Harro everybody~ I know I took awhile with this update, but I got kinda lazy. Funny thing is, once I got into it, it took me 2 days to do this. hahaha.
This is only the first part of the Radiant Garden Arc. It'll only be a few chapters, but as those who have actually played, you should know this part is pretty important in the story, same as having Hollow Bastion in KH2 and Traverse Town in KH1. Funny thing is, they're all pretty much the same place. I find that pretty ironical and the names are all different. xD
Okay, this is chapter 9! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own BBS.
[Vista]
What if I lose you?
"Ven? Wake up Ven!" Rise's voice was frantic as she tried as hard as she could to wake up the blond boy in her arms. His eyes refused to open however, Rise furrowing her brows. "Come on Ven! Don't pass out on me!"
Rise turned her attention to look around her surroundings. She seemed to be in the middle of the city square. There were trees and flowers potted surrounding the middle area, little walkways here and there, some alleyways out back, and what seemed to be some small waterfalls embedded onto ledges. It short, it wasn't like anywhere she's been to yet. It was simply…a town. Quite nice after all those strange places she's been, Disney Town included. It was nice to know there were peaceful places like this out there.
Searching around again, she spotted a duck-like man waddling across, a bit away from her. He was moving along his way as if he was taking his daily walk. Out of the corner of her eye though, she could see someone moving. It had two large ears as it toddled its way to an alleyway.
"Mickey?" Rise whispered to herself. Where was he going?
"Nnghh…." She heard a soft moan beneath her. She gasped and shifted her eyes down, onto Ven's face. His eyes were fluttering softly as they began to slowly open.
Rise heaved a sigh of relief. "Ven…thank goodness."
"Ri….se?" Ventus's eyes began to open wider, his blue orbs in full view. It took him about a minute to adjust to his surroundings and realized finally who was holding him in their arms. "Rise!" He bolted up, surprising Rise. Ven's face flushed a pearl pink colour as he found himself smiling in embarrassment. "Why…why are you here?" He gave a sheepish laugh.
Rise gave a laugh back in response. "I'm so glad to see you're up. I was getting worried that you weren't gonna wake up." She stared at him as she realized he didn't quite understand what she meant. "You were knocked out by Vanitas, err, I mean the masked boy. He attacked you…right?"
Ven thought about it for a minute before answering. "That's right! I remember. I was in the badlands…then suddenly he appeared…we fought, and I….well, I lost." There was disappointed in his last words. "Did you save me?"
She shook her head. "King Mickey did."
"King Mickey?"
Rise scratched her head as she wasn't exactly quite sure how she was supposed to answer him. "Umm…he has large ears like this." She gestured large mouse ears. "And, he's about this tall, and oh! He has a Keyblade." Ven's face seemed surprised. "He's the King of some place…or something like that, I'm not too keen on the details, but that's all I know."
Ven nodded his head. "So…where are we?" It was his turn to look around in surprise. He looked all over the place to decipher his location. Judging by the look on his face, he was confused.
"Radiant Garden, or so I think. Vanitas told us to come here…and then when I met King Mickey, he had some kind of star-shaped object and it transported up here magically. I know that sounds crazy, but believe me, I even thought it was pretty crazy."
Ven shook his head this time. "No, I believe you." His voice sounded so sure, it made Rise blush a little. Did he really have that much faith in her? "Anyways, if there's something we gotta find here, we shouldn't waste any time right?" He took a hand and raised his body up. He stretched his body thoroughly before giving a hand to Rise. "Let's go."
Rise took his hand and he hoisted her up. Using her other hand, she patted her skirt all around to smooth it out and make sure nothing was sticking up. Her right hand was still locked onto Ven's. Although Rise couldn't see his face, Ven's cheeks were a bright pink again.
Hands still locked together, she thought about where to head next. She frowned to herself until finally she perked up. "I know! Let's chase after the King. Come on, he went that way!"
She pulled her hand down the same alleyway the King disappeared to.
"Whoa!" Ventus was surprised by the sudden motion as his body was forcibly pulled. "Rise, do you even know where to go?" Rise continued to pull onto his hand as she ran.
"We'll find it, he can't be too far." Rise's voice was huffing slightly as she was still running without stop. Ven finally got into the right pace as he ran behind Rise as their hands were still pulled together.
As the two of them continued to run, they finally reached an area with a bunch of gates. They paused in a circle and gaped at a large set of stairs. She turned her face over to Ven's as he nodded back, although, he gave an awkward smile towards her also. She was confused until Ven gave a shake of his hand, his right hand. Rise gasped and blushed again, surprised.
"I'm sorry! I didn't realize!" She placed a hand on her mouth and stared down onto the ground. "I hope you don't mind…"
Ven gave a slight chuckle, realizing how embarrassed she was. "It's okay, it's not like I mind…I was just surprised." He turned his face and nudged towards the stairs. "Shall we?"
"We shall."
The two of them ran up the stairs side by side and found themselves staring at the figures of two men. They both appeared intimidating and hardworking, probably working hard at doing whatever they were doing. They both held weapons in their hands as the two blocked Ven and Rise as they tried to approach the door.
The one of the left spoke first. His hair was jet black colour, pulled back. "Hold on."
The one of the right spoke next. "The castle is presently closed."
Rise spoke up, explaining. "One of my friends ran this way. Have any of you seen him?" The two guards looked to each other in surprise. It was the one of the left that answered.
"We aren't aware of any visitors. Now run along home, boy, before the
monsters get you." His tone of voice was fairly demanding, more or less forcing the two teens to get out of the area.
Rise found herself whispering to herself. "But…it really seemed like it was him." Rise turned to Ven. "Looks like he's not here, we should head back then." Ven gave a nod as they both turned in unison to walk back down the stairs. Both of them gasped as they noticed something and jumped back a little.
Something had emerged from the stairs, red and black in colour. It looked like an Unversed.
One of the guards from behind them spoke up. "They're here!" Judging by his words, had he expected this monster to come?
Both guards waved their weapons around as they walked from around Ven and Rise. "Radiant Garden shall not fall under the likes of you." The other guard spoke with confidence.
Ven gave a reassuring nod to himself as he bolted first. Rise, surprised by his action, was a little slow to respond as Ven had already ran past the two guards shouting, "Leave this to me!"
The reddish-brunet guard shot a hand up. "Stop!"
"But you're just children!" The other guard yelled this time.
Ven continued to dash ahead as Rise found her head turning around to look at the expressions on their faces. They were obviously surprised, but seemed to grunt to one another. That's all she saw before she turned her head back around and ran after Ven, following him.
He seemed restless as she had a little trouble catching up to him. Why was he in such a hurry? It was only a heartless. Ven seemed unusually agitated for once. All the while as they ran, he never bothered to even look back at Rise. It was a little alarming as to why, since most people would look back to check where their friends were, but Ven didn't do that. What was going on in his mind?
A few minutes passed until they finally came to a halt. They realized they were back in the town square. It wasn't hard to spot the Unversed, in fact, it was smack dab in the middle, along with that duck that was taking a walk earlier.
"Ach! How dare ye! Back off, ye fiend!" He seemed angry and was poking his cane in the Unversed's direction. "Ye'll not be gettin' my money!"
Ven took a bold step forward and threw his Keyblade. "Look out!" His Keyblade hit the Unversed and it jumped a little, speedily running away. Ven was just prepared to run off again as Rise was about to ask him to let her catch her breath, until someone else beat her to it.
Rise found herself blinked her eyes over as she continued to pant. Her eyes were locked onto the duck. "Hold on... Wait a moment, laddie." It spoke. Ven turned his head around to face the duck. "Don't I even get a chance to repay ye?"
Shrugging, he answered. "Oh, you don't have to." Ven proceeded to break another run for it until he was stopped again. Rise gave another couple of pants as she stretched her back and ran up to Ven, giving her a questionable look as they both turned to face the duck.
"Now, just hold yer horses. I dinna mean me fortune. Maybe a wee bit o'
gold, or a small token of..." He seemed to be lost in thought.
Ven's voice was fairly impatient. "Well, could ya make it fast?" Ven began to tap his feet against the ground as Rise frowned to herself. Ven was really in a hurry wasn't he?
"I know-I've just the thing in me hat!" The duck gave a hearty laugh and proceeded to take his hat off his head. "C'mere." He gestured towards both teens as they both crouched down a little and nudged closer to the creature. He took his hat and used it to cover part of his bill, his eyes blinking left and right as if to check if anyone was listening in. "Ye can tell me, lad. You came here from another world, didn't ye?"
Both Rise and Ven gasped at the same time and turned to look at each other. Was it really that obvious?
"Dinna worry. Me bill is sealed. Yer secret's safe with me. I'll not be askin' ye any awkward questions. Ye see, 'tis the same with me. I asked a wizard named Merlin to bring me here from another world. After all, adventure is the mother of industry!" He chuckled to himself.
Thinking he was up, Ven perked up. "Great! That all?"
Scrooge was disappointed with Ven's attitude clearly. Rise frowned at him and pouted. "Ven…be a little more polite would you?" Ven scratched his head and apologized quickly.
"Ach, it's okay but I'm holding ye up, lad and laddie." The duck reached into his hat and took out what looked like slips of paper out. "Here. These are lifetime passes to Disney Town." Disney Town? Lifetime passes? Rise reached into her pocket and felt the one she received from the Queen. "Ye'll have buckets o' fun there, or my name is not Scrooge McDuck. There y'are-enough for you and you, and a grown-up."
Rise waved her hands in front of her. "Oh, it's okay. I already have one."
The duck scratched his head. "Then you and two grown-ups." He laughed to himself as Ven reached down and took the tickets. He flipped one front and back and smiled a little, and frowned while looking at the other two.
Rise giggled. "Two grown-ups Ven." She couldn't help but contain her laugh.
"Hey! You're just as much of a child as I am!" He retorted and stomped on the ground a little.
"I know I know, I'm kidding." She nudged her body a little to Ven. "You know what I mean Ven." Ven folded his arms together and laughed too after a while. He nudged back to Rise with a little bump in the shoulder.
"Okay, enough fooling off, let's get going. We have an Unversed to catch."
Rise nodded and the two ran off down the alleyway the Unversed ran down earlier.
The two continued on their way as they ran down the alleyway. It was pretty spacious, many buildings, and from the corner of their eyes, they could even see a little shop. They were just about to reach an arch when they were suddenly stopped.
"Hang it all! Can't I get a moment's peace!"
Rise peered her eyes and raised an eyebrow, suspicious. Standing not too far away, it was an old man wearing thick blue robes with a matching blue hat in the shape of a cone. Was he some sort of wizard? Well, he reminded her slightly of Yen Sid, only, he seemed more…comical? If that was the right word to describe him. He lacked that serious aura around him at best.
Ven gestured with his hands. "Mister, get inside. It's not safe out here."
The man scratched his head. "Oh, ordering me about-now that's unsafe. After all, I'm Merlin the Wizard. Oh ho... Scamps looking to wake the powers inside themselves, is that it?"
Rise was shocked. Was he really like Yen Sid? "How…how did you know?" She felt her body tense slightly and turned her face over to Ven's. The expression on his face was the exact same as hers.
The wizard chuckled to himself. "We wizards have a knack for knowing such things. The book is inside on the table. You may have a gander, if you like." Without another word, he turned his body around and seemed to go into a door, probably his house in that case.
Ven turned over to Rise. "What book?"
She put a finger to her chin. "Wanna check it out then? I'm sure the Unversed can wait a little longer." He thought about it for a moment, looked over past the arch, then back to Rise's face. He gave a slight nod as they began to walk into the little house. Well, chances are, they probably won't be returning back here, together especially.
Their steps were careful as they clicked open the door. Rise put her hand in the door frame first to take a look. The room was roomy, but it was cramped also. There were all sorts of books lying around. Ven from behind her cracked the door open a little more, unaware he was leaning on her.
"Hey Ven! Oof!" Rise toppled onto the ground, feeling Ven's body on her back. "You could've been a little more careful y'know?"
Ven felt his face heat up. He moved his body quickly up and smacked his head once. "I'm sorry, I should've been more careful. You're not hurt are you?" His voice was clearly concerned.
Although Rise thought her wrists may have been twisted, she decided to forgive Ven and not tell him. Ven would surely worry and beat himself over it if he found out he had hurt her.
"No, I'm just fine." She placed her hand to her back and rotated her wrists around. Her left one hurt, causing her to wince a little. Thankfully, Ven hadn't caught onto it as he nodded over to the wizard who responded before going back to what he was doing earlier. He was aware of their presence now.
Ven frowned as he looked around. A book? Rise followed suit until something caught her eye. There was a podium at the back of the room, something large on it.
She tapped Ven on the shoulder. "Hey, do you think that's it?" Her fingers pointed to the podium and Ven's eyes traced them to it.
"Let's take a look."
Rise's hand held onto Ven's clothing as they approached the object. Surely, it was a book. It had a picture of some animals on the cover. It was rather cute of a picture. Was this the one? "Ven, open it. I think that's the right one if I'm not wrong." Ven nodded and took the book with both hands and cracked it open, a bright light suddenly shining.
"Whoa!" He yelped as they both proceeded to cover their eyes. Moments passed as the light finally dulled down and they could both open their eyes again. "What…happened?"
Rise was the one who noticed it first. It was a card. Rise read the words aloud. "Granted permission to the Hundred Acre Command Board. Huh…command board. We'll do that some other day won't we?" Rise grinned at Ven as they decided to take their leave now that their business was done.
Ven said a quick goodbye to the wizard and they both ran down their way again, past the arch.
The way they went was difficult, fighting off a couple of Unversed along the way. Finally, they seemed to reach a clearing when they noticed there was a large man standing in the middle of the area.
"Terra!" Ven shouted out first, his voice glad that he was safe. Terra turned his face around and widened his eyes in surprise.
"Ven! Rise!" From across, another person ran in as both Terra and this other person called out their names. The other person was Aqua, her body stopping once she reached Terra.
"Aqua!" It was Rise's turn to be surprised.
Unfortuantely, their reunion was cut a little short. In a matter of seconds, three different Unversed appeared, including the one Rise and Ven were chasing, combined together to become one large Unversed. The size was massive.
Rise spoke up again. "Okay you guys, I know we have a lot to catch up on, but do you mind if we do it after we beat this thing?" She turned her head over to look at her three friends.
They nodded in unison.
"Let's go!"
Yep, right before the battle. I know I'm lazy, but you gotta understand that it's annoying writing out the exact script from the game. D:
There's a little Ven and Rise fluff here, not a lot, but hey, it's kingdom hearts. There was never a lot of lovey-dovey moments anyways. Although, I promise you in the next chapter or two there will be more. :D
Okay, so R&R. 3
