King's Analysis #2: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

        This sheer significance and importance of this film is so mind-boggling, that it surprises me that so many people find it to be a bore or not truly good when compared to films of the 1950's or 1990's.  People seem to forget just how many filmmakers, executives, storytellers, musicians, and so many others have been affected by the simple existence of this movie.  Without Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the following films/books would never have been made or known as significant as they are now:

The Wizard of Oz

Citizen Kane

Pinocchio

The Lord of the Rings

Fantasia

Star Wars

Indiana Jones

The Lion King

Beauty and the Beast

Harry Potter

The Chronicles of Narnia

along side dozens of others...

This film was the Titanic of it's day, garnering over $8,000,000 in revenue in a time when a child could get into the theater for 20 cents.  In fact, some doubt that the record this film set for the most tickets sold in the film's life time has or will ever be matched.  To draw some comparisons, an adult ticket for Gone With the Wind cost $2.50 for an adult because the film was so long and so expensive.  The reason Gone With the Wind outgrossed this film was because of the sheer expense of the film (also don't forget that people still didn't want to release Snow White in their theaters because of a prejudice against animation).  

It was a critical darling, winning the hearts of almost every single living being who watched the film.  The film ushered in an entirely new era of movie making, and paved the way for an entire menagerie of animated films, cartoons, video games, and an assortment of many other various entertainment mediums.  To put it bluntly, without arguably the greatest gamble in motion picture history, the world would be an entirely different place.

Welcome to a behind the scenes look at the One that Started it All, and is even to this day, still the Fairest One of All...The King's Analysis of Walt Disney's epic masterpiece, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

1. Depression Era Disney

At the start of the Great Depression, there seemed to be but one medium that remained largely unaffected by the downward spike in economic prosperity: Motion Picture.  At a time, some studios employed nearly 1,000 workers who found new ways of expanding the medium to include many specific things into films that were deemed impossible before, from simple things like sound and color, to more drastic things like camera depth and action scenes.  While the rest of the Motion Picture world prospered, the Walt Disney Studios in California was busy trying to find ways to make animated films more appealing.  Walt Disney and his partner Ub Iwerks had already created Mickey Mouse in 1928's "Steamboat Willie", the first cartoon to use stereophonic sound.  By the 1930's, the studio had expanded upon Mickey Mouse and had created a host of other characters to stand alongside him, including his girlfriend Minnie, his best friend Donald Duck, his rival Pete, or his trusted pal Pluto.  Walt had even created a new kind of cartoon, Silly Symphonies, which were being used by Walt to further push the boundaries of animation to never before reached heights.  Whether they were used to push forward the art of storytelling ("The Ugly Duckling", "The Cookie Carnival") or were being used to push the technology forward ("Flowers and Trees", "The Old Mill") these cartoons were all being made with the best in the business.  

Despite the enormous amount  of praise and adulation he was getting, Walt and his brother Roy both realized that the short subjects were not making enough money to profit much or to survive.  The Disney Brothers both had the clairvoyance to see that the cartoon medium would not survive simply getting paid minor amounts for work that would get more and more expensive as time went on.  In Walt's own words:

"The Short Subject is just a filler on any program.  I figured if I could crack the feature field, I could do something..."

2. Disney's Folly 

As Walt began to ponder the unthinkable in the early 1930's, he began to search for the perfect story to turn into an animated film.  By 1932, he had several stories in mind, including "The Jungle Book", "Peter Pan", "Alice in Wonderland", "Jack and the Beanstalk", "Beauty and the Beast", "Cinderella", "Mary Poppins", and "Bambi", most of which would be made into feature length films in the future.  But in the end, Walt chose the story of "Snow White" as written by the Brothers Grimm.  He felt strong ties to Snow White, because the first movie he saw in theaters was a silent movie version in 1916.  He hoped to adapt Snow White from that version into the movie he hoped to make of the classic Fairy Tale.  As he began to prepare his artists for the adventure of a lifetime, even he didn't know exactly what he was in for.  He estimated that Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs would cost a then reasonable $500,000 dollars.  He let Roy budget out the movie, while he focused on making Snow White as wonderful a story as possible.  

For the last several years, Walt had been bringing in many different animators and artists to help make his films more believable.  These artists included the likes of European artists Gustaf Tenggren and Albert Hurter, who all contributed in many ways to the successful style that Walt needed for Snow White and later on for Pinocchio.  And these artists would in turn pass on their expertise to many of the future leaders of Walt Disney Animation.  One such animator was Grim Natwick, who had originally worked at the Fleischer Studios.  Natwick was a specialized animator, who often animated female characters, giving them more depth and realism than was customary for characters at the time.  Natwick was ultimately the animator chiefly responsible for the creation of Betty Boop and was hired by Walt to give the character of Snow White more feminine wiles and styles of animation.  

But while many of the animators in the studio were overjoyed at the thought of making a movie, almost every person in Hollywood mocked the idea of an animated film being made, making up excuses that the animators would run out of jokes and that the bright colors would hurt the eyes of the audience.  Barely a few months into production, people began calling the film "Disney's Folly", almost psoitve that regardless of how good the film was, that the studio would implode with such an enormous undertaking being made.  

3. Storyboards...

Walt Disney is known to many as a man who could turn rocks into diamonds, being arguably the best Storyman the studio had to offer.  But few know just how shrewd an editor he was, even with his most beloved project.  In fact, it was only 6 or 7 months before the release of the film in 1937 that Walt had decided on the names of the Seven Dwarfs.  But there were nearly a dozen scenes and concepts cut from the final film because Walt viewed them as irrelevant to the final story.  Some of the ideas he used were used in later films.  For example, before they began to seriously struggle with the animation of the human characters (Snow White, the Queen, or the Prince), there were many other scenes that had been written for these characters.  The Prince was supposed to arrive to woo Snow White midway through the picture, and the Queen would have her guards kidnap him and chain him up in the dungeons while the Queen tried to win his heart.  The Prince would perform a Doug Fairbanks routine and try to fight his way to save Snow White.  Sound familiar?  Well, this concept was used for Sleeping Beauty 20 years later.  

Other scenes that were cut from the film included:

A Dream sequence for "Someday My Prince Will Come" with Snow White and the Prince

A Bed Building scene for Snow White

A Bedroom fight between Doc and Grumpy

The Death of the Huntsman

A Fully animated musical number of the Seven Dwarfs eating soup

Two other attempts on Snow White's life by the Queen

4. The Human Problem...

Walt had anticipated many issues with the production of his dream project, but never did he anticipate the drawing of realistic humans to be such an enormous issue for his young crop of animators.  Most of his animators were used to drawing cartoons, be they Silly Symphonies or Mickey Mouse cartoons and had never been forced to be realistic with their art.  This provided a serious problem for Walt, who was still trying to make the world in Snow White as believable as possible.  Most of the original concept art for the three main humans was cast aside for being too unrealistic (the Queen looked more like the Queen of Hearts than her regally cruel persona she had adorned in the final film).  While Grim Natwick was able to animate a believable Snow White and save the princesses character, and Art Babbitt and Woolie Reitherman animated the Queen and her Magic Mirror quite well, the animation of the Prince was so poor that his role was cut back to its barest minimum, unintentionally causing a curse on the concept of Princes in Disney Fairy Tales that would not be perfected in Walt's lifetime (Aladdin was the character who was the result of an incredible breakthrough that took years to perfect).  Nevertheless, the animation of humans would continue to hamper Disney Animation until well into the 1940's, when the studio resumed theatrical releases after the conclusion of World War II.

5. The Villain Effect

One thing that Walt himself realized while making his magnum opus, was that he could not afford for his villain to be anything short of absolute soulless cruelty.  He had done good comedic work with his villains like The Big Bad Wolf and Peg Legged Pete, but even he knew that Snow White required a truly diabolical villain.  The Wicked Queen is the first in a long line of wonderful collaborations between animators and voice actors to help make the villain as truly heartless as possible.  Lucille La Verne was the actress who voiced both the Queen and her hag form.  In order to voice the Hag, La Verne volunteered to take out her dentures and speak without them.  Art Babbit, Norm Ferguson, and Albert Hurter were the lead animators who perfected the Queen, in making the woman as shrewd, calculating, and diabolical as possible.  Her most imfamous scenes are when she demands that the Huntsman brings her Snow White's heart in a box, and her sheer joy in watching Snow White succumb to the poisonous apple.  The Queen was a huge breakthrough in the history of Disney Animation, because of just he subtlety of her character.  She is beautiful, yet vain, and in her efforts to be deemed the Fairest in the Land, she forces herself to become a form equal to her soul.  But while the Queen is more reserved in her evil behaviors, the hag is extremely over the top in her attitudes with regards to her cruelty, which is sheer brilliance.  But the Queen is also a breakthrough, because her cruelty and malice with which she acted gave way to a plethora of other diabolical baddies, including Maleficent, Ursula, Lady Tremaine, Cruella De Vil, Jafar, Claude Frollo, and Scar.  

6. Musical Magic

Most movie historians inaccurately give Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Oklahoma" credit for creating the idea that music could be used to guide the story.  This is untrue for many reasons, but mostly because six years prior, Snow White was released and utilized the same formula.  Disney Animation was no stranger to music, having already had a successful song written: "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?".  The songs for Snow White were not songs that halted the story or slowed the pace of the film.  Rather, the songs set the pace for the film themselves.  If the pace needs to speed up, a brisk and cheerful song like "Whistle While You Work" or "Heigh-Ho" is plugged in to move the pace along.  If the scene was slower and needed more emotional depth, the musicians plugged in "Someday My Prince Will Come".  This immediatelty impacted two other major movie musicals that followed it: Pinocchio and The Wizard of Oz, both of whom adhered to this formula before "Oklahoma" even left the ground.    Frank Churchill and Larry Morey wrote the lyrical music, giving the film the emotional depth it required.  Meanwhile, Leigh Harline and Paul J. Smith wrote the score, which often ranged from innocent and light to dark and heavy, utilizing the art of music to sheer perfection.

7. Crisis

As production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs began to gain momentum in the winter of 1936 and spring of 1937, Walt and Roy both realized they were in a serious crisis.  Not only had the film dramatically exceeded it's budget of $500,000, but it was also in serious danger of being shut down because the studio was practically out of money.  The Bank of America was incredibly reluctant to give Walt the money he so desperately needed to finish the film before it's December 1937 release, primarily because none of the executives had seen a hint of the film's completion and feared they wouldn't get any money back.  Roy set up a meeting for Walt and a banker named Joe Rosenberg to run what was finished of Snow White.  The film was hardly colored and some scenes were still using storyboards.  Walt would have tp plug in many different times to show Mr. Rosenberg just how wonderful the film would be.  Little is known about what exactly piqued Mr. Rosenberg's curiosity, but what is known is that Rosenberg got into his car, pulled back to Walt and said: "That thing is gonna make you a pile of money" and drove off.  Against the wishes of the financing leaders of the world, Snow White cost an astonishing $1,500,000, which was the modern day equivalent of $250 million dollars.  

8. The Premiere

Time replaced money as Walt Disney's greatest foe in 1937.  With barely two weeks to go, the animation team finally finished the last scene.  But nobody had taken any time to market the picture.  Walt ultimately sent the boys around town, nailing signs to telephone poles for audiences to see Snow White.  

In December 1937, an enormous premiere was held at the Carthay Circle Theater.  Simple down to earth animators like Frank Thomas, Art Babbitt, and Milt Kahl were sitting a few seats away from Clark Gable, Shirley Temple, and dozens of various Hollywood starlets and screen personalities who were eager to see for themselves just what Walt was cooking up in his studio.  As Walt and his animators had hoped, the audience laughed in the right moments, gasped in the right moments, and to the surprise of Ward Kimball, cried in the right moments:

"Half of these people had been ridiculing the movie a week before.  Everybody was crying over a cartoon..."

And when the film concluded, the audience erupted in applause.  Cheers rained down on the animators and Walt Disney for the most significant animated cartoon ever made.  "Disney's Folly" had become Disney's Triumph.  Snow White was beloved by critics and audiences alike and even to this day is still one of the most revered films in all of the history of motion picture.  

9. The Legacy

In November 2014, the Walt Disney Animation Studios released Big Hero 6, their 54th animated film in the pantheon of animated feature film releases.  Between Snow White and Big Hero 6, we have been treated to elephants who learn to fly, puppets who come to life, mermaids who dream of life on shore, young lions who would be kings, young boys who would unleash genies, and dozens of other animation ideas and stories that all owe their existence to the biggest gamble Walt Disney would ever take in his career.  And, much to my surprise, the last 7 entries to the legacy:

Bolt

The Princess and the Frog

Tangled

Winnie the Pooh

Wreck It Ralph

Frozen

Big Hero 6

...have all been animated films that could perhaps one day motivate an entire generation to get involved in animation and to love the medium as millions of kids and adults in my generation have with our films.  And yet, none of us truly grasp that without Snow White, none of these other films would have been possible.  And Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs deserves nothing but praise, love, and adulation from the billions of people on earth as we come close to celebrating the film's 77th birthday.  We will forever be in debt to the animators, musicians, technicians, actors, and of course, the dreamer at it's epicenter: Walt Disney.  Our childhoods would never have been the same without him and them...

One Year Later, Frozen is Still a Classic

Disney is no stranger to marketing their successful products.  In fact, more often than not, they over market their products until they have saturated virtually every single dollar from it.  These products can range from successful animated movies, Disney Channel shows, Radio Disney stars, and now both Star Wars and Marvel characters.  But it can be easily seen how their animated products get the most marketing in the likes of Television, Movie Theaters, and the various Disney Theme Parks.  This is because, no matter how many likes a Zac Efron or Hannah Montana video gets, or no matter how much money they draw from TV shows or Live Action movies, the company's entire existence lives on Animated Films.  Animated bonanza's like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, 101 Dalmatians, The Jungle Book, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King are the cornerstones through which the entire company exists.

Last year, Disney released arguably their most successful, beloved, and downright most sensational film since the likes of The Lion King.  In the span of a few months in theaters, Frozen shattered virtually every single box office record on the planet previously held by other animated films.  It's cultural appeal is equally as insane.  Little girls are everywhere either singing or dressing up as Anna or Elsa, watching the movie, playing with the dolls, or bugging their parents to buy them the Disney On Ice tickets.  The baby craze is also insane, with the sudden and worrisome spike in the names of Anna and Elsa to be named the newest generation of little girls.

And Disney absolutely killed it.  They let Frozen guide and govern virtually every single decision they made, one of which included shutting down the popular Maelstrom attraction in Epcot and making way for a new Frozen themed attraction.  But there's so much more.  The fandoms, the constant commercials, the upcoming Broadway show, and dozens of other amenitites drove me to nearly destory my Blu Ray copy of this film.

But this most recent Sunday, I sat down, turned on my Playstation 3, took out my Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix disc, and put in Frozen.  I hadn't watched this film in nearly 8 months, and I was very curious to see if the film had the same kind of effect that it had on me when I first saw this film in theaters.  I turned off my light, and watched the movie from start to finish.  The result...

People are gonna be pissed at me, but this film is, despite the horrific amount of marketing and annoying kids in Target and all over the country going nuts for it, STILL a marvelous masterpiece of epic proportions.  The songs, despite horrible YouTube dub after horrific YouTube dub, are still as electrically charging as most 1990's Disney songs.  The story is still solid, the characters are still engaging, the animation still beautiful, and the overall film is still one of the greatest animated films made in decades.

How is it then, that I one can both loath and love something like this?  After all, I still refuse to shop in my local Target because of the oversaturation of this movie.  And yet, when I watch it with a friend, a family member, or even by myself, I still love it.

I think it's because NO other animated film made within the last few years (outside of How To Train Your Dragon 2 and ParaNorman, which kicked ass BTW), has the same kind of appeal this one does.  Most are far less than stellar followups to much superior movies (Monsters University, Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, Cars 2, any Ice Age movie made after 2002 really) or simply just not strong enough to carry on much more successful legacies (Wreck It Ralph, Brave).  Frozen hearkens back to films that we all grew up with, be we kids from the 1950's or kids from the 1990's.  It echoes films like Dumbo, Peter Pan, Cinderella and Pinocchio, while also making us remember the Renaissance films such as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, or Beauty and the Beast.  It also stands as a unique film, because unlike most fairy tales, the character that probably goes through the most emotionally (Elsa), does not need a significant other in her life to solve her problems.  She just needs her family.

But here is the question: Should the craze surrounding this movie really die?  I mean, really?  It's better than kids sitting around talking about that pigshit awful Beavis and Butthead show (or whatever, the one with the platypus), or playing and fighting over crappy movies (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or Planes comes to mind).  And were we also, unintentionally, part of our own crazes when we were kids?  I mean, I remember a day when we were doing worksheets in 4th grade and our teacher put on The Lion King soundtrack.  Within instants, we were all singing the songs.  We would pick up chorus parts, tap out the beats and tempo on our desks, and all try embarrassingly at dubbing Lebo's intro to the movie.  My Dad also reminded me just how much Aladdin and Lion King merchandise I still had at his old apartment.  Should we yell and complain about Frozen being as hyped and as loved as it is just because we can't enjoy it like the kids can?  Should we really boycott Disney because they are overly marketing a highly successful product, which could probably market itself?  Should we really argue, when we too were enveloped in the likes of The Little Mermaid and Hercules while our parents yelled at us and said we didn't know what good movies were, like Alice in Wonderland and The Jungle Book?

Here is a final note to the 3 major classes of people out there.  For the Frozen Fanatics, enjoy your movie, but keep it down a notch.  For the haters, just remember that not too long ago, you were probably just as crazy about something that lots of other people detested.  And for Disney, can't you market Big Hero 6 yet?????

Chapter 10 (RIKU): Vanitas

Chapter 10 (Riku): Vanitas

        Later that day, from a distance, Bagheera and Riku could only admire how easy going both Mowgli and Baloo were.  Their friendship seemed so genuine, that even Bagheera had given up trying to convince both Baloo to take Mowgli back.  Now, the panther decided it was time for him to leave.  "Oh, I give up.  Well, I hope their luck holds out."  With that, Bagheera bounded back into the jungle, giving one last look back to Baloo and Mowgli.  

        Riku sighed.  "I guess my work here is done" he thought aloud.  Mowgli is safe now.  Baloo may not be the most protective guardian, but I think breaking up their friendship isn't something that sits well with me.  As Baloo and Mowgli began scratching their backs on trees, Riku turned and left the duo to their fun times.  

        

        As Riku was about to leave after Bagheera, he felt a cold rush send shivers down his spine.  He looked around and grunted.  He knew that feeling more than anyone else could.  The Darkness.  Someone incredibly powerful in darkness was somewhere in this world.  Riku began sniffing for the source of the darkness.  His scent lead him to the other side of the river, close to the mighty waterfall.  Riku hurried down the path, ready to prove he was no longer one of the dark.  

        

        Several hours later, as he approached the waterfall, a thunderous roar echoed the landscape.  Riku turned to see an enormous tiger appear on the scene.  He circled around the boy, licking his lips.  "Well well.  What have we here?  A man-cub gone from the Man Village?"

        Riku summoned his Keyblade to his hand.  "You're Shere Khan!" 

        "Precisely" the tiger answered boldly.  "You don't miss a thing.  I had hoped you would be that man-cub Mowgli, but I suppose you will do in the meantime."  He began to let loose his claws.  "Are you prepared, boy?"  The tiger lunged for Riku, but was blasted away by a powerful blue flame.  The tiger, seeing the burning sticks around him, fled into the jungle.  Riku looked above to the source, and saw a masked figure appear out of thin air and land right next to him.  

        "I take it you must be Riku" the figure answered, in the voice of a teenage boy.  

        "Who are you?" Riku asked, aiming his Keyblade at the new arrival.

        "I was once called Vanitas" the figure answered coldly.  "And I once was the pure darkness that lived in one's heart.  Now, I have been restored thanks to the growing darkness in the worlds."

        "So, you work for Xehanort?" Riku answered.  

        "So clever, Riku.  Yes, Xehanort has brought me in from time to time to work for him.  But I'm targeting you for my own reasons.  You reek of Keyblade Master, and I intend to destroy you.  And when you're finished, I can have my way with Sora."  

        "We'll see about that!" Riku answered, lunging forward to square off against Vanitas.  

Boss Battle: Vanitas

HP: 850

Get Bonus: 

Riku: +5 HP

Obtained the Cure Element

        Vanitas fell backwards from Riku's final attack, but held his ground as Riku sought to destroy him.  He countered quickly, causing Riku to tumble backwards and have to regain his footing,  Vanitas simply laughed menacingly.  "Not bad, Riku, though you're no Master yet.  I could fight circles around you, man."  

        Riku ignored the taunt.  "What do you want to do with Sora?"

        "Sora?" Vanitas repeated.  "You mean the guy who's power I feed off of?"

        "What do you mean, Vanitas?"

        "After Aqua and Mickey destroyed me" Vanitas explained, "I was left to walk the rest of my days in the Realm of Darkness, alone.  I thought Xehanort had abandoned me.  Little did I know of his true plan.  I was foolish to doubt him, but now he has my eternal loyalty.  The only way I was allowed to even survive in the Realm of Darkness was by feeding off the darkness in people's hearts.  I enjoyed feasting off of your darkness, Riku.  But now, I'm finding myself truly enjoying the darkness that grows in Sora's heart."  

        Riku gasped.  "The darkness in Sora's heart?"

        Vanitas grunted.  "That's exactly what I said, idiot.  After all, there is darkness within every heart.  Certainly, those with even the brightest lights, will have the darkest shadows looming.  Eventually, Sora's anger and fear will build up and I'll be completely free to roam the world once more."  

        Riku laughed.  "That will never happen, Vanitas!  Sora is stronger than you think!  He would never give into the darkness!"  

        "Yet, here I am" Vanitas added.  "And there, in your heart, is the doubt growing ever more powerful.  Sora will become just like you soon.  And there isn't a thing you can do about it!"  With that, Vanitas vanished into the darkness, but not before uttering: "We'll meet again, Riku."  

        Riku was left alone near the waterfall, completely dumbfounded by Vanitas's warning.  Sora's giving into the darkness?  That's impossible.  He wouldn't.  He couldn't.  

        "Riku!" a voice shouted behind him.  Riku turned to face Sora hurrying towards him.  Riku had no idea what to tell or say to Sora.  Could Sora be trusted?  Riku spent several seconds studying Sora.  Nothing seemed to have changed about his friend, and he didn't bear the scent of darkness that Riku so despised.  I guess Vanitas was just blowing smoke.  

        "What is it?" Sora asked, finally noticing Riku's studying.  

        Riku shook himself out of his stupor.  "Nothing.  Did you bring Belle to the Castle?"

        Sora nodded.  "Yup.  She's with Alice and Snow White in the castle.  How have you been doing?"

        Riku looked away.  "I've been managing.  The darkness is getting stronger, Sora.  We best be prepared for what it has to offer."  

        Sora nodded.  "Alright, I'll stay and help out as I can."  Sora turned to leave, but Riku grabbed his shoulder.  "Riku?"

        Riku kept trying to get the right words in his thoughts, but he could not figure out which words were the best suited.  "Sora, have you been feeling anything, different about yourself?  Are you losing your temper?  Are you more prone to anger?"

        Sora laughed.  "Of course not.  What, do you think I'd steal your thunder?"

        Riku laughed as well.  "I guess that was a stupid question.  But I'm pretty sure the situation is under control here.  Why don;t you go and check out some other worlds?  We don't know where Xehanort or Maleficent will strike next."  

        Sora shook his head.  "I can't.  Mowgli's gone missing, and I promised I'd help Baloo and Bagheera find him.  

        Riku sighed.  "That kid can be handful, but it's not that important, Sora.  I really think you ought to go back and begin looking into other worlds.  Don't forget we have a mission to protect the Princesses of Heart and the worlds from Xehanort."  Riku walked past Sora, leaving him on the waterfall alone with his thoughts.  Riku turned back to Sora and grinned.  "One more thing.  I want you to take Kairi with you to your next world."

         Sora's face turned red.  "Kairi?  Are you sure?"

        "I need to make sure you two lovebirds can focus on the mission" Riku laughed, before darting back into the forest.  He went so deep into the forest that he couldn't hear Sora refute his taunt.  All he could do was grin.  "He won't give in.  His heart is too good for it to darken.  I have faith in you Sora."  

Obtained the Jungle Beat Keychain

STR: +3

MAG: +3

Ability:

Boosts the recovery rate of MP during battle

Chapter 9 (RIKU): The Bare Necessities

Chapter 9 (Riku): The Bare Necessities

        As Mowgli tried his hardest to distance himself from Bagheera, the panther relied more on Riku to keep an eye on Mowgli.  Riku looked at it as if he were babysitting the little boy, but as of the moment, the boy was both too obsessed with Jungle life and trusting of Riku to not run off from him.  So, unlike when Bagheera was trying to escort the boy to the Man Village, Mowgli actually allowed Riku to walk close to and even protect him from the various Unversed that still loomed deep in the Jungle.  

        As the group reached a clearing, they stopped to survey the scenery.  Riku turned to Bagheera to explain the clearing.  "Why does it look like the trees have been cut down?"

        A loud, bombastic trumpeting noise gave Riku his answer.  From down the path, a parade of elephants marched onto the scene, shouting and marching as though they were in a military training ground.  Bagheera sighed.  "Oh great" the panther answered sarcastically.  "The Jungle Patrol!"

        As the elephants marched closer and closer, the ground around the group began to shake wickedly.  Riku had just as hard a time trying to maintain his stance as Bagheera and Mowgli did.  The lead elephant, carrying a bamboo stick in his trunk, noticed the small group, particularly the two humans, and stopped himself and the rest of the group.  "COMPANY, HALT!"  The rest of the herd stopped itself as the elephant examined the group.  "Why are these man-cubs in my jungle, Bagheera?"

        "It's not your jungle!" Mowgli argued.  Before Mowgli could further argue, Riku grabbed his shoulders and pulled him back.  

        "Hold it, Hathi" Bagheera answered.  "I can explain everything."

        Hathi looked at Bagheera bitterly.  "Colonel Hathi, if you please sir."

        Bagheera rolled his eyes.  "Yes, I apologize.  You see, Colonel Hathi, I am taking these man-cubs to the Man Village."

        "To stay?"

        "You have the word of Bagheera" the panther replied, bowing before the elephant.  

        Hathi snorted his trunk and turned towards the rest of the group.  "Let's get along then.  ABOUT FACE!  FORWARD, MARCH!"  With that, the entire herd of elephants marched off into the distance once more, trumpeting and shouting as they did.  

        Mowgli grunted.  "What a blowhard!"

        Riku shook his head.  "For once, I agree with you."

        "It doesn't matter what you agree about" Bagheera answered.  "You two are endangering the lives of everyone in the Jungle.  We need to get you two out of here."  Bagheera began nudging Mowgli down the path, but Mowgli grabbed ahold of a nearby tree branch.  "Let's go, Mowgli!"

        "I'm staying here in the Jungle!" Mowgli argued.  

      Bagheera grabbed ahold of Mowgli's loin cloth with his teeth and tried to drag Mowgli down the path, but lost his grip and slid into a nearby pond.  Enraged, the panther leapt back onto the path and huffed bitterly.  "I've had it, Mowgli!  If you want to be on your own, then you are on your own!  Alone!"  With that, Bagheera bounded off down the path.  

      "Fine!" Mowgli shouted.  "Don't worry about me!  Riku and I can live off in the jungle!  Let's go, Riku!"  Before Riku could argue, Mowgli had grabbed his hand and was once more dragging him down the path.  

        As Riku and Mowgli neared a river path, Mowgli studied the path of the river.  "I've always wanted to ride this."  Mowgli leaned over and looked over the river.  "Come on, Riku!  Let's go!"

        Riku shook his head.  "I don't know, Mowgli.  Do you even know where it let's up?"

        Mowgli laughed.  "Nope!  But that's half the fun!"  He grabbed Riku's arm and the two leapt off of the ledge and dove into the water.  

Minigame: River Rapids

Follow Mowgli down the river path!

Get Bonus: 

Riku: +5 HP

        The two arrived at the end, where the rapids turned into a waterfall.  Mowgli, who was moving much faster than Riku was, slung himself over the falls and into a nearby tree.  Riku, however, plunged deep into the water.  Riku caught onto a nearby branch and tried to climb back onto shore.  As he did, he noticed Mowgli was throwing punches at a huge bear.  The bear shook his head.  

        "Pitiful" he answered, with very little subtlety.  He plucked Mowgli up in the air and laughed.  "Hey, kid.  You need help, and Ol' Baloo is gonna learn you to fight like a bear."  Baloo looked over to Riku.  "Your friend can tag along, too."  

        Riku continued drying himself off from his river ride.  "You go ahead without me, Mowgli.  I still need to dry off."

        Mowgli and Baloo began circiling each other.  "Let's go.  Get real loose and start to weave.  Weave a little.  Now move!  That's it!"  Mowgli tried leaping up to Baloo's height, but failed to reach higher than the bear's stomach.  "Now, give me a big bear growl!"  

      Mowgli growled slightly, but was sure he was no bear.  Baloo shook his head.  "Oh boy.  I got work to do with you!  I'm talking about like a big bear!"  Baloo roared viciously, causing Mowgli to tumble onto his back. 

      "WHOA!" Mowgli shouted, ecstatically.  "RAR!" he tried duplicating. 

      "Keep on your toes, kid!" Baloo shouted.  

      Riku laughed as Baloo and Mowgli tussled and wrestled each other.  Finally, Mowgli hopped onto Baloo's back and began tickling his rib cage.  "No.  No no.  We don't tickle here in the jungle!  Ha ha!  NO!  I can't stand it!"  Baloo and Mowgli laughed and rolled onto the ground.  "Hey.  You know something?  You're alright, kid.  What do they call you?"

        "Mowgli" called Bagheera from a nearby tree limb.  "And he's going back to the Man Village, right now."

        "Man village?" Baloo asked, almost offended by such an idea.  "They'll ruin him!  They'll make a man out of him!"  

        "Oh Baloo!" Mowgli called, burying himself into the bear's fur.  "I wanna stay here with you."

        "Certainly you do!" Baloo answered the boy's call, patting him on the head.

        "Oh" Bagheera laughed.  "And just how do you think he'll survive?" 

        "He's with me, ain't he?  And I'll learn him all I know."

        "Well, that shouldn't take too long."  

        Baloo looked to Mowgli.  "Now, it's like this, little britches.  All you gotta do is look for the bare necessities.  And with good ol' Papa Bear, I'll show you all ya need.  Come on, I'm bushed.  Let's go eat."  The bear scooped up Mowgli and put the boy on his shoulders.  "Do ya like ants?"

        "You eat ants?" Mowgli asked, half excited, half disgusted.  

        "You better believe it" Baloo laughed.  "And you are gonna love the way they tickle."  

        As Baloo and Mowgli disappeared around the bend, Bagheera leapt down and prepared to follow them.  But Riku stopped him.  "Come on, Bagheera.  It looks like Baloo can take care of him."

        "Baloo is nothing but a shiftless, jungle bum!" the panther groaned.  "Mowgli will be in mortal danger in no time!  I better go and make sure nothing too bad happens to them."  

          Riku and Bagheera followed Baloo and Mowgli, only to find a group of Unversed surrounding the band.  "Unversed!" Riku shouted, leaping into the middle of the group.  

        

Team up with Baloo to Defeat All of the Unversed

        As Riku and Baloo took down the last of the Unversed, Baloo and Mowgli simply returned to their fun and frolicking.  Bagheera sighed.  "I guess I'll never get those two apart."

        "Sometimes" Riku laughed, "the best friendships are the ones that are not meant to be broken."  Riku looked on as Baloo and Mowgli played and tussled with each other.  In many ways, the way these two played and simply enjoyed each other, reminded Riku very much of his friendship with Sora.  The sheer ease and joy they got out of life made Riku reminisce of the days he and Sora would play pirates, race across the beaches and compete for Kairi's adoration.  "Trust me, Bagheera, I speak from experience."   

        

Chapter 8 (RIKU): The Wild Jungle

Chapter 8 (Riku): The Mysterious Jungle

        Riku landed back in the center of Fantasy Land but a few moments after departing from Yen Sid's chamber.  He was immediately surrounded by Mickey and Merlin, who both were eager to learn what had happened in Wonderland.  Riku carefully retold his experiences, from what the Cheshire Cat had told him, to the Heartless nearly engulfing all of Wonderland.  Finally, to what he had spoken to about Yen Sid.  Mickey and Merlin looked to each other and exchanged nervous glances.  

        "We have to bring the Princesses of Heart here as soon as possible" Mickey finally replied to Riku's story.  "Just having Snow White and Alice here is not good enough."

        "But until we hear word from Sora or Kairi" Merlin added, "we'll only have Alice and Snow White here.  And we have been unable to find ways to Agrabah or the Enchanted Dominion."

        Riku looked over towards Prince Charming's Carousel and by a large tavern with a picture of a very Gothic and gloomy castle.  "Do you want me to go after them?"

        Mickey shook his head.  "No need.  Worst case scenario, I can go and help either of them.  Riku, you should go and keep fighting the darkness in each of these worlds.  Why don't you try out a world in Adventure Land or something?  There are a few rides we haven't checked yet."
        Riku nodded.  "I guess you're right.  I'll go check it out."  Riku turned to leave, but spun back and returned his gaze to Mickey.  "If you see Sora, tell him to come and find me.  I have to talk to him."
        Merlin and Mickey nodded.  "Can do."
        With that, Riku left Fantasy Land and travelled throughout several new realms.  One of them, was a fancy and well built area that reminded Riku of some sort of interesting world of chivalry and mastery of the art of manner and etiquette.  This must be New Orleans Square, Riku thought to himself.  He looked around and began studying the area.  There were plenty of shops and restaurants to be sure, but the one thing that caught his eye was an enormous boat docked in the nearby river.  The lake from which the boat was in seemed to enter a bayou of sorts.  Maybe I'll come back here and explore more about this place.  But I really should go to Adventureland.  Riku turned and hurried down the path towards a wooden drawbridge, which lead to a mysterious environment he had yet to ever encounter.

        The beauty and wonder of Disneyland was how extremely diverse it's lands and environments were.  You could start your journey in a futuristic world of robots and lasers and rockets, venture into a storybook world of Fairy Tales and dragons and princesses, then end your day in the dense and mysterious jungles and bazaars of the many uncharted corners of the world.  Adventure Land was, like Tomorrow Land, starkly different from many of the other worlds Riku had previously visited.
        The landscape of Adventure Land ranged from dense jungles, to Caribbean ports and seas, to an Arabian bazaar that immediately reminded Riku of Agrabah.  As it happened, as Riku passed one of the attractions, one was flying about on Magic Carpets and soaring through the skies of Adventure Land.  Naturally, it was called:

The Flying Carpets of Aladdin

        "Well" Riku laughed to himself, "at least we know where we can find Aladdin and Jasmine.  Hopefully, we'll be able to get into Agrabah soon."  Riku walked past the ride, just dodging one of the golden camel idols spitting water at him.  

        Despite many innovative and interesting rides, the one that caught Riku's eye the most was a boat ride through the heart of a jungle in India.  It was called:

The Jungle Cruise

        As a boy, Riku had not had much interest in wildlife and the jungles of the world.  But a few of Sora's stories recalling his adventures had intrigued him.  One of the jungle worlds, for example, he had teamed up with an ape man to protect a gorilla family from the desires of a hunter.  In another, he remembered how Sora had been transformed into a lion and teamed up with his old friend Simba and toppled Simba's evil uncle.  Now, it was Riku's turn to explore his own Jungle world.  

        Riku walked down the roped line until arriving at a large boat docked in the turquoise water.  As he hopped aboard and sat down, the boat slowly began to take off.  From nowhere, a loud voice called on the loudspeaker.  "Please keep your hands, arms, feet, and legs inside the boat at all times.  Do not feed any animals you may find on your journey.  Thank you, and please enjoy your stay in the Jungle."  As the boat left the dock, Riku could clearly tell he was departing from Disneyland once more and entering yet another different world.  

        The unique music and scents of Disneyland were being replaced with the screeching sounds of birds and monkeys, and the sweet aroma of various plants that can only be found in the jungles of the world.  Loud trumpeting of Elephants and the howls of wolves can be heard echoing all throughout the land, clearly proving to Riku that he was officially entering a new world.  

        The boat rocked slightly, ultimately landing on a marshy swamp bed.  With nowhere else to go, Riku hopped out of the boat and began to explore the terrain.  But before he could really enjoy the new scenery, a young boy's scream called Riku to action.  A young boy wearing only a loincloth was surrounded by several different Unversed.  "Help me!  Bagheera!  Help!"

        Riku hurried over to the boy's side and drew his Keyblade.  "Go to cover!  I'll handle this."  The boy looked at Riku, puzzled for a moment, but nodded and fled for cover.  The Unversed gathered around Riku and prepared to attack.

Defeat All of the Unversed

        As Riku disposed of the last of the Unversed, the young boy approached him.  "Where did you come from?  Are you from the Man Village?" 

        Riku put away his Keyblade and looked at the boy, puzzled.  "Man Village?  What are you talking about?  And why are you out here in the jungle?  Don't you know it's dangerous?"

        The boy turned away and stuck his head in the air.  "You sound just like Bagheera.  I know I can survive out here in the jungle, but he doesn't trust me.  I just wish he would give me the chance to prove I can survive out here."

        "I don't doubt you can live out here on your own" Riku answered, seeing much of himself in the boy.  "I've never been to a place like this before.  I was just curious, that's all."  

        The boy turned and smiled at Riku.  "Thank you, um--"

        "Riku." 

        "Thank you, Riku.  My name is Mowgli.  Do you know what those creatures were?  I've never seen their kind in the jungle before."  

        Riku sighed.  "They're called Unversed.  Let me just say that they don't belong here.  They were never meant to be in this place.  Have you seen them around before?"

        Mowgli shook his head.  "Bagheera thinks it's because of--"

        "Mowgli!" a stern voice called out to the boy.  "Confounded boy, where are you?  Mowgli!"  From atop a tree branch, a slick black panther arrived on scene.  He seemed relieved when he found Mowgli, but looked absolutely mortified when he saw Riku.  "Man is in the jungle?"  Bagheera hopped down and turned to Mowgli.  "Do you know this man?"

        Mowgli nodded.  "Of course I do, Bagheera.  He just took out the monsters that have been appearing.  He can make sure I can stay in the Jungle."

        Bagheera sighed.  "He may have been able to stop those creatures, but can he protect you from Shere Khan?  No, Mowgli, I must take you back to the Man Village to be safe.  Khan won't go there, looking for you."  

        Mowgli stomped on the ground.  "Riku can look after me!  Right Riku?"

        "Uh, wait a minute--" Riku began.

        "No, Mowgli" Bagheera answered.  "If you insist, he can come along with us back to the village, but you are not staying here in the Jungle."  The panther leapt past Riku and Mowgli and leaned his head towards the path.  "Follow me, boys.  The Man Village is still fairly far away.  But we can make it before nightfall.  Let's go, before those monsters return."  Bagheera raced down the path.  

        Mowgli turned to Riku.  "Would you please come with us?  Bagheera isn't a fighting panther.  He can't protect me from those creatures like you can."  

        Riku sighed.  "Well, I guess I could spare a little time--" he began, before the eager Mowglie grabbed his hand and pulled him down the path after Bagheera.  "Hey, wait a minute!"  But Riku was dragged off by Mowgli deeper into the Jungle.

        After several minutes walking down the path and battling various bunches of Unversed, the group took a moment to rest.  As they did, Riku turned to Bagheera, while Mowgli began climbing nearby trees.  "So, Bagheera.  Why was Mowgli in the Jungle in the first place?  Shouldn't he be in this Man Village?"

        Bagheera sighed.  "You see, I found the man-cub when he was but an infant.  With no one around to protect him, I asked my neighbors, a wolf pack, to raise him until he was strong enough to return to the Man Village.  I hadn't figured that the wolves would learn to love him as one of their own.  Mowgli grew up with many of the wolf cubs in the pack, never even wondering if he belonged in the Man Village?"

        "So, why does he have to go back, now?" Riku asked curiously.  

        "The wicked tiger, Shere Khan, is returning to this part of the jungle.  He hates Man, and would do everything in his power to make sure Mowgli does not grow up to become one.  The wolves asked me to escort Mowgli back to protect the pack.  But Mowgli doesn't want to leave.  The Jungle has wormed it's way into his heart.  Now, I fear it will prevent him from wanting to go to the Man Village.  And now--"  Bagheera cut his own thoughts off.  The air was deathly silent.  "Mowgli?  Mowgli!"  He shouted, but the boy didn't answer.  Bagheera looked by one of the tree branches and saw the end of a long reptilian tail hanging from the trees.  He plucked the tail, causing a soft voice to grunt.  

        From the tree, a snake's head appeared and looked Bagheera over.  "What is it, Bagheera?  I'm trying to enjoy my lunch.  Can you please leave me in peace?"

        "Kaa!  Give us back Mowgli!" the panther shouted.

        "I cannot allow that to happen" the snake hissed.  "You see, Shere Khan wants to kill this poor boy.  How can I enjoy a banquet if he is dead?  I'm no beast, Bagheera."  The snake began lowering his coils, showing Mowgli wrapped up inside, completely under a certain kind of trance.  "And he won't even feel a thing under this trance I've placed him in.  Do not fear, gentlemen, the boy will be safe from Khan."  

        Riku rushed forward, but Kaa simply avoided his slash.  "If you wanted to join Mowgli in my stomach, all you had to do was ask, my boy."  Kaa looked at Riku, his eyes beginning to swirl around and around.  Riku tried his hardest to avoid looking at him, but could feel himself losing control.  Before he could fall completely under the spell, Bagheera swiped at the snake with his paw.  Kaa looked at both, unamused.  "Fine.  You both have just ssss-sss-sealed, your doom!"  The snake lunged for both of them, but the panther and young man dodged the attack.  Riku refocused himself and prepared to fight the wicked snake.

Boss Battle: Kaa

HP: 650

Get Bonus: 

Riku: Learned Aerial Recovery

        Kaa was flung backwards from one of Riku's attacks, causing his head to whack onto the tree limb.  As Kaa's body shook off the damage, Mowgli was freed from the trance, and began struggling to free himself from Kaa's grip.  When he freed his arms, he reached out for Riku.  Riku grabbed his hands and pulled him out from the snake's grip.  As Mowgli began breathing normally again, he reached for Kaa's head and pulled his head under a tree root and tied his head and neck around in knots.  Finally, when Kaa was all tangled and knotted, he sighed.  "Curses.  There go my sinuses!"  

        Mowgli burst out into laughter, but Riku and Bagheera were not amused.  "This is why you need to go back to the Man Village, Mowgli.  Can't you see you cannot look out for yourself?"  

        Mowgli shook his head.  "I want to stay in the Jungle!"  With that, Mowgli took off down the Jungle Path.  Bagheera and Riku sighed and hurried off after him.  

        Several minutes later, while Kaa continued to try and free himself, he heard a sinister chuckle behind him.  He gulped as an enormous tiger stalked onto the scene.  He put his paw onto Kaa's body.  "Well, isn't this a surprise?" he asked sarcastically.  "How on earth was this done to you, my poor little reptilian friend?"

        Kaa laughed nervously.  "Nothing too shameful, Shere Khan.  I was unable to catch a little mouse that scurried through here."

        Khan laughed once more.  "You did not grow this long by eating mice, Kaa.  You and I both know you can and must eat more than a simple mouse.  And you and I both know you are a terrible liar."  The tiger grabbed the snake's neck with his paw.  "Where is the man-cub?"  

        Kaa gulped.  "I haven't seen him.  Shouldn't he be in the Man Village?"

        Khan began to squeeze the snake's throat.  "Oh please, do you seriously think I believe you did knot work this well on yourself.  Unless those wretched monkeys were teasing you, this was done to you by a man-cub.  Where is he?"

        Kaa gulped one final time.  "Bagheera is taking him back to the village.  But you won't catch him.  He has another man travelling alongside them."

        Khan snarled.  "Another human in my jungle?  Hmph!  We'll see about that!"  The tiger began stalking down the rest of the path.  When Shere Khan disappeared down the path, Kaa heaved a sigh of relief, then resumed trying to free his neck from the tree root.  

Chapter 7 (RIKU): The Jabberwocky/ The World Destroyers

Chapter 7 (Riku): The Jabberwocky

        Riku bolted full steam ahead after the flying Heartless Isa had sent after Kairi and Alice.  His fear was not only showing, but it was in full bloom.  He would never forgive himself if something happened to Kairi on his watch.  And he was certain Sora would never, either.  Faster and faster he ran through the burning Lotus Forest, dodging falling branches and incinerated blades of grass.  Several Heartless emerged and stood against him, but Riku was in no mood for them.  "GET LOST!"

Defeat All of the Heartless

        Riku looked ahead and saw the massive beast cornering Kairi and Alice by one of the few trees in the forest left standing.  The beast closely resembled a dragon.  In fact, Riku could just as easily mistake this beast for the dragon form Maleficent had taken to battle both him and Sora in Hollow Bastion.  Though, there were a few differences.  This beast, for example, was much more muscular and more snake like than Maleficent's reptilian flame thrower had been.  And it appeared as though he could talk.  He sneered down to Kairi and Alice, who seemed too worn out from fleeing from the beast to fight.  

        "So" the beast roared at his adversaries, "I can finally dine on the flesh of a Princess of Heart.  Oh, how I have waited for this day.  To think that everything has occurred exactly as Xehanort predicted it would."  He prepared to wrap his tongue around his prey, when Riku intervened, slicing the black snake like tongue free from it's mouth.  The monster reared back, snarling in pain.  

        "Kairi" Riku called to his friend, almost glad to take in the onslaught this new fiend had to offer.  "Get Alice back to Disneyland and have Mickey seal the entrance."  

        "I'm not leaving you behind, Riku" Kairi answered bitterly.  

        "I'm giving you an order!  Now go back and--"  Before Riku could finish, the Jabberwocky struck again, breathing purple and black flames at the young warrior.  Riku easily dodged the attack, lunging for the beast with his Keyblade in hand.  Riku looked back and saw neither Kairi nor Alice.  Sighing with relief, Riku was about to return his focus onto this enemy Isa had sent to dispose of him, when he noticed a certain red headed female lunging forward with her Keyblade in hand.  "I thought I--"

        "When have Sora and I ever listened to you?" Kairi asked rhetorically.  "Besides, how will you ever think I'm ready to be one of you guys if you never give me the chance?"

        Riku was about to argue, but his friend made a few good points.  I can't baby Kairi forever.  Maybe this is the test I need to give her to see if she has what it takes.  Riku simply nodded and returned his attention to their Heartless opponent, who reared back and bellowed one last time, before charging.

Boss Battle: The Jabberwocky

HP: 915

Get Bonus:

Riku: Obtained the Fire Element

Kairi: +30 Friendship

+10 HP

        The Jabberwocky reared back one final time, before dissolving into purple flames, which crackled and torched the beast until it's cried could be heard no more.  When the mounting flames began to die down, a heart appeared from it's dissolving ashes, before vanishing into the darkness.  

        Riku looked to Kairi and finally smiled.  "I gotta admit, Kairi, I was a little worried about you at first.  I have to call it brotherly intuition, I guess.  But you really are starting to grow stronger with the Keyblade.  I'm proud of you."

        Kairi beamed.  "I'm glad to hear you say that.  Now, I'm one step closer to being a Keyblade Master, like you."  

        "You both did a splendid job" Alice answered from behind the tree.  The young girl returned to the forefront to greet them.  "I am truly grateful for you all saving me from both that horrid man and the Jabberwocky."  

        "Alice" Riku called to the girl, "why did you return to Wonderland in the first place?"

        "I didn't have a choice in the matter" Alice answered, a sad look on her face.  "A few moments after Kairi disappeared into the Dwarfs Mine, the Queen's Card Soldiers arrived and kidnapped me.  They brought me here to resume our trial that Sora had saved me from."

        "How did the Card Soldiers get into Disneyland?" Riku asked aloud, both curiously and accusatory.  

        "From what I recall" the young girl recounted, "the Card Soldiers kept saying something about a man named Xehanort."

        "XEHANORT?!" both Kairi and Riku exclaimed at the same time.  

        "Is he someone you know?" Alice asked.  

        Riku looked around, half-expecting Xehanort or one of his flunkies to arrive.  But when none did, Riku opened a portal of light with his Keyblade.  "Alice, we need you to remain in Disney Castle at all times.  Until Xehanort is at least restrained, you are not safe here."  

        "If you insist" Alice answered curiously, "though I doubt it will do if some of that man's men can get into Disneyland."  

        Riku looked out into the now barren plains of Wonderland, only to find a near innumerous amount of Heartless gathering.  Riku looked back to Kairi and Alice.  "This time, Kairi, do as your told.  Bring Alice to Mickey immediately and tell him Xehanort is once more at large.  I'll meet you back in Disneyland when I can.  Go!"  

        Kairi nodded, grabbed Alice's hand and led the girl through the portal of light.  Riku turned to face his destiny.  But as he did so, the massive cluster of Heartless began to combine into one massive ball of darkness.  And the darkness was beginning to consume anything and everything.  Riku knew that he was no match for this kind of darkness.  He tapped his armor and began to fly off into the Lanes Between.  

        Riku arrived just outside of Wonderland and looked back in horror.  The entirety of Wonderland was being consumed in darkness.  "What the heck is going on here?" Riku asked aloud.  Never had he seen Heartless be capable of something that catastrophic.  He looked back towards any nearby world and noticed Yen Sid's tower nearby.  "Yen Sid has to know about this!"  Riku sped off towards his mentor's tower, his heart full of incredible fear.

        "A mass of Heartless with the power to destroy entire worlds?" Yen Sid asked, with legitimate concern in his voice.
        "I got Kairi and Alice out of there as soon as I could" Riku continued his report to the Master.
        "I do not blame you for the events that occurred in Wonderland, Riku.  However, you must be aware that Xehanort will use whatever means necessary to destroy the Princesses of Heart.  Any that are not in Disneyland are in terrible danger."  Yen Sid rose to his feet and walked towards one of his closer windows. his back to Riku.  "Even Kairi can be in danger."
        "What do you want me to do about it?" Riku asked impatiently.  "We can only go to so many worlds at a time.  How many of the Princesses are there, already?"
        "If what you said is true" Yen Sid answered, "then Snow White and Alice are the only two.  But Sora is trying to coerce Belle into leaving her world, and it appears Mickey has sent Kairi to fetch Cinderella.  The gateways to The Enchanted Dominion and Agrabah are still sealed, so it will be some time before we can extract Jasmine or Aurora."
        "Will Wonderland ever exist again?" Riku asked, worried about Alice's future.
        Yen Sid turned back to Riku and nodded.  "I have done enough magic to ensure the bulk of Wonderland shall remain.  Still, the Heartless must have overrun the entire world.  It will be some time before Alice can return."
        Riku sighed with relief.  "At least I got her and Kairi out in time.  Master, do you think Kairi is better off by herself?  With Xehanort hunting the Princesses, is she a possible target?"
        "I should think you should learn to trust in Kairi's abilities" Yen Sid answered sternly.  "You need to trust her the same way Sora and Mickey trust you, Riku.  If you cannot, she will never be ready for Xehanort's schemes.  Do you truly fear for her?"
        Riku lowered his gaze and nodded.  "She's like my little sister.  I'm really protective of both Kairi and Sora.  If anything happened to them, I'd never forgive myself."
        Yen Sid stroked his long grey beard.  "Well, if you feel afraid for their power, perhaps they should prove to you they can fight evil.  Let Sora and Kairi venture to a few worlds together.  Then, you can see for yourself that the two of them do indeed have prodigious talents."
        Riku bowed to Yen Sid and prepared to leave, but Yen Sid cleared his throat.  "I sense there is still more on your mind, Riku.  What more is it that troubles you?"
        Riku returned to facing Yen Sid, an incredible amount of questions burdening his heart.  Rather than wait around for Yen Sid to answer every question he had, particularly about Sora, he decided to focus on one of the bigger questions covering his heart.  "Isa kept mentioning someone named Terra.  He said him and I had a lot in common.  Does that name mean anything to you?"
        Yen Sid lowered his face from Riku's view.  "Terra is a Keyblade Hero that Sora must one day free from his pain.  For now, that is all you need to know about Terra.  When he thinks you are ready, Mickey will tell you, Lea, Kairi, and Sora about those whom Sora must save.  We've allowed enough time to pass.  Go back to Disneyland and keep protecting the worlds from Xehanort's wrath."  Riku bowed before his master and left the room.  Yen Sid looked out into the blank space and sighed.  "Xehanort.  Why must you insist on tormenting these poor young people?  Why must they be burdened for your negligence?"

Forged a D-Link with Kairi

Obtained the Vorpal Blade Keychain

ATK: +5

MAG: +1

Ability:

Boost the Strength of Ground Combo Attacks

Obtained the Master's Crest Keychain

STR: +4

MAG: +3

Ability:

Restores MP relative to damage taken

Chapter 6 (RIKU): Wrath from the Shadows

Chapter 6 (Riku): Wrath from the Shadows

        Riku and Kairi's long journey through the Rose Garden finally led them to the throne of the Queen of Hearts.  Flanking the rose bush walls of the throne were card soldiers of every suit.  Two guards stood in front of the podium, blocking the two warriors from seeing who was on trial.  The Queen of Hearts, an ugly fat old woman, sat in her massive throne and glared down at the defendant on trial.

        "If it weren't for that Sora interfering, I would have been able to convict you before" the Queen snarled brutishly.  "Now that we have you back, we can resume our trial."  The Queen turned to the White Rabbit, who slumped next to her on his own stand.  "What are the charges?"

        "Assault on the Queen and attempted theft of her heart" the rabbit reminded the Queen.

        "I"LL DECIDE WHAT HER CHARGES ARE!" the Queen raged, causing the rabbit to tremble.         "I've done absolutely nothing wrong, as I told you last time" a soft girl's voice sounded.  "And Sora and his friends more than proved my innocence last time we were here."  

        "Isn't that Alice?" Kairi asked Riku.  

        Riku nodded.  "Wouldn't surprise me."

        "Silence!  You dare to defy me?" the Queen asked bitterly.  "When that black-hearted Sora returns looking to rescue you, I'll put him on trial as well.  But for now, you are guilty.  Why?  Because I say so!"  

        Riku shoved past the Card Soldiers and addressed the Queen.  "Your Majesty, this trial isn't any good if you don't have the real culprit."

        The Queen scowled as she glared down Riku.  "Nonsense.  I have my culprit right here.  Alice has already admitted to her crime of doing nothing.  Therefore, she is guilty."  

        "You still don't have the right person on trial.  The person who tried to steal your heart...was me!"  Riku drew his Keyblade and stood in front of Alice.  "If you want your revenge, come and get it!"  

        The Queen snarled.  "Guards!  Seize the Traitors!"  The card soldiers turned against Riku and charged at him.  Kairi leapt to Riku's side.  

        Alice smiled.  "Kairi!  You came!"

        Kairi turned back towards Alice.  "You have to find a safe place to hide.  This is going to get ugly."  Alice turned and ran off, but was surrounded by several Card Soldiers.  "Oh no!  We have to protect Alice!"  

        "They're all traitors!  Seize them at once!"  The cards all leapt forward to strike at the little band.  

Defeat All of the Card Soldiers while protecting Alice

Get Bonus: 

Riku: Learned Maelstrom

+10 HP

Kairi: +10 HP

        When all of the Cards fell backwards in pain, Riku turned his attention to the Queen of Hearts.  "Now do you see that Alice wasn't the one responsible."  The Queen didn't move.  

        "Is it true what you say?" Alice asked Riku.  "Are you indeed the thief?"

        Riku shook his head.  "No, but it was the only way to make sure no one got hurt.  Now, to finish this with Her Majesty."  Riku turned to face the Queen of Hearts.  But as soon as he made eye contact, the Queen disappeared into darkness.  In her place, a cloaked man wielding a powerful Claymore sat in her throne.  The skies around Wonderland began to darken.  Riku raised his Keyblade against the new foe.  "Xehanort!"

        The hooded figure laughed.  "Why do you think it's Xehanort?" 

        "Xehanort put his heart into each of you" Riku answered bitterly.  "I should figure I'm talking to one of Xehanort's flunkies right now.  Or, if he had the guts to fight me, Xehanort himself."

        The hooded figure pulled his hood back to reveal his face.  He had fairly dark skin, but it was an x that was over his nose and eyes that drew Riku's attention to him.  Kairi shuddered in fear.  "Not him again!"

        "It's not Saix" Riku explained to Kairi.  "It's his original self!"  

        Isa nodded.  "Isn't it curious, how frail and fragile a single world can be?  Rather like a heart, no doubt.  With one powerful being inside, the darkness begins to overtake it, swallowing all of the goodness and pureness inside, and causing it to implode in on itself."  

        Riku ignored Isa's monologue.  "What are you doing here?"

        Isa pointed at Alice, who drew back behind Kairi.  Kairi pointed her Keyblade at the former Organization leader.  "As if we'd ever let you hurt Alice!"  

        "It's not your choice, Kairi" Isa sneered.  "We have all been instructed to act against the Princesses of Heart without mercy.  Soon, even you will be begging for mercy against us.  Soon, once we've dealt with your pesky protectors, Sora and Riku."

        Riku laughed.  "And I hope you'll understand that we'll always be there to protect her!"  

        Isa grinned.  "You may wish to be forever her guardian, but can you really afford it?  Someday, she will have to face us alone, without you or Sora being there to guide her.  In the end, your wasted attempts to protect her will prove fruitless once we've assembled Master Xehanort's X-blade.  How will you protect anyone from that, Riku?"  

        Riku lowered his head.  "The same way I protected Sora from you.  I will never let you hurt my friends!"  Riku lunged forward to slash at Isa, but he simply swung his Claymore around and blocked the blow.  

        "For a Keyblade Master, Riku, you have many of the same flaws Terra had" Isa remarked scornfully.  "I would hope you can keep your darkness in check.  Otherwise, killing you won't be quite as exciting."  Isa pushed Riku back to the floor.  "Besides, it was Lea who rescued Sora in the end.  Were it not for his treachery, we would have had our Thirteen Vessels.  But no matter."  Isa snapped his fingers.  Surrounding the group were several dark creatures, but none of them were Heartless.  "Here me, my Unversed!  Annihilate these wretched fools!"  

        Riku turned to Alice and Kairi.  "Kairi, get her out of here!  I'll hold them off!  Go!"  

        Kairi was about to argue, but nodded and turned to Alice.  "Let's get back to Mickey!"  The young warrior held out her hand to Alice.  

        "Yes" Alice answered, placing her hand in Kairis.  The young Keyblade warrior led her fellow Princess of Heart away from the garden, leaving Riku alone to deal with the enemy.  

        "Good" Isa answered.  "Once I've eliminated you, she'll be the only line of defense for the special Heartless I have guarding Wonderland's exit to dispose of!"    

        "What?" Riku asked in terror.

        "Why trouble you in your final moments?" Isa laughed coldly, his Claymore finding his hands.  

Defeat Isa and his Unversed!

Boss Battle: Isa

HP: 900

Get Bonus:

Riku: +10 MP

        Riku rushed his foe, clashing violently with him.  Their weapons both began to emit the powers of light and darkness respectively.  Riku looked up into the sky, to see the moon shining down upon their battle.  He was about to brace himself for the onslaught, but Isa used his Berserking powers to glow with intense power, already aiming to rocket the boy off his feet.  

        "All shall be lost to you!" Isa shouted, blasting Riku away from the Queen of Heart's throne room with one ferocious assault.  

        Riku awoke in the Rose Garden.  But it was not the same Rose Garden from which he and Kairi had entered.  This garden was ablaze, with not a few large bushes torched by some kind of magic fire.  He looked into the sky, seeing a massive dragon like creature flying towards the Lotus Forest.  "KAIRI!" Riku shouted, dashing off after her.  

        Isa bowed down to another hooded figure, who had arrived on the scene.  "Everything is going as you have said, Master Xehanort."

        "With the two foolish children, yes" Xehanort answered, his gruff and bitter voice echoing throughout the now empty courtroom.  "But we still need time steering the boy into our clutches.  I underestimated the light in his heart.  In fact, it seems to dispel any and all darkness from even reaching his heart."  

        "Sora's darkness must feed off of his doubt and fear" Isa answered coldly.  "Should we keep prodding Riku and Kairi down the paths we have determined, as you had done with the others, we should have our prize yet."

        "Yet Aqua and Ventus each had their use" Xehanort lamented.  "But with Riku now devoid of any detectable darkness and Kairi being a Princess of Heart, what use can they be to us?"

        "As I stated before, Master" Isa reiterated, "Sora's darkness will have to feed off of the fear he has in his heart.  He doesn't fear the darkness as most of those guardians do.  Rather, he vows to destroy it."

        Xehanort chuckled briefly to himself.  "Then we simply have to put the fear of loss in his heart.  Not just losing in battle, but losing one whom he cherishes.  Frankly, from what we've been able to observe, either Riku or Kairi will do.  However, there is one slight flaw in our conception of this plan: the Princess cannot know of Sora's descent.  Her light shines in Sora's heart so powerfully, he would never succumb to my power if she knew of his danger.  As for Riku, I believe I have someone who can put seeds of doubt in him."