Shout Outs:

SPYRO101: Thank you so much for your kind reviews! I promise, I will get to how SoKai are together! And disguise for other worlds, of course! Just wait till Halloween Town and Atlantica! :)

Drake G. Reaper: Thank you so much for reviewing! I def want to write KHII and III! We'll see how others like this one first! :)

Yamichaos27: Thank you for reviewing I plan to add more of her memories!

jankitty13: HAHA right? They can't help themselves! Thank you for reviewing! :)

More SoKaiPLZ: Thank you for reviewing! I'm so glad you're enjoying it!

e.b woodhouse: Thank you for reviewing! Just curious, have you played Kingdom Hearts? Just asjing since you mentioned you had no idea who the characters were! :)

Eight: Deep Jungle Pt 2

(Kairi's Pov)

"I'll go first." I told Jane, once we approached the climbing ivy. "Donald? Goofy? Keep on the lookout from behind!"

They both give me a nod before I ascend the ivy. I plant my shoes firmly against the tree for stable balance as I hoist myself up. It's incredible how much you learn living on an island.

"Oh dear, I don't know if I can do this!" Jane cried from below.

I look over my shoulder down at her. I could understand her concern, after all she was in a dress and didn't have the best shoes for climbing.

"Yes, you can!" I call down to her. "Just take your time and keep your feet firmly on the tree! It will be very tricky, but it's not impossible!"

Jane smiles before she grabs at the ivy cautiously.

"You're right!"

"Just follow my lead, take your time, and you'll be fine!"

Jane nods and begins to climb up the ivy slowly. I wait patiently for her to catch up to me.

"See? You're doing great!" I smile at her.

She giggles.

"All thanks to you!"

I shake my head. "No, that's all you! You got yourself up here! And if Donald can do it, you can too!"

"I HEARD THAT!" Donald shouts from below, this makes Jane and I laugh.

"Alright, let's go!" I say, turning back to look up in front of me.

(*)

"Where are they?" Jane whispers to me.

We reached the climbing trees safely, but the gorilla's were nowhere to be found.

"Maybe Clayton scared them off?" Goofy suggested.

"Perhaps we could look in the treehouse?" Jane offered. "It isn't too far from here."

"So you have been here?" I smile.

"A few times, but Tarzan was always there to help me."

"Do you think you can lead us to the treehouse, Jane?" I ask.

"Of course, I believe this path with the mossy rocks is the way!"

I give Donald and Goofy a nod, and the four of us start down the mossy path. The dirt crunched loudly beneath our feet. I looked around for heartless but fortunately we were in the clear, at least for now.

"You know…." I say, as I hold out my keyblade. "I think that this mighty weapon of mine deserves a name!"

Donald rolls his eyes. "It already HAS a name!"

"I mean, a nickname! You know, something that suits me!" I replied.

"I think that's wonderful!" Jane exclaims, smiling down at me.

"Thanks! How does "Destiny's Embrace" sound?"

"I like it!" Goofy replies.

"Of course you do!" Donald grumbles.

I giggle at the grumpy bird and allow my eyes to wander. Everything here in this jungle was such a vibrant green. Despite the situation of the gorilla's and Clayton, the treetops were beautiful. I spotted a snake wrapped around a tree, it slowly slithered higher as we walked by it.

"I can see why you enjoy research, Jane." I say, "There is so much to learn here."

Jane smiled.

"I'm glad you understand, Kairi." She pointed ahead toward the forest clearing. "Here it is."

I shift my gaze forwards to the treehouse. A rowboat was tied from one of the tree's branches and hung by its side. The treehouse looked like it was built years ago, the wood had faded and there were some cracks.

As we hike up the steep hill to the treehouse I couldn't help but notice the opening layout. From here you can see how high up you actually were.

Donald waddles to the treehouse, Jane follows suit.

"Don't be too noisy." Jane reminds us gently. "We don't want to frighten them anymore than they already are."

I nod in acknowledgement as I step inside of the treehouse. The wood creaks beneath my feet. The air is stale and moist as it wafts around me. The treehouse seems vacant. Only old chests, photographs, and clothes remain.

"I'm afraid I don't see any gorillas." I say, looking up at the support beams in hopes to see a gorilla or two hanging from them. Instead I spotted a pair of glowing light green eyes. It wasn't a gorilla, and it couldn't have been a heartless. The heartless have yellow eyes.

I grip Destiny's Embrace tightly.

"We're not alone." I whisper.

"What do you mean?" Jane whispers back.

A low hiss came from above, causing the four of us to gasp.

"We need to get out of here! Go!" I cry, ushering Jane out of the treehouse just as a leopard jumps down from the support beams.

"Quick! Get her out of here!" I shout to Donald and Goofy. "Bring her back to Tarzan. I'll be right behind you!"

I look back at the leopard, who was hunched forwards glaring at me with its green eyes. I don't know what I was thinking, taking a leopard all by myself?

It wastes no time to lunge at me. I scream and throw myself to my right, stumbling. I lose my balance and fall on my side, the hard wood burns as it contacts my skin.

Jane, Goofy, and Donald are long gone. I scramble to my feet, bolting out of the treehouse, the leopard is right on my heels.

"Leave me alone!" I cry, swinging Destiny's Embrace behind me, and striking the leopard across the face. It howls and staggers back. I take advantage of its daze and jab its side. This only angers it as it jolts forwards, snapping its teeth at me.

I cry out as I fall backwards on my bottom. The leopard stalks toward me snarling. Big wads of saliva drip down its jowls.

I squeezed my eyes shut accepting my fate, knowing this leopard was too fast for me. I wait for its razor sharp claws to tear me to shreds but it never happens.

Slowly, I open my eyes and to my surprise, the leopard is floating and clawing at a large bubble that has formed around it. Like those bubbles Donald had summoned to disarm the clubs from that heartless from Alice's world. But how?

I look down at the bright glow from the pearl necklace I wore.

How is this possible?

I didn't know this spell or how to use it.

I watch in bewilderment as the bubble evaporates, sending the leopard to fall to its death down the treetops.

The bright light from my necklace goes out.

(*)

The others weren't at the campsite when I got back. Did they make it back? Where was Sora and Tarzan?

"Hello?" I call out, as I walk around.

I was expecting a group of heartless to appear and ambush me, but they didn't.

"Sora!? Donald? Goofy?"

BAM!

I jumped nearly out of my skin from the gunshot. It sounded close. The trees rustle above me as a flock of birds fly by squawking. Ahead of me was a forest of bamboo, thats where Clayton had to be…..and the gorillas.

(*)

The bamboo thicket opened to a wide clearing with many cliff sides. As I predicted, Clayton and the gorilla's were there. He stood in front of the gorilla's his gun raised and aimed at them.

"NO!" I scream, causing Clayton to miss his shot. He ends up shooting a rock. The gorilla's scurry past me and toward the bamboo thicket.

"Clayton!?"

I look over at Sora with relief. Tarzan, Donald, and Goofy were behind him. Clayton looks at us with a dull expression on his face.

"As I've mentioned many times to that dimwitted girl, I'm not here to research the gorilla's!" Clayton sneered.

I narrow my eyes.

"She's NOT dimwitted!"

Clayton scoffs. "I don't have time to bother with children."

Clayton aims his gun at me, it clicks as he turns off the safety. I gasp as he fires. That's when a shield of light encircles us. It ricochets the bullet and sends it back to Clayton, piercing his side.

I notice my necklace is glowing once more…

"Kairi about that light-" Aqua starts.

"Kairi!"

I turn around to see grandma walking over to us with a bright smile on her face.

"Oh, grandma!" I reply, turning on my heel.

"Kairi?" Aqua says gently behind me, "Just a minute?"

I smile up at Aqua as she brings two of her fingers to my necklace, gently touching the big pearl. Grandma got it for me for my fourth birthday. The pearl lights up like a firefly under her touch.

"I just cast a magic spell on you." Aqua explains, "One day, when you're in trouble the light within you will lead you to the light of another, someone to keep you safe."

I look over at Sora, who returns my gaze with his.

Someone to keep me safe….

The barrier vanishes around us, small orbs of light sprinkle to the ground leaving us vulnerable once more.

Clayton grunts in front of us, the corner of his mouth lifts to a sneer as his eyes lock on us.

"Once I'm done with you circus clowns, I will hunt down every last gorilla!" He cries, just as the large rock behind him explodes and crumbles into millions of pieces.

Clayton rises off his feet and appears to be straddling something or was he using magic to float in mid air?

"We need to move!" Sora cries, he gently pushes my arm, moving both of us just as Clayton fires another bullet at us. Goofy jumps in front of us holding up his shield, blocking another bullet like my barrier. This bullet comes back at Clayton but hits him from below.

A loud screech fills the air, rattling my eardrums. I watch in horror as a giant chameleon comes into view from under Clayton. Its yellow eyes shone brightly, it wasn't just any chameleon, it was a heartless. Clayton may have been a wicked person but he was no longer Clayton. He was now possessed from the darkness. My thoughts traverse to the night we met Leon and Yuffie.

"The darkness in people's hearts-that's what attracts them." Yuffie had said.

The chameleon is the darkness from Clayton's heart, and it was now controlling him.

"Here, beast! Get moving!" Clayton says, as green vibrant petals form and dance above the palm of his hand. He thrusts his hand forwards, sending them to dissolve around the chameleon.

"What just happened?" Sora asks from beside me.

"He casted "cure" on the heartless!" Donald exclaims, "He's healing it!"

Clayton smirks down at us, as the chameleon stalks over to us.

"You can't beat the best."

Sora jumps to his feet, holding up his keyblade.

"WANNA BET!?"

The chameleon swings its long hand at Sora, he dodges and strikes it in the back. It stumbles and screeches from the blow. I scurry aside, tripping over my own foot, but I manage to stay on my feet. What was that spell called?

Air?

Aero.

"AERO!"

I cry, as I rise Destiny's Embrace above my head. Nothing happens.

Donald looks over at me.

"You need to give your magic time to recharge, Kairi! Or use an ether!"

An ether?

We didn't have time for conversation. Sora dove into a row of thick bushes as Clayton fired his gun toward him.

This fight was going to turn exhausting quickly. Unlike Clayton, our weapons didn't match his range.

"TAKE THIS!" Donald screams, raising his wizards staff, bright bodies of fire came shooting out burning the chameleon.

Clayton groaned with the chameleon as they were set ablaze. Tarzan lets out a cry as he glides off one of the cliff sides, aiming his spear at Clayton and striking him in the center of his chest.

A bright pink heart, his heart, floats out from his chest and vanishes along with Clayton, the chameleon, and the fire.

(Sora's Pov)

"He's gone."

A familiar voice from behind said.

"Jane!" Tarzan huffs.

Jane walks over to us with a glum expression. She had changed out of her yellow dress into a gray tank top and a long red skirt.

"He's always mentioned hunting the gorilla's but….I never thought he'd actually do it…"

Kairi walks over to place a hand on Jane's arm gently.

"It's a hard thing to accept, but no gorillas were harmed. Please don't blame yourself, Jane."

I couldn't help but smile at my girlfriend's kind nature. Kairi always knew what to say and can always see the good in any situation, no matter how dark it might be.

Jane smiles down at Kairi.

"Thank you. Thanks to all of you, the gorilla's are now safe!"

"We're happy we can help!" Goofy chuckles.

I smile and turn to Tarzan who was already halfway up the cliffs.

"Huh? Where is he going?" I ask Jane.

Tarzan seems to hear me, he looks down at us with a smile.

"Home!"

I look back at Jane, she seems equally baffled. "I suppose Tarzan has something to show us!"

"We still have to find the world's keyhole!"

Kairi and I nod.

"The cliff appears to have lots of support." Kairi states, grabbing at a handful of ivy. "It should be a simple climb!"

(*)

The cliff sides lead us to this trail with an enormous waterfall. Its constant roar grew louder the closer we got to it. The air grew cooler from the water as it rushed to the flowing lake below, some stray droplets fanned our faces and arms, cooling us as we continued our journey up the sandy path.

"Hee-hoo, hoo-hoo-hah!" Tarzan chattered, once we reached a dim cove.

Above us was a small opening that poured just enough light for us to see. Natural moss and plants had grown on the walls of the cove, attracting life of all sorts of insects. A butterfly of a bright cerulean fluttered by and around Kairi. She giggled, holding up her hand which the butterfly eagerly landed on. \

"Hoo-hoo, hoo-hah!" Tarzan replied.

"Huh?" Donald and Goofy look over at Jane.

"This is your home?" I ask Tarzan, trying to rack my brain for any translations I may have received from Jane or those slides we viewed earlier on her projector.

"Hee-hoo-hee-hoo-hah! Friends there. See friends."

"Oh, now I've got it!" Jane cries, "Hee-Hoo Hee-hoo-hah means "heart." Friends in our hearts!"

Well, I was totally wrong.

Tarzan nods. "Heart."

"Oh…so that's what it meant!"

I jerk my hand to the side as another one of those bright butterflies glides by me. This makes Kairi laugh,

"They don't bite, Sora!"

"Friends. Same heart. Clayton, lose heart. No heart, no friends. No heart, no friends."

My stomach flutters at this. If what Leon said was true about heartless consuming the darkness in our hearts, then I need to be more careful with my emotions.

I turn to Donald.

"I'm sorry about that mess back on the gummi ship, I should have asked you nicer to land the gummi ship here."

Donald sighs and shakes his head.

"No, I should have been more considerate."

Goofy chuckles as he places his hands on my shoulders from behind.

"A-hyuck, all for one huh!?"

Kairi grins, "That's what I've been saying!"

"What about the King?" I ask, "Or RIku and Alice?"

"We can't give up yet!" Kairi says, gently. "We'll find them, I know we will!"

I nod, just as something falls on my head.

"Ow! What's the big idea!?" I look down to see a colorful gummi block by my feet.

"A gummi!" Donald cries.

"Where the heck did that come from?" I ask, rubbing my head. They were a lot harder than they looked.

"But it's not the King's." Goofy sighs, as he bends down to pick it up.

I look over at the bushes by the cove's entrance, one of the gorilla's hustled over right to Donald, staring at him with its big brown eyes. This makes Jane smile.

"I think someone has a new admirer!"

Donald's eyes pop.

"HUH!?" He looks up at the gorilla and frantically shakes his head. "No, no, no, no! Daisy would kill me!"

"'Daisy?'" Kairi's bright doe eyes widen as a smile spreads across her cute face, "Aww! Donald! I didn't know you had a girlfriend!" She coos.

This makes us all laugh as Donald waddles away from the gorilla towards the back of the cove. He then stops and cries out as a large keyhole appears, it was identical to the one in wonderland.

"The keyhole!" Goofy cries.

Kairi and I hurry over to the large portal, summoning our keyblades. Jane and Tarzan watch in amusement as we seal the world's keyhole before it disappears.

"So that's what it's for!" Jane says.

I grin. "It's….kind of a long story!"

"AND confusing!" Kairi adds, wrapping her arms around my waist tightly.

"Well, guess we'd better get going!" I say.

"Where is your ship, anyway!?" Jane asks.

Probably in a tree somewhere.

"Well, uh….not too far." Donald replies.

Tarzan walks over to us, typically on all fours. "Sora, Kairi. Tarzan friends."

Kairi smiles. "Thank you, Tarzan. Maybe one day, we can come back to visit you, Jane and the gorillas!"

Tarzan nods.

I turn to Donald. "Do you know where the ship is!?"

Donald narrows his eyes.

"It's by the lake! We're not too far!"

Kairi hurries over to Jane and hugs her.

"Thank you…for showing me those slides."

"Oh!" Jane looks confused, "Of course!"

Were the slides that important? Maybe I was missing something.

(*)

The Gummi ship was in mint condition, I don't know if it was because it was made of magic or we just got lucky.

"Gwarsh, I sure could use a nap!" Goofy chuckles, as the four of us board the ship.

"I need a shower!" Kairi exclaims., fanning herself with her hands.

"I need a snack!" I add.

"CAN WE JUST STAY FOCUSED!?" Donald screeches, giving the three of us a glare before he pops in the driver's seat. Poor guy, I think that the heat was getting to him!

"Okay, being serious now!" Kairi starts, "Donald? Can you tell me what an ether is? Or why I was able to form that barrier around us when we fought Clayton?"

"An ether is a potion but it recharges your ability to use magic." Donald explains, "Do you feel tired?"

"Yes!" Kairi and I say together.

"That's why! Our friend Merlin knows all about magic, he could teach you!" Donald replies.

"Merlin?"

"Back to Traverse Town it is!" Goofy says.

I grin and grab at the back of Donald's chair.

"Can I be pilot!?"

Donald frowns. "NO!"

"Oh, come on!" I whine, plopping down in the seat next to him.

"I'm the keyblade master!"

"Oh, boy." Kairi blows her long bangs out from her eyes.

"What!? I am!"

"I don't care who you are, no!" Donald snaps, pressing a button.

The engine of the Gummi ships whirs to life.

"PLEEEEEAASE!?"

"NO!"

"Here we go again…" Goofy shakes his head.

"Goofy? What's behind that door back there?" Kairi asks, pointing over to the orange door at the back of the ship.

"The bathroom." Goofy replies.

Kairi's eyes widened.

"Does it have a shower?"

Donald nods. "Of course.

"And snacks!?" I grin.

"Why would I keep snacks in the bathroom?" Donald yells.

I shrug. "Why not!?"

"Well, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to freshen up!" Kairi says, before sprinting to the orange door.

"You should take one next!" Donald says to me. "You stink!"

I frown.

"DO NOT!"

(*)

The ride back to Traverse Town was long enough for Kairi and I to both take our showers. It was an interesting experience showering while airborne. I was very thankful for the support bar in the shower.

Kairi was thrilled that there was even a small washer and dryer in the bathroom as well, so our clothes could smell as fresh as we do. Unfortunately, there were no snacks.

"Hey, this isn't Traverse Town!" Donald frowns.

I look out the wide drivers window to see a large world full of white buildings with pillars.

"Should we check it out while we're here?" Kairi asks, "Maybe your King is there!"

"Hm…alright! Put on your seatbelts!" Donald replies.

Goofy chuckles.

"Maybe Sora will find a snack there!"

A/N: I thought it would be cool for the gummi ship to have a shower! Thanks for reading, until next time! :)