Poor Unfortunate Soul
"Ariel!" Flounder shouted the little fish swimming as fast as his fins could carry him. "Ariel! Where are you! Please come back out!"
"Ariel!" Sora yelled as well, brushing up with the tide only to get knocked into the rock again. "Ouch-ugh I hate swimming like this."
Sora and the others looked over every rock, every crevice, yet still no sign of the little mermaid. They didn't know how long had passed, could have been minutes could have been hours; telling time under the sea was difficult. However, the longer it took the more guilty Sora felt. Even if they hadn't done anything, he still felt like this was his fault for what had happened. Perhaps it was self blame that wasn't deserved but it didn't matter, he always felt bad when a friend was in trouble and he wasn't able to help. That was just part of his nature.
Still in his mind the name Xehanort still racked around his mind-who was he and why didn't he hear that name during his time until now. Had Leon and the others been keeping secrets from him? Or perhaps they were just out of the loop as he was. But it seemed the further along he went on this journey the more he was starting to find out about the Keyblade Wielders and the more he didn't like it. The heroism that he thought these wielders had seemed to be wearing off. However all of this was hearsay and from people who clearly had a bad experience with the Keyblade Masters. He had to meet a Keyblade Master first before he would judge personally.
Star and Marco however, they seemed quite calm as they looked for Ariel. Like Donald, Goofy and Jiminy they remained the voice of reason. Unaffected by the new information given to them. Star was surprising strong and despite Marco's misgivings of Star's feeling towards her world, if she did have misgivings she didn't show it.
"Man that Triton guy is such a jerk!" Marco grumbled using her tail to kick a rock in frustration. "He couldn't just let you do your job and lock the Keyhole."
Marco had been grumbling about Triton ever since he blasted the crystal. He seemed the most upset out of all of them for his actions. But Sora could understand why, Goofy as well, parents could act irrational at times-even stubborn. However that did not mean there intentions were always bad-they were people after all and made mistakes. However Triton actions were out of love and protection for his child.
Sora hoped though he could see that he did upset his child and they could reconcile.
"I mean he's just looking out for his kid." Star added Marco looking at her shocked. "I've-i'm used to that-kinda...Ok not almost firing magic at me but-I get it, the overprotective part."
Marco froze his eyes drooping down. "Oh-yeah, ok, I get his point, still he shouldn't have done that."
Goofy nodded. "Sometimes we dads get a little carried away when it comes to that. Moms too...Or guardians in general." He gave a Donald a small look of appreciation. "But we are just looking out for our loved ones.
"Yeah-" Marco sighed. "Still, he didn't have to be such a jerk about it."
"He was just trying to protect his family." Star defended much to Marco's surprise. "I mean sure he didn't go about it in the right way-may have caused some emotional drama and made the situation-Okay yeah that was pretty bad. Still-I -I understand."
Sora didn't say a word but he heard everything being said. They were right, even his mom who was normally pretty carefree like him would get overprotective when it came to his own safety. Although she let Sora make mistakes, she always had one eye on him at all times, probably both though, for when things got really bad, she would not hesitate to jump in. Riku used to be that way with him too, before he turned. Yet with this and more in mind, he didn't completely blame King Triton, still, he knew that right now Ariel could use a friend.
Although perhaps his methods where...extreme.
"Ariel!" he shouted again his voice echoing through the sea. "Ariel it's just us, we just wanna help! I'm sorry what your dad did! I'm sure we can still seal the Keyhole."
"What are you people still doing here!" Sora looked up to see Sebastian running up towards them with a disapproving look. "The King wants you out of here, ASAP."
"Not until I know Ariel is ok." Sora said giving a huff. "And don't think you can stop us."
"So back up buddy or will be having you for dinner!" Star shouted.
"Huh?"
"I mean what we have lobster on Mewni too, and also Glip Glarp!" Star shuddered and started drool at the motion. "Mmm...Glip glarp, I could go for some of that right about now."
"The King doesn't want you here, you've been nothing but trouble." Sebastian said again, this time saying it with more stress than before. "So leave this kingdom and dis world not there will be deities consequences."
"What are you going to do pinch us to death." Marco snickered.
"How have I been nothing but trouble, all i've done is help-or at least attempt too." Sora argued back yet instantly he felt a twinge if guilt.
Sebastian scoffed. "Things were quieter before you showed up."
"Oh please how bad do things-" Sora paused to think about it. "Actually-you know what I better not say anything."
Instantly Sora thought about all the other worlds he had visited, Wonderland, Agrabah, Traverse Town the Coliseum. It did seem were he went, trouble did follow. Was he really the cause, was it the Heartless. perhaps it was both. But that thought alone made his heart sink. Trying to stay the course wasn't working, and maybe it was finally time to be far more concerned on how he intervened in the worlds. Maybe King Triton was right, and perhaps he was interfering too much.
Sebastian just swam away leaving Sora and the others standing their to think about what he had said. Flounder followed him, hoping that maybe Ariel was at the palace.
"Sora? You ok?" Donald asked noticing Sora's growing frown.
Sora wanted to speak but suddenly a single flash of light hit from far away. It went all the way to the surface-glowing blight and blinding them. Until it vanished as quickly as it had emerged. There was no denying that it was some magical aura of some sort.
"That was from the palace!" Sebastian yelled as he swam off now in a faster pace. "Don't follow me!"
"Should we go check it out?" Star asked ignoring Sebastian.
Sora bit his lip. "No-Lets just go find Ariel. Sebastian edge said don't follow him"
"But it could be important." Marco argued.
Sora shook his head. "I'll only make things worse."
Sora began to swim off, Donald and Goofy followed. However Star and Marco stayed behind both looking at each other with a concerned expression.
"Sorry Sora, I'm gonna go and see what's up." Star said.
Sora stopped and turned around. "Ok-If you want...Good luck guys."
He swam off again leaving Star and Marco behind.
-000-
Sora swam as fast as he could to try and find Ariel and the others, they searched every stock, every crevice, yet they could not for the life of them find the Mer-Princess and the others. He felt so terrible for Ariel, almost that it was his fault that she had gotten in trouble.
Yet didn't his presence always get people into trouble.
Keyblade wielders weren't supposed to interfere. That is what King Triton had told him. That the Keyblade wielders brings chaos and shattered peace. And the more Sora thought about it the more he realized that trouble, chaos and shattered peace did tend to follow him from place to place. Be it Jasmine being kidnapped by the Heartless. Traverse Town and the various monsters and crooks around there. Then there was the effect the Keyblae had on his friends, one turned to the darkside the other lost their heart, not to mention his own home being destroyed.
He really did bring chaos and shattered peace, or at the very least, his Keyblade did. In fact he couldn't think of a world where things had gone peaceful. Always action, fighting, adventure-it was very tiresome.
"Ariel!" Sora shouted out again before taking another sigh of defeat. "This world is so big, how are we ever going to find her?"
"Let's face it, will never find her." Donald sighed lifting up another pebble. "Maybe we should just go and leave this world be-not like the King is even here anyway."
Goofy continued to keep his positive demeanor through it all. "Ah don't worry fella's I'm sure will find her."
"But what if we don't." Sora sighed. "It's gonna be my fault this happened, add to another list of things that happen to be my fault. Everything seems to be these days, heck why don't you add your problems and blame them on me. Heck I'm sure that Xeha-Xeha-"
"Xehanort." Goofy said.
"Yeah him, i'm sure that's my fault too. Everything is my fault-me and my stupid keys fault-sometimes-sometimes I wish i never got this thing in the first place."
Goofy sighed swimming up to Sora who merely frowned. "Ah come on Sora, don't blame yourself for everything."
"Yeah-not everything is you're fault." Donald said, getting a big glare by Goofy. "Sorry. But your just a kid at the end of the day-and-and-"
"And what?" Sora asked genuinely curious.
"And-that's why I never liked the idea of you doing all this. You are just a kid, you shouldn't have to be doing any of this at all. You shouldn't' even be a Keyblade Wielder."
"Yeah but I'm the one with the Keyblade ok-me, I got stuck with it, do I want it, not really. But I'm stuck with it, Riku is gone, Kairi lost her heart and here we are stuck in the middle of the ocean looking for someone we got into trouble. We do this over and over and over again-It would be nice to have some answers!"
"Answers…" Came a slimy voice from amidst the darkness. "Answers you say."
"We know someone who can give you answers." A second similar slimy voice came.
Sora felt a chill run down his spine as he turned around, two green slimy horrid eels were floating around him. Drifting in and out through makeshift nots, there glowing yellow eyes staring right back at him. These creatures seemed unnatural, and they did not look trustworthy at all. Everyone in the group glared at them, yet did not attack for they didn't have reason to do so-at least not yet. Unlike the other fish and mermaids that drifted around the place these two felt off, almost like a disease. Bacteria in the water. Even the smell of them felt horrid. A familiar smell, one Sora had sensed several time during his journey and normally one that involved the darkness.
Slowly the two eels drifted towards Sora giving him a crooked looking grin. "Poor child-looks for answers yet can't find any."
"Where did the answers go?" The other said.
"Who are you?" Sora asked, wishing his Keyblade would show up, just so he could have something to defend himself.
"Flotsam."
"And I'm Jetsam."
"Get lost!" Donald shouted waving his fist violently. "We are busy at the moment."
"Lost?" Flotsam asked looking a bit confused. "Why would we do that."
"We only wish to help." Jetsam snickered.
Sora raised a eyebrow. "How do you want to help me."
Already Sora could tell he was getting played again, he had been through this game several times, yet normally going with it could at least to some answers. Maybe even answers to this new peace of Keyblade lore that he discovered.
"Alright who do I meet this time."
The two eels looked at each other puzzled, obviously not expecting him to go so easily with them.
"Oh no, no, no!" Donald swam up in front of Sora arms held up wide, his face contorted with annoyance. "I'm tired of always following these bad guys!"
Sora rolled his eyes. "Come on Donald, we do this always."
"Yeah and weren't you just saying everything is your fault." Donald yelled back. "If you don't wanna get into trouble, then don't go looking for it like you always do. And this is just looking for trouble-end of story."
Sora bit his lip. "Yeah well-can't fight the inevitable."
"Well-" Goofy pauses to think. "I trust you Sora-you haven't let us down yet.."
Kind words, but Sora at this point just wanted to get the ride over with, find out who could help, and maybe just maybe get out of this again. Not even confidence by Goofy was enough to get his spirits up.
Feeling defeated Sora just followed them, wanting to get this over with and quickly, didn't matter if Donald and Goofy disagreed. Though he wouldn't admit it-he was glad that they were still by his side, even he was probably making a very bad decision right at this moment.
-000-
"Come."
"This way."
"This place is getting creepy." Goofy shuttered as he looked around, the ocean atmosphere getting a small bit of dark pink.
"Well most dangerous places we go are." Sora muttered, internally he agreed.
Whatever part of the ocean the two eels were leading them two was definitely trouble. But Sora new that no matter what, trouble would find him. And this placed smelled of trouble; just the rock looked decayed, and the fresh green of kelp looked rotten and poisoned. In the distance a large giant eel shaped carcass laid buried on the ground, it's mouth wide open like a entrance way amid the rubble. The place stunk of darkness and decay.
"You have to wonder who'd choose to live here." Sora asked himself
Flotsam snickered. "You'll see."
"Soon enough." Finished Jetsam.
Donald and Goofy kept up a close pace, both looking horrified as they saw tiny little grey worm creatures looking up at them. There eyes soulless, a look of torture among them. Instinct wanted to help them, but they knew it would be impossible to do so, at least right now in this state.
"This creature was once a great monolith for our kind." Flotsam said.
"A god to our people, who once protected us from the oppressive Merpeople who thought to dominate our home." Added Jetsam.
"But now it serves as the home of the great and marvelous-Ursula. Our protector great sea witch of the sea."
They entered the main chamber, a cauldron smacked dab in the middle of the room, along with vanity mirror and sleeping area. Inside the sleeping area, several tentacles began to project themselves out. As a large sagging body began to draw down from it, her wily smile growing.
"You called my dears." Ursula said as she floated off towards Sora. "My-my aren't you a handsome sack of fish."
Sora tensed up as one tentacle wrapped itself around heart back. "Uh-Hi-I'm-"
"Oh I know who you are Sora-or should I call you the Keyblade Master." Ursula said chuckling darkly. "Oh don't be surprised, I know and see all, I am not a sea witch for nothing after all."
"Oh well um-these two said you might have some answers." Sora said trying to stay polite, but feeling he might have to fight his way outta here. "Like about my Keyblade and -um-"
"Xehanort." Ursula chuckled. "Oh yes, I saw that little conversation, it is quite an interesting name."
Urusla
I admit that in the past I was a bit of nasty
They weren't kidding when they called me well a witch.
Now you'll find that now a days
I've mended all my ways
Repented
Seen the light
Made a switch
True
Yes.
And fortunately I know a little magic.
It's a talent that I have always have possessed
And believe me please don't laugh
I use it on behalf
On the miserable
Lonely
And depressed
PATHETIC
Poor Unfortunate
In pain
In need
That one wants to get his friends back
That one wants to get the girl
And do I help them.
Yes indeed
Those poor unfortunate souls
It's sad
But true.
They come flocking to my Cauldron
Crying
Spelsl Urusla please
And I help them.
Yes I do.
"What are you showing me?" Sora asked.
Ursula merely snickered. "Just vague images-magic comes with a price- you can't get something for nothing you know and believe me with an answer like this it's going to cost you big time sweetheart."
"See I knew this was a bad idea!" Donald shouted. "Come on, let's gets going."
A tentacle stops him in his tracks.
"I wouldn't do that my dear." Ursula said. "You see, apart from the answers I have a few others things you might want."
Snapping her fingers a puff of magical smokes emerges and from it, Star, Marco and Ariel arrive, and in the other hand King Triton's trident emerges, clutched in Ursula chubby arm. Sora snarls as his Keyblade emerges on cue, ready for a fight. But the witch seems quite calm as she leans back against the wall of her grotto her two eels chuckling with glee as they swim around.
"Huh imagine that, good thing we came." Jiminy commented from his tiny bubble.
"Sadly they haven't paid there debts" Ursula snickered.
See it's happened once or twice
Someone couldn't pay the price
And I'm afraid
I had to rank them cross the coles.
Yes I've had the odd complaint
But on the whole I've been a saint
To those poor unfortunate souls
"Let them go!" Sora said glaring at Ursula, his fist clench, "You aren't being saint like right now"
Ursula cackled. "Bet you've said that a few times in the past few months, don't think we don't know what's been happening."
"We?"
"Maleficent and the others of course, Jafar, Oogie, Hades, myself, Pete and old Hook-you haven't met him yet." Ursula gave a sly wink. "We've been watching your adventure from the begining, with the Heartless so spread we are able to see you go to every world, every corner, watch you suffer again and again, repeating the same pattern. Fight us, seal keyholes, repeat."
Sora eyes narrow, she was right, his adventures were getting reparative. "And your point is."
"Let me cut to the chase hot stuff-I want you to use that Keyblade to unlock the Keyhole of this world, and I'll let them go."
"What! Your crazy!" Sora shouted. "I'm not gonna do that, hearts will be lost and they'll just die in the process."
"Oh you think people die that's cute. No-no they aren't dead, worse, all worlds that are taken by the Heartless enter into the dark realm. One that lies beyond the door. Trapped for all eternity more or less."
"All eternity?" Sora said his body stiffening. "But-but that means."
"Mewni." Star muttered, the realization hitting her
"I mean it's possible they could be free, but that's a power far greater than even me-sadly. But yes, they are not dead."
Sora eyes widen as he remains silent. So his family wasn't dead, Star family wasn't dead. Yet he didn't know how to feel knowing they were trapped in some sort of dark realm controlled by the Heartless. Could they feel, would they remember everything if they returned, could they return. If there was hope they could then he had to pursue it, yet on the other hand if there wasn't then he would live with the guilt knowing that his world and family and friends were entrapped in a torturous place forever.
"So why would I ever help you!" Sora shouted back again. "I think this water is causing the oxygen to leave your brain lady."
"Because if you don't I'll just outright kill them and that is something you can't come back from." Ursula pointed the trident at the captured pair as it began to light up.
"No!"
"Oh my poor sweet child, look at you-the fate of the universe rests on your shoulders, and you didn't even ask for it...Such a sad depressing tale." Ursula chuckled and began to draw magical energy from her cauldron, showing off her magical prowess as she swam around the room, her cackling echoing throughout the room, enjoying the delight of her now suffering enemy.
Ursula
I think you want to make this little bargain
Yes i think you want to make my little deal.
Make sure you friends don't kablooey
Things will be getting rather screwey!
Now come on boy let's make both are dreams become real.
Come on you Poor Unfortunate Soul.
Go ahead make a choice
You know the answers you seek
I can give you a peak
So let's do this
You and me!
"Alright!" Sora shouted taking a deep breath. "I'll unlock the Keyhole, just let go of my friends."
"That's a good lad. Now let's get the magic ready." Ursula begins to activate her cauldron again magical aura forming through it. "Oh-I already see a bit of interesting developments."
"What?" Sora could see something-images, images of Keyblade clashing with one another, perhaps it was images of the past, the Keyblade masters of old. It was all so fascinating, he wanted to know more he was becoming fixated by it.
"What oh no! I'm not dealing with this! Lighting!" Donald in a rage fires his wand, activating the lighting spell that hits the cauldron.
Something must have happened for the magic within the cauldron begins to rise and get out of control. Donald himself seemed surprised, he did not intend for this to happen at all. But Donald own act of aggression worked in his favor. Ursula was shoved back into the wall knocked out.
Sora shook his head coming out of his trance-the images still stuck in his mind though. He wanted to go back and take a look
"The Trident." Marco shouted
Ariel rushed to it and took it Sora knocking out a few Heartless that had appeared to reinforce the group as they began to make there escape from the grotto. Rising as fast as they could, seeing a horde of heartless emerged.
At that moment Sora knew he couldn't do anything he would have to go, despite wanting to know more. Answers would have to wait at least for now. Right now he had to help his friends-that was what was important right now.
"That can't be good." Sora thought as he swam away the last thing he saw was large amount of black ink consuming the grotto Ursula scowl being consumed by it.
"Come on, we have to get the Trident back to daddy."
-000-
"I hope we aren't to late." Ariel sighed holding onto the trident firmly.
Sora and the others tried to get as far away from the grotto as they possibly could.
"It's okay Ariel will get that back to your dad and seal up the Keyhole-I promise." Sora said.
Star nodded. "Yeah will take down that tentacled lady for good!"
Sora and Star both looked at each for they knew what they had discovered. A chance for there worlds to survive. Now they both had reason to keep going on there quest. Hope. Hope that there homes could restored and they in turn would be reunited with their families. It was a hope that could burn bright enough in there hearts and give them the ability to keep going.
"But this is all my fault- I got stubborn I ran away and I let Ursula play me like-Like a kelp fiddle." Ariel wanted to slam something.
"Kelp fiddle?" Marco muttered
Star rolled his eyes. "Look you got stubborn and made a mistake- a earth shattering world destroying mistake that could have massive consequences on the people and I am not helping again I am sorry. But my point is-at least you are fixing it now *sigh* see this is what happens when you deal with people with magical powers your mistakes tend to be bigger than people without magic."
"What is that supposed to mean." Marco said giving a annoyed frown. "I'm not magical enough."
"No I'm just saying-"
"Fellers can we finish this argument when we are safe." Goofy said looking back seeing what looked like Heartless on there tale.
Star nodded. "Right-let's speed this up."
They pushed against the current as fast as they could-the Heartless right on there tale. Donald managed to use his fire spell on them blasting a few back as he kept up with the rest of the ground. Once they got far Sora looked at Star remembering the information Ursula had given them.
"Think will home again." Sora asked a bit hope in his voice.
Star nodded smiling. "Yeah-I think we will-we have to!"
"How far till we get back to the palace?" Goofy asked her breath starting to run out..
Ariel looked up ahead. "Not that far now."
They kept on swimming as fast as there tales could carry them. Suddenly the ground began to shake, and from behind them a large puff of black ink smoke began to consume the ocean. Behind them, Ursula had caught up with them, but not just in speed but in size, she was monstrous now. Larger than a mountain her tentacles caused waves within the ocean as they moved.
Sora gazed upon this monstrosity with horror.
"Ariel! Take the Trident! Run-go get your dad! Will handle this."
Sora, Marco, Star, Donald and Goofy all took out there weapons ready for a massive battle.
Sora and the others dodged her attacks as best they could, her massive size made her slow by comparison. They were like nats avoiding being crushed by the weight of this monstrosity. Still the massive size met when they got hit the impact was quite damaging. Sora's inability to swim perfectly caused for a few hits every now and then. Donald and Goofy thankfully were able to pull him away before getting hit by one of the tentacles or Ursula's spells.
"She's huge, how do we stop her?" Marco shouted hiding behind Star for safety. "Someone cast a shield spell on me!"
Sora held his Keyblade tight. "Just keep hitting I guess."
Ursula cackled swatting them with her hand. "Oh you think that's going to work."
"Like that's gonna happen-I've taken things way bigger than-" Sora paused as got knocked into one of the tentacles now. "Okay-this is bad very bad."
Star quicky fired her wand trying to break him. "Don't worry Sora i got yuh."
"Come on move! Move!" Marco pushed the tentacle too.
Sora was finding it hard to breath. "Losing-what oxygen."
But it had a tight grip on him.
Sora couldn't move he was trapped within the tight grip of Ursula clutches. He couldn't reach his Keyblade and even with the others help he couldn't manage to to get away. It seemed like there was going to be escape this time, he could only hope that there would some last chance some final rescue.
"Ha! Ha! It looks like that little mermaid didn't get back in time." Ursula cackled. "Not that it matters I have much bigger things in mind for you then death-For you see as much as I would want too-killing you is sadly not on the group agenda-at least not yet."
Marco stopped. "What are you talking about?"
"Sorry hun-That is not for you to know." Ursula used her massive size to swat Marco and Star away taking Donald and Goofy in her clutches not. "Only these three are the Key."
Sora could feel himself going out-up above her saw something floating down towards him, some large and massive. The last few things she could see is Ursula massive face staring right back at him.
Ursula
And at last I'll live the life that I have longed for.
All the glammer and the glitter and the glitz
And not to mention
By the way
A great seafood bafay
I love my subjects
Literally
To bits
Ah those
Poor Unfortunate Souls
My rein
My rules
I'll deploy delicious terror
From the trenches
To the shoals
I'll enjoy sadistic pleasures
From the tropic
To the poles
And oh boy I'll get revenge
With all of you in
Staring
Roles!
You
Poor
Unfortunate
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUULLLLLLS!
As Ursula cackled everything went to darkness and Sora could no longer see. He tried to struggle but she was too strong. He worried what would happen to this world, Donald, Goofy...Ariel, Star, Marco. All of it
Falling
Fading.
Everything was darkness