Greetings, fellow readers and writers! This is the ninth volume of Path of the Keyblade Wielders and I hope you like it! Okay, I last left you on the cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers as The Guardians of the Infinite Dimensions and their friends witnessed an act of utter evil and the birth of a Princess of Dark, while Sora and the rest of the gang proceeded unaware to their next destination, the underwater dystopia of Rapture. That's right, we've left the shores of Dead Island and dove deep into the realm of Bioshock. Timewise, this story will involve the city of Rapture and several in-game characters, yet the story won't follow the plot of the actual game. This will be an original story set within the universe of Bioshock.
One thing I should mention is that there will be some hardcore swearing on behalf of the residents of Rapture, both from the game and those that I created, so please don't be offended.
As usual, the only things I own in this story are my original characters, everything else belongs to their respective owners, so please don't sue me, I'm only trying to tell a good story. And now, without further delay, let the tale begin!
Prolog: A Ritual Most Foul
…Castle Oblivion…
"Ah, there you are, Leslie," said Columbina as she stood in the middle of the Interocitor room, along with Young Xehanort, Regina and the rest of the dark conclave of villains. Emerging from a portal was The Lord of Illusions, carrying in his arms the broken-hearted Bethany Greenhill, her body covered in patches of dark energy that were converging on her heart.
"Not that I don't mind a random act of murder," said Dio Brando, "but why'd you kill that brat's bratty sister?"
"And why aren't you dead, trickster?" Lady Tremaine asked irately, "we all saw you slain by the zombified Phobos."
"Give me some credit," said a viciously smiling Lord of Illusions as he laid Bethany on a chair, "I've been faking my own death for decades. "
"So," said Regina as she and Young Xehanort looked at the seemingly catatonic Bethany, "she's the final of the third set of Princesses of Heart."
"She was a candidate," said Columbina, "a potential whose powers had not yet awakened, nor will they ever, not in service of light that is."
"And she was right under Sora's nose the whole time," said Young Xehanort, "more importantly, she was under the nose of that meddling bitch, Alegra."
"Yes, I finally got the better of her," said Columbina smugly.
"Not before she almost exposed your identity," said Gaston as he walked up, a grin of mischief in his face, "I was a bit disappointed, I'll bet you're a total knockout beneath that mask."
"Why do you wear that childish mask, anyway?" Lady Tremaine asked, "is it to cover a horrific scar? Or are you perhaps ashamed of something else?" She reached for Columbina's mask, "let's find out."
Columbina responded by grabbing Lady Tremaine's outstretched hand and unleashed a pulse of dark magic. Lady Tremaine screamed in agony as she pulled her hand back to reveal blackened and smoldering bones.
"No one touches my mask and gets away with it!" snapped Columbina, "I still owe Alegra for trying to unmask me."
"Oh, so you're like a luchador," said Insano, "on second thought, you're not the type. You're far too flamboyant, even a masked wrestler."
"It doesn't matter why she wears a mask," said Regina irately. She then looked at Bethany, "the point is that she has succeeded in her goal of creating a Princess of Dark."
"No, not yet," said Columbina.
"But…you did," said Dio Brando, "you cracked her heart."
"Which is slowly but surely being consumed by darkness," said Columbina, "but this is only the first step in the process. Without taking proper measures, the purity of this child's heart will simply fade to normal and she will become yet another Heartless, a strong one, but still a mindless abomination, mere cannon fodder for those fools in The Realms of Light.
"No," said Columbina as she walked up to the still catatonic Bethany, "I have not labored for so long to simply end up with another Heartless drone. I seek a true villainess whom shall traverse The Realms of Light and leave death, destruction and despair in her wake."
"An ambitious goal," said Regina, "but there's still the matter of Sora and his companions."
"When Bethany has completed her metamorphosis," said Columbina, "not even Sora and all of his fellow Keyblade Wielders combined will be able to stop her."
"Which is what you intended from the beginning," said an intrigued Young Xehanort, "you want Bethany to be the one to destroy Sora and his friends."
"And I'll be there to enjoy ever second of their agonizing defeat," said a wickedly smiling Columbina.
"But how will you do it?" Regina asked, "how will you turn this pathetic little girl into such an incredible pillar of darkness?"
"And what's with your need for The Sampo?" Sephiroth asked.
"That's my dirty little secret," said Columbina, "as to how Bethany shall ascend to her dark destiny, I shall require some assistance for that matter."
At that a portal opened and from it emerged two individuals. The first was a man in his mid 40's with pale brown eyes behind horn-rimmed glasses with slightly scratched lenses, graying brown hair and wearing a frayed and patched blue uniform with black gloves. With him was The Lord of Illusions, his color-changing suit and cloak having desert colors.
"What the…?!" exclaimed Dio Brando as he pointed at The Lord of Illusions standing with the newcomer, then at the one standing next Columbina, "how'd you do that!?"
"Do you really have to ask?" both Lords of Illusions asked.
"He can create copies of himself," said an intrigued Sepiroth, "I knew he was a trickster, but doppelgangers is something else."
"Yes, Leslie's ability to be in many places at once has made him indispensable," said Columbina, "as we speak, two of his copies are searing for the remaining missing powers. I expect the final two to be in my possession while Sora's still searching for the third."
"And I'll go get the third soon enough," said the Lord of Illusions that brought in Bethany, "I just want to see how this next part plays out."
"In the meantime," said the Lord of Illusions in desert colors, "allow me to introduce Davis Blackwood, formerly of Central."
"Hello," said Davis Blackwood in a bored tone as he looked at the assembled villains.
"You're a State Alchemist," said Young Xehanort, "from the same world as Aiden Mackenzie."
"I was a State Alchemist," said Davis Blackwood dryly, "until my peers got wind of my experiments in human transmutation. I was lucky enough to escape with my life and go into exile in the desert."
"Which is where I found him," said Leslie number 2, "believe me, when a man wishes to get lost in the desert, he stays lost."
"But you found him," said Regina. She then looked at Columbina, "and brought him here. Why?"
"All in good time, my friend," said Columbina, "all in good time."
Just then another portal opened and from it emerged a third Lord of Illusions, this one wearing a red and black business suit and tie and a black bowler hat. With him was a woman wearing red and black robes and carrying a black staff with purple symbols. She had long, dark blond hair tied in a braid and a rather beautiful face disturbingly offset by a pair of multifaceted eyes.
"Thank wickedness we're not the last ones to the party," said Leslie number 3, "you won't believe how much of a pain in the ass dealing with The Council of Nine was."
"And yet here we are, as I promised we would," said the woman with the insect-like eyes.
"You're a Raztonian," said an intrigued Insano.
"I am," said the woman, "Halenio'ketalc, 8th Level Master Mage of the Raztonian Empire, at your service."
"You are welcome to our humble abode," said Young Xehanort.
"But what is your purpose here?" Regina asked.
"Patience, my friend," said Columbina, "there is one more factor to take into account before Bethany's metamorphoses can begin."
Just then a third portal opened and from it emerged another Lord of Illusions, this one wearing a color-changing Hawaiian shirt and Bermuda shorts with a straw hat, sunglasses and sandals.
"Sorry I'm late, everyone," said Leslie number 4 in an exasperated tone, "you won't believe what I had to do to convince this jackass to come."
"What jackass?" Dio Brando asked, "it's just you."
"What?" Leslie number 34 asked as he looked around, "oh come on! Where is he!?"
It was then that the lights blinked out, plunging the room into pitch blackness.
"Now what?!" Regina asked irately.
It was then that a loud drum roll sounded, followed by a gong ring that accompanied a burst of dark green light as a tall man wearing outlandish wizards robes and hat appeared hovering in midair in the room. He had long black hair, orange eyes and wore gold and gem-encrusted rings on his fingers.
"Greetings and salutations, fellow disciples of the dark!" said the newcomer in an overly dramatic manner, "you have the honor and privilege to be in the presence of the greatest master of the black arts in the history of magic itself! Zotarius: The Despoiler!"
"Who?" a confused Lady Tremaine asked.
"I…huh?" the newcomer asked as the lights returned to normal in the room and he lowered himself to the floor, "surely you must know who I am. Zotarius: The Despoiler! Summoner of a thousand demons! Ravager of ten thousand worlds! Shatterer of a hundred thousand hearts! Surely you have heard of me, no?"
"Sorry, doesn't ring a bell," said Gaston.
"Where'd you dig up this oddball?" Dio Brando asked Leslie number 3.
"Albuquerque, New Mexico," said Leslie number 3, "on Earth C-443."
"And you expect me to work with this showboating idiot?" Davis Blackwood asked, "I've got better things to do with my time."
"You're no price yourself, cyborg!" snapped Halenio'ketalc.
"What cyborg?" Lady Tremaine asked. But then a thundering reverb sounded through the air as Zotarius hovered in front of Davis Blackwood.
"Foolish mortal!" snapped Zotarius, "never insult a Warlock! It may be the last thing you ever do!"
"If you're a warlock then I'm an acrobat," said Davis Blackwood as he straightened his glasses.
"He's no practitioner of the black arts," said Halenio'ketalc as she glared at Zotarius, "he's a cheep purveyor of parlor tricks!"
"And you are a miserable excuse for an evolved insect!" said Zotarius, "I could crush you with a simple gravity spell!"
"For that I shall tear out your soul and offer it to Vykkao'shatl'uq!" shouted Halenio'ketalc.
"I'll transmutation you both into gelatinous cubes!" snapped Davis Blackwood.
"Gentlemen and lady, please!" shouted the original Lord of Illusions as his copies restrained the three dark arts users, "I did not dispatch my doppelgangers to bring you here, all so that you can tear yourselves to pieces over a simple cultural misunderstanding."
"But by all means, continue," said Sephiroth, "it can get rather tedious here at times."
"Yes, one can only stand looking at the Interocitor for so long without further entertainment," said Lady Tremaine as her burned hand regenerated.
"There will be no dissidence among you three," said Columbina to Halenio'ketalc, Zotarius and Davis Blackwood, "or I shall send you back to the hellholes you came from without the rewards promised."
"And just what did you promise them?" Regina asked suspiciously.
"Why, the key to their desires," said Columbina, "for Mr. Blackwood, he shall have fresh test subjects for his human transmutation and chimera experiments."
"The results of which I shall take back to those fools in Central and prove to them all that I was right!" said Davis Blackwood as he raised his right fist in triumph, the sleeve of his coat falling down to expose a metal forearm.
"So, you are a cyborg," said Young Xehanort, "fascinating."
"An unfortunate side effect of an interrupted experiment," said Davis Blackwood as he pushed the sleeve up on his arm, revealing that that it was metal all the way to his shoulder, "my former colleagues prevented me from finishing a complex and dangerous transmutation. There was an explosion. Many were killed and I was lucky to escape with my life, but my body would never be the same.
"After I received my Automail, I was hauled in front of a board of inquiry and charged with not only unethical experiments, but also reckless endangerment of my fellow State Alchemists. I tried to argue that there would have been no accident if I hadn't been interrupted, that my work was necessary to advance the fields of Alchemy.
"Yet my fate was already sealed. What should have been a fair and impartial hearing was nothing less than a kangaroo court. I was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to life behind bars. What else could I do but escape and vow revenge on the fools who ruined my work?
"Yet I was hunted down by my former colleagues, including one rather annoying alchemist with a rather annoying ability. They hauled me back to Central for another trial and this time I was sentenced to life in solitary confinement. Yet I once again escaped and went into the desert, where I would have remained in hiding for the rest of my days, had it not been for Leslie."
"What an interesting back-story," said Halenio'ketalc dryly.
"What's yours, sister?" Dio Brando asked.
"I am not your sister!" snapped Halenio'ketalc as she aimed her staff at Dio Brando and hit him with a full body bind that left the homicidal Stand User as stiff as a board. She then glared at the other villains, "I don't appreciate being called anything but my proper name or title."
"Okay, we get it," said Gaston as he raised his hands in a placating manner, "no nicknames or terms of endearment."
"See that you don't," said Halenio'ketalc, "as for what I get out of this arrangement, what all Raztonians want; life energy and enough of it to restore our full strength, upon which we shall emerge from our exile and feast upon the worlds of the multi-verse!"
"Just so long as your people stay away from The Realms of Light," said Regina, "this is our territory."
"I want as little to do with this realm and its wretched Keyblade Wielders," said Halenio'ketalc, "The Council of Nine may wish to conquer this place, but my influence among them is growing. In time I shall convince them seek greener pastures upon our release."
"Which brings us to you, Zotarius," said Young Xehanort, "what is it that you seek that Columbina promises to grant?"
"Vengeance!" snapped Zotarius, "vengeance upon my fellow warlocks and witches whom banished me from my native realm!"
"What'd you do to make them kick you out?" Gaston asked.
"I'll bet they were so offended by your overacting that they couldn't wait to get rid of you," said Lady Tremaine.
"I did nothing short of try to take over my native realm," said Zotarius, "and I would have gotten away with it, if it weren't for my college roommates whom betrayed me, especially that one and his wretched family. Oh, they'll pay, they'll all pay!"
"And they will pay," said Columbina as she walked up to Zotarius, then looked at Davis Blackwood, "just as the ones who ruined your work shall suffer. As for you, Halenio'ketalc, you and your people shall receive an entire world full of life energy, enough to significantly shorten your people's exile."
"Then what are we waiting for?" the Raztonian sorceress asked, "where do we start?"
"With a specific transmutation circle," said Columbina as she summoned a scroll and handed it to Davis Blackwood.
"This is unlike anything I've ever seen," said the renegade alchemist as he read the scroll, "in fact, I doubt anyone on my world has seen this level of alchemy."
"You can do it, right?" Gaston asked.
"Of course I can do it," said Davis Blackwood in an insulted tone, "I just need some space to work, so get out of my way, all of you!"
"I suggest we do as he asks," said Young Xehanort as he and the others backed away, leaving Davis Blackwood several square meters of empty floor space.
"Thank you," said Davis Blackwood dryly as he pulled out a box of chalk sticks, knelt down and began drawing.
"Now that our alchemist friend has started," said Columbina as she looked at Zotarius, Halenio'ketalc and Regina, "the next step shall involve you three."
"Why me?" Regina asked suspiciously, "what do you need me for?"
"I need three masters of the dark arts to initiate the metamorphosis," said Columbina as she summoned three scrolls and handed one to Regina, one to Zotarius and one to Halenio'ketalc, "I would have asked Maleficent to participate and there was a high probability she would have said 'yes,' but someone had to accelerate their feud with her and force her to run away!"
"My grievance with Maleficent is none of your business," said Regina as she glared at Columbina, "and just what would you have offered Maleficent to partake in your little ritual?"
"And what are you offering her?" Sephiroth asked.
"Nothing," said Columbina.
"Nothing," repeated Regina, "a bold statement. You actually expect me to help you with the promise of nothing in return?"
"You didn't let me finish," said Columbina, "I said nothing, but meant nothing physical. What I am offering is a promise, a guarantee that, if the metamorphosis is a success, then I swear by all the forces of darkness and beyond, that you shall have Snow White's heart of a silver platter. Oh, excuse me, you wanted her heart in a box."
"Why did you want Snow White's heart in a box?" Dio Brando asked as the full body bind wore off and he stood up.
"So I could look at it," said Regina in a distant, thoughtful tone, as if her wicked mind was in full motion.
"Yes, you still wish her dead," said Columbina in an insinuating manner, "despite all your talk of moving on to other ambitions, despite your gracious offer of a truce to the Realms of Light, you are still a spiteful, vain woman brimming with hatred for the little girl who dared usurp your rightful title of Fairest Of Them All."
"What about me?!" Lady Tremaine asked irately, "I still hate Cinderella!"
"And I hate Belle!" said Gaston.
"You'll all get yours in the fullness of time," said Columbina, "but first thing's first," she looked at Regina, "so, do we have a deal?" she then held out her hand.
"Just one more thing," said Regina, "if this works and you have your Princess of Dark, and if she does somehow manage to defeat Sora and his companions and somehow conquer the Realms of Light, I want to see the face behind the mask. If this works, you will take off that mask and reveal yourself unto everyone present in this room."
"I'll put it in writing if you wish," said Young Xehanort as he brought out a roll of parchment, a quill and a bottle of ink.
"That won't be necessary," said Columbina, "a handshake between civilized women will suffice," she looked at Regina, "yes, if the plan succeeds in all respects, I will reveal myself unto you all."
"Then we have a deal," said Regina as she shook Columbina's hand.
"Yes, that's all well and done," said a mildly impatient Zotarius, "can we begin already?"
"I'm not done yet!" said Davis Blackwood as he drew on the floor, "I'm not even halfway done."
"Then you can use the time to study your role in the ritual," said Columbina as she glared at Zotarius, "just as the other two members of this triad should."
"I've already memorized it," said Halenio'ketalc as she tossed her scroll over her shoulder, then summoned a wine flask and drank a long gulp from it.
"Should you be drinking while on the job?" Gaston asked.
"I always drink before a complicated bit of magic," said Halenio'ketalc, "and it wasn't alcohol, my kind do not drink alcohol."
"Then what was it?" Regina asked as she read her scroll.
"Distilled life energy," said Halenio'ketalc, "long ago my people would bite into our victims and extract the life energy in a vampyric manner, but we've become far too civilized for such crude and rather messy methods." She then took another swig from the flask.
"Where's the fun if you don't get a little dirty in the process?" Dio Brando asked.
"Raztonians are devourers, not barbarians," said Halenio'ketalc, "there's a difference." She then took another swig, then let out a loud belch, upon which she blushed with embarrassment.
"I'm sure there is," said a smugly smiling Davis Blackwood as he stood up from a complex and intricate transmutation circle, "I've finished. Now what?"
"Now the fun begins," said the original Lord of Illusions as one of his doppelgangers carried the still catatonic Bethany into the middle of the circle.
"Each of you should stand exactly 120 degrees apart on the circle," said Columbina. At that Regina, Zotarius and Halenio'ketalc did so, taking equidistant positions around Bethany.
"Mr. Blackwood," said Columbina, "activate the circle, if you please."
At that Davis Blackwood bent down, touching the edge of the chalk drawing with his fingertips. The circle glowed with a bright blue light.
"Begin the ritual! Now!" exclaimed Columbina. At that the three dark magic users began chanting in an alien language.
"What is this?" Lady Tremaine asked, "What are they saying?"
"If you understood half of the words involved," said The Lord of Illusions, "you'd have nightmares for eternity."
After approximately five minutes of chanting, the three dark magic users stopped and stood back. The light of the transmutation circle changed from blue to dark purple, almost black. Bethany was engulfed by this light and a crackling of energy could be heard.
When the light faded, Bethany was gone and a large, dark purple cocoon-like object stood in the center of the transmutation circle.
"The metamorphosis has begun!" said Columbina triumphantly.
"Just what did you do to that poor child?" Young Xehanort asked.
"Is she in that thing?" Gaston asked as he and Lady Tremaine walked up to the cocoon, the later reaching out and touching the object.
"It feels like crystal," said Lady Tremaine, "yet it is warm."
A soft purple glow could then be seen within the cocoon, a light that pulsed with a slow, steady rhythm, accompanied by a equally pulsing sound that resembled a heartbeat.
"How long will she be in that thing?" Young Xehanort asked.
"As long as it takes," said The Lord of Illusions.
"Hey, where'd your copies go?" Dio Brando asked.
"My doppelgangers have their new assignments," said The Lord of Illusions, "and so do I. Until we meet again, my interesting friends!" he then gave an elaborate and flourishing bow and exited via portal.
"He has the right idea," said Davis Blackwood. He then looked at Columbina, "I did what you asked, now you'll keep your end of the bargain!"
"Where is the means for my vengeance!?" Zotarius demanded.
"And where is this world my people can feast upon?" Halenio'ketalc asked.
At that Columbina summoned a large manila folder filled with documents and handed it to Davis Blackwood, "I believe everything you three asked for is in this."
"Just what is your endgame?" Regina asked as Davis Blackwood, Zotarius and Halenio'ketalc read the file, "what is your real motive."
"If you have to ask," said Columbina in a playful manner, "then you truly do not deserve to know. Just be content that you shall soon have Snow White's heart where you can look at it to your own hearts' satisfaction."
"Wow!" said Davis Blackwood as he read the documents, "this is…this is…"
"Incredible!" said an amazed Zotarius, "what a complex and Machiavellian stratagem!"
"It all fits together," said an astonished Halenio'ketalc, "each individual component would hardly seem related to the rest, but when put together…brilliant, simply brilliant."
"You two realize," said Davis Blackwood, "that if any of us is to have a chance of making this work, then we three must work together, or we might as well not try at all."
"Yes, an alliance does seem essential," said Zotarius.
"Why not?" Halenio'ketalc asked, "stranger things have happened." With that she put out her left hand, at which Zotarius placed his hand atop hers, then Davis Blackwood placed his atop Zotarius, "here's to the beginning of an alliance of evil, a black triskelion to achieve our goals."
"I like that," said Davis Blackwood, "The Black Triskelion. It simply sings of malevolence."
"The Black Triskelion," said Zotarius, "so let it be."
"Now that we have a name to our little conclave," said Halenio'ketalc, "I suggest we set out to accomplish our goals. There's a lot of work ahead for the three of us."
"And the sooner we get started," said Davis Blackwood, "the sooner we shall all have what we want."
"Then may I suggest we start with what I need?" Zotarius asked, "if we are too succeed, then I must recover a few essential items I left in my native realm."
"After that we'll have to stop back at my hideout in the desert," said Davis Blackwood, "I have a few rare alchemy texts that may prove useful."
"And I shall have to speak with The Council of Nine for additional mages and military support," said Halenio'ketalc, "and we have other realms to visit and items to acquire, but to the native land of Zotarius first."
At that Zotarius summoned a large wooden door complete with a doorframe and a crystal doorknob, "this way if you will." He walked up to the door and opened it, revealing a strange blackness, almost as if the inside of a large closet.
"What kind of portal spell is this?" a suspicious Halenio'ketalc as she and Davis Blackwood looked into the shadowy inside of the doorway.
"The kind my kind uses," said Zotarius, "are you coming or not?"
"I'm not one to be called a coward," said Davis Blackwood.
"Neither am I," said Halenio'ketalc. With that they both walked into the shadowy doorway, with Zotarius right behind and closing the door. There was a flash of lightning from the cracks in the doorway and a crash of thunder, then the doorway vanished.
"What a dramatic exit," said Lady Tremaine sarcastically.
"They served their purpose," said Columbina, "and may yet serve further."
"Okay," said Dio Brando, "so now what?"
"Now?" Columbina asked as she looked at the assembled villains, "now we search out Sora and his companions. It will be some time before Bethany completes her metamorphoses, so until then, it's business as usual." She then looked at The Lord of Illusions, "isn't that right, Leslie?"
"Yep," said The Lord of Illusions as he leaned against one of the chairs in a nonchalant manner, "make life as miserable as possible for the Keyblade Brats."
"That's what we've been trying to do," said in irate Regina, "and have been doing an adequate job even before you stuck your face into our business!"
"But it wasn't enough," said Columbina, "not nearly enough. But with my help, Sora will regret ever picking up his Keyblade in the first place. He and his companions, they thought they experienced true horror on Banoi. Trust me, my fellow followers of the dark, our foes know not true suffering, yet."
…Radiant Garden…
"Something's wrong," said King Mickey as he paced back and forth on one of the remaining intact balconies of the castle, looking over the massive reconstruction throughout the city below. A recently arrived team of New Zumakali engineers and construction workers was warmly welcomed by the local population and the rebuilding of Radiant Garden had commenced once again.
"What is it now?" Quistis asked as she, Leon, Yuffie, Queen Minnie, Donald and Goofy, stood nearby.
"Got a pencil?" Yuffie asked, "at the rate things are going wrong, we'll have to start a list."
"I've already got a list," said Leon.
"I don't know what's wrong," said King Mickey as he kept pacing, "but every fiber of my being tells me that something has happened, something terrible."
"Gwarsh," said Goofy, "it must be something awful to make The King that unsteady."
"That's 'upset,' ya big palooka!" said an annoyed Donald.
"Oh, Mickey," said a worried Queen Minnie.
At that point a brown-feathered hawk flew onto the balcony ledge and morphed into Lara Dunbar, "thought you all should know that Snow White's made a full recovery."
"That's wonderful," said Queen Minnie, "but what of Cinderella, Belle and Jasmine?"
"They're still getting weaker," said Lara, "Sora and the others had better hurry and find the last three powers soon. At this rate, the Princesses could be in serious trouble, unless…"
"Unless what?" Quistis asked.
"Unless, as my grandmother said, 'extreme measures are taken,'" said Lara.
"What kind of extreme measures?" King Mickey asked, "what did Sylvia say?"
"The same thing she's talking about with Merlin, Yen Sid and Professor Von Drake," said Lara, "if Sora and the others take much longer with their search, we may have to put Cinderella and the others in suspended animation."
"You mean like an enchanted sleep?" Yuffie asked.
"More or less," said Lara, "but we won't need a prince to kiss and wake them up, we hope. But we're hoping that it won't come to that."
"I hope so too," said The King as he looked up at the stars, "guys, that terrible feeling I've been having, it may have something to do with Sora and the others."
"Could they be in trouble?" The Queen asked.
"Ah, they're always in trouble," said Donald.
"But they always get out in the end," said Goofy.
"This is different," said King Mickey, "it's a kind of trouble that'll affect us all." He shook his head about as if trying to clear it, "I don't know, maybe I'm just imagining things."
"Or maybe you've been neglecting mealtimes again," said an annoyed Queen Minnie, "you've missed breakfast and lunch today."
"I don't have time to sit down and eat with everyone else," said King Mickey, "there's just way too much to do." He then pulled out a granola bar from his pocket.
"Oh, no you don't!" said Queen Minnie, "there's no way you're missing supper! You're coming with me to the kitchen this instant, Mickey Mouse! You're going to sit down and have a square meal if I have to stuff it down your throat, and you'll like it too!" At that she grabbed King Mickey by the wrists and dragged him back inside, much to his verbal protest.
"Somebody's sleeping in the doghouse tonight," teased Yuffie.
"Gwarsh, you think Pluto's got enough room in his house?" Goofy asked, at which everyone laughed sans Donald, whom sighed with annoyance.
Just then Nessie ran onto the balcony with enough velocity to drag a massive blast of displaced air behind her, nearly knocking everyone off their feet.
"Good grief, Nessie!" said Yuffie as she and the others recovered their balance.
"Sorry, everyone," said Nessie, "but this couldn't wait, not even a millisecond. I just got a call from Aunt Alice. Something terrible has happened and it's going to tear Sora and the others apart on the inside when they find out about it."
"What's this now?" Leon asked.
"What happened that's gonna hurt Sora and the others so bad?" Quistis asked.
"Uh…Aunt Alice wasn't so clear about that part," said Nessie, "but a decision has been made, one that could destroy not only Sora, but all of us."
"Remind me to never take The King's instincts for granted again," said Yuffie in a subdued tone as Leon and the others looked equally disturbed.