Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts- this is a Disney and Square Enix Property.
Hades watched as the two heroes flew off the mountain. He wiped his hands together and sighed pleasantly.
"Aaah that sent them sailing," he turned to face the Titans "Good work boys! Ready for the cosmic coup thing?"
He waved his hands towards them. The titans turned around off the mountain. Hades then heard a portal opened behind him. He rolled his eyes.
"Ugh, really? Are you kidding? Geez Louise, seriously when it rains, it pours," he sighed and turned "Okay, who's the new pest?"
"Hey, now, that ain't no way to say hello, 'specially to your old friends," called a gruff voice coming from a large figure.
Hades looked at Maleficent and Pete. Disdain in his on his face.
"Oh, perfect. Now I gotta put up with you two. Funny, I don't remember you doing me any memorable favors. So, you can keep your Heartless this time. I'm going back to my original plan. All right? So... toodle-loo! Exit's thataway," Hades pointed to his left. "Hey, it was great seein' ya! Haaappy Trails!"
Maleficent sighed and rolled her eyes.
"We are not here for you. I have my own business to deal with. All I need to know is if there is a distinctive... black box... somewhere in this world?"
"Black box, huh? Hmm... black box, black box, black box... Wait. Don't tell me... You're after the one Zeus hid on earth?"
"Possibly. If I were, where might it be?"
"Beats me, just stay out of my way. I have some issues to work out with my brother," Hades puffed into the blackish smoke.
"What are we going to do now?" Pete questioned.
"We are going to find the legend of where a mythical box could be, let's head into town and see if we can find something," Maleficent turned and gazed off the mountain below her. This time, I will not lose to those who support the light. This time I'll ensure their deaths.
"Sora, this probably isn't the best time, but any idea how we are going to land?" Kairi screamed from the rushing wind. Fear was evident in her voice.
"Uh... I'll figure it out I assure you," Sora said. The ground of the town was coming closer and closer. His heart was beating faster and faster. The next thing he knew the ground was no longer hundreds of feet away, instead it was mere inches away from his face. The wind was no longer howling in his ears and the movement stopped. He looked up and saw Hercules.
"Herc! Thank goodness, you saved us!" Sora said as Hercules set him and Kairi down.
"Hi Sora and... Ms...?" Hercules trailed off looking at Kairi.
"Hi, I'm Kairi," she said sweetly extending out a hand for Hercules to shake.
Hercules eyes seem to light up on her name.
"So, you're Kairi? Sora has mentioned a lot about you. I am glad that he finally found you,"
"All goods thing I hope," Kairi said with a giggle. Hercules nodded and smiled at her for a second before he looked around at the burning buildings around them.
Sora and Kairi for the first time really scanned in their surroundings. The large and majestic classical style buildings were crumbling and on fire. His heart fell to the pit of his stomach. This world might be a little more than he and Kairi bargained for. He turned back to Hercules.
"What's going on here?" Sora asked his eyebrows knitting together in concern.
Hercules looked down at the ground with a pained expression. He was saddened at the state of his home, he sighed.
"Hades, he is hell-bent on destroying the town and taking this fight to Mount Olympus," Hercules gazed at the large mountain that Sora and Kairi were just on.
"Why is he taking the fight to the Coliseum?" Sora asked.
"Oh Sora, a lot has changed. The world has finally restored itself after so long, the Coliseum is here in town, on the mountain is where the gods live. Hades is taking advantage and using the Titans to destroy Greece and the Gods," Hercules looked down his brow furrowed, anger spreading across his face.
"Oh my, what can we do to help?" Kairi chimed in.
"Well," Hercules mused glancing at the city "We need to evacuate the city, with all the destruction and chaos I can't imagine the casualties that are involved. Especially since I have heard reports from Meg and Phil that there are Heartless appearing in town,"
"Oh yeah, we can definitely do that," Sora said, his hands going back to his head as he leaned in his standard pose.
"It's nice of you to be here, in such a critical time," Hercules said as he began to walk into town. He stopped and then looked at them both. "Wait, why are you here? I am guessing it isn't for our famous cheese and olives,"
"Oh! Yeah, I must ask you something, but honestly Herc, it can wait until after the city is safe,"
Hercules nodded in agreement and the three began to walk into the main plaza of the city. As the stepped into the plaza, they heard a whoosh as fireballs began to fall from the sky. The balls hit the stone pavement and popped back up as if they were made of liquid. The trio squinted and realized what the flaming figures were.
"Heartless!" Sora cried out, summoning his keyblade. The three of them braced for the fight against the fire heartless.
Sora instinctively began to use the water spell to cool the ones that engulfed themselves in fire. Kairi and Hercules took the offensive and all worked well together to eliminate the threat. They worked well until two heartless became an inferno at once Sora was able to use his water move one last time before his mana drained. The spell destroyed on and out of the corner of his eye Sora saw the other flamed engulfed Heartless make a beeline for Kairi. She was too busy destroying another Heartless to even notice the impending doom that was heading straight towards her. His heart seemed to stop, and the world slowed down. Before he even knew it, he was right by her side deflecting the heartless with a block. The force of him bringing the keyblade up to a defenseless position and the force of the Heartless rocketing through the air deflected it back into a pillar effectively destroying it. Kairi turned around and gave Sora a smile in thanks. He nodded in return and joined back into the fray. Once all the heartless had dissipated the heroes collectively took a deep breath.
"Hercules!" a feminine voice rang out.
Sora looked up to see Pegasus flying into the plaza with Phil and Meg on his back. Relief that his friends were okay washed over Sora and he turned to Kairi to give a thumbs up and mouthed Meg's name to her.
"Meg!" Hercules exclaimed running over to where they had landed.
"You're okay!" the two caught each other in a hug.
The sight of his two friends hugging and being grateful for the others safety warmed Sora. These two had to deal with so much to be together, but trail after trial they always persevered. As the two separated from their hug, Meg scanned the area.
"Boy, that didn't so look fun,"
"No, not with the Heartless around. Thanks to these two, things went a lot smoother," Hercules said gesturing to Kairi and Sora.
"Well, whaddaya know? Sora and...?"
"Kairi," Kairi offered in return.
Meg's face switched to surprise.
"The one and only Kairi? The girl Sora can never shut up about?" Meg said sassily, her hands her hips. She gave Sora a wink and all Sora could do was look away to hide the red blush that was creeping on his cheeks. Kairi giggled next to him. "It's nice to finally meet you, thank you, both of you, for all your help,"
Hercules gave a small smile at the antics of his partner but concerned quickly took hold of his face.
"Meg, you need to get somewhere safe. We'll search the city and make sure everyone manages to get clear of the fire,"
Meg shook her head, her brows furrowing, and she clutched her hands to her chest.
"No Wonderboy, let Phil, Pegasus and I fly around the city, we can check to see if there is anyone who needs help and direct you,"
"That's a good idea, it would be better than us frantically searching for those in need," Kairi mused.
Hercules thought for a second and then conceded.
"Okay, but promise me you will be careful," he grabbed her hands.
"Of course, I am not some damsel in distress all the time," Meg responded with a smirk. She planted a kiss on his cheek and returned to Pegasus.
"Keep 'em safe Phil!"
"Someone please help me!" a high shrilled voice screamed.
Sora, Kairi, and Hercules turned around to see a young girl standing on a pile of rocks pressing herself against the wall. Orange flames licked their way up the stone.
"Oh no! There's a little girl caught in the fire," Hercules exclaimed. Sora rushed past him ready to save the girl.
"Let's go!"
"Wait Sora, running's too slow,"
Sora stopped and looked at Kairi. He was antsy he wanted to get going to save the little girl.
"What's the other choice,"
Hercules looked around and gazed upon his statue. He gave a smile and pointed at it.
"Get on that,"
Sora's eyes widen and he gazed at Kairi. She looked pale but she made her way towards the statue ready to hop on. Hercules helped her up on the statues neck and shoulders. Sora followed her up behind. Sora got in front of her, and she wrapped her arms around his middle. Sora could feel her shaking.
"Is this safe?" Kairi asked nervously, burying her head into his back. Sora's heart began to pound in his chest.
"I sure hope so," He adjusted himself and grabbed tightly on the statue. "Like this?"
"That's good. No hold on," Hercules grunted.
The statue began to rise, and Kairi gave a small gasp. She held onto Sora tighter. Before the two could even blink they were going through the sky.
"Oh no! Not again!" Sora cried over the rushing wind. He scanned the area trying to find a place for him and Kairi to land without turning into pancakes. He saw that they were heading straight for a wall but the landing below would only be a six foot drop. He grabbed onto Kairi's arms.
"Kairi, I am about to roll of this statue get ready for a pretty rough landing!" He felt her head nod against his back.
He held on tightly to her arms and rolled off the statue in time to land, roughly on the stone below. He and Kairi rolled on the floor in a tangled mess. When they finally came to a stop Sora let her go, they both stood up and dusted themselves off.
"Please help me!" the little girl cried. She was only 20 feet away from the duo. Kairi and Sora booked it over there.
"Sora, I think the first is too much for your water magic,"
"I think you're right Kai, what should we do," they both stood at the base of the fire looking at the girl.
"Give me a boost, I'll run up the wall and toss her down to you," Kairi strategized. Sora nodded. They followed suit and the girl was finally on cool ground.
"Thank you," the girl cried happily, tears of relief streaming down her face.
"No prob!" Sora said.
"Do you see Meg and Pegasus?" Kairi asked scanning the skies for the white horse.
"No. We'd better check this area and see if anyone else needs us,"
"Yeah," Kairi nodded in agreement. The two began to walk down the steps to check for others and then they heard a voice call out.
"Well, if it isn't our favorite bargaining chip and Sora,"
Sora clenched his fist and looked around and gasped. Standing behind him, walking out of a dark corridor were Maleficent and Pete. He growled and summoned his weapon, Kairi followed suit.
"Let me take a wild guess, you're the reason the Heartless are here," he growled at the evil sorceress. Maleficent gave a long hearty cackle.
"Certainly not,"
Pete stood there standing by Maleficent. He squinted at Sora and sniffed the air. Pete's eyes widen and a sinister smile spread on his face.
"Say Maleficent, I dunno about the girl, but the boy here is way punier than when we last saw him. I say let's end him while we still can,"
Maleficent paused and stared deeply into Sora's eyes. His stomach turned over with an uneasy feeling, Is this it for me? Will she take a chance at my weakness and end my life? Kairi moved in front of Sora, protecting him from the two. Maleficent and Pete roared with laughter.
"While we are at it Maleficent, we can take out one of the seven lights too, whaddaya say?"
Maleficent waved her hand away dismissing the idea.
"No, let's not waste time with these two. Besides, I want to watch them suffer as I take away everything that they love. No, we will let them live this time. We have far more pressing matters to address,"
Pete crossed his arms thinking in thought. "Oh yeah! We gots to find that black box,"
Maleficent smacked him in the head with the staff. "Be silent, you fool!" she hissed. She opened the dark corridor and began to head into it. "Enjoy what little precious life you have left, we shall meet again," She paused for a second "When I have time for such trifles,"
Pete began to follow her. "Yeah, you better get it together before then, later!"
Sora began to frown after the exchange and sighed. His head hanging down.
"Sora?" Kairi asked quietly, turning around from her defensive position.
"It's fine, I can take it," he muttered angrily. Swallowing the hard lump that had formed in his throat.
"Sora, it's okay, you're going to get stronger, I know you can do it," Kairi said trying to cheer him up.
Sora raised his head to look at her, the anger and frustration still evident on his face. He gazed at her for a few more seconds and then his face softened.
"You're right, it's hard, I have never really felt this weak before,"
Kairi raised her arm and touched his shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
"You're not weak Sora, you're growing, plus you have me, I'll keep you safe," she smiled at him a radiant smile. Sora couldn't help but feel better about his predicament.
"Yeah, you're right, let's keep going,"
Anticipate a new chapter by the end of the week.