Chapter 1: The Gathering Darkness
Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, Disney, Square Enix, or any of their properties, characters, or logos. This story is made solely for fun.
Foreword: This story is my first Kingdom Hearts based fan fiction, so I hope you all enjoy it. It follows the canon story up to Dream Drop Distance. I intend to introduce a lot of worlds from other Square Enix properties and more recent Disney Movies. You'll also see some development in the relationships and friendships between the characters, most notably Sora and Kairi. If you're into these sort of things, please stay tuned.
Our Story Begins...
It was another beautiful day at Disney Castle, and Queen Minnie Mouse was busy attending to her duties in the absence of her husband. It had been terrifying being held hostage by the likes of Maleficent and Pete, but even more pressing was the news she received from Donald and Goofy about their encounter in the World That Never Was. Now that Mickey was once again off saving the universe, all she could do was prepare and hold down the fort until the others returned.
The mouse queen collapsed into a chair in the castle library and clutched a large book to her chest. "Oh, Mickey..." she exclaimed with a note of sorrow, wondering to herself why they had to be separated so soon after his return.
Minnie cracked open the album and gazed at the photographs within, some containing people and places that she had not seen in quite some time. The oldest picture in the set was black and white and depicted her future husband standing at the docks beside Pete's old steamboat. As she flipped through the pages, her eyes gravitated towards more recent moments, including a group photo of the gang dressed in casual clothing, having a barbeque outside Goofy's house in Spoonerville five years ago. Life was so much simpler before they were forced to take on royal duties, but once and a while the old gang would sit down and have fun, just like in the early days of Disney Castle.
"Your highness!" a familiar voice reached her ears, pulling her out of her reverie.
She looked up to see Goofy's son Max, a dark-furred, anthropomorphic dog like his father. While the two shared an obvious family resemblance, Max was slightly shorter, had longer spiky hair, and a noticeably shorter snout. Like his more well-known father, the college-age Goof also wore baggy pants along with the Disney Castle soldier uniform. A pair of large square teeth protruded from beneath his jaw line, but the younger guard's expression was typically more sharp and focused than his perpetually cheerful dad, a trait he had developed to differentiate himself from his family's rather "goofy" reputation.
Once she had finished placing the album back onto the shelf, Minnie welcomed the young man. "You needn't be so formal with me when it's just the two of us. After all, your father and my Mickey have been friends since long before you were born."
"Well I am filling in for my dad while he's helping the king. It's an honor that you guys let me take the job in his absence." he hoisted a spear over his shoulder with one hand, saluting with the other. "I'm still sorry about letting those two evil dudes in the castle so easily. Once they captured you, the rest of us started panicking."
"We were all caught by surprise, and there was nothing you could have done with everyone barricaded in the library. Even Sora and the others barely managed to deal with Maleficent and her cronies, so I can't say we would've stood much of a chance." she added kindly. "Let's let bygones be bygones, and focus on doing our best in the future. You got that, Max?"
"Of course, your highness!" he stood up a little straighter, causing the female mouse to frown and tap her foot in disapproval. "I mean, Queen Minnie!" he added quickly, earning a cheerful smile from Disney Castle's matriarch.
Minnie Mouse pushed off of her chair in the corner of the room, landing on the hard stone floor of the castle with a grace befitting her position. After adjusting the edges of her regal dress, the female monarch continued onwards to the double doors, a pair of living brooms pushing them open for her to proceed down the hallway. Despite the darkness having pierced Disney Castle's defenses in recent times, the grand structure looked as magnificent as ever. The hallowed halls of this old world had existed before her time, and would not doubt remain long after they were gone. Only Mickey and a select few others were old enough to remember when it was built.
The young goof followed his queen a few paces behind, but she chastised him once more. "As I just finished saying before, you need not behave so formally." she giggled in response to his stiff countenance. "For someone who's supposed to be Goofy's son, you sure don't act much like it."
"I may look like my dad, but I was never a big fan of his antics." he began awkwardly.
"Why ever not? He's always been a very steadfast and loyal friend to everyone around him. You won't find a more dedicated soldier or a nicer person, no matter how many worlds you visit. The king said this himself, and he's been all around this big wide universe of ours."
Max shrugged her off. "Nah, that's not really what I was talking about." he began nervously, earning a glance from the female mouse. "My dad's a really great guy, but he has a tendency to embarrass me in front of the guys... If you know what I mean?"
"Oh, that's just Goofy for you! He always puts his full effort into everything he does, so it's only natural he takes his role as a parent a little too seriously."
"I just wish he'd dote on someone else for a change. I'm in college and he still likes to think of me as the same kid that used to believe in Santa Claus. Can you believe he still does!? It's like common sense completely escape him sometimes."
Minnie let out a high-pitched giggle at this last part, knowing full well that the big-bellied toy maker was real. "He certainly does have the heart of a child, but if he coddles you too much, it only means he cares. Being such a big-hearted fella, he probably doesn't know how else to express it."
The younger toon let out a sigh. "I know that. He's just a little bit too..."
"Goofy?" the queen finished with a knowing smile. She twirled around face him, looking upwards due to her notably shorter stature. "Think of it this way: He's hasn't always been able to spend time with you because of his royal duties. I'll bet that he realizes this too, and gets carried away whenever he does get to see you."
Max found himself agreeing, even if the outcome wasn't ideal for himself. His father hadn't really been around in a long time, and he did miss him despite the two having drifted apart over the years. "Speaking of my dad, I never did get to meet those Keyblade Wielders that he's always talking about. They sound pretty awesome!"
"I'm sure you'll meet them some day, although due to recent events, it may not be under the best of circumstances."
"Tell me about it..." he ran a gloved hand through his messy hair, looking uneasy at the thought.
Before either of them could speak again, the duo was interrupted by the rapid shuffle of hurried footsteps as Daisy emerged from the nearby stairwell. While she wore her usual formal garb consisting of a dress and tiara, the female duck was noticeably ragged, her clothes wrinkled and her headpiece slightly astray. It was obvious from her heavy breathing and exhausted appearance that she had just ran a great distance, the trait becoming more noticeable as she broke down into a series of heavy pants.
"Oh dear, it looks like you've been overdoing it again." the female mouse placed a hand to her mouth and let out a light-hearted chortle.
Daisy took a second to catch her breath before looking up at the queen, glancing at her and the captain with a sense of urgency that ceased her giggles "I'm glad I found you two..." she blurted out, her large eyes widening in panic. "The Tome of Oblivion is missing!"
Minnie Mouse placed her hands on her hips. "Honestly, you're still doing this? This isn't time for your childish jokes, Daisy."
"This isn't a joke!" The female duck shook her roughly, surprising her old friend, who backed away looking unnerved by the panicked gesture. "I was inspecting the King's private study while doing the rounds earlier, and the book was missing from its shelf!"
The queen leaned in, her own eyes displaying the same sense of worry. "You're serious, now!?"
Max Goof stepped forward and raised his hand nervously, causing both women to look in his direction. "Excuse me..." he began timidly. "I don't mean to be rude, but would someone care to tell me what's going on? What this thing you guys keep talking about?"
"It's really a long story, both figuratively and literally speaking. However, it may be cause for concern if the object is truly missing from my husband's private quarters."
"We don't have time for this, right now. Just follow me!" Daisy snapped in an anxious yet demanding tone, her pace quickening as they proceeded down the castle halls.
The trio ascended several flights of stairs in an attempt to reach the castle's main tower more quickly, the journey taking some time due to the fact that they were moving on up while having started outside the throne room on the structure's ground level. Max hurried to keep up with the two ladies, who despite being small and wearing elegant dresses, were surprisingly light on their feet. The substitute guard captain was often surprised him that his father's generation was so spry, despite being much older than they appeared, but at the moment he was more curious as to why they seemed so worried about something as trivial as a missing text.
They reached King Mickey's room several minutes later, a single guard having stood watch in their absence. He was a fat toon noticeably taller than Goofy, his rotund body shape covered by a thin chest plate bearing the Disney Castle logo. He also wore a knight's helmet on his large head, concealing his face from view. Daisy swept past the sentry with barely a backwards glance, closely followed by the queen herself. Max stopped midway through the door and smiled back at the portly spear holder.
"Hey PJ, they got you doing the grunt work too?" he greeted his best friend, casually flipping op the helmet visor to reveal a round face and pointy cat ears underneath.
"Heck if I know, buddy. I ran into little Miss Duck in the corridor one floor down, and she told me to make sure no one else came through here until she got back."
The two buddies bumped fists before locking their arms. "How's it hanging, pal?"
"Same as always... Just tryin' to live down my dad's reputation by helping out the good guys, if ya know what I mean?" he suddenly looked ashamed by the thought. "I heard he came barging in here a few times recently. Must've really stunk for the rest of you, since he brought that evil, dragon lady with him."
Max couldn't help but notice how his friend's tone dropped, although he tried not to say anything. PJ preferred to be referred to as such because he was named after his father Pete, an unfortunate circumstance considering the latter was one of their world's biggest disgraces since he was condemned by the royal family of Disney Castle. The younger Pete was pleasant, soft-spoken, and well-mannered, the exact opposite of his scheming and overbearing father. It was a little odd knowing that the two were related, but at the very least, it didn't seem like evil was a genetic thing even in that family.
While there was a family resemblance similar to that of Max and Goofy, it had often caused problems for poor PJ. "It's gotta be tough having Pete for a dad."
"Say no more, man." the tubby guard shrugged casually. "My mom says he tried to stop being evil after they got married, so maybe there's some good in the old man after all."
"Well at least he's not a complete embarrassment like my dad used to be." Max joked, only to be interrupted by the sound of the door bolting shut behind them.
The two boys exchanged looks of concern as they heard fait whispers coming from the king's study, but neither were able to make anything out. In the room beyond, Minnie found herself collapsing into a chair, her sad expression speaking volumes. Daisy paced around the room with an anxious twitch, her normally carefree attitude having evaporated in the course of the last twenty minutes. The queen had been unwilling to believe that the book was missing at first glance, yet a quick inspection of the room quickly made her realize how severe the situation really was. She knew that the knowledge contained in the lost text was something that very few people were allowed to possess, but never imagined that someone would try to take it.
After exhaling deeply, the female duck let out a low sigh. "Well, I don't suppose whoever took it can do any harm." she tried to rationalize, not quite believing her own words.
"I don't know." Minnie stammered with a shake of her head, looking distraught as ever. "Mickey told me that the secrets kept in that book could easily shake the foundation of this world if our people were to discover the truth."
"The secret history of our world was supposed to remain a secret, but the knowledge alone won't be enough to cause any physical harm to anyone, right?"
Disney Castle's Queen gestured for her friend to take the opposite side of her husband's desk. "I personally believe that book could be harmful in the wrong hands, but it's more disconcerting that anyone could have been aware of the ancient events depicted in that book, let alone know that we possess the only written record of them."
Daisy had never read it herself, but she did know enough to catch the reference. "You might be right." she stroked her lower beak nervously, a look of realization coming to her moments later. "Wait a minute... There is someone left other than the king who remembers the ancient times."
The female mouse looked up with disbelief. "You mean Horace, Clara Cluck, and Clarabelle? I doubt any of them would have betrayed us. They are our friends, after all."
"No, not them! I was talking about that rotten, no-good Pete! That oversized thug's been around even longer than the king."
"You're right!" Minnie jumped to her feet with a look of panic, the pieces slowly falling back into place in her mind. She stamped her foot on the floor and inwardly cursed herself. "Oh dear, why didn't I realize this sooner?"
The royal duck agreed. "He and Maleficent were holding you hostage while the rest of us were dealing with the swarm of Heartless she summoned. I'll bet that attack was just a distraction to draw our attention while someone else stole the book for them?"
"She did leave pretty quickly once Lea arrived through the Corridors of Darkness. I suppose there was no use fighting once she accomplished her goals." she looked up with great concern. "We need to warn the king about this, immediately!"
Daisy looked equally concerned, but less certain about their course of action. "The problem is that we don't even know if Maleficent was the one who stole it, nor do we know what she plans on doing. The book itself has no power to speak of. I mean, our world's history won't just hand her to the key to universal domination. Maybe I overreacted earlier?"
"While I won't entirely disagree with your claims, Mickey told me long ago that there was more to that book than meets the eye. Perhaps hidden in its pages was an even greater secret that even I was never able to discover for myself." she hesitated for a moment before clenching her gloved hands tightly. "He told me to defend it with my life, and now it's gone missing."
The female duck raised her hands. "Whoa, let's not jump the gun!" she warned. "Even if what you're saying is true, there's no guarantee that Pete will be able to decode the hidden message for himself. I mean, that overweight cat's always been a little slow."
"If we know Maleficent, she's probably figured it out by now." the queen lamented.
The room fell silent for several minutes, but after wracking her mind for other solutions, Minnie realized that she had no other way of knowing what they were dealing with unless they contacted her husband. She swept past her friend and opened the cabinet, taking out what appeared to be a blue crystal blue. Daisy watched with interest as her friend returned to the desk, placing the orb atop a niche in the center that she assumed was made to accommodate it. The female mouse didn't bother to sit back down, instead reaching her hand into a pot of what appeared to be glitter.
She took a handful and gently began sprinkling it onto the surface of the talisman with her stubby fingers, causing the ball to glow brilliantly before revealing the familiar sight of her husband's face. The image of the king looked around curiously as if he knew he was being watched, before directing his gaze directly at Minnie as if he knew exactly where she was. He smiled pleasantly and waved before narrowing his gaze, knowing immediately that they wouldn't have contacted him unless something serious was going on.
In a world far away, Mickey looked into a strange void that had appeared next to him, seeing the image of her wife's lovely face. "I got a strange feeling ya didn't call just cause you missed me." the king commented, his smile slowly fading away.
"I'm so sorry, dear. Is this a bad time?" she questioned in an apologetic tone.
Her husband shook his head. "Nope, I was just sittin' down for lunch." he raised his right hand, showing her a sandwich.
While relieved that he wasn't in danger, she couldn't help but feel bad at interrupting him. "Good, because there's something I really need to talk to you about... It's about a certain book."
As she spoke these words, Mickey dropped his food, working quickly to regain his composure. "Well, it looks like we do have quite a bit to discuss then."
Meanwhile...
Back at Yen Sid's tower, the remaining Keyblade users continued their diligent training under the watchful eye of their newest master. Riku sat on the steps leading up to the wizard's home with Sora seated next to him, the two watching with interest as Kairi fought an uphill battle with the fiery haired Lea. While the former Organization XIII member was also new in the practice of wielding the legendary weapon, the fighting skills he had obtained during his time as a nobody were fearsome as ever, something that they all knew from experience. His swordplay was less refined than the more experienced members of their ranks, but his mastery over fire magic more than made up for it.
Kairi leapt to the side to avoid a blast of fire, looking up in time to catch an attack as the black-coated redhead charged her directly. She winced slightly as her Destiny's Embrace locked with Lea's fire-based blade, but due to his superior physical strength, he easily pushed her backwards, causing her to land with a crash on the ground. Lea pointed the end of his Keyblade towards her face with a gentle shake of his head, prompting Sora to bolt into a standing position. He instinctively positioned his hands to summon his own weapon, but was stopped by Riku.
"I guess that makes twelve victories for me, and zip for the princess." the former nobody counted, looking rather bored with the proceedings.
The Princess of Heart stood up, wiping to dirt off her outfit with a frown. "It's true I haven't been doing this for too long, but maybe it wasn't realistic to hope I'd be a natural."
Sora clapped a hand on her shoulder and grinned widely. "I'd say you did pretty well for a beginner. Especially considering how many years Axel spent fighting for the Organization. He could probably take us on without a Keyblade."
"For the last time, my name's Lea..." the redhead groaned in response to the familiar mistake.
"Sorry man." the spiky-haired boy apologized, casually placing his hands behind his head and leaning back slightly. "If I'm not mistaken, you were Axel a lot longer than you were Lea."
"Not quite, but sometimes it feels that way." the dark-clad man replied, his eyes wandering towards the starry skies above. Granted his life had been a lot more eventful as a nobody than as a human, but it had come with a fair share of loss as well. After a moment, he glanced back at the female of their group and shrugged. "Sora's right, though. You're still a novice fighter, but a far cry from the girl I grabbed by the wrist and dragged into the darkness."
Kairi found herself cringing at the thought, but her discomfort was quickly replaced by a playful smile. "I'm still hoping to get you back for that one of these days. Maybe during one of our sparring matches, if you know what I mean?"
"In your dreams, princess." he shot back, looking over at the gray-haired master. "If they let this kid attain the rank of master so easily, I'll be up there in no time."
Riku exhaled deeply as he remembered the ordeal of the Dream Worlds, memories of Xehanort's revival and Sora's kidnapping coming to mind immediately. They had barely made it on time to save him, and even then it had been difficult. The trip through the endless voids, the conversation with those strangers in Traverse Town, and his continuous battle with the Seekers of Darkness were all still fresh in his mind. Most strange had been the omniscient Joshua, who seemed to be aware of Xehanort's plot, yet spoke in riddles and never gave a straight answer. Despite being given the rank of master, the number of questions they had unanswered only grew by the end of the Mark of Mastery.
"I went through Hell to get where I am now, but it doesn't make a difference. So long as we continue moving forward to stop the darkness, that's all I can hope for." he spoke calmly, earning the silence of his rambunctious comrades.
Sora was the first to recover, his trademark smile causing the others to ease up as well. "Looks like you've learned a lot more from these adventures than the rest of us." he admitted, rubbing the back of his head with a gloved hand. "I may have done a lot of fighting, but at heart I still feel like that same kid who left the islands over a year ago."
"Speak for yourself, kiddo." Lea folded his arms and leaned against the stone tower.
"Don't worry about it, Sora!" Kairi stepped past the others, taking his hands in her own smaller ones. "The fact that you went through so much and managed to stay the same is one of the things that makes you special."
He looked down at her flawlessly soft hands cradling his own, blushing slightly as he realized the gesture intimacy. "Um, you really think so?" he stammered nervously.
The red-haired princess nodded without hesitation. "Maybe you are still that goofy little kid who wanted to be my friend, but I really wouldn't have it any other way!"
Sora found himself inching towards her, the gesture going unnoticed by his friends. Ever since they reunited in the World that Never Was, he had felt a strange emotion welling up inside him whenever she was near. He had experienced this warmth back when they lived on the island together, but the strange light-headedness and unspecified sense of desire had only increased. In that single year whatever feelings he couldn't quite identify had become stronger, along with his desire to be close to her.
Kairi cocked her head to the side with a sweetly innocent smile that reminded him of her younger, more carefree self. "You might say that's what I've always liked about you. You have such a kind heart, and you always think of others before yourself."
Their gazes met for a second, both sets of cheeks turning a light pink color as they glanced down at their interlocked hands. Sora was easily overwhelmed by the desire to embrace her among other things, but forced himself to release his grip, falling back with a pang of disappointment. He began shaking his head in an attempt to clear it of his previous thoughts while Kairi looked away with a similar expression, although her face contained less confusion and more frustration in comparison to her friend.
Lea exchanged a knowing expression with Riku, but neither voiced their thoughts. While the gray-haired teen had often teased Sora in the past about his attachment to Kairi, he couldn't help but feel a little jealous at the seemingly mutual bond that had only grown stronger with their separation. The group's lone adult seemed more amused by the situation than anything else, although due to spending so many years with weakened emotions, he had less experience with this type of thing, having considered the idea of romance to be a source of trouble along with women in general.
"That's enough you two lovebirds... Save it for after practice, will ya?" he sniped with a grin, earning a look of disapproval from the newly christened master.
"We're not lovebirds!" Sora shot back, looking back to see his female friend nod in agreement. Despite this, her sad smile did little to reassure them.
"Yeah, just friends..." she agreed in a slightly bashful, yet surprisingly bland tone.
The former nobody might have been the adult of their group, but his sarcasm and constant barbs spoke otherwise.
Riku elbowed him in the gut, clapping his hands loudly to bring the lesson back on track. "I hate to be the downer, but we've got countless worlds to save, and no time to waste goofing around. Master Yen Sid put me in charge of our sessions, and I say it's time we get back to work!"
"C'mon Riku, we've been at it all morning. Don't you think it's time we took a break?" Sora asked pleadingly.
While he understood how they felt, Riku sometimes hated having to be the responsible one. "Not happening. Kairi still needs the practice, and the rest of us need to be ready to go at any time. We don't have luxury to be playing around when the entire universe is at stake."
"I don't see what harm it could do to take five, especially since I've been the one doing all the hard work." the Princess of Heart folded her hands innocently and gave them a charmingly reserved smile, causing Sora to melt and Riku to turn away in attempt to resist.
After a few seconds, the silver-haired boy surrendered at last, knowing the others weren't giving him much room for debate. "All right, have it your way." he straightened up a little before regaining his previous stoic demeanor.
"Thanks buddy!" Sora turned to his crush and grinned widely. "What do ya say we go for a walk in the meantime? There's some interesting places around here I wanna show you, and a lot of cool stories I still haven't told about our adventures."
"Somebody has a big head after saving the universe." she poked him in the space between the eyes with a mischievous smile.
He blushed ever so slightly, running a hand through his spiky hair. "You really think so!? Hey, didn't you just get through saying I'm the same guy you've always known?" he asked, humorously faking a hurt expression.
"I wasn't lying... Thinking back it seems like you always had a tendency to show off."
Sora paused for a second as he considered her words, his mind replaying the days when he would compete with Riku. Whether she knew it or not, Kairi had been part of the reason. "Um, I guess you're right." he admitted, purposely not voicing the rest of his thoughts.
"Let's go!" she suddenly grabbed him by the hand while gently leading Sora away from the others, the young hero smiling awkwardly back as he found himself instinctively following along.
She could be so cute when she wanted something, but for some reason it always worked. Riku pondered if she purposely did this just to get her way, but he couldn't help but admit how effective it was. "You've got five minutes!" he called out after them, not even receiving a backwards glance from the couple.
Lea folded his arms with amusement as he watched them go, his trademark grin catching the attention of his fellow loner. "Would you look at that? Does he know he's being led around like a dog on a leash?"
The silver-haired Keyblade Master gave the retreating duo a similar expression, but with a more nostalgic inflection. "Some things never change for us, no matter how much time passes by." He summoned his Way to Dawn. "So fire-head, think you can go a few rounds with me? You did say you wanted to surpass me."
"Nah, I think I'll pass for now." the former Axel walked in the opposite direction, giving a casual wave over his shoulder. "You kids can do whatever you want, but I'm out..."
Riku didn't bother arguing as he watched the others scatter, guessing that it would be some time before Sora and Kairi returned. Likewise, he also guessed that Lea was probably heading off somewhere to take a nap, which was usually the case whenever he slunk away from the group. The foursome had spent almost a month together training like crazy to hone their abilities, and had gradually accepted him into their circle, despite his heavily flawed personality and lax approach to most everything. He guessed the bond had something to do with the past friendship between Roxas and Axel.
As the young Keyblade Master went about his own business, Yen Sid watched his charges from the window of his tower, looking serious and pensive as ever. The elderly wizard stroked his beard thoughtfully as he watched the group part ways, somewhat proud that they had been working so hard to hone their skills. Of course, this did little to alleviate his concerns. If the testimony given to him by Mickey was to be taken seriously, then they stood no chance against the comings threats at their current level.
The older man prepared to return to his seat when the crystal ball on the table across from his began glowing, the swirling mists within contorting to reveal the face of his former apprentice. "What do you require of me, Master Mouse?"
Mickey's deeply serious expression caught the wizard's notice. "There are a few things I need to speak to you about immediately, but I don't wish to say much in case someone is listening." the king's tone became slightly hushed as he spoke the last part.
"You may speak..." Yen Sid sat down in a chair by the table, gently stroking the end of his beard with am aged hand.
"It would seem you were absolutely right about Master Xehanort's return causing several unforeseen problems. The darkness in several worlds appears to be escalating, almost like the universe itself can sense the coming calamities!"
"Does this directly concern the prophecy he spoke of when you and the others encountered him within the Dream Worlds?"
The king hesitated for a moment, but shook his head nonetheless. "It would seem there's some kind of connection, but from what I can tell, he's fallen quiet since last we met. I would assume he's waiting for the complexion of the Thirteen Darknesses before revealing himself to us."
"After experiencing several failures over the years, it appears Xehanort has chosen to proceed with caution. Very wise, but at the same time it gives us little to observe until the promised day. If we are not able to learn more about his plans, this could prove problematic."
"As I was saying before, the growing darkness seems to be causing even more trouble than we anticipated." the mouse's expression became uncharacteristically somber.
"You spoke of this once before... How Maleficent was able to enter Disney Castle due to the Cornerstone's inability to block out the growing presence of evil."
Mickey's expression became unusually grim for the cheerful mouse. "To be more precise, the descending darkness is strengthening pre-existing evils. It not only empowers the wicked, but also weakens the light. It's a loss on both fronts!"
The old master's expression remained impassive, but the arching of the wizard's eyebrow was enough to show that he was concerned. "I expect you have come to this conclusion based on observations made throughout your travels. Would I be correct to assume this?"
"Exactly right!" the king nodded sternly. "It would seem that many people have begun suffering as a result. Nasty folks living in different worlds have become empowered by the darkness, tapping into their own souls to summon the Heartless."
Yen Sid's eyes widened ever so slightly at the thought, but his expression quickly became inscrutable once more. "This was not entirely unexpected, least of all to us... Your words of anguish exist as undeniable proof that knowing something will occur and seeing it for oneself are two entirely different things."
"It's something I've known all too well since the day I first embarked on my journey with the Keyblade." he replied, lowering his head gravely.
"I know you would not speak urgently had you nothing of particular importance to report." the elderly man added suddenly, quickly earning his apprentice's attention. "Perhaps there is something else on your mind that you wish to explain."
"Two things, in fact!" Mickey concurred, his businesslike tone returning. "I've noticed an unusual amount of Heartless congregating in Gaia VII, a far off world I recently stumbled upon during my search for Xehanort."
"Did you investigate more thoroughly to find the cause of this outbreak?"
"A number of flying Heartless guarded the airspace surrounding this world, so I was unable to draw close without putting the Gummy Ship in danger. It would seem whoever is behind this doesn't like visitor's much." he considered the facts for a moment. "From what little I've heard about this particular world, it's mostly populated by humans in a similar to Radiant Garden, but much more densely inhabited. Any attempts to blend in would have been unsuccessful."
"Your discovery is most intriguing, but I see no immediate reason to endanger yourself when we lack any pertinent information concerning this world's current status."
The mouse monarch agreed. "The Gummi Ship's censors went haywire as I flew past it, though. Gaia VII happens to be an extremely large world, and the sheer number of Heartless the instruments detected probably numbered somewhere in the hundred-thousands. I haven't seen numbers like that since those Shadows attacked in the World that Never Was."
Yen Sid shifted in his seat, calmly pressing his fingertips together in thought. "Very well, then... Perhaps it is best that we keep an eye on this situation for the time being." he leaned forward slightly, his frown deepening. "You claimed something else was amiss... Tell me."
Mickey looked suddenly ashamed at the thought, his fists clenching in a rare sign of anger. "We have reason to believe that the Tome of Oblivion was taken by Maleficent during her recent raid on Disney Castle."
"The secrets contained within are not meant to be read by outsiders." the wizard spoke, his deep tones threatening an outrage that he hid well. "You know as well as I do... The secrets that your predecessor hid within the lines of that book. It was your responsibility to guard it!"
"I know... That's why... ... I was afraid to tell you about this." the mouse hesitated again, his eyes closing in the deepest shame. "It was hidden in my personal study behind magic door the likes of which no ordinary person could have opened. I believed that the secrets within were safe, because no one who knew about the book would dare speak of it!"
The old Keyblade Master only took a moment before figuring it out. "Except for one..."
"Pete!" Mickey finished with a frustrated shake of his head. "Neither he nor Maleficent had that type of magic capable of opening the door to my private study, at least to my knowledge. I expect that Xehanort's darkness was what weakened the seal."
Yen Sid remained silent for several moments as he considered the situation, calmly stroking his beard. "This was not something I believed would ever come to pass, but for the time being, we can only hope that they are unable to decipher the hidden message within."
His apprentice looked suddenly more determined, "They won't have the time, if I can find them first! I promise to get that book back before then!"
"If they truly have it in their possession than it may be too late for that to make a difference, yet you have not claimed any solid evidence that Maleficent was the one to take it."
"The only other person I can think of is Xehanort himself, but I can't imagine he would have any interest in something like that. He plans to rule the worlds himself, but acting on the history of that book would..."
"Enough!" Yen Sid raised a hand to silence him, knowing it was possible that someone could be listening to their conversation. "I have little doubt that anyone but Pete would have told her about that document. Her visit to Disney Castle was likely a distraction so that a collaborator could steal the book while your mind was clouded by worry for Queen Minnie's safety."
"That doesn't entirely explain why she demanded the Datascape from Jiminy's Journal, but I suppose it makes sense. If the Tome of Oblivion was her true objective, than that means..."
"We may be forced to divide our forces to deal with this situation." the wizard added.
"I'll get back there as soon as possible, and then we can..."
Yen Sid shook his head resolutely. "You are needed for more important matters, I'm afraid. The investigation into Xehanort's whereabouts and the search for the missing Keyblade wielders falls to you, the most experienced master. It is a quest of greater significance, until we can find more answers to our questions."
The king took a deep breath before accepting the terms. Even though he had long graduated from the old man's tutelage, he still couldn't find it in him to defy the man. "What about Riku and the others? Do you intend on sending them to search for answers on the opposite front."
"I will alert them of what you have told me, and then we will formulate a plan. In the meantime, continue to report back to me with any developments on either side of the situation."
"Of course!" Mickey replied obediently, fading from the crystal ball as the conversation ended.
The wise mage stood up from his seat, returning to his desk with an unusually weary grimace. "I fear the worst possible turn of events may yet come to fruition." he murmured quietly, images from the past dancing through his aged mind. In that moment, the spry wizard felt much older than he had in many long years.
Meanwhile...
Pete paced the stone floor with mingled impatience and interest, having been doing so for the last several hours. By now he had practically memorized every detail of the decrepit room, from the cold hard walls to the crumbling furnishings and tattered curtains. The chamber was barren and inhospitable despite having been the evil fairy's home for countless years, yet Maleficent hadn't dwelt in the castle for quite some time. The old structure stood amidst the Forbidden Mountains bordering King Stephan's Kingdom in Enchanted Dominion, one of the very first worlds to fall prey to her mad crusade to obtain the Heart of all worlds.
After being defeated by Sora in the ruins of Hollow Bastion and losing Radiant Garden, she had traveled searching for a new castle from which to rule, only to fail several times. She had even attempted to seize the Castle that Never Was from the nefarious Organization XIII, but that world fell into darkness following the defeat of Xemnas and return of their leader Xemnas, forcing her to return home to her original base of operations.
The overweight cat passed by a stone throne, the literal seat of power from which Maleficent ruled the barren landscape. While tired from the day's events, he dared not sit down for fear that she would see him. Pete jumped slightly as he heard the hoot of an owl echoing through the moonless knight, his large beady eyes gravitating towards the room's lone window, his gaze quickly shifting to the thick wooden door leading to Maleficent's personal chambers. He contemplated interrupting her, but thought better as he felt pain from the burn on his back he had received from the last intrusion.
Suddenly, the sound of creaking hinges caught his attention, the sorceress throwing open the door and stepping into the room moments later. "At last, I have succeeded!" she raised a hand in triumph, her eyes alive with malice.
"What was you tryin' to do, again?" Pete asked, giving his head an absent-minded scratch.
Maleficent's elation changed to anger, her yellow eyes narrowing in irritation. "You gelatinous waste of brain matter! Was it not you who told me of the hidden secrets in the book!"
"All I was sayin' is that Yen Sid fella hid some stuff between the lines, and it ain't like anyone but the Boat Boy King knows how to crack it. The crazy old codger made sure not to tell no one else how to figure out his notes."
"Surely his intention was to protect others from the dark secrets that lay hidden within this ancient tome, but he was most unwise to leave any record of the dark ages behind, regardless of how well-protected it was."
Pete lumbered forward, taking a peek over her shoulder into the room behind. "Don't tell me you was able to undo dat guy's spell?"
The dark-clad woman made a sweeping gesture with her hand as she ushered him into the chamber, directing his stare towards the open book on the table. "Indeed I have..." she spoke nonchalantly, ignoring his jaw-dropping shock. "It wasn't so much a matter of dispelling the wizard's spell, as it was analyzing the magic itself. When I noticed that the last few pages were blank, it was simply a matter of figuring out what type of spells he used to hide the information from prying eyes. Once I was finished, it was child's play to create a counter-spell."
Her minion closed his own mouth by pushing the lower half of his jaw upwards. "Well, I guess you always were pretty good at dis sorta hocus pocus. Better then me, dat's for sure!"
"I must admit, the combination of seals he employed was quite impressive. It took me a hours of rereading the contents of this book just to identify them, and even longer to break the encryption. Yet there may not be anyone else but myself with the magical knowledge to do so."
Pete looked slightly hesitant for a moment as he remembered what transpired in ages past. For a moment he wondered if this plan was really worth going through with it, but at this point they had little other choice. The treacherous Master Xehanort and the heroes of the Keyblade had been ahead of them at every turn, but neither faction would ever risk what they were about to do, and he knew just how dangerous it was. While he was known for being an indecisive coward, the old cat was not without his occasional moments of crucial insight.
He glanced at the tome for himself, but was unable to read the ancient symbols for himself. Such runes were beyond his magical expertise. "Is dis really everything we was hoping for?"
"That and more, my simple friend..." Maleficent replied, her vulture-like hand snatching the book from his sight and stowing it away in the tattered folds of her cloak. "Hidden by Yen Sid's magic was the information necessary to access the forgotten world that his foolishness created so long ago, and also the immeasurable power that lies slumbering within."
"I ain't too sure this is a good idea, but I guess we don't got much of a choice now, do we?" he spoke with a note of hesitation, looking conflicted once more.
The evil fairy disregarded him without further council, conjuring her scepter with a casual wave of her hand. "The time has come for us to venture further into the darkness than anyone has before, even that decrepit old fool!"
She placed her hand over the surface of her staff, the energies within the orb swirling maliciously as the spell took place. Maleficent spoke a series of complex incantations the likes of which were completely lost on her assistant, the darkness emanating from the core of the crystal forming a dark aura on the pair that sent a shiver down the overstuffed cat's spine. The feeling of dread was similar to the sensation he felt when they entered the World That Never Was, like a well of dark magic that seemed bottomless. He shivered violently as his superior held her arms in the air, the aura lifting to form a strange doorway.
Unlike the Corridors of Darkness that evildoers often used to travel between worlds, the magical doorway had taken the shape of a large wooden door, not so different in appearance from portal that had led them into Timeless River not long ago. However this threshold held a much darker ambience, as pitch-dark energy seemed to seep through the cracks in the door, and a cold, empty feeling coursed through them just by being in its presence. While Pete remained frozen in fear, his superior looked positively elated at her success.
"Our time has come..." she placed a hand on the doorknob, causing a light to shine forth.
Pete shielded his eyes before glancing over at his superior in concern. "What the heck is that!?"
"No doubt the remains of an old spell cast by that accursed wizard to keep anyone from accessing this world." The dark sorceress was pushed back for a moment, but her grip on the handle only tightened and a dark smile came to her lips. "However, the magic has weakened with time... I shall not be denied!"
With a strong movement of her arm, she thrust open the entry, and stepped through doorway without hesitation, closely followed by her reluctant helper. On the other side the portal she stepped forward gracefully with Pete tumbling clumsily behind. The humanoid cat stumbled to his feet, spitting out a mouth of dirt as he scrambled forward to catch up, his jaw dropping in awe as they stared out over the abyss. The pair of villains were situated on a cliff overlooking the land they had entered, the sight both frightening yet hauntingly beautiful at the same time.
The expanse of land stretching out was dark and eerie, the a ghostly green glow covering the landscape as far as the eye could see. The skies were dark and starless, the only source of light being a tiny crescent moon in the sky above their heads that provided only a minimal amount of light. There were no clouds or grass, and the barren forests seen in the distance were dead and mangled as though some evil force had siphoned all life from nature itself.
"I don't know bout you, but dis place if given' me the creeps." Pete cowered behind his master, her smaller frame doing little to hide his bulk.
Maleficent tugged her robes from of his hands with a note of distaste before letting out a cackle of glee, her eyes widening in vindictive happiness. "Be silent! Do you not sense the power that lies dormant here?"
Her partner lumbered forward so that he was standing beside her. "I sorta felt somethin' like dat when we first got here. You don't suppose it's comin' from dere?" he pointed towards the gigantic structure in the distance.
"Yes, the source of this magnificent power lies yonder." she deduced, using her staff as a walking stick as she began traversing the treacherous terrain. Her subordinate almost tripped as he fell into step behind her, but she remained unconcerned. "Hurry you fool... That which we desire must be claimed."
A weathered stone road marked the twisted and inhospitable terrain, leading up to an ominous castle in the distance. Even from atop the hillside they could see the structure's iron gates. The structure of the stone building resembled a mixture of the Castle of Dreams and Disney Castle itself, but the dark onyx color of the walls and strange glow coming from the tower windows gave it a most unsettling aura. The building was strangely warped, like someone had taken molded clay and twisted it, making it appear poorly constructed, or dangerously built.
Neither of them spoke as they continued down the path, the eerie quiet and shifting shadows causing Pete even more discomfort. Most worlds they encountered were inhabited by some manner of life, sentient or not, yet this world was deathly quiet like the inside of the Corridors of Darkness. The closer they drew to the castle, the heavier the air seemed to become, and the darker the skies grew. Pete was old enough to know the stories of the evil that lay resting here, but he had never encountered it personally.
As they reached the front gates of the castle, he could no longer take the silence. "Are you sure dis is a good idea?" he asked, trying to conceal an unnerved shiver.
"Miserable coward... Remain here if you wish, but there will be no place for you when our time comes." she dismissed him with a wave, but when he did not back down, she seemed somewhat satisfied. "Very good, it appears you have some sense of priority after all."
Maleficent thrust open the gates and entered the courtyard, ignoring the hideous statues that lined the path leading to the doors. Pete jumped in surprise as he came face-to-face with a statue of a ferocious monster, angrily shattering the stone in annoyance with his fist. He shook his hand and sucked his thumb with a few mumbled curses, noticing that his boss had already entered the structure. Running through the doors, he found it was surprisingly normal inside, the blood red carpet and stone floors resembling the inside of Villain's Vale. More statues filled the rooms, but they ignored the monstrous figures and continued onwards.
They proceeded quietly as she followed the dark presence, almost as if someone was guiding them to the source of this world's evil. The room's were surprisingly empty for such a large dwelling, yet it was strange to see that no one was living here. Abundant cobwebs and crumbling stone walls were proof that the castle had seen better days, but the duo found an interesting sight as they ascended the deteriorated grand staircase. A purple carpet spanned the majority of the hall, leading to a large pair of double doors on the far end.
The room beyond was a cathedral-sized throne room not so different from the one in Disney Castle, save for the dark ambience and stained glass windows lining the grand hall. The picturesque glass shined with the eerie glow from the moon and remained as brilliant as ever even amidst the dark surroundings. Passing between the columns, Maleficent approached the large throne at the end of the room, pleasantly noting the motif of human skulls carved into the chair's wooden exterior.
"We have arrived!" she announced, extending her arms in a grandiose manner. Before them behind the throne was a gigantic black door seemingly built of stone, several indents on the surface indicating that something was missing. "It would appear that the ultimate power lies beyond here!"
"You jus' leave the grunt work to me, sister!" Pete boasted, rearing back and punching the stone a few times, only to howl in pain. He surrounded his hands with barriers and tried a second time, but not even a dent was present. "They certainly don't make doors like dis back home."
"Incompetent buffoon... Did you honestly think it would be that simple!? It is said that a great evil was defeated ages ago, and doomed to remain imprisoned here for eternity. " Maleficent placed a hand on the surface of the stone. "This must be the final door spoken of within the pages of that book."
"Yer talkin' to someone who was around. Yen Sid and the old king defeated a big monster that attacked Disney Castle all dem years ago. It was a real nasty piece-o-work known as da Shadow Blot, though I never actually saw it with my own eyes."
The sorceress recoiled her hand in surprise as the ground began to rattle, both villains glancing around in surprised as the shadows around them seemingly gravitating towards the center of the room as if drawn by an unseen force. The darkness swirled for a moment before forming a gigantic phantom-like shape, the creature blinking as if waking up for the first time in years. It's large green eyes narrowed in surprise at the sight of visitors, a shapeless glowing green maw they assumed was its mouth opening as a deep, throaty laugh escaped its gullet.
"Yikes, get me oughta here!" Pete fell flat against the wall of the room, as if trying to vanish, but his superior remained undaunted.
Maleficent stepped forward with a look of amusement, clearly enthralled by the shapeless creature floating in the air before them. "Would I be correct to assume that you are the Shadow Blot? The being who was exiled from Disney Castle so long ago."
"How vexing that a stranger would know me by name..." An incredibly deep, hoarse tone emanated from the living void. "Visitors in my world!? This is certainly unexpected."
"Are you not the being that was sealed here in ages long past?" the evil fairy questioned again, her countenance unyielding and calm in the face of the shapeless horror
The phantom floated through the air and stretched its formless self into a thin shape, the glowing eyes flashing dangerously as its dark mist-like body coiled around her like a serpent. "What if I am... It makes no difference to you. Why would anyone come willingly into my midst? Have you no fear for your own safety, witch?"
Pete stepped forward to help, crunching his fists together. "Now hold on dere, ya oversized ink stain. I recommend you get offa her, or things might get real ugly!"
"What do we have here... A denizen of Disney Castle?" The entity let out a snicker that sounded more like coughing, it's smoky form slowly leaving its previous victim and inching towards him. The overstuffed cat backed away looked horrified, its shining eyes only inches from his face as he pressed himself against the back wall of the room. "Yessssss... I sense your fear... ... Let it grow... ... Let it consume your heart... ... ..."
"Back off!" Pete squealed, his beady eyes widening in horror.
"Stop your cowering, you imbecile!" Maleficent scolded her henchman, casually passing a hand through the shadowy form before addressing the monster itself. " Spare us your theatrics! This pathetic form you have taken to communicate with us is merely a front, for your real self still remains trapped behind Yen Sid's door. It would appear that you have no real power as you are."
The Shadow Blot's wispy incarnation drifted so that it was floating above the throne. "Impressive deduction, Fairy of Darkness... It is as you say." the phantom shifted into the form of a giant face closely resembling it's true self, a pair of horn protruding from the top of its head. "Why do you stand before me?"
"I have come to beseech you, nothing more." Maleficent began with a devious smirk, her words doing little to satisfy the entity. "The power you wielded in ages past once overwhelmed Disney Castle and threatened to send all worlds into the darkness. That is what I seek..."
To her surprise, the phantom snickered one more. "My power was sealed, and the keys to the door lost forevermore."
The dark sorceress dismissed his words with a gesture of her hand before gently using it to grasp her scepter. "That is what they said, but such information was fabricated to prevent anyone from seeking the means to release you."
"You speak lies..." the Blot hissed, the bitter venom of his voice sending a chill down Pete's spine.
"Do not be so close-minded. How do you think I was able to come to this world?" She raised her arms, as if gesturing towards the entire land, her words silencing the spirit's hissing. "Surely you realize from the... Lack of visitors... That this entire world was sealed off by Yen Sid to prevent access by outsiders. No one was ever to set foot, and yet I am here!"
The room fell silent once more, the eerie quiet making the Blot realize just how long it had been since he heard any voice but his own. "Perhaps you speak the truth..." the hidden figure began with a note of renewed interest. "Still... What do you plan to do? Would you endeavor to release me from this accursed seal, or have you only come to mock my powerless state?"
"You have remained trapped here for so long, that I shudder to imagine the effects." Maleficent relaxed her shoulders, a cunning smile tugging at her dark lips. "My offer is simple... I shall search for the keys to your freedom, and in return, you are to give me power to rule all worlds!"
"Interesting to think that you would be so unconcerned for the well-being of others. With my power restored, this miserable plane of existence will be ravaged by darkness for eternity. Is this truly what you desire, witch?"
The evil fairy let out a dark, mirthless laugh that surprised even the Blot. "In darkness there is no pain... No feelings... No petty emotions that cause dissonance and conflict. Agree to share with me in this glory, and you will be free to do as you wish!"
Silence fell once again, but the sound of the dark entity's deep laughter soon filled the halls. While Pete was noticeably uncomfortable, his superior seemed to relish in it. After what felt like several minutes, the echoing notes slowly subsided, ending with a dark snicker. "You amuse me, woman... If all you desire is to rule what remains in the wake of my terror, than free me, and you shall have it!"
"Very good... It appears we have an understanding, then? I shall grant your freedom, and in exchange you will grant me the power to rule all worlds."
"Yessssss... ... ..." The apparition faded away until only the eyes remained, the glowing green orbs giving off a frightening ambience. "I should know the name of the one I make a pact with. What is your name, evil fairy?"
She stood up a little straighter, raising her scepter high in the air. " I am the mistress of all evil, she who has brought ruin upon countless worlds... My name is Maleficent!"
"Deal!" the Blot replied without hesitation, his eyes blinking once before vanishing into the darkness from whence they came.
The room gave way to that bottomless silence that pervaded the world which they stood. Maleficent was satisfied with the pact, having confidence in the monstrous phantom's powers to fulfill her desires. She had learned much of the creature in the pages of the book they had stolen from Disney Castle, and believed his to be potentially power greater than anything she had ever witnessed before. The evil fairy cared nothing for what he would do once their deal was complete, since covering all worlds in darkness would only further her own ambitions. Things were going far better for her than they had in quite some time. Xehanort and the Heroes of Light would not have the last laugh this time.
Pete peeked out from behind one the dark throne room's many pillars. "So, what do ya suppose we do now? Far as I know, we got no idea where to find dem keys you was talkin' about?"
"Finding them will be a challenge, but I do no believe it will be impossible. Such things are often forged of a powerful magic, and those most sensitive to such energies such as myself should be able to locate them with minimal difficulty."
"You're soundin' pretty confident there, sister!" the overweight toon placed his hands on his hips with a confounded look, before leaning towards her obnoxiously. "What if we don't got what it takes to find em? I don't think Shadowface is gonna be happy."
"And what concern is that of mine? He is powerless while trapped behind the seal."
The lumbering henchman scratched his head. "Y'know, I guess yer right..." he let out an obnoxious booming laugh at the thought. "What can he do if we don't come through?"
"Precisely, my dear Pete. We have nothing to lose, and everything to gain." Maleficent dismissed his worries with a smug gesture. She considered him for a moment, an intriguing plan coming to mind. "Speaking of which, I believe it is prudent that we call forth our full resources for this endeavor. It is time we benefit from these new alliances we forged these past months."
"I ain't sure they'll come here jus because we say so, but maybe these new developments'll give em some incentive to join up!"
Maleficent turned back to face him, using her hand to tear open a dark doorway. "You will deliver word of our new exploits to the others, but remain hidden while traveling, less his majesty or those meddlesome children discover our plans."
"Don't see why I can't jus give em the ole one-two?"
"We cannot afford your ineptitude causing a rupture in our plans... Not this time!" she added the last part with a distasteful sneer. As he lumbered towards the vortex mumbling complaints under his breath, Maleficent extended a hand to stop him. "Be certain to check on our friends on Gaia VII as well. Valuable as they have been to our cause, I do not entirely trust that scheming brat!"
The humanoid cat saluted with a wave before leaping back into the darkness, leaving his master alone in the empty room. She smirked for a moment using her staff to conjure several thorned plants around the perimeter of the castle. This time, her plans would not fail.
Note to Readers: Hope all you readers enjoyed this chapter, since I worked really hard on it. I apologize in advance if there are any typos, but stuff slips through the nets in editing all the time.
If you would like to see more, please drop a REVIEW and tell me if you liked it. I like to see whether or not the support makes it worth continuing beforehand, so consider this a test chapter. Extra points if anyone can guess what game "Gaia VII" is based on. (Should be fairly obvious as I intended it to be)