The grand castle of Disneylahn, a tall and majestic grey Castle resting in the light of a setting sun. It looked just as it did over thirty years ago. Aqua, Terra and Ven stood just outside the old castle. Up until recently it had been a lonely tower on an equally lonely island in the middle of a rainbow sea. Now it was a massive castle.
"It's like we were just here, and yet…" Ven muttered as they marveled up at it.
"I know." Terra remarked in awe.
"Come on. Let's go inside. We're not going to learn more about it just standing outside." Aqua said as they started to make their way towards the castle. Soon they were walking through and marveling at the very halls their predecessors walked in. Soon they entered the throne room, the same faded and tattered party decorations still hanging in place. It was exactly like it had appeared in Lillian's tome.
"It's a little dusty but she seems in good shape." Aqua commented as she looked over the thrones.
"Planning on buying the place?" Terra asked as Aqua paused.
"It's…a possibility." She replied with a small smile, turning towards them.
"This world, it's supposed to be a world renowned for its magic. It's a place I've wanted to see for a long time. And maybe this is an opportunity. Maybe it's time we moved on from the Land of Departure. We've all grown a lot since that time all those years ago. We've all lost ten whole years of our lives. Dreams and desires we might've had then…they've changed so drastically now. Am I wrong?" Aqua asked as Terra and Ven looked at each other with slightly sad expressions before looking at her.
"Yeah, I get what you mean. I didn't even have any real long term plans to speak of. I still don't to be honest." Ven said as Terra sighed, running his hand over the arm of the center throne.
"I had dreams of becoming a Keyblade Master, but then…and now my dreams are definitely different. I don't care about mastery anymore. I've got new dreams now." Terra said as Aqua smiled at them both.
"We can talk about this later. For now, let's get back to Master Lillian, and see what happened all those years ago." Aqua said, setting the Arcana Librium down with the Book of Lillian resting on it, positioning both in the center in front of the thrones.
"Hold on, where's Axel?" Ven asked, confused, looking around for the absent Flurry of the Dancing Flames.
"He'll catch up. He knows where we are." Terra replied, earning a curious look from Ven.
"Alright." Ven replied, a little unsure but he and Terra both sat down on the floor around the Arcana Librium while Aqua sat down in the left-most throne before starting the next chapter. The world around them darkened and faded to black before a new world began to appear in its place…
…
The world was a dense forest, sparsely lit due to the trees. A bright flash of light heralded Eraqus's arrival to the world, the young Apprentice looking around for any signs of the Displaced but didn't see any.
"Guess this world's alright." He muttered to himself as he started to pass through the woods, looking around for any sign of civilization. He didn't realize he was being watched though by the Traveler. Without a word, the Traveler snapped his fingers, summoning a pair of floating gold and purple spherical Displaced to his side. They had glowing purple eyes and serrated maws and resembled the Darkball Heartless. The Traveler merely pointed towards Eraqus and the Hour type Displaced vanished in small puffs of golden sands.
Eraqus was quietly passing through the woods, looking around. He finally spotted a quiet little house with a thatched roof ahead, sitting quietly in the woods. Smoke coming from the chimney implied someone was home.
"As good a place as any to ask directions." Eraqus said to himself and started to approach the door. As he approached, the door opened from the other side, revealing an old man in blue clothes and a conical blue hat. He had a long white beard and small glasses resting on his nose.
"Ah welcome my boy, come in, come in, don't be shy. I've been expecting you." The man said as Eraqus looked at him curiously.
"You were expecting me?" he asked, confused as he approached the house.
"Why yes of course. You're right on time for tea." The man replied as Eraqus stepped inside. The house was filled to the brim with books, alchemical tools and devices, little knickknacks, and other items. In the center was a table with a full tea setting.
"Do you know me somehow?" Eraqus asked as the man sat down at the table.
"No can't say that I do, but I was expecting you. Come, come, sit down. There's a good lad." The man said as Eraqus shrugged and sat down, looking around.
"Now then, my name is Merlin, and you are?" the man introduced as Eraqus cleared his throat.
"Eraqus." He replied as Merlin poured them both some tea.
"Ah, now where have I heard that name before? Oh yes, you must be one of Yen Sid's lads." Merlin said as Eraqus blinked in surprise.
"You know Master Yen Sid?" Eraqus asked.
"Oh yes. Jolly good chap. A great sorcerer and an even better party thrower. Ha-ha! Why, you were never at the Party of the Centuries, were you?" Merlin asked but Eraqus shook his head.
"It was before my time, I'm afraid." Eraqus said but Merlin laughed again.
"Oh my boy, you don't miss the Party of the Centuries. You simply don't get invited. I also hear you're that gremlin Shantotto's favorite student. Don't worry though, we're not enemies in the factional sense, but rivals in a more professional matter. But enough about that, we are expecting another guest to drop in for tea any moment now. He seems to be a bit late though." Merlin said, checking a pocket watch. Eraqus noticed there was another chair and tea cup standing by and waiting for an unnamed third person.
"You know who that is?" Eraqus asked but Merlin shrugged.
"Afraid not, my boy. I just know they're due here any time." Merlin said as Eraqus glanced away.
"Yeah well time hasn't been behaving itself as of late." Eraqus muttered.
"Oh? It hasn't?" Merlin asked, looking at his watch curiously for a moment before tapping it on the end of the desk.
"Oh dear, it's stopped." Merlin said as he showed Eraqus the watch. The arms were twitching and glowing with a purple and gold twinkling to it. Eraqus recognized this instantly.
"They're here." He said as he leapt to his feet. Merlin seemed confused.
"Oh is our guest here?" he asked. (Battle Music Cue: The Rustling Forest – BBS) They then heard a commotion outside. Eraqus hurried outside to find a young boy in red clothes with short blond hair clinging onto a tree branch hanging over Merlin's house while a small swarm of Displaced snapped at him from underneath. Eraqus summoned his Keyblade which started to glow with a white aura. He then took a swing at the Displaced, launching a sudden volley of chains made of light towards the Displaced, the chains smashing through most of them before the chains vanished. The Displaced turned their attention towards Eraqus.
"That's right, focus on me you grainy beasts." He mumbled as the remaining Displaced started coming towards him. At the same time a swirling gold and purple portal opened, allowing more Displaced to pour through. Eraqus began cutting through them quickly, trying to keep the Displaced away from the hut and the boy.
"Stay where you are kid! Don't come down!" Eraqus yelled, the boy holding onto the branch for dear life.
"I won't!" he replied as Eraqus leapt into the center of the crowd and cast a Reflega, letting the Displaced attack and strike the shield. The resulting burst of magic bolts obliterated a fair number of them.
"En-Light!" Eraqus declared, raising his Keyblade which started to glow with a crisp white light. He then began to swing at the Displaced, each swing creating lens flares in the air, his Keyblade now infused with light magic. The Displaced kept coming despite his attacks but he knew what he was doing. Every strike with the light infused Keyblade caused the Displaced hit by it to explode in a burst of light, killing it instantly. Finally after a few strikes, Eraqus was glowing with a similar light.
"Now you're in for it!" he declared before streaks of light started rising from his back, shoulders, forearms, and Keyblade. He had entered his unique Tier-1 Command Style: Hikari. Eraqus was now moving faster than before, slicing through Displaced slightly faster than they could arrive. The boy watched from the branches with wonder.
"Whoa." He remarked, watching Eraqus cutting down Displaced. Finally Eraqus paused, a bright light sweeping over him as his Command Style reached its peak. He proceeded to leap back and into the air, pointing his Keyblade straight into the air overhead, a bright orb of light appearing over the tip. With a loud battle cry, the orb began firing a barrage of Light Orbs at the Displaced, obliterating small groups at a time until they'd been beaten back to the portal. Eraqus then dropped down to the ground, his Command Style expended but he quickly pointed his Keyblade at the portal, firing a beam of blue light at the portal, the beam closing the portal before any more Displaced could come through (End Battle Music). Eraqus took a moment to glare at the spot where the portal had been, resting his Keyblade on his shoulder, wondering where the Displaced had come from. He then heard a startled yelp from above and spun around in time to see the boy in the tree fall right through the roof of Merlin's home.
"Well! You did drop in for tea after all." Merlin commented from inside. Eraqus hurried inside to find the boy had landed in the chair meant for him at the tea table.
"Everyone in here alright?" Eraqus asked, dismissing his Keyblade.
"Oh yes-yes we're fine, my boy. I was just saying to uh…to uh…oh dear, what was your name young man?" Merlin asked as the boy looked around in awe of the odd furnishings of the house.
"Uh, Arthur, but everyone calls me Wart." The boy replied, still a little bewildered.
"Ah, yes. My name is Merlin and I've been expecting you." Merlin said as he poured the boy some tea.
"You knew I was coming? How?" Wart asked.
"Good question. He knew I was coming before I did." Eraqus said.
"How did I know you ask? Why I happen to be a Wizard, my boy! A Soothsayer! A Prognosticator! I have been to the future my lad, centuries into the future!" Merlin declared, awing Wart but earning a curious look from Eraqus.
"A foreteller?" he asked, earning a curious look from Merlin.
"A what-what? Oh mercy, no! I don't have that kind of power, my boy! Just the benefit of experiencing the future first hand! Now then, what were those little beasts that attacked poor Wart here?" Merlin asked as Eraqus scratched the back of his head.
"It's hard to explain, but you might want to consider moving somewhere safer. The Displaced may come again. They're seeking something called the Tempest." Eraqus said as Merlin scratched his beard.
"The Tempest? Hmm, I've never heard of anything like that before…well I know of a play by that name but the bard hasn't written it yet." Merlin said, picking up a cane and turning towards Wart.
"Now then, let's learn more about you young Wart. What sort of schooling do you have, hmm?" Merlin asked.
"Oh, well I'm training to be a Squire sir. I'm learning the rules of combat, and swordsmanship, and jousting and swordsmanship." Wart replied as Merlin nodded in seeming approval.
"Yes-yes very go-…oh no-no-no I mean a real education! Mathematics, history, biology, natural science, English, Latin, French! You can't grow up without a decent education! Isn't that right, Eraqus my boy?" Merlin asked as Eraqus gave a slight shrug and a nod.
"That's true." Eraqus replied. Wart then stood up.
"Oh but I need to get back to the castle. I'll be needed in the kitchens." Wart said as Merlin cleared his throat.
"Oh, well then we'll pack and be on our way!" Merlin said, picking up a large canvas bag and opening it. Eraqus and Wart both watched curiously as Merlin stepped up onto a footstool, tapping it with his cane (Music Cue: Higitus Figitus – Disney's Sword in the Stone).
""Higitus Figitus zumba-bazing, I want your attention everything!" Merlin announced, all of the objects in the house strangely turning to face him, quietly surprising Eraqus and Wart.
"We're packing to leave come on let's go. No-no, not you, books are always the first you know!" Merlin said as the books started to float in the air, lining up as they started to move towards the bag, shrinking down very small to fit in the bag. Eraqus noticed one of the last book had a depiction of a yellow bear in a red shirt on it but paid it no mind.
"Hockety pockety wockety wack!
Abracabra dabra nack!
Shrink in size very small,
we've got to save enough room for all!
Higitus Figitus migitus mum,
pres-ti-dig-i-ton-i-um!"
Merlin chanted, the books continuing to flow into his bag, the tableware and other small objects starting to follow along close behind…
"Cicero you belong in the 'C's,'
alphabetical order please!
Ali-i-ca-fez bal-a-ca-zez,
malacamez meripides!
Diminish, diminish dictionary.
That word's in your vocabulary!
Hockety pockety wockety wack,
that's the way we've got to pack!"
Merlin chanted, not noticing the sugar bowl starting to rudely butt in front of the rest of the tea set, creating a small traffic jam.
"Uh, Merlin!" Eraqus called out, pointing out the jam. Merlin noticed and hurried towards it.
"Oh stop-stop-stop! Sugar bowl you're getting rough! That poor old tea set's cracked enough!" Merlin warned, the sugar bowl backing down. Merlin then cleared his throat.
"Let's start again. Higitus Figit-uh-oh. Where was I?" Merlin asked, scratching his head.
"Uh, Hockety Pockety?" Wart replied, unsure of his own answer. Eraqus just shrugged. Merlin however smiled approvingly.
"Oh yes-yes, that's right!" He then raised his cane and began to chant again…
"Hockety pockety wockety wack,
odds and ends and bric-a-brac!
Higitus Figitus migitus mum,
pres-ti-dig-i-ton-i-um!
Higitus Figitus migitus mum,
pres-ti-dig-i-ton-i-um!"
Now the furniture was shrinking down and lining up, the chain of belongings moving faster into the bag.
"Ah now this is the best part now! Here we go!" Merlin said, standing atop the footstool.
"Higitus Figitus migitus mum,
pres-ti-dig-i-ton-i-um!
Higitus Figitus migitus mum,
pres-ti-dig-i-ton-i-WHOOP!"
Merlin yelped as the footstool flew out from beneath him, shrinking down and falling into the bag which closed immediately afterwards. Eraqus and Wart looked around in surprise at the now completely empty house around them. Eraqus let out an impressed whistle.
"I've gotta remember that one." He commented.
"Ah there we go. Now then. Let us be off now. Mustn't keep you from your kitchen duties, young Wart. Oh, what about you Eraqus? Will you be joining us perhaps?" Merlin asked as he picked up his bag.
"Afraid not. I was just passing through." Eraqus replied.
"It's a good thing you did too, my boy. Those little beasts would've caused problems for sure. But you needn't worry about us. I'll see Wart back to his castle alright and make sure he gets a proper education." Merlin said as Eraqus smiled and nodded.
"Alright then. I best be on my way then." Eraqus said as they paraded out of the house.
"I hope we'll see each other again sometime in the future, young man. Farewell!" Merlin called as he and Wart started down a path through the forest. Eraqus watching them leave.
"What kind of sword was that guy carrying, Merlin?" Wart asked as they walked away.
"Oh that was a Keyblade my boy, but best not worry yourself too much about it right now. You've far more important things to learn first." Merlin replied. Eraqus chuckled in amusement. Before he could start into the woods on his own, he heard a strange sound behind him and turned to look into the house. He looked to see the Traveler leaning with his back against the opposite wall of Merlin's House, his arms crossed over his chest. Eraqus blinked in alarm before quickly dropping into his fighting stance, Keyblade in hand.
"At least we finally get to meet, Eraqus." The Traveler said in an annoyed tone.
"You! You're the one who sent the Displaced after that boy!" Eraqus said as the Traveler glared at him.
"Oh please, if it makes you feel any better, the Displaced weren't after the boy. They were after you. They just got distracted." The Traveler replied.
"What do you want with me then?" Eraqus asked as the Traveler stood up off the wall, his hands at his sides.
"I want to rip you apart and send you plummeting into Darkness. But as much as I might want to, I can't. You've a role to play and I can't go recasting the parts very easily." The Traveler said as Eraqus scowled at him.
"What do you mean?" Eraqus asked. The Traveler turned away and started to walk towards the empty fireplace.
"Master Millicent believes I am here to help her locate the Tempest. She's right to a point. Having access to the Tempest would be beneficial. Fortunately I know enough about the future that I know a few of the major players. I just need to put them on the board." The Traveler explained, Eraqus keeping his Keyblade pointed towards him.
"And who are these major players?" Eraqus asked.
"That's an excellent question, Eraqus. Who indeed? I guess you could say they're on a bit of a hit list of mine." The Traveler said as Eraqus snarled.
"I won't let you hurt anyone! I swear it!" Eraqus warned but the Traveler laughed.
"Then you best be ready for disappointment." He said before vanishing in a Corridor of Darkness. Eraqus scowled and hit his armor piece, summoning his armor before charging into the still open Corridor, the Corridor closing and leaving the house empty once again. The world then began to fade away, the chapter concluded.
"Is it just me or does Merlin not look any different then than he does now?" Ven asked as Aqua gave a nod.
"Yeah, he hasn't changed at all." Aqua replied, quietly surprised at the old wizard's longevity.
"Looks pretty spry for an old guy." Axel said, startling everyone.
"Axel! When did you get here?!" Ven asked. Axel was standing just next to Terra with his arms crossed.
"Not long after you started the chapter. By the way, next time you guys start without me, someone's losing their eyebrows. Got it memorized?" Axel said as Terra climbed to his feet.
"It was my suggestion to start without you and it looks like you didn't miss much." Terra said as Axel gave a slight shrug.
"The important part was that last bit anyway, I'd say. By the way, I finished that errand for you." Axel said, as Terra turned towards him.
"What did you send him to do?" Aqua asked.
"Terra sent me to go speak to Ansem the Wise about Lillian. He didn't seemed too pleased to hear her name though. His reaction kinda threw me for a loop too." Axel replied as Ven and Aqua rose to their feet.
"What did he say?" Ven asked. Axel's expression darkened a little.
"Murder."
End Chapter 10
And this is the first of the Disney worlds. The Sword in the Stone world, known as Camelot. The song above was "Higitus Figitus" from Disney's Sword in the Stone. I do not own the song.