Okage Hearts

Chapter 14

I don't own Okage or Kingdom Hearts. If I did, then the former would already have a sequel, and the latter would release the real sequel sooner. Only a few chapters to go, now until the end of this story.

Ari was unsurprised to see that he was completely right in theorizing that Rosalyn was waiting on the other side of the door. When he got into the house, she, of course, began shouting what seemed to be a mix of a tirade and an interrogation, yet it managed to suit the purpose of neither part of the mix. Unfortunately for Ari, though, while her shouting was just barely quiet enough to not wake up the whole house, it was loud enough to for her to have woken up Stan, who had been asleep throughout the entire adventure Ari had with the Princess. As a result of him being woken up before he wanted to wake up, the pair once more began their usual arguments anew, while Ari had to bear witness to their lover's quarrel. Eventually, Ari managed to force himself to go back to sleep and not think about the kiss Princess Marlene had given him, despite the fact that it kept continuously popping back into his mind.

When he woke up the next day, Ari noticed that Rosalyn was not in the room. Deciding that she must have gotten bored and went to get herself some breakfast, he began looking for the rest of his group.

He, of course, found them all in the dining room, enjoying lunch. Adding insult to injury, Stan, though still attached to Ari's shadow, had actually stretched himself in order to get there, meaning that he didn't even bother to wake the boy. Upon seeing said boy, Ari's Mother grabbed him and said, "Ari, you really need to stop sleeping through meals. You're as thin as a rake! Come on, now, you need to eat."

With that, the boy found himself shoved into his usual seat, once again across from the Princess, who, upon seeing him sitting across from her, blushed and focused on her plate, eating as quickly as she could.

When lunch was finished, Ari's family had lined up to once again tell him their goodbyes. His Father, Grandfather, and Annie, who had surprisingly bonded with Rosalyn over their pink shadows, had all pretty much said the same things they had each said last time. His Grandmother was next and she said, "Defend your heart, dear child. It is quickly approaching a danger that it has never faced before. Never forget your friends, missing or not, as you will need them in ways you would never expect when the time comes."

When it came time for him to talk to his Mother, said woman dragged him into the next room for what she was going to say.

"Son," she inquired, "You remember the music box I gave you?"

Ari nodded, knowing that speaking wouldn't get his response known until he'd said it five times.

"Well, I think you should give it to Marlene," she said, causing him to pause. She wanted him to what?

"Give it to Marlene," she responded, reading his facial expression, "Now don't look at me like that. She's a sweet girl, and you both seem to like each other."

Ari's cheeks went red, but he nodded his agreement, thinking on how Marlene could probably use a gift. She didn't seem to have that much joy in her life from the way she described it, so maybe getting a gift would help cheer her up.

With all of his goodbyes in order, Ari walked out the door, ready for the next battle. Well, not really, but he was definitely going to pretend he was at least.

Before he did anything else, he walked up to Marlene, pulling the music box out of his pocket that he was certain led to a bottomless pit somewhere. Once he got close enough to her, he placed it in her hands and said, "Um... Here, Your Highness. It's a music box."

"Thank you, Servant Ari," she said, a mildly perplexed expression on her face, "But why have you bestowed it upon me?"

"It's a gift," Rosalyn explained, taking the Map O' Evil Kings out of Ari's jacket pocket, "Basically, if you want to make a person feel better or if you just want to make someone happy, you give them something they wouldn't normally get for themselves."

"Oh," Marlene said, sounding somewhat cheerful, "Thank you, Servant Ari."

"You're welcome," the boy said, trying to ignore the stares that some members of his group were giving him and the weighing look that Beiloune was giving him as he snatched the Map O' Evil Kings out of Rosalyn's hand and looked at what it had to tell him.

'Oh, it's you again,' the Map said in its note, 'Thank goodness. That woman didn't even listen when I mentioned this guy the first time. As I was trying to say before you went off to Rashelo and accidentally found the Bubble Evil King before you defeated him: Chairman Evil King. Madril. Go. Fight. Win. Also, please quit letting the shadow's girlfriend take me whenever she decides to.'

Ari put the map back in his pocket and said, "We're going to Madril. Something about a Chairman Evil King."

"Ah, that makes sense, lad," Kisling said cheerfully, "Now, do we go now, or wait a bit to properly prepare for the battle?"

"We go now!" Rosalyn shouted, charging ahead towards Madril, "For justice!"

"Why don't we not start that again," Ari said as Stan began to rise out of his shadow to deliver his own ...inventive... battle cry. Stan, evidently having heard Ari merely went back into the shadow, not saying a word.

"Should we tell her that we're going at a normal pace?" the Evil King asked.

"I just don't have the heart," Princess Marlene said, watching the Hero slow to a stop and rush back to rejoin the group.

"Sorry," Rosalyn said, parasol still in hand, "I sometimes get caught up in the heat of the moment."

"Do not be overly concerned," Marlene said, "Your enthusiasm is interesting, and I have been informed that excitement is good in an adventure."

With that, our protagonists headed off for the next battle.