Chapter Text
He heard the spray paint and grumbling at the corner of the hall; the usual hatred in their voices was low, but he usually knew what they meant. So Keiichi Amano just leaned his back against the wall, his gray hoodie up, covering his sadness, before the noises were far away, and he walked to the ATM to get the bus fare for the unknown trip.
He saw the poster, a human hand shaking a beast's paw to make peace. But there it was, the usual graffiti he seen in the usual posters he walked by with demeaning words. Keiichi knew about the way Beastmen were treated by humans, pretty harshly as he heard on his way to school or back to the orphanage.
He knew he had to keep his mouth shut, as Beastman sympathizers were told to be silent. And Keiichi was quiet about his worries about the Beastmen and how they were trying to survive in the world. While Keiichi was getting his bus fare money, he thought he felt something and searched the area. But decided to ignore it for a bit, since the bus ticket had gone out and the boy had taken it.
heading to the bus, which wasn't that full. Keiichi went to the back of the bus, sitting down as he thought of his friends, Michiru and Nazuna. Who disappeared after their accidents, such as when he walked to the hospital to check up on them. A hospital worker informed him that his two best friends disappeared without a trace, even though they were here after an accident that left them in the hospital!
It left him pretty lonely, as he was the youngest in the group from Michiru and Nazuna. Being the little brother of the group, especially since he is a year younger than they are. But now, without their voices and presences. He was very lonely and quiet, ready to be in the background. Not wanting to be noticed.
It wasn't until the previous night that he had a strange dream, where he was in an unfamiliar city, feeling pretty empty despite the light, normal and neon lights being lit up in blues and pinks. And saw a wolf-like creature howling atop one of the roofs he could see, where he instantly woke up and decided to run away while no one was looking.
As the bus came to life and headed to an unknown destination, Keiichi looked at the place he once knew. Hoping to find answers as he closed his eyes, wondering about the dream he had. Where he didn't know he was going to be in the greater picture, as he preferred to be in the background and hiding behind Michiru or Nazuna.
Somewhere else
Keiichi felt weightless somehow, opening his eyes. He was surprised he was nowhere in the bus, but was somehow falling into a dark ocean. And somehow not drowning, even if he had been surprised. Keiichi was somehow calm when falling slowly down to the abyss, still feeling like he was asleep.
until he saw something, like some sort of screen he could see. Where he saw an unfamiliar figure in yellow, his face not seen as Keiichi fell further, he saw many different people and places that the screens showed him. But still blurry as he thought he saw Notre Dame, also some city that looked like Tokyo, but somehow not?
Other places were seen as well, from an unfamiliar town where people of different walks of life were there. To an underwater kingdom where Keiichi saw merpeople, where Keiichi felt compelled to sing, but he couldn't hit a high note. And he could have sworn the Golden Gate Bridge, but the city was much different than the San Francisco across the ocean.
Only to see three colourful orbs, red, green and blue all shooting down until Keiichi went feet first as he landed on something invisible. Wondering what he was supposed to do, Keiichi took a step forward where dandelions instantly flew off from nowhere. And a light so bright, he had to close his eyes until the light died down.
Opening them again, Keiichi looked to see a platform. Where he saw a picture of himself hugging his knees, two circles with his friends Michiru and Nazuna having the backs of their backs to him, looking away, like how he's almost forgetting them. There was also the background, where the sky was as dark as the night sky. And the only thing in the background was the same silver wolf howling atop the skyscraper.
As Keiichi wondered what was happening, he heard an unfamiliar voice talking to him. "So much to do, yet so little time." The voice called out to the teenager, who looked around to find the source of the voice. But Keiichi couldn't find the source, as he walked a few inches where he saw a few platforms rising out of thin air.
Three weapons appeared as well. a sword, a staff and a shield. "Each weapon will help you on your journey, which will you use?" The voice asked softly, as Keiichi examined the three weapons. "My journey, huh?" Keiichi commented that he wasn't used to being asked about that. As he mostly followed behind Michiru and Nazuna, Keiichi instinctively walked to the shield. And the boy grabbed it, hearing the voice again.
"The power of the guardian. Kindness to aid friends, a shield to repel all. Is this the power you seek?" The voice asked Keiichi, who nodded as the shield disappeared from his hands. Leaving the sword and staff behind. "Which weapon do you give up?" The voice ended, Keiichi wasn't much of a fighter, but more of wanting to help people.
So Keiichi walked towards the pedestal with the sword, where the voice was heard again. "The power of the warrior. Invincible courage. A sword of terrible destruction, do you give this up?" The voice asked the boy. Keiichi nodded again, he wasn't that brave. As he knew how Beastman Sympathizers are treated as well, even if he wanted to speak up about it.
Keiichi felt comfortable when he was with Michiru and Nazuna, while his back was turned. He didn't see his shadow becoming something else, at least until something loomed over him and the growling was heard. Getting the boy to nervously turn around. "Even so… You cannot change the world alone." The voice explained as Keiichi looked behind him.
There, he saw a rabid-looking wolf shadow, taller than a two-story building! Its limbs looked long, and a nervous-looking kid backed away slowly, and ran! Only to forget that he had nowhere to go, as the only weapon Keiichi had was the shield. And the shadow wolf would overpower him, yet a bright light surrounded the shield!
The light made the shadow wolf back away, despite being made of light. Keiichi got up and held the weapon towards the beast. And shot out a ball of light, hitting the monster right in the face as it howled in rage from the attack! Raising its right claw to attack, Keiichi dodged right on time before the claws hit him on the ground.
Keiichi raised the weapon and shot his opponent again, running to its side as he shot the back legs. Hoping it'll slow the opponent down, it didn't as the shadow wolf jumped and turned to face Keiichi again! Opening its mouth as a ball of darkness appeared in front of it, ready to obliterate the boy. As Keiichi lifted the unknown weapon again to shoot a few light orbs towards it, hoping it would die down.
Which it did, knocking the dark monster out! As Keiichi stood up and held out his weapon to shoot a strong beam. Destroying the Beast, as it disappeared without a trace! Of course, he heard a crack. Where he saw the glass floor he was standing on cracking and breaking apart, as Keiichi fell!
He didn't know when he would wake up, with no idea where he was going. Until he felt somebody grab him, allowing Keiichi to look up to see his saviour. But the being was made of light, not seeing their face. But he felt the person's strength, as three others joined in to help lift Keiichi. Yet two of them felt familiar as the dark ocean departed, transforming into an unfamiliar city.
Keiichi walked a few steps, before he saw the same wolf from his previous dream atop the same building far away. Howling towards the sky, Keiichi was amazed. As the familiar voice called out to him again, feeling like the voice was trailing off somewhere. "Remember my words descendant, You cannot change the world alone…"
The teen was curious to wonder what the voice meant, Keiichi was pretty confused at the wording. Suddenly, there was a pain in his chest. Like someone was calling to him, wanting him to wake up from his dream.
Back in the waking world
Keiichi woke up, expecting to wake up in the bus seat. Yet, he was outside the bus. And was on the road where the right side was a forest, and Keiichi was leaning his head on the railing! Getting up from the ground, where he saw a few motorcycles dangerously parked on the ground like they were chasing something.
"Leave me alone!" Keiichi hears a frantic voice echo in the woods, and turns his head to the source of the voice in the forest! And started sprinting as he heard a few other voices, the familiar voices of disgust were heard, such as "Disgusting!" And "Just die!" Where those words made Keiichi attempt to run faster!
Keiichi took a few breaths, as he hid behind a tree. Where he saw three figures attacking someone in a cloak, who was clearly overpowered. What would Keiichi do? As he was clearly a kid who would be overpowered by clearly older people, only to see one of them raise one of their weapons. And somehow on instinct, Keiichi grabbed a tree branch. And ran without a thought as he was ready to defend a defenceless person.
"Leave them alone!" He shouted when he ran in, using the branch to block the Beastman Hunter's weapon! Keiichi expected the branch to be broken from a stronger weapon, and he was beaten alongside the Beastman he attempted to defend. But what happened after was that the branch was surrounded by light, where it transformed into something different.
The bright light made the Beastman Hunters back away from the light, and what replaced the stick was some kind of weapon in the shape of a giant key. From the looks of it, it looked pretty ancient. As the blade looked like fossilized wood with teeth shaped like wolf teeth, with a single vine wrapped around it. At the end of the bottom of the weapon was a fossilized leaf, and the style of the weapon looked like it was a reverse-grip style.
Keiichi didn't know how to handle the strange key weapon, as he held it like a baseball bat as he fought the Beastman hunters. Those who weren't giving up, as they raised their weapons towards him. As one swung his baton towards Keiichi, who blocked it and used the blunt part of the weapon to knock it out of the man's hand. Keiichi then knocked the wind out of the first opponent by using the blunt end again on the stomach, and he was knocked out for the count.
"Get that beastly brat!" Keiichi heard one of the other hunters, turning around to see another one of them running towards him! Only for another one to follow, as they attempted to attack him! Only for Keiichi to knock the weapons out of their hands, and kick the second attacker in the stomach with supernatural strength into a tree.
And there was the final Beastman Hunter Keiichi was facing, who looked like he wanted to flee. But Keiichi shot an orb of light and it instantly shot to the man's chest, who instantly went to sleep. making the man slowly fall to the ground as he was unconscious but still alive.
"Why did they call me a beastly brat?" Keiichi thought to himself, ready to look at the strange key weapon properly. He wasn't ready to see his arm turn furry, as he looked at his hands, which were now looking like a canine's! Checking his cellphone to the black screen, he saw his face was now that of a Golden Retriever.
His brown hair disappeared, but his hazel eyes haven't changed. And somehow, the pants haven't ripped from his new tail! Keiichi wondered if the weapon somehow changed his DNA to become a Beastman himself, checking the weapon again he was holding. Wondering how he got it in the first place, before Keiichi forgot that he saved the Beastman from the attackers. Turning around, Keiichi looked to see the Beastman whom he saved. All the while the weapon disappeared from his hand.
The Beastman got up, sitting on her knees as she was still worried about getting attacked as she cautiously looked around, her back turned from Keiichi. Keiichi noticed her red jacket and navy blue shorts were familiar, even with the tail and Tanuki ears. Even the hairstyle was familiar to Keiichi, stepping closer to check on the person Keiichi decided to say something.
"Excuse me, are you alright?" He asked cautiously, in case any other danger was nearby. The beastman… well, woman. Turned to face Keiichi, her brown eyes were familiar as well. But before Keiichi could say anything, she looked surprised and gasped in response. "Keiichi!?" She cried out, making the now golden retriever Beastman yelp in surprise.
The girl instantly got up, being a few inches taller than him. Taking a closer look, Keiichi wanted to know. "Michiru, is that you?" He asked a simple question, in an instant. The girl hugged the now golden retriever Beastman in response! "Keiichi, I didn't know you followed me!" She cried out, and Keiichi recognized her voice. "I didn't know that, I just had this dream involving a supernatural wolf and a city!" Keiichi admitted the now Tanuki girl.
Michiru looked at the confusion on her face, but was still concerned for her friend she left behind. "A dream? But still, I'm glad to see you're safe!" Michiru exclaimed as she hugged Keiichi back, where Keiichi's new tail wagged happily. Much to the now golden retriever beastman's embarrassment.
"My, did you do this all by yourself?" A new voice called out to them, interrupting Keiichi and Michiru's reunion. Both looked in the direction of the voice, the two teens looking cautious as a few others walked into the scene. A few beastmen came into their view, where they saw three of them, two intimidating carnivore beastmen in their human forms.
And the leader was a small woman with silver hair wearing a long white coat and glasses on her forehead were her more noticeable features. Still feeling in danger, Keiichi's key weapon appeared again in his hand. Wielding the key weapon like a baseball bat again, "Stay away, I got a weapon and I'm still learning how to use it!" Keiichi cried out.
The woman was pretty amused at the kid who was attempting to determine if his face showed he was scared. "Relax Goldie, we were just passing by and heard the commotion." The woman simply told Keiichi, who was confused as Michiru's tail was raised as she was scared of being taken. "Name's Marie the Mink, informed by somebody might've been here." She introduced herself, transforming into her mink beastman form.
Both Keiichi and Michiru were stunned, not sure if they could trust her. "Even so, what's the catch?" Michiru questioned as she stood in front of Keiichi, like she did to protect him from bullies back at school. Marie smirked as she looked at Michiru protecting her friend, despite attempting to stop his tail. Keiichi was happy about his friend protecting him.
"I'll keep it a secret that we didn't smuggle you kids into the city, and I may need some help when I come to you." The Mink Beastman told the two kids, and Keiichi made his weapon disappear again. Likely knowing she might be of help in the future, while Marie continued. "Now, what do you think we are supposed to do with these hunters?" Marie asked the two Beastmen by her side, who looked ready to maul.
Before they could do anything, Keiichi suggested a safer option. "Can you just tie them up, and just go our way?" He said, suggesting it was easier. They did so as the two beastmen tied the hunters up, high above ground much to Keiichi's surprise. But decided not to say anything, as he and Michiru followed Marie and the others to the boat.
The boat started up, as it turned around to their destination. "Smuggling two kids to the city should be a cinch, seeing as it's almost the festival," Marie commented when she walked to the back of the boat to meet Keiichi and Michiru, who started to see the city in view. "So, that's where Beastmen live?" Michiru asked as they looked to the city that's on the island, and Keiichi looked forward as well. Feeling a strange feeling of being there, despite it being the first time for him as well.
Marie gave a small smile without Keiichi and Michiru noticing it, as she introduced the kids to the city as the sun began to set. "Of course, it's the only safe place for Beastmen. Anima City." Marie explained that the two kids looked in awe as the city began to look bigger when the boat went closer.
Kingdom Hearts: Brand New Connections
Meanwhile, somewhere far away in a familiar setting.
"Did you feel that, Sora?" Yen-Sid asked the keyblade master who recently returned from Unreality thanks to Riku and Kairi, as they were at Yen-Sid's tower alongside Goofy, Donald and King Mickey. "Of course master," Sora commented as he stood in front of the oldest keyblade master next to the late Xehanort, as Sora looked pretty mature yet still himself.
Sora's clothes have changed, looking like as streetware in San Fransokyo. Even his shoes aren't big anymore, which surprised Donald and Goofy. Seeing as their friend was still getting used to being back in the realm of light. "It seems like an awakening of a new keyblade wielder," Sora said, determined as ever, likely knowing what it means.
Yen-Sid continued, while stroking his beard. "It feels like it came from an uncharted territory further in the Ocean Between, possibly from a relative of an old keyblade wielder of old." He explained as Yen-Sid looked out the window of his tower, where a faraway star of the world twinkled brighter.
"So you want Sora, Donald and Goofy to explore this uncharted sector?" Kairi asked, uncertainty in her voice. As Sora was still getting used to being in their realm again after being in the Realm of Unreality, Kairi wanted Sora to be safe for a while. But realized adventure and saving the world don't take breaks.
"You're right Kairi, it seems in the past. A keyblade wielder from the age of fairy tales escaped to that sector and never made it out. Meaning dangerous possibilities are there." The old keyblade master explained, as he looked at Sora, Donald and Goofy. "Don't worry master, we're on the case!" Donald called out, as Goofy continued. "Chip and Dale are making a Gummiship with stronger material to defend from stronger dangers." He explained as they saluted.
Sora looked at Kairi, who looked at her boyfriend with worry. "Don't worry Kairi, I may have returned and still be getting used to these new powers. But we'll be back." He apologized to Kairi, who gave a kind smile. "Honestly, I knew this was coming. The ocean is a large place, and who knows how many worlds are out there." She told Sora, as she hugged her boyfriend. Who hugged her back.
"Even so, there may be issues when you enter the new World," Riku commented as he told his best friend, who looked determined. "Yeah, it's best not to be noticed until they're ready," Sora admitted as he shrugged, knowing Sora. He might fail at that. "Best be prepared, there is much more to know in the universe," Yensid told them, where Sora, Donald and Goofy bowed to the master.
"We won't fail you, master!" Sora, Donald and Goofy all said in unison. Hearing the familiar words Yensid said silently. "May your Hearts be your guiding Key." Where the group exited and headed to the castle to prepare, as who knows what dangers are there. As Sora gulped in suspense, he fought strong foes such as Yozora and the Heartless that somehow entered the Unreality realm.
Disney Castle
"Best take me there as well, you need a chronicler to observe the world." Jiminy Cricket said as he jumped into Sora's jacket, where they were in the Gummiship hangar. Observing the finished Gummiship that would be stronger to defend itself from greater danger, as the two chipmunk engineers walked to it.
"The ship's up and ready," Chip called out, as Dale continued "Since the world is far away, it may take a few days." As they headed off, before Chip came back. "Also, we did make an extra Gummiphone for some reason. Where I dropped it as a strange portal appeared to take it." He admitted, not knowing where it was going.
"Maybe it's to the new keybearer's world." Goofy thought out loud, with both Sora and Donald nodding in response. "It's best to check up on it, in case they found it," Sora explained as he saw Scrooge McDuck and Kairi enter the room, Kairi ran to Sora and hugged him. "Please be careful, I don't want to lose you again." She admitted, that Sora assured his girlfriend that he would be careful.
"And what are you doing here, Uncle Scrooge?" Donald asked suspiciously, not knowing what he was doing. "Why, a new and uncharted Ocean space and world is full of possibilities to find a new venture for me!" The richest duck admitted to his wizard nephew, as he entered the Gummiship first. While Donald and Goofy entered next, leaving Sora and Kairi alone.
"Just be safe, alright?" Kairi said softly, and Sora gave a gentle smile. "I will, but you know about the darkness. They wait for no one." Sora said as he walked into the new Gummiship which had a kitchen department. Since no one knows how long the trip will be, Sora entered the pilot seat. With everybody buckled up, getting ready for a new adventure.
Kairi exited as she said she would train with Master Aqua more, with the engines turning up and the gummiship lasting off. Where a whole uncharted sector in space was waiting to explore, where Sora gave a message on his Gummiphone about the new awakening of a new keyblade wielder, and to message on the board to get the others such as the keyblade wielders, Hayner, Pence, Olette and the Radiant Garden committee to reassure the newbie.
"Okay, time to explore!" Sora called out as he drove the ship to their unknown destination, as the Disney Castle became a speck of light. With Sora's Gummiphone message being "We're on our way!"