Chapter 144
Never Say Goodbye
Tinker Bell reported to the Lost Boys and informed them of the victory against Davy Jones, inviting them to join the party on the Jolly Roger. Donald and Goofy found the pirate whom Donald had trapped in ice, thawed him out, and brought him back to the ship. When everyone was gathered, they all celebrated. The pirates and the Lost Boys started a dance, some of the pirates hauling up a keg of rum and getting drunk. Sora, Riku, Kairi, Mickey, Donald, and Goofy mainly associated with the Lost Boys, and Aqua avoided the pirates completely to the best of her ability. Sora and Donald shot fireworks (which might also be called Milliflare spells) into the air. Riku, Starkey and Mullins sang a sea shanty.
As the celebration died down and the pirates began to sober up, everyone split into groups: the pirates discussed matters near the helm; Peter and the Lost Boys sat in a circle near the prow, with Peter telling the younger boys about the battle; and the world travelers stood near the Lost Boys, telling each other what they had been up to after they had split off.
After a short while, Captain Hook approached those who only hours before had been his enemies. "My men and I have discussed matters, and we have decided: We will be leaving Neverland," he declared.
"What?!" Peter and the Lost Boys gasped in shock.
"The seas are no longer safe for pirates, so long as Davy Jones is on the warpath," Hook explained. "We will need to find a safe haven, where we can then plan our next move."
"Where will you go?" Riku asked.
"Our first stop will be Tortuga," Billy Jukes answered. "Jones and his beast won't be able to follow us onto land, and the East India Trading Company wouldn't dare attack pirates in its ports, or else they would break international law."
Goofy leaned down to whisper into Donald's ear. "We're gonna have to brush up on that international law beyond the responsibilities of Keybearers and Keybearer-adjacents," he remarked.
"But mark my words," Hook said, waving his hook hand. "When this all blows over, should we survive, we will come back to finish our war!" He pointed his hook at Peter. The other pirates' smiles faded; evidently, they were not as enthusiastic about maintaining the conflict with the Lost Boys.
"Well, take care, then, Hook," Peter said with a salute and a wave.
"Good luck," Riku said.
Hook nodded in the silver-haired boy's direction. "It has been a pleasure fighting alongside you once again," he said.
"Likewise," Riku replied. "If we meet again, I hope it won't be as enemies."
Waving good-bye to the pirates, the world travelers and the Lost Boys flew away from the Jolly Roger and set down on the cliff, where they watched the pirates hoist the sails and head out to sea.
"Should we really let them go free?" Aqua asked.
Sora shrugged. "Honestly, I'm not his biggest fan. He did make me walk the plank," he admitted. "But we shouldn't just let Davy Jones hunt and kill them. Jones holds up deals and debts, but he doesn't care whether someone is innocent or guilty, good or bad. And from what Jack and Elizabeth said, the guys in charge of the East India Trading Company aren't interested in law and order. They just want to control everything they can get to and exploit people when it's convenient."
"If they get up to any trouble, beyond what I'm sure Peter and the Lost Boys can handle, we'll step in," Mickey said.
"He said that he doesn't want to deal with anything involving us, Maleficent, or the Heartless anymore," Riku added. "So I doubt he'll ever be a huge threat."
"I guess you're right," Aqua conceded.
They watched the Jolly Roger sail off until it was imperceptible on the horizon. When it was gone, everyone turned and walked off through the jungle.
"Sorry we didn't get to finish that expatition, Peter," Sora said.
Peter shrugged. "Eh, it's alright. We all got to have new adventures. And I'm sure the kids got to have a good time."
"Oh! Speaking of which…" Mickey pulled the pixie scepter out of his pocket, now the size of a staff that a human would carry, and showed it to the others. "We met with the fairy queen, and when we told her what Pete and the Heartless were after, she gave us this."
"That's great! Another one secure!" Sora cheered.
"What are you talking about?" Slightly asked. "Is that staff supposed to be special?"
"Oh, uh…" Sora fumbled trying to come up with an answer. He noticed that his friends were all shifting around awkwardly. "It's complicated. Um… 'Grown-up world' stuff."
"Oh. Then it's nothing for us to worry about," Peter said, waving the matter off.
"And the queen offered us a way to connect us to the heart of Neverland's magic," Kairi told her friends. "She thinks it might help us connect to the Power of Waking."
"Oh boy, oh boy!" Donald said. "Let's head on over!"
"Well, see you after a bit," Peter said, waving them off.
Tinker Bell flew around the party, jingling excitedly. "She's asking if we're ready," Kairi interpreted.
"Yep. Let's go see the fairies' home," Sora replied.
Tinker Bell took off into the sky. Kairi, Mickey, Aqua, Sora, Riku, Donald, and Goofy lifted off of the ground and flew after her. Mickey cast Mini on himself and his friends, so they were all of comparable size to Tinker Bell. They flew over the clouds and down to the valley where Pixie Hollow stood.
"Welcome to Pixie Hollow," Tinker Bell said as they flew through the barrier.
"Wow. So that's what you really sound like," Sora remarked. "Nice." Tinker Bell glowed a bit brighter at this compliment.
A hawk closed in on them, but Tinker Bell saw it and warned the others, after which Riku spun around and cast Fire at it, forcing it to retreat. Tinker Bell took everyone through the Autumn Forest, the Summer Glade, and the Spring Valley, offering Sora, Riku, Donald, and Goofy the same tour that she gave Kairi, Mickey and Aqua earlier, before flying into the Pixie Dust Tree. Inside, they found Queen Clarion, Rosetta, Silvermist, Fawn, Iridessa, and Vidia, as well as a group of Dust Fairies in brown tunics all waiting for them.
"Welcome back. And welcome, to those who are new here. I am Clarion, queen of the Never Fairies." Everyone in the party bowed before the queen. She bade them all to stand again. "Now, how many of you are Keybearers who wish to follow the River of Dreams to discover the Power of Waking?" All five Keyblade wielders raised their hands. "Very well. Then please follow the Dust Fairies."
"Thank you, your highness," Aqua said. She and her friends bowed graciously. They turned to see one of the Dust Fairies beckon them along, and they followed the brown-clad fairies through a hole that led out of the tree. They flew around the base of the tree until they came to a mill that was built beside a stream carrying bright gold pixie dust that flowed from up the tree and fed through a waterwheel. The Dust Fairies circled around a large basin that was erected next to the stone tower of the Pixie Dust Mill, filled with liquid pixie dust.
"Just take a bath in here," one of the Dust Fairies said, gesturing to the basin. "Though, keep in mind that we got this from a very old formula, so we're not all entirely sure it will work."
Sora shrugged. "Well, I have faith," he assured the fairy. His friends nodded in agreement.
Sora, Kairi, Aqua, Riku, and Mickey went around the basin and climbed in, sinking up to their necks. The formula felt warm, and their skin tingled as the pixie dust brushed against it. They relaxed and closed their eyes, at which point colors and images swam through their minds. They could hear laughter, the sound of waves crashing against rocks and lapping on a beach, wind blowing, birds chirping or screeching, and leaves rustling. They could see everyone and everything on Neverland: fairies flew over the valley; some natives trekked through the forest on a hunt while others weaved and cooked; the Lost Boys played hide-and-seek while they waited.
The images changed, going beyond what was going on at that moment on the island and showing what was in their hearts. They saw each other and all of the friends that they had made. Sora, Donald and Goofy made funny faces at each other. Sora and Riku raced across the beach, with Kairi serving as the judge. Everyone saw themselves piloting the Gummi Ship. Aqua played Command Board with Terra and Ventus in one vision, and she then played Fruitball against Horace Horsecollar in another. Mickey rode a merry-go-round with Minnie and laughed at jokes with Donald and Goofy. Sora sat with Riku and Kairi, eating ice cream on a hot summer day, although that memory blended with another similar image with a different trio. Mickey, Donald and Goofy made ice cream with Scrooge's musical machine and ate it with their friends, including Donald's nephews. Aqua received the Million Dreams Award in Disney Town (tying with the absent Terra and Ventus), cheered on by the townsfolk, and took a bite out of her Royalberry Ice Cream award. Sora, Kairi, Riku, and Mickey saw the lanterns fill the sky above Corona. Aqua stepped out of the Realm of Darkness and into Radiant Garden. Everyone saw themselves opening presents on Christmas morning, surrounded by their loved ones. Riku tried to shake hands with Mickey in Castle Oblivion, only for him to be a projection, but the effect was still there. Sora and Riku reunited with Kairi, Donald, Goofy, and Mickey on the shore of Destiny Islands' play islet, finally together and home after far too long.
The visions faded and everything went dark and quiet. The liquid pixie dust no longer tingled so much against their skin. Sora, Kairi, Aqua, Riku, and Mickey opened their eyes and hoisted themselves out of the basin. They faced each other and saw that they were all grinning, which let them know that everyone saw similar memories.
"So? How was it?" Tinker Bell asked.
"I think it worked," Kairi said. She turned to her friends, who all nodded.
"That's great!" Tinker Bell said.
"Oh, and the queen asked us to make this," a Dust Fairy said, handing a pouch to Aqua. The bluenette opened it and saw that it was filled with more pixie dust. "You're following the Duat, correct? Well, if you have a map, this should figure out how it goes and trace out its route between the worlds."
"Gosh, thanks," Mickey replied. "This will really help us."
"Well, I guess that's all of our business here," Riku said. "We should probably get going."
"Good luck, then," the Dust Fairy said.
"It's been so good seeing you," Tinker Bell said, hugging Kairi and then Sora. She turned to face Kairi, Aqua and Mickey. "Thank you for saving Pixie Hollow from the Heartless."
"It was our pleasure," Aqua replied.
"Would you mind leading us out?" Goofy asked.
"Sure," Tinker Bell answered.
The party went back into the Pixie Hollow Tree, thanked Queen Clarion for her help, and said good-bye to the fairies, then left Pixie Hollow and located the Lost Boys. Sora, Riku, Kairi, Mickey, and Aqua told Tinker Bell, Donald, and Goofy what they had seen in the pixie dust bath while they flew. Mickey returned the party (save for Tinker Bell) to their normal sizes shortly before landing.
"Hiya. You find what you needed?" Peter asked when they landed.
Sora nodded. "Yup. Well, I guess this is good-b—"
"Uh-uh!" Peter interjected. "Never say good-bye. Good-bye means going away, and going away means forgetting."
"Oh. Uh, so…"
"Until next time," Peter said, smiling widely. "As long as you remain a kid at heart, you'll always be welcome in Neverland, no matter how big you get."
Sora grinned and extended his hand. "Well, until next time, then." Peter spat in his own palm and shook Sora's hand.
Everyone said their "until next time"s, and then the party located the nearest Safe Point and beamed up to the Gummi Ship.