A group of four walks down the bridge over to the side of the forest. The lanterns were gone and they were looking for Rapunzel and Flynn. Master Pit enjoyed the lanterns. They were so beautiful! He has never seen anything like it. He was glad that he got to enjoy it with his friends. Of course, until a few.. intruders showed up. Nonetheless, Pit had fun.
Goofy looks around with his fingers by his lips with a worried expression. "I sure hope Flynn and Rapunzel will be ok.."
"Don't worry, Goofy!," Said Sora. "I'm sure we'll find them. They should have parked their boat over here by now."
Donald let out a small grumble, "Those Nobodies.. I don't like how they showed up out of nowhere when we were enjoying the lanterns! They could be up to something!"
"And if they are, we can easily squash 'em!" Pit said, confidently before chuckling. "I mean-" The winged keyblade master rubs the back of his head and clears his throat. "We're a team. We can handle anything that they throw at us. Besides, we took them down pretty quickly, didn't we?" He tried to sound as professional as he could. Gotta be a good influence since he's a keyblade master.
Sora softly smiles at him. "Yeah.." A light blush on his cheeks. As much as he liked Pit being professional and all, he couldn't help but find his more 'casual' self charming. He likes to think how lucky he is to have Pit on this journey with him. Not to mention that he is a keyblade master. He's a professional in the keyblade fighting field from what he's seen.
Pit's wing flicked and he saw something at the corner of his eye. He looked over and saw a cloaked figure holding a green lantern, walking with Rapunzel. Pit tilted his head, "Huh? Wait, that's-!"
"Rapunzel!" Donald and Goofy blurted out. Sora's attention was quickly fixated on the figure and Rapunzel. Where is she going?
He cupped his hands around his mouth to try and call for her attention, "Wait! Rapunz-"
Before Sora could finish his sentence, a dark corridor appeared in front of the group. The four of them gasped and went into a fighting stance to prepare for battle. Coming out of the corridor was Marluxia, one of the organization's members.
"Show some decorum." The nobody said as the darkness around him disappeared.
"You again!" Donald shouted.
"Marluxia!" Sora shouted with him.
"Of course, he's still here!" Pit scolded.
Marluxia simply chuckles at their responses. "The girl has found her dear mother. You should let them be." He gestured towards them.
"And why is that?" Sora responded.
"Because Rapunzel is far too important." He began. "Atop her tower, she must remain out of sight, and live out her days with Mother Gothel."
Pit's eyebrows furrowed at that statement. Remain out of sight? But why?
"And never see anyone else?" Goofy tilted his head.
Sora steps up, "But that's like… locking her in some prison!"
Marluxia simply smirks at the group. "That is exactly what it's like."
Pit's wings flexed back at his response. Eyes widen at the idea of letting Rapunzel being kept locked up for some tower. How cruel can he be?! Even the group was taken back by his words. Well.. this was the organization they were dealing with.
"Rapunzel's hair holds the powerful magic of healing." He continued. "And yes, Mother Gothel wants it for herself. As do others. And, if Mother Gothel's actions will protect Rapunzel, preserve her… then she is doing the Organization a favor."
The keyblade master gritted his teeth and his wings flick angrily. "What favor?" Pit asked.
"Let's say she's keeping Rapunzel on the shelf for us. An extra pawn in case you fail to find the remaining guardians of light. And we have occasion to call on other hearts of light instead. A New Seven Hearts to fill out the ranks." Marluxia kept his smirk.
The group looked a little surprised.. and confused. "New Seven Hearts?" Sora mumbled out.
"Yes. Seven who inherited the princess' light after their role was fulfilled."
"So, you don't care about her. You guys just want Rapunzel for your own purposes!" Sora shouted in anger.
"Dream on, Marluxia!" Pit growled. "If there is a New Seven Hearts, then you can bet that we will protect them from the likes of you!"
"Why is that, 'Master' Pit? Then, perhaps you want to be Rapunzel's replacement. I am certain that you will fit the criteria, hm?" Marluxia looks over at Pit. The keyblade master flinched at his words. How did he..?
Sora, Donald, and Goofy growled at Marluxia and came to Pit's defense.
"Like we ever give Pit to you!" Goofy huffed.
"Pit won't be going with you! Not on our watch!" Donald waves his wand angrily.
"You better back off from Pit! Because if you mess with him, then you mess with us, Marluxia!" Sora puts his hand out to defend Pit.
Pit looked over at Sora in surprise. A soft blush appeared on his cheeks. A tingling sensation was in his heart and a bunch of butterflies fluttered in his belly. What the heck is going on? Whatever it is, Pit quickly shook the feeling off. This was no time to feel weird.
"So that's it! You're done here!" Sora summoned his keyblade. Donald and Goofy followed through by summoning their weapons as well. The group was ready to pounce on their enemy and finish off this fight, here and now.
"Hmph." Marluxia huffed. "I just knew you would go and make a scene. Very well, then it's lights out for you."
Marluxia raises his hand over his shoulder and throws his arm out to Sora. Pink essence flew past the Organization member and straight towards Sora. Sora's eyes widen at the pink essence flying straight towards him. Pit couldn't keep up on what was going on, neither could Donald and Goofy.
The essence hit Sora and quickly wafted into his nose. The smell was irresistible. His eyelids suddenly became heavy and his heartbeat slowed. The scent was sweet and… strangely comforting. His knees buckled and he began to fall forward. Pit, Donald, and Goofy watched in horror as he started to collapse right in front of them.
"Sora!" They shouted. Pit's instincts flared and he flapped his wings to signal himself to go. Feet picked up his adrenaline and he sprinted towards Sora. He then wrapped his arms around Sora's chest to keep him from falling onto the grass and sand.
Sora's head hung low in Pit's arms and he fell unconscious. The keyblade master's eyes widen in shock and disbelief. All of this happened so fast…
"You always were such a sound sleeper." Marluxia chuckles to himself. Watching the three struggle to hold Sora.
"Sora! Sora, wake up!" Pit cried out. He turns his body to face him. A gentle hand held up the back of Sora's head to make him look at Pit. He was sleeping soundly… as if nothing happened. "Oh no.." Pit mumbled. Eyes advert over to his duck and dog friend. "Donald! Goofy! Protect Sora!" Pit laid Sora down on the ground on his back and the two surrounded him.
Pit then shifts his gaze over to Marluxia. The gaze turned into a glare. "Wak! What are you doing, Master Pit?!" Donald shouted.
"I am going to teach Marluxia a few manners, that's what's going to happen." Pit seethed. With a flick of his wrist, he summoned his keyblade. Out of the blue, Pit's wings grew big for a brief moment and flapped with strength. The force propelled his body forward. The wind all around them blew at nearby grass and trees, even the water by the shore. Pit swung his keyblade directly at Marluxia.
Marluxia couldn't quite predict Pit's outburst and defended himself with his arm. Pit growls and backflips back to give himself some room to fight in. The organization member summoned his scythe, Graceful Dahlia, and focuses on Pit. "Very well." He said. "If this is a fight you want, then let me be your guest."
"You crossed the line, Marluxia! And you're going to pay!" Pit threatened him. Swinging his keyblade in the air to show his aggression.
"Making your friend fall asleep is considered 'crossing the line'? Poor Master Pit. Up and arms over such a small thing."
"Don't 'poor Master Pit' me! Let's see how the organization feels when I get rid of one of their pawns!" Pit barked and shot a piercing light towards Marluxia from the tip of his keyblade.
Marluxia swiped the light away from him and dashed towards Pit. They both clashed their weapons together and fought against the other's force. They kept swinging their weapons at each other. Sounds of clashing metal rang through their ears. Their strength was being tested as they battle. Meanwhile, Donald and Goofy were watching the fight while holding Sora in their hands.
"Gaaahhh.. do you think we should help Master Pit? He could get hurt!" Donald whimpered at Goofy.
"Gawrsh! I don't know! He said to protect Sora…" Goofy was just as worried as Donald. They continued to watch the fight.
Pit pushed Marluxia back and a gust of wind lifted himself in the air. Wings stretched out to help him stay up in the air, thanks to the wind current he created. Then, he pointed his keyblade at his opponent and shot a Firaga. Marluxia defends himself once more and jumps into the air and swings at Pit.
Using the magic he created for the gust of wind, he changed the wind current and dodged the attack. This led to Pit slamming his keyblade down on Marluxia's back and letting him crash to the ground. Both Donald and Goofy gasp at the sight and watch Pit flutter down from the sky.
"Had your fun, yet?" Pit huffed.
Marluxia slowly gets up with a groan. His lips turned into a smirk as he looked at Pit. "Not quite." He muttered. The palm of his hand points at Pit and suddenly the keyblade master felt pain around his ankles.
Pit let out a cry of pain from the sudden agony at his legs. He looked down and saw vines with thorns wrapped around his ankles. Flower petals fell all around Pit.
"That should keep you still for just a moment.." Marluxia smiles. He threw his arm out once again and pink essence flew right past Marluxia. Pit's eyes widen when he recognizes the essence. Sadly, he couldn't dodge it and it hit Pit directly at his nose. He gasped out desperately from the sweet scent.
"Master Pit!" Donald and Goofy cried out.
Exhaustion fell over the winged master. Wings became limb and fell on his back lazily. Eyelids were already becoming heavy and his knees were ready to buckle. The vines let go of Pit's ankles but the pain still lingers. The pain was keeping Pit awake.
Marluxia slowly walks toward Pit. A smirk still playing on his lips. He reaches over and grabs Pit by the arm and tugs him closer to him. "Perfect. We may not need Rapunzel now that the organization has you, isn't that right, Master Pit? I am sure you'll be grateful that she will no longer be our concern."
Pit couldn't respond. His mind was too foggy and he was trying his best to stay awake. Unfortunately, his body was at Marluxia's mercy.
Suddenly, without a warning, a shield hits directly at Marluxia's arm - making him let go of Pit. Pit stumbled away from Marluxia and breathed heavily. Marluxia looks over and watches as the shield bounces back over to Goofy.
"That is enough, Marluxia!" Goofy barked.
"You better get away from Master Pit! Or else you'll be feeling a whole world of pain!" Donald threatened, waving his wand around and lightning strikes all around Marluxia.
Marluxia hissed at the two. "Fine, have it your way then. We will get Pit another time." With a growl, a dark corridor appeared around him and took him away into the unknown.
Pit stood there for a moment. His entire body was exhausted and his ankles were in desperate need of relief. He tried his best to focus on staying up. Goofy ran over to Pit and held on to him.
"It's okay, Master Pit! He's gone now!" Goofy comforted. He began to guide Pit over to Sora's unconscious body. Tired eyes analyze Sora's body up and down to make sure he wasn't hurt. Thank goodness, no harm was done to him. After Pit looked for any injury on Sora, his knees finally buckled. He fell on to Sora and let the essence take over his mind. Soon, he fell unconscious.
Both Donald and Goofy were surprised when Pit collapsed. They both tried their best to wake the two up but they were both out like a light.
It's been a few hours since both Pit and Sora were knocked out by Marluxia. The two were laying by each other's side under Donald and Goofy's watch.
"Sora!" Donald shouted.
"Master Pit!" Goofy shouted with him.
The two keyblade wielders continued to sleep on. Their chests rise and lower slowly. Donald whimpered to himself. "They're not waking up! How heavy do they sleep?!"
"Gawrsh.. What are we going to do? Marluxia might still be around here." Goofy scratched the side of his head as he nervously looked around.
"Well, we can't just leave them here. Marluxia will try and take them away if we try and get Rapunzel!" Donald huffs. The two anthropomorphic animals continued to talk to try and figure out what to do.
"But… what did Marluxia want from Master Pit?" The dog scratches the side of his head.
"They want him because he's part of us now! He's part of the guardians of light!" Donald didn't hesitate to answer.
"Hmmm…" Goofy thought, "By why Pit specifically? They could have gone after Sora or the others..
That question made Donald hum and put his fingers by his bill. Looking for a reason as to why Marluxia was after Master Pit and what they were planning to do to him.
"...You think they know about Master Palutena, her legacy, and that most of what she knew was passed down to Pit?" Goofy thought out loud.
"I don't know," Donald admitted. "But whatever they want from him, we aren't giving it away!"
The two continue to chatter while keeping an eye on Pit and Sora. Speaking of Pit, his wings spasm for a second before he started to stir awake. His eyelids tense before slowly fluttering open, it was still a bit dark out - actually, it was gloomy. Pit groans and slowly sat up; a hand reaching up to rub his forehead.
The knight and mage look over at Pit. "Master Pit!" They both shouted and quickly went to his side. Their hands went to hold on to his lower back to help him sit up.
"Donald? Goofy?" The keyblade master blinks and looks at the two. "You're alright.."
"Of course, we are!" Goofy smiled.
"Yep! We weren't going to let Marluxia pick on us anymore!" Donald flexes his muscles confidently. Pit couldn't help but smile at the two. Sora is lucky that he has some good friends…
Wait…
"S-Sora!" Pit looks over to his side to see Sora is still unconscious. He quickly crawls over and instinctively puts his hand on his chest. His other free hand moved his head to face him. The keyblade master looks back at Donald and Goofy, "He's… he's still unconscious?"
"We tried to wake him up.." Goofy explained.
"But no matter how loud we shout, he still won't budge!" Donald huffed.
"No…" Pit looks back at Sora's face, "C'mon, Sora.. wake up. We need you." His hand cups the side of Sora's cheek.
"Please, wake up.."