"I am so glad you decided to come for a visit. It isn't too often we get the chance to just talk."
"To be honest the decision was partly out of necessity. I was going stir-crazy with cabin fever. Worrying alone wasn't helping either."
"What about Master Yen Sid? Surely he is willing to help."
"He is. He's been almost constant company. I think he's more worried about me than he is about the others."
"Is it because of-?"
"It has to be. Get this. I never would have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, but he frets."
"Master Yen Sid? Surely not."
"It's subtle, very subtle. But make no mistake, it's true. When I told him I was coming here he said he might come by later to visit you as well once he finished a few things. I know that man surely has more than a few secrets left to share but let me tell you I have never seen him more transparent."
Queen Minnie and Daisy laughed.
Just as she had said, Rachel had been climbing the walls of the Mysterious Tower. She'd been side-lined from this latest adventure and hated every second. The whole thing about time travel and how past events could alter the future rarely escaped her thoughts for more than a few moments. So she sought out female company somewhere nearby to hopefully distract her from worrying. Queen Minnie and lady-in-waiting, Daisy were glad to have her. The whole situation bothered everyone. Even they could feel something pressing against their minds as a memory or two was either changing or taking its place in their Hearts. They could only assume the rest of their friends were feeling it too. But so far no one could describe any definitive differences. Just how long did the re-adjust of time-travel-altered memories and events take? As much as the three ladies didn't care much for the idea of ignoring the problem, this seemed as good a time as any.
"So you haven't felt anything bad?" Daisy asked Rachel.
"I thought we were changing the subject."
"I know. I'm sorry. But you're not the only one thinking about it."
"Perhaps we need a different distraction." Queen Minnie suggested. "Have you learned any new magic lately?"
Rachel shook her head. "My magic has been off lately. Even the first spells I ever learned that are usually second-nature go on the fritz."
"Oh my. Does it happen often?" Minnie asked.
"About fifty-fifty. That's often enough that I've restrained myself from using too much too often."
"Is that unusual in the world of magic? What could make magic just-?" Daisy asked then considered. "Oh. That's the reason, isn't it?"
"It has to be. Of course, getting out of touch with one's magic isn't entirely unheard of and can have several triggers. Thankfully this cause isn't a mystery and should self-correct."
"Very soon if we're fortunate." Minnie giggled.
"Does your staff not help you control the mishaps at all?" Daisy asked.
"Compared to casting without it? Yes, it does help. Too bad it just doesn't help enough sometimes."
In her right hand Rachel held a beautiful silver and gold staff. The head consisted of an empty metallic circle with four wide curved points arcing off one side. A second circle, a third of the size sat on the lower right of the main one. Inside the large circle hovered a semi-transparent crystalline moon and star. They would become solid when channeling magic. In the small circle hovered a crystalline sun. Two intertwining metal branches at the bottom came together to the main length of the staff. But the design of the bottom was made with a purpose too. After a slight curve one path remained straight while another curled like the handle of a coffee mug before coming together again. This split space at the bottom was so it could be held and maneuvered in combat like a Keyblade. Dual-wielding with it felt awesome.
This magnificent artifact was once known as a Faceless Conduit. All those trained in the art of Magic were presented with the shape-changing item once they reached a certain level of accomplishment in their arcane studies. After a brief ceremony performed by the Master, the apprentice merely had to hold the Conduit. On first contact the artifact could read the magic within its new master and took its permanent shape as whatever would best suit them.
"So where is that beautiful companion of yours?" Minnie asked as they casually walked the halls. "I saw a fluffy tail vanish around a corner when you came so I knew you brought a friend."
"Probably just exploring and making sure everything is safe-."
"AAA-aaahh!"
"Speaking of, what was that?" Daisy exclaimed, hands to her mouth.
"Oh no," Minnie whispered. She looked up to Rachel. "Do you feel that?"
"Darkness," Rachel nodded.
"Here? But how?" Daisy cried.
"Not just any Darkness," Minnie scowled. "I know that presence far too well. But I don't understand. It's been years and we've added to our defenses. How did Pete get in?"
"Ask him after he's caught," Rachel said. "Come on."
"You? Certainly not! Think about-."
But Rachel was already off at a brisk walk. Minnie and Daisy had no choice but to follow.
Another alarmed cry came down from a distant hall, followed by crashes and thuds. From a distance the three ladies saw a group of brooms trying to wallop a small cluster of Shadow with mop buckets. Clarabell Cow came running toward them when she saw them. Quickly she reported having nearly run into Pete in the middle of doing her castle chores. Normally she would have given him a piece of her mind but he had a small troop of Heartless behind him. The castle residents were evenly split between those getting safety away from the Heartless and those trying to get Pete and his two-ton tookus to beat it.
More crashes.
"'E's headed to the North wing!" Someone shouted.
"This way," Minnie instructed. "We might be able to cut him off if we cross that courtyard," She pointed down another hallway.
Only once they rounded the corner to enter the great courtyard the three ladies came to an immediate halt.
"Maleficent!" Minnie and Daisy cried.
At the other side of the courtyard a tall woman stopped and turned at the sound of her name. Once she saw who it was the dark fairy made an almost pained look of impatience and annoyance.
"You're not supposed to even be able to get in! Leave the castle this instant!" Minnie demanded.
"That fool," Maleficent muttered. "He can't even cause enough mayhem to be a proper distraction."
"I should have known. It's been a long time but one usually follows the other." Minnie said scowling. "What are you after now? After all this time?"
"I do not have time for this nonsense. I happen to know your king is far from here and unable to come to your aid. You and your handmaidens do not have the power to stop me from collecting my prize."
"Excuse me?" Rachel stepped forward, her staff sparking. "I'll only let that slide because we've never actually met before. So you're the great and terrible Mistress of all Evil. I wish I could say it was a pleasure."
"Ah, my mistake. Based on what I have heard you must be Keyblade Master Rachel."
"So you've heard of me. Your reputation precedes you as well."
Daisy tugged at her robes when Rachel made to step forward again.
"Don't!" She whispered, worried. "What we were talking about earlier, you don't mean to fight her, do you?"
"Well I doubt she'll leave if we ask nicely."
"Please don't! It's not just you at risk!" Minnie added.
The sorceress locked eyes from across the courtyard. Maleficent had an expression that was a mix of impatience and you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me. Then the dark fairy looked her over more closely. The way she raised an eyebrow was unsettling.
"Allow me to guess: Riku's doing?"
"You are well-informed."
"It certainly has been a while since we crossed paths. He had such potential for the Darkness too."
Maleficent paused. Then smiled. It was an unnerving smile. A smile that spoke loudly of ideas and intentions without betraying specifics. Rachel and Minnie held defensive stances. So did Daisy but mostly out of a growing sense of fear.
"Actually,"
In one word her entire demeanor changed. The impatience vanished. Her expression relaxed. Her following words dripped with civility. The listeners weren't fooled. There was no sincerity in the witch's voice.
"I have no qualms with Riku about the past. I will happily let bygones be bygones. And to show I bear no ill-will, I wish to leave him a gift. A gift I shall leave…with you." Maleficent looked to Rachel. "And by the look of you, you will both find out what it is soon enough."
Cold realization hit like a slap in the face to what she meant and what she intended to do.
"Get back!" Minnie cried to Rachel.
Twice Maleficent twirled her fingertips around the orb of her staff before extending the same hand, palm out and fingers spread, in Rachel's direction. Between the two of them Rachel and Minnie barely erected a barrier of counterspell in time before Maleficent's magic reached them. The glass-like bubble of protective energy bore the brunt of the curse being hurled at it. Only the dark witch had no intention of letting that be the end of it. The evil magic continued to push.
"Falter now and there will be nothing to save you from my power-."
SSSSHHhhh-KKKRRIIIII-eeeEEEE!
Suddenly a shrill, high-pitched, ear-boring, banshee-like shriek shook the stone walls of the courtyard. A great shadow descended from above. Maleficent glanced up just in time to cast her own protective barrier as a shield to keep the new beast at bay. Powerful wings beat hard against the shield. Strong claws did their best to tear through it. The surprise attack failed. The beast backed off but only to the middle of the courtyard.
"What is this?!" Maleficent demanded.
Before her stood a large cat-like creature. But it wasn't entirely feline. Snow-white, black-speckled wings spread wide at its sides. Its face had many traits of an owl. Large triangular ears laid back flat against its feathered head. A spitting hiss revealed small needle-like teeth that lined the inside of its beak. The creature held its head low and rolled its shoulders; ready at a moment's notice to pounce. Its long feathered neck moved serpentine almost completely independent of its head and body, neither of which moved as the neck did.
This was Elias, Rachel's Familiar.
"Filthy creature!" Maleficent spat.
A burst of acid green energy intended to push the gryphon back. Sharp claws dug into the stone. Elias barely budged. Feathers raised like the hackles of a wolf. A threatening hiss pushed passed the sharp teeth. From behind the Familiar a bright light went off like a firework. Maleficent flinched. Minnie immediately launched another bubble of radiant light. With her own staff held wide Rachel's hand sparked with orange light. A sparkling comet of golden energy shot at the dark fairy. Seeing his mistress engaging in battle Elias backed up to her side and at her defense.
Back and forth magic, Light and Darkness flew across the courtyard and hallway. One might have compared it to a very intense tennis game. Of course the projectiles in this game were considerable more dangerous than a rubber and nylon ball. White castle bricks grazed by spells were burned black. Walls hit in the crossfire either cracked or crumbled like a dry cookie. However, this method, while intense to observe did not gain either side the high ground. That is until Maleficent sent a different magic at them. A small orb of fiery red sparks landed short of Rachel and Minnie. It landed silently then exploded like a noisy and hot grenade. Elias beat his wings heavily to blow back the red-hot flecks and smoke. While not obscured for long, those precious seconds to blink away the lights and compose themselves from the blast were all the evil woman needed
A cruel grin curled at the edge of Maleficent's lips. "Now, let us try this again, shall we?"
Another concentrated blast of dark magic crackled and popped in the air as it flew across the hall. Better prepared this time Rachel and Minnie layered their magic shields. Elias wasn't without his share of surprises either. The black speckles on his wings glowed silver-white. With a great beat of his wide wings the shimmer of silver magic formed another layer of shielding.
Thick miasmic magic battered the protective barrier. With Rachel, Minnie and Elias having created their own layer to the spell they kept the dark fairy's power at bay very well. However, after only a few seconds, though it felt like hours, Rachel cried out sharply and dropped to her knees. When she faltered, so did the spell. The curse gained ground.
"Don't stop now! We can hold it back. Rachel?" Minnie felt it when the counter barrier weakened but it took her a few seconds to see how Rachel was faring. Then their previous conversation about Rachel's temperamental magic came to mind. So did the other thought. "Oh no! The curse couldn't have gotten through! Elias! Don't let up!"
Though alarmed and concerned by his mistress' sudden ailment the gryphon knew going to her aid would only make things worse for all of them.
"This gift will not be so easily broken as the last one," Maleficent gloated from across the courtyard. "Be sure to give my regards if your friends and your king manage to return from-."
A massive column of white and orange lightning struck hard and suddenly from above.
Minnie and Elias were so surprised by the bright light and the force of it they dropped their concentration that upheld the barrier. Thankfully it didn't matter. The lightning had reduced the curse to a harmless gray mist. Though, despite the force behind the strike, not so much as a blade of grass had been bent in the process.
"Who-?!" Maleficent demanded, just as alarmed.
"It was I."
Rachel, Minnie, and from behind a pillar, Daisy looked up to a new voice. Master Yen Sid came down the hall at a steady and deliberate pace. He walked with his arms crossed, hands hidden within his sleeves. A few white hairs practically glowed against his otherwise gray beard. Around him a haze of magic faded away with every step he took. His demeanor caught Rachel completely off-guard. In all her years apprenticing under him she'd never seen that hardened expression before. His gaze could have frosted the surface of the sun. He had not broken eye contact with the dark fairy since he made himself known.
"The great Sorcerer himself. It has been far too long."
"That it has. Though you appear to be lost. Otherwise someone has neglected to inform me you are now a welcome guest of this castle."
Despite the formality of their words neither made any effort to hide the disgust toward the presence of the other. Yen Sid glanced to Rachel, Minnie and Daisy, his gaze lingering on Rachel. Though still on her knees she nodded to indicate she was all right. He looked back to Maleficent.
"I am afraid you have overstayed your welcome. Leave now and of your own volition and no harm will come to you."
"My, my. That almost sounds like a threat. Suppose I do not wish to leave? What shall become of me then?"
"Then, I am afraid, force is the only other option."
To that Maleficent cackled, "Force? By whose hand? Theirs? Yours?"
"Yes. I will make you leave."
Maleficent's expression hardened. "You must be joking. How many years have you sat idly in your tower? How long have you merely listened to the stars and never acted? How many times have you only offered guidance and wisdom through words but never action?"
Rachel's eyes flashed furiously at hearing her mentor insulted so. She made a motion to stand and speak a word or two on the subject but Yen Sid held his hand up to stop her.
"I would not expect you to understand. While I do not deny I am not the man of action I once was, I do not believe you, Maleficent, are in any position to criticize me regarding matters of character. It would appear you perhaps believe I am no match for you. After all, for years you have been actively seeking greater powers whereas I have not. Or, at least, not in the same ways. I am willing to put it all to the test. What say you?"
The dark fairy studied him closely. "I can make time for this. What better way to earn my talisman than destroying the Sorcerer?"
"You mean this to be a battle to the end?"
Maleficent smirked in response.
"Very well. This is not how I would wish it but I accept."
"Master Yen Sid, no!" Minnie and Daisy cried.
Rachel finally managed to pull herself to her feet. "Master, let me help."
"Absolutely not!" Daisy snapped. "Out of the question."
"I'll be fine," Rachel looked to him for an answer.
The old sorcerer looked back with a slight smile of grandfatherly pride. He shook his head.
"I appreciate your loyalty and desire to rush to my defense. This is a challenge I accepted and is the responsibility of no one but me. All three of you stand back somewhere safe. And before you protest, as I know you were about to, that is an order. Your time is coming when you and I will stand as equals. For now, please do as I say."
For a brief second she cursed him with her eyes for being so calm and logical but obeyed.
Maleficent and Yen Sid stood at opposite ends of the courtyard. Minnie, Rachel, Daisy and Elias gathered far behind the columns and almost into the next hallway. Elias raised his furry and feathery hackles to the sky and stood protectively in front of Rachel.
As per the etiquette of any duel Yen Sid made a short bow. Even through her air of these-fools-are-no-match-for-me was so heavy it could have crushed a house Maleficent also bowed. A raging torrent of magic followed.
Hey guys! Hope you all have been having a fantastic holiday season! Sorry for being a bit stagnant with my posts. I've been writing a lot but slow with typing up what I've got in my notebooks. I hope to have at least one more ready by Christmas and of course another chapter on Christmas day as my present to you!