A/N: Hey! I am not entirely back from this hiatus, but I have been passively working on the next few chapters. I have decided to just release whenever. I am a busy college lad and I truly only write when I have time and passion. Sorry again for the inconsistency, but thanks to all who are tuning in to this story. Anyways, the title sucks ass, I know. But I want to make it a pattern that the only chapters whose names start with "to" take place in different realms and the rest don't. Anyways, enjoy!

Chapter 12: To Travel The Lands of Emptiness

"Woah," Noel said upon setting eyes on their new environment. "I get the feeling that we're not in Kansas anymore."

"Nah," Courage laughed. "But we are sooo going to Hell."

"Yep," Noel responded.

Both dogs continued to tread into the canyon. The cliffs that surrounded them had to be maybe 150 feet or so above them and were very close together, blocking most of the dark, voidy sky.

They walked for about 45 minutes until Noel noticed that the hilly sand started to become a little harder to walk in. And the further they went, the more Noel got the terrible feeling in his gut that they weren't alone. It felt as if they were walking in something's nest or something.

"Courage, this doesn't feel right," Noel finally said.

"I feel that too," Courage agreed. "And I felt it when I came through earlier. But it'll be okay, just as long as we don't run into any-."

"ZOMBIE!" Noel screamed. He pointed behind Courage ahead of them, and sure enough, there was a ghoul, or something about 40 yards or so ahead of them. And Noel's scream had gotten its attention.

Courage turned around to face the ghoul and both dogs started backing up slowly.

"Well, I was able to evade all of them last time," Courage breathed.

And when the ghoul started to run after them, they turned tail and ran back where they just walked from. Unfortunately, there was another one about 20 yards away from them in that direction. However, it was facing away from them and did not notice them.

"But we were just there!" Noel harshly whispered.

"They come out of the ground," Courage said.

"What?" Noel asked.

Right after Noel said that, two ghouls rose out of the ground on both sides of them. It scared the HELL out of him.

"Erm, nice day out, isn't it?" Noel squeaked out to the ghoul closest to him. It turned its head to the side like it considered what he said for a moment, but then it reached down and grabbed him by his arm.

"AHH, COURAGE!" Noel screamed.

But before Courage could grab onto Noel's attacker, the one closest to him grabbed him too.

"AHH!" Courage frantically screamed.

Noel felt hopeless as he screamed and the ghoul's snarling face was getting closer to his own. He closed his eyes with the dying hope that this zombie wouldn't eat his face off. But his prayers were answered when someone grabbed the ghoul from behind and ripped its arms off in opposite directions. The creature snarled, but before it could lunge onto Noel, Noel saw two little pink paws grab the large head and twist its neck far in one direction, ripping it clean off. As the ghoul fell, Noel saw Courage standing there, covered in green blood. But before Noel could vomit, Courage explained.

"They are apparently REALLY easy to fight and to kill!" he said. "But just don't get bitten!" After saying that, Courage ran over to another one and kicked it straight in the junk, only to have his foot go straight through. Noel was beyond RELIEVED when he heard how weak these things were. But as he cleaned some of the green blood out of his fur, he watched Courage violently maul dozens more. It made Noel grimace.

"Why is Courage acting like this," Noel thought into his mind. "Sure he'd been forced to kill in the past, but now he was CLEARLY doing it for fun! Maybe he'd been forced to do something REALLY bad before saving me? Or maybe he's finally lost it? Either way, I know him well enough to know that this isn't like him."

Now that they weren't really in much danger, Noel got back up and punched through one's back. He cringed in disgust as his paw went through and back out of its chest. He purposefully chose this one because it was the last one and Courage was about to finish it off. Now covered in green blood, Noel turned to face the disappointed pup.

"That one was mine," Courage complained.

"What do you mean your's?" Noel asked with concern.

"I had dibs!" Courage screamed.

"You need to slow down, Courage," Noel demanded. "And I mean it!"

"Why do you always try to control me!" Courage accused. "Ever since you entered my life, you've tried to overhaul it entirely for your own interest!"

"Courage, I-," Noel barely squeaked out before getting abruptly interrupted.

"Now follow me!" Courage fired before walking on without waiting for Noel.

Noel lagged behind Courage, letting him kill more foes they encountered. He wasn't happy with Courage's behavior and his attitude was just making it much worse. It was scaring Noel, as well as just making him sad. Seeing Courage degrade into a savage like this made him feel like he failed as a friend.

Suddenly, a ghoul appeared out of the ground right next to him and it scared the literal hell out of him. He smacked its head and ended up smacking it clean off. Meanwhile he turned over to Courage to find him tearing off one's leg, and then beating it to death with it VERY violently. It sent shivers down Noel's spine seeing the green blood splatter across Courage's apathetic face. And when he was done, there was barely a leg left. And then he bounded on all fours and ripped an entire horde of them into shreds limb by limb, and gut by gut. When he was done, he looked like a big, slimy, green booger.

"Okay then," Noel said, thoroughly annoyed. "Are you done yet?"

"Uh, probably," Courage responded with a shake of his fur, accidentally getting it all over Noel. He turned over to face an unhappy Noel.

"Hehe, sorry," he apologized with a grin.

Noel decided to hold his tongue before he said something he'd regret. Courage was obviously in a better mood, and he did not want to do anything to soil it. So instead, he completely ignored getting covered in green slime.

"Alright, well let's go then," he said with a large sigh.

As both dogs easily fought through another horde of ghouls, they finally emerged up onto the lands atop the cliffs, where there were no more ghouls. And as they looked around, Noel had to admit that this place was much bigger than he originally thought. He spotted a large forest, a large, weird lake, a stream, an enormous mountain, and a bunch of little villages or something with odd shaped dome buildings. The entire area was locked between two mountain chains whose summits rose too high to see. The entire place was bathed in a shade of blue as it matched the sky.

"There," Courage said, pointing over to a smaller forested area surrounding the stream. "That's the way we need to go."

Noel was honestly surprised with how close they were. They weren't close by any means, but he expected their destination to be much further.

"Alright, now let's get the heck out of here," Noel finally said.

After a nod from Courage, both dogs continued down a path that took them down into that little forested area. As they walked, the gray sand turned into very green grass. The trees were large, evergreen trees that housed moss. The terrain remained hilly and rugged. But the path they were traveling down remained an actual dirt path. A path that has certainly been traveled down before. But the further they traveled into the forest, the more uncomfortable Noel felt.

"Are you sure you know where we're going?" Noel asked Courage.

"Yes, I have been here before and remember where to go," Courage replied without a hint of concern. Even if Courage was usually dead certain on something, he NEVER sounded this confident.

"But this entire forest looks the same," Noel pointed out.

"Just trust me," Courage replied in annoyance.

Noel decided to be silent once more.

Before too long, the dogs caught sight of a small clearing beyond the trees. As they approached it, they saw the blue stream splitting the forest. Noel admitted that the stream was a little bigger than it appeared from further away. And there was some sort of mist floating just above the water. And as they approached the water, Noel could vaguely hear what sounded like fragments of echoes of small voices.

"Are you sure this is safe?" Noel asked again.

"Argh, since when were you the cautious one?" Courage asked, annoyed. "It's safe, Noel, trust me!"

"Alright fine, but just, uh, you first," Noel said with fear.

"Oh, brother," Courage whined as he carelessly stuck his foot into the stream. "Tada, see? I'm still breathing. It's just water."

Noel was annoyed by Courage's newfoundness to pick on his carefulness. Is this what it felt like to be Courage in his company for so long? God, he sure hoped it wasn't.

Noel finally stepped into the water. It was surprisingly warm, even though the temperature in the realm was on the cooler side of mild. But the further they went, the colder the water got. He followed Courage across the stream. But as he crossed, he couldn't shake his thoughts of Courage.

Courage's life was so perfect before he showed up. The dog has expressed this to him many times. And as he recalled the memories of him taking Muriel from Courage, he could quite literally feel the dog drowning in his own tears. And his desire to keep things positive for Noel even after Noel took advantage of it just made Noel feel ten times worse.

The water was so cold now. He came to a stop and started to sob.

Courage, who was already about two-thirds of the way across, heard him and started making his way back to him. As he got there, Noel was trying to gasp for air between cries like a baby.

"Noel," Courage said with concern. "What's wrong?"

"Oh, god Courage I am so sorry!" Noel cried. "I'm a bad person! I made you suffer and took advantage of you and your kindness!" As he said this, he could see an image of Courage in his head, suffering and full of terror. "I took your life from you and forced you to put up with me!"

"Noel, stop!" Courage screamed as he shook Noel by his shoulders. "You didn't completely take my life from me! And if anything, you taught me a few things. And sometimes, you just have to cut your losses and move on."

This response did not reflect what Courage had said to him before, and it did not satisfy Noel in the slightest.

"But I was wrong!" Noel screamed.

"What's past is past!" Courage yelled. "We are friends right now, aren't we? And nothing can change that from now on. Understand?"

"But I-," Noel was interrupted by Courage.

"Understand?" Courage spoke a little louder.

Noel nodded with a lump in his throat.

"Okay, now that's keep moving," Courage said with impatience.

Noel stood back up after wiping his eyes. The water on his paw stung his eyes. It felt salty, like sweat or tears. But he was too sad to think anything of it. He continued moving after a pitiful sniffle.

As the two dogs finished traversing through the stream's waters, Noel continued to really feel extreme sorrow for Courage. He started to think that something wasn't right here. Courage was also acting strange here for some reason. Is the realm having an effect on the way both of them think? But then he remembered what happened in the desert on the way to Shirley's wagon. He said some things that clearly bothered Courage. Noel started to fear that Courage's attitude was birthed partially because of his impact on the pup's life. Courage had been through a lot the past few weeks. But Courage is CRAZY. Noel hoped that if this was his fault, that it had to be this place that mostly catalyzed his hysterics.

After they emerged onto the opposite shore, they headed upward into more forest. Noel's depressed thoughts seemed to lighten upon having some sort of revelation.

Courage had expressed to him his everlasting desire to help others. He told Noel that all he wants to do is please him and Muriel specifically. And whether he actually meant his desire to please Noel or not, Noel ultimately tried to believe it. Courage had to be happy because he was saving him. Shoot, maybe it was the happiness that was causing his awkwardness?

Either way, Noel felt more peaceful and clear-headed now that they were way up into the forest again. Then he thought about his extreme unhappiness that was birthed upon setting foot in the stream.

"Maybe it was that damn stream?" he said to himself. "It just had to be."

After Noel realized that it very much could have been, they made it to the top of the hill. As the trees cleared once more, they made it to a desert-like place. Gray sand made up the ground and the terrain was littered with craters and hills. There were no trees or plants. It almost looked like a gray moon with more hills and a dark blue sky.

"Down there," Courage pointed down into the crater field.

Noel looked down ahead of them. They stood on the edge of a 30 foot cliff overlooking the crater field. However, the cliff was like an arch and almost immediately descended on either side down into the crater field.

"We're getting closer," Courage said again.

Rather than carrying a hint of optimism, Courage's tone carried a hint of pleasure. It bothered Noel.

"Closer to what exactly?" Noel asked, still feeling uneasy about Courage.

Courage turned to face him directly. "What do you mean? The portal, silly!" Courage laughed.

"But where will it take us?" Noel asked.

"Back," Courage grinned. "You know, I think you've finally lost it."

"I'VE finally lost it?" Noel asked.

"Yes, you are acting very strange," Courage confirmed.

Noel had more than enough of this new Courage. He desperately wanted the old Courage back.

"YOU are the one acting strange!" Noel yelled. "Courage, something happened before you found me and it is affecting you. Please tell me what it is."

"Nothing is happening with me!" Courage laughed maniacally. "It's all you! Ever since I freed you from that machine, you've been acting very weird!"

Noel never thought of that before. Maybe that goddamn machine scrambled his mind or something. Maybe his senses have been altered. Or maybe none of this was real. Either way, he realized that Courage could very well be right. And he also realized that he was getting nowhere, so Noel decided to put a pin in that argument. This wasn't the time or place for it anyway and if they really were almost there, then they could settle this in the safety of their own realm.

"That's what I thought!" Courage spat.

Those words stung Noel more than he would have liked. Mind screwed or not, no version of Courage talks like that.

"Well, come on!" Courage nudged Noel.

Noel sighed and proceeded to walk with Courage down the left side of the arched cliff. Now upset with Courage, Noel proceeded to walk a little faster than him and was soon far ahead of him.

"Courage, come on!" Noel screamed back at him.

Courage, surprisingly like his usual proactive self, came running and panting. And much more to Noel's surprise, the dog did not argue or complain back. He just dutifully increased his pace.

RUMBLE…..BOOM!

Both dogs jerked back around in terror. The sounds came from behind them, back at the cliff. They didn't see anything, but it almost sounded like rocks falling. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary. And after an uneventful minute of silence, both dogs turned back around and continued on with their journey.

"That was weird," Noel admitted.

"Yeah," agreed Courage. "I wonder what that was all about."

Then it was quiet again. And when nothing else seemed to happen, they continued walking again.

They walked into the barren crater fields in uncomfortable silence for at least 45 minutes. Noel continued to ponder on his thoughts. He also took note of Courage's actions. The dog did not try to initiate conversation or interaction. He did not pretend to be cheerful or sad or whatever. He just walked on like an emotionless robot. He wanted to find out what the hell happened to Courage before they found each other. He knew the dog would not want to talk about it, but he'll get him to do so sometime after they get back home.

But then he remembered why he was here in the first place (other than being kidnapped). They were here to rescue his parents, or at least find some clues to where they are being kept. Either way, their survival was more important right now and he'd be content with leaving with nothing. And after the thought of this, it made him want to leave faster. And before long, the trees of another forested area appeared dead ahead.

"Woah, Noel wait up!" Courage cried out as he noticed Noel walking much faster.

"Come on, Courage!" Noel yelled back.

He finally made it to the line of trees. After clawing his way through dense forest, he entered an open area underneath a dome of tree trunks. It was much darker here. But as he wandered a little further in, he found a very peculiar well. It was large, and it sucked all of his attention. Courage emerged behind him without him noticing.

"Here it is," Courage said. "I don't know how you knew where it was, but this is the way back."

Something still didn't feel right to Noel.

"What do we do now?" Noel asked with a new sense of dread.

"What do you mean 'what do we do now'?" Courage smiled and slapped him on the back. "We go in!"

"Why don't you go first," he told Courage.

"By all means," Courage shrugged. "Looks like I'll be the first one back, sucka!"

"Whatever, just go," Noel ordered.

Courage then disappeared down into the well. And after not hearing so much as a peep after 8 seconds of waiting, Noel followed after some brief hesitation.

A/N: I'm hoping to get the next chapter out sometime soon. But beyond that, it may be another while :(