for his brother.

The Horned King found himself being burned alive. The light that was on the ground was much too strong. And it was a powerful Cure spell. Its power was burning through his bones. First his robes burned away, then he started to convulse uncontrollably, with his bones burning away. He couldn't accept the fact that light was destroying him alive.

"Love doesn't live here anymore! Love is dead! Love is…" The Horned King's hateful words did not save him. Within seconds, the Horned King was finally destroyed.

Jim woke up among the trees and he was in safe place. And then, the trees started to form an image. Images of his family appeared, when they were happy. And he saw images of himself with Hogarth. They suffered, they endured hardships, but they still got each other and they were alive.

Jim walked among the cured trees and found Hogarth, alive and well. His little brother looked at him and ran to hug him. The brothers were reunited.

A couple of minutes later, Jim and Hogarth had a talk.

"I know I messed everything up. And I know that I have let you down." said Jim to Hogarth.

"But this is my chance to make it up to you. I'm going to set things right." said Jim.

Hogarth nodded and smiled. "You know… I still have money from that friend I mentioned. He also said that Destiny Islands is a safe place….." he said.

And so, the boys packed their things and took a boat to Destiny Islands. It was a marvelous adventure, and the boys were having so much fun. Upon arriving, they landed on the beach. Once there, Hogarth started to play in the water. And then he ran into a new friend. A little girl named Lilo.

Her sister, Nani was watching from afar, and she noticed Jim. He smiled warmly. And the two decided to meet.

A couple of months later, Jim and Nani became a couple and lived together with Lilo and Hogarth as a happy family. But that is a story for another time.

As for the Iron Giant, he stayed in the forest. He stayed because he was on an important mission. He received an incoming transmission from his chest. He pressed on the little button on his wrist and his eyes formed a hologram on the ground.

"Buzz Lightyear of Star Command. Come in Iron Giant. Do you copy?" asked Buzz.

"Copy Buzz." said the Iron Giant.

"Good! Now that you're well and back online, we are needed at the new base for the Mouskateers. Come to Acme Acres. I will brief you on the next mission." saluted Buzz.

The Iron Giant saluted back. "See you soon!" he said slowly.

"At ease old friends. Our battle against the dark is not over yet." he said.

…