hey guys - here's another chappie
and to the guest who reviewed for ally not to do something stupid...please tell me who you are so i can know what exactly you meant :)
thanks everyone for the lovely reviews so far :) they really help me continue writing!
have fun with this one
Chapter 4: An Enchanted Tale
Right before Ally was going to rest up in small bedroom on the Gummi Ship, something shiny out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. She turned to see that she placed the gift Merlin hastily gave her before leaving for Mulan's world was seated on the bedside table. She approached it and carefully lifted the lid to the small box and peered inside. She opened the lid completely this time and allowed the light to completely cover the small sphere inside. When Ally picked it up, she was surprised to see on the back of the sphere was a clip she could attach it to her clothes.
She sat down on the bed and observed the dark gray sphere that shined dimly in the light room. She placed it on her vest and made sure it wouldn't fall off. She looked at the mirror across from where she was sitting and admired the sphere on her vest, until her vision started to blur. Ally rubbed her eyes with the backs of her hands but no matter what, her eyes wouldn't stop blurring and only worsened as her eyesight began to swim in her vision. She fell back slightly and landed on something soft before her eyes ignored her commands to stay open and drifted close.
Ally woke up almost immediately, the sense of nausea and sleepiness finally disappearing from her mind and stomach and she uncurled her fists and began to sit up on her elbows. She looked around, and noticed she was in a white dress that she wore the last time she fell asleep.
"Took you long enough to use it." Came a surprising deep voice.
"What?" Ally's head snapped in the direction of the voice and found a man cloaked in a black robe and immediately hopped to her feet, but when she saw he wasn't making a move to attack, she realized who she was facing finally. "Oh, hey." Ally sighed as she relaxed her shoulders. She then looked down at her dress again and saw that pinned to the rim was the sphere pin she had on just a moment ago. Then a connection formed in her head and she looked back up at Anon. "So this was made for, whatever this is?"
"Yes." Anon folded his arms behind his back and strolled closer to where Ally was standing. "Merlin is perceptive and he knew that these connections are very hard to maintain. This charm will help you keep asleep and bring you right back here."
"So no more regular dreams for me?" He ignored her comment and turned around to bring out his sword. She sighed as she expected that much from him.
"Let's get you suited up, you were pretty rusty out there in the war zone." Anon snapped his fingers and suddenly the white emptiness they usually hung out on was gone and they were now in a long white hallway with no ways out. Though the lack of exits bothered Ally a bit, she recognized the place as Castle Oblivion. She then found Brave Heart appeared in her hands and she looked down to find herself back in her usual outfit, which relieved her slightly.
"Psht, no I wasn't." Ally scuffed as she remembered Anon's comment suddenly and swiped her blade out and to the side. "I was perfectly capable of defending myself and I was still regaining my strength."
"We can't have you slacking off at any moment." Anon said before charging forward and making a move to swipe at her. Ally rushed back and from a further position was able to block the oncoming threat of Anon's dark sword.
"Fine…though I don't get how training in a dream will physically help me get better at fighting." Ally huffed as she pushed off Anon's dark blade, which she just realized she couldn't get a good look at as it was constantly concealed in a warmth of darkness like a thin but still very deadly silk. Trying not to let the distraction bother her, she charged forward this time and called out "Order!" and her other blade Soul Wing appeared and she slashed with ferocity with both blades clashing with his big dark one.
"When you dream of how to fight, it'll come more naturally to you as you progress on your journey." Anon said with ease, as the movement of fighting didn't seem to drain him of an ounce of energy as he kept striving forward. "Thus, your mind will be more equipped for sudden fights." Anon flung first Soul Wing out of Ally's hand, shocking her for him to then slap Brave Heart out of Ally's grasp. She looked at both swords, as they lay on the ground, as they didn't return to her side. She let out an aggravated sigh and looked at Anon.
"Okay then, whatever you say, chief…" Ally groaned as she went to go pick up both her weapons.
"You're favoring your right side." Anon stated after a beat when Ally regained both her weapons, though not shortly after retrieving them did Soul Wing disappear and she was left only with Brave Heart.
"Well I am a righty." Ally admitted.
"You're leaving yourself wide open." Anon rushed at her again after a moment of silence and knocked Ally off her feet with a swipe of his leg along with a getting Brave Heart out of her grasp once more. He stood over her, watching, as she didn't have the energy to get up. "See? That'll keep happening until you improve."
"Well you didn't instruct me where to move." Ally groaned as stumbled back up to her feet. She was becoming less and less amused with their exercise.
"Just don't leave yourself open." Anon said open-endedly.
"How, dummy?" Ally emphasized as she waved her arms around. "You haven't taught before, have you?"
"No, I actually haven't." Anon admitted.
"Then why are you teaching me to begin with? And also, why are YOU teaching me? I know how to fight." She reminded him.
"You still get hurt in battles." He stated.
"Because I partake in battles, it's normal to come out with a few bumps and scraps." Ally argued.
"Each scrap is a waste of energy and your strength."
"Jeez do you ever lighten up?" Ally began to walk away from him and crossed her arms, completely unaware of his eyes staring at her back before he finally inwardly sighed.
"…Fine." Anon stated lightly. Ally looked back slightly before turning to the side, to amuse him. "Let's try this way." A dark form came out of the ground when he pointed to it.
"What are you doing?" Ally asked apprehensively.
"Giving you a target." He stated simply. He motioned her to step back a bit and she did and waited. "Watch." He charged forward and swiped in three different directions swiftly as he continued to move past the Heartless and once he stopped moving, the Heartless completely vanished. He stood upright again and put away his sword. "Now do just that."
"I'm sorry I blinked, do that again." Ally said sheepishly.
"Just try." Anon suggested firmly as he brought out another solider Heartless for Ally this time to take on.
"Fine…" Ally sighed and pushed some hair out of her face. She couldn't' remember what he did exactly but noted that he didn't stop moving when attacking. So she rushed forward and struck Brave Heart firmly through the head of the Heartless and didn't wait to watch it disappear as she ran past it. She turned back around to see the small remnants of darkness in the air where the Heartless was standing previously. "There, did it!" Ally cheered happily at her work.
"Not the way I did it." Anon commented as he strolled over to her. "You have to loosen your grip, your arm shouldn't be stiff like this." He touched her arm that was holding Brave Heart and directed it the way he wanted it. "It will help you deliver swifter blows." He moved her arm, while placing the other hand on the handle as well, and slicing through the air diagonally.
"Huh…never thought of that…okay, give me a new target." Ally tried it on her own once Anon stepped away and then another soldier Heartless appeared. She swiftly moved forward and sliced at the Heartless twice to get at it's weak points and before she could move past it she could feel the darkness that made up the Heartless break down over her shoulder. "Well?" She turned back around to face Anon's critiques.
"Better." Ally smiled. "But not quite there yet." And the smile vanished.
"What was I doing wrong?" Ally groaned as she leaned against a wall nearby.
"You focused too much on your arm." He pointed to her arm still holding Brave Heart.
"But you told me to." Ally pointed out as she waved it slightly to emphasize her point.
"Yes I did, but you body became out of sync with your arm."
"But I got the job done." Ally stated as she came closer to Anon, but as she strode closer another soldier Heartless appeared and she went for another kill.
"That doesn't mean anything if you had someone behind you." Anon's voice suddenly came from behind her. "Again." before she could react, Ally was back on the ground. "Like that." He stepped back slowly as he saw the anger flare up in Ally's face slightly.
"Hey that – wait, that didn't hurt." Before ally could finish her angry statement, she examined herself and she hadn't received any damages, no hint of aches or scratches from her training thus far.
"Of course not, this is a dream." Anon stated like it was obvious with the slightest hint of amusement.
"Oh, right…" Ally scratched her head sheepishly at the reminder. Ally then noticed that Anon had grown quiet and seemed to be staring at her, though she couldn't tell with the hood covering his features. The hood suddenly bothered her and she wanted to rip it off from his head. Anon shook off his thoughts and got back into teaching again and approached Ally again, but this time touching her sides and twisting them back and front again while he stood on the side of her. She looked at his hands and the movements as she listened to him speak.
"Now, you have to move your torso in the direction of the swing." Anon kept demonstrating until he allowed for Ally to perform the action on her own. After doing it single handedly for a moment he then asked, "feel the difference?"
"Well it's definitely not like fencing." Ally said, as she didn't directly answer the question. And even though he was touching her anymore, the close proximity started to make her uncomfortable.
"Is that why you're so stiff?" Anon asked.
"I'm not a stiff!" Ally reacted rashly as she turned on him and gave him a hard look. Then she thought over what he said again and then backed down in embarrassment. "Oh, you didn't say that. Well, I never took up any other type of swordsmanship or other fighting styles."
"Then we'll work on that too." Anon suggested.
"Should've kept my big mouth shut." Ally murmured in annoyance.
"You'll thank me later." Anon said over his shoulder with a smile most likely gracing his features.
"Whatever you say…" As Ally was going to take a step forward to join him for another lesson, the room suddenly began to shake and she lost her footing slightly and wobbled uncontrollably. "What was that vibrating? Did you feel that?"
"You're needed back there." Anon said simply as he didn't seem too affected by the rumbling of the room.
"Huh?" Ally quirked as she didn't know where 'there' was per say.
"Wake up." Anon then clasped his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back again just like before, but this time the fall back felt more unpleasant.
"Ah!" She shrieked as the floor escaped around her and the white room was replaced with a swirling darkness that was all around her and ticking her skin.
"Ally! Ally!" Came a voice followed by lots of banging. It was muffled until finally the darkness surrounding her shattered by the last scream of her name, which was as clear as day. "ALLY!"
"Ah! What, what?" Ally jolted forwards. She looked around in a panic and saw she was lying on top of the covers, arms keeping her sitting up, and Sora looking at her like she grew another head. Ally sighed and wiped the little bit of sweat that formed on her brows.
"God, you're a heavier sleeper than I thought." Sora mentioned as she got up from the kneeling position he was just in by the bedside.
"Well excuse me, I'm exhausted." Ally stifled a yawn. Sora laughed at her failed argument and walked out of the room while calling out, "we're heading out." As she got up and slipped on her shoes, she just made it to where the guys were just about to leave without her. She huffed a bit and Donald tapped his foot at her a bit before waddling away. She smiled and tried not to laugh. They land and enter a dark castle covered in old plants and it looks very old. High ceilings, arches above them supported by beams, old-fashioned gothic period and it the whole place gave off a dark and ominous vibe.
"Hey, what is this place?" Sora asked curiously.
"It's huge!" Donald awed as he looked at the high ceilings.
"And sorta gloomy, don't ya think?" Goofy commented as he made slow movements as he ventured further into the castle.
"The architecture is magnificent." Ally marveled as she walked further into the foyer in a dreamlike state. It took her a moment to realize that they were looking at her weirdly. "What? I'm an old-fashioned nerd. I fence for goodness sakes!"
"I wonder who lives here?" Sora asked to no one in particular as he followed Ally's lead and began venturing farther into the castle.
"ROAARR!" They all stopped moving as the roar began to shake the old structure and threw them off balance slightly and also thrown off by shock.
"Hey, does anybody else recognize that?" Goofy asked.
"ROAARR!"
"Hey! That's the Beast!" Sora smiled.
"Yeah." Donald agreed.
"You guys are friends with a beast?" She asked as she ridged a brow at them curiously. So that must've meant we're in the Beast's castle, she concurred. That means Belle's here too! She secretly smiled to herself.
"His name is Beast, but yeah, he's a beast as well. He's not so bad, there's a heart under all that fur and claws." Sora explained.
"Okay, maybe I should just wait on the Gummi Ship…" She mused as she slowly made her way back to the door.
"Don't be ridiculous, he's perfectly fine. C'mon." Sora chided as he tugged her back.
Remember the story? Kingdom Hearts asked as "he" could sense her excitement growing.
Yes, of course I do. Belle's here! I can't wait to see her! But the Beast on the other hand, I'm not looking forward to meeting right now. Ally couldn't hide the shiver that went through her.
Things are not always as they seem here.
Don't I know it. Ally laughed lightly in her head. The guys are gonna freak!
That goes for you, too – there are new dangers here.
Okay, I'll stay on guard.
"Maybe we should check up on him." Goofy suggested.
"Look!" Sora cries. He points forward and we all watch as a shadow Heartless crawl along the floor and into a far off room.
"C'mon!" Donald cried out, ready for a fight. He runs ahead of everyone and Sora and Goofy are on his heels, flippers, and Ally is a little ways behind them. Donald walks up to the opened door and carefully sticks his head in. "Where did it go?" Donald says as he moves his head left and right.
"Doesn't look like anything's in here….We should go." Ally said. Though she knew she shouldn't be afraid, the fact that the gang is currently in his home, and in the beginning of Beauty and the Beast, the Beast is vicious and cruel.
"Wah…" Ally heard Donald muses and pulls her out of her train of thought. She watches as he slowly starts approaching a glowing pink rose in a glass case on a desk in the far left corner.
"Donald, don't!" Ally called out to Donald dramatically. If he dared touched the rose, the Beast will come charging in and eat them. Though, he probably doesn't eat people, he's very moody and will definitely claw their eyes out. Though he knows the original trio, he's never met Ally before and might see her as a threat. That thought made her squeamish.
"Wha-AH! Found it!" Donald cried out. Ally was confused by his response but soon she saw that the Shadow they chased into the room popped up in front of Donald.
"Good eye, Ally!" Goofy complimented as he took out his shield and got in a ready stance.
"Uh, thanks Goof." She replied laughing nervously because it was pure coincidence. But she nonetheless pulled out her Brave Heart and got ready as more and more Heartless appeared.
"Whoa!" Sora said as one appeared under his feet and he had to jump back to get away from it. "C'mon! Let's get 'em!" though the Heartless in the small room were only small black creatures that look like large ants, they swarmed like the gang disturbed a nest of them and when two were taken down, four popped up in their place and so on. The gang was back up into a corner before they knew what was going on.
"Aw c'mon, enough already!" Sora complained.
"Somebody help us!" Donald cried out in distress.
"No! We can do this!" Ally said as she herself was out of breath. "We Don't Need Help! We Were Just Kidding!" Ally shouted out so no one would come for them.
"Why are you tense all of a sudden?" Sora asked her, giving her an odd look.
"I have a bad feeling…" She sighed. Then all of a sudden she got tackled by one of the Shadows while more piled on her.
"NO!" The gang screamed in shock at the sudden ambush. The doors slam open and then a lot of Shadows are pushed aside to reveal the Beast walk in.
"Ha!" Donald cheered, happy to see his old friend. The Beast started slashing his meaty arms around and destroying the Heartless easily. Then he gave a big deafening roar that causes the rest of the Heartless to disappear and Ally was dropped to the ground from being let go finally. She shook her head and looked up to see the Beast. She could almost see a dark aura around him that terrified her. She quickly rolled out of the way and dived behind a large comfy chair.
"Just in time!" Sora cheered happily when the Beast was coming his way, but instead of getting a nice hello like he expected, he was shoved violently to the side. "WHOA!" Sora shouted out as he was thrown back to the bookcase.
"Sora!" Donald called out worried for his friend but before he could do anything he was shoved back in the opposite direction. "UNF!" The Beast afterwards walked slowly over to the table with the glowing rose on it, he picked it up and cradled it gently in his arms he walked off without another word and closed the door behind him violently.
"Gee, do you think he maybe forgot who we are?" Goofy asked as he rubbed his head and managed to get himself and Donald off the ground.
"With this many Heartless around, something must be up." Sora assumed.
"Why'd he have to do that?" Donald complained as he tried to fix the feathers on his bottom.
"I told you…" Ally said, appearing out of her hiding place behind the large chair near the fire. "I have a bad feeling something's wrong, really wrong."
"Like what, exactly?" Sora asked, wanting her to continue as they left the small room and back out into the main entrance.
"I don't know…I feel on edge, there's another presence here somewhere," Ally warns as she looks around, to see if they're being watched or something. "Kingdom Hearts is warning me, us, to stay alert."
"Hm…" Sora mused as they exited the small library. As they got outside and looked around, Donald was looking towards the staircase and tapping his foot in deep thought. "What is it?"
"I just know I saw a lady at the top of the stairs…" Donald says curiously.
"Well…" Goofy elongated. "If the Beast is here in the castle, that lady musta been Belle, right?"
"Yeah, maybe so." Sora said agreeing with Goofy. "Belle might know what's happened to the Beast, too."
"C'mon, let's go find her!" Goofy suggested gleefully. Before they could take another step, bat type Heartless appeared and blocked the gang's way from the staircase. Obviously they charged, but Ally was having a hard time fighting the Heartless, she wasn't the best jumper.
"Pesky bat, hanger, things!" Ally huffed as she had difficulty landing any hits but they were very good a maneuvering around her slashes. Finally when they were gone, the gang headed up the step stairwell. There was a dark hallway that led to a door at the end. The gang didn't sense danger at first and so decided they were safe to stroll through, but they, more so Ally was surprised when the gargoyles that lined the walls came to life with sharp staffs armed and ready.
"AH!" Ally jumped as they shimmied towards the gang. "Are they cursed too?" Sora didn't hesitate to start taking one down. Once it was destroyed, he looked over at her and asked,
"What?" Ally looked at his Keyblade carefully and then saw Donald and Goofy taking on a gargoyle of their own and then it all made sense.
"Oh, wait, they're Heartless, that makes me feel better." Ally sighed as she unsheathed Brave Heart and leaped into action. Once they were gone, Sora approached Ally cautiously and asked,
"Why were you so afraid of them?"
"Oh, well I don't know…I wasn't expecting them to come alive. Gargoyles are creepy, they don't need to be Heartless too." Ally shrugged, thankful that Sora didn't ask her about calling them cursed, because that would be really complicated to explain. To get their minds off of her hesitation, she quickly asked, "so who's this Belle girl? And, why is she living with a beast?"
"Shhh!" Sora shushed Ally who was behind him and Goofy who was behind Ally covered his mouth quickly in order to not make a sound. Sora then motions with his hand to move forward towards the door. Ally and Sora lean their ears towards the door to see if they can hear anything.
"Oh, what am I going to do?" Came a gentle yet distressed voice from inside. They all make small exchanges though Ally is just staring between the three wondering what they are going to do. Donald huffed as he stepped back and turned around to face the door head on.
"Okay." He said as he took a running stance. Ally had a feeling this wasn't going to end well.
"Donald!" Sora called out but Donald already took off and he ran straight at the door. Instead of slamming into it like everyone thought the doors opened, but not because of Donald's brute force, and he fell forward into the room.
"Hey! Who opened the door?" Donald complained as he rubbed his bill.
"Oh, I'm so happy you're here!" Said Belle who was in her simple blue dress with a white apron wrapped around her waist. "Donald!" She said as she picked him up and encased him in a bone-crushing hug from the looks of it.
"Hey, ugh, lemme go!" Donald tried saying but he was losing so much air from the hug it came out in gasps.
"Sora! Goofy!" Belle cried out cheerfully.
"Hi ya." He waved sheepishly as he grinned at the sight of his friend in his current situation. Goofy waved his hand at her happily. Ally stood in the shadows so she wasn't seen, just to see what was about to happen.
"Put me down! Put me down!" Donald's cried out in pain and annoyance.
"Oh…sorry." Belle apologized to a very lightheaded and dizzy Donald.
"Uh…where's, the Beast?" Donald managed to say in his current state.
"Oh," Belle answered in a tone that didn't sound too pleased. She rose from the ground and said, "He must be in the west wing. We don't talk like we used to."
"Did something happen?" Sora asked curiously.
"Yes. Isn't that why you're here?" Belle asked confused. The gang was just as confused as they looked around themselves and shrugged their shoulders each.
"Not exactly. But we can still help!" Goofy said.
"Since we're here and all." Sora added.
"The Beast won't talk to you?" Donald continued as to try and understand the situation.
"He's been acting strange lately." Belle admitted sadly.
"Yeah, so we witnessed downstairs in the den." Ally said as she crossed her arms, feeling on her arm where the bruise was forming from the impact her arm made with the ground.
"Oh, hello, are you a friend of Sora and his friends?" Belle asked kindly.
"Yes, hi, sorry I'm Ally nice to meet you. Anyway, do you know when he started acting this way?" Ally asked interested to see what part in the story line they're up to in the world, though proven from the Land of Dragons, the story lines have been altered.
"Just recently. And I don't know why. The only ones who might know why are locked up in the dungeon." Belle thought aloud. "I want to help, but…"
"Wait a second. Who locked whom up?" Sora asked curiously.
"The Beast locked up his servants." Belle stated.
"But why?" Donald asked.
"That's what I don't know." Belle said.
"Hmm." Sora thought for a moment. "Where's this dungeon?"
"You can get to the undercroft from the west hall. The dungeon is down there." Belle instructed as she pointed out the door.
"West hall. Got it." Sora nodded.
"Be careful!" Belle pleaded. Sora gave he a thumb's up.
"We'll figure this out, Belle." Ally reassured her when she thought maybe Belle wasn't convinced.
"Thank you, Ally." Belle said kindly as she took Ally's hands in hers. "Please protect the servants. They're my friends." Ally had to keep her heartbeat under control. She was talking to Belle, THE Belle, and she was asking something of her.
"Don't worry, we'll save them and find out what's wrong with the Beast." Ally said after a moment with a soft nod.
"Let's get moving." Sora called to Ally while he, Donald and Goofy were standing by the doors. Ally nodded but quickly turned back to Belle.
"Stay in your room Belle, this might be the only safe place for you."
"Alright." Belle nodded gently, she didn't seem too happy with idea as Ally could tell, but Ally knew better than to let her wander off. Ally gave one last smile and waved at Belle as she closed the doors to the room.
"Poor thing, she's seems pretty worked up over this." Ally sighed as she walked with the group out of the east wing.
"I wonder why the Beast would be doing this." Sora crossed his arms as they walked.
"Maybe it's that bad feeling you had?" Goofy asked Ally curiously. Ally looked at him and then looked around the room, still feeling like they were being watching. Maybe it was the threat of gargoyles coming to life or that weird feeling she initially got when entering the castle. It was hard to differentiate them now.
"I'm not sure…but it might be related." Ally thought it over as they entered the entrance hall again. Ally was going to say more, to see if the others were feeling a sense of unease since entering the castle but they were suddenly bombarded by bat like Heartless like from before.
"Great, more company!" Donald huffed as he unleashed a string of lightning at the Heartless. Once they were gone, the gang entered the west wing, which was much different set up than the east wing. For starters there was a huge corridor filled with light, unlike Belle's with armored statues lining the walls. Ally looked at them carefully, making sure that they weren't either cursed or Heartless in disguise. But when they passed, Ally didn't see them move and decided to move on with the gang around the corner. The end of the corridor lead to a dead end but had a staircase on the side of the hall that lead upstairs, most likely to Beast's quarters, but it was blocked with armed statues. Guess Beast really wanted his privacy.
"There should be a way into the undercroft around here…" Sora mentioned as he continued to scout the area.
"Hey look at that…" Ally said as she pointed to the far left corner across from the staircase. There was a wardrobe leaned up against the wall. "That doesn't look like it should be here…" She said as she walked over to it curiously.
"Wonder who put it there?" Goofy pondered.
"Could it have been the Beast?" Donald inquired.
"Let's see what it's blocking…" Sora says as he pushes the wardrobe out of the way. He pushes it far enough to see a green door. "Here it is!" Suddenly the wardrobe's wood formed a face and the eyes flickered open and the wood creaked as it turned towards Sora, who disturbed her.
"Do you MIND?!" The wardrobe exclaimed in a very strong female voice.
"Ah!" Sora exclaimed. The wardrobe then forced Sora to step back as it moved back to where it was placed beforehand and her eyes shut again.
"Gawrsh!" Goofy gasped.
"Evil Spirit!" Donald said as he approached the wardrobe threateningly with his wand.
"No, don't!" Ally said as she held him back by locking his wings in place.
"What?" Sora questioned her in shock.
"She's harmless…" Ally whispered.
"She's in our way…" Sora stated grumpily.
"Look…" Ally said as she dragged Donald over to a far off spot so the wardrobe wouldn't hear them, signaling for the other two to follow.
"What's the big idea?" Donald complained as he escaped her grip.
"We can't hurt her Donald…we just got to go about this differently."
"How?" Goofy asked.
"Just you wait…" Ally inquired as the wardrobe falls back asleep, making a small snoring sound.
"How'd you know?" Sora asked in shock once more.
"She was asleep before. Obviously she was going to fall back to sleep to get some more after we disturbed her." Ally explained.
"Well now what?" Sora asked. "She's still in our way."
"This needs a lady's touch…" Ally mused as she walked back over to the wardrobe and tiptoed back to the wardrobe's side. She then rested her hands on the wardrobe and began to push, but just barely.
"What are you doing…?" Sora asked in a hushed tone.
"Pushing it slowly so she doesn't get startled and wake up…" Ally groaned as she continued to put all her might into her task.
"You haven't even moved it yet…" Sora sighed.
"Course I did…" Ally huffed quietly as she stopped to look at her progress. "Oh…" Ally sighed at her lack of progress. "Well then, you push, and I'll tell you if I think she's waking up or not…"
"Because that always works…" Sora rolled his eyes.
"Just trust me!" She whisper yelled. Sora sighed and the two together, slowly but steadily, were able to move the wardrobe out of the way so they could get through to the door. Once the door was visible, Sora and Ally nodded at each other and high fived, then immediately regretted the action when the slap echoed through the halls. The wardrobe then began to wake up again.
"And I was just starting to get comfortable…" The wardrobe grumbled as it turned to face the group. "May I help you?"
"Huh? What?" Sora gaped at the wardrobe. Ally slapped his arm and he looked at her accusingly but then she motioned to the door with a nod of her head and if it were possible, a light bulb would've appeared above his head. "Oh, right – Belle needs us to get to the dungeon."
"Goodness!" The wardrobe exclaimed. "You're here to help my friends? Well why didn't you say so?"
"Er…" Sora was about to ask her what she meant Ally supposed but the wardrobe didn't give Sora the time to as she continued.
"I'm sorry I startled you." The wardrobe apologized and then her eyes glossed over in remembrance as she looked at Ally and Sora sadly. "Oh I used to be human you know, until the enchantress cast her spell. I was turned into a wardrobe when the prince was turned into a beast."
"The prince is the Beast?!" Donald gasped.
"The Beast is a prince?!" Goofy then gasped and Ally had to hold back a laugh.
"That's right." The wardrobe did her best to nod, though it turned more into a bow. "Although his behavior was far from princely at the time."
"What's this about a…spell?" Sora asked.
"Well, it was a cold winter's night…" The gang leaned in intently, waiting to hear the tale. "And that's enough for now." The wardrobe interrupted her story. "You can hear the rest when you've rescued the others. It'll give you something to look forward to."
"Aw…" Donald and Ally sighed sadly together.
"Hurry now, the dungeon is wet and chilly. Certainly no place for a clock!" The wardrobe pleaded.
"A clock?" Goofy questioned.
"You'll find out soon enough." The wardrobe winked and egged the group further to enter the green door.
"Alright, let's get going." Sora encouraged as he turned towards the group. They all nodded and they bid the wardrobe a farewell and entered through the door.
"Well, uh, it was nice meeting you." Ally said cheerfully as she went towards the door and opened it for the group to enter. "We'll be back in no time."
"Thank you, dears!" The wardrobe cheered, as Sora was the last to enter and Ally looked back and closed the doors behind her.
"Well, that was strange." Sora admitted as he and Ally stood by the closed door.
"Yeah, a little." Ally nodded in agreement.
"This must be it." Sora said as they looked towards the dark stone room with a stone door ahead of them.
"That's sure one creepy looking door." Ally mentioned as she hesitantly entered the room.
"Sure is…" Goofy nodded as his teeth chattered nervously.
"Eh, doesn't matter. It's decoration. Let's just open it…" Donald sighed and was the first to approach the doors with no fear.
"Wait…" Ally mumbled as a wave of darkness just flushed over her and gave her goose bumps. Something was wrong. "Things aren't always as they seem…" She mumbled aloud as she remembered Kingdom Hearts warning her. "Get back!" Ally yelled but it was too late, the creatures on the doors eyes glowed.
"Wah!" Donald gaped. He stumbled back spastically as he scrambled over his webbed feet as the stone creatures were gaining form and spewing darkness from their pores. "Uh-oh!" Donald just missed a red painted claw slashing at his feathers. The gang got together again and readied their weapons as the dungeon gate Heartless didn't hesitate to shoot out its long dark arms and smash the group farther back in the small room. Other minor Heartless like the gargoyles from the east wing and the bats came back to join the party as well. The minor heartless did a good job at distracting the group from getting to their real target, and every time the gang tried moving forward, the Dungeon Keeper Heartless kept shoving them back again with it's massive arms or generating shadow balls that scattered throughout the room; overall, the group was quickly growing more and more exhausted, but not defeated yet.
Okay, this guy seems pretty tough. Ally puffed as she tried charging again but having to face off with staggering Heartless, separating her from the group again.
It does have a weakness.
Don't start holding back now! Spill.
It can't stay connected to the stone door forever. Sora can cast the Heartless out and leave it in it's true form.
He can? Does he have a spell for that?
The Keyblade is a natural key that can unlock darkness' hold on the world; the Keyblade should be able to hold true for the Heartless.
All right.
"Sora, you have to use your Keyblade to separate the Heartless from the door!" Ally called out as Sora tried nearing the door again but getting sent back.
"How do I do that?" Sora turned to Ally, like she had taken too many hits to the head.
"Try forcing the darkness out!" When Sora still didn't seem to understand what she meant for him to do, Ally sighed and yelled, "Just feel it!"
"Okay!" Sora eyed her like she was crazy but he didn't seem to have any other ideas. He went forward, cut off the Heartless' attacks momentarily by swinging at it and then the Keyblade seemed to move Sora against his will and there was a big flash of light. When the light disappeared from the door, the Heartless' body was turned to stone while in mid-swing.
"There you go." Ally grinned.
"So, did we win?" Sora sighed, as he was happy the plan worked though he still seemed confused as to how it worked.
"Nope, that thing is the Heartless." Ally pointed to a new Heartless that appeared. It was a giant floating shadow ball with chaotic features and floating around the room, but slowly making its way towards the host body again.
"Okay, let's take it down." Sora nodded and everyone ignored the minor Heartless and focused their attention on the floating ball. Unfortunately the Heartless still managed to get back towards the stone door and the Heartless was once again joined with the door.
"It didn't work!" Donald quacked in annoyance.
"We just got to keep at it!" Ally encouraged. "The more it's separated from the door, the weaker it'll get." She pointed at the lack of power the Heartless had in its attacks.
"If you say so." Sora nodded and charged again. Donald and Ally took care of the Heartless floating around to keep Sora and Goofy from getting distracted from their main target, the door. Sora let the Keyblade take control again, though not to Sora's discomfort this time, and the Heartless was again a shadow ball.
"One more time, then we can finish this!" Ally cheered as the gargoyle she was facing blew up.
"Already on it!" Sora called out as his total focus was on the wandering Heartless. Ally and Donald joined the fight and finally with one swift blow from the Keyblade, the Heartless was sent back into the door but in defeat, as it couldn't rejoin it again to fight. It staggered for a moment, looking like it would strike again, but it disappeared in a dark fog. The gang looked towards the door again and saw that the body the Heartless had created was no longer on the door and all that was there was a keyhole.
"You think the dungeon's past this door?" Donald asked as he and the rest of the gang walked cautiously towards the doors.
"C'mon, we gotta set those servants free!" Goofy hollered.
"He's right. Let's go." Sora nodded. He and Ally approached the doors and opened them together with as much source as they could muster. Once the doors were out of the way, the gang walked through and found an empty room full of furniture and knick-knacks. "There's nobody here." Sora stated.
"You mean there's nobody to rescue?" Donald said sadly. Sora sighed.
"Not everything is as it seems." Ally mumbled as she noticed a few items that stood out to her.
"Did someone say 'rescue'?" Came a strong French accent.
"Shh! Keep quiet…it might be THEM!" Hushed a paranoid voice.
"Oh they look like nice boys to me, and a pretty young girl." A gentle elderly woman voice chided.
"We are nice. We're your friends." Goofy said to what they thought was an empty room. Sora stepped forward and approached a few crates but was looking at the walls surrounding them.
"Ya. Belle sent us to find you." Sora explained. The first to step down was Cogsworth, who was directly in front of Sora. Lumiere, Mrs. Potts and Chip followed suit and gathered around the group.
"Whoa." Ally grinned as she tried to keep her excitement to a minimum.
"Wow…" The group mused in awe. The four of them crouched down on the ground to speak on the same level as everyone.
"I'm Sora." Sora introduced himself, pointing to his chest. "Donald. Goofy." Sora waved a hand at both of his friends on either side of him.
"And I'm Ally." Ally waved from next to Goofy, and then suddenly Donald shot forward and grabbed Cogsworth and began to examine him. "Ah, no!" Ally gasped.
"…D-Don't touch! I-I am self-winding sir!" Cogsworth complained as Donald began fiddling with Cogworth's wooden feet.
"Are you guys alright? Are you hurt?" Ally questioned kindly, as to not startle the group like Donald had.
"Why aren't you a nice girl?" Mrs. Potts chirped.
"I'm Chip, but I got this chip before we got put in here." Chip explained in a cheery tone.
"It's nice to meet you Chip." Ally giggled. Ally then heard Cogsworth struggling more as she just caught Donald shaking him around like a raddle and Goofy watching in amusement. "Sorry about them, they've never seen anything like you, well neither have I, but I know better." She smiled and Chip laughed.
"I'm glad you're okay." Sora said as he looked at everyone.
"It is we who are overjoyed to see you." Lumiere smiled graciously as he stepped up on a chair to be closer to eye level.
"Did somebody put a spell on you guys too?" Goofy asked. And Cogsworth stopped laughing long enough to respond to Goofy's question.
"Yes, that's right…you've heard! It was the enchantress." Cogsworth explained.
"It seems so long ago…" Lumiere crossed his arms/candles. Ally and Sora looked at each other and helped Mrs. Potts and Chip back onto the box they were sitting/standing on before.
"It was a cold winter's night…" Mrs. Potts started, "An old beggar woman came to the castle, and asked for shelter."
"But the master of this castle, that is of course the Prince…Stop that! Put me down this instant!" Cogsworht was so distracted by Donald's constant intrusions that Cogsworth finally snapped. Donald waddled over to a box and stood Cogsworth on it. "Ag, thank you…" Then Cogworth locked the glass door on his chest and cleared his throat. "Ahem…the master turned her away. All because of her, ahem, meager appearance."
"That's awful!" Goofy cried.
"Oui. He was a spoiled prince, so self and…how shall I say…cruel." Lumiere hesitated as he thought about it.
"Lumiere!" Clogsworth scolded him.
"The old woman warned our master not to be deceived by appearances…" Mrs. Pots mentioned. "Still he would not take her in."
"Then the old woman's ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress." Clogsworth revealed.
"She turned the Prince into a beast, a shape she thought fitting for his cold heart." Mrs. Potts continued.
"And to further punish him, everyone in the castle was enchanted, too." Cogsworth grumbled as he pointed his hands towards their new forms.
"Wow…that's quite a story." Sora said as he put his hands behind his head.
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Goofy asked.
"Let's get the enchantress!" Donald quacked in frustration as he stopped one of his webbed feet.
"Oh no, dear." Mrs. Potts soothed.
"We already know what needs to be done, but with the master out of sorts…" Lumiere sighed as he physically drooped down.
"He sure is acting weird." Sora agreed as the group nodded their heads.
"It's almost as if he's forgotten how to trust others." Mrs. Potts stated.
"You don't suppose he's been turned into a Heartless, do you?" Cogsworth questioned nervously to the whole group.
"Heartless!?" The gang gasped.
"If they're a part of this, then it's a good thing we're here." Sora mentioned.
"Let's go find the Beast!" Donald said encouragingly as he turned to the rest of the gang.
"Splendid!" Cogsworth cheered. Lumiere got off from his chair and hopped towards the door.
"Follow me messieurs, and mademoiselle, I know a short cut.'' Lumiere instructed.
"Lead the way." Ally agreed. Lumiere showed the gang to the room where they fought the stone door Heartless and lead them above the door that lead to the west wing. After climbing up the boxes and barrels, the gang noticed two armed statues blocked the door.
"It seems all the statues in the castle have been hostile." Lumiere recalled. "Please be careful."
"How do we get pass?" Ally asked as she stared at the dark armored statues.
"I believe I can help." Cogsworth smiled and gestured for the group to stand back as he alone approached the statues. "Allow our guests to pass." Cogsworth ordered one of the statues. The armor moved on its own and the door that was once behind them was free to use.
"Wow…" Ally gaped as the statues moved.
"After you." Cogsworth gestured Ally and Mrs. Potts forward and the two smiled and walked through the door along with the whole gang.
"All right, how do we get out of here?" Sora asked, as he looked around the dark corridor they now entered.
"I'm afraid we won't be marching out that easily." Lumiere explained hesitantly. "You see, the door leading to the other side is concealed by a sort of contraption."
"What kind of contraption?" Sora asked.
"Observe." Cogsworth sighed as he walked towards a lever on the wall next to them and hangs off of it until a lantern from above was lowered down.
"The lantern came down!" Donald gasped.
"Indeed it did. If we could light all the lanterns in this passage, the secret door would open." Lumiere explained.
"But, as you can see, the lanterns are already burning – with an enchanted flame." Mrs. Potts addressed.
"You must put out this enchanted flame before I am able to light the lanterns properly." Lumiere stated.
"Can't ya just throw some water on 'em?" Goofy asked.
"I'm afraid that's not enough." Mrs. Potts sighed. "But if you use the power of light…"
"Hmm…how about I try using the Keyblade?" Sora suggested.
"Give it a try." Ally nodded. When Sora went over the lantern and got rid of the enchanted flame, Lumiere cheered.
"Bravo!"
"Only three lanterns left." Mrs. Potts stated. "If we work together we'll have that door open in no time!"
"Piece of cake." Sora smiled.
"Again, it is not quite so simple, mon ami." Lumiere warned. "Certainly you cannot expect Cogsworth to hang from that handle forever?"
"What? Why? Limiere! You-"
"If he gets tired and falls off, then the unlit lanterns will rise to the ceiling again." Lumiere continued as he ignored Cogsworth's complaints.
"Before you continue, you must see to Cogsworth." Mrs. Potts summarized. "Once he gets his strength back, he'll grasp the lever again for you."
"Let's give it a shot." Sora exclaimed.
"I'll stay with Cogsworth to help him when he gets tired." Ally suggested as she took a step away from the group.
"I can do this on my own thank you very much." Cogsworth huffed, shoving his clock nose in the air.
"Don't be so macho Cogsworth, I'm just here for support." Ally chided as she smiled at him, holding her hands up defensively.
"Very well then." Cogsworth sighed after a moment.
"Go Sora, and please be quick about it." Ally whispered as she leaned towards the main group again, as so Cogsworth couldn't hear her. Sora smiled but nodded and he, Donald and Goofy went off with Lumiere and Mrs. Potts to take care of the lanterns down the hallways.
"Be quick about it!" Cogsworth cried out as he continued to hang off the lever.
"C'mon Cogsworth, you can do it!" Chip cheered by Ally's feet.
"We believe in you!" Ally cheered too. "Just a little longer." After a few more moments of holding onto the lever with unbound strength even in such a tiny form, something clicked in the wall.
"Ah!" Cogsworth stumbled off of the lever and fell on his butt.
"What happened?" Ally gasped as she knelt down to where he was.
"The lever jerked, that must mean they did it!" Cogsworth smiled.
"Hooray! We can make it out of here!" Chip cheered.
"That's right!" Ally couldn't help but smile. "Let's go meet up with the gang."
"Okay." Chip smiled.
"Hop on." Ally offered her hands for Chip so he didn't have to struggle to meet up with the group since he was so small, also to not worry Mrs. Potts.
"Okay." Chip's grin grew larger and he gladly hopped into her hands.
"How about you, Cogsworth?" Ally smiled and offered her other hand.
"No thank you, I prefer to walk anyway." Cogsworth said defiantly as he walked ahead of her. When they turned a corner, Ally saw there were some steep stairs waiting for them.
"If you're sure." Ally mentioned, as it wasn't difficult for her at all to make up the stairs.
"Sure I'm sure." Cogsworth tried to keep his confident tone as he struggled slightly up the stairs. Ally and Chip exchanged a look and giggled together as Ally walked a little ways ahead of Cogsworth.
"Are we all set?" Sora asked from down the hall.
"Oui. The secret door should open now." Lumiere smiled.
"But I don't see any secret door." Goofy looked around, confused.
"No need to worry." Cogsworth huffed as he was slightly out of breath from the trek here. "Just push that block over there – the one that's sticking out."
"Got it." Sora nodded as he headed towards the block and a door appeared from behind the wall.
"Now, I must check on the castle." Lumiere sighed as he and his other knick-knacks stepped forward. "I fear my absence has been too long."
"I'd best be off too, dears." Mrs. Potts agreed.
"Watch out for Heartless!" Sora warned.
"Yeah be careful you guys, they're lurking around every corner." Ally agreed.
"Don't worry, ma Cherie, we'll be fine." Lumiere nodded and smiled.
"Bye!" Chip cheered as he followed his mother.
"Bye for now." Ally smiled as he waved.
"The master's room is at the very end of the west wing." Cogsworth said by Sora's feet. "I shall go on ahead and wait for you."
"I have a feeling this is going to get ugly." Ally sighed.
"Hey, don't be mean to the Beast." Sora argued.
"What?" She looked at him oddly and then figured out he must've thought she was talking about the Beast's appearance. "No you dummy, I'm just worried that the Beast won't like us just waltzing into his room." Sora scratched the back of his head in understanding as they made it up the stairs out of the dungeon. When they reached the exit, they were back in the west wing, but on the other side of the knights that were blocking their path up the stairs before. "Huh, so this is how we were going to pass the knights."
"All right, let's get going." Sora stated.
"Right." Donald, Goofy and Ally nodded and they four headed up the stairs to meet up with Cogsworth. A few Heartless tried to block their way, more than usual, but that didn't stop the gang from getting to Beast. They found Cogswroth cowering in a corner.
"Don't worry, you're safe now." Ally chided him as she approached him on her hands and knees.
"Yes, thank you. But I'm afraid my Master isn't." Cogsworth said nervously.
"What do you mean?" Sora asked curiously.
"He's not alone in there." Cogsworth replied regrettably.
"What?" The group gasped.
"No more dillydallying." Ally mumbled as she busted the door down with her shoulder, the gang not far behind her.
"See, she has accomplices." Said an ominous sounding voice that certainly didn't belong to the Beast.
"She?" Ally questioned, as she didn't see where the voice was coming from. Then saw a black hood. "What are you…?" Ally asked with a slight growl in her voice. The man didn't stick around though to answer. "Hey!" Ally cried out but he wasn't going to wait on her account.
"Hey, Prince!" Sora called out, trying to sound casual.
"ROAR!" Beast roared dangerously.
"Oh, dear! Master!" Cogsworth gasped. The Beast charged forward and attempted to swipe at the gang with his meaty claws.
"I don't think he can hear you…" Ally gulped, as she couldn't look at from Beast's snarling mouth, shiny sharp teeth sticking out. The Beast tried again. "This isn't right!" Ally called on Brave Heart and summoned it to her hand.
KH, what's wrong with him?
Can you not see it?
See what? Ally looked closer at Beast's state and saw vaguely something radiating from his hulking body, and the air around him felt dense and dirty. Oh wait, that darkness! That black hooded guy must've been piling it on him! Those jerks!
You have to stop him.
How?
The only way there is. Ally didn't like the sound of what Kingdom Hearts was implying but got the drift it was the only way to pursue.
"We just have to knock him back to his senses!" Sora called out, snapping Ally out of her internal conversation with Kingdom Hearts.
"Just not too hard!" Cogsworth pleaded.
"Tell that to him!" Ally argued back as she dodged another oncoming attack with Cogsworth in toe.
"Please Master, please! Come to your senses!" Cogsworth pleaded from Ally's shoulders.
"Try again!" Ally encouraged. Cogsworth got off her shoulders and took tentative steps towards the Beast.
"Compose yourself!" Cogsworth pleaded once more. "It's me, Cogsworth!"
"All right, a little more should do it!" Ally noticed that the darkness was beginning to thin out around Beast. "Keep it up, guys!"
"But, I don't want to hurt him."
"It's self defense, Sora." Ally explained. "And besides he's a lot tougher than he looks. What's a few bruises gonna do?"
"Master, please! Control yourself! You are not a beast, you are a prince!"
"Okay, I think he's done…" Ally sighed as she put away Brave Heart. "The darkness is lifting." The Beast didn't begin talking until all the darkness was gone from his body.
"Cogsworth…what happened?" The Beast asked. Ally gaped at how calm and gentle his voice sounded just then.
"Well, Master…ah, you see…that is…How shall I say…ah, actually…mmm…" Cogsworth hesitated.
"Well, you put everybody down there in that dungeon!" Donald yelled.
"I did what?" The Beast quirked, not understanding the accusation.
"Ah…you did!" Cogsworth nodded vigorously.
"Who was that guy you were talking to?" Sora asked innocently. "The one in black?" The Beast took a moment to understand the question and then gasped.
"Xaldin…that's his name. He came from the darkness…he…he used my anger to control me!" The Beast growled. "He took all my sorrow, my sadness, my pain –and turned it all into rage. There was nothing I could do…I could no longer see the truth."
"Well, I'll be. That must be why you threw all of your friends in there in the dungeon." Goofy smiled.
"Say what?" Ally gaped at Goofy, completing missing his point.
"You wanted to make sure that you didn't hurt 'em, right?" Goofy's smile got bigger, if that was even possible.
"Was that it? Was it to protect them?" The Beast asked himself.
"Sure. We know you're good inside." Goofy nodded happily, along with Sora and Donald. Ally just smiled, since she couldn't actually agree since she's never met the Beast before.
"He's right, Master." Cogsworth agreed. "We've all seen how kind you can be. After all…Belle can see the goodness in your heart – but I'm afraid you've yet to-"
"Belle!" The Beast gasped again. He then sighed as he looked back on his previous actions. "I've mistreated her…I've mistreated her and been so selfish."
"She didn't say anything about that." Sora chimed in.
"She'd never tell anyone of my cruelty…She's too good." The Beast sighed.
"You see; I'm afraid he judges himself far too harshly." Cogsworth mentioned quietly under his hand to inform the gang behind him.
"Why don't you just go talk to her?" Sora asked.
"It can't hurt to try." Ally chimed in with a sincere nod.
"But…"
"No excuses!" Sora interrupted Beast. "C'mon, we'll go with you." Beast still seemed unsure.
He still does not look convinced…how about a little woman's touch? Ally grinned on the inside at the idea.
"You can't be afraid anymore, Beast…show her that you're willing to try to make up for what happened." Ally took a ginger step forward, since she didn't want to startle him since they've never met before. "Also explain Xaldin to her, she'll understand. You know she will." Beast studied Ally's face for a moment and Ally decided to give a small smile using her dimples to show how genuine she was being.
"You remind me of her, of Belle." The Beast commented after a moment.
"Well I'm honored to be compared to her, she's one heck of a girl." Ally grinned. "You know that too…" Ally winked and nudged Beast a bit in a playful manner. Beast shifted a bit uncomfortably and it only made Ally smile more. "All you have to do is take a chance." Ally saw that Beast was ready to head towards the door but then stopped him. "Wait!" She approaches him, no longer afraid of him and brushes some of Beast's hair of his eyes so he looked less menacing. "Okay, now gimme a smile." Ally pleaded. He gave a forced one that was a bit unsettling. "A genuine one, please…" Ally sighed, and so does he but he nonetheless tried again and it was much better this time around. "Oh yeah, she'll like seeing that." She stepped out of the way of the door and gestured for him to go first. "Go get her."
"Since when were you so good at relationship stuff." Sora asked curiously but also in a teasing matter.
"I don't know, just thought I should give it a shot." Ally shrugged but headed out of the Beast's room to follow His Royal Hairiness. "Besides, it was for his own good. He does really like her, you can tell too, right?"
"Yeah, we met Beast and Belle on our last adventure. Beast went as so far as to travel through darkness of his world to find Belle again."
"Wow, now if that doesn't scream true love I don't know what does." Ally laughed.
"Master!" The wardrobe from before in the west wing cheered happily once the gang entered Belle's room.
"Everybody's safe now." Donald explained to the wardrobe.
"Wonderful! Thank you!" The wardrobe bowed happily at the group's help.
"Where is Belle?" The Beast asked urgently.
"Why, she left in a hurry." The wardrobe explained. "Something about going after this…man in black."
"WHAT!?" Beast roared in fury, causing Goofy and Donald to huddle together in fear at his outburst. "Why doesn't she do as she's told?"
"Beast…" Ally chided, but she didn't dare lay a hand on him, as she knew he was prone to lashing out.
"Temper, temper!" The wardrobe huffed as she turned her wooden back on the group. "Her spirit is what makes Belle so special."
"We'd better go find her!" Sora urged, as to draw everyone's attention away from their own fury or fear.
"We'll get her back; no matter what." Ally chided as she laid a hand on Beast's arm this time. He looked at her and she could see his internal struggle with sadness and worry fighting his frustration. She patted his arm and rushed out of the room, just as worried for Belle's well-being as he was. They quickly found Beast looking around frantically for Belle in the entrance hall. Suddenly a voice broke the silence of searching.
"I'm warning you, you'll be sorry!" Belle's mumbled voice echoed throughout the entrance hall.
"Belle! Where are you?" Beast gasped as he looked around.
"Beast, help! I'm in the ballroom!" Belle's voice called out desperately. Ally looked towards the ballroom doors and suddenly felt the darkness tickle the back of her neck. She got that feeling last time too when Shan-Yu channeled darkness somehow. Ally knew something challenging was coming their way. The gang didn't hesitate to charge through the ballroom doors. They quickly caught sight of Belle running across the golden floor of the ballroom and running towards the windows, obviously freaked out.
"Belle!" Beast called after her frantically.
"I'm all right!" Belle called back as she escaped the ballroom and went outside through the windowed door, just escaping a confrontation from a large glowing blue/red/black ball with small tendrils and chains tightly wound round his body. The Heartless beach ball floated up towards the large chandelier in the center of the room and then plummeted towards the ground and sank through the floorboards. The ground was quickly encased in a layer of darkness that covered the whole room. The Heartless popped out again and gave a mighty roar just as the rest of the room was encased in darkness; as if a bad decorator came by and ruined the master ballrooms beautiful interior with a modern goth girl's dream house.
The ballroom's mirrored walls were encased in shadows and were like portals for the Heartless to escape into and avoid any damage, but it can certainly strike back as it lets out energy spikes that cover the floor with rows of damaging strikes.
"Hey, that's cheating!" Ally whined at the Heartless as she chased it around relentlessly. "Wait, this is just like before…" The way it moved it reminded Ally of the previous big Heartless they faced before that absorbed itself into the stone doorway and fought from there. That meant it was most vulnerable when out of contact with items, but strongest when apart of something else. Like the big chandelier it was floating towards. The gang couldn't stop the combination and the Heartless turned into or became apart of the chandelier and brought the chandelier to the ground. Once there, it created walls of electricity that were near to impossible to avoid unless you ran at the same speed the chandelier was spinning, which was exhausting.
"Sora, do what you did before, when fighting that stone door Heartless!" Thankfully it didn't take Sora long to catch on to what Ally meant and once the Keyblade or Brave Heart got enough contact with the Heartless, it was released from the object and took a lot of damage due to the extreme force. It staggered around before it had the energy to find a new host. Sora used his Valor form while Ally used her Order form to take advantage of the Heartless' weakness and to crush it where it floated. It didn't take long to take down the Heartless, as it didn't have the energy once Sora and Ally were done with it to have another form.
But when the gang thought they were in the clear, the floating dark ball began to shake and change shape. When it began to grow, the first noticeable difference was that the new form had four legs, so Ally didn't know if that would mean it would be slower than before or faster. Then a red mane sprouted on his back and around his new feet were gold shackles and the tendrils he had before turned into green vines that encased most of his dark colored body. To finish off the new atrocity, he had a canine mouth and deep red claws that looked like they could cut through anything.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" Ally yelled in frustration. "Since when could Heartless evolve?"
"Doesn't matter, we'll take it down just the same." Sora stated firmly but then as the two were gearing up to fight again, it disappeared.
"You were saying?" Ally freaked as she waved her blade in the direction the Heartless was just moments ago.
"Come on…" Sora sighed and grabbed her wrist and dragged her to the middle of the room, where they had a better way of seeing where the Heartless could be coming from. The gang couldn't predict from where or when the monster attacked, so when it did, it sent all of them flying and didn't think twice about striking again while they were down.
"It's too fast!" Goofy called out, as he staggered to his feet again, blocking an attack this time with his shield. Ally admitted that Goofy was right, but that didn't mean they had to give up.
"Let's double team it with magic." Ally called out to Donald as he too was just getting up off the ground. "It's about time I use some more spells."
"You sure you can handle the Thundaga spell?" Donald asked warily.
"Won't know until I try. Let's go!" Ally shoved away his worry and equipped her magic to her weapon and charged forward with Donald hot on her tail.
"Okay!" He called behind her. Donald jumped over her and charged his Thundaga spell at the large Heartless first and managed a hit, making it stagger as it ran around the ballroom furiously. Once Ally got a good shot at it, she called out,
"Thundaga!" The lightning erupted form her sword and though it did manage to hit the target, it backlashed slightly at Ally and she could feel her ponytail poofing out behind her. "Ow, okay, that kinda hurt." Ally rubbed her hands slightly together and straightened out her hair but saw she made a pretty impressive blow. "Yay, I hit it!" Ally cheered as she charged forward and went with a more comfortable magic spell, "Fira!" It hit the Heartless dead on and it was blinded for a moment and ran into a wall and Ally cheered again.
"Don't celebrate yet! Keep going!" Donald called to her while charging at the Heartless ahead of them.
"Right!" Ally smiled and ran forward with him, soon being joined by Goofy and Sora to deliver an all out attack. When the gang moved the Heartless towards the edge of the ballroom near the columns, Ally looked above and had an idea.
"Goofy, I need you!"
"For what?" Goofy asked as he hesitated to hit the Heartless again.
"To deliver a final blow!" Ally reassured Goofy.
"What d'ya mean?" Goofy asked as he headed towards where Ally was running.
"Do you think your shield can hit the chain up there on the ceiling?" Ally pointed up to where the chandelier was being held.
"Uh, I think so." Goofy scratched his head as he closed one eye and measured the angle.
"Good, because we need the chandelier back down here." Ally said determinedly.
"I don't see why, oh wait! I get it!" Goofy gasped at the realization. "Good thinkin,' Ally!" Goofy cheered as he threw his shield up there and after one hit the chandelier was knocked back onto the ground floor.
"Fira!" Ally lit the chandelier on a fierce fire and helped the chandelier circle around the ballroom until it caught the Heartless in the midst of the fire and began to burn it as well as knocking it against the pillars behind it. "Take this!" After a few spins the Heartless was shot out of the chandelier's grasp and was flung into a wall.
"One more time!" Sora yelled as he charged forward with Keyblade in front of him. Donald, Goofy, and Ally behind him along with the Beast charged after him and together the five of them took down the Heartless once and for all. The Heartless staggered, roared in pain, and then began to dissipate into darkness. The ballroom soon returned to normal and there wasn't a hint of the destruction of the fight left over.
"We did it!" Sora cheered.
"So you think." Came a surprising voice. Ally remembered the sound of the voice from when they ran into Beast back in his room. The gang turned around and found a muscular man cloaked in a familiar black hood.
"Xaldin!" Beast roared, proving Ally's suspicions that it was indeed the same man, charged forward but a black portal was already forming behind him.
"Farewell." The man said and suddenly there wasn't a trace of him anymore.
"What does he want here?" The Beast growled as he stared at where Xalidn was just standing.
"He must be with Organization XIII." Sora explained.
"Huh?" The Beast mused, as he turned to face Sora and the gang.
"You just cracked that one?" Ally sighed as she resisted the urge to slap herself in the face.
"Ever heard of the Nobodies?" Sora asked the Beast, ignoring Ally's remark. "When a strong-hearted person turns into a Heartless, a Nobody's created, too." Sora stopped for a moment as he thought back to when he got turned into a Heartless; and Ally couldn't help but think of when she met Roxas for the first time. "See, the Organization…they've got control of all the Nobodies."
"That's right. And they were gonna make you into a Heartless. That way, they could get that Nobody of yours and have control over it." Goofy continued to explain.
"You're all right." Belle said gratefully.
"Belle!" The Beast cried out and made his way over to Belle, really relieved to see her unharmed. There was a silent moment between them as they didn't know where to begin. As that took place, the servants the gang met before: Cogsworth, Lumiere, Mrs. Potts and Chip, joined the party and awaited to see what happened next.
"Go on…" Ally shooed him forward, making sure the Beast didn't back out now.
"Belle…I-I'm sorry – I…wasn't myself." The Beast started out anxiously. "I hope I haven't done anything to hurt you." Belle shakes her head with a small smile on her face. "Forgive me."
"I know you weren't yourself. You don't have to apologize." Belle smiled at the Beast. The Beast smiled too but then Belle turned more serious and began scolding him. "But I had hoped…that you might have changed a little bit. I wish you could start trusting me." The Beast physically fell silent and slumped over slightly.
"Aw man…" Ally sighed as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"Oh, I am afraid time is running short." Lumiere sighed sadly.
"What do you mean?" Sora asked.
"Remember the rose?" Lumiere reminded.
"From the Beast's room?" Donald remembered.
"Precisely." Cogsworth nodded. "You see; if the master can learn to love, and earn love in return, before the last petal falls…"
"…the spell will be broken." Lumiere finished, to Cogsworth annoyance.
"Really? You think he's gonna make it?" Sora asked them seriously.
"We think so." Mrs. Potts said cheerfully.
"Yup I think you're right." Goofy agreed.
"I HOPE you're right…" Sora mumbled.
"Shush…" Ally nudged him.
"Ow, what was that for?" Sora whined as he rubbed his upper arm from the sharpness of her elbow.
"You have to think positively." Ally scolded him.
"What do you know?" Sora challenged.
"I believe in them. Beast can change and learn to be less cruel. You'll see." Ally smirked at him. Suddenly Sora's Keyblade glowed and appeared back in Sora's hand. The gang looked at each other in curiosity until Ally put in, "Looks like its time." Sora looked at her for a moment and then realized she was right, so he held out his Keyblade and unlocked the world.
"What happened?" Beast asked once the light show dimmed.
"The gate is open!" Donald announced.
"Do you have to go?" Belle asked solemnly.
"Yeah." Sora nodded.
"Now, no more arguin', okay?" Goofy pointed a finger at Beast and Belle. Ally gave Beast a look and he got nervous while Belle smiles to herself.
"We'll see to it." Lumiere smiled.
"Take care, dears." Mrs. Potts smiled, as she would have waved them off if she had arms.
"You're welcome here anytime!" Cogsworth smiled as well.
"If you hear anything about Riku or the King, the Heartless, the Organization – anything at all – let us know!" Sora called over his shoulder.
"We will." Belle nodded.
"Okay gotta go!" Ally called over her shoulder too.
"Bye!" Donald waved as they left the ballroom and headed out the way they came.
"I hope they do work things out." Goofy sighed as they headed onto the Gummi Ship again.
"Don't we all." Donald agreed.
"They deserve to be human again." Ally nodded.
"Yeah. Maybe the castle won't feel so gloomy anymore either." Goofy mentioned.
"I bet you're right." Ally smiled.
"You should go rest up, you did a lot during that last battle." Sora stated.
"Aw, shucks, it was just a little quick thinking." Ally laughed bashfully.
"That kept us alive." Donald agreed.
"Well you guys should rest up too." Ally said as she stretched her arms over her head, just realizing how exhausting today way.
"We will, we will." Sora laughed as he shooed her away.
"Night." Ally called over her shoulder.
"Good night!" They said as they went around the corner to the command station. Ally sighed and headed back to her room and lay down on the bed for a moment and smiled to herself at a job well done. Then suddenly her sphere pin began to glow and her eyelids were weighed down like someone was rolling down blinds on a window. The next time she tried to open her eyes, she was back in a familiar white abyss.
"Not bad." Came Anon's deep voice.
"Not bad? I did WAY better than last time!" Ally countered excitedly as she grinned when hopping out of her seat.
"Still, you had your difficulties and struggles with today's mission." Anon pointed out with his arms folded over his chest.
"It's not a mission, it's a journey – there's a difference." Ally huffed as she too crossed her arms.
"Whatever you say." Anon turned slightly away from her to look off into the distance.
"Hey." Ally spoke abruptly, causing Anon to turn halfway back towards her. "Why can't I see your face?"
"Because it's not worth seeing." Anon stated firmly as he turned again. Ally strolled up next to him and began to circle him with her wrists behind her back in deep thought.
"Now that's coming from someone being selfish." She teased lightly. "Hiding away all those good looks."
"Don't get distracted." Anon replied as he walked away and drew out his blade impatiently. Ally to his surprise strived forward and connected weapons with him in a flash of colliding black and white light.
"Who's the one getting distracted? I think you are. Obviously I'm too good." Ally smirked as she pushed him back a few steps and continued to slash her way through his strong defenses.
"Nope. I'm holding back." Anon said as he suddenly had the upper hand and averted a strike from her yet again by simply skimming over the surface smoothly like he was gliding on the surface.
"You're what?" Ally gaped and stared at him as she let down her guard to look at him in shock. "Oh come on, if you're training me then what's the point of holding back?" She whined.
"Lots of reasons." He answered simply.
"Well I say they're not good enough! Fight me as if I were the last thing you wanted to see." Ally charged as she took a shot using Thundaga as she faked him out with sticking Brave Heart towards his chest, but he still managed to avoid her blast with striking the thunder blast with his sword and having the lightning strike on either side of him.
"You are the last thing I want to see." He stated.
"Charming." Ally grunted but decided to continue on with her point and not let his petty insults distract her. "Come on, don't chicken out on me, I want you at your full power." Ally said as she stopped fighting him to actually look at him seriously.
"You're asking for a death wish." Anon placed his sword away.
"Hey it's my dream, if it gets too much for me, I can change it." Ally answered affirmatively.
"Like you have that kind of power." Anon huffed almost letting out a mock laugh.
"You haven't seen anything yet, don't doubt me." Ally readied herself again with Brave Heart and studied him strictly with her stare.
"That's the last thing I'll do." Anon said what sounded like to be brutally honest.
"Then don't start now." Ally began to charge again and instead of pulling out his sword, Anon blocked the swing of Ally's Brave Heart with just his forearm, but it was coated in a thin layer of darkness. Ally sneered slightly at the sight of the dark powers but continued pressing. "Fight me."
"You don't know what you're getting yourself into."
"Exactly, I don't, until you show me." Ally pointed out as she removed herself, trying to put Anon off balance by the change it weight but he stayed as steady as a mountain but that didn't make Ally give up. "Show me how big of a scary guy you are."
"You're not ready and you won't ever be ready." Anon said more sternly this time as Ally could only assume he was glaring at her like her mother would.
"You think I can't take it?" Ally whispered as she stood there gawking at him.
"I know you can't take it."
"Say that again…" Ally growled as gripped her blade tighter, her knuckles turning a sickly white.
"I know you can't take it." He stated again just as sternly. Ally's faced burned with embarrassment and in fury and she couldn't control herself as she charged forward and thrashed her blade around senselessly.
"Hyah!" Ally cried out with red filling her vision as her anger took control of her.
"Stop it…" Anon said sternly as he tried to avoid her attacks but the more serious and intent she got on hurting him, the harder it got.
"Make me." Ally challenged.
"I don't want to." Anon almost barked back.
"Well I'm not stopping. This is a dream, I can keep this up for as long as I want."
"Not if I do this…" With his free hand, he reached out and covered the sphere pin that Merlin gave her and suddenly the world around her began to spin and she almost fell out of the bed she realized she was lying down on. She looked around and saw she was back in her room and looked around frantically, thinking Anon was still going to fight her, but when she found him not there she growled in frustration. She tired lying back on the bed and returning to give her a piece of her mind but she found she couldn't.
"THAT. JERK!" Ally flailed like a temperamental child on her bed and sat up with a huff. There was a sudden shift in the ship and caused Ally to fall on her butt.
more to come soon :)
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