KINGDOM HEARTS 3.6 Chapter 149:
The Sailor, the Sea and the Ram's Horn 2.
"As I made my way back to the World of Regnum Stratera, I accidentally counted myself at multiple venues. One was a place filled with unique beings that called themselves the Dwarves. There were six in total-Doc, Sleepy, Happy, Bashful, Sneezy and of course, one whom would become a dearest friend named Grumpy. They all had such curious names that one would think. I did not care though, only having pondered about them for a slight moment. But just like the everchanging winds, the ponder had left the next moment from my mind. At any rate anyways...we had met under the circumstance that I was a thief of a kind, trying to steal their treasures at a goldmine. Because of the goldmine surroundings being too old, it was dangerous to navigate such caverns, just in case of collapse. Such a collapse had indeed occurred when after being treated as a thief, did I save Grumpy's life from a falling bolder. Afterwards, Doc had lead the way out of the mines and the Dwarves lamented their losses...wanting to help them, I told the six of a jewel mine nearby that I had spotted on my way. I told them through my belief that it was better digging for jewels rather then just gold alone, thinking they would have better chances. Not to mention, if they had found jewels within the rocks around them all and carefully carve without fear of the mines collapsing like the last one did...one would think." says Orichalcum.
"To help better prepare this time around, instead of just using pitchforks alone, I helped my new friends make equipment that would help them safely navigate through the jewel mines...their suspicions about me were leaving...but were still there. Grumpy in particular was the most distrustful, even despite me saving his life. I was used to this kind of treatment beforehand so it was nothing special...over time however, I had managed to earn Grumpy's trust and together, we became drinking buddies. Because I was of legal age by my island's standards, I had asked that Grumpy show me how to properly drink alcohol and he obliged...though I think he regrets making that decision now. Since then, I did not see him drink a single sip of anything that contained...the kind of chemicals that makes one feel woozy, oof. Nevertheless, our bond became strong from that point onward...I would go so far as to call Grumpy my best friend. Yet he still remained distrustful of others...his Heart had softened, most definitely. Unlike my previous visits, I could not afford to stay a year's worth in this location, as I had wanted to...Face My Fear of Regnum Stratera as soon as possible. In exchange for the short time together though...Grumpy told me that he intended to name the rarest gemstone they could find after me, wanting me to be remembered by them in some form. I had felt honoured...and also a bit perplexed." says Orichalcum, thinking about the customs of the Dwarven people.
"I had stayed for only a month before moving on...becoming side-tracked again. My next destination was now a country...with Dragons flying high above in the Skies! it was by far the most diverse place I had seen in my years travelling. Because of my unusual skin pigment colouring, I was caught and treated as an outsider by the folk of this mysterious yet wonderful realm. At the dungeons I had learned the nature of this locale. It was known as the Land of Dragons. Dragons were considered very rare here and just "silencing" one of them would bring great joy and prosperity to the peoples, fearing an attack from the mighty flying beasts of grace. I was not convinced however...I believed that Dragons were symbols of strength and kindness. I too longed to be like them after reading of their existences and the tales told about them. A certain incident had occurred in which a Dragon unfortunately crash landed in the surrounding city of China. During the hustle and bustle, I managed to break free of my chains and escape by tricking a guard with a key. At first, I fully intended to take leave of the city...but. Remembering my fondness for Dragons...I simply could not. Eventually, just as the imperial army were going to "silence" the Dragon...I stood in their way. Defending it with my life...with my reinforced sword, thanks to the smithy talents of the Dwarves. I was able to imbue the magic of the Ram's Horn with the sword...and remake it entirely! it took a new shape, better fitting my external characteristics. With it, I defended the mighty Dragon until at last, I had diagnosed the problem at it's source...a creature of unknown origin was tormenting the insides of the Dragon's mouth, making it go on a rampage. I entered it's belly and weakened the creature before presenting to the soldiers outside. There were still sceptical...until the creature suddenly grew massive in size! it was nothing like I had never seen. A monster...reflecting the Darkness of the time of night. Truly...an ominous presence." says Orichalcum, recalling his very 1st encounter...with a Heartless.
"In order to defeat the creature and save the Dragon for good, I battled with the black demon. The palace was nearly torn as a result of the titan like clash. But in the end...I felled the beast with the help of a soldier close in age to me named Fa Zhou. During the fight, he suffered a scarring wound that would hamper his remaining days in the life of being a warrior, no doubt...he would be forced to settle after that. But it was not in vain...thanks to him, a young lord that was in line to become a future emperor would be saved. Zhou's bravery was recognised...and his courage was just like that of the Dragon I sought to save. Despite being greatly injured, it had used it's magnificent flames to aide us and deal the finishing blow to the monster we fought. It was ironic...I sought to save it and instead, it had saved us. However...the Dragon's lifespan was spent because of the final embers it had used up. Regardless...it still used the fire from it's belly to create one final miracle to save the people that previously tried to "silence" it. Because of it's heroic actions...Dragons were now no longer hated in the lands named after them. They instead became a symbol of peace and prosperity for the country...becoming the icon it would need to warn off invaders that would try to take the land for themselves. As for Zhou, he asked not to be credited for his efforts. Wanting to remain humble...believing that was the true way of his family-the household clan name of Fa. His greatest glory...was speaking about the Dragon's final moments in helping China survive the savagery of an unknown monster...that drew my attention above all else. Afterwards, I was welcomed by the Fa family to spend the night with them for having fought alongside Zhou. Zhou told me that he was engaged and to be married soon, he told me that he had wished for a strong son to succeed his family lifeline. Apparently, only Males could succeed their family households...I particularly thought it was a very strange custom to be honest. It shouldn't matter the Gender...as long as someone has the Heart to be strong and do what is right. Something that I learned...in my travel to this place." says Orichalcum, sharing his feelings...
"I continued my journey, bidding farewell to the Fa family and hoping that Dragons would be properly respected from hereon. My next visit took me to a place I did not think possible...before arriving at Regnum Stratera, I had arrived...on a floating vessel! wonders did not betrayed me evermore. The natives on the vessel called it...a "spaceship". Onboard the ship was a person of great importance whom was charting the "World" they were visiting, wanting to know if the "inhabitants" were of an "IQ" level ready to begin communication...or something of the sort like that. I did not understand, it was the very 1st time I saw anything...so beyond the advancements of my island. Unfortunately, even this craft of immensity was still no stranger to dangers...believe it or not, what happened next...was that the craft...gulp. Was swallowed up by a whale-EXISTING OUT IN SPACE! a WHALE!? A-WHALE!? I couldn't believe it. I still don't...it's just...unreal." says Orichalcum, of all the things he had experienced thus far...the questioning of a "space whale" was what most made his head boggle.
"The person of great importance was swallowed up, inside the belly of the humongous fish and...I saw it as my duty as a "fisherman" to save her. To my horror, smaller creatures like the monster I fought before were surrounding her. Easily enough I was able to dispatch them...but it took a bit out of me. I found myself fatigued...and then I dropped to the floor. Whilst unconscious, I thought for sure that the inside acids of...the "space whale" would engulf me, witling away my Body for sure. But fate, Destiny, whatever you would call it was kind enough towards me to lend an ally...the person I had saved decided not to abandon me to become "fish food", so to speak. She talked in an alien language that I was unable to make heads or toes from what she was saying. The only thing she seemed to repeat over and over was what sounded like a name..."Zo'Kar". So that's what I decided to call her. That was until she used something called a "translator" and started speaking English, the same as the natives similar to her beforehand. She indeed identified her name as Zo'Kar and her translator was temporarily broken until she was able to fix it, midway during a small journey that we shared, equally trying to get out of...the space whale's inner stomachs. Because I never really spent much time with women around my age for most of my entire life...I wasn't used to the kind of emotions she was displaying, regardless of being an alien or not. She seemed...cutesy around me? as a term of expression. Anyways, ahem. I could already tell that she was a person of great importance, due to how the natives that looked like bodyguards were following her practically the whole time. I resolved to get her out and resume my path forwards to Regnum Stratera…and she had made a deal. She promised to lend her ship to take me there, on the agreement that we got out...together. Strangely, she placed an arm around me like it was no big deal. What the heck...was she afraid? or...nah, I just overthought it at the time. Though...thinking back, I was...grateful for the experience I shared with Zo'Kar. We got to know each other for a short time...until we were ready to finally escape the belly of the beast. The monsters from before had returned...this time around all joining together in a formation. They looked like...an overbearing tower. With my sword and a type of weapon that Zo'Kar carried called a "Plasma Gun", we fought back against the monsters. Ultimately defeating them...but. Because we were so close to...the whale's mouth. It caught a sneeze from the pollen that was induced within from dust, surrounding the aftermath of that fight." says Orichalcum.
"I took hold of Zo'Kar's hand, trying desperately not to let go. But...she didn't seem to mind, right at the very end. She told me...that even though we just met through that one and only circumstance alone, she...too was grateful for the experience. She said something in her alien language...until we were both spat right out of the whale's mouth. I never saw her again after that...she...most hopefully ended back up with the people that were trying to protect her. That's what I wanted to believe...and I still believe it, even now. Strange and even stranger things bring people closer together, in the most dire of times and desperate of situations...that was another lesson I had learned whilst travelling. From this particular experience...the lesson sunk into all the corners of my mind. Making sure...never to forget it. At last...my destination appeared through the gateway I was travelling, made by the magic of the Ram's Horn. It was...of course. Regnum Stratera-the Kingdom of Balance." says Orichalcum lastly, revealing that he had finally reached the World he had been searching for...
To be Continued.