Ch.14: Healing an Injured Heart

On top of the highest tower of the palace, the group saw that Iago's right. Malcho must be coming for vengeance; they can make out a silhouette of his body from the horizon.

"Well, what do we do now?" asked Donald.

"I guess we have to fight him," answered Goofy. "We can't let him destroy Agrabah." Hearing this, Talona's felt her heart ache with the thought of her friends destroying her first and only true love. Quickly, she stepped up in front of them to defend Malcho.

"No!" she cried, her eyes filling up with tears. "It's not his fault he wants to bring his rage upon us. It's ours, but mostly mine! Don't any of you guys get it?" Donald, Goofy, and the others except Sora, Thundra, Iago, and Carpet just stared at her with confused glances; Sora, Carpet, and the birds, however, get what she's saying. However, Talona was still upset about the others not getting that Malcho's angry because of the heart he gave her and she shattered. She just groaned with frustration.

"Jasmine was right," she said. "No matter what the species, men are men." Donald got ticked off at the insult.

"What's that suppose to mean?!" he snapped.

"Donald," Sora snapped at him, "the reason Malcho's coming here on a rampage is because he wants revenge on Talona for breaking his heart by tricking him like she just did." Donald and Goofy's eyes went wide when it finally hit them.

"Oh…" they said simultaneously in guilt. They were more focused on helping their friends that they took no noticed to Malcho's feelings until just now. How could they have been so stupid?

"Well, we better think of something before Malcho attacks the city," said Genie. "Any ideas?"

"I have one of stopping all of this and mending the heart I have broken," Talona answered. The entire group turned to her in shock.

"Talona, you don't mean—" Goofy cried as Abu threw his arms around her front leg with sobbing screeches.

"But he might—" Iago started before Talona spoke up.

"Look, I got us into this mess by going out with him on a date, although you guys 'persuaded' me to do so while you save Thundra's rainclouds. And because of that, I found out what kind of a guy he really is in his heart. That's why I'm going to him and winning him back." The others were about to protest again when Sora stopped them.

"She's right, guys," he said as he took Abu into his arms. "We have to let her do this. Be careful, Talona." Nodding to him in reply, Talona took off and flew over to Malcho, who's just ten miles from the outskirts of the city. Looking up at him, she saw that his eyes are filled with tears of pain and anger. Her heart aching, Talona prepared herself to carry out her plan of getting him back and earning his forgiveness.

"Malcho!" she called out to him. Turning to her, Malcho's tear-filled eyes flared up with anger.

"You!" he roared. "You false excuse of an angel! Why must you trick me and break my heart after I have given it to you?" Talona saw that he's trying unsuccessfully to fight back his tears and flew up to him fast with tears in her eyes as well. It's true that she has broken his heart, and now she wants to mend it. The serpent became shocked when Talona threw both her front legs and wings around him, crying like something terrible has happened.

"I'm sorry, Malcho!" she sobbed. "It's true! That entire date was just a plot to distract you so that the others can free the clouds and get back the medallion you stole from Thundra! I wanted nothing to do with it because I was unsure if you're the one for me until some time before the kiss! I knew through our time together that we were meant to be. I'm sorry I hurt you! I never wanted to! I truly do love you!" Hearing all of this and knowing that it's true because the tears are real and he can hear pure sincerity in her voice and sobs, Malcho forgot about his anger and wrapped his wings around her to comfort her as she shook violently through said sobs.

"Is it true that…you never liked me before?" he asked calmly as he stroke her back.

"At first," she answered, sobbing still, "I thought you were some hopeless romantic and a womanizer. But as you were showing me around the rainforest, showing me all of your favorite places, and telling me that you never felt love until I came along, I found out that you are really are my number one. I'm sorry I hurt you, Malcho. Like I said before, I never wanted to hurt you like I did." Malcho held her closer to his chest, touched by what she said and knowing that all she said was true.

"Talona…" he whispered softly, but the gryphon hugged him tighter.

"Please, Malcho…my love," she sobbed. "Let me hold you…just for a while…please." Hearing her call him "love," Malcho smiled affectionately and tilted her chin up with his tail so she's looking into his eyes. Her tears have left darker-colored tear streaks on her face, and he gently wiped them away with the tip of his wing.

"Te amo, tambien, mi amore," he whispered softly before pressing his lips into hers. Talona just returned the kiss as tears cascaded down her face again, feeling free of the pain of no love. As they were kissing, Sora watched the whole thing though Genie, who transformed into a telescope.

"Well?" asked Thundra. Sora turned to her with a smile.

"The city's saved, as well as their love," he answered. The others cheered in reply, happy that Talona saved Agrabah and her love for Malcho. Everybody except for Donald, that is.

"Oh, great," he groaned. "That means Malcho's coming with us too so they can be together." The others just laughed in reply.