Chapter 32 Trust and Promise
The forest itself was definitely scary. Poor Sakura found herself holding onto Takumi's arm again like she did back in the Underworld. Though Donald, looked irritated.
"How the heck did we lose track of Sora, Corrin, and Pacha?" He growled.
"I don't know, but I hope their okay." Goofy muttered worried.
"Do you see anything Kaze?" Takumi shouted up a tree where Takumi was standing looking around.
"No. I don't see any of them." Kaze called back.
"Great. What on earth are they doing?" Donald asked.
Just then, a group of Unversed appeared surrounding the group. Floods and Scrappers.
"More of these guys?" Takumi asked drawing his bow.
"Let's get them!" Donald declared as the group got to work facing the Unversed.
Kuzco wasn't having a good day. From waking up in the same town he planned to destroy, finding out he was now a Llama, and dealing with some whinny peasants, he was now being chased through the jungle by Jaguars. It didn't take him long to get lost in the forest, where he met this dumb squirrel. After telling it to get lost, it went a made a balloon animal and popped it waking up a group of jaguars that Kuzco had accidentally stumbled into. Now said Jaguars were chasing him through out the jungle.
Kuzco kept running and running until he reached a cliff that marked a dead end. He gulped as the Jaguars approached their prey.
"You…killer…jaguars…" Kuzco stuttered as he stepped backwards as much as he could before he was right at the ledge as the jaguars slowly approached him menacingly.
Suddenly, Pacha hollering could be heard as Kuzco and the pack of jaguars looked to see him, Sora, and Corrin swinging on a vine towards them. Kuzco smirked in triumph as he was going to be rescued, but as the swung towards the jaguars, the jaguars stepped aside causing the three to miss.
"HOW DOES TARZAN DO THIS SO EASILY?!" Sora's voice could be heard as the three went swinging further away trying desperately to change directions.
Kuzco gulped as the jaguars continued to move closer to him, but Pacha suddenly appeared and grabbed Kuzco as the three swung away from the wild animals.
"Don't worry your highness! You're safe now!" Pacha declared.
"Got it on the second try!" Sora cheered.
"Would have looked cooler if it was the first try." Corrin commented.
"Forget that! Let's just land and find the others." Sora said.
However, the four ended up hitting a large branch that ended up getting the four of them tied to it with Sora and Pacha on the top, and Kuzco and Corrin were at the bottom.
"Maybe I'm just new to this whole rescue thing, but to me, this kind of feels like a step backwards here." Kuzco commented.
"Nonono! It's okay. We can figure this out." Pacha tried to assure.
"He's right. The others shouldn't be too far behind. All we have to do is hang tight." Corrin assured. He couldn't reach his dragon stone in his pocket so he couldn't break out on his own.
"Corrin's right. Our friends will be here any minute and they can get us out of here." Sora said.
*Crack*
"I hate you three." Kuzco said as the branch broke causing the four to fall.
As the log dropped down into the canyon bellow, it bumped against multiple rocks until it landed on a slop that caused it to roll into the water.
Once the log resurfaced, the four found themselves caught in rapid tides that banged them into even more rocks as they went flying down the river until finally it reached more calm water.
"Wow. That was one heck of a ride." Sora commented with a bit of laughter.
"Well I don't know about you spiky, but I'm getting all fund out." Kuzco commented dryly.
"Already?" Didn't you want to build a water-slide with your little Summer Home?" Pacha mocked.
"Shut up." Kuzco muttered.
Sora and Pacha looked ahead and paled. "Uh-oh."
"Don't tell me, we're about to go over a huge waterfall." Kuzco asked flatly.
"Yep." Sora said flatly.
"Sharp rocks at the bottom?" Corrin asked flatly.
"Most likely." Pacha said flatly.
"Bring it on." Corrin and Kuzco said.
Kuzco screaming "Booyah" could be heard from the entire forest as the four went flying off the huge waterfall.
"DIE ALREADY!" Takumi shouted as he shot an arrow at the last Scrapper killing it.
"They may not be Heartless, but they do fight like them." Kaze said.
"Strange though. I remember the king telling us about these creature when they appeared about 1 years ago, and he described many types." Donald said.
"Well to be fair, this is only the third time we've ran into them." Goofy pointed out. "Plus like Vanitas said when we saw him, his strength isn't fully back yet, so maybe he can't summon more powerful Unversed yet."
"If that's true, then it's all the more reason we need to find him and stop him fast. Back then, he was able to defeat the king, and he almost beat Aqua." Donald said.
"Okay, who is this Aqua person?" Takumi asked feeling lost to the discussion.
"She's a Keyblade Master that went missing about 11 years ago. She was also friends with Ventus." Donald said.
"Keyblade Master?" Takumi asked.
"A Keyblade wielder has to take some test and they are called a true master of the Keyblade." Donald said.
"Is Sora a Keyblade Master?" Sakura asked.
"I doubt it. He's only had the thing for about a year." Donald said.
"But he is getting better at it." Goofy pointed out.
"Booyah!"
"What was that?" Sakura asked as the group looked around for the owner of that voice.
"That sounds like that whinny Llama." Donald said.
"I-If we find him, we find Corrin and Sora." Sakura said.
"Well, what are we waiting for, let's go!" Donald declared as the group headed to the direction of the sound.
Out of the river, Sora and Corrin groaned as they crawled out of the water and onto dry land.
"I can't believe we survived that." Corrin groaned.
"Are you really complaining?" Sora asked.
"Not really." Corrin said.
Pacha groaned as he started to get out of the water, but noticed Kuzco wasn't moving.
"SORA CORRIN!" Donald shouted as everyone ran up to the two.
"A-are you okay? Do you need healing?" Sakura asked frantically.
"We're fine Sakura." Corrin assured.
"What happened? Where did you guys go?" Kaze asked.
"Well…" Corrin began.
"GAH!"
Everyone turned to see Pacha and Kuzco jump away with each other in disgust.
"No seriously, what happened?" Takumi asked.
After an explanation was given, and the utter shock that the four just went over a massive waterfall, the group decided to settle there for camp as it was too late to hike back to Pacha's village. Pacha and Donald were trying to start a fire, Sakura and Sora were gathering fire wood, Goofy and Corrin were clearing rocks out of the area so everyone could sleep a bit more comfortably, Takumi and Kaze were fishing and Kuzco was rinsing his mouth out.
"For the last time is was NOT a kiss." Pacha said as he finally got a fire started.
"Well whatever you called it, was disgusting." Kuzco said spitting out the water onto the fire much to Pacha and Donald's annoyance.
"It's called CPR Kuzco. And it was to save your life." Sakura informed as the three placed the firewood they gathered on the campfire as Pacha and Donald tried to lite a fire again.
"Regardless, if you all had just taken me back to the palace in the first place like I asked, we wouldn't have to deal with your kiss of life." Kuzco said shacking the water off his body and putting out the fire again my to Pacha and Donald's irritation.
"Well you know, if you had just listened to Pacha's warning about the jungle in the first place, you wouldn't have had to be chased by Jaguars and fallen off a waterfall." Kaze retorted as he managed to reel in a fish.
"Are you sure you guys are okay?" Sakura asked the four again for what was like the seventh time.
"We're fine Sakura. Sora and I have been through worse on this adventure. Trust me." Corrin assured.
"I'll be all right Sakura. A little shaken, but I'm still alive." Pacha assured.
"Well, now that you're all here, you guys can take me back to the palace, I can get Yzma to change me back, and get back to work on Kuzcotopia. Oh yeah!" Kuzco cheered as he started playing with some rocks and a leaf.
"You're still going on about that?" Takumi asked annoyed.
"Okay look. I think we got off on the wrong foot." Pacha said trying to play peacemaker as Donald continued to try and start a fire. "I just think, if you really thought about it, you'd decide to build your home on another hilltop."
"And why would I do that?" Kuzco asked using Pacha's poncho to dry off before tossing it on the fire putting it out for a third time.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Donald shouted started to see red.
"Because…" Pacha took a deep breath to keep calm. "You'd be forcing an entire village out of their homes."
"And that's…bad?" Kuzco asked.
"Well yeah. Come on, no one is that Heartless." Pacha tried reasoning with the selfish emperor.
"I see…Now take me back." Kuzco ordered and Pacha started to lose his patients.
"Why are you like this?" Pacha asked. "All you care about is building your summer home and filling it with stuff for you!"
"Uh yeah! Like I said before, everyone else in the kingdom gets it. You're the only one that doesn't get with the program." Kuzco said.
"You know, someday you are going to end up all alone and you won't have anyone to blame but yourself." Pacha said.
"Thanks. I'll make sure to file that away. Now for the final time, take me back to the palace." Kuzco ordered.
Pacha sighed. "Sorry but, you're stuck out here. Unless you change your mind about tearing down my village, I'm not taking you back." Pacha said firmly.
"Hey Kuzco, how about you make yourself useful and help Goofy and I clear out rocks." Corrin said.
"Yeah. All you've been doing is complaining and putting out the fire!" Donald added getting the fire started for a fourth time.
"Unless you change your mind, I'm not taking you back to the palace." Kuzco muttered mocking Pacha's voice. He then picked up a rock and tossed hit, hitting Goofy right in the head.
"OUCH!" Goofy cried out.
Everyone glared at Kuzco.
"Huh? I didn't do anything. Someone's throwing stuff." Kuzco quickly said as he walked off to a corner by some rocks and made himself comfy.
"He's never going to change." Pacha sighed.
"Are you alright Goofy?" Sakura asked concerned.
"Yeah. I'll be fine." Goofy said rubbing his head.
"So, what do we do about the spoiled brat?" Corrin asked pointing to Kuzco.
"Nothing. When the sun goes up, we head back to the village." Pacha said.
"Sounds like a plan." Sora said.
Jiminy then hopped up on Sora's shoulder.
"That Kuzco needs a stern talking to. Maybe I should give him a good lecture." Jiminy said.
"Maybe not now. After that stunt in the jungle, he might try to squish you." Corrin said.
"True. I'll talk to him tomorrow morning." Jiminy decided.
Takumi and Kaze managed to catch some fish. (Mostly Kaze) Everyone sat around the campfire eating the fish, to which Kuzco grabbed one as well before heading off to bed.
After eating some fish, everyone went to sleep around the campfire, though Kaze stayed up for patrol. Pacha also woke up and noticed Kuzco shivering from his spot away from the fire. Sighing Pacha put his poncho on the spoiled emperor to keep him warm.
Corrin soon got up and walked up to Kaze who was sitting on some rocks and took a seat next to him.
"I can take the next shift if you need to get some sleep." Corrin offered.
"I couldn't do such a thing lord Corrin." Kaze said.
"Okay, first of all, it's just Corrin. Second, ninja or not, you need some sleep." Corrin said.
"I assure you I'm fine…Corrin." Kaze said struggling with the casual way of addressing the missing prince.
"Anyway, what do you think of these new worlds?" Corrin asked.
"It's…something." Kaze admitted. "I never thought of life beyond the stars until that day but it's all baffling."
"Yeah. It was like that for me as well." Corrin said. "Back on the islands, Riku was always fond of a story about this one boy that wished to see the outside worlds and escape the islands. One day he vanished and some believe that he found a way to leave. It was always seen as some silly campfire story but Riku always wanted to believe that it was real."
"And that's what prompted you to head out?" Kaze asked.
"Mostly. I guess I was also a bit curious. I mean, I knew I wasn't born on the islands, even with my memories gone. But I think mine and Kairi's arrival to the islands is what further sparked Riku's desire to build a raft and explore the outside worlds." Corrin said.
"Build a raft to see the outside worlds?" Kaze asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Yeah. Looking back on it, I can't help but see a lot of flaws with that plan. Honestly, it sounds like a plan Sora would come up with." Corrin laughed.
"Lord Corrin, do you want to go home?" Kaze couldn't help but ask.
Corrin was silent for a minute. Well, i mean I guess I would like to meet Ryoma and Hinoka just once at least, but I also should head back home to Destiny Island once this is all over. Mom must be worried sick." He admitted feeling conflict in his heart.
Kaze didn't way anything. Unknown to them, Sakura and Takumi overheard the conversation.
'He guesses? Does he care or not?' Takumi growled.
'Corrin…Are you happy back on the islands?' Sakura wondered with some hurt in her heart.
Sora meanwhile had his thoughts on another issue.
'If the Unversed are here, then Vanitas is here.' He thought.
For some reason, Sora's thoughts angered when he thought about the masked boy and unknown to him, a small bit of dark energy appeared on his hand for a moment taht vanished when he went to sleep.
The next morning, everyone got up and got ready to get on the move.
"So, what's the plan?" Sora asked.
"Well, once we get Pacha and Kuzco back to the village, we should consider heading out. We still need to find Riku and the King as well as stop Vanitas." Corrin said.
"I guess you're right. Where do we start?" Sora asked.
"I guess we can check around that palace since there isn't anywhere else to start, but let's not tell Kuzco. I'd rather not play a part in tearing down that village." Corrin whispered.
"Agreed." Sora whispered back.
"W-Well, shall we get going?" Sakura asked more quiet than usual.
"Are you okay Sakura?" Corrin asked concerned.
"O-Oh yeah. I'm fine." Sakura lied.
Takumi said nothing.
Corrin was about to speak when Pacha ran up to the group.
"Guys, Kuzco agreed to build his home elsewhere." Pacha said excited.
"That's great!" Sora, Sakura, and Goofy cheered. Though the rest weren't buying it.
"That easily? Sorry if I find that hard to believe." Corrin said.
"Yeah. He was pretty adamant last night on doing it." Takumi said.
"Hey, no one is that Heartless." Pacha assured.
"So does that mean we are heading to the palace?" Kaze asked.
"Yeah. Though I was wondering if you guys would like to come along." Pacha offered.
"Sure." Sora cheered.
"Sora!" Donald scolded.
"Actually Donald, it's don't know much about this area, and having someone that can guide us would be better than wondering aimlessly." Corrin said.
"Great. Well, it's a bit of a walk to the palace so we better get moving." Pacha said.
Corrin approached Kuzco.
"Did you really change your mind?" He asked with suspicion.
"Of course. We shook on it and everything." Kuzco assured.
Corrin said nothing and started to follow Pacha.
'And thank you guys as well.' Kuzco internally smirked.
'I'd better keep an eye on him.' Corrin thought.
At the Palace:
Servants were redecorating the palace replacing Kuzco's pictures with an old looking lady. The lady in question was rather wrinkly, skinny, and with light purple skin. She wore a dark purple and black dress. Next to her was a muscular man with a long square chin, wearing a blue shirt with some yellow on it and purple pants.
The woman was Yzma. The Emperor's former advisor and the man was her right-hand man Kronk. Yzma was laying on a couch while Kronk was getting her a snack.
"You know Kronk, I was worried when you mixed up those potions, but now that Kuzco is dead, all is forgiven." Yzma said as Kronk froze up.
"Uh yeah. He's dead. Can't get much deader than dead. Unless we kill him, again right?" Kronk stuttered.
"He IS dead, right? I need to hear these words Kronk." Yzma urged.
"Are you talking about that talking Llama?" A voice called out.
Yzma and Kronk turned to see Vanitas approach them.
"Who are you and how did you get in here?" Yzma demanded ready to call the guards.
"I am but a friend. And as a friend I came to warn you that your emperor is still alive and is on his way back as we speak.
WHAT?!" Yzma shouted and turned to Kronk. "He's still alive?!"
"Well, he's not as dead as we want him to be." Kronk admitted.
"Kronk!" Yzma growled. "If he gets back, we are finished!"
"Yeah. That would be awkward after that eulogy you gave at his funeral." Kronk said missing the point entirely. Yzma and even Vanitas stared in disbelief at the man.
"You think?!" Yzma snapped before turning to Vanitas. "That still doesn't explain who you are or why are you helping us. What is it that you want?"
"Your emperor…" Vanitas began.
"FORMER emperor!" Yzma corrected.
"Former emperor is currently traveling with some troublesome brats. One of them has something I need, so if they are traveling together, we have a common enemy. Simple as that." Vanitas said.
"So you need my help in taking out this boy?" Yzma asked.
"No. I need his friends taken out. I need the boy called Sora alive...for now. Do this, and I will help you kill the talking Llama. I even have solders of my own." Vanitas said snapping his fingers
Several floods appeared.
"What…what are they?" Kronk asked.
"They are called, the Unversed. Creatures born of negative emotions. They will be more helpful in killing Kuzco than some potion and you can't exactly get the gaurds to do this without the risk of them finding out." Vanitas said.
"Clearly." Yzma muttered examining the creatures. "So, I help you dispose of this Sora kid's friends, you help me get rid of Kuzco, so I can become Empress without any issues?" Yzma asked.
Vanitas nodded.
"Very well then. Kronk, get my things ready to depart." Yzma ordered.
"Wait. We're going as well?" Kronk asked.
"Of course. If I learned anything from you,it's that if I want to ensure anything is done correctly, I need to see it with my own two eyes." Yzma growled as the two headed off to get ready. "You're coming too. I accept your help, but I still want you in my sight"
"Of course." Vanitas nodded..
"Good. Meet us at the castle gates in an hour. If you are not there, so help me, I will make you pay." Yzma warned.
Vanitas nodded as Yzma left.
Well those two idiots should be a vital distraction at least to separate Sora from his friends. If I can get him alone, I should be able to finally take Ventus's heart back. Still, I'd best get ready." Vanitas muttered to himself as he vanished in a corridor of darkness.
And that's a wrap!
Well, looks like fanfiction is working again, meaning I can update without issue hopefully. Kind of a bad omen, that I finally start an original world for my story, right when the site glitches out. My luck in a nutshell.
But for Guest and The bich, if you didn't already know, that is why you couldn't see the chapter. The site was acting up, new chapters would only appear for a short time at best before disappearing, and I had no means of fixing it. I couldn't even update my profile on it. Hopefully now you guys can see it along with this chapter.
Anyway, that wraps up the second chapter of this world. As you can see some tension is rising with the group, and not just with Kuzco. Next chapter will be the trip to the palace. Stay tuned.
Guestwithideas: He is definitely feeling something. Also, yeah. There was only so much I can do with Pete, and he has enough canon appearances to use that in the first place.
RAX: I guess I am. Not many people use the Unversed as often as Heartless or Nobodies. Then again, those creatures have much more variety than the Unversed.
