Fellowship & Fairydust

“My goodness. That was…” Bianca was at a loss for words.

Bernard’s words finished the sentence. “Terrifying. You fought like you were possessed!” One look from the female mouse and I realized that was not the word she was looking for. 

“It doesn’t matter. The Heartless cost us precious time.” I said as I turned and moved in the direction I saw the alligators go. “I don’t care how you feel about me. All you need to know is I am going to rescue that girl. As long as you do nothing to hinder me you do not need to fear. The one who does need to fear me is this Madame Medusa.” 

“Then we need to hurry,” Bianca said as she and Bernard began to follow. 

“You’ll need a boat. Evinrude’s got the fastest one around.” The female muskrat told us as she pointed to a leaf where a dragonfly… was it wearing a blue sweater? I think it was. But still, that was a boat? Man, I hate being small. “Evinrude, wake up! Start that engine!” The muskrat called out, waking the insect up. Instead of starting up the engine, which I assumed was itself, the bug shook its head, making a series of noises with its wings. “What do you mean you’re scared of the monsters? This one here… what did you say your name was?” 

“Call me Mortem.” 

“Mortem can stop those things. Now get that engine going!” That order from her made the bug change his mind. As his wings started flapping, the mice got into the leaf before Bernard realized something.

“We’re not all going to fit.” He told me. 

Shaking my head, I told him, “I wasn’t planning on getting in that leaf.” Throwing my Keyblade into the air, I willed it into its Glider form. As everyone watched with wide eyes, I got on it with Leroy behind me. “I’ll cover you from the air. Now let’s go.” 

As we disappeared into the murky bayou, the muskrat called after us, “Send Evinrude back as soon as you need help. I’ll round up the neighbors.” 

EINI’S POV

“You sure this is going to work?” Braxton was asking Johri as she showed us her finished invention. He had gathered us together when Johri said she had finished something that should allow us to reach out to the two lost students in the uncaring void of space… somehow. I still thought there was a better chance of finding a pin in a dirt mound than of finding those two.

Frowning at him, the mechanic answered, “Of course. And right now it’s our best chance of finding Jason and Clair.” She sounded so confident that it was going to work, although we’re shooting in the dark here. Still, it would be interesting to see whether or not it blew up in her face, and a part of me was willing to bet that it would do that literally.

As I finished applying some more makeup to my face I decided to state the obvious. “Why are we waiting to test it? I think we should hurry up and get this over with” I still didn’t understand why they were so determined to find them. None of us were really friends with those two, and the only thing I found unique about Clair was her Hocamli braids. 

“That’s why we’re here. To test it.” Putting in a series of commands, the inventor fired up her new machine. Whirring to life, the top lit up and began to blink as she brought up a holographic profile of Jason. “Find Jason.” She said as the number for his holo-screen appeared beside him. For a few intense minutes, it felt like I had been banned from the mall. Was it not going to work? Gri, I wish I thought of placing some bets because that would’ve been better than sitting here waiting for the next accessory to come out. I hadn’t felt this tense since that time I was going to get that… no. From how tense everyone was it looked like this had the potential to be the biggest disappointment since me!

“Hello? Who is this?” Jason’s voice was full of static, and his face which appeared was blurry, but it was full of surprise when he saw us. “You guys? Braxton? Eini?”

“Don’t forget me and Johri,” Grace said as she ended up hitting Braxton on the side of the head with her shoulder. “Oh, sorry.” 

I expected a snide remark from the blockhead we had just found, but instead, a smile appeared on his face. “You have no idea how good it is to hear your voices again. But how did you establish a connection?”

“Well, when you use photons and send them out to find the receptors in your holo-screen….” Johri began to explain.

“On second thought, nevermind.” 

Clearing his throat, our leader began, “This is a good first step. Jason, it won’t be long until we figure out a way to get you and Clair back here.” 

“That’s going to have to wait. She disappeared.” Jason turned worried. “We searched the entire… we searched everywhere, but we can’t find her.” 

I frowned at that. Searched the entire what? He’s hiding something. I can tell. “How do you lose her?”

“I don’t know. I was in a conversation and she vanished. Can you use your device to find her?” 

Nodding, Johri said, “Of course. I’m not a prodigy for nothing.” As she ended the call, Johri entered the number for Clair’s holo-screen, and we waited again for the doohickey to work its magic again. When the call was answered, what greeted us was… “Gri’s beak! Who are you and what did you do with Clair?”

“I am Clair.” The face said, though it was clearly not human. It was a mouse, dressed in a purple shirt and red jacket vest.  As I looked, I could see the braids that Clair always had, and her eyes seemed to reflect what most people saw in her. And seeing the others just stare at our former classmate with those wide eyes and open jaws… it was too hard not to laugh at them. 

Probably not the best time to laugh though. Looking at Clair I asked, “Why aren’t you human?” To be honest, I was just asking to make polite conversation. I wasn’t interested in learning about what had happened to her, even though she looked so adorable as this… whatever she was. Oh, I need to get my holo-screen to record this image forever. 

“Well, I’ve been turned into a mouse. Kairi and I can’t be seen as humans here.” She said with embarrassment, before gasping as if she said something she shouldn’t have. 

Blinking, Grace asked her, “Who’s Kairi?”

“She’s a friend, but now’s not a good time. There are these large reptiles in this room, and I don’t want them to hear where we are.”

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