To the Cave and Back Again
Riku's vision began to come back to him now though his head hurt and muscled ached. Perhaps this was how Sora felt whenever he fell down from trees back home. Thankfully nothing was broken. It was a good start yet sadly nothing could prepare him for the fact that he was completely tied up, unable to move his arms and legs.
Looking around, he found himself inside a underground chamber, several pedestals on each side of the room. Standing on top on the front end pedestal were Jafar, Iago and Genie looked upon a large embedded Keyhole shaped marking, the vizer cackling madly at the sight of it. On Riku's left hand side, Aladdin and Jasmine were also tied up, however they must have woken up earlier for they were struggling to break free of their chains.
Everyone was here and chapter, except for the only person that really mattered.
Sora
Thinking back to that battle he saw just how powerless he was, how ...well….weak he had become. Definitely not someone who could wield the Keyblade let alone. On top a large rock platform Hafar cackled madly as he bask at the Keyhole his arms outstretched as if to hug it. His face was contorted into a wide grin, his eyes wide and wild with excitement.
"At last, the Keyhole...and all the power that comes with it, shall be mine!" Jafar shouted again more excited than before. "Oh, what a wonderful day this has been turning out to be-for me! And here of all places in the Cave of Wonders."
"Yeesh Jafar, why don't you burst my eardrums out." Iago muttered as he looked around the cave.
"Oh hush Iago, allow me to enjoy victory." Jafar brushed the bird aside and turned to face Jasmine hunger in his eyes. "Isn't it amazing Princess, the Cave of Wonders in all its glory, there are enough riches here to feed the people of Agrabah ten times over. One diamond could make anyone richer than the Sultan and you."
"The Cave of Wonders?" Jasmine asked looking shocked. "Why does that name sound so familiar."
He sneered viciously as he approached . "The Cave of Wonders, considered to be a legend, it is a hodgepodge of treasures and items, the likes of with mere mortals would never have seen. It is older than the city of Agrabah itself guarded by a mythical creature of sands. "
"Riches?" Aladdin said looking around. "What kind of riches are we talking about, Diamonds, gems...?"
"Now is not the time." Jasmine muttered.
Aladdin gave a cheek grin. "Sorry, thieves habit. Plus you know...Guys gotta pay the bills somehow"
"Tell me about it," Genie sighed, "And in today's economy, mud houses are going through the roof".
"Besides I'm going to be the one basking in the treasures here." Iago snickered his eyes looking at the gold coins hungrily. "So many treasures, all for me, got it!"
"How surprising, a street rat like you only caring for riches in a time a peril."
Aladdin merely shrugged. "Guys gotta survive right, can't make it without a bit of cash in the bank right."
"Well...You won't have much time to steal, when this world is snared in darkness once and for all."
"The darkness?" Jasmine asked a tinge if fear in her voice.
A snake like hiss escaped from Jafar lips as he spoke. "Yes….when the Keyhole is unlocked this world will fall to the Darkness and so belong in the domain of the Heartless. Agrabah time in the light will end, its usefulness to me will no longer matter, for soon I will find a new domain, a better one, and not the filth riddled streets that we once called home."
"Those creatures…." Jasmine then straightened herself glaring daggers at him. "Those creatures will never control Agrabah."
"Agrabah will not have to worry too much, they won't simply control Agrabah, Agrabah will be immersed by them."
"Hmm, not a great way to run a regime," Genie added
"Silence!" Jafar sneered
Jasmine eyes widened in fear as she pictured Agrabah getting swallowed by those creatures of darkness followed by a wave of guilt. This would be her fault she thought if those creatures had succeeded and taken over Agrabah. If she had taken action sooner, perhaps rallied the people more to her side and taken down Jafar faster. Or had a better plan to free her father. Her mind was racing as she tried to think of something, anything to take down the evil sorcerer right in front of her once and for all.
In her anger she jumped up and charged forward to rush Jafar and maybe push him down. Yet she was not quick enough and instead found her body tightening as the vizier's magic took hold holding her down and tightening the bonds around her.
"Jasmine!" Aladdin shouted trying to help but unable to move himself.
"So sorry Princess." Jafar said in his oly manner. "But unfortunately I cannot allow you to harm yourself too much, as you are of value, as for your friends and the boy...That's another manner."
"Where is Sora!?" Riku yelled he got up, his eyes panicking as he couldn't see his friend. "If you hurt him I'll-"
He ran straight first towards Jafar who merely raised his staff and caused Riku to go into a standstill completely frozen, trapped within his own body. He rose into the air and smashed straight onto the ground. Jafar sneered at him as he kept his staff firm at him, eyes glowing still as it kept it's magical grip on him.
"My dear boy, do you really think I would allow the Keyblade so close to my ultimate triumph?" Jafar snickered. "I may be a man of pride, but I'm not dumb to run the risk of losing so easily. He is alive, for the moment, just...more out of sight."
"Guess your more scared of him than I realized." Riku snickered.
"Him hardly, but anyone who wields a Keyblade no matter how pathetic, is someone I would definitely keep a eye on."
Riku felt his anger grow. He wanted nothing more to snap these chains and take him down right then and there. But a familiar scent began to enter is nose. A familiar looking sickly green flame emerged in front of Jafar who stood back with a sneer. Maleficent had arrived, along with Hades and Pete, bearing her usual calm demeanor.
"Well, this is a pleasant surprise, I thought you were looking for the Princess but you have found a Keyhole as well." Maleficent laughed. "Good thing you didn't botch this up."
As she looked around the room, she seemed slightly intrigued, her eye stopping on Riku. No doubt because of their deal, she would not him or Sora, though her allies didn't seem to know or weren't instructed to change as such. However, he knew that she wouldn't blow their secret alliance, even in front of strangers. She was smarter than that, they both were.
"Yeah lady, well that's why we are probably are best people on the job!" Iago yelled getting a hiss from her pet Diablo.
"I see you have found the Keyhole." Maleficent looked at the mighty hole in the wall now.
Jafar snickered. "Yes, with its power will be able to rule over this world and the people in it to my liking."
"You mean our liking?" Maleficent replied glaring at him. "Jafar Agrabah has proven you can't control a city let alone rule a world, hence why I wish for you to unlock the Keyhole consume this world in darkness and return to our domain with the Princess in hand, immediately."
Jafar tightened the grip of his staff as his face sulk. "We stand on my achievement of victory, Maleficent! A complementary attitude would be just, I have proven that I can win."
"Yet your inability to deal with the boy directly shows you're insecure as both a leader and a tactician, and personally Jafar, this whole facade as Sultan of Agrabah has gone on long enough. Hence why I hoped you allow the Heartless to bring this world into the darkness, so you can focus on more important matters. Such as securing the ultimate power beyond the door."
"Important matters?" Jafar let out a soft chuckle before his anger began to rise. "Important matters, I have brought you the princess! What more could you possibly ask!? I have done nothing but focus on our goals"
"Yeesh, you get so touchy." Hades groaned as he walked around.
Pete nodded. "Yeah, no need to throw a tantrum or anything."
"Loyalty...obedience….perhaps the use of that Genie?" Maleficent tapped her fingers on the lamp that was in Jafar's hand. "We have one goal Jafar, and that one goal is the only one that matters. Do not allow other petty obstacles to stand in your way."
"Then will you take the princess and be on your way?"
Maleficent looked at Jasmine with hungry eyes, the young Princess stepped back glaring back at her. Maleficent slowly walked toward her now, a inquisitive look on her face, observing her carefully, trying to sense the light within her.
"A princess of heart." Maleficent said in a hush whisper. "Yes, yes I can sense the light within you child."
Jasmine sneered. "I don't know what you want with me, but I'll never let you have it."
"Defiant." Maleficent laughed. "I like the fight in you."
Jafar rolled her eyes. "Unfortunately, she was always like this even in her younger years-a rebellious Princess to a impotent Sultan."
Slowly Maleficent lips curved into a smile. "Indeed then I have a proposal then...I want to see if the great Jafar can unlock the mighty Keyhole and bring the Princess to me once that task is complete."
Jafar sighed, this interaction with the witch was becoming a bruise upon his ego. But he would not be deterred. Today would be the day he proved his worth to her as well as to all those who dared challenge him. He would prove to everyone his true and great power. Power that he had managed to cultivate and build through years of study and hard work. Soon, everyone would see the power he could unleash, once the power of the Keyhole of Agrabah was his and his alone.
"Very well!" Jafar raised his staff the eyes glowing bright red as he focused all his energy on the Keyhole. "Hear me mighty Keyhole, I open you...Unleash the great darkness on this world, give them a taste on what is to come!"
Everyone watched as Jafar summoned forth all his magical powers, concentrating it all his might. Yet nothing occured, the Keyhole did not activate, nor did any magical darkness spew from it.
"Having trouble?" Maleficent snickered.
"No...just...my magic is a bit rusty." Jafar eyes glared daggers at her. "I will activate the Keyhole, one way or another."
"Seems to me he ain't all powerful as he lets us to believe." Pete laughed. "Some grand Vizer indeed."
Maleficent remained calm a slight smug grin morphing on her face "The Keyholes are ancient Jafar, remember that, they will not fall just to any dark user."
In the distance Riku grit his teeth but he knew what he needed to do. Hopefully he'd still be alive to do it. But so long as he captured these princesses then Sora would be safe and they would have Kairi soon. Still, he hoped that his friend would never have to find out about this, at least not yet. But soon he'd understand, this would all be for the best. This was for their friends.
Hades interjected now after a few more minutes of watching "Considering you don't have that Keybrat on hand, nor is he down in the Underworld with me-I wouldn't consider you out of the woods yet."
"Yes, where is the boy?" Maleficent asked looking around. "I hope you didn't kill him, he could after all be useful."
"Bah, he will not find anything-The Cave of Wonders is hidden, no one can find it."
As they villains bickered Riku continued to struggle to get out of his binds, Heartless stood nearby them to keep them in check. He had a feeling that Maleficent would not harm him so long as she was hear, it was probably the reason she hadn't left just yet. But right now he wanted to just get out and head back to Sora, he didn't even care if he had to ditch Aladdin and Jasmine to do it, they were not' important in the grand scheme of things.
All he cared about right now was getting back to Sora, even if they had to leave Donald and Goofy that would speed up his own plans for having him and Kairi tag along as they headed throughout the worlds. If he was able to get out of the situation alive that was.
"I wonder if Sora will come and find us." Aladdin thought looking around. "This is cave is massive, I remember coming here and getting loss early on, luckily I had carpet then to help me out."
Riku grunted as he struggled. "Of course he will, but he won't be able to help."
"Why not?" Aladdin asked seeming confused. "Aren't you guys friends
"We are but Sora's weak, he doesn't know how to use that Keyblade of his."
"You should have a bit more faith in your friend." Jasmine interjected. "Faith is pretty much the only thing we have now.
"Yeah well I know Sora and I know that he's a idiot who's not going to be able to help." Riku grunted again trying to free himself. "I gotta be ready to watch his back, he needs me."
"I get the sense you've been looking out for him quite a bit." Aladdin spoke.
"Yes-"
Jasmine sighed. "Well you'll be surprised what people are capable of when they have to, if you give them the chance."
Riku ignored her, that was a ridiculous idea. He knew Sora long enough to know that he was incapable most of the time. If he was a good fighter then he would have beaten him in a spar duel back on the Island. Even Kairi was a stronger than him and Riku combined in some cases, though sometimes Riku would let her win. Still the point remained was that he knew Sora and knew that he wasn't as capable as many people thought. He needed to be free, and he needed to protect him at all coast.e
"Hey guys."
Everyone jumped as Aladdin looked over his shoulder to see Genie, his shape smaller than usual, walking up to them. His expression was saddened as he kept a eye out on Jafar and the others making sure they weren't looking his way.
"Genie." Aladdin sighed. "I'm sorry, I should have wished you free when I had the chance."
"Wish me free?" Genie said looking puzzled. "Why do that kid."
"Because I wanted to free you Genie, you shouldn't be a prisoner in that lamp, let alone serving me or now Jafar. I really blew it back there, I'm sorry."
"Hey you were just thinking strategically." Riku interrupted. "I would have wished us out of here the moment I could."
"Well looks like we're gonna be here awhile anyway." Genie sighed looking back at Jafar, he was still struggling. "Never seen a master with more ego and definitely a lot of personal issues right about now, the way that Maleficent person toys with him. You can tell who's the dominant in that relationship am I right."
"Jafar always hated being second best." Jasmine muttered, "Probably been that way forever, he never showed it but I could always tell when he discussed things with my father.
Riku just rolled his eyes, "Yeah...Good thing I'm not second best then"
For the next hour or so it seemed Jafar was trying to activate the Keyhole, each time being met with more and more humilation.
"I wonder if Sora will come and find us." Aladdin thought looking around. "This is cave is massive, I remember coming here and getting loss early on, luckily I had carpet then to help me out."
Riku grunted as he struggled. "Of course he will, but he won't be able to help."
"Why not?" Aladdin asked seeming confused. "Aren't you guys friends
"We are but Sora's weak, he doesn't know how to use that Keyblade of his."
"You should have a bit more faith in your friend." Jasmine interjected. "Faith is pretty much the only thing we have now.
"Yeah well I know Sora and I know that he's an idiot who's not going to be able to help." Riku grunted again trying to free himself. "I gotta be ready to watch his back, he needs me."
"I get the sense you've been looking out for him quite a bit." Aladdin spoke.
"Yes-"
Jasmine sighed. "Well you'll be surprised what people are capable of when they have to, if you give them the chance."
Riku ignored her, that was a ridiculous idea. He knew Sora long enough to know that he was incapable most of the time. If he was a good fighter then he would have beaten him in a spar duel back on the Island. Even Kairi was stronger than him and Riku combined in some cases, though sometimes Riku would let her win. Still the point remained was that he knew Sora and knew that he wasn't as capable as many people thought. He needed to be free, and he needed to protect him at all coast.e
"Hey guys."
Everyone jumped as Aladdin looked over his shoulder to see Genie, his shape smaller than usual, walking up to them. His expression was saddened as he kept a eye out on Jafar and the others making sure they weren't looking his way.
"Genie." Aladdin sighed. "I'm sorry, I should have wished you free when I had the chance."
"Wish me free?" Genie said looking puzzled. "Why do that kid."
"Because I wanted to free you Genie, you shouldn't be a prisoner in that lamp, let alone serving me or now Jafar. I really blew it back there, I'm sorry."
"Hey you were just thinking strategically." Riku interrupted. "I would have wished us out of here the moment I could."
"Well looks like we're gonna be here awhile anyway." Genie sighed looking back at Jafar, he was still struggling. "Never seen a master with more ego and definitely a lot of personal issues right about now, the way that Maleficent person toys with him. You can tell who's the dominant in that relationship am I right."
"Jafar always hated being second best." Jasmine muttered.
Aladdin sighed and started to think, they needed a way out of here and fast.
Riku continued to struggle out of his bonds, the rope rubbing up against his skin quite painfully. Part of him wondered where Sora was. If that witch kept her deal, he should be safe, if perhaps knocked out or maybe a tad injured. He hoped to be free and go find him quickly. Yet he still had to contend with the insane sorcerer and a helpless street rat. Hovering above them the Genie looked at them with a deep sigh.
"Agin….I'm sorry, Al." The Genie sighed again as he leaned on Aladdin's shoulder. "Not much help if you can't wish, and it would be your last wish anyway so no real point there."
"Nah, it's ok...I'll get you out of this. I just need to find a way." Aladdin said still trying to get out.
Genie looked down at the binds thinking. "Hmm...Can I?"
"Can you what?" Aladdin asked.
"Well, it's uh…." Genie bit his lip thinking. "He never said I couldn't."
"Do what?"
"This." Genie summoned a pair of scissors and snip Aladdin's and Riku's bonds. They cough because of the smoke and Genies quickly disperses them. "Goes to show I have a little free will. Now, go get him." Genie whispered.
"Well boss! Looks like this Keyhole is a bust, just have the Heartless go for it." Iago said as he continued to watch his master struggle.
Jafar hissed, rubbing the tip of his head. "No! I will not give in this easily. Slave! Do something!"
"Ah, That just makes my job harder."
Jafar turned around to see Aladdin punch him right in knocking him down trying to take his staff.
"No!"
Jafar bolted it up as he and Aladdin struggle for dominance over the snake staff.
Riku get the lamp.
"Oh no, you don't, brat!" Iago went straight for him and blocked him trying to scratch him with his talons.
"Ugh...Stupid bird!"
Jafar kicked Aladdin off and began to blast Riku with his magic.
Suddenly several Heartless emerged they gathered around Riku, his sword at the ready. He eyed them carefully as they prepared to jump. Left foot at the ready to make the leap into action. When the Heartless jumped, Riku was ready to fly up and take each down one by one with a fiery fury that had been building up in his heart. But the moment was not to come, instead, Sora leaped out from the other side of the cave and made his strike with the Key landing in front of his friend as more of the horrid shadows came towards them.
"Took you long enough." Riku muttered slicing up a few Heartless that came his way.
Sora nodded and did a double kick. "Hey, I'm the Keyblade Master, after all."
"I see that."
As Sora and Riku battled the Heartless, Jafar stood on his podium firing his magic only to see the sight of the two boys in the center of the chamber. He felt his anger grow, never would he allow these two brats to come so close to his victory. He would have his chance.
"Genie! My second wish, defend the Keyhole!"
"Ugh…." Genie sighed and snapped his finger creating a magical barrier between the Keyhole and Aladdin.
"Still afraid to do your own dirty work, I see!" Aladdin sneered.
"What does that mean, street rat?"
"It means you're nothing more than a cowardly snake, no wonder you're so afraid of that Maleficent lady!"
"Maleficent?" Sora muttered, looking shocked.
Jafar anger rose his snake staff began to glow as suddenly a dark aura emanated from the Keyhole and began to swivel around Jafar.
"A snake, am I? Well then, perhaps you'd like to see how ssssnake-like I can be!"
Aladdin took a step back in horror as he watched Jafar began to mutate and charge growing large and large now, no longer did he have to deal with a wizard, now it was his battle against a giant king cobra. The Snake Jafar looked down noticing now everyone staring up at him a large fanged smile wrapping itself around his face as slithered down towards them.
"Well now, look at what we have here. A streetrat, a keybrat, his friends,...and a washed up monarch." Jafar laughed. "My lucky day, now I can rid this world and the rest of the universe of you once and for all!"
"Let's start with the washed up monarch himself." Jafar looked down and struck down on the ground Sora pushing the Sultan out of the way so that Jafar only hit the ground. Jafar raised his head again and struck. The strike was stopped instantly with a piercing sting that caused Jafar to scream in agony.
Now it was a full on brawl, five against one, the genie stood neutral in all this and Iago and the Sultan were watching from afar. The battle was intense, as all five of them jumped on top and around the snake, as they tried to avoid being caught in it's coils. Yet for all they could muster, it seemed that Jafar's own strength was keeping him from falling permanently.
Sora tried to keep his wits about him yet Jafar's magical energy via his new snake powers were becoming much for even him to to keep up with. He ducked and dodged, using some of the pillars built within the caves as a way to cover from the magical attacks a few times almost getting hit by them. Riku seemed to be doing the most damage to Jafar though, taking directs hit in order to get the plunge on him, quite literally.
"Worthless brat!" Whacking him back with his tail, Riku landed straight into the wall and fell to the ground with a loud thud. "Fools! I am the most powerful being in all of Agrabah! I am second in command to great Maleficent herself! Do you truly think you can defeat me!?"
"You don't sound all powerful to me Jafar, if anything you just sound second best!" Aladdin scoffed.
"What!?"
"Yeah, you said it yourself, you're just second in command. It doesn't sound like the best, it sounds like you are more of a servant! I mean first you were the vizier to the Sultan, now Maleficent's second, and now….Now you can't even be all powerful because of people like the Genie, heck I bet Sora has the potential to be more powerful. "
"I really don't want to be….."
Aladdin covered Sora's mouth. "Face it Jafar, you're still just second best."
"Quite!"
"He's right, Jafar." The Sultan intervened now, "All your life, you have been nothing more than a servant, trying to strive for something more! But you have taken down a path of theft, dishonesty, and power mongering!"
"Bah! Enough of this!" Jafar swung them all around, but picked Sora up tying him with his tail as he looked at him with a sneer. "You! You dare say you are stronger without that key, the key is who you are! Without it, you are nothing...nothing but a boy, who's home was lost and would not be the mere puppet you are now….a puppet mired in strings. Bound to the destiny of the Keyblade, as so many of you who came before!"
"Well I um….." Sora tried to think of a comeback but failed, maybe he was right.
Jafar snickered. "You know…...Perhaps you are right, the genie's power is greater than my own as well as the Keyblade's…..but not for long."
Slowly Jafar slithered across to Genie encircling him in his coils. "Um, Master...Hello, Master I uh, oh look at this I have so many calls to make and I really got to refurbish the old lamp you know and maybe I should be thinking about…."
"Slave! I make my third wish,.I wish to be...AN ALL POWERFUL GENIE!"
Genie sighed. "Alright, your wish is my command….thanks a lot Sora and Al."
With a zap of magic, Jafar began to transform gone was the slithering Snake now instead was massive red muscle bound Genie I'm full glory.
"YYYEEEESSSS! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSS! THE POOOOOWEEEER!" Jafar laughs, "THE ABSOLUTE…POOOOOWEEEERRRR! FORGET MALEFICENT! WITH THIS THE UNIVERSE IS MINE TO COMMAND, TO CONTROOOOOL! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Sora looked up in shock, Jafar was now a all powerful red Genie of immeasurable strength. Large building muscles, magical aura flowing through him. The former vizer grinned with maniacal glee as he tested the powers that he was now bestowed. The cave shook in his presence and Sora's own Keyblade could sense all the energy anything. Aladdin, Sora, Donald and Goofy tried to hold on, and The Sultan was stuck in the middle standing still so he wouldn't fall. But as Jafar continued to unleash his might, a black lamp formed under the bottom his tail. He didn't even bother to notice. Aladdin on the other hand did, and thus took his chance.
"Are you crazy!?" Riku yelled glaring back at Aladdin. "Look what you did!"
"Hang on!"
Then Sora saw it, Jafar's black lamp, he looked at Aladdin and put the two pieces together. It was at that moment that he trusted the Street Rat of Agrabah indefinitely. Without hesitation both rushed forward Jafar was to slow to decide who to fire on first, his hatred towards both just as equal. But Sora turned the other side getting Jafar's gaze, as Aladdin swung forward and headed right for the lamp grabbing it without a moment's notice.
"Ok Jafar, back to your lamp!" Sora shouted.
"WHAT!?"
Aladdin snickered. "You wanted to be a Genie, you got it, and everything that goes with it."
Jafar found two golden wristbands attaching to himself as he began to be sucked in, Iago his loyal sidekick fled without warning.
"I'm not getting sucked in there!" He said as he flew off leaving his master alone.
Jafar continued to swirl around until he shrunk to a size of peanut and with a single zap ...he vanished. The cave began to calm down, Riku coming out from the wreckage, running up to Sora in a hug. The two boys held each other in embrace, glad that the other was safe. The Sultan and Aladdin also look relieved taking a deep breath
"We did it!" Goofy cheered.
"Al! You little genius you!" Genies ran over to give Aladdin a hug.
"So...Jafar's lamp." Aladdin said looking at the black object.
Riku gave Sora a smirk. "We should use it."
"What?" Sora said looking shocked.
"Yeah, then we could wish for Kairi, Jasmine, their King and we can finally start exploring the worlds ourselves. It would make things a lot easier on our part. Come on Sora, I think it's worth the risk."
Sora looked hesitantly. "I don't know, it wouldn't feel right. I'm sure Jafar isn't a trustworthy genie to have. Also, It just doesn't seem right, I'd rather just wish him back to normal, seems like the right thing to do. Nobody should have the life of a slave."
"It's Jafar, come on -it's not like he doesn't deserve this."
"But it doesn't feel right!" Sora yelled, feeling the righteous indignity growing in him.
Riku signed handing Sora the lamp back. "Fine, if you are going to be so uptight about it."
"Oh, but it does remind me, here hold this."
Sora gave Riku back the lamp as he ran into the cave chambers and looked at the Keyhole, pointing the blade towards it and unleashing a bright light of magic that engulfed it completely until vanished locking the thing once and for all.
"Got it!"
"Ok, that's great but what about Jasmine!" Aladdin yelled. "That witch still has her."
"Don't worry Al-I can-"
Before anyone could say anything else, the cave began to shake, rock began to fall from the ceiling, the caves structure began to lose support. It would seem that ceiling the Keyhole did more than lock the world, it began to destroy the cave itself.
"We gotta get outta here!"
Aladdin whispered summoning carpet, the old rug quickly picked them all up and began to zoom them out of there. Both Aladdin and Sultan had look of desperation on there face as they looked back at the Cave of Wonders knowing that even though they had saved there world, Jasmine was still in the hands of someone far more terrible than both of them could ever imagine.
-000-
The ride back to the palace was a quick one. Most of the Heartless had vanished from the city, most likely due to Jafar no longer having the iron grip he wielded over them. As they returned, they began to see more people fill the once almost abandoned streets, the Sultan himself making a proclamation of peace to better ease the needs of his people. Yet, Sora knew as did Aladdin that the joyous victory was all but in vain so long as Princess Jasmine was in the hands of the wicked Maleficent. Once in the throne room, the Sultan quickly gathered what few followers and guards he could to round up whatever thugs laid in their wake. Taking a deep sigh, the Sultan could not help but sulk at the lost of his daughter.
"What did Maleficent want with her?" The Sultan asked taking a deep breath. "What made her so special….Apart from...Well….her being special?"
Aladdin sighed looking defeated. "I don't know...But...But I wanna find her."
"Neither do we." Sora interjected not wanting the Sultan to blame him in any way. "All I know is that it has something to do with the Keyblade, and she isn't the first person I know who was taken. A while back I met a girl named Alice, she was taken by the Heartless too."
"Then whatever it is, this is not just some random act but a more calculated measure. Well, as Sultan then by royal decree I will give you anything you require to find my daughter, all of the resources of the Kingdom at your disposal."
Sora looked taken aback and blushed. "Uh-T-Thank you your majesty, but I don't think that will be necessary."
"Hey-hey, don't knock it buddy, means you can have anything for free, personally I say we get a army and go full on assault on this witch."
Sora shook his head. "Well, if I need some supplies maybe-But a army, no thank, can't fit everyone on the Gummi Ship."
Suddenly in a poof of smoke the Genie appeared with his wife, optimistic grin plastered on his face. "Al., just make a wish then, and then ta-da….Jasmine is back here."
"Still doesn't change the fact Maleficent will just come back after her." Sora argued, his voice more serious than usual. "If she's hunting princesses then we have to take her out before we can save anyone."
Aladdin took a moment to think, he looked at the Genie, and then at Sora. "I might want Jasmine back….But I feel like….I feel like I wouldn't know what is going on. These Heartless...Everything."
"What are you saying young lad." The Sultan said.
"Genie….I wish….for your freedom!"
"One Princess Jasmine coming up….Huh…." The Genie began to find himself surrounded by magic, his poofy tail beginning to vanish and turn into two solid legs, the cuffs on his arms vanishing. "AL….I….I…."
The Sultan looked shocked. "By Allah...You boy...you…..You did well."
"Huh?" Aladdin asked.
"Sora told me of your promise to the Genie. When I heard this I thought it was a noble gesture but one that would be hard to enact. But one who did...shows a man of true character, and I would not want my daughter rescue to be on the backs of losing one heart or on the suffering of others. Thus, I propose this….Sora is the Keyblade Master, he and he alone can Visit the other worlds, as the ancient scripts told...You on the other hand...Well Jafar's minions and the Heartless still roam the lands Agrabah is still not safe."
"We'll be honored." Sora said, giving a firm salute. "And you did good Aladdin, personally I don't think that kind of power is worth having, it just leads to trouble."
Only Riku seemed to be annoyed by this. His eyes narrowed as he began to give a annoyed expression.
"Wait...Sora...Take this." Genie gave him his lamp. "If you need help….Just give a rub...I may not be a slave to it anymore….But I sure as heck still wanna help form time to time."
"Thank you….I will….Promise."
"Sora...please….Find Jasmine." Aladdin said.
"We will."
"Oh Sora," Aladdin got up and put a hand on his shoulder, "Make sure to make your own mom proud as well"
Riku watched as Sora nodded,
When the Gummi Ship finally took off, his headed out into the stars. A sense of ease came back to them as they floated off. Sora especially looked quite happy, although still disappointed by the fact he now had another person to add on his list of missing people. Only Riku looked miffed preferring to stay in his room inside the ship and moose over things instead of sitting up front. He liked being alone.
"Sora's wasting too much time with all these side quest." Riku muttered. "Time I took matters into my own hands...as usual."
He had seen that Sora got to distracted, that he focused to much on others he had forgotten where his loyalties were supposed to light, with him, with Kairi. Being a Keyblade Master might even be getting to his head, and that would be something Riku would have to watch if not control throughout this trip.
Yet thankfully for Riku, he had a ace up his sleeve, after all he wasn't an asset for nothing.
From the pocket in his pants, Riku pulled out a black lamp looking at it with a smirk. "Guess you aren't much of a master of a darkness, now are you?" Rubbing it red smoke began to consume the room and drifted out into the distance. "Find Kairi….."