(And now for the scene we all love: where Derek and Odette are reunited! What will the prince think when he learns about not just Odette's spell, but Sora as well. How will he react? Let's find out!
Disclaimer: I do not own the story and characters of the Kingdom Hearts series and the movie Swan Princess…there is no justice.)
Chapter 9: Tomorrow Night
Derek's reaction was immediate. The moment Odette spoke his name he dropped his bow and raced across the water. Odette hurried towards him and the two met in an embrace that told Sora more than any words put together. Derek spun Odette in the air, water flying all around them. Setting the princess down, Derek closed the small gap between them with a passionate kiss as Odette wrapped her arms around his neck.
Sora looked away from the couple with a smile, trying to give them the small bit of privacy he could. Realizing he was still kneeling in the water, Sora went to stand and stumbled back as his arms wheeled in the air. What the? Don't tell me I forgot how to walk on my own two legs! He thought as he tried to find his balance. Now I know how Ariel felt when she first learned to walk!
Odette pulled away from Derek, only so she could breathe, and smiled up at his face as a wave of love crashed through her body. It had been so long, and now she was finally reunited with the man she loved.
"Oh, Derek," her voice was a soft sigh. "I've missed you so."
Derek swallowed the lump in his throat as he smiled back at Odette. "No one believed me, but I knew!" All the doubts that his mother, Rodgers, and the rest of the kingdom had about Odette being alive vanished from his thoughts. He had been right all along, and now he would prove to them that they were wrong.
Before Odette could respond, a yelp that was followed by a loud splash made her turn. Derek followed her gaze to see a boy of fifteen or so years with outrageously spiked brown hair sitting in the shallows of the lake a few short feet from where they stood. The boy turned his head to them and Derek felt his body go ridged as he recognized the blue eyes of the wolf from the forest.
Sora let out a growl of irritation as he felt the backseat of his pants soak up the lake water. Never in a millions years did he think he would forget how to walk, let alone stand, on two legs and have to relearn all over again!
Remembering that Derek and Odette where standing nearby, Sora turned to the couple and smiled sheepishly.
"Uh, sorry about that." He scratched the back of his head and felt his cheeks grow hot. "Just learning how to walk."
Odette smiled and shook her head at Sora and turned back to Derek. "Derek, I would like you to meet my friend Sora." The boy waved a dripping wet hand at the prince and slowly stood, his legs quivering from the effort. Seeing the questioning look on Derek's face, Odette sighed, as she knew this would not be easy to explain.
Derek looked from Odette to Sora as question after question tumbled through his mind. "The flying wolf from the forest, that was you wasn't it?"
Biting his lip nervously, Sora ran a hand through his hair. It felt weird to have fingers again. "Yup. The heartless where attacking Odette and I had to think of something that would help me get to her."
"And, now you're a human." Derek said his eyes focused on the boy. "How? Are you a werewolf?"
Sora blinked in surprise at Derek's question and Odette shook her head. "No Derek, he's under a spell that trapped him in the body of a wolf. He and his friends have helped keep me safe from the heartless."
"Heartless?" Derek was at a loss of words.
"The shadows that you saw in the forest." Sora answered, wobbling as his balance slipped and he toppled into the water face-first. "Stupid quadruped-biped transformation!" he yelled in frustration. "This never happened with the Pride Lands or Atlantica!" Lifting his face out of the water, Sora pushed off the ground just as he felt hands grab his arms and he looked up to see Odette and Derek holding him. "Thanks guys."
Derek studied the boy as he righted himself; he was indeed the strangest person he had ever met, considering the fact he had moments ago been a wolf. "I think I've heard of the heartless," an image of a squatty black creature with a bulbous head and bent antennae from a book appeared in his mind. "They are creatures made of darkness and hunt for the hearts of others and can take on a variety of different forms."
Sora's eyebrows shot up from the description and he nodded slowly. "Yeah, that's a pretty good definition of them. How'd you know?"
"I came across it in a book while researching the Great Animal." Derek said and turned to Odette. "After I discovered what happened, I did everything I could to find the answer to your disappearance. And, now that I've found you," He pulled Odette into a tight embrace and held her as if she would disappear.
Odette pushed herself from Derek and met his eyes. "Listen to me Derek," The tone of her voice caught Sora off guard and he realized that she sounded fearful. "You can't stay here."
"What?" Sora gaped at her and Derek blinked.
"Can't stay?" The prince repeated, sure that he heard her wrong. "No I'm never letting you out of my sight again!"
Odette fought the urge to hold him as she planted her hands firmly on his chest. "I'm sorry Derek but-"
"Odette!"
Sora froze as Rothbart's voice carried to them through the air. Not now!
"Oh no!" Odette cried, turning in the direction of Rothbart's voice.
Derek grabbed Odette's hands and she turned to him. "Who is it?" he demanded, his voice tight. "What's going on?"
"It's him!"
"Who?"
Sora growled and moved next to Odette as if to block the couple from view. "The guy who has her under a spell."
"Who does?" Derek's voice was hard with anger and he glared at where the voice was coming from. "Let him come, I'll-"
"No!" Odette grabbed his shoulders and pulled him to the shore. "He has great power! You must go!"
Derek turned around and held her arms. "Then you're coming with me!" His face fell when Odette shook her head.
"I can't! When the moon sets, I'll turn back into a swan!" Grabbing Derek's arm, Odette pulled him out of the water and onto the stone steps that led into the forest. "Please Derek, you have to trust me! Go!"
Sora splashed through the water as he followed them to the shore, his eyes scanning the forest for Rothbart. Of all the times for him to show up early! He returned his attention to Odette, who was trying to get Derek to leave before Rothbart could see him.
"There has to be some way to break the spell!" Derek said, not wanting to leave Odette.
"Oh there is!" Odette smiled at him. "You must make a vow of everlasting love."
"I make it!" Derek declared. "It's all I ever wanted."
Sora winced and shook his head. "There's more to it than just that. You'll have to prove your love to the world."
Derek looked at Sora with wide eyes. "How?" The boy's face fell and he shook his head. Derek turned to Odette and saw her face held the same expression. "How?"
"I-" Odette stuttered nervously. "I don't know!"
"Odette!" Rothbart's voice rang through the forest, making them jump.
"Go!" Odette urged and pushed Derek down the path, her fear rising in her chest.
Derek ran down the path and stopped as an idea occurred. "The ball…" he whispered and turned back to Odette. "Tomorrow night, come to the castle and before the whole world I will make a vow of everlasting love!"
"Odette!"
With a snarl, Sora whirled around to where Rothbart was coming. You're ruining the moment!
Odette turned in the direction of her name. "I'm coming!" She yelled and glanced back to Derek. "Go!"
"Tomorrow night!" Derek said, taking something from around his neck.
"Yes," Odette sighed. "Tomorrow night. Now go!"
A flash of gold flew through the air and Odette reached out to catch the heart shaped necklace, the swan engraving winking at her in the moonlight. With a last glance at Derek, Odette turned around to face Rothbart. Sora walked to her side and glared into the forest.
"Boy do I want to hurt someone right now." Sora growled as Rothbart drew nearer.
Odette closed her hand around the necklace and looked at the boy. "What will you say when he sees you as a human?"
Sora shrugged and glanced at the moon. "Dunno. But it'll be interesting to see his face when he finds out I'm not a wolf!"
Suddenly a shadow passed over his face and Sora stumbled forward as a sharp pain knifed through his stomach. Gasping, Sora clutched his middle as his knees gave out from under him. "Wha-what's happening?"
Odette grabbed his arm to steady him as the animals hurried forward. Sora grunted as his body lurched to the ground and a stabbing pain laced through his body. Fighting the urge to scream, Sora threw his hands to the ground and watched in horror as red-brown fur began to sprout from his skin.
"No," he gasped mournfully as his teeth sharpened into fangs. "I just became human again! I can't go back to being a wolf now!" The pain in his body grew as his face grew longer and his ears stretched into points. His nails blackened and the tips sharpened as a long busy tail grew from his back. Spots of light danced in his eyes and Sora collapsed to the ground.
Panting heavily Sora looked up into the concerned faces of his friends and rolled onto his side. With a low whimper, Sora struggled to his feet and looked down at his paws. So much for being human.
"Odette!"
The group looked up to see Rothbart emerge from the forest, his face a mask of annoyance. "Didn't you hear me calling?"
Odette's arms had been holding Sora's shoulders and she gave him a small squeeze and stood to face the sorcerer. "I-" her voice faltered, completely at a loss of words. "I-"
Rothbart turned to a cluster of bushed and shoved them aside. "I thought I heard…voices." His eyes fell on Jean-Bob and the frog squatted down and immediately began croaking.
"Odette…Odette…"
Sora choked on a laugh and Odette's eyes lit up.
"Voices?" she echoed and glanced down at the wolf.
"Yes," Rothbart faced her. "Voices."
Behind the bushes, Donald, Goofy, Puffin, Speed, and Jean-Bob waited for Odette's answer as she continued to stutter.
"Well…I-I-"
Rothbart narrowed his eyes at the princess. "You, what?"
Unable to take the suspense, Sora stepped in front of Odette and looked up at Rothbart. "Odette and I were talking and-"
"I've decided," Odette cut off his words. "To become your queen."
Jean-Bob, who had been perched on Speed's shell, fainted as the animals froze in shock. Even Sora, who knew Odette was going to say something unexpected, was shocked by her words and his legs gave out from under him. The only one who seemed happy about the news was Rothbart.
"No, you mean?" the sorcerer laughed gleefully. "Odette, you've made me so happy! I'll be a good king, you'll see!" Rothbart went down on one knee and grinned. "I'll wear nice clothes and…I'm going to get my beard trimmed!"
Sora wanted to gag as he watched the sorcerer jump up and spin around. This guy is really milking it! He glanced up at Odette, who looked like she wanted to run screaming from the place. I'm not sure this is the best of ideas, but let's hope it works.
"Oh, by the way." Rothbart's change in tone made Sora freeze. "You wouldn't happen to know who this belongs to," A red longbow appeared in his hand and Sora felt his jaw hit the ground. "Would you?" Rothbart leered at Odette and she let out a gasp.
The fur on Sora's back stood on end as a low growl rumbled in his chest, growing louder as Rothbart began to taunt Odette.
"Come to the ball? I will make a vow of everlasting love!" With a laugh, Rothbart hurled the bow into the lake. "Thought you could fool Rothbart, did you?" The bow hit the lake with a splash and became a faint line in the water.
"Okay, that's it!" Sora roared and launched himself at Rothbart, his weight crashing into the sorcerer. Rothbart yelled in shock as his back slammed into the earth and Sora's heavy paws pinned him down. The wolf's claws pricked Rothbart's shoulders and he snarled in rage.
Bleach-white fangs flashed in the moonlight as Sora growled in Rothbart's face. "I've had just about enough of you and your magic!" With a snarl, Sora lunged at the sorcerer's throat but was thrown back by a powerful red and gold force. Sora slammed into the ground and slid to a painful halt in the dirt. He gasped in pain and shook his head to clear away his suddenly violent thoughts.
"Sora!"
Odette grabbed the wolf and helped him to his feet, glaring at Rothbart. "I will never be yours you creature!" she spat angrily. Standing up, Odette tightened her fists as held them to her sides. "I will marry Prince Derek, and you cannot stop me!"
Rothbart stood up and walked to Odette, standing much too close for her comfort. "Oh, I hate to tell you this Odette!" He grabbed her hand and she winced as he snatched the necklace from her fingers. "But you won't be able to attend the big ball tomorrow night." He turned around and walked away, flipping the necklace in his hand.
"If you want to stop me," Odette's voice shook with rage. "You'll have to kill me!"
Sora stared at the princess, horrified by her dare. Rothbart faced her and smirked, completely unfazed by her words.
"No, I don't think so. You see," his eyes glinted wickedly in the night. "You've forgotten one very important thing about tomorrow night." With a flourish, Rothbart pointed up at the sky and Sora followed his direction. "There is no moon."
Odette gasped and turned to the moon, seeing the small sliver that hung in the night sky. Her heart plummeted to her stomach and she began to cry, the tears flowing harder than they ever had before. Despite Rothbart's laughter, she could not find the strength to stand and collapsed on her knees, covering her face with her hands. The reflection of the moon rippled in the water as Odette's tears slipped through her fingers.
Everything she had done, everything Sora and Puffin had done to protect her from the heartless, and being hunted by Derek. All their hard work to retrieve the map to find Derek's castle. To show him the truth. Gone. Over. Pointless. Rothbart had known the whole time, letting her believe they had won. Now, it was over.
The sound of paws behind her made Odette look up from her tear-filled palms to see Sora gazing at her. The wolf let out a soft whine and Odette hugged the wolf, burying her face in his thick furred shoulder. Sora raised a paw and placed it over Odette's back in an attempt to hug her as the rest of the animals surrounded them.
No one dared to speak or even clear their throat as Odette cried, her misery affecting them all. Sora didn't bother to hold back his own tears as he thought of the hope that Odette had dared to keep, now broken by Rothbart. The urge to throw back his head and howl was overwhelming for him as the sorrow burned in his throat.
"What're we going to do?" Speed managed, his voice choked by sadness.
Donald wiped his eyes with his wing and shook his head. "I don't know...there has to be something we can do." He looked at Puffin, but the bird shook his head.
"I'm sorry friends, but I've got nothing."
Jean-Bob blew his nose and sniffed. "That's a first…"
Sora ignored the animals' words as Odette leaned against his body, her shoulders shaking with each sob. We were so close…and now…it's too late. The wolf looked up at the sky with tears in his eyes and tightened his half-hug on Odette. It shouldn't be like this, not for her, and not for Derek!
The words Yen Sid had said to him that morning swirled through his thoughts, haunting him with the memory that he and Odette where connected through the spell. There has to be a way around the vow. He thought. A shortcut. A loophole. Anything! Anything that would release Odette from this curse!
Sora's ears stood up when he realized he had spoken his thoughts out loud as the animals stared at him. Odette pulled away from the wolf, her eyes red from crying and her cheeks tear-stained. The princess wiped her face and managed a smile that made Sora's heart break.
"If there was something," she whispered, more tears filling her eyes. "We would have known by now." The princess shook her head and gazed out at the lake mournfully. "Rothbart beat us at his own game. He knew everything. From the very beginning when the spell was cast over me and then you."
"No." Sora shook his head, fighting back the tremor in his voice. "It can't be over now. There has to be something we can do!"
Goofy sniffled and looked at Donald. "Is there anything we could do?"
The duck shook his head slowly and tightened his grip on his staff. "Nothing comes to mind…except one thing." He looked up at the group, but his eyes were doubtful. "The only person who would have an answer is the one who cast the spell in the first place, and unless any of us is willing to try to get it from him…"
The animals bowed their heads and Odette succumbed to her weeping, her body trembling harder than before. Sora looked around at the group as they returned to their sadness and turned to Odette. The wolf pushed his head softly against the princess' shoulder and she lifted her head. With a small smile, Sora leaned to her and licked her cheek as if to wipe away the tears.
There's gotta be something we can do, he thought as Odette smiled at him. The princess ran a hand over the wolf's head and scratched his ear.
"Thank you, Sora."
"Maybe," Puffin turned to the forest. "Maybe one of us can go find Derek and tell him what has happened!"
"Oh that's a great idea!" Jean-Bob scoffed. "Have a talking animal go find a prince who is probably at least a mile or two away by now and tell him that Odette can't attend the ball tomorrow night because there is no moon!"
Puffin turned to Jean-Bob with a glare. "Do you have any better ideas, 'Your Highness'? Because if you do, tell me! I'd love to hear them!"
"Stop it!" Speed yelled, startling the group. "Arguing about it won't make things any better!"
"Speed's right," Goofy said. "The more we yell about it, the more time we loose."
Donald nodded and looked at Puffin. "I agree with Puffin; one of us should go find Derek and tell him about what happened."
"Alright then," Puffin straightened his back. "Which one of us is the fastest and can track a prince who is miles away? Ah yes, Sora!" The group turned to the wolf, but he was gone. In his place was nothing more than a soft indent in the dirt and a faint scratch from his claws. A light trail of paw prints led to the stone path and vanished into the forest.
"Sora?" Puffin called. "Sora!"
"Sora!"
(Ah yes, another cliffhanger! Now where do ya'll think Sora went? Will the animals try to find Derek themselves, or search for their missing wolf? We'll find out!
Obviously I lengthened the time between Odette and Derek, but that was for Sora's benefit. Yes, he didn't have a whole lot of time as a human but at least Rothbart didn't see him…I think…
Review, and I'll see you soon!)
