Chapter 8
"I don't know. The place looks bad from up here. Like nothing but water..." Donald quacked. Indeed the radar indicated that the world below was basically one giant ocean, with a few peppers of land across it. The coordinates provided from the note addressed to Sora would land them smack in the middle of the water.
"Yup. It looks almost damaged, or somethin', ya know?" Goofy commented, checking his own screens. "Can the Gummi ship go through water? Or float, even?" Sora asked. The night prior was spent with good food, laughs, and even a few games, but most importantly, some of the best sleep the three had gotten since this journey started. With that being said, everyone was bright, alert, and in an overall good mood.
Even Donald.
Of course, the prospect of landing in the middle of an ocean wasn't exactly a thrilling one.
"Yeah, she's outfitted for a water landing, but she's not submersible." Donald clarified.
"Well, maybe there's a message waiting for us at this spot, or something?" Sora asked.
"Oh, like a scavenger hunt?" Goofy asked excitedly.
"Exactly!" Sora smiled.
"Oh brother..." Donald sighed, yet, surprisingly, began to descend upon this watery world, and head for the spot indicated on the note. The ship landed with a big splash of water, and skidded to a stop along the surface. The sky here was grey, and it appeared as if it was cold outside. This world seemed like a broken piece of something greater.
"Well, well, what do ya know?" Donald quacked. "A whole bunch of water. Who'd of thought it?" He asked, looking behind him, at Sora.
"Well we had to look!" Sora cried, looking back down at the seemingly senseless note. "What the hell..." he said, softly. It was then that the Gummi ship rumbled. It wasn't hard, but almost like a low growl.
"What was that?" Donald asked, checking his sensors. Sora crumpled the note in his hand, into a ball, in frustration. The rumble occurred again, only a little rougher. Sora checked his own screen, "I don't know, but it's something. Something huge!" He exclaimed.
A burst of water shot forth from the surface, in the not too far distance in front of them. Suddenly a monstrous wave rocked the Gummi ship, jostling its crew, and as it did, a horrible eye crossed in front of the glass.
"It's a whale!" Goofy exclaimed, as the Gummi ship barely stayed afloat from the beast's bump. Jiminy Cricket was flung from Sora's pocket, and slammed against the glass of the Gummi ship's domed top. He shook his head, and watched as it descended again.
"Not just any whale, boys! It's Monstro! He's a whale of a whale, and as vicious as they come!" He exclaimed.
"You know it?" Sora asked, holding on for dear life, as his safety harness hugged him even tighter.
"Sure! He was sort of a legend on my world, before it was swallowed by darkness! I guess he made it too!" Jiminy said, trying to jump back to the safety of Sora's pocket.
"We gotta get outta here!" Goofy cried.
"I know! The controls, though! They're locked!" Donald quacked, trying anything to get the Gummi ship airborne.
"Uh, Donald? Might wanna hurry it up!" Sora said, holding his arm rests tightly. This Monstro was looping around, and heading for them, head first. Mouth agape.
"I'm trying, I'm trying!" Donald hollered. One button seemed to work. "There!" He cried victoriously. It certainly wasn't a good button, though.
The Gummi ship's glass top popped open, and everyone's safety harness flung off of them. It was the emergency exit button. All three hollered in fear, as the whale's jaws closed around them, and swallowed the Gummi ship, and her crew whole.
"I saw it with my own eyes!" Proclaimed a much, much younger Sora, of only about seven.
"Yeah right. You're just hearing things again." Riku replied, with a dismissive wave. The boys stood atop a rickety bridge, looking out over the ocean. It was a hot day, but still beautiful. The sky was clear, and blue, and a soft breeze always wrapped one in its embrace, just when the island heat seemed a bit much. Sora gestured with his hand, to follow.
"Nuh-uh! What difference would it make, anyway? There's a huge monster in there!" The pair began the walk over to the place in question. The secret place, they'd dubbed it, on their favorite island to play on. Their own little secret, on their own oasis, where no bullies or grown-ups could give them a hard time.
"Um, alright..." Riku replied, the softest twinge of nervousness surfacing in his voice. "Say there really is a monster in there. You think we can take it, just us, Sora?" He asked, as they stepped closer to the shady, rocky wall that housed the cave.
"Are you kidding? No problem! Let's do it!" Sora said with an infectious smile, and a confident tone. Riku nodded. He'd never admit it, but Sora gave him strength, especially when he needed it. They'd grown close, ever since he stepped in to stop him getting beat up on the playground last year. In all honesty, they were each other's best friend.
They were also each other's only friend.
Just then a low groan seemed to emanate from the cavern. "There! You hear it growling?" Sora asked, pointing.
"Shh! Quiet." Riku chided. "We gotta be careful. That way we can get the jump on it." He instructed, Sora listening intently, nodding in agreement. They slowly started to creep into the opening, and make their way through the rocky hallway, as quietly as possible from a pair of little boys, that is. They turned the last corner and into the area where the ceiling opened up, as did the walls. Evidently, nothing was there.
"See?" Riku asked, with a smug look on his face. "I told you. It's just the wind, making noise." Sora was disappointed, hanging his head, and kicking at the ground.
"Aw, man! I wish it'd been a monster." He moaned. Sora looked up, and noticed something he hadn't last time they were here. "Wait, what's that?" He asked, pointing at the anomaly. Riku noticed it as well.
"No way! How'd we miss this last time?" He asked, stepping forward.
"'Cause you're a loser." Sora teased, chuckling.
"Shut it, kid." Riku smiled, approaching the strange object. It looked as if it were a door, of some kind. He placed both hands on it, feeling around, and even giving it a small knock.
"I don't know, maybe a window, or door or something? It won't open." Sora was still disappointed.
"Man, that's really all it is? A jammed door?"
"I guess." Riku shrugged his shoulders. Riku kicked a rock, the sound of it echoing throughout the little cave. "When we grow up, we've gotta get outta here, man. Like, away from the islands." He said, softly. "We'll go on a real adventure. Not this kid stuff."
"Sounds good to me, buddy." Sora smiled, as they bumped fists. "But, isn't there anything fun to do, now?" He asked, as they began to leave. Riku smirked, and stifled a snicker.
"I heard your girlfriend is awake, over at the Mayor's house." Riku emphasized, mockingly the word, 'girlfriend'.
"Huh!?" Sora asked, looking at his friend.
"The girl we saved that fell into the ocean, two days ago. Remember?"
"Sure, but she's not my 'girlfriend'!" Sora protested.
"Sure looked that way when you swam out to save her, man!" Riku teased, harder.
"No way!" Sora cried. "I just saved someone who needed help! Girls are boring!"
"Whatever you say, Sora!" Riku made a kissy face at his best pal.
"Hey!" Sora shoved him, and the two engaged in a little play fight, before heading off to see that poor 'alien' girl.
Sora's eyes began to blink open. Ahead of him, he saw the Gummi ship, amazingly, intact. He felt the drip drop of water landing on his head, and couldn't help but feel a bit warm, wherever he was. He also felt a bit sticky.
"Huh..." he groaned, as he tried to sit up right. Yup, definitely sticky. His back splatted against something as he leaned that way.
"What...?" He mumbled, before looking behind him. That was one large row of teeth.
Wait a minute!
Teeth!?
"Whoa!" He hollered, standing as quickly as he could.
"Hey! Knock it off!" He heard the familiar quack of Donald, unsurprisingly, shouting up at someone above them. That was when Sora began to take notice of his surroundings. The ground beneath him was moist, and almost spongy, and a pool of water seemed to lap at the base, just ahead. A few wooden structures were sloppily erected all around, and in the far off distance, a poorly lit boat seemed to be anchored. The ceiling dripped water, as well, and it was dark here.
Really dark.
Sora's senses just now seemed to notice a foul smell, as well. Where were they? Sora turned to discover Donald, arms crossed and flipper tapping impatiently, and Goofy holding his shield over his head.
"Hey, Sora! You okay?" He asked, looking back.
"I think so..." Sora groaned, rubbing his head. "Uh, where are we?" He asked, before having to leap backwards, narrowly avoiding a piece of wood, thrown from above.
"Whoa!" Goofy, shield still hung over his head, replied, "Uh, you know, I think that big ol' whale Monstro swallowed us up!"
"Swallowed us? So, you mean we're..." Sora paused.
"Oh man, gross!" He hollered, wiping what he had assumed was water dripping down, off of his arm. Another piece of wood came raining down, from above, Sora having to avoid this one, as well.
"And for today's weather: expect showers!" A stone landed on Goofy's shield, forcing a grunt from the Knight. "Heavy showers!" Donald meanwhile, had nearly had enough.
"Hey!" He exclaimed, shaking his fist in the direction of the flying debris, from above. "Who's there!? Why're you doing this!?" Donald hollered. He seemed to get through, this time, as a familiar face appeared, high above them.
"It's me! I'm playing!" The puppet boy called out.
"Oh, it's just Pinocchio." Donald quacked.
"Pinocchio!?"
"Pinocchio!?"
Donald and Jiminy asked together, the cricket writer leaping from Sora's pocket.
"Pinnoch, where are you going? Pinnoch!" Jiminy called out to him, as he seemingly found something that interested him, and began to head back, across the high wooden platforms, to the little boat, in the distance.
'A boat? Wooden towers? The roof this high? This Whale really is massive! We could live in its mouth, alone!' Sora thought to himself, as he walked over to the edge of the wat--
Oh wait.
"Yuck!" Sora cried, realizing this 'water' wasn't all entirely water. This was definitely, part whale spit.
"C'mon boys! We gotta go after him!" Jiminy Cricket jumped back into Sora's pocket.
"Easy for you to say!" I don't wanna swim through whale slobber!" Sora protested.
"I second that." Donald remarked. Goofy though, had an idea.
"Let's just climb over, fellers." He theorized, grabbing ahold of the wooden structure that Pinocchio had been flinging random objects from. Sora and Donald shared a look, before shrugging.
They'd swung from vines, and flown aboard carpets.
Climbing a shaky looking structure in the mouth of a whale didn't seem all that crazy, at this point.
Hand hold, by hand hold, they'd all made it to the top, and began taking a similar path to that of the puppet boy's, all the way to the boat, where he now stood. He was accompanied by an older man, with a bushy mustache, wearing some sort of overalls, and a massive Gummi block. The biggest one Sora had ever seen. Apparently, that was what Pinocchio had found. The boat wasn't big, but it seemed sturdy, enough, and even had a large bed in the corner, underneath the tattered sail. A small goldfish's bowl sat on the nightstand, and some canned food, and containers of water sat in the opposite corner. By the looks of it, this man had been here for a little while, at this point.
"What's that you've found, Pinocchio?" He asked, with a warm smile toward the boy. Pinocchio was sneaky, and far from stupid. He'd listened in on a few conversations while in Traverse Town, and had discovered that this 'Gummi', could be used for interstellar travel, apparently. Though how, he didn't know, exactly.
"With this, I think we can get outta here, Father!" Pinnochio replied.
"Really? With this big block? You think so?" The man asked, as Sora, Donald, and Goofy all landed on the deck.
"It's true, sir." Sora stated. "How'd you end up here, Pinocchio?" Sora asked, stepping forward.
"Oh my. So the Whale swallowed you too, then? Goodness." The old man muttered, approaching the trio. Pinocchio, stepped back. He seemed almost apprehensive toward the heroes, for some reason.
"Yeah, looks like it." Sora replied.
"I'm Gepetto, Pinocchio's Father. A pleasure to meet you, gentlemen." He offered a hand for a shake, which Sora took.
"I'm Sora. That's Donald, and that's Goofy." Sora smiled.
"So you know my Pinocchio?" Gepetto asked.
"Sure. When we met him, though, he was looking for you, I think." Sora replied.
"What a good boy. You see, we were separated one night. I remember a horrible storm came in, whilst Pinocchio was playing down at the beach. I rushed to get him in, but once I was there, I couldn't find him! I was worried he'd been washed out to sea, so I took my boat, and well..." Gepetto paused, looking down, "I've never been an expert sailor. The storm was going to capsize my vessel, I was sure of it, but that's when the Whale swallowed me and my ship, whole! When I woke up, I didn't know what had happened, and I still don't know how Pinocchio got here, but I'm grateful that he's alright, at least."
Sora listened on. Gepetto braved a terrible storm, was separated from the one closest to him, and woke up dazed and confused. It was all too familiar. Whatever happened to Gepetto's world, had happened to Sora's. That thought gave him chills.
"Yeah, something similar happened to me--"
He was cut off, "How do we get outta here?" Donald asked.
Gepetto thought for a moment, "That's a good question. The Whale's jaws are shut tight, so I'm not sur-- huh?" Gepetto began to look around.
Pinocchio was gone.
Again.
"Pinocchio?" He called, stepping toward the edge of the boat. Sora, Donald and Goofy had just now noticed his absence as well. "Pinocchio? Where are you, Pinocchio?" Gepetto asked. "Oh no..." he sighed. Sora glanced back at Goofy, and the two shared a nod. "We'll look for him."
"We will?" Donald asked.
"Sure. It's not like we have anything else to do." Sora replied, summoning the Jungle Key.
"Oh!" Sora reached into his pocket.
The charm Aladdin had give him was still there! What luck! He pulled it from his pocket, and smiled. It had that same familiar clasp. He attached it to the Keyblade, and, after a dazzling, and blinding display of sparkling light, he felt something new in his grip.
The Keyblade had transformed, again.
Now with a much shorter reach, it felt a bit heavier, but still remarkably easy for Sora to swing. It practically shined it was so gold, and the charm that dangled from the base resembled the lamp that Genie called prison for so many centuries. The handle was ornately crafted, and the end, still resembling that of a key, was a molded piece of gold, causing the whole thing to look as if it was the lamp turned into a weapon.
"Fancy." Goofy remarked with a smile. Donald was smitten with it.
"Whoa..." he gawked, admiring the shiny blade.
"C'mon you two. Let's go find Pinocchio." He stated, with a smile, before leaping off of the ship, and onto another spongy bank. On this shore, however, there was a large hole, with some bones just above it. A stench seemed to emanate from it. Sora reckoned it must lead to the Whale's stomach, or somewhere in its innards, at least.
"Hang on." Donald quacked, holding his staff high. With a whirl, and shove upward, he'd summoned some nose plugs for the trio. Sora laughed, and nasaly remarked, "Works for me." The three took their first steps forward, into the dark hole. The wet heat was nauseating.
The dark 'tunnel' didn't last long, before they arrived in a surprisingly brightly lit, and equally as humid 'room'. The Whale's veins, and organs seemed to pump all around them, and the surfaces all appeared to pulse to the rythym of the monster's heart beat. Wherever they were, it was obviously deep inside Monstro.
There was a raised bit to their left, and an opening at the apex. Just ahead, however, was another opening, and at this one stood the wooden puppet in question. They didn't have to go far to find him, at least.
"There you are." Sora said, stepping forward, and crouching down. "What're you doing, Pinnoch? C'mon. Let's go back." He offered, with a smile. Goofy however frowned. He didn't like the look on Pinocchio's face, for some reason.
"You know, Gepetto is awfully worried about you." Donald rolled his eyes, but Sora agreed, "Yeah, c'mon man. Quit foolin' around. This is no time for games." He said, standing.
"But Sora, I thought you liked games."
Sora's head nearly spun around so fast, he might have snapped his neck.
That voice.
It came from the raised mound of flesh, where the other opening was.
"Or are you too cool to play, now that you have the Keyblade?" Riku asked, raising an eyebrow, looking down at his best friend. Pinocchio rushed to the silver haired boy's side.
"Riku!" Sora called. His voice was practically shaking with excitement. He'd found him, again! But, how?
"Wh-What're you doing here? Did the Whale swallow you too? Wait!" Sora raised his finger, pointing it directly at his closest friend. "It was you! You did leave that note! I knew it!" Sora laughed, smiling.
"Yeah." Riku confirmed. "I'm surprised you came, but I'm glad to see you, I guess. I see why you do it, now. Playing with new friends." Riku's tone didn't seem friendly, and Sora could sense that. "It's fun. Me and Pinocchio are having a blast."
Sora stepped forward, "What're you talking about, man? Did you find Kairi, yet?" Sora asked.
Even he was surprised.
He didn't ask how Riku was, or what he'd been up to. He jumped straight to her, with his questioning. Riku's smug grin turned into a sour frown.
"Maybe. Catch us, and maybe I'll tell you what I know." Riku replied. Sora was shocked. He knew something? And wasn't gonna just tell him?
"What? C'mon man!"
Riku didn't have anything else to say, apparently, as he simply snatched Pinocchio by the arm and drug the wooden puppet boy, deeper into the Whale, disappearing into the hole behind him.
"Wha--?" Sora hollered, before taking off in a full sprint after him.
"Sora!" Donald called, following behind him. Goofy did as well, but the entrance closed around Sora's escaping form, effectively stopping Donald and Goofy from coming to his aid. Donald's cry was the last thing Sora heard, before he felt the tunnel of flesh collapse around him. Everything turned dark, and he felt as if he couldn't breath, before the 'tunnel', which evidently was actually a valve, pushed Sora through, into a new chamber.
He was coated in an oily substance now, alone, and severely grossed out, but thankfully alive.
He was now in a different fleshy chamber with much higher ceilings. It also seemed to run deeper, and the whole place was colored a deep shade of red. Sora sighed, attempting to wipe whatever this substance was from his clothes, and hair.
He didn't want to know what it was.
He began walking forward, and discovered that every step had a sickening squelch accompanying it.
"This place just keeps getting better..." he groaned.
Unfortunately, he'd also lost his nose plugs during his trip. Fortunately, this chamber did not have a horrifying smell to go along with the humidity, and overall sickening atmosphere that came with being inside of a whale. He did however hear a faint chuckle coming from somewhere.
It sounded like Pinocchio.
It was dark, but he reckoned following the sound of the laughter was better than just walking aimlessly. He walked until he discovered another hole in the 'wall', and surrounding it, a few barrels. This Whale had problems digesting things, he thought with an inner laugh. His mood quickly turned however, when he saw a spindly leg shoot from one of the barrels.
It was followed by another, and another, until it had eight in total, and those all too familiar, yellow, glowing, and dead eyes.
"Heartless?" He said to himself, confused.
How'd they get here? He hadn't time to ponder it, though, as he summoned the Keyblade in all its golden glory, and sliced at the barrel monster. It disappeared, like any other Heartless, but what he didn't like was that same sound of wood cracking, just to his right.
And left.
There were more of these things.
"Aww, not again..." Goofy groaned. This was the second time they'd been separated from Sora in the past few days, and fourth time they'd been split apart, since their journey began.
"No good, impulsive, head strong..." Donald seethed, before glancing around the room, looking for a way to Sora. His staff summoned, he held it tightly, and cast a fire spell at the closed shut hole Sora was swallowed by.
Nothing happened.
"Rats." He sighed.
"Maybe we should try that one?" Goofy asked, referring to the opening which they'd found Pinocchio standing in front of originally.
"We really don't want to get lost in this thing's guts, Goofy." Donald quacked. He was right, and Goofy knew it, but just standing here didn't feel right, either.
"Well there's gotta be somethin' we can do." He groaned, looking around the chamber. Goofy's sensitive nose couldn't handle these nose plugs much longer. With a few inhales through his mouth, his eyes watered.
"AH-CHOO!" He sneezed, sending his nose plugs flying from his nostrils.
"Aw, shucks..." he moaned, slumping his head in defeat. Donald however, rubbed his chin. He had a twinkle in his eyes. He had an idea.
"I'll bet..." Donald snickered. "Goofy, c'mon." He waved his hand, stepping back out to the mouth, where Gepetto was.
"Huh? But, Donald!" Goofy protested, only following behind to try and sway Donald into turning back around.
"Just c'mon Goofy. I've got an idea." He said with a sly smile. Back out in the mouth, Gepetto sat, waiting patiently for their return. He waved, as the two reappeared.
"Oh, hello! Any luck finding my son?" He asked.
"None yet, but we need your help. We're all getting out of here." Donald said, confidently. Goofy was still confused. "But, Donald--"
"Shut up Goofy. Start gathering any wood you can find. Make sure it's dry. Old man, tell me you've got some kerosene for that lamp still." Donald ordered.
"Well, of course. But, dry wood, and ker--"
"Shut up, and go get it." Donald ordered, once again. He gripped his staff, and smiled down at it. "Just hold on, Sora. I've got this one." He quacked.
Sora rolled away from another attack, and swung behind him, connecting with another barrel Heartless. There were more than he thought, and fighting in the slippery, dark innards of a whale was not ideal.
He sliced, diagonally, through another, and cast a thunder spell, dismissing two simultaneously. He was pouring sweat, and was already drenched in something else, much, much more disgusting, but he had to keep fighting.
Keep pushing.
He wasn't planning on dying down here, and if Riku really had found her, he had to push on. He had to ensure she was safe. He vanquished another with a forward stab, and finally finished off the large group of spider barrels, with a large downward swing. He collapsed onto the soft, wet floor, landing on his backside.
His grip on the Keyblade finally loosening, he panted through heavy breaths. "And stay down..." he mumbled, softly. "Please..." he said through a sigh.
The Keyblade vanishing, as it no longer sensed any danger, Sora took a moment to catch his ragged breath, his head sinking into his hands. He simply sat for a few minutes, taking deep breaths.
He didn't have long to linger though, and he knew it. Wiping away some sweat, he stood, and only then noticed the slight hint of iron in the air. He glanced down at his arm. He'd sustained a cut, during the fight and didn't even notice.
"Crap." He sighed, holding his hand over the wound. "Hea--" his spell was cut off.
He heard another giggle from Pinocchio. He hadn't the time. With dried blood surrounding his wound, he pushed forward, his legs still churning through another one of these stomach turning 'tunnels', and into another fleshy, dark, red, humid, 'room'.
He squinted his eyes, as if that would help his limited vision, and called out, "Pinocchio? Riku? C'mon guys!" He sighed. This room was even darker, causing him to feel around with his hands. His gloved palms found one of the wet, sticky walls, and he grimaced at the sound, and feel.
"Ugh. It's like if a monster made out of brains could lick you..." he groaned, mostly to himself. There did appear to be another opening across the room, however, and now, all he needed to do was follow the 'wall', toward it. He thought he heard voices on the other side. He was close.
To something, anyway.
"Why do you still care about that boy?" The horned witch asked, following behind Riku, as he marched forward. With the power of Darkness, getting lost in the various valves, and innards of the Whale simply wasn't an issue.
He had navigated it, with ease, essentially cheating in this little game of manhunt. Maleficent stood, just behind Riku, as he leapt atop a fleshy mound, in the much better lit section of the Whale's guts. This little stop off, on a broken planet, inside of a monstrous whale off all places, was not part of Maleficent's plan.
The boy had acted, without consulting her. He still exhibited just a bit too much freedom, for her liking. Worst of all, he'd planned a little reunion with the other wretched runt, here, of all places. Not to mention his toying around with the puppet boy.
"He has all but abandoned you, for the Keyblade, and his new companions, afterall." People's minds, and hearts, were nothing but a garden for the horrible witch. Evidently, she needed to plant a few more seeds of resentment, hate, and envy in Riku's.
Riku shrugged, and lied. "I don't care about him. I was..." he paused, turning to face her, "I was just messin' with him a little." Maleficent's face remained unreadable, expressionless. Her voice, however, indicated that she knew the truth.
"Of course you were." She wasn't happy with this little antic of his, but she still needed him, and she needed him at his best. "Beware of the Darkness in your Heart, my son. The Heartless prey upon it." She warned, with a smile, and an icy touch of his shoulder.
Riku pulled away, again, "Mind your own damn business!" He exclaimed, as she stepped through a dark portal. With her finally gone, Riku sighed, and kicked at the ground.
"Thinks she knows me? Yeah right. Ice queen. I don't fu--" He stopped short of his own little rant, before noticing he was missing something. "Oh crap." He groaned. He'd lost the damn puppet. That thing really did like to get in trouble! He examined the room, and saw only two exits. One behind him, the other lower, below him. He shrugged, ready to turn, before he heard his name.
"Riku!"
Sora had finally made it. After being deposited by another tight squeezing valve, he'd arrived back in the well lit, stench riddled maze of chambers he'd started in. He'd swung through more barrel monsters, and he'd trudged through more floors that squelched under his feet, but he'd finally heard Riku's voice, in the next room.
He was talking to someone, and it didn't sound friendly. Sora figured he wouldn't speak to Pinocchio that way, so, Keyblade equipped, he rushed into the room, ready for a fight. He was shocked to discover that his oldest, and dearest friend seemed to be alone.
"Riku!"
He hollered. Riku's eyes widened slightly. He hadn't expected Sora to catch up that fast.
"What?" Sora was taken aback with his short, and rude response.
"Wha--..." Sora mumbled. He was fed up with Riku's attitude. How could he know something about where she was, and not tell him, of all people!
"What's going on with you? You say you may know something about Kairi, but I have to 'catch' you, so you'll tell me? What the hell is up with that? Besides, where's Pinocchio? His old man is worried sick about him, and you're just dragging him along, for what? Fun? Get real! You'd think you could appreciate a parent who's actually worried about his kid, but no! You're just messing around! What's gotten into you, man!?" Sora asked, angrily.
Riku couldn't help but notice the shape Sora was in. He looked a little worse for wear, but overall, a lot tougher than he did a few months ago. He also wasn't gonna be talked to this way, especially by him, right now.
"I was just about to ask you the same thing, Sora!" He hollered in response. "It seems like all you care about nowadays is running around, trying to play the hero with your Keyblade, and showing off to your loser, new buddies! Do you even care about her? Do you even want to save Kairi?" He asked.
Sora's grip on the Keyblade tightened. This was getting heated.
"What kind of a stupid question is that? Of course I--" Sora's retort was cut off, as both their heads snapped in the direction of the opening behind Riku. They'd heard a cry come from it. It was easily recognized as Pinocchio's and he'd only screamed one word.
"Help!"
Sora immediately sprung into action, leaping to the platform, and rushing past Riku, into the next chamber. Riku was still a bit shook from their heated conversation, but followed suit, a moment later, summoning forth his own blade. Catching up, he ran to Sora's side, as they both assessed the situation.
It wasn't ideal.
Poor little Pinocchio was trapped inside the belly of what appeared to be some sort of parasitic jellyfish. Only, it was emblazoned with the Heartless insignia, on its forehead. A black heart, with a red 'X' strapped across the middle. This chamber of the Whale's innards was round, with short ceilings. Combat was gonna be tricky here, and they hadn't the time to discuss a game plan. The parasite shot forth its wiggly arms, that had their own miniature mouths attached, right toward Sora and Riku.
They rolled in opposite directions, and stood, simultaneously. Riku had one question. "You up for this?" He asked, glancing over at his friend. Sora had one of his own.
"You kidding?" They moved in sync, Sora slashing at the one arm, and Riku at the other. The parasite was fast though, quickly retracting its arms, and avoiding any damage.
"Get me outta here!" Pinocchio cried. Riku dodged another lash from the tentacle like arms, "Shut it, ki--"
"Hold on Pinocchio! We'll save you!" Sora responded, cutting Riku off, as he deftly avoided one of the monster's swings, and sliced its mouth-like hand off. The parasite roared, and collided its arm's midsection with Sora's torso, sending him flying across the room. Riku swung again, connecting partially this time, but rolled toward Sora afterward. He'd hit the wall of flesh pretty hard, but, much to Riku's amazement, seemed barely even fazed, standing, and parrying a jab from the monster's now handless appendage.
"Fire!" He cried, sending a hot flame toward the Heartless' head. The ensuing connect wasn't pretty, as the beast roared again, flailing its arms wildly. Its head now aflame, it swung its noodle like arms around the room, one of them connecting with Riku's face, but only partially. He could feel the warm blood pouring from his cheek, his other hand gripping his weapon tighter.
"Heal!" He heard Sora call, and suddenly, like magic, began feeling his face suture shut, the blood vanishing as well.
"Huh?" He muttered, before the Heartless' roar caught his attention, again. Sora had leapt into the air, and sliced at its midsection. With a smirk, Riku imitated his action, slashing at it as well, after a jump of his own. The Heartless seemed to understand its predicament. It was overwhelmed, and even in a mindless manifestation of pure Darkness, survival instincts would begin to take hold.
It grabbed at the fleshy ceiling of the chamber, and lifted its entire body up. The spot where it sat, previously, now had a gaping hole in it, and with a swift swing, the parasite deposited a screaming Pinocchio into the cavity in the floor, from its cage like belly.
"Pinocchio!" Sora cried, and watched as not even a second later, Riku had leapt after him, diving to try and catch the boy. Sora smiled, as he jumped as well. Pinocchio was in trouble, and Riku's first instinct was to save him. Sora knew the Riku he'd known all these years was still in there. He was just moody, that's all.
Right?
"Please! Please, give me back my son! I'm begging you!" Poor old Gepetto cried, literally on his knees at the helm of the boat, back in the Whale's mouth. His pleas were directed at Riku, who held an unconscious Pinocchio under his right arm.
He stood on one of the taller wooden platforms, back toward the holes that led deeper into the Whale. His black sword was held tightly in his other hand, and his face was expressionless. Sora landed, hard on the deck, moments later, next to Donald, who was taken aback.
"Sora!" He hollered, running to his side, and grabbing at his shoulders. "Are you okay?" He asked. Sora didn't respond, instead making it to his feet, and rushing to Gepetto's side.
"Riku!" He hollered, frowning. Riku simply rolled his eyes, "Sorry, old man." He said, with a smirk. "I have some unfinished business with this puppet." Gepetto flung his hands in the air, tears forming in his tired eyes, "He's not a puppet! He's my little boy! Please, sir! I love him, so dearly!"
Sora's hands formed into fists, and he began to grind his teeth out of righteous anger. He was sick of Riku's little game. Sick and tired. Riku remained unmoved.
"He is unusual, I'll give you that. Who knew puppets could have hearts?" Riku looked away, toward the higher of two exits at the back of the Whale's mouth cavity. He knew what he had to do, he knew why, and he knew who he was doing this for, but still.
He didn't want the old man to have to witness it.
"You see," he began, as he made his way over to the exit he'd been eyeing a moment ago, "he can help someone who's lost her's. I'm sure of it." Sora had heard enough.
"No, you're not talking..." Sora paused. "You're talking about Kairi, aren't you? What's happened, Riku? Enough with this crap, man!" He screamed. Gepetto was still on his knees, but Donald, and the now present, and wet, Goofy were shocked. They'd never seen Sora get this worked up.
Unlike earlier, Riku was cool, calm, and collected as he left the mouth of the whale. "What do you care about her?" He asked, in response. Sora's eyes felt the familiar sting of tears welling up. He wasn't sad.
The opposite.
He was so angry, and frustrated.
Why would Riku act like this?
Why would he be on the brink of doing the horrible thing he was about to do? What was going on with him!? And why couldn't Sora reach him!?
"We've gotta go after them." Donald of all present quacked. As mad as Sora was, he couldn't help but crack a smile, as he turned to face the duck Mage. Goofy too, was pleased as punch, smiling wildly as well.
"Wow, Donald. I agree, but coming from you? That's some real growth!" Sora snickered. Goofy laughed as well, patting Donald on the back, "It sure is, pal! I'm proud!" Donald rolled his eyes.
"Whatever. C'mon you two." Sora gripped the Keyblade tightly, but noticed, just before they took off after Riku, a large pile of wood collected in what used to be Gepetto's bedroom. He leapt, grabbing ahold of the wooden tower, and began his climb upward, followed by Donald, and Goofy. Sora's curiosity had been piqued.
"Say," he began, through efforts, as they climbed their way up, "what's with the big pile of wood?" Goofy began to answer, but was cut off, naturally.
"It's our ticket outta here, once we save Pinocchio." Donald quacked. Sora, finally making it to the top, began to head for the hole at the top of the fleshy 'wall', didn't follow, "How?" He asked. Donald and Goofy following suit, exchanged a sly look.
"You'll see. It's gonna be fun." Donald chuckled, as did Goofy. Sora smiled.
"I'll just bet." With that they'd made it through the passage Riku had slipped into, and discovered a similar room to the last that they'd all occupied. Still brightly lit, the entire chamber seemed to beat to the rythym of the Whale's heart, and, thankfully did not have the foul stench. It was however, significantly taller, with multiple ledges to clamber aboard, and haphazardly make your way upward, until reaching the hole in the ceiling.
It was the only place Riku could've gone, if one looked at this logically. Which seemed an absurd thing to do, at this point.
"I guess we got more climbin' to do, huh?" Goofy asked aloud. Sora frowned.
"Yeah, but we've gotta move fast." He got a bit of a running start, and leapt, as hard and high as he could, surprising even himself, when he landed firmly upon one of the platforms.
"Whoa! Nice jump, Sora!" Goofy cheered, before readying himself for a jump of his own.
"Wait!" Donald cried, grabbing at his sleeve. "Goofy." The Knight turned, and smiled.
"What's up, pal?" Donald held his hands behind his back and kicked at the ground.
"You know..." Naturally, Goofy was still confused, and cocked his head to the side, quizzically. "Throw me, Goofy! I can't fly! There, happy now!?" Donald shouted.
Sora barely contained his laughter, as he kept on jumping higher and higher, even in the midst of the high pressure situation they found themselves in. Goofy obliged, and lifting an irritated, and deflated Donald up, tossed him as high as he could. Coincidentally, Sora had just jumped for the highest platform, the one directly underneath the hole in the ceiling, and Donald was now on a collision course with him. Luckily, as they made contact, it hardly threw Sora's jump off, allowing them both to land safely on the aforementioned platform.
"Urgh..." they both groaned, rubbing their heads. "That's the second time you've been flung into me." Sora groaned.
Donald stood, and he was a bit woozy, "Yeah, well, I wouldn't recommend it." He quacked. Sora snickered, before Goofy too had joined them.
"Hey, boys. Ready to go?" The Knight helped both to their feet, before the trio looked up. The hole's edges were just above them, and only Donald would need the necessary boost upward, into what was a similar room as all the previous ones.
The one glaring difference was the ring of yellow, sizzling liquid that ran around the circular edges of the chamber. They didn't have time to consider it, however, as, at the fleshy ground's edge sat a dazed, and seemingly wounded Pinocchio. Diagonal to him, and still brandishing his demonic looking sword, Riku stood, looking down at the boy.
"Hey!" Sora hollered, whilst Goofy and Donald summoned their weapons. Sora couldn't even believe this was something he had to say, but alas, here he stood.
Solemnly, but firmly, he ordered, "Let Pinocchio go, Riku." Riku turned his head, his blade still gripped tightly in his right hand.
Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, Sora felt like he didn't even know who Riku was. He'd known him since they were both young children, and now here Riku was, on the cusp of manhood, with Sora only a year behind. And he felt as if he was looking at a stranger for a second.
"A puppet that's lost its heart to the Heartless..." Riku muttered, looking back down at poor little Pinocchio. "Maybe it holds the key to helping Kairi." That last word sent shivers down Sora's spine, as it confirmed what he already knew. His blood ran cold. She'd lost her heart.
"So c'mon Sora. How about it?" Riku asked, their eyes meeting again. He offered a hand to Sora, and even cracked a smile. "Let's join forces, to save her."
It pained Riku to admit it, even internally, but he felt he needed Sora's and the Keyblade's assistance in giving Kairi back her heart.
Afterward, and she knew of whom was responsible for what, let the chips fall where they may, Riku figured. But he knew, really knew, that after everything he'd done, just to save her, that she'd see him in a different light.
Maybe even the way she looked at Sor--
A sparkling light emanated from Sora's hand, as he summoned forth his golden Keyblade, and held it tightly. Seemingly ready for a fight.
Riku was genuinely shocked.
The kind of shocked where you're lost for words.
Alternately, for some, the kind where words come immediately, but from the hurt heart, rather than the confused head.
"What?" Riku asked, as his eyes widened, his grip tightened, and his free hand balled into a white knuckled fist. "You'd rather fight me? Over a puppet, that's lost its heart!?" Riku shouted the last bit. Sora stood firm, Donald and Goofy ready to strike behind him.
"Heart or no heart," Sora began, his eyes locked with Riku's, "at least he still has a conscience."
The silver haired youth scoffed, "Conscience?"
Jiminy Cricket finally made his way out of Sora's pocket, and began a mad dash toward the ill Pinocchio.
"Yeah. I'm sure you can't hear it." Sora said. "But, right now, it's loud and clear." He bent his knees, and grabbed at the Keyblade with his other hand. "And it's telling me," Sora paused, as a tear formed in his eye, "that you're on the wrong side, Riku!" Sora couldn't even believe this was really happening. A fight between him and Riku was common place, but they were nearly always good natured.
This, however, was serious.
Deadly so.
Riku was equally as surprised, and hurt. "Well..." he said softly. "Then you leave me no choice." He muttered, as they glared at one another, ready to do battle, like they'd never done before.
"Pinocchio!" They both heard Jiminy Cricket cry, as he finally reached his wooden charge.
"Jiminy, I..." the poor wooden boy could barely raise his head, "I don't think I'm gonna make it." He mumbled.
Just then, the entire chamber began to rumble and shake, before the parasite from before was seemingly deposited, right in the middle of the room.
"Whoa!" Sora jumped back. It had regrown its jaw-like hands, and seemed to be stronger than when Sora and Riku had taken it on. Sora managed to roll away from a slash from its arm, whilst Goofy blocked one from the other.
Donald cast a fire spell toward its head, but it was too quick, dodging the fireball with ease. Sora noticed an inky, black portal behind it, and watched as Riku slipped inside, disappearing from the battle.
That was nothing like Riku, Sora thought.
He never ran from a fight. Then again, he wasn't acting anything like the same person ever since they'd lost their islands. Sora didn't have time to dwell on it though, as the parasite Heartless was beginning to slurp up the yellow liquid with its arms.
"Ya might wanna duck, fellers!" Goofy hollered, as he slung his shield toward one of the beast's tentacle like arms. Thankfully, the shield managed to sever the arm. Unfortunately, it also released a spray of the yellow, sizzling liquid, that, evidently was stomach acid.
"Yow!" Sora hollered, as a drop landed on his forearm.
"Wind!" Donald cried, summoning forth a protective shell around the three. The Heartless once again flailed its arm around, wildly trying to hit anything, only to be rebuffed by Donald's spell. It was strong though, and the encasing wind shell was breaking apart, fast. Sora rolled toward the monster, and sliced at its undercarriage, causing it to focus on him, with its mouth-like tummy.
Meanwhile, poor little Pinocchio was still being clung to, and shaken by a worried sick, Jiminy Cricket.
"Pinnoch! Pinocchio! C'mon! Stand up, kiddo! We've gotta get outta here!" He cried.
"I..." Pinocchio's eyes were shutting, slowly, "I can't, Jiminy..." he said through a sigh.
"Ice!" Donald's blizzard was true, icicles piercing the Heartless' skin, even whilst it bit at Sora. The Keyblade Master, meanwhile, was busy parrying and stabbing at the monster's midsection, and Goofy had found some purchase on a fleshy ledge, high above the beast.
"Here goes nothin'!" The Knight exclaimed as he leapt, shield held tightly down at the parasite. His battle cry caused the monster to turn, ready to knock him away, but that brief moment of hesitation allowed Sora the moment he needed.
He stabbed with the Keyblade, upward, and hard, whilst Donald simultaneously cast a vicious fire spell, connecting with the Heartless' head. With a growl, and final ear piercing screech, it simply blew apart.
Thankfully, no guts, or entrails splattered across the walls, or the room's occupants. Goofy's grand attack however, did end unceremoniously, as he simply thudded into the ground, atop his shield.
"Oof!" He grunted.
Eyes closed tightly, he slowly began to pry them open, only to see a smiling Sora, and Donald.
"Did I get it?" He asked, standing up. Sora and Donald shared a look, and a smirk.
"Yeah. You got it alright!" Sora said approaching the Knight and offering a hand for a high-five, which Goofy readily took.
"Way to go, Goofy!" Donald cried, as he too wanted a high-five from the beast's 'vanquisher'. What Sora had only just noticed however, was that, just like back in that Deep Jungle, with the chameleon Heartless, two Hearts had been set free when this one was ended.
One floated up, through the Whale, whilst the other drifted toward, and evidently inside of the unconscious, or potentially worse, Pinocchio.
That though, seemed to do the trick.
Jiminy Cricket wept into the boy's lap, but with a slight glow emanating from the puppet, he lifted his head, and smiled.
"Hey..." he said softly, "I feel better now." He gingerly tried to stand, much to the cricket's amazement.
"Pinocchio! Oh thank Goodness!" He exclaimed. Sora dismissed the Keyblade, and walked over, followed by his friends.
"How're you feeling, Pinocch?" He asked.
"Fine. Why?" The puppet boy asked. Sora, Donald, and Goofy all shared a confused look.
"Uh, because you were basically just--"
Just then, the entire chamber began to rumble, and suddenly, more of that horrible yellow acid shot forth from the wall.
"Whoa!" Goofy cried.
"We gotta get outta here!" Donald ordered. With a swift move, Goofy scooped Pinocchio up, and Jiminy Cricket hopped back into Sora's pocket. They all began to head for the exit, but Sora had a sickening thought cross his mind.
Where was Riku?
"Riku? Riku, where are you?" Donald stopped, looking back. Goofy did as well, but was shoved along by the duck Mage.
"Go, I'll get him!" Donald pitter pattered back to Sora, hollering as he did, "Sora! C'mon! The Whale must be getting sick or something!"
"Not until I know Riku got out safe too!" Donald sighed.
"Sora, he's safe! You didn't see what he did, before that fight!? That was a dark portal, Sora! He's been using the Darkness for some time now! I can't tell you if his Heart is safe, but I can tell you that he's not here, right now!"
Sora thought for a moment. He hated how true Donald's statement was, but, in his own Heart, he knew it to be so.
"Yeah. You're right..." he said softly.
"So c'mon, then! I don't wanna be whale barf! Do you!?" Donald asked. Sora couldn't help but snicker at Donald's joke, as the two beat feet out of the Whale's sickening innards, and back into its mouth.
On a ship, in a different ocean, on a different world, Riku did indeed stand, safe and sound from the inside of Monstro. He stood looking out of a window, on the ship, over the still sea. The only light was that of the moon. His gaze trailed down, however, to the comatose body in front of him, laid on her back, on a soft bench in the captain's quarters.
She looked so peaceful.
So beautiful.
Her auburn hair fell perfectly, and her chest just barely rose and fell as she slept. "So..." he began, knowing the witch had materialized in the room. The change in temperature was always a clear sign.
"Kairi's like a lifeless puppet, now?" He asked, holding back his emotions.
"Precisely." Maleficent cooed. Riku sighed.
"And, her Heart was..."
"Taken by the Heartless that very night, no doubt." She said, stepping closer to him. Riku's hands balled into fists. He turned to face the evil horned witch, "Tell me!" He commanded. "What can I do!?" He asked, looking up into her eyes.
Maleficent grinned, "There are seven maidens of the purest Heart, as you know." She stepped to stand side by side with Riku.
"The Princesses of Heart." She snickered.
"Gather them together, and a door will open to all worlds. A door that contains endless wisdom." Maleficent's gaze shifted to Kairi. "There, I've no doubt you'd find someway to recover Kairi's heart." She began to walk away, her heels clicking against the wooden boards of the ship. Riku followed her, intent on answers.
"Now," she began, "I'll grant you a marvelous gift." She turned swiftly, and reached her hand out, toward him, Darkness flowing from her fingertips. "The power to control the Heartless!" She cried with a laugh.
Riku braced, thinking the Darkness would hit like a freight train, but once it did, he was shocked. It was a cooling sensation. He practically glowed, and, in that very moment, he felt as if he could move mountains, and part the sea.
Such tremendous power.
It was unlike anything he'd ever felt before. Riku looked down at his hands, and a smile crept onto his face, that didn't even feel like his own. The immense power unsettled him, but, he knew why he needed it. The only reminder he needed, was to look back.
"Soon, Kairi. Soon." He muttered. Everything he had to do, he had to do for her.
Right?
"There you all are!" Gepetto hollered, waving from his boat. His tone was much happier, perhaps because he saw a very much alive and well Pinocchio giggling in Goofy's arms. Of course, Donald and Sora were right behind them, and the whole gang seemed to be in a hurry.
"Up ya go!" Goofy cried, tossing the wooden puppet aboard, and immediately turning, ready to do the same to Donald. Donald leapt into his arms, and was tossed aboard as well, whilst Sora made the jump on his own. He turned, and knelt down to give Goofy the hand he needed to get up to the deck as well, and Donald was already getting the Gummi ship ready.
"Pinocchio!" Gepetto hollered, as the Father and Son embraced. Donald unlocked the ship, and immediately assumed his chair, ensuring she was going to be flight worthy, or at least able to float. Sora, glanced over at the large pile of wood, whilst Goofy followed behind Donald.
"C'mon Gepetto!" He ordered. Gepetto was also in on the plan, and scooped Pinocchio, along with the fish bowl into his arms making haste to get to the Gummi ship, as well.
"Wait, what're we doing!?" Sora asked, following behind Gepetto.
"Just get in!" Donald ordered, as Goofy clambered aboard, assuming his own seat. The entire Whale seemed to groan, and rumble, seemingly ready to empty its stomach. Gepetto, carrying Pinocchio, and Sora finally hopped into the Gummi ship's cockpit, and Donald got ready to close the hatch.
"Sora!" His hand was hovering over the button.
"Shoot a fire spell, directly at that wood!" Sora nodded, and obeyed, angling his golden Keyblade directly at the large stack.
"Fire!" He cried, as he used his last bit of energy to summon the spell. The fireball was large, and immediately upon impact set the brazier ablaze. Donald's hand slammed down on the closing button, and with a woosh, the Gummi ship was locked up tight, and ready to go. The flame grew higher and higher, causing an awful lot of smoke. If a light bulb could've appeared over Sora's head, it would have.
"Oh, I get it!" He hollered, taking his own seat, whilst Gepetto, and Pinocchio headed for the galley. "We're gonna make the whale snee--"
Sora's exclamation was cut short, as the giant whale, Monstro, took a deep inhale, and, like a bullet from a gun, shot the contents of its mouth skyward, whilst it surfaced on the broken world it had ended up on. Goofy hollered loudly, as the Gummi ship flew at breakneck speed into the atmosphere.
Thankfully the Gummi ship was again, fully operational and due to the force of the Whale's sneeze had been flung all the way back out into space. With a few checks of various sensors to ensure all was well, Donald charted a course back to Traverse Town, and there, they'd drop off Gepetto, and Pinocchio.
They'd just arrived, and had already discussed the plan with Leon, and the gang. The Father and Son would stay with Leon for a while, whilst the gang would build them their very own house, right in the First District! It was an unbelievable act of kindness and generosity, something Sora desperately wanted to see in this otherwise cruel universe. It warmed his heart, to know that a group of people could be so unselfish, and so giving. They were just finishing up the goodbyes, and the thank yous.
"So, you really can't stay with me, Jiminy?" Little Pinocchio asked. He was disappointed.
"Afraid not, kiddo." The little cricket said with a tip of his cap. "But know this, Pinnoch. You've got a Father that loves you very much, and I know, I mean really know, that if you're a good boy, no fibbin', no kiddin' around and all, that you'll be able to become a real boy in no time." He said with a smile. Pinocchio returned with his own grin.
"Someone very important once told me, that if you wish upon a star, it makes no difference who you are. Your wish will come true." Jiminy hopped onto Sora's shoulder, "Remember that, and you'll be just fine Pinocchio. I believe in you. And I always will." Pinocchio looked up at Sora, "Thanks Jiminy. And thank you, Sora. For everything."
Sora smiled as well. "Hey, anything for a friend in need, right? Don't sweat it, Pinnoch." Sora threw his hands behind his head and chuckled.
"That's Sora, for ya." Goofy remarked. "Always makin' friends. He's just the likeable sort, I suppose." He chuckled.
"Yeah, real likeable." Donald quacked, teasing the Keyblade Master.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sora asked, kneeling down and looking at Donald incredulously.
The whole group laughed.
Sora dealt the last card necessary to Goofy.
"You sure do make a fine stir fry, Donald." Sora remarked, grabbing at his own hand of cards, and beginning to organize them. The three sat around the dining table, enjoying a friendly game of cards before bed. Tomorrow, they'd be headed for another world, to continue their quest. Hopefully, sans the stomach churning encounter with the horrifying Monstro.
Donald too began organizing his hand, "Thanks, Sora."
Goofy's hand was all over the place, but not too bad, for the game they were playing.
"Donald makes great desserts too." Goofy smiled, across the table at Sora.
"Well, well." Sora smirked, "We'll just have to see about that." Donald rolled his eyes, drawing a card, and placing one of his own down to create the discard pile.
"How can you two talk about food after that big meal? Or after being in that Whale?" He asked. Sora's skin crawled.
"Yeah, that's not something I'd like to dwell on." Play continued on for a few moments, as usual. Donald was working on a winning hand.
"That sure was nice of the Traverse Town gang." Goofy remarked.
"Yeah, I know Leon seems tough, and all, but he's really got a good heart. I can tell." Sora said with a smile, discarding, as he did. Donald smirked, as he drew. Evidently that wasn't the card he needed. Sora glanced over at Goofy, trying to get a good read on him. He never was good at card games, but he could read people, fairly well. Goofy though, had a great poker face.
"Where to, tomorrow, Donald?" Sora asked, trying to get the duck Mage talking.
"Who knows? We'll see where we can go from Agrabah, and figure it out from there." He stated, drawing another card. He had something good, Sora reckoned. Play continued on again, before Sora was only a card away from the meld he needed. He had this thing in the bag. Donald too was smiling, though. Sora furrowed his brow, Donald doing the same.
"Hmm..." Goofy rubbed his chin. "Oh! Uh, Gin?" He more asked, than stated, placing his cards down.
"Wak!?
"Huh!?"
Sora and Donald stood, giving Goofy's hand an analytical look.
"Aw phooey!" Donald cursed, sitting back down. Sora laughed, offering a hand to shake for Goofy.
"Well played, pal!" Goofy took his hand, and laughed his own chuckle, "Thanks, Sora!" Donald wasn't having it though.
"Rematch!" He demanded, picking up the deck, and beginning to shuffle.
Sora smiled.
Come to think of it, he'd been smiling alot when on board.
Laughing too.
The downtime was something Sora feared when this whole journey started, mostly because of the massive hole he figured he'd feel with Riku and Kairi's absence. Sure, it was there, especially after seeing Riku, and knowing that Kairi needed help, but still. These two, though.
They really were good, at their cores. Even Donald, as grumpy as he could be at times. Sora's cheeks hurt and his sides burned from all the laughter and smiling during games like these, or dinner. Sure, they'd had some tough times so far, but they stuck together through it, and look at them, now!
They'd made it this far!
They were doing okay, Sora reckoned! Play continued on, again and again. The Gummi ship, a vessel supposedly fueled by laughter, and 'funny faces', was practically humming.
Even though she wasn't currently programed with a destination.