kh_drabble | (no subject)

Challenge: [065] Games
Title: Riddle Me This
Word Count: 502 (eep)
Notes: The Cheshire Cat prepares Sora et al for an audience with the Queen of Hearts. No spoilers.

"Oh, I imagine she'll make you play a game with her. The Queen does like her games," the cat murmured, ever grinning.

"What sort of game?" Sora asked, not worried; he was good at games. The cat's smile widened, threatening to overtake its entire face.

"I would say... a game for you."

"For us?"

"No, a game for you."

"Me?"

"Dear me, no."

"That... doesn't make sense."

"Yes it does. A game for you, but not for me. A game of yellow, but not of red or blue. You know, a game of old but not new? A game of short but not small." The cat blinked at them expectantly. At their silence his tail began to fade.

"Is-is this a real game?" Sora asked quietly to his companions.

"Of course it is!" the grin cried, indignantly. "Haven't you caught on yet? A game of spots but not speckles. A game for lovers but not friends. A game of flower but not plant. Give it a try."

"A game of dark but not light?" Sora hazarded.

"Can't say it is. Though it is a game of moon but not sun. Come now, the game is straightforward, but not simple." Its legs had vanished.

"This game is impossible!" Donald muttered, foot tapping.

"Yes, it certainly is. But not difficult. Play along, play along. A game of hold but not grasp."

"Of sound but not noise?" Sora guessed.

"It's a game of sound and noise, but not for ears." Only the cat's head and ever growing smile remained.

"Oh, it's a game of words, but not meaning," Goofy said, thoughtfully.

"My, how true!" it cried in glee, hands re-appearing to offer applause. "A game for my tooth, but not for my teeth."

"I'm not playing this!" Donald blustered, normally white feathers taking on a rather red tinge.

"But you must! It's a game for four, not three!"

"It ain't a game for ducks though..." Goofy said mildly, then grinned himself. "But it is a game for Donalds!"

"I knew you had it," the cat beamed, his upper body dutifully staying visible. "What about you?" it asked, casting its stare towards Sora.

"Uh... well... Riku always solved these kinda games."

"This game won't work with Riku, I'm afraid. Give me a guess!"

"Er... a game of... feel but not touch?" The cat chuckled wickedly and its hands disappeared again.

"Close."

"Umm. A game of this but not that?" It tsked, and only its crescent smile remained.

"Goofy... I don't get it," Sora said, trying to ignore Donald's angry stomping about.

"Gawrsh, it's really simple, Sora. It's a game of once but not twice. Of swords but not keyblades. Of forest but not them trees."

"Forest but not trees?" Sora repeated, slowly, thinking it over.

"No do-overs!" the grin shouted, then faded completely. "Bad form, bad form. Only one chance left..." the disembodied voice taunted.

"This game is stupid!" Donald flustered from across the small clearing.

"Not stupid," Sora said slowly, then grinning. "But it is-"

----
Hee, do you know an answer? Play along for a cookie. XD
[Hint: if you've never played this game before, you want to look at all the words that the game IS, compared to all the words that the game is NOT. There's something in common with all the words that the game IS, that all the words that are NOT lack. I'll edit in the solution in a few days, but I know some people like to tinker with these on their own, lol.]

EDIT: YOU CAN FIND THE ANSWER AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE