A/N-Well this is my second attempt at this story, and it's going to take a slightly different turn this time around. As usual, I'll accept constructive criticism to help make my story better. Also, this time around I request at least five reviews so that I'll know that people actually want to read my story. That's not too bad, right? And thanks to everyone who reviewed my first attempt! And without further ado, I present; Kingdom Hearts: Do you Regret It?
O-o-O
There is a legend
Over thousands of years old
It tells of people with incredibly strong hearts
The Princess of Heart
The only one with the power to open
Or seal
The Door
The Keyblade Master
The protector of the worlds
The one who locks the Keyholes
Some say he with deliver the worlds from chaos
Some say
He will cause it
After four failing trials
I destroyed the old ways
Now
There are seven Princesses of Heart
One for each of my sacrifices
And thousands of Keyblade wielders
Though only a few Masters
My precious Masters…
I will protect them the best I can
For the task ahead
For the most I can do
Is ask
Do you regret it?
The sun was shining, sending its warm rays on the beach; the water was clear, cool and refreshing, lapping gently onto the shore, egged on by the slight teasing breeze. Yes, it was another wonderful day on Destiny Islands.
Too bad it had to be spent in school.
Kairi sighed again and rested her head on her palm, stifling a yawn with her free hand as her Math teacher went on with his boring lecture. Despite the long, tedious school days, Kairi was happy, ecstatic even. She glanced over to her side where she observed the Keyblade Master and one of her best friends, Sora. Even two years after he and Riku returned, Kairi's feeling of pure joy had yet to settle down, and frankly, she didn't want it too.
In these past couple of years they all had grown, Kairi had filled out more but hadn't grown much taller, only a few inches but Sora had. He was just about as tall as Riku now. With hair wilder than ever but he still held on to his boyish features. Riku hadn't changed much, except for the fact the fact that his hair had grown a bit longer.
Bringing her attention back to her teacher, who was just finishing up his lesson and checking the clock behind him, Kairi stretched slightly and poked Sora in his side, which caused him to jerk, as he has been halfway asleep before. The bell rung and he yawned.
"Geez, Kairi. Why'd you have to poke me?"
" Because it's time to go you lazy bum," She teased affectionately as she gathered her things and squeezed her way out the door, Sora on her heels. Riku met them under the large Sakura tree in front of the school, waving goodbye to some of his third year friends.
"Hey guys," He greeted, "Where are we going today?"
"Sora's house," Kairi answered, "We need to do some major studying if you two are going to pass math."
O-o-OOn the steps of Sora's home, he stopped to search through his bag for his keys, mumbling incoherently.
Out of the corner of her eye, Kairi noticed something shift inside the house and tilted her head, shaking it off as her imagination.
"Gosh, Sora. What have you got in there?" Riku exclaimed peeking into his friend's bag, " Looks like a bunch of junk."
"Maybe we need to do some organizing too?" Kairi questioned, crossing her arms.
Sora chuckled, "If that's the case, get a sleeping bag, 'cause you'll be here all night. Aha! Found them!"
Laughing as they entered Sora's house and into the kitchen, Kairi felt a sudden pang in her chest as she watched Riku start to the living room.
"Wha-? Riku! Wait-!" But her warning came to late, and Riku hissed as something punctured his shoulder.
A black blur streaked across the kitchen, aiming for Sora. Thinking quickly, he summoned his Keyblade and held it like a bat, swinging at the intruder with all his strength. A feminine shriek erupted from the figure, as they were clearly not expecting such an attack. Before the teens could catch a glimpse of the trespasser, they streaked across the room once more, this time hitting the ceiling and rocketing at Sora, pricking his leg then disappearing.
Kairi tensed, waiting for the blur to try and attack her, but it didn't happen. Instead a groan came form Riku's side of the kitchen and they all went into a defensive stance circling around a darkly clothed girl.
"My head…" She whimpered crossly, clutching two small vials of dark red liquid. Sora and Riku cringed slightly when they realized that was their blood.
"Who are you?" Sora demanded, brandishing his Keyblade at her, "Why are you in my house?"
"Slow down there kiddo…" She struggled to stand and face them, holding her hands up surrendering. They peered at her and her curious appearance. Her hair was a silverish black, though she looked anything but old, she couldn't have been older than eighteen. She wore a black long sleeved button down shirt, a plain black ribbon around her neck and black shorts. Her high-heeled boots reached almost the end of her shorts, mid-thigh and were also black. Adorning her back, small white bat wings fluttered, which drew their gaze back to her hair. The majority of it was short reaching the nape of her neck with two longer pieces over her ears reaching her collarbone. At her nape fell a much longer piece, down to her waist, and attached to the end was a silver charm, in the shape of a very familiar symbol.
"King Mickey…" Riku breathed lowering his weapon.
Kairi simply stared at it, when her eyes met the girl's red and pale blue eyes; the girl blinked and bowed, much like as a knight to their monarch.
"Forgive me, but I had to attack, to get your blood. My name is Onyx, and I have been sent by His Majesty, King Mickey to deliver a letter written by his own hand." Onyx waved her left hand that had white gold ring with a princess cut ruby inlayed on it and a letter appeared on the counter closest to Sora. He glanced at it and hesitantly picked up and opened it up. Reading over it and glancing at Onyx he turned to Riku and Kairi, his voice cracking a bit.
"It's legit…" Clearing his throat he read it out loud, " ' Sora, Kairi, and Riku,
Its been awhile, hasn't? Last time I wrote a letter to you guys was about saying goodbye…and how we'd see each other again. Whelp, it seems that time is now. A month ago, Pluto went missing (That's why Onyx is there, sorry about the blood thing, that's my fault). At first I thought he just wandered off for a bit, but when I sent Donald and Goofy out to look for him…they disappeared as well. And they aren't the only ones; two Princesses of Heart are missing as well as a little girl named Rydia (Final Fantasy IV) who is very important to Radiant Garden. Please, it is imperative that you come to Disney Castle immediately. You are also urged to bring your family and friends, for their safety. Onyx will take care of everything, I trust her with my life. I'm not asking you to, but at least trust me.
King Mickey.' "
The King's letter hinted that even more was going on than what he actually stated and Sora looked up grimly. Riku nodded at him and started for the door shooting one last glace back at the still bowing Onyx.
"Sora?" A called came from the front door and a woman with waist light brown hair and soft hazel eyes walked into the kitchen, "What's going on in here?"
"Mom," Sora started walking up to her, "Uh, You remember when I told you about King Mickey and well…everything else."
Hikaru Hikari nodded lightly, looking from her houseguest, to Kairi, to Riku and finally to her son.
" He needs us to go away again…"
"You're going away again..?" Hikaru echoed distantly. She shook her head of the thoughts that crept into her mind and looked her son straight in the eye smiling reassuringly as she did so, "If you really need-"
"The King said you should come too."
O-o-O
" So where are we going again?" Selphie's mother, Yumi, asked, gathered along with Kari's mother, Ayumi, Hikaru as well as Tidus, Selphie and Wakka.
"Another world," Sora explained warily, "Our friend contacted us and said that we should bring our friends with us."
"Really now," Yumi scoffed, "Another world? What's so dangerous? Why would we need to-?"
"Mom," Selphie snapped impatiently, "If Sora says there is trouble, then I believe him. Do you remember the supposed storm we had about four ears ago?"
"Yes…"
"Well that wasn't a storm. Creatures called Heartless overran the Island for a while. Sora saved us and couldn't return for a year while he looked for Riku. And while we where here, safe and sound, we forgot him. Remember that?"
Her mom nodded meekly as everyone stared at Selphie amazed.
Breaking the silence, Ayumi clapped her hands together happily, "Well then. So it's settled, we'll go. When do we leave?"
"As soon as possible," Riku answered, "The King sent someone to get us."
"What?" Yuri snorted, "Your friend is now a King? Besides, don't we need to pack-?"
"Done," Everyone said simultaneously.
"You're the only one left," Selphie sighed.
"Oh."
O-O-O
"Alright, Onyx. We're all ready." Kairi stated as she approached the girl.
"Okay," she smiled and hovered down to the ground," Where are they?"
"Coming," Kairi glanced back where everyone was double checking their luggage, "Um by the way, when we were at Sora's house…you didn't attack me. Why not?"
"I didn't need your blood." Onyx answered simply.
"What…what did you do with the boys' blood…?" Kairi asked, almost afraid to.
"I drank it."
Kairi chuckled nervously, "What are you…a vampire?"
"Yep."
"O-oh."
Onyx laughed at the look on Kairi face, "Relax, I only needed their blood to track them, I'm never going to use them as a food source. And besides, I've never drained anyone dry, I'm only half the vampire with twice the control."
Kairi didn't have a chance to say anything else before Sora and Tidus walked over, but she did appeared to be relived. As everyone gathered around the vampire, she smiled at them.
"Hello everyone, I'm Onyx. I'll be taking you to Disney Castle today, but unfortunately I don't have a gummi ship."
"What?" Riku exclaimed, "So how are we supposed to get to-?"
"Teleportation." Onyx answered unfazed, she summoned a scythe that was a head taller than her and swung it over her head, "Here we go!"
To anyone looking on staring oddly at a large group of people and a winged girl twirling a scythe over their head, a moment later, they would have seen nothing but a faint sparkle and would have wondered if they where sane or needed their eyes checked.
Just minutes later, the same group materialized in Disney Castle's courtyard, dazed and confused, some even looking slightly sick. Onyx dismissed her weapon and stumbled, "Ooh…That…was hard…Ugh, someone should be here in a sec. I have to go and report in…ugh…" In another sparkle, she was gone and the assembly was left by themselves.
Looking around at his surroundings Sora grinned once the dizzy feeling went away, "Everyone, Welcome to Disney Castle!"
Awed and slightly overwhelmed, Sora's mother and friends stared up at Disney Castle; feeling slightly misplaced in their everyday clothes and hastily packed bags.
Kairi was absolutely speechless as the Castle stood before her. Sure, Riku (who'd actually been there only once before) and Sora explained it so vividly that she could almost see it, and told her many tales of the castle and its ruler, but nothing could have prepared her for this splendor.
Hikaru pulled her son down to her level, still staring ahead at the castle, "You mean to tell me that you know the King of this castle?" She asked in disbelief.
Sora nodded, offering a sly smile, "And the Queen."
Suddenly, a group of similar looking dog-like people single filed about ten feet away from the group of teenagers and three parents holding trumpets to their mouths. Slightly startled, they looked on as three ducks in red, blue and green strode after the trumpeters followed by another dog-like person (these four appearing to be teenagers) and three more human looking characters. Except the only girl was decked out in white with translucent bat wings and a kitsune mask, and the younger boy sported a blond tail.
The strange group glanced around themselves, confused before the ducks walked straight up to Sora.
"Do you remember us, Sora?" The Red one asked. They where dressed in outfits similar to Donald's mage outfit, suggesting that they were apprentices of some kind. The other two wore it as blue and green.
Sora's eyes widened in realization, "Huey, Dewey, and Louie, right? Donald's nephews!"
Dewey nodded as Louie motioned for the other boy to come over, "Sora, this is Max."
Max held out his hand to shake and gave the group a grim smile, "Hey."
"He's Goofy's son,"Dewey explained.
"…"
"His what?"
O-o-O
Queen Minnie paced around the throne room excitedly as Lady Daisy looked on just as nervously.
"Why don't you settle down your Majesty?"
"Ooh, Daisy, I can't settle down! There are to many thing happening! Now that-" Minnie stopped everything as soon as she heard a knock and saw the door creak open.
"Queen Minnie, the guests are here," The girl clad in white still had the mask firmly attached to her face, now took it off to bow to the queen revealing a splitting image of Onyx in blond hair.
"Alright, thank you Crystal," The queen sighed, "Send them in."
Outside, Sora was overwhelmed with all the information he just received, who knew Goofy had a son? And about his age too. Huey, Dewey, and Louie and grown out of their squaking talk and now spoke like normal humans, even though they obviouly weren't.
He was brought out of his brooding when the blond girl who introduced herself as Crystal motioned the group into the throne room. Riku stoppted and pondered the girl for a moment.Now, with her mask off, they could clearly see her features.
"Are…are you and Onyx sisters?"
Crystal nodded, "Twins, I'm older though."
Minnie took a deep breath and put on a pleasant smile as the new arrivals walked in with the triplets and Max. Crystal being in the room while the tailed kid and the blond man seemed to have disappeared.
Actually, Selphie noticed the two slip away, one to the door farther down the hall, and the other up a flight of stairs. She nudged Kairi and pointed this out. "Where do you think they went?"
Kairi only shrugged as they walked through the door to the throne room, "I don't know the layout of the castle, so your guess is as good as mine."
Everyone had been surprised when Crystal knocked on the door, and instead of the whole thing swinging open, a regular sized one appeared.
"Queen Minnie!" Sora cried out excited as soon as she came into view, then thinking back at his first visit to the castle and bowed low with Riku as the rest of their friends followed suit awkwardly, glancing at the small mouse bewildered.
'This is the Queen of the castle?'
"It's wonderful to see you again, Sora, Riku," This time she smiled a genuine smile, "And who might all of you be?"
"Oh, sorry," Sora went to go stand by his companions, " These are my friends, Your Highness. Tidus, Selphie, and Wakka."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, your majesty!" Selphie curtsied.
"It sure is," Wakka seconded, "I just didn't imagine you'd be so small, ya? Ow!"
"He didn't mean that," Tidus laughed nervously, glaring at the older boy, " Thanks for inviting us to your castle."
Minnie giggled, "Not a problem at all, just make yourselves at home." She just then noticed Kairi standing next to Riku and her mother.
"Oh, and you are, dear?"
"That's Kairi!" Sora answered for the unusually quiet Princess of Heart, "And her mom. Next to her is Selphie's mom and over here is my mom!" They adults smiled and waved slightly as they were introduced.
" It is wonderful to meet all of you, and I'm sure you are tired from your journey, so please give the brooms your luggage and they'll escort you to your rooms."
"The brooms…?" Tidus question and jumped when a magically animated broom appeared beside him, "Holy chocobo!"
"That's amazing, ya?" Wakka asked as he poked the broom that came to pick up his bags.
"Queen Minnie?" Everyone looked around for the source of the familiar voice, but Minnie and Crystal, used to the girl's unusual entrances looked up where Onyx was hanging upside down, her white wings fluttering.
"Yes?"
"King Mickey is asking about the Corne- mgff."
Crystal was suddenly next to her sister, with a hand over her mouth glancing down at the triplets, Max and the Queen who all gave a quick sigh of relief.
"I get the message Onyx, thank you. Why don't you, Huey, Dewey, Louie and Max go and take care of it for me, please?"
The boys saluted smartly as Onyx bowed, upside down, and levitated down with Cyrstal, rightening herself as the guys slipped out of the room. Before the vampire could fly out, Sora grabbed her arm as everyone else was preoccupied with the brooms.
"I need to see King Mickey," He stated firmly. Onyx regared him for a moment.
"You do know that he is pretty busy, don't you?"
He nodded, "I really need to talk to him, though. It can't wait."
Onyx tilted her head and closed her blue eye, "Alright, I'll see what I can do. And here," She handed him a Keychain I the shape of a creasent moon pricked by a needle with a single drop of blood, " You might find that useful later on."
And with that she dissappeared in bearly a sparkle of light.
O-o-O
"Leidy?" The blond haired boy with the tail walked into the tower room on the west side of the castle searching for the person he called for.
"Over here, Zidane!" A little girl's voice called from the adjourning room. Zidane jogged up the small set of stairs to a cozy loft, richly adorned with fine pillows and the finest furniture. On the low, Japanese style table assorted gourmet sweets lay around. But the little girl sat on a velvet pillow window seat staring out into the courtyard where the newcomers once stood. The little girl had wavy brownish-red hair that ended just above her shoulders and hazel eyes. She turned to smile at the boy as he plopped unceremoniously onto a cushion, "The Keyblade Master is here." She said it as more of a statement then a question.
"Yep," Zidane answered snagging a chocolate from the table and popping it into his mouth.
"You do know what that means."
Zidane was silent for a moment; his head tilted back eyes closed as his tail swung back and forth lazily, "Yep…"
Silence once again reigned into the tiny room with only the birds from outside singing in the background.
"…They're coming…" Leidy whispered suddenly to herself, staring out the window once more.
"Who?" Zidane asked opening an eye idly, and stared as the girl jumped slightly as if she hadn't expected him to hear her.
"N-nothing, no one," she sighed gazing at the courtyard once more, "Nobody…"
O-o-O
"You wanted to see me?" A voice inquired, while the body bowed low to the King of Disney Castle.
Seated at a desk, surrounded by mountains of books, looking very much overwhelmed, and not at all kingly, was Mickey Mouse.
"Oh, yea, but first can you help me clear these off?" Hiro nodded and went to grab a stack of book off the desk glancing at some of the titles slightly surprised.
"Sora and the others are here," The man stated placing a tome carefully back on the shelf.
Mickey looked up sharply, eyes slightly wide, "What? I just sent Onyx out yesterday! Did they really agree that quickly?"
Hiro smiled, "I think they wanted to talk to you too, your Majesty."
Mickey sighed and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, "Whelp, 'guess I can't complain. By the way, how is the wedding coming along?"
This time Hiro grinned, "Great, Queen Minnie is an excellent planner. Between her and Lady Daisy, it's been put together in less than two months!"
King Mickey cracked a smile, "Good, at least something positive is happening in all of this."
Suddenly Queen Minnie burst in, Crystal racing after her, looking quite out of breath.
"Everyone's settled in, Mickey, but what about-?" Minnie rung her hands together and bit her lip, "What's going to happen to the Cornerstone?"
Mickey went over to her and put an arm on her shoulder, "It'll be alright Minnie, you'll see. How long can you keep feeding it?"
Minnie sighed and thought about it for a moment, "Three days, at the most."
"Excuse me…" Everyone jumped and turned to face Hiro who had a pair of arms around his neck from behind. The arms were attached to a body; Onyx's to be exact, as she hung, suspended by her wings, partly upside down, "Sora wants to talk to you your Majesty. He says it's urgent."
Mickey sighed, " 'Figured it would be. Onyx, go ahead and bring him down here in a few hour, along with Riku, and Kairi. It's about time I gave them a history lesson."