The heroes returned to the Fahrenheit in a beam of light where Vera stood waiting for them on the bridge.
"How'd everything go?" Vera asked as the group shrugged. Lucrecia, Dash, and Violet walked out of the room.
"Simply put, Marina can kick all our butts with Shiva at will. That Keyblade of hers can summon her." Ventus said as Marina smiled.
"Impressive…looks like we have a young summoner on our hands here." Vera said with a smile.
"You know it's ironic that I get a Keyblade that summons Shiva, and I dressed up as Shiva one year for Halloween." Marina said as Lulu and Ventus nodded.
"Yeah, and I was Ifrit and Lu was Yuna. Subsequently blue and I were Lulu's aeons for the night." Ventus chuckled.
"Yeah well you wound up carrying her all night while she slept though." Marina replied.
"So?" Ventus asked as Lulu clung to him.
"Never mind." Marina said rolling her eyes.
"Well if you guys will excuse me. I'm going to go freshen up after that whole incident with that duck." Melody said as she slinked out of the room. Lulu watched her with a furrowed brow.
"Something wrong Lu?" Ventus asked.
"There's something kinda…off about Melody lately. Maybe Xion did something to her." Lulu said as Marina and Ventus thought back to what the hooded figure had said about her in Saint Canard.
"I hope not. I already feel betrayed by Xion, I don't want to wind up getting betrayed by Mel too." Ventus said with a sigh. Marina and Lulu nodded in agreement before leaving the bridge silently.
Vera then knelt down to his level.
"I know what you're going through right now Venny, and right now you pray that no one else betrays you. I don't know what the future holds but it may be wise to brace yourself for the worst. There will be more betrayals but for every betrayal you will gain an ally, one who will genuinely care for you." Vera said as Ventus looked at her concerned.
"How do you know this stuff?" Ventus asked.
"You could say that I've watched over you and your family for generations…I'm a lot older than I look…a lot older." Vera said with a caring smile.
"Like Shelke?" Ventus asked as Vera shrugged.
"In a manner of speaking I suppose." Vera replied.
"Where are we going next?" Ventus asked as Shelke entered with Genie.
"I have calculated that it is possible that your parents have returned to the mansion by now. I believe that we should endeavor to return to Spira in the hopes of reuniting with them." Shelke advised.
"Sounds good to me, lay in a course and lets be off." Ventus said as Shelke nodded and in put the coordinates.
"Say Genie, how did you know that Sora boy?" Ventus asked.
"Oh well, where shall we begin?" Genie asked as a large storybook appeared in his hands as he and Ventus sat down on one of the curved benches near the back of the bridge. Vera watched with a smile as she left the room.
"Soon Ventus…soon you will learn the truth about everything and everyone you know." Vera said quietly so that only she could hear and left the room.
Elsewhere on the Fahrenheit…
Rikujou was walking down the hall with Iago on his shoulder and Wall-e following along beside him.
"So the holographic cards will be more valuable in a few years?" Iago asked as Rikujou nodded.
"Uh-huh. They're all the rage in Edge. Or so I hear. Good thing Venny and Lulu's dads own a store that also sells imported stuff. Including those cards." Rikujou replied.
"Hmm…I'm thinking that maybe we could get our hands on more of those cards and in a few years we'll be living on easy street." Iago said as Rikujou thought.
"You do make sense." Rikujou said as Iago grinned.
"I'd rather make dollars than sense." Iago chuckled as Rikujou groaned.
"Ugh, you've been hanging out with Genie for too long." Rikujou grumbled as Iago continued laughing. That is until Rikujou heard something echoing down the hall and silenced the bird.
"Quiet…what's that noise?" Rikujou asked as they got closer. It was someone singing and it sounded like Melody.
As they got closer they could hear the words…
"What a lovely little queen I'll make my dear, I'll look divine."
Melody sang with a delighted laugh as the three approached her door. Using Wall-e as a footstool (with his permission), they looked through the porthole at the top of the door to look inside and see Melody singing as she worked on her hair.
"Things are working out according to my ultimate design."
She sang as her hand glowed purple and she fired a small bolt of purple lightning at a cupid's head carved into the mirror on the dresser. The two gulped nervously as they looked on in disbelief. She then stepped up onto the dresser, smashing an empty bottle under her foot as she pulled the mirror towards her.
"Soon I'll have that little Keyblade, and the worlds will all be mine!"
she sang as she started chuckling and gazed into the mirror. The two paled as she started cackling but instead of Melody's image reflecting in the mirror, it was instead…
"Xion?" Rikujou said as he jumped off of Wall-e and grabbed Iago.
"What is going on around here? I thought she was the good girl, not Miss dark and evil." Iago said as Rikujou came to dreaded realization.
"Don't you see, she's not Melody…she's Xion in disguise. We gotta do something, we gotta warn the others." Rikujou said as the door opened and the three bolted around the corner just as Melody came walking, nonchalantly, out and down the hall in the opposite direction like she never heard them.
"Oh man…we're in deep trouble. She tricked us. I don't know how she did it but somehow she fooled us all." Rikujou whispered.
"But I thought we jettisoned her into space." Iago said as Rikujou realized what had happened.
"Oh no…we jettisoned the real Melody. She could be light-years away from us now!" Rikujou said as Wall-e turned and rolled into Melody's room.
"Hey! Where's the trash compactor going?" Iago asked.
"Wall-e, come back here." Rikujou said as he and Iago bolted inside Melody's room after him.
Inside they found Wall-e digging through the drawers, looking for something.
"Oh I know what he's doing; he's looking for some kind of proof." Rikujou said as he looked under the bed and spotted something.
"Hey look!" Rikujou said as he pulled out the Unbirth Spell book from under the bed.
"This…is it. This probably holds all their secrets." Rikujou said.
"Uh…pal." Iago said shakily from behind. Wall-e could be heard rattling as if he were shaking.
"What is it Iago…" Rikujou said as he turned and paled as he saw Melody standing in the doorway with her hands on her hips, "…oh crap."
"Hello boys…what are you doing going through my stuff?" Melody asked casually.
"We were uh…wondering what might be inside of the Unbirth book we found in Xion's room. Just looking for a way to beat her if we run into her again you know." Rikujou lied.
"I see…then why are you so pale?" she asked with a knowing look.
"Well uh…it's probably my hair…it makes me look paler than normal…that and I'm part albino." Rikujou said with a cheesy grin. He and Iago were both sweating.
"Or…you heard and saw something you weren't supposed to see…and if you know what's good for you, you won't breathe a word…else it will be your last breath. Do you catch my drift?" Melody asked as they nodded frantically.
"Good…but just to be on the safe side." Melody said as she quickly slammed the door and flipped open the small lid over the escape pod button but the button was missing.
"Bah! I'll just have to settle for locking you in then." Melody said as she hit the lock door button and removed it from the panel before walking off.
"Oh great, that's just great! We're locked inside and the witch is still running free!!!" Iago groused.
"I'm fully aware of the situation Iago but I did take the added precaution of removing this." Rikujou said as he held up the red eject button from the other side, "Now we can't be launched into space like we accidently did Melody."
"Which makes me wonder…whatever happened to her after that." Iago wondered.
"I don't know Iago…and since there's not a keyhole anywhere on this side, I guess we're going to have plenty of time to find a way out on our own." Rikujou replied as he sat down on the bed and opened up the spell book.
"What good is that book going to do us?" Iago asked.
"I dunno…maybe we'll find something that can help us escape or at the very least, gain enough attention for someone to look for us." Rikujou replied.
"I hope that works pal. I really do." Iago said with a sigh, "By the way, does anyone have any food?"
"Perhaps I can scare something up." A voice said as a black portal opened up and one of the purple and blue hooded figures from before appeared.
"Kentucky Fried Parrot bucket here I come." Iago whimpered as Rikujou leapt up and summoned his Keyblade.
"Get back or so help me I will run you through!" Rikujou growled as the figure pulled back the hood revealing his red hair and goatee.
"Peace young Rikujou, you are among friends." The man said with a caring smile.
"Hey wait a minute, haven't we met before?" Iago asked as the man nodded.
"Yes…I was one of the few who accompanied the boy who defeated Jafar on his third visit to Agrabah." The man said as Wall-e gave a happy wriggling noise.
"Mu-ne" the robot said to the man.
"Yes little friend, it's me." Mune replied.
"OH THAT'S WHO YOU ARE! Hey relax bud, this guy's straight as an arrow." Iago said as Rikujou lowered the Keyblade cautiously.
"How do you know who I am?" Rikujou asked.
"Quite simple…I have Luxa and the woman once known as Argento the Silver on board my ship nearby. We dropped out of hyperspace near Spira a few minutes ago." Mune replied.
"They're alive?!" Rikujou asked as Mune nodded.
"Yes and we need to act quickly…your parents are already at the mansion waiting for you all, they secretly called Shelke and told her to bring you all to Spira. We also have the real Melody with us." Mune said as he turned and opened another black portal.
"Really…then she is okay!" Rikujou exclaimed.
"Yes and if we're going to get the drop on Xion, we need to act quickly." Mune said motioning towards the black portal.
"Hang on; we're going to need this." Rikujou said as he grabbed the spell book before running through the portal with Mune, Iago, and Wall-e in tow.
Later…
The Fahrenheit touched down in the backyard of the Gracy Manor, as our heroes disembarked from the rear hatch, Ventus was looking around curiously.
"Has anyone seen Rikujou, Wall-e, or that bigmouth bird Iago lately?" He asked as Melody shrugged.
"I think they said something about a carrot cake eating contest." Melody lied as Ventus, Marina, and Lulu paused.
"Doesn't Rikujou hate carrot cake?" Marina whispered.
"Yeah…so why would he challenge Iago to a carrot cake eating contest?" Ventus whispered back.
"I've got a bad feeling about this." Lulu whispered.
"You ain't the only one kid." Lucrecia said as she eyeballed Melody, who hadn't even heard the conversation.
They entered the back door to the mansion and looked around as they passed into the main hall.
"The place looks ok. I don't see anything out of the ordinary." Marina said as they looked around.
"Well of course not…we've been trying to fix things up for you guys." A familiar voice said as everyone turned to see…
"DAD!!!" Ventus and Marina shouted as they ran forward and collided with him into a hug.
"Oh by Minerva I've missed you guys." Sora said mid hug.
"Hang on! GROUP HUG!" Kairi shouted as she threw her arms around the three.
"AHHHH!!! SAPPY MOMENT SAPPY MOMENT!!!" Marina squealed in terror as they broke the embrace.
Lucrecia started looking around as she sensed several powerful presences nearby.
"Where's my mom and dad?" Lulu asked as she found herself run over by two blond haired twins.
"SIS!!!" they said.
"SKY! SYKX! Get off your sister!" Roxas ordered as he and a laughing Namine entered.
Melody was just keeping her distance as Riku and Fuu entered with a smirk on their faces and followed by a group of unfamiliar people.
"Hey…who are you guys?" Ventus asked as he saw the group enter.
"Well son, we have some explaining to do…see these two here," Sora said as he pulled Ven and Mrs. Lulu aside, "These are my parents. Ven and Lulu."
"Wait you mean I do have grandparents?" Ventus asked.
"Yes son but before you go crazy and start barraging us with questions, let us explain first." Sora said as Ventus and Marina shrugged.
"Do I have any grandparents other than grandma Luxa?" Lulu asked as Roxas nodded.
"Yep, my parents are the same as Sora's." Roxas replied.
"So what about mom? Where are her parents?" Marina asked as Aqua entered.
"You rang?" Aqua asked.
"Oh no…so that's where blue got her hair!" Ventus guffawed at the sight.
"Oh shut up." Marina said as Aqua knelt down to her level.
"Nice hair by the way." Marina said as Aqua smirked.
"Thanks…you too." Aqua said as she ruffled the younger's hair.
"You guys seem too young to be our grandparents." Ventus said as Ven smirked.
"Son, I'm only forty seven. Your father was born when I was twenty." Ven replied, "And your grandma is only OOF!"
Lulu had elbowed him to prevent him from saying her age out loud.
"Wait a second where is Rikujou?" Sky asked as they looked around.
"Oh, uh he's still on the Fahrenheit with Iago and Wall-e." Melody said with an innocent look as the twins and adults looked at each other knowingly.
"Oh is he now?" Riku said as Terra and Aerith entered.
"Oh well, he'll meet everyone later. But for now, LET'S EAT!!!" Terra said as the doors to the kitchen flung open as M-O and EVE rolled the dining table in with the aid of four tuxedo clad men and a single tuxedo clad woman.
Hidden in a nearby secret room, Rikujou, Mune, Jennifer, Luxa, Melody, Vincent, Cissnei, Tifa, young Vera, Wall-e, and Iago sat watching on a T.V.
"Holy cow!!! T-t-t-that's!" Rikujou said in awe as he recognized the four tuxedo clad men and one woman.
"That's right Rikujou…all five of SOLDIER's best and finest." Jennifer said with an amused smirk on her face.
"I can't wait to see Xion's face when she finds out that she's been made!" Luxa snickered.
"Ditto sister." Cissnei replied.
"I can honestly say that the last time I've seen Cloud look so fancy was for Terra and Aerith's wedding." Tifa said as Melody nodded and scribbled on a dry-erase board…
"He looks cute."
"Easy Melody, he's taken." Jennifer said with a snicker.
"Ok I think it's time we get set…places everyone. Operation: Unmasked Unbirth, is a go." Mune said as they nodded and quickly started donning a number of costumes.
End Chapter 26.
How will Xion's ploy be revealed? Will the plan to stop her work? Will it backfire? Find out in the next chapter.
Oh and that small song snippet above was "Vanessa's song" from the Little Mermaid.