During which the Coachman gets his just desserts.
For a moment, Nemurin stood simply, watching as Pinocchio disappeared from sight, his donkey ears flapping a little with his quick little movements. She waited close, in case any Nightmares appeared during his escape. Fortunately, both her own eyes and that of the little cloud she sent after him assured her that his escape was unimpeded, prompting her to let out a lone sigh of relief, though that one sigh came with a conclusion; that those responsible for all of this trouble were down below, by that port. Still, tiring it might have been, but she decided to view it through the lens of them all being together, and thus able to be dealt with together in turn. Turning her head towards the steep, ever-still chest of the mountainous cliffs, she called forward a cloud, much like the ones she and Sora had used to get across Paris as it burned only a few worlds ago - but in her attempt, she felt it again.
It was as if you'd put her chest into the hold of a vice, and then tightened it; it stole her breath and refused to return it for a duration too long for even the most durable bodies, like poison ivy wrapping around her lungs and breathing their venom into her. She winced in pain, her teeth gritting as sweat trickled down her head, the tips of brown increasing their height slightly, the bags under her eyes growing more prevalent.
'No, I'm here in the Dream World. I'm here.' she thought to herself, trying to rid the image of herself, standing in the snow, fighting for breath in her airways on that frigid winter's day.
Even with that assertion, the cloud sputtered and then took its own final breath before evaporating into the salty sea air, like foam off the tide crashing and shattering upon a beach's surface, as Sheppy nudged her side, his eyes wide and watery with concern for her. Forcing a smile, even a weak one, Nemurin patted his head with her massive sleeve, before moving to try again; yet found the same result, and her brow furrowed.
Now of course she'd heard the term 'third time's the charm', but somehow Nemurin didn't really wanna count on that. It'd be a pain if midflight, her cloud collapsed and sent her and Sheppy plummeting into the ocean's deep after all, and cold water shock probably wouldn't do good when her asthma was playing up. Even now, she knew it shouldn't be, the thought of it shouldn't have even crossed her mind. But she knew it to be reality, even if it wasn't one she liked, and thus she had to try and work around it, just like at home. She didn't wanna stand here long, not when Sora was down there, not when those kids were down there and needed her help...it didn't matter how bad they were, or how crazy they'd been acting earlier, nobody deserved to be turned into an animal that couldn't even speak and sold off like cattle, nobody.
She edged towards the cliff's end, tiny stones fleeing her and tumbling down into the sea. Sheppy whined nervously, trembling at her legs, as Nemurin's mind rewound to another moment like this; where she had to get down from a tall height. The moment in Notre Dame, where she had followed Quasimodo's lead. It'd be difficult too, but at least if she could use the jagged stones that stuck out of the cliffed walls as footholds...then she would at least have something preventing her from sinking like a stone. Hearing Sheppy's timid bleat, she sighed goodnaturedly and knelt before the sheepish Spirit.
Her sleeves drooped down her arms, revealing her hands, as she cupped his round little face. "I know you're scared, little guy, and I don't blame you...it's not a small drop. But I'll protect you, okay...?~" she assured. Sheppy gazed at her soulfully, yet something about his look didn't seem entirely convinced.
"And I'm okay too, y'know. I used to deal with this all the time, before I became...well, a Magical Girl. It's not always comfortable, yeah, but it's nothing I can't handle," she added, softly. "And besides, the only reason it's acting up is because of that guy, remember?"
At the mention of the youth in the black coat, Sheppy's paws patted the ground in a solid tapping pattern, his black eyes narrowing as he gargled, as if to voice his disapproval of the man. She'd admit, it was sweet such a reaction was on her behalf, especially on someone as cute as her Spirit companion. "And the only way we can stop him is if we meet up with Sora and piece together what's going on, right?"
Sheppy nodded at that. "So..." Nemurin concluded, turning around, offering him her back to ride on. "Ready to go, little guy?"
With a comparatively more enthusiastic 'baa', Sheppy rolled into a ball, his form soon flying up into the air and landing with a soft pat onto her spine, as if shielding her there. In hindsight, it almost made them look like some sort of human snail, though she put that silly thought aside for the minute. Moving forward, she neared the cliff's edge - and she jumped.
In the next few seconds, her form shot through the air, only to abruptly stop as she took hold of a small bump in the cliff's face, her pale hand gripping it tightly as the rest of her body swung. Pulling up all of the strength she could muster, her body going back and forth like the turn of a pendulum, she soon let go once she had enough propulsion. Her body was tossed to the right, the docks growing closer and the sound of battle growing only louder with each held swing across the stones. While she didn't take her time necessarily, she didn't exactly rush headfirst; if only because she didn't want to end up wasting more time by setting off that weakness in her chest, the webs that clouded her breath, or at the very least, she'd rather save the magic she did have for helping Sora and those tricked by Pleasure Island's candy-coated nightmare.
Eventually, Nemurin had reached the final spot, Sheppy quivering so much he was like a leaf in the wild wind. Holding herself up with two pale hands, she turned her head towards the docks below, and her heart swayed along with her body. Down below, Sora was fighting with all of his heart, she could see it in his eyes, the ferocity of his swings as he beat back the wave upon wave of Nightmares that lunged for him and for the donkey boys, his teeth gritted as he swung and cast flame and ice to keep them at a manageable distance, Morgana pouncing down as many as she could in a single moment. Yet she also couldn't help but suspect the waves were relentless as the ones on the ocean, Morgana being thrown hard by a larger one who had torn her off of him.
Sora pointed his blade forward at the Nightmares, and at the approaching Coachman in red; "Getting tired, boy?"
The donkeys quivered and cowered behind him, those who he had managed to break out of their cages at least. Several shrunk away into the furthest corners they could find, others seeking Sora for protection, particularly a rather shy-looking one. As she drew closer, Nemurin could still see Jiminy, eyes as wide as the broken saucers from the trashed house they had visited in their search for Pinocchio.
As a Nightmare darted for one of the cursed boys closest to the front, Sora tore his blade across it, sending it back into the pile. "I don't think so!"
Nemurin had seen enough, and she began to make her final leap, heading for a mark of land that would let her climb above and join Sora's side. His tone sickly sweet, the Coachman turned to two figures Nemurin had been unable to see, "Boys - why don't you finish him off? I'll be preparing the wagon for tomorrow's batch soon enough,"
"Tomorrow's batch!?" Sora questioned, feeling his anger spike again.
"Stupid boy, of course! Do you really think that a place as grand as this was built in a day?" the Coachman questioned, mockingly.
"This place isn't grand, and you know it. It's full of darkness, just like you!" Sora shot back, his glare as sharp as his blade.
Yet, the Coachman's wicked grin only grew wider at that. "And aren't I glad of that~" he said. "Now then - time for you to take a dive,"
"Not so fast!"
From above, a girl of pale creams and pinks fell, landing on her two feet, her Spirit falling to the ground next to her, rolling off its back before standing up in a battle stance, the girl sprinting up to Sora, stopping to catch her breath as soon as she did.
As Sora gained his breath back in turn, his azure eyes were set aglow at the sight of her. "Nemu!" he said, his previously serious face breaking into a relieved smile. "Man, I'm glad to see you...!"
Giving a self-assured giggle, hoping to put the nervous-looking donkey boys at ease a little, she said, "I'm glad to see you too." before turning to the Coachman, and the fox and cat now standing with him, the two's face turning white at the sight of the girl.
With a raised brow, the Coachman looked to the two, now decidedly less pleased; "I thought I told you boys to not let any girls in! That curse doesn't work on 'em!"
"Oh, but we didn't!" the fox protested. "We locked her out and said we didn't want her type, didn't we, Giddy?!"
At that, the mute cat nodded fiercely, as if his life depended on it; and for all she knew maybe it did, but it didn't make her expression any more cheerful as she dealt with him. "Oh, you did." Nemurin shrugged, her sleeves drooping. "But I'm a grown-up, so I don't have to listen to you two anyways~" she said, her voice possessing a gentle yet dismissive tone now.
"Y-yeah...!" a shy voice piped up behind her, one of the donkeys, now shivering behind her instead of Sora. Nemurin gave a reassuring pat across the ears, before turning her firm attention back to the collection of villains before them.
Sighing heavily, the Coachman shot them a sharp glare, taking a pipe out of his pocket and taking a puff of it. "You boys are hopeless! No matter then - we'll just be dealin' with them ourselves!" he declared, darkly. "You two heard what I said...nobody comes back from Pleasure Island...not as boys, anyway, and these two won't be coming back either if I can help it,"
As the Coachman monologued, Sora's eyes tilted to the back - namely towards the open ocean behind them. Clearly, they had wanted to force him into it - but if they could turn the tables and do the same to them...he exchanged a glance with Nemurin, who followed his gaze, and nodded firmly. The two then turned to the donkey boys, gesturing silently for them to go to whichever side of the room they were closest to, watching until they complied, Sora evidently watching to be sure no Nightmares followed them.
Then, just as the Coachman pointed to direct the Nightmares' next assault, Nemurin called, "Now!"
With that, Sora pointed his Keyblade up to the sky, a golden light shimmering around its edges, extending his other hand out to the room's side. In that flash of light, translucent barriers of pale gold shot up, shielding the cursed children from those who had harmed them, a barrier on each half of the room. At least now, as long as the two remained standing, these boys wouldn't end up as collateral damage. They'd been through more than enough tonight as it was, and it was about that which they were clearly in agreement.
Raising a brow at their efforts, the Coachman shot them a questioning look, "You're really that determined to save these stupid boys?"
"Yes." Sora confirmed, his resolve ablaze. "Your 'operation' ends now!"
"If you say so, boy," the Coachman remarked dismissively.
Nemurin and Sora scanned the scene before them; five large Nightmares, like those pandas from Traverse Town, about the height of the Coachman, with the man in red, the ringleader stood in the middle, while Honest John and Gideon stood at the left.
Their battle began as the Coachman pointed at the duo and their Spirits, the five pandas charging towards them, their paws beating across the stone floor ahead, the sound shifting from a slap to a crack as they reached the wooden flooring of the docks. One lifted a mighty claw high into the air, ready to slam down on them, another slid forward on its feet to smash into their side, and a third approached, readying itself to punch them.
Nemurin went back to back with Sora, facing the third one, while Sora turned to the one on the left, Morgana and Sheppy flanking their backs. "Gee willikers, what are you two gonna do?!" Jiminy asked, worriedly.
"You're going to get out of here, Jiminy," Nemurin said, lifting her arms quickly to block the first array of punches, keeping her footing as steady as she could manage, the wooden boards below them moaning with each heavy step it felt upon it.
"But what about you two?" Jiminy replied.
At that, Sora offered a beam, even as his grip on his Keyblade became vice-tight as it collided with one of the pandas' fists, the boy slicing the air abruptly in hopes of making it stumble back, but it only did by a step or so, growling as it eyed the slash on its front. "We'll be fine...! We've handled way worse than this, right, Nemu?"
"Oh yeah, like that bat-like thing in Paris," Nemurin noted breezily, even as she butted into her opponent with her shoulder, her magically-induced strength allowing her to knock it back a peg. "Pinocchio's waiting for you!"
"You found him?" Jiminy said, the first bit of relief he'd seemed to have gotten in a while.
Nodding, Nemurin extended an arm, allowing the little cricket to scurry across and to safety. "We can handle things here~"
"Besides!" Sora continued, casting 'Fira' straight at the beast's belly. It moved an arm to block it, leaving a black stain behind on it, something that seemed to anger it further. It swung its large fist in a circle, one, two, three, before beginning to dart towards him again. Acting fast, Sora dodge-rolled out of its way, just barely avoiding being punched right in the chest, swinging his Keyblade skilfully as his blade landed a blow upon its back. "I think I have an idea!"
"Go on?" Nemurin pondered curiously, panting a little bit now. Once she'd made sure Jiminy was out of the fire, she'd managed to block the first set of blows fine enough, but she could already feel the energy draining out of her from that, meaning she'd have to go on the offensive soon, before she was left completely useless. Looking around her, she noticed the fox attempting to slip away with his companion while everyone's eyes were on the two of them and the Dream Eaters.
Padding quickly forward, she said, "Going to have to borrow this~" before pulling the cane 'Honest' John had been carrying with him into her hold. Despite their initial struggle for it, the magical girl came out as the victor, rolling backwards as his furred hands attempted to reclaim it.
"Now wait a minute! That's my cane!" he protested, his brow furrowing in indignation. "We'll show them what we do to thieves, won't we, Giddy!?"
Ignoring that threat for now, Nemurin had acquired a makeshift weapon just in time, for as soon as she'd taken hold of it, her opponent struck at her face, the girl instinctively swinging the cane back at it. It didn't make much of a mark, only stunning it briefly, but that was all she needed. Dropping the cane to the ground, she hopped up a stack of empty cages until she reached the top of the pile. With a smooth kick, the crates came tumbling down like a wooded avalanche, clattering against each other as they collapsed to the ground, landing atop the head of her enemy, allowing Sora to strike it with another fire spell.
From above, Nemurin could see the idea Sora had in mind - with each fire spell, the wooden boards their enemies had to rely on to get close to them began to go up in smoke, with only deep water below. All they'd need was their enemies to get closer...
Deciding to go bold or go home - which she didn't exactly have the choice of doing - she gracefully leapt down, her dull yet still blonde locks flowing with her movements as she readied herself to land and make a run for one of the outlying Nightmares, only to feel a rolling ball beneath her feet, allowing her to propel herself forward at a much greater speed.
Smiling softly, she called, "Thanks, Sheppy...!~" as her pyjama-clad figure was sent through the air, the girl gripping the shoulders of one of the Nightmares, earning her a confused look from the Coachman, who had seemed quite content to let the Nightmares do the fighting for him. One that quickly disappeared as she struggled with it, forcing the magic up and out of her with a shaky cry of, "NEMURIN...BEAMMM!"
It didn't last long, but the direct contact with it was like a bullet to a weak part of the skull. The panda fell backwards for a moment, releasing hold of her as its colours shifted, only for the aggression to seep off of it like water off a turtle's back. Nemurin rolled off to the floor, allowing it to stand up, and once it had, it contently made its leave.
Amidst Nemurin's struggle, Sora handled the other pandas; the Nightmares using its fists, him sparring back with his Keyblade. He bided his time at first, rolling backwards towards the edge of the docks, seemingly allowing the two large creatures to circle him - only to point the tip of his weapon at the wooden flooring beneath them all.
"FIRE!" he cast the spell, and with a blast of gold and orange flame, the weak wood holding them upwards collapsed in on itself in a mess of embers and tinders, the few broken pieces that remained seared black in the aftermath. The floor beneath them crumbled, sending the two pandas into the water, one attempting to grab at Sora to pull him down with them - but Morgana was faster, biting at Sora's hoodie and tugging him backwards, allowing him to use one hand to keep himself up.
Finally, with his other hand, he watched the pandas' forms be submerged, and readied his next spell; "Ice!"
Like heavy weighted stones, ice surrounded their silhouettes, the density of those encased inside causing them to drift off into the ocean. Grinning triumphantly to himself, Morgana moved to pull him up - only for the thick end of a cane to smack into her tiny side, almost sending her off the edge of the port. Sora's face fell immediately as he called, "Morgana!"
The Coachman had stepped out onto the weak wood, and loomed above Sora, who dangled off the broken edges of the dock. Nemurin gasped as she turned her head towards it, only for a hand to grab the back of her pyjama shirt - Honest John, who subsequently picked up his cane in tow. "I don't think so!"
Sora quickly dispelled his Keyblade, going to reach up with his other hand, the other moving as quickly as he could manage, just barely avoiding the cane that was about to prod right into the top of it. Sheppy bleated loudly at the sight, only for the little sheep's eyes to narrow; as if remembering Nemurin's words from earlier, he almost seemed to rev up, his little hooves clopping, before he bowled up into a ball, gaining speed until he reached Honest John - smacking right into his empty head, knocking him to the ground. Gideon quickly scurried to his companion's side, mutely checking him over as though he were deceased, eventually settling for picking him up and bolting from the scene outright. Nemurin dropped to the ground, offering a grateful glance to her Spirit companion, before then turning her attention to the Coachman.
With a sprint, she allowed herself to trip against the soaking wood, sliding uncomfortably over to the hole formed by Sora's magic, sputters of flame slowly beginning to spread to the rest, their progress diminished slightly by the constant crashing of the waves surrounding them. "Here!" Nemurin extended an arm, allowing Sora to take hold of her wrist, not feeling her heart slow in its pace, or the tightness in her chest fade, until she felt a warm hold across it.
Tugging the boy upwards with all the might she could find, Sora tore up through the air, the Coachman lunging out to grab him by the throat. But he was one bit off - and flailed forward. Morgana, who had arisen after the sudden spike from his cane, furiously bolted in his direction. With one forceful bounce, she collided with the Coachman's back, sending him spilling into the water with a loud crash, water and foam spilling over and putting out the few fires that remained. As he landed on the ground, Sora reached out and caught Morgana in his arms, before rolling back onto comparatively dry land.
Sheppy bleated joyfully, seeing the pair in one piece, Morgana looking quite comfortable in Sora's arms. "Thanks for the save, Morgana, Nemu...!" the boy said, pulling his Dream Eater into a hug, before looking to Nemurin, his eyes lighting up now.
"Hehe, couldn't have done it without these two~" Nemurin dismissed, kneeling and offering Sheppy an affectionate pat behind his ears, his little tongue sticking out as he happily accepted her show of fondness for him, Morgana preening in pride.
With a breath, Sora lifted his Keyblade high and without even a movement, the golden barriers fell with an almost angelic sparkle, like fairy dust cast across the ground, revealing a crowd of donkeys with dropped jaws. Gesturing a little with his head, he added, "C'mon. Let's get these guys out,"
"Right~" Nemurin agreed.
Now that the battle was over, Sora and Nemurin set to freeing the boys from their cages, the sight now empty. As she opened one of the doors, allowing a shaky boy to step out, she couldn't help but be impressed - Sora had really handled a good majority of those crooks, all by himself...he was definitely stronger than you'd expect, and it definitely made her wonder what sort of things he'd fought on his other adventures...Sora had no trouble getting the locked ones open - such was the benefit of having a weapon that could unlock any door. Once they had been released, Nemurin led the way back to the place she had began, near where she had ended up with Pinocchio once they bolted from the hall of mirrors, a place they could at least find their own way, a place of grass, accompanied by the soothing song of distant waves.
Even so, Sora's expression faltered, his eyelids lowering as he thought. "Still...I wish there was more we could do to help these guys."
"Yeah, me too..." Nemurin lamented. "Do you think there's a way we can get them back to normal?"
"In a way - there is indeed," an unknown, female voice stated, softly.
"Woah!" Sora said, startled; his companion blinked in confusion, only to notice it - like a star that had fallen from above, a glowing blue light floated before them, prompting the cursed crowd to step back, almost as if in unknowing reverence. In a glimmer of white, where the star had fallen, there now stood a beautiful, ethereal-looking woman; with a gown like a pale sky of white lights, and a gentle, almost maternal smile.
"You two must be Sora and Nemurin," the woman in blue said.
"Yes, ma'am," Sora confirmed.
"Oh my...!" Alexander cried, almost in shock. "I-is that..."
"The Blue Fairy?" the woman smiled. "Yes, that is right, I am." she said. "I see you have heard of me...?"
Alexander quivered shyly, but decided to answer, "Y-yes...my...my mama told me stories of you, and of the Wishing Star...!"
"So she's the one who brought Pinocchio to life..." Nemurin remarked. She thought for a moment, and then requested, "Miss Blue Fairy...I was wondering...is there anything you can do to help these boys?"
"We know they got themselves into a bad spot, but nobody deserves this, right?" Sora added.
Thoughtfully, the fairy answered; "I can do something for them, yes. I unfortunately cannot undo the enchantment in full - but I can return your voices to you all, and...one day, if you understand what it is to be good, honest, and unselfish...then you can be real boys again,"
At her statement, the fairy then extended her magic wand, and gently tapped Alexander's head with its tip - as soon as it had, braying cheers erupted from them, followed by a selection of decidedly boyish, human voices, all cheering that they could talk again, that they at least had a way out of this.
"Oh, thank you, Blue Fairy!"
"We'll do it, we'll do it!"
As they watched the boys and their joy, the Blue Fairy then turned to Sora and Nemurin, her expression growing more severe. "Now...Sora, Nemurin, there is a reason I came searching for you both. Pinocchio and Jiminy are in danger...!"
"What...!?" Sora and Nemurin gasped in unison.
The Blue Fairy nodded, and continued, "I am afraid it is so. Pinocchio returned home, as you asked him to, Nemurin, and found Jiminy; but they couldn't find his father, Geppetto. Good Geppetto had went off to look for Pinocchio, but he was swallowed by a whale named Monstro...when those two little ones learned Geppetto was still alive inside of it, at the bottom of the sea, they set off after him...they are very determined to rescue him."
"But that's crazy!" Sora protested, his protests shared with that of the confused children still standing nearby. "We've gotta find them, Nemu!"
Nemurin nodded in grave agreement. "Right...but how are we going to catch up with them?"
"Allow me," the Blue Fairy said, gently. With another swing of her magic wand, pale blue dust crossed Sora and Nemurin's throats, and sunk in; as soon as it entered, the two took a large breath in unison. "This way, you shall be able to enter the water for as long as you need to be able to help them,"
"Wow...thanks, miss Blue Fairy...~" Nemurin said, smiling a little at the fellow magical being, as she disappeared into a puddle of stardust, that soon evaporated into the cold night air.
"So that means you two have gotta go again?" one of the donkey boys asked, glumly.
"I'm afraid so," Nemurin said, trying to keep her tone light. "But don't think this'll be the end of it~ We'll see you all again - and ideally, when you're all humans again!"
"That's right!" Sora confirmed, hoping to spread resolve amongst them. "We know you can do it. Once we've saved Pinocchio and Jiminy, we'll come back, and we'll see you as soon as we can, just like Nemu said."
With them comforted, the donkeys agreed to that; "We'll hold ya both to that!" one called after them, as they turned towards the cliffs.
Standing side-by-side, Sora and Nemurin looked down at the deep blue below. "You ready for this, Nemu?" Sora asked.
Nemurin gave a slow nod in reply. "Hmhm...~" she confirmed. "I've not been swimming in a while anyways~"
"Let's go!"
A/N: I guess you wonder where I've been...~
Jokes aside, hello everyone! 3 whole months, and I finally get an update done! Happy New Year to you all! So, let's start with the pressing question - 'where the fuck have I been?'. And the answer to that is a blend of university stress and writer's block, as the last few weeks of the semester were pretty hellish for me. Nothing bad happened, and I've passed all thus far, but I was pretty stressed trying to get everything done. And as a result, every time I went to write a chapter, it just...didn't come. And the attempts I did try just didn't work for me - since this was originally gonna start from Sora's perspective, with Nemurin jumping in halfway, but I just couldn't get it down. But after two plot bunnies attacked me last night, I finally got the boot up the ass I needed to get this rolling again; the next chapter should be easier, since there's more freedom in just having Sora and Nemurin in the undersea part. I hope you liked how I concluded the part with the Coachman and the cursed boys! It was fun writing that asshat finally getting some comeuppance for the shit he pulled, and giving some hope to those poor things.
Onto the reviews! As I said on AO3, I'm happy you liked Nemurin's sisterly moments during the previous chapter, and I hope you enjoyed this one too now that it's finally here! Bringing up what you mentioned on that site too about TV Tropes, if anyone's interested in seeing a TV Tropes page up for Cosmogyral, then I'll gladly do that if anyone wants to see it- ^^
Now for Tsuuji! I'm glad I was able to explain the matter of the mirrors! And yep, I was definitely wanting to lean in on the part of her weakness starting to have adverse effects, as from here on out I'm going to be doing more with that as we go on. Thank you so much for the well wishes regarding university! Thankfully, things have been going well regarding my assessments, I'm only waiting on one more of the results to come in, and then I'll be good to go for the next semester. ^^ Just know that I believe in you too! As I said in our DMs, I really did enjoy your original story, and I'm excited to see where it goes. I'm just happy I could be helpful! Reading your reviews always helps me keep going with this, as do all the reviews I get. I definitely agree with your description of Nemurin - it was that kind of characterisation I've been aiming for in writing her thus far, and I hope I've done her character justice. I definitely don't blame you for loving Sora either, he's just such a loveable character!
Thanks as always for reviewing and reading to everyone, I hope this chapter was worth the wait! I'll see you all in the next one! ^^