[CH. 001] [Audio]

[since1928]

[There's a high-pitched yelp.

It sounds sort of strangled, or maybe it even sounds like someone getting squished under a heavy weight. Whatever has happened doesn't take too long to recover from, however, as the high-pitched voice rouses from that former dazed state.]

...Oh boy. Anybody got the license plate of that train??

[He tries to laugh, letting it peter off into a mild groan.

Somewhere behind him, there's the sound of a muffled, fat bark.]

Comments

[since1928]

[Round black ears perk, wiggling slightly at the familiar hum of the glider. Whatever he could remember of it. Mickey hopped up, recognizing the young woman almost instantly. She is no ghost of a memory. Not now.

The king is not even sure how to begin, but he falls back on his good-natured greeting.]

Hi there! It's...been some time!

[Meanwhile, the Meow Wow welcomes the Pricklemane with a lot more enthusiasm. Lots of yapping and bounding around.]

[wavesinherheart]

[No ghost of a memory, no. Here, at least, she's as real as everyone else, even if she's had to see far too many friends leave and go back to things that she knows aren't going to end well.

But she isn't about to burden Mickey with that. Not when she's glad to see him again.]

Mmm. It has been.

[In fact, it might even have been a very long time, for her. But friends are friends all the same.]

[since1928]

[For some reason, he wants to make sure. He restrains himself from running up to her, to grab a hand. Her voice alone helps solidify things, though, keeping something real in this weird dreamscape.

Mickey helps close the gap a little more, walking instead of running. Aqua's tall. She's always been tall, so it's natural to look up at her.]

Yeah. But hey! That's swell! If you're here, then that means things are okay!

[wavesinherheart]

[She doesn't usually think of herself as tall, but if she were inclined to think of it, she'd probably admit that she might certainly seem so to Mickey. But she doesn't and so she simply offers a nod and a smile at the comment. She won't say that the worlds are necessarily in the best state, but she can accept things being better, at the very least.]

I suppose it must. Especially if I've been here as long as I have.

[since1928]

How long have ya been here?

[wavesinherheart]

It's a little hard to tell. But I think it's been months, by now.

[since1928]

Months? Wow! I'm sure I was only here for a couple of hours the other time...not sure how much longer I've been here now.

[wavesinherheart]

Just as long as you seem to have. I came here a long time ago, when there only was Traverse Town.

[since1928]

Gosh. I'm still wonderin' how that could be. Every world is connected, right??

[wavesinherheart]

I think so. But they might not all be dreaming.

[since1928]

[Mickey keeps that thoughtful look as he taps his chin, squinting a bit.]

...Welp. I guess we can't really do anythin' about that, either? We just gotta keep finding out what other worlds are still dreaming.

[wavesinherheart]

Mmm. And maybe we'll figure out why these ones are sleeping.

[since1928]

Mmhm! We'll find that out for sure!