Kingdom Hearts What If?: Guardian Of The Depths

by SORARULES23

Taking place twelve years after the Little Mermaid. What if the reasons Melody was kept away from the sea were different? What if there Atlantica's Legacy was bigger? What If the Maverick ended up in the ocean instead of on land? (This is a third alternate version of my current Maverick stories.)

27. The Hundred Acre Wood

We're Back Folks!

Somehow just as I was getting ready to start writing their next world. Something came to me.

WHERE'S WINNIE THE POOH?! 😱

So before we visit the next big plan of a world. I'm going to have Connor and Melody unwind as they visit the one place of pure childhood innocence.

"Before it became a horror film." Maverick quipped.

Also before anyone asks. Yes I've seen Deadpool And Wolverine. And it was ***KING AWESOME!

10 OUT OF 10! GO SEE IT NOW IF YOU HAVEN'T! Adults only. 🌟🌟🌟🌟 ️ ️ ️ ️

But before we get into this. Let's answer some comments.

SPYRO 101: Thank you! And as always I appreciate you for being my co-writer! 😁👍

RustyPete12: Thanks! Now that you mentioned it. It is kinda like Smash Bros isn't it? Huh. It never came to my mind till now. But still I'm glad to know all of that writing paid off for the Star Wars visit. It isn't the canon ending we have. But it's a What If ending we all wish we could see. But yeah. Connor's reaction to seeing Mando is priceless. Just wait until you see one of the other Mavericks meet him in a different story. It'll laugh your head off. But for now. When you get the chance. Read what happens next. The Proud Family visit will knock your socks off. 😉👍

Alright! Now that we're all here!

LET'S GET DANGEROUS!😎

---

The Hundred Acre Wood.

At the Getaway Island...

After that frenzy battle with Shark Mongers and Tiger Shark. Connor spent the next seven days with the Proud Family. In fact the day after he was sent to the hospital. Dr. Payne deemed him clear to go since he was 'making inhumanly swift recovery' and Connor was free to go. Then he and the team took a break to let Connor reconnect with the family. They did so much.

In fact Melody connected with everyone. Even Penny and her friends took her shopping at the mall several times and even at a beauty salon. Mostly to get skin treatment that involves clay or mud treatment and of course getting her nails done. She even got herself a new pony tail during her last visit and she couldn't wait to show Connor.

Connor spent the week reconnecting with everyone. The family dinner moments were so much brighter. Especially since his Mom got to join them for dinner as well during those nights.

But after that week was over. On Sunday Morning the entire Proud Family were packing up and about to head out to the airport. And while that was going on. Penny was standing on the boardwalk of Connor's childhood island. Wearing her beach attire while barefoot. And Connor was wearing his keyblade outfit with an eyepatch over his damaged left eye. Which was healing slowly. But faster than the rate of most human beings.

And he was ready to be beamed up to the ship.

"You sure you have to go now?" Penny asked as she looked a little glum to see him go. Especially after everyone had just got him back.

"Believe me, Cuz Change. There's nothing I'd rather do then to drop everything and go frolic through life with you and the family some more." Connor said as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "But there's people out there who still need the Maverick. And the war is almost over."

"Yeah." Penny said sadly as she looked down.

"Hey. Look at me. Look at my only functional window here." Connor urged as he tilted Penny's head up. "I mean it. We're almost done. Before your cell phone says 12 PM next sunday. I will be standing out in the front yard of your house. Blasting 'Man In The Mirror' at high volume. That'll let you know. The enemy sleeps with the dicks below the fishes."

In other words. This war is almost over. He doesn't even need another week after this one to finish it.

"I'll hold you to that, then." Penny said before hugging her cousin again. "You take care of yourself and Melody. And come back to us. I wanna hear all the juicy details about how you saved the Multiverse."

"Oh we'll bring back a grade A story. And make sure Suga Mama doesn't kill Uncle Oscar while I'm gone. I wanna capture it all on camera." Connor quipped as he hugged his cousin.

"I'll do my best. But don't expect miracles." Penny said jokingly. "You know how Daddy can get Suga Mama all riled up so easily."

"Yeah well I'm gonna be riling up the stars. And I'll stay in touch." Connor grinned as he stood back and put on his sunglasses over his eyepatch. "I'll be texting all the pass Nirvana's gas station. Peace out!"

He gave two double finger gang signs before he was beamed back up to the Stingray II. And Penny smiled brightly as she knew the next time he sees him. They'll have their whole lives ahead of them.

And it will all be over. Penny definitely has a lot to look forward to now that she has her cousin back.

---

Back on the Stingray II...

Meanwhile up on the bridge of the ship. Connor sat down and noticed Melody was back in her keyblader outfit as well. But her hair looked different. She still had a pony tail. But it was in a much more updated style. Trimmed down to be less expended at the front and a bit trimmed at the back. It basically was more even. And her blue strings that held it together were shorter and less noticeable.

Basically her hair was much more smooth and even. Which made her look badass in Connor's opinion.

"Are you auditioning for a future Lara Croft horseshoed reboot?" Connor inquired as he took off his sunglasses.

"I just thought I could use a change. Penny and her friends suggested this." Melody said with a smirk while running a hand through her locks. "I take it you like it?"

"Are you kidding?! I used to hate ponytails until I met you. Now you make me wanna go find Doctor Who's time machine and bitch slap my younger self!" Connor quipped in amazement as he made her laugh. "Now all we need is a new outfit to go with that. As in a new keyblader uniform."

"Do you already have something in mind, sweetie?" Melody asked with a cute smile.

"If you follow me down stairs in a sec I do. Question. What's your take on long jeans with the outfit? The kind that would've made Golden Girls look younger." Connor asked as he was making notes in his Gummi phone.

"Gotcha. Something just above the shins and not too 'call the cops' tight." Connor said as he led Melody over to the fabrication room. When he hit his head against a corner wall. " Ow! ***k! Who put this wall here?! I know where you sleep." He hissed at the corner wall.

Must be from his lack of depth perception.

"Easy there, Sweetie." Melody said soothingly. "Just a little bit longer, and you'll have both eyes again, and walls will once more be no threat to you."

"I know I know. But still, I'm still gonna blow that corner a new one later. Can you hit the panel for me?" Connor winced as he was still holding his head to sooth a bruise.

Melody pressed the door panel to the fabrication room. And then they went inside. Melody went up on the platform and Connor went over to the terminal.

"You ready, Blue Ponyo?" Connor asked as he was ready to fabricate her new outfit.

"As ready as ever." Melody chirped as she stood there. "Make me look hot and dangerous."

"You got it, Fishy Crawford." Connor smirked as he pressed the button.

Then suddenly Melody's outfit was changed into something more updated. Her aqua blue tank top was now a aqua blue t-shirt but with a midriff. And she was wearing her dark blue short sleeve leather jacket over it. The one she won in Traverse town. Melody also had a white band on her right upper arm and she was wearing some fingerless gloves that matched her jacket. And she was wearing some long blue jeans that were mildly loose and slightly baggy. Only they ended just above her shins. And she wore some dark blue laced boots that matched her jacket.

And on the back of her jacket was a white seashell while on the front of her shirt was an ocean wave.

"So. How do you deem this attire, Oceans 11 Turned 12?" Connor asked with a quippy name he called her.

"I love it." Melody beamed joyfully before trying something, and succeeded in de-summoning her boots to stand barefoot and doing a spin. "And you even made it so I can take my boots off and on at will."

"Everyone knows sea food is immune to athlete's foot." Connor quipped. "Now step down so your boyfriend, Black Steve Johnson can get his new threads."

"Oh, you're getting a wardrobe change too?" Melody asked excitedly as she hopped down from the platform. "Great. I can't wait to see."

"You'll see." Connor teleported onto the platform after he pressed the auto fabricator on the terminal. "In five...four...three...two."

Then the fabricator shifted his outfit in a flash. And then his outfit was now different and a little more modern. His black sleeveless jacket was the same pattern but with green and blue zoom stripes. And it was made of faux leather. And it came with a hood and two slanted zipper pockets on the chest. He had a black shirt underneath with shirt sleeves. He had two fingerless gloves or bracers as some call them, made of similar material as his jacket and they were fingerless. They went up to the elbow and they had a green and blue stripe stream lines down to the wrist and the back of his hands.

He had some long black pants made of a smooth jeans material and black running boots. Along with this his black leather eyepatch over his left eye.

"Well?" Connor asked Melody with a grin as he stepped down. "What do you think?"

"Melody's response was to step on her tiptoes and kiss him on the lips passionately.

"Absolutely stunning." Melody said with her arms wrapped around him.

"Mmmmmm...I'll even say it. You look better in jeans." Connor mused as he kissed her back passionately while he picked her up bridal style.

"Mmm. And you look as dashing as always." Melody grinned back while waving her bare feet in the air.

Then he carried her back up to the bridge and they both sat down. Where Donald and Goofy were already seated. Mini-Mav was down stairs watching TV with Dug.

"Aight Bob Barker and Quacker Barrel! What's on the map for today?!" Connor called out as he sat down.

"We've managed to track the next shard." Donald said. "But our ship's current state won't let us survive the path we have to take to get there."

"We're gonna have to upgrade our ship for the next part of our course." Goofy said.

"Sheesh you're right." Connor furrowed his eyebrows looking at the screen. "That vortex is leading towards a world way off our navigation zone and the vortex is much stronger then the other ones."

"So what should we do?" Melody asked her boyfriend.

"Honestly. I think it's high time we visit the dentist. And by dentist I mean mechanic. As in Cindy. She notified me a few days back that she has a new shipment of Uru metal from Mickey's palace staff. Which we could use." Connor stated.

"Uru? What's that?" Melody asked.

"We're talking about the one other metal that's competition for Vibranium and Adamantium. It's what Thor's hammer Mjolnir is made out of. and it's susceptible to enchantments, the right kind." Connor answered.

"Really? That's pretty cool." Melody said.

"With that metal added to the ship, it'll make it even stronger." Goofy said.

"And more than powerful enough to get through to the next world." Donald said.

"I'll see what other upgrades I can get on discount once we land in Traverse Town." Connor stated as he was setting the ship on a course back to Traverse Town.

Hopefully whatever they add to the ship will be enough to make it to their next world. Until then, the team will be cooling their heels at the world where everyone gets away from everything.

---

Later at the Hammerhead Hanger in Traverse Town...

After the Stingray II landed in the garage of Cindy Aurum's hanger. Cindy showed up as Connor explained what they needed to pass the next votex.

As Cindy came over to inspect the exterior and the front hood of the ship. She noted what she needed to make this work on her clipboard.

"So can you get her tight and ready to blow?...And not in the way that sounds?" Connor asked as he stood with the team.

"Don't y'all worry. I'll have this old girl in tip top shape for your next destination." Cindy said confidently. "Although it's gonna take me a few hours to get it done."

"Cool cool...Remind me again how many pearl shards are left out there?" Connor asked while searching for upgrade patches on his phone.

"After the ship is fixed, we'll be going after the third fragment of the ninth shard, then the tenth shard." Melody said in recollection. "So, two more to go."

"Here's hoping they were both dropped in one world by mistake." Connor sighed and looked up at the ceiling like God was up there. "Throw us a bone. One that doesn't end up in my mouth."

"I'll tell you what that means when you're older." Mini-Mav whispered to Melody.

"You do realize I'm twelve, right? I might have grown up in a castle, but give me a little credit." Melody said with a smirk.

"Do you have a driver's license?" Dug asked while panting happily up at her.

"No. There aren't any cars in my world yet." Melody said.

"How about a license for horseshi-" Dug almost asked.

"Horses! She's got one she left it in her scuba mask back home!" Connor said quickly to cut Dug off before he says 'horseshit' then Connor cleared his throat. "You guys go on ahead. I've got some technical crap to go over with the tech on the bridge."

"Okay then." Goofy shrugged "I'm gonna go see if the hat shop's got any new deals."

"He always buys the same hat." Donald deadpanned as he and Goofy walked out.

"Oh I almost forgot. Melody, they opened up a new bookstore across the street. Might be worth checkin out." Goofy said to Melody before he was walking out.

Whenever Melody isn't swimming. Her second hobby back home was reading. These days she's been reading Connor's comics. But anything involving books will get her interest.

"What are we waiting for, then?! Let's go!" Melody exclaimed excitedly.

"Good thing I added SpongeBob and Nintendo in her interests. Course I'll graduate her to Playstation soon." Connor quipped as he went inside the ship to check around and see what else needs and upgrade.

---

Meanwhile at the BookStore in the Second District...

Melody went in from the front door by herself. While Mini-Mav and Dug went to go play at the carnival games in the third District. Donald and Goofy went shopping in some of the other stores.

As Melody was looking around. She saw a bunch of shelves in different categories. Even a children's section. The place was like a library or a Barnes N Noble copy. But not as big.

Melody went up to the front desk and noticed no one was there.

***DING! DING!***

"Hello?! Is anyone here?!" Melody called out after ringing the bell.

But no one came. Just then. Jiminy Cricket hopped up on the desk. Since he was still on the ship. He was the only one who came with Melody.

"Strange. Do you think they might be on a lunch break?" Jiminy asked.

"I don't know. There was no sign saying they were out." Melody said after looking at the front desk.

"Well we might as well take a look around anyway. As long as we don't walk out with any books." Jiminy figured and cautioned like a good conscious would before he hopped off to go look at some agricultural books.

Melody nodded in agreement as she went over to a display area that had some interesting looking books to read. Like Pride and Prejudice. Count Of Monte Cristo. 20.000 Leagues Under The Sea.

But then she noticed a book in the corner display of the store. She went over and saw that it was a large brown book with a yellow bear with a red shirt sitting on a log. And it had no title for some reason.

"Oh, this looks interesting." Melody said as she picked up the book and looked it over. "There's no title."

Melody turned to the middle of the book when she opened it. But she noticed that the pages were blank. She turned to the next page and it was blank. So she kept turning from blank page after blank page. Which confused her. Until she made it to the beginning page. Where she sees an image of that same yellow bear sitting on a log. Thinking.

Then suddenly the book started glowing. A bright light that made her wince.

"What is happen-IIIIIIING!" Melody exclaimed as she was sucked into the book, her boots slipping off her feet before she was completely sucked in.

As Melody's books were left behind. The book fell on the floor next to them. The book was left open as some words formed on it. ***'And so Melody was sent into the enchanted forest. Home of the bear of very little brains.'***

---

Deep in the Hundred Acre Woods...

Melody felt like she was asleep on something soft. When her eyes opened up and she sat up to look around. She was in the middle of a beautiful forest rich with green. The grass looked clean beneath her hands and bare feet and the air felt nice.

This was the most beautiful forest she had ever seen in her life. Granted, the space jungle of Saltuvia was pretty too.

"Wow." Melody muttered in awe as she stood up on her bare feet. "Where am I?"

Then she looked over in the middle of an open area in a grassy field. She noticed a small yellow bear with a red shirt. Sitting on a turned over log. While patting his head like he was pondering something.

Melody feeling curious. Went over to go see the bear.

"Think think think...Think. Think. Think." The bear muttered quietly as he patted his head.

The bear looked more like a stuffed toy. Due to the fact that his paws had no claws. Melody kinda thought he looked cute.

"Hello there." Melody called out as she walked over to greet the bear

"Oh? I'm not sure if I should be saying hello? Maybe goodbye instead." The bear said while in thought.

"Goodbye? What do you mean?" Melody asked, her eyes blinking in surprise.

"Oh. Nothing. I was just thinking. Of how to say goodbye to Pooh." The bear answered her.

"Pooh? Who's Pooh?" Melody asked.

"That would be me." The bear smiled up at her. "I'm Winnie The Pooh. Or Pooh for short."

"Well, nice to meet you, Pooh. I'm Melody." Melody said with a friendly smile as she sat next to him on the log. "Why are you trying to say goodbye to yourself, though?"

"Because all my friends have gone away." Pooh answered as he looked out into the woods.

"Gone away? What do you mean?" Melody asked, confused.

"Well. You see. We all lived here together in the Hundred Acre Wood. And we'd take walks together. Or play Pooh sticks. And every day I'd eat some Honey. Just one small smackeral would taste very good right now." Pooh said as he rubbed his belly. And looked down sadly. "But now. Everyone's gone. All my friends, and my favorite honey tree too."

"Really?" Melody asked with wide eyes. "Awe. I'm so sorry."

"Everyone must've gone away while I was napping, I think. So who knows? Maybe I shall end up going away somewhere as well?" Pooh wondered as he got off the log to stand and turn to look at Melody. "But I wonder. How do I say 'goodbye' to myself?...Think think think." He patted his head again.

Melody figures out that Pooh has a child-like perspective due to how innocent his world inside the book is.

"Hey, Pooh." Melody said to him. "Maybe I can help you find your friends."

"You would do that? But what if you go away too?" Pooh asked, looking concerned.

"Don't worry, silly old bear." Melody said with a giggle as she got on her knees to be at his height. "I'm not going anywhere anytime soon."

Pooh smiled up at her. Before he felt his stomach growling loudly showing that he's hungry.

"Oh. I seemed to have had a rumbly in my tumbly. Would you mind if we stop at my place for a snack?" Pooh asked as he pointed at a certain direction.

"Oh, sure. That's fine." Melody said with a kind smile. "Let's go then."

And on that note. Melody walked over and followed Pooh as he toddled on his little legs past the trees. The walk was very short as they made it to a tree with a door at the bottom which served as a house. And at the top of the door was the name 'Mr Sanders' on top of his door in gold letters. With the last S backwards.

"As you can see. I live under the name of Sanders. Because I have the name over my door and I live under it." Pooh said with confident optimism as if that meant something.

It really didn't but Melody decided to humor him.

"Wow. Your home looks pretty cool." Melody smiled as she followed Pooh inside.

"It does? Oh bother. My house shouldn't be cold. My friends always preferred it to be warm and cozy." Pooh sulked a bit as he misunderstood 'cool'.

"Silly old bear. Of course it's warm and cozy." Melody said with a giggle. "I was trying to say it looks great."

"Oh." Pooh chuckled lightly. "Of course."

Then Pooh walked over to reach for the honey pot on the top food shelf.

"Would you be so kind and hand me that pot on top there? My chair is a little rickety." Pooh pointed up at the top shelf.

"Sure." Melody said before reaching up to grab the pot and handed it to Pooh. "Here you go."

"Thank you." Pooh received it and peeked his head inside as he echoed inside the pot. "Oh bother. Empty again. Someone seems to have eaten all the honey."

"Hmmm. I wonder who could've done that." Melody said with a sly smirk. "Could it have been you, Pooh?"

"Oh no it couldn't have been. The last time I had some was this morning. And this pot was full then...Well. That is, it was full before I had breakfast. I'm not quite sure what happened to it afterwards." Pooh pondered as he was thinking.

"That is quite a mystery, isn't it?" Melody said with her smirk.

"Indeed." Pooh nodded before he looked outside. "Perhaps there is another honey tree out there. Where I can borrow some honey from bees that wouldn't mind."

"Yeah. Maybe you're right, Pooh." Melody said.

Then suddenly he heard the sound of a buzzing noise. From outside his window.

"That buzzing noise means something...Hmmm..." Pooh heard it with curiosity.

Then it dawned on Melody as she went outside and saw that there were some bees going in another direction of the forest. Something told her to go follow it.

"Hey, Pooh. Follow me." Melody said, gesturing for him to follow. "I think I know where to find some more honey."

"Oh. Coming, Melody." Pooh answered back as he toddled over and followed her.

They went outside. And Pooh followed Melody down a path where she saw a small group of bees flying towards a direction away from Pooh's house.

Melody had just a short walk to make, which was fine because the woods were clean and smooth. More beautiful than any woods she has seen in art or any that she ever traveled to.

When Melody reached the end of the trail. She noticed that the entire area was whitened out. As if there was nothing there.

"What is happening right now?" Melody wondered as she reached her hand out and her hand caused some color and a bit of scenery appeared around her hand and she retracted it.

Then Melody figured something out. She noticed when she opened the book that there was only one page with pictures and texts in it. The rest of the book was blank.

So maybe she's chosen to bring the rest of the story back to the missing pages. Which in turn will bring Pooh's friends back.

So Melody took a deep breath and reached out to step with her right bare foot and when she stepped on to the blank area. The rest of the blank area began to form scenery as if the rest of this world, or a part of it came back.

---

And as more of the woods appear. A large tree was shown in the area. With five different bee hives hanging from their branches. And a sign at the bottom that reads ***'Hunny Tree'***

Pooh walked over and he looked up with a smile. "Oh. It seems my favorite honey tree came back from nowhere." Pooh smiled happily and then he whispered up to Melody. "Be careful not to say goodbye to it. So it won't go away again."

"I'll be careful, Pooh." Melody said with a giggle.

And as Pooh walked up to the tree and looked up. With Melody standing behind him. Pooh made sure to bring his empty pot of honey with him to fill.

"You wouldn't happen to have a balloon with you, would you? I often use it to fly up to the honey tree." Pooh asked Melody politely.

"Sorry. I don't have any balloons." Melody said before smirking. "But I got something even better."

With that, Melody concentrated and created a water bubble around Pooh.

"Whaaaa woah!" Pooh helped as he was floating mid air. And he held his arms out while looking surprised and curious. "Strange. I don't remember water ever doing this."

"Yeah. It's just something I can do with water." Melody said. "Now, are you ready to get your honey?"

"I sure am." Pooh beamed with a chuckle as he was floated up to the main beehive at the top

When Pooh made it due to Melody moving him with the water aura around the small bear. He reached in as the water around his hand solidified like glass. And he scooped up some honey in his hand and poured it into the honey pot. And he kept scooping some more out. Much to the bees' anger as they flew out in a swarm and formed a skull and crossbone shape in the air to signify that he's dead.

But when they flew in to sting Pooh. A water brick wall instantly formed from behind him and the bees smashed themselves into the wall. And got dizzy as they flew off. They all decided 'you know what? We can make some more anyway'.

And as Pooh finished up while humming the 'Rumbly In My Tumbly' song. He had a full pot of honey.

"Okay, Melody! You can bring me down now!" Pooh called out to Melody while holding his pot.

"Ok, Pooh." Melody said before she lowered Pooh back down to the ground. "So, you enjoy your snack?"

"Absolutely. And I've stored enough to make a meal." Pooh smiled as he held up his full pot of honey.

As Melody was glad to see Pooh got his honey. She looked over and noticed something out of the corner of her eye. When she turned she saw another tree in the distance that had a wooden house on top.

"Hey, Pooh." Melody said, getting Pooh's attention before she pointed towards the house in the distance. "Who lives in that house?"

"Oh. That would be our good friend, Owl. He nose everything. Including big words that I can't seem to remember." Pooh said optimistically. "We should go see if he's home. He might invite us to tea and tell us a story."

"Great idea, Pooh. He might even know what happened to all your friends." Melody said with a bright smile.

And so Melody took Pooh's hand and they walked together to Owl's house. As they passed by a few trees along the way. Melody noticed a few signs that were reappearing. But the letters faded. They were clearing up slowly. But they weren't clear to read yet.

---

Down at Owl's House...

So Melody made it to Owl's house and saw a set of stairs below for her and Pooh to walk up to Owl's house at the top of the tree.

Once they made it to the front door. Melody knocked on it. As she noticed how small the door was. Like it was meant for a toddler. Then again so was Pooh's door.

When she knocked. She heard a muffled snore on the other side as it sounded like someone woke up.

And when the door's peephole opened a set of eyes were seen. "Dash it all! Can't you read the sign?!" Owl echoed from the other side.

Pooh and Melody turned to see a sign that says ***'Don't nock. Piez ring'***. As they saw a string connected to a bell hanging above the door like a doorbell.

"Oh bother. I keep forgetting the doorbell." Pooh said.

"It's okay, Pooh. It happens sometimes." Melody giggled before she pulled the string.

Then the door opened as Owl was standing in front. "Good day to you both! Pooh Bear and...Whoever you might be. Please come in for a cup of tea! You're just in time to hear the story of my Cousin Reginald and his voyage across the Canadian River. that's in Europe you know."

Owl then invited them in as Melody ducked her head to come inside. And she saw a fairly decent house made of wood with book shelves and a table with tea already set up. At the same time. at the same time. Melody got the sense that Owl was not as smart as he thinks he is. But he seems to have a good heart and a pleasant demeanor, so she decided not to ruin his pride.

"Thank you for inviting us in." Melody said as she sat at the table with Pooh sitting right next to her.

"Now then. Please help yourselves to a cup of tea. I trust you had no trouble finding the place." Owl said politely as he poured some tea for both of them and placed some sugar and cream on the table.

"Well now that you mentioned it. I sort of did earlier. In fact. I couldn't seem to find anyone else. Um...Even still." Pooh said while he was scooping some honey out of his jar and was eating it.

"Pooh believes that all of his friends disappeared." Melody said as she was fixing her cup of tea with cream and sugar like she was taught at her life in the castle.

"Disappeared? Oh that can't be, My Dear!" Owl chuckled and waved it off as he sipped his tea. "Otherwise I would have disappeared too."

"That's the thing, Owl. You did." Pooh said with his mouth all sticky with honey.

"I did? Hmmm. I guess I must have slept through that part." Owl pondered in curiosity.

"Of course Melody helped me find my honey tree and your house. In fact it showed up when she led me over here." Pooh explained as he was still eating.

"You don't say? Well. Melody, is it? You wouldn't have happened to have entered the Hundred Acre Wood through a book, have you not?" Owl asked with a knowing smile as he rocked in his rocking chair and sipped his tea.

Melody was quite surprised.

"I did. But how did you know?" Melody asked with wide eyes.

"Oh you really were? By jove! And here I was making a lucky guess!" Owl gasped in surprise. "Tell me. How did you come to find our home? The book that is."

Pooh was too busy eating honey to be paying attention.

"Well, I was visiting this book store when I came across this book." Melody began to explain. "But when I opened it, all the pages were blank, except the first page. And when I was on the first page, the book started to glow, and I was sucked right into it."

"I know what you mean. It's hard not to get sucked into a good book. I do it all the time. But only if someone is reading it to me." Pooh said while eating. Which was kind of adorable.

"Well I think I know the answer! Melody. You are chosen to be the hero of this story!" Owl declared with his feather finger held up.

"The hero of this story?" Melody looked shocked. "What do you mean?"

Owl took out a few books like King Author. Robin Hood. The Three Musketeers. The Black Stallion. And a few more while he laid them on the table for clarification. For a Owl that's not as smart as he thinks, he's actually informative.

"Think about it, My Dear. Every great story has a hero. Someone the story focuses on. A protagonist that becomes the one that keeps the world of this story moving forward until the end. And it would seem that our story has been lacking a hero to move us all forward. Thus all of our friends disappeared. But, if you continue your journey through the Hundred Acre Wood. So does this story. And in this story. Our good friend Pooh, will find his friends." Owl explained in great detail.

"So, I just have to continue going through the story until all of Pooh's friends are found huh?" Melody said to herself. "Well, that does seem easy enough."

"Ah but a hero's journey is never easy when they are tasked with responsibility. And it's up to you to save Pooh's friends from being lost in...Oh Dash it all! One of my books is missing!" Owl said as he was he was alarmed. Then he realized. "Oh wait. No it isn't. Piglet asked to borrow it yesterday."

"Maybe we should go and see if he's home." Pooh said as he continued eating while he got off his chair. "Would you help me to his house, Melody? It doesn't seem to be there, until you get there."

"Sure, Pooh. I'd be happy to help." Melody said happily.

"Have a safe journey you two! And be careful not to get lost by...Well I'm not sure how we all got lost but if you both figure it out, don't do it!" Owl waved goodbye to them.

"Don't worry, Owl! We'll be just fine!" Melody said before she and Pooh walked out.

And so Melody and Pooh left Owl's house and walked down the trail on the opposite end. Where more and more of the Woods were reappearing out of the whiteout area. And the signs that Melody saw earlier were now pointing to Piglet's house.

Especially since the arrow under the words 'Piglet's Howse' was shown on them.

---

Down at Piglet's House...

Soon Pooh and Melody made it to the end of the trail. Where they saw yet another house across a small little bridge. A house that was built inside of a beech tree. And on the front lawn was a little short pink pig. Who was pink all over, with darker pink ears and solid black eyes and wearing a striped jumper with a green scarf.

Who of course was Piglet.

Piglet had a broom and was sweeping his front lawn of leaves and dust while he was humming to himself.

"That would be him." Pooh smiled as he waved at his little friend. "Hello Piglet!"

"Oh hello Pooh. And hello-" Piglet smiled and waved at first but then he gasped in fright. "Aaah!"

Then Piglet ran inside and slammed his door.

Pooh and Melody walked up to Piglet's door and Pooh knocked while Melody looked confused.

"Piglet? Are you home? I recalled seeing you screaming and running inside." Pooh said as he knocked on Piglet's door.

"Save yourself Pooh! There's a monster right behind you!" Piglet called out from the otherside.

Melody realized Piglet thought she was a monster.

"But I'm not a monster. I'm a friend." Melody said with a friendly tone.

"Th-that's normally what a monster would s-say." Piglet said as he quivered in fear.

"Actually Piglet. I think monsters would eat first before they talk. And I happened to be more stuffy and fluffier than you are." Pooh chuckled as he rubbed his belly.

"Oh. That's true." Piglet realized in agreement.

Pioh would be the more obvious choice for a monster meal since his bigger and more round than Piglet is.

So Piglet opened the door and came out. And looked up at Melody with a nervous smile. "Um...I'm s-sorry for that earlier. I n-never seen you before." He stammered.

"It's okay. I'm new here anyway." Melody said kindly as she kneeled to his height. "Hi. I'm Melody."

"I'm Piglet." He smiled and offered his tiny pawed hand for Melody to shake which she did. "Wh-what brings you to the Hundred Acre Wood?"

"Actually Piglet. We thought you left the Hundred Acre Wood." Pooh said.

"L-L-L-Left?! But I never went anywhere. I was just here in my house all day." Piglet answered with a surprised look.

"You were. But to Pooh, your house, as well as the rest of the hundred acre Woods was not there." Melody explained to Piglet. "Infact, there are still spots missing."

Piglet looked further out to the woods to see the whitened areas. Showing that there are places missing.

"Oh d-d-d-dear. There m-m-must be something we can do." Piglet shivered and fear as he tugged at his own scarf. "All our friends are lost in n-no-nothing."

"They won't be anymore if Melody goes to them." Pooh stated as he was still eating honey.

"That's right. Owl said as long as I continue exploring, everything will return to normal." Melody said reassuringly.

"Oh. So you're going towards somewhere by going nowhere?" Piglet said in understanding.

Even if no one could possibly understand what he said.

"Exactly..." Pooh said as he had the last of the honey in the jar. And he reached in to see if there was any more. "Oh bother. Empty again. Someone must've got the last bit."

"Oh, silly old Bear." Melody said with a giggle.

"Well. M-m-m-maybe Rabbit has some more honey?" Piglet figured.

"Oh yes. Rabbit is always glad to have me for lunch. Melody. Would you be so kind as to help us bring Rabbit and his house back? By going to it that is." Pooh requested while looking up at Melody.

"Sure, no problem." Melody said to Pooh.

Melody then turned to go as Pooh and Piglet followed him.

"If you're wondering about that sign up there. This house belonged to my grandfather. Trespassers William." Piglet pointed at the 'Trespassers Will' Sign. The rest was missing.

Melody figured it was supposed to say *'Trespassers will be prosecuted'*. But she just went around with it.

"Well, I think you have a lovely home, Piglet." Melody smiled.

After that, Melody walked onto the blank path as more and more of the forest came back. She kept walking for a short while until she made it up to yet another house built within a tree. Surrounded by a garden of different vegetables. Including carrots. All grown in a rich and fertile soil. With a small river in between for moisture and a bridge in between that leads up to Rabbit's house.

"Oh careful where you step. Rabbit takes pride in his wonderful garden." Piglet cautioned Melody.

"Don't worry. I won't step on any of his vegetables." Melody reassured as they walked across the bridge.

Melody then went up to the front door. But before she noticed Pooh and Piglet went towards the back entrance. Which was a rabbit hole. Melody followed them over.

"I'm glad Rabbit's house is back. But let's see if he is. He often uses short and easy words like 'how about lunch?' " Pooh said brightly.

He said this near the rabbit hole.

"Pooh?! Lunch?! Oh my! Not again! Oh my! Oh my goodness gracious!" Rabbit's voice was heard panicking in the other end of the hole with dishes scattering.

"Is anybody at home?" Pooh called out.

"No!" Rabbit answered.

"Oh bother. So there isn't anybody here at all?" Pooh replied.

"Nobody!" Rabbit answered back.

"Hmmmm...There must be somebody there. Because somebody said 'Nobody'." Pooh pondered.

"But what if that Nobody is somebody?" Piglet figured timidly.

Just then. Melody and Piglet heard the front door back behind them open. And they both went back to see while Pooh was left pondering.

They saw Rabbit. The yellow bunny quietly came out and closed the door. And as he quietly tip-toed away from his door. Piglet waved.

"Hello Rabbit." Piglet greeted which startled Rabbit.

"Gah! I'm out of honey go awa- Oh. Hehe. It's only you Piglet." Rabbit sighed in relief. "What brings you here today?"

"Oh, we came by to check in on you." Piglet said before gesturing to Melody. "Oh, and this is Melody."

"Hello, Rabbit. Nice to meet you." Melody smiled.

"Oh. Well nice to meet you too, Young Lady. What brings you here to the Hundred Acre Wood?" Rabbit asked with a friendly smile.

"Well, it's a bit of a long story, actually. I came here by accident, really." Melody said while rubbing the back of her head.

"Not only that. But it seemed that we all disappeared." Piglet pointed out.

"Disappeared? But I couldn't have. I was here gardening all day." Rabbit looked surprised before he wondered. "unless. Could I have disappeared without noticing?"

"That's exactly what happened." Melody said. "But don't worry. Pooh and I are fixing things."

"Well I suppose...Wait. Pooh? As in Winnie The Pooh?! Where is he?!" Rabbit panicked.

"Help! Please! Somebody?! Or Nobody?!" Pooh called from way back at the rabbit hole.

"Oh d-d-dear!" Piglet gasped as he. Rabbit and Melody ran back over.

And when they made it to the rabbit hole. Pooh was seen stuck with his head and arms sticking out of the rabbit hole. As his bottom half was stuck in Rabbit's house.

"Oh bother. I'm stuck." Pooh groaned.

"How did you get stuck, anyway? You were able to fit in there before, weren't you?" Melody asked with a giggle.

"Well. I went in to see if Rabbit was inside. But all I found were so many jars of honey. So I waited for Rabbit to return. While I helped myself to a small smackeral or two." Pooh said so innocently.

"Pooh must've eaten so much honey. He got too big for the hole." Piglet guessed timidly.

"Oh no! Pooh! You ate all of my jars of honey!" Rabbit echoed from inside.

"Wow. You really have quite an appetite, don't you?" Melody commented.

Just then Rabbit ran back outside and joined the others. "Oh that's the thing about this hungry old bear. He'd eat a winter's worth and still have room for dessert." Rabbit snorted with a frown and his arms crossed. But then he sighed. "Oh well. It's just one of those days."

"Isn't there any way to get him out?" Piglet asked while looking worried.

Melody thought for a moment until it dawned on her. She can use her aquakinetic powers to construct any tool made of water.

"Hey, Rabbit. Would you mind if your rabbit hole was a few inches bigger?" Melody asked Rabbit.

"Well. Now that you mentioned it. I could go for a slightly bigger back entrance. To bring my harvest in. Why?" Rabbit figured.

"Because I know how to get Pooh out." Melody said as she summoned some water and formed it into a saw blade. "Piglet and Rabbit, back up. Pooh, stay perfectly still."

"Okay Melody." Pooh nodded.

Then Melody caused the saw blade to float over and she used the saw to cut a circle on top of the circle around Pooh. Just by a few inches. And once that was done. Pooh was able to pull himself out safely.

Rabbit inspected his hole and actually found it to be a favorable new size.

"Hmmm. Not bad. Not bad at all." Rabbit nodded with an approving smile.

"Thanks. I learned that from my boyfriend." Melody said before looking at Pooh. "Are you okay, Pooh Bear?"

Pooh stood back up. "I suppose so." He nodded optimistically before he turned to Rabbit. "Hello Rabbit. You wouldn't happen to have a small smackeral of honey?"

Which surprised everyone that he was still hungry.

"Oh boy." Rabbit sighed as he facepalmed himself.

Then suddenly they heard a loud splash in the river behind them.

*SPLAAAASH!*

"What was that?!" Piglet gasped in fright.

"I don't know. I'll check." Melody said before running over to the river over Rabbit's fence to see.

And when Melody ran over to this large river stream surrounded by green. She gasped in delight to see that it was Connor who was laying flat under water. Who looked just blown away by the fall he just had.

"What. The frick. Just happened?" Connor deadpanned while underwater. After falling from a large height.

"Connor!" Melody squealed happily as she took off her jacket before swan diving into the water with an air bubble around her head to join up with her boyfriend. "It's so good to see you. What are you doing here?"

"That's what I wanna know! One moment Jim Da Cricket called me after I was gone filling out the order for ship upgrades, telling me that you went missing in the book store! Then I find your boots on the ground next to an open and half blank book and I end up breaking my Beep all the way down wherever the Beep! I am!" Connor ranted before he looked off weirdly at the beeping noises before he exhaled and deadpanned. "I fell in the book, didn't I?"

"Yes. Yes you did." Melody said with a giggle. "It was a surprise for me too."

"Alright. I'm gonna build an elevator the size of Jacob's ladder and then we're gonna get the Beep! out of here." Connor said as he swam up to the surface.

"Wait, Connor! We can't leave yet!" Melody exclaimed as she swam after her boyfriend. There are people living in this book, and half of them are still lost!"

"Mel. We need to focus on finding the-" Connor almost said as they floated up above the river and climbed out.

"Oh there you are!" Rabbit called out.

"We were worried you might have gotten lost underwater." Piglet added with relief.

Connor saw them and Pooh standing together.

"Mel? Did we drop into a Fred Rogers book or a lost episode of Adventure Time?" Connor inquired as he was weirded out seeing the talking stuffed animals.

"I don't know. The book didn't have a title." Melody said with a shrug. "All that it has on the front of the book was a picture of a toy bear who I later learned is named Winnie The Pooh."

"Winnie The Pooh?!" Connor exclaimed as his eyed widened and he realized. "That's where we are!"

"I take it this means you know who Winnie the Pooh is?" Melody asked.

"Mel this book we're in is legend! It's written by a great author named A.A. Milne who wrote this book based on his son and his collection of toy animals." Connor clarified.

"Really?" Melody asked in surprise. "And those three are some of those toy animals then?"

"No, the real ones are at a museum. But this book. The original one was never found so they put an exact copy on display instead. Mel. We're standing inside the original book of The Many Adventures Of Winnie The Pooh." Connor expressed as he held her shoulders. And then said, "Try saying that three times faster."

"I don't think I can." Melody said with a giggle. "Wow. That means this is the discovery of a lifetime."

"And I'm just gonna take a guess. You made this book much less of a blank slate by walking through the forest?" Connor asked.

"Technically the woods. But yes." Melody said.

"I wonder if it will work with me." Connor said.

"Well before we try that, let me introduce you to Pooh." Melody chirped excitedly before tugging his arm. "Come on."

As Melody cutely tugged her boyfriend over who was keeping himself steady. Pooh walked up.

"Hello again, Melody. Who's your friend?" Pooh said with a warm greeting.

"Oh, this is my boyfriend, Connor." Melody said happily. "Connor, meet Winnie The Pooh."

"What's up?" Connor smiled.

Pooh looked up. "Just the sky." He answered.

He took that greeting literally.

"I'm pretty sure you figured out from everyone's lack of the ability to spell, everyone here has the intellect of a six year old child." Connor muttered to Melody.

"Well, Owl seemed rather smart." Melody said.

"Did he spell 'Please ring' right?" Connor pointed out.

"Well, no." Melody said as she realized he had a point.

"Anyhow. So you three and the talking Owl are all back. So...Who's left?" Connor asked Pooh and the others.

"Well. I think that leaves. Eeyore. Kanga and Roo. Gopher..." Rabbit counted.

"And Tigger." Piglet beamed.

"Right. Him." Rabbit frowned with his arms crossed.

"I believe our good friend Tigger should be down the path there. It leads to his favorite bounce spot." Pooh pointed down a blank path. "Or...At least it should."

"Well then, let's get going then." Melody said enthusiastically.

"What have you gotten yourself into, Mav?" Connor whispered as he followed Melody.

---

Further down in the woods...

When they went on the path. More and more of the woods kept appearing. As Pooh and his friends followed. But as they were walking. Connor noticed that the path was appearing just as much on his side as it was on Melody's side. Meaning they're both the heroes of this book.

"Yeah. It's official. We're now the Chrispher Robins of this book." Connor said to Melody.

"Christopher Robin? Who's that?" Melody asked as they walked.

"The boy who owned Winnie The Pooh. It's who this entire book is based on." Connor clarified. "His father is the author."

"Really?" Melody asked in surprise. "Whatever happened to Christopher Robin?"

"He passed away back in the 90s. Don't worry he lived a full life." Connor said while rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm thinking this book probably came to life after he passed away. Cause they don't seem to remember him in this book. Which means...We're the child that they look up to now."

"Wow. That's both cool. And a little sad." Melody said before smiling. "I guess that means we'll just have to make him proud then."

Just then they made it to an open area in the woods that consisted of junk piles. Toys. Trampolines and makeshift trampolines. Which looked like the aftermath of a party at a playground. It was about five yards long and wide.

"Did we miss a 'save the trees' protest?" Connor inquired looking at the mess around the place.

"Looks like a makeshift bouncy house." Melody said while looking around.

"Yeah. After a hurricane." Connor said.

*Growl...*

Connor quickly summoned his keyblade and stood on guard. "The Beep! was that?" Connor said while alerted.

Melody reacted the same way as she summoned her keyblade and stood back to back with Connor.

"I have no idea. But whatever it was, it sounded dangerous." Melody said.

*Grooowl!*

"Frick that sounds foul!" Connor exclaimed as he was even more alarmed.

"Sounds angry!" Melody shivered as she was a little scared now.

"Sounds like my third grade teacher when I asked to go use the restroom!" Connor panicked.

They kept turning in different directions wondering where the growling came from until...

'Growl!'

A small little tiger came out and tackled Connor to the ground as he shrieked like a girl and fell on his butt. And the tiger stood on him with joyful glee.

"Hello! I'm Tigger! T I Double Guh Er! That spells Tigger!" Tigger introduced himself.

"AWW! He's so cute!" Melody gushed at the sight of Tigger, now seeing that he was just another stuffed animal.

"WHAT?! Tiggers aren't cute! They're dangerousness!" Tigger protested with a growl as he turned around and put his fists up to see who called him cute. "Who's the wisest guy who said that?! He sounded too much like a girl..."

"That's because I am a girl." Melody said, giggling at Tiger's antics.

"And you broke my Beep!" Connor groaned from the ground.

"You are? Oh well since you are a feminine male. I'll let ya off the hook for calling me cute. You see, Tiggers are the best at what they do and I'm the only one." Tigger proclaimed with a solute. Then he said, "Plus I'm on a mission to find my friends since all of that white stuff coverin the woods took them away."

"Well, what a coincidence. So are we." Melody said with a bright smile. "Maybe we can work together then, Mr. Tiger."

"Uh-ba-bub! It's Tigger, not Tiger. And I don't add something pretenterous as 'Mr' to the title." Tigger corrected with wit.

"Oh. Sorry." Melody said sheepishly. "But what's the difference between a Tiger and a Tigger?"

"Please don't sing." Connor deadpanned as he stood up.

"Well you see..." Tigger announced.

"He's gonna sing." Connor deadpanned dryly.

And the magic Fantasia added the bouncy music.

"Woo Hoo Hoo Hoo! The wonderful thing about Tiggers~ Is Tiggers are wonderful things~ Their tops are made out of rubber~ Their bottoms are made out of springs~ They're bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy~ Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun~ But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is I'm the only one~ I'm...the only one!~" Tigger sang as he bounced on his tail around Melody and Connor.

"He sang." Connor deadpanned.

Melody just clapped to Tigger's enthusiasm.

"That was great! I'll remember now. Thanks Tigger." Melody said with a giggle.

"Alright, you're a proud endangered species. Got it. Since you and the Bounce Lot are back. We still need to find the rest of your friends." Orion got to the point.

"Absoltifily! So first we gotta find Pooh. Piglet and Rabbit firstest!" Tigger declared.

"Hello Tigger." Pooh waved and greeted as he walked up with Piglet and Rabbit.

"Woo hoo hoo HOOO! Look folks! I already found them!" Tigger joyfully pointed and bounced before he bragged. "Man, us Tiggers work fast.

"Yes, yes you do Tigger. Good job." Melody grinned with a giggle.

"Why couldn't we have dropped ourselves in a Beep Tolstoy book instead?" Connor pinched the bridge of his nose. And then he inquired. "And what the Beep is up with those beeps?!"

"You know, Connor. Winnie The Pooh's book is a children's book. So maybe you're not supposed to be cursing at all." Melody said with a smug smirk.

"Yeah well kids Beeping love it when I curse! Beep Bleepity Bleepin beep beep beelin beep BEEP! Turbo Boner!" Connor ranted up into the sky. And exhaled. "God that felt good."

"Is he alright? He sounds like he swallowed a radio?" Tigger asked Melody.

"Not at all, Hobbes. I'm never okay and that's the way I like it." Connor quickly quipped.

"Don't worry about him. He's just being himself." Melody said with a smirk.

"Mmmkay? Anyhow. All we have leftist to find is Eayore. Kanga and Little Roo. Oh yeah and there's Owl." Tigger figured.

"Actually, Owl has already been found." Melody corrected.

Tigger gasped in amazement. "I don't know how I keep doin it! I just keep finding friends without even tryin!" He squealed in amazement.

"What's wrong with him?" Connor inquired.

"Trust me. I'm still figuring it out. Now then. Eeyore shouldn't be hard to find. He often is seen in his makeshift house. It's very hard to miss." Rabbit responded and stated.

Connor and Melody noticed that there was a whitened area down the road. Which means this book is almost complete.

"Any chance there's some action at the end of the road?" Connor asked while looking over there.

So far there hasn't been any fighting or saving lives in serious matters like there normally is.

"Honestly, I don't know." Melody said with a shrug. "I thought I was gonna have to go through some kind of task every time I went to a new location before I could move on to the next one. So far, not much has happened."

Connor had to agree. This whole event felt below their pay grade. But if this world is broken without their help. They might as well. Help anyway.

So Connor and Melody went ahead of the group down the road and more of the woods were coming back. Out to go and find Kanga and Roo.

---

Down at the flowery meadow...

Soon as Connor and Melody made it to a rich meadow that spanned over miles long. Different colors of flowers began to sprout up much to Melody's amazement and wonder. As the fields of flowers were arranged like a rainbow across the meadow.

"You know what? I'm gonna say it. This sight is worth the whole trip." Connor said as he was blown away himself. "Makes me wish I had both eyes right now."

"I know. This place is so beautiful." Melody smiled with bliss as she walked through the field of flowers. And it feels so soft under her feet.

Connor looked around as he felt this book was being too easy so far. As much as this scenery looked nice. He felt that there was something dangerous or conflicting that might happen soon.

"Alright standing in the middle of a Thomas Kinkade painting is nice and all. But there's gotta be a catch to this book." Connor said as he was skeptical about how nice this place was.

"Oh, come on, Connor. Lighten up a little." Melody said optimistically. "Not everything has to have a dangerous trap or secret agenda."

"My main ability is to 'lighten' up, Aquafina. I'm just staying alert in case something negative shows up." Connor protested.

"Thanks for noticing me." They heard a voice say from the side. They both turned to see a droopy looking gray donkey with a tail nailed in his bottom that had a pink bow.

Connor was kinda weirded out seeing him.

"I don't mean that negative." Connor said in defense.

"it's alright. it's just my natural expression. Hello to you both. My name is Eeyore." Eeyore sighed with a weak positive look before sighing.

"Hello, Eeyore. I'm Melody." Melody greeted the donkey. "And this is my boyfriend, Connor."

"Nice to meet you, Melody and my boyfriend Connor." Eeyore said dryly.

"It's just Connor, jack-Beep. What?! That's what he is!" Connor ranted while looking up.

"What brings you both out here? Not that it's my business." Eeyore asked in a gloomy way.

"Oh, we're just looking around, checking out to see if everything's okay here." Melody said. "What are you doing out here?"

"Nothing much. Just rebuilt my house and I'm looking for flowers to decorate it." Eeyore said as Connor looked over his shoulder and saw that Pooh and the others were gone.

"Wait. Where's Pooh, Tigger and...Those other two?" Connor asked as he alerted Melody.

"I don't know. They were there a moment ago." Melody said.

"Yooo! Yellow Pattington?! Where are you?!" Connor called out and he replied to Melody. "Can you help me here? I only stress in nicknames unless they're in a relationship with me."

"Don't worry. I got this." Melody said before calling out. "Pooh?! Piglet?! Rabbit?! Tigger?! Where are you guys?!"

Still no answer. It was strange indeed. They were just walking behind Connor and Melody within the flowery meadow and the next thing, they're gone.

Connor and Melody looked over to see that Eeyore was gone too.

"I swear if they become giant mutant slashers next, I'll never read a book again." Connor quipped as he felt the tension and unpredictability.

"Oh come on, Connor. I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation that doesn't involve stuffed animals becoming mass murderers." Melody said.

*"Quite right you are, My Dear!"*

They heard a very positive British voice echo from around them.

"Who's that? Who's talking?!" Connor replied as they looked around. "Is that you God?! It's me Margaret!"

*"No No No! I'm the owner of the bookstore of course. And I'm here to help."*

"Oh, hello there!" Melody called out. "You weren't at the front desk earlier! I was wondering where you were!"

*"Well I am what you might call a busy man. And as much as I liked to, I can't possibly be everywhere at once! But I am terribly sorry for your minor predicament, I had no idea the book would react like this much sooner."*

Connor had to admit. This wasn't the weirdest thing to ever happened.

"it's fine, but can you tell us how to move on? Let alone find our friends? Are they in trouble?" Connor asked while looking up.

*"They're not in any real danger. but that doesn't mean they don't need your help."*

"Why? What's going on?" Melody asked.

*"It seems Pooh and his friends are believing they're being chased by Heffalumps and Woozles."*

Connor blanked as he figured the voice mispronounced those words.

"You mean elephants and weasels." Connor deadpanned.

*"That's what I said! Heffalumps and Woozles!"*

"Okay, then. We'll file that under the 'needed explaining later' category." Melody said to Connor. "But why?"

"I think a better question is what are they? Or what do they think they are?" Connor asked in emphasis.

*"Heffalumps and Woozles are nasty vile creatures that feed on happiness and honey. And they make others do work for them. Not to mention they are just mean to the fullest."*

"Aaand they're real?" Connor inquired.

*"How should I know?! I never met one! But more importantly I know where Pooh and everyone else went."*

"Well then what are we waiting for? Let's go get them." Melody said.

*"Right. Just follow the signs to the Damp Cave down across the Meadow and you'll find them. But you both will need your armored forms for this one."*

"In that case." Connor then shifted into his Maverick form.

But this time the helmet had a blue visor instead of digital eyes. Due to the fact that he is temporarily down to one eye.

"I had this helmet designed for the last time I had Rooster Cogburn vision." Maverick quipped as he explained.

"It looks good on you." Melody smiled as she shifted into Tsunami.

Then on that note. They traversed in free flow and water waves down across the meadow. To find Pooh and his friends.

Hopefully the Heffalumps and Woozles aren't as much of a big deal as everyone else might think.

---

Down at the entrance of the damp cave...

The entrance to the damp cave was inside of a mountain. Where a large wooden log was blocking it. Inside was everyone who was with Pooh. Even Kanga and Roo were there. Who in fact is a mother kangaroo with an adolescent kangaroo in her pouch who wore a blue sweater.

They were all hiding from the Heffalumps and Woozles whom they thought they were running from.

Rabbit was standing guard at the entrance, with Tigger who peaked out of the hole in the large log to see who's out there.

"Is is it s-s-still out there?" Piglet trembled as he asked.

"I'm almost positively sure it's lurking out there." Tigger muttered as he kept peaking.

*ROOOOWL!*

They heard a large growl that echoed around them which made everyone howl in fear. But they weren't aware that it was just Pooh's stomach.

Suddenly they heard footsteps outside

"What was that?!" Rabbit panicked.

Tigger gasped. "I see a Heffalump! No! I see two! And they're made of shiny plastic!" He exclaimed in alarm.

"Keep it down! They can't find us here!" Rabbit hissed at Tigger.

Outside however were not Heffalumps or Woozles. But it was Maverick and Tsunami who had arrived and walked up to the entrance that was blocked.

"Pooh! Piglet! Rabbit! Tigger! Eeyore! Where are you?" Tsunami called out to them.

"Oh no! The Heffalumps know our names..." Piglet panicked.

"We're not in here!" Pooh called out.

"Shhh! Quiet Pooh!" Rabbit hissed quietly.

"Yeah. They're not in the cave." Maverick deadpanned sarcastically.

"Without a doubt." Tsunami said back in humor before calling out. "It's okay! It's us! Melody and Connor!"

"Ha! That's ridiculous! Everyone here knows Connor and Melody aren't made of metal." Tigger doubted with a chuckle. "These Huffalumps think we're morons."

"Eh...No I won't say it." Maverick waved off the need to say what's obvious.

"It really is us! We're just wearing suits of armor!" Tsunami tried to explain.

"Oh that's what a Heffalump would say! The old 'it's just a suit' cliche!" Rabbit scoffed.

"You're gonna have to do better than that old gag!" Tigger added.

"I can knock that homemade door of yours down. you really don't want me to." Maverick warned.

"Oh d-d-dear! We've made him angry!" Piglet shivered in fear.

"If we gave you some honey. Or at least the empty pot it came in? Would you go away and not gobble us up?" Pooh asked.

"Ugh!" Maverick groaned as he shifted back into Connor and Tsunami shifted back into Melody.

"Look it's really us! Hear our voices?!" Melody called out.

"Watch them come up with another excuse." Connor muttered.

"Oh my gosh! The Heffalumps can shape shift using the elementals!" Tigger panicked.

"See?" Connor deadpanned as he shifted back into Maverick.

"Oh come on!" Melody whined before shifting back into Tsunami. "This isn't working. Please tell me you have an idea, Connor."

"I got this." Maverick assured before he called out. "If I were a Heffalump! What would I not do?!"

"Lie!" Everyone replied.

"We got that already! What else?!" Maverick called out.

It took them a short few seconds of muttering to each other.

"They would never defend us from other Heffalumps and Woozles!" Roo's child-like voice was heard inside.

"That's right, Dear." Kanga replied while keeping Roo in her pouch.

Maverick took a moment to think before he saw an open clear blue pond where a river trail ends.

"I've got it." Maverick whispered in Tsunami's ear. "They obviously won't come out until we take down some Heffalumps and Woozles. Right?"

"Yeah. It seems like it." Tsunami whispered back. "What do you have in mind?"

"So. We fight them. We take a bunch of them out and make it so convincing they'll no longer be afraid of us." Maverick suggested.

If Pooh and his friends will believe in fake Heffalumps. Then they'll believe fake ones can be taken down too.

"Connor, that just might be the best idea you've ever come up with." Tsunami complimented.

Maverick winked even though his mask eyes didn't show it. And then he went over and formed a bunch of giant humanoid elephants out of the water from the pawned. And a few neon weasels. Or as they call em. Heffalumps and Woozles.

"Wait a sec...Ah snap! There's a herd of Heffalumps coming in! They're so huge and a work of art!" Maverick yelled, acting like he was alarmed.

"Who knows what they'll do! We've got to stop them!" Tsunami exclaimed dramatically, playing along.

"Oh my goodness!" Rabbit gasped as they were all falling for it.

"Everyone! Let's stay in here and don't move! Heffalumps and Woozles can't see you if you don't move!" Tigger advised.

Then Maverick and Tsunami summoned their keyblades and charged at the fake Heffalump and Woozle constructs of water and neon.

"Raaaaaargh!" They roared with Maverick's sound effects playing through them.

"Heeeeere Wooozy!" A Neon Woozle spoke like Jack Nickelson.

Maverick came in and knocked Water Heffalump down. "We're gonna stereotype your faces, Dirtbags!" He jested.

"You won't be going anywhere near our friends on our watch!" Tsunami declared as she took down some Neon Woozles.

Inside the cave everyone winced and jumped at the sounds of the Maverick and Tsunami fighting their fears. And they were beginning to believe that it really was Connor and Melody.

"Who ordered the Woozle kebab?!" Connor echoed outside.

*BAM! SLAM! PUNCH KICK!*

"No tears please! It's a waste of good suffering!" Maverick quipped.

They even heard elephant sounds which made it sound like the Heffalumps were falling.

"No please! Please! I have six wives and two kids!" They heard a deep Heffalump's voice beg.

"So do I! You don't hear me complaining!" Maverick exclaimed.

*Laser noises!*

They saw a flash outside and another elephant roar.

"Oh my..." Kanga said as she and the others were blown away.

"Taxes are too hiiiiigh!" A Woozle's squeaky voice was heard.

"Eat my right wing, Punk!" Tsunami's voice was heard.

Extra points to anyone that got that reference.

WACK!

"MY LEG!" A Woozle screamed.

And that one.

"Oh d-d-dear. It sounds horrible out there." Piglet shivered.

"I know! It sounds eperic!" Tigger beamed.

"You should see it! These Heffalumps aren't standing a chance!" Rabbit cheered as he watched from the peep hole in the log.

"Too bad we all can't see it at once." Eeyore sighed.

"Awe do you need a boost, Donkey Boy?" Tigger offered to let him see.

"It's alright. I don't wanna be a burden." Eeyore declined despondently.

Back outside. Maverick and Tsunami performs a double team combo take down on the last large water Heffalump and then they both perform an uppercut punch to its jaw. Causing it to fly high in the air. And evaporate.

"That's the last one." Maverick said as he wiped his hands. Then he shifted back into Connor. "Wanna go see what the judges' scores are?"

"Yeah, let's just go check on the others." Tsunami said as she shifted back into Melody.

On that note. Connor and Melody walked back over to the entrance and as soon as Connor moved the log out of the way.

Pooh and his friends ran out cheering as they huddled around them.

"Horaaaay!" They all cheered.

"Way ta smackin, you two!" Tigger bounced around happily.

"You saved us all!" Rabbit beamed.

"I knew you'd come and help us." Eeyore smiled weakly.

"Thank you so much, Melody! You too Connor!" Pooh smiled up at them.

"You're very welcome." Melody smiled brightly as she picked up Pooh and hugged him. "You silly old bear."

"You both made all of us proud." Rabbit smiled.

"He's right, Dears. Oh we've never had a proper introduction. I'm Kanga." Kanga greeted them.

"And I'm Roo!" Roo bounced out of Kanga's pouch.

"I could tell." Connor smiled and muttered to Melody. "By the look of her pouch I thought they were toy versions of newspaper boys."

"Really, Connor." Melody sighed in fond exasperation before smiling at the mother and son. It's nice to meet you both."

"I mean they always wear a fanny pack-" Connor almost said before Melody kicked his leg making him wince. "Shutting up."

"The-there won't be anymore coming back?" Piglet timidly asked as he walked up.

"Nope. They won't be coming back anytime soon." Melody reassured them.

Just then. Owl came flying in from the sky and perched on a branch near the cave. "Aha! I see you both found everyone! Thanks to you both. The Hundred Acre Wood and their residents are back." Owl smiled.

"It was an accident." Connor quipped.

"Connor, behave." Melody warned before smiling at Owl. "We're glad we could help."

"Though I think there might have been one more little old chap left in this book. But I can't seem to remember." Owl pondered.

Just then. The ground was moving below them and a hole popped out. And then a gray gopher came out. "Somebody called for something to be 'chumped'? I'm not in the book but I'm at your service?" The gopher spoke with a whistle through his buck teeth.

"I...Think you got the wrong customers, Bucky. They're at that left turn in Albuquerque." Connor quipped as to refer Gopher to a certain bunny.

"Oh, there you are, Gopher." Pooh chuckled lightly. "Have you got any new tasks right now?"

"Had some, but this cave you all were cowering in was picked clean. All I could find was this shiny looking broken piece of ceramic." Gopher said as he held up a shard of the Pearl.

"Oh my….." Melody gasped in shock and awe. "It's the next pearl shard fragment we need!"

"What are the odds?" Connor looked shocked as well.

The fragment must've fallen in this book when it was sent here to this world.

"Saaaay! You want it? I can give it to you with twenty percent off." Gopher offered as he stood out of his hole and held the shard out.

"Deal." Connor said as he handed Gopher a bundle of cash and traded it for the fragment.

"Glad to be of service but I don't have time for lollygagging. Got a schedule to keep." Gopher said as he was walking back to his hole. "WAAAAAAAAAAH!" Gopher fell down his hole and then echoed "If you need anything else to buy! Look me up!"

"Gopher is alright, he does that all the time. After all he's not in the book you know." Pooh pointed out.

"Right." Melody said before smiling. "Well, I guess coming here was more beneficial than we thought, huh?"

Connor couldn't agree more. So now Pooh and his friends are reunited. Not to mention that the hundred acre wood was now restored. Connor and Melody were awarded with the one thing that could make this journey a lot more simple to end sooner.

This book was a lot more worth than what Connor had thought.

---

Later on at the grassy hill...

Winnie The Pooh and all of his friends. Piglet. Rabbit. Kanga. Roo. Owl. Eeyore and Tigger were all sitting up on the hill together watching the Sunset. As Connor and Melody sat together with Pooh sitting on Melody's lap with her legs crossed. As he was pondering and tapping his head.

"Think think think." Pooh muttered repeatedly. "Think think think."

"What're you thinking about, Pooh?" Melody asked.

"Hmm? Oh. I was just thinking about...What to think about." Pooh said innocently. Which made Connor and Melody chuckle a little.

"Okay. I'll admit. For a bear of very little...IQ stash. He's actually adorable." Connor remarked as he was starting to like Pooh.

"Oh, you silly old bear." Melody giggled as she hugged Pooh from behind.

"You know. We should definitely make this place one of our regular stops after this war is checked off." Connor said as he looked out at how breathtaking the woods was.

"That sounds like a great idea." Melody beamed at Connor's suggestion. "I'd love to bring my baby brother Oliver, here with us."

"At his current age he'd be Pooh's tutor." Connor muttered which made Melody giggle a bit. Then Connor noticed the hour on his gummiphone. "Alright. We'd better jet."

"Right." Melody said before setting Pooh down. "Okay, Pooh. Connor and I have to go now."

"Oh I see. You two love birds are both on an expotition! Am I right?" Tigger asked with a smug chuckle as he mispronounced 'expedition'.

"Something like that, yeah." Melody said with a giggle.

"Is there anything we can do to help?" Roo asked like a sweet kid.

"Do you want us to come with you?" Pooh added.

"You can help us by keeping these Build-A-Bear woods thriving and what it is right now. You all brought a lot of smiles to children everywhere. At least where we come from. So however you did it. Don't overthink it or try to figure it out. Just continue being you." Connor explained to them before he turned to Melody and whispered. "Back me up here."

"He's right. Just continue being your usual selves and enjoy every day of life." Melody said just kindly. "Do that, and we'll be able to do what we have to, knowing you all are happy."

Pooh and everyone else smiled in agreement to their words.

"Don't you worry. We all will be alright here while you're out being heroes everywhere. As my Uncle Orville once said. 'Heroics is the foundation of concern'...Or is it 'concern is the way to confusion'?" Owl quoted and wondered.

"You're the way to confusion." Rabbit snorted at Owl.

"Be sure to bring your bestest bouncing legs when you get back! Hoo hoo hoo!" Tigger bounced around them.

"Also I'd be interested in what haycorns you grow back home?" Piglet smiled.

"I think he means acorns." Connor whispered to Melody.

"Probably." Melody whispered back before smiling at them all. "You can count on it."

"Good luck to you both. Connor. Thank you for being our hero. And Melody?" Pooh said warmly as he looked up at Melody. "Thank you for being my friend."

"And thank you for being my friend, too." Melody smiled warmly before kneeling down and hugging Pooh who hugged back. "Take care, Silly Old Bear."

And on that note. Connor and Melody got up. And walked down the hill and onto the path where the Hundred Acre Wood ends. And as they were leaving. Everyone stood at the edge to watch.

"We will always be here! Connor and Melody!" Pooh called out as they all waved goodbye.

As Connor and Melody waved back. They were both taken up by sparkles and magical waves that caused them to fade out into the sky.

---

Back inside the Bookstore...

Connor and Melody came right out of the book in an instant. And they both were sitting at a couch within a lounging area customers would go to for reading.

As they sat next to each other. Connor looked down at Melody's boots.

"Try to lose them on purpose next time." Connor remarked as he handed them back to Melody.

"Thanks. But hey. If you didn't notice my boots, you might have found yourself with me inside the book." Melody said as she put her boots back on. "I'm still pretty shocked we found that pearl shard in the book. Wonder how it got there to begin with."

"I'm thinking when Ardyn sent it here. He was expecting it to be lost somewhere complicated but it randomly fell inside the book. Which sort of completed the purpose when you think about it." Connor figured. "I mean, what are the odds that one of us would be interested in reading enough that we'd end up here?"

"Guess we really got lucky this time, huh?" Melody said with a small smile.

"Or maybe it was fate." Connor shrugged.

"Right you are my boy!" They heard.

Both Melody and Connor turned their heads to see an old man in a blue wizard outfit and hat and with a long white beard and a pair of glasses.

"Gandalf?" Connor inquired.

"Merlin actually. The most powerful wizard in the Multiverse!...Eh. Besides your duck friend I figure." Merlin announced before he added humbly. Then he whispered. "But I may be a few floors above him. Don't tell him I said that."

"He won't hear about that from me." Melody said before her eyes widened in recognition. "Wait... Merlin?! As in the Wizard who advised and guided King Arthur during his rule?!

"The one and the same! Of course I started out as a teacher and a mentor before an advisor. You'd have to see the film Scrooge McDuck produced to see those details." Merlin stated as he held up a VHS case of The Sword And The Stone. Before he placed it down and moved on. "And I was the voice who guided you both while you were in the Hundred Acre Wood."

"That makes you the owner of this book?" Connor asked.

"Oh heavens no! I am simply a holder of the book." Merlin stated as he came over and picked Pooh's book up. And handed it to Melody. "Because you both are now the Chrispher Robin of this story. It's yours now."

Melody looked at the cover and saw an image of Connor and Melody walking together down a path. While Melody is holding Pooh's hand.

"This is amazing! I love it!" Melody squealed and beamed happily. "Thank you so much, Mr. Merlin!"

"You're quite welcome, My Dear. Though most of the magic was done by you and your partner." Merlin nodded and smiled.

Just then an owl flew over and perched on the cash register. "You forgot to charge them, you dolt!" The owl exclaimed.

"Don't use that tone with me, Archimedes! Magic doesn't come with a price! Oh in case you both ask. This is my time and space traveling companion, Archimedes." Merlin snapped and then calmly replied to Connor and Melody.

"And I am also his financial advisor." Archimedes declared.

"No your not!" Merlin scoffed.

"Is there a virus in the air that's making owls talk?" Connor inquired considering that this is the second talking owl they've met today.

"Once is a circumstance. Twice is a coincidence. If it happens a third time, that's a pattern." Melody whispered back with some myrth.

"If you are referring to my cousin Owl from the Hundred Acre Wood. Yes we both talk for the same reason. Only as you can tell. he's the only one in the family who doesn't know how to spell." Archimedes smiled and nodded.

"If I recall, you couldn't either when I first met you." Merlin teased with a chuckle.

"Bah!" Archimedes scoffed with his wings crossed.

"You and Owl are cousins?!" Melody gasped in surprise. "Wow. What are the odds?"

"So did Christopher Robin have more than one stuffed owl? Or am I missing something?" Connor asked.

"Well you see. Owl from the book spoke about how he had a lot of relatives. So when the book came to life. His relatives did too. They all had lives and they live in different parts of the book's world. But Archimedes here is the only one I brought back. On account that he wasn't that important enough to keep there." Merlin remarked.

"I wasn't! There's more to life then just honey I try telling them but did they listen?! No!" Archimedes sarcastically remarked.

"They really did like their honey, didn't they?" Melody commented.

"Makes me wonder where all of it goes if Pooh is just filled with fluff n stuff." Connor replied. "And they don't have genitals...Or an ass...Hey I can cuss again!" He beamed.

"Yeah. Yeah. You can swear again. Congratulations." Melody said with a good-natured eye roll as she patted him on the back.

"Anyhow. This book store will close soon. I suggest you both vacade soon. And no worries. You can contact me at the Disney Palace should you ever need my assistance." Merlin told them both.

"The drive forms, don't forget the drive forms!" Archimedes recalled.

"I was getting to that you hoot!" Merlin replied as he picked up a red orb and a blue orb and handed them to Connor and Melody. "Here. These are what we call drive forms. You can use them in the middle of a battle to change your fighting style into a different pattern."

"I read about these. It can also change your outfit colors." Connor held up the blue orb. "Like Barbie if she was in Fortnite."

"Ooh, really?" Melody smirked before trading her blue orb with Connor's red one. "I'm curious about how I'll look in red."

Just then. Donald and Goofy walked into the bookstore to check on their teammates.

"Hey there lovebirds! Ahyuck!" Goofy greeted.

"Cindy said that the ship will be ready in the morning." Donald told them.

"It's all good. But you both are not gonna believe what just happened." Connor said as they walked up to the Disney Duo. And he held out the shard fragment they found in Pooh's world.

"WAK! It's the second last pearl shard we need!" Donald exclaimed in shock.

"Gawrsh! That means we only need to find one more! Where did you find that one?" Goofy asked while still in shock.

"We found it inside this book. And trust me it's got more than just a deep corner for a bookmark." Connor remarked as he gestured at Pooh's book in Melody's arm.

"He's right. Take a look at it!" Melody exclaimed happily as she held up the book for them to see. "We're even on the Cover!"

"Wooow." Donald said in fascination.

"I know. I didn't know you both were stars of a book series." Goofy said in amazement. While he missed the point.

"Well, we weren't until a few minutes ago." Melody said as she tried to explain. "We went inside the book to help the characters inside, and got the pearl shard and our faces on the cover for it."

"The book is magic?!" Donald's eyes widened.

"Hi there, Merlin!" Goofy waved over. And grinned at Donald. "Hey Donald. It's your competition. Ahyuck!"

"He's not my competition! I'm far stronger than him!" Donald snapped before looking smug.

"Yeah, sure you are." Melody muttered quietly. "Are all magic users cocky?"

"True but is he older than me?" Merlin smugly asked.

"Ah nuts." Donald pouted.

"How is that a perk? Unless he's from the Golden Girls variant Golden Men?" Connor quietly quipped as it made Melody giggled.

On that note. Connor and Melody spent the rest of the day revisiting some attractions and fun places to go around Traverse Town. Before they called it a day at the hotel they stayed at last time. But when they resume the journey. They'll be carrying the home of a certain bear.

Who will be there waiting for the next wonderful day. When Connor and Melody come out to play.

---

THAT'S ALL FOR NOW FOLKS! 🎉🎉🎉

And now that we have Pooh in this story. It's time to move on for a visit to the Disney Version of Atlantis as the Fourth Kingdom Of Atlantis. And there will be crossovers and cameos for this one. I already discussed the details in the epilogue of the last chapter. So get ready. 😁

As for any future with Pooh. Don't worry. I have something special planned for the next chapter in The Princess And The Maverick Vol 2 chapter. 😉

Also has anyone seen the announcements from D23? I'm still excited for Fantastic Four First Step about all else! 😁

Also Moana 2 is coming soon. If it's successful I might use it for my future KH III based story.

"Yeah. But when did Snow White change her name to Caramel Brown?" Maverick inquired at the Snow White remake.

Another cash grab remake. Staring an actress who unfortunately hates her character according to her interviews.

"As much as I'd like to bust her up. I'll let the future tomato score do it for me." Maverick remarked.

Agreed. Anyway. Thank you all so much for reading!

Don't forget to Fave and Follow if you like what you see and please leave comments to let me know your thoughts. And as always Disney/Square Enix fans!

FISTBUMP!👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊👊