CHAPTER 10: A Second Meeting

The villains were discussing Jafar's fate. "That stupid vizier could've had 'em, if somebody had stuck around to lend a helping hand." Hades sighed.

"Look, I did my part. I brought the Princess, remember?" Wyatt snapped.

"Jafar was beyond aid, consumed by hatred. One should be wise not to let it burn so fiercely." Maleficent replied.

"Hey, lighten up! I'm as cool as they come, alright?" Hades exclaimed. "By the way, kid, have we got a surprise for you." he added.

Wyatt looked puzzled. "We had a deal, did we not? You help us, and we grant your deepest wish..." Maleficent smiled.

The table glowed with an image of a girl lying on the ground. "Hilary?!" Wyatt exclaimed.

"Go to her. Your vessel awaits you." Maleficent announced.

Captain Hook appeared. "Remember that this is no pleasure cruise. It's not going to be a pleasant voyage." he explained.

"Why are you doing this for me? What's the catch?" Wyatt demanded.

"Catch? What catch? You're like a son to me, dear boy. I just want you to be happy." Maleficent smiled, stroking his face.

"I doubt that." Wyatt replied, brushing her hand away.

"Believe what you will. But do not forget I kept my end of the bargain." she added. Wyatt turned to leave.

Kai was dreaming about his days at school with Wyatt. The two were on a school trip and heard some weird noises and found a cave near the beach. Wyatt had decided to look inside. The sounds were being made by the wind.

"Hey Kai." Wyatt began.

"Hmm?" Kai blinked.

"After we leave school, let's go travelling. I wanna see the world, not be doing paperwork and stuff forever!" Wyatt suggested.

"Sounds good." Kai grinned.

Kai slowly regained consciousness. "Cut it out!" Tyson yelled. Kai stood up and joined the others.

"Kai, are you alright?" Max asked.

"What's going on? And where are we?" Kai asked. An item suddenly flew towards him, and he jumped back.

"That whale Monstro swallowed us." Ray replied.

"And for today's weather: expect showers." Goofy announced. "Heavy showers!" he added, an item landing on his shield.

"Hey! Who's there?" Donald called.

"It's me!" a voice replied.

"Oh, it's only Pinocchio." Tyson began. "Pinocchio?!" he exclaimed.

They had met Pinocchio at Traverse Town. "Pinocchio?" Jiminy Cricket cried, jumping on Kai's shoulder. He was chronicling the team's journey and acted as Pinocchio's conscience. "Where you going, Pinocch? Pinocch?" he called. "Let's go after him! Quickly!" he exclaimed.

They soon met Gepetto, Pinocchio's father. As Gepetto and the Blade Breakers talked, Pinocchio spotted something; a figure running off in the distance. When Gepetto called for his son, he was nowhere to be found. The team went to look for him. They soon found him.

"What're you doing? Let's go back." Max called.

"Gepetto's awfully worried about you." Goofy added.

"Quit playing around, Pinocchio. We don't have time for games!" Kai exclaimed. They turned to leave.

"But, I thought you liked playing games, Kai." a familiar voice called. Kai turned to see Wyatt. "Or are you too cool for them, now that you have a Keyblade?" Wyatt grinned.

"Wyatt?! What're you doing here?" Kai blinked.

"Playing with Pinocchio." he replied.

"You know what I mean! What about Hilary? Have you found her?" Kai exclaimed.

"Maybe. If you catch us, I'll tell you." Wyatt smirked.

"Oh, come on!" Kai cried. Wyatt and Pinocchio ran off.

Wyatt was walking, when he heard someone. "Why do you still care about the boy? He has deserted you for his Keyblade and his old and new friends." Maleficent asked.

"I don't care about him. I was only messing with him." Wyatt replied.

"Of course you were." she smirked. "Beware of the darkness in your heart. The Heartless feed for it." she added.

"Mind your own business!" Wyatt yelled as she left.

Pinocchio ran off. Wyatt watched the puppet run past him. "Wyatt! What's wrong with you? What were you thinking? Do you even know what you're doing?" Kai demanded.

"I should be asking you the same thing, Kai." he replied. "You seem more interested going about and showing off your Keyblade now. Do you even want to help Hilary?" he added.

"Yeah, I do." Kai protested. Suddenly, they heard Pinocchio screaming.

They found him trapped inside a Heartless called Parasite Cage. "You ready, Kai?" Wyatt asked, drawing his sword.

"Let's do this!" Kai nodded, summoning his Keyblade. After the battle, the Heartless spat out Pinocchio. Wyatt jumped after him.

The team landed on Gepetto's boat. "Pinocchio!" Gepetto cried. "Give me back my son! Please!" he pleaded.

Wyatt was holding an unconscious Pinocchio. "Sorry, but I have business to do with this puppet." he replied.

"He's not a puppet! He's my son!" Gepetto exclaimed.

"He's unusual, I give you that. Puppets don't usually have hearts. I'm not sure, but he can help someone who's lost theirs." Wyatt replied.

"Hey, are you talking about Hilary?" Kai asked.

"What do you care?" Wyatt replied, walking off.

They soon found Wyatt. "Wyatt, let Pinocchio go!" Kai demanded.

"A puppet that's lost its heart to the Heartless...Maybe it can help Hilary." Wyatt mused. "What do you say, Kai? Let's join forces to help her. We can do it together." he called.

Kai drew his Keyblade. "You'd rather fight me? Over a puppet without a heart?" Wyatt exclaimed.

"With or without a heart, he still has a conscience." Kai replied.

"A conscience?" Wyatt blinked.

"You may not hear it, but it's loud and clear now. And right now, it's telling me you're fighting on the wrong side!" Kai explained.

"Then I have no choice." Wyatt replied.

Jiminy ran to Pinocchio. "Pinocchio!" he cried.

"Jiminy...I don't think I'm gonna make it." Pinocchio groaned. Suddenly, his nose grew longer. "Oh! I think I'm OK!" he exclaimed. Jiminy was overjoyed.

Suddenly the Parasite Cage appeared. Wyatt used a portal to escape. Pinocchio ran off. After the battle, they left. "Wyatt, where are you?" Kai called.

On board Captain Hook's ship, Wyatt was gazing at the lifeless body of Hilary. "So, she's like a lifeless puppet then?" Wyatt sighed.

"Precisely." Maleficent nodded.

"And her heart..." he began.

"Was taken by the Heartless, no doubt." she replied.

"Tell me! What can I do for her?" Wyatt exclaimed.

"There are seven maidens born with pure hearts. We call them the Princesses of Heart. Gather them all, and they will unlock the heart of the worlds. Within it lies great wisdom. There, I'm sure you'll find the way to restore Hilary's heart." Maleficent explained. "Now, I shall give an incredible gift; the power to command the Heartless." she announced.

Wyatt's body started to glow a green aura. He turned to the lifeless Hilary. "Soon, Hilary. Soon." he promised.