Meeting Gabu the Cowardly Wolf and Mei the Friendly Goat/Namine and Riku Get to Know Each Other

*(Elsewhere in the deeper part of the forest, Sofia’s group continued on until they looked around as they walked slowly and cautiously, for they heard strange sounds all around them)*

Sofia: I got a bad feeling about this part of the forest.

Desmond: It’s dark and creepy.

Hugo: Not to mention strange.

Pooh: I may not know it, but it’ll get darker than lighter here.

Gopher: *(freaking out)* GAAAAAAH, DARKNESS!!!!

Amber: I suppose.

Clover: Do you think we’ll encounter wild animals?

Fender: Probably.

Pooh: Animals that steal hunny?

Piglet: (To Rodney and Fender) Like Heffelumps.... *(To Lumpy)* No offense, Lumpy.

Lumpy: None taken.

Rabbit: Or Woozles...?

Gopher: Or Jagularssss...?

Eeyore: Maybe even Spookables...?

Tigger: Or maybe a.... Big old buggy-eyed, sabre-toothy skullasaurus?

Everyone: Skullasaurus?!

Rodney: Some. But mostly lions, tigers, and bears.

Sofia, Hugo, Amber, James, Isabel, Desmond and Clover: Lions?

Pooh's group: Tigers?

Rodney and Fender: And bears.

Sofia: Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my!

*(Then the group began to chant slowly and then quickly as they hurry along the Yellow Brick Road)*

Sofia’s group: Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my! Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my! Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my! Lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my!

*(Suddenly, they heard a deep growl. They didn't know where it came from for it could be anywhere)*

Sofia: What sort of animal is that?

Piglet: Oh, d-d-d-dear! It-it-it-it's a huge one, I'll tell you that!

Hugo: D-D-D-Don’t be frightened. I-I-I'll protect you, Sofia!

Rabbit: *(notices)* Gah, look! A WOLF!!!!

*(Out of nowhere, a big brown-furred wolf with a big furry tail, a black nose, a light tanish grey on his muzzle, paws, and feet, whiskers, dark peach ear inards, and green eyes, leapt out from behind a fallen tree, snarling. Sofia screamed and hid behind a tree. Her friends, Pooh's group, and the robots tried to be brave, but when the wolf pounced forward, they all tumbled to the ground and started to tremble in fear. The wolf stood up on his hind legs and put his paws up, sneering)*

Wolf: (To the group) Put 'em up, put 'em up! Which one of you first? I'll fight everyone of you together if you want. I'll fight you with one paw tied behind my back. I'll fight you standing on one foot. I'll fight you with my eyes closed. *(To Rodney and Fender)* Oh. Pulling an axe on me, huh? So you two can sneak up on me and chop me in two? I don't think so, busters!

*(He growls a bit)*

Rodney: That's enough! We're not sneaking up on you!

Roo: Yeah, go away and leave us alone! You're scaring Lumpy

Wolf: (To Roo and Lumpy) Aw, what's the matter? You scared of me? Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? *(To Rodney and Fender)* Hey, you two! How long can you stay fresh in that can? *(Laughs a bit)* C'mon and fight, you two shivering pieces of junk yard! *(To Pooh)* How about you? Put your hands up, you lop-sided bag of fluff! *(to Gopher)* Same goes to you, ya overgrown rat!

Pooh: (Confused) Um, lop-sided bag of fluff?

Gopher: Now that'ssss getting persssonal.

Rabbit: Yes. *(Shoves Tigger forward)* Tigger, you go teach him a lesson.

Tigger: Wha...? What's wrong with *you* teaching him a lesson, Long Ears?

Rabbit: Well, I hardly know him.

Roo: Lumpy, try to be brave and scare him away with your trumpet call.

Lumpy: (Scared) I can't, Rooty-Too, I'm afraid of that big bad wolf!

*(Clover decided to confront the wolf by raising his forepaws simulating boxing moves (Similar to Scrappy-Doo) at him)*

Clover: Yeah? Well, I'm not! Wolves won't stand a chance with me! Let me at 'im! I'll rock 'im and sock 'im!

*(But the wolf wasn't intimidated by the little gray rabbit and decided to get him instead.)*

Wolf: Well, in that case, I'll just have to eat you first, peewee! After all, wolves eats rabbits, you know! Grrrr!

Clover: (Sweatdrops) Oops.

*(The wolf then chases Clover which shocks Sofia. Fearing Clover would get killed, she rushed out from behind the tree to his defense, picking him up protectively. As the wolf approaches, trying to attack the two, Sofia smacked him on the nose as hard as she could, leaving the wolf taken aback)*

Wolf: (As she slapped him while jumping backwards) Yowch!

Sofia: (Scoldingly) Shame on you!

*(But then, to everyone's surprise, the wolf began to bawl like a crybaby)*

Wolf: (Crying) What'd you do that for? I wasn't gonna bite him!

Sofia: (Angrily) Don't you try to deny it, you were too! You should be ashamed of yourself, you big bully! It's bad enough picking on my friends those stuffed animals and those robots, and then frightening Lumpy, but when you decided to go and try to kill and eat my poor little bunny!

Wolf: (Crying) Absolutely, but you didn't have to go and smack me, did ya?

*(He lifted his tail up to his face and wiped his tears away with it as he continued crying)*

Wolf: (Rubbing his sore snout, crying) Is my nose bleeding?

Sofia: (Frowns in annoyance and anger) Well, of course not. My goodness, what a fuss you're making! Well, naturally when you go around picking on things weaker than you are...!

Male voice: (Voice-over) Hold it, hold it!

*(Suddenly, a little goat came out and went up between the wolf and Sofia’s group)*

Goat: I can explain, everyone!

*(The group noticed him and got confused while the wolf stopped crying and recognized him casually. The little goat is white furred with a pink nose, blue eyes, gray hooves and tip of his ears and tail and tawny horns)*

Wolf: Hey, Mei.

Sofia’s group: Mei?

Clover: What’s going on here?

Lumpy: You know each other?

Sofia’s group: (Confused) What’s going on?

*(Mei spoke up on the wolf’s behalf)*

Mei: I ask of you to forgive my best friend, Gabu. He was just trying to prove that he’s brave enough by picking a fight.

Sofia: (Surprised) Really? *(To Gabu, concerned)* Then, you must be nothing but a great big coward.

Gabu: (Sadly) It’s true. I am a coward. Surely you heard that wolves are supposed to be represent bravery, strength, loyalty, and success at hunting, right kids?

Hugo: Well…. Yeah, but....

Gabu: Well, not me! I was always afraid of everything. I haven't had any courage at all. Sometimes I even scare myself. Look at the circles under my eyes, I haven't slept in weeks sometimes unless Mei slept with me!

Roo: Why not count sheep like Mei here? That usually helps.

Gabu: (Sadly) That doesn't do any good, kid, I’m afraid of them, except Mei, that is!

*(He cries in his tail again as Sofia’s group suddenly felt guilty and sympathetic towards him as he calmed his crying down)*

Gopher: Oh, that'ssss too bad.

Sofia: We all had no idea.

Mei: Gabu and I are partners and I wish to become the best partner ever to help him out in battles against evil enemies. Ask Gabu.

Desmond: (To Gabu) Is that true?

*(A short pause as Gabu stopped crying slowly)*

Gabu: (Sniffles, then nods) Yes. That’s Mei’s dream, like my dream is to become brave and have courage.

Isabel: That just leaves one question; Is this whole cowardly thing the reason why you were picking on us?

Gabu: No, aren't you with her?

Tigger: Who's her? Do you mean Sofia here?

Gabu: No, the blue theropod lady with a crocodilian face and big gaudy rouge lips!

Pooh: I'm sorry. We don't know a blue theropod lady with a crocodilian face and big gaudy rouge lips.

Piglet: Are you referring to a boogeyman or a boogey lady?

Mei: Neither. She wears a purple cape, golden crown, a white ruff around her neck, maroon vest, and a gold necklace, adorned with a magenta jewel, and rides on a egg scepter.

Gabu: She and her partner have been causing trouble around here, scaring off every animal in the forest. They even got winged goblins, heffelumps, woozles and weasels doing whatever they tells him to do.

*(While listening to this description of this blue theropod lady with a crocodilian face and big gaudy rouge lips, Sofia's eyes grew wide in terror. Sofia knew who Gabu and Mei were talking about. Even her siblings seemed to understand her facial expression)*

Sofia: Uh no, we're not with this blue theropod lady with a crocodilian face and big gaudy rouge lips. We're just harmless travelers on our way to Emerald City.

Gabu: You're not? Really? *(Points at Fender)* Then why does *he* have an axe?

Fender: (Dryly) I happen to be a woodcutter. But if I weren't, I'd use it to put your head on a wall, scaredy cat.

Gabu: Watch the name calling, rust bucket!

Fender: Oh, how dare you!

Gabu: Oh, I'll show you how! C'mon, funnel head! Let's go!

*(Rodney groaned and rolled his eyes, as he walked over to break up the squabble. Gabu started shaking Fender's head, making a clanking noise.)*

Gabu: Clang, clang, clang! Anybody in here? Oh yeah, that's just what happened.

Rodney: (Yelling) Break it up, you two! This is no time to argue!

Pooh: Now look, we were on our way to Emerald City to see the Wizard to…. *(Gasps)* That’s it!

Gabu: What's it?

*(Pooh turned to the group)*

Pooh: Huddle.

*(They huddled and talked quietly while Gabu and Mei waited patiently)*

Pooh: (Whispering) I feel sorry for him already.

Piglet: (Whispering) Me too.

*(The group, except Fender, agreed quietly as well)*

Sofia: (Whispering) If we’d known, I wouldn’t have smack him.

Clover: (Whispering) And I wouldn't have tried to pick a fight with him.

Pooh (Whispering) So, why don’t we let the poor wolf and lamb tag along with us?

Lumpy: (Whispering) They got dreams like us.

Gopher: (Whispering) My ssssentimentssss exactly.

James: (Whispering) I don’t see why not.

Isabel: (Whispering) I agree.

Sofia's group: (Whispering) Here, here.

Fender: (Whispering) But…. But he just attacked us….

Sofia: (Whispering) It was only a misunderstanding, Fender. And I have to agree with Pooh; Maybe the Wizard could help him too.

Rodney and Clover: (Whispering) Agreed.

*(They turned to Mei and Gabu and spoke normally)*

Sofia: We were talking, as you both saw, right?

Gabu and Mei: Yes.

Hugo: Go ahead, Rabbit. Tell him.

Rabbit: Well, Mr. Gabu and Mr. Mei, why not come with us to Emerald City to see the Wizard of Oz himself? All of us lack something we wish we had, and we're going to Emerald City to ask the Wizard for help. Pooh's going to ask for some brains, Fender and Rodney are going to ask for a heart, and Sofia and her friends are going to ask him to send them home in Topeka, Kansas. We’re sure the Wizard will give you courage and make you the best partner ever.

Mei: (In a hopeful happy voice) Really?

*(The group nods)*

Gabu: (Unsure) Well, wouldn't you guys feel degraded to be seen in the company of a cowardly wolf with a friendly goat? I would. And I still am!

*(The group shook their heads gently, but Fender nodded his head. Rodney slapped him on the back of his tin head and glared at him. Finally, Fender reluctantly agreed)*

Gabu: (Getting happy as happy tears filled his eyes) Gee, that's awful nice of you guys. Sorry for giving you guys a hard time. It's just that my life's been unbearable without courage. No one ever wanted to help me, except Mei.

Mei: That’s right. All the animals would do is pick on him for being a scaredy-cat.

James: Then, we’ll make you brave like both a lion and a dog instead.

Hugo: For a wolf.

Gabu: Thank you.

(Sofia then pulls her light blue handkerchief out of her dress pocket and begins wiping Gabu's tears away from his eyes)

Sofia: (While wiping Gabu's tears away with her handkerchief and then finishing) Oh, well, it's alright now. The Wizard will fix everything.

Gabu: (Shrugs) It's been in me so long. I just gotta tell you how I feel....

*(Sofia puts her handkerchief back in her pocket as she spoke)*

Sofia: Well, come on. Tell us.

*(Gabu then begins singing)*

Gabu: **Said a wolf, poor neurotic wolf**

**To a miss who listened to him rave**

**Oh, the Lord made me a wolf**

**But, the Lord forgot to make me brave**

*(Sofia then sings this part)*

Sofia: **Then his tail began to curve and wave**

*(Gabu smiles and begins singing again)*

Gabu: **Life is sad, believe me, missy**

**When you’re born to be a sissy**

**Without the vim and verve**

Mei: (Agreeing) That’s unfortunately true.

Gabu: **But I could change my habits**

**Nevermore be scared of RABBITS!**

**If I only had the nerve**

**I’m afraid there’s no denyin’**

**I’m just a dandelion**

**A fate I don’t deserve**

**But I could show my prowess**

**Be like a lion, not a mow-wess**

**If I only had the nerve**

**Oh, I’d be in my stride**

**A king down to the core**

**I would roar the way I never roared before**

**And then I’d nyah and roar some more**

*(On “Nyah,” he playfully raised his fur up briefly, making Mei and the non-serious members of the group, even Fender, who is, by now, won over by him, giggle a bit and the serious members chuckle a bit, and Gabu smiled with them)*

Gabu: **I would show the dinosaurus**

**Who’s king around the fores’**

**A king he’d better serve**

**Why with my regal breezer**

**I could be another Caeser**

**If I only had the nerve**

**I’d be brave as a blizzard**

*(Then the others joined in)*

Rondey and Fender: **We’d be gentle as a lizard**

Pooh: **I’d be clever as a gizzard**

Sofia: **If the Wizard is a wizard**

**Who would serve?**

Pooh: **Then I’m sure to get a brain**

Pooh's group: (On “A brain") **A brain**

Rodney and Fender: **A heart**

Sofia, Hugo, Amber, James, Isabel, Desmond, and Clover: **A home**

Gabu and Mei: **The nerve**

*(They then march along down the Yellow Brick Road together)*

Sofia’s group: **We’re off to see the Wizard**

**The Wonderful Wizard of Oz**

**We’ll find he is a whiz of a wiz**

**If ever a wiz there was**

**If ever, oh ever, a wiz there was**

**The Wizard of Oz is one**

**Because, because, because, because, because, because**

**Because of the wonderful things he does**

**We’re off to see the Wizard**

**The Wonderful Wizard of Oz**

*(Elsewhere in the same forest, Namine, Rainbow, Lollie, and Riku’s group continued their trek down the Yellow Brick Road talking with each other, apparently getting to know each other)*

Namine: So, you dream of becoming knights of Emerald City besides finding and Riku marrying the lost princess?

Sora’s group: Yes.

Goofy: Donald and I also make good mechanics.

Donald: Yep!

Namine: Like on planes?

Donald: Yes.

Sora: And of course, magic flying broomsticks.

*(Seeing her broomstick, Namine smiled and nods)*

Namine: I sure hope you’ll accomplish your dream with the Wizard’s help, as well as with King Squall and Queen Rinoa’s help.

Rainbow: My sentiments exactly.

Lollie: Yes, indeedy.

Sora’s group: Thanks.

Kairi: And I sure hope you’ll find your real past you told us you don’t know about.

Namine: Yeah. I only vaguely saw as a baby two mysterious people staring down at me with gentle smiles. And then the next thing I knew growing up, is living with my mother in the tower.

Riku: (Nods in an understanding way) Hmm…. That is mysterious.

Yuki: I’ll say.

*(Suddenly, they heard footsteps approaching them from behind)*

Lollie: What’s that?

Rainbow: A ruffian or thug, or a monster?

Namine: I don’t know, but that can’t be good.

Riku: Stay behind us.

*(Namine, Rainbow, and Lollie go behind Riku’s group for protection as they stood their ground, ready to protect Namine, Rainbow, and Lollie as the footsteps got closer)*

***Coming up: Sofia’s group and Namine’s group finally meet and learning of the same goal they’re after, decide to team up and then meet up with a certain group of suspicious-looking anthro animals looking shifty towards them.***