Kingdom Hearts
Ch. 45
Traverse Town
Merlin the Wizard
Sora immersed himself with the thoughts of Kairi. He stared at her as if nothing else in the world existed. "Sora?" said Goofy entering through the hole in the house.
Sora turned to see a concerned Donald and Goofy before looking back to Kairi, who has vanished completely. He sighed a bit before shifting his focus back to his friends. "You guys!" he shouted.
He ran towards Donald and Goofy embracing them both in a group hug. "Guys, I'm so glad you're okay," he said clamping their bodies together.
"It's okay Sora. We're not going anywhere," said Donald.
"Yeah, it was that no good Ralum's fault. He's the one who destroyed the world. And for what, out of spite?" said Goofy as the three friends let go of each other.
"Yeah, but Tarzan. He sacrificed himself for us. And now he's gone with everything else. All those animals too," said Sora pulling his hood back over his head.
"Well don't you worry Sora. Will figure this out. Maybe there's a way to save them. I just know there is," said Jiminy popping out of Goofy's pocket.
"Well, well. Did someone say my name?" The friends looked over to the entrance curtain and see an old wizard in blue robes and hat with an extremely long beard. He is carrying a carpet bag and a wand. "You've arrived sooner than I expected," he said putting his bag down.
"Wha... You knew we were coming?" said Sora.
"Of course. We were informed that you'd seek us out eventually," said a talking owl that flew behind the bearded man landing on his shoulder.
"Whoa a talking owl," said Sora a bit surprised.
"Oh, pardon me, my name is Merlin. And this fine feathered fellow is Archimedes. As you can see, I am a sorcerer. I spend much of my time traveling. But it's good to be home. Your King has requested my help."
"King Mickey?" spoke an excited Goofy.
"Yes, indeed. Donald, Goofy. And who might you be Mr. Cricket?" said Merlin pointing to the insect.
Jiminy hopped up and down, "My name is Jiminy Cricket. The Queen placed me in charge of chronicling our journeys."
Merlin then turned to Sora, "And you boy?"
"I'm Sora," he said politely.
"Ah. So, you have found the key," he said walking past them.
"Hey Mr. Merlin, Archimedes, how was your travels. Did you bring anything back with you?" asked Yuffie.
"Ah, just a moment..." replied Merlin. He walks up to the stairs and sets down his carpet bag before reaching the center of the raised platform. He lifts his wand high in the air. "Presto!" he sounded.
Dust flies around the carpet bag as it opens and out pops teapots, tables, drawers, and chairs. Small at first, but quickly growing larger. The wacky wizard dances around while waving his wand, directing the items from the bag to their respective places in the house. Soon after, the room is entirely furnished, complete with a bed, a desk, a bird house for Archimedes and multiple piles of books. The talking owl flew on a bird poll and rested quietly.
Merlin reached into his pocket and handed Yuffie some special plants. "Wow, these are really good herbs. Where did you find these?"
Merlin straightened his glasses. "While on my travels. I befriended a kind old lady who gave them to me as a kind gesture. There quite useful for making some fine tea. When I come by later how bout you make us a cup or two."
"Thank you. Mr. Merlin," said Yuffie giving the old wizard a hug.
After letting go of each other. He turns to face Sora. "There, now. Ahem. Your King asked me to train you in the art of magic. But from what Cid tells me someone else needs some training as well." Merlin looks to Donald. "It can be very dangerous to go out on an adventure without a properly trained cleric."
"But master. I'm an offensive mage. Healing magic is on an entirely different spectrum," explained Donald.
"No excuses. How can the King's top magician not know the Curaga spell? Stay after our meeting. I want to see how your other magic is faring."
"Oh," said Donald lowering his head and arms in disappointment.
"Heh, most guardians are more advanced in the field of magic then you," spoke Archimedes standing on the pole.
"Oh yeah. I'll show you." Donald summoned his staff pointing it at the talking owl.
"Enough you two. Now is not the time for bickering. Now Sora, if you'd like. I'd be humbled to teach a thing or two," he asked.
"Not right now I need to talk to Leon right now," he replied nodding.
"I see. I understand but do stop by anytime," replied the magician.
"Geh, I didn't know you could make herbal tea," said Goofy to Yuffie holding the herbs.
Yuffie replied cheerfully, "Yeah, my Mom would grow them in her garden and use them for medical purposes. They can be used for everything. From relaxing the body to controlling stress."
"Well, Yuffie do you mind if you could teach me how to make tea?" asked Goofy.
"Of course, unless your friends need you for something else," Yuffie said.
Goofy turned to his friends. "No, you can go on ahead without me," said Sora.
"Oh, that reminds me Cid fixed the book you gave him. She reached into her pocket pulling out the book handing it to Merlin.
"Oh, that book... So, Cid asked you to bring this. Thank you. You wish to know what kind of book it is? I don't even know, myself. In fact, it's not mine. Somehow it found its way into my bag one day. It was such a curious book, I asked Cid to repair it for me. Well, I guess I'll put it here somewhere, for now. This book holds a great secret. The missing pages will unlock it." He uses his magic to make the book float. It flew across the room landing on a table. "I'll leave the book over there. Do look at it whenever you like. My best regards to Cid for repairing it for me."
"Now Donald, you know where to be," asserted Merlin. Donald nodded his head. Merlin then spoke to Sora again, "Oh Leon's still training in the catacombs I can lead you to a short cut if you'd like."
"Thank you," said Sora. With a tap of his wand a trap door appeared in the middle of the house leading to a flight of stairs.
"Hold on Sora. Don't forget me." Jiminy jumped on Sora's shoulder speaking to him again. "Do you mind letting down your hood for me?"
"Oh yeah, sorry about that." Sora pulled his hood off his head for his friend. Jiminy hopped in the coat setting down in his hood.
"Whelp, Sora see you later. It was nice having some fun with you. We're all meeting at Cid's house for dinner. Go there when you're done." She waved to Sora goodbye. Goofy followed her saying his own goodbyes.
Sora thanked Merlin and said goodbye to Donald. He headed down stairs noticing the trap door sealing up when he was half way down. As he neared the bottom, he heard the sound of a sword slash. He made it to the bottom before noticing some moaning and other strange noises. He walked in the water flooded room through a door in the rock to see Leon backing Aerith in a wall kissing her.
"Leon," he said abruptly.
"Sora," said Aerith a bit surprised pushing her husband away.
Leon seemed a bit annoyed but got over it quite fast. "Sora, I see you woke up," he said turning the young kid.
"Thank you. For helping me back there," he said to Aerith.
She blushed a bit responding, "Oh its fine. I'm just doing my duty."
"Sora about Deep Jungle. The others said that before the world fell to darkness. A heartless entered a keyhole. Is that correct?" spoke Leon walking closer to Sora with Aerith.
"Keyhole, that's right. Ralum said it leads to the heart of all worlds." Leon stopped walking resting his chin on his hand.
He spoke again in a soft and humble tone, "Every world among the stars has a Keyhole. And each one leads to the heart of that world."
"What do you mean?" asked Sora.
"It was in Ansem's report," explained Aerith.
Leon crossing his arms continued, "The Heartless enter through the Keyhole and do something to the world's core."
"What happens to the world?" asked Sora.
Aerith spoke in a cautious voice, "In the end, it disappears."
"What!" shouted Sora.
"That's why your key is so important. The keyblade is the only thing that can lock away a world." Sora began to think back on his previous adventure's trying to remember anything about the keyhole.
"Wait I remember. The first world we visited. Wonderland had something similar. A glowing keyhole in a door knobs mouth. When I used my keyblade on it the lock disappeared."
Leon nodded, "Yes you must have sealed away that world. You saved everyone there."
A jolt could be felt through Sora's spine. "But if I had known that I could have saved Tarzan's world. That means I failed."
Sora's head sank again. Aerith walked over to him putting a hand on his face lifting his head up. "Sora. It's okay. Sometimes we make mistakes that we can't take back. And all you can do is keep moving forward. Sora the keyblade chose you. And though you are still just a person. You can still overcome the heartless. Traverse Town also has a keyhole as well and you're the only one who can seal it. Sora please will you help us."
"Keep moving forward that's what you said. That's what people on my home world would say. And your right. I know moping about won't work." Sora grinned again lifting his arm clenching his fist. "I swear I'll never let any world fall to the darkness ever again. And that's a promise."
"Thank you," said Aerith folding her hands together.
Leon cracked a grin, "Sora near the Second District there's a bell that rings twice everyday signaling the times for noon and midnight. But there are rumors that something special will happen if the bell rings 3 times in a row. That's the first place I'd investigate."
"Got it," said Sora confidently.
"Wait hold on there a second," said Jiminy jumping out of Sora's hood. "Aerith you said something about Ansem's reports?" he asked.
"Why yes. What about them?" she asked.
"May I copy them down in my journal. In case of any road blocks on our journey.
It may be useful to have some important information with us."
"Of course, they are located at the library. I'll take you there." Jiminy jumped into Aerith's hands before she set off. "Meet you back at Cid's house honey," she spoke to Leon.
"So long," he replied. "Sora this path will lead back to town. Find the gizmo shop, and it'll lead you to the top of the bell tower."
"Gotcha," Sora ran off down the wet path.
"Sora," called Leon again. The young keyblade wielder turned back towards his friend. "Remember you're not alone." Sora smiled back nodding his head before running off in the distance.
