Kingdom Hearts III: The Heart's Greatest Weapon
Chapter 49: Welcome to Neon City!
Today, Sora was on another mission to deal with Heartless. But this time was a bit different. The only two who came with him was his friends Donald and Goofy.
"Well, with Kairi staying behind to research more and Riku helping her, I guess it's just the three of us this time." Sora said. Donald and Goofy nodded.
"Ya know? It feels just like old times again." Goofy chuckled.
"Yeah. Just the three of us." Donald said. Sora chuckled.
"The original Heartless stomping, world saving trio....out on a misson all for themselves." Sora said. The three glanced at each other and chuckled.
"So, what is this world anyway?" Goofy asked.
"I dunno. Cid told me that it was one of those worlds that seemed closer to the darkness than the others. So, I guess the Heartless must be acting up a bit there." Sora said. Up ahead of them, they saw the world approaching. It was strangely all lit up with so many neon lights and big buildings.
"Looks like a party down there." Donald said. Sora slowly brought the Gummi Ship down and it landed gently down in the town square. When they stepped out, they were amazed by seeing the pitch black sky, buzzing neon signs and there was loud music all around.
"Gawrsh. We sure haven't been HERE before." Goofy said. Sora looked at the ground and it seemed to be decorated with poker chips.
"Yeah. This place....sure is strange." Sora said. Just then, they heard "Ya got that right." from someone behind them. They looked back and saw Axel!
"Wha....What the?! Axel? When did you..?" Sora asked.
"What? You think you can have all the fun? Besides, maybe I wanted to see this world too." Axel said, stepping out of the ship. Just then, someone else leaped out. It was Jack!
"Amazing! So THIS is what it's like to be in a new world." Jack said. Sora gasped.
"Jack?! When did you get on board?!" Sora exclaimed. Jack said he snuck onboard with Axel. Sora glared at Axel and groaned.
"Hey. The skeleton man has the right to one trip out, right?" Axel asked. Just then, they saw Zelos stepping out too.
"Zelos too?!" Donald squawked. Goofy wondered how they could've missed them.
"Well, I've got the right too, don't I? You always seem to ask Emil or Marta to come along or the others, but why don't you ever invite me?" Zelos asked. Sora groaned, slapping himself in the face.
"Whatever. I guess our solo mission is a bust guys." Sora said. Donald and Goofy sighed. Zelos asked where they were anyway.
"Where? My man! You're in Neon City!" a voice shouted. Everyone looked ahead and saw a man dressed in a strange attire. He seemed to be dressed like an 70's man with a cane, green and white coat and a black afro.
"Welcome to Neon City my cool catz! I guess you're new around these parts? Well, you picked one of the grooviest places to crash down in my main man." he said. Sora and the others said nothing, rather confused by his language.
"What did you just say?" Sora asked.
"Oh come on bro! Have your ears gone sour on you? Did you not hear? I SAID you're in Neon City, the city that never sleeps! Come on! Dance the dance of love my brothers!" he exclaimed. Sora groaned.
"Speak English ya loon. What's your name?" Axel asked. The man twirled his cane and shifted his lenses.
"My bro's call me Nee and I'm the KING of this town! Now who might all of y'all be?" Nee asked. Sora figured they had no choice and introduced themselves.
"Zora? What a whacked out name." Nee said. Sora sighed and said his name again.
"Well, that's another story. Did you all come for the celebration downtown? Another new face is rocking like there's no tomorrow! You've gotta come and see!" Nee said. He suddenly hooked Sora's arm with his cane, but Sora's arm slipped out before he could get pulled away.
"Fine. Let's go." Sora said. The group followed Nee as they entered the bustling city. But from afar, a figure in a white jacket observed them. Downtown, Sora saw the city had transformed into some kind of giant square and in the center was a large stage. The music played around them was so loud that their ears couldn't take it.
"Why is it so loud around here?" Donald asked, covering his ears. Sora looked around and saw Jack was gone.
"Where's Jack?" Sora asked.
"I think he took off to explore on his own! He left right when we met Mister Lunatic over here!" Axel shouted, pointing at Nee. Sora groaned, thinking they'd have to hunt him down later. But suddenly, Sora saw someone familiar on stage. Directly under the stage's spotlight was a man wearing a long blue jacket and a black undershirt. But one look at his instrument made him oblivious to Sora. It was Demyx.
"It's him! That weird Organization XIII guy!" Donald squawked.
"Come on! We better get up there! No telling what he's up to!" Sora shouted. Taking no chance, Sora, Donald and Goofy drew their weapons and dashed towards the stage. Nee scratched his head as Zelos was soon caught up in someone's dance.
"Now what those cats up to?" Nee said. Suddenly, as Demyx was playing louder on his sitar, Sora and the others jumped onto stage. Their sudden appearance silenced all the music. Demyx gasped.
"Wha! You again?!" Demyx exclaimed.
"That's right! We could recognize you no matter what disguise you wear....Organization XIII!" Sora shouted. Demyx looked around at everyone staring at the two of them.
"Hold on! You've got it all wrong kid! I'm not up to anything....!" Demyx stuttered. But suddenly, a young teenage girl came up onto the stage.
"Yo spike head! What's your deal?! You music haters or what?!" the girl asked. Sora looked back and saw the girl wore a red and black stripped tank top, white shorts and a white cap on her head. She had dark pink hair.
"Who are you?" Donald asked. The girl huffed.
"The name's Jazz. And just who are YOU three? The music police?" Jazz asked. Sora sighed.
"Listen. You don't know this guy. He once helped try to commit something horrible...." Sora explained before Jazz slapped Sora in the back of the head.
"Cool your jets spikey." Jazz said. Sora groaned.
"It's not spikey! My name is Sora!" Sora exclaimed. Jazz growled.
"Well I'll keep calling you spikey! Ya got that?!" she shouted. Soon, Sora and Jazz were staring at each other's face and growling. Suddenly, Nee came onto the stage when he saw Jazz.
"Could my eyes be fooling me or is the lovely lady Jazz in person?" Nee asked. Jazz groaned.
"Great. Now who invited him?" Jazz asked. Sora rubbed the back of his head.
"At least someone here speaks English." Sora sighed. Donald agreed, hearing mostly everyone else speaking the same as they entered the square. Figuring they needed a talk, Sora spoke with Nee, Jazz and Demyx when Demyx's song was over.
"Okay then. Why are you here?" Sora asked.
"Me? Well, though this weird guy in a dark suit of armor gave me a free ticket out of that empty void, I decided that he wasn't for me. So, with careful planning, I managed to escape here. Now I get to rock out as much as I want with no brats like Larxene to deal with." Demyx explained. Sora then glanced at Jazz.
"And if you're about to ask ME that question, I live here smart aleck." Jazz said. Axel managed to break away from a pair of dancers before seeing Demyx.
"Whaddya know? Is that you Demyx?" Axel called. Demyx gasped.
"Whoa! Axel?! But....hey! How'd you get out?" Demyx asked. Axel chuckled and patted Sora's back.
"How? Thanks to this kid. His little Keyblade tricks got me a heart back. Now I feel better than ever." Axel said. Demyx gasped, demanding Axel explain himself. As he did, Nee shifted closer to Jazz.
"So, how is my sweet cat doing today? Haven't seen you around for eons babe." Nee said. Jazz groaned.
"Give it a rest Nee. You know I like Vibe more." Jazz said. Hearing that name, Nee growled.
"Jazz? I thought I asked you not to EVER mention that dirty dog's name again!" Nee exclaimed. Sora suddenly looked back, seeing the two arguing.
"When are you going to drop that Nee? Vibe was right. You've really lost it. We were all once good brothers with one another. What made you go and leave?" Jazz asked. Nee groaned.
"Why not ask our lying brother my sister? He stabbed me twice in da back and never gave back a single ounce of sympathy!" Nee shouted. Sora asked who Vibe was.
"Vibe's my boyfriend, though "cranky-pants" Nee here doesn't like him." Jazz said. Nee groaned.
"I don't think we saw Vibe. Does he live around here?" Sora asked.
"No duh. We ALL do spikey." Jazz said. Sora sighed and asked again that she call him "Sora", his real name.
"I'll call ya spikey as long as you keep acting dumb." Jazz said. Sora groaned.
"Don't worry Sora. We still know your name isn't "spikey." Goofy said. Sora glanced at his friend.
"Thanks Goofy." Sora said.
"By the way, where DID you three come from? You sure don't look like you're from around here." Jazz asked. Sora was about to explain, but suddenly, the power went out around all of them.
"Hey! What happened? Why the bulbs stop shining?" Nee asked. Suddenly, a lone spotlight shined on stage. Under it was the white jacket teen watching Sora. This was Vibe. Vibe wore purple jeans with red stripes, a big white jacket and a black beanie on his head. Around his neck was a red cape.
"Hello to all who live within our glorious town! I've got an announcement!" Vibe called. Nee growled, clenching his cane.
"Where did you come from you cheating skunk?!" Nee exclaimed. Vibe laughed.
"Well, well, well....if it ain't Nee the town nut case? Ha ha ha!" Vibe laughed. Nee growled.
"I'm serious! Who do you think you are coming on stage like that during a song?! Whatever you scheming, give up now!" Nee exclaimed. Vibe chuckled.
"Why would I do that? Especially when you are looking at the NEW king of Neon City!" Vibe declared. Sora and the others gasped.
"What the?" Sora thought. Suddenly, with a snap, Vibe summoned Neoshadow and Cresendo Heartless. The other citizens gasped.
"Now bow down to me!" Vibe exclaimed. He waved his hand and the Heartless jumped into the crowd. They sent everyone running away screaming.
"Whoa! Who's his new road crew?" Jazz asked.
"Heartless! Guys! Come on!" Sora called. But just then, Vibe took a giant leap off the stage and landed in the middle of Sora's group. He suddenly snatched Demyx's sitar, grabbed Jazz's wrist and then jumped away.
"What the?! Ack! My sitar!" Demyx exclaimed.
"Jazz! Let her go skunk!" Nee shouted. Vibe laughed.
"Sorry. No dice my old friend. Jazz rolls with my crew now! You had your chance. But even me and the Heartless know that your days as Neon City's king are through!" Vibe laughed before fleeing the scene with Jazz under his arm. The Heartless vanished with him.
"What? You're REALLY this world's leader?" Sora asked.
"More like guardian. From what Nee has told me, he's been watching over this town since his dad passed on." Demyx said. Sora and the others gasped.
"Jazz is like my family to me. She's the light that fills my glowing heart. Without her, I just can't groove, ya know?" Nee asked. Sora suddenly realized Nee was a bit like Sora, feeling the same about Kairi.
"Then come on. Let's go find Vibe. He and Jazz couldn't have gotten too far." Sora said. Donald and Goofy gasped.
"You sure Sora?" Donald asked. Sora nodded.
"We better move then. This guy knows this place better than we do. He could be anywhere." Axel said. They asked Zelos if he was coming, but saw he was caught up with the fleeing people.
"Great. Remind me to find Zelos AND Jack before we go." Sora sighed. Axel asked Nee if he had any idea where Vibe would be going.
"I might. Come on. Follow me cats, you dig?" Nee said. Everyone followed Nee as he led the way. Meanwhile, in a dark part of town, Jazz was kept by Vibe's side. Her wrists were tied up together by rope.
"Yo Vibe! What's going on? Who are those guys you were with?" Jazz asked.
"You mean the Heartless? Well, I met them not too long ago. With their help, I will be this town's new king." Vibe said. Jazz thought Vibe was joking, knowing that Nee was the "fuddy dud" guardian.
"That's the thing. Nee's too much a twit to protect anything, much alone his girl. And if you're gonna ask why I took you, it's so I could bring Nee to his justly needed end." Vibe said. Jazz gasped.
"You....You're not gonna...!" Jazz stuttered. Vibe chuckled.
"That's right. When Nee comes here, his days of dancing will be OVER." Vibe said. Jazz gasped.
"I guess since it'll be over soon, I should tell you. Nee's telling the truth. I did betray him. But I think I'll spoil it when he gets here." Vibe said. Jazz couldn't believe it.
"Vibe.....what....what's wrong with you?" she thought.
TO BE CONTINUED...
