A.N.) When I first made The Lucky Rabbit, I decided that I was going to make it completely instead of chapters and then just make more one-shots/multichapters as they came in my head to help fill the disproportion of incomplete stories in KH's Oswald tag. As I finish up my sophomore year, I find myself getting back into the inspiration of wanting Oswald in KH because of Unchained X, and there were 3 reviews for the story in the span of 24 hours about a week ago so I took that as a sign.

The problem is that if I make oneshots that relate to this one story, it could be confusing for the reader to have to jump between stories chronologically if it really relates to the set up in this oneshot. However, if I decided to continue adding chapters to The Lucky Rabbit instead, I was be obligated to remove the story's "complete" tag and lock myself to a storyline I had not originally planned to work from a prolonged beginning to end.

In the end, I decided to just sacrifice the "complete" tag and keep it together, as I will be able to keep all the content in one place. The catch is that there might be the occasional chapter that is before Oswald and Ortensia meet Sora and Riku in "The Lucky Rabbit" (so far, I only have a few ideas in that spectrum). What do you guys think about that? I hopes this works as the best route for everyone.

Also, it's been a very, very long time since I've written a fanfiction so please bear with me if my rust shows.

Disclaimer) I do not own Kingdom Hearts. (I know that's obvious, but I feel dirty not including the disclaimer!)

The Lucky Rabbit (Continuation)

Chapter 2: Oswald, Ortensia and Riku

"Oh, Minnie. I miss my skort," Ortensia groaned at having to pick up her gown that bellowed in layers upon layers of pale pink fabric from the waist down. "I feel like I'm wearing a luffah."

The cat swung around the green garden at the center of the Disney Castle to emphasis that this bulky dress did not even sway with her movements but remained a still sponge caging her lower body. It was insisted by Minnie that today Ortensia resume her traditional attire as a Princess to help assist the Queen oversee some private court matters that Mickey was simply not as good at handling as the born royal, Minnie. As much as Ortensia liked the idea of helping ease her sister-in-law's duties, she hadn't touched bureaucracy or politics or even social mending in years. Even as a banker's daughter, she at one point understood the inner workings of finance and social image, but in her recent years, Ortensia's required skills were gummi ship repairing, navigation, combat and the like. While it was indeed true she hated the attire, she knew she was making it a crisis to avoid returning to the old job of Princess-hood and being caught in an embarrassing situation.

Minnie giggled and playfully adjusted Ortensia's twinkling tiara. "I suppose you may need time to adjust."

Ortensia sighed and glanced past the marble railings about a floor higher from the little garden to the massive doors of the Throne Room.

"Mickey came by our room early to pick up Oswald for something. How come neither of them needs to dress in their formal King and Prince clothes?"

"Oh, that's because Mickey needs to be ready to defend the kingdom should distress arise. There have been troublemakers left and right for quite some time now."

"I'm not understanding where Oswald fits into this though."

"Well, Riku told Mickey that Oswald has a Keyblade!"

"Uh-huh…" Ortensia held a grimace to only a twitching frown.

"Mickey is going to have Oswald assist in training the boys and help in The Upcoming Threat."

"And you were planning to mention this to me when…?" Oswald trailed in the most deadpan and condescending manner he could muster for being awoken so early. He had to wait for Mickey to finish reading some journal in his study and then dragged to the other side of the massive castle to the training grounds. Mickey was so quiet but jubilant that he whistled while he worked and skipped about the halls. Oswald halted in his tracks and told Mickey he would refuse to budge if the mouse didn't answer what he had planned for his big brother.

Mickey, not realizing how aggravated Oswald was till now scuffed back his shoe and donned an sheepish smiled. "Well, I guess it's just a habit."

Oswald perked his brow and lifted his lips, amused by that statement.

"I heard from the boys that you have a Keyblade now and have even beaten Sora, so I know you will be a valuable ally for this Upcoming Threat!"

"Sure, sure. You can count on me for this huge ominous problem that you aren't describing, but what was that about training Sora and his friend?"

Mickey chuckled. "His name is Riku, Ozzie. And that was my thought at first, but after talking with Riku very recently, I think I've come to another idea!"

"That being—?"

"You'll go with Sora to try for The Mark of Mastery in little under a few weeks from now!"

Oswald gaped and took a step back, holding up his hands. "Whoa now Mickey, I think you got the wrong idea here. I'm not interested in this whole mastery thing. I rarely ever use my Keyblade anyways! I just used it yesterday because I was really annoyed and anxious!"

Mickey jumped, shocked at the confession. "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, I got it a while after Ortensia and I left, but whenever I took it out, heartless kept coming at us, so I just use it when we're in a really 'fight or flight' bad bind. Plus, when I do use it, I'm not like you or Sora with the heavy brawling stuff. I just use it like a cane or a wand."

"Really?" the King stared.

"Yeah. I mean you know me. I was never the kind to fair well in physical confrontations. Pete use to knock my lights out all the time back in the day. Remember?"

"All too well. But then how do you fight?"

"I'd say electric based magic is my strongest area, plus I'm pretty fast and removed (get it, Mickey?)."

The King pondered on this for a few stagnant moments. When he made his decision, that big kid-like smile returned to the mouse's face and he snapped his fingers to click his thought process on the correct track. "You're self taught with an unconventional style, but that's okay. That fact that you still beat Sora, who has plenty of experience and training, tells me you can still do it!"

Oswald shook his head and sighed, ears slouching in front of his face. "Mickey, I don't care for this whole Mastery business. I know what I'm good for, and I doubt that meets to the sorcerer's criteria anyway. It's a waste of time for me."

Mickey hummed. "Then how about going for the sake of Sora not taking his exam alone? It's really concerning for Riku. Who knows what would have happened to Sora without Riku being close on his tail."

Fidgeting, Oswald was taken aback by the request. As he weighed and considered, he grumbled, "Why is it so important to you that I'm on board for this, Mickey?" only half serious.

"Because I know if it's you, I'll have nothing to worry about! You're the best big brother a guy could ask for!"

"Don't try and butter me up, ya round-eared pest! Here I thought I would give my report and be on my next assignment…"

As aggressive as his words were, they were softened by an obviously exaggerated look of an inconvenienced diva. There was no real anger in his tone or intention, because despite the command, Mickey actually did succeed in "buttering him up". "And by the way, we looked literally everywhere and we could not find your missing friend or The Land of Departure. Years spent on recon after recon with hoards of heartless on my tale instead!"

There was pause as Mickey took the information that he already knew, but had to face head on instead of lulling it over in the back of his mind. It was another failed attempt to find and mend one of his friends lost, and had failed. Soon he'd have to work out another plan to try again. What made it worse was that he took a chunk of his brother's life, spent away from home and in danger. During the events of Maleficent and Ansem's oversaturating the universe with heartless, worlds being plunging into darkness, the business with the organization, and Xehanort in general, Oswald and Ortensia were out on their own with no contact with the kingdom. Over the years and battles, Mickey worried what would become of his friends, his home, and innocent beings. And every once in a while, when he would see another star go out, he chose to hide was the question, "Was Oswald on that world?" The King, for the good of his ability to strengthen his allies and lead, had to settle those thoughts and trust that the Lucky Rabbit was quick enough to evade sudden death and return home soon.

"Mickey? Have you been daydreaming through everything I just said? Now you're starting t'really bug me!"

Zapped back to the present like a ghost flung back into the flesh, Mickey blinked confused.

Oswald noticed a hint of distress on his brother's face and lightened his tone. "Umm, you okay, Mickey?"

The mouse forced a smile. "Nah, I'm okay! Just remembered something is all."

"Alright then I guess," Oswald's tone limping to be courteous but inviting. Mickey would tell if it was really pressing, but he still wanted to let the King know he was open to listening. Shifting the subject back on track, Oswald, without thinking of anything but ending that unnatural look of sadness on the face of the mouse, said, "I'll take the test with Sora."

Instantly, Mickey was brought to a state of pure excitement. He even jumped in the air and squeezed the rabbit in a bear hug. "You won't regret this, Ozzie!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. So how is this going to work?" he grunted as he was released.

"Riku has a larger emphasis on magic over Sora, and while I use light magic, I don't use it as much as regular swordsmanship. I'll let Riku know you two will be working off each other, while I'll try to focus on Sora for at least a few days."

"So we're settled?"

"Just one last thing. Do you think Ortensia would be willing to help in the fight too? Sora told me you said yourself she was a good fighter."

"Sora…" Oswald growled. He scrunched himself up like a wrinkled brow, with arms, legs and ears crossed with the light sound of a boiling kettle leaking from his ears.

Oswald could care less if the boys tossed out stuff about him, since he supposed he was going to tell the King anyways, but let all know that Oswald despised the idea of Ortensia having to continue life on the battlefield. She wasn't a born peasant or knight, but the daughter of a wealthy banker. "And I got her stuck in this life…" he murmured under his breath and reluctantly confirmed to Mickey that if he was fighting, Ortensia would always want to be at his side. "We're partners."

Later in the day, the light of a landing gummi ship disturbed Traverse Town's blanket's dark sky. Walking through the main gate into the First District, Oswald takes light steps with his eyes staring solemnly into the brick walkway. For a moment, it is quiet anticipation before his significant-other zooms past him in rampant anxiousness to stretch her legs, now free from the constricting royal attire.

"Oh Hunny Bunny, I'm so glad to finally be out of that dress! I guess I'll just have to adjust to life at home again like Minnie said," she sighed and giggled at her own silliness.

Oswald looked around the seemingly deserted plaza and wondered how the specifics of this odd world revolved. He had a crazy theory from the few times the two passed through over the long time he worked the job of recon. Turning back to his beloved, Oswald looked at the cat and remembered what he wanted to talk to her about.

"Good thing we escaped for a little while, huh?" he laughed nervous. "My eyes definitely need to adjust to going from bright Disney Town to the world that never has a sun."

"Oswald… what did you really want to talk about?"

He looked away and sighed.

"Mickey says there's been trouble brewing since we left and that he wants me to do all these things to help in the fight."

"Wha…what kind of things?" she shook.

"Well for one, I going to have to go away for a while and take some exam with Sora. Apparently this will test our mastery as Keyblade wielders. And there's no guarantee how long it will take."

"But you hardly use your Keyblade!"

"Mickey really wants me to go so that Sora won't be by himself. The kid's only fifteen, I think. So I agreed. I'm sorry. I know I should have talked it over with you first. We're in this together after all…"

Ortensia was baffled at the thought that they would be apart for more than a day for the first time in years. Instantly, she was wound with worry, and conflict of what she wanted and what was probably right. She tried to never be selfish and be a good being, but the thought of potentially losing her husband and not being near to watch over him was so frightening. She was starting to become overwhelmed with all the changes happening to them as of late.

"So I can't go with you?"

"Probably not, Hunny Bunch."

She scoffed and looked away. "I want to be there, Ozzie. I don't want you go alone…" she trailed off with her ears flattening sluggish.

"Hey now," Oswald was quick to embrace the saddened cat and heightened his voice. "Technically I'll be taking the exam with Sora. He's a pretty okay guy in my book. So I won't be alone. It'll be fine. And who knows how long it'll really be, right? It could be a day—a week tops! I doubt it'll be anywhere as bad as our last mission!"

"But, Oswald—those things are still out there!" she screeched.

"Oh yeah… I should probably tell him about those…"

"Oswald!"

"It'll be alright, Ortensia. My luck is always on point as long as I have you in my heart. If it makes you feel any better, for the big threat everyone's preparing for, you get to help in the fight along with me instead of staying cooped up in the castle."

"Really? Mickey's okay with that?"

The rabbit tried to forcefully widen his grin. His face made light cracking noises as the corners of his mouth lifted. "Yeah…"

Ortensia bought the contempt in his voice and smiled again. "Gosh, I guess we really do have to adjust to all this, like I said," she was laughing once more. "Just promise me you'll be careful, Hunny Bunny."

Like a burst of lightning, a gummi ship took landing with a loud bang of gummi to brick outside the first district and passed the large wood entrance to the dark world, Riku joggled right through with the determination of a stubborn oxen.

Spotting the couple, staring confused at him, Riku approached.

"Hello Riku, what are the odds that we'd all come to the same place?" Ortensia curtsied.

That was a perfect way to take Riku away from his determined warrior persona to the socially awkward teenager he was. He shifted his gaze a few moments before remembering his objective and reaching within for that determination he needed to fulfill his objective.

"I… I am actually here on orders of the King. He told me that Oswald and I would be training together for the next few days, so I went to go find him so we could get started. But when I found that you had disappeared from the castle, both Mickey and Sora freaked out for you disappearance. Chip and Dale informed me that the coordinates to your gummi ship landed here and I was ordered to retrieve you guys."

Before Ortensia could form a sentence, Oswald already processed exactly what he didn't like about all that. His round face tightened and furrowed, fists clenching. It was a call back to exactly how irritated and vengeful he felt just a day ago to this boy's best friend. If it were Sora here saying all this, Oswald would have been cool with it. He trusted Sora, but this kid was calling out the worst of Oswald just from the superior act of being his brother's protégé.

"What do you care what we do? Tell Mickey we're talkin' here and to mind his our business."

"Oswald!" Ortensia frowned at the rabbit and swung her head to Riku, holding her hands up in surrender. "He doesn't mean that Riku!"

"The King just wants you two to stay in the castle—"

"Oh get bent, ya lacky! Remind Mickey who's the older one in our relationship. Let's get out of here, Ortensia."

"Get out of here already!"

"I can't."

"He's not hurting anything, Oswald. Be nice."

"Ugh…"

Was it childish? Yes, but Oswald was too vexed to care. He knew he was acting bad again, but felt something inside that made him want to lash around like rabid Neoshadow. It was the darkness inside of him. He thought he laid it to rest after so, so long when he was alive with Ortensia and on a good standing with his brother, but recently… Recently, he could feel it bubbling from deep within. He had been happy and motivated and certain that whole time after his revival. Why was it coming back? He still had Ortensia and his even made a new companion in Sora. He didn't even feel particularly dark yesterday, just annoyed and mischievous, so why now? Was it Traverse Town, or was it Riku that was making him this way?

Was it in him? Had he never really relinquished the darkness that consumed him?

"Ortensia told us yesterday that you and her were in trouble and that being the reason you returned. I think it would be safer if we stick together until you're ready to go back."

They walked in uncomfortable silence from the First District all the way to the Fountain Plaza. "If you actually follow us all the way to the Fifth District, I swear I might maim you're pretty boy face."

"Oswald, if you start something two days in a row, I'll maim you!"

"Look, I get that you want some privacy, but you can have space and safety in Disney Castle. The King will worry if I go back and tell him that you want to get away from home."

"I can take care the both of us. And I'm not actual Disney royalty so what's it matter? You can tell Mickey that I said I'm not his property or another one of his crony paw—ah!" How embarrassing, he was struck from afar with ironic timing.

Hopping down from rooftops, a fluid blotch of dark mass spattered to the brick and was quick to zing itself back to a gross, inky heartless with the form of the upper half of a humanoid body and a devilish look. Riku was quick to take out his Keyblade and take a quick glance behind him to check on Oswald. He saw Ortensia sprinting to tend to the rabbit in a trance of rotating birds to symbolize his daze. "Oh, are you okay, Hunny Bunny?" he could hear the cat dote.

"Just stay back! I'll take care of this thing," Riku commanded and went to work hacking at this new enemy.

"Riku wait!" Oswald shouts while holding his aching head. "Those things adapt to physical hits!"

Riku did even need to ask what he meant by that, as the heartless gave a blank, wide expression and thickened it's mass. The Soul Eater Keyblade was stuck in the gelatinous inky heartless. He was forced to let it go and jump back to get back in his default stance. He could see the creature try to suck and confine the Keyblade in its bulk, like to collect it, but the Soul Eater vanished in sparkles of light and regrouped back in Riku's hand.

Oswald used his superior speed and caught up to stand by Riku. "If you use your Keyblade, more of them can show up."

"The Keyblade's my way of fighting."

Oswald moaned and zapped lightning strands from his fingertips. It seemed to have caused a moderate amount of damage and succeeded to stun it for the time being. Riku followed his lead, hurting it some more with dark firaga. As Oswald was almost recharged and ready to fire again, the long stretch of an oversized fist zoomed past the two and mushed the heartless into disintegrating splatters on a building wall.

Riku jumped back, staring dumbfounded at the long stretch of an arm and an inflated fist lying across a long stretch of distance like a chopped down sycamore. He looked as if he'd just seen the most absurd thing he'd ever see. Even more absurd than an old man creating a league of time traveling versions of himself. Even more absurd than a rabbit that can decapitate himself.

"Oswald, do you think you can help me pull myself together?" Ortensia called from afar.

"I'll be right there, Hunnybunch!" Oswald called back and left Riku stuck in his own reminiscing. The silver haired teen was recalling all those classroom stories about medieval torture methods of being stretched out to death and shivered that Miss Ortensia was carelessly stretching herself.

He snapped back to reality seeing Oswald detach one of his ears. He placed it to stick to Ortensia's shoulder and bent it to look like the handle for a music box. From that point the rabbit used his ear as a windup and soon enough, Ortensia's arm was pulled back to it's original state. The two were giving each other such fond, loving looks while Ortensia was testing her fist grip (which Riku found rather strange since they both had just been fighting a dangerous creature but who was he to question the oddities of a married couple?).

Riku approached. With the three rounded up once again, Oswald, still smiling at Ortensia, told her, "I guess those things followed us…"

"Yeah…" she replied, hearts practically floating from her.

Completely confused, Riku broke their unity. "Is that a good thing…?"

As soon as they processed Riku's words and where they were again, the loving looks were broken and the rabbit and cat jumped back from each other, gasping for air as their hearts dropped cold.

"They followed us, Oswald!"

"How did they get here so quickly?"

"Was it you're Keyblade match from yesterday? Did they find us through that?"

"Then that would mean they might be able to get past the Cornerstone of Light's barrier!"

"We've endangered all of Disney Town by returning!"

"What are we gonna do?"

"Should we just leave and take our trouble with us?"

"That's a good idea—We can do wandering!"

"No."

The two halted and turned to Riku, who's vulnerable and confused appearance shifted to authoritative and calm once more during their meltdown.

"We're going back to the Castle, we're going to tell the King what just happened, and you're going to tell him what you know about these heartless: where they came from, why they are chasing you two, and how we can defend ourselves from them."

"I think his idea might be more logical, Hunny Bunny."

Oswald's brow furrowed again, anger flaring from a place and reason the rabbit himself couldn't even fathom. But as he looked at Ortensia, frightened and almost pleading with him, he sighed his darkness down and nodded at her. "Alrighty then Riku, have it your way. Let's go back to Disney Castle."

"From the rooftops above, a bulky and roguish figure was hiding from the view of the three. As they exited the Fountain Plaza and to the Back Streets, the figure emerged from his hiding place and revealed himself to be big bad Pete, henchman of the Maleficent, the Mistress of All Evil. With a goofy yet menacing grin on his face, he rubbed his chin and peered down where his target had been lying not too long ago.

"So that rabbit is back in Town, huh? With his history, Maleficent might want to have a look at him," he said with a wicked chuckle after.

From her lair of comfort back in the Enchanted Dominion, since losing her castle in Hollow Bastion and The Castle That Never Was, Maleficent gazed intrigued at the scenes she watched from her sacred globe of dark magic. Pete, the loaf he was, had just done the grandest thing his few capabilities could allow and showed her the perfect candidate to add to her team that might actually be able to get work done for her. She couldn't hold in her evil laughter as she saw all the darkness and insecurities she could easily manipulate to get Oswald the Lucky Rabbit in her corner.

"I just can't wait to meet him."

A.N.) I hope this didn't disappoint anyone. Be sure to share your thoughts if you have the time and the feeling's right. As a (tl;dr) version of the top author' note, what I plan to do is make this multi-chaptered with an occasional one-shot (Some ideas are Oswald and Ortensia's experience with Destiny Island's or Oswald's coronation day, etc.). ^_^ Also, I'm sorry this chapter was not as long as the first one-shot. Have a nice day, and good luck to people finishing up the school year.