Okage Hearts
Chapter 25
I don't own Okage: Shadow King or Kingdom Hearts. By this point, that should really be obvious. Once again, quite a few liberties were taken with Epros' lines in order to have a better syllabic rhythm, or to replace parts that escape my memory due to not having played the game in some time. Also, of note, this chapter is actually a week early due to the fact that next week I will not be able to update everything on time if I went with my usual timetable for updates.
Ari was walking with the ragtag bunch of misfits that he could arguably call his friends. The Map O' Evil Kings had provided exact directions to where the Gear Tower could be found, and so they were headed out on their way to find the Phantom Evil King. To his irritation, Rosalyn and Stan would not stop arguing.
"We should charge in immediately, before he can set up whatever trap he's planning!" Stan argued, "If we wait to come up with a strategy, then he'll have had enough time to prep the trap. If he's as clever as he acts, then he's clearly going to have a plan of some sort, you foolish washbowl woman! It's what I would do."
"If we just charge in, then he's bound to have sprung his trap!" Rosalyn countered "Think about it, you stupid shadow! Why would he directly tell us where we're going to fight? If he wants us somewhere, he's going to have planned in advance already! You, yourself said that he clearly wants us to be here, so it stands to reason that he would have set things up in advance. That's what I would do."
"Both of you, get a room," Ari muttered flatly, "Or, even better, be quiet. We're here."
"Are you sure?" Linda asked, her back to the tall building with the gears around the top standing tall in front of the orange horizon.
"I am reasonably certain that he is correct," Kisling said, "This is an fantastic structure. Do you suppose that it served a purpose once? If it did, going by appearances, it would likely be safe to assume that the tower is in a state of disrepair."
"Aren't we wasting time discussing?" Big Bull interjected, clearly having sided with Stan in the argument, which had quieted down due Ari's remark surprising the pair.
"Kisling," Ari said, turning to face the scientist, "You're neutral to their fight. What would you recommend?"
"While both arguments have their merits, I must admit that, due to the fact that we are going into a trap at all, specifically, that a trap will likely be sprung no matter what the affair, then we would likely do well to follow Stan's paradigm, as, in the end, it is a trap we are walking into. The only thing we can safely rely on is getting in before he sets more traps."
"Alright, then," Ari said, "You heard him. We're going in. Get ready."
As things would have it, Ari had been correct to have drawn his weapon, as the Gear Tower was locked. As he used his weapon to unlock the door, he noted to himself that they had all completely forgotten that the Phantom Evil King had told them that they would need to go to the Deep Grave Pit to find 'the key to the secret.' Fortunately, Ari had the key that could undo any lock as his weapon.
With that, the group prepared for battle, Rosalyn drawing her sword, Linda her microphone, Big Bull stretching, and Kisling pulling out a book while Ari once again drew the Keyblade from wherever it was that the giant key went when he dismissed it.
Charging into the tower, Ari noted that the layout appeared to be a maze. Pulling out the Map O' Evil Kings, he opened it to see if the Map would be able to help them find their way through the tower to face their opponent.
'Well, if I were any other map, you'd be in for some unpleasant times,' the Map noted in what would have likely been a dry tone if it had a voice as Ari opened it to find that the Map was displaying the layout of the Gear Tower, 'As it stands, you're in luck, since I'm here specifically to find Evil Kings, Now, follow the exact path I tell you to go down.'
The hunt restarted, Ari began heading down the corridors that the Map O' Evil Kings told him to follow.
When the group finally made their way to the entrance of the room the Phantom Evil King was in, Ari put away the Map and opened the door, revealing the Evil King standing surrounded by blue, green, yellow, and red Heartless that were floating with straw hats on their heads.
"Ah, my brave foes, at last you arrived," the Phantom Evil King gloated, "Everything's happened as was contrived."
"I don't do things for other's plans!" Stan protested, "I came on my own to reclaim my power!"
"What is it that you are attempting to learn?" Kisling inquired, having not forgotten the last time they met.
"My own plans, I reveal not, lest they add to thy Confusion," the Phantom Evil King replied, "Corporeal strikes are futile. This form's but an Illusion. Now enter Stage, draw Steel, for this Battle nears conclusion!"
With that, the fight began, with Rosalyn leading the charge against the Heartless. Ari, meanwhile, once again moved to strike his opponent, only for the Keyblade to pass through him without causing any damage.
"A caveat, I gave to thee, yet my warning was ignored," the Phantom Evil King said, knocking Ari back with a burst of magic, "As such, I find this spar most dull, I fear I'm getting bored."
Mentally smacking himself for not paying attention to what the Phantom Evil King said, Ari began to send wave after wave of magic attacks, switching which ones he used in order to keep the Phantom Evil King off balance. Eventually, Ari once again emerged victorious as the Evil King staggered back after the final strike.
"Ugh, that rhyming is infuriating," the Phantom Evil King said, "Where did He learn that."
"Yes!" Stan cheered, "More of my power returns to me! Soon I will be invincible!"
"Yes!" the Former Phantom Evil King shouted, seeming to be talking to someone, "Now!"
"Did he just disappear?" Rosalyn asked incredulously, staring at the spot that their adversary had just occupied.
"Bah! Let him leave!" Stan shouted, "The powerful are supposed to laugh and gloat when they win, right Slave?"
"That was awesome, Stan, darling!" Linda shouted before adding, "but the Phantom Evil King's way of losing was totally cool, too!"
"What?" Stan shouted, clearly annoyed by that last statement.
"One Evil King left," Ari mused as they prepared to leave, "Then we deal with Beiloune."