Sharing a Paopu

Chapter 11

"Hmm… So, my dear, you have brought me back to that meddlesome boy, Sora… It's just my luck that you would hide in his company." A shadowy figure grinned slightly in the dim light as it looked at an image of Ailie on a table.

"Maleficent, er, sorry to bother ya, but uh… dere's someone here wants to see ya. Says it's important, and he can't wait." A chubby doglike creature peeked his head through the door. "And his orange eyes are startin' to creep me out…" Okay, chubby was an understatement. He even had that weird "fat accent".

Maleficent's smile vanished as she whirled at her lackey. "How many times do I have to tell you? Do not enter my room when I am talking to things that can't hear me!" She sighed. "Fine… Bring him in, Pete…"

"Right away."

A figure with shoulder armor covering a long cape entered the room. His body shape seemed almost feminine, and his face didn't help, as his eyelashes were long and thick, with eyeliner and mascara sharply defining them. Long, silver hair fell to his waist.

"I believe I can help you in your endeavor to capture the half-Heartless, if you wish for my services…" the man said as he glanced at the picture that was still visible. "I'm sure she'll quite easily outwit the full Heartless at your command."

Maleficent's smile returned as a half-smirk. "And I suppose you would like to get in on this?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes… But I would rather have complete control over the girl, if I can…"

The witch chuckled at this. "Well, I'm sorry we can't work things out. As far as I can see, you came to me for help. Am I right?"

"I just need to get a leg up before I go on my own. I'm new to all this…"

Maleficent scoffed. "A likely story, I'm sure… Ansem…"

The man's eyebrow twitched as he half-smiled. "Why do you call me this? I have taken my own name, not that of someone else. Call me Szeiann"

"John?"

"No!" Szeiann stomped his foot like a spoiled child. "It's a soft J! Like the French! It sounds foreign that way!"

After an awkward pause, Maleficent said, "Fine. Szeiann… How do you spell that?"

"Um… I think it's uh… S… Z… 'Cause I like Z's… E-I-A… and two N's."

"I'll give you credit for being smarter than Pete. Now get out. We have much work to do, and I'm sending you on a little mission."

Szeiann stalked out of the room, and Maleficent returned to the image on the screen. "Haha… I shall soon have you for my own, and finally figure out what gives Heartless their abilities. Oh, yes… There is so very much to learn from this one specimen… With her, I shall conquer all the worlds and rule over them!" She raised her arms and laughed maniacally, just as Pete entered again.

"Maleficent?"

"Pete! Never. Ever. EVER interrupt my maniacal laughter! Do-I-make-my-self-perfectly clear?!"

"Uh, yes, Maleficent. My apologies, Maleficent… I'll just leave now, Maleficent. Yipe!" He jumped in the air in time to dodge a green fire bolt and ran out of the room.