Chapter 25: Infiltration

They'd lost Donald. Riku still couldn't believe it. After all the adventures they'd shared as a group, he hardly ever expected his foul-tempered companion to get snatched by a deranged bat, of all things. But there was no point in denying the truth. All they could really do now was push forward and try to untangle this mess of a case.

As Basil leaned over his cluttered desk, Riku watched him with half-lidded eyes, one hand pressed against his cheek. Off to his side, Goofy gazed at the floor, twiddling his thumbs and kicking his feet while Kairi sighed and placed her hands on his and Riku's shoulders. At the touch, Riku uttered a near silent laugh.

"I'll be fine," he said. "We'll all be fine."

"Are ya sure?" Goofy winced, clutching onto his head. "I mean, that Ratigan feller could be doin' all kindsa terrible things to Donald right now! Lockin' him up, torturin' him, or worse! Tossin' him straight into a mob of mean ol' Heartless… tied up!"

"Goofy… I think you're letting your imagination get the best of you. And do you really think Donald'd just sit there and take it?"

Goofy's mouth hung open, and he fell silent. Then, with a nod, he said, "Naw, you're right, Riku. Besides, Donald's a magician! I betcha he gave that ol' Ratigan a face full of spells on the spot!"

"Yes, well, we can only speculate," said Basil, tossing the list up and down. As it floated back to his palm, he squinted and reached for his magnifying glass. "At any rate, this paper's makeup is peculiar. While it seems to have been produced in native Mongolia, the lack of watermark is a bit disconcerting. What's more…" He lifted it to his lips, sticking a corner in his mouth. "I detect the distinct taste of Rodent's Delight." Snickering, Basil passed the slip to Dawson. "Which, for the uninformed, is a cheap whiskey sold only in the seediest of pubs."

"You continue to astound me!" said Dawson, as he skimmed the note. "But what does this mean? Do we have a lead?"

"Not quite, I'm afraid. There are a number of back alley bars scattered throughout London's streets. Our dear, peg-legged friend could have visited any one of them." Basil turned around, grabbing the list as he stepped towards a microscope. "However, we do have a starting point. A closer inspection could make all the difference…"

Riku remained silent, sliding to the edge of the couch. He leaned forward and watched Basil fiddle with the knobs on the microscope, tail swaying from side to side. Though he spoke softly, Riku heard him mutter something to Dawson about coal dust from a sewer lamp. Then, right as Dawson leaned over to take a look himself, Basil swept the paper away, pulling it straight towards a wax candle. Grinning from ear to ear, he stretched out his arm, holding the paper just inches above the flame.

Riku couldn't take it anymore. He sprung right out of his seat, staring wide-eyed at the detective. "Basil, what the heck are you doing?"

"Shh, quiet now. There's no cause for alarm."

Funny, because the moment he said that, he dangled the paper right over the candlelight. Blackness overwhelmed the note, and it crumbled into ashes. As the ashes fell, Basil grabbed at the nearest bowl, catching all the specks. Then, with a nearby spoon, he stirred it around, licking his lips.

"I'm afraid I ain't followin' ya," said Goofy, tilting his head. "Just what're ya doin' to that ol' note, Basil?"

His eyes remained fixed on the bowl, and he merely gave one wave of his hand."Patience, everyone. This next step requires utmost concentration, so I'm going to need you all to stay silent…"

He didn't need to speak twice. Crazy as he looked right now, Basil still knew how to handle the situation better than the rest of them. If completely destroying the list was the way to catch Fidget's trail, then fine. It wouldn't be the strangest thing Riku'd seen or heard. Rather than protest further, he flopped back on the couch, resting his hands in his lap. Next, Basil poured the ashes into a beaker full of water. Once the ash settled, he set the beaker at the very bottom of a series of zigzagging test tubes held together by tape and armatures.

With the beaker in place, he dashed to the vial at the very end of the tubes, twisting a knob that ignited a flame. The green liquid inside bubbled and hissed before climbing up the tubes at a snail's pace. It twisted, it turned, and at a few sharp corners it almost stopped completely, only to shoot down less than a second later. By the time the liquid reached the end, it splashed down into the beaker, unleashing a puff of smoke. The liquid gurgled and turned bright red.

Immediately, Basil swept up the beaker. "Eureka! We've done it, everyone!"

"Really?" said Riku. "And what exactly does it mean?"

"Why, it's elementary." He gestured towards the liquid before setting the beaker back down. "This reaction could only occur due to the presence of sodium chloride."

"Salt water?" Dawson blinked, bringing a hand to his chin. "I say, is there a pub near the ocean?"

"Close, but not quite, old chap." He marched over to one of the walls, towards a golf club case stuffed with rolled up parchment. Kneeling down, he tugged out one of the rolls and unfurled it against the wall, pinning it up with two throwing darts.

"Given the reaction, I can only deduce that our target lies at the river!"

"The river?" said Kairi. "But that can't be right. Not if we're talking about salt water…"

"Ah, but it is not merely the river, but a very specific location we must seek. To be precise…" He swept up another dart, jabbing it into the map. "We must visit the only pub that lies where the sewer meets with the water front."

Riku let out a puff of air, tapping his foot. "And then what?" So they had a location down, but that still left them dangling by a thread. Without a plan, even Basil's deductions were meaningless. Sure, Riku had his Keyblade to deal with any fights, but a pub… Hah. Who knew what kind of bozos hung out in a dump like that?

At first Basil stayed silent, and he paced back and forth, looking to the map, then to Dawson, and then all around the room. He stopped once, scratching his chin, and then he whirled back around."Well, we'll need to aim for a tactical approach. Anyone can barge right through the front doors, but if we came as we are, particularly with your brightly colored, zipper and belt-laden attire… Why, we'd be the butt of every drunkard, brute, and sailor's joke, with or without Ratigan's presence."

Zipper and belt laden… Riku huffed, folding his arms over the straps on his shirt. "Okay, so maybe we do stand out a little. What do you plan on doing about it?"

Kairi slid out of her seat, strutting toward Riku with an impish grin and steepled fingers. "Isn't it obvious? We'll just have to disguise ourselves. Pretend we're like them."

At Kairi's words, both Dawson and Goofy let out a collective gasp. Teeth chattering, Dawson dashed behind Basil and tapped his shoulder, his eyes darting from Riku and Kairi and back to the detective.

"I say, is that truly a good idea? While I have no qualms, I suppose, both Riku and Kairi are, well, considerably younger than…"

Basil waved his hand, tilting his chin up high. "Oh, poppycock. A perfect disguise would make all the difference. Furthermore, it's not like these pubs aren't already rife with questionable behavior…"

Goofy narrowed his eyes. He stomped up to Basil with his arms held straight and looked the detective in the eye. "But that doesn't matter! Riku 'n Kairi are way too young to be hangin' around any bar, disguised or not! All those folks drinkin' and shoutin' would only be a bad influence on 'em, and I ain't gonna stand there and—"

"Goofy, please." Riku groaned, pinching the bridge of his snout. "It's not like I became an alcoholic at Pleasure Island."

"Well, I know, but…" He lowered both his head and his voice. "It just feels wrong, takin' ya there. It'd be like bringin' Max someplace shady, and that just ain't right…"

Kairi shook her head, giving him a pat on the back. "Neither is kidnapping children, Goofy. And isn't that what really matters?"

Dawson tapped his chin. "True, and we do have your companion to attend to as well. In times such as these, I suppose even ethics mean little compared to a friend."

"Precisely, old chap. And a little visit to a bar is nothing compared to Ratigan's level of treachery." Basil shut his eyes, tapping his fingers on the table. "Now, does anyone else object?"

"Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but…" Riku snickered. "I know I'm game."

The others all nodded in response. Yes, even Goofy, after a few seconds of fidgeting. And that confirmation sent Basil dashing all over the room, digging through closets, drawers, and bins. While a part of Riku wondered just what crazy costumes he'd throw at them, in the end it didn't matter. They still had a lot of ground to cover. Who cared if they had to dress like bums?

x.x.x

"Lemme out right now, or I swear—"

"Save your prattling for later, you fool." Sneering, Luxord pressed his palm against the glass. "You're fortunate that you haven't become a feline's feast. And, while I'm not particularly fond of stalemates, I'm sure you and I will both agree that this is by far are more… interesting outcome."

Donald's face reddened, and he stomped his feet. Grumbling and sneering, he hopped back and launched himself at the glass once again.

"I don't care! I'm bustin' us both out, if it kills me!"

Charming. That foolish fowl really believed he could escape, despite Luxord's temporal tactics. When the air above crackled and static bristled his fur, he merely yawned; the lightning froze halfway above his head, and he stepped aside. Then, chuckling, he threw back his hood and crouched down to Donald's level. "That's quite the gamble. And even if you did manage an escape, the glass would surely scar you and the child. Is that truly what you want?"

Donald froze. He looked to Olivia, who sat curled up at the back, sniffling and rubbing at her eyes. His beak snapped shut, and he lowered his arms, stumbling backwards into another glass wall. There, he slid down onto the ground and let out a sigh.

"No, that's the last thing I want. But I don't wanna give up, either!"

"Well, only time will tell if you'll win this game. As it stands, your Key-totting warrior is wandering blindly to your rescue…" He, scooped out his dice and tossed them into the air, catching them before they struck the ground. "I do wonder if he'll succeed… The odds are low and danger quite high." Turning from the bottle, he peered over his shoulder. "But I suppose that's nothing new for the Keybearer."

"But I bet you can't afford for him to lose." Donald scowled, shaking his fist. "We even got a note sayin' you need the Keyblade, and the Replica said the same thing!"

…Oh, how interesting. He could almost understand the Replica revealing such a significant detail; his tactless behavior and recklessness was nothing new. However, this… note Donald spoke of raised a few questions. If nothing else, he'd consult Xemnas about it once this mission reached its conclusion. Until then, perhaps he could humor him a little. After all, why hide the truth? It wouldn't change the inevitable outcome…

Nodding, Luxord returned his gaze to the bottle and folded his hands together. "Indeed, we do require the Keybearer's services. However, Ratigan fails to realize this, just as he's blind to his true role in this game."

"His true role? Bah, so what're you gonna do? Turn him into a Heartless?"

A wry grin spread across Luxord's face. "You've answered your own question. What else is there to say? It's clear that you don't need me to hold your hand and spoon feed you facts."

A creaking from behind prompted him to turn the other way, towards the steps of Ratigan's lair. As the door swung open, Ratigan bounded down the steps, lacing his fingers together. He stopped just a few yards from Luxord, giggling like a child. Then, with his nose tilted upward, he marched right up to the bottle.

"I trust that you've treated our guests well, Luxord. We wouldn't want any undue stress now, would we?"

"Naturally." He fell back, leaning against the cork. "And what about you? Have the pieces all been set?"

"Oh, yes." Ratigan's eyes narrowed, and he leaned over Luxord with a crooked smile. "Flaversham has truly outdone himself. Now that he's finished our dear queen's gift, we need only wait for our 'friends' to arrive…"

"Friends?" Donald growled, slamming his fist against the glass. "Like you've got any friends! You're just a big, smelly old…"

"I wouldn't go any further if I were you," said Luxord. He peered into Donald's eyes, fingers drumming against the cork. "As it stands, you're walking on shards of broken glass. Why tempt your fate with more childish outbursts?"

"It's true." Ratigan whipped out his bell. "I could change my mind, you know. Felicia hasn't had bird in so long …"

"Well, she'll have quite a smorgasbord by the time those 'heroes' arrive. Why spoil her appetite now?"

Gasping, Donald slammed himself into the bottle again, his face bright red. "You wouldn't dare!"

Getting down on his knees, Ratigan placed his hand against the bottle, right above Donald's neck. "I believe you've forgotten who you're dealing with, my friend. Furthermore, your companions are quite lucky. The plan I've got in store for Basil isn't nearly as humane…"

A muffled shriek caught Luxord's ear, and he turned his gaze towards the bottle once more. Finally, Olivia got to her feet and came rushing to the bottle, her eyes wide and her whole body shaking.

"Please, no! You can't hurt Basil. You just can't! He's…"

"Overstayed his welcome." Ratigan snarled. "You're truly naïve if you think I'd let him live."

Her lip quivered. Tears welled in her eyes, and her tiny little hands tightened into fists. In mere seconds she, alongside Donald, pounded upon the bottle's wall.

"Basil's too smart to fall for this! And… and he'll find a way to stop you and save my daddy, too!"

"You said it, Olivia!"

…Fools. No matter how hard they struck the bottle, no matter how loudly they protested, they were but pawns on the chessboard. Rather than humor them any further, Luxord slipped over to Ratigan's side, tapped him on the shoulder, and gestured towards the door to Flaversham's cell.

"As entertaining as this is, I believe it's time we prepare for our departure. Time is of the essence, after all…"

"True." Ratigan sighed, pushing himself back to his feet. He gave the bottle one last look before stepping towards the prison door. Reaching for the handle, he peered down at Luxord with a chuckle. "Assuming Basil's deductive skills are even remotely competent, we should expect him within… mm, the next twenty minutes."

"And then," said Luxord, "the game truly begins…"

x.x.x

A shroud of fog concealed the whole harbor. Mountain sized tugboats bobbed and swayed, coated in a crust of barnacles. The distinct stench of old fish and liquor made Riku wrinkle his nose as he crept alongside the others towards the dimly lit lantern near a sign that read 'Rat Trap.' The dangling ropes up by the docks and scattered planks all around him added to the already dismal look of the place. More barnacles creeping up posts along with the flash of lightning in the sky certainly didn't help much either.

But here they were, just inches away from the gateway to Ratigan's stronghold… or so they hoped. Once he neared the door, Riku leaned back against a wooden post, adjusting the black bandanna that covered his head, save for his mouse ears. Instead of his usual getup, he wore a long-sleeved shirt drenched several sweat stains and lined with yellow stripes. His gloves and wristbands remained, while tattered jeans covered his legs.

"Well, it's almost time," said Basil, adjusting his sea captain's hat. A blue, button-up jacket replaced his trench coat, while a cigarette replaced his wooden pipe. And on his face he wore a fake, black mustache. "Once we step inside, stick close to me and follow my lead. So long as we throw all formalities out the window, we should fit in well enough."

"Ah, well, I suppose, but…" Dawson poked his head out from behind a pole. A flimsy blue hat flopped in the wind, while an eye patch hid his right eye. A striped shirt way too small for his round body and a loose pair of denim shorts completed his rough appearance and as he stepped out from his hiding spot, he tugged at his belt."Are you quite sure this is necessary? This attire is…" He sighed. "It's quite unflattering."

Kairi stepped right past him and fiddled with the fur scarf around her neck. A silky, red dress draped down to her ankles, and she stumbled around in the high heels Basil gave her. It was… definitely a different look for her. Heck, before they'd left for the pub, Riku had to pinch himself to make sure he wasn't seeing things. Still, as flashy as the outfit looked, the way she tugged at the straps and kept her eyes on the ground made her feelings all too clear.

"I'd side with you, Dawson, but what choice do we have?" She brushed back her bangs and blew a tiny puff of air. "We are dealing with criminals, and they're not the most flattering people."

"Even so, this is completely humiliating! Surely I could have at least worn a larger shirt."

"Aw, ya don't look so bad!" said Goofy, patting Dawson on the back. He came clad in a tiny, brown vest, an orange turtleneck sweater, and a pair of baggy, brown pants coated in patches and holes. The fur on his head looked like a matted up mess, thanks to Basil hitting him with some static electricity beforehand. But despite the split-second smile that'd spread along his muzzle, when he looked to Riku and Kairi, his lips drooped, and he rubbed his neck. "Now, uh, remember not to talk to strangers, and if somebody looks at ya funny or tries flirtin' with ya, or…"

"Flirting?!" Riku hadn't even considered that, and the idea alone made him puff up like an angered cat, stepping in front of Kairi with his hands locked tight. "Not if I have anything to say about—"

"Riku…" She clasped his shoulder, nudging her way past him. "Are you saying I can't handle it?"

"Well, no, but I just don't want—"

Shaking his head, Basil reached for the doorknob, giving the group a brief glance. "It's entirely possible, but whatever happens, we must act natural. Looks alone do not make a disguise, and there's far too much at stake, so if you please…"

The door creaked open, letting out the stench of smoke. Shuddering, Riku followed Basil inside, eying the piles of barrels in the corner, the wooden carving of a mermaid mouse and countless red smudges on the wooden floor. The jolly piano melody coming from the side of the stage completely clashed with the tables packed with scruffy, sneering mice throwing down cards, dice, and the occasional dagger. As Basil led the group between these tables, every last sailor and bum bared their snarled and stared.

A sudden bump from behind made Riku gasp, and when he turned around, he spotted Goofy inching behind him with his arms wrapped around his chest and his teeth chattering. Not that he could really blame him. The dark room combined with the smoke creeping and curling around them, the flickering lights of the lamps above the tables, and the shouts of 'boo' from the crowd left Riku tense. Shuddering, he looked towards the stage to see what the fuss was about only to find an orange octopus dancing across the stage, tossing colored balls into the air, and catching them in his hat.

Turning away from the stage, he came face to face with a flying dagger and leaped back into an empty chair. As the weapon drew close, he nearly called for his Keyblade. Rather than attract unwanted attention, though, he swerved outta the way, watching as the knife crashed into the floor. Swallowing hard, he continued after Basil. All the while, his right hand kept twitching; if those punks tried hurling another knife his way, he'd happily reconsider using his Keyblade. Thankfully, however, they reached an empty table before long, and after settling in their chairs, a pudgy mouse woman in an apron emerged from the crowd.

Leaning over the table, she ran one hand through her curly, brown hair and locked eyes with Dawson, who shrank into his seat. Chuckling, she turned to Basil and said, "And what can I get for ya, sweetheart?"

Biting his lip, Goofy pulled in his chair and twiddled his thumbs. "Well, I ain't all that thirsty, but do ya got any water?"

"And I'll have a nice, dry sherry," said Dawson. "Perhaps with a dash of—"

Before he could finish, Basil slapped a hand over his lips and scowled at both him and Goofy. Then, after removing his cigarette, he turned his eyes back on the waitress. "Don't mind them. Bit seasick, ya see. Just give 'em a few pints and that oughta fix 'em right up."

"You don't say..." The waitress pursed her lips, raising an eyebrow at Riku and Kairi. "And what about these two? They look like a couple of lightweights to me…"

Riku winced and turned his eyes to the tabletop. Clearing his throat, he tried mimicking Basil's accent to his best extent, but the end result made him sound like he had a sore throat. "We'll think of something later. …Er, mate."

"But before ya go, I've got a wee bit of a question for ya." Basil leaned forward, twirling his cigarette. "We just pulled into port, and we're lookin' for an old friend of ours. Goes by the name of Ratigan…"

The piano music screeched to a halt, and a series of gasps sounded throughout the room. All eyes fell on their table. Glass shattered, and one particularly burly mouse hit the floor. Even the waitress fidgeted a little bit, her eyes dashing from left to right. Gulping, she stepped back and shook her head.

"Never heard of him."

She didn't even give the group a chance to speak before she zipped through the crowd and towards the counter. Then, just as quickly as the music ended, the piano picked up once more, and the stage curtains opened to reveal a tiny lizard on a unicycle, holding up one grinning, overweight frog. Rubbing his eyes, Riku squinted, half expecting to see something a little less silly on stage, but the two of them remained, and before long the crowd hurled watermelons, tomatoes, bottles, and knives at the duo. And although they somehow managed to dodge every last one, more objects rocketed their way, forcing the lizard to toss the frog off stage and bolt behind the curtains.

Biting her lip, Kairi turned her eyes on the floor. "Aren't they being a little harsh?"

Basil shut his eyes, puffing out a ring of smoke. "Don't forget where we are, miss Kairi. This is a tough crowd to please, and as unfortunate as it is, those performers are likely used to this routine."

Riku leaned over the table, propping his head up with his hand. He gave the stage another look and caught the Frog dangling over the edge. A bombardment of tomatoes splattered against his back as he leaped towards the curtain. Right as he slipped through the cloth, one final dagger crashed into the stage. Riku winced at the sight.

"Sheesh. You'd think they'd call it quits by now."

"Well, as they say, the show must go on." Basil sighed. "And until our peg-legged friend arrives, we might as well try and enjoy ourselves…"

More fruit splattered on the stage, even without performers. The crowd continued to shout, and no matter where Riku looked, he saw mice pounding on their tables, raising their mugs, and shaking their daggers. Then, as the piano music slowed, the curtains drew back, and a new figure emerged. Unlike the others, she came without fancy tricks—just a plain, blue dress and a bow on her head. This white mouse crept towards the edge of the stage with her eyes on the crowd below and a smile on her face. The room fell silent except for a collective gasp. Every last thug in the room dropped their daggers, bottles, and assorted fruits, and their jaws practically hit the floor when the mouse girl started to sing.

Dearest friends, dear gentlemen, listen to my song…
Life down here's been hard for you, life has made you strong.
Let me lift the mood with my attitude…

Instead of shouting, the blaring of a trumpet chimed in with the piano, followed by a trombone. The mouse girl's song picked up the pace, and she started strutting across the stage. Her hips swayed, and she winked at the crowd, who all started bobbing along to the beat. And, to her credit, the song was pretty catchy. Catchy enough that Riku's fingers idly tapped on the table, and he had to force himself to stop.

In the corner of his eye, he saw Dawson bobbing in his chair and lifting his eye patch for good measure. When the singer looked in his direction, his cheeks reddened, and he chuckled. "I say, this is quite lovely. Who knew this a dismal place could attract such beauty?"

Riku smirked. "Careful, Dawson. She might be a little out of your league."

"Aw, shucks." Goofy let out a wistful sigh, cupping his cheek with his hand. "She is awful purdy. I can't blame any of the folks in here for gettin' all dreamy eyed."

"So, in other words, you're falling for her charms too."

Kairi leaned over the table and lowered her brow. "Guys," she whispered, "c'mon. We don't want to attract too much attention."

A few of the bums cast glances at their table, but most stayed fix on the stage. The white mouse gave another wink and slipped close to the curtain, singing about how she'd be good to them, while the music swelled and changed keys. Right as the mouse slipped behind the curtains, Riku heard a sharp creak. Squinting, he turned his chair towards the entrance and hunched forward, catching sight of a squatty, stumbling figure. This figure's huge, yellow eyes darted around the room, and he raised one wing to his forehead. A flimsy looking wing…

"Fidget." He hissed, turning his eyes back to the table. "Forget the show, guys. We need to move."

Sounds of hoots and hollering muffled Riku's words. The curtains flew open, and the mouse hopped onto the stage and tore away her skirt and shawl, revealing a feather boa and garter. His eyes flew open, and he muffled a cough with his hand. Shutting his eyes, he tried and failed to erase that disturbing image of scantily clad mice out of his head. Fortunately, when he opened his eyes again, Kairi grabbed onto his shoulder and turned him away from that stage with a giggle.

"You're right about the show, but how are we going to sneak past everyone?"

Basil peered towards the bar, stroking his chin. "We aren't. Not yet."

Past the hordes of mice scrambling for the stage, the waitress appeared, whispering into the ear of the bartender, clad in a pinstripe shirt. Pressing both his palms on the table, Riku leaned in, raising an ear. Between the singing and screams, he couldn't make out any of their words, even with his increased hearing. Still, he picked up a snicker from the bartender, who leaned over the counter with his eyes on the floor. A pair of huge, pointed ears poked up from in front of the mob. One wing, then another, pulled Fidget on top of the bar. Twitching and shifting, he whispered into the ears of both mice before hopping over the edge. Eyes narrowed, the bartender peered into the crowd and snapped his fingers. Seconds later, the music ended and the lights flickered out.

Even in the dark, the mice surrounding Riku's group continued to shout, now even louder than before. Glass shattered. A loud thumping filled the room. Riku didn't even think twice before he swept his arm to the side, grabbed his Keyblade, and let an orange flame spark at the tip. The fire burst to life right on time, too, as a shadowy figure sprung their way. Claws slammed down on the table, forcing Riku and the others to leap back, crashing into chairs, tables, and other mice. Daggers once again took to the air. Yelping, Goofy hopped towards the weapons and deflected them with his shield.

Wood cracked, and a sea of yellow eyes blinked throughout the room. Grinding his teeth, Riku launched his Keyblade at the nearest Neoshadow before bounding onto the stage, where he caught three glimmers of light, no doubt from one of the sleuths. He swayed between their claws and bashed them on the heads, knocking them down to the glowing circles on the floor. The explosion triggered a series of shrieks and screams. More daggers and bottles flew his way. Even a few chairs spun by, while a gunshot echoed from the back of the room.

"Fellers, calm down! We ain't tryin' to—"

Eyes widening, Riku turned his Keyblade down towards the floor. Another flame revealed Goofy caught between two burly mice, each of them tugging up their sleeves with a pair of ugly scowls. But before they could land a hit, a clockwork horse charged in from the side, knocking all three of them into the air. With a grumble, Riku launched an inferno over the top of the crowd and straight at the horse's back. It screeched as its body ignited and rocketed towards the stage. Half-expecting a stop spell, Riku leaped down and dashed past two scrambling sailors. His Keyblade pierced the clock, while a beam of light rattled it from behind.

The Heartless exploded, and when the smoke cleared, Riku caught Kairi standing bent over, tugging her tail free from beneath a chair. A Neoshadow leaped in from the side, and she jabbed it in the gut. Then, biting her lip, she inched closer to him.

"Where are Basil and Dawson? I can't find them anywhere!"

More gunshots. Shuddering, Riku latched onto Kairi's wrist and dragged her behind a table. "Look, it's hard to find anyone right now. Our best bet's to call for them, but…" He winced. "If we do that, then our cover's blown. We're already pushing it with our magic."

A bayonet struck the tabletop, and one of the Heartless guards grinned with its jagged jaws wide open. Shaking his head, Riku slammed his elbow into its chest, stomped on its legs, and sliced through its torso in one fell swoop. Then, eyes narrowed, he looked to Kairi and pointed to the left, where two Neoshadows dive bombed a pair of filthy mice in sweaters. Though the two of them rushed towards the mice, the Heartless slammed their claws into the two mice's backs before they even made it halfway there.

Darkness swirled around their bodies once the Neoshadows seized their hearts. Clawed hands replaced their paws. Silver helmets formed around their heads, while an all too familiar emblem flashed onto their chests. In just a matter of seconds, two Soldiers took the place of those mice, and in this dark room, there had to be others suffering the same exact fate.

Just thinking about it made Riku writhe. His jaw clamped shut, and his Keyblade shook in his grip. When he glanced at his hand, he caught the faintest trace of blackness creeping up his fingertips. Gasping, he shook his head, took a deep breath, and raised his Keyblade into the air. A flash accompanied by crackling reduced the Soldiers and Neoshadows to ash. As their hearts took to the air, he heard frantic footsteps coming in from behind and spun back around…

But instead of a Heartless approaching him, Goofy came stumbling over, panting heavily. "Gawrsh, I almost thought I lost ya!"

A harsh sigh blew from Riku's lips. "In this mess, you're lucky you didn't. We've already lost track of Basil."

Lunging in the path of some light blasts, Goofy shoved his shield forward and skimmed the room."Ya sure about that?" He placed a hand over his eyes. "I coulda sworn I saw 'em skedaddlin' towards the bar!"

"The bar?" Wait, come to think of it, Riku did see Fidget sneaking over the countertop. With Basil so desperate to solve the case, it only made sense for him to follow.

Kairi cringed when a Neoshadow lashed at her with its claws. She stumbled over her own feet and nearly fell to the floor, but a table caught her on the way down. The next second, the Heartless hovered above the ground, and she spewed flames at its body. Then, wiping sweat off her face, she looked to Riku.

"But what about all these people? We can't just let the Heartless have them!"

Riku didn't respond. He could still make out shouts, screams, and the sound of bottles bursting. Another bang from a pistol and a flash of black and yellow tempted him to keep on fighting. Even if a crowd of low lives filled this pub, abandoning them risked more lost hearts. But what if that was what Ratigan planned all along? To him, they were probably all disposable distractions. Why else would Fidget and that bartender shroud the place in blackness. It definitely split them apart… And unlike the rest of them, Basil didn't have magic on his side.

It was wrong to turn a blind eye to all those mice and leave them to the Heartless, but it was just as bad to let a friend wander straight into danger. It was like a game of tug-o-war. What was the right course of action? As he thought it over, Riku's legs began trembling, and for a moment he turned towards the Heartless mob and drew back his arm in order to strike… He had to make up his mind then and there. What mattered more?

He took one final look towards the chaos all around them. The light from his weapon bounced off of tables, revealing silhouetted mice piled on top of one another, ducking beneath chairs and tables, and squirming against walls as Heartless guards slammed bayonets into their chests. As coldblooded as it seemed, he couldn't help them all. They had to strike at the center of this mess… at the one controlling the Heartless.

"Look, it's not that I want to abandon them, but don't you think Ratigan planned for this?" Movement in the corner of his eye made him swivel around, launching his Keyblade at a Heartless guard as it raised its bayonet to fire. "Face it, Basil doesn't have magic on his side, and neither does Dawson. They're easy targets!"

"But so are these fellers!" said Goofy, ramming into a horse just as it drew its hooves over an unconscious patron. "I don't care if they're thugs or crooks or pirates or anything! Their lives still matter, and I don't want any folks turnin' into a Heart—"

Too late. One of the previously transformed Soldiers dug its claws through a mouse woman's back, ripping out the shimmering heart for everyone to see.

Black wisps swirled around Riku's fingertips. Each beat of his heart became a heavy throb. He took one look at his hands, then leaped back, shaking them off. This wasn't the time! He had to keep it together. Stay strong. He was better than this.

Without even meaning to, he shouted, "We can't save everyone!"

Amidst the screams, the whinnies, and the shattering of glass, Kairi and Goofy fell silent.

"…I wish we could, and I know that part of it's my fault, but do you really think we saved everyone in every world we visited? Do you really think there weren't people who lost themselves when we turned our backs?" The ground shivered. Spikes burst from the floorboards and skewered a ring of diving sleuths.

"Riku…" Kairi brought a hand to her lips, then shut her eyes and swished her sword, coating the floor with a blanket of glowing spots. "I understand. I don't like it—I don't like any of this, but I do see where you're coming from." Slow ticking lulled throughout the bar. Within the darkness, it was tough to say for sure, but some of the footsteps slowed, even stopped. Sheep bleated, and a series of thuds hit the floor in quick succession.

And Kairi, tearing her eyes off the surrounding skirmish, lit her rapier's tip and dragged herself toward the bar. "C'mon… Let's go save our friends."

Though Goofy took one last look at the crowd, soon he bolted over the bar. Refusing to look back, Riku thundered ahead, springing over the stools and the counter and skidding to the edge of a hole. Upon further inspection, the vague shape of a trap appeared within the flickering light, leading down below the pub. With the path revealed, he, Goofy, and Kairi looked to one another, took deep breaths, and plunged down the hole, landing on a flight of wooden steps.

On his way down, Riku coughed and cringed; the stench of sewage and salt nearly overwhelmed him. Covering the tip of his snout with both hands, he held his breath, eying their surroundings. Brick walls towered over them from all sides, with a river of murky water waiting at the bottom of the steps. A path of boulder-sized stones marked a path across the water's surface. The sound of dripping water drew his attention towards an open pipe, which spilled its contents over one of the rocks. Brow arched, he sprung from rock to rock until he reached that pipe. And while the surrounding sewage seemed to go on for miles, he saw no doors or alternative routes. If they were going to reach the others, they'd have to crawl through the plumbing.

Once Kairi and Goofy caught up with him, Riku tapped the opening with his Key, illuminating the path ahead. With one little flick, Kairi's sword sparked to life, illuminating the area alongside Riku's fire. Together, they crouched down and crawled into the pipe. After squeezing their way far enough, they waved for Goofy to follow, and the three of them continued through the dark, damp tunnel. The path started out simple and straight, but as they progressed, they wound up stuffed in tight corners and had to use both their arms and legs to push their way up. About halfway through, Riku's Keyblade slipped from his grip, forcing him to stop altogether, recall his weapon, and spark the flames once again. And if that wasn't bad enough, they reached a cluster of different pipes splitting off in different directions, most of which led to dead ends.

But, as luck would have it, the pipe eventually came to an end. Faint glimmers of light shone down from a vent high above them, and after climbing aboard Goofy's shoulders, Riku and Kairi slipped through the gaps and emerged amidst a sea of empty glass bottles and lopsided barrels. A pale pink light shone from afar, coming from a particularly large barrel marked with a golden R. It was there that Riku caught two figures trudging across the pavement.

Picking up the pace, Riku approached the two mice, who stopped in their tracks. Even in the darkness, there was no mistaking Basil's tall, slender figure and Dawson's squattier form. Right as he came up behind them, the two spun around. Basil then placed a finger to his lips and motioned towards the R barrel. R for Ratigan, no doubt.

Under his breath, Riku muttered, "Thanks for ditching us back there."

Though Basil's eyes grew slightly wider, he didn't dignify Riku with a response. Instead he turned around, tip toeing forward, and motioned for the others to follow. They did, ducking behind a lopsided shoe for a moment before creeping closer to the barrel itself…

They drew just inches away from their destination when the sound of muffled pounding made Riku freeze. He jerked forward, shoulders tense, and peered towards a sideways glass bottle. Two figures stood inside. While there was no mistaking Olivia's small form, not to mention her blue hat and jacket, it was the other figure that grabbed his attention straight away.

Palms to the glass and beak hanging open, Donald stared at his friends, but he didn't make a peep. His body was stiff as stone, eyes unblinking as he stared in horror. Whirling away from the steps, Riku launched himself at the bottle.

A trumpet blared. Sprinkles of confetti rained down on Riku's face, sending him tumbling away from the bottle and right into Basil's chest. A red banner unfurled itself just a few feet away with the words 'Welcome, Basil' written in black, bold print, while colored balloons drifted through the air. Donald's pounding picked up speed, and he started shouting 'run' over and over again. Instead, he stood stiffly with his eyes glued to the banner. Dawson, Kairi, Goofy… they all stared, too.

Riku's fists clenched and unclenched, and he drew back his arm, slashing straight through the lettering. A welcome sign meant only one thing. Their whole plan meant nothing now. They thought they had the upper hand, that they'd catch Ratigan off guard. In reality, it was the other way around. The sound of applause and a gurgling cackle only nailed it in Riku's head. And as the curtains to the lair flew open and the shadows curled up from the ground, he became paralyzed.

First came Fidget, hobbling down the steps with his ugly mug contorted into a smirk. He hopped right in front of Basil and took a bow before sliding over to the bottle and rolling onto his back. His obnoxious laughter continued while the next figure emerged, his entire form draped in a black coat, save for a pair of mouse ears and the tip of his snout. There was no mistaking that getup, and as the mouse slowly descended, Riku bent forward and snarled. Of course the Organization was involved in this mess. Of course!

But it was the final figure that really grabbed his eye. Tall, bulky, and grinning like a madman, Ratigan looked even uglier in the flesh. The five-o-clock shadow lining his furry muzzle, the bulging yellow eyes and pointed nose… And it was all wrapped up in a giddy demeanor. On his way down the stairs, he grabbed onto his cape and skipped with a giggle and a snort. When he reached the ground, he clapped one last time before taking a bow.

"Welcome, friends!" He reached into his pocket and scooped out a gold bell. "I'd congratulate you on an outstanding performance, but, frankly, I'm a bit underwhelmed."

He'd had enough. The confetti, the balloons, the laughter and applause stung like needles in Riku skin, but to go out of his way to insult them for good measures? Oh, he'd show that rat an outstanding performance…

Taking a short glance at the bottle, Riku lifted his Keyblade, leaned back, and threw himself straight at Ratigan's chest. Yet, as he dashed forward with his weapon outstretched, that old rat didn't budge an inch. Instead, he burst into a fit of cackles and raised his arms.

He came just inches from his target before Ratigan vanished in a puff of black smoke, leaving Riku flying towards the steps. Though he tried to change direction, something shoved him down against the wood. The next thing he knew, he found Ratigan towering over him, ringing his little bell.

TO BE CONTINUED