A/N: Hey, guys! It's me again! I know it's a bit late to say it, but Happy Easter! Hope you all had a great day as I did. To add to the good mood, I've added a new chapter to this story! Let's continue on. Oh, and this story will have a bit more spotlight on Kairi, Lea, King Mickey and Riku, and a few others!
I don't own Kingdom Hearts. If I did, Kingdom Hearts 3 would've been different.
Chapter 1: The New Journey.
In a beautiful forest of another world, one that is the most unusual, with a cliffside that overviewed another forest with a morning sun or an afternoon sun, depending on the person's perspective, Lea, still in his Organization coat he wore when he was Axel, was taking a break from the strain of just trying to summon his new Keyblade, which he named it the Flame Liberator. He was leaning against a tree just at the mouth opening of the forest, gazing at the sunlight with a sigh.
He had thought he was making a bit of a progress, but like before he willingly went to save Sora from Xehanort, the old guy who Lea had been admittedly shocked to find was much older than he thought, but insanely powerful and extremely dangerous, Lea had trouble in summoning his Keyblade. How he managed it the first time had been unexpected luck and guess afterwards.
But he was having a bit of trouble having it materialize again. Still, Lea knew he would get it eventually. He was determined to do so, because he wanted to help Sora and his friends to face the new Organization XIII. But more than anything, he wanted to bring back Roxas...this time without harming Sora. Lea also had to bring Isa to his senses, even by clobbering his former best friend on the head.
"Lea?"
Lightly startled out of his thoughts, Lea turned to see Merlin approach from the forest. The younger man stood up straight from his comfortable leaning position to fully face his temporary teacher who, while not a Keyblade wielder and hated in being called old, did a good job with his training considering.
"Hey, Merlin. Think I'm about ready to try again." The redhead greeted with a wave.
"Actually, I've come here with some news. Your training has been changed, because from today, you will no longer be training on your own." The Wizard replied.
Lea blinked in surprise. What did the old man mean by that? Was he going to train with Sora? Did something happen?
"Huh?" Was all he could say.
"Like you, there's another young one who is also a new Keyblade Wielder. One that you clearly know, so I expect you two to get on nicely." Merlin explained.
Another new Keyblade wielder like him? Someone he knew? The only Keyblade wielders Lea knew of were Sora, Riku and the King. Unless either Donald or Goofy somehow got new Keyblades...
Nah, it couldn't be. Donald still didn't like him and Lea couldn't blame him for that, given his history as Axel, and Goofy was...well, goofy. Admittedly smart and a good guy to hang out with, and very loyal to his friends and had been willing to trust Lea, but...having a Keyblade never came across the Captain's mind. Heck, he used a Shield in fights which told the redhead that despite being Captain of the Knights, Goofy didn't like fighting at all.
So...who was it then?
The answer he got was the last thing he expected; as Merlin moved aside, Lea's new training partner nervously approached. His eyes widened in shock, surprise and disbelief as the person was none either than the familiar darker-red haired girl in the pink dress and purple shoes, always wearing her pearl necklace.
"...Kairi?" Lea gapped, unable to say anything else. No way...Kairi had a Keyblade now too? When did she become one? Well...at least she was saved, and that gave him a mixture of relief and suddenly guilt that emerged within his chest and heart. The fact that she looked nervous, and Lea had a feeling it was because of him rather than beginning her training.
Kairi, having just been dropped off by Riku and Mickey who, after donning their new vestments, once again gave her words of encouragements to trust Lea before leaving for the realm of darkness to rescue Aqua, gazed up at the tall man with a bit of fear, but tried to hold it back with a slight nod.
"...Hello, Ax-I mean, Lea." Kairi greeted, quickly correcting herself as she remembered that Axel had regained his heart and was now human again. Still, it made her nervous to see her former kidnapper again, and being this close to him.
"Uh...um...Hi, to you too." Lea awkwardly replied, rubbing the back of his neck. Oh boy...he really needed to apologize to the poor girl. Sure he had known that she was brave enough to go after Sora, but that didn't change the fact of how Lea treated Kairi and he had a feeling it was going to take a long while to make up for it. He just hoped she wouldn't start yelling at him, even if he deserved it.
"Master Yen Sid instructed that the both of you train together with your Keyblades. Now remember, time in this place runs differently to the Realm of Light, so you can train as long as you need. For the moment, we will focus on the two of you to call upon your Keyblades. But I expect you both to get along." Merlin spoke up, making the two redheads turn to face him and they nodded their understanding.
"For today, you will commucate with one another. After you had your rest, training will continue and begin. I will be back later." Merlin concluded, and both Kairi and Lea both bowed slightly their respects with short thank yous before the Wizard teleported away, leaving the two by themselves.
They were left in an awkward silence, before Lea shifted uncomfortably, and even even more so when Kairi nervously gazed up at him again as she cringed a bit even though she tried to hide it. Lea sighed. This was going to be harder than he thought.
"Kairi? I...uh..." Lea began, and when Kairi didn't move, he sighed in guilt. "I...I know that you're kinda nervous and I get that. I just wanna say...I'm sorry for what I did to you when I was Axel."
Kairi blinked in surprise when Lea said this. This was a huge different construct to how Axel treated her when they first met. But then she started to think that maybe it's because now that the man in front of her had a heart, or maybe what Sora said was true changed the red haired man somehow, that he really did feel bad for kidnapping her.
So, deciding that, fear or not, she really should try and give Lea another chance, Kairi sighed and replied with a small smile. "It's okay. I heard that you saved Sora, twice now. He told me that you apologized when you...disappeared. So...Thank you."
Lea felt his face heat up slightly, and he looked away in embarrassment before clearing his throat.
"No problem. Still...I'm really sorry." He replied, feeling more and more awkward and knew that it was going to take a long while before he can feel comfortable with Kairi around and he had a feeling that she would end up in the similar situation to feel comfortable with him.
But when he looked at her again, Lea blinked in surprise as for a split second he felt something surge within his chest. For some reason, there was something about...Kairi's face that suddenly reminded him of someone. Like a missing piece of his heart, which made no sense. It...somehow began to hurt and the redhead had no clue why that was.
"What's wrong?" Kairi asked, noticing Lea's expression, which quickly brought him back to reality.
"...Dunno. I kinda get the feeling I'm missing something. Not sure what, though." Lea replied, shrugged a little. He then cleared his throat and decided to change the subject. "So um...you can wield a Keyblade now too?"
"Y-yes. I haven't gotten the hang of it. Riku gave to me and for a strange reason, it didn't disappear which somehow shows that I'm able to wield it...I just haven't been able to summon it right yet." Kairi replied.
Lea was surprised to hear that, then smiled a little sheepishly. "I only managed to get it materialize once so far. Been trying to get it right since then. It's kinda a lot harder than it looks."
He then gave her a confident grin and added, "But I just know that you and me can get it right. It'll take a while, but, we'll get there. Got it memorized?"
Kairi actually giggled and, even though she was still nervous around him, she actually began to feel a bit more relaxed. She knew she still had to be careful, but slowly but surely she began to feel that Lea was someone she can trust. So far, he had been apologetic, and he seemed to be nice and his confidence began to remind her of Sora and Riku.
"Yeah." She replied with a nod.
It would take a while, but both Kairi and Lea would soon find that they will get along. That they would soon become friends and their training would more than just learning how to wield and fight with Keyblades.
Back at the Mysterious Tower, Sora had just returned when he'd been welcomed by enthusiastic hugs from Donald and Goofy who expressed their concerns and he quickly told them that he was fine.
"Guys, I'm fine, really!" Sora laughed, even though he was happy to see them. "I told you I wouldn't be long."
"You were gone along enough!" Donald pointed out as he and Goofy ended the hug after a long while which was really about eight minutes.
"Yeah, well, I still gotta see the others. I've made some progress." Sora replied, winking before he and his two companions headed inside and up the familiar stairs that lead up into Yen Sid's study.
Donald and Goofy were a bit surprised and somehow beaten Sora do the top. They shared a glance while wondering what Sora did in the Realm of Sleep. They had been worried, and had even seen Mickey and Riku who both gained new clothes, and Kairi leave on their new assignments. They tried to tell Sora, but he'd been eager to reach the top.
"Okay, start talking." Donald told Sora, skeptically.
"You were gone a long time. What were ya doin'?" Goofy asked, curiously.
Sora grinned as he replied playfully, "Secret."
Without giving them any more answers, Sora threw the door open into the main chamber, hoping to catch Riku and Mickey by surprise.
"I'm back!" Sora called out while Goofy chuckled behind him...only for both of them and Donald to find that Yen Sid was the only one present. Sora blinked in confused as he and his two friends entered the room while Donald closed the door behind him. "Huh? Just the four of us? Where are the others?"
"The others all had important work to do. So I sent them on their way." Yen Sid answered, while mentally relieved that Sora had returned. While he hadn't been overly concerned for the boy's decision to re-enter the realm of sleep as he knew part of the teenager's intentions, it was still concerning given how Sora had come dangerously close in becoming Xehanort's final vessel.
"Aw...that's just great." Sora pouted, disappointed as he folded his arms. "They coulda said good-bye."
"It's your fault you missed them." Donald pointed out, glaring at the teenager.
"It is not. I just like to say good-bye to all my friends." Sora counterd, placing his hands behind his head.
"Then do it faster!"
"I'm here now, aren't I?"
Goofy gulped nervously as both Sora and Donald glared each other as they were about to enter yet another one of their bickering, the two daring at one another to keep the argument going. Sometimes Sora liked to take his time but sometimes took too long, but at the same time, Donald had never been one for patience and that usually got him into heaps of trouble. Then again Sora sometimes was just as impatient as well.
Thankfully Yen Sid intervened before the bickering could really begin. "We have matters to discuss." He spoke authoritively, getting the trio's attention.
Sora, Donald and Goofy glanced at the Sorcerer before quickly standing attention as Yen Sid continued. "In order to defeat Xehanort, there are allies we must gather, acting now to rouse them from their slumber. We have discussed this before, Sora."
When the trio nodded their understanding as they remembered clearly, the sorcerer added. "Your Mark of Mastery exam was conducted in the hopes you would acquire the power to wake them."
Sora folded his arms as he nodded, remembering that as well while thinking to himself. He had thought it long and hard and he was more than ready to rescue those who were connected to his heart. Well...Axel was already saved, because he came back as a human named Lea. He wasn't sure why, but Sora had a feeling, that when he was there when Axel had sacrificed himself, that was part of his duty to save him from the hurting.
While Sora knew that Lea had apologized before he left for Radiant Garden, the spiky haired teen told him it was okay and had thanked him for saving him from Xehanort, and had promised to figure out how to bring Roxas back. Sora wasn't sure how yet, but considering that Lea missed him like when Sora missed Riku, he knew what it was like and Sora still felt it was unfair that Roxas and Namine didn't have the chance to be their own selves, just for his and Kairi's sakes. So he then realized that Lea was still hurting...because he still didn't have his best friend. Sora then knew he had to cure Lea's heart somehow and he had a feeling that in order to do that, he had to bring Roxas back.
Plus there were four others; the mysterious girl with the black hair that looked like Kairi, and Sora felt Roxas's pain. She was familiar, but Sora couldn't quite picture it. He also knew...something horrible happened to her, and he quickly knew she had to be saved as well. Then there were the three other Keyblade wielders before him and Riku. Ventus, Aqua, and Terra, who had been missing for twelve years.
"However, the darkness nearly took control of you, and your grasp of your new abilities leaves much to be desired." Yen Sid continued, making Sora gasp softly. "Furthermore, Xehanort nearly made you his vessel, and in the process stripped you of most of the power you had gained by then. I suspect you have already noticed this, correct?"
Sora's arms lowered as he heard this, while Donald and Goofy both glanced at him worriedly. Sora had been meaning to ask what was wrong since he noticed in the Realm of Sleep to thank the Dream Eaters, but when Yen Sid answered his unasked question, the teenager felt his heart sink. Well, that at least explained why he felt a bit drained, and no wonder too.
'Ah, great.' Sora thought to himself as he sighed, slumping slightly in disappointment. Great, now it was like when he entered that one year of sleep and on top of that, he even lost the chance to get the Power of Waking.
"Sora..." Donald and Goofy chorused worriedly.
Sensing the concern in his friends, and, also remembering all was not lost as Sora knew he'd gotten his powers back before, he could do it again, he immediately perked up. So he lost them, but it wasn't the end of the worlds.
"Whatever! It happened before, but I got them back the last time. I can do it again!" Sora replied with an reassuring grin, ignoring the puzzled expressions on Donald and Goofy on how he managed to perk up so quickly.
"I have no doubt that you will." Yen Sid agreed, as he knew that there may be a chance and if Sora remembered the last time it happened, then given time the boy will get his powers back, one way or another. "Chip and Dale are currently analyzing data that Ansem the Wise provided to Riku and which could offer us a clue to retrieving our friends' lost hearts. I have very high hopes for this data. However, our greatest chance of stopping Xehanort's plan still lies with you, Sora."
Sora was surprised to hear this. Despite what has happened, the sorcerer still believed Sora himself was the key to stop Xehanort's plans once and for all? He wasn't a Keyblade Master yet, but given that he stopped the Fake Ansem and Xemnas before, maybe there was another chance at this.
"If you trust the guidance your heart gives, I know we will find all of the guardians of light. But first, you must regain all the strength you have lost. Perhaps it is foolish to expect a complete recovery, but it is absolutely vital you perfect one power-the power of waking, which you failed to master during your exam. There's someone who lost his strength and found it again, a true hero to whom you ought to pay a visit." The Sorcerer continued.
Hearing the word of true hero, Sora gave out an excited smile as he immediately knew who Yen Sid was talking about and remembered the last time he saw said true hero. Sora then dramatically posed reflexes which startled Goofy while annoying Donald at the aforementioned hero.
"Perhaps he can point you in the right direction." Yen Sid concluded.
"Got it!" Sora saluted firmly. This was an important task and he was more than ready to undertake it. No matter how hard it was, he would not give up.
"Master Yen Sid..." Donald spoke up, as he and Goofy stepped up.
"You can count on us to take care of Sora!" Goofy concluded for his friend, as the two wanted to be by Sora's side just in case. Plus, they also wanted to help in stopping Xehanort, even if they were both not Keyblade wielders, but that didn't stop them for going anyway.
Somehow having sensed this and decided not to argue and that he felt more comfortable if Sora had company this time, Yen Sid nodded to Mickey's two closest friends and trusted loyal allies. "I would have it no other way. I put Sora in your hands."
Rather than being annoyed to be babysat, Sora instead felt even more excited. This was going to be like old times! He happily pulled his two old companions into a group hug while speaking their names.
"You can't become a master without us!" Donald told him, which surprised and confused Sora.
"I never woulda thought you'd fail that exam, Sora." Goofy added.
"Hey!" Sora pouted, pulling way from the embrace as he glared at them.
"Face it, you're just a half-pint." Donald continued wryly.
"But the three of us together make a whole pint!" Goofy interjected with a wide smile.
Sora shook his head as he corrected with his hands on his hips. "Pint and a half."
"And don't forget, we'll keep an eye on you." Donald said with a wide smile of his own now, holding out his hand flat.
"Oooh, this is gonna be lots of fun!" Goofy said excitedly while placing his hand on top of Donald's.
"This isn't a vacation." Sora pointed out, before he happily placed his hand on top of Goofy's and declared in equal excitement. "Let's go!"
The trio then lined up and saluted to Yen Sid who nodded back to them before sending them on their way. Whatever dangers they would have to face, Sora, Donald and Goofy knew that they wouldn't be alone. Like their two previous adventures, they can handle anything no matter how hard it was or would be.
Whatever excitement the trio had was now drained, because no sooner when Sora, Donald and Goofy boarded the Gummiship which was now cruising through the familiar space of the realm of light across worlds, Sora soon realized that he couldn't even find a way back to any of the worlds apart from Destiny Islands, Disney Castle and Yen Sid's Tower. Which had Goofy a bit concerned and Donald waiting impatiently.
After trying and failing in coming up with an idea, Sora sighed before leaning in his seat, his hands behind his head as he asked aloud, "How're we supposed to get there now?"
"What!?" Donald exclaimed. "I thought you knew!"
"Looks like all the old highways are closed." Goofy pointed out, also having realized the same thing as Sora did. He then asked when he remembered something. "Didn't Master Yen Sid say that Sora should trust the guidance his heart gives?"
"C'mon, Sora! Which way?" Donald urged. When Sora didn't answer straight away and was thinking hard on what to do and how to trust the guidance with his heart, once again the mage got too impatient and scolded him. "Hey, would you get serious?"
"Gimme a break, I'm trying." Sora countered with exasperation, wishing that Donald would be patient. "These things take time!"
"Oooh..." Donald grumbled.
"Well, since we've already been before, why don't you try picturing our
friends like we're there?" Goofy suggested.
He had a good point. Sora stood up and walked around the chair, deciding to try and take up Goofy's advice. He even reflexed his muscles...That didn't open up a gateway to the friends he and the others wanted and needed to see either.
"Well?" Donald asked.
"Sorry, I got nothin'. What did you expect?" Sora replied, just as frustrated as the magican was, which made the latter slump in his seat in defeat.
Silence followed with the trio as they were all disappointed that none of them could think of anything, which ultimately meant that they were stuck. How can they begin their new journey if they didn't have a clue on what to do? Maybe they should head back to the Tower and ask for Yen Sid's advice, though they didn't want to report back just for that. Goofy thought long and hard, until a memory came back to him, one that he knew was meant for Keyblade wielders but also knew that it was very important.
""May your heart be your guiding key."" Goofy quoted almost automatically, which caught the attention of his friends who looked at him in confusion.
"Huh? What's that?" Sora asked.
"Master Yen Sid always said that to the King, right before we went off on any of our real important adventures." Goofy explained.
"Really?" Sora replied, surprised. He then turned to Donald and asked with a one-shoulder shrug. "Ring a bell?"
"Nuh uh." Donald shook his head, dumbfounded before asking to Goofy skeptically, "When did you hear him say that to King Mickey?"
Goofy frowned in confusion, realizing that he couldn't remember. He was pretty sure he heard it before, and Mickey was Yen Sid's apprentice.
"...Maybe I just imagined it." He muttered, scratching the side of his head uncertainly.
Even though Goofy may have just been imagining things, Sora couldn't help but feel inspired by those words to which he couldn't help but repeat it.
"May my heart be my guiding key." He muttered to himself, mixing it with what Yen Sid told him. Trust the guidance with his heart, and Sora had known that his friends always guided them even when they weren't around. They gave him strength and he usually followed his heart to reach them because he knew they were connected. Like an invisible map, Sora followed his heart to everyone he cared about.
Heart...that's it!
Realizing the meaning of it, Sora now understood and with a smile he quickly rushed to the helm of the gummiship.
"I've got it!" He exclaimed, summoning his Keyblade and held it in front of him, pointing it at the sky as the Kingdom Key gave out the familiar glow at it's tip, calling out with his heart. To his delight and the surprise of Donald and Goofy, a portal suddenly appeared in front of the gummiship, which would lead them to another world.
"It's a gate!" Donald and Goofy exclaimed happily with proud grins. Now they were getting somewhere.
Grinning while dismissing his Keyblade, Sora took a seat once more and began to pilot the vessel to the portal. "All right! Olympus Coliseum, here we come!" He declared, and soon he and his friends flew right into the Gateway.
Towards the world of their friend Hercules.
Things were supposedly peaceful in the land of Thebes, except for massive giant problems. A planetary allignment had been in a perfect line, and that signaled the awakening of a gateway to free the great terrors of the world. Titans. Massive beasts of four different elements and another that was the weakest but still very dangerous that were sealed away long ago...
But were now fully freed by the God of the Underworld, Hades who had replicas of the Titans, but now that he had managed to free the real ones, the time has come to conjor what he wanted, as well as giving the Titans the freedom to do what they all wanted; to destroy Zeus, the King of the Gods of Mount Olympus.
As such, the ground shook violently, as the two headed Rock Titan stomped the ground, crushing things as it went, bellowing. "Crush Zeus!"
The Ice Titan in the meantime was using it's ice powers to freeze up everything in it's sight, including a herd of horses who tried to run away in pure fear but were unfortunately frozen in their tracks. "Freeze him!" It sneered.
"Melt Zeus!" Roared the Lava Titan, slithering it's way with molten lava and burning everything in it's tracks.
"Blow him AWAY!" The Air Titan yelled, sucking up everything in it's tornado form, crashing a building into pieces that were picked up, and also swallowing a helpless goat that was also picked up while it 'baa'ed in alarm.
The Titans continued to make their way towards Zeus when Hades's voice called out to them, stopping them in their tracks as they looked at the one who freed them.
"Uh, guys?" Hades spoke up dully, jerking his thumb over his shoulder to the mountain of a clearer area as he directed them in the right direction since they were going the wrong way. "Olympus would be that way."
A bit of an awkward pause, before the Titans realized this and then changed direction and stormed towards the mountain. Though when the fifth Titan, a giant cyclops was following his fellow Titans, he stopped when Hades called up to him.
"Hold it, bright eye." The Lord of the Dead spoke, adding with a sinister grin as he a brilliant idea for this Titan. "I have a special job for you, my optic friend."
A little curious on what Hades wanted out of him, Cyclops listened in what the God of the Underworld had in mind. Yet despite this and that it sounded simple enough despite that it aqquired a fight, what they all didn't know was that help was on the way, but not as even the calvery would even expect.
Watching the events from a clearing overseeing the events from afar, were two men who witnessed the Titans march their way towards the mountain, though the Cyclops was making his way into the City of Thebes. One was Master Xehanort, and the other was Xigbar.
"Sheesh, you'd think that guy woulda done this a lot sooner." Xigbar remarked, before shaking his head. "Too bad Hades's plans are gonna be dusted when Hercules saves the day again."
"Especially with Sora and his friends arriving. Yet, neither one understand the true meaning of fighting alone. They say their friends are their powers, but for Sora, they are his weakness. Even without the Power of Waking, he will still rely on them. If they are taken away, he will fall into anger, hate and despair." Xehanort was saying, with his cruel smirk.
"So if we get rid of his friends, we can have Sora as our final vessel." Xigbar thoried.
"No." Xehanort shook his head. "There is no need for Sora now. What we do need is to destroy him, before he aqquires the alternative to bring back those I have corrupted."
The eye-patched younger man quirked an eyebrow at this in confusion. "Wanna run that by me again, old man?"
"You have never known of this, but there is a special key that is the the most difficult to find, and it aqquires finding the seven pieces of light to locate it's resting place; the Key to Return Hearts." The evil Master explained sinisterly. "Legend says that in those with hearts filled with light, it will allow them to restore lost, sleeping or corrupted hearts, as this pacticular Keyblade is not made to fight like all other Keyblades in existance."
"So...what happens if it's in the hands in guys like us?" Xigbar asked, curiously.
Xehanort gazed at him as his grin grew. "It will corrupt hearts that had not fallen into darkness. But...with or without that Keyblade, there is no need for us to claim it. At best, it is necessary to have it destroyed, find the pure lights of the Princesses of Heart who will need to give up their powers for our goal. The seven lights and the thirteen darknesses are needed to recreate the X-Blade. Whether we have the Princesses or the Guardians of Light, it does not matter, as long as they do not have the Key to Return Hearts."
"So all we gotta do is find that Keyblade of Hearts or whatever it's called and get rid of it so that Sora's group don't have a choice since we already won, right?" The Sniper of the Organization guessed.
"That, and make Sora and his friends lose hope. Have them learn that friendship is weak and power alone is strong. That is your assignment. In the meantime, I will inform our other members as we are close in completing the Darknesses as well as true members to place those should they betray us. Know this, the battle is not yet won." Xehanort ordered him.
"Heh...Whatever you say, ya' old coot." Xigbar snickered while teleporting away, leaving Xehanort alone to gaze at the Titans who were now climbing up the mountain.
The old man chuckled darkly as things were already beginning to go smoothly. Still, he didn't want to be caught off-guard as Sora was just as meddlesome as King Mickey. Xehanort may have already had his Heartless half to corrupt Aqua and leave her trapped in the Realm of Darkness and would soon destroy Mickey and Riku's resolves in saving her, but there was still a chance that Sora could end up finding that Key.
After all, one can't be too careful.
A little while later...
Olympus Coliseum had always gave Sora, Donald and Goofy fond memories. Most of the time they were usually at the Coliseum itself, either training with Phil who most likely still couldn't count his words right, helping Hercules to fight off the Heartless and rescue Meg from the Underworld, and even made friends with Cloud on their first trip here and reunited with him a year later in Hollow Bastion, and in that same year with Auron. Okay so the Heartless and Hades were the downsides, but they weren't worried.
Now they would have a lead in figuring out how Sora can get his powers back as well as meeting up with their old friends again...
Or at least they would if they landed in the right area of the world. Because rather than disembarking at the familiar gates of the Coliseum, Sora, Donald and Goofy instead found themselves in a lush outcropping halfway up a mountain that was so tall it somehow perched up into the sky above. Even though they were certain they were in the right world, the trio suddenly had a sense of deja vu flash onto them.
"No fanfare?" Sora queried, and when Donald looked at him in confusion, the teenager mimicked the trumpeting cheers to prove his point and Goofy listened out to hear said fanfare.
Nothing.
"Nope. Looks like we missed the Coliseum." Goofy replied as he looked around their new surroundings.
"Sora!" Donald scolded. "You opened the gate and said you knew where you were going!"
"I was...a little off again. Sorry!" Sora grinned sheepishly, before saying confidently. "But don't worry, we'll find him! Let's go."
With that, he took the lead, but stopped when Donald asked incredulously, "Up a mountain?"
Sora nodded. "Yeah. Up is the usual direction."
"Well, it never hurts to have your head up in the clouds." Goofy said optimistically, which made Sora grin, as the two then walked on towards the direction. Donald wanted to protest about this, before sighing in defeat and then quickly hurried to join his friends, hoping that they were going at least the right way. Though despite that they were lost, at least this area they landed in was a lot nicer than the Underworld.
He can take this place for Hades' domain any day.
Despite Sora's claims earlier, even when they ended up fighting Heartless along the way, it didn't take the trio long before they reached another elevated range that went higher up into the mountain rather than anywhere near the Coliseum like they expected. While the view was amazing, and they did come across a large giant statue of a man with a beard and wearing a toga, seated at a throne like a king which made the trio feel like ants just staring up at it, neither the view below or the giant statue were on their minds.
"Um...fellas? I think we might be goin' around in circles." Goofy muttered with a frown.
"Sora...!" Donald growled angrily, getting all steamed up.
"Did we take a wrong turn? I thought this was the right way." Sora muttered, just as baffled as his friends were. He thought for certain that up was the right direction. Though given where they were, there were no where near to their destination, so he decided that there was only one last thing to do.
He went up to the edge and then called out loudly to the valley below, his voice echoing through out the entire area. "Hey! Herclues? Where are yoooouuuuu?"
Even though Hercules didn't hear Sora's voice, even when it echoed, someone else certainly did. Too bad it wasn't who the trio had in mind, and that said someone was coming down in a dark cloud of smoke to give whoever was screaming a piece of their mind.
"All right. I know I dotted the I's, crossed my T's, and zeroed the hero and broody pink-haired lady that's just as broody as that Spiky haired heavy-large sword head and just as disobediant as scar face from the dead, so what gives? Who could possibly be trying to give me a migrain by screaming out that yutz's name!?" Hades grunted angrily as he materialized.
Much to the disappointment of Sora, Donald and Goofy as they had to end up meeting with this guy and most likely have to fight all over again. Knowing Hades, he was up to no good, as usual.
"Really, Hades?" Sora sighed, exasperated.
"Oh, it's just you three." Hades rolled his eyes, just as exasperated. "Oy vey."
"Just us?" Sora repeated, placing his hands on his hips as he scowled. "Even for you that's cold."
"Yeah, well don't forget! I can always turn up the heat!" Hades replied snappishly.
"Wait a sec." Goofy thought as he looked around, before asking in confusion. "If Hades is here, then where's Hercules?"
"What is everyone's infatuation with THAT DOLT!?" Hades growled angrily as he turned red which included his hair-flames at the mention of Hercules. Despite this, he quickly calmed down since he already had plans in store, mentally breathing in and out. "You know what? Never mind, forget it. I'm cool, I'm good. Because soon, Wonderbreath will be outta of my hair soon..."
"So you're really are up to no good again! You never change!" Sora assumed, already summoning his Keyblade.
"He's always up to no good!" Goofy agreed as he summoned his Shield while Donald summoned his Staff.
"He doesn't know when to quit!" Donald added as he and his two friends glared at the Lord of the Dead.
"Whoa, easy there, Key-Trio." Hades told the glaring three. "What is this, sparta? Love to stay and chat an' all, but I've gotta blaze since I'm kinda on schedule here. Don't have time to toss around ol' fire and brimstone. Got a whole Cosmos waitin' for me to conquer it with my name on it!"
Sora rolled his eyes as he said with a little bit of sympathy, but also sarcasm. "Poor Hades. He really thinks he can actually pull it this time."
Hades grinned as he turned to Sora's group again. "Well, this time I've got somethin' that not even YOU brats can stop."
"Wha're you talkin' about?" Donald asked, suspiciously.
The God of the Underworld ignored him, and instead turned to face the towering mountain, calling out commandingly. "Where are my Titans!? Show me your power!"
Not having time to wonder what Hades was talking about, Sora, Donald and Goofy jumped in alarm when the ground shook violently underneath them. This was followed by the sky turning dark and stormy, and the arrivals of the four Titans of Lava, Ice, Rock and Wind, huge giants in all four forms. Their presence seemed to put nature out of balance, such as the Earthquake shaking the ground violently, Lava spewing and sliding down like a waterfall, followed by a freezing chill of ice and the only one not fazed or blown away was Hades who was enjoying it.
Sora, Donald and Goofy struggled against the icy cold wind, before finally the massive winds from the Wind Titan became too much for them and despite their best efforts, the trio lost their battle and in one swoop they were sent flying into the sky and over the valleys, far from the mountain and towards somewhere that will end up in a very painful landing while they screamed which faded as they vanished.
No sooner had Sora's group vanish, the elemental disasters ended under Hades' command as he was pleased that the trio wouldn't be messing up with his plans this time.
"Ah, that sent 'em sailing..." Hades began with a smug grin...only for it to fade as he gazed at the direction where Sora's group ended up and quickly realized where they were going. "...Sailing right to where I left..."
He then shrugged it off, unconcerned. "Ah, no sweat." Hades turned once more to the Titans and praised them. "Nice work, boys! So, back to the whole Cosmos coup thing?"
Heeding the Lord's words once more, the Titans turned and returned to their original agenda to destroy Zeus and take over the home of the Gods while Hades gladly sent them off. But no sooner his minions were out of sight when a pillar of light and darkness emerged from the sky and materialized another figure of darkness.
"Ugh, seriously?" He groaned, aggravated once more. "Are you kidding me? Jeez louise, when it rains it pours. Alright, who's the new pest this time?"
"Hmph. Not one for greeting anyone with manners, are you?" A smooth, dark voice responded, one that belonged to the familiar one-winged angel of darkness; Sephiroth.
"Oh, perfect." Hades rolled his eyes. "Now I gotta cope with another dark guy. Lemme guess; you got your own coup thing and want me to join your side of whatever is that you got in mind. And I'll have you know that I plently of manners when I'm up for it. You're the one who's the rude one for interrupting my plans, pretty boy."
"Oh, I do have plans of my own. One that concerns that boy with the Keyblade your Titans had sent off. I have been aqquinted with him; you see, he is an ally of Cloud." Sephiroth replied with a smirk.
The Lord of the Dead groaned once more. "Ugh, now I gotta cope with you doing what Maleficent tried with Key-Boy and that King whom I haven't met yet and I don't plan to? Sorry to burst your bubble, but you can keep your offer. I'm going back to my original plan. So...toodle-loo! Exit's thataway! Happy traaaails!"
"I can assure you this will not take long. What I am looking for is a certain a certain legendary Key I have recently learned about; the Key to Return Hearts." Sephiroth said calmly.
"Key to Return Hearts?" Hades repeated in boredom. "Hmmm...Key of Hearts, Key of Hearts, Key of Hearts...Nope, doesn't ring a bell. The only key I'm aware of is that kid's Keyblade. What's it for, anyway? Stealing my job to bring back the dead when I feel like it?"
"That's for me to know." The silver haired man replied. "Trust me, you will like it when the time comes. Just so you know, soon the last bit of light in Cloud's Heart will be gone and he will be one with darkness. It is always hard to destroy it, but with that key and corrupting that boy into the bidding of darkness when the time is right, our goals will soon align."
With that, Sephiroth vanished instantly, leaving behind a couple of black feathers from his wing and leaving Hades behind.
"Geez, not even a 'Thank you' for asking about some stupid Key to do whatever it is? That guy is worse than Maleficent." Hades complained, then shrugged it off and began to walk away. "But hey, if it really gets that kid out of the way and even Spike, then I'm not complaining."
If only Hades knew that his plans were soon to be derailed...again.
A/N: I did say Final Fantasy characters would be in this story and making such an important role. The next chapter will have Sora's group reunite with not one but five friends as well as another who is hinted by Hades in this chapter. And with the Black Box not existing in this chapter, the Key to Return Hearts is much more important.
Don't worry, Maleficent and Pete will still be in this story...just looking for something that would've made more sense in the game that was hinted in the added scene in "Re: Coded" in 2.5 HD ReMix.
See you in the next chapter!