Crossover Fan Fiction ❯ Anime Hearts ❯ Chapter 3: Things Get Curiouser and Curiouser ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3: Things get Curiouser and Curiouser (1)

 

 

The ship sliced through the azure blue skies like a giant sword. Inside the ship, the atmosphere was stifling.

 

“How much farther?”

 

Kaneda was lying across the captain's chair, with his hands behind his head. Also, he was incredibly bored.

 

“I told you, we still have while before we reach the first world!” Ed snapped angrily.

 

“Oh. Are we there yet?”

 

“No.”

 

“Are we there yet?”

 

“No.”

 

“Are we there yet?”

 

“No.”

 

“Are we there yet?”

 

“No!”

 

“Are we there yet?”

 

“NO!!! Don't make me turn this ship around!”

 

Finally after what seemed like an eternity, the screens started beeping.

 

“We've reached the first world,” Announced Al.

 

“Good. Set her down over there.”

 

“Aye Aye Captain!”

 

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World Name: Spirit World

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The ship descended from the clouds, and landed on a big, grassy field. Scattered here and there were unusual stone statues. The group exited the ship (with Morty staying behind to keep an eye on it) and off they went.

 

“Seems pretty quiet.” Al said, looking at their surroundings.

 

“Yeah, a little too quiet.” Said Kaneda, lifting up his weapon, and readying it in case of any attack, which was possible. “Are you sure the Heartless are here?”

 

“Positive.”

 

The boy sighed. “Okay, let's start looking…”

 

Suddenly, a green blur caught their attention. They looked down and saw a bipedal frog in blue robes running past them in a panic.

 

“Ahh! I'm so late! Yubaba's going to have my head!!!”

 

Kaneda blinked. “Did you guys see what I just saw?”

 

“Depends. What did you see?” Replied Ed, looking slightly surprised himself.

 

“We gotta follow him!” Exclaimed Kaneda, as he took after the small being. The Elric brothers sighed.

 

“Oh boy…” Al muttered quietly.

 

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After a short chase, the trio reached a bunch of brightly-colored buildings that were cluttered around a small area. In front of them was a statue of a frog that stared at the unusual group through blank eyes. Kaneda looked around.

 

“I think he went this way. Come on.”

 

The three of them started walking through the small village-like area.

 

“What is this place?” Kaneda asked curiously.

 

“I don't know,” Replied Al, “But I think these are all restaurants.”

 

“Good.” Ed commented, “I'm hungry.”

 

The group stopped at a red bridge that leads to a huge, grand-looking building.

 

“What the-is that a bathhouse?” asked Ed.

 

“Sure looks like one.” said Al.

 

“Hey,” said Kaneda, “I think I hear voices over there!” He pointed to the bathhouse. “We'd better go check it out.” The other two nodded, and they ran in the direction of the voices.

 

As they crossed the bridge, Ed could have sworn he saw a tall figure dressed in black wearing a white mask looking back at them.

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Across the bridge, they saw a group of frog-like people standing around a makeshift courtroom. In the defendant's place was a young girl with brown hair in a ponytail wearing a white and green striped shirt, pink shorts, and yellow hiking boots.

 

The frog appeared and announced loudly, “Your attention please! This court is now in session, with Yubaba presiding as the judge!”

 

A very short elderly woman stepped up to the judge's seat, and the trio saw that she had an extremely large head with a big pointed nose, and silvery hair set up in a bun. The woman pointed to the girl and said, “This human is on trial because she tried to steal my heart!”

 

“Steal her heart?!” exclaimed Ed.

 

“That means the Heartless must be here!” said Kaneda.

 

“For this offense,” continued the woman, Yubaba, “She will have her head cut off!”

 

“But-but I didn't do it!” the girl exclaimed. Some frog men came and grabbed her by the arms.

 

The three heroes watched these turns of events with shock.

 

“We gotta help her!” exclaimed Kaneda.

 

“But if we did, that would be meddling!” protested Al.

 

“I don't care!” Kaneda snapped back. “This doesn't seem right!”

 

He stepped forward and shouted, “Hey! I know for a fact that this girl didn't try to take anyone's heart!”

 

The crowd looked at him curiously.

 

“Oh, really? And do you have any proof, little boy?” Yubaba asked him curiously. Kaneda shook his head.

 

“No. But my friends and I are willing to go find some!”

 

Yubaba sat back in her seat. “Well, since I'm feeling generous today,” she said, “I'll give you to the end of the day to find some evidence. Now go!”

 

Kaneda turned and walked away. Ed and Al followed after him.

 

As they left, Yubaba announced, “Throw that human into the cage!” The frog men did so, and flung the girl into an iron cage that sat nearby.

 

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Meanwhile, the trio was searching the place for any signs that could free the girl, Chihiro.

 

“Are you crazy?!” exclaimed Ed, “You don't know what you're getting us into!” Kaneda spun around to face him.

 

“But if I didn't do anything,” he said, “The girl was going to get hurt! Besides, if the Heartless are here, we have to do something!”

 

“Maybe I can be of some assistance.”

 

They spun around to see a boy with short black hair and olive green eyes in a white shirt and blue shorts looking at them.

”Who are you?” asked Al. The boy smiled.

 

“I am Haku, “he said, giving a little bow. “I know all about what you are doing, and I know who the culprit is.”

 

“Really? Then who is it?” questioned Ed. The boy just grinned.

 

“I know who it is—but I won't say. However, I will tell you this: there are four pieces of evidence to find. If you can find them all, there is a big reward in your future.” And with that, he turned and walked off.

 

“Hey wait!” Kaneda shouted, running after him. But when he got to where the boy was supposed to be, he was gone!

 

“Where'd he go?” asked Al.

 

“I dunno,” said Ed, “But do you think he's telling the truth?”

 

“Well, I guess we don't have a choice.” Kaneda said. “Let's go!” The other two nodded and followed him.

 

They looked around some pig pens and discovered some claw marks. Then they went back to the restaurants and located a stench. They visited a garden and found an antenna. And they went to the side of the bathhouse and saw some footprints. Occasionally, they ran into a few Heartless that they managed to dispatch.

 

As they were coming back with their evidence, they heard rustling sounds in a nearby bush.

 

“Ssh!” whispered Kaneda, “I think I heard something!” Readying their weapons, they moved closer and closer to the source of the sound. When Kaneda pulled back the leaf, he found…a small white creature with huge purple-tipped ears and a marking on its forehead that resembles three red triangles. The creature looked up at them and smiled.

 

“Hi! My name's Calumon!” it said cheerfully. “I'm awful lonely. Will you play with me?”

 

“Uh, sure.” Kaneda said cautiously. “But what's a little guy like you doing in a place like this?”

 

The creature seemed to droop, its ears retracting into its skull with only two small stubs to show they were ever there.

 

“Well,” Calumon began slowly, “I used to live in a big place with lots of friends, but one day some evil dark things came and we were separated.”

The trio gave each other looks.

 

“Well…what do you think?” asked Kaneda after a brief moment.

 

“Maybe we could leave him in Anime City,” Al suggested.

 

“Okay, but we may have to drop him off at the ship.” Ed said. “He smiled at Calumon and said,”Would you like to come with us?”

 

“You betcha!”

 

“Well, first, we have to put you somewhere safe!”

 

“Yay!” The little creature jumped into his arms and soon fell asleep.

 

“Aw…” Kaneda snickered.

 

“Yeah, yeah, very funny.” The other boy muttered. “Let's go.”

 

As they turned to leave, Al shouted, ”Hey wait!”

 

The two boys glanced at him.

 

“What is it?”

 

“Do you think there may be others like him around here?”

 

Kaneda paused. “Maybe we should check around…”

 

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Later…

 

Back at the garden, Ed nearly tripped over a pink ball with a blue flower on its head called Yokomon. It took some pulling and some convincing to get her to go with them. And further examination of the pigpens yielded a small pink talking head named Koromon, who was easily persuaded to come along.

 

Once they had dropped off the small creatures (who said they were called `Digimon'), the trio returned to the bathhouse where Haku was waiting for them.

 

“Not bad,” he said, examining the boxes the trio had put the evidence in. “This will surely help Chihiro out. However,” he added, looking at them, “Do you think you can save yourselves?”

 

“Stop talking in riddles and tell us the answer!” Ed shouted angrily.

 

“I'm sorry, I can't do that.” Haku replied, “But I believe I did promise a reward.” He pulled something out of his pocket, and threw it to Kaneda, who managed to catch it. It was a marble-sized white orb that felt cold to the touch.

 

“What's this for?”

 

“This is for casting the spell Blizzard Wave,” Haku answered. “You may need it.” And with that, he was gone.

 

“That guy is really starting to work my nerves!” Ed grumbled.

 

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After a while, the group returned to the court area, holding their evidence in several boxes, which they set in front of the judge's stand

 

“So you're back,” said Yubaba. “And did you bring the evidence?”

 

“Yep.” said Kaneda.

 

“Very well,” the old woman said. “We will now check the evidence. But first…” She pulled a box from out of nowhere, and dropped it on the ground next to the other boxes, then moved them around. “Since there is a lot of evidence, one of you will have to pick a box.”

 

“But…” Kaneda silenced Ed's protest by raising a hand.

 

“Let me go,” he said. The boy nodded and stepped back.

 

Kaneda stepped up, took a deep breath, and opened the box on the far left. Out popped a Shadow that looked around surprised before jumping out of the box and scuttling off.

 

“What was that?” exclaimed a surprised Yubaba.

 

“That-“said Kaneda, “-Is the culprit. Or, is part of the guilty party at least. Now let Chihiro go!”

 

“Silence!” Yubaba snapped. “I'm in charge here, and anyone who defies me will die! GUARDS!”

 

At her command, several frog-men in armor holding various weapons rushed at them.

 

“Aw geez…” muttered Ed.

 

With no time to lose, the three of them started slashing away at any Frog-Soldier that got too close. Kaneda blocked a spear jab and said, “Ok, let's see how this spell works. “Blizzard Wave!”

 

A wave of could air appeared out of nowhere and froze a group of Frog-Soldiers in place. The boy smirked. “Nice.”

 

“Let's see how these work!” Ed yelled. “Fireball Barrage!” From his hands came a multitude of fireballs that pummeled the Frog-Soldiers mercilessly. Ed grinned. “Frog legs anyone?”

After a while, the Frog-Soldiers realized they were outmatched, and ran off.

 

“Hey! Where are you going?!” Yubaba screeched. She turned and saw the trio glaring at her

Ok, fun's over,” Kaneda said firmly, “Now release the girl.” Yubaba smiled.

 

“Hmm. Maybe you brats aren't so worthless after all,” she said. “Fine. I'll let the girl go.”

 

She waved her hand and the cage, which lay to the side, floated over to them. The three of them peered inside and saw….

 

“Hey! It's empty!” Kaneda exclaimed. Surprised, Yubaba took a look herself.

 

“So it is.” she said, in a surprisingly calm voice. “Well, either way, that brat is out of my hair for good.” And with that, she turned around and walked into the building.

 

“Hold on a minute-!” Ed started, but then Al put a hand on his shoulder.

 

“Let her go Nii-chan. Chihiro's not here. We should just go.”

 

Silently, the trio turned and left the area.

 

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As they were walking across the bridge, Kaneda stopped when he felt something behind him.

 

“What's the matter?” Al asked him.

 

“I dunno. It felt like someone's following us…”

 

A snarling sound got their attention. Spinning around, they saw a tall man wearing a white mask. But what really got their attention was the fact that his body was inky black color.

 

“A guy in black? For a moment there, I thought we had something to worry about.” Commented Ed nonchalantly.

 

As if proving him wrong, the dark figure went through a hideous transformation. First, the mouth on the mask began to stretch until it practically split the mask apart. Two rows of teeth appeared, and a snake-like tongue flickered in and out of the forest of fangs. At the same time, two pairs of horns that curved forward grew out from the forehead, and behind the head. Then the creature's body started to expand, and a mouth similar to the one on its face appeared where its stomach should be. After that, its arms split and expanded to become tentacles, and more tentacles grew from beneath it and wrapped around the wooden bridge. And a heckuvalot more tentacles shot from out of its backside. The creature's eyes glowed red as it loomed over its victims. (2)

 

“You just had to jinx it, didn't you?”

 

The beast, called Dark No-Face roared as it lashed its many tentacles at them.

 

“Look out!”

 

They jumped out of the way, but Ed was snatched up by one of its tentacle-arms.

 

“Nii-chan!”

 

“Ugh…can't breathe…” the boy gasped.

 

“Hold on, I'm coming!” Kaneda shouted, as he leapt at the beast, but the Keyblade just sunk into its body. Chucking evilly, Dark No-Face grabbed him with a leg tentacle and threw him to the ground. Kaneda pushed himself up, groaning.

 

Dammit! How are supposed to fight that thing if our weapons can go through it? Unless…His eyes widened with a sudden realization. That's it! “Blizzard Wave!”

 

The icy blast froze the creature solid, and it stopped moving. Turning to Al, Kaneda shouted, “Okay Al, break the tentacle!”

 

Al nodded, and flung his shield like a Frisbee. It sliced through the tentacle, and sent Ed falling into his brother's arms.

 

“Alright! It worked!” Al exclaimed. But his celebration was short-lived when Dark No-Face broke loose of his icy prison.

 

The trio looked at each other, nodded, and began attacking again. They had it all planned out: Kaneda and/or Ed would cast Blizzard Wave and attack when the monster was immobilized.

 

Finally, the creature fell off the bridge with a loud cry.

 

“Yeah! Take that you slimy creep!” Kaneda cheered

 

Suddenly, the wooden bridge collapsed, forcing them to run as it fell into the valley below. They made it across just as it fell completely.

 

“Phew!” breathed Ed, “That was close!”

Suddenly, the Keyblade began to glow.

 

“Hey…what the-?” Kaneda was surprised to feel a tugging sensation, like someone was pulling him somewhere.

 

“I think we have to go,” he muttered.

 

The trio eventually ended back in front of the statue that guarded the buildings. The Keyblade glowed even brighter.

 

“What's it doing?” Ed asked in amazement.

 

As if answering his question, what appeared to be a keyhole appeared on the statue, and from the Keyblade's tip came a beam of light that hit the hole. As it did, there was a sound like door clicking shut.

”Not bad.” They looked up and saw Haku standing there. “You have overcome one obstacle,” he continued, but there are still many more to face. Are you up to the challenge?”

 

Kaneda smirked. “Of course we are!” The other boy smiled.

 

“Good. By the way, you might need this.” He handed Kaneda a keychain with a design at the end that resembled a curling white dragon.

 

“What's this?”

 

“That,” Haku said pointing, “Is the Dragonheart Keychain. (3) Attach it to the end of your weapon and see what happens.”

 

Kaneda did so, and the Keyblade began to glow brightly. When it faded, the Keyblade was now a whitish color, with the handle resembling a dragon's head, with the blade coming out of the dragon's mouth.

 

“Wow…” was all Kaneda could say.

 

“Now I have to go,” announced Haku, “But I wish you good luck on your quest.”

 

Kaneda nodded. “Thanks.”

 

Haku turned and walked into the midst of the buildings.

 

“Come on, guys,” Kaneda said to Ed and Al, “Let's go.”

To be continued…

 

(1)- I think that's a reference to Alice in Wonderland, but I'm not so sure.

 

(2)- No-Face fans please don't kill me. I just think he makes a good replacement for the Trickmaster. (Hides behind a table)

(3)- I know you don't get the Keychain for this world right after you lock it, but I'm taking many creative liberties.