Kingdom Hearts

Torn Apart

By: SMS

Chapter 7

Sleep eluded me as I watched the countdown and the stars whiz past the view port. The last few weeks had been so confusing; what with the training of Axel, and at the same time trying to ignore the information that dwelled within my mind. Information that I never knew how to process, much less decipher, the messages it tried to convey to me. Guesses was what I lived with. I was lucky that most seemed to be right. Those guesses were what had Axel, Ladah, and I hurtling through space toward some unknown destiny that even my significant knowledge kept hidden.

I had sent an exhausted Ladah off to her bunk barely six hours into our journey. Axel had found the pantry by that time but now I suspected that he too, was asleep. My mind and memories betrayed me though; no solace was I to find in sleep. The dreams are unbearable and the guilt is worse. Nightmares plagued me almost every night as my mind felt the need for me to relive the memories over and over again. The guilt was worse. I couldn't control the dreams and nightmares; that was a betrayal that came from inside my mind; but the guilt was there day and night, awake or asleep. Always with me.

A new message flashed across the view port stating that we had only twenty more minutes to our destination. I still could not see any discernable worlds or planets, but we were traveling quite fast. Bored with just sitting there I stood and headed through the sleeping quarters. Ladah's curtain was opened halfway and her left arm was hanging off her bunk. Her face was peaceful as she slept. I rearranged her arm so that it wasn't hanging out anymore and so she wouldn't have a cramp in the muscles later. A rustling sound prompted me to look below Ladah's bunk to Axel's. His curtain was pulled all the way back and he was lying on his back, eyes wide open with a playful smile on his face. Sometimes the looks the guy gave me were just creepy; like even though I'm the Mage with foresight, he knew things that I didn't. It scared the hell out of me sometimes, but there was no way he would ever find that out.

"I thought you'd be asleep." I said to the red-head. Axel shrugged his shoulders in a lazy manner and continued to smile that unsettling smile. Gods only know what he's thinking about… I thought, but I was way too hungry to puzzle over his odd mannerisms. "Where's the pantry or whatever you call a food storage place in a ship like this?" I asked him. Axel remained silent as he pointed behind me. Confused I looked at my own bunk.

The curtain was pulled back and another curtain, one that covered the back wall, was also pulled back. This revealed several cabinet drawers, two of which were open. Containers that looked like liquid packages were hanging on racks. I read the labels for a moment and then pulled two packets off the racks and closed the cabinets before pulling the curtain closed. I settled on my bunk, sitting up since there wasn't another bunk above mine. I took the straws off the back of the packages and poked them through the designated holes on the tops of the packages. I had to admit that the chicken pot pie was a lot better than I thought it would be. The apple juice washed it all down nicely, although there was still a distinct aftertaste that I think was associated with that type of storage.

"How much longer? This journey?" Axel asked looking at me enjoying my dinner. The smile was gone and his eyes looked haunted with his own demons from his past.

"Twenty minutes last I checked." I stated between slurps of my food. I glanced at Ladah's bunk. Her back was to me now and her shoulders were stiff. I knew that she was awake but I let her be. Only the Gods knew what she was thinking, and there was plenty of time to figure each other out later.

None of us had been prepared for the turbulence of the take-off from Destiny Islands. The view port message was too dim for us to gleam just what to expect and so it was no surprise that I discovered the harnesses too late. Axel was knocked unconscious when he was thrown from his chair and collided with the nearest console. Ladah hadn't faired too much better either, getting a long gash on her left leg from a knob on the console right in front of her own chair. As for me, I was knocked on the side of the head by an instrument panel that hadn't been secured properly, but all in all the injuries were minor and the duration of the journey had calmed the soured moods.

Now we were all strapped into the harnesses that kept us in our chairs; Ladah nursing an apple juice package after her nap. The landing turbulence struck with minor knocking and pitching and thankfully all instrument panels were now secured. After ten minutes of rough ups and downs, the ship sailed into the docking procedures smoothly. The process was very fast and all too soon we were faced with an alien world.

Through the view port, we saw that the docking bay was a single vehicle garage with all kinds of panels and consoles that were lit up. Everything looked shiny and brand new, as if this was the first Gummie Ship to land here since it was built. There were no people around though, usually when you're summoned by someone, King or otherwise, you have escorts when you land. At least that was my reasoning. Axel was the first out of his harnesses and helped Ladah undo hers. I slipped out easily and stretched my sore limbs; that small break from my seat earlier for a snack hadn't exercised my muscles as much as it should have and now I had a few cramps. Ignoring them, we all headed for the part of the ship that held the invisible door. We stood there expectantly waiting for it to open, but soon found that it wasn't going to after all. I looked back at the view port to see another message:

To open the outer door and depressurize the walk-through compartment, please hit the green button on your console. To open the inner hatch, pull the green lever right beside the green button, but only after you push the green button. Thank you and have a pleasant stay at Disney Castle.

The console that the view port showed was the one right in front of my chair and so I walked over and hunted for the green button. There were several of them, but one really big one caught my attention because there was a green lever right beside it. I pushed the button and we all heard a loud burst of air as if it was escaping from a tight compartment. The green button turned red and I figured that was the cue to pull the green lever, which I did. The non-existent door slid open right in front of Ladah and Axel, who seemed quite relieved to find it. We all exited through the double door system and realized just how bad the air in the Gummie Ship had been when we gulped fresh air in the docking bay.

We all looked around expecting to find docking personnel, but no one was around. Our backpacks were waiting on the platform for us as we headed toward the ramp away from the Gummie Ship. Rounding the ramp that headed toward the exit, or what we hoped was the exit, we were greeted by two very exuberant chipmunks. I hadn't expected talking animals and I don't know who of the three of us would, but contrary to what I would have pegged Ladah for, she did not scream.

"Greetings and welcome to Disney Castle. Your ship will be well looked after while you are visiting. Please hurry as the Queen wishes to meet you. I'm Dale and this here is Chip." The small brown red-nosed chipmunk said before bounding off after its partner. I shrugged it off, and then followed the rodents. Out of us all, I think Axel seemed bored with the routine. Ladah seemed over exited about the talking chipmunks but she remained quiet. I didn't have any expectations and so I remained, as usual, quiet as well. Chip and Dale led us out of the Docking Warehouse and into a garden that was full of topiaries. The carved trees and shrubs were a site to look at as they depicted all kinds of animals, even chipmunks. Ladah exclaimed over the skill, but there seemed to be no time for site-seeing as Dale beckoned for us to follow them.

We made our way through the huge castle gates where Chip and Dale departed and where we were greeted by two large dog-like creatures dressed in frilly guard uniforms. These two remained silent as they led us through the castle foyer and up a grand staircase. Before too long, we were in front of two huge doors that spanned up to the high ceiling. The dog-like guards flanked the two doors and then motioned for us to proceed.

"Looks like the audience chamber." Axel remarked as three smartly dressed white ducks opened a small door contained within the huge left door.

"The Queen will see you now." The duck with red feathers in his stately hat announced. The other two ducks, one with green feathers and the other with blue walked around our group and ushered us forward through the small door; Axel had to duck down to avoid hitting his head.

"I thought we were here to meet the King." Ladah stated as we all followed the red-feathered duck across an expansive hall that could have easily held all of the inhabitants of all the islands on our home-world.

"That was my understanding too, that is until I found this note this morning." A twinkling voice greeted them from beside a white dais which held two beautifully ornamented thrones. The dais and the thrones were the only pieces of furniture within the room, and the whole effect greatly dwarfed the blue-gowned mouse. She was unlike anything I had ever seen. She was a mouse, but much bigger than expected. Huge black ears that were set off quite nicely by long flowing brown hair. Crowned with a small simple golden circlet, the picture was royalty. She smiled at us with her dainty hands folded in front of her sapphire blue gown that was accented with gold and jewels. Without consulting the others' reactions, I felt inclined to bow even though she wasn't necessarily my own queen.

"Your Majesty." Ladah said beside me, which made me aware of her and Axel again. The effect must have been overwhelming for them both just as it had been on me. Ladah was standing quite close to me and I could feel her shaking. There was a sound behind me as if one of the white ducks had cleared his beaked throat.

"Guests bow before the Queen." The statement was given from behind, but the twinkling of bells, which turned out to be a laugh issued from the small mouse.

"Sir Huey, that is not necessary. I am not their Queen. I do not rule over Destiny Islands." She said as she walked toward them, leaving the faint shadow of the thrones. Her large eyes were copper colored and they seemed to glow in the light that emanated from the high ceiling windows around the large audience chamber. "Sirs Huey, Luey, and Duey would you please excuse me and my guests." The Queen said with such authority that, I felt, had she commanded me to bow, I would have. The three white ducks bowed to their Queen and then left the room. "As I said before, I was under the impression that you would be meeting my husband and not me today, but I fear that things have changed. Oh, how I do hate the glare from the windows in here, would you please follow me to the library?"

The Queen picked up her dress so that it would not drag the floor and then proceeded to lead us out of the enormous audience chamber and left along a hallway that ended in doors that were more appropriately sized. "I was going to send a messenger to have the meeting changed to the library, but I got the message that you were already here, so I met you where my husband would have met you had he been here. He loves the Audience Chamber, loves the way his voice echoes around the room." She said with her twinkling bell laugh again. The library was not quite as big as the audience chamber, but it was still large. Two levels of book shelves that housed thousands of books. There were three large wooden desks, set around the room and a center area that housed two long couches and two armchairs sitting before a large fireplace.

"This library is enchanting." Ladah said continuing her one-lined sentences. I could tell that she really enjoyed this room. I hadn't pegged her for a reader; she seemed more physically inclined, sporty than nerdy.

"Thank you very much. I spend most of my time these days reading through histories, but my love is reading fantasy…" The Queen trailed off for a minute with a glassy look to her eyes. She then cleared her throat and turned toward us. "I'm Queen Millicent, wife to King William, and co-Ruler of Disney. I welcome you to our home, Disney Castle. A lifetime of peace is what has kept our families happy. I admit that I had longed for this peace to last forever, but sadly nothing lasts forever…"

"Not to be rude, Queenie, but is there a point that we can reach, like, soon?" There was a gasp from Ladah as we both turned to look at Axel behind us. He had a bored expression on his face and his arms were crossed over his white tank-top. "Look, I'm up for saving the world…sss, as much as the next guy, but really, how dire is the situation? I mean the King didn't even show…" Axel trailed off, having got our attention, which I think was his goal.

"You are such an ass!" Ladah exclaimed. I'd been waiting for this actually; I mean the guy just rubs her the wrong way. But being the peace-keeper of a trio is what your job is… I thought as I stepped between the two volatile redheads.

"Please… let's try and keep some peace while the Queen explains…" I said as Axel rolled his eyes and Ladah crossed her arms over her orange top. The glare she was sending Axel would have caught anything on fire.

"Thank you Vincent, but as Axel so bluntly put it, I believe we do need to get to the point." Queen Millicent said with as much levity as one could muster while being laughed at. In my opinion, Axel was just being an ass, as Ladah so eloquently put it. "But as seeing as how you three just met and one of you has a past to reconcile…" She knows? How can she know? I thought she was just a Queen of this realm, not a mystic… How is it that I came to be here anyway? How do I know the things I know? I just figured it was some powerful all-knowing being who saw that I had potential… One that was forgiving and allowed me to be my original self… "… So as I was saying, Axel, Vincent, and Ladah, a little bit of the past is worth listening to." I had missed what she'd said, pulled back into my own thoughts about my past. If she knew, then surely the King did too. Maybe Axel is here to replace me in this… Maybe that's why I'm peace-keeper right now, to prepare them to depend on each other.

"I'm ready to learn more about…" Ladah stopped; she seemed puzzled as Queen Millicent looked at her curiously. "I mean, learn about… Thing… Things that will help us on our… Journey?" She finished. Although Axel had put me on suspicious alert the moment I met him, I'd known Ladah longer (from afar really, but who's splitting hairs?) and until now I hadn't thought that she'd have a secret… One I didn't know about.

"I understand your eagerness dear, but all things are revealed at the right and true time. I believe my job is to familiarize you with an enemy that we thought long dead and to protect those who cannot protect themselves." Queen Millicent smiled and then motioned for all of us to have a seat on the couch, as she sat in one of the armchairs. Understandably, Axel and Ladah sat as far away from the other as the long couch would allow, and I took the seat between the two. To head off any physical attacks…

"Please inform us." I said by way of showing our pleasure in learning and to warn Ladah and Axel not to interrupt again. I was sure that Ladah was just as curious as I was, but Axel seemed to be bored again. I turned my attention to Queen Millicent as she cleared her throat.

"Centuries past there was a darkness that threatened to devour the worlds. As you now know this galaxy is made up of thousands upon thousands of worlds where civilizations live and thrive. This darkness visited several worlds through special doors and in doing so vanquished the worlds while either killing or transferring the survivors to other worlds. Of course the darkness was not an entity of itself, but made up of creatures, that in reality, ate hearts. They took the essence of what people store in their hearts, their hopes and fears, loves and triumphs, and left the person hollow… without purpose. The creatures, once acquiring the heart, would then set upon others… always devouring, always hungry for the next heart. The people who's hearts were taken would exist for a while as empty shells, unmoving and purposeless; but eventually they themselves would hunger for heart, any heart and thus don the mantle of their own attackers and hunt for hearts themselves. We call these vile loathsome creatures Heartless." Queen Millicent paused and it seemed to take quite a lot of effort to continue with her story.

"You could tell when a world was doomed to destruction by the amount of Heartless found there. No inhabitants and tons of Heartless meant that the world would be devoured very soon. Some worlds, however, were savable. A hero, someone special who can wield a special type of weapon, is able to vanquish Heartless and thus free the worlds from the darkness. The problem is that the hero is a rarity. He or she only comes when the worlds are in dire need. When all but a small ounce of hope remains to the peoples of the doomed worlds then a prophecy is sometimes fulfilled. The arrival of a Hero is always foreseen, but the Hero does not always succeed. Our past is a happy one because the Hero was able to vanquish the darkness and all its rulers. Some of you may know this as a certain legend, and as legends go can be believed or not. Now then the prophecy says that one family let a secret, a rumor, pass down with each generation. This secret gives certain details about the wars that no one else knows; also according to this prophecy that the new Hero will be one of the decedents of the family with the secret." Queen Millicent paused as she looked at each of us in turn.

"The darkness has returned and with it a new threat to the Six Sacred Princesses of Heart. These Princesses each hold the key to unlocking the light with which the darkness can take control of and rule the worlds. The new Hero must come forward to fulfill their destiny. The Princesses must be protected. Now then, the history part of the discussion is over. Can anyone tell me the name of the Hero's best friend?" Abruptly, Queen Millicent stopped talking. She looked at me and I shrugged. I knew not who she was talking about, though I did know that the Hero had a best friend. Next, the Queen looked at Axel, who seemed to be confused… Either that or so bored that he started practicing different expressions. Axel shrugged and Queen Millicent turned a knowing eye at Ladah. There is no way to describe her appearance other than ashen. Her face was pale and her eyes huge. She shook her head minutely and then closed her slightly parted lips.

"Riku." She voiced with little conviction. Queen Millicent smiled, though sadly. Ladah looked scared.

"Welcome to Disney Castle, Ladah, Hero of this Time."

Author's Note

I'm sorry that this took so long. This chapter was hard to commit to. I didn't actually feel like writing it. Lazy, I know… NEway, I'm almost done with chapter 8 so watch for updates!! Enjoy. Show your love and review!