Chapter 14: Savages
Roxas ran to the camp in panic.
"Help!" Roxas called out. "Somebody help!"
"Easy mate." Axel said as he helped Roxas into Sid Town. "What is it?"
"It's Vanitas!" Roxas called out. "They've got him!"
"Who got him?" Luxord asked.
"The savages!" Roxas said.
"Savages?" Axel asked as the rest of the men ran in from their tents.
"They captured him and dragged him off!" Roxas said.
"Where'd they take him?" Luxord asked.
"Somewhere north!" Roxas said.
"How many were there?" Axel asked.
"I don't know." Roxas said. "At least a dozen!"
"Filthy beasts!" Luxord muttered.
()()()()()
Vexen ran into Xehanort's tent when Xehanort grabbed him. He had heard everything, and he couldn't be happier.
"It's perfect, Vexen!" Xehanort whispered. "I couldn't have planned this better myself. The gold is as good as mine."
He walked out as Roxas continued to talk to the others.
"We've got to save him!" Roxas stated firmly. "He'd do the same for any of us!"
"Mokuba's right!" Luxord said as he stepped forward. "We've got to do something!"
"And so we shall!" Xehanort said as he walked out. "I told you those savages couldn't be trusted! Vanitas tried to befriend them, and look what they've done to him! But now I say it's time to rescue our courageous comrade! At daybreak, we attack!"
The men cheered as Xehanort smirked inwardly.
What can you expect
From filthy little heathens?
Here's what you get when races are diverse!
Xehanort was then put into a suit of black armor.
Their skin's a hellish red!
They're only good when dead!
They're vermin as I said!
And worse!
They're savages! Savages!
Barely even human!
Savages! Savages!
Drive them from our shore!
They're not like you and me,
Which means they must be evil!
We must sound the drums of war!
Every man was tossed a musket as Roxas looked down at his and thought of the native he'd killed.
They're savages! Savages!
Dirty shrieking devils!
Now we sound the drums of war!
At the village, Terra walked up to his father.
"Father, I'm staying here." Terra said. "I will not for something I don't believe in."
"Very well." Eraqus said. "Protect the village my son."
"I will." Terra said as he walked off, and Eraqus turned to the villagers.
This is what we feared.
The pale face is a demon.
The only thing they feel at all is greed.
Mickey painted the faces of the warriors for the coming battle.
Beneath that milky hide, there's emptiness inside.
"I wonder if they even bleed!" A warrior called out.
They're savages! Savages!
Barely even human!
Savages! Savages!
Killers at the core.
They're different from us,
Which means they can't be trusted!
We must sound the drums of war!
Eraqus then had a pair of warriors bring out the white man who killed Xemnas.
They're savages! Savages!
First we deal with this one!
Then we sound the drums of war!
The settlers began to go off as Xehanort led the way followed by Luxord and Axel, and Mokuba behind them as he thought about what he'd done again, hating what they were doing now more than the natives.
Savages! Savages!
"Let's go kill a few men!" Luxord shouted.
Savages! Savages!
"Now it's up to you men!" Xehanort called out.
Savages! Savages!
Barely even human!
Now we sound the drums… Of… War…!
()()()()()
Iris sat by Grandmother Aerith with Demyx, Sora, and Shadow.
"They're going to kill him at sunrise Grandmother Aerith." Iris said sadly.
"You have to stop them." Aerith said.
"I can't." Iris said.
"Child, remember your dream." Aerith said.
"I was wrong Grandmother Aerith!" Iris shouted with tears in her eyes about all the trouble she caused. "I followed the wrong path! I feel so lost."
"Lost?" Sora said as he snapped his fingers and pulled out the compass Vanitas gave him. He had said it was for finding your way when you got lost. He then handed it to Iris as she looked down.
"The compass?" Iris asked as she looked at it and saw that it was an arrow head nailed to a piece of wood with designs. As she held it, it began to spin. "The spinning arrow."
"It's the arrow from your dream!" Aerith said with a smile.
"I was right!" Iris said happily. "It was pointing to him!"
Iris then felt the wind swirl around her… Embracing her… Like her mother did so many years ago. At that point, Iris saw the sun begin to rise up.
"Sun rise!" Iris said.
"It's not too late child!" Aerith said. "Let the spirits of the Earth guide you!" Then the compass pointed north to where Iris knew that murderers were executed. "You know your path, now follow it!"
Iris rushed on, followed by Sora, Demyx, and Shadow.
()()()()()
Xehanort walked forth as his men followed.
"This will be the day!" Xehanort called out. "Let's go men!"
Eraqus prepared to go to the execution stone.
"This will be the morning." Eraqus said. "Bring out the prisoner."
We will see them dying in the dust.
Iris then rushed to the rock as fast as her legs could carry her, which thank the spirit was quite fast.
I don't know what I can do.
Still I know I've got to try.
The two sides and Iris marched, or in Iris's case ran, to the same point.
Now we make them pay! (Eagle help my heart to fly!)
Not without a warning! (Mountain help my heart be brave!)
Now we leave them blood and bone and dust! (Spirits of the Earth and sky…)
They're just… A bunch… Of dirty stinking… (Please don't let it be too late…!)
Savages! Savage!
Heathens! Devils!
"KILL THEM!" Xehanort called out.
Savages! Savages!
What are we waiting for?
Destroy their evil race,
Until there's not a trace left!
We must sound the drums of war! (How… Loud… Are the drums of war?)
Now we see them sentenced!
Now we see them silenced!
Vanitas was pushed onto the rock with his head held down as Eraqus raised a large staff as the others watched on in shock and fear.
Please no death, don't take my love!
Carry him from drum enough!
WAR!
"No!" Iris said as she rushed forward and shielded Vanitas with her body. "If you kill him, you'll have to kill me too."
"Daughter, stand back." Eraqus said calmly.
"I won't!" Iris said. "I love him, Father."
Iris saw a quick look of surprise cross over her father's face, and Iris also heard questioning mutterers from Vanitas's people, probably wondering why Eraqus wasn't bringing down the club.
Iris saw Terra and Surane arrive with Sora, Demyx, and Shadow, and they all smiled kindly, with Surane blinking at all the white men.
"Look around you, Father!" Iris called out as she felt emboldened by the settlers' uncertainty and her friends' support. "This is where the path of hatred has brought us!" Iris then put her head on top of Vanitas's. "This is the path I've chosen Father! What will yours be?"
()()()()()
Eraqus looked from the white men preparing to shoot with their weapons of fire and thunder to his own people preparing to shoot with their bows and arrows. Then he felt the wind wrap around him and smiled as he remembered his dearly departed wife. He knew what he had to do. He held up the staff with both hands and saw how some of the white men lowered their weapons as well.
"My daughter speaks with a wisdom beyond her years." Eraqus said calmly, but the wind and his high up position allowed all to hear nonetheless. "We have all come here with anger in our hearts, but she comes with courage and understanding. From this day forward, if there is to be more killing, it will not start with me."
Eraqus set his staff down as Vanitas and Iris stood up.
"Release him." Eraqus said.
They then cut Vanitas free of his bonds, and the two embraced and all their friends and family on both sides smiled warmly while most everyone else lowered their weapons completely.
()()()()()
Xehanort looked at all this with confusion. A civilized man falling for these foolish savages? He decided to strike first and ask questions of Vanitas later.
"Now's our chance!" Xehanort said as he drew a sword from his belt. "Fire!"
"No!" Roxas said as he stepped forward to face Xehanort.
"What?" Xehanort asked.
"They let him go!" Roxas said.
"They don't want to fight!" Luxord said.
"It's a trick!" Xehanort shouted angrily. How could anyone be so stupid? They were just pretending to be friendly so they could keep his gold! "Don't you see? FIRE!"
No one did a thing as Xehanort held his sword up shakily.
"Fine!" Xehanort said. "I'll settle this myself!"
()()()()()
Vanitas saw Xehanort prepare to shoot and looked at Eraqus. If he died, who knew what would happen to the fragile new peace Iris had just made. He couldn't put it at risk and did the only thing h could.
"NO!" Vanitas called out as he shoved Eraqus away and ended up shot in the chest, dangerously close to his chest.
()()()()()
"VANITAS!" Roxas called out.
"NO!" Iris called out as Vanitas landed on the ground.
Xehanort then looked nervously at the others.
"You shot him!" Roxas called out angrily. Now he really knew who the savage, the heathen was! It was Xehanort! His stupid greed for gold and power caused them to spend back-breaking hours digging when there wasn't any gold and then had them fight a peaceful enemy!
"He stepped right…" Xehanort said nervously. "Right into it. It's his own fault."
"Vanitas was right all along!" Luxord spat.
"We never should have listened to you!" Axel said angrily.
"Get the gun!" Luxord cried out, and they pulled the gun out of Xehanort' hands and restrained him.
"Unhand me!" Xehanort said as Roxas stood in front of him.
"Put him in chains!" Roxas said angrily.
"I'll see you all hanged for this!" Xehanort spat.
"And gag him as well!" Roxas added.
Roxas then looked up and saw Iris and Eraqus kneel over the still breathing but immobile Vanitas.
Chaos dose not own Pocahontas or kingdom hearts, but she owns Iris and Surane belongs to SuraneSpiral!