(Even though I don't want to say it, I'll say it! I do not own the Swan Princess or Kingdom Hearts)
Chapter 10: No More Mister Nice Guy
Rothbart strolled through the forest to his castle, leaving the weeping princess to her pathetic friends. They really didn't have a clue who they were dealing with. Where they that dense to think that he would let them get away with bringing the prince to the lake and revealing the truth? He laughed at the thought and shook his head. Still, it was fun to fool them into thinking they had won.
Shoving the heavy wooden doors open, Rothbart stepped into the ruined castle and looked around. He really should fix up the place a bit, once the princess was dead and the world was his, of course.
"That was kinda risky, don't ya think?"
The sorcerer turned to see Pete leaning against a cracked pillar with his arms crossed over his large chest. "By letting them bring the prince here, you let them give away how to break the spell. Not to mention, show him where you've been keeping the princess all this time."
Rothbart laughed and waved a hand dismissively at the villain. "Do not concern yourself with my plans, I have everything under control. No matter what they do, I'm always one step ahead." He stopped as Odette's words of the ball ran through his mind. "But on the other hand, Prince Derek's vow could ruin everything!"
Pete pushed off the pillar and dropped his arms to his sides, raising an eyebrow at the sorcerer. "So what're ya gonna do about it?"
"Obviously, I'll have to deal with him," Rothbart stroked his beard as he thought. "But…how?" Suddenly his face lit up as the Hag appeared at his side. "The vow!" Grinning wickedly Rothbart grabbed the Hag by the shoulders and leered at her. "I could get Derek to offer his vow to the wrong princess!"
The Hag squealed gleefully and Rothbart laughed, but Pete narrowed his eyes in confusion.
"And just who are ya gonna have Derek pledge his love to?"
Rothbart dropped the Hag and turned to Pete with a grin. "Simple! I'll make her," he gestured to the Hag. "Look like Odette!" At this the Hag cried out joyfully and began flattening her wiry gray hair in an attempt to make it more attractive.
Pete blinked. "But ain't that gonna take a lot of work?"
"Oh trust me," Rothbart sneered. "It'll be worth it. Because when Derek makes his vow to the wrong girl, Odette will die!" He held up a hand before Pete could protest. "Yes, yes, I know her heart is valuable to us, but don't worry. I have it all planned out."
Stopping to consider the sorcerer's words, Pete slowly nodded. "I guess that could work." His eyes narrowed again. "But, what about the kid? Ain't he connected to her through the spell too?" Pete almost winced at the dark light that danced in Rothbart's eyes.
"Oh yes, yes he is, and I intend on taking full advantage of that. It will be fun to watch his humanity slip from his grasp as the princess dies." Rothart shook his head with delight and clenched his fists. "And I'll finish Derek off myself! Oh, I love it! I mean, this is really classy! This," he spun on his heal to Pete. "Is me!"
Pete snorted at the sorcerer's theatrics and nodded. "It sure is a hoot when those weaklings start to quake before you. And once you're the ruler of this world," he watched as the Hag scurried to Rothbart's feet to kiss them. "They'll be sure to treat you with respect."
Rothbart snapped his fingers and a cluster of pink heart-shaped bubbles appeared in the air and the Hag began popping them. "I can't wait to watch their poor hearts breaking." The Hag popped the last and it exploded in a burst of smoke and Rothbart shrugged.
Magic flew about the castle turning it into a bright display of colors and startlingly bright lights as Rothbart paraded around the space. Images of people appeared and disappeared in flashes of smoke and light. Somehow, Pete found himself caught up in the suddenly wild and crazy celebration with a trio of women that Rothbart had brought to life from a crumbling dry water feature.
"Vengeance is what I believe in my friend." Rothbart said with a grin. "I don't get mad, I get even!"
"And what about Odette?" Pete called while ducking to avoid a stream of magic and falling on his face. "How're you going to deal with her?"
Rothbart laughed as an image of Odette in swan form appeared before him. "Simple, we'll lock her away in the tower with no way out!"
Pete growled as he shoved through a crowd full of castle goers. "And the boy? You don't want to underestimate what he'll do to protect her!"
"Then," Rothbart glanced over his shoulder to the wide window behind him and a bush outside shifted. "We'll have test out the latest of the heartless. I know you've been waiting to try out the Huntsman, so why not now?"
A grin wormed its way onto Pete's chubby face as Rothbart grabbed the Hag from a dancing image of a short man in a purple hat. Red and gold light shot from his palm and the Hag's body grew tall with curves and a graceful figure. He then threw another round of magic and her face changed to that of Odette's
"Up to no good," he snapped his fingers and the gold necklace flashed onto the Hag/Odette's throat. "I love plotting, and I am so good when I'm rotten!" Rothbart laughed and his eyes flashed with magic. "From now on, it's no more mister nice guy!"
Sora padded through the forest at a quick pace as his eyes scanned the trees for Rothbart. He's gone too far, the wolf's lips pulled back in a snarl. Making Odette think that we had a chance and crushing every bit of hope she had left! Jerking his head around, Sora narrowed his eyes. Slowly, the wolf lowered his head to the ground and inhaled deeply.
A sharp smell collided with his senses and Sora jumped as his mind began to register who it belonged to. Sora lowered his nose to the ground and followed the trail deeper into the forest. No it can't be…Derek? His ears shot up and Sora looked ahead through the trees and the realization dawned on him.
I can track him back to his castle and warn him about what happened! While excitement grew in his chest, another thought whispered in the back in his mind.
Rothbart.
Rage burned through his brain and Sora shook his head to clear it, but the emotion filled his thoughts. I need to know what he's planning…how is he going to keep Odette from warning Derek?
Sora turned his head from the scent that led into the forest to the looming castle at his left. He needed to warn Derek, but at the same time, needed to know what Rothbart was planning! If he knew, then he could give Derek the specifics on what to do to avoid whatever would happen. Or, he could go now and warn the prince.
But…Odette…
With a growl Sora turned away from the scent and made his way to the castle, making sure that his pace was quick but at the same time silent as could be. Sniffing the air to make sure it was clear, Sora padded up to the castle wall and carefully walked to the heavy wooden doors that he and the others had entered through to get the map. Sora blinked in surprise, had that actually been that same day? He shook his head at how much time had flown by, still unsure as to how long he, Donald, and Goofy had been at Swan Lake.
Too long, he thought and peered through the crack between the two doors. Inside he saw Rothbart holding his hag sidekick by the shoulders and talking animatedly, and behind him was Pete.
"And just who are ya gonna have Derek pledge his love to?"
Sora's ears where completely erect as he tried to take in every word the villains said. Whatever they were talking about obviously had to do with the ball tomorrow night.
"I'll make her," he watched Rothbart gesture to the Hag. "Look like Odette."
At those words, Sora's legs gave out and he had to catch himself before he could fall. Make the Hag look like Odette? His eyes widened as Pete questioned the amount of work it would take. Sora peered through the crack again, but the next words Rothbart said made him freeze in place.
"When he makes his vow to the wrong girl, Odette will die!"
Rothbart's voice echoed in Sora's ears, as he stood frozen in fear. Odette? Die? No. No. No! That couldn't happen, it just couldn't!
"But, what about the kid?" Pete's voice shook Sora from his trance. "Ain't he connected to her through the spell too?"
By now, Sora was completely pressed against the cold wood as he waited for Rothbart's answer.
"Oh yes, yes he is, and I intend on taking full advantage of that." The wolf narrowed his eyes, only to have them pop out of his skull as Rothbart finished. "It will be fun to watch his humanity slip from his grasp as the princess dies. And I'll finish Derek off myself!"
Sora didn't need to hear another word. The wolf whirled around and bounded off the stone walkway and into a bush. With an irritated growl, Sora struggled out of the thick plant and raced away into the forest. Sliding to a halt Sora planted his nose to the ground and sniffed until he caught Derek's scent and bolted in its direction.
I've gotta warn Derek! His eyes strained to see through the darkness and he barely avoided a thick tree. I'll tell him what's going to happen and he can just stall until the real Odette reaches the ball! Or, something like that!
Sora's paws pounded heavily on the ground and he ran on, never stopping. Tree roots and loose rocks caught his claws and made him stumble, but Sora refused to stop. Even when his lungs began to burn and his muscles ached, he did not stop. Finally, unable to bear another step, Sora trotted to a halt and collapsed on the ground. The sky was still dark and the moon was directly over his head.
I'm still tired from the run today, and I've barely covered any ground! Sora whined and flopped onto his back with a heavy sigh. A low growl rumbled in his stomach and the wolf sighed. Boy could I go for some food right about now.
As if on cue, a mouthwatering scent drifted his way and slowly wrapped around his snout. Sora stood and followed the tempting smell as if in a daze to a small clearing in the forest where an empty fire pit sat. Two tall poles straddled the pit to support another stick and hanging from it was a large haunch of fresh red meat.
Saliva dribbled in Sora's mouth and he licked his teeth as he slowly made his way to the enticing meat. A voice was screaming in his head that he should stop and turn around, but his stomach was too demanding for him to care. He was hungry!
Reaching the edge of the pit Sora glanced down to see that the coals had long since gone out and where cold. With a shrug, Sora leaned in towards the meat and placed a single paw into the pit. And that was his mistake.
Darkness rose to surround him as the ground gave way beneath Sora's paws and he screamed as he plummeted down the hole. Sora reached out desperately to grab the walls, but the dirt was too loose for his claws to grab and only caused it to fall into his eyes. A sharp pain pierced Sora's right shoulder and he howled as it sank deeper into his flesh as he continued his descent. Rough material suddenly met Sora's stomach and he gasped as his body crashed into something wide that was filled with gaps. It was only after a moment of struggling did he realize that the material was rope and the thing he had landed in was a net.
The pain in Sora's shoulder burned, causing him to struggle and become even more tangled in the net. A snarl above the wolf made him freeze and he flattened his ears as a sharp whistle shot through the air. Slowly, Sora looked up the hole and was met by a pair of heartless wolves. The shadows glared down at him and bared their fangs as a tall figure appeared between them.
Sora's eyes widened as the tall human-like shadow loomed over the hole, its face covered by a thick hood. The shape of a bow stuck out over its left shoulder, along with a quiver filled with arrows. The shadow kneeled down and grasped at something on the ground and the next thing Sora knew, he was being pulled up the hole in the tangled net. With a sharp tug, the net was yanked out of the hole and Sora collapsed painfully on the ground. The wolves circled him, growling, as the human shadow dropped the rope and stood, allowing Sora to get a full view of the heartless.
A thick hood covered the face in complete darkness, but two blank yellow eyes bored into Sora's frightened blue eyes. The shadow had a powerful warrior build and sported a large broadsword that hung at its side, as well as two axes that where shoved into its thick leather belt. Sharp spurs sat behind the heels of thick black boots, their wicked tips flashing in the moonlight. Sora's eyes traveled up the shadow's body and hovered on a strange black material that was tied around the hooded throat. The shadow lifted a single gloved hand to its hidden mouth and let out a loud whistle. Instantly a massive black horse with a flaming mane broke through the trees and reared back at the sight of the red-brown wolf. The shadow jumped up and, grabbing the horse's reins, pulled the raging beast back to earth. A chill ran down Sora's spine as he realized the cloak the shadow wore was made of multiple animal pelts, but the most noticeable to him was the large black pelt of a wolf.
Not good, Sora whimpered and jumped as the pain in his arm jolted him from his thoughts. Managing to turn his head in the net Sora saw a large wooden spike was jammed itself into his shoulder and had worked its way painfully under his fur.
The shadow hunter turned back to Sora and walked over to him, kneeling down on the ground right by the wolf. Grabbing the spike in a large gloved hand the shadow yanked the spear out of Sora's shoulder, earning a howl of pain from the wolf. A wave of dizziness washed over Sora's body, numbing him as the shadow lifted him off the ground and tossed him onto the black horse.
Sora tried his best to struggled out of the net but his body would not respond, not even his mouth could work as he tried to call for help. The horse snorted as the hunter climbed onto its back and took off at a fast-paced gallop with the two wolves trailing behind.
The ride on the back of the horse was anything but comfortable as Sora was jostled about by the creature's heavy gallop. Branches from nearby trees whipped past them, smacking Sora in the face. The wound in his shoulder stung, but due to the fact his mouth was bound in the net, Sora could not summon the Keyblade to cure his shoulder.
With a sigh, Sora's ears drooped and he closed his eyes. I'm such an idiot! I should've gone to Derek when I had the chance instead of stopping to rest! Now I've been caught by some sort of hunter-heartless and am probably being taken to Rothbart.
The horse leapt over a log and Sora was flung off its back for a moment and then crashed back down onto the lumpy backside. The wolf gasped as the wind was knocked out of his lungs. Glancing up at the sky, Sora noticed that the moon had moved in the sky and was drifting closer to the horizon.
Suddenly, the horse burst through the forest and Sora found himself staring out at Swan Lake. Eyes wide, the wolf turned his head and in the distance, he could just make out the shapes of his friends.
"Guys!" he yelled through the rope, his voice somewhat slurred from the numbness. "Donald! Goofy! Odette!" Before he could call again, the horse bucked its legs and Sora was thrown off its back and onto the ground. Water flew around him as he crashed into the lake, his upper body landing painfully on the stone steps. The ropes scratched at his body as Sora struggled to be free while avoiding the horse's pounding hooves.
"Sora!"
A bolt of lightning shot through the air and slammed into the horse, sending it and its rider into the lake. Something grasped the net and the rope around Sora loosened enough for him to move. Standing up Sora turned to see Odette, Jean-Bob, Speed, and Puffin pulling the net from his body. A cry made him turn to see Donald and Goofy fending off the hunter and his horse.
"Thanks guys," he sighed and shook off the net. "I thought I was a goner."
Puffin snorted and whacked the wolf over the head. "What where ya' thinkin' runnin off like that? We where planning on havin' ya' go find the prince!"
"That's what I was doing!" Sora countered. A growl sounded behind him and he whirled around to face the shadow wolves. The two heartless sprinted to him and swung their claws, but he was already moving and swung his head as the Keyblade appeared in a flash.
Grinning triumphantly, Sora faced the hunter. "And now for the-"
Donald and Goofy crashed into the wolf, sending him flying back into the group. A pack of wolves surrounded the startled group as the hunter stalked up to them, his yellow eyes narrowed in a glare.
"Back!" Sora, Donald, and Goofy yelled, waving their weapons at the cluster of heartless. A wolf snapped at Odette and Sora swung at the creature, his eyes flashing in the light. A high-pitched whistle shot through Sora's ears and he whined, as did the other wolves, and the hunter lowered his hand from his mouth. In an eerie silence, the hunter lifted a hand and pointed to Sora and Odette.
"What's it doing?" Speed whispered as the hunter gestured to the castle.
Sora snarled and he felt Odette's hand fall on his back. "If think," the princess' voice shook. "It wants us to go to the castle."
"No," Sora growled and stepped forward. "No way are we gonna follow him to the castle." He winced as the wound in his shoulder stung. "Rothbart wants to lock us up before we do anything to ruin his plan."
Odette looked at the wolf. "What plan?"
Before Sora could speak a whip lashed out and wrapped around his throat, yanking him to the ground. Heartless wolves howled and charged at his friends to stop them from fighting. Sora struggled against the hunter's whip but it only cut into his fur as he was pulled towards the heartless. The hunter was so focused on the wolf that he did not see the rock sail through the air to his head.
The hood jerked back and the tension around Sora's throat loosened, leaving him gasping for breath. Odette hurried to the wolf and pulled the whip from his throat, her fingers working quickly against the binding leather. Sora blinked at the rock that lay a foot or so from the stunned hunter's body.
"Did…did you throw that?"
Odette pulled the whip from his and tossed it into the lake. "Who else?"
Sora snorted and they turned back to the battle between the heartless and the animals. Goofy ducked under a paw and blocked with his shield.
"Go!" he yelled and threw it into a wolf. "Sora, get her out of her!"
"We've got this!" Donald hurled a shard of ice into a wolf's face.
Sora shook his head and charged at the battle but jumped back as a black arrow pierced the ground in front of him. The wolf turned to see the hunter raise his bow and he jerked his eyes away from the battle and raced away into the woods with Odette at his side.
"We have to get to Derek's castle!" Odette said determinedly. "It's the only place we can be safe!"
Sora nodded and sniffed the air. "I know where I can find his scent, follow me!" They plunged into the forest and the darkness of the trees wrapped around them. Odette grabbed onto the loose fur around Sora's neck as he guided her through the shadows.
Suddenly they where yanked into the air and hung in a rough grip as a net tangled around them, suspending them in a tree. Sora's body crashed into Odette's and he snarled in rage as shadow wolves began barking up at them.
"I'm really getting tired of these traps…"
After hanging in the net for what felt like hours, the hunter appeared beneath them and unsheathed his sword. Sora's eyes widened when he saw the heartless level his sword with a rope that led up to their hanging net.
"Oh no," he whimpered. "No he -"
With a swing of the sword the rope severed and Sora and Odette crashed to the ground.
"He did." Odette gasped as the hunter loomed over them menacingly. Grabbing the princess by her arm the hunter wrapped a thick rope around her body, pinning her arms to her sides. For Sora, he clamped a thick metal collar around his neck and secured a heavy muzzle around his mouth. Attaching a chain to the collar, the hunter yanked Sora in its direction as it pushed Odette forward, leading them to the castle.
The sounds of the battle had ceased but when Sora tried to turn his head to see his friends, he was jerked away by the heartless. As the hunter led them to the castle the heavy wood doors opened and they where forced into a large crumbling room.
Rothbart lounged in a cracked stone chair with a high back and Pete leaned against a nearby pillar. Both villains where grinning wickedly at the prisoners as the hunter brought them to the shallow steps that led to the throne and forced them to their knees. Rothbart waved a hand and the hunter backed away. The sorcerer leered down at Odette as she struggled against her bonds.
"I'm very sorry for having treated you like this princess, but I can't let you escape to warn your prince. That's just not fair."
Odette looked away from the sorcerer, her eyes narrowed into a fierce glare. Sora tried to struggle against the muzzle surrounding his jaws, but it was too strong for him to break. The wolf raised a paw and scratched feebly at the cold metal, desperate to break free. A solid jerk of the chain brought the wolf down and the side of his head cracked against the stone floor. A pained whimper escaped from his closed lips and Odette looked at him mournfully.
"Why have you done this to us?" she demanded, refusing to look at Rothbart.
The sorcerer laughed and sat up in his throne. "It's quite simple my dear: you cheated by bringing your prince to the lake, so I had to level the playing field." He nodded to the heartless behind them. "Do you like the latest of the heartless creations? The Huntsman was created specifically for this world by Maleficent, but we had to make sure the time was right for his debut." He grinned and glanced at Pete. "I would say he is more than ready, would you?"
Sora growled and his eyes flashed to Odette. The princess nodded at the wolf and glared at Rothbart. "What do you plan to do with us?"
Rothbart leaned back and stroked his beard as if considering what to do. "Well, since I can't let you and your wolf run off like before, then I'll have to see to it that you can't escape." The sorcerer turned his head and Odette and Sora looked to see he was gazing out the window at the setting moon.
Sora stiffened and his eyes met Odette's before she was hidden by a swirling blur of golden light. The head of a white swan rose from the light and Odette looked sadly at the wolf as tears filled her eyes. The rope was still wrapped tightly around her body, the course material chaffing her wings.
"Take the swan to the northeastern tower," Rothbart commanded to the Huntsman. "And lock the wolf in the most ideal prison you can find." His red eyes flashed knowingly as the heartless grabbed the struggling swan and Sora's chain from the floor. "We don't want them getting a head start on us now, do we?"
(So, what do you think of the new heartless? I know its name isn't the most original, but it fits. And now, Sora and Odette have been captured and are being locked away in you-can-guess-where. I'll leave what happened to the animals up to you guys, but I will guarantee that they are fine. We still need them to break the prisoners out. Keep on reviewing, and the updates will come!
P.S. should I do a sequel?)