A/N: Much Thanks to Infernalfox for alerting my story (POWER!) Also, did anyone see that coming huh, huh?...Okay, I admit it was pretty obvious Vanitas was going to defect…I'll try harder to make things more sneaky the next time. (Suspense…why you so difficult to write?) Anyway, please read and review.

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts nor Legend of Zelda. Sadly my own works do not invoke my tears unlike some games I'm really fond of.


Chapter 27: A clear conscious

Landing with an undignified thump on the grass, she stared at the building. A cylindrical tower loomed before her; the structure had additional spires jutting out from the main body at various angles. In twilight, the turrets was bathed in a sickly golden color and the moon and star decorations on the tiled roof glowed cyan. Getting up, Zelda brushed her cloak free of dust and pulled back her hood, thereafter she ascended the steps and proceeded to knock on the door.

The door silently swung open before her knuckles rapped on the wooden surface.

Walking in, she came face to face with an anthropomorphic dog, who for some reason was expecting her. Pointing her to another flight of steps, he imparted a wide goofy grin and vanished.

Later on she would learn his name: Goofy.

Climbing the steps, the princess alighted into a room and observed a wizard stroking his beard. His eyes were closed as if in deep thought. Taking care not to disturb his concentration, she walked lightly and stood before a table separating them from each other. After some time, the aged man spoke:

"Welcome to the Mysterious Tower princess Zelda, what brings you here? And please, take a seat."

Zelda gratefully sat down. Folding her hands in her lap she began to retell the events forcing her to undertake this journey. She carefully described Sora's condition, how he was stabbed by Ganondorf and the way the swirling vortex in his chest spewed never ending monsters, a glimmer of hope alighted in her chest as Yen Sid opened his eyes and thoughtfully looked at her.

"Were you there when all this happened?" he queried

"No sir, I was in the throne room" she replied.

"What were you doing in the throne room?"

The lady remained mute for she could not answer the question. What was she doing in the throne room? She did not know that herself.

"We are well aware of the curse bestowed on Sora and the effect it has on you Princess of Hyrule." The key-blade master said "therefore do not think badly of me for my actions."

The aristocrat was a bit confused.

"Donald, Goofy" he called and they instantly appeared in the circular chamber "cuff the Lady's hands and escort her to Disney Castle, ask King Mickey to gather everyone there for an emergency council." Yen Sid's sonorous voice commanded.

She watched confoundedly as the humanoid dog and duck started tying her wrists with a silvery chain, they handled her delicately as if she were a porcelain doll, nevertheless, their constant argument while doing the job was giving her a headache.

'Why are they doing this?'

"Why am I being chained?" she uttered tersely.

Goofy was so startled by her question he stuttered something incomprehensible and resumed his task. Donald merely glared at him and explained she was a criminal.

"How?" she snapped. Now Zelda was slightly irritated.

"You will be enlightened once we reach Disney Castle, for now please be patient princess." The master's voice echoed.

The triforce bearer's shoulders slumped in defeat and her resolve flickered. She briefly wondered if she had made a mistake venturing off into unknown lands all alone. She gazed at the birthmark on her hand and willed it to glow, alas no such thing happened. Her powers of reasoning were waning and for the first time in many years, instead of the usual cold dread she was used to feeling, she felt fear. Fear, it choked her and constricted her chest. Limply rising from the chair, Goofy and Donald boarded her on both sides and marched her out of the tower.

Far away in another world different to Mysterious tower, a vegetative figure floated in a crystal pod half filled with darkness, the sages guarding him failed to notice the way his pupils shrank nor did they hear the mournful sigh escaping his lips.


Roxas did not like the way Ventus veered towards him, discreetly shifting towards the side, the elder twin found himself bumping against Auru. Stiffly apologizing, he turned his attention to his brother and demanded Ventus leave him alone.

"But we need to stick together in times of distress, it's what big brother Sora always s-ack" Ven was so preoccupied with lecturing Roxas he failed to see his step and thus tripped over a medium sized rock and fell face first in the gravel. His blunder caused his elder sibling to scowl impatiently and offer a hesitant helping hand. Before Ven could grab the proffered arm, Link materialized next to him, picked him up and dusted his clothes off in an instant.

"Careful next time Ven, we don't want you to get hurt." The vice leader intoned.

Sweeping his gaze across the band, he was acutely aware of the way Aqua beheld him with admiration, feeling his cheeks grow hot; he marched off before Zack noticed anything and opened his mouth to tease.

The knights resumed formation and trooped forward, occasionally scouting the area for signs of monsters or the third ranked Master Knight.

"Where could he be?" murmured Impa to herself "also, I hope the princess is doing well on her quest."

One hour later, a panting team of knights flopped tiredly down on the grass.

"We were supposed go to the Gerudo desert...how in the goddesses name did we end up in Upper Eldin yeah?!" Ashei bellowed.

"The knights go where the wind takes th-" started Zack.

"Shut it Fair, I'm not in the mood yeah!"

"Hmm…calm down Ashei, Zack…and we got trouble." Auru slowly got up and hefted his canon.

At the sight of seven shadow beasts, Links breathing increased as his pupils dilated. Smoothly sliding his sword out, he charged in before anyone else got up. Plunging his blade in one of their face (things) he watched in elation as it disappeared in a stream of shadows.

"Oi Link, take a break will you, the rest of us also want to help." Zack complained and joined in the fray.

The Hylian gritted his teeth and stepped down, feeling a hand on his shoulder, he rotated to see his appointed leader also standing by and doing nothing.

After several cannon blasts, magic commands and countless other melee attacks, the knights regrouped to re-discuss tactics. In the ensuing discussion, Roxas shrugged off Ven who was steadily inching closer to him.

"For the last time Ven" hissed the noble "stay away from me"

"But why?" whined the younger twin "first you yell at me for keeping away from you and now you want me to stay away from you."

"…Because I don't want to hurt you" came the curt reply.

"Actually, you don't burn me anymore Roxas" grinned Ven widely "so we can go back to sticking together."

….What

What?

"You couldn't tell me this earlier?" the boy shushed "like seriously Ven?" Roxas' form towered over his cowering twin.

"What are those brats up to now yeah? These people are nothing but woe wherever they go" the sixth knight glanced at the quarreling duo and exhaled in an irritated manner.

"Leave them be, they are probably sorting their differences out" Aqua added "meanwhile, why can't we have Link turn into a wolf and try to track Vanitas by scent?"

The rest of the members gaped at her save for Impa and Sheikha

"Genius thinking" muttered the ninja.

And they all shifted their gaze to a surprised Link


Riku was not happy with the way the Princess of Hyrule was seated; her hands were bound and laid on the table for everyone to see. He picked up King Mickey's unease by the way his ears twitched nervously. To be fair, the beautiful woman's face remained impassive and her head was held high. The silver haired male did not know whether he should feel pity or awe.

He decided to settle for being awed.

As soon as members summoned to council were seated, the discussion started. King Mickey stood on his throne and said:

"First of all we apologize for treating in this manner princess" he shifted his gaze nervously "well…how do I say this…some of us here are convinced you played a part in reducing Sora in his current state" Zelda's eyes widened at this accusation "pardon us princess, due to your rather unique condition, this fact is entire plausible…therefore we're taking extra precaution."

"Do you have any weapons on you, your highness?" Yen Sid directed his query to Zelda.

"Master Yen Sid…your questioning is a bit too harsh" commented a flustered Minnie

There was a short silence before the princess answered:

"Yes, the ancient arrow of light. It is an ancestral weapon capable of driving away even the most sinister darkness. Right now it is devoid of light, I was hoping I could find help in restoring it so Sora can be saved. Instead I'm sitting bound and being suspected of criminal activity"

Her words echoed throughout the hall and resonated in Riku's head, if a weapon of immense power is needed to drive out the darkness residing in Sora…things were really serious.

Queen Minnie sent a brief glare at Mickey's direction and another person, who so far had remained quiet (or was fast asleep), spoke:

"Princess, I understand your frustration but try to see things from our point of view as well. Sora often comes here for work and he explained to us that most of the time you were in a blissfully comatose state. We cannot rule out the possibility of you being controlled at any given time."

Her head drooped, however the brown haired male relentlessly continued.

"And if I may ask, was it always easy to infiltrate Hyrule castle? If I remember Ganondorf easily got in twice and a possessed Sora almost killed you…" he trailed off as the princess' form became rigid.

"Leonhart, your words could have been kinder" Minnie retorted.

"No my Queen, he speaks the truth…I was never aware of my actions while under the spell. And it was just recently I found out I was actually married to Sora…whatever judgment I must receive please put aside for now. He needs immediate help or else he will drown in the darkness pouring out of his chest."

Seeing the dejected look on Zelda's face and realizing his friend is on the brink of death jolted Riku to stand up abruptly from his chair, gluing his aquamarine colored eyes on King Mickey he pled the council to think about Sora and his predicament.

"Or if you guys are too busy trying to sort out if Princess Zelda is a convict or not, I'll go to Hyrule myself" he forcefully declared. "It's obvious to everyone where our priority lies." He sat back down and took a deep breath.

"I agree with Riku, Master Yen Sid" Mickey uttered "when Sora wakes up, we can ask him to confirm Zelda's story."

There were murmurs of agreement around the table.

The King summoned his key-blade and used a burst of magic to break the chains binding the princess' wrists. After dispelling the weapon, Zelda rose from her seat and bowed to the members, thanking them for aiding her, thereafter she pulled the wrapped arrow from her person and proceeded to unwrap it and place it in the middle of the table.

"The arrow should be filled with light magic, however, in my current state I'm unable to do it alone." She voiced her dilemma bitterly.

"No worries" Mickey beamed "we will fill it up for you"


Vanitas glowered at the huge boulder blocking the entrance to the hidden village.

"Don't simply stand there and glare at it boy, smash the boulder already!" Ganondorf's vocals bounced off the grotto's walls.

"If you are in such a hurry, why don't you do it?" challenged Vanitas his irises glinting maliciously in the dark space.

"Xehanort decreed we work together for the time being, as soon as we ravage this place, we are free to go our separate ways"

"You can leave already, your useless presence is suffocating me" the brunette snidely remarked and focused his attention on the obstruction. Summoning Void-gear, he blasted a dark firaga and smashed the rock into smithereens. Smirking victoriously, he stepped into the Hidden village and almost instantly both he and the holder of the triforce of power were surrounded by a dozen or so masked warriors. They all pointed several sharp edged weapons and blades at the two offenders.

"Leave this area immediately, you have no business with our kind" a masculine tone threatened as he pressed his short sword closer to the exposed skin on Vanitas' neck.

Instead of being intimidated, the former third knight merely laughed, his chuckles growing in intensity.

"Leave?" he rasped "That…is not happening"

Teleporting out of the circle, he appeared behind the combatant who threatened him and struck him across the back, carving a deep gorge, seeing this, the rest of the warriors wisely scattered, alas, they were all hunted down by the duo and either incapacitated or killed, the village, which remained eerily quiet since it's infiltration now erupted into a chaotic cacophony. Bells were rung, the cries of children burst out of homes and sounds of battle cut through the air. Ganondorf noticed the triangle on the back of his hand was glowing, decapitating someone's head; he whirled around and thrust his sword into the ground. The floor became a sinkhole and out of it a volley of mixed monsters burst forth and joined in the destruction of the peaceful hamlet.

"Vanitas" growled Ganondorf "I'm taking my leave, be sure to complete the task" saying those words, he vanished.

The noble in question stood aside and yawned while the community before him crumbled. Bokoblins and bulbins smashed houses and windows, fire keese and red nocturnes spewed fire and moldroms scared any sane villagers away from this place. Basking in the glorious annihilation, the key-blader failed to notice an old woman hobbling his way, once she got closer to him, she hefted her walking cane and whacked the unsuspecting Vanitas hard on his head. The adolescent spun towards her angrily.

"What's the big deal you old hag?" he spat.

The woman gripped her stick and hit him for a second time.

"YOUNG MAN!" she thundered "didn't your parents teach you any manners? And what is the meaning of this?" she swept her hand across the monster infested village "Go back to where you came from before I give you a good whipping!"

Clutching Void-gear, its wielder was at loss for words, he watched the woman shake her head and shuffle away from him whilst muttering something under her breath, reaching her house situated at the very end of the village she entered it and shut the door.

Vanitas remained speechless.

On Ganondorf's side, he had appeared at the worst time possible; Link had recently transformed himself into a sacred beast, but on spying his nemesis, common sense abandoned him as he practically flew over to the dark skinned man. Midway, he was forcibly steered off-course as a blizagga hit his side and sent him tumbling through the grass.

"Focus Link" chorused the knights.

Right…Focus.

Impa drew her gigantic blade in a fluid motion, she was flanked by Zack with his Buster sword and a stream of shadows behind Ganondorf condensed into Sheikha wielding a ninja star. The rest of the members spread out and formed a loose ring around him. Ventus' and Roxas' eyes were both smoldering with rage, one boy held Wayward wind in his signature reverse grip style and the other sported only one key-blade, nevertheless his two handed grip on the thing was strong. Ashei and Auru both aimed a bow and cannon and a chilled breeze began to blow across the fields of Hyrule, Aqua's key-blade was glowing. Finally Ganondorf visible stiffened as they all heard an ominous growl coming from Link, he dragged his sword on the ground, carving a trail in the dust.

Ganondorf should not feel fear, yet why was his heart hammering in his chest?

"Be gone from here" Impa droned "do not forget, we were the ones who put down a Xehanort possessed Sora…Do. Not. Underestimate us."

In his peripheral vision the Gerudo chief saw a blade inching closer to his head, before he was impaled, he wisely retreated.

An enraged scream scattered in the winds.