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.