Chaos Hearts 2
Chapter 5 - High Noon
Copter, Fera and 1BIT had arrived in a fairy tale world. Copter determined that it was likely where the literal egg Eggman from the Ring came from, and possibly the vampire he'd seen there, too. They hadn't gone too far before receiving a call from Lucky. Copter's ProwerPhone had been broken during his time in the Shatterverse, but he and Lucky were each given Gummi Phones by Master Yen Sid before setting out. "Hey, Lucky here! Just checkin' in!" the cat smiled. 1BIT hung over Copter's shoulder to look at the phone while Fera stood to the side. "We're good!" 1BIT smiled. "Get off me!" Copter grunted, "Well, we got one of the shards." he added. "Huh, we haven't had such luck..." Lucky sighed. It was then Copter noticed his cowboy hat. "What's going on there?" Copter asked. Miles peeked over Lucky's shoulder. "We landed in 'Mirage Saloon.' They think Lucky is the sheriff." he stated. Copter flashed back to the Ring, where he'd met Sheriff Lucky. The fox gulped. "I don't know how you're gonna break this to 'em, but... Sheriff Lucky is dead. I saw him die..." he stated. "Dead!?" Whisk exclaimed, "How could you let that happen, Copter!" she shouted. 1BIT gave a squeaky shout, and Fera took the phone. "Hold that thought." she said. The two looked to see a troll climbing up from under the bridge, growling at 1BIT. Copter squinted. "Guard?" he babbled. The troll did kind of look like Guard without his wings. "Grrrr!! Foxes...tasty meat!!" he snarled, lashing sharp claws at 1BIT, who blocked with his shield. "No, no, I taste terrible! HAAALP!!" he shouted. Copter smirked. "Try me, you gremlin!" he shouted. Troll Guard leapt at Copter, who raised his keyblade toward him. "Chaos Whirlwind!!" adding the keyblade's power to his attack, Guard was blown off the bridge, soaring into the distance! Fera looked at the phone. "We're good here. But we'll move off this bridge now..." she said to Lucky.
Since Fera was holding the phone, Copter soon steered the conversation to her dad, the Doubtweaver. "Seems like dumb black outfits run in her family." he snickered, leading Fera to place a hand on his head and shove him away. "Her dad? Hm, do you think he's a bad guy?" Whisk questioned. "He sounds like a bad guy. Don't you listen to a thing he says!" Miles said sternly. "Hey, c'mon, he's family...well, not mine." 1BIT said. Fera growled in annoyance. "Drop the subject! He's a cretin who abandoned me as a kid!" she pointed out angrily. Lucky rubbed his head under his hat. "Uhhh, maybe he had a...reason?" he said, trying to be optimistic. Copter sighed. "Don't listen to me, Lucky or Whisk. We don't even have real parents. Just Bucky...who is very dead." he stated. "But wouldn't you like to talk to him again if you could?" 1BIT asked. "I literally talked to him at the last world! Different Bucky, but kinda the same!" Copter argued. Fera slowed her steps as they reached a fork in the woodland road, where they saw Cream coming toward them, wearing a red hood and carrying a picnic basket. "Well...doesn't she look even more sickeningly cute than usual." Fera murmured. Cream saw her and gasped. "Oh, no. Th-the Big Bad Wolf again!! Heeeelp!! Mr. Woodsmaaaan!!" she cried, pointing at Fera in a panicked fashion. Fera gave a frustrated growl as the woodsman, Crash the rhino, came charging towards them. "We'll call you back if we find a shard!" Copter said to Lucky. "Okay, be careful!" Lucky replied before the phone turned off. Seeing the fury in Crash's eyes, the trio all ran away from him, trying to keep ahead of his sharp horn! "Why are you after meeee!? I'm not a wolf!!" 1BIT shouted. "If I could just use my dark powers!!" Fera complained. "He's a confused citizen! Just run away!!" Copter cried. "Thanks, Mr. Woodsman!" they heard Cream shout, the red-hooded rabbit skipping away as the trio fled frantically.
Lucky, Miles and Whisk were in the saloon, the boys having milk while Whisk was drinking water. They were all wearing western outfits. Sonata - or "Sonny" - the unicorn was tugging Lucky's arm. He was the sheriff's deputy in this world, and the one who first mistook Lucky for the sheriff. "C'mon, there's no time for drownin' our sorrows in milk! The town's gotten in all sorts of trouble since you been gone!" he said. The bartender, recognized as "Dave the Intern" by Lucky, nodded in agreement. "There's been all kinds of nasty varmints in town lately. Monsters an' bandits!" he said in his squeaky voice. "Okay, okay... Let's see about those monsters first... I reckon." Lucky said, standing up to follow Sonny. The unicorn led them outside the saloon, and they heard shouts right away. "Monsters 'round the 'ol well!" one man shouted. "Bandits at the town bank!" another exclaimed. "We need to look for the prism shard and the keyhole..." Miles reminded Lucky. Whisk smiled. "I'll do an air search! You boys help the town!" she suggested. "Hurry, hurry! No time for jitters!" Sonny said frantically. "I-I don't have jitters!" Lucky stuttered, "...You think the bandits have guns?" he whispered to Miles, "Uh, I mean, thanks, Whisk!" he said, waving before she flew off. The boys headed off, following Sonny, and soon found heartless running amok in the town! Lucky prepped his keyblade. "Right! I'll round up these pests! You guys go after the bandits!" he said. Miles put a hand on his hip. "You are scared of gunfights, aren't you?" he asked. Sonny patted Lucky on the back. "He's worried he's gone soft on his vacation! It'll be okay, like ridin' your own horse!" he assured him. "..." he gave Sonny an awkward look, considering he WAS pretty much a horse. "Uh, right! Let's get a move on!" he said.
And so, while Lucky was busy taking on heartless that resembled tumbleweeds and cacti, Miles and Sonny rushed to the bank where Nack the weasel, Spiny the porcupine, and Corky the frog appeared to be the bandits. They were coming out of the bank holding bags with dollar signs on them. "Huh, could this be any more cliche?" Miles wondered. "Freeze you no-good robbers!" Sonny shouted, ducking behind Miles' shield as they glared over at him, "They're going to shoot!" the unicorn yelped. "You think??" Miles grumbled as bullets started pelting his shield! "You'll neva take Hopalong Corky alive, coppers!" Corky shouted, grabbing his money bags with his frog tongue so he could shoot two guns instead of one. Sonny shakily drew his six-shooter, but Miles raised a hand to hold him back. "I just gotta get in close, and this shield will take care of 'em..." he said. "B-but a shield is... Hm, well, I trust you..." Sonny stammered, his horn glowing softly. With his empath powers, he could sense Miles' confidence. But that confidence didn't matter, as heartless emerged to surround them! "Uh oh..." Miles murmured while the bandits holstered their weapons. "Let's leave the lawmen to the beasts, boys!" Nack snickered. "Pleasure doin' business!" Spiny taunted, the trio escaping while Miles and Sonny prepared to battle the heartless. Before the fight could start, two foxes stepped out of a shadowy dark corridor. "Nice, I'd like to see just how wild the old west could be..." said 8BIT, grinning to himself. The one commanding the heartless shocked Miles, however; It was "Nine!" He snarled at Miles. "There you are! One of those versions of me the multiverse favors, while leaving me to-" with an odd flicker, Nine turned into Sails while speaking, "leavin' me to walk the plank of misery!" Miles rubbed his eyes in disbelief. "What is...happening?" he wondered. "An ambush, partner... Let's hope your friends get here soon!" Sonny said, clutching his six shooter anxiously.
Whisk was flying around the other side of town, nearing a railway. A small person hopping near the tracks caught her attention, and she lowered her altitude to get a closer look. He was wearing overalls and a cowboy hat, but Whisk recognized the little critter. "That disguise won't fool me... Zim!!" she shouted, quickly landing herself in his path, ready for a fight with the Zeti. Zim stumbled backwards, a look of confusion on his face. "Dagnabit, woman! You can't just drop from the sky like that! How can Zim make his rounds an' chase them monsters off'n the tracks when everything's so crazy!?" he shouted. "Huh...? Chase the monsters?" Whisk murmured as Zim stood up and dusted himself off. "The tracks gotta be clear! An important train's a-comin'! They're transportin' a strange glowin' gem what the prospectors found! ...Dangit, Zim wasn't s'posed to tell folk that..." Based on his mannerisms, Whisk came to the conclusion that this was not the Zim she was familiar with. Which made sense if in fact a version of Lucky had been the previous sheriff. "A glowing gem? That could be the shard... Uh, thanks, Zim. I'd better go tell...the sheriff!" she said, flapping her wings to leave. "Don't you be yappin' about this to no one else! Zim needs this job!!" the Zeti shouted as Whisk left. He gave a sigh when she was gone, then gasped as he saw a corridor of darkness appear, 8BIT stepping out...followed by Nack's group of bandits! "Those dark pathways are mighty useful, stranger..." Nack said to 8BIT. The black fox pointed to Zim. "String 'em up! And get ready! We've got a train to rob!" he commanded. Spiny pulled a rope taught in his hand while Zim started to sweat. "H-hold on! Zim sent for the sheriff! You won't get away with this!!" he shouted, turning to run only for Corky to hop into his path! "I reckon you're the one who won't be gettin' away, little man!" the frog snickered as a train whistle sounded in the distance...
Lucky and Whisk made it to Miles at about the same time, and quickly teamed up with Sonny to clear out the surrounding heartless. "Uhhh... Is Miles fighting...himself there??" Lucky questioned, seeing Nine's metallic tails trying to pry Miles' shield from his hands. "It's some sorta otherworldly imposter! ...Like you are, I reckon..." Sonny stated, making Lucky wince a bit. "S-sorry for not telling you." he said before turning his attention back to Miles. As he and Whisk approached, Nine shoved Miles' shield into his chest and headed for a nearby corridor of darkness. "You and your friends! But I don't need 'em... I'll take my life back, and I'll do it myself!" said Nine on his way through the corridor and out of the world. "I am so confused..." Miles sighed as he turned to Lucky, "But the bandits got away..." he added. "Never mind that!" Whisk said hastily, "There's a train coming with a glowing gem inside! It's probably the Prism shard!" she informed them. Lucky frowned. "And with bandits on the loose, I'll bet that train's in danger! We need to get over there, fast!" he stated. Sonny gave a whistle, and a pair of horses galloped over, one of them nuzzling Lucky with its snout, seeming happy to see him. "That was the sheriff's horse, and this one's mine!" said Sonny, the group looking at it a bit awkwardly, noting the horse's resemblance to its owner. "Ahh... I guess, can I borrow yours?" Miles asked the deputy awkwardly. "Sure 'nuff. I'll be along soon as I can! Finish our sheriff's work and catch them bandits!" Sonny implored them, holding the brim of his hat. Lucky and Miles each mounted a horse while Whisk flapped into the air to show them the way. "Let's go, guys! Showdown at high noon!" Whisk shouted. "Yeeee-haw!" Miles cried. "Meeee-yow!!" Lucky yelped as the horse took off fast!
Zim found himself tied up on the railroad tracks, struggling frantically as the train whistle sounded closer. "No, no, no!! S-save ZIIIIM!!" he screamed just before the train reached the station...and kept going! It passed right over the tiny Zeti, who gave a relieved sigh when he found he was unharmed. Whisk flew by overhead, and the horses passed by, racing toward the train with all their speed! "The train's been hijacked!" Miles shouted. "Faster, horsy, we gotta catch 'em!" Lucky urged his steed. Ahead, some bull-like heartless had appeared to defend the train, blocking the horses' path! Lucky and Miles didn't slow down, charging straight toward the line of heartless. "Juuuump!!" Lucky shouted, and the horses obeyed, leaping high over the heartless and continuing the chase! The bullish heartless turned to chase them, and were gaining on the horses until thunderbolts dropped from above to take them out! "I've got your backs!" Whisk smiled, her magic being used to pick off the monsters as the horses caught up to the rear of the train. Miles leapt off his horse first, spinning his tails to carry him the rest of the way to board the train. The horses were beginning to lose steam, and Lucky would have to make his jump right away. "I'm gonna look stupid if I don't make this... Oh, well... Meeee-yoooooow!!" he shouted, jumping from his horse with all his might! Unfortunately, the distance was too far. He was going to faceplant on the ground and miss the train, but Whisk warped down to him, grabbing him in her arms! "We need to get you a jetpack or something!" she said, carrying him onto the train to join Miles. They could see in the car ahead that the bandits were waiting for them. "Guess we'll try this showdown again..." Miles said. "I'm with you this time!" Lucky assured him, clutching his keyblade.
Seeing the heroes coming, Corky leapt out of the front of the train car and lashed his tongue at the roof, pulling himself up. "He's trying to get the drop on us!" Miles said. "I got him!" Whisk smirked, teleporting up after the frog. This left Lucky and Miles to take on Nack and Spiny. Lucky ducked behind Miles' shield as they entered the train car and found bullets flying their way. "No, no, no, you doggone idjut!" Nack growled, smacking Spiny in the back of the head with his pistol, "Not the shield. Take out their legs!" he suggested. "Ohhhh, right, right." Spiny smirked, causing Lucky to gulp nervously. "What's the plan, smarty pants?" the cat asked. "Keyblade block, go!!" Miles shouted, shoving Lucky ahead of him! "No, no!! Me-yoooow!!" Lucky shouted, spinning his keyblade rapidly in a panic as bullets started flying towards him! Seeing Lucky in front of Miles caused the bandits to aim directly at him, which actually made it easier for the keyblade to deflect the bullets! One bounced back and struck Spiny's hand, causing him to drop his gun. "Go on, then, Fanged Sniper! Get 'im 'tween the eyes!" the porcupine shouted. "I got him..." Nack growled, taking aim. On the roof, Corky was trying to grab Whisk with his tongue, hoping to hold her still long enough to get off a shot. Whisk circled around him in the air, dodging his long tongue gracefully. "Hmm..." Whisk noticed something ahead, and waved down at Corky. "Buh-bye!" she said before teleporting away. "Oi, ya coward, why you...OH." the frog said, turning just in time to see the roof of a tunnel, which his head promptly smashed into. Inside the train, Whisk emerged to find Nack and Spiny tied up on the seats of the train car. "Just in time, Whisk." Miles said, "You gotta see the standoff later. I recorded it. Lucky was running around crying like a baby until Nack ran out of bullets." the fox snickered. "...I'm not cut out to be sheriff..." the cat sighed.
The trio hurried to the next car of the train, where the shard was apparently being kept in a safe. 8BIT had just broken through the safe, and took the glowing yellow Prism Shard in his hands. "Put that down!" Lucky shouted. "Are you working with Scourge and Zeke??" Miles added. 8BIT scoffed. "I'm not even really working with that transforming Tails from earlier. I work alone!" he said, summoning a corridor of darkness behind him. Lucky started towards him, but a yelp from Whisk make him hesitate. The masked future-2BIT had crept up behind and grabbed her. "Not quite alone!" the fox said as 8BIT escaped into the vanishing corridor. Once he was gone, the masked fox released Whisk and ran out of the car, leaping from the moving train! "That's just great..." Lucky sighed. "Well, let's stop this out of control train before we crash into something..." Miles said anxiously.
As the train pulled into the next station, they found Sonny there waiting for them astride a horse. "...A horse riding a horse just makes me uncomfortable..." Miles murmured. "You did a fine job, partner! Or... guy who looks like my partner. I'm sure he'd be proud." Sonny said to the trio. "The shard got stolen anyway, though..." Lucky sighed. Whisk patted Lucky on the back. "We'll get it back... But Sonny, we gotta tell you..." she said nervously. "Sheriff's six feet under, ain't he?" the unicorn sighed, "I can tell by your emotions. Guess...I gotta buck up and continue on as the next sheriff." he said a bit sadly. "I'm sure you'll be great. Maybe find a nice hard-shelled partner..." Lucky smiled, "...so you can take cover behind him..." he added under his breath. "Hey, Lucky, look!" Whisk pointed. On the side of the train engine, a shimmering Keyhole had appeared. Nodding, Lucky pointed his keyblade at it. "At least this world will be safe from the heartless!" he said as he sealed the Keyhole. Miles rubbed his head a bit awkwardly. "It's gonna be a long trip back to the ship..." he murmured. "The sheriff's horse made it!" Sonny said, which made Miles groan. "I'm gonna be all saddle-sore..." he sighed.
Copter, 1BIT and Fera had found the keyhole for the "fairy-tale world." It was lodged in the wall of a castle in the woods, seemingly and mysteriously abandoned. Copter held his keyblade, sealing the keyhole. "The shard might not even be here, huh?" he murmured, glancing at 1BIT. "I 'unno. Don't ask me. What do you think, Fera? ...Fera?" 1BIT called, noticing that she'd wandered off. The wolf had wandered inside the castle, but didn't get far past the gate before a massive, furry figure stood in her path. "What are you doing here?!" said a gruff, angry voice. It was dark, and Fera couldn't see him well, but the voice almost sounded like Sonic. "Apologies. I'm looking for a glowing shard..." Fera said to the beastly hedgehog. The beast roared at her. "There's nothing like that here! Begone, before I make your stay permanent!" he threatened. Fera scoffed. "Fine..." she said, stepping back outside, hearing angry growls and smashing inside the castle behind her. "Got a bit in common, don't you?" Fera looked to see the Doubtweaver approaching her, and she clenched her fists. "What are you doing here?!" she snapped, gasping when she realized that was the beast's exact phrasing. Doubt snickered, placing a hand on her head and gently petting his daughter when he reached her. "You lived as a beast for a while. Fighting for GUN... fighting for Despair... Trying to rebuild Despair..." he said, surprising Fera with his knowledge of her life. "And I'm still fighting, so what? Now I'm fighting for something different..." she said, swatting his hand off of her head. "Fighting for what? Some phantom love?" Doubt sighed, turning to walk away, "Only true family could possibly love a beast...like a father." he said as he vanished into darkness. "Mind your own business!" Fera snapped. "Uh... Okay, but we're ready to leave..." Copter stammered as he and 1BIT approached. The wolf gave a tense growl. Perhaps there wouldn't be a fairy-tale ending for her...but she wasn't ready to quit fighting yet.
To be continued...
