Chapter Twenty-six: Riding to the Rescue

Jessica and Phoenix went riding to the gummi ship. They radioed to Chip and Dale, "We need help. Bring Aerith, Leon, Yuffie, and Cid."

"Yes, ma'm!"

Jessica and Phoenix stopped. Rednal and the other four royal unicorns came up. "What happened?"

Phoenix told them, "It was Veronica and Lori."

"I knew Lori was a sorry brat, but I didn't know Veronica was a stab-you-in-the-back sort of person," Rednal said.

Yuffie's voice came across the radio. "What's going on?"

"We're waiting for you guys. Everyone else is down there in the dungeons," Jessica said.

"Alright. We're coming. Just hang in there. And don't get caught!" Yuffie's voice disappeared.

Phoenix went to the pond to take a drink. He came back and nuzzled Jessica. "Don't worry, we'll get them out of there."

"I never thought I'd live to see the day that Veronica turned out to be a traitor, a low-life. A low-down worm compared to you, a royal unicorn at heart. You're my best horse."

The black unicorn, Tierza, said, "I hear something."

They all listened for the sound. A low buzzing, and then the wind came. The unicorns started to freak out. Jessica had to reassure them, "It's just the gummi ship."

"Where are we?" Cid asked.

"Balinor," Yuffie said.

"And where's Phoenix?" Leon asked.

"I'm right here."

They were taken aback.

Leon said, "Wow, I didn't know you could talk."

Yuffie said, "Cool, that horn looks deadly. Why don't you try to run Ansem through with it?"

"I think that would be cheating." Phoenix sniffed.

"It's too bad. He deserves it."

Back in the dungeon, Maleficent was giving them a lecture. "It seems we have you brats and your nags in the net."

Christine said, "You just wait. When Jessica gets back—"

Sora silenced her with a hand over her mouth.

Basil and Dill squirmed their way through the bars. "It's a good thing we can fit through."

Odie came out behind them.

Maleficent cooed, "Well, well, well, it seems we have three little escapees."

Odie climbed on Maleficent's shoulder, knocked Diablo off, and scratch Maleficent's neck.

"Get this mangy cat off me!"

Odie jumped off and pounced Diablo. "This is for calling me mangy!"

Diablo squawked.

Odie jumped again.

"My, this is entertaining," Stevie commented.

"How are we going to get there?" Leon wondered.

"By riding unicorns." Jessica got back on Phoenix.

"But where are they?" Leon asked, kind of slow.

"You're looking at them," Rednal told him.

"But I don't know how to mount up," Cid said.

Puzzler walked to Cid and said, "Get on. Grab my mane."

"But won't I hurt you?" Cid asked, concerned.

"No. We don't have nerves in our mane. Now get on."

Tierza told Yuffie, "You can ride on me. We girls have got to stick together."

Aerith rode on Breecher.

Sunburst went to Leon. "You can ride on me."

Yuffie said, "Hurry up, Cloud. You're slower than a snail. Or do you just like watching Aerith all day. Get on a unicorn, now!"

Cloud, the guy with the spiky blond hair and long sword, walked toward the group.

Rednal approached him. "You can ride on me."

Cloud said, "I don't know how to ride on a unicorn."

"Just get on. You don't have to steer at all. Just get on and hold on tight."

Back in the dungeon, Basil and Dill were busy giving the villains a run for their money.

Christine laughed. "Now who's the loser?"

Odie said, "Oh, Ansem, we're here."

Basil and Dill jumped on him while he was distracted. They hung on to his clothes and were thrown back and forth, but didn't fall.

Lady Kylie said, "Heartless, get those three mangy pesky animals!"

Basil, Dill, and Odie ran through the castle. The heartless stood there, nearly petrified, waiting for orders.

"Don't just stand there. Go get 'em!"

"Looks like Odie's a smart and sassy cat."

While the three animals kept the villains busy, the unicorns and their riders were riding through the valley.

"This is the Valley of Fear?" Yuffie asked.

"No wonder," Cloud said. "Not a single form of life."

"Except for those dark unicorns, dancing on the rocks," Aerith observed.

"How are we going to get by them?" Cid asked.

Moloch had come up to them. "I thought I smelled a trespasser." He looked at Jessica.

"You."

"Hi, it's me again," Jessica taunted.

"You've been nothing but a pain in the rear, and now I'm going to take you out!"

Yuffie threw her ninja star. "You been messing with my friends? You're going to pay for it."

"No, you will." Moloch took a step closer.

Yuffie got off her unicorn and kicked him in the muzzle. She continued to dance around, keeping from getting too hot.

"I hate you," Moloch muttered. He rubbed his muzzle on his leg.

Every one ran for it into the castle "Now what?" asked Leon.

They all heard loud noises, and saw Odie.

"Odie, where's Christine and the others?" asked Jessica.