Kingdom Hearts: The Dalmatian Bodyguard

Chapter 23: Peace within the Dark Hurricane

Everyone soon arrived back at Merlin's with the book. Merlin opened the box and showed the book. The cover was just white with a lock on it.

Dolly: What kind of book is it?

Merlin: (Examining it) I'm afraid I don't know. It appeared one day in my bag and I've been taking care of it for a long time. Unfortunately, it seems some pages are missing from it.

Dolly took a chance and brought the piece of paper she got from the Chesire Cat. The paper vanished out of Dolly's hand and repaired itself into the book.

Sora: Let's check the book out.

Sora set it on a stand and gently opened it. A magic light flashed and Sora & Dolly shrunk into the book. Windsor fell to the ground.

Stone: (As Windsor jumped onto his shoulder) I think we should wait outside.

Sora and Dolly opened their eyes and appeared in an empty meadow. All they found was a log in the middle with a living yellow teddy bear with a red shirt sitting on it. The bear was deep in thought.

?: Think, think, think, think.

Sora nudged at Dolly, silently telling her they should see if he's okay, which she agreed to.

Sora: Hi there. What's wrong?

Dolly: Are you hurt?

?: I'm okay. I'm just thinking.

Duo: Oh.

?: I was thinking of how to say goodbye to Pooh.

Duo: Pooh?

?: Yes?

Sora: (As both he and Dolly took a seat on opposite side of the bear) Wait a second. You're Pooh?

Pooh: Yes, I'm Winnie the Pooh. Pooh for short. Who are you two?

Sora: I'm Sora Kirkson and she's my Bodyguard, Dolly Dalmatian.

Pooh: Hello, Sora and Dolly. Have you both come to say goodbye to Pooh, too?

Sora: Well, no. Why would we do that? We've only just met.

Dolly: Why are you trying to figure out how to say goodbye to yourself, Pooh?

Pooh: Because everyone's gone away.

Sora and Dolly noticed the only other sound they heard were the birds chirping.

Sora: There's nobody else here?

Pooh: No. You see, we all lived here in the Hundred Acre Wood. And we'd take walks together or play Pooh Sticks and every day, I'd eat some honey. (Rubbing his stomach) Just one small smackeral would taste very good right now. But now everyone's gone. All my friends, and my favorite Hunny Tree too.

Dolly felt her heart break as she gently cried. Pooh was alone without his friends just like she was without her family.

Pooh: everyone must've gone away while I was napping, I think… (Jumping off the log) So who knows? Maybe I shall end up going away somewhere as well. But I wonder, how do I say goodbye to myself?

Pooh went back to thinking as he walked away. Sora saw Dolly was upset.

Sora: Dolly, it's okay.

Dolly: (Crying softly) This place. It's peaceful.

Sora hugged Dolly, giving her a friendly shoulder.

Dolly: Thanks, Sora. (Rubbing her eye) Some bodyguard I am.

Sora: It's okay, Dolly. You don't have to be strong emotionally for me. I know you miss your family.

Dolly: It's funny. Having 97 younger siblings can be a challenge sometimes. But the journey we're on… Now, I'd give anything to hear Dante saying the end is near, getting a face full of dirt from Diesel digging, smelling Deepak's meditation candles, or anything of theirs.

Sora: (Jumping off the log) You'll see them again. (Offering a hand to help Dolly down) But don't ignore the friends you've made.

Smiling, Dolly took Sora's hand and got down. The duo walked on a path that led to what could only be Pooh's house. The duo went inside and found Pooh looking into an empty Honey Pot.

Pooh: Oh, bother. There's no more honey left. If only the Hunny Tree would visit… Then I could eat my fill.

Sora and Dolly looked outside as the setting shined and a special tree appeared in the distance.

Pooh: Oh, well. Maybe I'll have luck elsewhere.

Sora: We'll come with you, Pooh.

Dolly: Yeah… No one is born into this world to be alone.

Pooh got up and led them to a giant tree.

Pooh: Oh, my favorite tree came back.

As Pooh walked to it for honey, Sora and Dolly heard someone else.

?: Hello, i-is anyone there?

Sora and Dolly saw a small pig come out of a log.

?: Wh-wh-what am I to do? I'm all alone. Pooh? Pooh? Where are you? It's me, Piglet.

Piglet then spotted Sora and Dolly. The duo meant no harm to him, but to his small stature they looked like giants. In a fright, Piglet ran for the tree and hid.

Dolly: Wait, we're not gonna hurt you.

Sora: Yeah. We're friends.

Piglet: (Peaking out) F-friends?

Cautiously, Piglet walked over.

Sora: I'm Sora and she's Dolly.

Dolly: You're looking for Pooh, aren't you?

Piglet: You both know Pooh? I-I have something for him.

Dolly: (Taking Piglet's arm to guide him) Let's go.

Pooh was looking for Hiney when he saw Piglet.

Pooh: Hello Piglet. How have you been?

Piglet was very relief to see his friend,

Piglet: Pooh, I'm glad you're here. I thought you'd gone away.

Piglet then gave Pooh balloon filled with helium

Pooh: Thank you, Piglet. Now I can float up and get the honey.

Sora saw how high the tree was and got worried about Pooh's safety.

Sora: Dolly, we better climb the tree to make sure Pooh is safe.

Dolly: Yeah, you're right.

Sora and Dolly started jumping the tree branches as Pooh floated up. A few bees tried to bother him, but Sora and Dolly shooed them away. When Pooh got to the top, he started eating his fill of honey.

Pooh: (Eating) It is rather funny what I will do for honey.

As Sora and Dolly helped Pooh down safely, Pooh freeze in midair. Suddenly, Sora and Dolly were sucked out by Merlin's magic. Merlin had seen and heard everything they had gone through.

Merlin: (Seeing Dolly upset) I'm truly sorry. Without the other pages, the story couldn't move forward.

Sora: (Helping her up) We'll find the rest of the pages.

Outside the hut, Stone was practicing using the Lightsaber as everyone relaxed.

Sora: (Walking up) Everyone enjoyed a break.

Everyone agreed they enjoyed the quiet and began to leave.