Oh my god.
So who thought this was dead? I don't blame you. Turns out, actual careers kill your hobby time.
BUT, here it is! Probably long awaited for some, and hoo-boy, if it didn't take fucking forever to come out.
Anyway, here we go! Enjoy.
The City of Flowers
Evangeline's conscious returned in a sudden snap of clarity, and I jerked back to awareness myself as the girl suddenly flung herself upright, gasping and grasping at the air. A bed was under her body and a blanket had pooled at her waist, but her mind was far away from those things, and I couldn't blame her. I curled in around myself, trying to stave off the prickling cold that came with Evangeline's shock and uncertainty, the fear that was percolating in her heart. So much was running through her mind, too much in such a short, short time, and I felt like I could drown in the river of her memories. Like waking from a bad dream only to realize it as no dream. Disorienting didn't do the feeling just.
"Finally awake?"
Evangeline started hard and jerked back, and I could feel my neck twinge in sympathetic pain as she snapped her gaze to the left.
A strange woman was sitting beside her, back straight and leg crossed neatly over the other with prim neatness, hands folded over her lap. The suit she wore was strangely formal, all clean overcoat with straight lapels and pinstriped black pants accompanied by high-heeled boots. I was surprised I didn't see a cane or a monocle anywhere nearby, honestly. The woman's face was sharply angular and frosty in it's countenance, with her platinum hair pulled up into a neat bun at the crown of her head and her dark, nearly onyx eyes were clean of outward emotion, staring at the girl across from her through thin, narrow glasses as sharp as her pursed lips. The most alarming thing I saw, though, was the holstered gun attached to her hip, one-handed by the looks of it, but with a long muzzle that hinted toward incredible firepower.
Realizing she was in the presence of a stranger, I felt a swell of trepidation arise anew in my Somebody as Evangeline scooted back, eyes wary, "W-who are you? Where am I?! And is that a gun?!"
The woman rolled her eyes, as if it were unreasonable that Evangeline was acting this way. I already didn't like her, "Calm down. You're in no danger, and I've done nothing to provoke any suspicion like this. As for who I am . . . well, you may call me Erin. However, I'm more interested in who you are."
"Erin? W-wait . . ." Evangeline was looking around now, confusion taking place of some of her fear, "How did I get here? I was . . . the last thing I was . . ." the girl suddenly snapped her gaze to the woman, "Where's my mom? W-we were attacked, she could be-!"
"Calm down!"
Evangeline snapped her mouth shut, taken aback by the sharp command. The woman, Erin, leaned forward, legs unfurling to rest evenly on the floor, "A few of my men found you on the outskirts of town, unconscious and alone. No other person was present, so they took you here, to my base."
"She wasn't . . ." cold dread rose in Evangeline's heart, followed by a flair of panic as she brought her hands to her head "Oh no . . ."
Come on, keep it together, I urged silently, still very wary of the woman in the room.
"Now, its my turn to ask a question," Erin said, pressing the palms of her hands together and looking very uncaring for the distress Evangeline was in, which soured my disposition toward her even more, "Who are you? And where did you come from?"
Evangeline was still fighting her panic, however, as well as the growing realization that she was now stranded on a strange world, alone and defenseless, with no idea what to do. I felt for her. I wish I could say something. But like always, I could only remain frustratingly silent.
Apparently uninterested in her crisis, though, the woman snapped her fingers, drawing Evangeline's eyes up. Once she had her attention, Erin continued, "Listen; if what I suspect of you is true, you must be in shock. But if you do not cooperate, then I cannot help you. Now, I'll ask again; who are you, and where do you come from?"
"I . . ." sudden frustration rose up all around me, raw and rough and scratching, and Evangeline snapped, "How can you just sit here and drill me like this? I've just been tossed on my ass to a place I don't know, you won't tell me anything, I don't know what is going on, and-!"
"Enough!" Erin snapped, eyes narrowing in irritation, "I am 'drilling' you, because something like you is not exactly commonplace! This could be a symptom of a larger problem, and I want to know what that is, especially if it could endanger my home! Now, quit acting like a child!"
I don't like you, I thought, and if I had a face, I'd be scrunching it up.
Evangeline stared, startled, but in the silence her hand came up to grasp the necklace dangling from her throat, and she seemed to find a strength in it's cool presence. She closed her eyes, inhaled, exhaled, then opened them again, now taking the time to examine the woman closely. But her eyes found no circular silver emblem, the mark she dreaded to find, and finally some of her tension drained away.
"Okay . . ." she started, nodding, "Okay. Well, to start with, my name's Evangeline. And, I come from . . . far away."
"'Far away' is not very helpful," Erin replied coolly.
Evangeline huffed a dry laugh, shrugging, "Yeah, well, it's the best I've got right now. The truth is . . . well, you'd probably think I was crazy. I think I'm crazy."
"Try me," Erin eyes flashed with something knowing, the light from the fan above their heads glinting off the sharp edges of her glasses, "You may find I'm more accepting than most."
Evangeline stared, "What . . . what do you mean?"
"It is not important as of yet," the woman cut a dismissive hand through the air, silencing further inquires, "Tell me, how did you come to be here?"
"Um . . ."
Just then, the door behind Erin swung open and two men strode in, and both Erin and Evangeline went silent. The one in the lead paused for a moment when he saw Evangeline was a wake, but quickly schooled his expression back to face the woman seated before them. He held his arm out and across his chest perpendicular to his body in some sort of salute, the man behind him doing the same, chin up and speaking loudly and clearly "Lady Erin, I come bearing news of Ansem's reply to your proposal."
I felt my thoughts skitter to a sudden stop, Ansem!
Erin rose primly to her feet, fluid as a stream as she gestured to the man, face betraying none of the annoyance that had been there seconds ago, "Go on."
The man hesitated, glancing warily at Evangeline, "My Lady, are you sure you do not wish to move somewhere more private?"
"It is fine. Besides . . ." Erin looked back at the girl, and I did not like the gleam in her eye, "I feel this one could prove herself useful to us. She needs to know the goings-on of this world regardless. Let it be from us."
The man nodded, "Understood. To be succinct, Ansem has rejected your idea. He has no desire to divert funds into a barrier around the city, nor to establish more military personnel."
Erin's eyes narrowed to slits, but her voice was cool, even cold, "I see. As to be expected. Thank you gentlemen. You are dismissed."
Both saluted before taking their leave, door clicking to a close behind them. Once they were gone, Erin turned around to look down at Evangeline, who stared back in confusion.
"I take it you are well enough to walk?" Erin said, arms folded behind her back and betraying no hint of emotion.
Evangeline blinked, then wiggled her legs to test their strength before slowly nodding, "I . . . think so."
"Good. Then come with me. There is much to see," Erin moved to the door, heels clicking against the stone floor. Evangeline started after her, feet almost tangling in the blankets in her haste, but freeing herself at the last minute and scrambling to her feet. Evangeline wobbled for a moment, but only a moment, until she regained her sense of balance and took off after the woman.
Beyond was a corridor wrought of stone, the only light coming from thin fluorescent lights in the uppermost corners every yard or so where the walls and ceiling connected, which would flicker every so often but otherwise stay static. It was therefore pretty dark in the space beyond, but not so much I couldn't see what was around us. Without pause, Erin strode to the left, and Evangeline had to pace herself to keep up with the woman's brisk steps.
"Where are we going?" she asked, and I waited impatiently for the woman's answer. I still didn't like her, but for now she was are only source of information, "What is this place?"
Erin didn't so much as glance at the girl, tone blunt, "This is a series of interconnected tunnels under the city. A good way to travel without being hindered. As for where we are going, you will see. In the meantime, you still have yet to explain to me how you arrived here."
Evangeline pursed her lips, frowning, "Why should I? I don't know who you are!"
The woman's lips twitched, a flare of annoyance I was starting to expect, "There is precious little I can do without your information. And given the circumstances, I think even a small explanation is not exactly unreasonable, do you?"
Evangeline bit her lip, but I felt her concede to that, "Fine. But I don't know what I could tell you that could help. Hell, I don't know what's going on myself, really."
"You can start it from the top, then. But first, allow us to get somewhere a little more secure," Erin said, turning a corner. The pair passed a mousy-looking woman, who stumbled over her feet at the sight of them before quickly giving the woman a hasty salute. Erin nodded at her once, then strode passed her, which the stranger took as a cue to leave.
The ground beneath Evangeline's feet seemed to slant up, as I could feel Evangeline's legs start to subtly burn over time, and the stone soon gave way to wood planks. They soon came to a set of short stairs that lead up to a wooden door, which Erin wasted no time in opening.
And beyond was . . . a normal house?
It looked like a normal house, anyway. A living room of some sorts, to be more precise, the door we were standing in pressed into the very corner of the room. It had low table and a cozy looking couch nestled at the room's heart atop a plush carpet, with two desks pressed against the wall in front of us with crocheted doilies pressed on top of them. A window was on set into the opposite wall, it's burgundy curtains drawn closed, so the only light came from the one lamp settled in the far corner of the room. That is, until Erin flicked her hand against the light switch beside her and the overhead light came on, the fan blades affixed to them slowly beginning to whir to life. As far as I could see, the only other opening was the large archway dominating nearly the entire leftmost wall, which spilled out into some sort of hallway.
"Is this . . ." Evangeline started.
"My home," Erin said before gesturing to the couch, "Take a seat. I will be back in a moment."
She left, vanishing around the corner of the archway to places unknown at the current moment, and Evangeline was left standing alone in the living room. The girl glanced at the couch, gnawing at her lip with uncertainty. I would be too, if I were in her shoes.
Which in a way I guess I was, but I still wasn't sure exactly how this worked.
Instead of sitting, however, Evangeline decided to explore the room a little. First, she stopped by the desks, which had small drawers set into them, their silver handles gleaming. With a curious hum, Evangeline pulled open the one on the right, wood grain sliding with a soft shft. Inside was just a clutter of papers, some in envelopes and others without. Seeing nothing interesting, Evangeline slid it shut and moved on to the desk on the left.
The second drawer had similar contents, but sitting on top of the mess were three small but very familiar orbs.
Potions! Ether! Take that! I wanted to shout. Those things would be far too handy to just leave there, technical thievery be damned.
. . . I might have to make an apology to Sora about the Imperial Palace incident.
But Evangeline, not knowing what either were for (which was so frustrating), just picked one of the potions up and spun it between her fingers, looking it over with curious eyes, "What's this thing?"
"It's a potion."
Evangeline squeaked in alarm as the potion slipped from her startled grasp, whirling around to face the archway. Erin stood within it, a can of something in one hand and a plate of . . . were those cookies?
"U-uh, sorry, I uh, I was just-" Evangeline stammering was cut short by a shake of the woman's head.
"No need to explain. Limited as your knowledge is, you would have found no real use for those," Erin said, walking to the couch and taking a seat there. She set the cookies down with a soft clink and held the can out to Evangeline.
Nope, I thought, You are not buying my trust with food. Mari, maybe, but not me.
"It's an energy drink," Erin explained, seeing Evangeline's hesitance, "You must be hungry."
Evangeline placed a hand over her stomach, which was egging her on toward the plate of cookies with urgency. I could only sit in silence and plead with her to not fall for it.
Unfortunately, my good sense didn't seem to be able to permeate the time stream, as the girl eventually caved and accepted the can, taking a seat on the couch beside the woman. After a questioning glance to Erin, who gave an acquiescing nod, Evangeline also plucked one of the cookies up and took a famished bite, the treat crunching between her teeth as she chewed with gusto. Mm, chocolate.~
I mean, I still didn't trust her, but at least she knew how to do cookies right. None of that stupid raisin crap.
"Thank you," Evangeline's words were soft, but she meant them as she cracked the can open and took a sip.
Erin nodded, but cut it right to the chase, "You can show your thanks by giving me your story. What you can, at least."
Evangeline paused, swirling the beverage in her hand and feeling the liquid bounce around inside the can as she ruminated on what to say, "I mean, I don't really know myself. And like I said, you'd think I'm crazy . . ."
"Only those who would not understand," Erin said, "Considering you're from another world."
Evangeline froze, and I froze with her. How . . . did she know that? I had thought people had been ignorant of other worlds existing until pretty recently. Only Keyblade wielders knew about that!
Erin gave a curt nod, as if confirming something to herself in Evangeline's silence, "Yes, I know. How I know is not important, but your arrival here is not something as simple as that of a lost tourist. And I take it you did not come to this one willingly."
Okay, this was raising a lot of questions about this woman to me. Unless she was a wielder, then she shouldn't be know about any of this stuff! Just what was this lady's deal?
It piqued Evangeline's curiosity too, as it turned out, "How . . . how do you know all this stuff?"
"As I said, it's not important," Erin replied, but I heard a faint whiff of something aside from curt bluntness enter her voice as she glanced to the drawn window, "Do you know what circumstances led you here?"
"A crazy woman," Evangeline muttered, taking another sip that might have been a tad more vehement than before.
Erin lifted an eyebrow, looking back, "And to be more precise?"
My Somebody frowned, setting her can down as she pondered what to tell this-basically-stranger. Then, "I . . . I don't understand half of what happened myself. This was . . . all dropped on my head, I don't know, maybe a day ago? Some . . . people, or-or terrorists, I don't really know who they were, but they chased me and my mom out of our house and suddenly my mom had this thing she called a Keyblade, and it turned into a motorcycle or something, and she could travel to other worlds with it, and-and they found us again, and now we're separated and I don't know what the hell to do about it, and-and-!"
Evangeline started to cough, and I could feel the sympathetic burn coming from her eyes in my own. Poor girl . . .
When her coughing subsided, Evangeline kept her head down, more out of shame for her tears rather than any sort of pain. It was only then that both of us noticed the hand on our back, one that left just as quick as it had come.
"Sorry . . ." Evangeline said, shoulders hunched in like a wounded animal.
"You've told me enough, I think," Erin replied, leaning back into the couch and pushing her glasses up, "Let me see if I can decipher it all into a coherent story; your mother is the one who had the power to travel between worlds with a 'Keyblade' as you called it, but during one such escape you were separated, all while being chased by a strange group unknown to you. Is that correct?"
"Y-yeah. Yeah, sounds about right," Evangeline replied softly, eyes tracing the flower patterns in the carpet.
"And this group . . ." Erin continued, "Do you know if they were malignant in nature? Do they have a way to track you?"
"They attacked me and my mom, I think that's pretty malignant," Evangeline said hotly, looking at her, "And I don't know. They were after my mom, it sounded like, but it took them a long time to find her before I ever saw them."
"I see . . ." Erin pressed a finger to her chin, looking thoughtful, "To think, a group that's able to move freely between worlds. I didn't think it was possible."
"How come that's a surprise to you? You know all this stuff, don't you?" Evangeline asked.
"I do," Erin said, folding her arms against her chest, head lowering just a fraction, "But I do not have the power to travel between them. Actually, I had no idea it was even possible to travel between them so freely. But that alone raises a lot of troubling possibilities."
"Like . . . what?" Evangeline inquired warily, leaning forward.
"First, let me show where it is you've landed. You'll need to know it, since it's unlikely you'll be leaving soon," Erin said, rising to her feet, "And grab a cookie, there's much to see."
Evangeline did as she was told before getting up, falling Erin down the hall as she turned right. At the end was a narrow door with a glass window set into the center, the image of a blooming flower spreading its petals in whorls of frosted glass. Erin turned the lock, and Evangeline had to cover her eyes as daylight spilled into the hall.
And when it cleared, we both gasped.
A street of cobbled stone was before us, houses blooming with color and flowers all lined along its rustic length. As we stepped out, we saw that the street opened into a piazza of sorts, where small windowed shops were built and small market stalls were set up near the center, wreathed in garlands of flowers of all sorts, peonies, tulips, roses, so many I could smell their perfume easily. People of all sorts were gathered here, too, many assembled to the large fountain at the square's heart, the image of two dolphins bursting up from cresting eaves of mottled stone, tails upturned and noses pointed to the sky. Large lilies decked the water, their large white petals beaded with water and bobbing in the soft, undulating currents of the fountain's ripples.
"This is Radiant Garden," Erin said, though Evangeline barely seemed to hear her as she took everything in. But I heard her. I heard her, and a sudden swell of sadness rose up inside me.
This was Radiant Garden in it's prime. When everything was beautiful, untouched by darkness. This was the town where Leon and the others had lived, happily ignorant to the monsters living in the shadows. To see it now was . . . disheartening.
This is all in the past, I tried to tell myself, There's nothing you can do to save it.
A hand on Evangeline's shoulder quickly brought us back to reality, "Come, there is still more to see."
And more there was, indeed. Stone streets and back alleys of all sorts, spider webbing together in a harmony so weirdly chaotic it seemed no matter what corner you turned, you were always somewhere new. Market squares, pavilions, public gardens, homes, and no matter where we went, there always seemed to be sunshine and laughter. Like a tiny piece of paradise tucked away from the terrors of the world. Every sight filled Evangeline with awe, but only filled me with a sad melancholy. So much of this beauty and wonder, gone just like that. No wonder Leon's the way he is.
It wasn't until Erin and Evangeline both came to a high rise that they stopped, where both could see the town in much of it's entirety even as the sun began to lower, casting the roofs and marbled grounds in castes of orange and gold. And in the distance, both could see the castle looming tall and proud.
"This place is beautiful," Evangeline murmured, smiling as if in a daze.
"It is," Erin agreed with her, nodding, "And yet, it can all be taken away, just like that."
Evangeline gave her a puzzled look, head tilting, "What do you mean?"
"As you are now undoubtedly aware of, there are dangers out there that beggar belief," Erin told her, eyes staring at something only she could see, "And in spite of it all, our ruler does not see it. Perhaps does not wish to see it, believing us safe here."
"Your ruler?"
Erin's eyes hardened, "The Sage-King Ansem."
That name meant nothing to Evangeline, but to me, it brought with it a whole slew of questions. I only knew a little about the man himself and what he'd done before the mess in my time. I wanted to know more.
The woman closed her eyes, inhaling through her nose until the sudden tension in her brow eased, "He dabbles with things that are dangerous, and he refuses to heed my warnings. Radiant Garden needs to be prepared for the worst, but he thinks nothing can touch us, can touch him."
"Things that are dangerous?" Evangeline asked, starting to wonder if this was more than she was willing to get involved with.
"More than I know, unfortunately. But it can only end poorly," Erin said, looking the girl's way, "He used to be such a wise man, but it seems even the wisest can do foolish things."
" . . . okaaay. Why exactly are you telling me this?" Evangeline questioned slowly, and I had to wonder the exact same thing myself.
"Because you may be able to bring the proof we need to get him to listen," Erin replied, turning to face her in full, "You said your mother had the power to travel between worlds. You may yet be able to as well."
"What? Look, lady, I don't even know how that stuff works, let alone how to use it! And besides, all I really want to do is find my mom!" Evangeline said, shaking her head.
"You may be able to kill two birds with one stone. If your mother is not here, she most likely would be in another world, would she not?" Erin told her, and the logic behind it made me grind my teeth.
Evangeline heard it too, and had to concede her point, "Okay, yeah, you're right, but I still have no idea how to do what she did."
"Perhaps my group can be of assistance," Erin said, "I understand your hesitance to involve yourself in the affairs of a world you know nothing of, but you must understand, you are the first I have ever heard of with the potential ability to travel to other worlds, Evangeline. It may take time, but that power could prove invaluable, and help give me a safeguard for this city."
"I . . . can understand why you want to keep Radiant Garden safe, but what does my 'possible' ability to travel to other worlds have to do with it?" Evangeline asked, "And what's your 'group'?"
"My group is a coalition of people dedicated to keeping Radiant Garden safe, whatever means necessary. And out there, you can help us find proof of the danger that exists. What our King really needs to be focusing on!" Erin voice took a turn for the passionate, "If you can help me get him to stop tampering with the unknown, I and all of Radiant Garden would be grateful. And I never forget an ally. Whatever resources I have, I would willing to spend helping you search for your mother."
That was a tantalizing proposition, one Evangeline practically drooled at. But for me, something wasn't sitting right. Erin's earnestness to protecting her town seemed genuine, but her unwillingness to share her story made me suspicious of her.
Evangeline was hesitant as well, even though the bit about her mother was one she was itching to bite into, "I don't . . . I don't even know how to do what my mom did . . ."
"If the potential is there, we only need to be patient and draw it out," Erin replied, looking absolutely sure of this, "My group and I would be willing to aid you in this, if you're willing."
"And . . . what if I'm not willing? Just so I know all my options," Evangeline asked her.
Erin shrugged, "Well, I suppose I would have to dispose of you then."
Evangeline's eyes widened in alarm, and she took a jerky step away, wondering if she should hightail it out of there right now. I wanted to clock the woman in the jaw, but lack of hands made that frustratingly impossible.
Then, with next to no inflection on her part, Erin continued, "I was joking."
Evangeline didn't relax, and I didn't want her too.
"To answer your question, however . . ." Erin said, unperturbed by the girl's wary staring, "I suppose you would simply have to make do with living here. If you're lucky, your mother may find you, in time. But do you really want to wait so long doing nothing?"
No, she didn't, I could feel that straight-away.
Which is probably what fueled her answer, "No, I don't. I really, really don't. But . . . do you really think you and your . . . 'group', can help me?"
"We will certainly try. Does this mean you wish to work with us?" Erin asked.
Evangeline looked down, weighing her options. On one hand, she could wait for who knows how long in a world she didn't know, anxiously wondering day in and day out what had become of her mother and if that organization had found her. Or . . . she could entrust herself to this woman and hope that maybe, on some small margin of a chance, she could come to possess the power her mother had wielded and find her for herself.
I knew what her answer would be even before she realized it, and when at last she spoke, her words were of no surprise to me, "I guess . . . I don't really have a choice. Okay, I'll work with you for now. And . . . I guess we'll see what happens."
"I guess we will," Erin extended a hand, and a ghost of a smile appeared on her face when Evangeline took it, "Welcome, Evangeline. Volte-Face looks forward to working with you."
Volte-Fa- . . .
Oh shit.
To those of you who have forgotten what Volte-Face is, please refer to this chapter: s/10020152/22/Kingdom-Hearts-Reconnect-the-Pieces