New Orleans: Docks
(Cue in field theme: "Down in New Orleans")
The sound of the riverboat's horn brought Riku out of his trance he had during a vision regarding the shadow demons who ambushed them in the Bayou. Still troubled by this, the silver frog knew that something is not right. "Mardi Gras! Mardi Gras!" Hearing this chant, Riku remembers how there's a festival or a parade. "Mardi Gras! Mardi Gras!" Turning his head, the silver frog noticed his travelling companions chanting as they approach him. "Hey, Riku! Louis is gonna perform in the parade." Sora informed his best friend, "C'mon! Let's go find a place to watch before it gets too crowded." Goofy added before the silver frog stopped them. "You guys haven't seen Naveen, have you?" Riku asked, only for the trio to realize that none of them had seen the frog prince since they left to watch Louis perform before Tiana approach them. The worried look on the female frog's face reminds Riku of the vision. "Have y'all seen Naveen?" she asked, "He said that he was going to get everyone together once we're in New Orleans." The quartet shook their heads.
~~~KH~~~
"We thought he was with you." Goofy replied before noticing a certain firefly, "Hey! There's Ray! Maybe he knows where Naveen is." But Tiana already approached the firefly before the turtle could finish. "Ray! Have you seen Naveen?" the female frog asked, "Look at you. Where the ring at?" Ray gushed. "What ring?" Sora asked, "What are you talking about?" Tiana questioned. Surprised that the female frog is oblivious to Naveen's feeling, Ray just shrug and turn his back toward the group. "Well, I may tell the boys here… but if Cap' didn't say nothin', I ain't gonna say nothin' 'cause Ol' Ray's sealed up tight as a drum. You ain't getting' nothin' outta me, no!" The quartet could tell that the firefly is hiding something, "Ray…" Tiana said in a tone that reminds Sora of his mom.
~~~KH~~~
"Okay! Cap' not gonna marry Charlotte, he gonna marry you!" Ray blurted out. "WHAT?" Sora, Donald, and Goofy asked all at once while Riku and Tiana remain silent, "Soon as he gets himself kissed and y'all both turn human, he's gonna find a job, get you that restaurant–" The firefly cover his mouth with shock. "I said too much, didn't I?" Ray asked before Tiana scoop him up into her webbed hands, "You said just enough, Ray!" the female frog then turn her attention to the star. "Thank you, Evangeline." And with that, she hops off toward the parade. "Oh boy!" Donald quacked excitedly.
"He was trying to propose! That's what all that fumbling about!" Tiana exclaim happily as the female frog search for a good vantage point, "And here I thought all he wanted was to marry a rich girl!" Sora, Riku, Donald, Goofy, and Ray struggle to keep up with the love-struck Tiana, "Hold on, Chère! What are we lookin' for again?" the firefly calls out as the female frog manage to find her vantage point in a form of a street sign. "You just keep your eyes out for the biggest, gaundiest float with a Mardi Gras princess about to kiss herself a–" Tiana replied as she climb the street sign, only to let out a gasp. "–a frog." She finished softly as her fiends caught up to her. Since Donald and Goofy are a little big, Sora, Riku, and Ray joined her to see a large parade float that consist of a giant wedding cake. On the float, they noticed Charlotte and her father– along with a priest and a prince that the two Keyblade Wielder realize to be Naveen in his human form, although Riku looked skeptically at the groom.
~~~KH~~~
("Down in New Orleans" fades; Cue in "Missing You")
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here tonight in this fine celebration to join together this prince and this young woman in holy matrimony." The priest said as the three frogs and the firefly stare at disbelieve before Ray spoke up, "Oh, no… This can't be right, darlin'. And how you can still be a frog? Mama Odie, she–" he turn to face Tiana only to realize that the female frog is gone. The three friends hopped down toward Donald and Goofy, "What happened? Tiana just hopped down and rushed past us." Donald asked. "It's hard to explain. But right now, we need to find her." Riku replied before they began to leave the parade to find the female frog.
New Orleans: Cemetery
Following Riku's hunch, the five friends head for the cemetery. After hearing about what happened at the parade, both Donald and Goofy were shocked by this apparent 'betrayal'. "Gwarsh, it sure is spooky." Goofy comment as they search among the graves. "We need to find Tiana." Riku stated before Ray called out, "Chère's over here!" and sure enough, there was Tiana– hiding in the shadow of a grave. "Tiana?" Donald asked as both the firefly and the silver frog approached her, "I know what we seen with our eyes, but if we just go back that way, we're gonna find out your fairy tale come true." Ray suggested. The heartbroken female frog look back at her friends, "Just because you wish for something doesn't make it true." Riku could tell that Tiana was really hurt. Why would Naveen try to propose to Tiana and marry her best friend? Unless… "I don't think that was Naveen." The silver frog stated, "And besides, there's no way he could have become a human without breaking the spell on you." But the female frog ignored him. "It's like my Evangeline always said to me–" Ray began before Tiana snapped, "Evangeline is nothing but a star, Ray! A big ball of hot air a million miles from here!"
~~~KH~~~
"Tiana!" Sora cried, but the female frog continues. "Open your eyes now, before you get hurt." And with that, she hops off further into the cemetery. Sora, Donald, and Goofy lowered their heads in sadness as Ray's eyes well up, "Ray…" Riku spoke up, hoping to provide the firefly the same comfort that the silver frog received when Naveen told him to forget about Nyra. "She's just speakin' out a broken heart. That's all that is." Ray stated before drying his eyes, "You said you didn't think that was Cap' on that float." Riku nodded. "You may think I'm crazy, but my eyes couldn't lie." The silver frog explain as Ray perk himself up, "C'mon, then. We're gonna show Chère the truth!" the firefly said. "Yeah! Hate to be a wedding crasher, but we can make an exception with this one." Sora agreed before Riku stop his best friend, "Actually, Ray and I will go investigate. I need you, Donald, and Goofy to keep an eye on Tiana– Believe me, darkness can easily find a way into a wounded heart." The silver frog stated. And as much as the trio hates to miss out on the action, they knew that Riku is right. It was never a good idea to leave a friend alone when they're depressed. "Okay, but hurry back!" Riku and Ray nodded before heading back toward the parade.
("Missing You" fades)
(Sora, Donald, and Goofy left your party!)
Back at the parade, a man dressed as a witch doctor watch the wedding from within the shadows– chuckling maliciously as he holds a doll and pin in each hand. "If any of you objects to the union of these two people, speak now or forever hold your peace." The priest continues as from within the small box beside the groom's feet, Naveen pound futilely in order to break out. "Me! Me! I object!" he shouted before sticking his frog tongue out the keyhole in order to get closer. As Ray and Riku approach the float, the silver frog can sense the darkness– strong enough to know that something is definitely not right. Hopping as fast as he could up the float, Riku can hear the priest's "Do you, Prince Naveen, take Charlotte to be your wife?" before hopping to the top tier in time to see a frog's tongue sticking out from the keyhole of the small box near the groom's feet.
~~~KH~~~
Ray dims his light as he approach the groom's ear, "Cap', what you doin', son?" he whispered– only to be swatted away by the groom. Riku narrows his eyes at this reaction– Naveen would never react like that… His aquamarine eyes widen as he noticed the groom beginning to look down, "Vanish!" the silver frog shouted quietly as he cast an invisibility spell on himself. Luckily, the groom didn't see him as the silver frog notice the groom's dark blue eyes while remembering Naveen's being a warm brown. But the groom looked down anyways– at the frog tongue sticking out of the box, causing him to step on it hard enough for the frog within to stop. "–as long as you both shall live?" The priest finishes, only for the groom to perk up. "What? Oh, I do! Yes, I'm for it."
~~~KH~~~
After hearing the groom's voice, Riku knows that he's not Naveen– but that's not important at the precise moment. The silver frog then made himself visible before hopping over to the box, "Ray! Down here!" Riku called out in a hushed voice, causing the surprised firefly to fly down toward the box. "Is that you, Cap'?" Ray asked, "Ray! Riku! Get me out of this box!" Naveen said. "I can't here you! I'm gonna get you out this box!" Ray stated before Riku stop the firefly. "Naveen! Stand back from the keyhole." The silver frog said as he summons his Keyblade– having seen what the Keyblade can do, the frog prince take heed. Riku flick his wrist as a beam of light shot out and into the Keyhole, "You better hurry." Ray warned as the priest is almost finished asking Charlotte. "–to keep yourself only unto him, as long as you both shall live?"
~~~KH~~~
"Oh, I do." Charlotte replied as the silver frog heard a click, signifying that the Keyblade have unlock the box. "Naveen! Go!" Riku whispered as the priest was about the finish off the wedding, "And so, by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and–" but the priest didn't get to complete what he was saying as Naveen have already hopped onto his impostor's shoulder, grabbed something around the groom's neck and pulled both of them off the float– causing everyone, including the bride, to exclaim in shock. Riku, on the other hand, was quite impressed. "Sora would have love to see that." Riku said amusingly to Ray as they got off the float, only for it to be short-lived when the imposter grab Naveen before the frog prince could escape. "Goodness gracious! Are you all right?" Charlotte asked from the float as her groom got himself up, "I just need a moment to compose myself." The imposter replied as he head off toward the closest building. "Cheese and crackers!" The Mardi Gras princess exclaimed in frustration, "Okay… I've heard of getting cold feet on your wedding, but this is ridiculous. C'mon! After him!" and with that, Riku hopped off after the imposter with Ray close behind– managing to get inside before the door closed on them.
New Orleans: Cathedral
"Lawrence, why are you doing this?" Naveen confronted the impostor, clearly knowing the man. "As payback for all those years of humiliation." Lawrence snarled as Riku detect the same darkness as the one on the float, only stronger. Turning his head, the silver frog notice a man dressed as a witch doctor walking out of the shadows. He have a scowl on his face and his dark aura made Riku realize that this is the Shadow Man. "Get your royal rump back on that wedding cake and finish this deal!" The witch doctor confronted Lawrence– Having a feeling that the vision he had was warning him about this 'deal', Riku hop over to confront the Shadow Man.
~~~KH~~~
"And what kind of deal do you have that involves Naveen?" Surprised by the new voice, Shadow Man looked down to see a silver frog. "Hmm… Now what do we have here?" The witch doctor asked as he rub his chin and continue to look at Riku with his amethyst coloured eyes, "I don't remember turning you into a frog." Seeing that both the witch doctor and Lawrence were distracted, Naveen inflate his throat to free himself and rip the talisman from the impostor's neck. "No!" Lawrence cried out as he revert back into his true form, causing Shadow Man to whip around in time to see Naveen with the talisman.
~~~KH~~~
"What's he doing? Stop him!" The witch doctor cried as Naveen struggle to keep the talisman away from Lawrence, "Give it to me!" Seeing Ray, the frog prince kick the talisman over to the firefly. "I've got it! It got me, too." Ray cried out as he caught the talisman by the string, but the talisman is too heavy for the firefly– and begin to fall toward the ground. Thinking quickly, Riku raised his Keyblade into the air and focus on the talisman. "Drift!" he called out as he cast a spell to make the talisman a little lighter for Ray– luckily, it came into effect before the talisman hit the ground. "Let go of that!" Lawrence exclaim as Riku hop over to Ray, "C'mon! We need to take this to Tiana!" he stated as they hurry off, only for the talisman to get stuck a bit. "Oh, no! They're getting away!" the imposter panicked as the firefly and silver frog managed to free the talisman, "Stay out of sight!" Shadow Man ordered before giving pursuit. He opened the doors and look around a bit before giving off a shrill whistle.
~~~KH~~~
As Riku and Ray race toward the cemetery, the silver frog can sense the Shadow Man's 'friends on the other side' close behind. On a float, Louis is having a time of his life as his dream of playing jazz with the big boys is coming true when he stop upon seeing a certain firefly and silver frog race by with a talisman. "Ray? Riku?" As he watch them head for the cemetery, the gator noticed the shadow demons from the bayou chasing them– realizing that his friends are in trouble. "Hey, why'd you stop?" One of the musicians asked before Louis decided to act on his instincts, causing a panic among the crowd as they ran off to get out of the gator's way. "He's a real gator!"
New Orleans: Cemetery
"C'mon, Tiana. You're stronger than this." Donald said to the female frog when the trio finally found her again, "Why bother." Tiana said before trying to hop away– only for Sora to stop her. "Tiana… People always do crazy things when they're in love. I'm sure Naveen is getting you the munny you need for your restaurant– Didn't you said that you've worked two jobs?" but Tiana remain silent, causing Sora, Donald, and Goofy shared a worried glance at one another. "Sora!" Hearing his name, the brown frog turned around to see his best friend and Ray approaching them. "Hey! Riku and Ray are back." Sora informed the others– but from how quickly they're moving and the concern looks on their faces, the brown frog knew that something is wrong
~~~KH~~~
(Cue in "Shaded Truths")
"Chère! Chère!" Hearing Ray calling out to here, Tiana perk up. "Ray?" She asked as both the firefly and silver frog caught up with her and the trio, "This proves Riku was tellin' the truth and what we saw ain't what we thought we saw!" Ray explain as he passed the talisman off to the female frog. "What is this?" Tiana asked worryingly as Riku can sense the same strong darkness within the talisman he and Ray stole. "It's a voodoo hayacall." The firefly answered, "The Shadow Man, he been usin' it for the–" but he didn't get to complete when they heard the screech of one of Shadow Man's 'friends'. Turning their heads, the six friends notice that a shadow demon have found them and is letting its brethren know on their location.
~~~KH~~~
"You can't let Shadow Man get this, no matter what!" Ray quickly told Tiana, "Now run, girl! Run!" the female frog hesitated for a second before hopping off with the talisman in her hands. "We'll hold 'em off here!" Sora said as he summon his Keyblade, "Yeah!" Donald agreed before Ray turns his attention to the quartet. "No! Y'all need to go with Chère and protect her!" the firefly told them, "But..." the brown frog began to protest when Riku notice a couple Heartless forming and began their pursuit. "C'mon! We can't let Tiana go off on her own!" The silver frog said as he reveal the Heartless to his traveling companions, and that did the trick… the four friends look back at Ray one last time before going after the female frog– each with an ominous feeling that something awful will happen to their friend if they leave him alone, especially the two Keyblade Wielders.
("Shaded Truths" fades)
(Sora, Donald, and Goofy has rejoined your party!)
(Cue in "Apprehension")
(INFORMATION: Protect Tiana and the Talisman!)
Seeing a dragonfly-like Heartless beginning to unleash an attack on Tiana, Sora threw his Keyblade at the Heartless to turn its attention on him instead– only to earn a bite from a Lightning Bug Heartless. In retaliation, the brown frog knock the Heartless into the air before jumping up and slamming it back down to the ground. Donald dealt with a couple dragonfly Heartless by casting Firaga at one and Blizzaga at another, while Goofy took care of the Heartless that are getting a little too close to Tiana. Riku slashed away at a handful before seeing more approaching, along with the shadow demons. "Sora!" the silver frog called out as he cast Dark Firaga in order to create a barrier, prompting Sora to strengthen the barrier by casting Firaga– However, the shadow demon just pass through unharmed; prompting the two Keyblade Wielders to catch up with Tiana, Donald, and Goofy.
~~~KH~~~
"There's too many of them!" Sora said as the five friends continue to flee through the cemetery with the shadow demons close behind, Riku knew that they can't go on like this forever… "Tiana! Throw the talisman over to–" The silver frog never got the chance to finish as the giant shadow of the witch doctor appear before them, causing Riku to remember seeing the shadow acting on its own when he confronted the Shadow Man– and forcing the five friends to stop. As the shadow crept closer, Sora was about to cast a light spell when Tiana suddenly held the talisman over her head. "Back off, or I'm gonna break this thing into a million pieces!" she threaten as the Shadow Man approach them from behind with the Heartless, causing the witch doctor to quickly reach inside his coat and pull out a handful of strange, pink powder and blow it in their direction. Sora and Riku looked over their shoulders to see this happen, and the brown frog let out a gasp. "Tiana! Look out!" but the warning was too late as the powder engulf the female frog, "Tiana!" Donald quacked as the powder engulfs them, as well.
("Apprehension" fades)
When the powder clear, the quartet found themselves in a gorgeous restaurant with a crystal chandelier. A beautiful African-American woman in a white dress approach them with a familiar voodoo talisman in her right hand, "T-Tiana?" Sora asked before rubbing his eyes with his hands– only to realize that he and the others are back to normal. "So this is what you and Riku look like as human…" the woman spoke to them, confirming her identity. "Where are we?" Donald asked as he look around the golden utopia, "This… this is my restaurant. But how?" Tiana answered before hearing someone playing a ukulele with the pianist. "Naveen?" the ukulele player turns around to reveal someone else, causing Tiana to be disappointed.
~~~KH~~~
"Now, isn't this a whole lot better than hopping 'round the bayou for the rest of your life?" Surprised by a familiar voice, the five friends turn their heads to see a certain witch doctor casually leaning back on a chair and sipping a glass of champagne. "Shadow Man." Tiana and Riku said at the same time, causing Sora, Donald, and Goofy to look at the witch doctor in surprise. This is the 'Shadow Man' who turn Tiana and Naveen into frogs? The Shadow Man chuckled as his champagne and approach them while shuffling his cards, "Gotta hand it to you, Tiana. When you dream, you dream big. Just look at this place– Gonna be the crown jewel of the Crescent City! And all you gotta do to make this a reality is hand over that l'il ol' talisman of mine."
~~~KH~~~
"What? Why you little…" Donald growled as he rolled up his sleeve upon the realization that the Shadow Man is using Tiana's dream against her, with both Sora and Goofy summoning their respective weapon. "No. This…this is not right." Tiana whisper as she held the talisman protectively, "C'mon now, darling. Think of everything you've sacrificed." Shadow Man insisted as he conjures images of two of Tiana's friends. "Girl, all you ever do is work." "I told y'all she wouldn't come." Tiana looked down regretfully as the images of her friends fade away, with their words still echoing in her mind. "Think of all those naysayers who doubted you." The witch doctor continues as he conjure two new images– one of a cook, and another of a real estate agent. "You ain't never gonna get enough for the down payment." "–little woman of your…background, you're better off where you're at." Hearing the doubtful words made Tiana stiffen up– even though she know better than to trust the Shadow Man, the woman will prove them wrong.
"And don't forget your poor daddy." Shadow Man added as he pulls the curtain for both Tiana and the quartet to walk toward the window and see a man being dropped off, "See you in the morning, James." Remembering seeing an image of this man in Mama Odie's gumbo tub, Riku realized that this man is Tiana's father. "Now that was one hard-working man. Double, sometime triple shifts. Never letting on how bone tired and beat down he really was." The witch doctor commented as the quartet watch how James exhaustedly sat down into his chair– only to be amazed on how quickly he perks up when the man hears a child's voice, "Daddy!" his smile brightens as a young Tiana ran up to him. "Hey, babycakes!" "Shame all that hard work didn't amount to much more than a busted-up ol' gumbo pot and a dream that never got off the back porch." Shadow Man taunted as he turn his attention to Tiana, "But you? You can give your poor daddy everything he ever wanted. C'mon, Tiana. You're almost there." The witch doctor reached his hand out to grab the talisman.
~~~KH~~~
"Tiana! You need to dig deeper and remember what's really important!" Sora called out, only to be stopped by Riku. "This is her choice, Sora– Not ours. And besides, we're not supposed to interfere too much with the world's affair." But what his best friend had said gotten through to Tiana, "My daddy never did get what he wanted. But he had what he needed." She stated as she pull the talisman away from the Shadow Man's waiting grasp. "He had love. He never lost sight of what was really important." Tiana continue to confront the witch doctor, who is beginning to grow uneasy with how the woman's holding the talisman. "Easy with that. Careful." He pleaded, only for it to fall on deaf ears. "And neither will I!" And with that, Tiana threw the talisman toward the ground– only for the witch doctor's shadow to catch it!
~~~KH~~~
"No!" Sora cried out in horror as the shadow return the talisman to its master and the illusion of the restaurant wears off, turning Tiana back into a frog in a process. The quartet were surprised to find that they weren't effected until Riku remembered what Mama Odie had said to them– by exposing themselves to the Shadow Man's magic, they have restored themselves back to their true form. "Y'all should have taken my deal." The witch doctor said as he pinned the female frog down with his cane, "Now you're gonna spend the rest of your life being a slimy, l'il frog." Seeing that Tiana is in danger, the younger Keyblade Wielder threw his Keyblade at Shadow Man's cane– knocking it out of his hand and freeing the female frog, and causing the witch doctor to fall forward by accident. "Much obliged." Tiana said as she hops toward her four friends before the Shadow Man picked himself up unto his feet with his cane in his hand.
(Cue in "Squirming Evil")
"Y'all gonna regret doing that!" the witch doctor exclaim as he raised his staff to conjure an Emblem Heartless that is similar to that of the Parasite Cage, only smaller. It has a round head with glowing yellow eyes, and mouth resembling a door of a birdcage with a hook-like tongue. On top of its head is a black, lampshade-like covering that contains not only the Heartless emblem, but also a ring of small spikes and a tall, blue-violet flame in the middle. Its black body is pretty small in comparison to the head, and extending from the body are two wavy, black arms that curl upward into a spiral– with two smaller arms, tipped with the same blue-violet fire, branching out from each arm.
~~~KH~~~
"He's the one controlling the Heartless here?" Donald quacked in surprise as he and his traveling companions summoned their respective weapons as Sora turn his attention to the female frog, "Tiana! You better get to safety." He told Tiana, only for her to hesitate. "But what about–" she begin to ask when Riku cut her off, "We'll take care of the talisman." The Keyblade Master told the female frog as the five friends watch Shadow Man entrusting the talisman to the Heartless. Tiana nod in understanding, "All right. But be careful of his magic." The female frog warned before hopping off to hide between the graves. "Y'all must be the ones Maleficent warned me about…" Shadow Man stated as he recognize the four travelers, "Maleficent?" Sora asked in surprise as he and his friends glared at the witch doctor. "If y'all are here searching for the Twilight Princess, then she ain't here." This confused Riku– in his dream, someone had said the same thing. "The 'Twilight Princess?'" The Star Child asked, "Well, no matter. Once I find the Twilight Princess and hand her over to Maleficent, I'll be able to have many worlds in the palm of my hand– along with this one!" Shadow Man exclaimed as the quartet got themselves ready to fight.
(INFORMATION: Defeat Dr. Facilier and the Heartless to obtain the talisman! Watch out for his shadow and his 'friends on the other side'!)
Sora lunged forward and unleashed a combo on the Shadow Man before leaping back and casting Firaga, only to see that the Firaga didn't even cause the witch doctor to flinch a bit. The young Keyblade Wielder decided to repeat the combo when he suddenly felt that he couldn't move, causing him to look down and see a couple shadow demons holding him down by his own shadow! They let out a shrill hiss as they scratch at Sora's shadow, inflicting numerous injuries to the young Keyblade Wielder. Seeing that his best friend needs help, Riku unleashed a Shadowbreaker attack on the shadow demons and freeing Sora– but failed to see Shadow Man casting a dark fireball in the Star Child's direction until it was too late. "Riku!" the younger Keyblade Wielder called out as he threw a potion toward the Keyblade Master, curing any injuries he have obtained.
~~~KH~~~
"Thanks." Riku nodded before he swung his Keyblade at the shadow demons, causing the quartet to realize that they have the same vulnerability to the Keyblade as the Heartless– albeit with light-based attacks being the best way to defeat them. Both Goofy and Sora threw their respective weapons at the Heartless, only for it to bow forward to deflect the attack with its covering like a shield. The Heartless then retaliate by spinning madly toward Sora and Goofy, burning them in the process. The witch doctor's shadow crept up behind Donald and scratched him multiple times, causing the mage to raise his staff and heal everyone before collapsing. Seeing that their friend is down, Goofy swung his shield at the shadow as Sora raised his Keyblade to cast Curaga on the downed mage. "Okay! That's it!" Riku raised Way to the Dawn and froze the shadow demons by casting Stop, including the witch doctor's shadow. The quartet watches in astonishment as this action also effect the Shadow Man as well, "Sora! You and Donald focus on the Heartless! Goofy and I will deal with Shadow Man while he's vulnerable."
~~~KH~~~
Not needed to be told twice, the trio nodded before rushing in to assist Riku with their fair share of attack– with Donald freezing the Heartless in place with Blizzaga while Sora unleashed a chain of combos, and Goofy and Riku working together on the witch doctor. Unfortunately, the spell the Star Child had cast worn off and the shadow demons begin to hinder the quartet again. "Light!" Sora cried as he raised the Kingdom Key and summon a circle of light pillars that spun outward, restoring some of his health and temporarily caused the shadow demons to fade away. This also had an effect of the Heartless and Shadow Man, with his shadow completely stunned. Seeing the opening, the quartet begin to attack both the witch doctor and the Heartless until the shadow recovered and attempt to attack Riku. "No way!" The Keyblade Master shouted as he instantly moved behind Shadow Man and strike the witch doctor with an overhead slash as Sora swung his Keyblade one more time at the Heartless.
("Squirming Evil" fades)
{[BONUS: Sora
Maximum HP increased!]}
{[BONUS: Riku
Maximum HP increased!]}
{[BONUS: Donald
Maximum HP increased!]}
{[BONUS: Goofy
Maximum HP increased!]}
Sora grabbed the talisman as the Lantern Cage fades away into the darkness, leaving behind a glowing heart that floated away. Seeing that Shadow Man have recovered, the young Keyblade wielder tossed it over to his best friend. As Riku raise his arm to smash the talisman to the ground, he suddenly felt that he couldn't move– after struggling to move his head, the Keyblade Master noticed that the witch doctor's shadow is restraining his shadow. When the trio rush in to help their friend, more shadow demons appeared and immobilize them as well. Shadow Man walked over and reclaimed his talisman from Riku, "I told y'all not to touch that! Now I'll make sure to remember turning you and your friend here into slimy, l'il frogs." The witch doctor stated as Tiana hopped out of hiding behind him – she remembered that since she's been turn back into a frog, she could outsmart the Shadow Man. "I've got news for you, Shadow Man." Tiana stated, "It's not slime. It's mucus!" and with that, the female frog used her tongue to snatch the talisman. Both the shadow demons and the witch doctor's shadow released the quartet in order to snatch the talisman, but they were too late– Tiana brought the talisman to her and smash it to the ground, shattering it.
~~~KH~~~
(Cue in "Friends on the Other Side")
"No! No!" Shadow Man panicked as he lunge for the ground, causing Tiana to hop out of the way. "Tiana! Over here!" Sora called out, prompting the female frog to hop towards her friends and into Goofy's hands. "How am I ever gonna pay back my debt?" the witch doctor asked as he frantically gathered up the broken pieces, only to turn back to see three animated, voodoo masks coming out from some of the tombstones. Donald let out a quack in surprise as Riku begin to have an ominous feeling, "This way!" he called over to his friends as he ushered them towards the side in hope of getting as far away as possible. "Friends." Shadow Man greeted nervously, *ARE YOU READY?* the mask chanted maliciously. The five friends watch how quickly the Shadow Man's cool and collective nature changes to that of a nervous wreck, "No! I'm not ready at all! In fact, I got lots more plans." He said, clearly fearful for his life.
~~~KH~~~
*ARE YOU READY?* the voodoo masks continues in a jeering voice. "This is just a minor setback in a major operation." The witch doctor said before jumping a bit at the sight of voodoo dolls crawling out from the ground, "As soon as I whip up another spell, we'll be back in business!" he defended, only for his 'friends' to not listen. "I still got that froggy prince locked away!" Shadow Man continues as he back away towards a gravestone, "I just need a l'il more time." A giant voodoo mask appeared in the gravestone's place, its eyes glowing green. "No, please!" The witch doctor tries to flee, only for a shadow demon to grab his shadow and begin to pull him toward the mask. "Just a l'il more time!" Shadow Man pleaded, only for his 'friends' to continue not listening to reason– the five friends watch in horror as they realized that Shadow Man had let his darkness run amok and it's too late for him to control it. "I promise I'll pay y'all back! I promise!" Those were the witch doctor's final words as he falls through the portal to the 'other side'– along with the shadow demons, voodoo dolls, and masks.
("Friends on the Other Side" fades)
The giant voodoo mask vanish with a bright green flash, prompting the five friends to shield their eyes. When the eerie green light faded away, they instantly took notice of a new gravestone with the Shadow Man's face and name on it! None of them said a word before Tiana decided to break the silence, "Shadow Man said that he had Naveen locked away. We need to find him." This cause Riku to remember. "He's in the cathedral." The Keyblade Master said, confirming what the witch doctor had said. Tiana hopped down from Goofy's hands and began to make her way out of the cemetery, the quartet were about to go after the female frog when an unfamiliar, feminine voice rings up from behind them. "How ironically tragic, the cost of yielding to the darkness you can't even control." Whipping around to see a woman around the same age as Lea in the iconic black coat of Organization XIII, Sora, Riku, Donald, and Goofy all summon their respective weapon.
~~~KH~~~
"But of course, you all know that– Especially you, Master Riku." The woman continues as she approached them. Since she had her hood drawn up, the quartet couldn't make out what the woman's face look like. "If you're here to trick Sora into becoming a vessel for Xehanort, we won't let that happen while we're here." The Star Child said defensively, readjusting his grip on his Keyblade. "Yeah!" Donald agreed. "As if! I went against the old goat's orders just to let you know that your friend here is off the hook." The woman explained, "Two Azurians offered themselves into the ranks, saying that our true thirteenth dark vessel will be among us soon. But I see the Twilight Princess isn't here…"
~~~KH~~~
"And I take it you're one of the Azurians?" Sora asked, "'Cause it seems to me that you're all talk and no action while your Shadowrupt flunkies do all of your dirty work!" The woman laughs. "Oh, dear… I think you got the wrong girl, kid." She stated, "The Shadowrupt are definitely Zant's doing. And in case you didn't notice, I'm a Nobody– You think I could create or control those creatures like that? As if!" The name 'Zant' struck a chord within the Keyblade Master as he and his traveling companions wonder about the woman's identity– the way she speaks remind them of Xigbar. And if this woman's part of the Thirteen Seekers of Darkness, why is she telling them this? "Who are you?" Riku interrogated as the woman noticed the Star Child's Keyblade, earning a small gasp from her. "That Keyblade…" the woman said barely above a whisper before recomposing herself, "Me? I've already told you, guys. I'm a Nobody– just a mere shadow." She answered cryptically before backing up a bit. "Time for me to get the hell outta here before the old goat finds out. You boys better behave yourselves! Ciao." She gave the quartet a playful wave before disappearing into a corridor of darkness. "Stop!" Sora called out as Donald attempt to stop the woman from escaping, "Wait!" the mage made a leap for the corridor of darkness, only to be too late and found himself hitting the ground. "Phooey! She got away!"
~~~KH~~~
Riku just stood there, lost in thought– he knew that he'd never heard anyone with the name 'Zant' before, so why did it sounds so… familiar to him? "Riku?" Snapping out of his trace, the Keyblade Master look up to see his best friend standing before him. "Sorry… You were saying something?" Riku asked, "I was wondering what you think about what that woman had said– about me being off the hook." Sora replied, causing Riku to remember the conversation. "I don't know… I think we still need to be careful– just in case." Riku answered as he knelt down to pick up a piece of the broken talisman, remembering the time where he was similar to the Shadow Man– using the power of Darkness to the point that he no longer have any control over it when he got possessed by Ansem. "But she's right on one thing– The Shadow Man had let the darkness in his heart overtake him." The talisman piece began to emit a bright glow and levitate, startling the quartet. Seeing this, both Sora and Riku nodded at each other in understanding on what's happening and what they need to do. They held their Keyblades out, only to prove their hunch as the orb surrounding the talisman piece shot out a beam of light that reveals the world's Keyhole to the four travelers. Flicking their wrist, the two Keyblade Wielders aimed their Keyblades at the Keyhole and unlock it with beams of light. When the light fades, Sora and Riku dismissed their Keyblades and face both the mage and the knight. "Looks like we can head for Atlantica now and look for Nyra." Sora stated before hearing the bell tolling in the distance, causing Riku to remember. "Maybe we can stay a little longer." The Keyblade Master answered, "We need to make sure Tiana and Naveen all right." This also help the trio to remember as well. And with that, they race toward the cathedral.