Of Keys and Hammers

by zcritic88

In a realm beyond, the Four Chaos has taken notice of a realm tied close to the heart. They squirmed into the darkness and sought to corrupt if to reach a prize beyond the light. Will the Light of Order, be able to repel this ancient evil?

23. A Festive Arrival

At the end of a short flight with in a Lane In Between. Hofneil and his space marines saw a world that seemed more like a medieval city, with a cathedral that has two twin towers on top. The captain stepped off a seat with in a blocky, silver air craft and looked out the window to see four more blocky ships flying close. He awaited as screen by his right shined to reveal a camera with four separate parties; Sora and his group of Donald and Goofy, Riku and Mickey, Kairi and Resira, finally, Ken, Tahm and the guardsmen. "Our path leads to this holy place. You should begin deployment soon."

Riku understood that as Mickey spoke of a plan. "When things get tough, one of us will give the signal for you fellas to come. Magitinus said he built something that can help you blend in?"

The tech priest looking down upon the world and answered, turning to the mouse. "Only if an hour of need is called for. The Occultat Angelis Dei!"

Sora liked the name. "Ooooo, sounds cool... what does it mean?"

Riku, Donald, Goofy, Mickey and Kairi awkwardly looked at Sora in their own ways as Tahm coughed and folded his arms behind his back. "It is an ancient language. It means Shroud of Angels."

Ken looked out his window and guessed. "This world also looks pretty low tech, so everyone not looking the part is going to blend in. Looks like Cadia's Light is going to be a spear again."

He oddly looked forward to that as Hofneil took command. "Reserve any special abilities for when you have to use them, the civilians will think heresy if they see even a simple spear fire like a hot shot lasgun! Find a place to rendezvous, find our pathway and if you must, deal with any threat to the stability of the world."

The Imperial squadrons chanted in unison. "It will be done Captain Hofneil!"

The teenagers and animal like peple let him know they understood instructions, the teenagers reported a disconnect and various lights shined with in the ships. Magitinus turned to ask the space marine. "Do a group of children really think they are our salvation?"

The tech priest looked like his logic board was shorting out as Nathanel took a deep breath. "That is not why we agreed to this mission. Vanquishing the Forces of Chaos is what matters above all."

Dabriel nodded to that. "And keeping the peace of this galaxy. What they do not know won't harm them."

Pyriel agreed and stoically watched the window. "What ever our fate is when we return, they will believe us to be hailed as heroes."

The captain readied his weapons and sounded upbeat. "And they are best to think that would be our reward."

Magitinus coughed and promised them. "We all planned for that day."

Hofneil looked upon the world in hope. "Tahm has special reserves for his men on account of their services to the Emperor and for himself, despite Resira offering to alleviate our burdens. You seek to apologize for your behavior Tech Priest?"

Magitinus nodded and welcomed the vision. "The technological wonder and the fate of the lasgun is... extraordinary. This they will know before I depart...what of you?"

Hofneil answered proudly. "We will do as we always have, now and forever! For the Emperor."

The three marines and tech priest gave a unified. "For the Emperor!"

In a medieval city.

Sora, Donald and Goofy looked around at the various strings, banners and listened to the small bells. Sora asked. "Is there a festival in town?"

Donald noticed various performers in festive dresses as Goofy noticed many people in odd dresses, one of which was a horse costume with both sides being the rear. "It looks pretty topsy turvey. Think we should find the others?"

Sora nodded and was looking forward to time goofing off and wandered to stables, where the only things of real notice was a dancing goat with a golden ring, a random man in green clothes blowing a horn and the more outstanding; a tan, green eyed woman with mid length black hair, a white upper dress shirt and a long purple skirt. She was playing a tambourine. Donald guessed. "Maybe we need to follow to where the partying is."

Sora looked around to find nothing more save for blonde man with a short beard, wearing a blue cloak covering golden armor and was reading a map with a grey horse. The man looked around himself, bundled the map into a ball and was just as lost, talking with his horse. "Mmmhm! You leave town for a couple of decades and they change everything," He noticed the trio walking by and asked without looking to much at them. "Excuse me, I'm looking for the Palace of Justice would yo-" He stopped and notice the odd group of characters. "Mmm, wrong group. Never mind."

He noticed the group of performers and was entertained as Sora asked. "Palace?"

The man listened, tossed coins into an upside down hat and apologized. "Sorry for being rude, I was on order to come here for duty. I think there is a festival going on."

The trio didn't mind and accepted the apology, as the man checked out the performing woman, a sharp whistle was blown and the three performers tried to run, the goat took the hat and spilled coins, the woman stopped to pick them up and was confronted by a brutish town guard with an brown mustache and a shorter oafish guard, they looked down upon her. The brutish guard asked and tried to take the hat of coins. "Alright gypsy where did you get the money?"

The woman answered and tried to get her hat back. "For you're information, I earned it!"

The brute didn't believe it. "Gypsies don't earn money!"

The oaf grabbed her by the shoulders. "They steal it!"

The woman wasn't taking that accusation and argued to both. "You know a lot about stealing."

The brute snatched the hat away as the oaf was threatening to arrest her. Sora, Donald and Goofy readied their weapons as the woman kicked and fought. The goat head butted the oaf and kicked the brute, knocking them prone and giving the animal and his owner time to escape. The blonde man signaled the trio with a twitch of his eyes that they should run, they noticed a blonde boy across a left alley way, wielding a more ornament polearm like keyblade and waving. The trio bolted it as the dazed guards immediately suspected them of something and tried to decide on who to pursue.

A trio of guards in green and a lieutenant in a matching uniform, with a mid length sword at the hilt. The thuggish guards tried to go after the fleeing woman, assuming the trio were heading towards custody, Sora, Donald and Goofy watched the blonde man pull his horse in the way of the thugs, stopping one and tripping another. The horse was ordered to sit on the knocked down thug and the trio knew some justice was done. Sora noticed the guardsmen trio with a matching set of spears as Ken gave his hello. "This worked out better than what I expected."

The lieutenant growled to that. "That would be said for you! But some of us would rather we kept ourselves more... distinct."

Sora guessed what was wrong and asked ignorant. "You're uniform is that important to you Tahm?"

Perkins cringed as Tahm's eyes looked above his own head, a helmet where something should have been. "It's his hat! He really loves that hat."

Tahm nodded as Elric sympathized with him. "He is never without it."

The lieutenant looked more embarrassed. "Imagine, walking about public in under wear, it feels so... exposing."

Thompson imagined himself and panted in a traumatic fantasy. "No, no. I would sooner die."

Donald and Goofy looked upon their own hats as Sora asked. "Do you know where the festival is around here? If we find them, we find the others."

Ken had no idea and shrugged as Tahm laughed outloud. "Ha! Ha! Don't you know?"

He pointed to a church with two bell towers. "Most celebrations occur near places of worship, failure to do so would result in getting on the wrong side of the Ecclisiarchy."

He lead the way to a more festive path, where three familiar faces looked up to the cathedral; Riku, Kairi and Mickey. The mass group felt whole save for one particular, Kairi answered for the missing party member. "Resira was trying to question everything in the festival and she went into the cathedral when I told her to calm down."

Some of the bystanders looked upon the group strangely and a woman whispered gossip. "Why the guards just standing there with the gypsys?"

Riku wasn't entertained by the notion as Tahm signaled him to be quiet and answered. "They are but weary travelers from far away, they only wish to be apart of the Topsy Turvey Festival and perhaps see the inside of the Cathedral."

The towns people looked at him and his guard strangely, Tahm smirked as the non imperial group took the chance to sneak into the crowd. Deep with in and far away, they watched the four be questioned by normal looking guards. Ken voiced out a blessing. "They are humiliating themselves so we can get away and blend in."

Riku guessed so and asked. "Anyone got a stunt they can pull off? Mickey, they think you are someone in a costume."

The mouse gasped, looked at his royal guard and court wizard, then decided. "We ought to make the most of that, Donald, Goofy, would you mind helping me out?"

Goofy didn't as Donald asked. "Costume?! But we a-" Sora stopped him. "Order."

The duck stopped and folded his arms in a grumpy attitude as Riku asked Ken. "Is there anything you can do with... that other keyblade to work?"

Ken nodded and giggled. "I can make an ashy dance that I'm sure she won't mind."

Kairi had one of her own. "I learned one during my travels, tee hee!"

Sora tried to think of one, was lost in the thought as the girl asked. "Sora, Riku do you want to learn it? It's pretty fun."

In the Cathedral.

Resira looked upon herself in a mirror, she was in a black habit. She took a deep breath and looked towards the way she came from. "It would take ages for me to uncover any suspicious behavior. The danger upon all their souls is somewhere... but where?" She picked the puzzle apart and thought of one way to separate the guilty from the innocent, she shook her head and dismissed it. "No, they would not approve and we are trying to save cities like this."

"Something troubling you my child?" Resira saw to the right of the mirror, a clergy man in white robes with red highlights, looking concerned for her. The adeptas sororitas recognized a man of religious authority, gave a bow and confessed. "Yes Archdaecon, what is the festival outside? People from two cultures make presence before this holy place and I fear a great evil is present and if not stopped... it could lead to disaster."

The Archdaecon took a deep breath and guided her down a hall way. "There is nothing wrong with such a festival, it is a time of peace and merry."

Resira doubted and asked. "But if they are allowed to partake in these events and excess, peace would only lead to war! It takes but one spark, for a fire to grow and consume the city in chaos."

That the Archdaecon agreed with. "An excess in all things can lead to sin, sister. But it is their choice to do so."

Resira gasped and asked. "We... are allowing them to revel in this?" The Archdaecon nodded. "If they feel guilt, they have the choice to come here and contemplate. We interfere if we must."

The Adeptas Sororitas stood before glass windows of various holy images and looked upon the Archdaecon's cross, frowning with a mixture of confusion and loneliness. "...Even in a holy house, nothing feels-" The clergyman suggested gently. "If you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to fear here."

Resira felt more guilty and looked around to find more sights that reminded her of home. "...I have one, I'm not really a sister of this church. Mine is so far away... and I seen so much... my mission brought me here because of a great threat to us all. For me and my comrades."

She found a pew as the Archdaecon closed his eyes and nodded. "That does explain much, regardless, all are welcome here. Thank you."

Resira felt warm in the heart and was left be, in a place so similar to home, yet so far apart. She closed her eyes and envisioned herself, a handful of guardsmen, a Commissar and four space marines being hailed as heroes, standing above them was a large blue armored figure, wielding a fiery red sword, saying something she couldn't hear, yet was something that brought hope. Click! She was taken out of the vision and turned around to find a town guard approaching, she recognized Perkins and smiled. Pretending to be scolding him as the guard asked. "Sister Resira, we knew you were here."

He was amazed by the holy work as the Adeptas Sororitas stood up and asked him. "Only one knows some of the truth. Enough for him to understand our reasons, has someone in the festival finally revealed themselves?"

Perkins shook his head and felt a weight on his shoulders. "No, but you came here all by yourself and... Lieutenant Tahm had his hands full in the mission. If anything is to happen, we are to find it in the festival, not here in a sanctuary."

He heard a loud noise from outside, closed his eyes and expected something, Resira took a deep breath and promised. "Very well Perkins, I will observe, but NOT partake. Then you and the others are to meet with me."

Perkins gave a respectful bow and lead the way out. "You are not the only one observing sister. So, how does it feel to be here?"

Resira wasn't going to make a final judgement. "It's accepting and its architect... reminds me of home."

At the festival.

Ken was annoyed that Tahm and his group had to keep up their facade and assist the town guard in maintaining the peace as a group of people in dark clothes arrived to cheer. "Come one, come all! Leave the loops and milking stools. Coop the hens and pen the mules. Come one, come all! Close the churches and the schools. It's the day for breaking rules. Come and join the feast of," A jester in purple, blue and yellow slide from under neath the group and cheered. "Fools!"

It was obvious it was a harmless celebration as he noticed Kairi explaining something to Sora and Riku, both boys looked to be blushing from a daring request, Ken approached and asked. "Isn't it odd that there isn't a... you know what in sight?"

Riku turned to the polearm wielding partner and confessed. "It's suspicious in itself... but this is all recent, so this is why we need... we need to keep a closer watch. Parties like this can get out of control."

Sora heard and whined. "Riku, when was the last time we ever did something like this?"

Ken sighed and resigned himself to a mundane job. "I'm still putting on a show and all that, but people-" Kairi finished. "Called us gypsys and that... is considered a bad thing? Something doesn't seem right," She exhaled and promised Riku. "We are taking this seriously, that... missing thing is what is setting us off an edge."

The silver haired teenager agreed and wished to start the requested event. "No use being stressed up. Now... how does this dance happen?"

Kairi readied to continue her instructions as Sora noticed a cowl running from various people. "...Hey, what's that?" Ken looked to the direction and found a jester snapping balloon strings to reveal what looks like a man in a blue cowl. "I got this."

He took out Firekeepers Wish tapped a dance and went over in a simple pattern that was complimented by embers. Leaving the teenagers to their shenanigans as the cloaked man tried hiding from a crowd, was caught up in a small theater and kept running into one shenanigan after another.

He was distracted by Goofy spinning with his shield up and Donald jumped on, Mickey jumped into the duck's shoulders and raised his keyblade in the air. He heard a loud. "WOOOAH!"

THUD!

And went back to observing, hearing banter with in a pink tent and sneaking through the crowd to find someone being escorted out, the cloaked man, on closer inspection, the man's face looked rather deformed and his arms were thick. He looked odd, but nothing dangerous. He focused on his keyblade, tossed a cloud of ashes and danced with in for a show, listening to the party becoming more and more wacky and walking to a cathedral.

During the destiny trio's dance.

Kairi had the two boys in a dance she learned a couple worlds back, Sora was ignorantly swept in as Riku was cautious until he too succumb, two of them danced at a time and they mixed in between. They noticed a metal spiked horse drawn cart being drawn to a throne under a tent, Sora recognized one of the guard escorting the cart, a man in golden armor being captain of the guardsmen. He let his friends know and they kept in play as they watched the cart stop and a guard open a door. Letting out a sour looking, elderly man in black robes and a fancy black hat, like he was the only person in the whole festival that wasn't thrilled being there. The man approached the throne, sat on it and was annoyed by a jester singing to him to prepare for something. The jester danced to the crowd. "Come one. Come all!" He used a man in a hidden cowl as someone to jump to a platform as he announced. "See the finest girl in France, make an entrance to entrance! Dance, La Esmereldaaaaaaa!" He readied for something, tossed something to the ground "Dance!"

and vanished in pink smoke, taking his place was the same woman Sora saw moments ago, except in a red festive dress that had purple highlights on the shoulders and top of the skirt.

She caught the whole trio by surprise, Kairi whistled and watched the wild dancing. "Wow!"

The boys agreed in adolescent innocence as they watched the dancer approach the grumpy man, teased him, tapped his hat down and danced back to the platform, using a green uniformed guard's spear to help in dancing. On finish, the vast crowd, the golden armored man included that was keeping guard, tossed coins for a job well done. The jester cheered to the crowd. "And now, ladies and gentleman. The piece of resistance! Here it is, the moment you've been waiting for. Here it is, you know what's in store. Now's the time to laugh until our sides get sore. Now's the time we crown the King of Fools." He asked and pointed to an orange drunkard fool on a palanquin. "Remember last years King?" The jester made sinister like faces and encouraged. "So make a face that's horrible and frightening. For the face that's ugliest will be the King of Fools! Why?"

Two green guardsmen climbed up to join in, one went for the spear Esmerelda used and gave it back to his comrade in arms. A Lieutenant had his left palm at his face and watched the dancer pull one more man from the crowd, a deformed, orange haired man with green clothes and a hunched back, he perked up in attention as the green guardsmen noticed the one not like all the others. Many people with masks joined in and the short competition began. Most of the competition had their masks removed to show average looking men, they were knocked off the platform by a goat, straight into the mud. Thompson's helmet was removed to show a face with a scar on his right eye and was complimented by purple eyes. The crowd still boo'd and the goat knocked him off, Elric took his chance, took off his helmet willingly and showed his burn mark, catching the crowd by surprise. The goat went to the hunchback, bleated and backed away as the woman pulled at the last contenders face.

Feeling skin and a face not coming off. "Huh?"

The audience gasped in horror. "That's no mask!" "It's his face." "He's hideous." "It's the bell ringer of Notre Dame!" T

he Lieutenant hid in the shadows and watched the hunchback pant in fear of the crowd, deeming him less than a threat. The hunchback hid his face in shame as the jester pleaded to the crowd. "Ladies and Gentleman, don't panic, we asked for the ugliest face in Paris-" Elric glared in jealousy and walked off the stage with some dignity as the jester addressed the winner. "and here he is!" He placed a fools crown on the hunchbacks head and announce. "Quasimodo, the Hunchback of Notre Dame!"

The crowd approached in praise to the winner and carried him to the palanquin, knocking the drunkard off and placing the hunchback in his place. During the celebration, the teenage trio watched the green guard bicker among each other, Tahm was lecturing Elric about something and ordered the three to watch on with respect. Riku guessed two things that happened. "Either they are not happy to see Quasimodo or Tahm wasn't keen on his men humiliating themselves like that."

Sora pitied the guardsmen and watched the crowned King of Fools be escorted to a central platform with a spinning wheel, watching Quasimodo be adorned like a king, with a regal cloak and a scepter, it seemed like he was having the happiest day of his life. The crowd tossed flowers as the guardsmen gave Quasimodo a round of applause, Tahm gave his own with an ever strict face as the jester jumped off to finish his song. An oafish voice from the crowd asked something. "Think he is ugly now?" The teenagers listened to the voice and saw two normal guards, an oafish guard was ready to throw a rotten tomato. "Watch this!"

Flung!

Splat! The teenagers and various members of the crowd gasped, Tahm analyzed the direction of the throw and found the offender, glaring at him. The oaf laughed at the hunchback. "Now that's ugly!"

Riku sensed another malicious heart and found another guard with a rotten tomato in hand, the guard shouted. "Hail to the king!" Splat. Many more guard were throwing rotten food at him, turning the crowd that was cheering into a crowd of laughter.

Donald, Goofy, Mickey and Ken approached the teenagers with the shift in plans. Quasimodo slipped and tried to flee as a towns person with a lasso balked. "Where are you going hunchback, the fun is just beginning!" More cruelty on top of cruelty followed as the towns people tied the hunchback down upon the wheel, spun the wheel and left him helpless against the throwing splatters, he screamed to the dark looking man. "Master!" The man glared at him in contempt as the hunchback asked for help, turning his head away in disgust. The captain of the guard asked something that Sora heard. "Sir, request permission to stop this cruelty."

The dark man folded his arms and said something Riku heard. "In a moment captain, a lesson needs to be learned here."

Riku's face sharpened as Kairi noticed someone approaching the platform the hunchback was on. Esmerelda. She felt sorry for him, lowered herself and readied a piece of her dress to use as cleaning cloth. "Don't be afraid." Quasi cringed as the woman apologized. "I'm sorry, this wasn't suppose to happen." She wiped the mess off

The man in black robes stood up and yelled. "You, Gypsy Girl!" Esmerelda faced the man as a certain group of eight were ready to jump to action, the dark man ordered. "Get down at once!"

Esmerelda had her own response and stood up to tie her cloth back. "Yes you're honor, just as soon as I free this poor creature."

The dark man growled something that caused even Tahm to turn towards him with disgust. "I forbid it!"

Esmerelda took out a dagger and cut the rope loose to free Quasimodo, the dark man vowed vengeance. "How dare you defy me!"

Esmerelda had a juicy speech for the dark man. "You mistreat this poor boy the same way you mistreat my people! You speak of justice but you are cruel to those most in need of you're help!" The dark man demanded. "Silence!"

Esmerelda barked. "Justice!"

The crowd gasped as the team of eight, Sora, Riku, Kairi, Goofy, Donald, Mickey and Ken jumped into action. More astonishment came from the crowd as the spiky haired teenager had his own words to say to the town guard, the dark man and even the towns people. "He was having a good time and then you all turn on him?!"

Kairi agreed with that. "You should all be ashamed of yourselves!"

The man pointed at the group of eight. "Mark my words gypsies, you will pay for this insolence!"

Riku scoffed as the woman beat him to a come back. "Then the only fool I see-" She grabbed the fools crown and hurled it at the man. "Is you!"

A raspberry blew, enraging the man to where he ordered his captain. "Captain Phoebus! Arrest them!"

The captain snapped his fingers and pointed, ten guards on horses approached the group of eight. Esmerelda counted as Riku noticed Tahm signalling them to flee, the silver haired teenager understood as the woman gave an estimate. "There is ten of you and-" Riku promised her. "Just do what you can to get out of here!" Esmerelda sniffled mockingly and took out a piece of cloth from her bosom. "Oh what is a poor girl to do? *Sniff*"

She blew into it and disappeared in pink smoke, the many gasped and the dark man accused. "Witchcraft!"

That woman's voice taunted the group of authority. "Oh booooys! Over here" The group turned to an executioners platform, with an axe on a stump and a basket of masked pumpkins, looking like severed heads. Esmerelda and her pet goat pretended to be among them as two guards growled. "There she is, get her!"

Riku jumped on the platform and caught himself on a pole, he quickly knocked the brute and oaf off their feet and gave Esmerelda and her goat time to jump off the platform, towards a group of people eager to escape. She was carried to the other side and found three more guards trying to go after her. She found a cage with an old man inside, jumped on it and swung to knock the guards down and cause the chain holding it in place to break. She rolled away towards a stone presser on a rolling board, she and her goat jumped on the bystander man as the remaining group of seven waist no time knocking the guards off. A mage and shield bearer that know how to fight and four keyblade wielders of various skills. The crowd cleared way to let the seven run off towards a group of four guards that were trying to chase the escaping woman. Riku appeared before them in a flash and with one slash, sent them flying.

The duo of lady and goat's board went up a ramp over another group of four guards were knocked down by the rolling cage, it opened to let an old man free, the man hurt his leg crawling out and found himself in another prison a stockade. The duo ran underneath a man in large stilts, Esmerelda pulled the long pants down and tricked a pursuing guard on his horse into a sling shot, his hat fell off and he was flung across town screaming. She held a metal hat and found three more on horses trying to charge at her, she flung the hat like a frisbee and knocked them off, it nearly hit Phoebus, who didn't mind dodging. She was certainly someone that didn't need much saving, Ken whispered something to Mickey's ear, the mouse listened and signaled to Riku as another wave of guards try to apprehend them, in larger numbers. "Riku come on, we got to get out of here!"

The silver haired teenager wondered what it was and flowed back to the platform, he watched Esmerelda run from two more horsemen towards a trapeze performer with a long horizontally positioned stick. The two imbeciles caught the stick and were running at the dark man, who gasped and was yanked out of the tent by the stick. The man crawled out of the wreckage and glared at the woman who was helped up the platform by two stilted men, she gave a graceful bow and used burgundy cloth to wrap herself and her goat around in a veil. Disappearing as Ken had Firekeeper's Wish glow in ash and slammed to the ground. Ash and cinder erupted as he yelled to the group, including the hunchback. "Everyone hold hands, kneel to the flame and stare at it! I got the rest!"

The group found it absurred, yet they do it anyways. Giving off a faint glow and finding themselves by a candle with in a room in a cathedral.

Ken smiled widely to something he learned of. "Sanctuary! An Archdaecon told me if we claim sanctuary, we can hide out here!"

Riku was laving low suspension of disbelief. "He allowed you to go that far?"

Cough! "He told him of that, but the spark of flame was his own doing should the need arises."

The group of eight turned to their right to find Resira giving them all a firm, disapproving glare. "You assisted a woman who was aiding... what I assume is an abhuman and openly rebelled against a government official. Explain why."

Mickey gasped and asked her. "Resira, what was being done to Quasimodo was just... cruel, Esmerelda was doing the right thing by helping him," He was worried about a particular detail. "But... why didn't he come with us?"

Resira agreed and stepped aside. "It was cruel, why prolong the suffering but for sick amusement?" She shook her head and pointed to the flame. "If someone were to see you after that... right now, you would be questioned with... severe force. If you are nimble to explore the cathedral without being seen, then you are free to do so," Sora, Riku and Mickey stepped forward, leaving the rest behind as the Adeptas Sororitas felt hesitate to give a prayer in the church of another religion. "the rest of you are in my custody until I decide otherwise."

Kairi growled at her as Donald advised her. "Don't."

Resira appreciated a wise duck. "One of you claimed sanctuary in the church, I am not to bring harm. Kairi, Donald, Goofy... is there something you should say... out of obligation."

Kairi gave in as she, Donald and Goofy said in unison. "Sanctuary."

Resira closed her eyes and exhaled. "Thank you." She turned around for her own task. "Now for that woman to give me her own answers."

Kairi wasn't going to allow her. "After what she did, you think you can do that?"

Resira went to the exit and promised her. "It is simple questions, nothing more. What she has done, topples the foundation of order and I seek to know why. Heed my warnings before you pursue me, Princess."

She walked off on a frustrated Kairi that sat by a wall, folded her arms and pouted. "I can't believe we are being left behind like this."

Donald felt it mutual as Goofy didn't mind it. "It's okay, our friends will get to the bottom of this soon."

Ken hoped so and guessed why. "Unless we can fly up in ways that don't involve making too big of a scene. I hope Tahm and the others have better luck than we do, they are stuck in a tight one."

Kairi worried for them as well. "They are just ordinary people that look... like the guards of the city. Donald, Goofy, what was... that dance about?"

Goofy chuckled. "It was something me and Donald thought of when we need to fight Chaos again. If you all are becoming stronger, than so should we."

Donald explained some of the details. "It's to make a storm that will-"

On a high platform in the Cathedral.

Sora and Riku spun on a column to catch their landing and watched a fight from bellow, Mickey jumped up with them and looked down to find Esmerelda being approached a golden armored soldier. Riku wanted to put an end to all the brawling as Sora stopped him with a whisper. "I know this guy, don't attack yet."

Mickey felt an agreement to that and looked closer, the woman quickly had the man in a corner with his own sword. "And... fighting here doesn't feel right."

The trio agreed to just watching, the captain of the guard crawled to a pillar and calmly tried to get Esmerelda to calm down. "Easy, easy. I just shaved this morning."

The woman had the sword at the man's chest and taunted. "Oh really? You missed a spot."

The man sat by the pillar and had his hands up. "Alright, alright, just give me a chance to apologize."

Esmerelda wasn't trusting him and asked. "For what?"

The man swiped the sword away from her, she fell back on the floor as the man answered. "That."

The woman growled fiercely. "You sneaky son of a-" The man stopped her and got up. "Ah, ah, ah. Watch it, we're in a church."

Esmerelda smiled with another taunt and went for a tall, triple pronged candle post "Are always this charming or am I just lucky!"

The watching trio saw her try and succeed in fighting back with the candle post, the man was mostly focused on defending himself, Riku relaxed and realized. "He isn't trying to fight her, that's different from all the thugs in armor."

Sora watched the Esmerelda quickly gaining an upper hand, exchanging a taunt that burns worse than the candles and try striking bellow the belt. "He just... arrived in town, he is from this world, but he hasn't let the authority of the town... darken him."

Riku corrected him. "Yet."

Mickey watched the captain's sprawl end with him being head butted in the stomach by a goat. "Or maybe not. Let's listen."

The captain kneel from the blunt. "Off! I didn't know you had a kid."

Esmerelda and her pet goat kept guard. "He doesn't take kindly to soldiers."

The man gritted in pain. "I noticed," He went to a more daring move. "Permit me, I'm Phoebus. It means Sun God."

The woman and goat were not flattered and their eyes looked to each other as the man asked. "And you are?"

Esmerelda asked. "Is this an interrogation?" Phoebus put his sword away. "It's called an introduction."

Esmerelda looked more in disbelief. "You're not arresting me?"

Phoebus looked around the church and answered. "Not as long as you're in here, I can't."

That much the woman was trusting as she put the candle post back in position. "Huh, you're not at all like the other soldiers. So, if you're not going to arrest me, what do you want?"

Phoebus answered charmingly. "I'd settle for you're name." The woman gave hers. "Esmerelda." Phoebus complimented. "Beautiful... and much better than Phoebus anyways." The observing above knew what they were looking at, keeping quiet as Sora gave his friends a cheerful smile. The two bellow looked to have something of a connection. Click! Slam!

"Good work captain!" The six looked at the doorway in the church and found that dark man with his guards, the man ordered. "Now, arrest her!"

Phoebus turned to the woman as he goat hid behind her and whispered. "Claim sanctuary!" Esmerelda was back to not trusting him as he urged. "Say it!"

Esmerelda growled. "You tricked me."

The dark man approached with his patience lost. "I'm waiting, captain."

Phoebus turned and apologized. "I'm sorry, she claimed sanctuary, there is nothing I can do."

The dark man ordered. "Then drag her outside and-" An Archdaecon approached and put a stop to the order with a firm point. "Frollo, you will not touch her," He let Esmerelda know. "Don't worry, Minister Frollo learned years ago to respect the sanctity of the Church."

Frollo glared at them and sharply turned, his men leading the way out. The remaining three looked to each other as the observers silently looked upon each other. Who ever was the orchestrator of the worlds problems was definitely Frollo. They looked down to find the Daecon holding Phoebus's right arm and escorting him out, with the not so friendly goat head butting the captain of the guard in the rear. Phoebus was vocal about understanding that he wasn't welcome. "Alright, I'm going."

They notice that Frollo approaching Esmerelda from behind, apparently he sneaked past everyone in his endeavors. Grabbed her from behind and held her firmly, she gasped in shock as the onlooking boys were ready to beat Frollo up, Mickey signaled them to hold. "I'm not liking this either, but we can't do that here."

Riku asked. "Why not, when someone ends up doing it anyways?"

Mickey took a deep breath and answered. "Because we wouldn't be any better than what he thinks of us."

Sora kept watching Esmerelda trying to escape, Frollo whispered in her ear. "You think you outwitted me."

Esmerelda pulled once more as Frollo taunted. "But I'm a patient man and gypsy's don't do well behind stone walls."

The silent watchers watched Frollo sniff the woman's hair, making them all feel uncomfortable at blatant sexual harassment. Esmerelda growled. "What are you doing?"

Frollo used his right hand and used it to caress he neck. "I was just imagining a rope, around you're beautiful neck."

Esmerelda elbowed him and shook her harasser off towards the door. "I know what you're imagining."

Even Sora was well aware of the wrongness and cringed. Frollo placed his fingers together and sneered. "Such a clever witch. So typical of your kind to twist the truth, to cloud the mind with unholy thought." He dismissed that and walked to the door. "Well no matter. You chosen a magnificent prison. But it is a prison non the less. Set one foot outside and you're mine!" He slammed the door and caused an echo.

The trio jumped to another platform towards where the woman was trying to run to, a door with the Archdaecon trying to light some candles, she opened a door and the three heard. "Frollo's orders, post a guard at every door."

SLAM!

After that quick realization she wasn't escaping easily, Sora realized. "If the others don't have a way out, what are they going to do?"

Riku shrugged and watched the woman crouch to be in thought, her goat approached to comfort her as the teenager answered. "We need to figure it out and tell Resira that... she is redundant."

They listened to Esmerelda talking to her goat. "Don't worry Djali, if Frollo thinks he can keep us here, he is wrong."

The Arch Deacon advised her. "Don't act rashly my child. You created, ha, quite a stir at the festival. It would be unwise to rouse Frollo's anger further."

The woman pointed to the door and asked as she stood up. "You saw what he did out there, letting the crowd torture that poor boy!"

She tried to walk it off. "I thought if just one person could stand up to him then-" she gave up on that thought and asked. "*Huff* What do they have against people who are different anyway?"

The trio noticed someone sneaking behind a column and listening among them, Resira. She followed Esmerelda and the Clergy man as she listened to the man advise. "You can't right all the wrongs in this world by yourself."

Esmerelda had her thumb at the door in an agreement. "Well besides eight people, no one else out there is going to be of help, that's for sure."

The Archdaecon sighed and lead her to a holy shrine. "Well, perhaps there is someone here who can."

He left her be, Resira felt with in her heart that such actions are that of a clear rebel, all who do against authority are questionable at best and a Chaos worshiper at worst, yet an Archdaecon was showing much more tolerance towards the different mindset than she was ever use to and she would ever have.

She waited and noticed Esmerelda looking upon the people of the church praying, the gypsy looked upon a statue of a holy woman holding a baby. Doubtful, yet desperate. "I don't know if you can here me, or if you're even there." She approached the statue in respect. "I don't know if you would listen, to a gypsy's prayer. Yes I know I'm an outcast, I shouldn't speak to you." Resira's tension faded and she looked on in disbelief as Esmerelda looked up to the statue. "Still, I see you're face and wonder, were you once and outcast too?" She walked down a hall way of candles as Resira and the watchers above kept listening, the unaware woman was in a prayer. "God help the outcasts, hungry from birth. Show them the mercy, they don't find on earth. God help my people, who look to you still." Mickey noticed a figure from a balcony, looking down upon Esmerelda, Quasimodo, drawn from where ever he was hiding towards the prayer. The woman asked as she walked past a stream of people going the other direction. "God help the outcasts, when no body will."

The steam of people in contrast were praying for something more shallow and selfish. "I ask for wealth, I ask for fame, I ask for glory to shine on my head."

That irritated the hiding nun, she pressed her back against a column and looked down in shame, she was attempting to pursue someone that was placing the need of others before her own. She mentally drowned out the foolish pleas and listened to the rest of the prayer, noticing a certain hunchback that was drawn to the prayer's end. The unaware woman sighed. "I ask for nothing, I can get by." She went to a wall with a grand circular window. "But I know so many, less lucky than I. Please help my people, the poor and down-trod. I thought we were all children of God." She stood before the light. "God help the outcasts. Children of God."

The goat following the woman nuzzled at her, she embraced him for comfort. Resira looked upon the hunchback that was comforted by such words and felt something she could ask of him. Something that would be more gentle in comparison to what he been through, a man noticed him first and yelled. "You, bell ringer! What are you doing down here?!" The hunchback yelped, tripped a candle and tried to run as he was scolded. "Haven't you caused enough trouble already?!"

Esmerelda followed, Resira took chase and the watching trio waited for their own pursuit. Following up a spiral stairs as Mickey had one conclusion. "Where the pathway is, it is here in the Church."

Sora and Riku agreed and followed the king to the exit of a tower, Sora asked. "But... so many people are... not getting it-" Riku nodded to that. "and shun or pursue those that do. What is Resira's excuse this time?!"

They found the Sister of Battle looking determined about something, Sora shouted. "Resira!"

The nun turned around astonished and breaking out from her normally strict demeanor and making an effort to hide it. "You went unnoticed through out all that?"

Riku nodded. "We heard and saw the whole thing." Mickey heard voices in the other tower. "And much more than that. Are you sure you are chasing the right people?"

Resira shook her head. "My judgement was greatly misplaced, yet the hunchback has one question we all want an answer to."

Riku asked her questioningly. "What is his ties with Frollo? The Minister that rules over this town, if there is anyone you should be after-" Resira agreed with him. "Frollo certainly has features ill suited for maintaining the city. Greatly ill suited. When I have my questions answered from Quasimodo, Frollo is next... and I won't be nearly as gentle as I will be with these two," She turned to the second tower. "Come, our evidence awaits." They went into the tower and found many bells, rope for the bells and a trio of gargoyles in the corner. They heard Esmerelda above a set of stairs. "I'm really sorry about this afternoon, I had no idea who you were." They followed to find her climbing up some ladders and stopping. "I would have never pulled-" She was amazed. "you...up on... the...stage."

She and her goat climbed up to see, the party of four climbed up the later, with Resira doing so first and seeing a table with miniatures of a town and broken colored glass hanging from a support piece above. Shining in the light to sparkle many lights on the ground.

She climbed up as Sora followed, nearly blowing his cover as Riku followed to take in the sight and Mickey not long. They watched Esmerelda ask. "What is this?" Quasimodo answered shyly. "It's my ro-" He noticed the vast group, Esmerelda recognized three out of the four and eased the hunchback of a doubt. "Ha, don't worry, three of them were the ones who helped me during the festival. I-" She looked regretful as the keyblade wielders introduced themselves, Resira was most drawn to the miniatures and gave hers. "I am Resira... a faithful traveler." She asked Quasimodo. "May I have a closer look? You are forgiven of any doubts I had."

Esmerelda wasn't amused. "He isn't the one who needs forgiveness Sister."

Resira sighed and nodded. "I know, the problems I see are not tied to either of you."

Quasimodo asked more nervous. "Wha...I... wasn't?!"

The Adeptas Sororitas looked out the window to a grand building and squinted her eyes. "No, you were not. I ask once more, may I have a closer look?"

Quasi didn't find much harm as the ladies looked closer to the table. Esmerelda asked. "Did you make all this yourself?"

Quasi nodded. "Most of them." Esmerelda clanked some of the hanging glass together. "It's beautiful."

Resira looked at the wooden miniatures of people, well detailed miniatures that caused her to smile. "Well made crafts."

The keyblade wielders had a closer look and were just as impressed, if not more. Esmerelda chuckled and looked at the miniatures with a confession. "If I can do this, you wouldn't find me dancing on the street for coin."

Quasi responded with a smile. "But you're a wonderful dancer."

Esmerelda turned to him with her own smile. "Well, it puts bread on the table anyways."

Resira noticed something covered in a cloth and tried to undo it. "What is under here?"

Quasi tried to protest as Resira lifted the cloth and was impressed by the details if not panted, wondering what they were as Riku noticed the forms. "Those are the black smith and baker we saw on our way to the festival," He was impressed and asked. "How often do you go out to see these people?"

Quasi shivered at the thought. "I...Never, all my life I lived here, gazing at the people down bellow me."

Mickey asked with pity. "You memorized the details from up here, alone?"

Sora sighed to that as Resira felt she completely misjudged Quasimodo. "Even with that in mind, you're eyesight is impeccable."

The spiky haired teenager agreed and asked. "But... that's not what is wrong. You have all this to yourself?"

Quasimodo shook his head. "Well... it's not just me, there is the gargoyles," The group looked at the trio of gargoyles that was being sniffed by the goat. "And of course the bells... wou...would you like to see them?"

That much they would, Resira gasped and reminded herself. "Sora, Riku, Mickey... I do believe there is something I need to discuss with you're friends, is my custody over them necessary?"

Sora answered with his mind drifting somewhere. "It isn't... but if they are in danger if they go out there. Do you know... exactly what is waiting for them out there?"

Resira nodded. "And I will leave guiding them to you when you can. They could use a means of escaping, find a way."

She turned to the ladder as Sora promised Esmerelda and Quasimodo. "We have some friends of ours that are stuck here. I'll tell them when I can."

The two understood, Quasimodo jumped to the higher ground and introduced his many bells. "Follow me, I'll introduce you."

Down in a room bellow.

Ken felt his brain spinning as Kairi asked Donald and Goofy. "So Donald is trying... to be a rain cloud?"

Ken agreed and snapped from his imagination. "So much is going to be flung that if we meet things like those shadows again or any of the... you know whats in large numbers." He smacked his lips. "Goodbye!" He looked at his glowing keyblade and to Cadia's Light. "Something... that can deal with a lot of them at once."

Kairi understood that much. "You haven't learned any? You can blow out all that ash and-" She gasped and asked. "But... what if that keyblade eventually-" Donald finished for her. "If it sets itself on fire?"

Goofy wasn't too sure if it was a good idea. "But remember what Yen Sid said about that?"

Ken agreed with them and answered. "It's what it is drawing fuel from. But that would be so cool."

Step! Step! Click!

Resira entered the room and saw a group of well behaved individuals, she looked upon them with a light smile and stood aside. "Kairi, Donald, Goofy, Kendry... you are permitted to leave this room, but it is ill advised to go out of the Church's borders... at least traditionally."

Kairi sighed and asked. "Why do we have to do that that?"

Resira answered with concern for their safety. "For the Minister of the city... Frollo, would most certainly seek your heads after what you all done."

Ken raised an eyebrow and asked. "And we can't just kick his goons butts because if we go out, they will try to kill us and we don't want to result in the other option?"

Kairi answered with an agreement. "Fighting a heartless is different from fighting everyday people."

Resira nodded to her. "And they could just be those following a duty."

Donald felt she had a point and folded his arms. "But that doesn't excuse it, they got to think for themselves."

Goofy agreed with his buddy. "Long as Frollo is the one telling them what to do, they will keep being scared of him."

Those words caused Resira to yell to them. "If they rebel, they will die! There is only one way to reb-" She stopped herself as Kairi pitifully agreed with her. "If someone stands up to Frollo alone, that is going to happen. What are we going to do?"

Resira took a deep breath and promised her with a bow of respect. "You and the others are apart of this rebellion and you have your own way of resolving this should the worse happen."

She turned with zealous determination. "You can leave burning the roots to me!" She walked off and gave the four permission to explore the Cathedral, they realized she was going out and was taken aback by the grand holy symbols.

To think one world was so tied to religion, Kairi gasped and looked to the door with worry. "She isn't..." Donald and Goofy felt the realization as Ken looked to be staring into place. Was Resira doing something so reckless? Kairi sighed and barked. "Guys, we need to find the others, Resira is putting herself in danger."

The shield bearer and mage agreed with that, Goofy felt worse was going to happen. "That isn't the problem, she can fight them all easily."

Donald swallowed. "She would blow her cover and go to-" Ken's left hand was towards the round stained glass, in a trance, he gasped snapped out of it and felt his heart beating. Kairi lead the way towards a set of stairs. "Come on, we got to find a way out."