A.N. AAAAAHHHHHH! I almost forgot to post the update! It's 10:30PM and I just about to go to bed when I realized it was the first of March and I haven't posted the new chapter yet. So it's a little late but here is Chapter 4. I will see ya'll next month with Chapter 5

Chapter 4

The Lord of the Forest

It was new for the trio to travel with more then one extra companion from the worlds they visited so to suddenly have three extra companions was strange, but in a good way. Where before a conversation would lull into silence within a few minutes, there was always some kind of conversation happening in the group. Right now Percedal and Ruel were traveling just to the side of the group dicussing Ruel's past as a bounty hunter as the six of them made their way through the forbidden forest.

Donald and Goofy were walking in the front of the group talking in hushed tones, probably discussing how they would get back to their mission of finding the King and Riku. Sora on the other hand was walking alongside Yugo as the 12 year old practiced his newly discovered powers.

Sometime, while Yugo was practicing, Sora watched as Yugo's bird companion flew off in a frenzied fit into the trees.

Yugo looked around, trying to find the feathered companion in the foliage when Sora pointed out the flash of yellow that ducked behind one of the many trees that lined the path.

Sora watched as a look of concentration came across Yugo's face before a blue glow enveloped his hands. The young boy drew a circle into the air in front of him, summoning one of his portals, and looking in the trees Sora was able to make out the blue glow of a another portal. A hand reached through the portal in front of him and within seconds the boy had his yellow feathered companion in his grasp.

Az came through the portal with a shriek and panic until Yugo released his grip causing the bird to fly into Yugo's face and start Yugo's response was to smile to his companion, "Let's try that trick for Dad when we rescue him."

In front of him Sora watched as Goofy and Donald chatted with Ruel and Percidal as the four looked over the map that Percidal and drawn. From the short glimpse he had of it before moving to walk beside Yugo, the map left much to be desired.

"Yugo, can you maybe portal above the trees to get a better idea of where we need to go?" Sora asked in a whisper. Yugo gave a discrete nod before opening a portal next to himself and one most likely above the forest canopy.

Sora watched as the young boy leapt through the one at his side, disappearing for a moment before reappearing as he tumbled out at to the ground.

"There's a large tree in that direction!" Yugo called as he pointed ahead and to the right. "I think we should head over there!" The four ahead of them turned around to face Yugo and watched as the portal faded behind him.

"Heh out smarted by a kid."

Sora watched as the guardian removed his weapon from its place at his side and started hitting it against a rock all while yelling at the demon that was trapped within to shut up.

While he couldn't speak for his friends, Sora was still weary of the trapped demon. If it were able to take control of its guardian who's to say it couldn't happen again. For Now Sora decided that it would be best to keep an eye on the male.

As Sora was coming to the conclusion of his thoughts a scream sounded in the distance, in the direction that Yugo had directed them in. As they ran Sora realized that the scream sounded familiar. As they raced to the aid of the people in trouble another scream broke through the trees.

"Ya know, I think that was that green haired girl we ran into earlier."

Goofy stated as Percedal put on a burst of speed and raced ahead of them into the trees, all while yelling something about a princess. When the remaining members of the group finally caught up to Percedal they took in the situation that was happening in the clearing.

The two women that Sora and his friends had met earlier were seeking safety on a thick branch of a nearby tree, keeping out of reach of the small black creatures from the village that seemed to have already turned their mounts into shrubs similar to what happened with the people in the village.

Percedal was quick to rush in and clear out the creatures as Sora and the others moved to the base of the tree to help the girls down.

"Evangelyn, Amalia, what are you two doing here?" His question was ignored as the girls finally touched down in the soft grass surrounding the base of the tree. When Evangelyn finally met Sora's eyes she realized that she did recognize them, along with the Enutrof that had tried to trick a few kamas out of her and Amalia.

"I should be asking you the same thing." Evangelyn said as she turned her attention to the three extra bodies that had joined Sora's trio since they last ran into each other. "And it seems your group grew. Mind introducing us?"

Before Sora could even start the introductions Percedal pushed forward and kneeled before the girls "I'm Sir Percedal of Sadlygrove, Shushu Guardian and protector of the people." He announced with his head bowed, unable to see Evangelyn roll her eyes or Amalia covering her mouth as her shoulders shook in a quiet laugh.

Behind them a throat cleared and they turned to face Ruel. "Please excuse the Iop, I'm Ruel Stroud and the kid is Yugo, adopted son of my best friend." He paused as he turned to Sora and he friends considering to introduce them but then shrugged it off before moving on, the five of them already knew each other enough no need to waste time.

"Yugo's father and the rest of Elmelka were turned into shrubs by those polders so we're here to try and find a way to turn everyone back. Amalia cast a sad glace down to the young boy who now looked to the ground in sorrow from the reminder that Ruel at given him.

Amalia then turned back to the rest of the group, "It feels as though we were meant to run into each other, Evangelyn and I are here because Sadida told me to come to the Forbidden Forest in a Prophetic dream a few nights ago." She explained.

With the final introductions and explanations out of the way the group with the two new additions continued forward. By this point Sora, Donald, and Goofy were all on edge, usually wherever the three of them traveled the Heartless were quick to follow and show themselves, hindering their travels. But, since they entered the forest not a single Heartless had shown itself. Something was off and only the three of them were aware of it. The trio was casting paranoid glances through the trees waiting for the inevitable ambush when a sob from Amalia brought their attention back to their present surroundings.

When they turned to look the green haired girl had stopped next to a withered tree, sobs escaping her as though she were able to feel the pain of the tree itself.

"Poor thing." She said quietly as she bent down next to the tree and rested her hand on its trunk. From Goofy's side Eva scoffed. "Ogrest Chaos." Ruel turned towards the Cra.

"Oh you can't really believe in those old legends, can you? No one even knows if the creature actually exists." With that Eva scoffed again and went to the princess in the hopes of comforting the saddened Sadida.

While Ruel and Yugo went off to the side to look at something Sora turned his attention to the area around them and saw just above the trees around them stood a tree so impossibly big it felt like he was 14 again, at the start of his journey and exploring the deep jungle with Tarzan. As he stared at the tree there was something that seemed off about the tree other than the fact that it was vastly taller than any of the surrounding trees. By this point the rest of the group had started making their way in the trees direction and Sora ran to catch up, the entire time ignoring the feeling that something was wrong.

Amalia was quick to run to the front of the group, racing towards the source of pain that only she was able to feel, the rest of the group pushing to keep up.

When they finally entered the Sora was finally able to place the origin of the bad feeling that had hung over him. Surrounding the base of the giant tree were hundreds of polters all staring at the group with blank white eyes. Then there was the tree itself, towering over everyone and everything with strange black mushrooms sprouting all along the trees bark. Looking at the closest ones Sora could see a familiar smoke that faded between violet and black being emitted from each mushroom.

When he tried to move closer and confirm his theory of what those fungal growths that were protruding from the sides of the tree were a thick branch swung down and knocked the teen away. Just as Sora made contact with the ground and rolled with the landing and got back to his feet with a fluid grace that only came with experience.

He looked up and watched as the branch that had swung at him returned to its original place. Only then did he realize that the branch was spread out at the end and had an appearance similar to a hand. Despite the obstacle that the branch posed Sora was far more concerned about the mushrooms. Just before we was swatted away from the trees base we was able to look under the mushroom's cap and saw the familiar mark of the heartless hiding were the gills would be on a real mushroom. He would've caught more details is he hadn't been swatted away like a small pest.

"Sora, are those things?" Donald asked from the far side of the group. Without turning away from the enemies in front of him, but knowing that his friend was watching, Sora nodded. With his nod Yugo turned to Sora.

"Sora? Are those the things that attacked the village?" Sora finally looked to the group and realized that among them only two of them had experience with them, one was processed by their sword and doesn't seem to remember what happened, and the other two haven't seen or fought the Heartless at all yet.

Sora gave a quick nod and turned back to the enemies in front of him. "Those are the Heartless and I promise I'll tell you guys as much as I can about them later but right now we need to clear them out." He heard words of agreement and weapons being drawn behind him.

From where he was hiding in Sora's hood he could hear Jiminy furiously writing in his journal, cataloging the events so far and any information he could uncover about their new opponents. Sora was already figuring out a game plan as he faced the enemies.

Since they were all plant based they would most likely have a weakness to fire, but any fire based attacks would have to be monitored carefully so as not to hard the tree. They'd have to also be on alert should any of them try to approach it as the tree was quick to lash out and if you weren't paying attention to the branches there was no doubt that anyone wouldn't be easily swatted away.

Sora turned to the group in a way to keep the enemies in his side view "Donald, Goofy, and I will take care of the Heartless, everyone else focus on the polters. Donald, try and avoid using fire around the base of the tree, don't want to cause anymore damage. And everyone keep an eye out for sweeping branches, I'm sure I don't need to explain that one."

He watched as the group gave nods in understanding before turning back to the enemies at hand, know that everyone behind him were following his lead and steeling themselves for the fight ahead.

A.N. To be honest I'm struggling with motivation again so comment on the chapter and let me know how you are liking the revision of the story. Fingers crossed I get back into the grove. And, if you haven't already you should go check out my DeviantArt account Samansa-Chan147. I posted the concepts for Sora, Donald and Goofy there. I will also be posting the updated appearances of Sora's drive forms once I get those drawn.

Until Next Time Peace, Love, and Virtual Hugs