A/N: Onward with Chapter 2 :D Finally, right?! Seeing as my ex story hit a standstill, I deleted it and went on a hiatus for years.
Well, my English altogether has dramatically improved for the better, and I started this story which derived from the very idea that was my original. My old story was entitled Re: Kingdom Hearts, but I did away with that. I thought it was blissfully pathetic.
And what can I say? I was fourteen at the time. Now I grew a significant three years. My old one was unoriginal. I decided to quirk the plot a bit.
And without further ado, here is chapter two!
I added lots of humor, so read :D!
(Whoa, THAT RHYMES c:!)
Disclaimer: If I owned Kingdom Hearts, I'm pretty sure the game would host deaths and atrocities beyond disbelief, so be grateful I don't.
Chapter Two: Silence and Situational
I sat around in the dungeons below Hollow Bastion. I complied with Ansem's bold request, regardless of how ridiculous it may have posed. I could easily contemplate the results of telling the man with no heart "No".
And let me tell you, the walk to the bottom of the castle is dreadful! From the highest of Hollow Bastion to the very bottom, it was torture at its finest. I knew for a fact I couldn't even reach the main lobby without getting lost. Even if I could bust out, running would be futile. Perhaps they will let me go after they find out I am useless. It's unlikely, but not impossible. Worst case scenario is that they'd kill me, or make me surrender my heart. Best case scenario is that they would allow me to stay, which I very little approved of that thought. I don't know which idea sounded much more appealing.
The cell was damp. Yes, damp. Water dripped from the ceiling, and it was extremely cold in here. What's worse is that I've been here for about five hours. I wasn't keeping track, but I could just feel it. Whichever architect made this castle made very little efforts to accommodate their prisoners. The dungeons, from what she could remember, stood beside or under the frozen lake by Hollow Bastion. I huddled up against my knees, and hugged myself in a fruitless attempt to regain some warmth. The cell stunk, and the bed wasn't even a bed. It was solid rock. Of course it was. The only thing that was actually made with nurture was the bars sustaining its prisoners from escape. And, from what I noticed, not all prisoners had gotten out too often...take this guy, Mr. Bones, I will call him, for example. All eroded and motionless. Distasteful. I'd hate to be a replica design for a future newcomer to see on display.
I felt a bulge in my pocket. It rumbled quietly. I reached inside to find an odd sense of relief. My iPhone, of course. Without even thinking, I dialed 911 in a panicked attempt.
"You have reached a number that has been disconnected or is no longer in service," said my iPhone.
I hit 'End Call' and slid against the cold wall. Of course it didn't work. How could it work? I was in a different universe. And, given the fact that the police did answer, what would I tell them? 'Help, I am trapped in a video game castle with a bunch of Disney Villains!' No, that didn't sound very credible, much to my chagrin.
I messed with other features, such as music, and other apps. Flappy Bird was there, which was my least favorite. Like, seriously. I think they made that game just to cause a sense of indignity to its users. I sighed and played some music. I was relieved that that still worked.
There were no guards to watch me from below, so it didn't matter that I had a little fun and made some noise. I figured guards weren't stationed because practically all of the old predecessors, besides myself, of course, had been reduced to rubble...that, or bones. I shuddered and had trouble trying to be calm and happy. The only thing that kept me from lapsing into a psychotic panic attack was that I kept assuring myself that this was one dream, induced by the reading of Kingdom Hearts fanfics. It felt a little more realistic.
I quickly shut off my music as I heard an echo of footsteps tap down the steps. I didn't want to chance that they had heard my iPhone and take it, so I shoved it in my pocket hurriedly.
As said person came into focus, I crossed my arms. It was Hades.
"Hello, little worm!" he cried cheerfully.
"Uh...Hello," I waved as steadily as I could.
"Don't be so shy, kid!" he cheered. He snapped hid fingers and the dungeon doors burned open. So much for care. I, on the other hand, scurried out. "We've all gathered for an audience with you!" cheered Hades before he whispered to me, pretending as though others were listening, "Of course, those fools had sent me to be the messenger, as usual."
"Whaddya mean, 'We've all'?!" I demanded.
"Don't worry, girly, you're in good hands!" he grabbed my arm forcefully, and tugged me towards the staircase. His grip kind of hurt. He acted as though he didn't hear my statement. "Ugh. These cells are too damp for my liking!"
Maybe that's because you're made of fire, I wanted to say. But didn't. After all, I did want to try to at least stay on the villains' good side if anything. I was pretty glad he didn't address the sound of my music. I liked to jam out as much as the next person, but being reprimanded would have a bold impact on my chances of survival. So I can always jam on later.
Up the stairs, I looked at Hades, with as calm of look as I could possibly muster, "Couldn't you just...I don't know...teleport us up there?"
"I could, actually. But I use fire to reach places. If you were to travel by fire, you'd be mere ash," he said in a matter-of-factly tone.
Hades had a very large ego in Kingdom Hearts, and nothing had changed still. The ego didn't annoy me as much as me being defenseless did. Sure, Heartless were kind to me, but they didn't obey me. That's another story.
We past what I remembered to be the library on the way up. I glanced at it from a side view. Hades wasn't stupid. He noticed me observing it. "Ah, the Library. One of my least favorite places!"
"Yeah, I can agree there," I said. I hated reading. Well, except fanfics. Reading aside, altogether: yuck.
The lobby looked so punctual. An onlooker could have assumed it would be worthy of hosting a five-star party should it not have been inhabited by blood-thirsty beasts.
Entering the lobby was none other than our very own Maleficent, Captain Hook, Oogie Boogie, Ursula, and Jafar. Sitka was sitting in a throne behind the group. The villains circled a table around them. There was one empty spot reserved, and since Ansem wasn't here...
"Sit," Maleficent demanded, as though I was trying her patience. I nodded reluctantly, and sat down with the villains. This could not be good.
"Would you like something to eat...Sayla?" Sitka whispered from her throne sweetly.
Before I could agree, because I never turn down free food, Maleficent held up her disgusting green hand. "No, she is not to be treated until she answers all of our questions."
Yep, not good.
"Well, she just appears out of hoozah, and the Keyhole and heartless just suddenly accept her? It is rather suspicious, if I do say so myself," inquired Captain Hook.
It wasn't like I asked for heartless to like me. They scare the hell out of me. And I definitely didn't want to end up among the enemy.
"True, but she could be of use! I say we stuff her like a doll!" clapped Oogie.
I almost screamed in fear, before Sitka giggled. "He's just teasing."
"Oh. That was hilarious," I cried sarcastically.
"Even so, one of our main concerns revolve around this: How did you get here? Or, on the other hand, where are you from?" asked Maleficent boredly.
I couldn't just tell them I am from Earth and that they're from a video game series. Besides, no one would buy that. I'd just end up with more jail time and become the next Mr. Bones. I couldn't afford to tell the whole truth. But I couldn't afford lies either.
"I...I just went to sleep in my bed...and woke up..." should I mention the Station of Awakening? No...Too risky. "...woke up in the Keyhole."
I knew that Sitka knew of my whereabouts. And, to be perfectly clear, I had no idea how I went from the comfort of my bed one day, to prisoner of a castle the next. Sitka didn't say anything. She was surprisingly quiet, but understanding. She kind of reminded me of the unborn Naminé.
"And," time to change the subject, "I am from another world."
I didn't feel very comfortable changing the subject to that, either. I felt stupid.
"But the heartless are attached to you. How is that?" asked Jafar.
"I don't know?" I answered. I really didn't. But, I was actually glad the heartless were nice to me, because I'd only make it halfway up a small flight of stairs before dying.
"You fool, she must have a darkened heart!" Ursula chanted. "She must be that one!"
"Silence!" Sitka shouted angrily, her veil flying out of her face. No one had ever seen her raged so much. I think that scared me more than the villains.
Under Sitka's veil, she had dark grey eyes, like a stormy cloud. She had black hair, and extremely pale skin. She reminded me of a porcelain doll, except human. The frail detail was roughly the same. As her veil covered her eyes, she whispered again, lightly, "Sorry for the outburst...But she must not know. You'll scare her. It's too soon."
"Since when did you have any say-so in this?" asked Hades.
In retaliation, Sitka pulled her veil back on top of her face. She stopped talking, knowing that it was apparently her proper place of being.
"As little as I'd like to admit, she is right," grimaced Maleficent. She stood up from her seat, and pointed her staff at me. "Sayla, is it?"
"Y-yes..." I stood up slowly.
"I have, after this interview, decided to spare you," said Maleficent.
I immediately saluted the witch and went to leave. Captain Hook lunged into my collar to keep me from taking off. I looked at Captain Hook bitterly.
"But," Maleficent turned away from me, "there are rules."
"Name them," Sitka directed.
"For starters, you will respect each and everyone of us. Any sign of insubordination is grounds for execution. You are not to enter the library-" Maleficent said.
"None of us are," said Oogie.
"...Don't ever interrupt me, you sack of bugs!" Maleficent shrieked, sending a flash of green fire his way dangerously. Oogie tilted his head, and dodged it. I felt uneasy around this group of obvious sadists.
It was one thing to speak out during Maleficent's speech, but another to intrude while the witch was speaking. I kept in mind to never interrupt her, or, on that note, not to piss her off, period.
After Maleficent calmed down, she faced me again. "Stay out of the room where the Keyhole resides. Do everything we say, no matter how absurd the request. Sitka, show her to her room. That is all. You all are dismissed."
And with that, Maleficent disappeared. I had hardly started to accept the awful jargon that was my captivity. I wanted nothing more than to just go home and undergo the torture of a two weeks' grounding.
I watched as the other villains disappeared with their own methods. Oogie turned into a bunch of bugs and crawled away carrying his own skin (or was it a bag?), Ursula disappeared in a cloud of ink bubbles, and Jafar used some sort of dark magic embedded within his staff. Hades burned a blue fire and was gone. Captain Hook was the only one who didn't have magical properties. He merely grumbled as he made his way up the stairs.
I approached Sitka's throne, not noticing how fearful my expression was. Sitka leaped out of her throne, and faced me.
"I know, back to the dungeons," I sighed, not in a hurry to go. I would rather sleep on the ground in the lobby before going back.
"No, since the jurisdiction decided you were innocent, you pose no threat...practically speaking, you will get the privileges of a guest, but in the form of a prisoner," said Sitka lightly. "You get a room."
"Really?! Yay!" I pumped my fist into the air feeling, for once, since I got here, relieved.
"You mean...you don't hate us?"
"Well, not the entirety, no," I giggled. "But you seem pretty nice."
I could have swore Sitka looked reminiscent under her veil. She shook off her look of mixed feelings, and pulled her veil off. She looked at me, and I met her gaze.
"You were the one who met me in the Station of Awakening, weren't you?" I asked.
Sitka hushed me, as we traveled through a flight of stairs and a few electric switches. The switches could only be activated by metal, or a weapon. If you were to do it by hand, chances were you'd be petrified and risk death.
"Yes, I was trying to warn you," Sitka said seriously, as the elevator started going upwards.
It was a nice feeling knowing you wouldn't have to sleep in a dark, rustic, cold chamber.
"So, can I get back to my world?" I asked.
"It's too risky at this point. Even if you tried to leave, and got caught, they'd kill you, and turn the heartless against you," Sitka bit her lip.
That's right. The heartless weren't on the war path with me. I'd rather it stay that way.
"Please," I begged, clenching my fists, "tell me this is one awful nightmare."
"I wish I could say the same thing," Sitka glanced away with uncertainty.
I resigned, and pulled out my iPhone. I started playing my favorite rock songs out loud. Sitka looked at me weirdly.
"Uh...what's that?"
"It's a music device from my world. I can play music here if I want," I explained, sweatdropping.
It's the only thing I can still hold on to. My personality said optimist and free spirit, but my conscience said rock star of the galaxy. Whatever. I tried looking at the bright sides of this situation, but hardly found any.
When she showed me into my room, I noticed how dark it was. It was solid and had no windows. Just like my dungeon room, it was cold because of the high elevation, I assumed. At least it looked more presentable, and the bed was an actual bed, not a large boulder shaped like a bed.
I turned to Sitka nervously. I tapped both my fingers together, and mustered an eager smile. "Mind showing me to the kitchen?"
"Oh, yeah! Of course! I'm sorry!" Sitka winced as though I would punch her.
I would have asked why she winced, but my hunger detained me from my striving motivation to do anything. I hadn't eaten anything since I was reading my fanfics yesterday.
The kitchen was a dark black. Typical. The stove fire was malevolent green. Sure, okay. But what really annoyed me was that all the furniture was a solid, jet black color as well. It made it harder than it should have been to navigate in there. I opened a few cabinets, and found foods I have never heard of. I felt a strain of relief when I ran into familiar ingredients. I found a box of batter, and smiled.
"It's breakfast time!" I smiled at Sitka.
She gave me a confused gesture. I smiled. "If you could, find me a whisk, a bowl, and a frying pan."
She did as instructed, hastily. She handed me the cooking equipment. I cheered happily, "Thanks!"
I mixed the batter in with water inside the bowl. I balanced the mixture carefully. I made sure not to make it too runny, or to dry. After that, I started stirring the batter.
"What are you making?" asked Sitka curiously.
"Pancakes," I replied cheerfully. "You'll love it. Cooking is one of my favorite stress-relievers. It's also a plus, as it's a good late-night snack, plus pancakes are delicious!"
Sitka tilted her head. "Is that a recipe on your world?"
I snorted. "Yeah! I am crazy about pancakes...or waffles."
"Waffles? There are other recipes in your world?"
"Yep!" I said, using a giant spoon to gently place the batter on the frying pan sitting on the stove. "Tons. I haven't even begun to explain all the others I know how to cook."
So I explained to her what foods my world has . She was aghast just listening to my stories, as I placed the done pancakes on a plate for us to eat.
We sat at the black dining table with our black table ware. I only made pancakes for two. She grabbed her knife and fork, and started to cut it. I already had cut mine into little dices. I typically would have put syrup on it, but didn't think there was any.
Sitka looked reluctantly at her meal, as though it would pop up and attack her.
"What?" I ask, confused.
"I don't know..." she said skeptically.
"I'm not that bad of a cook," I retorted.
"I know...but...Ugh," she resigned finally, and smiled weakly, and bit into her flapjack. Her eyes lit up happily. "Mmm! This is delicious!"
I smiled triumphantly. "What did I tell you?"
"You need to give me the recipe sometime," she laughed.
And so we enjoyed our late-night meal. I had to have Sitka show me back to my room. I still couldn't navigate entirely without getting lost. Sitka assured me that she would be back the next morning to help me get back downstairs.
Okay, time to draw out a map. I had a drawing app on my iPhone and drew a circle, indicating that was my room. When I left, I would continue to make a map, just in case. It was nice to know certain locations, because once I found an opportunity to leave, I would.
Now, at what point in the game am I at? Well, Ansem is still a premature disembodied heart. So that must mean Riku hasn't given up his body...yet. That means that this is taking place right before the events of Kingdom Hearts 1. The only thing I can do is wait for Sora to come to my rescue. Even that will take a while.
I looked at my iPhone. It was at 56%. I decided I would have to conserve that battery level, seeing as I cannot charge it.
"There's more to this than Maleficent is telling," I muttered, putting my iPhone away.
I tucked into my actual comfortable bed, and soon found myself falling asleep. I figured that when I wake up, I will be back home, in my own bed.
A/N: Uh, oh! Trouble's brewing, and it looks to me like Sayla is stuck! And there's more to the situation than meets the eye! Why can't she, or anyone else be in the library?! Why is Sitka so uncertain?!
Can anyone guess what reason they have for sparring Sayla? Disney Villains are typically ruthless and just wouldn't spare her out of the kindness of their heart. And, before anyone guesses, nupe, Sayla is not a Princess of Heart.
I hate to leave you on a cliffhanger, buuuttt...Stay tuned ;)
Review! I LOVE REVIEWS! So you gotta review :D!