Chapter 17: Atlantis (Part 4)
The ground stopped shaking. The city was at last at peace. Everyone was saved, thanks to a Keyblade Wielder. And not just any Keyblade Wielder. The aspiring new Master, Summer of Matonui. She fell to the floor in relief and laughed. "We did it. I can't believe we actually won." she said aloud.
Kida knelt beside her. "How did you know this was going to work on that monster?" she asked in wonder.
"I have the power to lock hearts." replied Summer, vaguely as she could. Kida nodded.
"Well thanks to you, our kingdom is saved." said Kida.
"Yes. We can now rebuild what we lost and hopefully continue our exploration." said Milo.
"Exploration?" asked Summer.
"Atlantis is a huge place. We learn something new every day." said Milo.
"There are ruins we need to read, old books that need translations. We are doing our best to unravel the history of our world." said Kida.
"That's a noble endeavor." said Summer.
"Scrooge was our sponsor for the projects we were doing, but we had no idea bad things were going to happen." said Milo.
"That reminds me, where is Scrooge?" asked Kida.
Hewey, Dewey and Louie arrived the moment Kida mentioned their uncle. Scrooge was behind, huffing and puffing for running.
"Did we do it? Is Atlantis saved?" asked Scrooge.
Summer got up and hugged old man Scrooge. "We did it! We saved Atlantis!" she cried.
Vanitas and the shadow of Axel were watching from afar, at the top of a large Atlantean building.
"Well, they saved the world." said Vanitas in surprise. He turned to see the shadow and Vanitas snapped his fingers.
The shadow's black ooze-like person began to melt, but only the face of Axel was revealed. He let out a gasp and looked at Vanitas angrily.
"You should never have done that wager with him! I told you to leave him alone!" he cried.
"So you heard. Yes, I did let your friend go, but he was insistent on doing this wager. I never say no to a game." said Vanitas.
"I will break free. And when I do, you will go down." growled Axel.
Vanitas smiled (warmly) and placed his hands on Axel's face. Strangely, his hands were warm and Vanitas looked more human than monster, despite the horns.
"You know the creature I've been turned into? I'm a Dark Fairy. Creatures that once lorded over the Enchanted Dominion. Maleficent happened to be one of them." said Vanitas.
"Why are you touching me?" asked Axel, feeling fear creep up what's left of his body.
"I'm trying to be a father like figure to you right now. If you're going to show me respect, I might as well show you some form of … respect." said Vanitas.
"That does not make sense." said Axel.
"No. Nothing does. But in time, you will thank me." said Vanitas. Axel was about to say more when the black shadow quickly swallowed his face, turning him back into his cursed form. Vanitas laughed and opened a dark corridor.
"They will follow us wherever we go. I'll go to a world they would least expect."
"You did WHAT?" cried Summer.
"It was the only way to save Axel. I had no choice." said Sky.
"How do we know he will go through? Do you think he'll be strong enough to counter Vanitas's magic?" Summer was almost screaming. She tried to keep her cool as Sky approached her and told her to do so, but hearing all this happened during the fight made her angry.
"I'm sorry Summer. But we have to trust Axel." said Sky.
Summer placed her hand on her head and turned around, trying to breathe. "I'm not mad at you Sky. I'm mad at the situation. This whole thing… it's plain stupid." said Summer.
Sky nodded and Summer kept speaking. "If only I was there. If only I had challenged Vanitas. I'm not afraid of that angry overbearing…." Summer tried to calm herself down.
Red and PJ were simply watching as Summer paced around them. Sky broke the silence. "Summer, we still have the wayfinder. Wager or no wager, Vanitas knows we are still following them. And wherever they go, we will stop them." said Sky.
"But what if we run into something else? Have you noticed that in each world we go to, there is always something? Back at the Bayou, there was Facilier. Motunui had that loser Tamatoa. And here we got to fight again. And the fight was much harder this time around. Now, they know we follow them. What if Vanitas chooses a world that is dangerous?" asked Summer.
"Summer, I know what I'm doing." said Sky.
"Do you? Have you ever been to the Nesting Grounds? The Caribbean? Bald Mountain?" asked Summer.
Sky didn't reply. He heard of those worlds. They were worlds that had a huge level of danger.
"They might choose a world that could challenge us to a breaking point. And I don't want to see any of you guys fall." said Summer.
Sky looked away from Summer and shook his head. "If I had a Keyblade, things would be easier." said Sky.
Summer shook her head and hugged Sky tightly. "Don't say that. We all were stuck in this battle." she said.
"You guys are staying?" asked Red to Hewey, Dewey, and Louie.
"Yeah. Our Uncle is going to need us here." said Hewey.
"I know we were a team, but leaving him here alone just doesn't feel right." said Louie.
"He's family you know." said Dewey.
Red smiled. "Your Uncle Donald would be happy to know you guys are watching over Scrooge."
The three duck brothers hugged Red and PJ and then Sky and Summer.
"Will you guys be alright?" asked Hewey.
"I got killer moves. We can save Axel and the worlds." said Summer.
The four of them looked at each other with warm smiles and Sky lifted his arm to open the new light portal to the next world. Hewey, Dewey and Louie waved their friends goodbye.
"This ain't really a permanent goodbye. We'll see eachother again." said Louie.
"You guys better watch yourselves." said Dewey.
"And whatever you guys do, don't make any drama." said Hewey.
Sky, Summer, Red and PJ laughed as the portal closed. The three duck brothers were now alone.
"It doesn't feel right leaving them you know." said Hewey.
"We know. But Uncle Scrooge needs us." said Dewey.
"Yeah. Especially that Magica is still here." said Louie.
Hewey and Dewey looked at Louie with their eyes wide open.
"Magica!" cried Hewey.
"We forgot about her!" cried Dewey.
The three duck brothers quickly went to find Scrooge or Kida or Milo. Anyone really. Then they heard a voice.
"Hey you guys! Wait for me!" cried a little duck girl following them. Hewey, Dewey and Louie instantly recognized her as Webby, their little sister like friend. But-
"Webby? How are you?" asked Hewey.
"I'm fine dahling. I mean buddy. Ol pal! Wanna play marbles?" asked "Webby."
Louie and Dewey stood their ground.
Hewey played along. "So… catch the action today?" asked Hewey.
"Oh yeah. Big explosions and crazy crystal monsters! Yes!" said "Webby." She looked cute with that big pink bowtie and that cute little pink dress she wore. Almost too cute to be true.
"Strange. Then that means you actually got over it." said Hewey.
"Over it? What do you mean?" asked Webby.
"You got over your fear of explosions. You were afraid of fireworks back home." said Dewey.
Webby smiled, but backed away a little. "I am still afraid." she said.
Louie quickly waved his small wand in the air. "Blizzard."
"Webby" defended the spell with an elegant high jump and she realized she was already caught.
In a matter of seconds, she turned into Magica. Her hair was a total mess and her makeup was drying off.
"Curses." she sneered.
Magica quickly opened a dark corridor, and ran off.
"Serves her right." said Louie.
"Let's tell the others about her. She's trouble." said Dewey.
"Others meaning Uncle Scrooge and Milo and Kida." said Louie.
"Yes." said Dewey.
"But what about our friends?" asked Hewey.
The duck brothers looked at where the portal stood and they shook their heads. "I know they can take care of themselves, but now I'm worried." said Louie.
"The three of us are." said Dewey.
Meanwhile, in the throne room of Atlantis, Kida and Milo were looking at the large hole that was left behind.
"My father would have fainted at this terrible sight." said Kida.
"Who would do such a thing?" asked Milo.
"Rourke. It was definitely him." said Scrooge.
"Where is Magica?" asked Kida.
"Gone. She ran away as she always does." said Scrooge.
Just then, a large light portal appeared behind them. They turned around to see the doors open.
Roxanne appeared before them and bowed her head. "Your Majesty."
"Roxanne! It's been forever!" cried Kida. She ran to hug her friend, who was breathing in the scent of sea water in Atlantis.
"I've missed this place! It's good to be back." said Roxanne.
"I take it you were following the boy, the girl and the other two boys?" asked Scrooge.
"Yes. I'm here because of them. I need to see them." said Roxanne.
"You just missed them." said Hewey, who appeared with his brothers by their side.
"They left, and so did Magica." said Dewey.
"Magica De Spell was here?!" cried Roxanne.
"She was. But she's gone now." said Milo.
"She brought misery to Atlantis today. She will pay for her treachery." said Kida.
"I'm so sorry everyone, but I need to follow the children. There is something very evil coming towards them!" cried Roxanne.
"Evil?" cried Hewey.