(Kairi is sobbing at a table, her head down and her auburn hair covering her face. A white teenage boy with short brown hair and blue eyes walks in. There is the slightest hint of stubble on his face and a pair of black rectangular glasses on his nose as he wears a pair of blue jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt. A concerned look suddenly takes hold on his face as he sees her alone.)
Shire: Kairi? (She doesn't show any signs of noticing. Shire moves silently next to her and pulls up a chair. Kairi suddenly looks up in fright, but calms when she sees him.)
Kairi: Oh, it's only you Shire. (She sighs and looks down again, puffy-eyed. Shire places a hand on her shoulder comfortingly.)
Shire: Hey, what's wrong?
Kairi: Oh, it's just this; just the dream that's all. (She sighs again and Shire starts rubbing her back. An apologetic look comes onto Shire's face.)
Shire: I'm sorry I have to do this to you. (Kairi looks up at him, both intrigued and incredulous.)
Kairi: You're sorry that you're putting me through this? (Shire nods.) Don't you know how much pain it's causing me? Wait, stupid question. You're the author of this thing, of course you know how much.
Shire: I'm sorry Kairi, but it's necessary for your ascension. (Kairi furrows her eyebrows)
Kairi: Ascension? (Shire nods apologetically.)
Shire: Yes, ascension. I can't tell you what it is though, you'll find out soon enough. (Kairi sighs.)
Kairi: Another one of those state secret things that you won't let out. Don't you think we deserve to know what you're planning? (Shire sighs.)
Shire: I more than believe that the lot of you deserve to know what's going to happen, you especially, but I have no idea how you'll react if you know of the future. It's best for all of us that you're left in the dark to do what comes to you when the moment arrives. (He gets up and slowly leaves Kairi in the room as he walks out the door. He stops and turns to look at Kairi before leaving.)
Shire: You do know it isn't really me doing this right? I'm just telling the story as I've been told. (Kairi looks at him inquisitively as he walks out. Shire passes Naminé in the hall just outside of the doorway, and knows that she heard every word.)
Naminé: You're lucky you don't own Kingdom Hearts, Disney, songs, or anything except the characters you created. (Shire turns towards her and opens his arms widely.)
The Beginning
Chapter XXXVII: Deciding His Fate
Roxas moaned as his eyelids slowly fluttered open in the fluorescent light. He could hear the mechanical whirring of nearby machines and a steady beeping sound that matched his heart's beating. He felt a prick in the side of his arm and shifted his head slightly, trying to get a look at it. He noticed something else though before he ever saw the IV tube, his Organization XIII cloak and robes, as well as the clothes he had been wearing before, were no longer on him. Instead he was in the simple green paper dress of a hospital gown from underneath two thick white blankets. Roxas sighed as he quickly took this in and saw the IV tube inserted into his left arm. He slowly moved his head over to his other side, where his broken right arm was only slightly tingling in almost ticklish pain. There turned out to be only the one machine that was monitoring his heartbeat and vitals in the room with him, but there were no other machines or patients. However, there was a small clock radio on a bedside table to his right, and a ceiling mounted TV across the room from him.
Roxas sighed louder this time and thudded his head down on his uncomfortable pillow and his thoughts started gearing back to his last memory before waking up. He was interrupted though by the sounds of footsteps in the corridor outside as a voice on the intercom drifted through the open door. He paid little attention to the message, but a woman walked into the room wearing a white lab coat. Her hair was short and brown, and brown eyes warmly scanned him as she saw his eyes looking at her.
"Ah you're awake," she said, moving up to him and pulling out a small flashlight. She shined the light into his eyes and Roxas almost jerked away from the sudden intensity. "Pupils are responsive," she muttered to herself before checking the machine he was hooked up to. Seeing everything satisfactory she looked back at him and smiled. "I'm Doctor Fraiser," she said. "Welcome back Sir Roxas." Roxas turned his head and looked inquiringly at her.
"Back?" he asked. Her smile vanished slightly.
"Yes," she explained. "You've been unconscious for twenty-two hours. You were very close to death when you were brought in." Roxas sighed before his eyes froze in fear.
"Naminé!" he said suddenly, snapping into a sitting position. Pain assailed his head though and he abruptly plopped back down. Dr. Fraiser giggled very slightly before her face became passive once again.
"There's no need to panic Roxas," she said. "Naminé is being tended to by Dr. Gainsborough right now. She's still unconscious, but she'll make a full recovery, as will you." She looked at him with some concern in her eyes. "You had both had extensive electrical shocks, but hers were far worse. She had first degree burns covering a good portion of her body. You however, suffered extensive lacerations on your chest and arms, and one of them was broken. Thanks to healing magic it will be mended by tomorrow, but you'll still need to be in hospital for a few days for observation. We've put you on a light sedative to ease the pain." Roxas nodded to himself and looked up at her.
"What happened?" he asked. "Before I blacked out, I thought Nixion was going to kill me." Dr. Fraiser smiled.
"I think I have someone here who can explain that," she said, turning around, "even though he's supposed to be confined to bed rest." Roxas followed her gaze and his heart filled with joy at the person he saw, even if seeing him made him want to laugh hysterically.
"He won't kill us Roxas," Axel said with a gleam in his teal eyes, matching the colour of the paper dress he too was in. "Got it memorized?" He strode into the room and passed Dr. Fraiser, winking at her. The good doctor simply sighed and rolled her eyes. Axel sat down on the end of Roxas' bed and Roxas could no longer contain his laugher.
The older former nobody scowled at him. "What's so funny?"
"You in the paper dress," Roxas struggled to reply, a chortle working its way into his sentence. Axel's scowl increased until a sudden sparkle flared in his eyes.
"We could wake up Naminé," he teased, "then see what she thinks of you in that." Roxas' laughter stopped and his face reddened.
"Okay fine," he replied agitatedly, "you win. So what happened back there?" Axel didn't answer right away, preferring to bask in the glory of his victory for a few seconds.
"Master Yen Sid," he answered. "That's what happened. He showed up before Nixion could kill you and blasted him away. Then the coward ran." He scowled again and looked away. "We're never going to beat him if he keeps running away before we can actually do him in."
"I really don't think it will be that easy Axel," Roxas said. "We fought our hardest, and still Nixion came out the winner."
"I wouldn't say that if I were you Roxas," Dr. Fraiser interrupted. "From what Axel and Master Yen Sid have told me, you both gave him several wounds and first or possibly second degree burns to his whole chest. I believe you came out of there evenly matched, Nixion just has more stamina than you both." She checked her watch for a second before looking back at them.
"I have to make my rounds," she said. "I'm sorry Sir Roxas, but I've placed you under confined to bed until we can be sure you're fully healed." She then looked sympathetically at him and answered the question he was about to pose before her. "I'll inform you first when Princess Naminé wakes up." Roxas sighed in comfort as Fraiser walked out of the room and he looked at Axel.
"Anything new happen when I was out?" he asked.
"King Mickey left about an hour ago," Axel replied. "We got word from Disney Castle that Donald, Goofy, and the other knights returned aboard the Avenger. Master Yen Sid left with him."
"Where's my ship?" Roxas asked. "If Naminé and I were brought here by the others, then the Hunter is still at Twilight Town." Axel shook his head with a smile.
"Nope. King Mickey had one of Urophi's men fly it over here." Roxas raised his eyebrow inquiringly at his best friend.
"Urophi?" he questioned.
"The mayor of Twilight Town," Axel answered. The spiky red head started stroking his chin approvingly. "He's a nice guy, helped fight against Nixion's nobodies on the front lines along with our group."
"How are Tidus and the others?" Roxas asked quickly, it had been for them that he and Naminé had left so quickly to join in the battle. Axel chuckled and gave Roxas a wry smile.
"If you had woken up before ten thirty last night you could have asked them yourself," he said. "They're all fine, and came aboard the Roadster with the King. The doctors here checked them out and gave them all a clean bill of health after about ten minutes of seeing them, and then they waited outside your rooms until they were forcibly sent back home." Axel grinned as if reliving a pleasant memory within his mind and Roxas sighed in relief.
"Well that's good," he reasoned. "What about everyone else?"
"You talking about us spiky?" Roxas smiled at the voice and turned his head towards the door to see Mulan with Mushu on her shoulder. Mulan smiled upon seeing his smile and moved into the room slowly.
"It's good to see you're well Roxas," she said pleasantly, bending down and giving him a friendly hug. Roxas blushed slightly as Axel sighed loudly while the blonde returned the hug with his left arm.
"Why do I never hit it off with the ladies?" Axel muttered under his breath.
Roxas looked up at him as he and Mulan relinquished the hug. "You're too forward Axel," he chortled. "Maybe if you stopped spelling your name out for every pretty girl you meet you'd get lucky. Got it memorized?" Axel's head snapped towards Roxas while the three others laughed.
"I'm going to watch the tube," Axel snarled agitatedly, grabbing the remote from Roxas' bedside table and flicking on the TV. "Dang," he said, preparing to flip channels, "the news."
"Wait Axel," Roxas said quickly, grabbing the remote from the older nobody and turning up the volume.
"-in Twilight Town," the newscaster, a dark skinned woman wearing a red jacket with sleek black hair drawing behind her head, finished her sentence. "The battle lasted throughout the late morning and into the middle afternoon. The defending forces were victorious, even through an enemy champion took part in the battle."
"Nixion," the four growled.
"There were no fatalities on the Allied side," she continued. "But among the casualties were Sir Roxas Dual Blade, knight of Disney Castle and twin brother of the hero Sora of Destiny Islands, and our very own Princess Naminé, twin sister of Princess Kairi. Both left the Radiant Garden yesterday aboard Sir Roxas' personal vessel the Hunter, but few details of their part in the battle have been released. Both are currently in stable condition in Shinra hospital here in Radiant Garden, but were not available for an interview earlier today."
"What am I?" Axel asked in incredulity. "Am I not worth mentioning? They couldn't have talked to me?"
"Both Sora and Kairi's whereabouts are currently unknown," the newscaster continued. "For more on the battle and other events taking place during the war, see the premier of Wartime Battlewatch this Thursday at seven pm on Duck." She then shifted around to another position, indicating a new story was about to start.
"Time to switch," Axel said, making a grab for the remote, but Roxas silenced him by flipping it over to Mulan, who held it behind her back with a giggle.
"In other news, Ralph Manish, head of the Conservative Party and leader of the opposition, caused pandemonium earlier today in Parliament."
"Wait guys," Roxas hushed, looking up at the TV spherecast. He held great respect for Manish. It was through his efforts that they had managed to get Radiant Garden to fight against Maleficent, and he had personally overseen a measure to try and make Wardog Naminé's personal squadron. It had failed, but the effort did not go unnoticed.
"At two twenty-five pm, upon voting for a bill presented by Carl Fantast of the in-power Liberals led by the honorable Prime Minister Squall Leonhart, Mr. Manish called for a free vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Leonhart's leadership. The vote passed forty-six to thirty-two, with five members abstaining. Parliament will be dissolved in one week and we can now expect a fall election. This has been the four o'clock news." Mulan turned off the TV and they all looked at each other, each facial expression one of mixed shock and hope.
"If the Conservatives win," Roxas began after many minutes of silence, "and win with a majority, then we'll receive all the support we need from the Radiant Garden."
"But at what cost Roxas?" Mulan asked. "Conscription?" Dr. Fraiser took that moment to walk back in with a smile on her face.
"Sir Roxas," she announced, "Princess Naminé has woken up." Roxas immediately gave his three companions a look and they got off the bed. He threw the sheets off and turned his body round to hang his legs off the edge. Dr. Fraiser held up her hands as Roxas made an attempt to stand.
"I can't let you do that Roxas," she said. "You're still injured. If you stand and try to walk, the wounds may open themselves up again." Roxas simply looked at her, determination filling his eyes in a look that defied her. Dr. Fraiser sighed and placed a hand to her head, she knew she couldn't win against this one.
"If you insist," she relented, "I can let you visit her in a wheelchair. That way we can be sure your wounds won't reopen." Roxas nodded and Dr. Fraiser looked at Axel. "And you should really be travelling around in a wheelchair as well." Axel gave her a look of indignation.
"And show the world that I'm weak?" he scoffed, looking away. "No thanks."
Roxas looked slyly at his best friend. "Axel," he began slowly, waiting until Axel looked at him. "If you were in a wheelchair, you could get the sympathy vote from any cute girls you see in the hos-"
"Oh my aching back!" Axel suddenly roared, placing a hand to his back and bending over in pain. "Hey doc! You think you could get me a chair too?" Axel gave Roxas a sly wink as he looked at him.
"Axel your chest suffered wounds, not your back," Dr. Fraiser replied coolly.
"So?" Axel asked, not fazed at all by this sudden flaw. "It's my back that hurts. I don't think I'll be able to walk with it. Can I please get a wheelchair too?" Mulan and Roxas both laughed quietly at the sudden meekness that had crept into his voice.
A few minutes later the two of them were wheeled into Naminé's hospital room, Mulan walking behind them with Mushu on her shoulder. Dr. Fraiser was already in the room, talking with Aerith quietly in a corner. Roxas noticed that the room looked exactly like his and that Naminé was sitting up in her bed, wearing the same paper dress that he was. Tom, for some reason unknown to him, was sitting on Naminé's opposite side and engaging her in a conversation that he couldn't quite catch.
She looked up from Tom as they approached and as soon as her eyes met his, they both smiled. "So you're in this mess too?" Naminé asked as he and Axel were wheeled up next to the bed. Roxas unbuckled himself from the wheelchair and quickly sat himself down on her bed next to her. He leaned in quickly and gave Naminé a fleeting kiss, conscious of the many eyes in the room.
"Yep," he said as he leaned back and looked at Tom, nodding his head at the teenager. "Hey Tom," he said casually. "What'cha doing here?" Tom looked directly at Roxas as Axel and Mulan sat down next to the spiky haired blonde.
"Just telling Princess Naminé about me family 'istory," he replied. Naminé nodded, affirming his story.
"Really?" Axel asked slowly, an unconcerned look on his face as he left his mouth hanging open at the end of his question. "What about it?"
"Well," the Brit answered, "me dad was captain of the royal bodyguard of Radiant Garden."
"So your family guarded the royalty of this world?" Mulan asked. Tom nodded and looked at Naminé again.
"Yep," he said. "And because of me powers, I thought I'd be of some use as a bodyguard."
"Bodyguard for whom?" Mushu asked, not getting it.
"Naminé," Roxas explained before Tom could tell the small dragon. Tom looked at Roxas quickly in anticipation of if he would approve or not. Roxas glanced at Naminé and saw her nod ever so slightly before his eyes darted back to Tom, a smile in both of them. Tom smiled and laughed slightly.
"Thanks for givin' me the chance mate," he said, slapping Roxas' back. Roxas winced at the slap and Tom's eyebrows rose. "Not that you'd 'ave much choice in the matter," he surmised grimly.
Roxas' right arm went softly to his chest and his eyes were drawn to it. "Damn," he breathed. "I guess Nixion got me worse than I thought." Axel's face became downcast and he looked away.
"You almost died Roxas," he said quietly. "Both of you almost died. They had to work all night to save you." He looked back up at Roxas. "You don't know how lucky you both are."
"It was quite a spectacle," Aerith said tiredly as she came up to them, wearing a white lab coat. There were heavy bags under her eyes and creases in her forehead, she obviously hadn't slept a wink the whole night, but she was still smiling.
"It was really strange," Fraiser agreed. "Whenever one of you went into cardiac arrest, the other did so at the same time. And then before we were able to administer any method to revive your hearts, they came back up, like nothing had ever happened." The eyebrows of both the young teens flew upwards.
"That's unusual," Roxas began, shaken slightly by the fact that his heart had stopped.
"But it doesn't seem surprising," Naminé finished, glancing at Roxas.
"Can you explain that?" Dr. Fraiser asked curiously.
Naminé took a breath and looked at Roxas once more. He glanced at her and nodded. "I'm guessing that like Sora and Kairi, our hearts are connected," Naminé said steadily. "When one of our hearts failed, the other must have sensed this and failed as well, seeing no purpose to go on if its mate was dead. But why they would both come back to life at the same time is beyond me."
"Did you say 'mate'?" Mushu asked her. Naminé suddenly blushed and looked at Roxas, the eyes of the others looking between each other.
"Did I really say that?" she asked timidly. Roxas nodded his head and smiled, taking her left hand with his right.
"Yeah," he confirmed quietly. "But I would have said it too." A question then came to him.
"Dr. Fraiser," he asked, looking directly at her in concern; "which one of us went into cardiac arrest first?" Dr. Fraiser frowned as she looked at him.
"You were always the one sir," she replied. Roxas frowned and glanced at Naminé. "I don't understand it either," continued Fraiser. "Naminé should have been the one who had suffered more damage to her nervous system because of the constant torment of Nixion's electrical attack, yet nothing in her vital systems failed due to sensory interference."
"It must be my light," interjected Naminé.
"Your light?" Tom asked. Naminé nodded her head slowly and the three around her caught on quickly.
"Of course," Roxas and Mulan simultaneously spoke. Dr. Fraiser looked inquiringly at them.
"Excuse me?" she asked politely.
"It all makes sense doctor," said Axel. "The light Naminé possesses in her heart keeps her safe from… from things." Axel finished lamely with a smile, unsure of how he was supposed to articulate his thoughts scientifically.
"He means from external threats that would affect the workings of the nervous system," Aerith added with a smile. Dr. Fraiser nodded in understanding, a light coming into her brown eyes as she glanced at Naminé in wonder.
"And that would also explain how Kairi and Naminé were immune to the effects of Cossex's powers," she reasoned. She then turned back to Aerith, an idea already coming to her. "If we were able to transfer some of their light-"
"No," Naminé quickly said, breaking up Fraiser's idea. Aerith nodded in agreement.
"Janet," the young woman explained; "everyone has light and darkness within their hearts. It is that Kairi, Naminé and the six other princesses have no darkness within them that makes them immune." Dr. Fraiser sighed and looked down, her sentiments masked.
Naminé sighed before looking up at Roxas, who had watched the whole exchange quietly. Roxas looked over at her as well. They didn't need to exchange words to show that they were both glad that the other was alive, despite whatever had befallen either of them. Naminé smiled and looked down at their intertwined palms, and Roxas looked down as well, suddenly noticing something sticky on his hand. There was an orange paste on Naminé's hand, and as far as he could see up her arm.
"That's treatment for her burns Sir Roxas," Fraiser explained. "Nixion's electrical attack severely burned much of her torso and back. Apparently her light can't protect against physical attacks against the body. They'll be healed in a few days thanks to magic and the paste. Coincidently, your broken arm will also finish healing around the same time." They both smiled at the doctor, and then Roxas felt a dull pain on the back of his head as Naminé smacked him.
"What was that for?" he asked incredulously. Naminé pursed her lips and looked pointedly at his left arm.
"You fought with your broken arm," she tisked.
"And it kept me alive," Roxas argued before shifting uncomfortably, "for a while."
"You broke it further," Naminé stated. Roxas knew he couldn't win. It was a losing battle.
He found it cruelly funny that he could go toe-to-toe with Nixion and come back alive, defeat hundreds of heartless, and even equal Sora in prowess, but the one thing he and his brother could not do was win arguments against their princesses.
Riku smiled as he saw Yuffie exit Geriatrix's hut. Mrs. Geriatrix had been tasked with making her 'fit in' to Gaulish dress, and being the prettiest woman in the village; not to mention the best seamstress, had done the job wonderfully. Yuffie exited beside the ginger-haired woman in her light green blouse and flowing evergreen dress, sweeping down to her feet in such a manner that she'd never trip on the hem. Yuffie, however grand the outfit she now wore was, appeared to be restraining herself from snarling at Mrs. Geriatrix. The only positive thing she could say about the dress she now wore was that she was glad it did not clash with her raven hair. A short navy blue blouse covered her chest but was open much like a vest. Periwinkle blue material elegantly flowed down from the straps to her shoulders and clung to her natural curves before widening past her waist. A thin golden sash ran down from her right shoulder to her waist. The dress ended with a white hem about an inch above Yuffie's ankles, enough to reveal the heeled sandals with golden coloured straps.
Max came up behind Riku and placed a hand critically to his chin before smiling. He had done this once before, and he still enjoyed it. "You look wonderful Yuffie," he praised. "Defiantly you." Yuffie scowled at him. He then nudged Riku with his elbow and smirked at him. "Wouldn't you say so Riku?" Riku quickly jolted out of whatever trance he might have been in and nodded.
"I like it," he announced with a red face. Yuffie's scowl at Max lessened and she turned to look at Riku.
"I'd rather be in the kimono that I rarely wear," she said, her voice softening slowly as she decided to look herself over as she began walking down the path, the others following.
"Oh would you like a mirror dear?" Mrs. Geriatrix asked sweetly. "I thought you had already looked in one."
"I think Yuffie was more determined to hate whatever you put her in and claim she looked ugly," Max said slyly. "Which is not true. Just take a look at Riku here."
"Max!" Riku barked, taking his crimson face away from Yuffie in her splendor. The boy chuckled and both girls, for Mrs. Geriatrix was only in her twenties, giggled at his reaction.
Yuffie smiled as she held the supple fabric in one of her now manicured hands. "I actually think I like it," she let out before looking up at Mrs. Geriatrix. "Would you mind if I kept it?" The woman laughed.
"Consider it a gift," she said before leaning in to whisper into Yuffie's ear. "And don't mind a word of what my husband said; he doesn't really like outsiders, you look beautiful." Yuffie blushed slightly before looking at Riku and Max again, having a quiet argument.
"Hey you two," she said, suddenly curious, "why haven't you both changed?"
"It's because we're guys," Riku answered. "They don't care." Yuffie blinked in shock.
"Not fair!" she bawled. Max and Riku chuckled.
"What are you complaining about?" Max asked. "You got a beautiful dress out of this. Maybe you'll be able to work something on Asterix to convince him not to remain neutral."
"What are you talking about?" Yuffie asked, confused. Max barked a laugh.
"You mean you didn't notice?" he asked, incredulous. Riku's lip started to curl as they continued to move through the village, getting close to a cue in front of Unhygenix's hut.
"Tread carefully Max," he warned in a slight growl. Max looked slyly at him.
"Ooh," he teased. "Somebody's jealous." Riku snarled and made to punch him but thought better of it. Instead he grabbed a fish from one of the baskets and slapped Max across the face with it. Max immediately growled and grabbed a fish as well and struck a blow across Riku's ribs.
"Bacteria!" Unhygenix yelled in shock. "Save the sales!" But it was too late; the other Gauls in the cue had already rushed forward and were swiping fish out of the baskets, a few of them dropping some sestarii to the fishmonger. In the span of four seconds from when Riku had first hit Max about seven Gauls had joined in the fight. Fish flew from one hand to another, slapping anyone unfortunate enough to be caught within range. Riku and Max had dispensed with the pleasantries and were now dueling with their herrings as if they were their swords, completely ignoring the smell that rose from their weapons.
Yuffie looked at them in shock for a moment before sighing and moving out of the way of the smell. "I would never have guessed it," she said as she stood with her hands on her hips. Mrs. Geriatrix looked at her, curious to see what the girl would say. "They started a fight with fish. I thought Riku had some honor." Mrs. Geriatrix opened her mouth to say something but her husband beat her to the mark as he rushed past.
"It looks like they've been well inundated to our culture!" he roared joyfully, swinging his cane in front of him as he approached Fulliautomatix. The blacksmith held up his hands in front of Geriatrix as a sign of peace.
"I won't attack you old man," he said calmly. "It wouldn't be sporting." Geriatrix growled and leapt high enough into the air to continually strike the blacksmith with his cane.
"Fight me!" the old man cried. "Show me your mettle! I promise to you I won't hold back against a youngster like you!" Fulliautomatix fell to the ground, clutching his head and Geriatrix opened his arms wide.
"Somebody please attack me!" he cried in desperation, his arms invitingly wide. Max obliged by tossing his fish at the old coot before punching Obelix in the gut. The well-covered Gaul responded by grabbing Max about the ankle and swinging him around like a club, laughing all the while.
Yuffie giggled as she watched the fight, it was quite entertaining. Footfalls fell behind her and she looked around to see Asterix walking up calmly to her, his helmet off of his head and in front of his chest apologetically.
"Yuffie," he began, clearing his throat. She nodded at him.
"Yes Asterix?" she asked sweetly. The Gaul's resolve seemed to waver and Yuffie made a mental note of this. Asterix then cleared his throat one more time and looked up at her while Mrs. Geriatrix looked at him in intrigue.
"I would like to apologize to you for Obelix's behaviour to you earlier," Asterix stated. Yuffie smiled.
"There's no need to apologize Asterix," she said reasonably. "I offended him and he reacted. Trust me though, I've been through worse." Asterix blinked in surprise before looking over at Obelix, in the midst of the fight.
"What was that weapon you were fighting with earlier?" he asked, his warrior instincts and innate curiosity taking over at the sight of the brawl. "I've always thought that I've needed a new challenge sometimes." Yuffie smirked and pulled out her shuriken from a hidden sleeve. She pressed her thumb in the center of the small throwing star and its sides quickly lengthened, rapidly becoming her trademark weapon.
"It's called a shuriken," Yuffie explained, tossing her hair back in the Sun's glare with a deft, and cunning, flick of her left hand. Asterix's gaze was drawn away from the weapon for a moment as he saw the light shimmer through the strands of her raven hair. Yuffie smiled.
Max was right, Asterix is smitten with me. Maybe I can use this… Her smile dropped when she unconsciously looked towards Riku. That boy had saved her life more than once, and she knew that he did fancy her, at least a little. Otherwise he wouldn't have asked her to be his girlfriend before. And her heart had been tugging her towards him.
She shook her head to clear her thoughts. She wouldn't do anything to hinder her budding relationship with Riku, she would just do what she could to ensure Asterix went on the proper course.
So I'm going to be using him, she suddenly thought as a blank look claimed her face, or am I the one being used?
Cowardus looked around uneasily as he slowly made his way back to the point where he had been ambushed by the Gauls earlier, dragging a cage behind him. Night was slowly falling, and the forest was looking even more unfriendly to the roman. Shadows leapt out from behind every tree in the Sun's dying light, setting off the already frayed nerves of the legionary. He remembered every detail of the strange shadows that had fought, however briefly, against the two Gauls and strange others, and just remembering sent shivers down his spine.
And now he was supposed the capture one of them!? The very idea made him faint. A sudden noise from behind a tree on the side of the path made Cowardus jump. He pointed his pilum at the tree as he shook in fright, biting the nails of his other hand in an audible chatter while his shield dropped to the ground. The creature that caused the noise suddenly scampered out of the brush, chattering at him and shaking its tiny fist for entering its domain.
A red squirrel.
"The Centurion's sending the wrong guy," Cowardus mumbled as he sighed in relief and turned away from the squirrel. He moved further down the path into the coming twilight, his pilum held readily in his right hand and his recovered shield in his left, the cage being dragged by a cord around his waist. Now that he had known that the adversary was only a squirrel, his spirits rose, somewhat.
There were no more noises as he moved further in for the next ten minutes. Not even the crickets were chirping. The only sound came from the squeak of the wheels on the cage he dragged. Cowardus thought he might have heard the grunt of a boar briefly following his run-in with the squirrel, but the lack of noise had miraculously raised his spirits instead of dampening them.
Cowardus had no idea what he was walking into. He ignored even his good senses that told him he was going into a place of evil.
An abrupt rustle through the leaves suddenly startled him, but he laughed at himself after a moment and thought it to be another squirrel. He turned around, and that's when his eyes were suddenly filled with the yellow eyes of one of the shadows he had seen. He found his throat clogged and found himself unable to scream under the piercing gaze of the neoshadow. A sound came from it in a low hiss. That hiss gave the appearance that the creature was extremely pleased for him to enter its domain, almost as if it would love for him to stay for dinner. Cowardus could do little more than watch in horror as it moved even closer, a black and clawed hand reaching for his chest…
An owl hooted and the creature turned its head in the direction of the sound. That distraction was all Cowardus needed to quickly slam the creature into the cage, and run all the way back to Totorum, screaming all the way in his fear, unaware that a dozen pairs of yellow eyes, exactly like those of the creature in his cage, were watching his every step, and silently following.
"Ave Cowar-" Scaredsillius, on sentry duty, began as Cowardus made his run into the camp, still screaming out his lungs. Cowardus ran past him so fast that the unfortunate legionary was spun into a tangled heap on the ground. Cowardus dropped his pilum as soon as he reached the Centurion's tent, unsheathed his gladius, and cut the rope that bound him to the cage, and the creature. He shuddered violently as he took one last look at the creature before entering his CO's pavilion.
"Ave Centurion Newyearus!" Cowardus saluted, entering the pavilion. Newyearus' eyes brightened as soon as the legionary entered.
"Cowardus!" he exclaimed like an eager schoolboy as he sat on his cot. "Did you get one?" Cowardus gulped and nodded. Before he was halfway finished with his nod, the Centurion rose to his feet and clapped him on the shoulder, laughing gaily.
"You've done well this day," he said. "You have delivered the Gauls' demise to our door. If we can defeat the Gauls, I'll promote you to Optio." Cowardus beamed at the proposal of becoming Optio, but his smile dropped suddenly as screams of panic started to come from the camp. He quickly left the tent with Newyearus, the Centurion's brow furrowed as he angrily wondered who would dare attack him.
They stared in horror as neoshadows quickly moved throughout the camp, tearing through the broken ranks of the legionaries, and small pink hearts rising into the sky only to become consumed by swirls of darkness as the legionaries the hearts came from vanished. Cowardus gulped in fear as he glanced at the captured neoshadow. These creatures were far worse than the Gauls, he finally realized. His heart froze when he saw the creature sink down into a blotch of darkness at the bottom of the cage, darker than the dark of the night. The blotch then slid out of the cage, moving straight towards him. In desperation, Cowardus picked up his fallen pilum and flung it at the darkness, only for the spear to be completely consumed as it struck into the dark earth. He couldn't even tremble in terror as the darkness rose from the ground, taking the exact shape of that which he had captured. Before the petrified legionary could do anything else, the neoshadow's clawed hand struck him in the heart, and pulled that which it had clawed, out. The legionary couldn't even give a last moan as he vanished and his heart drifted slowly upwards to be lost into a swirl of darkness.
Centurion Newyearus abruptly laughed in a maniacal way as a dark aura began to emanate from him. The hearts of those legionaries who had lost their hearts (which was all of them) then became encased in the darkness to which they had been enslaved. The new heartless dropped down from the swirls, looking as almost exact replicates of the legionaries from which they had been, except their shields now bore the heartless insignia.
"We're going to capture that obstinate little Gaul who has always defied me," Newyearus hissed to his troops. He found he liked them better now. He knew that their discipline and training was now gone, but they would take orders like they never would before.
Asterix had taken Yuffie aside during the banquet, somewhere between Obelix devouring his third boar and Fulliautomatix gagging and tying up Cacofonix under a nearby tree. A bouquet of flowers was in her hands. He led her a little ways away from the banquet, far enough away so that they could barely be seen in the shadows but close enough so they could still verily see the roaring bonfire. Yuffie clung tightly to her vest-like blouse; she was missing the warmth from the fire.
"What is this about Asterix?" she asked, shivering slightly. Asterix shuffled his feet awkwardly and Yuffie raised an eyebrow, glad that she couldn't see if he was blushing or not. Asterix removed his helmet and looked up at Yuffie, the slim and silvery crescent moon shimmering through her raven hair and dancing on the gown Mrs. Geriatrix had designed for her.
"Yuffie," he began clumsily. "I know this is quite sudden, we only met today. But I've become quite fond of you." Yuffie blushed crimson, glad now that he couldn't see her blush.
"I have too Asterix," she said slowly. "And I know we're going to be great friends." At her words, Asterix's face almost seemed to droop and Yuffie looked sadly at him in concern.
"Is," she stuttered, "is something wrong?" The small warrior's head came up and looked at her.
"Oh," he replied in a crestfallen tone. "Oh, no. Nothing's wrong Yuffie. Don't even mention it." He scratched his head and turned around, not looking at her. It pained Yuffie to do this to him; she knew how much Max was betting she could get Asterix to join their side. But she wasn't going to manipulate him, she'd be no better than Xehanort or Maleficent if she did. Yuffie knelt down and placed a tender hand on his shoulder, and she took a small measure of comfort when he did not flinch away.
"I'm sorry Asterix," she said quietly, glancing back at the banquet, where Riku was still talking with Getafix.
"But, I think my heart belongs with another." Asterix's shoulders sagged slightly and he nodded and muttered something that Yuffie didn't quite catch, watching Riku.
"Good night Yuffie," Asterix said quietly, walking off into the night. The girl noticed her hand slipping off of his shoulder and looked concernedly at his retreating figure, slowly being enveloped by the shadows of the night and illuminated by the crescent moon's faint glow.
"Good night Asterix," she said to the night, "and I am sorry."
Asterix walked into his hut and threw his helmet down to the floor in disgust. His attempts at wooing Yuffie, while successful, had proved just as fruitless. He sighed in agony and placed his hands to his eyes. No woman had attracted him the way Yuffie did. Not the pretty ones his mother had selected when she had come visiting from Lutetia, not even Bravura (A/N 1) when she had come to the village. Although he had warmed up to Bravura immensely by the time she left.
"Why is this one different?" Asterix asked in vain. "She's years younger than me! I don't want to be another Geriatrix. And she's not from this world." He sighed again and splashed some water on his face from the basin he had in his kitchen.
"Was this the challenge I was looking for?" he mused to himself with a dry laugh. "Finding a woman to marry? I don't think so. It didn't really feel like I was fulfilling anything apart from an empty place in my heart. But what I was trying to fill the pit with didn't feel quite right." He sighed again and wiped his face clean of the water.
"Maybe I should just tell them where the keyhole is so they can be off," he said grimly. "Then I won't ever have to lay eyes on that vexing woman again." Then a completely foreign sound assailed his ears. It was a weird popping sound, but it also sounded like the thrum of a cannon shot on a Gummi ship. Roman soldiers suddenly clattered out of the swirls of darkness and Asterix looked at them in surprise. Their skin was a sickening blue-grey, and on their shields was a strange symbol that he'd never seen before.
"How did you get here?" Asterix bellowed, reaching for his gourd. The pilum of one of the soldiers beat him to the gourd and its iron tip drove in moments before the Gaul's hand could grab it. The clear liquid of the magic potion spilled out of the gourd as the spear's tip was removed and Asterix snarled, drawing his sword instead. He twisted around as a spear made its way towards him and slapped out with his sword, striking away the shield of the nearest legionary. The shield clattered onto the ground and Asterix quickly followed up by plunging his sword into the legionary's chest. He growled in anger and twisted his sword before withdrawing it. To his immediate surprise, a dark mist flowed from the wound in the place of blood. Asterix was so shocked that he didn't notice the shield of another legionary strike him on his unprotected crown.
Keys and Kairi sat atop Whamon's brown head again that night, gazing up at the night sky. The white stars shone brightly, and the silver crescent moon gazed down upon them from its vantage point high in the digital sky, faintly bathing everything in a soft white light. All the digimon and digidestined were asleep except for these two, sitting quietly together as the events of that day's early morning were washed away in the subtle moonlight.
Kairi looked over at Keys with a smile on her face, before that smile drooped slightly as she inhaled a deep breath.
"You stink."
Keys turned to look at her, affronted.
"I do not stink," he retorted. "I don't smell anything."
"Well that's because you wouldn't be able to tell that you smell," Kairi answered back in a slight giggle. Keys sighed and a blue light started to surround him.
"Oh no you don't," Kairi said evilly, pushing Keys hard with her booted foot. His cleaning spell abruptly stopped as he lost his concentration and started tumbling over Whamon's side. A new green light surrounded him and he had transformed into his merman form a moment before his face struck the waves. Kairi laughed as he plunged below the waves and then his head reemerged. She stood up so she could get a better look at the scowl he was giving her.
"Not funny Kairi!" he yelled through his sopping wet bangs, falling over his face as the last of the gel ran out. Kairi giggled a little more as a blue glow surrounded him.
"Yes it is," she hollered back. "Now you won't smell as bad when you come back up." She smiled in her victory, but wondered at the look Keys was giving her.
"And what about how bad you smell?" he asked. Kairi blinked and hesitated for a few seconds.
"I don't smell," she answered. She could see Keys' smirk.
"If I recall," he drawled. "I said almost the exact same thing." Kairi backed away a step playfully.
"Oh well," she said, opening her arms wide. "You can't really do anything to me from down there." Those were the wrong words to say. As soon as she had said that, Keys dropped below the waterline, and Kairi immediately recognized what he was trying to do. She fell back further, and almost tripped on Gabumon, but it was too late. She turned around when she heard the splash of Keys leaving the water, and saw him sailing towards her through the air, a grin on his face. She shrieked quietly as he grabbed her with his wet hands and arms and tackled her down to Whamon's other side, fortunately avoiding any collisions. Kairi stopped but Keys, with his sleek and wet body, continued to slide and Kairi, still in his arms, was brought along with him as he went over the edge. Keys splashed back into the water as a merman, having let go of Kairi as he fell over the side, certain that she would follow him into the drink.
But Kairi wasn't going to go down that easily. At the last moment she floated in the air on her back, a mere foot above the waves. She smiled as she flipped herself around in the air, and waited for Keys to resurface.
She couldn't see him below the waterline in the dark of night; otherwise she might have retreated to a point higher up.
Keys suddenly surfaced and grabbed her by the shoulders, pulling her down as he laughed and she shrieked. Kairi immediately grimaced as she felt her entire self plunge beneath the waves and she held her breath. She knew Keys wasn't turning her into a mermaid to punish her for pushing him into the water in the first place, but that didn't matter. They both knew that she could hold her breath for a long time. It all came from when the boys insisted on playing Blitzball and forced Kairi and Selphie to play as keepers for them. Kairi had always held Keys and Riku's goal while Selphie was with Tidus and Wakka, and Kairi's scowl lessened when she remembered that she was a better keeper than Selphie was. Keys laughed as he looked at her underwater scowl while the same blue glow surrounded her.
"Now doesn't that feel better?" he mocked, waving his hair out of his eyes as it flowed in the current of the ocean. "No more smell." He laughed again and Kairi swam towards him, intending to give him a friendly punch. But for now, water was his element, and Keys swiftly swam around her and lightly slapped her back with his tail. Kairi tried to scowl, but she couldn't when she had twisted herself around and saw his face. Kicking her feet, she swam up to the surface and broke through the waves. Keys surfaced next to her and Kairi rose into the air.
"That wasn't very nice Sora," she said, feigning anger. Keys saw through her ruse and transformed back into a human before rising into the air next to her.
"An eye for an eye princess," he replied. Kairi smiled and shook the water out of her hair, showering her boyfriend in the little droplets.
"Well," she responded, trying to get her skirt to stop clinging to her in the cool night air. "Now that I am, in your opinion, clean…" she looked up from her skirt and smiled at him, "would you care to join me in a moondance?" Keys smiled and floated up next to her.
"I thought you'd never ask," he replied, taking one of her wet hands in his own. He stepped out over the air and she followed his lead, doing a slow circling dance around as they went to a tune they made up on the spot.
Keys and Kairi both hummed their tune and Kairi swung out, still holding onto one hand as they simply did what pleased them as the moment arose, all the while still moving forward at Whamon's pace so they wouldn't lose the giant whale digimon. Kairi swung back into his warm embrace in the chill that came from being wet and all of her fears about the dream vanished as the dream itself faded from her memory. She smiled softly as Keys held her in the air and leaned her head upwards to softly kiss his lips. It wasn't as passionate as a few other kisses they had shared, but with how gentle their lips pressed together it fitted perfectly into the romantic moment.
"Sora," she commanded softly as she leaned back to gaze starry-eyed into his blue eyes, "sing me something." Keys balked and stared at her.
"What? Now?" he asked incredulously. Kairi nodded her head and came in closer, resting her head against the fabric of his black t-shirt with the inner fleece of his jacket wrapping gently around the back of her head. She knew that he couldn't say no, when she heard him sigh and the rustle of his head as he looked around for inspiration. She simply listened to his heart beating and her own quiet breathing in those few moments of silence, his heartbeat's pace had increased. She both felt and heard his intake of breath and he began.
"When the night," he started, "has come, and the land is dark. And the moon is the only light we'll see." He placed a hand under her chin and she obeyed the soft pressure he was guiding her with, to look once more into the irises that captivated her.
"No I won't, be afraid. No I won't, be afraid. Just as long as you stand, stand by me." He started to slowly rotate around in the air, swaying slightly as he worked into a smooth nighttime dance.
"So Kairi, Kairi, stand by me, oh stand, by me. Oh stand, stand by me, stand by me."
"If the sky, that we look upon, should tumble and fall; or the mountains, should crumble to the sea." Kairi held on as he silently kept rotating around, and added her support into the dance, a smile on her face as she listened to him serenade her while they slowly turned around.
"I won't cry, I won't cry, no I won't shed a tear. Just as long, as you stand, stand by me."
"And Kairi, Kairi, stand, by me, oh stand, by me. Oh stand now, stand by me, stand by me." He held her close, and Kairi drew closer, to place her head softly upon his shoulder while they held this inseparable position. It was a humble feeling, the two of them together like this, on a far-away world. But it was also the most romantic thing in Kairi's mind that Sora had ever done. It was even more wonderful than when they had danced together in the ballroom of Beast's Castle.
"Kairi, Kairi, stand," he continued, softer now, "by me, oh stand, by me. Oh stand now, stand by me, stand by me. Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand, by me? Stand, by me, oh stand now, stand by me, stand by me." Keys finished and Kairi pulled her head back to look at him. And then he kissed her in the middle of the night as the soft moonlight still flowed down from the heavens.
No stars went out that night.
Asterix awoke slowly in a daze. As soon as his eyelids reluctantly fluttered open he immediately felt the pain in the back of his head from where the heartless' shield had struck him. He looked around, his senses barely overcoming the daze and the sheer sense of cold terror that seemed to permeate through him. He was stuck in an iron cage, the lock hanging tightly outside of the cage. The late morning sun was above him, its light streaming through the rusted bars. There was a bit of straw in the cage bottom that he was resting on, and probably could have used as a pillow if he had been conscious. The cage itself was a square of only about eight cubic meters (2m2m2m). He looked further out of the cage and saw the high palisade walls of a fortified roman camp, but which camp he was in was currently beyond him. He would need that knowledge if he was going to try and escape. His eyes were drawn down from the continual feeling of dread he was experiencing and the sounds of hissing, and his heart froze.
About a dozen strange black creatures, those that Riku, Max… and Yuffie had called heartless, were moving about the camp's interior, keeping a constant presence and silent vigil as they waited for orders. A few were eyeing him with an emotion Asterix could only fathom as insatiable hunger. He shivered at the thought of it, and his eyes saw more that he dreaded. Legionaries ambled about in typical roman disarray liking to that of an attack on his village, but they were not ordinary legionaries. Their skin was a hue of darker purple, and their shields bore a strange heart-like insignia on their shields.
Asterix recognized the first type as those that he, Obelix, and the others had fought against once, and that these legionaries must be those that had captured him.
But if they were able to strike at him from within his own hut, appearing out of nowhere, then how safe was he from them inside his cell? His arm reached out for his gourd, only to remember that one of the legionary heartless had pierced the container with its spear. He grabbed the gourd anyway, but found it bone-dry.
Asterix sighed in despair and rubbed his aching head, escape now seemed impossible without the magic potion. A hissing chuckle came from behind him and he turned around sharply.
"How are you liking your accommodations?" hissed the Centurion, his words barely decipherable. Asterix's lip curled in a growl as he looked at the man before him. The same chill that came from the neoshadows came from his as well, but it seemed more sinister in its darkness than those of the other heartless.
"I won't tell you anything," Asterix said obstinately. The Centurion laughed in a hiss that made the hair on the back of the Gaul's neck stand on end.
"I need nothing from you," his captor hissed delightedly. "I intend to destroy your village with the powers of darkness and the heartless. Your druid's magic potion will be powerless to stop us." Asterix quickly thought up an idea and smirked at the Centurion.
"Are you sure about that?" he asked cleverly. The Centurion stopped and eyed him suspiciously. "Taking our village is all well and good," continued Asterix, pleased that he was gaining his adversary's undivided attention. "I'm sure Caesar will be pleased. You will go up to him in Rome and say 'All Gaul is conquered,' and when he will ask 'All?' you will reply with 'All.'" The Centurion growled and Asterix knew he was pressing buttons.
"But, how far could the heartless take you?" asked Asterix calmly. "You could destroy my village, and lose many heartless to the powers of our magic potion, or," a twinkle sparked within the cunning warrior's eye, "you could rally instead against your fellow Romans, and any men who willingly follow you could have the magic potion of the Gauls to call upon as you strive to become Caesar!" Asterix spoke this last line triumphantly, confident that he had won the Centurion over. He knew these Roman Centurions that had governed the garrisons; they all hungered to become Caesar in revenge for sticking them out here.
His smirk slinked off his face when the hissing voice of the Centurion came to him in a dry laugh.
"I know you do not have the secret to the magic potion Gaul," responded the Centurion. "That is a secret known only to your druid, and can only be passed from druid to druid by word of mouth."
"How do you know if I haven't become a druid?"
"How do you know if I actually want to be something as pitiful as Caesar!" the Centurion roared, and the indomitable Gaul actually retreated further to press his back against the bars of his cage as flecks of spittle struck his mustache. Now he seemed to tower above Asterix, the full sense of the darkness he embodied taking form around him in a breathtaking aura.
"I am much greater than Caesar," the Centurion growled in his ever hiss-like speech. "I am the heartless of the proud Roman Centurion Newyearus, and when your village has fallen I shall declare to Caesar that the great camp of Totorum had surpassed the might of Rome itself! And then I shall rip out the heart of Julius Caesar!" He flashed Asterix a twisted and sinister smile.
"And after that," he hissed almost in anticipation, "I shall depart from this world, with my legions of heartless behind me, and join my ever-watchful master Maleficent. We shall be put to good use in her massive armies, and become the greatest branch of her strength, the corps to which all the most important missions are assigned, the missions that provide us with the most succulent hearts upon which to feed."
"But first," hissed Newyearus, to whom Asterix was now trembling in terror; "I shall let you dwell on all of this for today, and then tomorrow the order will be given. You will join us to watch our feast on your village, before I rip out your heart." Newyearus spun on his heel and left Asterix feeling colder than when he had come.
"So I'm in Totorum, Asterix thought after an hour where he could do nothing but watch the events of the next day unfold in his mind over and over again. Now that I know where I am, I'll be able to warn the village. His face dropped in despair again as he looked around. He'd never be able to make it out of the cage, and even then get clear to the forest where he'd be able to drop pursuit, without losing his heart, or at least being detained and recaptured.
"What have you to report Nixion?" Maleficent asked as the Nobody appeared in her meeting room. Starscream stood behind her, providing his imposing presence as her bodyguard. In his eyes, none were to be trusted in meeting with his master apart from him, and surprisingly, he proved to be as quiet as a shadow. Nixion's face was contorted in slight pain, a meager annoyance in his opinion. He swiftly surveyed his master sitting in her usual seat with the transformer behind her. She had her register in front of her and the map usually pinned to the wall on the table as well.
"Sir Roxas and Princess Naminé are currently out of action," he said eagerly, trying to bring the good news to the forefront.
"I already know of this Nixion," Maleficent replied coolly. "Do you have anything new?" He opened his mouth to speak but a look from his master cut him off. "And I also know of Hyrule. I had explicitly ordered you to send heartless to Gaul, Earth Echo, Ant Island, Atlantis, and Yuktobania. I did not order you to in any way harm Hyrule or any other worlds apart from Twilight Town. Nixion shifted uncomfortably under Maleficent's cruel gaze.
"I had thought it best to decrease the number of worlds that might be a threat," he explained, looking at the two before him. Starscream's face showed that he was pleased that Nixion was slowly falling out of Maleficent's favour. All that the transformer had seen since arriving in Bara-dûr was Maleficent and Nixion bickering with each other during Nixion's occasional reports.
Maleficent did not give any physical signs to show that she was not pleased with him.
"You thought wrong on this account my faithful servant," Maleficent answered. "Hyrule would have been left in the dark by us, unaware of the conflict raging throughout the galaxy. There are denizens of light on that world that harbor great powers to conquer shadow. And now that their world has been lost, we can only hope that none of them made it to sanctuary on another world." She rose and gave her map a long stare.
"But you have still done well in doing so," she said, surprising the Nobody at the sudden hint of, was that kindness, in her voice?
"I am pleased," Nixion said. Maleficent eyed him from gazing at the map.
"You should be," she said. "For the heart of Hyrule shall be the first test. You're dismissed."
"I have one more matter my master," Nixion spoke quickly, knowing that he was defying another order. He wanted to know what this test would be, but he knew it was not yet his place to know. Maleficent raised her gaze once more and gave him a cold stare.
"You are trying my patience dear Nixion," she spoke. "Make it quick." Nixion bowed as a portal of darkness opened behind him.
"Of course my master," he said as a man stepped out of the portal. "I have found a valuable ally on Earth Echo, one whose forces compliment the weaknesses of our own." Maleficent eyed him and the man sharply, interested in the proposition. The man that stood before her was completely bald, a small brown bread that wound around his lips, taking in his mustache entirely, and leaving the area directly underneath his lips clean apart from a small goatee at the bottom of his chin. He was dressed entirely in a black robe, and held himself with dignified grace as he looked at Maleficent with his black eyes.
"Nixion tells me that your heartless and nobodies can be defeated easily by those who wield magical weapons known as keyblades as well as normal munitions," said the man. "My men, are fanatically devoted to my cause, and if I take up with you, we shall be able to conquer far more than just my own world."
"What does this have to do with your first statement?" Maleficent asked with narrowed eyes.
He glanced at Nixion with a smile before drawing his attention back to Maleficent. "Your heartless," he said with a chuckle, dodging the question, "attempted to engage my forces, and were utterly defeated by our superior firepower. If these special wielders come along, they will find human flesh much harder to destroy than that of darkness, while a bullet rips through all." Maleficent smiled and he continued. "In the darkness I have seen the final act, and I know that we'll succeed. All I need is an ally with interplanetary travel."
"And all I need is an ally who can destroy those who oppose us with his armies," Maleficent spoke up, rising from her chair with an evil smile on her face. She glided silently towards him and he walked casually in time towards her. "What is your name?" Maleficent asked as balls of darkness formed in her hands. The man smiled as she struck him and imbued him with the power of darkness.
"The Brotherhood is ready to achieve galactic peace through power," said he in a gleeful manner, the power he now held giving him a feeling of ecstasy. "They can't kill the messiah!"
Nixion looked at them both with his yellow eyes, hiding the concern they held within them.
So that's it then, Asterix thought as he looked at the dying afternoon sun. I'm trapped here, only to face a fate worse than death. He had sat alone in his cage for hours, contemplating every possible escape route and every implication and outcome of each attempt. In his mind, all had failed. In his time though, he had noticed one of the legionary heartless shield less, and recognized it as the one he had struck back in his hut. He could only imagine the chaos ensuing in the village when they found that shield and his helmet.
He raised his head helplessly to the heavens, looking through the oxidized iron ceiling of his cage towards the pink sky.
"May Toutatis protect the village," he whispered in prayer.
The gods already do.
Asterix whirled around, searching for the sound of the voice, unable to locate it. It seemed feminine, and definitely not what he would have thought the voice of his male god.
"Who are you?" Asterix whispered. The voice seemed to giggle in his hysteria.
All in due time wielder of the keyblade, the voice of the goddess spoke. Your village is protected by the favour of the gods; it will be safe from the coming attack. Asterix furrowed his brow and his eyes darted about, still trying to locate the voice before realizing he was being spoken to through his mind.
How do you know this? He asked in thought.
You have been chosen by the ancient pantheon, the goddess answered, as have all the other wielders of the keyblade. Your village is protected by your vigilance.
But I have failed, Asterix argued. I cannot escape, and the village will be destroyed. Everyone will die and I cannot warn them of the danger!
You have only failed in your actions, continued the voice, through keeping out of the affairs of other worlds you have survived. But now the time has come to return to the worlds outside of your boundaries, otherwise all you love will fall. Asterix bowed his head down in understanding.
"What must I do great goddess who speaks to my heart?" he asked in a voice that was barely a whisper.
Follow the command of your heart, and embrace that which you have been given. You require not the magic potion of your druid to win the battle for this world. With that he felt the divine presence leave him, and Asterix looked up in grim determination. Now he knew what he had to do; now he knew what that empty place in his heart was from. He had missed the spirit of adventure that had carried him through the war so many years ago, where he had fought soldiers and wielders of the dark realm without magic potion, and had come out victorious. He glanced at the lock on the outside of his cage and ignored the hunger that plagued his senses. The Indomitable appeared in his hands without a moment's hesitation.
Upon its appearance all the heartless within the camp felt its presence and started to move towards him as he tapped the lock. He shoved open the cage door with his shoulder and stepped out to grimly face against them, brandishing his keyblade in front of him, a smile upon his lips as the heartless fleetingly halted, fearing the blade. This was the challenge he had been waiting for.
But other matters pressed him. He was but one warrior, and he would need Riku's help if he was going to defeat the attack on the village. And to do that, he would need to get to the village. A neoshadow came out at him first, reaching for his abdomen with its clawed hand. Asterix nimbly ducked under the arm and cut into the chest of the heartless with his blade. The neoshadow hissed in agony before he silenced it with a quick slice over its heart. The creature vanished into darkness and Asterix dashed forwards.
"By Belenos!" Asterix cried, diving straight into the fray. He dodged a lunge from a legionary and quickly cut through it with his extended keyblade, dashing through the inky dark cloud as the pink heart rose into the sky. He felt sickened at the feeling of the remaining darkness from the heartless but while he was momentarily hidden he leapt into the air and landed on another legionary's shoulders. Using them as a springboard, he leapt again, this time coming down with a great slash of his keyblade through a small swath of heartless near the gate. He released his keyblade and dashed into the forest with the magic of haste he had learned during his experiences eighteen years previous, somehow he knew as well that it would be harder for them to track him if he did not hold onto his keyblade.
In the confusion his enemies suffered from his sudden escape, Asterix was able to gain a mile on them before Newyearus could begin to feel angry.
(A/N 1): See Asterix and the Secret Weapon.
We are coming closer to our conclusion, of part 1. And expect tensions to fly as mysteries come to light and the plot deepens.
May the Grace of the Valar Protect You
Shire Folk