The Atlantis thing seemed to be a fun twist. Funny enough, this is a canon thing in the books and TV show. La's TV show design is actually supposed to be similar to Kida's
Well, hope you all enjoy this chapter!
Kingdom Hearts © to Disney and Square Enix!
Tarzan © to Edgar Rice Burroughs!
Sasuke and Hinata © to Yamichaos27!
Luna © to Nintendoman01!
My OCs © to me!
Chapter 22: Deep Jungle- Huang
"Atlantis? Never heard of it."
La sighed. "Oh, well." She smiled warmly, but her eyes still sparkled as they held on Auriel. "Well, I was banished from there… and now I'm stuck here."
"Banished for what?"
"Now that," she straightened up, "is a long tale. Why don't you come back to my palace, and we'll discuss it over a meal?" Her fingers gripped the staff in her hands as the men around her stiffened.
It wasn't a request.
Jack shuddered slightly. "Um, sure… but my parents are expecting me home by sundown."
"Oh, don't worry, I won't hold you that long, boy. Follow."
She turned, walking deeper into the city.
The four followed, eyeing the strange beast-men.
"This is our home of Opar," the queen gestured to the city, "once a magnificent section of a much greater city, now reduced to this."
The darkened streets held more beast-men who eyed the four as they followed the queen and her entourage. However, they saw humans… ever so often, a normal human would come into view. Usually a man… actually, other than La, no other women seemed to be present.
They walked up to the tallest spire and inside. The beast-men stopped outside, letting the queen and her guests go inside alone.
There seemed to be no doubt that the queen could defend herself in her own keep.
"Now," as the doors closed behind them, she removed her long cape, "we shall talk. Meriem(1)!"
Down the hall came a young girl… a human girl, with a long piece of cloth wrapped around her head, only showing a few curly strands of black hair hanging around her olive-skinned face.
La handed the girl the cloak. "Tell the cooks we have guests. Prepare our best."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"You know," Eldar put his hands behind his head, watching the young girl walk off, "that's the first girl I've seen here besides you."
La stiffened. "Oh, yes. All the women here work at the palace. Now, this way." Leading them into a large chamber, she sat down at a long, low table, surrounded by cushions. "You probably noticed she is human as well."
"Yeah…"
The queen waited till they all sat down to lean against the table. "That is because some humans find their way down here and wish to stay, so we give them work and homes. Now, as for us…" other servants, all female and human now, began to bring in food. "My home, Atlantis, was plunged into the earth, beneath the waves, by the gods long ago. My people and culture began to die after so long… I wished to do something. More than what our king did… which was nothing. He let us rot." Her eyes flashed. "So, in my citadel of Opar, I worked to come up with some sort of solution. I began to ask for assistants." She gestured back the way they came. "My beast-men. I believed the way to the surface was to evolve. To become stronger. So, I began using our special crystals we had to change my assistants. I gave them traits of animals to enhance them. The agility of a leopard. The hearing and smell of a wolf. The slippery nature of an eel."
She waited until all the servants left before continuing.
"But our king saw us as a threat and used what power he had left to send my citadel away, trapping me here. My men can move in and out as they will, but I am trapped. For over 100 years… I've been here. And at first, we could find no exits to this place, but my men soon excavated multiple exits for them." She looked at Auriel. "But, I know there has to be some sort of magic that can free me. You… you have some special, powerful magic. Do you not?"
"How did you…?"
"I have powers of my own, you know."
"You think I can free you?"
The queen leaned forward. "What do you think?"
"I wouldn't even know how to do that. My powers are very specific, and I have no clue how to use more, if I can."
La tapped her chin. "I think I can help with that. In my time here, I managed to rediscover Atlantean concepts thought lost to my people. One might be able to help." She looked to the others. "You are welcome to wait here while I show her."
"Um," Jack stood up, "I think I should be getting back soon. My parents will be worried."
"Of course. I'll have some of my men escort you out."
Standing up, Auriel looked to her brother and friend. "Go with him; make sure he gets home safely. I'll be fine."
"If you're sure…"
"I am."
The other two stood up. "Alright."
La stood as well, clapping her hands. A human woman came in, head bowed. "Tell the guards to take these three to the cavern exit."
Silently, the woman nodded, leading the way out.
"Why only women inside and men outside?" Auriel asked as her friends left.
"Because that's how I like it."
Not a good reason…
Hands ready to summon her valari at any time, Auriel followed the queen deeper into the citadel. Down a set of stairs, they came to a large round chamber with a pool inside. The strange language, probably the Atlantean language, surrounded the room and the pool.
"The Crystal Pool. It shows you what you need to know. I used it… and that's how I knew about you. I saw a girl with red hair that would free me from this place with wings of fire."
"Wings of fire?"
"Indeed."
From a pouch on her hip, La pulled out a shining blue crystal. "My people used these for many things. They hold much power. I thought mine to be lost, but I found a way to refuel its power."
Bending down, she touched the crystal to the pool.
As the crystal touched, soft ripples rolled across the water's surface. When the ripples touched the pool edges, the Atlantean runes along it began to glow.
One rune after another.
Across the floor and walls.
Until the entire room glowed with the soft blue light.
"Look inside."
Bending over, Auriel looked into the pool.
The blue water swirled before it changed to a deep red. Churning and bubbling like lava.
In it, she saw a figure.
The bird she'd seen.
Zhuque.
Before she knew it, the figure grew closer and closer…
Or she did.
SPLASH
Her face and body entered the water.
Sinking.
Down.
Down.
Into the red swirls.
Heat traveled up from below, touching her face.
Her face broke the water's surface… going down.
She gasped.
Now she stood, her clothes slightly damp, on the edge of the volcano she'd seen before in her dreams. At the edge of it, staring at her, sat Zhuque.
Her long face leaned down, speaking clearly for the first time.
"I knew you would come, Auriel."
"How did I get here?"
"The magic of the pool dragged you to me." Her neck lifted up. "We have much to show you, but we must be quick."
"We?"
"Yes." A man in ornate robes, his long gray hair hanging around his face, stood up. "I am Huang, the original holder of Zhuque's power. I need to show you something… how this all began."
His hand reached out for her to take.
She reached back. Their hands touching as Zhuque wrapped her wings around them, plunging them into darkness.
Blinking, the girl looked around as scenes began to play before her vision.
Huang spent his whole life in service to the royal family. To his emperor, and to the two children that would inherit the throne.
Princess Zhuguang always walked with poise and grace. Her kind demeanor only matched by her heart for justice. She wished to see the corrupt brought down and the good restored to people.
The kingdom loved her.
Her beauty matched that of her mother, and her tactical mind matched any military general in the kingdom.
Prince Leigong stood beside his sister. Equally as cunning and witty as she. As handsome as any man in the kingdom. But he held more personal ambitions. He did not care much for the people and poor of his kingdom.
He enjoyed the games of war.
To crush his enemy beneath his heel and take total victory.
For all their similarities, the siblings were very different.
And that brought about their ruin.
Huang remembered the night… a storming night. Thunder cracking and lightning streaking across the heavens.
He rose from a nightmare to get fresh air, only to hear the sounds of blades clashing. Drawing his own sword, he followed the sounds to the bedroom of Princess Zhuguang.
Throwing open the door, he found her, clutching her side as she held a blade against an assassin.
An assassin that could only be sent by royalty.
Coming to her aid, the two cut down one assassin after another that entered the chamber.
"Princess," Huang asked as the last assassin fell, "what has happened!? Why would your father do this?"
The young woman glanced into a corner of the room. "He didn't…"
There, lying under a fallen lantern, lay the king himself. A knife in his back.
"No…"
"Leigong did this. Father told me before he died." Her breath quickened as her blade dropped from her hand. "Why…?"
Huang grabbed her silk sleeve. "Princess, you must leave! Your brother will stop at nothing to end your life."
If he'd gone as far to kill the king, he would certainly never stop until his sister lay dead as well.
Eyes scanning the room, Zhuguang blinked tears away. "Huang, I can't leave you and the o-"
"Go." He knelt, pressing his forehead to the back of her hand. "Princess, I would give my life to protect you. Your brother is a fool. You are the hope of this world. Flee. Flee and live. I will be fine, I promise. I will find you again."
Drawing in a deep breath, the princess looked at him… her dear friend, and loyal servant. "Fine… but you be safe. Find me again. You are my oldest and dearest friend. I need you with me… you and Thanh. When you come, bring him with you."
"I will."
Pulling her hand away, she took up her sword, wiping the blood off before sheathing it once more.
Taking nothing but the weapon, she climbed from the palace window.
Disappearing into the night.
Huang managed to slip away, staying out of suspicion as Leigong searched the castle for his sister. He claimed she killed the king, but Huang knew better.
The moment he could, he found Thanh, a soldier and friend, and told him everything.
Together, they waited.
Watching.
Watching the prince take the throne, framing his sister for the murders. Huang stood at his side, like a loyal attendant, watching as he summoned people to search for the ancient perils of the world. Daemons by which he wanted to rule. Controlling their powers.
He could not be permitted to continue.
Then word came.
The princess lived. She searched to find the Virtues to counter his perils.
That night, Thanh and Huang slipped away, to find their princess.
And find her they did.
Him at her side, his own mind with hers, they developed plans to counter Leigong. Like master tacticians, together, they were unstoppable.
They came to the Virtues… and Huang found himself drawn to the bird.
Zhuque. The vermillion bird. And she granted him her powers… to strike down the peril.
And when they attacked, Huang found himself face to face with the peril, Myorin, holder of Qiongqi's power.
The woman, dressed in fine robes, her belt laden with money pouches, came to him, a wicked grin on her face.
"Now, now, Huang." She laughed. "You look like death… I'm surprised your old body could hold such power." With a wave of her hand, she summoned a table, atop it sat a chess set.
"And this is what, witch?"
"I've heard you're smart. You stood at the little prince's side for months, and he had no idea you were a traitor. And you and that princess made some very smart moves." She summoned two chairs on either side of the table. "So, I'd like to… test you. A game. A game of skill." She waved her hand, burnt orange magic around her fingers. "Whoever wins, lives. And I'll play fairly." A strange collar appeared around her neck and waited around the other chair. "What do you say?"
Huang narrowed his eyes but walked to the chair. As he sat down, the orange collar attached to him. He felt it stick into his spine and saw her flinch as well.
She meant it.
"Well then, witch. Let's play."
"I'm assuming you won."
"That I did." Huang smiled as their vision opened up to the volcano once again. "And understand, Azul is just as crafty as that witch."
"Indeed. Now, you have to go." Zhuque looked up.
"Why?"
"Your friends are in danger. Do not trust La."
Auriel clenched her fist. "Don't worry. I don't."
"Good."
Her vision began to blur as she felt water surround her once again. The oranges and red swirling away into shimmering blue water.
"Take this as well." An orange feather flew into her chest and a separate burst of energy shot up her arm, causing the bird tattoo on her arm to glow. "A new power, one of freedom. And," Zhuque's head rose up in front of her, partially fading away, "you will need more of my power than normal. When your tattoo stops glowing, this extra power is gone. Use it wisely. You'll need it."
"Thanks."
Her head broke the surface.
"I don't think I want to tell Mom and Dad about this place." Jack sighed as they followed the servant out.
"Good call," Eldar huffed. "And the whole worlds thing… you can't tell anyone about that either. There's like laws and stuff about that."
"Really?"
Nodding, Hinata put her hand on his shoulder. "Yes. Please keep that secret."
The boy smiled. "Ok… but you really are from another world?"
"Yep."
"That's so cool." He looked up as they neared the doors. "Excuse me." Quickening his pace, he matched the woman's. "What's your name."
She looked at him but said nothing.
Only now, he noticed a blue tattoo that seemed to glow slightly on her neck.
"What's that?"
No response.
Hinata and Eldar glanced at each other as the woman opened the door. On either side of the door stood two beast-men. They glanced at her as she said something to them in Atlantean, the tattoo on her neck fading as she spoke.
They nodded before one, this one with the ears and teeth of a wolf, motioned for them to follow. "This way."
"Jack," Hinata whispered, "stay close."
"Got it."
Down the citadel stairs, they followed the wolf-man. He led them around the side of the tall building and toward what seemed to be a set of tunnels in the walls.
More humans seemed to be in this area.
All with those glowing tattoos. And some with a strange purple web tattoo on their necks as well.
"I don't like this." His finger's twitching, Eldar waited to summon his weapon.
"Me neither." Putting herself between Jack and the wolf-man, Hinata's hand rested on her katana. "Be ready."
"I am."
Into a tunnel that seemed to slope upwards they went. The entrance, guarded by another beast-man, stood just tall enough for the wolf-man to enter.
In they went.
As their feet crossed the threshold, Hinata's stomach lurched.
"GET BACK!"
She turned, only for a rune to light up under their feet. Around them, walls shot up, enclosing them in the tunnel as the floor dropped out from beneath them.
Down, down.
They fell into the darkness.
BANG.
White filled their vision as they slammed into the hard rocky ground.
Large hands grabbed them as they struggled to get their bearings.
Recovering first, Hinata pulled against her captors as she felt rope being tied around her arms.
In the darkness, she saw beast men grabbing Eldar and Jack, tying their arms as well, the two now yelling. Jack for help. Eldar saying things that young ears probably shouldn't hear.
Focusing, the summoner tried to call out to any eidolon for help.
She really missed Whytney now…
"None of that." Something struck her head. She looked up to see Azul stride by. "You don't want little Jack to die, now would you?"
"Azul!?"
The peril grinned, kneeling down. "This is fortuitous. I hoped to solidify my contract with the virtue soon, but you've made it easy."
"Touch my sister and you'll pay!" Eldar snarled.
"Oh, I doubt that." Twirling his cane, Azul walked over to Jack, laying the cane on the back of the boy's neck. "La really is something, isn't she? With just a small bit of her people's power, she made this place what it is. And with more, she'll do greater. Tarzan stands as a beacon of light in this world: a hope that strong people, who lead with goodness and kindness, will stand tall. La is his opposite. She needs to rise."
His eyes turned as a smaller beast-man, this one with lithe, monkey-like features, walked over, carrying a long pole with a blue tip.
"And you'll help her do so."
"How about you shut you mo-" The monkey-man jabbed the tip against Eldar's throat.
"NO!"
"ELDAR!"
As the pole pulled back, the blue tattoo now adorned the boy's throat. He opened his mouth to yell… but no sound came out. His eyes widened. Again he tried to speak… but nothing.
"So much better." Walking over, an orange glow covered Azul's cane. "Now that you've shut up. You're going to be a big help." With a tap against Eldar's neck, the orange energy slithered into him, creating the purple webs across his skin.
The boy's eyes shot open before the color in them dulled.
His head lolled forward for a moment.
"You may untie him now." The peril waved to the beast-men, who Hinata saw also had the strange purple webs on them.
They untied Eldar.
"Stand."
Eldar stood.
"Good. Now, bow to me."
Eldar bowed to Azul.
"Perfect." His eyes turned to Hinata. "Now, take La's little brand." The girl's eyes widened as her friend grabbed the blue brand. "You know what to do."
Hinata attempted to pull, but a beast-man held her tight.
"ELDAR!" He approached her. "Stop! Don't!"
"Your words don't reach him." Azul leaned on his staff, preparing more orange energy. "So, just accept it, Hinata Kazekiri. You've lost…"
As the brand drew closer, the girl ducked her head, the brand hitting the beast man holding her.
She twisted in his grip, kicking Eldar in the stomach before pulling away from her captor.
Her arms still bound, she stood. Beast men began to move toward her as Azul shook his head.
"You are a stubborn girl, aren't you?"
"My family kinda has this thing about mind control. We freaking HATE it! And if you think I'm going to just sit by and let you do that to me, think again."
A beast man lunged at her. Turning, she slammed her foot into his face, sending him to the floor.
"And I don't need hands to handle these losers!"
"Very well." The peril leaned on his staff. "Let's see how long you last then. And when you've failed, you'll serve me."
"I wouldn't count on that."
Here we go! One more chapter after this!
Hope you enjoyed!
Footnotes:
(1) In the original books, she was a French girl who was taken captive and given the name Meriem by her captors. I decided to not go with that in this version and just made her name Meriem and she is not French.
VAs:
Meriem- Kathreen Khavari (Ms. Marvel/Kamala Khan, Tw!nkleR10t, Shannon Stillwell, Badyah)